7 JUNE 1930, Page 14

AFRICAN FLOWERS.

Africa has made many invaluable presents to English gardens such as nemesia, most jewel-like of all half-hardy annuals, or—to take the strangest botanically—the primuline variety of gladiolus from the Zambesi Falls, or the brick-red gerbera, or the Cape dandelion. A newer arrival may be chronicled. It has, I think, several varieties ; but the particular flower that attracts me is Venedium Fastuosum—introdueed by Suttons. It has a quality of colour, a sort of vivid orange, that is peculiarly African ; and its lusty grey-green foliage has additional attractions of its own. The flower is more or less daisy-like in pattern ; but there is no pyrethrum or other composite flower quite like it in hue or general appearance. The plant appears to be hardy in our climate, which, in spite of the pessimists, is surprisingly congenial to a great number