THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Useful Plants for tf?e f^ockerg. 
x -~r. — 
The rockery forms one of the chief at¬ 
tractions in a number of gardens, and I 
have thought that a few remarks on some 
of the most useful plants to grow will not 
be out of place at this season. 
Alyssum saxatile is too well known to 
need much comment, but nevertheless its 
usefulness as a rock plant cannot be over 
estimated; it is of easy culture and can 
be raised from seed sown in the spring 
in a shady position ; it can also be raised 
from cuttings placed in pans in a cold 
frame, kepi close until struck, when air 
must be givenj gradually increasing it 
until the plants are hardened off. A. 
saxatile variegatum is a more handsome 
plant, but requires a sunny position and 
well drained soil. It should be given a 
prominent place in the rock garden. 
Arabis albida, and its varieties, form 
another group of easily grown rock plants 
and are of rare beauty, especially Albida 
variegata, which is of more compact haoit 
than the former. 
Arabis alpma, too, may be mentioned 
as a pretty rock plant, and deserves a 
place where room can be spared. 
Armerias are also very elegant and 
useful plants for rockeries as their com¬ 
pact habit and erect flower stalks stand 
well out among the closer growing 
species, affording a striking contrast and 
giving a graceful appearance. 
Arnebia echioides should never be left 
out when choosing rock plants as its 
beauty and quaintness cannot be sur¬ 
passed. It flowers in May, is bright yel¬ 
low with purple spots which disappear 
in a few days, and is of very dwarf habit. 
It is increased by cuttings taken with a 
heel in the autumn, and also by seed, or 
strong plants may be divided. 
Aubrietia deltoidea, and its varieties, 
make excellent rock plants and deserve 
a place in all rockeries; planted between 
white Arabis their violet and purple flow¬ 
ers have a rare effect. Seeds can be sown 
in pans and stood in a cold frame and 
the seedlings pricked out when large 
enough, cr it can be raised in the open ; 
old patches can also be broken up. 
Campanulas provide a variety of useful 
rock plants, their bell shaped flowers of 
blue or white giving a grand display at 
different seasons. 
C. carpatica. and the variety alba, may 
be made use of in the rockery, also the 
variety pelviformis and turbinata, but all 
are useful and pretty. 
C. alpina, a very dwarf deep blue, 
flowers in July. 
C. isophylla alba makes a charming 
rock plant and is easily grown and very 
free flowering. 
C. rotundifolia, and its numerous varie¬ 
ties, make useful rock plants and are 
very beautiful. There are numerous other 
Campanulas which are suitable for rock- 
.eries, but it would take up too much 
space to name them. 
Cerastium tomentosum, a very pretty 
whiteTeafed plant with white flowers, has 
,t grand effect planted high up so that its 
graceful growths may hang down. It can 
be raided from seed, but it is generally 
divided, while cuttings may be employed 
, - a means of propagation 
Erythroniums, or Dog's-Tooth Violets, 
are very pretty and should be given a 
shady place in the rockery. They should 
be planted in clumps as they thus pro¬ 
duce a better effect. They are increased 
by offsets. 
Sedums provide a number of useful and 
pretty rock plants, especially the ever¬ 
green perennials, and are easily grown. 
Tufts can be divided in the autumn or 
spring and planted anywhere, but look 
best when clinging to a stone or root. 
Sedum acre, and its _variety aureum, are 
very showy. S. glaucum, a very pretty 
pinkish-white with greenish-grey leaves, 
makes an attractive patch. 
S. Teiephium and the species S. Sie- 
boldii (the latter in a sheltered position) 
are among the best of the Sedums to em¬ 
ploy as rock plants, in fact most of the 
Sedums may be used. 
Saxifragas are also useful rock plants 
and are very pretty when in flower. S. 
Cotyledon looks well when in bloom, but 
requires to be grown in a nursery bed 
and flowering crowns planted yearly as 
they generally die after flowering. They 
should be planted five or six in a patch, 
when their creamy white flowers will have 
a graceful appearance. 
S. rotundifolia, a round leaf variety 
with white flowers with scarlet dots, flow¬ 
ers in May and June. 
S. umbrosa aurea, the variegated Lon¬ 
don Pride, looks well in a clump and is 
more compact than the ordinary S. um¬ 
brosa. 
