THE OARDENINQ WORLD 
July 16, 1904. 
576 
The Rock Garden. 
PLANTS IN BLOOM. 
Chamaeliriuin carolinianiuin 
Few plants continue for such a length of time in bloom as 
the subject of this note. Many plants continue a long time in 
bloom by producing fresh shoots', each furnished with blossom, 
but the flowering-stems of this plant begin flowering early and 
continue expanding their blossoms as the stem lengthens; 
but all the same the flowers ha.ve very long duration. The 
plant forms dense rosettes of' lanceolate leaves, tapering to 
the base, and from amongst them arise the flowering-stems, 
which are finger-like*, consisting of dense spikes of creamy- 
white flowers, which, when the plants are' grown in the open, 
continue to elongate until they are a foot long or more. 
Viola liederacea. 
The above is sometimes catalogued under the name of Erpe- 
tion hederaceum. It. differs from other Violas, coining under 
my notice' by the absence of the spur from the lower petal. 
In o ther respects it resembles a small Dog Violet with a creep¬ 
ing- habit and border, but shorter leaves. The flowers, are 
violet, with white tips to the petals', and in this respect it 
recalls what happens in Viola pedata. bicclor. A slightly moist 
soil should be selected for this specie®, but if it can be shaded 
from the afternoon sun there will be little* difficulty in growing 
it, for, provided it is not allowed to get burnt up in a baked 
soil, there is no difficulty in the matter of getting it to grow 
and flower. Those who; have a properly constructed rookery 
with shady nook-sl and corners will be able to find a suitable 
position for the plant. It. should not be overhung by project¬ 
ing rocks, as there is no necessity for keeping the rain off the 
soil, nor should it be covered up- by means of other plants 
growing in -the vicinity. What it. wants -is diffuse but. good 
light and a fair proportion of moisture. 
Primula capitata. 
The habit of this Himalayan Primrose is similar to that of 
P. dentieulata. It flowers rather later than that species, how¬ 
ever, and like it, is not very durable under adverse conditions, 
but. by saving and sowing seeds a supply of plants- can be kept- 
up to make- good those which are lost. The deep- violet 
flowers are produced in dense heads, and are so choice and 
handsome in their way that it. is worth a little pains in- keeping 
up- the stock of plants for flowering o-n the rockery. The chief 
difficulty with many of the Himalayan Primulas is that they 
make too much growth during the mild or even warm and 
rnoisit weather of our autumn. It often happens- also that such 
excessive growth causes' the flower-buds to. advance to flower 
before winter, so that- "they are liable to be destroyed by damp- 
after the cold weather puts a. -stop- to the growth. It would 
be well, therefore, in. such cases to-plant the Himalayan Primu¬ 
las, especially the large and soft-leaved kinds-, in- exposed posi¬ 
tions, not in too> fertile a soil, so as to avoid coarse growth. 
Cheiranthus Allioni. 
Whatever the origin of this plant, it is evidently a much 
greater acquisition to the rock garden than C. Marshalli, as it 
grow-s* much more vigorously, and the flowers' are of a. much 
darker orange. It does not appear, however, to be a very 
durable plant, but can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. 
The stems grow about 12 in. to 18 in. high, and being sto-ut in 
proportion, keep themselves mo-re erect even than in the case- 
0 -f C. alpinus. 
Veronica Teucrium dubia. 
There is nothing new abo-ut this plant, although in my expe¬ 
rience- it has had a. number of names since it appeared in 
gardens many years ago-. I wish to speak'of its utility, how¬ 
ever. for covering ledges o-n the rockery, and for the edging of 
beds on the grass. Under ordinary circumstances' it. keeps in 
bloo-m fo-r a fairly long period, but when planted in various 
aspects, the sunny positions- help- to- brine it into bloom earlier, 
while the shaded ones induce a later flowering, thus keeping 
up a succession of a- very bright blue flower of the easiest 
culture. Like other varieties of this habit, it may be in¬ 
creased from cuttings, or by division of the patches. The 
latter will usually furnish all that is required in providing 
gardens-, as every little piece taken off the roots in spring will 
make a plant. At. the same time, cuttings may be used if 
the cultivator has only a small piece to start with. 
Allium narcissiflorum 
One- of the prettiest, of the species of Allium, flowering about 
the middle of June, is the subject of this note. The flowers are 
produced in, clusters, and hang with their face downwards, con¬ 
trary to the usual rule amongst the members of this tribe. 
The flowers are -somewhat bell-shaped, and of a deep purple, 
fading to silvery-purple at the tips. The leaves are flat and 
not unlike those of some- species of Daffodil. In some gardens 
the plant, is known, as- A. pedemo-ntaum. When planted in 
fairly good soil, either in the rock gardens or in the ordinari- 
herbaceous- border, it increases sufficiently fast to- enable the 
cultivator to multiply his plants-, if so inclined. This growth, 
however, is moderate, and the plant never in any way becomes 
weedy. It is indeed one of the neatest habited of the Alliums. 
Saxifraga trifurcata ceratophylla. 
When I first had this plant under my care, it was known 
by the last name only, and considered a species-. Whatever 
the botanical reasons- for changing the name, there can be 
little doubt it is- one o-f the neatest hab-ited of the mossy-leaved 
Saxifrages. The leaves' are three-parted, each of- these divi¬ 
sions again being three-lobed, and the' leave® are produced in 
slow-growing dense tufts. In- very stiff soils it very often 
happens, as in the case of others belonging to this group, that 
pieces will die out in. the centre of the tuft. For this- reason 
it is well to- keep a stock of young plants, which may be easily 
done if each tuft so grown is treated as a cutting and inserted 
in- a prepared sandy s-oil in spring out of doors, or inserted 
in po-t-s during the summer months. The plant is perfectly 
hardy, so that- there- is no necessity for retaining it in pots, 
but young specimens a,re always serviceable to- plant out in 
case any of the old patches get. worn out in, the- centre. The 
stems are- only about 6 in. high, and the pure white flowe-rs are 
as large and handsome as most others of this group. 
Papaver alpinum. 
I sometimes hear the complaint made that the Alpine Poppy 
is of short duration. That also- applies to the Iceland Poppies, 
and it. seems to- apply with more force in the neighbourhood 
of smoky places', where the atmosphere is filthy. At the same 
time, the foliage and leave® are so handsome and the habit so 
neat that it is worth while making a small sowing of it even' 
year in po-ts, in order to- get. a stock of young plants, which 
may be transplanted into- bo-xeis and then transferred to- suit¬ 
able positions on the rockery. A fairly substantial soil will 
meet its requirements, and if somewhat elevated, as on a ledge 
of the rockery, superfluous moisture- will drain, away to the 
advantage- of the plants in winter.- Already the flowers show 
a considerable amount o-f variation, as the result of seed-sowing 
and cultivation. Rose, pink, white, and various shades oi 
yellow may be seen from a- good strain of steed. 
Alchemilla. 
Encouragement for Window Gardening. —Provost Chisholm 
has again intimated to the Dalkeith Horticultural Society hi-- 
intention of giving prizes to the amount of £35 for the best 
window boxes of flowers grown by the inhabitants in the various 
districts of Dalkeith. 
* * * 
» 
The “ Horticultural Directory.”— The editor of the “ Horti¬ 
cultural Directory,” 12, Mitre Court Chambers, Fleet Street, 
London, would esteem it a favour on the part of all head gar¬ 
deners who have changed their addresses since October last 
if they will send him a notice of their new address. Nursery¬ 
men, seedsmen, and florists who have changed either their 
address or title are likewise kindly requested to notify the 
editor. 
