Jolt 7, 1888.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



they do well. The species is to be seen in flower at 

 the Vineyard Nurseries, Garston, F. Ashton. 



BULBOPHYLLUM LoBBII. 



Rf With the exception of a few species the Bulbophyl- 

 lums^afford very few which are worthy the attention 

 of the ordinary cultivator. The species under notice 

 is perhaps the best ; the flowers, which are solitary 



HARDY PLANTS. 



Caltha palustris, fl.-pl. — Most persons are 

 acquainted with the common Marsh Marigold, but 

 not with the double form, which, however, is a plant 

 deserving of a more extended cultivation in our 

 gardens than it has at present. It is eminently adapted 

 for growing at the base of rockeries, margins of 



Fig. 1. — specimen plant of dendrobifm wahdiaxum. (see p. •*.) 



and produced om radical scapes, are large, with sepals 

 and petals of a deep tawny-yellow ; the upper lip is 

 spotted at the back with purple. It thrives well in 

 sphagnum in pan or basket suspended from the roof 

 in the warm house, and whilst growing requires a 

 considerable amount of moisture. A plant is now 

 flowering in the Vineyard Nurseries, Garston. F. A. 



ROYAL GARDENS, Kew.— A refreshment pa- 

 vilion is to be forthwith erected in the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, near the Pagoda. 



ornamental water, or in undrained pieces of ground 

 where only semi-aquatic species will grow, and further 

 it will be found useful for cutting. The flowers are 

 of a deep yellow, very double, and are produced on 

 branched stalks from 9 to 12 inches high, with deep 

 green orbicular leaves. As to soil and climate it 

 does not appear to be at all fastidious so long as it 

 can enjoy plenty of moisture at the roots, although 

 the latter does not seem to be indispensable to it at 

 all times, as we have it growing here in the her- 

 baceous borders, but not so luxuriantly. It is pro- 



pagated by division, which should be done imme- 

 diately after the flowering period or early in the 

 autumn before the leaves die down. 



MeRTEN'SIA SIIilRICA. 



This handsome hardy perennial is now flowering 

 in the herbaceous border. As the specific name 

 would lead one to infer, it is quite hardy, and on this 

 account there need be no hesitation about growing 

 it in northern counties or in exposed situations. 

 The flowers are pale pink in a young state, changing 

 to a beautiful porcelain-blue when fully expanded, 

 and are produced on a loose, terminal, pendent cyme, 

 which gives it a somewhat graceful appearance. 

 The leaves are of a bluish-green tint, ovate, acu- 

 minate, the upper ones sessile, lower ones stalked ; 

 height of inflorescence about 1.3 inches, but in good 

 soils would probably attain 2 feet, and as such would 

 make a very good second or third-row plant in a 

 mixed border. Although most at home in rather 

 damp loamy soils it will do very well on a fairly 

 well-drained south border, but in this case will have 

 to be watered. The plant is easily increased by 

 division either in spring or autumn. 



An~E3IOXE V1TIF0LIA 



at the present time is flowering profusely on the 

 rockery here. The flowers are cross-shaped, about 

 1 inch across. Sepals white, forming a pleasing 

 contrast to the pale lemon-coloured stamens, and are 

 borne on stems about 1.3 inches high. It is scarcely 

 adapted for rockeries on account of its creeping 

 rootstocks, which spreads with much rapidity when 

 in a favourable soil ; but for planting along the sides 

 of woodland walks, or in shady nooks and corners 

 amongst hardy Ferns, nothing is more suitable, and 

 in flowering it follows closely upon those earlier 

 A. apennina and A. ranunculoides. A light well 

 drained soil of poor character, with partial shade 

 overhead, will be found to suit it. 



A. SVLVESTKIS. 



In this we have a species that ought to be grown 

 on all rockeries where choice subjects are in request. 

 The flowers are of a more pure white than the above 

 named, and are more than twice the size, and the 

 plant grows from to 12 inches in height. It will 

 be found useful for cutting purposes, being equal in 

 appearance to A. japonica alba. A deep, rich, 

 sandy loam is what it delights in, but will also grow 

 well in a chalky soil, with a little peat added thereto, 

 and may be increased by dividing the rootstock early 

 in the spring. 



HlERACIUJI AUIiANTIACOI. 



In this we have an extremely pretty Composite — 

 one that ought to find a place in all collections of 

 hardy plants, not only on account of its freedom in 

 flowering, but by reason of its being so distinct 

 amongst herbaceous subjects ; and in addition to this 

 it will be found not at all fastidious as to soil or 

 situation. The flowers are of a deep orange-scarlet 

 in colour, and are borne on stems from 12 to 18 

 inches high, in terminal fastigiate panicles, with 

 individual flowers about an inch in diameter, and 

 which will be at their best from about the present 

 time for some few weeks to come. Unlike many 

 good things, it is not slow to increase, and may be 

 freely raised from seed, and the old roots divided 

 into single crowns, either in spring or autumn ; 

 indeed, after it has once become well established in 

 a garden, the object will rather be to prevent undue 

 increase, not that it will assume the character of a 

 weed by any means. 



Tratjescantia yirginica rosea. 

 r Although this has been in commerce some few years, 

 it is, comparatively speaking, seldom met witli in old 

 gardens, and seems to be little known outside those 

 places where the most select collections are grown. 

 The flowers are of a beautiful rose colour, and in this 

 respect only does it differ from the well-known 

 T. virginica. It is equally free in flowering, and 

 quite as useful in all other points, requiring similar 

 treatment in regard to culture, and is increased by 



