August 27, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
175 
start with, especially if they would secure some of the brightest 
gems in the spring flora, that in a year or so would cover a space 
a foot or perhaps 2 feet across. 
Like most members of its family this produces seed freely, 
consequently it is of the greatest value to the beginner, as by 
obtaining a packet of seeds a score or two of plants are almost a 
certainty, and a good show of flowers quickly follows when the 
seedlings appear. The seeds are glossy black, and may be sown 
early in autumn or as soon as ripe, which is generally about the end 
of June ; while for a late spring display winter sown seeds are 
perhaps the best, for then the seeds germinate with the lengthening 
of the days, and if duly attended to the plants will flower the same 
spring. Cover the seeds lightly with finely sifted sandy loam, and, 
having watered them thoroughly, place in a cool spot till the 
seedlings appear. It is a point worth noting that the seedlings 
should be pricked off early, not allowing them to be crowded, and 
thereby become weakly, placing half a dozen in a 4-inch pot for the 
present ; these to be thinned to half the number should all survive. 
If plants from a dozen or more of such pots can be pricked off so 
much the better, and when growth has fairly commenced remove 
the point of each to induce them to branch. On any favourable 
day these, if properly hardened by exposure, may be transplanted 
to the rockery in sunny spots where a deep root run of sandy loam 
is available ; and if some well decayed manure be added this 
brilliant alpine will grow rapidly. When seen overhanging a rude 
bit of rock nothing can surpass this. It is also charming when 
inserted in the crevices of roughly built walls or the nearly per¬ 
pendicular chinks of rockwork or on old ruins. To establish it thus 
is quite an easy matter, and may be done by seeds or seedlings, first 
boring out the mortar with a piece of pointed iron, then apply 
some soil, and in this latter insert the seeds or the young plants. 
The simplest way to obtain success with seeds is to mix them with 
a little soil and make all moist, when they may be readily rubbed 
into the places prepared for them. 
SlLENE ALPESTRIS 
is another of those easily grown plants which all must admire, 
for it possesses every merit which can render any alpine popular. 
In the perfect sheet of bloom which in late spring and early summer 
is produced on established plants this is probably unique, and the 
shining leaves are hidden. The blossoms are of a pure and glossy 
whiteness, beautifully notched, and are 6 inches above its dense 
compact tuft of leaves. It is by no means particular as to soil, 
thriving well in any ordinary garden soil made fairly rich, spreading 
freely and quickly into handsome tufts, but prefers deep fairly 
moist soil, and should not be placed on the dry rockery. Beyond 
this we have no alpine more easily grown ; indeed, on the level 
ground in quite heavy soil I have had this lovely plant a yard 
across in the greatest luxuriance, and even growing quite as freely 
as an Aubrietia. I have heard of its failing occasionally, but the 
instances are rare, and always due to improper positions. The 
whole of the Mossy Saxifrages on the level ground or in moist spots 
will soon become rampant, while on the dry rockwork they are 
frequently seen dwarfed and stunted in growth. Still in both cases 
the soil may be precisely the same ; therefore soil in such a case 
plays quite a secondary part, and it is so with this Alpine Catchfly, 
which on level ground grows and flowers with the greatest freedom. 
Seeds are freely produced, and it may be increased by this means 
or by division. Freedom at the root it must always receive to 
allow full development to the growths that are abundantly pro¬ 
duced. Its flowering period is from the middle of May to about 
the same time in July, varying of course with the season as with 
the locality. A native of the European Alps, and one of the best 
of this family.—J. H. E. 
LINDELOFIA SPECTABILIS. 
Although comparatively little known in gardens generally this 
beautiful Boragewort has been grown in a few collections for many years, 
and must be placed amongst the neglected favourites of past days. 
Messrs. Paul & Son of Cheshunt recently exhibited some specimens at 
one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s meetings, when the illustration 
(fig. 26) was prepared as a means of calling special attention to the 
plant. 
If search is made for the name given above it will not be readily 
found, but it appears in Walper’s “ Annales Botanices Systematic® ” for 
1858 (page 539), where Omphalodes longiflora and Cynoglossum longi- 
florum are given as synonyms. Under the latter name an illustration 
appeared in the “ Botanical Register ” for 1840, where Lindley gave the 
following particulars : — 
“ Of this fine species of Hounds-tongue the characteristic marks are 
derived in part from the great length of the tube of the corolla, and in 
part from the elongation of the processes which rise up from the mouth 
of the corolla, and alternate with the stamens. They are as long as the 
projecting filaments, curved inwards and emarginate at the apex, and 
hollow, which latter circumstance renders it probable that they are mere 
folds of the corolla and not abortive stamina. According to Brown the 
species with projecting stamens are to be excluded from the genus, and 
if so this plant is not a Cynoglossum. But the fruit is that of the latter 
genus, not of Anchusa, to which I presume the species must otherwise 
be referred. This is a very pretty hardy perennial, growing about 1 \ foot 
high if planted in any good garden soil, and flowering freely from the 
end of May to the beginning of August. It is increased by seeds or 
divisions of the roots ; but by seeds is the best way, as they are pro luced 
abundantly. However, the plants so raised will not flower before the 
second season after sowing. It was raised from seed received from the 
FIG. 26.— LINDELOFIA SPECTABILIS. 
Honourable East India Company, through Dr. Royle, in May, 1839, and 
collected in Cashmere. It stood out last winter in the open border with¬ 
out any protection.” 
The flowers are of a variable metallic blue tint, the centres pink, 
and the tube pale blue. 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE VINE. 
[Read before the Sheffield Floral and Horticultural Society, by Mr. H. Tranter, 
gardener to Sir F. T. Mappin, Bart., M.P., Thornbury, Sheffield.] 
Grapes are always greatly appreciated and stand first among: 
dessert fruits. For general purposes there is no better way of pro¬ 
pagating Vines than by eyes. These must be selected from well ripened 
wood. I cut the wood right across, about half an inch on each side of 
the eye, as I find they strike sooner, and they callus more quickly in 
sand than in loam. They may be placed in bottom heat, but after they 
are struck they should be shifted into larger pots, and have no bottom 
heat except the temperature of the house they are grown im It is far 
better to have firm than large half-ripened growth. The "V ines must 
not be crowded in dark houses, direct light and sun being essential. 
January is a good time for inserting the eyes in a bottom heat of about 
90° and as near the glass as possible, with an atmospheric temperature 
of 55° at night, rising to 70° by day, keeping them moderately moist. 
When the plants have a few leaves on them take them out of the 
plunging material ; and though they will not make such rapid giowth 
as if left in, it will be firmer and safer. They must be kept growing 
and not checked. If the Vines are for planting out 8-inch pots are 
sufficiently large; if for fruiting in the following season the size should 
not be less than 8 nor more than 14 inches. When potted they should 
be for a few days shaded from the sun. In March the temperatuie 
