May  20,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
439 
BRIEF  NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
{Continued  from  page  320.) 
IONOPSIDIUH  ACAULE. 
Pursuing  my  intention  of  drawing  attention  from  time  to  time  to 
some  of  the  dwarf  annuals  adapted  for  the  decoration  of  the  rock  garden 
I  now  seek  to  say  a  few  words  in  favour  of  this  little  Violet  Cress  or 
“  Diamond  Flower,”  as  our  cousins  across  the  Atlantic  have  named  it 
It  is  not  a  new  flower,  having  been  cultivated  for  many  years.  It  came 
originally  from  Portugal,  but  has  never  found  its  way  very  widely  into 
cultivation,  although  cheap  and  easily  obtained  from  seedsmen.  It  is 
best  treated  as  a  hardy  annual,  and  sown  very  thinly  in  the  place  where 
it  is  wanted  to  bloom. 
Unlike  many  annuals  it  rather  prefers  a  shady  and  somewhat  moist 
position,  such  as  may  be  found  at  the  base  of  the  northern  or  eastern 
sides  of  many  rockeries.  In  such  a  place  this  little  plant,  growing  only 
an  inch  or  so  high,  with  its  fresh  little  green  leaves  and  its  tiny,  but 
bright,  violet  flowers,  is  certainly  a  very  attractive  object.  Not  the  least 
of  its  merits  is  the  way  in  which  its  blooming  is  prolonged,  not  only  far 
into  autumn,  but  even  into  winter.  The  soil  should  be  a  little  stirred 
before  sowing,  but  deep  loosening  is  not  required,  which  is  an  advantage, 
as  this  little  Violet  Cress  is  often  useful  to  occupy  the  space  left  bare  by 
the  decay  of  the  leaves  of  shallow  planted  spring-flowering  bulbs  whicn 
it  is  undesirable  to  disturb.  After  sowing  a  sprinkling  of  soil  ought  to 
be  put  over  the  seeds. 
SCHIZOCODON  SOLDANELLOIDES. 
This  undoubtedly  valuable  acquisition  to  the  number  of  our  rock 
garden  plants  has  been  a  remarkably  long  time  in  finding  its  way  into 
catalogues.  It  was,  as  the  description  attached  to  the  excellent  figure 
in  the  Journal  of  April  15th  (page  323)  says,  introduced  from  Japan  iu 
1891,  and  surely  long  enough  time  has  elapsed  to  permit  of  its  finding 
its  way  iu  quantity  to  our  alpine  nurseries.  It  is  offered  at  a  low  rate 
by  Japanese  nurseries,  and,  even  allowing  for  a  considerable  loss  in 
transportation  from  the  land  of  the  Cherry  blossom  and  Chrysanthemum, 
ought  to  be  had  at  a  moderate  price  here. 
I  have  been  indebted  to  a  reader  of  the  Journal — Mr.  A.  K.  Bulley 
of  West  Kirby — for  a  plant.  Mr.  Bulley  is  most  indefatigable  in  his 
search  for  new  plants,  and  one  is  safe  in  predicting  that  in  a  short  time 
he  will  have  one  of  the  best  collections  of  rare  hardy  flowers  to  be  found 
in  England.  I  do  not  know  that  anyone  can  yet  say  with  confidence 
what  treatment  will  best  suit  this  exquisite  little  plant  in  any  particular 
garden,  but  am  inclined  to  think  that  a  balf-sha  y  position  in  peat  soil 
will  be  found  answerable.  The  small,  pretty  leaves,  so  well  shown  in 
the  engraving,  are  of  a  deep,  yet  bright,  red  colour.  The  flowers  shown 
in  the  woodcut  will  prove  to  those  who  know  the  Soldanella  how 
aptly  this  little  Sebizocodon  has  received  the  specific  name  of 
soldanelloides  =  Soldanella-like. 
