September  20,  1900.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
271 
Hardy^Flowers  at  St.  Catherine’s. 
There  is  an  interesting  garden  of  hardy  flowers  at  St.  Catherine’s, 
in  the  suburbs  of  Dumfries.  The  owner,  Mr.  Frank  Reid,  is  exceed¬ 
ingly  fond  of  his  garden,  and  spends  mnch  of  his  time  in  it.  He 
is  also  a  more  than  usually  good  amateur  photographer,  and  he  has 
favoured  me  with  three  photographs 
of  his  flowers.  In  one  are  shown 
several  dwarf  tree  Pmonies,  plants 
which  Mr.  Keid  justly  admires, 
and  which  are  grown  in  some 
number.  Those  represented  were 
imported  direct  from  Japan,  and 
give  handsome  flowers  of  varied 
nolours.  Bj  -  and  -  by,  when  they 
become  taller,  the  effect  of  the 
pedestal  of  the  vase  rising  from 
their  midst  will  be  even  better 
than  now.  The  other  photographs 
show  some  Yuccas  of  the  species 
known  as  Y.  filamentosa,  one  of 
the  most  useful  members  of  the 
genus.  There  are  several  clumps 
in  thi.s  garden,  and  they  flower  with 
much  freedom.  This  Yucca,  as  will 
be  seen  from  the  illustrations,  is 
very  effective  with  its  flue  leaves, 
which  produce  filaments  on  their 
margin,  and  their  noble  spikes  of 
large  flowers. 
In  their  season  the  Crocuses 
are  charming  at  St.  Catherine’s. 
There  are  many  thousands  in  the 
garden,  principally  in  the  margins  of 
the  large  beds  on  the  grass,  and  along  the  avenue  leading  to  the  house. 
In  several  colours  they  are  exceedingly  fine,  and  constitute  a  feature 
which  is  much  aduiired  by  passers,  who  can  see  them  from  the  entrance 
gate.  Lilium  candidum  is  also  grown  in  great  numbers,  and  the  effect 
the  long  lines  give  is  extraordinarily  fine.  There  are  also  many  of 
the  best  herbaceous  plants,  such  as  Asters,  Heliauthuses,  Pinks, 
Alyssums,  herbaceous  Pseonies,  Irises,  and  a  large  representation  in 
general  of  popular  hardy  flowers. 
Shrubs  are  also  favourites,  and 
among  the  many  things  there  are 
several  Japanese  Maples,  Heaths, 
and  miscellaneous  shrubs.  A  large 
rockery  is  in  course  of  formation, 
and  in  the  kitchen  garden  are  a 
number  of  flowering  plants,  such 
as  Christmas  Roses,  and  o'her 
useful  flowers  for  cutting.  Oue 
feature  of  the  garden  is  a  fi  le  speci¬ 
men  cf  the  Almond,  noteworthy 
not  only  because  of  its  beauty  when 
in  bloom,  but  also  to  show  its  value 
for  gardens  near  towns.  Unfortu¬ 
nately  the  increasing  trade  of  the 
town  has  caused  railway  exten¬ 
sions,  which  have  brought  the  works 
near  the  garden.  The  tree  is  lite¬ 
rally  coated  with  soot  from  the 
engines,  yet  it  flowers  quite  freely, 
and  is  in  a  thriving  condition.  The 
garden  at  St.  Catherine’s  is  an 
example  of  what  can  be  done  by 
those  having  a  love  for  flowers  and 
the  means  of  indulging  their  tastes. 
It  is  an  interesting  one  at  most 
seasons  of  the  yeai. — S.  Arnott. 
Dwarf  Tree  P/eo.xies  at  St.  Catherines. 
