Sfje Bfjotiobenbron ^ocietp i^otesi 
NOTES ON THE GARDEN OF RIVERHILL, SEVENOAKS. 
Contributed by Lieut.-Colonel J. M. Rogers. 
As I have been soldiering for the past two years, until the last three months, 
and have only seen my garden since October, I fear that I cannot contribute 
anything of general interest. 
I have here a good many Himalayan species between seventy and eighty 
years old, including Falconeri, niveum, barbatum, Thomsoni, lanatum, fulgens, 
companulatum of several varieties, Hodgsoni and arboreum. Several of these 
have died recently, and I am struck with the deterioration of many others 
during the last two years. 
It looks to me as if this period, seventy to eighty years, was about the usual 
life of these plants in this country, though I know nothing of their longevity 
at home. 
The principal enemy here is drought. Late frosts, though spoiling the show 
of bloom, do not seem to me to damage the plants. 
In 1916, Dahuricum was in full flower about 15th January, and praecox at 
its best at the end of the month. These had an exceptionally good innings, as 
there was not frost during their flowering time. 
Aucklandi has three blooms in the open for the first time here, the plant is 
about ten years old. A home-grown seedling of Mimosa dealbata also flowered 
profusely for the first time, and did not suffer from the blizzard of 27th March, 
which caught it in flower. 
Of Chinese species the following flowered:—lutescens, Harrovianum, 
concinnum and decorum (Spooneri). None of these are of much account, and 
the last a distinct disappointment, as it is very inferior to Fortunei at present, 
and the scent is hardly perceptible. 
I have a good many of Wilson’s latest to exchange if anyone wants some, as 
my nursery has got very congested from want of labour, and I should like to 
know where I can get several Intricatums. 
J. M. ROGERS. 
35 