Iris  cristata.  I 
As  I  suspected,  this  exquisite  little  North  American  Iris  needs  to  be 
a  little  better  known  to  the  Journal  readers.  My  attempt  to  elicit  a 
discussion  upon  its  cultural  needs, as  first  made  in  the  opening  article  or 
this  series  of  “  Brief  Notes  on  Alpine  Flowers,”  has  been  a  failure.  As  I 
remarked  then,  I  have  something  to  say  ou  the  subject,  and,  seeing  tbar 
no  one  else  has  favoured  us  with  their  views,  I  must  perforce  lead  off 
myself. 
It  is  needless  to  disguise  the  fact  that  most  of  those  who  plant  Iris 
cristata  lose  it  at  the  first  trial.  This  is  a  little  discouraging,  but  is  nor 
surprising  when  we  think  of  the  small  morsels  which  generally  form 
these  first  plantings.  Another  obstacle  in  the  way  of  early  success  is 
the  common  practice  of  covering  with  earth  the  rhizomes  or  rootstocks 
from  which  the  true  roots  proceed.  These  should  be  on  the  surface  of 
the  soil,  and  not  beneath  it.  I  venture  to  assert  that  it  is  cheaper  in 
the  long  run  to  pay  a  little  more  for  a  plant  with  several  rootstocks, 
and  that,  if  this  is  done  and  the  Iris  planted  as  recommended,  there  need 
be  few  losses. 
Then  as  to  the  position,  I  am  satisfied  that  one  with  a  good  exposure 
to  the  sun  is  the  best  which  can  be  had.  With  Buch  I.  cristata  will 
flower  more  freely  and  prove  hardier  than  if  even  partly  shaded.  I  grow 
it  on  a  level  terrace  of  a  rockery,-  where  it  rambles  about,  seemingly 
delighted  to  place  its  rootstocks  in  contact  with  the  stones.  It  is  not, 
however,  necessary  to  grow  it  on  a  rockery,  as  in  many  gardens,  if  onee 
established,  it  will  do  well  on  the  border.  In  the  hardy  plant  nursery 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Smith  at  Newry,  Ireland,  this  Iris,  planted  as  an  edging 
to  one  of  the  borders  grows  with  a  luxuriance  I  have  never  seen  sur¬ 
passed.  The  edging  is  many  yards  long  and  one  or  more  across,  and 
when  in  full  bloom  must  be  of  exquisite  beauty.  Another  instance 
which  has  come  under  my  observation  is  to  be  seen  in  the  garden  of  a 
flower-loving  friend  of  mine  to  whom  I  gave  some  rhizomes  to  replace  a 
small  plant  he  had  lest  in  a  border.  For  some  months  it  made  little 
headway,  but  at  length  began  to  grow  vigorously.  It  is  now  a  clump 
a  few  feet  across.  With  regard  to  soil,  generally  speaking,  I  think  it 
prefers  a  rather  dryish  soil  in  our  climate. 
An  Italian  firm  recommends  in  its  catalogue  that  I.  cristata  should 
have  a  “  wet  soil  and  moss  cover,”  but  of  course  the  climate  of  the 
neighbourhood  of  Naples  and  that  of  the  British  Isles  are  quite  different, 
and  what  may  be  needed  in  Italy  may  be  injurious  here.  Although  a 
dryish  soil  is.  I  think,  preferable,  it  is  not  absolutely  necessary,  and  once 
the  initial  difficulties  of  establishing  this  exquisite  little  flower  are  over¬ 
come,  there  will  be  little  trouble  with  it  afterwards.  Once  established, 
and  when  it  has  come  into  flower  in  May,  everyone  will  be  delighted 
with  its  delightfully  coloured  lilac  flowers,  with  the  characteristic  crests 
wtence  the  plant  derives  its  specific  name.  It  is  only  a  few  inches 
high,  and  the  light  green  leaves  harmonise  perfectly  with  the  delicate 
colouring  of  the  flowers.  I  should  recommend  April,  or,  at  least,  early 
summer,  planting  so  that  it  may  become  established  before  winter  sets 
m.— ALPINUS.  (To  be  continued.! 
ROYAL  NATIONAL  TULIP  SOCIETY  (SOUTHERN 
SECTION). — May  12th  and  13th. 