Gentiana acaulis is a very pretty dwarf 
plant, flowering early in the spring, and 
requires a well drained situation. It is 
very sensitive to root disturbances and 
when established should be allowed to 
remain. 
Veronicas provide some of the most use¬ 
ful and pretty rock plants, among which 
may be mentioned V. prostrata, a close 
growing variety blooming in July, having 
bright blue flowers which make a mass of 
colour. It is easily grown and may be 
divided. V. gentianoides is of a very 
dwarf habit, having erect spikes of pale 
-blue flowers about a foot high blooming 
in early June, and has a graceful effect. 
It is easily increased by division. V. 
saxatilis is a beautiful rock plant with 
brieht blue flowers of very' dwarf habit. 
Tiarella cordifolia is a very useful rock 
plant of dwarf habit with erect spikes of 
white flowers about nine inches high. 
Plants can be raised easily by taking off 
the stolons which the old plants frequently 
send out. All the above are easily ob¬ 
tained at little cost and will furnish the 
rockery with flowers for a considerable 
period. To these may be added Phlox 
subulata and its varieties, their close 
growing habit resembling moss growing 
over stones, and when in flower are a 
mass of pink or white. 
Leontopodium alpinum makes a pretty 
patch of white and looks well if planted 
among evergreen plants. It has white 
foliage and flowers; and lasts a long time 
in bloom, especially in a shadv position. 
B. E. G, B. 
Edwinstowe Hall Gardens, 
Newark-on-Trent. 
March 27, 1909. 
What are the Best Spineless Gooseberries? 
Some cultivators in the neighbourhou; 
of Hamburg have undertaken the cultiva 
tion of spineless Gooseberries for marke 
on a somewhat large scale. Some of th 
German papers have been discussing th> 
subject, anci “La Tribune Horticole" aLi 
takes up the subject. These spineles 
Gooseberries have been grown for span 
years, and include such varieties as Ed 
ward Lefort, Mme. Lefort, Souvenir d- 
Billard and Belle des Meaux, which an 
amongst the best known. Their culture i 
not likely to extend, however, because tin 
growth is not vigorous, the fruits, al 
though relatively large, have not alwav 
a sweet and agreeable flavour. Further) 
more, the fruits often ripen only partially 
half of them remain quite green, and the 
fall before reaching maturity. Thev have 
scarcely a commercial value. They liav< 
been derived from the crossing of th< 
Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) and th' 
Gooseberry (R. Grossularia), the fcybrii 
being - known as R. Culverwelli. The frui 
of the spineless Gooseberries recall th 
taste of the Black Currant, which does nc 
please everybody. Large plantations 
therefore, are not likely to be remunen 
tive. 
—♦♦♦- 
The Cold Treatment o 
Ginerafias. 
There are few more charming spring 
flowering plants than well grown Cinei 
arias.- I have observed that it is in thos 
gardens where artificial heat has to b 
studied is where the best plants are grown 
I do not infer that they cannot be grow 
where the conditions are otherwise. Mor 
plants are injured by warm drv air i 
one year than in a dozen on the cold side 
Nor do I imply they should be subjecte 
to a stagnant, damp atmosphere; in thi 
they are apt to damp and become weakh 
The best position is in nits or frames ths 
are heated, but the less artificial hea' 
thev have, providing a moving air i 
given them, the better. Cold houses ar 
good for them : in such structures the 
are happy with abundance of light, an 
should the temperature not fall belo' 
35 dogs, all will be well. 
Some 35 years ago, 1 remember seein 
a grand lot of plants raised in pot 
amongst the bedding stuff. At Marlow 
under the charge of that grand gardene; 
Mr. Thos. Lockie, these were being grow 
into^ specimens, but the gardens bcin 
near the river the air was moist. 
Many sow these far too early, pus 
them on in dark days, with the result < 
poor flowers compared to those sown i 
March, April and May. Mr. Dick, whe 
at Canford Manor, made them a stud 
and I have seen splendid batches over 
long season, but here again the -positioi 
is low, with moist air. 
This winter, having only a small ghv 
house, I am growing some for Apt: 
blooming. About the end of the yc< 
those too tall to remain in a low ftair 
were taken and placed on a stage wn 
pipes under them, although only ju| 
enoueh heat is given to keep out fros 
but they do not compare well with tho¬ 
rn the pit. 
CON. 
