Angnst 1 i, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
137 
thin out freely much as we would treat Spinach. From these 
rows we pick great quantities of Greens late in the spring. 
Between the young plantations of Raspberries, Gooseberries, and 
Currants we first grow a row or rows of early Potatoes or Turnips, 
and directly these are lifted and stored the ground is planted 
with Read’s Hearting and other Kales, and although the site is 
low and cold, the Greens seldom fail. Brussels Sprouts arc of 
much greater value, and these require plenty of room and a long 
season’s growth. We have tried Broad Beans between them, 
but these tend to draw up and weaken the sprouts, and we now 
give them all the ground from the commencement. They are 
followed by late Peas., 
In conclusion, let me urge upon all the necessity for closely 
cropping, especially the corners, which, if planted wdth Savoys, 
Coleworts, and Greens, may tend to maintain the supply when 
choicer kinds have been destroyed by frosts.—W. Iggulden. 
CHOICE ALPINE PL.4.NTS. 
Gentiana bavaeica. —Only those who have seen this lovely 
little plant can form anything approaching an adequate idea of 
its real beauty, and only those who have wntnessed it flowering 
in its mountain home can know anything of its attractiveness. 
No lover of alpiiies has yet dared to pronounce this an easy 
plant to grow in this climate of unceasing variations. All alike 
seek information as to the secret of its cultivation, and the in¬ 
formation imparted to anxious inquirers is generally as varied as 
the climate to which it will not }’ield. I am not disposed to lay 
down hard-and-fast rules for the cultivation of alpines, since years 
of practical experience and close observation have taught me 
otherwise; but with the plant in question (which must be regarded 
as an exception), after repeated trials in a variety of situations 
and soils, the same practice has taught me that two conditions 
must exist to ensure growing it successfully; these are primarily 
abundant moisture at all seasons, with plenty of sun and light. 
It is not an easy matter to make arrangements for these unless 
there is an abundant supply of water either in the shape of a 
pond, or bog garden, or running stream ; the trie!'ling of a 
stream it delights in aboi'e all else, for I neel hardly add that 
stagnation must in all cases be carefully avoided. 
1 have this week been engaged in planting this with other 
choice plants, and I will give in as few words as possible my 
mode of dealing with it. In the first place, the site to be planted 
was south-east, which guaranteed the one condition of sun and 
light. It was no elaborate or expensive rockery about to be 
planted, but merely a harder in which for years past spring 
bedding plants had found a home, now happily replaced by per¬ 
manent occupants, which may one day each be features in them¬ 
selves. To suit our purpose the border was raised several inches, 
placing stones here and there to form rude pockets as it were 
for each. Unfortunately, no water is to be had without carrying 
it to the spot; so, having an abundance of rich maiden loam, we 
prepared to plant our treasure. Selecting a compact little spot, 
edged with a white sandstone, we took out the ordinary soil to a 
good depth and supplied rich rough turfy loam, and placed the 
plant in position, filling in with rough turf and broken sand¬ 
stone, ramming exceedingly firm, and placing a thick covering 
f sandstone over the surface, treading firmly against the plant, 
and covering lightly with soil. Stones were then placed around 
the whole, and the joints puddled with clay to make it as 
watertight as possible. There it will recedve copious waterings 
till the heavy autumnal rains begin; and the stones imme¬ 
diately beneath the surface will prevent a too rapid evaporation, 
and I have but little doubt as to its success. It is, however, 
nowhere so much at home as it is beside a running stream, 
where fresh and continuous supplies are always forthcoming. 
Under cultivation it is among the rarest to be seen in good 
condition, and where it cannot be accommodated with some¬ 
thing like saturation in the border oi‘ rock garden it should 
be grown in pots or pans plunged half their depth in water. 
In general appearance the fiowers of this species resemble 
those of the Vernal Gentian; but it is readily distinguished 
from it by its more dense little tufts of Box-like leaves, and by 
its tiny tJower steals thickly set with foliage and terminating 
with flowers of the deepest and most brilliant blue, so intensely 
brilliant that methinks it even more charming than the lovely 
G. verna. It is a native of the high Alps of Europe, growing 
2 to 3 inches high, and is only found in perfection in spongy 
boggy situations, where the soil is so full charged that the water 
oozes freely on the slightest tread. Endeavour to obtain estab¬ 
lished tufts to begin with, and one patch of its lovely flowers will 
repay all extra care and trouble, and will prove a source of daily 
enjoyment to watch its unfolding buds in the morning sun. 
