niws 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDEN ER. 
June  23,  1904. 
CARDEl^  MEANINGS 
The  Victoria  Water  Lily. 
Tlio  plant  of  the  Great  Amazon  Water  Lily,  Victoria  Regia, 
now  growing  in  the  Itoyal  Botanic  Society’s  gardens  at  Regent’s 
Park,  has' opened  its  first  flo\\  er,  nearly  a  month  eailiei  than 
usual.  It  appears  to  he  an  extremely  vigorons  specimen,  for 
though  grown  from  seed  scan  this  year,  it  already  possesses 
eight  fully  expanded  leaves,  each  between  5ft  and  6ft  in  dia¬ 
meter,  and  one  leaf-hud  now  just  unfolding,  vhich,  judging  bj 
its  pr’e.sent  dimensions,  seems  likely  to  largely  exceed  these 
figures.  Last  year’s  ])lant  pi'odnced  in  all  twenty-six 'llev  ers,  a 
very  fail-  record  when  the  comparatively  sunless  sum’uer  is  taken 
into  consideration. 
Schizostylis  eoccinea. 
The  figure  on  the  opposite  page  I'epresents  two  flowering 
I'acemes  of  thi.s  Gladiolu.s-like  plant,  and  also  shov  s  that  it 
makes  an  adaptable  pot  subject;  The  flowers  are  crimson- 
scarlet,  appearing  in  September,  October,  and  November.  We 
have  seen  this  plant  flowering  in  rare  style  in  the  gardens  at 
Killerton,  Devon,  vrhere  the  bulbs  had  remained  undisturbed 
in  a  moderately  rich  border  within  the  garden  walls,  for  years. 
It  is  well  worthy  of  a  trial  in  sheltered,  sunny  borders;  or  for 
pot  culture,  the  roots  being  planted  in  .spring.  The  plant  is  a  : 
native  of  South  Africa,  and  is  commonly  called  tne  Crimson 
Flag  or  Kaffir  Idly. 
Floral  and  Plant  Arrang-ements. 
In  the  carrying  out  of  floral  decorations  the  practice  of  using 
plants  and  cut  blooms  as.sociated  together  is  more  general  than 
formerly.  Frequently  cut  blooms  can  bo  introduced  into  groups 
with  great  effect.  Liliums  cut  before  they  are  too  far  advanced 
last  equally  well  in  water  as  they  will  in  pots,  and  can  be  cut 
with  .stems  of  suitable  lengths’  for  any  particular  po.sition,  and 
with  an  undergrowth  of  good  foliage  they  .can  be  used  with 
greater  elfecb  than  those  in  pots.  Roses,  too,  now  that  we  get 
them  with  such  good  stems,  may'  be  msed  with  great  advantage 
when  cut,  where  it  would  be  impossible  to  make  the  same  effect  ' 
with  pot  plants.  Just  now  the  large  branches  of  hardy  flower- 
in  shrubs  are  introduced  among  pot  plants  in  the  large  groups, 
and  have  a  most  imposing  effect.  Many  other  hardy  flowers  are 
used  in  a  siinilar  manner.  The  Irises  arranged  in  large  vases, 
each  vase  being  filled  with  one  distinct  colour,  make  a  fine 
effect  among  foliage  plants.  With  a  good  foundation  of  ferns, 
and  an  edging  of  Selaginella,  much  of' the  colour  may  be  made 
up  of  cut  blooni  in  the  foreground,  especially  in  the  long,  arch¬ 
ing  spikes  of  Odontoglossum  crispum,  or  good  .spikes  of  Den- 
drohinms,  and  other  orchids  may  often  be  used  where  the  plants 
would  take  up  too  much  space.  I  find  some  flori.sts  cut  up  good 
foliage  plants  and  use  the  tops  or  brauches  in  preference  to 
using  the  plants.  Grasses  and  reeds  are  also  much  in  demand 
for  the  same  purpose,  ddie  fact  that  in  exhibition  groups  cut 
flowers  are  not  usually  admissible  in  groups  of  plants  ai'ranged 
for  effect  leads  many  tf)  overlook  the  advantage  of  combining 
the  tw  o  w  heir  arranging  groups  for  ordinary  decoration.  While 
undue  crowding  should  always  be  avoided,  there  should  always 
be  suflicimit  green  foliage  to  cover  all  pots,  and  even  where  pots 
have  to  be  elevated  some  arrangement  can  be  made  to  hide  tne 
pots.  I  find  wdth  the  florists  who  carry  out  the  best  decora¬ 
tions  a  great  point  is  made  of  always  having  a  good  snppiy  of 
Selaginella  and  other  dwarf  plants  for  edging.  Ficus  repens  is 
also  extensiveiy  used.  Tho.se  who  supply  this  grow  it  on 
shelves  w  here  the  long  growths  can  hang  down,  or  some 
grow  it  in  suspended  pots.  Ficus  radicans,  the  ordinary 
green  form,  is  rapid  in  growth  and  very  useful  for 
some  purpo.ses,  but  unfortunately  it  does  not  .stand  so  well  as 
repens.  Asparagus  Sprengeri  is  also  in  demand,  and  cut  sprays 
of  this  may  often  be  used  with  advantage ;  stuck  into  the  pots 
of  other  plants,  it  will  keep  fresh  for  a  long  time,  and  I  have 
found  it  mo.st  serviceable  yyhere  a  pot  could  not  be  worked  in. — 
Fxriarr  (in  the  “Horticultural  Trade  Journal.’’.! 
Fpiinus  psencio-cepa.sus  van*  liopterisis. 
