Ji.Be Z, 1987. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
439 
indispeusable as cut flowers. Alba floribunda and M >nt Blanc are 
also good whites and well worth growing, as they may be used for 
the most particular purposes. Glare of the Garden is not so good, 
and some of the others are not worth growing at all. I do not peg 
dowii varieties of the habit of growth of the first named. They are 
staked and allowed great freedom of growth, but every flower is 
removed as they open, and many of the buds, so that they do not on 
that account become crow led. Pompon sorts are best pegged, but 
as a rule we do not care for these, as they are the least valuable 
section either for cutting or for effect as plants. 
■\ I am sure if anyone who has been working on the florist flower 
•system with Dahlias will give an easier method a trial, they will 
fee delighted with the extravagant profusiveness of most Dahlias, 
especially if wanted as decorative objects in large gardens. The 
simple method of pegging the plants instead of supporting with 
stakes will speak for itself.—B. 
AN ALPINE RAMBLE. 
I AM not going to conduct my readers to the Jungfrau, “Le Jardin,” 
or the passes of the Col de Balme or Tfite Noir, but to something much 
nearer home, where an epitome is to be seen of the Alpine flora to be 
studied under circumstances not quite so picturesque, but considerably 
safer and more leisurely. I ■want them to read what I have to say about 
the Alpine rockery of Messrs. Paul & Son at Broxbourne near Cheshunt. 
I have seen a good many of the best rockeries in the kingdom, and I 
am inclined to think that this will soon take rank as amongst the most 
interesting. It lacks the picturesqueness of Messrs. Backhouse, and is 
not so extensive as Mr. Loder’s at Floore; but in its completeness it will 
not be behind either, for Mr. Paul has endeavoured to meet the wants 
of its denizens in every possible way. 
When I say that the road to the station runs just at the back of the 
ground, and the road being lined with Elms, and the ground itself being 
quite level, it will be acknowledged, I think, that it required no little 
determination and perseverance to construct a rockery in such a situa¬ 
tion. Generally when this is done the maker is content to use the stone 
«f the district, or that most available for him, and simply to make the 
soil agreeable to the plants used. But Mr. Paul has not done this. He 
has so arranged it that the plants of each particular formation is 
accommm Gated with rocks suitable to them as well as with soil. Thus 
there is a piece of limestone, another of granite, a chalk down, a piece 
of sandstone formation, anl a good piece of bog, across which there is a 
sort of bridge, to cross which the Via Mala at Chamounix is but child's 
play. I managed that without help, but I had to be helped over this, 
hut then sixteen years have passe 1 sinee I crossed the MerdeGlIee, 
anl that makes some difference. Water is laid on to the top of the 
highest ridge of these alpine regions, and seems to make a moist ravine 
in which many things flourish admirably, while the bog can be flooded 
at any time, and in portions as the plants require it; thus everything 
ig arranged so as to secure success. 
There is one great advantage in growing alpine and herbaceous plants, 
that there is always something to see. You go to a Rose nursery. Ah! 
Sir, they are past their best, or, as you are so frequently told in France, 
abine. You go to the most celebrated Orchid growers in July, and you 
see just here and there a flower, but the great proportion of the plants 
exhibit nothing but leaves; but go when you will to an herbaceous 
garden and there is always something to interest you, and in these early 
months of the year there is very much in the alpine garden of very deep 
interest, while many fine herbaceous plants are in flower. What a grand 
mass the Uoronicum makes, and especial! v that fine variety, which, what¬ 
ever its botanical name, we, who knew and valued Harpur Crewe, would 
prefer that it should be known by his name. But let us not ramble too 
far. As one looks over the bog there are fine masses of m any of the King¬ 
cups (Caltha). Especiall ; noticeable is Caltha palustrisplena,the largest 
form of all but I question if it will be so great a favourite as the single 
varieties. Then there is C. leptosepala, a white flowered species. Here again 
is Orchis foliosa, evidently at homq while fine columns of Cypripelium 
spectabile are pushing up. Then that somewhat difficult plant, 
C'/pripedium aeaule, seemed as if it would accommodate itself to its 
home ; grand clumps of Osmun la were just showing their crowns, while 
Primula rosea was evidently at home. Manv of this genus delight in such 
moist places, and, indeed, can hardly be prevailed upon to mike them¬ 
selves comfortable elsewhere. In such places, too, the Menziesia 
delights, and its beautiful flowers are borne in great profusion. 
On other parts of tne rockery some very choice things were to b: seen. 
There is a remirkible Phlox, P. stellaris, which hings down in long 
growths,but not yet in flower, which is described as very hmlsome, and 
is very distinct in its growth, and likely to be verv useful for planting on 
the top of a rockery and letting it hing down over the le Iges. There is 
one important point in growing alpines to which Mr. Paul has devoted 
c onsiderable attention, and that is the aspect in which they are grown. 
Some plants, even in special formations, prefer the south, anl some 
the north aspects of a rock ; others do better in the eastern, and others 
«:i the western slopes. Thus Rimonla pyrenaica, which is here done 
very well, is place l on the northern side of the rock, an l although it 
will live in other situations, yet this is the true aspect. In the Pyrenees 
it grows on the very face of the rocks; anl at St. Alban’s Court Mr. 
