408 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 9, 190?. 
We have seen specimens so treated, and under cultivation they 
became more decidedly like their brethren in the lowlands. 
There are plants, however, at very high elevations and which 
never descend under natural circumstances. These, we admit, 
are more difficult to cultivate, chiefly on account of the aridity 
of the atmosphere in summer in lowland districts, or again 
on account of the milder and changeable conditions as to tem¬ 
perature in gardens of the south. 
We note the author’s fine sarcasm with reference to houses 
filled with Mexican or Indian Orchids. We see no reason, how¬ 
ever, why lovers of plants might not cultivate Orchids and 
alpine plants as well in the same garden. It requires a pretty 
wide experience, certainly, for the gardener to undertake both 
these branches of gardening, and do them well. At present, 
however, in all large collections, specialists are employed to 
take charge of the Orchids, and the same might be said prac¬ 
tically of those who are successful rock builders and cultivators 
of alpine plants. It might he also that the proprietor had a 
taste for one of these branches of gardening only, and in such 
a case it would be worse than useless to attempt developing any 
branch of gardening in which he was uninterested. 
Even in this country the author calls attention to the differ¬ 
ences between the northern English moors and the diy sand¬ 
hills of Surrey. Nevertheless we have seen a splendid collec¬ 
tion of herbaceous and alpine plants at Joldwynds, on the lower 
green sands of Surrey, where the late Dr. Bowman had a most 
interesting, garden. We doubt not that the author has also 
seen it, and merely calls attention to these differences in our 
little island to show how possible it is for gardeners to grow 
alpine plants if they will only take the trouble necessary to 
imitate the special conditions required for their successful cul¬ 
tivation under naturally unfavourable conditions, such as 
would obtain on our cliilk and sand hills. Mention is also 
made of Pansies perishing in the great heats of the south. The 
Pansy is very decidedy a plant of the mountains and northern 
parts of the country, where the climatic conditions are cooler 
and moister. The wild Pansy is a very rare plant for many 
miles around London, but in the northern counties it is a 
common weed in the cornfields, by the waysides, and wherever 
the vegetation will permit it to grow. It is possible, however, 
to cultivate Pansies, and even Violas, by making the conditions 
favourable in the matter of soil, manure, and mulching, but 
in our opinion the routine of crops is just as necessary as other 
conditions. 
Much information is here furnished in a cultural article upon 
alpine flowers. Directions are given for the planting of those 
alpine gems in various positions. Materials are also discussed, 
together with pathways, rocky steps, construction, soil, 
geographical arrangement of rock plants, cascades, bridges, 
rock garden fernery, rock and alpine flowers in borders and 
beds, rock gardens on level ground, wall gardens for alpine 
flowers, dry stone walls for rock plants, etc. The instructions 
are illustrated by numerous woodcuts, which show various 
plans and methods to be adopted in carrying out of rock- 
work, having abundant situations in the matter of exposure, 
shade and moisture, which will conduce to the welfare of the 
plants placed under those conditions. Marsh and aquatic 
plants also find a place in the rock garden. Even such adjuncts 
to the rock garden as frames for storing reserve alpines and 
also alpine flowers in pans or baskets are dealt with. Some 
amusing pieces as to what to avoid are here illustrated, and, as 
far as the cultivation of plants is concerned, we certainly agree 
that the methods illustrated should be avoided. 
Those who have not had the experience or pleasure of a tour 
in the Alps will feel interested in the account given by Mr. 
