Things and Thoughts ot the Garden 
By The Onlooker 
FOR some years past the gardeners across the water 
have grown Nemesias as pot plants. It was 
reserved for John H. Dodds, superintendent to 
John Wanamaker, Wyncote, Pa., to grow and exhibit 
them in this country, which he did in splendid fashion 
at the Fourth National Flower Show. They are as easy 
to handle as Schizanthuses and form fitting dwarf com- 
panions. The rich golden colored variety is the most 
telling, but the blue, white and purplish ones are also 
desirable. As annuals in the open air they are equally 
fine, enjoying an open position and a generous soil. 
* * H' 
The Nemesias, already mentioned, are South African 
annuals. Another charming annual also from that dry 
and sunny land is Diascia Barberae. Literally this flow- 
ers itself to exhaustion. In its way it is as good as Salvia 
splendens, Alyssum maritimum or Alonsoa Warscewic- 
zii, the latter also called A. incisifolia. Each are also 
perpetual blooming if given just the place they like. 
The Alonsoa enjoys a partly shaded place away from 
the fierce glare of the sun, in a cool moist soil. The 
Diascia has rosy pink flowers, is dwarf and spreading 
and does well in the front of a bed or border. As the 
seed is very fine, it would be advisable to raise the voung 
plants indoors or in frames and plant them out when 
large enough. At the same time it will succeed if sown 
in the open. Prepare a place for it with fine soil on the 
surface and be watchful not to sow thickly. It is dif- 
ficult to sow too thinly. 
# * * 
While speaking of annuals, a third beautiful subject 
comes to mind and one that is deserving of as much 
care as any of those already named. This is Hunne- 
mannia fumariaefolia, a yellow Poppy-like dwarf flower 
with nicely cut glaucous leaves. Its golden blossoms 
come very freely and they are most charming for table 
decorations or for small vessels in the house. As this 
plant does not transplant readily, it is best, or indeed 
necessary, to sow it where it will flower. 
For some considerable time back I have written in 
support of rock gardening as a feature of our home 
places. When first I tried to encourage some of my 
friends in this phase of open-air gardening they said the 
American summers would scorch and roast all the al- 
pines. They spoke, too, as though rock gardening, which, 
is such a fashionable and splendid feature of the gardens 
of England and in many of those in France, Switzerland 
and Germany, was child's play in the European countries. 
That is far from the truth. The rockery requires the 
same attention to be at its best as the herbaceous border 
or the lawn. But when the love of alpines is aroused 
then no care will be deemed too great. First we need 
to know the plants however, and let it be said they are 
innumerable. The collections in our American gardens 
contain, as a rule, only a quarter or an eighth part of 
the subjects that are suitable and can be grown. It is 
safe to say that in a year or two the owners of private 
places will demand of their gardeners a better under- 
standing of alpine plants and how to deal with them 
than the majority possess today; so get busy, men. 
& * * 
Orchids, especially those from tropical and warm, 
temperate regions, apparently are coming gradually back 
into more widespread favor again. The bright and in- 
teresting exhibits at so many of the Eastern shows, 
made by Julius Roehrs Company, Lager & Hurrell, and 
by a few private exhibitors near New York, has done 
much to stimulate a love or better appreciation of this 
very varied family. It is not a plea for the cultivation 
of a big collection of orchids that I wish to make, but for 
the Cypripedimns, particularly the lovely insigne San- 
derae, the bold Harefield Hall and others of the choice 
insigne varieties and hybrids. They are really as easy 
to cultivate as geraniums and a good deal easier than 
carnations or roses, and as they bloom freely in Novem- 
ber, December and January and last so long in a fresh 
condition as cut blooms, their merits deserve to be made 
better use of. Get a fuller assortment right now. 
How about a scented garden this year? One contain- 
ing Heliotrope, Rosemary, Thyme, Night-scented Stock, 
Tobacco-plant (Nicotiana), Sweet Alysum, Sweet Sca- 
bious, Mint (several kinds), Mignonette, Balm, Scented 
Verbena, Rose Geraniums, Lavender and many other 
delightful fragrant plants, shrubs, annuals and peren- 
nials. Have a collection by themselves or in big masses. 
Something may be said in regard to lack of variety in 
our hard}- plant borders. We could grow a far wider 
selection of plants if we only would try; there is no doubt 
at all about this, it cannot be questioned. Then there is 
the new feature of rock gardening. I call it new be- 
cause one so seldom sees a good rock garden, the idea 
having prevailed that alpine plants would be a failure in 
heme-like or rock garden surroundings. This also, I am 
sure, is contrary to the truth, and indeed has been proved 
many times, and is being proved more and more. We 
have, of course, to learn the best plants for the purpose, 
but they do exist, and plenty of them. 
* # * 
Criticisms are often directed against architecture in the 
garden, and against landscape architects laying out 
gardens. Many of the objections or criticisms are well 
founded, but I must confess to a predilection for walls, 
terraces, balistrades, cosy corners generally, fountain, 
steps, paved walks, courtyards set about with trees and 
plants in tubs, and to a love of statuary. All this, I 
think, can well be allowed and encouraged around the 
immediate precincts of the house. Beyond that, let us 
have the free and easy style of gardening. 
In connection with this one might have a little dig at 
the "dotting" system of planting shrubs, which is mean- 
ingless, offensive to the eye, and serves no purpose at all. 
That is not good gardening, not good laying out, and is 
just a point that wants attention. 
Now is also the time to write for evergreens, not half 
enough of which are planted. Among the more meri- 
torious for places of medium size the following may be 
mentioned : Japanese Yew, Retinispora filifera and R.f. 
aurea, R. pisifera, R. obtusa and R. o. nana, Juniperus 
Chinensis, Colorado Blue Spruce, Pinus Mughus, Thuya 
gigantea, Biota crientalis ( Arborvitas), Juniperus Vir- 
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