IRISH GARDENING 



51 



tious. This is, however, a very big '' If," aud our 

 opportunities are severely limited. 



A lovely contrast is that of Oxalits eiineaphylla aud 

 Gentiana acauUs. The former can always be relied 

 on to bloom freely; the latter may bloom one year 

 and fail the next. Last year I was fortunate enough 

 to have the two in bloom at the same time, and the 

 effect was a joy. 



A good contrast to Sa.r. upijusitifolia can be gained 

 b^- a clump of S. apiculata alba, which, although it 

 comes into bloom earlier, yet lasts a long time and 

 will still be good when oppoaitifolia is at its best. 

 L'nder favourable circumstances S. hurseriana Gloria 

 gives a finer effect than apiculata alba, but it does 

 not stand rough weather very well and cannot be 

 relied on. 



A group of <S'. Cutijlcdon pyramidalis behind 

 I.itlwsperrnum prostiatum is a fine combination, or 

 Arenaria montanum may be placed alongside the 

 Lithospermum. 



Antirrhinufii asarina is not met with so often as 

 its merits entitle it to be. It is a beautiful plant 

 and a vigorous grower but does not survive the 

 winter very well. As, however, it sets seed very 

 freely which germinate well, there is no difficulty 

 in maintaining a stock, and a well grown plant in 

 bioom trailing down the face of a rock is a fitting 

 companion to Campanula nuiralis (bavarica), its 

 large creamy flowers making a brilliant contrast to 

 the purple bells of the latter. 



Asperula nitida, with moss-like foliage and pink 

 flowers, may be planted near to the small Campanula 

 garganica erinus. 



Other combinations and contrasts in foUage as 

 well as in colour of flower wall doubtless suggest 

 themselves to the observant gardener, and nothing 

 has been said about the fine effects produced by 

 the judicious grouping of Aubrietias, Alyssums and 

 Arabis in large flowing masses, as these things are 

 only for bold rock work in spacious places. 



The vast majority of Alpine plants are classed as 

 perennials: but perennial is a very relative term, 

 and the longevity of Alpines under cultivation is an 

 interesting and important question for all of us who 

 are trying to solve the secrets, or read the riddles 

 of growing them with more or less success. 



When looking at some rather good specimen of a 

 difficult and delicate plant the writer often asks, 

 mentally, " How long has it been there? " It is 

 an easy matter to have a fine show of, say Saxifraga 

 Boyd a and FaJdonside, by the simple expedient of 

 putting out plants in February or the beginning of 

 ]^rarch which have been wintered in a frame or a 

 cool house; but the rock garden is a place for grow- 

 ing Alpine plants in, year in and year out, and not 

 a place for bedding out for the flowering season. 



Individual experiences will vary, but by the colla- 

 tion of much experience we shall In time arrive at 

 a list of those plants w-hich, with ordinary care, will 

 jirove as truly perennial as the plants of tlie 

 herbaceous border. 



As a small contribution the following notes on 

 some of the plants in the writer's garden may not 

 be without interest. 



The majority of the encrusted or silver Saxifrages 

 can be dismissed in a sentence. They were planted 

 twelve years ago and increase year by year. 



Saxifraga oppoaiiijolia, which some authorities 

 tell us should be taken up, pulled in pieces and re- 

 planted every three years, has been in its present 

 quarters since 1911, and is no^v a mass nearly a 

 yard in length. It shows :no sign of going off and 

 this year was more vigorous than ever and a sheet 

 of bloom. 



In the Kabschia section 8. Elizabethse takes 

 preirder place. Planted in 1910, it is now a mass 

 of about eighteen inches square, has never been 

 lifted and blooms profusely every year. S. apiculata 

 runs it very closely; planted at the same time it 

 has also. made a large mass, but with a tendency 

 to rust in places. S. acardica obtusa, put out as a 

 small plant in 1910, made a large dome-shaped 

 cushion and was the picture of health and vigour 

 down to last winter, when it suddenly began to rust 

 rather badly, and will have to be taken up, and the 

 bits that are living potted. 



S. L, E. Godscff is another "vigorous doer and is 

 now eleven years old. 



8. viargiuata, 8. Rocheliana and S. coriophylla 

 increase and flourish for five or six years. After 

 that they are liable to turn brown in patches, and 



Courh'sy 0/1 ' ' \ni()LUS. [Ifusmll and Read 



( ip. ! t'lowerod Type 

 when this occurs it is best to lift thorn after flower- 

 ing and replant the good pieces. 



^S. PauUirv is entitled to rank with the long liven 



