180 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 21, 1885. 
SWANMORE PARK. 
The name and fame of Mr. Molyneaux as a Chry¬ 
santhemum-grower, and his splendid achievements as 
an exhibitor of the queen of autumn and winter flowers, 
are too well known to the readers of gardening peri¬ 
odicals throughout the British Isles to require any 
comments from me. Nevertheless, I am convinced 
that readers of The Gardening World will be glad to 
hear something about the Swanmore flowers as seen at 
home, although it is impossible to give an adequate 
idea of the splendid sight to be seen there in the height 
of the Chrysanthemum season. My visit was paid at a 
most opportune time, just before the blooms were cut 
for thegreat contests at the Crystal Palace and Kingston, 
so that I had the opportunity of seeing the grand 
flowers that proved so victorious, and evoked such great 
enthusiasm at both those places. The plants were 
arranged in banks, the tallest being from 12 ft. to 14 ft. 
in height, and the shortest about 3 ft., the whole 
surface of the bank, from back to front, being literally 
packed with flowers of wonderful substance and depth 
without coarseness, and possessing the fine symmetrical 
outline so necessary for exhibition. The great variety 
in form and colour make such an imposing display as 
cannot fail to leave a lasting impression on the most 
casual observer ; but to the enthusiastic admirer of 
Chrysanthemums it is something more than this, it 
kindles within his mind a desire to strive his utmost to 
produce similar examples of skilful culture himself, 
and the remembrance of these models is not likely soon 
to fade from his memory. 
All classes of Chrysanthemums seem to be equally 
well done, many of the Pompones and Anemones being 
of wonderful size for the varieties, while some of the 
Japanese and incurved were of gigantic proportions and 
brilliant colours. The following are a few of the 
varieties that specially attracted attention amongst such 
a host of good things:—Japanese : Mdme. C. Audiguier, 
G. Delaux, Baron de Prailly, Golden Dragon, Fair 
Maid of Guernsey, Grandiflorum, Hiver Fleiui, Belle 
Pauline, Yal d’Andorre, Criterion, and Mdlle. Lacroix. 
Incurved: Queen of England, Lord Alcester, Alfred 
Salter, Hero of Stoke Newington, Lord Wolseley, 
Empress of India, Jeanne d’Arc, Golden Eagle, Princess 
of Wales, and Barbara. Such a collection of Chry¬ 
santhemums is worth going a long way to see, not only 
for the gratification one feels when beholding such a 
feast of floral beauty, lint also for the knowledge of the 
varieties that can be gained when they are seen growing 
side by side, especially when attended by a man of such 
extensive knowledge of the subject as Mr. Molyneaux, 
who is ever ready with prompt replies to enquiries 
concerning his favourite flowers. 
Ever since the Swanmore Chrysanthemums were first 
brought prominently before the public, I have had a 
great desire to see them at home. That desire has at 
last been satisfied, and if in after years I chance to 
obtain a reasonable amount of success as a grower, I 
shall look back upon my visit to Swanmore as having 
given me the incentive to greater energy in that direc¬ 
tion.— Visitor. 
ORCHID SALE IN AMERICA. 
We learn from The American Florist, that at the 
sale recently of the splendid collection of Orchids 
formed by the late Mrs. M. J. Morgan of New York, 
the principal English buyers present were Mr. W. 
Court, representing Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons, and 
Mr. McKenzie, representing Messrs. Sander & Co. 
The most important purchases made by Mr. Court 
were Aerides expansum Leonis, 70 dols. ; Aerides 
Yeitchii, 35 dols. ; Cattleya Skinneri alba, the best 
plant in cultivation, 200 dols ; Cattleya sp., 80 dols. ; 
Cattleya Dominiana, 55 dols. ; Cattleya labiata, 90 
dols. ; Cattleya Mastersiana, 90 dols. ; two Cattleya 
fausta delicata, 145 dol. ; Cypripedium Morganianum, 
a hybrid raised by Messrs. Yeitch, and which was 
presented by them to Mrs. Morgan, 750 dols. This 
is the largest plant in cultivation, there being only 
a very few of any size. When this plant was offered a 
supreme stillness pervaded the room. As was expected, 
a severe fight was made for it. Mr. Kimball started it 
with 100 dols., he and Mr. Grey, Mr. Coming’s gardener, 
bidding by 50 dols. up to 500 dols. ; Mr. Court and 
Mr. McKenzie then fought until the plant was sold to 
Mr. Court for 750 dols. Applause followed the pur¬ 
chase. The plant would have been purchased by Mr. 
