386 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 7, 1904. 
The Alpine Garden. 
Plants in Bloom. 
Scilla italica. 
The value of the Italian Squill lies in the fact that it comes 
into bloom in April, in advance of the English Bluebell, which 
powers chiefly in May. It also precedes the Spanish Bluebell, 
which is more nearly contemporaneous with Scilla nutans. 
The flowers of the Italian, Squill are lilac-purple, deepening in 
some, cases almost to blue. They are produced in corymbs, 
which, during their early stages, are nearly flat. Occasionally 
it is to 1 be seen cultivated in pots, but, it grows much strongei 
when planted out of doors. It does not seem to resent crowd- 
ino- even, for the clumps do- get very much crowded m the 
course of a number of years when left undisturbed, as, t iey 
frequently are in private gardens. It seems to flower quite 
as strongly in the far north as in tliei south, but the dinei- 
ence may be due to the northern form being a stronger variety 
with larger blooms. In some garden s it takes the place of the 
English Bluebell and grows in almost any soil. 
Tulipa praestans. 
the larger-flowering kinds. There are several varieties in cul¬ 
tivation besides the blue-purple ordinaiy form. Of all these 
varieties I reckon I. p. caerulea the best, although it has less 
colour than the common one, but the flowers are of a more 
decided sky-blue, so that a clump on, the rockery serves to give 
a, bright appearance. Cultivation is not difficult, provided the 
soil remains moderately moist in summer. It should at the 
same time be well drained and not be much inclined to clay. 
Saxifraga Rhei superba, 
The rosy-red flowers of this mossy Saxifrage are, very accept¬ 
able amongst the other species, most of which belonging to 
this class arei white flowered. Another point in favour of this 
variety is that its flowers are larger than those of S. muscoides 
atropurpurea. S. Rhei itself is considered a variety of S. nms- 
coides, but it, is a taller-growing plant, with larger flowers, 
and is now coming nicely into bloom. S. R. Guildford Seed¬ 
ling has darker flowers than S. R. superba, but otherwise the 
two do not seem to differ. 
Anemoae nemorosa flore pleno. 
The double form of the wood Anemone is quite a gem in its 
The above is likely to prove of great value for culti¬ 
vation in gardens, a,s it conies into bloom in advance of 
most species and just a little later than T. kaufman- 
niana. The flowers are of a, brilliant orange,-scarlet or 
vermilion, without any blotch at the base, and in, this 
respect they differ from a large number of the species 
now in cultivation. The downy stems and leaves aieq 
another distinguishing feature, though front a garden 
point of view this is quite unimportant. 
Corydalis Wilsoni. 
Very little is known of this new species as yet, but 
it has some features about it that will recommend it to 
the attention of those who like this class of plants. It 
was introduced accidentally, as it were, amongst C. 
tomentella, having been collected by Mr. Wilson for 
Messrs. Veitcli in Central China. A recent figure of it 
in the “ Botanical Magazine” gives some idea of what 
it is like. It may be described as bearing some 
similarity to the better-known C. thalictrifolia. The seg¬ 
ments of the leaves, however, appear to be narrower, 
while the flowers themselves are considerably larger. 
Even if the raceme was not, quit© so long, the larger 
size of the flowers and their bright yellow colour will 
recommend it for cultivation on the rockery, if it prove 
sufficiently hardy. Time alone can determine .that 
fact. In the south at least the winter has scarcely 
been severe enough to, test the capabilities of this new¬ 
comer, although I understand that C. tomentella has 
come through the winter in the open air. If the downy 
Crocus candidus luteus 
VJil i cm - r v 
leaves of the latter can stand our climate, surely C. Wilsoni, 
which conies from the same district, will prove equally hardy, 
if not more so. 
Ornithogalum nutans. 
In. soils of a sandy character this Star of Bethlehem proves 
somewhat of a nuisance on account of the freedom with which 
it produces seeds and scatters! them about. The bulbs also, 
multiply themselves and get mixed with the soil in, various 
part® of the garden owing to, digging operations. In light soils 
they also go down deeply and are somewhat troublesome toi 
uproot. Notwithstanding all that, the long racemes of flowers 
are very quaint and pretty during the month of April. The 
outside of the flowers is of a delicate light green, but thei 
inside has a satiny lustre about it quite distinct from the 
dazzlin" whiteness of the common Star of Bethlehem when 
the sun is shining upon. it. 
Iris pumila caerulea. 
Of the numerous Irises related to the common German Flag, 
I. pumila and its varieties may be said to be, the herald. 
Usually the plants do not. exceed 6 in. in height' when grown 
fully exposed to, light and air, but the flowers are very accept- 
way, as the flowers are pure white, perfectly double, and last 
a long time in beauty. Those who have a hardy fernery might 
very well plant the double variety amongst the Ferns, as the 
shade afforded by the Ferns during the summer is quite to its 
liking, and the plants bloom in April before the Ferns have 
fully started into, growth- There are really two forms of the 
double wood Anemone, the other one being A. n. bracteata. 
This differs by having some of the outer segments green and 
leafy, so that although the variety is interesting, it is not so 
choice as the ordinary double one. 
' 11 v 7 1/ x 
able as giving a succession to the bulbous Irises and precedin 
Primula marginata. 
Amongst, the numerous species of European Primulas few 
are prettier than the subject of this note. The flowers are 
freely produced, and though they are only pale lilac, as a, rule, 
the foliage in itself serves to, set off and accentuate their 
beauty. The leaves are beautifully sawed at the edges and 
covered with a gray meal similar to the,pa,ste of an Auricula. 
V rather more choice variety is P. m. caerulea, having a de¬ 
cided blue tint in, the flowers. This variety, however, seems tc 
be rather scarce, though I consider it very choice, and advise 
those to get, it who, can. The plant does not increase verj 
rapidly, yet it is easily enough propagated when offsets are to 
