64 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 24, 1884. 
gardens where a large supply of handsome fruits is in 
demand during the season. 
La Grosse Sucree I find a useful and reliable variety both 
out of doors and in pots for forcing, the fruit coming of a good 
size, generally well formed, regular, and in abundance. It is 
not quite so sweet as some varieties, but the slight 
acidity is agreeable to many palates. I have only a few rows 
of it, but I intend devoting more space to it in future.— 
Fkagarian. 
CHOICE ALPINE PLANTS. 
Dianthus Fischeri. —An extremely rare and highly interesting 
Eussian species, equally as beautiful as the now better known D. 
alpinus. Its flowers are light rose, borne solitary on stems 3 or 4 inches 
high, and is distinguished from other members of this genus by its 
stiff lance-shaped leaves. Why it is so seldom seen in choice 
collections remains a mystery, since it seeds freely, and may also be 
readily increased by means of cuttings taken with a heel directly 
after flowering and inserted under hellglasses in sandy loam. It is 
fitted for a choice position on the rock, and should be planted where 
a free open drainage can be ensured. Jslugs are peculiarly fond of 
this little gem ; wireworms also are a great pest, not onl}”^ to this, 
but to all members of this much-extended genus, including the whole 
race of Picotees and Carnations. Lime is a good preventive, though 
it is well to carefully examine the soil likely to contain this great 
enemy, who is so often quietly at work at the roots below. This 
species I have only seen in Messrs. Backhouse’s list and in one 
private collection of choice alpines near London. It must not be 
confounded with another plant bearing the same name, and which 
I have seen in the Kew collection, but which gi’ows 15 inches high, 
and has a fasciculated head of flowers much in the way of D. 
cruentus. 
Dianthus alpinus. —This plant, which a few years ago was 
equally as rare as the preceding in good collections of hardy plants, 
is now receiving that attention which it so well deserves. It is of 
dense caespitose habit, with glistening, obtuse, oblong leaves. The 
flowers, which arise from amidst its dense carpet of leaves, are 
borne on short stems, often so freely produced as to almost hide the 
foliage ; the flowers are deep rose, and have a striking effect on the 
rock or on a slightly raised bed, while as a pot plant it is equally 
charming and easily managed. It grows vigorously in equal parts 
of loam and peat, with a free addition of sharp grit, and may be 
increased by division, when the plants are sufficiently large, by 
cuttings the same as recommended for the above, and by seed. The 
atter process in all choice alpines is a matter of considerable interest, 
land especially so in the Dianthus. Many coma with fainter-coloured 
flowers, and others of a richer hue, but none which I have at present 
seen can vie in richness of colour or form with the typical species. 
It is a native of the Austrian Alps, flowering during July. 
Speaking of the Dianthus, we cannot pass without a few words 
in favour of the Glacier Pink, Dianthus neglectus. To see it, as is 
often the case, bearing the many traces which slugs are so wont to 
leave behind, half eaten away probably, it has not a very pleasing 
appearance, but when in its best condition and in full flower it is 
surpassed by no other Alpine Pink, the colour being of a most brilliant 
rose. ^ It forms close,^ compact, wiry tufts of slightly glaucous and 
sometimes pointed, linear, grass-like leaves, from which spring 
numerous flower stems, each terminating with one of its brilli intly 
coloured and well-formed blossoms. Each of the three species here 
referred to, has, compared with the dwarf habit of the plants, exceed- 
iiigly large flowers, which often exceed an inch in diameter on well- 
grown examples. _ The plant now under note luxuriates in rich sandy 
loam. Firm planting is an essential in all cases. It may be propagated 
as recommended for alpines, and seeds freely. It inhabits the 
highest portions of the Pyrenean Alps and the Alps of Dauphiny, 
and, being often surrounded for a considerable time with snow and 
ice, it is one of the hardiest of alpines. 
Lewisia rediviva (Bitter Boot). —Could we but boast in 
English gardens of the success with which this plant is cultivated 
by our North American friends, and, as they tell us, without 
bestowing any special care upon it, more than by edging their walks 
with it as we would use Sempervivums, then might we record 
another great stride towards perfecting the culture of choice alpine 
plants. _ 1 speak of this as an alpine in a broad sense, and among 
which it may be roughly classed. It is, however, in English gardens 
somewhat fastidious both as to situation and soil. It is a member 
of the order Crassulaceae, and closely allied to the Mesembryanthemums. 
