THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 81 



plants, and may be placed at the back or in the centre of a mound ; 

 there are several very beautiful varieties, and they last a long while 

 in flower. Then we have the Saxifrages, which are all good ; the best 

 perhaps are S. oppositifolia, 8. Stansfieldii, S. Andrewsii, S. hypnoides, 

 and S. pyramidalis. Besides these, there are scores of others to be 

 found in the best collections. Another very charming tribe of 

 plants for this purpose is the Sedum. From amongst these I should 

 choose S. fabaria, S. Sieboldii, S. Ewersii, and 8. semperviviodes. 

 Besides these we have the Iberis, or perpetual candytuft, the 

 Alhjsums, white and yellow ; Aubrietia purpurea, and that little gem 

 of all gems Aubrietia purpurea varieyata, a charming subject for 

 this work. So also is Arabis albida, and A. albida varieyata. If 

 more are needed, Ave have only to look amongst the herbaceous 

 plants, and we shall find Cyclamen hederifolium, and C. Europeum ; 

 Hepaticas in different colours, AnthylUs montana, many of the small 

 growing Campanulas, the Forget-me-nots, one or t.vo of the dwarf 

 varieties of PLellehorus and Cerastiums. All the above, except the 

 little variegated Aubrietia, will do in the soil above-named. 



For the last named, and for those which follow, the soil should 

 consist of equal parts leaf-soil and fibrous peat. I shall now name 

 some choice bits which will require a little more care and attention, 

 but the reader will find they are highly deserving of it. 



First on this list I shall name the little dwarf Phloxes, such 

 as alpinus, ovatus, setaceus, subulata, and verna ; the Dianthus alpinus, 

 Thymus Corsica, Linaria alpina, Silene alpestris. Let us not forget 

 the alpine section of Primulas, so well adapted, as they are for 

 an alpine and rock garden, and never seen to better advantage than 

 when peeping up between stones or rugged debris. The best are 

 P. nivalis, P. maryinata, P. ciliata, P. farinosa, and P. cortusoides. 

 I should choose next Erica herbacea, E. camea, and several others of 

 the dwarf hardy heaths. Lastly, I must not forget that most beautiful 

 of all alpine plants, the Lithospermum fruticosum. The dark, almost 

 heavenly blue of this charming plant surpasses all but the Gentians in 

 colour. All who have a collection of alpine plants must have this 

 and the equally lovely Gentians, or they will miss two of the best 

 classes of plants amongst the many that are adapted for the rockery. 



As to the manner and season of planting these subjects, the 

 end of March or the beginning of April are the best. When planting- 

 use enough soil to sustain the plant when in its full vigour. It 

 will require some amount of taste and judgment to display them 

 properly, but the character of each will soon show itself. At least 

 it will do so the first year ; when, if any of them are out of place, 

 they may be removed in the autumn, so as to make all right for the 

 next season. It is a good plan after they are planted, to place a 

 few small pebbles or small stones round the collar (or, as we may 

 say, underneath the plant), of such as are the more succulent. But 

 hard-wooded plants will not require it. Slugs are great enemies to 

 some of these plants when the young growth is springing up. The 

 best way to deal with them is to lift up the branches of the plants, 

 and scatter beneath them a dusting of soot and lime, just enough to 

 cover the ground. It is best to do this at least three or four times 



VOL. IV. — NO. III. 6 



