1884.] THE ROCK GARDEN. 13. 



where they suffer more from drought — if water be not applied 

 regularly— than they would do when their roots are in their natural 

 position. Give always as much water as will saturate the soil quite' 

 down to the roots, and this does not require to be done so frequently. 

 If watering is neglected in dry weather, no real Alpine plants cau' 

 be expected to thrive long. 



This matter of watering in dry weather, taken in connection with 

 the proper making of the rockery, so as to secure good drainage, 

 constitute essentiall}' the wliole matter in the growing of Alpine 

 plants successfully. We now come to the best method of planting. 

 One good rule — and it should be carefully attended to — is, never 

 plant strong-growing and spreading plants in the same bed with 

 small, rare, and delicate species, as the one is sure to outgrow and 

 choke the others. Nothing kills an Alpine plant so soon as being 

 shaded or overgrown by its next neighbour. I thus generally 

 devote one section of the r<ick work entirely to the cultivation of 

 very small growing plants. The edges, however, of these beds may 

 be planted with dense-growing or overhanging plants, such as Sa3:i- 

 fi'o/ja oppositifolia, Silene acaulis, Hypericum, reptaiis, or plants of a 

 similar habit, so that they may hang down to the walks, and cover 

 partially the stones supporting the outside edge of the bed, care 

 being taken not to let them encroach into the divisions where the 

 smaller plants are growing. Alpine plants on their native moun- 

 tains are free from this danger, as no very strong-growing species 

 occur at the great elevation where the true Alpine plants are found. 



Some particular plants like shade, such as the Cyclamens, 

 Primulas, etc., and should l.>e planted on the parts suitable for them ; 

 others, again, like to grow in the full sun, such as the Gentians, 

 Androsaces, etc. ; these, again, .should be suited according to their 

 requirements. 



SI'KING PLANTS. 



The largest of tlie snowdrops flowered is a variety of Galanthus 

 nivalis, called Mclvillei, raised from seed by Mr. Melville, Dunrobin ; 

 whilst the finest is G. Elwcssci, which has much darker green mark- 

 ings inside the flower than the former. G. 2Jliccttus, the Crimean, 

 snowdrop, with its Ijroad reHexed leaves, is also worthy of a place. 



Spring crocuses are also abundant. The finest I have are Crocus 

 Tinperati and C. Seihcri, both easily grown and free flowering 

 plants. Iris reticulata is a lovely spring bulb, along with its variety 

 /. krcdagi, which flowers a fortnight earlier than the type. They 

 are both desirable plants, and easily grown in light soil. Scillas aie 

 very showy, from the bright blue colour of the flowers. And the 

 Chceonodoxai , recently introduced by Jlr. Man, are even more so 



