146 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 2, 1907. 
RIDGE . . 
CUCUMBER. 
U ♦ ’ ■ 
Toogood's Success. 
[See Page 145.] 
Numerous varieties of Cucumbers are 
grown in this country, and are classed m 
two distinct groups, namely, ridge Cu¬ 
cumbers and frame Cucumbers. ihe 
latter are, of course, grown in frames 
entirely, or in hothouses, for they require 
a considerable amount of heat to get the 
best results. 
The ridge Cucumbers axe much hardier, 
and are grown in the open air much in the 
same way as vegetables. f ew people 
consider ridge Cucumbers equal to the 
frame type, but Messrs. Toogood and 
Sons, of Southampton, have been giving 
attention to the improvement of the ridge 
Cucumber latejy, and the new variety 
Success is their latest achievement in this 
•line. The fruit is cylindrical, smooth, - 
dark green, and 14m. to i6in. long when 
well grown. This practically means twice 
the length of most o‘f the ridge Cucumbers 
coming under our notice. The flesh is 
.firm, crisp, and delicate, thus approach¬ 
ing the high quality of a frame Cucumber. 
It, therefore, comes in very handy for 
salad. 
Seeds may be sown in heat either on a 
hotbed, such as is frequently made up in 
spring for seed raising, or they may be sown 
in a stove or heated pit according to the 
convenience of the cultivator.' They may 
be shifted from small to larger size pots 
until the weather is sufficiently warm to¬ 
wards the end of May or in June, to plant 
them out in well-prepared, well-enriched 
soil in the open garden. Those who have 
hand-lights, bell-glasses, or cloches, can 
plant out their Cucumbers much earlier, 
owing to this protection. They, therefore, 
get established earlier in positions where 
they are to fruit. Some growth is made 
under this protection, but as the weather 
gets fine and genial the coverings may 
then be entirely removed. We are in¬ 
debted to Messrs. Toogood for the illus¬ 
tration of this fine variety. 
-- 
A Gardener's Sarcasm. — There is a 
tone of gentle irony in this advertisement 
from *a German newspaper : — 
“To those kind friends who during 1903 
have shown such interest in the contents 
of my Jxumble garden. Take notice 
that in future the key can always be had 
on application, even during the night, 
and that to enter by the gate is much less 
dangerous than clambering over the wall. 
I shall further be deeply grateful if in 
future you would be so generous as to 
leave a little of the produce for my needs. 
The trees in the orchard, from present 
appearances, seem to promise a fine crop, 
but when gathering the fruit I should be 
obliged if in future you could do so with¬ 
out finding it necessary to pull the trees 
down. It would also ensure you a larger 
selection in time to come. For the same 
reason I beg vou to carry a lantern, so 
that you do not destroy the greater part 
of the vegetables in walking over the 
beds. Thanking you warmly in advance. 
—H. Spengler.” 
Some Choice Rockfoils. 
SAXIFRAGA. 
Most of the Rockfoils or Saxifrages are 
dwarf and peculiarly adapted for culti¬ 
vation on the rockery. A few of them 
may occasionally be seen in herbaceous 
borders, and the Umbrella Plant (S. 
peltata) is suitable for planting on the 
margins of ponds and streams in the gar¬ 
den. Even amongst those which may 
properly be described as Rockfoils we 
have a considerable variation in form. 
For instance, there is the well-known 
type known as London Pride, with 
rosettes of leathery leaves, being one of 
those used for borders or for edgings in 
various parts of the garden. Another 
section includes the mossy-leaved Saxi¬ 
frages, which form dense carpets of leaves 
not unlike patches of moss. A less 
known section includes dwarf growing 
used. Still another section would include 
the more truly alpipe species, having 
very small leaves arranged in miniature 
rosettes and the stems crowded together 
forming little tufts or patches. The 
great group may still ibe divided into 
other sections botanically, but for garden 
purposes the above may suffice. Each, 
section has its peculiar uses and particu¬ 
lar effects may be brought about by them 
on the rockery. 
Saxifraga burseriana major. 
This tvpe is a native of Eastern Europe 
and is a truly mountain or alpine species, 
having its leaves densely compacted in 
tufts and forming dense little cushions 
as above indicated. It is one of the 
harbingers of spring, and provided the 
The Craven Nursery. 
Saxifraga burseriana major. 
Saxifrages that are suitable for the bog 
garden, because being natives of wet 
places on the mountains, they like an 
ample supply of water and refuse to thrive 
on the exposed positions of a rockery, 
more especially in the south, where they 
are often subjected to long continued 
drought and heat in summer. 
Another section consists of the crust- 
aceous Saxifrages, having narrow hard 
leaves and often very strikingly silvered 
Oai.the edges or marked with white spots 
giving rise to the popular name here 
weather is settled and mild, it will open 
its flowers on the rockerv early in March. 
These are of large size, individually about 
the size lof a shilling, with the broad 
petals pure white and more or less wavy 
on the edges. On account of its neat 
habit and early flowering, it is a dainty 
plant for the rockery, and few culti¬ 
vators of alpine plants would forego the 
pleasure of growing it. 
The particular variety we mention is 
larger than the type, while the buds in 
the unexpanded state are more or less 
