January n, 1908. THE GARDENING WORLD. 19 
Wahlenbergia saxicola. Carnation Britannia. 
This plant is practically unknown in 
gardens, and also in most nurseries. It 
is a native of Australia and New Zealand, 
and is quite hardy enough to stand out¬ 
doors in ordinary winters. At the same 
time it would be advisable to pot up one 
or two plants and winter them in a cold 
frame or greenhouse, as a safeguard 
against losing the stock, in case of very 
severe weather. 
Plants in this genus are included in the 
Bellflower or Campanula family, and the 
species under notice resembles the Bell¬ 
flower much more than any other mem¬ 
ber of the Wahlenbergia genus. While 
the' majority of species have the cup¬ 
shaped flowers arranged in clusters, this 
Antipodean plant produces its lovely, 
almost pure white bells singly on slender 
foot-stalks 6 to 8 ins. long. The seg¬ 
ments of the flower-tube are well spread 
out, giving a pretty starry effect, and the 
blooms are often as much as 13 ins. 
across. A pale blue or lilac coloured 
vein down the centre of each segment 
serves to accentuate the pure porcelain 
white of the rest of the flower. Occasion¬ 
ally a little of the colour is suffused 
through the base of the cup. 
The habit of W. saxicola scarcely 
leaves anything to be desired. Apart 
from the flowers, which are produced well 
above the foliage, the plant is scarcely 
more than 3 or 4 ins. in height. The 
stems are erect or semi-procumbent, and 
are produced from underground stems by 
means of which the plant increases 
rapidly. The foliage is rather small, and 
narrow, lanceolate or spathulate, with a 
few loose hairs, and is slightly serrated 
at the edges. The colour is a bright 
shade of green. 
A half-shady position is most suitable 
for the plants, but they are not at all fas¬ 
tidious. We have seen them revel in full 
sunshine where plenty of moisture is avail¬ 
able. Likewise, a sandy soil with a little 
peat added is, perhaps, the best compost, 
but the plants luxuriate in any sandy open 
soil, so long as it is well supplied with 
water. We recommend this lovely plant 
to everyone, however small or large their 
garden may be. 
Erica. 
- +++ - 
Sweet Peas A IS; the 
And Superfluous 
- Super. - 
Dear Sir,—Your numerous Sweet Pea 
readers may be interested in the follow¬ 
ing. In his recently issued “ Sweet Pea, 
Flower, and Vegetable Seed Catalogue ” 
Mr. Horace J. Wright, late Secretary 
N.S.P.S., gives the following advice to 
Sweet Pea growers:—Use. 7 lbs. of super¬ 
phosphate per square yard.” If this ad¬ 
vice is followed we may confidently ex¬ 
pect to hear somewhat such a dialogue as 
that below in the gardens of the future:— 
First Sweet Pea Grower: How do you 
apply your superphosphate P 
The blooms of this variety are variously 
described as crimson-scarlet or brilliant 
red. The' particular shade, of course, 
varies with the influence of light, as well 
as of the brightness or otherwise of the 
day when seen. It is not. of course, a 
variety that would stand out so attrac¬ 
tively under artificial light as it would in 
sunshine. Amongst*, dark varieties, how¬ 
ever, it is regarded as the best of its parti¬ 
cular shade of colour. Another fact to its 
credit is that it was raised in this country, 
so that we may very soon have a race of 
British raised Carnations that will keep 
pace with those sent out by the raisers in 
America. 
Second ditto : Oh ! I simply spread it on 
with a spade. 
First S.P.G. : But can you get it on 
thick enough ? 
Second S.P.G. : Oh, yes; but how do 
you put yours on ? 
First S.P.G. : Well, I erect a hoarding 
round my plot, and shoot the super, on 
out of sacks, levelling it afterwards with 
a garden fork. 
Second S.P.G. : And do you get good 
flowers ? 
First S.P.G. : Come and look at my 
The petals are of good substance and 
nearly entire, while they are only moder¬ 
ately numerous so that the flower opens 
without bursting the calyx, which is 
strong, however, and entirely reliable. 
The plant is of strong growth, producing 
stems of good length, though we regret it 
lacks the spicy perfume usually present 
in all this race. The plant should not 
be stopped after the end of August. The 
flowers open freely in a temperature vary¬ 
ing from 30 degs. to 55 degs. It was 
shown at the exhibition of the Winter- 
Flowering Carnation Society on Decem¬ 
ber nth by Messrs. Hugh Low and Co., 
Bush Hill Park. Middlesex, in whose col¬ 
lection we had it photographed. 
sideboard! Put on these smoked glasses, 
then the glitter of the cups will not affect 
your eyesight! 
SUNNYSIDE. 
—— 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
The coming of age festival in aid of the 
above charity will-take place at the Hotel 
Cecil on Tuesday, May 12th next, when 
the president of the fund, the Duke of 
Bedford, K. G., has kindly consented to 
preside. 
