ine 13, 1903. 
The Gardening World 
GENERAL NOTICES. 
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hey will thereby not only oblige this paper, but the advertisers. 
MOTTO FOR THE WEEK: 
And. this our life, exempt from every haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in 
everything.”— Shakespeare. 
Weekly Prize 
FOR 
Short Articles. 
The Proprietors of The Gardening World 
will give a cash prize of Ten Shillings for 
THE BEST PARAGRAPH, OP SHORT ARTICLE, Sent 
by readers during the week. The Editor’s 
judgment must be considered final, and he will 
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sent in. The paragraph, or article, must not 
EXCEED ONE COLUMN IN LENGTH, but the Value, 
rather than the length, of the article will be 
considered in making the award. Competitors 
may send in items of news or comments on 
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successful methods of propagating plants 
usually considered difficult; or contributions 
ON ANY SUBJECT COMING WITHIN THE SPHERE 
of gardening proper. Letters should be 
addressed to The Editor, marked “Competi¬ 
tion,” and posted not later than Friday night 
to ensure insertion in the issue of next week. 
The following Coloured 
Plates have appeared 
March 14.— NEW CHINESE PRIMULAS. 
March 21.— A GROUP OF DAVALLIAS. 
March28. —TEA ROSE “ CHAMELEON,” 
and COOMBE CLIFFE GARDENS. 
April 4.— COLEUS THYRSOIDEUS. 
April 11.— PITCHER PLANTS. 
April 18.— CESTRUM SMITHII. 
April 25.— JAPANESE PIGMY TREE. 
May 23.—Coloured Plate of SAXIFRAGA 
GRISEBACHII and A GROUP OF ALO 
CASIAS. 
May 30.—Coloured Plate of DENDROBIUM 
NOBILE ROTUNDIFLORUM and D.n. 
NOBILIUS. 
June 6.—Monochrome plate of CALADIUMS. 
Back numbers may be obtained from the 
publishers, price 2Jd. post free. 
With the PRESENT ISSUE we present a 
KEW° ne P ' ate ° f ™ E ROCKERY AT 
NEXT \\ EEK we shall present a Mono- 
cnrome Plate of ZENOBIA SPECIOSA 
L 
Views and Reviews. 
The Dripping Well at Kew. 
(See Supplement.) 
The rock garden of the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Kew, of which our Supplement re¬ 
presents the dripping well, is now twenty-one 
years old, and therefore come of age. The 
rockery itself represents the bed of a stream 
in the Pyrenees, which would be dry in 
summer and allow copious vegetation to 
spring up. The pathway is 514 ft. long and 
8 ft. wide. It takes a tortuous course 
throughout its length, and would represent 
the dry bed of a stream, being sunk below 
the general level. On either side of this the 
rocks are piled up in various forms, and five 
or six deep bays occur at intervals in its 
length. The dripping well occupies one of 
these bays, which is so constructed that the 
water forms a miniature stream running 
through it, as shown in the foreground of the 
picture, and disappearing under a big stone 
on the right. This stream is allowed to run 
constantly during the summer, so that it 
keeps the ground on either side of it in a 
moist condition, thus furnishing the means 
for a bog bed. The soil of this bed consists 
chiefly of peat, it being necessary to import 
fresh material not only for the bog plants, 
but for all other subjects on the rockery. 
The natural soil is pure sand a short way 
below the surface, so that the fresh additions 
were necessary for the cultivation of the 
plants. 
A number of the plants in this situation 
are special, but others would represent 
general types cultivated in various other con¬ 
venient situations. For instance, above the 
well are some massive plants of Yucca 
gloriosa, which frequently flowers at Kew. 
The background is shut in by various tall 
trees, some of which occupied the ground 
before the rockery was constructed, and 
others were planted at the time. The heights 
on either side are occupied by shrubbery, 
consisting chiefly of Rhododendrons, which 
usually flower well in their season. On the 
high rocks, to the left, is a plant of Atra- 
phaxis lanceolata, a rare shrub, with pale 
pink flowers. Close to it is a large bush 
of Rosa xanthina, a yellow Rose from 
Afghanistan. Hugging the rocks just below 
this Rose is a large patch of Iberis semper- 
virens garrexiana superba in full bloom. 
In the moister positions which are partly 
shaded are several Ferns, including the Male 
and Lady Fern, Scolopendriums in quantity, 
Cystopteris fragilis, and other natives, which 
sow themselves freely. Just out of view is 
a fine plant of Osmunda Regalis cristata, one 
of the few varieties of the Royal Fern, which 
depart widely from the type. On the ex¬ 
treme right and lower corner is a splendid 
mass of Rodgersia podophylla, which was 
only just commencing to grow when the 
photograph was taken, but is now beginning 
to have quite a subtropical effect. The 
leaves resemble those of a Horse Chestnut, 
but are much broader and more massive in 
appearance. Just behind the bushes in the 
foreground is a new species, R. pinnata, from 
China, which, in spite of its name, has leaves 
very much like the previously-named species 
in shape, but at present they are smaller and 
c*f a beautiful bronzy hue. The first-named 
one usually flowers well, producing a panicle 
of flowers resembling those of a Spiraea. Just 
behind R. podophylla, in the crevices of the 
rocks above, may be seen a thriving colony 
of Ramondia pyrenaica now in bloom. It is 
a near ally to Haberlea rhodopensis, from 
Greece, which is also in bloom. Its tubular 
and pale lavender flowers are very choice 
amongst alpines. Both require special situa¬ 
tions in order to succeed in cultivation. The 
roots should be inserted in the crevices of 
rocks of a porous nature, if possible, and in 
situations that do. not receive the full glare of 
the sun, particularly in the afternoon. Their 
roots must really be kept in a moist condi¬ 
tion, and the soft tissues of the leaves must 
not be exposed to full sunshine during the 
heat of the day, though a little sunshine does 
no harm for short, periods. Close by this is 
a fine plant of Acaena ovalifolia, with leaves 
resembling those of a Rose, and, indeed, the 
plant belongs to the same family, though a 
non-botanical observer would scarcely sus¬ 
pect it. Many Campanulas are also suited 
for cultivation under these conditions 
amongst the stones, but as they delight in 
