GENTIANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18998, 20 October 1923, Page 3

GENTIANS.

In some interesting notes from an English west country garden a correspondent of The Garden devotes some attention to various species of the gentian family Most of us are familiar with the intense blue flowers of the gentian freely cultivated in this part of the world, and there is ne more , attractive sight than a good patch of the plant in a rockery when the sun’s rays arc directly on the flowers, bringing out their splendid depth of colour. The description given by The Garden’s correspondent of several of the species will no doubt interest our readers, and we transcribe portions of his article. Gentian soptemfida, is described as both reliable and extremely showy. With a good bed of this fine gentian a gorgeous display of blue may be counted upon for live dr six weeks every year without the plants receiving any attention beyond a spring top-dressing of leaf-mould and loam. The trailing form of the same thing, known as G. Lagodee-hiana, is no loss beautiful, if not, quite so free and robust. Like ihn type it is a clear, yet bold, azure, and the prostrate, leafy stems with their upturned blossoms are extremely elegant. The magnificent G. Farrevi is not so satisfied with us as the foregoing, though it has a reputation for good temper with so many; but - with this, as with many other plants, it is probably a matter of finding the right spot —for it is indisputable ‘that there are a number of plants which, no mutter how much patience is bestowed upon them, refuse to be comforted in some gardens until they am put into a place which is to their liking. Soil, aspect, and treatment may appear to be identical in all spots, yet they will flourish in one and sulk in another? Geniiana Pneumotuinlhe, the Marsh Gentian or Calathian Violet, also opens its flowers in August (January in New Zealand). The form we have here is one collected from a West Country hog, and though the flowers—sapphire and emerald Harebells with green stripes—arc like that of other types I have seen, they are borne singly, one on each stem, the latter being imbraiiched