192 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  3,  1898. 
AN  OLD  READER’S  JOTTINGS. 
In  springtime,  when  hosts  of  plants  are  being  raised  for  bedding 
purposes  and  vegetation  in  glass  structures  is  developing  rapidly,  every 
inch  of  space  is  usually  fully  occupied,  and  under  such  circumstances 
overcrowding  is  not  easily  avoided.  The  result  of  growing  two  plants 
in  a  space  only  large  enough  to  grow  one  well  is  painfully  apparent 
where  such  a  practice  is  followed ;  but  in  many  instances  gardeners 
are  expected  to  produce  so  much  in  a  little  space  that  it  requires 
the  ingenuity  of  a  “genius”  to  achieve  results  satisfactory  to  all 
parties. 
Sometimes  the  season  favours  those  who  are  placed  in  such  difficult 
positions ;  they  are  then  able  to  place  many  of  their  bedding  plants  in 
rough  frames  at  an  early  date,  and  when  May  comes  round  they  glory 
in  their  dwarf  vigorous  “  bedding  stuff.”  The  following  year  perhaps 
the  spring  is  a  severe  and  changeable  one :  the  plants  then  have  to 
be  kept  crowded  in  the  houses  till  they  become  “  leggy,”  and  the 
employer  wonders  why  his  gardener  cannot  grow  dwarf  plants.  Some 
owners  of  gardens  are  considerate  enough  to  listen  to  reason  in  the 
matter ;  but  others,  unfortunately,  demand  their  “  pound  of  flesh  ” 
without  explanation.  At  various  times  I  have  met  with  cases  of  the 
latter  description,  when  the  gardener’s  task  has  been  a  most  unenviable 
one ;  but  it  is  satisfactory  to  find  that  as  the  o^vners  of  small  gardens 
begin  to  understand  more  about  gardening  they  can  see  for  themselves 
that  results  must  be  judged  to  some  extent  by  the  means  at  command ; 
and  when  the  gardener  is  also  able  to  put  things  in  a  clear  way  little 
improvements  often  result,  hence  the  reason  why  the  rising  generation 
who  follow  Adam’s  calling  should  learn  to  express  their  thoughts 
clearly  by  the  aid  of  tongue  or  pen.  Thanks  to  the  guiding  spirit  of 
“our  Journal”  we  have  now  “The  Young  Gardeners’  Domain,”  in 
which  the  “thinking  workers”  of  our  gardens  can  the  better  equip 
themselves  for  the  stem  battle  of  life.  The  seed  they  are  sowing  now 
will  in  due  time  bring  reward. 
It  is  strange  how  erratic  our  thoughts  sometimes  are.  I  began  this 
note  with  the  intention  of  keeping  to  practical  work,  but  now  find  I 
have  wandered  into  musings,  though  perhaps  not  without  supplying 
some  “connecting  links”  between  seasonable  work  and  contemplation. 
Let  me  now  advance  a  few  practical  remarks  as  to  how  the  temptation 
to  overcrowd  plants  may  be  combated.  Fortune  in  regard  to  weather 
seems  likely  to  favour  us  this  season,  and  if  the  mildness  of  winter  is 
followed  by  a  genial  spring,  bedding  plants  will  need  placing  in  cold 
pits  or  frames  at  a  comparatively  early  date.  Experienced  gardeners 
are  generally  extremely  cautious  about  doing  this  before  the  end  of 
March  or  early  in  April,  but  by  the  exercise  of  a  little  judgment  in 
regard  to  the  weather,  as  w^ell  as  keeping  a  sharp  look  out  for  frosty 
nights,  an  immense  advantage  may  be  often  gained  by  placing  strong 
plants  in  frames  early  in  March.  Those  who  have  but  few  glass 
stmctures  are  thus  enabled  to  grow  well  numbers  of  bedding  plants 
raised  from  seed  sown  in  January  or  February,  for,  by  being  able  to 
give  them  the  necessary  space,  they  develop  into  good  plants  instead  of 
weak  ones,  such  as  overcrowding  is  bound  to  produce. 
It  has  often  struck  me  that  very  few  gardens  are  provided  with  a 
sufficient  number  of  cold  pits;  their  utility  in  springtime  needs  no 
pointing  out,  and  throughout  the  summer  and  autumn  months  they 
can  always  be  turned  to  good  account.  It  is,  perhaps,  during  the  few 
weeks  which  precede  the  beginning  of  spring  that  the  greatest  difficulty 
is  experienced  in  finding  room  for  plants  ;  but  a  little  ingenuity 
displayed  overcomes  many  obstacles.  A  temporary  shelf  fitted  here 
and  there,  even  at  the  risk  of  appearances,  helps  to  forward  young 
seedlings,  which  later  on  do  well  enough  on  ordinary  stages. 
