September 3, 1874. ] 



JODENAL OP HOETICULTUSE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



203 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



AUBRIETIAS, AND THEIR CULTURE. 



MONGST ilowers for spring ami early sum- 

 mer — ilowersof the simplest, easiest, hardiest 

 cultiu-e, flowers dense and teUiug in colom', 

 and flowers that will grow in any sort of 

 soil in anybody's garden — few deserve higher 

 rank, if few are more lowly in habit, than 

 the Aubrietias. Was it " "Wiltshire Rec- 

 tor" who some time ago detected some 

 special virtue in men of low stature, and 

 quoted M. Thiers, Nelson, Disraeh, Lord 

 John Russell, &c., as examples? What, if the notion 

 Lad any kernel in it, would become of hteraiy men if 

 represented by Samuel Johnson and statesmen by Prince 

 Bismarck ? No ; there is nothing in it. But yet we 

 often find Uttle men the most fierce — no, energetic ; Uttle 



women the well, the most manly ; little dogs the 



most snappish ; little bantams the most pugnacious. Sup- 

 pose we admit that, and also that a little good-humoured 

 banter is refreshing, then it will not matter whether or 

 not I am a great gardener or onr genial friend a little 

 parson, or whether, as is far more likely, just the reverse 

 is the case, and tliat I am the " httle 'un " after aU. We 

 will decide to let each one have it as he will ; but — to 

 come to business — don't forget the Aubrietias and the 

 little ones in the ascendant. 



Actually the httle Omphalodes verna has cropped up, 

 and Mr. Record has exactly hit its culture. For places 

 partially shaded by trees, and used in conjunction with 

 the variegated Daisy (Bellis aucubaefoha), it makes charm- 

 ing little beds arranged according to taste. Years ago I 

 used it with great satisfaction. A broad border of it 

 round the white Spring Woodroof is chaste and pretty 

 partly under trees. It is very adaptable, used in the 

 circles at the base of single trees or Conifers, where it 

 grows well, and has a chaste and agreeable effect with- 

 out doing any harm. Thus much in response to Mr. 

 Record. The Aubrietias, however, are not like it, except 

 in Iramble stature. They rejoice in sun, shade and ex- 

 treme moisture being contrary to their nature. They are 

 rock plants ^jor excellence, only put them in a suitable 

 spot. For covering miniature knolls, or little elevations 

 in sunny corners such as one often sees in urban, .sub- 

 urban, and rural villa gardens, they rank amongst the 

 best of all Nature's gifts. They are admirable for window 

 boxes, and the various little schemes adopted to make a 

 window-sill inviting. For vases of home construction, as 

 the hollow stem of a tree stuck up here and there, tliey 

 fit to perfection, or a sanitary pipe stuck in the ground 

 socket uppermost affords a fitting receptacle for them, 

 and if jutting out of or contiguous to a rustic pile it is 

 not to be despised. 



Does the sanitary idea provoke a smile ? Well, I am 

 fortified, having, in fact, royal patronage for a shield. 

 No long time ago, unless I am very much mistaken, I 

 saw a pair of these sanitary vases within the precincts of 

 Windsor Castle, and not a stone's throw from St. George's 

 Cliapel. There ! give over laughing if yon are loyal, 

 No. 701.— Vol.. XXVn., New Semes. 



as all are who read these pages. They can be used now 

 without compunction and with a conscience void of re- 

 proach ; and if any fashionable floral critic, who can 

 tolerate nothing but the " latest out," should give you to 

 under.stand they are an outrage on the taste of the times, 

 tell him seriously that the " Queen has them in her 

 garden," and you are safe at once. Ten to one he will 

 be converted there and then, and in the exuberance of 

 his feelings reply with, " BleEs the Queen, how homely 

 she is ! " 



But the Aubrietias are useful for other and more gene- 

 ral purposes of garden decoration. For marginal lines 

 or clumps in the front of beds and borders they have a 

 great de.al to recommend them. Their profusion of bloom, 

 compact dense habit, and firm and decisive colour, sum- 

 mon them to the front as amongst the very best of 

 spring and early summer flowers. In their colour and 

 habit they have no equal at their season — say March to 

 June, botli inclusive — and in fact at any season but few 

 things can be found to surpass them. Given an instance. 

 Plant a front row of Aubrietia, next Iberis corifoha, next, 

 again, scarlet Lothian Stocks ; or fill a circular bed on the 

 same principle, and then say what can be finer and more 

 attractive, more gay and yet more quiet, at any period of 

 the year. But then comes the cry of fear— the old bug- 

 bear again — of "What can we have after them?" I 

 recollect some years ago centering a bed with Campanula 

 pentagonia (rich blue), edging with an old Iberis, and 

 margining with an Aubrietia. It gave such pleasure to 

 the owner that when, in July, I essayed to remove and 

 refill with Perilla and white Asters (both sown in the open 

 in May, and pricked-out on a layer of manure), he said, 

 "No. Let it alone ; I will respect that bed for what it 

 has been." That was a true respect for flowers. It would 

 be none the worse, and enjoyment none the less, if such 

 a feeling were more general. There is any amount of 

 respect for an empty bed for the sake of the future. Why 

 not respect the past ? It is well to look forward with 

 pleasurable feelings, but make the present right, and is 

 there not solid enduring enjoyment to be derived from 

 the past ? On reflection everyone will admit that it must 

 be so, and that it is the royal road to attain the fulfil- 

 ment of any cherished aspiration. But a plan like that 

 would not do in a uniform geometric garden, where a 

 break m the design would be fatal. It is not suggested 

 for where it will not do. only for where it is adaptable. 

 The name of such places is legion, and those who cannot 

 find one may make one, and grow and enjoy these old 

 flowers. Enjoy them and respect them, and so make 

 the pleasure lasting. 



Besides being used in continuous lines and margins, 

 the Aubrietias are excellent plants for the fronts of mixed 

 beds— none better, and no places better for them. There, 

 too, they will be respected as well as admired, as I have 

 ever observed that those who prefer this enjoyable style 

 of gardening have an innate love for flowers and plants 

 individually? Used in this simple manner in richly- 

 coloured circular clumps a foot across, more or less, accord- 

 ing to taste, in alternation with Golden Feather, Iberis, 



No. 1853— Vol. LII. OLd Sehjis. 



