518 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  20,  1901. 
Tea  Rose  Golden  Gate. 
This  Rose  appeals  to  us  as  being  very  charming,  it  is  so  delicately 
tinted.  A  light  shade  of  buff  on  white  would  describe  the  colouring. 
In  shape  it  is  exquisite,  not  unlike  that  wonderful  flower  Comtesse  de 
Nadaillac,  having  similar  large  outer  petals.  It  is  of  rather  delicate 
growth,  but  even  small  shoots  produce  large  blossoms.  We  would 
like  to  see  a  dczen  fine  flowers  of  this  Rose  placed  alongside  a  dozen  of 
any  other  Rose,  and  if  .prizewinning  were  the  object  Golden  Gate 
would  not  be  far  behind.  To  exhibitors  who  “  bud  ”  their  own  Roses 
we  would  suggest  that  they  look  well  after  this  not  over  well-known 
Rose. — H. 
Dawson  Rose. 
The  Dawson  Rose  is  a  hybri  1  of  much  excellence,  resulting  from 
a  cross  between  Rosa  multiflora  and  H.P.  General  Jacqueminot. 
There  seems  to  be  very  little  trace  of  the  latter  variety,  unless  it  is  in 
the  presence  of  somewhat  strong  and  recurved  spine  .  Thtre  is  a 
wonderfully  fine  bed  of  this  Rose  blooming  gloriously  in  the 
arboretum  on  the  north  side  of  the  lake  at  Kew  at  the  present  time. 
The  bushes  have  sent  up  long,  stout,  arching  shoots,  along  whose 
entire  length  short  lateral  flower  clusters,  of  semi-double  deep  pink 
flowers,  have  developed.  The  bed  occupies  the  corner  at  the 
divergence  of  two  main  grass  pathways,  and  being  in  massive  display, 
the  grand  effect  can  well  be  imagined. — D. 
Certificated  Plants. 
The  Iris. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  last  century  some  thirty  or  so  species  and 
sub-species  were  in  cultivation,  though  it  does  not  appear  that 
I.  Xiphium,  which  Mr.  F.  W.  Burbidge  terms  the  Spanish  Iris,  and 
I.  xiphioides,  the  English  Iris,  were  in  cultivation  at  that  time  under 
these  distinctive  names.  During  the  time  the  Floral  Committee  has 
been  in  existence  a  large  number  of  awards  have  been  made,  but  very 
largely  in  recent  years.  The  first  to  attract  attention  was  Iris  iberica, 
shown  by  the  late  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware  over  thirty  years  ago.  Mr.  Burbidge 
points  out  in  his  “Propagation  and  Improvement  of  Cultivated  Plants’’ 
that  “  while  the  Dutch  florists  have  sedulously  gone  to  work  to  improve 
the  European  Iris,  the  Japanese  gardeners  have  been  equally  industrious, 
and  have  long  cultivated  a  race  of  extremely  variable  forms  of  the 
purple  golden-rayed  I.  laevigata  (Ksempferi)  and  I.  setosa.  These  were 
first  introduced  to  English  gardens  about  1873,  through  the  exertions 
of  Herr  Max  Leichtlin  of  Baden  Baden,’’  and  nearly  all  the  awards 
made  to  Irises  by  the  Floral  Committee  between  1872  and  1884  were 
to  varieties  of  I.  Kaempferi.  Between  1884  and  1887.  not  more  than 
half  a  dozen  awards  were  made,  four  of  them  to  Japanese  forms,  the 
remainder  to  varieties  of  I.  germanica.  Of  recent  years  the  Irises  have 
been  classified,  but  the  experience  of  a  lifetime  is  necessary  to  master 
them  in  all  their  details.  Dwarf,  early  flowering  forms  are  now 
numerous,  and  many  of  them  very  beautiful  ;  I.  reticulata  still  holds 
its  own  for  its  marked  individuality  of  character.  The  most  popular 
are  the  English  and  Spanish  types,  both  of  which  are  represented  in 
gardens  by  large  numbers  of  varieties,  while  the  Spanish  in  particular 
are  wery  largely  grown  to  cut  for  market  purposes.  The  Iris  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  flowers  at  the  present  day. 
