June 8, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
379 
N EARLY FLOWERING 
(Saxifraga ligulata). 
J Some readers may be puzzled to know 
hat is meant by Megasea in the above 
eading. We may say at once it is the 
ame of a section of Saxifraga, and in- 
ludes most of those having very large 
nd broad leaves. Usually the species 
nder notice is the first to flower in spring 
i our climate. This year very little was 
;en of the flowers until April, but that 
; no criterion of an average or an early 
eason when it comes into bloom during 
larch. 
Those who have a cool greenhouse or 
onservatory from which the frost is ex- 
a dry bank and form a bold and effective 
feature, whether backed with shrubs or 
otherwise. The bank which is dry in 
summer is even more beneficial for plants 
in winter, and ensures their early flower¬ 
ing, provided they are in a sunny posi¬ 
tion. For late flowering, of course, that 
is not necessary, and the plant may adorn 
any situation that is not overhung by 
trees. Indeed, the plants shown were so 
screened by tall trees at Kew that the 
aspect may be considered a northern one, 
and as a result, together with the late sea¬ 
son, the plants were in full bloom about 
the middle of April instead of the end of 
March. These broad leaved Saxifragas 
may also be used alongside of rocky paths 
in the rock garden or by the side of wood¬ 
land paths, where not too densely over¬ 
hung by trees. Even under the latter, 
however, they give an excellent account 
of themselves, and serve to relieve and 
brighten the front of many a shrubbery. 
RAISING - - 
Richardia 
elliotiana 
From Seed. 
This beautiful plant is easily raised 
from seed and gives a Larger amount of 
increase than by division. Take some 
large seed pans, well drain these, and fill 
with sandy soil to within two inches of 
the top. Press the soil fairly firm, and 
give a good watering, after which they 
should be left to drain for a few hours. 
Next sift a little fine soil over the top and 
place the seeds in this spear end upper¬ 
most two inches apart all ways. Cover 
with some fine soil and place the pans in 
a house or frame where the heat can be 
eluded may have it in bloom soon after 
the New Year simply by rooting some 
plants and growing them in pots. The 
process is a very easy one, all that is 
necessary being to take off some of the 
strong .crowns in August and insert them 
singly as cuttings in 60 size pots of sandy 
soil. These large crowns are flowering 
ones, so that when rooted they are practic¬ 
ally flowering plants of the smallest size 
available. As soon as roots have been 
formed the rooted cuttings may be trans¬ 
ferred to 48 size pots, in which they will 
bloom. 
The bold effect of this plant may be 
seen .by reference to the accompanying 
illustration of a bank planted entirely 
with this early flowering Saxifraga. This 
method of using it is one of the most 
appropriate and useful purposes to which 
a mass of it may be put, namely, to cover 
A Bank of Saxifraga ligulata. 
From what has already been said about 
rooting young plants it will be gleaned 
that this is a ready method of propaga¬ 
tion. Those who have a large clump of it, 
however, need not even take the trouble 
to put cuttings in a pot, as a large piece 
may be cut up into as many plants as there 
are crowns with a few roots to each. This 
may be done in March or the first half 
of April either before the plant comes 
into bloom or immediately after it has 
finished flowering. 
-- 
The American Spading Fork is com¬ 
ing into increased use in this and other 
European countries. 
The Temple Flower Show will attain 
its majority in 1908, and the R.H.S. pro¬ 
pose to celebrate the event by eclipsing 
the show of 1907. This will take doing! 
[Maclaren and Sons. 
maintained at 60 deg. Keep the seed 
pans fairly moist until the seed is up, 
when the water supply may be increased 
in accordance with the growth of the 
plants. When large enough transfer 
them into 60 size pots, using a compost 
of three parts turfy loam, one of leafsoil, 
and a portion of road sand or silver sand 
mixed well together. If necessary shade 
for a few days after potting. Give plenty 
of air in favourable weather when the 
plants are growing freely. Keep the foli¬ 
age clean bv syringing the plants two or 
three times a wgek. When these pots are 
filled with roots shift them into five-inch 
pots, using the above compost, with a , 
little soot and wood-ashes mixed with it. 
On recovering from this potting never let 
the plants suffer for want of water until 
the foliage begins to turn yellow, when 
water must be withheld altogether. Store 
