THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



A Miniature Rockery. 



It is not every grower of hardy plants that will give the time and trouble 

 and incur the expense of constructing and conveying to an exhibition a 

 miniatura rockery, upon which his choicest dwarf plants are disposed. 

 Several firms have done this, however, and the most successful have been 



A R 



Appl 



Tree 



Wasted 



these columns that many orchards throughout the ^oum!!^ T m 

 rendered productive and profitable if means were tiTS^^ 

 trees. It was shown that in not a f*» _u . novate the 



Messrs. Backhouse and Son, of York. This firm had a most charming trees. It was shown that in not a few cases all that was need A 



display at the recent Temple Show, for their miniature rockery was well removal of old and dead wood and a thinning out of the branch **' 2 



put up and as naturally and tastefully planted as possible ; indeed, in no the application of some new soil or fertilising agent to help the tret 



other way could small-growing hardy plants have been so pleasingly renewed life and vigour. We have frequently received lette El 



exhibited. The illustration of this exhibit, reproduced from a photograph 

 specially taken for us, conveys a far better idea than words can of its 

 effect and novelty. Plants that are readily distinguished are the various 

 saxifra^as dotted quite naturally upon or between the rocks, and looking 



various parts of the kingdom, proving that our views are correct Z 

 that the writers have benefited from following the advice given 5- 



these pages. 



^ 6 - — -o ^ iuc great aavantazes 



that accrue when orchard trees are renovated, we give in the present 



One instance, among the many, of the great advamJ. 



j en orchard treec 



perfectly at home, whether in flower or not. Darlingtonia californica, the issue. We w WM1 „ uc £U renovatC(J 



curious Side-saddle plant, is veryiconspicuous, with the pretty Pyrenean from it, a large number are but cumbering the ground, but there are m * 



primrose, Ramondia pyrenaica near by. Gentiana acaulis was a feature that with similar treatment and care, or with treatment suitable to the 



of the display, being represented by a considerable cluster of its blue demand of circumstances, could be brought into as healthy and fruitAd 



flowers. Several of the hardy North American cypripediums were pre- a condition as the fine Blenheim Pippin apple tree figured in our present 



sent in flower, and C. spectabile is prominent near the Darlingtonia. issue. 



Here and there are little tufts of dwarf ferns, such as Asplenium fissum The specimen represented belongs to Mr. J 



and tiny lastreas ; 



panulas 



were flowering freely, but the Anerley, S.E., to'whom we are indebted for the photograph from which 



\ MINIATURE ROCKERY. 



Vegetables for Exhibition. 



SymU^ < h VS eP ° Ur ^«*i<m was made. Mr. Woodin writes that the fcWj 



Sftsw hardy ferns of sorts ' S&ss x a&£ 



'■ that bore good crops annually. After about twenty years they 



show signs of decay, or, at least, a considerable loss of vitality, tor 

 ends of the leading branches withered away, indicating that 

 was wrong at the roots. The soil is a stiff clay, and so, to re i 

 matters, Mr. Woodin had a circular trench taken out two feet WW 

 three feet deep, at a distance of four feet from the trunk of eac ^ 

 The clay excavated was burned into ballast, and then used, * 

 good sound loam, a quantity of crushed bones, and a consldera H nis 

 tity of wood ashes, all mixed together, for filling up the tTtncRt - very 

 compost, being naturally porous, was made firm in the trencti, ^ 

 soon the trees rooted into it. The result of the treatment was ^ 

 diately put a stop to further decay, and for the last twelve 

 have blossomed splendidly every year, and, except on rare ^ 

 when late frosts or heavy rains prevented complete poinnai , 

 have been large crops of good fruit. , dutiful to 



rhe specimen shown is a fine type of an °J cha ^j £ l quality i» th < 

 look upon when in blossom, and bearing food of a hi^M ^ 

 autumn The little trouble and expense taken to r f " ew cinie o oo* 

 vigour of such a tree has been abundantly repaid, fo rtn« s F uoneces 

 has a head thirty-eight feet in diameter. Further comment 



sarv. 



SCORZONERA. 



?5j££/?i vc & etables ar , e les s cultivated in this country than scorzonera 



BEEin f 0 ^£ d as a rule h is seldom asked for in the k ^™- 



remember onr^ ,T te ******* ^ven of its name, and I well 



as such How Hm" 1 ^ as , °y a person holding a responsible position 



" s U S'cu mate a nd° U not 0 t *" , StUff ? " and 1 re P ,ied " hat ™V busings 

 scor.onera wa S found in J° - C °° k \ The result was that ne « dav the 

 sued gardens, howevi? n f 5?* Pa, [' ° f 5 0urse ' un cooked. In all suitable 

 scononera. The roots li i should be allowed for a small bed of 

 crop should receive simiKr tZ. gr ° wn . much resemble sals 'fy, and the 

 « will run to seed, ev« Ir. ^ 1 must not be sown to ° *^Y, or 

 *e<-k m May is quite earlv lLu Y than saIs . if y- The first 



or second 



he hfted as required. For ° r Seed sow,n ^ and the crop should 

 collection of vegetables ln H u"' scorzonera is not very telling in a 

 «ce P t in a nii^J^^^ only be included as a last resource! 

 holes should be CJS^I^SS^ a 1° " av ^ it in the best condition 

 way. IOr saIsif V> a nd the roots prepared and staved in 



Aldenhiin 



E. Beckett. 



