352 



JOUENAL OP HORTICDLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



[ May 1, 18T3. 



ers clearly seen. It is very pretty and well worthy of notice. 

 I should much like to see a white aa well as other coloured 

 varieties of this distinct species, as it is so conspicuous when 

 ■well grown. 



Fulyanihuses. — There is great diversity, and as they produce 

 seeds even more freely than the Primrose, and these germi- 

 nate more quickly, the varieties are endless ; and now and 

 then flowers approaching the requirements of the florist are 

 met with, but in general they are less robust than the common 

 Polyanthuses, and consequently not so fitted to rough it for 

 the purpose liere indicated. I should much like to see a pure 

 white Polyanthus. Yellows there arc, endently akin to the 

 CowsUp, but I am not fortunate in having them. 



Double Yelloto Primrose. — It may seem odd to make the 

 assertion, but I have assuredly seen more plants of this in a 

 cottager's garden quite fifty years ago, than I have ever met 

 with on any occasion since, and my own stock of it is very 

 limited. Like most of the family it requires more shade and 

 moisture than it otten receives in fashionable ijuarters, but 

 where it does thrive well nothing can be more handsome. 

 It flowers earlier than the Double White, and is, perhaps, a 

 better grower, but it is not multipUed so quickly as the single 

 one. Nevertheless, to those having a moister climate than we 

 have in Kent, I would strongly recommend it. 



Double 3Iauve or Liliic. — This is certainly a more robust 

 grower than the yellow, is more frequently met with, and good- 

 sized plants look well when in full flower ; but in the distance 

 it is not so showy as the single varieties. 



Double Jfhite Primrose. — This is, perhaps, the latest of the 

 whole family in flowering, and is the slowest grower, but when 

 fully out it is handsome, and as a variety is indispensable. 



Double Potyantlms. — I liavo not been able to do much with 

 this, and, therefore, can only say its flowers are handsome, 

 and in other places it may thrive better. 



I cannot close this notice on the Primulas I grow in quantity 

 without strongly recommending those intending to plant them 

 extensively to commence with the single kinds ; they present 

 endless varieties, and it is not too much to say they can be 

 multiplied twice as fast as the doubles, and as a batch of seed- 

 lings often bring out colours not previously known, the in- 

 terest attached to them is much enhanced. Perhaps the tints 

 most desirable now a-days are those bordering on blue, and 

 some of the kinds having a lavender hue might in time supply 

 US with the desired colour. A deep orange is also wanted. 

 One of the most important merits a Primrose can have, earli- 

 ness of flowering, ought also to have its claim to notice, and 

 as I have not met with any variety yet coming-in so early as 

 the single white alluded to (this may, nevertheless, be not 

 the case with all single whites), I need only say that for winter- 

 decorative purposes one that commences blooming in Novem- 

 ber or before, is worth a dozen that only come into use in 

 April. 



Dwarf Double White Socket. — Where this grows well it 

 makes a neat edging, but it is not everywhere that it thrives, 

 and like the Double Yellow Primrose was possibly more plenti- 

 ful fifty years ago than now. I lost sight of it for many years, 

 and only accidentally met with it near Glasgow a few years ago. 

 I find it is not by any means a free grower, and is liable to 

 die-off at the neck. Perhaps our soil does not suit it, at all 

 events the tall Eocket grows fast enough, while this merely 

 exists. It is not more than 8 or 10 inches high when in full 

 flower, and is a neat grower. 



lianuneulus. — I have only once or twice attempted them and 

 cannot say much on my success. The old Bachelor's Buttons 

 grows too tall for my purpose, and the bulbous kinds leave the 

 ground too long bare to merit notice. 



Snntolina incuna. — This and its fellow, S. Chamcccyparissus, 

 are both good when an edging of upwards of 8 inches high is 

 wanted, for they soon attain that height and cannot well be kept 

 lower. A neat foliage of a silvery grey colour, with a sturdy 

 habit, renders this plant very suitable for the purpose. 



Salvia argentea. — The thick blanket-like foliage plant is also 

 better for a large than a small bed. It is easily obtained from 

 seed, but in winter its appearance is not ornamental. 



Sapoiiaria oeijmoides. — Having used this many years ago I 

 include it here, but fear I have lost it. As a neat dwarf plant 

 it well deserves a place, its blooms being also interesting. 



