July 5, 1893. 



Garden and Forest. 



287 



blossom results in disappointment and a common Dog Rose. 

 An oddity among Roses is the Red-leaved Rose(R. rubrifolia), 

 the pinkish or purplish red foliage of which is to be placed in 

 the same category as Pissard's Plum, the purple Hazels or 

 dark-leaved Beeches. It is very hardy, and valuable only for 

 its foliage, as the dark-colored single flow.ers are small and not 

 specially attractive. In good soil it vk'ill attain a height of six 

 or eight feet. 



There are three Japanese species of comparatively recent 

 introduction which are generally considered to be superior to 

 almost any other single Roses for cultivation, and which are 

 now becoming vi^ell known through persistent advertising. 

 These are R. rugosa, R. multiflora and R. Wichuraiana. R. 

 rugosa is very hardy, has handsome, thick, leathery, ever- 

 green-looking leaves and the largest blossoms of any single 

 Rose which can be grown in this climate. The white variety, 

 or R. rugosa alba, with petals of the purest white color, is cer- 

 tainly very beautiful. The stems are very pr[ckly, but the spe- 

 cies possesses so many other desirable qualities that propa- 

 gators have used it extensively in artificial hybridizing, and 

 with some promising results. It is not true, as some cata- 

 logues assert, that it is free from insect attack, although, no 

 doubt, the thick leaves are not so readily devoured as those of 

 more tender species. The true R. multiflora, w^ith large clus- 

 ters or panicles of small white flowers, is rapidly gaining popu- 

 larity. It is of strong and rapid growth in good soil, and will 

 readily reach to the top of a post or pillar ten or fifteen, or even 

 twenty, feet high. It was figured in Garden and Forest, vol. 

 iii., p. 405, and a picture of a plant in bloom was published in 

 vol. iv., p. 535. 



Rosa Wichuraiana is one of the latest arrivals in our planta- 

 tions, where it is also one of the last to blossom. It has shining 

 leaves, the low-trailing habit of a Dewberry or Trailing Black- 

 berry, with stems fast growing to many feet in length, and 

 producing clusters of pure white flowers, each averaging nearly 

 two inches across. The odor of this and of R. multiflora is 

 more like the Banksian than like the ordinary Roses. A plant 

 of the single yellow or Copper Rose is always interesting in 

 bloom, but the usual experience in this climate is that they are 

 not very enduring or long-lived. 



In selecting only half a dozen species for a small garden R. 

 alpina, for earliness ; R. spinosissima, R. rubiginosa (Sweet- 

 brier), R. multiflora, the red and white R. rugosa and the 

 Prairie Rose would probably give most satisfaction. In gen- 

 eral, shrubberies of any extent, and especially in exposed situa- 

 tions, our indigenous species should receive first consideration. 



Arnold Arboretum. j . G. Juck, 



The Rock-garden. 



A MONG the many lovely and interesting plants now in 

 ■^*- bloom in the rock-garden, none are more effective than 

 the well-known Sea Pink, Armeria maritima, of which there 

 are several varieties, including a white one. The one known as 

 Laucheana, of a deep rose-color, is the brightest. As rock- 

 plants the Sea Pinks are most satisfactory, covering the ground 

 at all times with a carpet of green. I have thought that many 

 Alpine plants, particularly European species, suffer more from 

 summer heat than from extreme cold in winter. This is the 

 case with the Gentianella, Gentiana acaulis. In spite of good 

 conditions of soil and moisture, our plants gradually grow less. 

 G. cruciata, growing at a lower altitude, does better. From a 

 few seeds scattered about three years ago, we have a fine lot 

 of healthy, blooming plants. The flowers of this handsome 

 species are bright blue and borne in clusters at the ends of the 

 flowering stems. Callirhoe involucrata, the Poppy Mallow of 

 the western states, perpetuates itself quite freely from self- 

 sown seeds, but it is never obtrusive. This neat trailer carries an 

 effective display of bright pink flowers from spring until autumn. 

 Erodium Manescavi, the Giant Heron's Bill, is perfectly hardy 

 here, although not considered so in England. It bears tufts 

 of Fern-like foliage and bright rose flowers, and is nearly 

 always in bloom. Of the many species and varieties of Dian- 

 thus now in bloom, none are more showy than the new 

 Cyclops. They appear to be descended from the old D. annu- 

 latus, and are mosfly shades of rose with a deeper centre. The 

 Maiden's Pink, Dianthus deltoides, comes up everywhere, and 

 its dense, free-flowering tufts are seldom out of place. D. neg- 

 lecta, a comparafively rare and beautiful dwarf deep rose- 

 flowered species, from the Alps, holds its own well. It is 

 often hard to find just the place for these delicate litfle species, 

 but when once established they should not be removed. We 

 had occasion to move D. subcaulescens, one of the dwarfish- 

 tufted species in cultivation, and found that its woodv main 

 root extended nearly two feet between the rocks. We 'find it 

 very hard to re-establish ; in fact, it is very doubtful if it will 



recover the shock of removal. D. dentosus, the AmoorPink, 

 from south Russia, very much resembles the common Indian 

 Pink, D. Chinensis, in habit and general character of the flow- 

 ers. They do not vary, however, very much from a lilac-rose 

 limb shading to a darker centre. D. atrorubeus, a tufted spe- 

 cies, with heads of small crimson flowers, makes a very inter- 

 esting addition. D. superbus is a particularly showy and 

 fragrant species from central Europe and Asia, arjd the variety 

 Gardeneri, from Japan, with extra-large fringed flowers, is the 

 best. 



