September 26. 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
811 
Notes on the Illustrations in this Issue. 
Saxifraga lingulata lantoscana. 
The typical S. lingulata has narrowly tongue-shaped catenated 
and glaucous leaves', ciliated at the base. They are produced 
in dense rosette® like those of the well-known S. longifolia, 
but as far as we have seen they never attain the same length. 
In the variety under notice, S. 1. lantoscana, the leaves are 
very much longer, but till plant, requires 1 to be specially grown 
in order to 1 see the foliage as well as the flowers in their best 
form. In order to see this Rockfoil at its best, the rosettes 
should be separated and grown singly in pots., shifting them 
into larger sizes as they require it, in the same way as the 
market people deal with S. Cotyledon pyramidalis. Under 
those conditions, the Saxifraga under notice will form rosettes 
of leaves that will completely cover a 32-sizedjjjt 
pot, making a table, like mass of foliage 6 in. 
or 7 in. across. 
The most natural place for these Roekfoils 
is on rockwork amongst stones, but those who 
value hardy plants for their own sake would 
be wonderfully delighted to. find this plant 
attaining such handsome dimensions as grown 
in pots and merely stood in a cold frame, 
summer and winter. If the cultivator pos¬ 
sesses an, alpine house, no better ornament 
than this plant could be desired when in full 
bloom when so grown that it attains its best 
possible dimensions. 
Tlie flower-stems are slender, and if allowed 
to hang over naturally will form a one-sided 
raceme of cyme® for about two-thirds of their 
length. About, 9 in. to 12 in. is the usual 
length of this flower-stem, but with liberal 
treatment this may be exceeded. The flowers 
are much larger individually than those of the 
type, with spathulate white petals having a 
few red specks where they bend over a, little 
above the base. The leaves vary from 2 in. 
to 4 in. in length, are narrowly constricted in 
the middle, and then widen, out again to a 
broad base. The edges of the upper portion 
of the leaves have very curiously formed small 
rounded notches between the chalk-encrusted 
pores. In the early stages these leaves are of 
a, caesious gray hue, but afterwards become 
quite green. 
No collection of alpine plants should he 
without, this beautiful form, which should be 
planted on rather steeply sloping ledges on 
the rockery to prevent water from lodging in 
the crowns during winter. The soil may be light, but it should 
be fairly deep., so that the plants can. root, deeply and make 
good growth, notwithstanding any diy season to which they 
may be subjected. When grown in this fashion the young 
rosettes are allowed to remain on the plant, so, that the whole 
forms a, broad patch of crustaceous rosettes. The, latter may 
1 even be allowed to grow between projecting pieces of rock, 
always remembering that there must be plenty of depth for 
the roots to go down. 
The surface may be covered with small pieces of stone or 
chips until the plant has taken entire possession of the area, 
a,t its disposal. Roil) the species and variety are natives, of 
the Alps of Southern. Europe, and in this country flower in 
June. As, grown in the fashion, we have just described, our 
illustration shows a. patch of the plant which bloomed on the 
rockery at, Mew. The flower-stems hung down in such a, way 
as to hide their actual length in the photograph. 
Aster alpinus superbus. 
Although the above is a perennial Aster, it can scarcely be 
called a, Michaelmas Daisy, as it blooms during June and 
, u v' Th® stems are only 6 in. to 9 in. high, stout by com¬ 
parison with the size of the plant, and therefore require no 
staking. It is therefore well adapted for cultivation on the 
rockwork, where it, is, perfectly hardy, and can take care of 
itself when, once established. It, is a native of Europe and 
Northern Asia, and sometimes goes under the name of Blue 
Mountain Daisy, its habitat being upon the mountains and 
upland districts. 
A number of varieties, have been collected together, and are 
now in cultivation,, that under notice having blue-purple flowers 
about 3 in. in diameter when grown under fairly suitable con¬ 
ditions. The species was originally introduced in 1G58, but 
has not, been, very extensively cultivated in collections of old- 
fasliioned plants, probably owing to its dwarf size and the 
relatively small effect it would have in a big border. It is 
not at all fastidious as to soil, however, and might, even be 
Aster alpinus superbus. 
mown along the front of borders of herbaceous plants as an 
edo-ing, or in beds upon the grass. Its, proper place, however, 
is upon the rockery, as, already stated, because its dwarf habit 
makes it appear more natural under those conditions, and it 
is not likely to get overhung or overrun by coarser-growing 
subjects. 
Propagation can. be, effected in a variety of ways, but for 
ordinary purposes a, sufficient number of plants can be ob¬ 
tained by taking off young portions of the plant already fur¬ 
nished with roots, or by taking shoots that have not borne 
flow el's and preparing them as cuttings,. These may be in¬ 
serted in. pots o-f sandy soil and placed in a, cold frame to form 
roots at any time during the summer months, after the young 
wood ha,s become fairly firm. After roots have been formed, 
the cuttings may be planted out, in nursery lines or planted 
at once upon the rockery if fairly well rooted, and they will 
have a, month or two, to become, established before winter. 
Potato Northern Star. 
Within recent times no variety of Potato, has caused such 
sensation amongst, growers of the noble tuber as Northern, Star. 
It is one of the latest acquisitions of Mr. Findlay, and if all 