Saxifraya. — Tliis very important family presents many mem- 

 bers all fitted for the present purpose. Some of them are re- 

 markable for the beauty of their flowers, while others and by 

 far the greater number are interesting from the character of 

 their foliage. They also differ widely in the latter respect, 



perhaps no family more so, for while some have the tiniest 

 foliage imaginable, others as S. calendulacea have leaves 

 almost as large as a Cabbage. I shall not, however, have to 

 enter into the tall-growing kinds, but may say that amongst 

 the dwarf ones with neat foliage like frosted silver, S. Aizoon 

 and Aizoon minor, as well as S. pectinata, S. intacta, and 

 others look well regardless of all flowers, while another class 

 represents a section resembling in some measure the Lyco- 

 podiums of our plant houses. Amongst these S. hypnoides, 

 S. hu'ta, S.ca;spitosa,S.hirsuta,and S.Stansfieldii may betaken 

 as a sample. They have all deep green foliage of the neatest 

 possible form. Another section presents us with flowers of 

 considerable beauty, as S. oppositifolia, which, however, I have 

 not been able to do much with ; S. dentata, S. Geum, and 

 S. granulata plena, all good. That which I grow most has 

 leaves as long as the Willow and covered with hairs, giving it 

 a silvery tint ; the habit at the same time being very dwarf 

 and compact, although the flower stem, when it does flower,, 

 rises upwards of 2 feet high ; we have named it S. crassifolia, 

 but I am not sure of the name being correct. 



Sedum. — This faniUy may also bo divided into two classes — 

 one remarkable for foliage, the other for its flowering qualities. 

 Amongst the latter S. roseum is pretty, as is also S. dentatum, 

 and better stiU S. kamtschaticum, the latter two being yellow, 

 the first-named rose-coloured. Then we have the succulent 

 class, as S. glaucum, a great favourite with the London park 

 gardeners. S. album is fast-growing, and so are one or two 

 others, while in the Stonecrop way S. Lydium and S. pul- 

 chellum have some resemblance to the well known S. acre. 

 All are of good habit of growth, and not particular as to site, 

 at the same time a dry situation suits them better than one of 

 an opposite character. 



Silene Schafta. — A neat-flowering plant that oaght not to 

 be disturbed frequently ; it is also somewhat miffy — i.e., does 

 not like every place, and I am not sure that ours is the right 

 one for it, for I find it goes off very much. 



Soldanella alpiiia. — As with the last-named we have not suc- 

 ceeded with it well. I imagine it wants a peaty soil. 



Spiriea japonica. — This does remarkably well with us and 

 nothing seems to injure it excepting a sharp frost when it is 

 far advanced in growth, as was the case in 1872. It is occa- 

 sionally called Hoteia japonica, and the habit as well as the 

 flowers of the plant is so well known and so universally ad- 

 mired that comment upon it is needless. It is propagated 

 freely by division just as it is making a start to grow towards 

 the end of Mai'ch. 



Sjnrira Ulmaria variegata. — A variety of this with golden 

 markings is very pretty both for pots and in the open ground,, 

 and it is as robust as the normal plant is when growing in 

 some moist ditch or other suitable place. The variegated form 

 is dwarf enough when growing ou ordinary garden soil in a 

 moderately dry place. 



Spiraa Filipendula plena. — The very handsome foliage of this 

 entitles it to a place as an edging plant apart from its orna- 

 mental cream-coloured flowers, which, though somewhat tall for 

 small beds, are nevertheless excusable when the neat appearance 

 the foliage of 'the plant makes aU the year through is borne in- 

 mind. I strongly recommend it. 



Stachys lanata. — Rather coarse, but useful where some other 

 thing wUl not do very well. 



Stipa glanca. — A greyish-coloured Grass of compact habit,, 

 and more persistent than most Grasses are. I am not certain if 

 this be not the same as is called Festuca glanca, for although 

 I had both from respectable nurserymen I could not distin- 

 guish any difference. Stipa pennata is another plant al- 

 together, and not so well adapted for edging purposes, its 

 feathery form when in flower being its merit. 



Sempervivum ealiforuicum. — This very convenient-growing 

 plant cannot be too highly recommended, and it has the recom- 

 mendation of not needing to bo replanted very often. I believe 

 we have edgings of it that have been in their present positiou 

 for ten years' or more, and a good broad edging, say a foot or 

 more wide, grown naturally, is prettier than the uniformity 

 that is met with in fashionable flower-beds, where only large 

 plants are used. When left to itself, the centre of the mass 

 is elevated a little above the edges, and a dense uniform tuft 

 is the result. It seems to like a good soil, but wiU also live 

 and do well in a dry situation. 



.v. teetorum, the common Houseleek, is not so pretty as the 

 CaUforniau one, being smaller and more open. 



i'. glubiferum. — As the name implies, this is globular, larger 

 than a walnut, and the foliage thickly set in the same uniform 