Court even if the price had reached 1,500 dols. The 
next important purchase by Mr. Court was Cypripedium 
Stonei platytsenium, 450 dols. ; C. Fairrieanum, 100 
dols. ; and many other very rare plants. 
Sir. McKenzie, for Messrs. Sander, purchased 
amongst other rare and scarce varieties, Aerides 
Schrcederii, 80 dols. ; Cattleya exoniensis, 250 dols. 
and 80 dols. ; Cattleya labiata, 160 dols., 96 dols., and 
55 dols. ; Cattleya fausta, 35 dols. and 95 dols. ; 
Cselogyne cristata alba, 210 dols. ; three Cattleya 
Louisiana, 60 dols, 18 dols., and 16 dols. ; and several 
others. 
Mr. H. Seibrecht, of Seibrecht & Wadley, bought the 
first plant and the last, and the gem of the collection, 
Yanda Sanderiana ; the final bid of 900 dols. was 
made by Mr. Seibrecht, and amid cheers he lifted the 
plant carefully and carried it off. The plant cost 
originally 2000 dols., and except for the delay 
in transit of instructions from England it would have 
sold for more than the original cost to have retained it 
here. The plant has been re-sold to C. J. Osborn at a 
considerable advance. The next lot to this, Yanda 
suavis, was sold to Mr. Kimball for 400 dols. ; Mr. 
Kimball bought many plants at high figures and good 
bargains, as did most other buyers. So it will be seen 
the plants are widely scattered, many of which will be 
as much appreciated as ever. The pulse of the sale is 
that never before in the history of Orchid culture in 
America hasthere been anythinglike the enthusiasm. It 
shows that America will soon have as good collections of 
Orchids as of other plants, and the time is not far 
distant when we can say every city has one or more 
representative collections of Orchids. 
-- 
ROCKERIES AND ROCKERY 
BORDERS. 
The pleasures which a rock garden afford to lovers 
of hardy plants are not generally known to the masses, 
but on the other hand are confined to a comparatively 
few. This may to some extent be accounted for by the 
fact, that associated with the term rockwork, there is a 
general idea that it is expensive. This may be so if a 
rockery on an elaborate scale is anticipated, but as such 
a one is by no means essential to the successful culture 
of many of our choicest alpine and rockery plants, nor 
is it within the reach of the majority of those who 
would like to embrace a rockery of smaller dimensions, 
I will make no allusion as to its structure, since those 
who anticipate spacious and elaborate rockeries invari¬ 
ably know how to set to work to form them. 
In my present note I will confine my remarks to 
rockery borders and beds, which are of such simple 
structure that anyone with a little taste and forethought 
may make them. The formation of rockeries, large or 
small, without taste and judgment, not unfrequently 
brings about hideous results, whfch are a continuous 
eyesore and had much better never been attempted all. 
Perhaps it may be well to observe in passing, that 
rockeries are not an absolute necessity for the culture 
of the great majority of so-called rock plants, the 
choicest of which may be equally well grown in a 
raised border of prepared soil, for what are the noblest 
examples of artificial rock of which we boast, compared 
with the elevation of the wind-swept mountain home 
of so many choice alpines ; good rockeries therefore are 
an ornament to the garden, and if well and carefully 
planted, are full of interest for the greater part of the 
year. The plants, if judiciously arranged, have a much 
more natural and homely appearance than when planted 
on an ordinary level surface ; these are some of the 
reasons for the encouragement and extension of well- 
formed rock gardens. But to the point. 
First, we will consider the forming of one of these 
rockery beds, and secondly, the class of plants which 
are likely to give satisfaction. I will ask the reader 
then to imagine a vacant piece of ground, regardless of 
size or shape for the present. To ascertain the kind of 
soil of which it is composed is the first step ; this may 
be loam of a sandy nature,- or stiff clayey soil ; of the 
two, the first named will on all sides be preferred. 
