526 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  14,  1 8V9 
NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
[Continued  from  page  470.) 
Dracocephalum  grandiflorum. 
This  choice  little  Dragon’s-head  is  unfortunately  never  too 
plentiful  even  in  the  best  furnished  alpine  gardens.  This  is  prin¬ 
cipally  due,  one  thinks,  to  the  fondness  that  slugs  have  for  it.  They 
can  hardly  he  kept  off  it,  and  the  time-honoured  precautions  of  lime, 
soot,  or  ashes  are  generally  applied  in  vain.  The  slugs  generally 
succeed  in  the  long  run  in  destroying  the  plant.  It  is  said  by  some 
to  grow  from  4  to  12  inches  high,  but  I  have  never  seen  it  more  than 
8  inches  or  so  in  height.  It  produces  its  flowers  in  whorled  spikes, 
the  blooms  being  a  pretty  purple  colour  approaching  to  blue.  The 
corolla  is  almost  3  inches  in  length.  The  leaves  of  the  stem  are 
ovate,  and  those  from  the  root  are  ovate  and  heart  shaped  towards  the 
base.  Dracocepbalum  grandiflorum  comes  from  Siberia.  It  likes  a 
good  sandy  loam  and  to  be  planted  in  a  place  which  is  well  drained. 
It  may  be  raised  from  seeds,  and  is  also  increased  by  careful  division. 
It  is  unfortunate  that  this  plant  is  so  much  liked  by  the  “  pests  of 
the  rock  gardsn,”  as  the  slugs  may  well  be  called. 
Geum  reptans. 
Some  writers  dismiss  the  subject  of  the  cultivation  of  this  Avens 
in  a  very  airy  way,  as  if  it  gave  no  trouble  whatever.  It  is,  however, 
a  difficult  flower  to  manage  in  some  gardens,  and  is  frequently  lost 
when  planted  out.  I  must  admit  to  having  foand  it  very  difficult  to 
grow  in  dry  soil.  It  likes  more  moisture  at  the  roots  than  one  can 
always  give  it,  and  at  the  same  time  it  objects  to  standing  moisture. 
I  believe  that  it  can  be  grown  in  shaly  rock  with  an  almost  constant 
supply  of  water  beneath.  Geum  reptans  has  pretty  yellow  flowers  on 
stems  about  6  inches  high,  and  produced  singly  on  the  top.  The 
barren  stems  creep  on  the  ground,  but  the  others  are  upright.  It  is  a 
native  of  the  European  Alps,  and  flowers  in  early  summer.  It  may  be 
increased  by  division.  When  it  does  well  Geum  reptans  is  a  pleasing 
plant  for  the  alpine  garden. 
Primula  involucrata. 
There  are  not  many  of  the  Primulas  which  deserve  at  our  hands 
more  care  than  this  beautiful  little  Himalayan  species.  In  truth  it 
merits  more  attention  than  it  needs,  as  it  is  not  a  difficult  plant  to 
supply  with  its  few  requirements.  It  likes  a  cool  and  shady  position 
in  light  soil  which  is  almost  constantly  moist.  It  is  very  suitable  for 
an  artificial  bog,  but  when  that  is  not  available  it  will  grow  and 
flower  admirably  in  the  other  position  indicated.  One  precaution 
needed  is  to  see  that  it  is  occasionally  top-dressed  with  soil,  or  lifted 
and  replanted  a  little  deeper.  Those  who  do  not  know  it  may  be  glad 
to  have  the  following  brief  description  of  its  appearance.  The  leaves, 
which  are  bright  green  in  colour,  are  small  and  rather  oblong- 
lanceolate  in  shape.  The  flowers  are  elevated  on  stemB  about  6  inches 
high.  These  stems  look  thin  and  light  for  the  heads  of  flowers,  but 
are  strong  enough  to  carry  them  upright.  The  flowers  are  a  pretty 
creamy  white  with  a  deeper  coloured  eye.  P.  involucrata  is  a  native 
of  the  Himalayas.  This  Primula  may  be  increased  by  seeds  or 
division,  and  that  it  is  fairly  hardy.  Some  few,  however,  find  it  a 
little  tender  in  their  gardens. 
Erigeron  aurantiacus. 