Pelargoniums  which  are  growing  freely  at  the  points  should  have  the 
centres  nipped  out ;  then,  although  they  may  be  packed  somewhat 
closely  together,  they  do  not  draw  until  the  young  shoots  have  fairly 
started,  then  the  time  has  arrived  when  more  space  is  absolutely 
necessary  if  sturdy  plants  are  to  be  pioduced.  The  stopping  just 
tides  over  the  difficulty  during  the  few  most  pressing  weeks.  Simple 
though  this  little  detail  is,  it  is  not  the  less  important,  for  if  we  could 
only  accurately  ascertain  how  many  bedding  plants  in  Britain  annually 
become  spoiled  through  neglect  of  timely  stopping,  the  figures  would, 
I  think,  be  startling. 
For  several  years  I  have  followed  the  practice  of  placing  Pelar¬ 
goniums  in  pits  and  frames  much  earlier  than  many  gardeners  in  the 
same  neighbourhood,  and  I  have  never  had  reason  to  regret  doing  so. 
The  Ivy-leaved  section  is  the  first  to  be  dealt  with,  and  the  cool 
treatment  suits  them  admirably  ;  indeed,  when  the  weather  is 
favourable  they  seem  to  thrive  better  in  pits  than  in  houses,  and 
suffer  less  from  the  attacks  of  green  fly.  The  strong  plants  should 
be  picked  out  first,  and  be  given  as  much  space  as  practicable; 
while  the  weaker,  if  arranged  by  themselves,  are  not  likely  to  get 
overwatered,  or  checked  by  the  growth  of  stronger  plants  around 
them — a  point  worthy  of  note  in  plant  culture  generally.  Zonal 
Pelargoniums  may  safely  be  placed  in  cold  pits  shortly  after  the  time 
when  the  Ivy-leaved  section  are  found  to  thrive  in  similar  positions. 
If  possible  the  opportunity  of  removing  them  to  pits  should  be  taken 
advantage  of  in  bright  weather,  as  damp  is  usually  more  likely  to 
injure  them  than  cold,  when  wet  days  —  accompanied  by  a  low 
temperature — follow  in  succession  for  a  considerable  time. — An  Old 
Header. 
NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
{Continued  from  page  87.) 
Crocus  Sieberi. 
Sieber's  Crocus  is  a  charming  little  species,  suited  either  for  the 
border  or  the  rock  garden.  It  is,  perhaps,  even  more  appreciated  among 
the  alpine  flowers  than  in  the  border,  and  its  blooms  are  not  so  liable  to 
injury  and  disfigurement  as  on  the  level.  Its  earliness  of  habit  is  a  great 
recommendation,  and  adds  much  to  the  favour  with  which  it  is  viewed 
by  the  alpine  grower.  What  is  more,  it  is  by  no  means  difficult  to  grow, 
as  any  moderately  light  soil  will  enable  it  to  thrive.  The  early  date  at 
which  it  flowers  makes  it  desirable,  however,  that  it  should  have  a  sunny 
position,  so  that  its  little  purple  flowers  may  have  an  opportunity  of 
expanding  at  their  proper  season.  Tho  colour  is  described  as  bright  lilac, 
but  the  writer  prefers  to  call  it  light  purple,  although  this  is  variable. 
The  anthers  and  filaments  are  orange,  and  the  stigmata  omnge-scarlet. 
According  to  Mr.  George  Maw,  Crocus  Sieberi  is  abundant  at  high 
elevations  on  the  mountains  of  Greece,  the  Alorea,  Euboea,  Crete,  and  the 
Cyclades.  The  same  authority  also  says  that  it  flowers  in  cultivation 
“  about  the  end  of  February  and  early  in  March,  ’  but  it  often  anticipates 
this,  and  in  the  current  year  flowered  about  the  second  week  in  January. 
The  corms  are  low  in  price,  although  not  so  cheap  as  the  Dutch  varieties 
of  Crocus,  and  ought  to  be  planted  as  early  in  autumn  as  they  can  be 
procured.' 
Sanguinaria  canadensis. 