Campanula Raineei. —A sturdy little mountaineer from 
northern Italy, having large, erect, somewhat funnel-shaped 
blossoms of a dark blue, and is a most phasing and distinct 
member of its genus. It is comparatively rare in cultivation, 
though by no means difficult to grow or to increase, and it is 
somewhat surprising that it is not more generally met with. It 
is more vigorous in habit than any other of the dwarf 
Harebells, and is adapted for the border or the rockery. It is 
readily increased by division and also by seed, it grows best in 
moist situations in very sandy loam, and is usually from 3 to 
6 inches high, the latter height, however, being a rarity. 
SiLENE VIRGINICA. —One of the best and most valuable of 
recent introductions to our list of good plants, and is one of the 
most desirable rock plants in cultivation. It is at present only 
sparsely distributed, and should receive every possible encourage¬ 
ment so as to extend its now limited cultivation. It is of neat 
slender growth, and attains a height of 18 inches; not strictly 
alpine, perhaps, still too beautiful to be lost sight of. Its lower 
leaves are ovately spathulate, slightly pubescent, the upper ones 
oblong lanceolate; its flowers are of a brilliant ciimson scarlet 
hue, and have a very striking appearance. It delights in a rich 
though light sandy loam, and is adapted for the choice border or 
the rock garden; in either case, do not give it a too-exposed 
pesition. It is easily propagated by division and also by seeds. 
Slugs are its worst enemy, often deotroying the whole plant. 
Seeing, however, that it is no ordinary plant, and that special 
precautions are necessary, it is advisable to place either some 
soot about the plants or bran, or form a ring with cotton wool; 
they seldom face the latter. It flowers in early summei’, and is 
doubly valuable, inasmuch as it to some extent fills up a break 
which long existed among hardy plants. It comes from North 
America. 
Androsace lanuginosa. —This differs from the majority 
of the species of this lovely genus. It is of procumbent and 
sometimes branching habit; indeed, when growing freely 1 have 
known it to make stems a foot long in a season. It differs, toe, 
from all the rest by being a profuse bloomer. In warm favoured 
counties where a free genial air exists it commences flowering 
early in July, and continues producing its compact heads of lovely 
flowers far away into the autumn, this last-named particular 
being in itself sufficient to claim the special attention of the 
cultivator. It is, moreover, of easy culture, and does not suffer 
from damp as do many of the tufted members of this genus. 
A. lanuginosa is perfectly hardy, and once planted in a suitable 
position on the rock it will take care of itself. It should have 
a sunny position, and should be planted in e]ual parts of peat 
and loam to a good depth, with an abundance of grit; these are 
essential to its well-being and free growth. I have never known 
an instance where it has succeeded in ordinary close soils. In 
very light sandy soil it will grow; but to attain perfection with 
it nothing will be found to e jual what 1 have prescribed above. 
It should be allowed to ramble at will, and very pleasing 
everywhere are its compact umbels of flowers, which are of a 
delicate rose colour with a yellow eye. 
To have compact patches it must be gently bent or broken 
half through the stem, and either pegged down or covered with 
sand, placing a stone upon it to keep it in position. It will 
emit roots in about three weeks, and also throw out fresh 
growth immediately behind the bent portion; when these are of 
sufficient length the operation maybe repeated till good patches 
are formed, and that with very little trouble. It well repays for 
a little extra attention, might easily be made (ne of the most 
conspicuous of alpines, and one plant is readily increased by 
cuttings. The points of the growth are generally selected for this 
purpose, but it may interest not a few of those desirous of in¬ 
creasing it to the fullest extent to know that the flower stems, 
if cut into lengths of 11> or 2 inches, will root just as readily as 
the points, and soon form growth buds in the axils of the leaves 
When of insufficient size lo ersure safe removal they may be 
pottjd singly or transferred to the rockery to form small colonies 
In or out of flower its silvery leaves, mingling with others of 
varied tints, always have a pdeasing effect. In short, it is one of 
those charming Himalayan species without which no collection 
is complete. 
Myosotis alpestris. —Many and varied as are the rich and 
rare gems which come to us from far-off mountain regions, this, 
a true British alpine species, can vie with any alpine with which 
I am acquainted. It is truly a beauty, and in addition to other 
features which claim special notice for it, it is a true perennial. 
This Forget-me-not forms dense cushions some ‘2 inch s high, 
which are covered when in flower with its large closely set cymes 
of brilliant deep blue fragrant blossoms with a yel'ow eye, 
which adds to the effect. It jirefers in its native home narrow' 
deep fissures of rock in sunny spots, but it is by no means 
difficult to manage; indeed, its cultural requirements are the 
