246 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 27, 1884. 
varieties to grow, and a crop of this esculent is certain. The question 
of varieties to grow is an important one ; it is really the reason why 
I am writing on Rhubarb now. Anybody can grow Rhubarb, but 
it is not everyone that can secure the variety or varieties to grow. 
I have been testing all the culinary varieties of Rhubarb that I could 
get now for a few years. I have also tried one or two varieties as 
to decoration, but that is not my subject at present, and I believe I 
should reduce the cooking Rhubarbs to three varieties. I put 
Hawkes’ Champagne first for earliness, Johnstone’s St. Martin’s for 
general summer use, and Victoria for late work and for strong forcing 
purposes. Hawkes' Champagne is a fortnight before anything else ; 
for instance (April 18th), this is 2 feet high. Johnstone’s is 1 foot 
high, and Victoria is only just moving. Hawkes’ is a beautiful 
Rhubarb too, such a good colour, and is in great demand by our cook 
for syrups and stewing purposes. This is not in the market yet I 
understand ; but Mr. Gilbert of Burghley, who is never so happy as 
when giving to friends some good thing, sent it to me in quantity. 
Johnstone’s is a very continuous bearer through the summer, and for 
large sticks for forcing nothing excels Victoria. I have forced 
Hawke’s this year, and it is very pretty and good, but does not give 
very large sticks. It is a very good sort for all that, and it is to call 
attention to it that I write this note.—H., Notts. 
RHODODENDRON VEITCHIANUM. 
Owing to the number of fine varieties of greenhouse Rhododendrons 
which have been introduced to cultivation by Messrs. Veitch and others 
of late years, this fine species, which is of older date, has been somewhat 
neglected. 
If cultivators of these plants could, however, see a specimen now 
flowering in the greenhouses at Oakholme, Sheffield, the residence of 
Thomas Wilson, Esq., they would, I believe, agree with me that it is one 
of the best ever introduced. The plant in question is trained over a 
stone wall with a south aspect, but is screened from the direct rays of the 
sun by a bank of large Camellias immediately in front. The space of 
wall occupied by the plant is 100 square feet, which at the present time 
is covered with large white and beautifully fringed blooms. I counted 
the expanded blooms and trusses. The number of expanded blooms was 
195, of trusses 135, mostly of three blooms each, seventy of which were 
open and sixty-five still to open. I have sent you a specimen truss. 
Mr. Hannah (Mr. Wilson’s able gardener) has grown the specimen 
from a small plant 6 inches high, with a single shoot, thirteen years ago. 
For the first five years it was grown as a small plant in a pot. Eight 
years ago it was planted out in the position it now occupies in a border 
1 foot deep, 1 foot wide, and about 4 feet long, which is bounded by the 
flagged pathway. The compost in which it is planted is fibrous peat, with 
a liberal admixture of silver sand. In planting it out Mr. Hannah bent 
its stem into somewhat the shape of the letter S to reduce its length of 
stem, and to that he partly attributes its remarkable floriferousness. I 
have known it almost from the time it was planted, and it has annually 
been covered with bloom.—W. K. W. 
[A truss of three. fine pure white and highly fragrant flowers accom¬ 
panied this communication, and proved how well the plant is grown at 
Oakholme. This is an extremely handsome species and well deserves all 
that has been said in its praise. A wood engraving of a flower and foliage 
was given in this Journal, page 235, vol. xxxvi., March 27th, 1879.] 
THE KEW ROCKERY. 
For many years the only rockery at Kew was one of very moderate 
extent, and no pretensions to picturesque beauty, situated near the house 
devoted to economic plants. This served as an abode for a small collec¬ 
tion of alpine plants, which succeeded fairly well, but were by no means 
representative in numbers of the multitudes of interesting and handsome 
species which the American, Asiatic, and European ranges of mountains 
have furnished to our gardens in recent years. The insufficiency of this, 
especially in a national garden, was long felt, and many efforts were made 
to provide more adequate accommodation for these plants, but without 
avail until about two years since, when a memorial was presented to the 
Commissioners on the subject, the result of which was that a sum of £500 
was specially granted for the construction of a new rockery that should 
be a credit to the establishment, and permit a greater number of plants to 
be grown in suitable quarters. This was probably somewhat hastened by 
the large and valuable collection of plants bequeathed to the nation by Mr. 
Joad of Wimbledon, and consequently in February, 1881, the much- 
needed work was commenced. 
The site chosen was the piece of level turf between the wall by the 
herbaceous ground and the Orchid house, which is about 500 feet long, and 
runs nearly due north and south. The subsoil being a light sandy 
gravel, no artificial drainage was required ; and the general form of the 
rockery being determined upon, it was only necessary to remove a portion 
of the soil to the depth of about 6 or 7 feet below the general level, raising 
mounds on each side varying in height above the central path to from 
6 to 12 feet. The path is 10 feet wide, and descending by a gradual slope 
from the north end, and ascending at the south extremity by a few steps 
winding considerably in its course, thus giving a great variety of aspects to 
accommodate plants of very diverse requirements. Some have considered 
it a defect in the construction of the rockery that the path should he for 
the greater portion by its length quite level, but to have altered this in a 
suitable manner would have occasioned much greater expense than could 
be incurred at the time, and unless thoroughly done it would have been no 
improvement on its present form. 
