JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  6,  1901. 
480 
CARDEN.  GLEANINGS 
Afis 
Narcissus  Lucifer. — This  is  one  of  the  most  superbly  beautiful 
varieties  of  Narcissus  incomparabilis  that  enthusiasts  can  point  to.  It 
received  a  first-class  certificate  when  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons  showed  it 
before  the  Narcissus  Committee  on  April  25th.  It  was  one  of  Rev. 
G.  H.  Engleheart’s  seedlings,  and  the  catalogue  description  of  it  is, 
“  pale  perianth  and  glowing  orange-red  cup,  colour  lasting  well  in  the 
sun,  very  striking,  a  good  lasting  flower.”  Our  illustration,  on  page  482, 
will  convey  a  better  idea  of  the  form  of  this  fine  variety. 
Flowering  Shrubs. — Rhododendrons,  Azaleas,  Rhodoras,  Kalmias, 
and  Ledump,  of  our  gardens,  as  well  as  the  genera  Menziesia  and 
Loiseleuria,  all  belong  to  the  tribe  Rhodorese,  of  the  natural  order 
Ericaceae.  They  are  characterised  by  the  scaly,  cone-like  buds,  and 
the  septicidal  capsules.  Azaleas  are  now  included  with  Rhododendrons, 
from  which  they  have  hitherto  been  marked  off  by  their  usually  thin 
and  deciduous  leaves,  and  by  their  flowers  having  five  stamens  instead 
of  ten.  These  characters  are  not  at  all  constant,  and  many  intermediate 
forms  are  known.  North  America  is  the  chief  home  of  the  Azalea 
and  Rhododendron,  although  many  speoies  are  found  in  India,  China, 
and  Asia  Minor. 
Swarf  Irises. — When  Iris  cristata  is  observed  in  its  finest  state, 
the  refined  beauty  and  charm  of  its  pretty  little  slate-blue  flowers, 
touched  toward  the  centre  with  orange  colour,  render  it  unexcelled  as  a 
hardy  rockery  or  border  flowering  plant.  This  is  one  of  the  dwarfest 
of  tte  Irises,  not  growing  higher  than  4  inches  or  so.  I.  Naomi  is 
another  variety  of  the  dwarf  section  ;  its  flowers  are  sulphury-yellow. 
I.  biflorus  purf  urea,  purple- violet,  is  scarcely  so  attractive,  nor  has  it 
the  lasting  qualities  of  I.  Peter  Barr.  The  two  are  much  alike,  how¬ 
ever.  I.  olbiensis  alba,  1  foot  in  height,  is  a  beautiful  creamy  white; 
I.  lutescens  statallse,  1  foot,  throws  up  handsome  white  flowers ; 
I.  lutescens  aurea  is  a  good  rich  yellow  variety,  which,  like  most  of  the 
above,  resulted  from  a  seedling  in  the  Long  Ditton  Nurseries.  The 
latter  variety  is  the  dwarfest  yellow  among  the  dwarf  Irises. 
Dahlia  Notes. — The  Dahlia  is  an  ornamental  plant  in  its  natural 
habit  of  growth,  and  does  not  need  much  hacking  about.  It  may  be 
taken  safely  enough  as  an  approved  fact  that  the  less  flowers  there  are 
permitted  to  perfect  themselves  on  the  branch  the  stronger  they  will 
come,  consequently  there  should  be  no  mistake  in  thinning  the  buds. 
It  is  necessary  to  allow  the  buds  to  advance  far  enough  to  premise  a 
perfect  bloom  before  removing  any,  or  the  best  may  be  taken.  Then, 
again,  all  blooms  should  be  cut  away  with  their  stems  directly  they  are 
over ;  this  mode  of  treatment  eaves  the  strength  for  succeeding  blooms. 
