Apbil 20, 1912 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



317 



ANCHUSA ITALIC A, 



DROPMORE VARIETY. 



Unsurpassed for efFe<*t in the lierbaceous 

 border is this splendid introduction, being, 

 indeed, the finest of all the larger bhie- 

 flowered perennial plants. This, in the face 

 of the handsome family of the larkspurs or 

 delphiniums, with its countless fine aiamed 

 varieties, may appear a rash statement, but 

 anyone who has seen this Alkanet at its 

 best will admit that it possesses attractive 

 qualities of the very highes-t order. It is 

 so far superior to the type that it might 

 well pass for a distinct species, but the fact 

 that it does not come true from seed, and 

 that the seedlings have a tendency to pro- 

 duce flowers as small, or nearly as small, 

 as those of the common type, tend to prove 

 that this is its parent. 



The flowers of the type are so small that 

 it is not a sufficiently effective plant for 

 the herbaceous border, but the blossoms of 

 the Dropmore variety are rather over an 

 inch across, and are borne in ^uch profusion 

 that the Avhole plant becomes a sheet of 

 deepest blue. A vigorous example will at- 

 tain a height of from fift. to 7ft., with a 

 diameter nearly as great ; and, if not shut 

 in and shaded by other plants, a specimen 

 will be, from the ground level to the top- 

 most shoot, a cloud of blue that invariably 

 attracts universal admiration. Were its 

 flowers short-lived its beauty is so 

 that it would be welcomed in the border, 

 but it has the additional mei'it of lasting 

 in bloom for a very IfMigthened period. 



The plants geiiei-ally commence to flower 

 towards the end of May, and at the close of 

 July still hold sufficient blossom to be at- 

 tractive. If the shoots that have flowered 

 are out off the plants will throw up side 

 shoots and bloom again in the autumn. 



gi'cat 



This 



Mr. Charles 



plant was raised by 

 Herrin, late head gardener at Dropmore. 

 Curiously enough the Dropmore variety has 

 not proved as hardy as the type. In the 

 South-west the type never dies in the win- 

 ter, even though totally iinproteci3:?d, but 

 in many cases, the Dropnrore variety has 

 failed to appear ao^ain in the spring after 

 dying down. It is therefore advisable to 

 raise a pyramid of leaf-mould over the 

 plants when they die down a.s a protection 

 during the winter months. In oi^en spaces 

 in the wild garden this anchusa produces 

 a beautiful pitture wlirn iu full flower, and 

 a group of plants <m a sloping lawn are also 

 most effective. For indoor decoiation the 

 flower shoots aie very valuable, r-nd when 

 cut at a h'ligth of four feet or so, they form 

 <leHglitfiil arrangements in tall glass and 



<'ther \-ases. 



As lias alroadv been mentioned, seedlinc:^ 

 oi ilns variety aie genoj-ally verv inferior 

 ^o their ])arent. Propagation niiist there- 

 fore h^^ n(Hes<viri]y effected in ^<)me otlier 

 mnnmM-, and 



^■ome 

 ha ve 



been 



root cuttings 

 prov<Hl a successful nu^thnd. The plants 

 must bf^ lifted in tlu^ winter and the roots 

 eut into ])ie<'es one inch to two inches in 

 length, and inserted in boxes or pans of 

 very 5;an(ly soil. In a f(nv weeks growth 

 Will appi ar, and the little plants may be 

 grown on until ready foi- planting out. 

 There are many varieties nf An<*hu-sa italica 

 superior to the type. Many 

 fine variety, with larger ' and brighter 

 flowers of a good blue appearefl. 

 ^^allcfl amopua. Tlien came the Dropmore 

 variety, with flowers half as large again, 



when other forms named superba and 

 ^M-andiflora have been raised. Opal is 



in colour than the Di-opmore 

 variety, with floAvers of the same .-^ize, and 

 ■'^'-nrea, a palt^ hhu\ owes its inlrodu<tion to 

 K. Molyneux. 



Wtndh\m Fitzherbert. 



years ago a 



This was 



liixht 



er 



RUBUS SPECTABILIS. 



This is the earliest of the many hardy 

 brambles to open its flowers, and it is usual 

 for it to l^e at its best before the end of 

 April. Belonging to the ra^pl>erry section 

 of the genuSj it is seen as a clump five to 

 six feet high, made up of numerous bright 

 brown upright stems, which bear green 



Planted in good soil it gives little trouble 

 other tlian an annual cutting over in sum- 

 mer to remoA'e the old canes, therefore it 



ig in a shrubbery 

 where the plants have to look after them- 



Its free habit of 



selves to a large extent. 



producing suckers fits it for a place in the 

 wild garden, where it can be given ample 

 room for development, whilst it may also 



■ i 



0 



1 



L I ^ 



I. 



2»: 



4 



7 AW'K.t'^ 



#1 



■'A 



^3. 



to- ' 



4*^ 



i 



V 



r 



4 



rV 



V 



■ 



i 



CM 



ri 



e 



i 



r 



'I 



I* 



A' 



.1* 



1 ' 



- I- 



■1 



' V' 



- 1 



I 



1 



^ 



ANCHUSA ITALICA. DKOPMOKI-: A\\1U F/IT 

 A beautiful blue-flowered perennial plant. 



raspberry-like leaves, and showy rosy- 

 purple flowers, the latter appearmg from 

 axillary buds. The flowers are followed by 

 golden-coloured fruits, which ripen m early 

 sumniei*. Thev ai e nuMlimn size<l and juicy, 

 and although' not put to any use. Lou<1ot» 

 recommends them for culinary purposes. 

 A native of Western North America, it is 

 found from the Colunii»ia Hiver stnithwards 

 to California, from whence it wa^i intro- 

 duced about eighty years ago. 



be planted, in places where the shade is 

 not very dense, for cover. Propagation is 

 readily efi^ecte<l by division of the clumps 

 during autumn or winter. W. D. 



CHHVSANTHF.MrM--. Ffr full in^trn^ ti<mf. on tho 

 riilturt- of Karlv flowviiTii^ <^iir>>';uithMnunis in U^l^ 



th.' <vfM>n(i Knliti^^n of ('to'Ts> n-tt!> mtm^ for G^ppkn 

 *N-D Giu-KNnorsK. by 1>. it. (Vmp,-. ] ri-v 6^. net; 

 or bv ix)st 36. ICd. from W. H. and L. CoUmgridffe, 

 148 and 149, Aldereg^t© Street, London. 