The  Blood-root  is  an  exceedingly  pretty  early  flowering  plant,  which 
if  procured  at  once  will  probably  flower  this  year.  There  are  several 
specific  names  applied  to  what  may  be  considered  the  same  plant,  but 
there  is  also  a  distinct,  large-flowered  variety  named  grandiflora,  which  is 
more  desirable  than  the  typical  plant.  There  is  also  a  variety  named 
multipetala,  which  can  be  had  by  those  who  wish  something  rarer  than 
the  other  forms.  There  is  also  said  to  be  a  double  form,  but  it  is  doubtful 
if  this  is  obtainable  at  any  nursery.  The  Canadian  Blood-root  delights 
in  a  light  peaty  soil,  and  some  recommend  a  shady  position — a  prescrip¬ 
tion  with  which  the  present  writer  is  not  disposed  to  agree,  as  he  finds 
the  flowers  more  attractive  when  in  a  sunny  position.  They  are  pure 
white,  and  in  sun  open  out  quite  flat.  A  large  clump  of  the  variety 
grandiflora  thus  presents  an  exceedingly  pretty  appearanee  when  fully 
open. 
The  flowers  are  at  first  curiously  enveloped  by  the  leaves,  which 
unfold  themselves  when  the  blooms  are  past.  The  leaves  are  of  a  pretty 
glaucous  colour.  S.  canadensis  is  increased  by  division,  and  ought  not 
to  be  left  too  long  out  of  the  ground  before  replanting.  In  the  rock 
garden  the  best  place  for  the  Canadian  Blood,-root  is  a  rather  moist  spot 
at  the  base  of  the  rockery.  It  is  one  of  the  Poppyworts,  and  has  one  of 
the  defects  of  many  of  the  plants  included  among  these  generally  showy 
flowers.  This  is  the  somewhat  fugacious  character  of  the  blooms,  but 
it  is  not  so  pronounced  in  the  case  of  the  Blood-root  as  in  some  others. 
ErINUS  ALPINES. 
The  Erinus  is  a  favourite  little  plant  which,  unfortunately,  some  are 
not  able  to  retain  in  their  gardens  and  rockeries.  It  makes  a  good  wall 
plant  when  established  from  seeds,  but  is  only  otherwise  suitable  for  the 
roek  garden.  Its  chief  enemies  seem  heavy  winter  rains  or  showers  of 
sleet  followed  by  frost.  In  a  wet  winter  many  plants  are  thus  lost.  The 
Alpine  Erinus  is  a  native  of  the  Alps  of  Europe,  and  in  cultivation  gene¬ 
rally  flowers  in  May  and  June.  The  flowers  of  the  type  are  purplish- 
crimson,  and  there  are  also  rose  and  white  varieties  which  form  a  pleasing 
change.  It  is  increased  by  means  of  seeds,  which  are  produced  freely. 
In  gardens  where  the  old  plants  die  off  it  is  desirable  to  encourage  the 
production  of  seeds,  so  that  a  succession  of  plants  may  be  secured  by 
means  of  self-sown  seedlings.  A  writer  on  alpine  flowers  says  that  it 
seeds  so  profusely  that  if  once  established  on  a  rockery  there  is  little  or 
no  danger  of  its  disappearing.  Many  persons  do  not  find  this  correct  in 
their  cases,  although  the  present  writer  has  no  reason  to  complain,  as  not 
only  are  there  many  seedlings  produced,  but  older  plants  live  and  flower 
for  years.  Old  brick  rubbish  is  recommended  for  mixing  with  the  soil. 
IIOMOGYNE  ALPINA. 
This  is  a  little  Tussilago  which  some  admire  on  account  of  its  neat 
habit,  the  prettiness  of  its  leaves,  and  the  character  of  the  flowers.  In 
some  gardens,  such  as  that  of  the  writer,  it  does  not  possess  the  way¬ 
faring  habits  it  shows  in  other  soils,  and  spreads  very  slowly,  so  much  so, 
indeed,  that  it  makes  hardly  any  increase.  One  does  not  regret  this, 
knowing  how  freely,  or  rather  rampantly,  the  fine  Tussilago  fragrans 
encroaches  upon  the  ground  within  its  reach.  As  indicated,  it  is  a 
Tussilago  in  its  appearance,  and  was  at  one  time  included  by  botanists 
among  these  plants,  whence  the  name  of  Tussilago  alpina,  under  which 
it  is  often  seen.  It  is  rather  a  shy  bloomer  in  my  garden,  and  is  most 
valued  for  its  pretty  leaves  as  a  carpet  to  bulbous  plants.  It  is  increased 
by  division,  and  is  readily  obtainable  from  nurseries  growing  alpine  flowers 
in  quantity.  Although  not  one  of  the  choicest  of  flowers,  it  has  its  merits, 
and  one  of  these  is  its  ability  to  thrive  in  partial  or  almost  entire  shade. 
—Alpines. 
