232 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 11, 1886. 
conservatories over a bank of hot-water pipes than 
from any other cause. They become weak and dwind¬ 
ling, are attacked by insect pests, and, if they flower 
at all, it is in a very imperfect manner.— Scolytus. 
-- 
SPRING GARDENING.—V. 
Mossy Saxifrages. 
Continuing my remarks on the above subject, I will 
briefly allude to some few of the many members of the 
genus Saxifrage, which include some valuable plants 
for all purposes of spring gardening. I shall, however, 
only refer to those two sections which are really the 
best suited to the purpose, and which may be found 
in the “ mossy” and “ Megasea ” groups. The former 
are all distinguished by their dense moss-like cushions 
or growths, and of which S. hypnoides may be taken as 
typical; the latter being easily distinguished by their 
large thick leathery foliage and towering spikes of 
flowers. 
Of the mossy group none, perhaps, are more useful 
and effective than S. muscoides atropurpurea, which 
carpets the ground with dense cushions of miniature 
rosettes of leaves, and which in spring-time is fairly 
smothered with its tiny purplish flowers. In all it is, 
perhaps, 3 ins. or 4 ins. high, and therefore a veritable 
gem as a margin to a bed of other plants, or dotted 
about indiscriminately amongst other varieties where 
circumstances permit. Being easily increased by 
division, it is one of those plants which should be 
largely associated with others of modest bearing ; in 
the rock garden in large tufts it is very beautiful, and 
has a most pleasing effect in early spring. There are 
numerous other members of this section, some of 
which grow freer than the above-named, but which 
have white or whitish flowers invariably spotted with 
pink, these are S. hypnoides and the variety elegantis- 
sima, S. coespitosa, S. groelandica and S. icelandica ; 
these are equally useful, and of freer growth than the 
first-named, aud differ in their shades of green. Any 
or all are very effective, either in the spring garden, or 
as carpets to other things of statelier growth. 
Megaseas. 
If I had the choice of one member only from the 
Megasea group, my unhesitating choice would be S. 
ligulata, a kind which for hardihood, majestic bear¬ 
ing and bold massive spikes of flowers, is unequalled 
by any other; when well established it rises fully 
18 ins. or 20 ins. high when in flower, at which height 
its bold panicles of rosy-purple flowers are seen to great 
advantage ; it has a vigorous constitution, such as few 
of its kin, can boast, and should be embraced by all 
whose desire is to have bold striking objects early in 
spring. I remember, some three or four years since, 
seeing this plant in the very earliest spring-time in full 
flower at Belvoir, where it is used abundantly with ex¬ 
cellent effect ; it was the centre-piece of a raised bed, 
and certainly a decided feature in that part of the 
garden. It needs plenty of space to develope its large 
handsome foliage, and when seen in the condition to 
which I refer, it will make a lasting impression upon 
the mind of anyone interested in plants or plant cul¬ 
ture. 
It is somewhat to be regretted, perhaps, that one 
of the best, if not the very best of the white-flowered 
Saxifragas comes somewhat late in flower to be fairly 
included among the spring bedding plants : I refer to 
S. Wallacei, which ranks among the largest of the 
white-flowered kinds ; but, notwithstanding this fact, 
it still retains all its original value as one of the most 
decorative, and one which will prove highly valuable 
in any garden ; it is, moreover, very useful for cutting, 
and its pearly white panicles of flower may be used in 
a variety of ways by the bouquetist, whose quick eye 
soon decides between good and bad in this direction. 
It is one of the few recent introductions w-hich, since it 
made its debut, has been sold by the thousands—a fact 
which speaks volumes in itself. While speaking of 
white flowers, I am reminded of the pearly white of the 
Perennial Candytuft, 
Iberis corifolia, an old-fashioned Alpine, whose flowers 
come in early spring and last a long time in per¬ 
fection, the plant is easily managed, and readily in¬ 
creased by cuttings. The several other species of per- 
rennial Candytuft are also very useful, such for example 
as tenoreana, saxatilis, sempervirens, and so on, and 
one or more should always be grown. Hitherto my 
remarks have been confined to perennials principally. 
