568 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 5, 1900 
INTS FOR MMATEURS. 
Some Plants of the Spring Rock-garden.—Senti¬ 
ment can lead us to very varied mental scenes by a 
quiet reflective stroll among the turnings, the rises 
and the dips of our made-at-home toy Alps. In 
springtime—well, I for one simply soar so high that 
my friends would not wonder if some spring day I 
became ethereal and passed from earth as a spiritual 
vapour. But out in the rock-garden, and com¬ 
panioned with a pipe, there are heaps and heaps to 
reflect upon, in connection with the flowers. The 
whole story of the “ law of life,” of evolution, of 
predestination opens out at the mere mention of a 
rock-garden and its vegetable forms. It is not the 
simple loveliness of the flowers alone which we 
hunger for, and feel satisfied with, but it is their tale 
of a hidden power, the proof of something un¬ 
approachably higher, which we have yet to become, 
through death, more fully acquainted with, which 
they teach to us, that gives to flowers, and to all 
things natural, their enchantment and their fullest 
value. But still it is only in certain frames of mind 
that we can prolong these thoughts, much easier is 
it to come down to every-day common-place, and to 
discuss the more obvious facts around us. There 
are some very showy flowers in bloom at present 
whose merits I should like to write of. 
Aubrietia deltoidea.—One of these is Aubrietia 
deltoidea. If I had far more of a garden than I 
have, I would wreathe it in every part with this 
warm-coloured Crucifer. For tumbling and trailing 
over low walls, sunny banks, or exposed corners, 
you may search widely before you find a sweeter 
plant of its kind. It grows in close tufts and 
spreadingly, the foliage being grey and soft. Its 
lavender flowers are not large, but are borne in 
immense profusion. Another and improved variety 
also in bloom at this time is A. d. Hendersonii, 
which is equally, or even more beautiful, in its 
richness of violet here, than is the species itself. 
Both like a porous soil, and free, open position. 
Waldsteinia fragariodes.—Despite its attenu¬ 
ated title, cultivators cannot call the plant which 
bears this name, a very handsome one. It is 
certainly sweet and very gay, but it is a dwarf form, 
a little plant which carpets the rockery pockets with 
bright leaves, faintly resembling those of a Straw¬ 
berry, and having flowers like those of our common 
Potentilla reptans, whose blossoms are bright, a 
caDary-yellow, small, and cup-shaped. 
Dicentra eximia, or Bleeding-heart, though that 
name is more properly applicable to Dicentra spec- 
tabilis, is just beginning to open its drooping red 
flowers on the shaded side of our alpine garden. It 
has brightly glaucous, palmately dissected foliage, 
which spreads over the surface soil above its roots. 
The flowers are borne on red, smooth, cylindrical 
stalks, they themselves curving downward from the 
axis to form objects of great beauty and attraction. 
A good porous soil will be found to suit its needs. 
Omphalodes verna alba.—This certainly is a 
cheery and sparkling little alpine. The foliage is 
plentiful, somewhat elliptical, with an acute apex 
and slightly crinkled surface. Of themselves their 
form and habit is pleasing, and the snow-white starry 
flowers which only just peep above the green setting, 
are wondrously bright and showy. A position 
where a good supply of moisture can be furnished, 
and freedom to light guaranteed, should be chosen 
for this recommendabla little gem. O. verna, the 
blue-flowered variety, should also be obtained. 
Spiraea Ulmaria aurea variegata.—Though not 
now in blossom, this dwarf subject is worthy for 
the sake of its pretty yellow pinnate foliage. A 
batch here and there in the rockery goes a loDg way 
toward heightening the brilliance of the same. 
Iris pallida variegata. —In this we possess a 
lovely variegated member fit for a recess in a rockery. 
We cannot say that it is at all common. Where it 
does well, and that generally is in half-shaded moist 
recesses, this Iris with its gracefully spreading 
leaves of a soft, but decidedly creamy hue, bordered 
along the edges with a band of grey, is one of the 
choicest variegated hardy plants I am acquainted 
with. 