Ka nmon 1 his hi 1 holes drilled in the face of the sandstone, and planted 
in these it thrives vigorously. So, again, Omphalo.les Lucilue delights in 
a shily position, so tii3t growers of alpines have to consider a good 
many things before they can succeed and learn by one another's 
experiences—successes and failures. The Androsaces were here flou¬ 
rishing, sarmentosa running along and flowering profusely, lanuginosa 
hanging down over the ledge of the rock, carnea—a difficult plant with 
most of us—but here doing well. The Gentians, too, so lovely in their 
brilliant blue, whether it be the coerulean blue of verna, or the deep rich 
ultramarine of acaulis, while there were some I have not seen before. 
Dianthus was represented by colonies of alpinus, glacialis, neglectus, 
coesius, and others. Claytonia virginica, which is not always suc¬ 
cessfully grown, is here doing well. The Cyclamens which Mr. Paul 
obtained from Painswick are here thriving in a bed, under which the 
Elms that line the road have pushed their roots. This seems to suit 
them, and corresponds with my own experience, for they have thriven 
best with me in a border facing the south, which is full of roots, and 
where in the summer they are really baked ; and yet here they are 
thoroughly at home and seedlings spring up in all directions. 
The Aubrietias were in great force, and so were the herbaceous 
Phloxes—setacea, Nelsoni, Ac. Nothing can be more taking than the 
masses of these covered with flowers and attracting the attention from 
a distance. In the chalk down Mr. Paul is attempting the British 
Orchids, and have no doubt that he will be successful. Here, where we 
are on the chalk formation, they abound all around us, and certainly 
very quaint and curious they are. They are not often successfully grown 
in gardens. 
Among the herbaceous plants, not exactly rock plants, Mr. Paul has 
a good stock of that very curious yellow-flowered plant Arnebia echioides, 
which has on its opening a distinct dark spot on each segment of the 
flower, which gradually disappears as it advances in age ; it is called the 
Prophet’s Flower, and simply affords a strong illustration of the absurdity 
of attempting to keep to English names for our plants. Who would ever 
imagine it under its English name! while its Latin name brings it home 
at once to all growers. 
As the day was not the most favourable for my visit I did not linger 
in the herbaceous ground, where I should have found much to interest 
me. My object has been rather to draw attention to the roekery, and 
to assure those who are inclined to grow Alpines that here within about 
ten miles of London it is done most successfully, and that if they will 
only go and see for themselves they can but be gratified. It is at all 
times worth a visit, but never so much, I think, as in the months of May 
and June. I need hardly say that they will meet with a courteous 
reception, while they will find in Mr. Pritchard, who has care of the 
rockery, an intelligent guide who knows probably about as much of them 
as any man in the kingdom, and who is quite willing to impart his 
knowledge.—D., Deal. 
FRAGRANT CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
As yet varieties of these flowers that possess fragrance are fe.v in 
number, an l it is a pity that more are not scented, as such an addition 
would add much t) their worth as cut flowers when used for room 
decoration. The only fragrant sorts that I know are the undermentioned. 
The first position must be given to the single variety Mrs. Langtry, a 
pink shade of colour ; it possesses the fragrance of Violets in a marked 
manner, quite sufficient to perfume a whole house from a few plants 
placed therein ; it is also free in flowering. Patience, another single 
variety, is scented, but in a less degree. Progne and Dr. Sharpe, both 
reflexed varieties, are highly perfumed, the former bright amaranth in 
colour, the latter magenta-crimson, is wonderfully free, making one of 
the best specimens of any section. These two if grown for their perfume 
alone should not be hal in bloom early, as flowers produced from early 
crown buds are often deformed and rough in the petals ; the colour also 
is not so rich, nor is the fragrance so powerful as when terminal buds 
are selected. Dick Turpin, Anemone P ompon, bright magenta, with a 
yellow eye, is dwarf in growth, flowering freely, an l possessing a power¬ 
ful Violet fragrance. These are the only varieties which I am acquainted 
with notable for fragrance of their flowers.—E. Molyneux. 
Your correspondent “C.,” page 418, wishes for the names of a few 
sweet-scented Chrysanthemums. I have only noticed two that are 
sweet-scented—the one mentioned by your correspondent, Progne, and 
Dr. Sharpo, which is scented like the Violet, but not so strong.— 
G. Price. 
CHANGE OF SEED. 
Ox page 331 Mr. W. Iggulden, while treating on the degeneracy of 
Potatoes, concludes by saying, “If it is necessary to change Potatoes it 
is equally so in the case of all other vegetable seeds, and this we know 
is quite uncalled for.” Now I have no intention of discussing the 
matter, but here are some facts. In a moorland district near me the 
farmers purchase their seed Oats from an earlier district. The advan¬ 
tage from this practice is, these Oats mature and ripen ten days earlier 
than those of their own growing. This ten days earlier means in late 
seasons a crop when it would be otherwise nil had Oats of their own 
growing been sown. Many years ago an old gardener said to me, “ Save 
your own Parsnip seed and you will have better Parsnips.” I followed 
his advice, and for some years his words came true ; but after a number 
of years had passed they gradually deteriorated, until they completely 
failed to be a crop, although rotation was strictly carried out. Another 
peculiar case was with some Potatoes I lifted in July, being at least a 
month before others of the same sort were ripe. I planted these next 
season alongside well ripened tubers. Although the former were soft 