Robinson of a tour in the Alps of Switzerland, and also in North 
America. Something very similar may be experienced in our 
own Alps nearer home, and though such may lack the great 
elevation of the Alps they are nevertheless sufficiently high 
and sufficiently well furnished with plants to give the cultivator 
many useful hints which he may imitate in cultivating alpine 
flowers on a rock garden in the lowlands. The author relates 
many interesting experiences, and also some very disagreeable 
ones, in the matter of climate while climbing. It is better to 
read of a snowstorm in June, when the fall is 18 in., than to 
experience it by going from a warm olimate in the lowlands 
into the arctic rigours of an elevated region. Even somethin* 
of this may be experienced in the mountainous regions of Wales 
and Scotland, and which may be sufficiently disagreeable at 
times to make the climber wish he were elsewhere. Experi¬ 
ences are not always so disagreeable, and, on the contrarv 
may be very pleasant indeed, the mountain air being verv cooi 
and pleasing, even when, a few miles off, the atmosphere of 
the valleys may be stuffy and disagreeable. 
The pleasure of finding alpine gems in their native home is 
sufficient in the mind of any enthusiast to enable him to over¬ 
come many difficulties. The author relates his experiences in 
the finding of several species of Gentian, Androsac-e, Viola 
biflora, Eritrichum nanum, the Cushion Pink (Silene alpinak 
Saxifraga caesia, Polygala Chamaebuxus, Senecio uniflorus. 
Loiseleuria procumbens, and many other choice favourites. 
The last named might be termed the British Azalea. 
About half the book—namely, Part II.—is devoted to an 
alphabetical and descriptive list of a selection of alpine flowers 
for gardens, and we doubt not that those who give it a thorough 
perusal,, and apply the precepts in practice, will be much more 
versed in the science of alpine gardening than ever before 
The book is furnished with a good index, and is well printed 
on good paper, extending to 344 pages. 
Double Primroses. 
The double forms of Primula acaulis, like the modest Prim¬ 
rose by the river’s brim or mossy bank, are ever welcome har¬ 
bingers of spring, as annually they make their appearance in 
some shady nook by woodland walk, mixed border, or in groups 
and patches in the unpretentious garden of some homely cot¬ 
tage, where, indeed, they are often more at home and better 
cared for than in the vaunted gardens of the great. That they 
are great favourites of young and old goes without saying*; 
rich and poor alike meet on a common level in their love for 
r his homely flower. 
Each have their favourite colour, no doubt, and in this 
respect it is worthy of note that the varieties of this plant are 
in most cases generally spoken of by their colour more than 
by any name that may have been given them. This has led 
to some confusion, as people’s ideas of colour slightly differ, 
as, for instance, a friend sent me a plant of double mauve which 
turned out to be the old double Lilac (lilacinea plena). Much 
the same things happen with the double salmon-rose variety, 
which is known under the following names—carnea plena, rosea 
plena, and salmonea plena. It is a lovely variety, and not 
f ir out of place under either name. There are several shades 
of crimson, the best of which is “Crimson Velvet” (syn. Pom- . 
padour), of a dark velvety crimson colour. It is, as a rule, a 
shy doer, but well worth all the attention that can be given it. 
Paddy or Irish crimson, sometimes called double red, is a 
very free-flowering variety and of good constitution. Pur¬ 
purea Plena, syn. Ann Dumolin, is a pleasing shade of purple. 
Marie Crousse or Croussei plena might be called a purplish 
plum, slightly margined white, of robust constitution. Platy- 
petala plena is purplish-mauve, producing full flat-petalled 
flowers in great profusion. Cloth of Gold and lutea plena are 
simply the double yellow, the flowers of which are extra large 
and full double, and, as a rule, it is a. trifle later in blooming 
than most of the others. The well-known double sulphur 
(sulpliurea, plena) is the earliest and most profuse of the lot, 
and will grow and thrive in places where the others only exist. 
The good old double white (alba plena) is also one of the most 
popular, and completes my list of these fascinating flowers. 
Like the majority of spring flowers, they are with us a few 
weeks in advance of last season ; in fact, in sheltered nooks 
some of the sorts have produced stray blooms since January. 
Hand-lights and bell-glasses also tend to prolong the flowering 
season, besides keeping them clean and drawing them out on 
long stalks which are welcome for cut-flower purposes. They 
are very lasting and always appreciated, either for dinner- table 
or room decoration. Borderer. 
