IMarch  H,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANTD  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
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cardeOEewnincs 
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''Y-C 
Alpinia  natans. 
This  is  of  decorative  value  only  for  its  foliage,  vliich  rcseiuhles 
that  of  Anionium,  grown  for  its  scented  leaves.  The  foliage 
is  stem-clasping,  each  leaf  growing  gracefully  more  or  less  erect, 
and  alternately  on  tire  rounded  stems.  It  is  an  Kast  India 
plant,  therefore  requires  a  warm  house  (stove),  and  enjoys 
abundance  of  moisture.  A  deep,  wide  pan.  and  a  Inmpy  compost 
•of  fibrous  loam,  sand,  and  charcoal  will  accommodate  it. 
Tree  Worship  in  Somaliland. 
The  following  notes  are  from  Sir  Richard  Burton’s  Ride  to 
Harar,"  a  section  of  his  book  which  is  entitled  “Wanderings  in 
Three  Continents”:  “  Kscaping  this  danger”  (a  cavalcade  of 
Somali  freebooters)  “we  painfully  endured  the  rocks  and  thorns 
of  the  mountains  and  lulls.  The  third  march  placed  us  at 
Halilualab,  a  sacred  tree  about  half-way  between  the  coast  and 
our  de.'tiuation -  Harar.  It  is  a  huge  Sycamore,  suggesting  the 
hiero-sykaminon  of  Egypt.  The  Gallas  are  still  tree  worshippers, 
nnd  the  Somali  respect  this  venerable  vegetable,  as  do  the 
Emglish  their  Druidical  Mistletoe.” 
East  Lothian  Stocks  in  Pots. 
In  our  issue  of  last  week  appeared  a  full-page  illustration  of 
these  appreciated  annuals,  and  to-day  we  show  plants  of  the  same 
subject  iiiider  pot  culture.  For  the  early  winter  or  even  spring 
di'play  these  plants  might  readily  form  a  feature  in  conserva¬ 
tories,  though  the  plants  illustrated  were  from  seeds  sown  at  the 
usual  time — the  middle  of  March,  and  bloomed  in  June.  By 
sowing  in  July  or  August  in  cold  frames  it  is  possible  to  have 
winter  or  spring  flowering  pot-plants.  The  seedlings  must  be 
allowed  ample  room  for  development,  else  they  will  never  grow 
sturdily.  East  Lothian  Stocks  are  a  variation  within  the  Inter- 
mf'diate  section,  and  all  the  varieties  and  forms  in  both  Inter¬ 
mediate  and  Ten-week  Stocks  have  been  derived  from  one  species 
of  plant — IMatthiola  annua. 
Evergreen  Shrubs. 
All  kinds  of  evergreen  shrubs  plant  readily  norv,  and  start 
more  freely  into  growth  than  if  planted  in  late  autumn  or  winter. 
The  great  point  must  be  not  to  allow  the  roots  to  become  dried, 
but  if  this  should  happen  moisten  them  well._  Plant  in  soil  deeply 
prepared.  Hollies,  and  all  the  varieties  of  C’onifers,  American 
plants  and  Rhododendrons,  soon  become  established  after  spring 
planting.  A  mulch  of  light  manure  may  be  placed  round  them, 
but  if  the  weathm-  continues  dry  they  will  scarcely  need  water 
before  (May,  when  a  good  soaking  may  be  given  them,  and  on  very 
warm  days  a  syringing  with  clear  water  will  be  beneficial. 
The  Genus  Prunus. 
The  genus  Pimmis  is  represented  by  so  many  handsome  forms 
in  the  list  of  certificated  plants  that  it  must  not  be  pa.ssed 
unnoticed  in  this  relation.  ITider  the  name  of  C’erasus  Puddnm 
var.  Mr.  John  Standi.sh  obtained  a  certificate  for  it  in  1863, 
and  Messrs.  O.sborn  and  Soti  in  1866  for  P.  lu.sitanica  azorica, 
but  it  is  difficult  to  trace  them  in  these  days;  and  the  same  can 
be  said  of  a  variegated  leavml  form  awarded  a  certificate  under 
the  name  of  variegata  in  1873. 
