470 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 26, 1892. 
ALPINE PLANTS. 
(Concluded from page 451 .) 
The Building of Rockwork, 
Rockeries depend upon taste, and no hard-and-fast 
rule can be laid down for their shape, except that 
they should resemble Nature, and, at the same time, 
furnish the conditions necessary for the growth of 
Alpines. That it is possible to do both I have 
tried to prove in the illustrations now before you, 
depicting rockworks in various parts of the country. 
In building a rockery begin with the stones, and not 
the soil. The next sketch before you represents a 
crevice prepared for choice Alpine plants, as, in my 
opinion, it should be. The fissure should be 
narrower at the bottom to allow for the soil setting 
firmly against the sides of the stones, but it should 
communicate also with the main body of soil and 
with the drainage of stones, which is of great impor¬ 
tance in every rockery. In filling such a crevice do 
not use manured garden soil, but a mixture of leaf- 
soil, peat, and loam, with an abundance of 
limestone chippings and coarse gravel or gritty sand, 
unless the crevice should be intended for one of the few 
varieties which do not thrive so well on limestone, 
and would prefer granite or flint. If the crevice is 
intended for a moisture-loving plant add a little. 
Sphagnum Moss. After almost every handful of 
soil ram it with and small stick, a every now and 
then add broken stones of all sizes, placing them in 
such a way as not to obstruct the passage of the roots 
into the soil below, but, at the same time, compelling 
them to touch the stones on their way down. When 
the crevice is nearly full insert the plant, surrounding 
the roots with the same kind of soil, but pressing 
around them small stones which will prevent the 
roots from spreading sideways and force them to 
grow downwards, where the soil would be cool and 
moist. 
Small stones should also cover the surface 
of the soil around the plants. This is of the greatest 
importance for all plants from the higher altitudes, 
as the stones not only absorb excessive moisture but 
also on dry, sunny days evaporate the same, and 
surround the plants wdth the moist atmosphere so 
essential to their growth. Before the plants are fully 
established it may be well to sprinkle the stones with 
water on the nights and mornings of dry summer 
days for the purpose of evaporation more than actual 
watering of the plants. But when fully established, 
hsy will take care of themselves, no matter what 
the weather may be in this changeable climate, 
requiring no other attention than being kept free 
from weeds and the ravages of slugs and snails. 
Plants which have their leaves arranged in the shape 
of rosettes, like Ramondia pvrenaica, Androsace 
sarmentora, or Saxifraga longifolia, should not be 
planted upright but sideways, so that the water 
cannot rest in the centre of the rosettes. 
While speaking of Ramondia I may mention that 
this beautiful plant requires a moist position and 
north aspect. The soil, therefore, should contain 
plenty of Sphagnum Moss and should not be pressed 
too tight around the plant. Other plants again pre¬ 
fer to have the soil very firmly pressed around the 
roots. The beautiful Gentiana verna, for instance, 
prefers a very firm stony loam, while its companion, 
Gentiana bavarica, loves a moist and spongy soil 
Plants with spreading stems should be planted so as 
to allow the pendant shoots to droop over the stones, 
and thus allow them to be seen to their best advan¬ 
tage. Many people object to Alpine plants on account 
of their being small in size, but it is this very 
circumstance that makes them so valuable for our 
gardens. What other plants would be so permanent 
and require so little attention ? Some ten years 
ago, I planted a piece of projecting rock with Andro- 
saces, Silene acaulis, Saxifraga juniperfolia and 
others. Nothing w hatever has been done to the plants 
since, and yet they become more beautiful every year 
without crowding each other, and are likely to re¬ 
main for 10 or 20 years longer without getting too 
large for their position. Any of the coarser kinds of 
plants would have overgrown everything, and 
required renewing a dozen times within the same 
period. I do not maintain that ever}- rockwork 
without exception should be planted exclusively with 
these small Alpines only, but the latter should 
certainly predominate, and where here and there 
larger plants or creepers are introduced for effect, 
this should be done in such a way that they can never 
intrude upon the select part of the rockwork set apart 
for choice Alpines. Beware especially of Ivy, w r hich 
soon kills all Alpine plants and monopolizes the whole 
rockwork if allowed to spread. In conclusion, I 
should like to say just a word or two about 
The Best Sorts. 