Stake  the  growth  firmly,  the  stoutest  stake  should  be  from  2  feet  to 
4  feet  up  the  centre,  with  others  for  the  side  growths,  which  easily 
break  in  a  strong  wind.  Do  not  stop  the  centre  growth  unless  it 
becomes  unmanageable.  Though  the  Dahlia  delights  in  a  rich  soil,  it 
is  often  ruined  through  being  overfed,  which  induces  a  heavy  growth  of 
foliage  but  without  much  flower.  Liquid  manure  is  only  required  on 
poor  soils  when  the  plant  has  reached  its  full  growth. 
Hardy  Plants. — The  improved  variety  of  Aubrietia  Campbelli  is 
a  very  handsome  subject  for  rockeries,  or  for  massing  on  the  top  edge  of 
dry  stone  walls.  So  grown,  it  depends  over  the  coping,  and  furnishes 
a  pretty  curtain  over  what  might  otherwise  be  a  very  uninviting 
frontage.  The  Aubrietias  are  all  useful  for  such  a  purpose.  The  deep 
violet  purple  A.  Dr.  Mules  might  also  be  noted  in  this  connection.  Few 
dwarf  alpines  are  sweeter  than  Tridentalis  europaea;  it  has  double, 
rosette,  sparkling  white  flowers,  about  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  or  less. 
As  a  free  flowering  subject  under  a  variety  of  conditions  it  seems  to  be 
very  successful  and  recommendable.  Lithospermum  prostratum,  in  a 
situation  that  favours  it,  produces  its  deep,  glistening,  sky-blue  flowers 
all  the  year  round ;  it  should  be  planted  towards  the  upper  pockets,  in 
a  sheltered  yet  lightsome  portion  of  the  rock  garden.  The  dwarf  Phloxes 
are  all  very  serviceable.  P.  canadensis,  P.  lilacina,  and  P.  divaricata 
resemble  one  another;  each  produces  gracefully  > raised  flowers  of  a 
lilao  or  pale  lavender  shade. 
Currants. — The  White  and  Red  Currants  contain  similar  properties, 
both  containing  malic  and  oitric  acid.  The  jelly  made  from  them  is 
excellent  in  fevers.  The  fruit,  according  to  Mr.  Broadbent,  relieves 
constipation  and  purifies  the  blood.  Black  Currant  jelly,  or  aB  a  drink 
with  hot  water,  is  deservedly  prized  for  its  usefuln  ess  in  colds.  It  is 
laxative  and  cooling.  The  jelly  has  long  been  used  for  quinsy  and 
sore  throat.  It  should  not  be  made  with  too  much  sugar,  or  its 
medicinal  properties  will  be  impaired.  A  teaspoonful  two  or  three 
times  a  day  may  be  given  with  advantage  to  children  with  thrush. 
Arranging  Flowers. — Here  are  several  rules  which  should  be 
observed  by  those  who  often  arrange  flowers: — Use  plenty  of  foliage ; 
put  your  flowers  in  very  lightly  ;  use  artistic  glasses  ;  do  not  use  more 
than  two,  or  at  most  three,  different  kinds  of  flowers  in  one  decoration  $ 
arrange  your  oolours  to  form  a  bold  contrast,  or  better  still  a  soft 
harmony.  The  aim  of  the  decorator  should  be  to  show  off  the  flowers — 
not  the  vases  that  contain  them,  therefore  the  simpler  ones  are  far 
preferable  to  even  the  most  elaborate.  Glasses  for  a  dinner  table 
should  be  either  white,  a  delicate  shade  of  green,  brown,  or  rose  colour, 
according  to  the  flowers  arranged  in  them. 
Erica  carnea  and  c.  alba. — Nor  spring  bedding  these  two  plants 
make  very  suitable  subjects  for  this  purpose, .  especially  as  they 
commence  to  flower  early,  and  are  over  just  before  the  summer  bedding 
is  commenced.  To  grow  Erica  carnea  properly,  there  should  be  two 
growing  beds,  one  from  which  to  take  the  plants  next  year  and  the 
other  the  year  following,  as  under  this  treatment  much  better  plants 
are  obtained  than  using  the  same  plants  every  year.  As  soon  as  the 
summer  bedding  plants  are  taken  up  plant  the  Ericas,  they  need  little- 
attention.  In  the  spring,  after  flowering,  take  the  plants  up  and  plant 
in  a  shady  border  deeply  dug  and  manured.  If  any  multiplication 
of  plants  is  needed,  it  is  best  done  now  by  division ;  of  course  the  same 
plants  will  do  every  year,  but  more  flower  and  larger  plants  are  obtained 
by  the  above  method. — W.  H.  R. 
