February  17,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
149 
is  another  of  Mr.  Allen’s  Snowdrops  ;  this  is  G.  nivalis  Tom  Tit.  It 
has  not  been  in  flower  so  long  as  Kilkenny  Giant,  and  its  stem  will 
probably  lengthen  out,  but  it  only  measured  inch  to-day,  so  that 
there  is  a  great  difference  in  the  appearance  of  the  two.  Tom  Tit  has 
small  flowers,  which  are  quite  in  proportion  to  the  whole  character  of 
the  plant.  With  all  its  dwarfness  of  growth  and  smallness  of  flower 
it  is,  withal,  a  pretty  little  Snowdrop.  G.  rohustus  is  again  disappoint- 
ing,  and  considerably  inferior  to  the  Cassaba  Snowdrop,  or  many  other 
species  or  varieties  of  this  favourite  flower. 
The  Crocuses  now  begin  to  come  thickly  and  quickly,  The  Dutch 
varieties  are  not  yet  fully  represented,  but  among  the  earliest  is  Albion 
— but  the  striped,  not  the  purple  or  blue  variety.  It  is  a  fine  Crocus, 
less  plainly  striped  than  many,  but  with  a  deep,  dark  zone  at  the  base 
of  the  outer  side  of  the  outside  segments,  which  looks  very  pretty  when 
the  flowers  are  closed.  Just  at  its  best,  perhaps,  is  C.  Tommasinianus. 
It  name  is  a  long  one,  but  the  size'of  Jts  flowers  ismot  commensurate 
delayed  by  working  a  little  peat  and  sand  into  it,  there  is  nothing  but 
pi'opagation  to  be  depended  on  for  insurance  against  loss.  This  should 
be  attended  to  as  soon  after  flowei’ing  as  possible.  A  dry,  sunny 
position  is  generally  recommended  for  Burser’s  Rockfoil.  This  advice 
may  be  too  literally  carried  out.  The  soil  must  not  become  too  dry  in 
summer,  or  the  plants  may  be  lost.  This  season  has  not  been  a  good 
one  for  S.  Burseriana  in  my  garden.  The  pretty  S.  apiculata  is  now 
very  pleasing  with  its  primrose  yellow  flowers,  although  these  are  not 
so  numerous  as  in  some  former  years.  Had  we  had  a  little  more  sun 
this  Rockfoil  would  have  been ,  exceedingly  attractive.  The  close 
growth  it  makes,  its  early  habit,  and  pretty  little  flowers  make  it  a 
favourite  with  me. 
llepaticas  are  very  bright,  and  are  always  seen  at  their  best  when 
the  sun  shines.  It  is  then  that  their  bright  colours  are  seen  to  most 
advantage,  as  the  blooms  are  raised  and  opened  full  to  the  sunlight. 
Of  courseiin  bloom  I  think  II.  triloba  splendens  the  most  brilliant  of 
Fig.  22.— cordon  GOOSEBBRRIPiS  AT  STONELEIGII  ABBEY. 
with  that  of  its  appellation.  Although  not  large  they  are  pretty,  and 
a  small  clump  is  very  attractive  when  in  bloom.  The  flowers  are 
described  as  “  sapphire-lavender,”  and  colouring  is  so  difficult  to 
describe,  that  we  may  content  ourselves  with  the  definition  given.  It 
is,  however,  a  variable  species  in  shade  of  colouring,  and  bulb  dealers 
who  keep  such  special  flowers  as  these  are  selecting  and  naming  the 
various  shades  ;  yet  it  is  possible  to  procure  these  among  a  dozen  or 
two  of  flowers  from  seeds  or  from  corms  from  which  the  various  shades 
have  not  been  selected.  The  flowers  of  C.  Tommasinianus,  when  in 
an  unopened  state,  are  long  in  shape,  and  vary  in  colour  from  almost 
white  to  nearly  purple.  The  variation  in  the  inside  of  the  segments 
is  not  so  marked,  but  ranges  from  pale  lavender  to  purple.  Except  in 
the  case  of  those  which  are  nearly  white  outside,  the  flowers  have  a 
peculiar  “  grained  ”  appearance  when  unopened. 
The  early  Saxifrages  are  always  interesting,  and  in  bright,  wintry 
weather  the  varieties  of  Saxifraga  Burseriana  are  very  beautiful  with 
their  white  flowers  and  sharp-pointed  leaves.  Charming  little  tufts  do 
these  plants  form,  and  it  is  unfortunate  that  frequent  division  is 
necessary  if  we  are  to  keep  up  our  stock.  S.  Burseriana  begins  to  die 
off  when  it  becomes  large,  and  although  the  death  of  the  plant  may  be 
all.  I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  there  are  fewer  blooms  on  these 
this  season,  and  a  circumstance  one  is  di.sposed  to  attribute  to  the 
character  of  the  weather  in  autumn. 
Iris  reticulata  and  its  varieties  are  comparatively  late,  and  even 
histrioides  has  been  un^villing  to  unfold.  The  ordinary  green-spotted 
Snowflake  is  in  full  bloom  in  a  sheltered  corner  of  the  rock  garden, 
but  the  form  with  the  yellow  spots  is  only  above  the  soil  while  the 
one  with  several  flowers  on  a  stem  is  still  in  full  blow.  Scilla  bifolia, 
as  represented  by  a  variety  from  Broussa,  is  in  full  flower  also,  though 
the  01  her  forms  are  in  this,  the  second  week  of  February,  not  showing 
colour.  Scilla  sibirica  is  in  bloom  in  several  places,  and  the  Winter 
Aconite  contrasts  Avell  with  its  dark  blue  flowers.  The  Dwarf  Almond 
— Amygdalus  (Primus  of  “  Index  Kewensis  ”)  nana — is  almost  ready 
to  open,  and  there  are  Primroses  almost  “  galore,”  Sisyrinchiums  and 
Cyclamens.  Anemones  blanda  and  coronaria  are  in  bloom,  and 
A.  appenina  will  follow  soon.  Grape  Hyacinths  are  sending  up  their 
<pikes,  which  before  long  will  entice  us  with  their  beauty.  As  I 
finish  the  rain  has  come  again,  and,  with  the  check  removed,  we  shall 
soon  rejoice  with  the  “  dancing  Daffodil  ”  and  the  many  other  flowers 
which  come  with  the  spring. — S.  Arnott. 
