190 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  8  1898 
the  well-known  Yellow  Rough  is  unsurpassed  by  any  later  addition. 
Sampling  Gooseberries  is  a  pleasant  enough  occupation  until  one  has  had 
enough,  and  then  it  gets  a  little  tedious,  particularly  if  the  list  of  varieties 
be  long. 
There  has  been  a  series  of  renovation  in  the  vineries  during  recent 
years  with  good  results,  and  the  healthy  appearance  of  a  house  of  newly 
planted  Muscats  augurs  ■well  for  the  future.  With  a  continual  and  heavy 
strain  on  his  resources  Mr.  Sutton  has  few  opportunities  for  exhibiting, 
but  at  the  recent  summer  show  at  Sevenoaks  he  acquitted  himself  very 
creditably  with  plants,  flowers,  and  fruits.  Utility  is  plainly  written  in 
every  section  of  the  gardens  at  Chevening  Park,  and  this,  with  order, 
neatness,  and  good  cultivation  were  impressions  gathered  during  a  brief 
look  round.  The  time  was  all  too  short,  and  in  the  quiet  of  evening  as  I 
passed  through  them  the  quaint  old  villages  mentioned  above  looked  more 
antiquated  than  before. — II. 
NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
( Continued  from  page  104.) 
Androsace  carnea. 
Charming  flowers  are  the  Rock  Jasmines,  and  no  alpine  flowers  are 
greater  favourites  than  they  in  the  choice  collections  of  the  day.  The 
one  under  notice,  although  not  so  rare  as  some,  is  yet  not  too  frequently 
seen,  and  is  a  delightful  species  for  growing  on  a  moist  but  sunny  slope1 
in  gritty  peat  soil.  It  is  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  was  introduced  into 
this  country  about  1768.  If  allowed  to  remain  undivided  it  will  form 
nice  tufts,  and  when  it  flowers,  in  July,  the  pink  or  rose  flowers,  with 
their  yellow  eyes,  look  charming  on  the  little  plants.  The  variety 
named  eximia,  from  the  Auvergne  Alps,  has  deeper  coloured  flowers, 
and  the  leaves  in  rosettes.  I  prefer  to  have  these  Androsaces  jammed 
between  stones  when  planting. 
Lychnis  alpina. 
The  Alpine  Lychnis  is  a  beautiful  little  plant,  which  is,  however,  not 
very  long  lived  in’many  rockeries.  This  is,  I  am  of  opinion,  due  to  the 
want  of  moisture  at  the  roots.  In  very  dry  soil  it  becomes  weakened. 
This  is  a  frequent  cause  of  loss  among  alpine  flowers,  many  of  which, 
while  resenting  much  rain,  only  thrive  when  they  have  a  good  supply  of 
moisture  at  the  root,  L.  alpina  grows  only  from  4  to  6  inches  high,  and 
forms  a  dense  tuft  of  small  leaves,  which  bear  some  resemblance  to  those 
of  the  Thrifts.  The  flowers  are  in  clustered  heads,  and  are  pink  in 
colour.  This  is  another  plant  which  I  prefer  to  grow  between  stones. 
These  retain  moisture,  and  prevent  drought  from  affecting  the  roots  to 
the  same  extent.  L.  alpina  is  rather  widely  distributed  in  the  Northern 
and  Arctic  regions.  I  have  had  plants  sent  me  from  the  North  of  Scot¬ 
land,  and  have  raised  from  seed  what  was  called  L.  lapponica,  which  on 
flowering  could  not  be  distinguished  from  the  recognised  L.  alpina.  This 
alpine  may  be  raised  from  seeds  or  propagated  by  cuttings. 
OURISIA  COCCINEA. 
The  scarlet  Ourisia  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  of  all  our  rock  garden 
flowers.  It  is  unfortunate,  however,  that  all  of  us  cannot  succeed  in 
inducing  it  to  flower,  and  the  writer  has  known  of  it  being  in  gardens  for 
years  without  producing  a  bloom,  while  in  other  places  it  delights  every¬ 
one  by  its  vivid  scarlet  flowers.  As  I  write  memory  recalls  one  garden 
where  it  was  seen  in  great  perfection,  the  rich  soil  and  moist  atmosphere 
supplying  its  wants  admirably.  Although  it  comes  from  Chili,  O.  coccinea 
seems  quite  hardy  in  almost  all  districts.  Tor  the  benefit  of  those  who 
do  not  know  it,  a  more  detailed  description  than  usual  may  well  be  given. 
It  is  of  creeping  habit  at  the  roots,  but  not  so  much  so  as  to  become 
troublesome,  and  has  its  leaves  almost  all  from  the  root,  of  an  oval  or 
oblong  shape,  and  distinctly  notched.  The  flowers  are  pendant,  and 
produced  in  clusters  on  stems  6  to  8,  and  even  9  inches  high. 