The next step should be to trench it deeply, before 
commencing which, it will be much benefited by a 
good liberal dressing of manure, and also by adding 
broken brick rubbish, mortar from old buildings, and 
road sweepings or the like. Such things as these are 
great helps, and especially so if the soil is inclined to 
be heavy. A few large stones will be needed while the 
work is proceeding, for disposing in such a way as to 
crop out of the soil here and there, not in formal assem¬ 
blage or as pinnacles mounting into the air, but in that 
natural manner which one is wont to see on many 
of the hill sides which surround us. It will be hardly 
necessary to observe that the one main object beyond 
giving it a natural appearance in the use of stones in 
such beds is that they stay evaporation to a very con¬ 
siderable extent, which is of great importance, seeing 
that by their use an uniform moisture of the soil is 
maintained about the roots of plants, and which is so 
generally beneficial to them. Moreover, by the adoption 
of stones in these beds it is more easily managed to cul¬ 
tivate a greater variety of subjects, for beside one of 
these large stones a shaded and cool spot will be at 
hand for plants preferring such positions, where, with 
a good depth of soil, they may be likely to luxuriate. 
In a word, the great majority of our choicest plants 
from Alpine regions will succeed in such a bed as this, 
and having from time to time constructed such beds of 
various sizes, my experience goes to favour their more 
general use, and for this reason : in a border which has 
been well trenched and thoroughly manured you have 
a good guarantee that your plants have a sufficient 
depth of soil below them, and which, with good drainage, 
is most likely to end with satisfactory results. 
Too often, however, in so-called rockeries, the question 
of soil does not receive sufficient attention, and not un¬ 
frequently, in dry weather, do they become parched and 
dried up. Heaps of stones, again, are often thrown 
together, and little or no regard is paid to filling in the 
spaces between the stones with soil; consequently, a 
vacuum exists, and wherever this occurs failure is most 
likely to ensue. There is no fear of this occurring in 
the rockery borders, which is a point in their favour. 
Now a word or two respecting the plants best suited. 
This depends to a great extent on its size, and in con¬ 
sequence might include plants of all class, whether 
bulbous or tuberous-rooted, Alpine or strictly herb¬ 
aceous plants. It may probably be of greater service 
to the amateur if a list of good and useful subjects for 
such a border be given—such as may be grown easily 
and at the same time afford ample illustration of the 
beauty and variety which may be found among these 
plants. 1 will therefore supplement these observations 
with such a list in a future issue. — J. 
-—;>*<—- 
PYRAMIDAL MIGNONETTE. 
I think the two best Mignonettes of the pyramidal 
type are the Giant Crimson or Machet, and that fine 
type of the white known as Parson’s Giant. Both of 
these have a true pyramidal character, and they produce 
large spikes of highly fragrant flowers. These two 
varieties are well adapted for pot culture ; but it is not 
an easy process to grow specimens of a perfect cha¬ 
racter, for the} 7 require a.good deal of attention, but 
when successfully grown in this way the specimens are 
well worth the labour bestowed upon them. 
To have Mignonette in bloom from November till 
February is a feat by no means difficult of performance. 
To anyone with limited means, the difficulty would be 
more in the inability 7 to produce it during the whole of 
the time named, owing to want of room to raise and 
contain sufficient plants to procure a succession. Mig¬ 
nonette is very largely grown for the Loudon markets, 
and when well done it usually commands a good price. 
lYlio that has walked along the centre avenue of 
Covent Garden Market and admired and even stopped 
to inhale some of the beautiful fragrance given forth by 
the superb pots of Mignonette at Buck's or Dickson’s 
have not felt that it must be delightful indeed to have 
a few pots in one’s greenhouse at home. 
Those who grow pots of Mignonette for market sow 
as early as August and on to February or March, to 
ensure the succession required fora market supply. It 
used to be the fashion with some of the old Tulip 
growers to plant their beds of Tulips on Lord Mayor’s- 
day, the 9th of November, ; aud probably this is still 
continued, so great a hold does custom get on some of 
us. There is an old nursery firm in the neighbourhood 
of London whose invariable rule it is, and has been for 
the past forty or fifty years, to make a sowing of Mig¬ 
nonette on the 1st of September. This is about the 
time I would recommend some of your readers who are 
amateurs to sow their seeds. 
At the outset good seed—that is, seed of a worthy 
strain —should be obtained. It should be sown in 5 in. 
