Plate 379. 



ir.KKis c.\i;\'()s\. 



Among the signs of a more healthy state of feeling on the 

 subject of h( rticulture, which we have noticed during the past 

 year, has been the increased taste for hardy perennials and alpine 

 plants; and we are glad to find that they are receiving from 

 our leading societies the attention which they deserve, but 

 which has been so much directed of late years to the more 

 vulgar but show) style of gardening. There is certainly no firm 

 m England which has devoted more attention to these most 

 desirable plants than the well-known one of Messrs. Backhouse 

 and Son, of York, to whom we are indebted tor the opportunity 

 of figuring the charming little gem Tberis carnosa. 



Alpine plants may be grown successfully in pots with the soil 

 suitable for them, although they unquestionably thrive best on 

 rockwork, naturally enough, as being more in accordance with 

 their native habitat; but in whatever waj grown, there are 

 some few points necessary to be home in mind in order to 

 ensure their successful^cultivation. " Rapid and perfect drainage 

 combined with an equally vapid and continuous supply of water 

 is essential to thoroughly healthy development ;" and as the 

 plants, generally speaking, especially those from the higher 

 mountain-ranges, are generally exposed to high winds and a 

 dear atmosphere, it is recommended not to place them in the 

 shade in summer for the sake of coolness, the soft and humid 

 atmosphere of such situations being most injurious to their 

 development. Again, it is. we are told, a mistake to Mipposc 

 that because a plant is small, therefore it does not require 

 deep soil, and as instance of this it is stated that " Gentiana 

 verna, a verj small plant, requires foi its full development 

 eighteen inches depth at least of rich fibrous loam, interspersed 