I should like to have given a list of names of choice 
Alpines specially worth recommendation, but there 
are so many hundreds, and I may say thousands, of 
kinds, that I should tire your patience before the 
list would be half exhausted. I will, therefore, only 
mention a few' of the principal families collectively. 
Among the best are the Androsaces, of which at least 
a dozen species do well in this country, and which 
contain early as well as late flowering kinds. The 
Soldanellas, prefer a sunny but moist situation 
and an east or west aspect. The genus Dianthus 
contains more than a score of lovely dwarf gems, well 
adapted for our rockworks, noteworthy being Dian¬ 
thus alpinus, D. glacialis, and D. neglectus, which is 
far more brilliant in colour than represented in the 
illustrations. The Gentians also comprise a score or 
so of species, most of them being of a brilliant blue, 
but a white and a yellow variety (Gentiana thibetica 
and Gentiana lutea) are doing equally well in this coun¬ 
try.Cyclamens, Ramondias, many Anemones, Linnaea 
borealis, and other plants thrive well in a moist and 
shady position. Sedum sempervivum and Saxifrages 
contain hundreds of species, mostly adapted for the 
fully-exposed sunny side of the rockwork, with the 
exception of the charming Saxifraga oppositifolia, S. 
Fortunei, S. aspera, and one or two others which 
prefer anorth aspect. The Campanulas, the Primulas, 
Ranunculus, and Silene all contain varieties from the 
higher mountain ranges, which in exquisite beauty 
and form far surpass the better known larger varieties 
of the same genus, and should be grown in every 
garden. Let us remember that it is not at all 
necessary to posess a large rockwork to be able to 
grow choice Alpines. Let us remember that a sirrlple 
rocky bed, even in the smallest graden, if properly 
constructed, is better than the most expensive and 
most elaborate structure that does not furnish 
the conditions required. Those who have tried the 
experiment and have given the small plants a fair 
chance assert that no other class of plants has for 
them such fascination, or has been so interesting 
and so well adapted for permanently beautifying 
their gardens as the select Alpine plants from the 
higher altitudes.— F. TV. Meyer. 
9 ♦ 
THE CULTIVATION OF 
WINDOW PLANTS.-* 
I observed in the letter Mr. Whitborne wrote to me 
asking me to speak to you on Plant and Flower Cul¬ 
ture within rooms and in Jardinettes, that he stated it 
was to be preparatory to " Our Annual Cottage 
Flower Show in the Oakley Mission Rooms.” I was 
glad to find he could use the term cottage in rela¬ 
tion to that portion of the thickly-populated borough 
of Chelsea. It is pleasant to think that a cottage 
dwelling, or something answering to that description, 
can be found in the locality lying between the 
Fulham Road and the Thames. And if there is any 
one thing that can be said to lend encouragement to 
the band of workers among the labouring classes 
provided in connection with Mr. Webb Peploe’s 
mission, it is the steady advance being made in the 
improvement of the homes of working men and women 
and their families what are little better than hovels 
are giving place to commodious, elevated, airy blocks 
of buildings, in which the necessary sanitary arrange¬ 
ments are carried out under strict supervision, and 
health-preserving appliances are provided for the 
good of those who inhabit there. I have often 
thought how much could be done in the way of 
plant culture in these blocks of buildings if only the 
time, effort and money expended with but the barest 
return of good in a dozen public houses in Chelsea 
during one day only, could be devoted to the exten¬ 
sion of flower culture in those places. How many 
a window sill and balcony might be made gay with 
touches of floral beauty, and human hearts be 
gladdened by a glimpse of some of the prettiest 
objects to be seen in creation. Flowers fulfil many 
purposes, divine and human. Give me a cottage 
home that shows pride is taken in the plants that 
grow inside and outside of the windows, and I am 
satisfied that within it there are some good influences 
at work, leading men and women to higher concep¬ 
tions ol life and duty. 
s A Lecture delivered by request of the Rev. H. Webb- 
Peploe, in the Oakley Mission Hall, Chelsea, by Mr. R. Dean 
An old gardening acquaintance of mine, the Rev. 