The  writer  well  remembers  the  delight  with  which  he  first  saw  a 
flower  of  this  Erigeron  open  in  his  garden  a  good  many  years  ago.  In 
its  colour  it  is  unique,  so  far  as  I  know,  in  the  genus  ;  and  this  and  its 
neat  habit  made  one  enthusiastic  in  praise  of  this  little  alpine.  Time 
has  not  modified  one’s  admiration  in  the  slightest  degree,  but  it  is  only 
just  to  the  reader  to  say  the  plant  no  longer  exists  in  the  garden. 
Like  Dracocephalum  grandiflorum  it  proves  a  sore  temptation  to  the 
slugs,  and  they  soon  make  it  disappear  if  it  is  not  surrounded  with 
something  in  the  way  of  an  unclimbable  fence.  A  zinc  ring  with  the 
upper  portion  cut  into  points,  or  a  ring  of  the  fine  brass  wire  material 
used  for  sieves,  forms  the  best  protection.  One  is  apt  to  overlook 
placing  these  things  about  the  plants  in  autumn,  when  the  depre¬ 
dators  are  most  at  work.  The  usual  result  follows — the  plants  have 
disappeared.  This  is,  of  course,  no  reason  why  those  who  are  little 
troubled  with  slugs  should  deprive  themselves  of  the  pleasure  of 
growing  this  beautiful  little  plant.  Those  who  have  not  made  its 
acquaintance  should  not  neglect  to  do  so,  even  if  they  cannot  keep  it 
long ;  even  one  season’s  pleasure  is  sufficient  recompense  for  the  little 
trouble  it  gives  to  procure  a  packet  of  seed  and  raise  some  plants. 
Seed  is  cheap,  and  easily  induced  to  grow.  If  sown  early,  the  plants 
will  bloom  the  same  year.  Erigeron  aurantiacus  only  grows  from  8  to 
12  inches  high,  and  has  very  pretty  bright  orange  flowers  on  short 
stems.  It  is  a  native  of  Turkestan,  whence  it  was  introduced  in  1879. 
As  already  said,  it  is  easily  grown  from  seeds,  but  it  may  also  be 
increased  by  division. 
SlLENE  ALPESTRIS. 
On  page  470  Silene  Schafta  was  recommended  on  account  of  its 
late  and  free-flowering  habit.  One  has  now  to  refer  to  another  Catch- 
fly,  which  has  not  the  merit  of  late,  but  that  of  free  flowering.  This 
is  Silene  alpestris,  an  inexpensive  and  easily  grown  plant,  which  is 
superior  to  many  which  cost  far  more,  and  give  constant  trouble  to 
keep  in  health.  The  Alpine  Catchfly  is  not  only  beautiful  and 
inexpensive  ;  it  is  also  easy  to  grow.  It  comes  into  bloom  early  in 
summer,  about  May  with  the  writer,  and  produces  numbers  of  shining 
white  flowers  every  year.  They  are  produced  in  panicles  on  stems 
about  6  or  8  inches  high.  The  leaves  are  in  tufts,  and  are  of  a  narrow 
lance  shape.  This  Silene  is  a  native  of  Europe.  It  thrives  well  here 
in  dry  soil  in  the  higher  terraces  of  the  rock  garden  in  full  sun. 
Although  a  dry  position  suits  it,  one  finds  that  it  is  all  the  more 
thriving  if  it  receives  several  good  soakings  of  water  in  dry  weather 
in  spring.  It  will  repay  this  by  increased  vigour  anl  more  abundant 
flower.-  AlpinUS.  (To  be  continued.) 
BIRDS  AND  FRUIT  BUDS. 
Two  common  but  excellent  methods  to  protect  fruit  buds  from 
the  ravages  of  birds  have  been  giveu  in  response  to  the  inquiry  by 
“  R.  M.”  (page  475).  Lime  as  advised  in  the  correspondence  columns 
(page  508)  is  used  for  this  purpose  on  some  of  the  Kentish  fruit  plan¬ 
tations,  and  it  also  has  the  effect  of  destroying  obnoxious  moss 
growths,  which,  if  allowed  to  extend  unchecked,  are  detrimental  to 
bush  fruit  trees.  I  have  found  that  it  is  a  good  plan  to  mix  with  the 
lime  an  equal  proportion  of  soot,  as  this  makes  it  adhere  better.  Where 
many  people  make  a  mistake,  however,  is  in  fancying  one  appli¬ 
cation  is  sufficient,  whereas  if  the  lime  remedy  is  to  be  beneficial,  it 
must  be  continued  at  intervals  as  fast  as  it  is  washed  off  by  rains,  at 
any  rate  so  long  as  the  birds  are  troublesome. 