This at once indicates that no great amount of moisture is requisite 
in its cultivation ; indeed it is impatient of much moisture, and often 
succumbs to it. Whether grown in pots or on the rock it should be 
fully exposed to sun and light, and in such a position that it ma}'- 
receive a maximum amount of the former. This is essential, since 
its lovely blossoms only expand in the sunshine. Plant it firmly in 
loamy soil in the chinks of the rock where its roots may soon be in 
contact with the sides of the stones ; it will root deeply in this fissure, 
and will expand its succulent rosettes of leaves early in summer. 
After these have attained their full growth—viz., some 3 inches long, 
a profusion of its beautiful flowers will soon issue from the rosettes, 
each blossom 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The tips of the petals are 
of a bright and pleasing rose tint, shading into pink, the centre 
becoming nearly white, if grown in pots it should be raised above 
the surface and placed between some pieces of stone, and with 
plenty of drainage. Thus treated I have been so far a successful 
cultivator of it, and also another species, L. brachycalyx, which I only 
had once some years ago, and have since lost sight of. Though I 
have never made the attempt, I am of opinion that it may be made 
equally at home if planted between the crevices of brickwork in old 
walls devoted to such plants as Erinus and Linaria pilosa; still it 
is next to impossible to lay down hard-and-fast rules as to its 
cultivation, since the conditions under which I have successfully 
grown it are quite distinct from those under which it exists in its 
North American habitat, where it is abundant. Though in English 
gardens it is somewhat sparsely distributed, the only means of re¬ 
producing it is by seed, division of the root being rendered impossible, 
inasmuch as it rarely developes more than one rosette of leaves or 
crown from the somewhat thick, branching, and woody rootstalk.— 
J. H. E. 
A PLEA FOR EXHIBITORS—WHAT TO EXHIBIT. 
Many employers are under the impression that if they allow their 
gardener to compete at the local or other shows they do so at a 
personal sacrifice, or, in other words, that they are the losers by the 
arrangement. This prevents many deserving gardeners from winning 
the rewards, pecuniary and honorary, that many of their productions 
deserve. Such men attend the shows, see for themselves they cou'd 
have surpassed some of the exhibits, and go home discontented and 
discouraged, whereas if they had been allowed to compete to a 
reasonable extent they would have been stimulated to still further 
exertions, and both employer and employed would be benefited 
thereby. Doubtless there are instances where gardeners have abused 
their privileges so far as to study gardening solely from an exhibition 
point of view, but these are exceptions to the general rule, and 
must be treated accordingly. The employer has the remedy in his 
own hands. If it is seen the requirements of the establishment are 
neglected, then by alt means wholly or partially stop exhibiting, and 
this will soon have the desired effect. The sensible gardener does 
not neglect his duties ; on the contrary, the more he grows, especially 
in the shape of fruit and vegetables for exhibition, the better is the 
home table supplied. 
It should be remembered that ordinary garden produce is seldom 
good enough to win the best prizes at any fairly good show, and 
exhibitors, well knowing this, strive to improve their crops in various 
wajs. Then, again, it is almost impossible to time many crops so 
as to have them in perfection just when wanted, and the grower 
therefore makes smaller successional sowings and plantings, so as to 
have what is required at the right time. Every nook and corner, every 
house and frame, is closely cropped—everything, in fact, being made 
the most of, and but few employers are aware how many extra hours 
gardeners spend in the garden among the various plants and crops. 
Are gardeners the sole gainers by all this, and are they so well paid 
that they should not be encouraged to win a few shillings or 
pounds occasionally ? 
It may be urged that exhibitors are in the habit of lightly crop¬ 
ping in order to secure larger or more sensational produce ; but this, 
if true in some cases, is not generally so, as in some instances, say 
with such fruits as Grapes, Melons, Peaches, Apricots, &c., nothing 
is gained by very light cropping. This fact soon becomes apparent 
to the exhibitor, and his aim accordingly is to secure as many fruits 
as the trees, with the aid of good attention, will ripen to perfection. 
Only a few are wanted for exhibition, and even these, with the 
remainder of the crops, are available for table. With plants the case 
may be somewhat altered ; but I ask. Is it not a source of pleasure 
to owners of gardens to have a few plants that will bear being 
separated from the rest? We will admit that large specimens are 
not so serviceable as a greater number of smaller ones, and where 
space is limited and the demands for decorative plants and cut flowers 
heavy, then the latter must be grown in preference. Those, how¬ 
ever, who keep up a garden entirely from a utilitarian point of view, 
and not as a luxury, seldom derive the amount of pleasure that falls 
to those who have a real pride in their gardens. With all due 
respect, and without any personal concern in the matter, I ask that 
gardeners be allowed to exhibit at least occasionally, always provided 
they never neglect their home duties. There ought always to be a 
good understanding between master and man, one encouraging, the 