This  Society  held  its  fourth  annual  exhibition  at  the  Gardens  of  the 
Koyal  Botanic  Society,  in  Regent's  Park,  London,  on  Tuesday  and 
Wednesday,  May  12th  and  13th.  Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  season, 
and  the  frosts  and  hailstorms  of  April,  the  flowers  shown  were  inferior, 
both  in  numbers  and  quality,  to  those  shown  last  year,  several  prominent 
exhibitors,  among  whom  may  be  named  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner.  Messrs. 
Haynes,  Thurstan,  and  Edom,  being  unable  to  be  present.  Two  new 
exhibitors,  Messrs.  A.  D.  Hall  and  H.  E.  Gretf  made  creditable  first 
appearances.  Notwithstanding  all  drawbacks,  there  were  some  really 
fine  flowers  shown,  Mr.  C.  W.  Needham’s  twelve  lacking  nothing  but 
another  week’s  growth  to  equal  any  stand  shown  at  the  National  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Bentley’s  stand,  which  came  second,  was  not  nearly  so 
good,  his  flamed  byb’cemens  being  weak.  Mr.  Ohater’s  twelve  contained 
some  good  flowers,  but  so  young  that  they  would  not  open.  There  was  a 
better  competition  in  class  B,the  first  two  sixes  being  very  near  together. 
Messrs.  Hall  and  Graef  had  good  stands  in  class  C  There  was  an  extra 
good  competition  in  class  D,  for  three  feathered  flowers.  Mr.  Bentley 
was  easily  first.  In  class  E,  for  three  flamed  flowers,  superior  growth 
gave  Mr.  Hall  supremacy  over  his  northern  rivals.  In  class  K  Mr. 
Bentley  made  a  most  meritorious  exhibit.  To  stage  ninety  blooms  in 
thirty  varieties  is  no  light  task  this  season.  Messrs.  Barr  worthily 
earned  the  gold  medal  of  the  Society  with  their  comprehensive  exhibit, 
and  Messrs.  Veitch  Bhowed  some  interesting  and  remarkable  instances 
of  what  a  Tulip  could  be  when  it  forsakes  the  narrow  road  of  rectitude 
marked  out  by  the  Tulip  Society. 
The  best  feathered  flowers  were  Trip  to  Stockport.  Mrs.  Lea,  Heroine, 
Masterpiece,  Wm.  Wilson,  and  Wm.  Annibal  ;  Sir  J.  Paxton,  and  Sam 
Barlow,  Annie  M'Gregor,  Mabel,  Sarah  Headly,  and  Talisman  were  fine 
flames.  Breeders  were  poor,  being  nearly  all  damaged  by  frost  and  hail. 
Class  A. — Twelve  dissimilar  rectified  Tulips,  two  of  each  class. — 
First,  Mr.  C.  W.  Needham,  Royton,  near  Manchester,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton 
and  Sam  Barlow  (flamed  bizarres),  Masterpiece  and  Storer’s  Seedling 
(feathered  bizarres),  Talisman  and  Chancellor  (flamed  bybs.),  Trip  to 
Stockport  and  Adonis  (feathered  bybs.),  Mabel  and  Annie  M  Gregor 
(flamed  rases).  Mrs.  Lea  and  Julia  Farnese  (feathered  roses).  Second, 
Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley,  Middleton,  near  Manchester,  with  Sam  Barlow  and 
Masterpiece  (flamed  bizarres),  Magnum  Bonum  and  Sir  J.  Paxton 
(feathered  bizarres),  Violet  Sovereign  and  Chancellor  (flamed  bybs.), 
Chellaston  Beauty  and  Mrs.  Cooper  (feathered  bvb9.),  Rose  Celestial 
and  Mabel  (flamed  roses).  Heroine  and  Comte  de  Vergennes  (feathered 
roses).  Third.  Mr.  A.  Chater,  Cambridge,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton  and 
R.  Headley  (flamed  bizarres)  Sir  J.  Paxton  and  George  Hayward 
(feathered  bizarres),  Duchess  of  Sutherland  and  Mrs.  Jackson  (flamed 
bybs.),  Black  Prince  and  Mrs.  Jackson  (feathered  bybs.),  Sarah  Headly 
and  Glory  of  Stapleford  (feathered  roses),  Mabel  and  Sarah  Headly 
(flamed  roses) 
Class  B. — Six  dissimilar  rectified  Tulips,  one  of  each  class. — First, 
Mr.  Needham,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton  and  Hepworth’s  Sredling  (bizarres), 
Talisman  and  Trip  to  Stockport  (by  b*.).  Annie  M'Gregor,  and  Mabel  (roses). 