Incarvillea. 
I.  Delavayi,  which  was  awarded  a  certificate  of  the  first  class, 
when  exhibited  from  the  garden  of  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  is  classed 
as  a  hardy  plant,  and  was  introduced  from  China  a  few  years  ago. 
The  plant  has  long,  serrated  foliage,  and  produces  on  tall  flower 
spikes  numerous  large  blossoms,  which  have  been  likened  to  those  of 
an  Allamanda.  The  colour  is  bright  red  ;  it  is  a  very  fine  and  striking 
subject,  and  can  be  raised  from  seeds. 
Ipomsea. 
The  fine  species,  which  our  forefathers  grew  with  success  in  the 
middle  ot  the  last  century,  are  not  now,  to  all  appearance,  nearly  so 
much  grown  as  formerly;  such,  for  instance,  as  I.  Leari,  limbata, 
rubro-cserulea,  &c.  Occasionally  one  meets  with  them,  and  then,  while 
they  compel  admiration,  one  cannot  but  regret  that  such  splendid 
subjects  appear  to  be  in  danger  of  falling  into  neglect.  In  1865, 
I.  sanguines,  a  strawy  scarlet  flowered  form,  received  a  certificate  when 
exhibited  by  Mr.  Bull,  but  the  botanist  does  not  appear  to  recognise  it 
as  a  species.  I.  Thomsoni  received  a  similar  award  in  1884,  when 
shown  by  Messrs.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  but  it  does  not  seem  to  be  now  known 
under  that  name.  The  old  climbing  Mina  lobata,  introduced  from 
South  Mexico  in  1841,  is  now  classed  as  Ipomsea  versicolor.  A  form 
known  as  I.  imperialis,  or  Japanese  Giant  Convolvulus,  is  a  larger 
and  improved  type  of  the  well  known  Convolvulus  major,  but 
producing  very  large  flowers  of  varying  colours. 
Ixora. 
At  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  Floral  Committee,  I.  coccinea 
and  I.  alba  (the  latter  not  being  now  a  recognised  species)  were  about 
the  only  two  in  cultivation.  In  the  sixties,  amalis,  crocata  rutilans, 
and  Dixiana  received  awards.  The  last  named  is  a  species  introduced 
in  1868.  In  1874  Fraseri,  a  species,  appeared,  followed  by  formosa, 
regina,  and  Westi.  In  1878  I.  macrothyrsa,  which  is  known  as  Duffi 
and  salicifolia,  was  introduced,  but  it  was  not  certificated  until  1894, 
and  it  is  now  very  finely  exhibited  by  Mr.  James  Cypher  of 
Cheltenham,  who  grows  it  into  large  specimens,  carrying  several 
immense  trusses  of  bloom.  I.  coccinea  is  much  grown  in  private 
gardens  for  cutting  purposes  ;  it  is  also  a  favourite  exhibition  Ixora. 
Chelsoni,  Colei,  Fraseri,  Pilgrimi,  and  Williamsi  are  also  found  in 
collections  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  at  flower  shows. 
Kniphofia  (Tritoma). 
The  group  of  these  hardy  herbaceous  plants,  which  we  know 
popularly  under  the  expressive,  but  somewhat  undignified  name  of 
Red-hot  Poker,  also  Torch  Lily  and  Flame  Flower,  are  invaluable 
for  their  autumn  blooms,  and  species  or  varieties  have  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  Floral  Committee  from  time  to  time.  The  genus 
comprises  several  species.  The  dwarf  Macowani,  introduced  from  South 
Africa  in  1874,  was  the  first  to  receive  an  award,  having  been 
introduced  in  that  year.  K.  caulescens  was  introduced  from  the  same 
place  in  1862,  but  it  was  not  certificated  until  thirty  years  after. 
