544 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
July 2. 1904. 
inlets in the border by planting dwarf things in the centre. 
While he considers that all plants should ha.ve sufficient, space 
allowed between each, he is, at the same time, an advocate for 
the planting of masses of one kind of flower. Michaelmas 
Daisies, for instance, should have a. square yard in which to 
develop, Phloxes 2 ft., and some of the dwarfer Bellflowers and 
Violas 1 ft. 
He is equally decisive in his opinion about the digging of 
herbaceous borders or otherwise, and describes as a crime the 
digging of a perennial border. While this may or may not be 
strictly correct in certain instances, according to the style, 
.nevertheless there are cases in which borders may be dug to 
advantage', not. necessarily deeply, but such as will serve to 
renew the soil where it is inclined to settle down, too* firmly. 
On the other hand, however, he gives some sound advice about 
the renovation of individual plants at fairly frequent, intervals. 
This may be once in two or three years, according to the kind, 
but the ground should be thoroughly dug and otherwise 
ameliorated before replanting the clump. He thinks this can 
be overdone, as many people go to extremes in the matter, but 
by the partial renovation above described lie considers it quite 
possible to; keep borders in full beauty without drastic and 
frequent alterations. 
We quite agree with him when, he speaks of the peril of 
digging up Paeonies at frequent intervals, a,a those Paeonies 
which 'form the finest bushes are usually those which have 
occupied the same site for many years. The Christmas Rose 
is another plant that is often very badly abused by frequent 
disturbances and mutilation at the roots. Good advice also' in 
the replanting of clumps is the preservation of the outer por¬ 
tions, which are usually the younger and more vigorous. Other 
advice is given, concerning the use 1 of the spade, the knife, or 
the hands, according to the plant to be divided. Some plants 
are also, incapable of satisfactory propagation by division, and 
some of these are pointed out. 
At. the end of the chapter he gives a fairly representative 
list of the herbaceous plants that everyone should grow, and 
the information given is generally so good that lie must have 
had considerable acquaintance with the plants. We take ex¬ 
ception, however, to the statements that the Day Lily is a 
bulbous plant, and that Chrysanthemum maximum is the 
“ tallest ” Oxeye Daisy. If he had said largest this would have 
been correct, as it relates to the flower. He also makes an 
amusing remark that, the changing of well-known names is a 
“ favourite diversion of high horticultural authorities.” 
By looking into the next chapter dealing with the hotbed, 
we note that he discusses what should be done, what should 
not be done, and the most suitable material for the making of 
a hotbed of a durable character. In all these his instructions 
are both clear and practical. He speaks like an, amateur of 
fairly large experience and anxious to, help his fellow-gardeners. 
In illustrating his remarks, he is, an adept at metaphor, and 
with many people this, will be regarded as serving to' give 
point to the knotty points' of difficulties in gardening. There 
can be n.o, question that .a hot,bed is : one of the most useful 
adjuncts to the furnishing of a, garden which an amateur could 
employ, as it enables him to dispense largelv with the glass¬ 
houses which he cannot procure or attend to if he had the means 
of possessing them. We think the book, on the whole, will 
furnish many useful and reliable hints, to those for whom it is 
intended. ____ 
Potatos from the Continent. —For the first five months of 
this year 5,666,169cwt. of 1 Potatos were imported into this 
country. For the corresponding period last year the amount 
was l,943,132owt., and for the year before 1,407,497cwt,. “The 
English garden crop was small,” said a Covent Garden dealer 
recently, “ and growers held their stocks in view of a great rise 
in price! Then" the Continent began to send large quantities, 
and the price went down. There have been fluctuations since, 
and prices have naturally been low. The advent of new Potatos, 
however, alters everything.” 
Laelia Purpurata Queen Alexandra. 
(,See Supplement.) 
The above species of Laelia, is but moderately variable in its 
native habitat, judging by the specimens of it which we see 
amongst importations. Some of those already in cultivation 
are, however, both choice and handsome. The chief varia¬ 
tions consist, in the lighter or darker colours of the dowel's. 
At: the Temple Show, oh May 31st, we noticed 'the most, dis¬ 
tinct, white variety we have yet seen in the above named. The 
sepals, petals', and the greater part of the lip were pure white. 
Indeed, the only colour observable were some light, purple lines 
on the pale yellow throat of the interior of the tube of the lip. 
Others who observed this choice and unique variety were 
unanimous in considering it one of the most valuable Orchids 
in the exhibition, and placed it almost at a, fabulous sum. The 
variety turned up in the group of Messrs. Bull and Sons, King’s 
Road, Chelsea,, who informed us that, the variety was taken cut 
of an importation of the species. 
Our readers will best recognise the value of this variety bv 
comparing it with some of the choicer light-coloured varieties 
already in cultivation, and which have received names. One 
of the finest, of these older varieties is L. purpurata, Schroederae. 
The sepals and petals in this instance are pure white, but the 
lip is of a pale magenta, colour, and the lines' in the throat are 
intensified to crimson. L. purpurata alba, also figures a,s a 
white variety, but it is open to the same objection as the pre¬ 
vious one, inasmuch as the lip retains its usual colour, though 
very much paler than in the type'. Most cultivators who can 
posses® themselves; of L. p. russelliana think very highly of it, 
but after all it can only be described as a delicately-coloured 
variety. It will thus be seen that the new variety which 
turned up at the Temple Show is the most, nearly pure albino 
which has yet turned up in the species, and the possessors may 
well feel proud of it. 
Our Rock Garden and Some of its Gems. 
It is wonderful what improvements can be effected on a 
place by a little well-applied labour. Many hideous eyesores 
can, by a, little ingenuity be turned into, the most interesting 
part of the estate. 
A few years ago the present site of our rock garden was a dis¬ 
used rubbish heap 1 , overgrown with Nettles-, Docks, Bishop 
weed, and many other undesirable weeds too numerous to men¬ 
tion. It is how a, beautiful bank of varied hues, and the Mecca 
of all visitors. Its one fault is that it nearly all faces due 
south, and thus many rare alpinesi as well as Ferns refuse to- 
thrive with us. Part of it, is also almost perpendicular, so in 
hot, dry weather watering is a rather serious item. The com¬ 
pensation for this lies in the fact that we seldom lose a plant 
through damp during winter. 
About, one-third a 1 the work was done before I took charge 
here, and as it was- more as an experiment, than anything 
else the work was undertaken, none of the rarer alpines. found 
a place in it. That it has done exceedingly well there can be 
no doubt, and at present it, is a lovely sight. , The newer parts, 
the work on, which wasi only finished a year ago, look less 
furnished, but all the same will, through time, get well filled 
and equally attractive to the average visitor. Of course, as 
I said, all the finer varieties are in the new portions, and as 
many of these art anything but robust growers', we shall require 
to exercise a large amount, of patience before the whole is 
properly furnished. 
I will now endeavour to describe briefly some- of the gems 
that arrest the attention of even the most casual visitor. I 
may say that we do not claim to have formed a “ collection, 
but rather a “selection.” Adonis ■ vernalisi has large yellow 
flowers, wonderfully effective. Several of the Alyssums are 
very bright, A. saxatile being about, the best for colour. An- 
drosaces are veiy beautiful, but rather difficult to- keep through 
the winter. A. lanuginosa, does best here. The Anemones aie 
a host in themselves. A. apennina, is about we first we have 
