54 



imsil (iAliDKMNCi 



LTtMUis of Kiii)li()rl)ia(.'i'()us plants [closely allied 

 to the box. There are only three species 

 (leseribed — (1) Sareoecteea piuiiit'oiinis I'ldiii 

 liulia and Malaya. This species is not liaiil\ . 



1 reipiires to be kept 



11 ;:i'eenli(Hise. 



(2) S. Hookcriana, Himalayas, which is h.iidx 

 in many ])arts of Ireland. It is a \ciy onia 

 mental ever<j:reen shrub from ."{ to 4 feet liiLih, 

 with lonii irlossy. narrow shinin.L' lea\cs which 

 jiive to the plant a liand)oo-like api)earance. 



(3) S. humilis. which is a muc-h dwarfer e\er- 

 green plant with broader leaves, and pri'tt\ 

 small numerous. <;reenish white llnucis. which 

 are frajfrant. and which ajjpi'ar in l"'el)ruary. 

 Tliis species a])pears to be hardy in Ireland. 

 and likes to be cultivated in partial shade. It 

 is very suitable for a corner in the rock i>;arden. 

 where a good evergreen is retiuired for winter 

 effect, sueli as is shown in the figure of the plant 

 at Glasnevin. 8. iiumilis was tirst discovered 

 in China by Dr. Henry in Hujjeh, and in 

 S/.echuan. It was subsequently discovered by 

 Wilson in Western China in 1907, who sent seeds 

 home to \'eitch of Chelsea. These seeds 

 germinated, and from this firm the Glasnevin 

 plant was obtained. There are two other 

 species from China in cultivation, which have 

 not >et flowered, and consequent!}^ are un- 

 determined. 



F. W. MooKi;. 



The Sundews. 



By T. W. Briscoe. 



These are sm all -gro wing but extremely interest- 

 ing plants, and are known as Droseras or 

 insectivorous subjects. The British species, 

 J), rotundifolia, is foiuid in various parts of the 

 country, usually where si)hagnum moss and 

 other i)()g plants thrive, but it will do remark- 

 ably Avell if treated as a greenhouse plant, while 

 of course a damp spot in the rock garden would 

 be a capital place for a small group. The 

 Australian species are among the finest in the 

 genus, and they embrace D. binata, sometimes 

 referred to as D. dichotoma, a charmnig plant 

 which has large pure white flowers. D. spa- 

 thulata is another beautiful lolant. being very 

 distinct, and of a close compact habit. When 

 grown in full sunshine it turns almost red. and 

 is then most attractive. The North-American 

 D. filiformis is a desirable species, and this 

 remark a])plies to 1). capensis, which hails from 

 the Cape of CJood Hope. The name Sundews is 

 applied on accoinit of the glandular hairs, which 

 appear as if covered with dew. 



(ri/n KAi. l)Kr.\Il,s. Droseras are of easy 

 < iijiiii-e. and they nei'd cool intermi'diate treat- 

 incnl ihroiighout the year-. Pans some six or 

 scNcn inches in diainelci |ir(.\c a convenient 

 si/e. and se\ eial < low ii> --linidd lie placed in each 

 so as to Inriii ;i nice coin |i;ic1 >peciiiieii. The 

 pan- niiisl he well draiiK-d. and the repotting 

 should be done in spring, just piior to growth 

 (•omiiiencing. The soil is made up ol ld)rous 

 ])eat. li\e sphagnum moss, and partly decayed 

 oak leaves in erpial parts, to which i-an be adde(l 

 a generous s])rinkling of sihcr sand. The whole 

 is cut up moderately line, and the com])ost nnist 

 be niach' fairly lirm around the roots. Plenty of 

 water is jieeded. and the surroundings should 

 be kept moist b\ occasionally s])raying between 

 the pots. Full sunshine may be given, and 

 am])le ventilation whenever the weather is 

 bright and hot. Rain Avater is ad\i.sed, because 

 if hard water is used the sphagnum moss often 

 dies, and the rooting medium will soon become 

 a sour mass in whicli Droseras will not succeed. 

 Droseras may be increased by division, seed, 

 and root cuttings. The two latter are the best 

 methods. Seed may be sown, as soon as ri])e. 

 on a pot of sphagnum moss and ])eat, but all the 

 large heads of the former must l)e ])icked off. 

 or they will soon grow and choke many of the 

 seedlings. To secure ])lants from root cuttings, 

 only roots from strong healthy ])la.nts should be 

 selected, and they are cut into pieces about 

 half an inch in length. They should be laid on 

 the surface of a pot containing the mixture 

 quoted abo\ e, and covered with a thin layer of 

 sphagnum moss. If placed in a close propagat- 

 ing case or under a bell glass, the majority will 

 soon begin to grow. In time they Avill be given 

 a separate existence, and gradually inured to 

 cooler treatment. 



The Alpine Columbines. 1 



By H. CORREVON. 



I ALWAYS remember the enthusiasm of my late 

 friend, the Re\ erend Ewbank, Mhen he saw in 

 the leagues Valk^v the Aquilegia alpina in 

 masses. He told me once of his desire to see 

 the plant growing wild, so I invited him for a i 

 trip — he was then staying at Lausanne for 

 the education of his daughters — in the Valais. ; 

 I showed him one day the very place 

 for the aljiine Columbine, and he enjoyed it 

 immensely. 



Of course it is well worth seeing, and nobody j 

 can imagine it if not seen. I remember too j 



