THE GARDENING WORLD. 
453 
July 6, 1907. 
Hybrids of 
Nicotiana affinis. 
sluch has been written in the gardening 
jL s about Nicotiana Sanderae and its 
liorids, but 1 have not seen anything so 
f about the above subject. Of course 
e j.ry gardener is now familiar with Nico- 
t na Sanderae, but I venture to think 
tit the affinis hybrids are not so well 
|.own nor grown so much as their merits 
Oerve. The individual flowers of Nico- 
tna affinis, the well known white 
tiacco plant, are much larger than any 
ciers, and the hybrids from it are of 
i; same size and beauty, and take after 
t: parent in every way. Nicotiana San- 
crae is very variable in its habit of 
pwth, but this is not so in the affinis 
i br' Is. It is most valuable for pot cul- 
t e, and if grown under cool conditions 
t; plants last a long time in bloom, and 
; ; admirably adapted for conservatory 
; d room decoration. 
The seed should be sown in shallow 
ns any time during March, using a 
! ht, sandy compost, and the pans 
aced in a house with a temperature of 
!im 60 to 65 degrees. They will soon 
rminate, and when large enough to 
ndle, prick them out singly into small 
:ty sized pots, and encourage them to 
ow by damping them over w'hen it is 
irm and bright. 
When the pots are full of roots, trans- 
r the plants to six-inch pots, using two 
.rts fibrous loam, one part leaf soil, 
.d one part decayed hot-bed manure, 
th just a little sand added. The soil 
ould be rough for this potting, as it 
low's of better drainage, and also keeps 
eeter. Return the plants to a house 
ith a temperature of from 55 to 60 de- 
'ees, and allow plenty of air day and 
ght during favourable weather, keeping 
e house well damped down when it is 
irm. Feed the plants with weak man- 
- e and soot water about once a week, 
hen they are well established, and they 
ill not need repotting. If grown in 
'O large pots they are apt to make too 
aich growth, and do not flower nearly 
> well. They are also much better for 
flng as plants for room decoration if not 
■ r er potted, as the pots can easier be 
pted into other receptacles. A cool, 
saded conservatory or greenhouse will 
tit them well during the hot days of 
immer, but if in flower during the 
Jtumn, a little fire heat at night is most 
meficial to them. 
As regards using the plants for outdoor 
feet in the beds and borders, a few words 
ay be of use. The young plants may 
je pricked out in four inch pots or boxes, 
nd when w'ell rooted, planted out in 
lumps of nine or ten plants in each, or 
ccording to fancy. The soil need not 
e too rich, but plant firmly and keep 
atered until they have made a good 
tart. About the end of May would be a- 
ood time to plant, as then danger of 
:ost is nearly over. 
They are most useful for cutting from, 
isting a long time in water. The 
olours vary in all shades of pink and 
ed, and a well grown batch is distinctly 
'leasing. 
— 
Tf?e Doable P^ock-Cress 
(Arabis albida flore pleno). 
- S 
The double form of the well-known 
Arabis is also known amongst the French 
as Corbeille d’Argent or Silver Basket. 
The single form is seldom absent from 
any garden, large or small', but the 
double form should be equally common, 
as it is of the easiest cultivation. It 
seems, also, to flower more frequently 
than the single form, or, at least, it be¬ 
haves in this way when young plants are 
employed, giving them plenty of room to 
make fresh g“owth. 
About the end of April we took away 
some plants from the nursery of Messrs. 
Barr and Sons, Long Ditton, Surrey, for 
the purpose of having them photo¬ 
graphed. The accompanying illustra¬ 
tion represents one of them. This was 
done about the end of April, and some 
of the plants put out in our garden con¬ 
tinued to bloom for some time, and are 
norv in full bloom for the second time this 
year. We have also seen this double 
Rock-cress flowering in September. The 
double blossoms are more durable than 
the single ones, and more effective in a 
mass, as strong spikes give the idea of a 
double white Stock. The flowers are also 
sweetly scented, although not so strong 
as a Stock. 
The present is a good time to propa¬ 
gate the plant, and it may be accom¬ 
plished in a variety of ways. The moist 
season we have had hitherto is favourable 
to the operation. Half-ripened shoots 
should be selected about 3 in. long, and 
either dibbled into the soil in a cold 
frame, into boxes, or pots. The latter 
may be of various sizes, to hold a num¬ 
ber of cuttings, but a very convenient way 
is to dibble them singly into small pots, 
plunging the latter to keep them moist 
in a shady situation out of doors, or 
standing them in a cold frame where the 
lights can be kept close until the cuttings 
begin to take root. When rooted in small 
pots they can be kept until wanted, and 
then planted out. Sandy soil should be 
used on all occasions to prevent the cut¬ 
tings from damp till roots are emitted. 
The double Rock-cress may be put to 
a great variety of purposes, such as form¬ 
ing beds or borders or edgings in the 
spring garden. Under treatment such as 
we have mentioned above, it will flower 
twice or oftener in a season, but if al- 
low'ed to remain in beds, or as an edging, 
until it gets crowded, it may not flower so 
often. The cultivator, however, may 
note that it will flower more than once 
a year by giving it suitable treatment. 
R. Thatcher. 
Double Rock-cress (Arabis albida flore pleno). Maclaren and Sons. 
