588 
THE GARDENING WORLD. May 11 , 1901 . 
No part of a garden is more interesting than the 
rock garden when well filled and well kept. It is in 
the rock garden that we look for the earliest flowers 
in spring, and the last in the autumn. The minia¬ 
ture plants that are found growing on rock work 
appeal to all, even if they are not plant lovers. The 
plants that are usually grown, are the dwarf, free 
flowering gems from high altitudes, a great many 
coming from the Swiss Alps, thus accounting for the 
name alpine garden often given to a rockwork. 
Peculiarities of the Alpine Flora.—High upon 
the mountain sides the vegetation is much changed 
from that on the plains. The higher we ascend the 
dwarfer the habit of the plants becomes, until, at an 
elevation of about 6,000 ft., they lay close to the soil 
and rocks, and do not raise themselves like their 
brothers of the same family growing on the plains. 
Two notable instances may be illustrated by the 
Willows and Pines; on the plains they are tall 
growing, and in the case of Pines, noble trees, but at 
high elevations they lose this character. Some of 
the alpine Willows do not raise themselves at all but 
creep as quite small plants on the surface of the 
ground ; ard the Pines only form dwarf dense bushes. 
This peculiar dwarfing is seen in all the plants ; when 
they produce their flowers, the stems arevery short. 
The brightness of many alpine flowers, and their 
size in comparison to the plants which produce them, 
are astonishing. They produce them in such large 
quantities that the ground seems covered by patches 
of coloured carpet. They differ from many other 
plants in being stoloniferous, that is, producing side 
shoots, which put out roots and increase the area of 
the plants in the same manner that the Strawberry 
does. The leaves also are different from the leaves 
on the plains. They are subjected during the short 
summer that they get to intense light and drying 
winds. Under these conditions, the leaves of low¬ 
land plants would transpire a larger amount of 
moisture than the plants would be able to supply, 
and they would consequently suffer; the leaves of 
the mountain flora are protected from this by being 
very thick and compact, with a very thick skin. In 
addition to this they are often further protected by a 
thick down of close compact hairs. The lesson to be 
taken from these short notes is this, “ Give the 
greatest amount of light possible during summer and 
keep as cool as possible in winter.” This latter is 
the greatest trial we have to contend with in Britain, 
especially in the southern counties. Scotland is 
more fortunate, as it has generally more severe 
winters. In the south there are often days in mid¬ 
winter that are as warm and genial as spring, and the 
plants are consequently stimulated into pushing 
their buds, which are then injured by the following 
frosts and the dull weather. The only remedy is to 
take advantage of snow when it falls, and collect as 
much as possible and place over the plants. This 
will remain a long time without melting, and will not 
injure them in the least, as they remain covered for 
months on their native mountains, often to the depth 
of many feet. 
The Rockery.—After looking at some of their 
peculiarities it will be easier to understand some of 
their requirements. As they need the maximum 
amount of light, the rockery should not be built 
where it will get the shade from neighbouring 
buildings or trees. The best form is in an artificial 
valley, the soil which is thrown out going to make 
the banks higher. A great mistake is often made in 
building rockwork by having too many stones and 
too little soil. The stones do not require burying 
but only fixing in the ground in such a manner that 
they cannot slip. It is an error often seen, when an 
amateur is building a rockwork, to put a few large 
stones then a layer of soil followed by more stones ; 
the result of this method generally is, that after a 
heavy rain, or a sharp thaw, the whole collapses. 
If it is to take the form of a bank, build a bank of 
soil and firmly fix the rocks and stones in the last 
layer so that they protrude their jagged ends through 
the mould at frequent intervals, and give a natural 
appearance Another great error is to place tree 
stumps or wood of any kind in a rockery, as they 
decay and make a habitat for a host of injurious 
fungi and mice. An ideal place for growing many 
alpines is on the face of an old stone wall. The 
plants do not require any soil in the crevices, or only 
enough to give them a start as they push their roots 
between the stones, which act as a sponge and form 
reservoirs of water, supplying the plant as it needs it 
with that element, and the matter dissolved in it 
from the decomposition of the stones and the soil 
supplies their other requirements. By planting 
them on stone walls many [alpine and other 
mountain plants may be grown successfully which 
refuse to grow in other positions owing to the damp 
in winter causing them to rot. During the hot dry 
weather the wall requires frequent drenchings of 
water, as the sun takes away so much by evapora¬ 
tion. Shade from trees a short distance away would 
be an advantage in this case. 
Saxifragas.—One of the best families of rock 
plants for a wall or for an ordinary rockery is the 
Saxifraga group. They are easily grown, or at least 
the majority of them are, and have a very pleasing 
effect, both when in bloom and when only showing 
their foliage, especially S. oppositifolia and S. 
sancta, which produce their flowers so early in the 
season, and are now at about their best. Saxifraga 
Sibthorpii is a pretty little plant which will grow on 
most walls. It is easily propagated by seed sown in 
sandy soil early in the year. 
Campanulas are perhaps the next best group. 
This is a very varied family, varying from the Cam¬ 
panula waldsteiniana, a tiny species from the Alps, 
with blue flowers to match, to the tall growing 
Campanula pyramidalis, which makes such a fine 
show in many large conservatories during the latter 
part of the summer. They also vary much as to the 
conditions they require ; some prefer shade and 
moisture, others, a light, and comparatively dry 
situation. For growing on rock work the carpatica 
group is the most suitable, being a dwarf, compact, 
free-flowering species. This is easily propagated by 
dividing the clump in the spring just before growth 
commences. 
Many of this family suffer from the damp in winter. 