Scilla italica.—We have now a good many blue 
flowered plants with us, such as the Gentians, Teco- 
phylaea cyanocrocus, Scillas, Chionodoxas, and 
Primroses. Each varies in some way from the other, 
but all are pretty, as blue flowers mostly are. 
This Scilla italica is, so far as I know, the most 
beautiful of the genus. The dark green strap-shaped 
leaves form tufts from which the tall stalks of the 
flowers spring. These are of a pale blue hue, borne 
in a raceme, and with anthers whose colour is a deeper 
blue than the petals. They are thus conspicuous and 
attractive. Nowhere is this lovely Squill seen to 
more effect than peeping from beneath the over 
arching thinly spread branches and twigs of a Briar 
Rose or Kerria shrubs. An elevated but sheltered 
portion in the rockery, among soil of a good staple, 
is the place which ought to be selected for it. A 
few of the bulbs of this species may be grown in 
pots. 
Uvularia grandiflora.—We shift again to the 
yellow flowers. This one is most charmingly grace¬ 
ful. When in the very young stage, or, indeed, up 
till the time the yellow pendant flowers expand, this 
Uvalaria recalls to mind the well-known and much¬ 
loved Solomon's Seal. Only in respect to the some¬ 
what glaucous foliage, the tall, slender, arching 
stems, and the display of pendant, oval flower buds, 
does the similarity hold, but when both plants are 
fully matured, most of the agreement breaks down. 
Uvularia likes a damp, humic soil, a free and open 
position, with shelter from winds. It is a very hand¬ 
some, early flowering plant, and one for which a place 
should be found in some nice nook between the rock- 
work knolls. It is suitable for cutting, and may be 
arranged gracefully in vases. 
Saxifraga rocheliana coriophylla.—Though not 
the earliest of the dwarf Saxifragas, this is certainly 
the showiest of any of the white flowered varieties in 
bloom at the present time. When seen in good 
condition, growing in a sunny pocket, well-up in the 
rockery, it is a very pleasing and cheery object. The 
foliage is of the characteristic tufted nature, and is 
almost hidden by the fine growth of white flower 
spikes. The pocket containing this pretty Saxi¬ 
fraga should be well drained and need not be very 
deep. At the same time there will be some demand 
made by the plant to have its needs attended to. 
The blooms will soon go off if the soil around the 
roots is allowed to become dry. Whenever the 
flowers begin to fade remove them. This will assist 
the plants to spread about and remain strong. 
Saxifraga ligulata is of quite a different type 
from S. rocheliana coriophylla which belongs 
to the encrusted section, such as the S. Aizoon 
varieties with their rosette-like tufts. S. ligu¬ 
lata, Megasea or large Rockfoil, as it is also 
called, is a member of the large leaved section, of 
which, indeed, it is taken as the type. Someone 
wrote in a number of The Gardening World 
about the suitability of S. ligulata for early flower¬ 
ing as a greenhouse pot-plant. I can corroborate 
what the writer said. It does immensely well when 
plants have become established either in pots or in 
the open ground ; they should not be disturbed for a 
number of years. And to get this very handsome 
species (which bears large arcbiDg dense panicles of 
pink-red flowers), to do well, only due care and 
common attention is demanded. Pieces of the root- 
stock with roots attached should be cleanly divided 
from developed plants. A turfy loam compost with 
an addition of Mushroom dung from an old bed, or 
failing this, some dry manure and well decomposed 
leaf mould should be got together. Pot the rh'zcmes 
rather firmly, and grow them either in a cool shady 
position in the open air, or in a cold frame. A soil 
of good quality should be chosen when planting in 
the open air. Few plants are finer for use in a 
mixed bank, where dwarf shrubs, alpines, and herb¬ 
aceous plants are grouped. 
Phlox divaricata.—Everyone should know this 
lovely blue Phlox, possibly the only true blue species 
we have. It does A i in pots. For the rockery, give 
it a place in a position where shelter may be ob¬ 
tained, and on the sunniest side where most light 
and warmth can be secured. 
