JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 5, 1882. ] 
Bll 
5th 
Tn 
Sale of Osborn’s Nurseries at the Mart, Tokenhouse Yard. Sale 
6th 
F 
of Plants by Messrs. Baker & Sons at St. Hilda’s Nursery, 
7th 
s 
Sale of Bulbs at Stevens’s Rooms, Covent Garden. [Harrow. 
8th 
SUN 
18th Sunday after Trinity. 
9th 
M 
10th 
TU 
Royal Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees at 
11th 
W 
[11 A.M. 
PLANTS FOR MOIST POSITIONS. 
former notes I described my method of making 
a bog garden, I now purpose noticing a few 
useful plants suitable for such a position. It 
must be understood that a thoroughly made 
bog garden admits all moisture-loving plants ; 
thus a great variety can be grown. By vary- 
ing the height of the soil above the general level such 
plants as Androsace carnea, A. Laggeri, Houstonia 
cterulea, and some of the better alpine Primulas, can be 
suited with a moist but well-drained position, as can 
also Gentiana bavarica with a swampy one. Those who have 
seen Mr. Whitehead's famous garden at Bickley, Kent, can 
testify to this. I have never seen Lobelia fulgens in such 
magnificent condition as in a wet peaty bog, where its noble 
branched spikes exceeded 5 feet in height. A moist but well- 
drained position suits Allium pedemontanum better than any. 
It is desirable that it should be planted so that its heads of 
purple-blue pendant flowers could be seen on a level with the 
eye. I have tried this plan, but have not been very successful. 
Planted on elevated or dry positions they are affected by short 
seasons of drought in early spring. Watering will not com¬ 
pensate for insufficient rain, and I have in my mind a case of 
planting on a ledge, when injury resulted which took more 
than two years to rectify. It is a rare and most desirable 
plant, and the best of all the Garlics known to me. Seeds are 
very slow to germinate, and are better kept in a cool frame 
until they do. It scarcely admits of division, and needs care¬ 
ful watching, as garden pests, especially slugs, are fond of it. 
It is quite hardy, and fully repays any attention given it. 
Some of the better alpine Anemones will probably find a 
better and more comfortable home in a well-drained part of 
the bog than any other position. No doubt they are more in 
character planted in somewhat elevated fissures, but the ques¬ 
tion gardeners in this country have to consider is, Will they 
grow there? We have no melting snows to keep the higher 
alpines moist and cool. Rock gardens seldom receive a top¬ 
dressing of leaf soil, peat, or other decayed vegetables, how¬ 
ever often the necessity of doing this suggests itself. Probably 
our ideas of neatness in this as often in other matters prevent 
it, and it is in consideration of the vast amount of decayed 
vegetable matter—yearly top-dressings, so to speak—which 
supports mountain plant life that I recommend the culture of 
alpine Anemones in the drier parts of the bog garden. To 
impart a general porosity or sweetness to the soil broken stone 
may be used. Besides the above-mentioned, the following and 
almost any other dwarf Anemones may be grown under condi¬ 
tions as above described. A. narcissiflora, a species producing 
branched leafy umbels of proportionately large white globular 
flowers from amongst pedate, hairy, radical leaves, is a most 
desirable acquisition, but difficult to increase, seldom producing 
more than a single crown. Seed of this will sometimes be in 
the pans for three years before germination. I have never 
been able to raise more than a single plant from hundreds of 
seeds, and my impression is that the seed ought to be sown as 
soon as gathered. This is not a bulbous or tuberous-rooted 
species, but one which dies back to an enormous crown, in 
which are contained all the essentials for next year’s growth 
and flowering. 
Anemone alpina var. sulphurea, though not so fastidious as 
the Siberian or Narcissus-flowered species, is, perhaps, nowhere 
seen to such advantage as planted in shaly peat. I believe, 
however, that in the more salubrious climate of the western 
counties it does not need very considerable attention. On the 
eastern shores an almost yearly period of drought in spring 
time has to be taken into account. In May, sometimes earlier, 
large sulphur-coloured flowers are produced, subtended by pin- 
nately divided almost Fern-like leaves. In age a semi-woody 
rootstock developes above ground, which needs earthing-up 
with peaty soil and small stones. This, together with the 
vernal species, the Pasque-flower—in fact all which form this 
woody rootstock, delight in having their roots along the face 
of some stone or boulder for instance ; and to meet their re¬ 
quirements in this way stones may be placed 1 foot or so 
beneath the surface before planting. Seeds sown in autumn 
should germinate the following spring. I have seen a very 
good patch of A. thalictroides which came from an undeni¬ 
able source, but can only describe it as a bracteated and very 
pretty form of the common Wood Anemone. Another neat 
little species in the way of A. nemorosa, coming from Colum¬ 
bia, named A. deltoidea, might be added to the list. For this 
a little shade is essential. 
Asters furnish few species worth growing in the peat bog ; 
only one occurs to me now, A. confertus. I have searched for 
some record of it, but have been unable to find any. It came 
to us from the Rev. Harpur-Crewe, so there can be little doubt 
about the correctness of its name. It is a very stout-growing 
species, answering well to its specific title, being very compact ; 
attains the height of 5 feet in the wettest parts, and is very 
showy, having flower-heads individually of the type of A. Chap- 
mani. Astrantia carniolica would make a capital companion 
to the latter. It is never seen so much to advantage in any 
other part of the garden. Its light rosy heads are produced 
in umbellate fashion, subtended by leafy bracts. 
Epigasa repens, the New England Mayflower, ought to be in 
every good garden. Its culture is not difficult; all that is 
needed is sandy peat, good drainage, never being allowed to be¬ 
come dry on the surface. When its little bunches of Stepha- 
notis-like flowers expand a handlight, whitewashed inside, ought 
to be placed over it as protection from frost. In the moister 
parts of the bog it grows luxuriantly, increases rapidly, and is 
quite an attractive plant. Being a member of the Lily family 
it dies back in autumn to a bulb-like crown. A fine larger- 
growing plant is Camassia esculenta. This is also a border 
plant, but is better seen in the bog. It is a true bulbous 
plant,bearing fine spikes of blue upwards of 2 feet high. Chry- 
sosplenium alternifolium, though a common plant, is generally 
admired by all visitors. Nothing surpasses it as a carpeting 
for larger plants; It will grow in the swampiest parts, and 
No. 119.— Yol. y., Third Series. 
No. 1775.—Yol. LXVII1.. Old Series. 