Those  two  fine  forms  of  the  Cherry  shown  by  Me.ssrs.  Veitch 
and  Sons  -  one  Cerasiis  Psendo-cerasus,  certificated  in  1896,  and 
the  very  fine  variety,  James  IT.  A'eitch,  hono-ured  similarly  in 
1899,  are  fine  additions  to  our  spring  flowering  shrubs;  so  is 
Amygdalus  Davidiana  alba  (now  classed  as  Prunus),  for  which  tho 
same  introducers  obtained  a  c(‘rtificate  in  1892.  P.  cerasifera 
purpurea  (P.  Pissardi),  both  as  a  spring  flowering  hardy  plant 
and  as  a  handsome  shrnbbery  tree  in  summer,  has  fully  justified 
the  certificate  granted  to  it  in  1884.  The  pendulous  form  of 
tho  IMahaleb  Cherry  obtaincil  a  certificate''  for  Messrs.  Paul  and 
kSon  in  1874.  Persica  magnifica.  certificated  in  1894,  is  a  very 
handsome  Almond,  which  makes  an  excellent  tree;  so  does 
the  double  white  form,  certificated  in  18!)9  under  the  somewhat 
lengthy  name  of  P.  persica  vulgaris  alba  flore-plcuo.  when  shown 
bv  M  -srs.  Paul  ami  Fcn.-^R.  Duan.  V.M.H. 
Tulipa  Kaufmanniana  aurea. 
This  early-flowering  species  was  exhibited  as  a  pot  subject  by 
IMessrs.  .  Cutbush  and  Son,  Highgate,  N..  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  on  Eebruary  9,  when  an  award 
of  merit  was  accorded.  Our  figtire  shows  the  form  and  size  of 
the  flower.  'I'lie  segments  are  long  and  pointed,  coloured  red 
with  yellow  margins  on  the  outside,  and  w  holly  yellow  or  orange 
on  the  inside. 
Roses  for  Old  Trees 
Nurserymen  and  florists  ar(‘  often  asked  to  recemmend  Vines 
for  running  up  trees,  both  live  trees  and  dead  ones.  For  northern 
situations  there  are  but  Jtnglish  Ivy  covering  the  evcu’green  class. 
Among  deciduous  4Tnes,  Wistarias,  Bignonias,  Clematis,  Virginia 
and  Japanese  creepers  are  employed.  Roses  are  not  often  used, 
yet  some  of  the  strong  growers  are  well  suited  for  the  purpose. 
The  wild  Prairie  Ro.se,  R.  setigera  ;  the  Japanese,  R.  rugosa  ; 
Gloire  de  Dijon,  many  of  the  R.  Wichuraiana  type,  and  other 
free  growers  would  be  admirable  for  such  use.  Given  some  sup¬ 
port  until  the  branches  are  reached,  the  Vines  then  take  care  of 
thenrselves.  The  shoots  are  soon  supported  by  the  tree’s 
branches. 
Apple,  Northern  Greening. 
This  variety,  .so  well  known  in  the  North,  is  nearly  alway.s 
a  close  bearer.  Though  correctly  named  Northern  Greening  it 
is  often  grown  under  the  name  Winter  Greening,  but  this,  and 
Walmer  Court,  and  Cowarne  Queening,  are  but  synonyms.  It 
is  a  good  kitchen  Apple  of  a  greenish  yellow  colour,  in  a  warm 
season  marked  with  stripes  and  flushes  of  red.  The  juicy  flesh 
is  white  and  crisp,  with  a  briskly  acid  flavour.  The  fruit.s  are 
in  season  during  February,  March,  and  April,  but  as  a  rule  it 
crops  Avell  only  in  alternate  years.  At  the  same  time  it  is  a 
good  late  sort,  especially  for  cold  soils  or  for  orchards.  In  Scot¬ 
land  it  is  often  grown  as  an  espalier.  The  habit  of  the  tree  is 
erect  and  full  of  spurs.  As  a  sauce  Apple  it  is  considerably  in 
demand.  An  illustration  of  a  fruiting  branch  appeared  on  page 
239  last  week. 