In  Kent  where  so  much  bush  fruit  is  grown,  the  bird  question  is  a 
serious  one,  and  one  sees  many  devices  for  checkmating  them.  In 
some  instances  Gooseberry  and  Currant  bushes  are  tied  up  as  soon  as 
the  leaves  have  fallen,  and  remain  so  until  the  spring,  when  the  swelling 
buds  show  that  pruning  can  no  longer  be  deferred.  The  idea  of 
doing  this  is,  of  course,  to  prevent  the  birds  getting  at  the  buds,  and 
in  this  respect  it  answers  the  purpose. 
A  common  Kentish  institution  for  the  protection  of  fruit  is  the 
Sparrow  Club.  Most  villages  in  fruit  growing  localities  have  their 
clubs,  which  pay  premiums  to  their  members  on  the  heads  of  de¬ 
structive  small  birds  captured  during  the  winter  and  early  spring 
months.  These  institutions  are  responsible  for  the  destruction  of 
many  birds,  and  but  for  them  market  growers  would  suffer  a  great  deal 
more  than  they  do.  Many  growers  of  Currants  and  Gooseberries 
depend  entirely  on  the  Sparrow  Club  to  keep  down  the  feathered 
pests  ;  and  only  recently,  when  discussing  this  matter  with  a  market 
gardener  who  owns  some  acres  of  bush  fruit,  he  informed  me  that  he 
did  nothing  himself  to  check  the  birds.  He  never  fired  a  gun  in  his 
plantation  or  dressed  the  bushes  in  any  way  ;  and  when  I  asked  him 
if  the  birds  destroyed  any  buds,  he  replied  in  the  affirmative,  but 
added  that  they  always  chose  those  at  the  extremities  of  the  shoots, 
and  therefore  he  left  the  pruning  till  as  late  as  possible,  and  as  the 
buds  were  soon  in  action  it  was  rarely  that  any  damage  was  done 
afterwards.  When  pruning  is  done  in  the  autumn  or  early  winter, 
all  the  buds,  except  those  required,  are  of  course  cut  away,  and  if 
birds  eat  those  that  remain,  the  result  is  serious. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  pruning  is  left  as  late  as  possible  in  the 
spring,  though  the  birds  may  have  had  their  share  of  the  buds,  in  the 
meantime  they  will  be  chiefly  those  that  would  have  been  cut  awav 
in  priming,  and  the  loss  felt  is  not  nearly  so  great.  After  pruning, 
the  black  cotton  remedy  or  shavings  tied  to  the  bushes  will  keep  the 
birds  away  till  the  buds  have  burst  into  growth. — II. 
The  advice  given  by  Mr.  J.  Campbell  (page  497)  has  been  oft 
repeated  for  the  protection  of  buds  and  seeds  from  birds,  and  for 
sparrows  it  is  no  doubt  unfailing;  but  according  to  my  experience  not 
so  with  either  bullfinches,  bluecaps,  or  chaffinches.  I  do  not  wish  to 
infer  that  it  is  thus  with  everyone,  or  to  doubt  the  accuracy  of  Mr. 
Campbell’s  advice.  What  I  notice  is,  that  with  birds  there  is  no 
universal  law,  bullfinches  in  particular. 
During  a  course  of  twenty  years  one  would  scarcely  expect  your 
correspondent  to  believe  in  the  erratic  tendencies  of  birds  in  other 
gardens  and  districts,  but  so  it  happens.  Bullfinches,  though  strangers 
to  the  garden  eight  months  out  of  twelve,  make  a  desperate  raid  on 
Gooseberry  and  Plum  trees  while  these  are  dormant  in  man>  gardens, 
and  neither  cotton,  nets,  lime,  soot,  nor  petroleum  has  any  uniform 
results  from  year  to  year.  What  proves  a  remedy  in  one  year  fails 
the  next,  and  there  is  none  better  than  the  gun,  when  this  is  skilfully 
handled  and  permitted  by  the  owner,  which  is  not  always  the  case. 
Left  unmolested,  a  pair  of  bullfinches  are  quite  sufficient  for 
destroying  the  fruit  prospect,  however  good,  of  the  small  garden,  or 
indeed  a  larger  one,  and  they  will  follow  the  Gooseberry,  Plum,  Pear, 
and  Apple  in  their  order  of  progress  in  sap  movement.  Those  who 
may  have  failed  with  the  black  cotton  should  try  again. — W.  S. 
