184 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



sister flower, G. paniculata, but borne on a prostrate in- 

 stead of an erect plant. 



G. repens is a valuable plant for hanging over large 

 rockwork, making trailing growths some feet in length, 

 above which, at the extremities of the branches, are 

 borne clouds of small, white flowers, which may be em- 

 ployed in room of those of G. paniculata. 



This gypsophila is easily grown on any rockwork, or 

 even on the level, in light soil, and will thrive either in 

 sun or partial shade. 



An almost amazing variety exists among the Sedums, 

 or Stonecrops, and anyone owning a large collection of 

 these useful flow-ers will derive much enjoyment from 

 a study of their beauties and the numerous points of in- 

 terest they reveal. They comprise plants of very diiTer- 

 ent habit, some forming rosettes of Houseleek-like 

 growth : others creeping close to the ground and cover- 

 ing it with a dense carpet of small leaves, smothered, 

 when in bloom, with flowers ; others, again, are of more 

 erect growth, often with flat leaves, and crowned with 

 heads of bloom ; while another section consists of plants 

 of trailing growth, either with flattish leaves or with 

 thickish branches clad with pointed leaves. It is, indeed, 

 possible to form a collection of rare beauty in many fea- 

 tures, not the least of the charms some of these plants 

 exhibit being the tints of the foliage or the downy ar- 

 pearance caused by the down or tiny hairs on the leaves. 



Sedum pilosum belongs to the class first named, with 

 foliage arranged in rosettes like those of a Sempervivur.i. 

 and covered with a fine down. Above the leaves are 

 borne the pink flowers, which open about June and July, 

 and combine with the foliage to form a satisfying feature 

 of the rock garden. 



The mossy saxifrages are exceedingly numerous, and 

 deserve a share of the attention now devoted to their al- 

 lies of other sections. They present charming cushions 

 of moss-like growth, and often of the most exquisite 

 shades of green, sometimes charmingly tinted with red 

 or brown at different seasons. They vary considerably in 

 size of foliage and in color of flowers, but none are more 

 attractive than the species with small, closely-set leaves, 

 truly moss-like in their appearance. In autumn, winter 

 and early spring they are generally masses of the most 

 vivid green, and are thus beautiful at a time when the 

 rock garden stands in need of all the attractions it can 

 present. 



This saxifrage and all its forms delight in a somewhat 

 shady place, yet not under the drip of trees. A north, 

 northeast or northwest exposure suits it best. In a sunny 

 position it often suffers in dry weather, and is disfigured 

 by brown patches appearing in the centre. In continued 

 dry weather it appreciates a good soaking of water. — 

 E.vtracts from Gardening Magazine (English ) . 



HOW TO GROW HOLLYHOCKS. 



There are many who are deterred from growing these 

 grand plants by the prevalence of the disease, or, more 

 properly, the fungoid pest, that i-; likely to infest them, 

 the same pest attacking more or less all the members of 

 the JMallow family, of which the Hollyhocks are the most 

 important of the garden representatives. Hut one may 

 say that Hollyhocks are indispensable in the late sum- 

 mer and autumn, and they cannot be let go lightly. In 

 strong soils they are nearly always healthy, a plant last- 

 ing for several years, throwing up several grand spikes 

 and being well clothed with foliage to the ground. The 

 difficulty arises in the lighter soils, for the Hollyliock is 

 what gardeners call a gross feeder, rejoicing in a soil 

 C'ther of loam or lime, in any case rich and deep and also 

 ■well matured. There can hardly be a place whc^se con- 



ditions are worse for Hollyhocks than the present 

 writer's garden — on a sandy upland. Here all flower- 

 borders have to be artificially made ; but where Holly- 

 hocks are to grow it is made deeper still, the sand taken 

 out to a depth of 3 feet and the place filled with the best 

 stuff we can get together, with the ashes of the fire-heap 

 plentifully admixed and some good manure from 1 foot 

 to 18 inches down. 



For flowering the same _\ear. Hollyhock seed may be 

 sown in heat as early as the first days of January ; but it 

 ma\- be sown a month or six weeks later if the ])lants are 

 pushed on as quickly as may be. There is a good deal 

 in getting a strain of seed that will give the right-shaped 

 flower. The best kind has a distinct guard ])etal or outer 

 petticoat, and the rising centre is only moderately filled. 

 In this case the color also is much enhanced by the play 

 and transmitted glow of light and tint within and be- 

 tween the inner petals. All this is lost in the round, 

 tight flower, where the light can onlv |)lay upon the outer 

 surface. 



There is much beauty of tender coloring among some 

 of the single Hollyhocks, but of these the ones that are 

 easiest to grow and are the most generally useful are the 

 varieties of .\lthfea ficifolia, the fig-like shape of the leaf 

 accounting for tlie specific name. The best are those of 

 sulphur and white colorings, which should be secured if 

 possible, or there will probably be a preponderance of 



TlUC UNDERGARDF.XERS' LOnKE. ELVEDOX li.\LL, SUFFOLK, 

 EXGL.AND. 



flowers of a poor, washy, purplish pink. But if mixed 

 seed is sown, some will be sure to be yellow and white, 

 and seed for further use can be kept from these. — The 

 Garden. 



AN UNDERGARDENER'S LODGE 



The picture accompanying these notes represents a 

 bothy or undergardeners' lodge in one of the best of the 

 gardens of England, that of Elvedon Hall, Sufifolk: This 

 !S a thoroughly modern structure, as well fitted in its in- 

 terior as it is handsome and attractive in its e.xterior, and 

 furnishes accommodation for a stafi' of eight or nine as- 

 sistants, including the foreman. Each man has his own 

 dormitory, while there is a main mess room, a recreation 

 room and baths. A woman is engaged to keep the rooms 

 clean and in order, and to cook the meals, as is general 

 in such bothies. 



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 avenue, Xew York. 