The stone principally employed is much-weathered boulders of lime¬ 
stone from Cheddar, some of which are extremely picturesque, worn and 
perforated, tufa, granite, sandstone, and some composition. With 
the exception of a few portions no attempt has been made to arrange the 
rocks in stratigraphical order, as the principal object was to provide 
nooks, recesses, and “ pockets ” of a fitting character for the plants, at 
the same time studying picturesque effect as far as possible. The back¬ 
ground and highest portions are occupied with Rhododendrons and small 
specimen Box trees, behind these being a sufficient number of larger 
Conifers to afford some shelter without casting too dense a shade, and 
these improve the effect greatly. 
Recesses or alcoves are provided at intervals and devoted to special 
plants, such as those abounding in peat districts, others growing in 
swamps, on the seashore, <fcc., all of which have their peculiarities care¬ 
fully studied and suitable soils supplied. These constitute a series of 
highly interesting features, which are still further increased by the nooks 
of Daffodils, Lilies, Hellebores, and Primroses, which with many others 
yield a continual succession of flowers from early spring to late autumn. 
At the present time the Daffodils are in fine condition, while some fine 
clumps of Polyanthuses and Primroses are charmingly fresh and bright. 
Near the north end is what is termed the “ Rootery,” a great number of 
roots of Elms and Beeches affording convenient nooks for trailing or 
shade-loving plants of many kinds. 
To give a more detailed review of the rockery and principal plants 
employed on it, we may commence at the south end, leading from the 
Cumberland Gate, where the first object of interest is a large Osmunda 
regalis, 5 or 6 feet in diameter, and nearly a ton in weight, round which 
on a nearly vertical piece of work many of the common British Ferns 
grow luxuriantly. Dotted here and there are small patches of Squills, the 
Spring Leucoium, and common Daffodils. Some of the stones are very 
interesting on account of the Asplenium Ruta muraria growing in the 
crevices, which was imported with them from Cheddar, and has taken to its 
new home readily. On the opposite side is a deep recess occupied with 
a fine specimen of Arundinaria falcata, the side rocks being covered with 
numerous varieties of British and hardy Ferns. Near by is a large 
patch of Primula glaucescens in fine health, and promising a good show of 
flowers. 
The bog garden and waterfall, of which a view is given in our engraving 
(fig. 56), is surrounded with vertical walls to the height of 5 or 6 feet, and 
is the only attempt made at geological formation. At the farthest point 
from the walk it narrows into a dome, and over a natural-looking pro¬ 
jected ledge the water falls into a basin on the bog level, and is carried 
away by a small stream that winds through it, finally escaping in the 
surface-water drain. The stream is so constructed as to irrigate the bog 
to any degree of dampness desired, and at the back of the basin Filmy 
Ferns have been planted and are now in a fair condition of health,, 
although the position is rather exposed. On a ledge well shaded and 
under the influence of the saturated atmosphere, Campanula cenisia is 
quite at home, as also is the white variety of Silene acaulis; and under an 
overhanging ledge Myosotidium nobile, the New Zealand Forget-me-not,, 
is in perfect health. Sarracenia purpurea in the bog is happy ; Orchis 
foliosa and the so-called Juncus zebrisus and striatus are fair examples 
of the size they attain under favourable circumstances and without 
disturbance. In the niches facing the walk the pretty Ramondia 
pyrenaica has taken firm hold. During last year numerous plants of 
Hyacinthus candicans were handsome on the rock at the side of the 
waterfall, flowering very strongly, as shown in the photograph. 
On a small piece of neat work near this are many varieties, such as 
Saxifraga marginata, Calceolaria plantaginea, Silene Elizabeth®, Sapo- 
naria lutea, and S. caespitosa, Edelweiss, and a fine specimen of Saxifraga 
longifolia nearly a foot in diameter. On a plateau or terrace just above 
this, and having a graceful curve, such plants as Convolvulus mauritanicus, 
Tropseolums polyphyllum, speciosum, and tricolorum, Potentilla tridentata,. 
and many other plants find a pleasant home, all of which are extremely 
showy in their season. Further on we come to the home of Androsace 
obtusifolia, A. lanuginosa, &c., and a large patch of Primula floribunda is 
very handsome. Hypericum Burseri, also rare, and Primulas Muretiana, 
minima, pedemontana, Clusiana, Wulfeniana, and some pretty varieties 
of P. denticulata are very interesting. Kniphofia caulescens is also very 
healthy in a protected corner, although the one exposed on the top is 
dwarfer and more sturdy. 
In a hed devoted to seaside plants Mertensia maritima, Silene maritima, 
Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Eryngium maritimum, Crithmum 
maritimum, and Convolvulus Soldanella, are doing well, the project being- 
quite a success. In the “ pockets ” around this the New Zealand 
Veronicas, carnosula, pinguicula, Haastii, elliptica, lsevis, chatamica, and 
many others are predominant, and near the top a fine specimen of the large 
and pretty yellow Rose from Afghanistan, Rosa acse. The hardy Orchids are 
grown in a recess adjoining another vertical wall, and those planted have 
established themselves well under a dense carpet of Veronica repens. They 
are planted on terraces formed by a semicircle of roots. One part of the 
bed is devoted to florists’ Primulas, and they are exceedingly pretty, 
showing some very fine colours. One more remarkable than the others is a 
hybrid between P. elatior and P. vulgaris raised by Mr. Christie, and which 
partakes of the character of the two species. On the wall, which is 
surrounded by rustic work, Primula obconica promises well, as al;o does 
P. verticillata, Iberis jucunda, Arabis blepharophylla, the Cheddar Pink, 