On  reference  to  the  Kew  Hand-list  there  appear  to  be  only  two  species 
of  Ourisia  in  cultivation  at  Kew,  but  that  named  is  the  only  one  with 
which  I  have  practical  acquaintance.  It  should  have  a  moist  peaty  soil, 
and  most  authorities  agree  that  it  ought  not  to  have  full  exposure  to  the 
sun.  Generally  speaking,  this  is  sound  advice  ;  but  I  have  seen  it  doing 
splendidly  in  at  least  one  garden  in  very  sunny  positions.  Drought  is, 
however,  very  detrimental,  and  unless  an  adequate  supply  of  moisture  can 
be  secured  this  Ourisia  should  not  be  attempted. 
Onosma  albo-roseum. 
All  of  us  have  at  times  to  admit  that  there  are  some  plants  which 
baffle  us,  and,  try  as  we  will,  fail  to  thrive  in  our  hands.  This  is  one  of 
those,  and  it  is  with  regret  that  the  writer  admits  it,  and  thinks  it  well  to 
warn  others  of  the  difficulties  which  await  those  who  try  to  grow  this 
very  beautiful  Borage-wort.  It  is,  I  believe,  a  plant  which  can  only  be 
kept  by  constant  propagation,  either  by  seed,  which,  so  far  as  I  am  aware, 
does  not  ripen  in  our  climate,  or  by  cuttings  from  healthy  shoots.  The 
difficulty  of  keeping  Onosma  albo-roseum  arises  from  its  becoming  hard 
and  woody  with  a  rusty  appearance  about  the  leaves  ;  the  shoots  then 
die  off.  This  is  unfortunate,  as  the  long  tubular  rosy  white  flowers  in 
clusters  are  very  beautiful.  At  one  time  I  was  of  opinion  that  damp 
overhead  was  the  cause  of  the  failure  of  this  Onosma,  but  further 
experience  has  modified  this  view,  and  I  think  it  is  not  a  long-lived  plant, 
but  requires  frequent  renewal.  I  have  had  seeds  sent  from  Asia  Minor] 
but  these  did  not  germinate  well. — Alpinus. 
(To  be  continued.) 
RAVENSCOURT  PARK. 
What  a  healthy,  interesting,  and  instructive  place  of  resort  this,  the 
youngest  of  West  End  London  parks,  has  proved  itself  to  be  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  districts— including  Hammersmith  on  the 
one  side,  and  Turnham  Green  and  Chiswick  on  the  other — since  the 
London  County  Council  purchased  the  mansion  and  34  acres  of  land 
adjoining  some  six  or  seven  years  ago.  And  what  a  change  has  been 
effected  during  the  interval  elapsing  between  then  and  now  !  Under 
the  able  management  of  Mr.  W.  B.  Gingell  all  traces  of  brickmaking 
having  been  carried  on  in  the  above  mentioned  area  have  been  completely 
removed. 
The  landscape  Superintendent,  while  preserving  a  good  open  space, 
nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  park,  for  the  free  recreation  of  the  public,  has 
contrived  to  provide  a  great  variety  of  charmingly  interesting  floral  and 
arboreal  objects  for  the  edification  of  the  thousands  of  people  who  daily 
visit  and  lounge  about  in  the  park,  especially  during  the  summer  and 
early  autumn  months.  Banks  of  irregular  height  and  outline  have  been 
formed  and  planted  immediately  inside  the  boundary  line  and  fence 
intervening  between  the  several  entrances  to  the  park,  and  in  some  cases 
certain  portions  of  the  interior  are  similarly  dealt  with,  and  with 
admirable  effect. 
These  banks  and  clumps  are  planted  with  a  variety  of  suitable  trees 
and  foliage  and  flowering  shrubs,  varying  in  height  and  general  character. 
Herbaceous  plants  and  irregular  patches  (large)  of  Pinks,  Carnations, 
Mignonette,  Pansies,  Pentstemons,  Antirrhinums,  Begonias,  Godetias, 
and  Spiraeas  together  made  a  pleasing  foreground  and  edging  to  the  trees 
and  shrubs.  A  judicious  disposition  of  good  sized  bushes  of  Ligustrum 
marginatum  aureum  (Golden  Privet)  among  the  shrubs  had  a  good  effect. 
The  numerous  large  specimen  trees  of  Elm,  Lime,  Cedrus  Libani,  and 
huge  Thorn  bushes  give  age  and  dignity  to  the  place.  The  circular 
space  underneath  each  of  the  aged  Cedars,  and  corresponding  in  size  with 
the  spread  of  branches,  is  carpeted  with  Ivy.  We  may  here  remark  that 
Mr.  Gingell  makes  a  free  and  successful  use  of  London  Pride  (Saxifraga 
umbrosa)  as  a  means  of  clothing  bare  places  under  trees.  The  small 
lake  near  the  bandstand  and  refreshment  rooms,  with  its  two  miniature 
islands,  swans,  and  other  aquatic  birds,  lends  variety  as  well  as  charm  to 
the  place. 