This can be got over to a great extent by fixing a 
sheet of glass over them as soon as the wet weather 
sets in, and by growing them in a place where the 
water drains away from them easily. 
Primulas must not be forgotten, as they are very 
suitable subjects for rock garden culture, none of 
them growing to a large size. Primula rosea is one 
of the most beautiful of the family, being, as its 
name denotes, a rose-coloured one. It delights in a 
moist and comparatively shady position. It is often 
the custom to have some kind of water display in a 
rockery, snch as a dripping well. It is near the 
cooling influence of such a stream that it will be 
found to thrive the best. The rosy flowers of this 
species are admired by every one who forms its 
acquaintance at this time of the year, when its rosy 
flowers are at their best. The family is a large one 
so I will not attempt to recommend a selection ; this 
is better done by visiting some large garden where 
they are grown, or a visit to a nurseryman who 
makes a speciality of hardy plants. April is the 
best month to see them at their best. 
Dianthus. -The alpine varieties of the Pink 
family have a brightness of colour which is astonish¬ 
ing when compared with our common Pink of the 
plains. They should be afforded a place in every 
collection. The best species is undoubtedly 
Dianthus alpinus. They are easily raised from seed 
sown in shallow pans of light sandy soil in the early 
part of the year, or they may be propagated by 
cuttings. The flowers are very large in proportion 
to the plant, and possess the characteristic alpine 
feature of having short stems. 
Iberis semperyirens.—This old rock work 
favourite must not be forgotten, but it is far too 
common, that is the old variety, to need much men¬ 
tion, but common or rare it is well worthy of a place 
in the best collections. The variety I. s. garrexiana 
is much superior to the original. 
Helleborus niger, commonly known as the 
Christmas Rose, is a plant very easily managed if 
given the proper position. It likes a rather rich 
sandy soil and a sheltered, slightly shaded position. 
When supplied with these conditions it produces its 
pure white blooms in the winter months when other 
plants are dormant. 
Salix repens should be afforded a position where 
it will not suffer from drought. It is a pretty little 
creeping Willow which has a pleasing appearance in 
the early spring, when it is covered by its yellow 
catkins. It is not an alpine but may be found grow¬ 
ing on many of the commons in this country. I have 
not been able to say nearly enough to do the subject 
justice, so must continue it at some future date.— 
Hortus. 
■ 8 »- 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page> 
Anyone 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' Paste " on the top of their letters. 
Lawns.— Suburban : If your lawn is thin and patchy, 
it should be renovated by sowing grass seeds where 
it is thin. This is best done by scattering the seed 
thinly on the ground and covering it lightly with fine 
soil, and keeping it well supplied with water. You 
will find that sifting fine soil, with a good sprinkling 
of soot added, all over the lawn, early in the spring, 
will improve the condition of the turf considerably. 
This should be done every year about March. The 
soot acts as a manure for the grass, and at the same 
time prevents worms from throwing up their stools, 
which is often such a nuisance on a damp lawn. 
Primula obconica.— Payne : It is a common 
occurrence for people's hands to be affected by the 
leaves of this pretty greenhouse plant. It has the 
peculiarity of only affecting certain people. We 
have known ladies who can handle it without injury, 
and a hard-handed gardener who has touched the 
same plants to be painfully affected. Primula 
sinensis has also been known to affect people who 
have handled its leaves for some time. If you are 
subject to eczema, you should always wear gloves 
when handling your plants, as they always have 
more effect on people who are subject to this. 
Lapageria rosea. — Puxsled : The reason for your 
failures in the attempts to-rcultivate this beautiful 
climber is to be found in the treatment you give 
them. First the soil is much too heavy for them; 
they require a soil about one-half good brown peat, 
one-quarter well decayed leaf mould, and the 
remainder, a good fibrous loam with a plentiful 
addition of sharp sand. The next reason is that the 
house you try to grow them in is much too hot, a 
cool, airy greenhouse suits them admirably. It is 
not a good plan either, to grow them in pots ; they 
do much better in a small border made up with the 
soil mentioned to the depth of 18 in. 
Polyanthuses.— P. R.: There is an endless 
variety of these beautiful spring flowers to be 
obtained now, as they have received the close atten¬ 
tion of raisers during recent years. It is the 
best to divide them, and plant them out in the 
autumn after the other things have been removed 
from the beds, they then have a good chance to 
become established before they flower in the spring. 
The effect is improved by the addition of a few 
Tulips amongst the plants, as they bloom at the' 
same time, and help to break the monotonous flat¬ 
ness, which is often the effect of a large bed. Poly¬ 
anthuses may be raised from seed by sowing it in 
shallow pans of light soil, either as soon as ripe or 
in the spring. The best plants are obtained in this 
way. 
Calceolarias.— Beider : They prefer a soil that is 
well drained, and recently enriched by a good 
application of stable manure, well decayed. It is a 
common occurrence for them to go off in the summer. 
We have known large quantities of them to go off 
where used for bedding and their places refilled by 
Tagetis, &c. 
Paraffin barrels for garden use.—Re v : They are 
very useful if properly prepared, as they can be cut 
in half, and the two tubs thus made, either covered 
by cork, or their bare appearance masked by a rustic 
arrangement of branches. They are best prepared 
by well burning the inside by lighting papers in 
them, and then allowing them to soak for some time 
in a pond, or keep them filled with water. 
Acer Negundo yariegatum.— P . : It will only 
stand a severe winter when in a sheltered position. 
It can be cultivated easily in pots, which can be 
plunged in suitable positions during the summer, 
and protected during severe weather by standing in 
a shed. It does not need much protection in the 
