JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
June 21, 1883. ] 
519 
be saturated. Lychnis pyrenaica is also a rare plant; the slender 
stems are terminated by white flowers about half an inch across. 
Ramondia pyrenaica is less uncommon, but very pretty. It 
appears very capricious. I know of some places where it appa¬ 
rently refuses to grow, and of others where it increases very rapidly. 
Ask Mr. Loder of Weedon how it thrives with him. Ranunculus 
amplexicaulis is a very pretty Buttercup, pure white flowers about 
the size of a shilling, with stout glaucous foliage. This does well 
in a cool damp position in the border or at the foot of the rockery. 
Alyssum alpestre is by no means a common plant, very dwarf, 
with straggling stems, terminated with small cymes of yellow 
flowers. Armeria setacea is one of the prettiest and dwarfest of 
the Thrifts, forming close radiating rosettes of leaves, from which 
spring the very numerous small flower-heads of a light pink 
colour not more than 2 or 3 inches high. I wonder if Mr. 
Entwistle has A. juniperina ; if not, it should be a companion of 
A. setacea. Androsace carnea, with very fine leaves and pleasing 
pink flowers, is very charming, and many others made up a most 
interesting group, and not the least pleasing feature was the 
labels, which were very neatly and correctly written—an example, 
enpassant, wich might have been followed by others. 
In Mr. Broome’s collection several good plants were noticeable. 
Cypripedium parviflorum arrested attention. The leaves are finely 
spotted with reddish brown, lanceolate in form. Sepals ovate 
acuminate, about an inch long. Petals 1^ inch long, linear lance¬ 
olate, twisted, both chocolate brown and green. Lip nearly an 
inch long, pouch-like, deep yellow, with the margin of the orifice 
bright chocolate, the.inside spotted with crimson. It is common 
in the United States, and is one of the very numerous family of 
hardy Orchids which might be easily cultivated. Lychnis Haage- 
ana was very bright, with the large brilliant red flowers more 
than 2 inches across. Our native Orchis maculata revealed its 
beauty when massed together as exhibited. St. Bruno’s Lily 
(Anthericum Liliastrum) is very handsome with its white Lily¬ 
like flowers and grass-like leaves. Cardamine pratensis fl.-pl. 
The old Spirrea Ulmaria plena is welcome at all times, although 
forced into bloom : this is a plant far too seldom seen in our 
gardens. Thalictrum purpurascens is indeed a very fine species ; 
tall-growing, with dense heads of pale purple flowers, most effective 
with the elegant leafage. The Fair Maid of France (Ranunculus 
aconitifolius plenus) was very striking with its small white rosette¬ 
like flowers, each one of great service in floral work. This is one 
of the finest hardy flowers extant. Lychnis viscaria fl.-pl. also 
showed up well with its racemes of deep rose-coloured flowers ; 
very lasting and hardy, forming nice cushions of greenery on the 
rockery or in a warm sunny border. Delphinium tricorne also in 
good condition—and this is rare—very dwarf, less or not more 
than a foot high, with pale blue flowers. Native of N. America. 
Narcissus bicolor was staged by Mr. Joseph Way of Kirkham. 
This is the latest of the Trumpet section. Some cultivators tell 
us there is a form named bicolor maximus which is even later. 
Noticeable in the excellent collection of Messrs. James Dickson 
and Sons of Chester were the following. Tulipa retroflexa, a 
bright yellow-flowered kind ; very showy. Mertensia virginica, 
which is an excellent border plant, much less common than it 
should be. Lilium Thunbergianum atro-purpureum, a very dark- 
coloured variety tinged with purple. Dielytra spectabilis alba 
was also in excellent condition, being a good colour and well 
flowered. Dianthus hybridus Napoleon III. indicated its usefulness 
for suDplying good flowers ; perfect little Pinks are the flowers, 
of a deep crimson colour, with stiff footstalks, so that they can be 
easily wired, and they stand remarkably well after being cut. 
Eulalia japonica variegata, a very fine specimen of which was 
shown, is really the finest hardy variegated Grass I am acquainted 
with, and gracefulness of form and variegation render it strikingly 
effective. There were many other plants which might be men¬ 
tioned in this group, but space forbids. In Mr. Brownhill’s collec¬ 
tion Cypripedium pubescens (shown under the name of calceolus) 
and C. spectabile were conspicuous. These are both excellent 
border flowers. It is a pity that N. odorus var. was exhibited as 
N. juncifolius, which is quite a different plant, much earlier and 
smaller in all parts than those shown. The various forms of 
Primula Sieboldi were very showy, and gave good evidence of the 
value of these Japanese Primroses for garden or house decoration. 
Dodecatheon Meadia album was in excellent condition. This is 
one of the best forms of the American Cowslip : flowers pure 
white, freely produced. The variety named splendens (D. integri- 
folium) is a charming companion ; flowers deep magenta, very 
freely produced. Both grand plants enjoy a damp situation to 
grow in. 
Amongst the alpine plants the two finest in my opinion were 
Viola pedata alba and Onosma taurica, both in Messrs. Dicksons’ 
collection. The Viola is a gem with its numerous pure white 
flowers nestled amongst the leaves ; it is quite hardy, very showy 
and useful. The Onosma is proverbially a difficult plant to 
manage, but this plant was crowded with flower spikes ; it enjoys 
a rich stiff soil, and a good depth of it. 
Messrs. Roger, McClelland & Co. of Newry exhibited a most 
interesting collection of hardy flowers. They were not only greatly 
appreciated by the specialist in hardy flower culture, but by the 
general public. Baskets of Anemones in various colours, Oxlips, 
and Pansies, while a multitude of other gems made up the collec¬ 
tions. A list of a few must satisfy my readers, as a detailed de¬ 
scription would occupy far too much space. Hardy Orchids, 
many varieties ; Primula Balbisi, Dianthus glacialis, Gnaphalium 
alpinum, Romanzoffia sitchensis, Gillenia stipulacea, Iberis gib- 
raltarica hybrida, Dodecatheon integrifolium, and Gentiana verna, 
Fig. 117.—The Kittatinny. 
all of which are worthy of culture. It is gratifying to see such 
encouragement given to hardy flowers, as these displays enable 
gardeners to appreciate the great value of hardy plants for deco¬ 
rative purposes.—R ambler. 
AMERICAN BLACKBERRIES. — • 
I AM told by a person who has resided in America that the 
Brambles there are thrice the size of ours, and that if we exercised 
the same care in culture as they do “ over there,” we might 
improve our wilding and have as fine Blackberries as they have. 
I should be glad to know if this is so, as I have as luxuriant 
Brambles as I can imagine growing in deep rich soil, yet they 
produce nothing like the fruit that I have heard of, but not seen. 
I should be glad of any information on the subject, as I confess I 
am a little suspicious of “tall talk” on this matter.—J. E. D., 
Devon. 
[The large-fruited kinds referred to are not descended from our 