Present Work.—The work which calls for atten¬ 
tion in the kitchen garden, is the sowing of Scarlet 
Runner Beans, Peas, Dwarf Kidney Beans, Parsley, 
herbs of sorts, and Spinach. Cauliflowers, and 
Cabbages may be planted out, and earlier batches 
may have their stems earthed up. Celery trenches 
should now be prepared. In the fruit garden, the 
watching and protecting of fruit trees in flower, the 
thinning of the flower trusses, disbudding of shoots, 
watering, and guarding against insects, is work 
which will keep one busy. Grapes should be 
thinned. In the flower garden, Gladioli may be 
planted ; also Carnations, Hollyhocks, Ferns, Sun¬ 
flowers, Pyrethrums, and Gaillardias. Whenever 
needed, the hose should be kept at work. Tomatos 
should be in preparation for planting out doors 
soon. Chrysanthemums may be potted into 5-in. 
pots and placed in cold frames.— Beacon. 
Correspondence. 
Questions ashed by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
"Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Polyanthus.— Wearer : There are two types of 
Polyanthus, the gold-laced and the fancy. The 
former is famed for its lovely, though restricted 
colours, with a gold lacing to the segments. The 
latter embraces shades of all kinds of colour, the 
seifs being regarded as the best. 
Selection of Bedding Yiolas.— R. Duncan: 
White: Countess of Hopetoun, Pencaitland, Snow¬ 
flake, Lady Dundonald, Sylvia, and Countess of 
Wharncliffe. Purple : J. B. Riding, Acme, Crimson 
King. Blue : Archie Grant,True Blue, King of Blues, 
Mrs. C. Turner, Blue Gown, and Duchess of 
Sutherland. Yellow : Bullion, Lord Elcho, 
Princess Louise, Mary Gilbert, Pembroke, and 
Ardwell Gem, a pale primrose variety. Countess of 
Kintore is a lavender and white colour. These we 
know are all amongst the finest of their kind. 
Small Book on Birds.— J. T .: We recommend to 
your notice " The Farmer and the Birds," by Edith 
Carrington, published by Messrs. George Bell & 
Sons, York Street, Covent Garden, London. We 
do not know the price, but believe it is a shilling. 
This book treats of the swallow tribe, the nightjar, 
the tit family, flycatcher, starling, jackdaw, rook, 
lapwing, skylark, &c., &c. 
Daffodil.—IF. IF.: The Daffodil or Narcissus 
belongs to the Amaryllidae. We think if you 
obtained one of Messrs. Barr & Sons’ Daffodil 
catalogues you would be able to trace out the 
sections of Narcissi, or you could get" Ye Daffodil,” 
price is., by writing to 12, King Street, Covent 
Garden, London. » 
Bougainvillea not Flowering.— T. Telfer: Some¬ 
times this plant does run off, but this is ascribed to 
over-feeding, and too much fostering. Give the 
ventilation suitable for a greenhouse. You can do 
little in the meantime except to desist from giving 
stimulants, and to cut back some of the roots which 
are spreading over the stage. As Bougainvilleas are 
now in growth you must be cautious. When the 
plants are inactive during winter, prune the shoots 
hard back, also cut the roots through, level with the 
bottom of the pot. Keep them on the dry side when 
they start growth, and you ought then to find that 
instead of thorns, which you may have observed 
in the axils of the leaves, you will get those shoots 
bearing coloured bracts. 
Clematis indivisa after flowering.— D. T. L. : 
So soon as the flowers were gone it would have been 
wise for you to have done some radical thinning out 
of shoots. You may do so yet, for growth is not far 
advanced. Thin out all superfluous branchlets, 
leaving the strongest. These may be pruned to less 
than half their length. Top-dress the roots, and 
water freely. 
Prevention of Tomato leaf rust.— IF. Hayes.: 
It certainly is well to take preventive measures in 
good time, since your crops were attacked last year, 
and spores of the Cladosporium are almost certain to 
be about We suggest that you spray the foliage, 
stems, surface soil, and wood-work, with a weak 
solution either of Bordeaux Mixture or of potassium 
sulphide. Merely spray with the solution, letting it 
fall in the form of a thick dew all over the surface. 
This should be done on the morning of bright days 
only. Ventilate from front and top, always 
having a bracing air in circulation. Whenever the 
weather is dull some heat should be turned on to the 
pipes. 
