OCTOBEB 12, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



781 



ALYSSUMS, OR ROCK 



MADWORTS- 



As spring comes round we look for the 

 resumption by our plants of the Rock 

 Madwort of that wondrous display of small 



bestowed 



popula 



one distinctly descriptive of the appearance 

 of the flowers. Individually small, in a 

 mass they give us a wealth of gold, and 

 with the aid of otlier spring flo^vers render 

 the garden as gay in spring as at any period 

 of the year. Alyssum saxatile is a truly 

 fine plant for covering mounds and rocky 

 banks, as well as for massing in the bor- 

 ders, and it must -always he remembered 

 that it is ineffective as small plants, com- 

 pared with its appearance when boldly 

 massed and well shown by its situation. 



It is pleasing at any season with its grey- 

 ish foliage, but it is when this is literally 

 covered with the small golden flowers that 

 it is at the zenith of its usefulness for the 

 garden, 



Alyssum saxatile and its 



Varieties. 



What is known as the typical Aly 

 saxatile is a good plant with greyish-green 

 leaves and small vellow flowers, and forms 

 a rounded bush a foot or so in height, or 

 in dry situations a few inches le.ss. It is 

 valuable, but, useful though it is, it is in- 



ferior for horticidtural 



to the 



purposes 



variety called Alyssum saxatile compactum. 

 This is from six to nine inches high, ami 

 flowers with as much, or even more, free- 

 dom than the typical plant of gardens. 

 In masses in the rock garden or the bor- 

 ders devoted to spring gardening, asso- 

 ciated with snow-whito arabises and purple 

 aubrietias, an effect of the highest kind is 

 produce<lj especially in April and May. 



It has a rival w^ith less golden flowers in 

 Alyssum saxatile citrinum. This assumes 

 more of the compact habit of A. s. compac- 

 tum than that of the type, and is prized by 

 many for its soft, citron-yellow flowers. It 

 looks well associated with the arabises and 

 with a dark purple auhrietia, after the 

 shade of Dr. Mules or Prichard's A.l. 



Still dwarfer than any of the foregoing is 

 Alyssum saxatile Tom Thumb, a true minia- 

 ture, only attaining a few inches in height, 

 but not so free-flowering by any means as 

 one would like. It is a pretty grey-foliageil 

 plant for the irockery, hut its flowers are 

 sparsely borne, and it has little effect, so 

 that it may well be dispensed with. 



A very good form of the Roc k Madwort is 

 Alyssum saxatile fl. pi,, which is a variety 

 of the larger form with double flowers^ of 

 the same brilliant golden hue as those of 

 the original. The hahit is also the same, 

 but the doubling of the flowers gives the 

 blooms greater endurance, and it is to be 

 recommende<l to many, although I consider 

 ivom my experience of it that this double 

 variety is a little stiff in its growth. 



Finally^ we have Alyssum saxatile varie- 

 gatum, a variety with leaves margined or 

 variegated with creamy-yellow. It is not a 

 plant which appeals much to me, inasmuch 

 as the variegation is not too bright, and 

 ^ts presence appears to have the effect, so 

 Ifequently found in variegated-leaved 

 plants, of reducing the freedom of flower- 

 ^^K' It cannot, therefore, l>e recommended 

 w-here a display of bloom is desired, and 

 has not any outstanding points of real 

 ^^^rit to commend it. 



ion. 



These Rock Afadworts can all be propa- 

 R^ited by means of cuttings, the best time 

 [Or which is immediately after- tlu* flowor- 

 ^'ig is past for the season, lliis is tlir on]y 



method hy which such varieties as the 

 double form, Tom Thumh, and the varie- 

 gated one will come true. Compactum 

 sometimes comes fairly true from seeds, 

 but is apt to become a little stronger than 

 it should do when thus propagated. vSome 

 utilise as cuttings the smaller branches, 

 and take them otf at tho base and root in 

 light soil in a frame, or under a handlight 

 in the open, or in pots under glass. The 

 sti'onger branches will also strike well if 

 taken off with a heel, and put in light soil 



in a frame or greenhouse, or under a hand- or ro<^kwork, and should be plante<l there 



After-Treatment. 



Large plants of A. saxatile do not move 

 well^ and j^oung ones should be employed. 

 A great improvement is effected by cxitting 

 over the plants after they have bloomed to 

 retain them in shape, and prevent them 

 l)ecoming leggy. In a short time young 

 shoots will make their appearance, and 

 will thicken up the plants and assist in 

 and will thicken up the plants and assist In 

 giving a better display the follow^ing year. 

 The Rock Madwort looks best on a mound 



light or bellglass in the open. 



in a group of several plants together, so 



G M 461 



ma 



1 Vf 



ALYSSUM SAXATILK dTRINLM. 

 )ure^forni of a l>eautifu] snrins'-flow 



The typical A. saxatile may hv raised as to make a more brilliant show. A dry 

 from see<:ls, and certain strains of compac- 

 tum and citrinum come almost true from 



seeds also. 



Where a largo number of free- 



flowering plants are required, this is an 

 excellent way of procuring a sto<:-k. The 

 seeds can be sown under glass from Feb- 

 ruary onwards in the same maniiCr hs oiili- 

 nary perennials or half-hardy annuals, or 

 in late April, May, and June in littl<' drills 

 of sandy soil in the opfn. Wlu^n thvy <'an 

 h(^ h:in<llod, tiie seedlings ought to he 

 ]u-i<'ked out thn^e or four i!ich;>s apart and 

 ti aiisphinted to wIhm o they are to bloom 

 early in tlie autumn. 



soil is prefiM'able, and the fo]ia<xe Mill l>e 

 lighter in colour and of a nioie siiviTv ap- 

 ])earan<-e if a little linuv is in the soil. A 

 sunny position is the b<v>t, ami with a dry 

 soil it is certain to please all by its biil- 

 liance in it> season. "S. Arnott. 



Cierodendron faliax. — Though 



this may W had in bloom at different sea- 

 sons of tlu^ year, its rirhly-eolounxl hlessonis 

 are perhaps se<Mi to he>t advanlafje during 

 t he late summer and autumn nu)nths. It 

 readily responds to libeial treatment. — \V. 



