File:The century book of gardening; a comprehensive work for every lover of the garden (1900) (19966376304).jpg

Title: The century book of gardening; a comprehensive work for every lover of the garden
Identifier: centurybookofgar00cook (find matches)
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Cook, E. T. (Ernest Thomas), 1867-1915, ed
Subjects: Gardening
Publisher: London, The Offices of "Country life" (etc. )
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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HARDY FLOWERS. 95
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SNOWDROPS IN A WOOD. Gentians, The.—It is a poor garden from which the beautiful Gentians are absent. There is rare beauty amongst the many kinds, all widely distinct, yet pre- serving characteristic features. Upon rock gardens and in borders plant the Gentians, using the dwarf kinds as edgings ; but their uses are pointed out in the description of the several kinds. As regards their culture, it must always be remembered that the less Gentians are disturbed the belter, as they increase in beauty with age, and in propagating them raise the plants from seed, rather than from division of the roots, unless it be the Gentianella (G. acaulis), which may be pulled to pieces readily. Sow the seeds always when ripe, and use shallow pans or pots, which must be well drained and placed in a cold frame. Water always with great care, and prick off the seedlings into other pans when large enough. The whole business is simple. All the seed may not germinate at once, but as the seedlings develop they may be lifted carefully from the pan and pricked out. G. aeaulis (t'u Ce)itianella) is a very old inhabitant.of-our gardens, having been introduced about the year 1630. It is quite dwarf, rising scarcely more than 3m. in height, and the growth forms quite a dense mat, hidden almost in early summer with long deep blue flowers. There are forms of it, however, almost white, rose, and streaked with blue. In some gardens the plant grows as if a weed, and in others it is difficult to establish ; the rule is to give it a gritty, loamy soil, well drained, and choose a cool, fairly shady, but by no means sunless position. Small pieces, if in congenial spots, will soon become established. G. bavarica, also a very small Gentian, should be planted in the rock garden, and seems to care little under what conditions it is grown, succeeding in light loamy soil as well as in moist, boggy spots. The flowers are large for the size of the plant, and intense blue. G. AndreWSi is one of the taller Gentians, rising about 2ft. in height, the clear blue flowers appearing in clusters in early autumn. It delights in a moist soil. G. aselepiadea is the Willow Gentian, and one of the handsomest of the family ; it should be grown freely, being permitted to extend into a bold group. It will succeed in the ordinary border, but is never handsomer than when placed in a rather shady corner in the rock garden where the soil is peaty and moist. There it grows with great freedom, the tall willowy stems being hidden almost with purple-blue flowers, white, or nearly so, however, in the variety named alba. It comes from Southern Europe, and blooms in August, when its wealth of colouring is welcome. G. Septemfida, or the crested Gentian, is an early autumn-flowering kind, and perhaps the most popular of the family, as it grows very freely in almost any situation, caring little whether it be sunny or otherwise, but growth is freer where moisture is present. The flowers are bright blue, and borne on stems that are sometimes erect and sometimes almost trailing. G. affinis is not unlike this species. G. verna is a delightful alpine flower, and, it must not be forgotten, is found here too. It is unfortunately rather troublesome to manage, requiring a good loamy soil with little stones about the collar, exposure to sun, a cool position nevertheless, and moisture. The flowers are intense blue, a beautiful colour, and appear in spring. When the little tufts are in full flower, G. verna is a treasure indeed. Other Gentians of value are G. cruciata, blue ; G. frigida, G. ornata, deep blue, pretty on a shady part of the rock garden in peaty soil; G. Pneumonanthe, a native kind ; G. punctata, 2ft. high, yellow, spotted with purple ; G. pyrenaica, 3m. high, flowers deep blue, and fringed ; and G. algida, allied to G. Pneumonanthe. Geraniums.—These must not be confounded with the Zonal Pelargoniums of gardens usually called Geraniums. The plants now under consideration are perfectly hardy, some natives of our own land, as G. sanguineum, G. pratense, the little Herb Robert (G. Robertianum), and others. A very beautiful kind is G. armenuin, which is also one of the most vigorous, and bearing in profusion, in summer, large deep rose purple flowers. This plant may be used in many ways, in the rougher parts of the garden where it spreads about freely, near woodland walks, and in the mixed border. One never tires of a plant so bushy, vigorous, and rich in colour. Another kind that may be planted freely in the wilder parts of the garden is G. platypelalum, the flowers of which are deep blue. A

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