In  1893  an  award  of  merit  was  made  to  one  under  the  name  of  Osiris, 
and  in  1895  K.  Pfitszeri,  one  of  some  very  new  hybrids,  in  which  the 
predominating  colours  are  yellow  and  orange,  also  received  an  award 
of  merit.  Two  very  fine  forms  received  awards  of  merit  in  1900 ; 
one  was  Triumph,  represented  to  be  the  finest  of  all  the  new  Torch 
Lilies,  producing  bold  spikes  of  orange-yellow  blossoms,  and  Leichtlini 
aurea,  a  variety  of  a  bright  orange  colour,  with  protruding  golden 
anthers.  K.  Burchelli  flowers  in  early  summer.  One  known  as 
K.  Nelsoni  is  a  splendid  acquisition,  dwarf,  floriferous,  throwing  a 
succession  of  spikes  of  blossoms  of  a  bright  flame  colour.  Two  very 
*  fine  forms  of  the  well  known  K.  Uvaria,  named  respectively  grandiflora 
and  nobilis,  are  noble  subjects,  both  of  tall  growth,  and  very  striking. 
There  are  a  dozen  or  so  of  the  new  hybrid  forms,  and  they  are  all 
valuable  border  plants. 
Lachenalia. 
L.  pendula,  the  drooping  Lachenalia,  and  L.  tricolor,  the  three- 
coloured  form,  have  been  with  us  for  considerably  over  a  century,  but 
it  was  not  until  1881  that  a  certificate  of  merit  was  made  to  a  fine 
hybrid  obtained  by  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Nelson,  Aldborough,  and  named 
L.  Nelsoni.  This  is  a  very  handsome  yellow-flowered,  and  one  of  the 
most  popular  in  the  present  day.  In  1885  a  similar  award  was  made 
to  Adlborough  Beauty,  another  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Nelson’s  hybrids. 
Another  raiser,  who  was  rector  of  Cawston,  raised  several  hybrids  also, 
and  one  of  these,  Cawston  Gem,  obtained  an  award  of  merit  in 
1896.  Since  that  time  Mr.  F.  W.  Moore  of  the  Glasneven  Botanic 
Gardens,  Dublin,  has  sent  several  handsome  hybrid  forms  to  the 
meetings  of  the  R.H.S.,  and  to  one  of  these,  L.  quadricolor  maculata, 
a  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded  in  1895.  In  the  spring  of  the 
present  year  Mr.  Moore  obtained  awards  of  merit  for  two  brilliant 
coloured  varieties — viz.,  Kathleen  Paul  and  Phyllis  Paul,  but  no 
information  was  forthcoming  as  to  their  origin.  A  Dutch  catalogue 
contains  as  many  aB  two  dozen  species  and  varieties,  so  there  is  ample 
material  to  telect  from.  The  Lachenalia,  which  has  many  claims  on 
the  lovers  of  flowers,  is  becoming  much  more  popular  than  it  was  a 
few  years  ago. — R.  Dean,  Y.M.H. 
Solanum  vennstnm. 
This  beautiful  species  requires  for  its  growth  the  temperature  of  a 
stove.  It  has  handsome  panicles  of  soft  lavender  or  mauve-coloured 
flowers,  as  shown  in  the  woodcut.  When  in  good  condition  it  some¬ 
what  resembles  Petraea  volubilis,  especially  after  the  calyxes  of  the 
latter  have  fallen.  Its  treatment  is  simple ;  a  good  turfy  loam  and 
a  moderate  proportion  of  sand,  with  a  little  well-decayed  manure, 
constitute  a  compost  that  suits  it  admirably.  The  plant  grows  fast 
under  good  treatment,  and  will  need  occasional  pruning  to  keep  it  in 
shape  ;  but  the  best  way  is  to  train  the  branches  up  the  roof,  and 
allow  the  shorter  flowering  shoots  to  hang  down,  so  as  to  display  the 
fullest  grace  of  the  pendent  trusses.  A  very  good  figure  appeared  in 
the  “Botanical  Magazine”  about  thirty  years  ago,  when  the  plant 
was  stated  to  be  a  native  of  Brazil. 
