354 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 29, 1905. 
meal which runs round the edges of the leaves. For instance, 
in the show forms of the Auricula the meal is produced all over 
both surfaces more or less, but in this instance it is mostly 
confined to the margin. As the leaves are toothed on the 
edges, this edging has a beautiful wavy outline. In the ordinary 
form the flowers are blue-purple and produced in umbels just 
rising above the tuft of leaves. It should be planted amongst 
stones, where it will have plenty of depth of soil to ensure the 
loots being kept moist during the heat of summer. It does 
not increase fast as a rule, but every crown may be separated 
and replanted after the plant has done flowering, or if roots 
are scarce the crowns may be put in pots and placed in a frame 
till thoroughly established before planting them out. 
The Ciliate-leaved Primrose (Primula ciliata). 
Here we have another dwarf Primula from the Alps of 
Europe that is even more effective than the previously named 
one. The flowers are of rich dark red-purple with a white 
throat that is quite conspicuous in the funnel-shaped flowers. 
The leaves are of a greyish-green, but furnish no decisive char¬ 
acter like those of the previous one. The flowers are, how¬ 
ever, more aggressive when the eye is glancing along the banks 
of the rockery to see what is in bloom. Propagation is as 
easily effected as in P. marginata. Cultivators would do well 
to remember that these alpines are always kept moist at the 
root in their native habitats owing to the frequent mist or 
drizzle even when notraining The chief difficulty in cultivat 
incr them nearly at sea level is the diy condition of the atmo¬ 
sphere and likewise the soil as a result of dry weather. In the 
cooler Midland and North of England, as well as in Scotland, 
the greater rainfall makes these alpine gems of more easy 
cultivation. 
Grisebach’s Saxifrage (Saxifraga Grisebachii). 
When grown entirely in tire open air, this new or recent 
introduction flowers much later than when sheltered in frames 
or a cold house. So far, it seems to be an easily-grown plant, 
though n-ot producing many offsets by which it can be mul¬ 
tiplied. The rosettes of leaves are somewhat larger than those 
of the red-flowered species hitherto cultivated, but the flower¬ 
ing part is entirely different. When it first came before the 
public the various illustrations of the plant seemed to indicate 
that the flowers were produced in a simple spike or raceme. 
When the plants have got stronger each side-flower may give 
rise, to a cyme or cluster of drooping flowers which have long 
stalks and therefore stand out boldly from the main stem. It 
is even better than first impressions would have made us 
believe. The flowers themselves are not well expanded, but 
owing to the rich colour of the stems, bracts and branches, the 
whole plant is veiy showy indeed. It is to be hoped it will 
not prove refractory on the rockery after some years, trial, as 
it would serve to induce variety where the spring flowering 
kinds are mostly white or yellow. 
The White Pasque Flower (Anemone Pulsatilla alba). 
The albino or white variety of this differs from the type 
merely by the absence of colour. The sepals are pure white, 
though this is no doubt toned down by the shaggy hairs with 
which the sepals are covered. It seems of as easy cultivation 
as the ordinary form and serves as a variety, whether in asso¬ 
ciation with the purple form or grown in another part of the 
rockery. In a wild state the Pasque flower usually grows on 
dry, chalky downs, and one would have expected that much 
lime would" have been necessary for its welfare in the garden. 
This does not seem to be the case, as it grows much more 
strongly in any good garden soil than in the wild state. I 
have not yet saved seeds of the white variety, but possibly 
they would give a certain percentage of white varieties, though 
there is a likelihood that many of the seedlings would have 
purple flowers. In the case of a wild plant possibly most of 
the seedlings would have white flowers, although that does not 
always hold good in practice. 
Missouri Hyacinth (Brodiaea uniflora). 
By way of a popular name the above might be named the 
One-flowered Missouri Hyacinth, but unfortunately for the 
name it comes from Buenos Ayres in South America, hoi 
many years past it has been increasing in gardens, and evi¬ 
dently becoming popular for several reasons. The flowers 
first make their appearance in February or March in mild 
winters, and if so they continue to be produced in succession 
for several months. The bulbs multiply rapidly and soon 
form a patch. There is no danger of the plant dying out, as 
bulbs once established in good friable soil not only hold their 
own, but multiply rapidly. The flowers in the early part of 
the season are of light porcelain-blue, though later on they 
seem to fade in some instances to white on the one hand, and 
to light sky-blue on the other. Bulbs have been selected, 
however, of a more or less permanent blue variety, and grown 
under the name of B.u. caerulea, or more often, perhaps, 
Triteleia uniflora caerulea. The plant belongs to the same 
family as the Onion, and though so strikingly different in 
flower, the leaves have the peculiar odour of Garlic, and must 
not, therefore, be bruised in handling for cut flower purposes. 
The flowers themselves are sweetly scented. 
The Armenian Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacmn). 
The tendency at the present time is to procure and cultivate 
the larger flowering forms of Grape Hyacinth, but many of the 
smallest of them are among the most beautiful. The species 
under notice might be regarded as of medium size in the 
matter of flowers and stature. The flowers are, however 
remarkably beautiful when seen just in perfection. They are 
deep bright Blue and produced in dense, conical racemes that 
lengthen from 1| in. to 3 in. For some time these flowers 
rise above the ground about 3 in., and at that stage present 
a charming appearance. There seems no more difficulty in 
cultivating this one than the large M. conicum. The bulbs 
should be planted about 3 in. below the surface in any good 
garden soil and their positions marked either by a label or 
short and unobtrusive stake to prevent the bulbs being 
meddled with by the spade while resting. 
The bellow Dog’s-tooth Violet (Erythronium grandiflorum). 
A great amount of variety has been introduced amongst the 
Dog’s-tooth Violets'since the introduction of the numerous 
American species, though it must be admitted that many of 
them have a great similarity to those who see them for the 
first time. That under notice stands out distinctly on account 
of its rich golden-yellow colour and green leaves. There are 
no markings on the leaves similar to those of the European 
Dog’s-tooth Violet, and the bulk of the American ones. The 
cultivator, and even the casual observer, would have no diffi¬ 
culty in distinguishing this species by the characters given. 
When planting . these beautiful spring flowering subjects a 
cool situation with a good depth of soil should be selected. 
It would be highly advantageous also to mix the ordinary 
soil with a considerable quantity of leaf mould or peat, and if 
the soil is heavy some good clean river sand would also be 
advantageous to increase the porosity of the soil and make the 
drainage perfect. The . conns should be planted at least 6 in. 
below the surface, so that in dry weather they may not be 
affected by changes in the temperature. D. W. 
Ax- Uncommon Chinese Lilac. —The number of Lilacs now 
in this country is far greater than shrubberies in the average gar¬ 
den would imply. Most of the Lilacs grown are varieties of the 
common Lilac, but there are several species which have a beauty 
of their own, and ought to find .a place far more frequently in 
collections. The Chinese species intended here is Syringa 
villosa, which has flowers which vary between blue-purple and 
pale rose. Under suitable conditions these flowers are pro¬ 
duced in remarkable quantity at the ends of the branches, in 
a similar fashion to those of the common Lilac. The plant 
forms a shrub varying in height from 3 ft. to 6 ft., and though 
introduced from North China in 1880, it has never become ven 
plentiful in Britain. It comes into bloom rather later than 
the common species, say towards the end of May or the be¬ 
ginning of June. The leaves are ovate, sometimes narrowed 
towards the base, and thinly hairy on the under surface, chieflt 
on the veins. It is of eajsy cultivation, and seems hardy enoug i 
to be cultivated wherever the common Lilac may be grown, an 
that is practically in any part of Britain. 