The Alpine Bugle, Ajuga Genevensis, although very hand- 

 some when in bloom, increases so fast as almost to become a 

 weed. The flowers are of the deepest blue and borne on axil- 

 lary cymes in spike-like form. Nothing makes a more effective 

 display when in bloom. This also makes a very effective pot- 

 plant, and has been used, slighfly forced, for spring bedding. 

 The varieties, Alba and Variegata, of A. reptans, are less 

 showy, but very useful plants for covering spaces under trees. 

 Heuchera sanguinea is now becoming well known, as it de- 

 serves to be. Its tufted habit and neat handsome foliage 

 commend it at all times, while it is more or less in bloom the 

 whole season. The long graceful spikes of coral-red flowers 

 are very effectively used in making bouquets. Rock Roses — 

 hybrids and varieties of several species of Helianthemums — 

 are very showy just now. These are well established with us, 

 and several natural varieties and hybrids have come up in the 

 neighborhood of the original plants. The kinds referred to 

 here are all Old World species, shrubby, and vary in color from 

 red, orange, violet, pink and crimson, some being spotted. 

 There are several sub-shrubby or herbaceous American spe- 

 cies, all of which are yellow-flowered. Dwarf Phloxes, with 

 the exception of P. ovata, are all out of bloom. This came 

 to us from southern Virginia, along with Silene Virginica. the 

 Fire Pink. The latter plant is now well established, sowing 

 itself everywhere, which is very fortunate, as being a biennial, 

 at least with us, it would be in danger of being lost. Gyp- 

 sophia repens and G. cerastioides, starry, white-flowered tutted 

 species, are unfortunately not long-lived, owing apparently to 

 exhaustion during blooming, which occurs during the hot sea- 

 son. This is rather what may be expected, since they are both 

 alpine species, the former from the Alps, and the latter from 

 the Himalayas. By putting in a few cuttings yearly, and grow- 

 ing them without blooming the first season, a good stock can 

 be kept up. 



We find the Day-lilies, Hemerocallis Mittendorfflana and 

 H. Thunbergii, very graceful and effective plants for the rock- 

 garden, and never obtrusive; these clear yellow flowers giv- 

 ing here and there a touch of color. Oneof the commonest and 

 best of the bell flowers is Campanula Carpathica. It comes up 

 everywhere, and never to the extent of becoming a nuisance. 

 Among seedlings there is considerable variation. The lovely 

 dwarf Italian Harebell, C. garganica, came through the late se- 

 vere winter in excellent condition. Just now it is perfectly cov- 

 ered with light blue flowers. C. rotundifolia, with charming 

 pendent bells, is a very common wild plant throughout Europe. 

 Its distinct character makes it a very interesting addition. 

 While C. macrantha may be more properly classed as a bor- 

 der-plant, it is not out of place here, standing alone among 

 tufted plants. Its monstrous bells are nearly, if not quite, as large 

 as those of the common Canterbury Bell, and droop gracefully. 



Geranium sanguineum is more or less in bloom the whole 

 season. As a rock-plant it is very satisfactory, taking care of 

 itself and never becoming obtrusive. A large clump of Spir;ea 

 astilboides stands out in pleasing contrast. As a border-plant 

 it is far superior to the common Astilbe Japonica. Achillea 

 aurea, with dense heads of deep yellow and tufted Fern-like 

 foliage, is all that can be wished as a rock-plant. Papaver al- 

 pina, with much cut glaucous foliage and handsome flowers 

 of varying tints, mostly red, white and rose, sows itself freely, 

 so also does the yellow-flowered Iceland Poppy (P. nudi- 

 caule). It is fortunate they do, as, being biennials, they are 

 short-lived. Saponaria ocymoides behaves here very much as 

 a biennial, dying after the blooming season. We shall never 

 be without it, as seedlings are coming up by thousands. 

 CEnothera Fraseri, belonging to the suffruticose group of 

 Evening Primroses, is the only one adapted to growing in the 

 rock-garden. It grows about one foot high and bears numer- 

 ous yeflow flowers. 01. Missouriensis is well-established here, 

 its large, handsome, sulphur-colored flowers being produced 

 from spring until autumn. The handsomest of all the Milk 

 Vetches is Astragalus Monspessulanus. It is a low-growing 

 sub-shrub with pinnate foliage and rosy purple, Pea-like flow- 

 ers. Lotus corniculatus is another leguminous species with 

 pretty Pea-like yellow flowers. I note a number of seedlings, 

 self-sown. Aster alpinus speciosus is a giant form of the com- 

 mon Alpine Aster, with flowers two inches across on stems 