Second,  Mr.  Bentley,  with  Sam  Barlow  and  Royal  Sovereign  (bizarres), 
Annie  M'Gregor  and  Mabel  (roses),  Talisman  and  Elizabeth  Pegg  (bybs.). 
Third,  Mr.  Chater.  with  Dr.  Hutcheon  and  Richard  Headly  (bizarres), 
Mrs  Jackson  and  Black  Prince  (^bs.),  Mabel  and  Sarah  Headly  (roses). 
Class  C. — Six  dissimilar  rectified  Tulips,  for  new  growers. — First, 
Mi.  A.  D.  Hall,  Wye,  Kent,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton  and  Wm.  Annibal 
(bizarres),  Adonis  (feathered  and  flamed  byts  )  Mabel  and  Madame 
St.  Arnaud  (roses).  Second,  Mr.  H.  E.  Greef,  Cambridge,  with  Sir  J. 
Paxton,  and  Sophy  Chater  (bizarres),  Mabel  and  Modesty  (roses),  Talis¬ 
man  and  Bessie  (bybs). 
Class  D. — Three  feathered  Tulips. — First,  Mr.  Bentley,  with  Wm. 
Annibal,  Adonis,  and  Mrs.  Lea.  Second,  Mr.  Needham,  with  -Master¬ 
piece,  Adonis,  and  Modesty.  Third,  Mr.  Hall,  with  Masterpiece,  Mrs. 
Rathmeal,  and  Julia  Farnese.  Fourth,  Mr.  Chater,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton, 
John  Linton,  and  S.  Headley. 
Class  E. — Three  flamed  Tulips. — First,  Mr.  Hall,  with  Dr.  Hardy, 
Annie  M'Gregor,  and  King  of  the  Universe,  Second,  Mr.  Bentley,  with 
Sir  J.  Paxton,  Sarah  Headly,  and  Duchess  of  Sutherland.  Third,  Mr. 
Needham,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton,  Adonis,  and  Mabel.  Fourth,  Mr.  Chater, 
with  Sir  J.  Paxton,  S.  Headly,  and  Mrs.  Jackson.  Fifth,  Mr.  Greef, 
with  Albert,  Aglaia,  and  Duchess  of  Sutherland. 
Class  F. — Six  dissimilar  breeders — First,  Mr.  Needham,  with  Storer’s 
Seedling  and  R.  Sales  (bizarres),  Annie  M'Gregor  and  Mahel  (roses), 
Hepworth’s  Seedling  and  Camp’s  Seedling  (bybloemens).  Second,  Mr. 
Beulley,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton  and  Goldfinder  (bizarres),  Lloyd's  Seedling 
and  Mabel  (roses),  Adonis  and  Janette  (bybloemens). 
Class  G. — Three  dissimilar  breeders — First,  Mr.  Needham,  with 
Sulphur,  Adonis,  and  Annie  M'Gregor.  Second,  Mr.  Greef,  with  Excel¬ 
sior,  Friar  Tuck,  and  Mabel.  Third,  Mr.  Bentley,  with  Wm.  Lea, 
Ashmole’s  126,  and  Mabel.  The  premier  breeder  was  Mr.  Greef’s  Mabel. 
Class  H. — Pairs  of  Tulips,  the  Samuel  Barlow  Memorial  prizes. — 
First,  Mr.  Hall,  with  Sir  J.  Paxton  and  Wm.  Wilson.  Second,  Mr. 
