April 25, 1903, 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
355 
;owing may occasion much trouble to bring them safely 
.trough. When accomplished they will prove to be invaluable 
there they are much in demand, as they often are, filling in 
lie break between those in cold frames and later sowings 
mtside. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Notes on Hardy Herbaceous Plants, 
In spite of the unseasonable weather we have been subjected 
o of late with the sharp frosts and cold, cutting winds, the 
herbaceous borders and rockeries are now attracting much 
ittention, and there are many beautiful plants worth noting 
vhicli help greatly to brighten our gardens at this season. 
Particularly noticeable on the rockery is the double form of 
H-abis albida, with its large spikes of pure white blossoms, 
t is a fast-growing plant, and looks veiy beautiful when clam ■ 
tering over the rocks—no doubt the proper place for the double 
lock Cress—but a good mass' makes a pleasing effect on the 
ront of the border. It is easily propagated by cuttings in 
mtumn, and is worthy of a place in eveiy garden. 
Morisia hypogaea is a. charming little plant for growing 
letween the rocks, with rosettes of dark green leaves and bright 
r ellow flowers. 
A veiy pleasing variety of the old Bitter Vetch is Lathyrus 
rernus albo roseus, but one seldom seen hi cultivation. It has 
)ale pink and white flowers, which are veiy freely produced, 
tnd blooms a little later than the type. One of the most 
leautiful of all the Gentians is Gentiana verna, with rich deep 
ilue flowers, and at this season it deservedly receives a large 
‘.mount of admiration. One hears of so many failure® with this 
ovely alpine, either to grow or flower it, that a few details 
nay prove helpful. Here it succeeds well in a compost consist- 
ng solely of loam and old mortar rubbish broken up small, 
mt not crushed to a powder. A veiy hot, exposed situation 
n full sun should be chosen, and plenty of water given in hot, 
Iry weather. A few pieces of rock placed round the plant and 
lalf buried in the soil will prevent the moisture from becoming 
•vaporated. 
Arabis bellidifolia is a very neat rock plant, at its best now. 
l t is quite a miniature compared with A. albida, and not by 
ny means a rapid grower. The flowers are pure white and 
reely produced on stems about 1J in. in height. 
Aubrietia Fire King is one of the very best of this family, 
nd the flowers, though not so large as some, are a deep, rich 
ed in colour, and very effective. 
In the borders at the present time the most noteworthy plant 
' Euphorbia polychroma, a species seldom seen but well worth 
■rowing. It forms a dense bush from 1-1 ft. to 2 ft. in height, 
nd very symmetrical in growth. The branches terminate 
• T ith large heads of pale yellow flowers, which, all through the 
pring, are very effective. 
Saxifraga cordifolia and its varieties succeed in almost any 
ind of soil or situation, whether on the rockery, if space can 
je allotted them, in the border, or on the banks of streams or 
unds, aud when the flowers are past, the ample foliage has a 
me effect, A very conspicuous variety, and one of the best, is 
’• c - purpurea, with deeply-coloured flowers and very large 
?aves. 
Caltha palustris and its double forms are very bright and 
raking a fine display now in the bog gardens or at the water’s 
dge. The best double forms are nana. plena, and monstrosa 
lena, both being most effective when planted in masses. 
Herbaceous Phlox. —Cuttings which were taken in autumn 
nd wintered in cold frames will now be ready for planting 
here they are to flower. The late-flowering, generally called 
re decussata section, are noble garden plants, and produce 
■iking effects when grouped in the borders, in the shrub- 
eries, or in beds to themselves. They can also’ be planted by 
ie water side. These Phloxes enjoy a rich, deep soil, weil 
inched with manure, and an annual top dressing should be 
■ven in the spring. Where the plants have made large 
umps, the weakest of the shoots should be thinned out, and 
etter trusses of flowers will be the result. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. A. E. Thatcher. 
Among the Orchids. 
Anguloa Clowesii. - Perhaps the most attractive of the. 
genus, its large leaves and Tulip-like yellow fragrant flowers 
rendering it at once a distinct and handsome plant. It is 
commonly known as the “ Cradle Orchid,” owing to* the lip being 
completely enclosed by the sepals and petals, and being- 
balanced on a delicate hinge, so. that the slightest movement of 
the flower causes the lip to rock backwards and forwards. It 
it a native of Colombia. It is a species that adapts itself 
readily to artificial conditions of culture. In Orchid collec¬ 
tions it is found to do. well in the Cattleva house during- the 
growing season, with cooler and drier conditions towards the 
end of the autumn and through the winter months. The new 
growth appears at the base of the last-made bulb about the 
middle of March. 
As soon as the plants start into growth they must he removed 
from the rooting quarters and placed in a position where they 
may receive the necessary encouragement to induce them to 
develop their growth, which will also be accompanied with the 
flower-scapes, which proceed from the sides of the developing 
growth. The plants like a good amount of strong light, and 
only sufficient shade should be given to- prevent scorching the 
foliage. 
Towards the middle of May the flowers expand, and imme- 
diately after the flowers are past the new growth commences 
to emit new roots. Any repotting requirements that may be 
necessary should then be attended to. The pots used should 
bo clean and drained to one-third their depth with bracken 
roots or clean crocks. The compost, consisting of one part 
fibrous peat, the remaining compost consisting of turfy loam, 
leaf soil, chopped sphagnum and rough sand, pressed 
moderately firm, and the surface covered with a. layer of 
sphagnum moss. Water thoroughly as soon as repotting is 
completed, and then place the plants in a light position of the 
Cattleya house, or, better still, an ordinary plant, stove. Water 
must be afforded with discretion until the roots have got hold 
of the compost, after which the plants should have every 
encouragement, to induce rapid growth. 
When the pseudo-bulbs have reached; maturity, it is a good 
plan to place the plants in an exjrosed position, such a one as 
would be advisable for tire maturing of Dendrobium growths in 
the autumn. With such conditions the bulbs will ripen 
thoroughly, and, under ordinary careful treatment, the plants 
flower freely the following spring. One often hears complaints 
of failure to flower Anguloas. If the maturing and proper 
ripening of the pseudo-bulbs in the late summer and autumn 
were properly cared for, there is little fear but that the plants 
in all the species flower satisfactorily. 
The other kinds suitable for the ordinary stove cultivation 
are A. ruckeriana, tawny-yellow, spotted in suffusion with 
crimson ; A. eburnea, white, with a few rosy-pink spots; A. 
uniflora, pink-white, freckled with brown. There are others 
worthy.of attention, but they are not at the present, time in 
general cultivation. 
General Remarks -During periods of prevailing cold winds 
the ventilation of the different divisions of our Orchid houses 
must be done with considerable discretion. The new growths 
having made considerable advance, they are easily injured by 
sudden chills, and affected by direct draughts. It is by far the 
wisest plan to let down the roof-blinds. a little earlier, and 
allow them to remain down a little longer, than to make 
excessive use of the ventilators -when the conditions are not 
favourable for their use. Sun heat is the benefactor to Orchid 
cultivation, and if used with discretion will be far more bene¬ 
ficial than having to resort to the use of artificial heat to enable 
the use of ventilation during cold weather. H. J. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Violets.-—There are but few people who do not appreciate 
fragrant Violets in winter and spring. The present is a. good 
time to divide the old plant® and plant the offsets in the open 
for lifting next September. Healthy plants will have pro¬ 
duced many crowns by this time, and they should be lifted and 