though I must not forget the fact that we have some 
useful and showy subjects among early-flowering 
annuals. The well-known 
SlLENE PENDULA COMPACTA 
Is one of these, and one which does really good service 
annually, being easily reproduced from seeds, which 
should be sown about July to make good tufts for 
autumn planting. Another plant, not perhaps quite so 
well known, is the pretty Limnanthes Douglasi, having 
creamy white flowers, with yellow centre ; it is simply 
surprising how long this plant continues to flower, 
and the pleasing effect produced may be judged by the 
colour of its blossoms. To ensure good plants for 
autumn planting, sow your seeds at the end of July 
rather thinly, so that there will be no need to thin-out 
or transplant before the time comes for placing them 
in the beds in autumn, when you will find sturdy 
plants instead of weakly drawn examples ; nor must 
we omit the ever-useful Golden Feather, which is so 
effective in spring in the bright 'golden of its leaves, 
and valuable alike in either spring or summer bed¬ 
ding. — J. 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN SMALL 
POTS. 
As a rule, Chrysanthemums are cultivated in pots 
varying from 8 ins. to 12 ins. in diameter, no matter 
whether they are required for specimen blooms, as 
specimen plants, or for ordinary decorative purposes. 
I think it will be generally admitted that very fre¬ 
quently circumstances arise where plants (of Chrysan¬ 
themums) and pots much smaller than usual would be 
most valuable, but, unfortunately, they are rarely 
obtainable. For small vases, jardinieres, tazzas, front 
rows of groups, stages, &c., the usual sized plants and 
pots are too large or obtrusive, and, consequently, 
their obtrusiveness is either looked upon as a necessary 
evil, or less harmonious subjects are introduced ; in 
either case the effect desired is not obtained. 
A plan for obtaining miniature Chrysanthemums 
was published several years ago, and prizes have been 
offered for a specified number of examples grown on 
that system, but so far as I know, the system has not 
been generally adopted, nor can I recommend such 
system, for the reason that I do not think the results 
sufficiently compensate for the time and labour be¬ 
stowed. I refer to the plan of growing them in very 
small pots, and allowing each plant to carry one flower; 
their appearance strikes one at once as being stiff and 
unnatural, while the one imperfect flower they bear 
looks altogether lonely and dejected. 
The system I am about to advocate gives us small 
plants in small pots, is natural, economical, practical, 
and gives a profusion of flowers of useful qualit) T ; 
everybody can grow them—the amateur with a square 
yard of glass as well as the winner of the “ Dingstone 
Challenge ^ ase, ” and the plants areas useful to the 
latter as to the former. 
On the 20th of May, the plants that are grown for 
ordinary decorative purposes receive their final 
“pinching” or “topping,” butinstead of these “tops ” 
being thrown aivay, they are taken off with a knife, just 
long enough to form cuttings, and five or six are put in 
a pot and struck in the usual way, viz., the pots are 
placed on ashes in a cold frame, watered through a 
“ros e" every day, and shaded only from very bright 
sunshine just so long as they have a tendency to 
“ flag.” They will be rooted and read}' to pot off into 
small pots in about three weeks—and that without the 
loss of a cutting if they were properly made—after 
which operation they should be returned to the cold 
frames, and kept closed for a few days until root-action 
re-commences, when they must have full exposure to 
sun and air. 
When the growth has again commenced, the points 
should be taken out, which will induce them to develop 
from four to six shoots. About the 6th of July they 
are placed in pots ins. or 6 ins. in diameter, and in 
these they flower. Every plant should be placed in an 
open position where they may have abundance of sun 
aud air, and may be plunged to the rim of the pots. 
They ought not to be pinched again, but let each stem 
have a short stick put to it and tied. Housing 
should be done at the usual time, and in November and 
December the cultivator will be rewarded with healthy 
plants 18 ins. or 2 ft. high, bearing several dozens of 
useful flowers, and with foliage down to the soil. 
Such varieties as Mrs. Bundle, Mrs. Dixon, George 
Glenny, Gloria Mundi, Fulgore, Elaine, James Salter, 
Fair Maid of Guernsey, Isidore Feral, Margot, 
Christine, Julie Lagravere, Cedo Nulli, Dick Turpin, 
Yirginale, Bob, General Canrobert and St. Michael are 
all good varieties for this kind of cultivation, and will 
give a quantity of flowers of a satisfactory quality.— J. 