Bulbocodium  vernum. 
It  is  rcunarkable,  A\hen  we  come  to  think  of  it,  how  much  our 
gardens  owe  to  the  bulbous  flowers  for  their  decoration  in  early 
sp’ving.  Banish  these  from  the  gardens  and  what  a  woeful 
desolation  there  would  be!  They  are  wonderfully  varied,  too, 
and  it  is  possible  to  discover  among  these  early  blo.s.soms  almost 
every  colour  and  many  tints.  Among  these  early  bulbous  flowers 
there  are  none  save  Bulbocodium  vernum  which  can  give  us  the 
samo  rich  purple  hue  as  that  flower.  One  despairs  of  being  able 
to  describe  it,  but  there  is  a  tinge  of  magenta  about  it,  perhaps, 
and  an  effect  no  other  flower  of  its  time  can  provide. 
Bulbocodium  vernum  is  closely  allied  to  the  C'olchicums.  or 
Meadow  Saffrons;  but,  with  a  few  species  of  these,  it  flowers  in 
spring,  generally  coming  with  the  later  Snowdrops  and  the 
Winter  Aconites,  when  it  fornrs  a  welcome  contrast  to  these. 
Even  if  it  linger  until  the  Crocuses  appear,  it  differs  in  colour 
from  these  favourite  flowers,  so  that  it  is  ever  acceptable.  Bulbo¬ 
codium  vernum  is  like  a  bright  purple  t'olchicum  in  flower,  and 
its  leaves  come  after  the  flowers,  like  those  of  the  Meadow- 
Saffrons.  It  is  a  capital  plant  for  arranging  in  clumps  of  five 
or  more  together  in  the  border;  while  a  good  mas.3  is  more 
pleasing  still. 
The  leaves  of  the  typical  form  are  green,  but  there  is  a  charm¬ 
ing  variety  which  has  its  leaves  banded  with  creamy  white  or 
pale  yellow.  This  passes  under  the  name  of  B.  vernum  fol.  A'ar. 
in  brief,  and  those  rvlio  care  for  fine-foliaged  plants  will  do  rvell 
to  secure  it  in  autumn,  when  the  planting  time  comes  on.  It 
likes  a  rather  heavy  soil,  but  it  thrives  well  in  a  light  one  also; 
while  it  can  either  be  grow  n  in  full  sun  or  partial  shade.  About 
2in  or  3in  below  the  surface  is  a  good  depth  for  the  conns  (or 
“bulbs”).  Bulbocodium  vernum  is  perfectly  hardy,  but  it  has 
one  dire  enemy  in  the  .shape  of  the  slug,  which  delights  to  croi) 
its  flowers  when  in  bud,  and  to  destroy  its  leaves.  4'liis  enemy 
will  travel  a  long  way  in  the  garden  to  a  clump  of  Bulbocodium 
vernum,  so  that  a  nightly  raid  upon  the  destroyer  when  at  work 
on  the  Bulbocodium  will  be  advantageous  to  the  garden.  Fo 
bright  a  little  flower,  and  one  so  moderate  in  price,  ought  to  have 
a  representation  in  any  garden  where  bulbous  flowers  are  grown. 
Either  the  common  typical  form  or  the  one  with  Aariegated 
leaves,  which  is  a  little  dearer,  w  ill  be  found  welcome  iuha'u'tant 
of  the  garden. — 8.  Aunott. 