There  are  many  forms  of  this  the  wel'i-known  Japanese 
flowering  Cherry,  ranging  from  single  to  double  forms.  'When 
in  blossom  these  shrubs  pn-sent  a  glorious  sight,  the  branches 
sometimes  being  so  completely  covered  with  flowers  as  to  cause 
them  to  bend  under  the  floral  weight.  1  he  blooms  are  laige, 
pink  to  rose  in  colour,  and  appear  with  the  bursting  of  the  first 
[eaves.— (“Florists’  Fxchange.’’) 
Bpidal  Flovveps. 
Orange  blossoms  are  not  the  flowers  that  all  brides  wear 
wdien  approaching  the  nuptial  altar.  In  different  lands  various 
posies  are  supposed  to  be  of  good  omen  w  lieii'  a  maid  is  begm- 
ning  her  wedded  life.  In  Germany  the  bride  wears  Myrtle. 
In  Italy, 'white  Ro.ses.  Red  Roses  and  Carnations  crown  the 
bride  of  Spain.  The  bride  of  Greece  wears.  Vine  leaves.  Crowns 
of  silver  deck  the  brides  of  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Servia.  In 
Bavaria  and  Silesia  pearls,  glass,  and  gold  wire  are  used. 
Orange  blo.s,sonis  were  worn  by  Saracen  brides,  and  since  the 
time  of  the  Crusades  have  been  worn  occasionally  throughout 
Europe  as  the  emblem  of  marriage.  Finally  French  milliners 
introduced  them  definitely  into  tlie  bridal  outfit,  and  among 
French  and  English-speaking  people  the  Orange  blossom  has 
become  almost  symbolicai  of  marriage. 
Spot  Disease  of  the  Violet. 
This  seems  to  be  the  chief  trouble  with  greenhouse  Violets 
in  this  State.  The  white  spots  are  circular,  usually  about  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  They’  seem  to  start  as  black 
specks,  and  on  the  stem  this  blackening  is  mo.st  pronounced.  It 
is  only  rarely  that  the  writer  has  found  the  A'lternaria  produc¬ 
ing  spores  on  these  spots,  which  .seems  strange,  since  the  disease 
often  spreads  rapidly  in  the  beds.  The  trouble  is  likely'  to  get 
started  in  the  houses  in  the  fall,  before  heat  is  turned  on,  espe¬ 
cially  if  the  grower  is  trying  to  cut  down  his  coal  bill.  The 
character  of  the  hou.se,  as  to  moisture,  .soil,  etc.,  probably  also 
plays  a  prominent  part  in  the  trouble.  The  disease  is  very  often 
woi-st  where  Violets  have  been  grown  for  some  time.  Growers 
generally'  pick  off  the  diseased  leaves  as  soon  as  they  appear ;  in 
bad  cases,  however,  this  often  means  very  severe  pruning.  Pos¬ 
sibly  the  thorough  removal  of  all  diseased  leaves  W'hen  tha 
plants  are  set  out,  followed  Avith  a  treatment  AA’itli  Bordeaux 
mixtuie,-  might  proA'e  helpful  in  preventing  the  trouble.  Aftei' 
the  disease  is  thoroughly  started,  perhaps  little  can  be  expected 
from  spraying.— (Profes.sor  G.  P.  Canton,  in  Connecticut 
Experiment  Station  Report.) 
Remedies  for  Red  Spider. 
An  account  of  the  red  spider  or  spinning  mite  (retranychus 
and  BiVobia)  is  given  in  the  Board  of  Agriculture’s  leaflet. 
No.  41,  and,  as  supplementing  the  information  therein  given,  it 
is  l)elieved  that  the  folloAvihg  remedies,  if  diligently  practised, 
would  he  attended  Avith  success.  As  mixtures  for  .spraying:— 
(1)  Boil  6oz  of  black  soap  in  1  quart  of  Avater  for  15  minutes, 
then  add  4oz  of  Avhite  soap  in  poAvder  and  boil  for  15  minutes. 
Next  pour  a  quart  of  paraffin  into  a  pail,  add  the  above,  and  stir 
.  thoroughly.  This  “  stock  ’’  might  be  alloAA'ed  to  stand  for  a  day 
or  two,  being  .stirred  or  churned  every  noAV  and  then  until  a 
thick,  buttery  mass  has  resulted.  For  use,  dilute  Avith  Avater 
according  to  the  .strength  of  the  plants  to  be  treated,  thus  :  One 
part  of  the  stock  to  ten  parts  of  Avater  for  strong  plants,  one 
to  hfteen  for  not  so  strong  [ilants,  and  one  to  thii-ty-five  for 
tender  plants.  It  is  safer  to  syringe  afteinvards  Avith  cold  Avater. 
(2)  a  mixture  of  infusion  of  quas.sia  chips  and  tobacco  juice  is 
also  fairly  satisfactory,  but  Avhatever  spraying  mixture  is  used 
— and  a  good  douching  AA'ith  soap  and  Avater  is  often  satisfactory 
— care  must  be  taken  that  the  application  is  thorough,  and  that 
the  under  sides  of  the  leaves  are  not  neglected.  Sulphur  mixed 
Avith  water  so  that  it  can  be  painted  on  the  hot-Avater  [>ipes  is 
often  used  in  conservatories.  In  this  use  of  sulphur  care  must 
1)0  taken  to  maintain  a  proper  moisture  in  the  greenhouse. 
Apart  from  the  danger  of  this  treatment  if  the  atmosphere  bo 
dry,  one  of  the  great  causes  of  the  preA’alence  and  multiplication 
of  red  spider  is  OA'erheating  and  oA'er-dryness.  Where  forcing 
Ihas  to  be  done,  and  the  temperature  is  therefore  high,  attention 
must  be  paid  to  keeping  a  moist  atmosphere. 
