102 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[^ April, 



tomenlosum, Prinmla veris (cowslip); Bollis per- 

 eniiis (English Daisy); double white daisy, and 

 B. Victoria. On dry spots use the Echeverias, 

 which, being natives of arid countries, will 

 thrive best if planted in some hot, parched 

 places, where anything else would fail. E. re- 

 tusa floribunda, inetallica, glauca, rosacea, se- 

 cunda splendens, seounda glauca, splendens and 

 atropurpurea; Koniga (var.) (variegated sweet 

 Alyssuni), in shaded spots Lysiniachia nuniniu- 

 laria, Linaria cyinbilaria; ^^yosotis palustris, 

 p. alba, M. senipcrllorens, M. dissitofolia ; 

 Nertera depressa, one of the most charming of 

 Alpine plants. The creeping, thread-like stems 

 are thrown out in great profusion until a tangled 

 mat is formed, which is covered with tiny dark 

 green leaves, forming a dense tuft, on which the 

 brilliant orange-scarlet berries rest, the rich fruit 

 forming a striking contra.st to the foliage. Nier- 

 embergia rivularis, another creeping beauty 

 with lovely white flowers; N. gracilis; Othon- 

 na crassifolia, of Sedum-like appearance, has 

 small, yellow, tassel-like flowers borne in great 

 profusion. Mikania violacea has striking foli- 

 age of a purplish-green color and velvet-like 

 appearance, with lining like crimson satin; a 

 charming plant, which roots freely. Micromeria 

 Dou'^lasii, mule pinks of various kinds. Mes- 

 ein! ryanthemums, which will endure the hottest 

 sun.shine, and grow in very shallow soil. M. cor- 

 difolium, M. cordifolium variegatum, M. glau- 

 cum, M. blandum, M. deltoidum, M. niti- 

 dum, are all valuable for such beds, and once 

 obtained, may be easily preserved during the 

 Winter for use the ensuing season. The Ana- 

 gallis is one of the most attractive of Alpine 

 plants, and both grandiflora, coerulea and san- 

 guinea will form lovely clumps. Calandrina 

 grandiflora and umbellata will cover hot places 

 with brilliant pink and crimson carpets, while 

 the Cerastiums and other silver-leaved plants 

 will form charming contrasts with Scypanthus 

 elegans, Tagetes signata pumila, Veronica Sy- 

 riaca and Euphorbia variegata. Fenzlia, Gram- 

 manthus gentianoides, Gysophila muralis and 

 pan icu lata. 



Of the Se(luin.s and Sempervivums, our lead- 

 ing florists have good selections, and the best 

 way is to procure the entire set for a specified 

 price. The plants I have named are many of 

 them not strictly Alpines, but of such character 

 as to mingle beautifully together, and by exam- 

 ining such catalogues as are published by our 

 most reliable florists and seedsmen, it will be 



discovered which nuiy be raised reathly from 

 seed and of which it is best to obtain plants. 



With these points carefully considered, the 

 most charming results will ensue from such 

 beds as I have here descril)cd; and there are 

 huniheds and hundreds of dwellings in and 

 around our cities, from the windows of which 

 such little Alpine Gardens would appear attract- 

 ive^and refreshing to an eminent degree. 



NOTES ON LITTLE KNOWN PLANTS. 



I5Y WM. S. CARPENTER, RYE, N. Y. 



I noticed in the December number of your 

 valuable magazine an inquiry in regard to that 

 beautiful conifera, Sciadopitj's verticillata. I 

 imported a specimen of it fifteen years ago, and 

 regret to say, after a struggle of some three or 

 four years with our uncongenial wintere, it 

 died, notwithstanding I had given it some pro- 

 tection. I have not htd the courage to try it 

 again. (You might venture again. — Ed.) I do 

 not think it should be recommended as hardy, 

 although it may succeed in some favored locali- 

 ties ; like many other beautiful evergreens that 

 1 have planted, which have been and are still 

 recommended as hardy. I regret that I could 

 not have saved some of the following, whifh 

 were well cared for, giving the most of them 

 some protection, but nearly all have dis- 

 appeared ; some did not survive the first winter, 

 others struggled on for a few years ; but all must 

 be rejected for the locality of Eastern New York. 

 Abies grandis, quite distinct from lasiocarpa, 

 Parsonsiana, or Lewi — the latter proves hardy^ 

 Abies bracteata, Abies canadensis compacta, 

 Abies Douglasii, Abies Morinda, Abies Pinsapo. 

 This last beautiful evergreen I have tried several 

 times, but shall have to give itjiip. Cedrus At- 

 lantica, Deodara, Africana and Libani, all tender. 

 Cephalotaxus drupracea, Fortuni and robusta — 

 all dead. Cryptomereas japonica, elegans, For- 

 tunii and nana — all beautiful, but not hardy. I 

 imported twelve varieties of Cupressus, not one 

 of them now alive. I found that by screening this 

 variety from the sun, through March, I could 

 preserve them. It is to be regretted this elegant 

 variety of conifera is not more reliable. C. McNa- 

 biana is perhaps the most hardy of the Cu- 

 pressus. Most of the pines that I have tried 

 prove hardy — the exceptions are, Australis, Tor- 

 ryana, maritima, insignis, and perhaps tubercu- 

 lata. Pinus Fremontiana, I regard as the hand- 



