312 THE GARDENER. [July 



Rock-Cresses of the Albida type, are characteristic of these little plants, 

 but in miniature only, the plants being less vigorous and bold, and 

 when managed well in a congenial situation and soil they become 

 most beautiful objects. They are best adapted for culture on rock- 

 work, their low carpet-like growth being invaluable for that kind of 

 ornamentation. They succeed in all light loams freely in any situation, 

 but very indifferently, and often fail entirely, in heavy wet soils. In 

 beds and borders, in soils of the unfavourable kinds, it should be 

 raised above the surface-level by some means, so as to secure that com- 

 parative dryness and freedom from stagnation it likes so well. A 

 very good plan, in heavy loam and clay, is to make a pit to the extent 

 the plant is designed to occupy, and about half the depth of a spade, 

 filling in with stones, brick-rubbish, or rough charcoal to the surface 

 level, finishing up with a mound of good loam and leaf-mould on the 

 top of the drainage, about 6 inches deep, on which to plant. The 

 better forms of these plants are worth any amount of trouble that may 

 be necessary to secure their wellbeing, and those who succeed will 

 not regret any tax that may have been temporarily laid upon them, 

 when they come to enjoy the rich beauty they so freely and contin- 

 uously yield at a period of the year when flowers in profusion are 

 comparatively rare. Their brilliant dense masses of flowers are being 

 turned to excellent account in spring bedding, or massing of flower- 

 gardens. Propagation may be effected by cuttings in early summer 

 in a shady place, by division in autumn or early winter, and by seeds 

 sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame or under a hand-glass, the plants 

 to be pricked carefully off into rich light soil as soon as they can be 

 handled. 



A. Campbellice, Campbell's A. — This is comparatively a new form, 

 and is probably of garden origin. It ^is the most brilliant of the 

 group, forming dense carpet-like patches of pale-green foliage, which 

 is profusely covered with comparatively large light violet-purple flowers 

 from March till June. 



A. delta idea, syn. Farsetia dettoidea. — This is an old inhabitant of 

 gardens, and though decidedly inferior in showy qualities to the pre- 

 ceding and other varieties, is no mean plant in its season. It is less 

 luxuriant than Campbell's A., and the flowers are smaller and pale 

 purplish blue, but very abundant, appearing about the same time. 

 The varieties A. d. grandiflora and A. d. graeca are distinguished only 

 by greater size and brilliancy of colouring, and are simply more valu- 

 able where these qualities are essential in the highest degree. They 

 are all valuable plants for town gardens, for, except that their natural 

 brightness does not appear to the greatest advantage in a smoky 

 atmosphere and amid smutty surroundings, there are few Alpine plants 