Canon Hole, has said “ He who would have beauti¬ 
ful Roses in his garden, must first have beautiful 
Roses in his heart.” What he means is, that it is only 
those who have a love of flowers in their hearts that 
can be expected to give to them all those little 
attentions, tender and constant, that go so 
far to make up the sum of success in plant culture. 
I can understand a man or woman very carefully 
tending for the space of two or three months a few 
plants for the purpose of winning a prize at your 
annual show, and then leaving them neglected for 
the remainder of the year; but that is working 
according to a low and sordid motive. What the 
ladies and gentlemen connected with this Mission 
want to do is to waken and keep alive within you a 
true, gentle and lasting love for flowers, that will lead 
you to take them to your hearts and tend them with 
a simple devotion that will last as long as there is 
something in the life and development of the plant, 
that arouses and keeps alive your regard. I will 
assume this love is warm in the breasts of some of 
you, and it is now my duty to tell you how you 
can best so cultivate your plants as to make them 
ministering angels in the house. 
” God made the flowers to beautify 
The earth, and cheer man's careful mood; 
And he is happiest who hath power 
To gather wisdom from a flower, 
And wake his heart in every hour 
To pleasant gratitude.” 
Windows. 
Plants in pots may be grown inside or outside of a 
window ; if outside and in exposed positions some¬ 
thing should be placed in front of the sill, stretching 
from wall to wall on either side, to prevent the plants 
being blown about by the wind, and toppling over on 
to the head of some luckless passer-by below. A 
piece of galvanized wire costs but little and will last 
for a long time. Then if a piece of board a few 
inches square be fastened against the wall on either 
side, and projecting like two wings, there is afforded 
protection from keen winds passing up and down the 
street, and especially those from the east and north¬ 
east. Window sills invariably slope towards the 
front, and so in order to make this quite level so 
that the pots can stand in an upright position, a thin 
plasterer’s lath, or narrow thin strip of deal, should 
be laid upon it towards the front, so that a level 
bottom be provided for the plants to stand upon. 
And unless the pots are level, water cannot well be 
given, it will run off at one side instead of penetrating 
to the soil and nourishing the plant. It is an 
excellent plan to have a box, a common deal one, 
six inches deep, that is wide enough to project two 
inches over the sill ; in this the pots can be stood 
and be buried up to their rims in sand, fine ashes, 
or Cocoa fibre refuse, and it will be found that they 
cannot possibly be blown over, and as the sides of 
the box will ward off wind and sun, the soil in which 
the plants are growing does not dry nearly so fast as 
when the pots are fully exposed to the sun. Some 
creeper, such as the Ivy, or some flowering plant, 
such as the Climbing Nasturtium or Major Con¬ 
volvulus might be trained along the front of the 
box in summer, and so add to the attractiveness of 
the window garden. 
Then the inside sill can be utilized also, and it is 
in this position that the larger number of window 
plants are grown, and especially so during the 
autumn, winter, and cold early spring months. 
Plants require sunlight, and especiallv so those 
which are grown in towns; indeed without some 
sunlight it is almost impossible to get plants grown 
in the dull, dense atmosphere of towns and cities to 
flower at all. Ventilation is also a prime necessity 
if plants are to do well. Those are the best windows 
for plants that open at the top as well as at the 
bottom ; when only the lower sash can be pushed 
up, cold draughts will play across the plants, and do 
them harm. If the weather be mild, close the door 
of the room, throw up the sash, and the plants will 
enjoy the cool, invigorating breeze. If it is necessary 
to remove the plants out of the window during the 
night of summer, they will be benefited by being 
placed anywhere in the open. The cool, refreshing 
dew of heaven is, in the absence of rain, nature's 
great restorer of exhausted energies. Leaves exer¬ 
cise during the day the power of evaporating or 
giving forth moisture; but they have likewise the 
power of absorbing or taking in moisture at night. 
With the coolness then prevailing the moisture 
becomes condensed on their surface and forms dew. 