Mention  may  briefly  be  made  of  the  manner  in  which  the  most 
important  flower  beds  are  filled.  Two  oblong  beds,  having  an  outer 
edging  of  blue  Lobelia,  next  a  band  of  Funkia  viridis  marginata,  and  an 
inner  circle  of  white  Antirrhinum  (Queen  of  the  North),  the  centre 
being  filled  with  well  grown  plants  of  a  dark-flowered  Fuchsia  (Scarcity) 
about  4  feet  high,  set  in  a  groundwork  of  blue  Lobelia,  had  a  telling 
effect,  as  also  had  seven  circular  beds,  6  feet  in  diameter,  cut  out  of  the 
green  sward  in  a  circular  space  about  20  yards  across,  and  enclosed  by  a 
low  iron  fence,  the  centre  bed  being  filled  with  bronze- foliaged  and 
crimson-flowered  Gannas,  encircled  by  a  broad  band  of  golden-foliaged 
Fuchsias,  with  a  ground  of  Agathaea  coelestis  variegata.  The  pale  blue 
star-like  flowers  of  this  plant,  borne  on  slender  stems  thrown  well  above 
the  foliage,  had  a  very  pleasing  effect  when  contrasted  with  the  other 
occupants  of  the  bed.  The  six  beds  forming  an  outer  circle  to  the  centre 
one  are  alternately  filled  with  Harrison’s  Musk,  with  “  dot  ”  plants  of 
Grevillea  robusta,  edged  with  Ajuga  reptans  purpurea  and  red  Pentste¬ 
mons  having  a  light  pinkish  throat,  with  a  groundwork  and  edging  of 
Koeniga  maritima  variegata. 
Two  oblong  beds,  occupying  a  fenced-in  space  near  the  lake,  had  a 
pleasing  effect,  one  being  filled  with  Abutilon  Thompsoni  variegatum  set 
in  a  ground  of  Coleus  Verschaffelti  edged  with  Funkia  argentea  marginata, 
the  whole  being  enclosed  by  a  good  band  of  a  dark  flowered  Pansy.  The 
other  bed  was  filled  with  a  white-eyed  magenta-coloured  Viola  with  “  dot  ” 
plants  of  Bridal  Wreath  (Francos  ramosa),  and  Chrysanthemums,  the 
latter  for  producing  a  floral  display  later  on. 
A  short  distance  from  the  last-mentioned  beds,  and  right  in  front  of 
visitors  entering  the  park  from,  I  think,  the  direction  of  Turnham  Green 
and  Chiswick,  is  situate  the  finest  bed  in  the  park.  It  partakes  of  the 
character  of  a  crown  in  the  centre,  extending  and  developing  into  a 
serpentine  figure  on  each  side,  the  whole  forming  one  undivided  bed. 
This  is  planted  throughout  with  a  dark  orange-flowered  Begonia  (the 
name  of  which  I  was  unable  to  obtain  at  the  time),  the  plants  being  set  in 
a  groundwork  of  the  dwarf-growing,  white-flowered,  Koeniga  maritima 
variegata,  green  narrow-leaved  Dracaenas  from  2  to  2J  feet  high  being 
effectively  employed  as  “dot”  plants,  a  broad  band  of  blue  Lobelia,  with 
an  outer  edging  of  Echeveria  secunda  glauca  completing  the  floral 
picture. 
The  beds  in  the  enclosed  space  near  the  reading  rooms  (into  which 
laudable  use  the  mansion  referred  to  above  has  been  converted)  also 
deserve  notice.  Three  slightly  oblong-shaped  beds  in  centre,  one  filled 
with  the  Queen  of  the  North  Antirrhinum  (white),  and  those  on  either 
side  with  scarlet  flowered  Cannas  and  edged  with  a  good  band  of  Funkia 
ovata  undulata  maculata.  The  circular  beds  surrounding  the  above- 
mentioned  ones  are,  alternately  with  pink-flowered  Begonias,  edged  with 
blue  Lobelia  and  Echeveria,  and  blue  Lobelia  edged  with  Echeveria  with 
‘‘dot”  plants  of  Phalangium  argenteo-lineare.  Two  feathery  pillars  of 
the  Virginian  Climber  (Ampelopsis  hederacea)  appear  to  guard  with 
admiration  this  pretty  floral  section  of  this  well-kept  west  central  London 
park. 
I  need  only  say,  in  conclusion,  that  the  occupants  of  the  several  beds 
were  looking  their  best  at  the  time  of  my  visit  (August  23rd),  and  that 
Mr.  W.  B.  Gingell  is  to  be  complimented  upon  the  successful  manner  in 
which  every  detail  of  the  good  work  in  Ravenscourt  Park  appears  to 
have  been  carried  out. — H.  W.  Ward,  Rayleigh. 
