406 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
Fay 9, 19C3. 
Saxifraga Wallace! 
Both foliage and flowers of this species are of large size as 
mossy Sa-xifragas go, and this one is certainly worth, cultivat¬ 
ing, either on the rock garden or in pots for the greenhouse or 
other cool structure, where a display is maintained in the spring 
months. In the open ground it came into bloom this year 
during the first week of April, or even a little earlier, thus 
forming, as it were, the advance guard of its kind. The leaves 
are five-lobed, and produced in dense rosettes that do not travel 
far when we take into consideration their size. The flowers 
are produced with great freedom, and are certainly very hand¬ 
some when seen in a mass. Propagation is of the easiest, 
oecause if single rosettes are 1 taken off and firmly fixed in the 
ground with a portion of the old stem they will form roots 
in the open ground—in northern districts, at least, where the 
atmosphere keeps more moist than in the sunny south. In 
the latter part of the country the rosettes can be dibbled into 
a cold frame with a few inches of prepared soil, and simply 
kept moist. 
Primula involucrata. 
The typical white-flowered form of this Himalayan plant is 
a cheerful occupant of the rock garden when planted in situa¬ 
tions that are suitable to its well-being. Under certain circum¬ 
stances the plant may not be very long lived, but it produces 
seeds readily, and seedlings can easily be grown to the flowering- 
stage, so that a stock could easily be kept up in this way. 
Seedlings are liable to come with flowers that are tinted with 
rose or lilac, but many of the Himalayan species are liable 
to vary in the same way. 
Alyssum saxatile citrinum. 
The soft, lemon-yellow flowers of this variety make a pleasing- 
contrast to the bright yellow of the ordinary form, and make 
it well worthy of a place on the rockery on account of the 
pretty effect produced by the wealth of blossom. A good per¬ 
centage of the seedlings will produce light colours, but if the 
cultivator desires to preserve any particular shade, cuttings 
are mostly always available and easily rooted. Otherwise, 
however, seedlings are obtainable of such quantity, and with 
so little trouble, that it is unnecessary to resort to cuttings. 
J. MT. 
Antirrhinum Hendersonii. 
Although half a century has passed since this lovely An¬ 
tirrhinum was sent out by the Messrs. E. H. Henderson, of 
Maida Vale, it remains to-day as it did then, the most distinct 
striped variety ever raised. Varieties have come and gone in 
countless numbers, but nothing at all approaching Hendersonii 
has ever made its appearance. Seedlings from it have, so far, 
turned out washy seifs, never a stripe amongst them. In form 
and habit it is a model of what an Antirrhinum should be. 
The flowers are pure white, evenly striped, rich carmine, 
regularly arranged on robust spikes, about 18 in. in length. 
To perpetuate the variety, cuttings should be taken as early 
in the autumn as possible, and should be wintered where severe 
frosts cannot harm them; or another good plan is to grow a 
few in pots for conservatory decoration, for not only do they 
eclipse many of the usual subjects used for this purpose, but 
they will also- supply cuttings in plenty the following spring if 
wintered in a cool house. The cuttings should be given a. 
gentle bottom heat, where they root freely «nd make good 
plants in a few weeks'; if potted singly, all the better. They 
are certainly well worth all the attention we can give them. 
Many lose this variety through treating it as an ordinary An¬ 
tirrhinum, but to do so is to court, disaster, a.s many have 
found out when it was too late. It has been almost extinct 
a few times, but, thanks to some enthusiast or other, it lias 
been saved to posterity, and, after half a century of propaga¬ 
tion, is still a thing of beauty. This, for anv one- variety of 
Snapdragon, or, for that matter, a florists’ flower, is a long 
age, and appeals more eloquently than words of mine as to its 
value and usefulness. Borderer. 
Spring Flowering Magnolias. 
The several species and varieties of Magnolia which flower in 
early spring are extremely beautiful and showy plants, worthy 
of cultivation in any garden where such things thrive. About 
London these early-flowering Magnolias have been made use 
of for many years, and in several places fine old specimens of 
the Yula-n, “ M. conspicua ” are to be seen. At Kew a fine 
plant of M. conspicua. flowers -well annually in the Azalea- 
Garden, where it makes, a fine sight in early April, when 
smothered with large, fragrant, waxy white blossoms. The 
species is a Chinese one, and has been in cultivation for up¬ 
wards. of 100 years. In this country it is usually met with 
from 12 ft., to 20 ft, in height., with a short- trunk and bushy 
head. In China, however, it is stated to grow nearly 40 ft. 
in height. The head has a stunted appearance, the branches 
all forming short, spur-like growths, on which the flowers are 
borne. In mild seasons it commences to. flower about the 
middle of March, and continues in blossom for about a month. 
In the milder parts of the country it thrives in the open, but 
in colder places it requires the protection of a wall. 
Another Chinese species which flowers a few Aveeks later 
than the foregoing is M. obovata., or, as it is sometimes called, 
M. purpurea. It forms a dense shrub 6 ft. to 8 ft, high, with 
a similar diameter. The flowers, which are freely borne, are 
large and of a rich purple on the outside, paler within. The 
majority of the flowers are borne about the end of April, though 
odd cues are found at an earlier date, and throughout summer 
a. few flowers continue to. appear. This Magnolia can be trans¬ 
planted easier than most, and does well lifted and forced. 
Between these Iavo species a number of hybrids have arisen, 
most of which are excellent garden plants. One of the- com¬ 
monest and also one of the best and most distinct of these 
hybrids is M. soulangeana. It is stated to be a chance seed¬ 
ling raised in the garden of M. Soulange-Bodin, at Fromont, 
near Paris, seeds having been sown from M. conspicua, Avhick 
greAv near a plant- of M. obovata. It makes a large tree, with 
a short trunk and very bushy head. The flowers are produced 
with great freedom, and are a little larger than those of M. 
conspicua ; they are Avhit-ish, tinged on the outside Avith purple, 
and are fragrant. A form with dark-coloured flowers is in 
cultivation ; it is known as M. s. var nigra. Other good hybrids 
are M. Norbertii and M. Lennei, the latter having very large 
and rich-coloured flowers. A fine specimen of M. soulangeana 
may be seen in flower in the Azalea garden at Kew. 
A species which has come to the front very rapidly during 
the last few years is M. stellata, otherwise known as M. hal- 
leana. It is of Japanese origin, and Avas introduced in quan¬ 
tity .about ten years ago, though it had been previously sent- 
to this- country and was in cultivation in several places. It 
make a dense, shapely bush 4 ft. high, and 4 ft, or so through, 
plants in good soil groAving from small bits to. the afore¬ 
mentioned size in a few years. The leaves are smaller than 
those of the other hardy species, as a rule, though occasionally 
leaves are seen 5 in. long and 2|- in. Avide. The floAvers are 
pure! glistening white, and are divided up into- a large number 
of narrow petals, which give the whole flower a star-like 
appearance. It makes an excellent subject for forcing if care 
is exercised in lifting and potting up. A variety with rose- 
coloured flowers is in cultivation, but is not often seen. 
This and other Magnolias can be increased by grafting on 
stocks of M. acuminata or M. Kobus, or they can be rooted 
from layers. A rich sandy loam into which some leaf-mould 
or peat has been mixed makes a- suitable soil, and planting is 
best- done in spring, just previous to growth commencing. 
When planting care should be taken not to break or injure 
the roots any more than possible, as Magnolias are very im¬ 
patient of root injury. Pruning is very rarely required, and 
when it. is done, it must be done with care,. Magnolias being 
very impatient of injury either to root, or branch. W. D. 