Udale, Elford, Tamicorth. 
-- 
GRAPES AND THEIR FLAVOUR. 
A short time since there appeared in your pages 
some remarks on the flavour of fruit, &c., from the 
pen of your northern correspondent, “M. T.,’’whose 
notes are always of a practical, and, therefore, valuable 
character. The purpose of this note, however, is not 
to deal with the flavour of fruit generally, but to 
record a few observations which I made recently when 
looking through the Yineries in a few private gardens 
in the eastern counties. When calling upon Mr. Lee, 
who presides over the gardens at Lynford Hall, Norfolk, 
and whom I have known for some years past, I had the 
pleasure of going through the grand Yineries there, 
and testing the flavour of a large number of sorts 
which are there grown. I was much impressed with 
the difference in flavour of some kinds to that of the 
same sorts grown in this neighbourhood (North 
Hants). 
In our garden, Alnwick Seedling is not worth grow¬ 
ing for flavour. It colours grandly and sets well, but 
will not keep, and has no flavour. A neighbour of 
mine had a strong Yine of it when it was first sent out, 
but, subsequently, destroyed it for the same reason. 
With Mr. Lee, however, it was of a very much better 
quality. Madresfield Court here is very fine in flavour, 
while with Mr. Lee it is hard and inferior, so much so 
that he does not think it worth extending; Gros Maroc 
with him was finer in flavour than I ever tasted it 
before, and grand in appearance. Royal Yineyard was 
in good condition, and although I have not had an 
opportunity of testing this kind for some fifteen or 
twenty years, I must say that where there is plenty of 
room, and it will do satisfactorily, it is worth a place ; 
so fresh aud crackling are the berries when in good 
condition. 
White Tokay was also well represented at Lynford 
Hall, and is another of those refreshing sorts, but 
a strong grower. Mr. Lee finds that it keeps well, as 
it used to do when I lived at Hedsor Park, Maiden¬ 
head, many years ago. There it was kept in good con¬ 
dition till the end of February. We tried it here some 
few years ago, but had to give it up, for the reason 
that it would not keep long enough for us. Golden 
Queen is better here than at Lynford, but I doubt if it 
will ever be extensively grown, for it possesses no great 
merit. Mrs. Pearson I saw at Culford, and tasted it, 
as well as at several other places ; I doubt if this will 
ever find many admirers. At Lynford, Alicante keeps 
better than Lady Downes seedling, while with us it is 
just the reverse, as in a neighbouring garden. Gros 
Colmar is looking well, and is thought well of when 
ripened in plenty of heat. 
The last, but not the least, I have to note is West’s St. 
Peter’s. Both at Lynford and Culford it was in good 
condition and thought more highly of than the thick- 
skinned sorts, and found to keep well. I quite agree 
with “M. T.” in his recent notes on this, that it is 
quite an invalids’ Grape after Hamburghs are over. 
I have bright recollections of this sort when living as a 
journeyman in a Wiltshire garden ; there was a vinery 
there almost filled with this valuable sort, and the 
Grapes kept well on the vines till February—this was 
before the bottling system came much into use—and I 
think the variety is worthy of more extensive cultiva¬ 
tion. It forces well, and in a large house comes in well 
after the early kinds are over. I may just add that 
the vines, as well as everything else, are well done at 
Lynford Hall. While on the subject of Grapes, will 
someone kindly say what is the difference between 
Black Morocco and Gros Maroc ? I used to know one 
under the first name some years ago: also what is the dis¬ 
tinction between Abercairney and Kempsey Alicante. 
— Con. [There is no comparison between Black Morocco 
and Gros Maroc, the latter being an early or mid-season 
variety, and the former a late-keeping sort, an indif¬ 
ferent setter, and producing more straggling bunches. 
Kempsey Alicante is simply a synonym for Black 
Morocco, and Dr. Hogg gives the name Abercairney as 
a synonym for West’s St. Peter's.—E d.] 
