PLANT BRIEFS 
Saxifraga Ligulata is one of the most useful of the large-leaved 
section of the family, often spoken of as Megasea. It makes a 
plant about one foot high, with large broad leaves and flowers 
borne in a dense raceme varying in color according to variety 
from deep rose-purple to white. It is a useful plant, taking well 
to almost any kind of soil and valuable in the garden both as a 
border plant and in the rockery. A native of the Himalayas, 
it is hardy everywhere with us except north of Boston. In 
cultivation it is known in a number of named varieties (which 
are not commonly offered, however, in our nurseries although 
they are to be had in a few cases). Similar species are cor- 
difolia Stracheyi, and purpurascens; and to some extent 
all are confused together in the trade. The foliage being 
practically evergreen adds a further point of value to this in- 
teresting group of plants. 
Climbing Rose Emily 
Gray. A climbing yel- 
low Rose with large flow- 
ers and high fragrance 
has long been a dream, 
and visitors to the recent 
International Flower 
Show at New York were 
considerably intrigued 
with the exhibit of this 
variety, a European nov- 
elty introduced here bv 
A. N. Pierson. It has 
been thought sufficiently 
well of abroad to have 
been awarded the Gold 
Medal of the National 
Rose Society. The foli- 
age is decidedly glossy, 
of good stout texture, 
and the individual 
blooms recall the yellow 
of Marechal Niel, and 
to some extent its fra- 
grance also. The origin- 
ator states that the 
blooms are “almost as 
large as those of Mme. Ravary,” and likens the foliage to that 
of Berberis vulgaris. The appearance of the plant as seen here 
would suggest the influence of Fortune’s Yellow Rose as oneof the 
parents, and it is stated that the other is vvichuraiana. It is to be 
hoped that the latter parent may have injected a sufficient degree 
of hardiness to make EmilyGray a really valuable Rosefor Ameri- 
can gardens, but first appearances raise a doubt. However, this 
year’s experience should definitely determine the point. But 
whether or not it will become available as a garden Rose of the 
North, there can be no question of its intrinsic beauty and merit 
and for the southern tier of states Emily Gray is bound to be a 
valuable acquisition. 
Azalea Louisa Hunnewell, or if we are to be strictly correct, 
Rhododendron, and not Azalea for botanists make the one name 
include the two garden groups. From a garden viewpoint, 
however, there is some convenience in thinking of them as two 
different things. A. Louisa Hunnewell shown in the accompany- 
ing illustration is the first authentic hybrid between the Chinese 
and Japanese deciduous Azaleas molle and japonica, raised in 
America. It was developed by T. D. Hatfield, on the estate 
of Walter Hunnewell, Wellesley, Mass., and exhibited before 
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at the recent spring 
show in fifteen large plants constituting one of the most con- 
spicuous features of the exhibition. The large flowers, fully 
two or more inches across, are produced in large rounded 
heads as is seen by the photograph; in color they are rich 
brilliant yellow with the slightest tinging of the red-rose color 
taken from the Japanese species. This blends a richness into 
the yellow that varies a trifle in the different plants, but on 
the whole there is very slight difference among all the plants 
of the group. When this variety becomes distributed it bids 
fair to keep a prominent 
place as a forcing Azalea 
for Easter time, its free 
growth, profusion of 
bloom, size of flowers, and 
brilliancy recommend- 
ing it. Outdoors it 
would flower early in 
June. If it is bud-hardy, 
as claimed, this is the 
most valuable plant of 
its class ever raised in 
this country. It was 
awarded a Gold Medal 
by the Massachusetts 
Horticultural Society last 
summer. 
Euphorbia Myrsinites, 
a Spurge found wild in 
rocky places on the sea 
coasts of southern Eu- 
rope, is interesting at all 
seasons. Its serpentine 
stems covered with per- 
sistent glaucous leaves 
of grayish blue never fail 
to attract attention when 
seen sprawling over the 
rocks. It forms an effective contrast when in proximity to 
the coppery almost orbicular leaves of Saxifraga crassifolia 
a Siberian belonging to the Megasea section of this genus. 
Both are of easy culture in almost any soil. 
The Sempervivums are worth more than a passing glance 
because of their usefulness during fall and winter. One of the 
most noteworthy of these is the Cobweb Houseleek (Semper- 
vivum arachnoideum) which however loses its cobwebby char- 
acter entirely during the winter except for woolly tufts at the 
points of the leaves. Toward the fall it rolls itself into tight 
little buttons which appear well able to endure any kind of 
weather. The pretension to beauty of even the Common 
Houseleek (S. tectorum) is not to be despised, especially when 
a good clump is seen perched in solitary grandeur on a large rock. 
Many others in this genus are attractive by reason of the rich 
red-brown coloring of their leaves. With the increasing number 
of rockery gardeners these plants will increase in favor 
NEW DECIDUOUS AZAUEA UOUISA HUNNEWEUL 
The first American hybrid of the Chinese and Japanese 
species; flowers orange yellow. Raised by T. D. Hatfield 
1 66 