Solanums.  —  The  genus  Solanum  is  an  exceedingly  large  one, 
numbering  probably  about  700  species  ;  chiefly  tropical,  and  especially 
South  American.  Many  species  contain  more  or  less  a  narcotic  alkaloid 
called  solanine,  so  that  they  are  somewhat  dangerous.  There  are  but 
two  British  species,  S.  Dulcamara,  the  Woody  Nightshade  or  Bittersweet, 
the  berries  of  which  have  sometimes  proved  fatal ;  and  S.  nigrum. 
S.  tuberosum  is  the  Potato  plant,  the  tuber  of  which  is  the  edible 
Potato.  The  small  quantity  of  solanine  contained  in  the  tuber  is 
entirely  got  rid  of  in  cooking.  Old  tubers,  when  sprouted,  contain  a 
dangerously  high  percentage  of  this  poison.  The  Potato  plant  has  also 
some  medicinal  properties,  being  especially  good  for  those  who  suffer 
from  uric  acid  diseases — i.e.,  gout,  rheumatism,  &o.  The  tubers  contain 
citric  acid,  potash,  salts,  phosphoric  acid,  starch,  and  water.  Its  native 
country  is  believed  to  be  Chili.  S.  Melongena  is  the  Egg  Plant,  the 
edible  fruit  of  which  often  closely  resembles  a  hen’s  egg  in  form  and 
colour.  Some  fruits,  such  as  that  of  S.  laciniatum,  the  Kangaroo 
Apple  of  Australia,  are  wholesome  when  ripe,  but  poisonous  when 
unripe.  The  same  rule  applies  to  many  other  fruits. 
A  Beautiful  Fot  Plant. — Saxifraga  Cotyledon  is  one  of  the  most 
suitable  plants  for  grouping  or  for  table  decoration  in  cultivation, 
and  we  think  is  not  so  well  known  as  it  deserves  to  be.  Although 
one  of  the  easiest  plants  to  grow  we  are  acquainted  with,  requiring 
little  attention  when  once  it  is  potted,  it  is  seldom  seen  in  large 
establishments,  where  table  plants  are  wanted  in  abundance  and  at  all 
seasons.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Alps,  the  flower  stems  varying  in  height 
from  6  to  30  inches,  and  when  in  full  bloom  it  forms  a  pyramidal  mass 
of  snowy  white  flowers.  Novr  is  the  best  time  to  obtain  a  stock  of 
this  plant,  and  the  strongest  offsets  should  be  obtained,  which  surround 
the  parent  in  abundance  at  this  season  of  the  year.  These,  if  potted 
in  3-inoh  pots  in  good  loam,  leaf  mould,  and  sand,  with  an  addition  of 
lime  rubble  or  pieces  of  sandstone,  will  grow  this  Saxifraga  to 
perfection.  Keep  the  plants  as  cool  as  possible  in  all  stages  of  their 
growth,  and  the  offsets  regularly  pinched  off ;  when  the  3-inch  pots 
are  filled  with  roots  transfer  them  into  5-inch,  in  whioh  they  will 
flower.  When  the  flower  spike  makes  its  appearance  ic  m  ist  be 
seourely  tied,  loosely,  to  a  neat  stake,  and  if  the  plant  has  had  anything 
like  fair  play  it  will  attain  the  height  of  2  feet,  therefore  a  stake  that 
height  should  be  used,  as  it  is  surprising  the  height  they  grow,  and  the 
rapidity  with  which  the  flower  spike  shoots  upward.  Manure  water  in 
any  form  may  be  given  occasionally  when  the  pots  are  filled  with 
roots,  which  will  have  a  beneficial  effect. — J.  S.  A. 
