July 23, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIGULTUBB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



73 



esting upon the sides and crests of ramps or other elevated 

 positions. The Cerastiums are, of course, useful, and so are 

 Sempervivum oalifornicum, Sempervivum arachnoideum (the 

 pretty little Cobweb Houseleek), and another alpine Houseleek, 

 Sempervivum montanum. 



The bright blue flowers of the alpine Gentian, Gentiana 

 verna, are the first of its species that greet us in spring, but 

 they are quickly followed by those of our old favourite Gen- 

 tianella, Gentiana acaulis. Deepest and richest of blue flowers, 

 its dwarf compact rosettes yield them in most glorious pro- 

 fusion during April, May, and June. It cannot be induced to 

 do this in fall perfection for a year or two after it is planted, 

 and it is consequently more frequently grown in borders 

 or upon rockworii than in the flower garden. None of the 

 varieties of this genera appear to adapt themselves very readily 

 to new quarters, and I have repeatedly experienced this in 



transplanting the Marsh Gentian, Gentiana Pneumonanthe, 

 from its wild haunts. The double red, pink, and white 

 Daisies ; all the Hepaticas ; the self-coloured purple, blue, 

 white, and yellow Tnusies ; all the varieties of Primula vul- 

 garis, as Primula elatior — a bed of mixed kinds of elatior bus 

 a very brilliant appearance in April and May — the snowy- 

 white Arabis albida ; Alyssum saxatile compactum, of dwarf aud 

 compact growth, with bright yellow flowers ; the brilliant little 

 Adonis vernalis, having very large and striking yellow flowers ; 

 the fine old favourite Viola cornuta, so easily increased for the 

 spring beds by cuttings taken in July ; the pretty rose-coloured 

 Phlox subulata, or frondosa as it is sometimes termed, and its 

 white variety alba or Nelsoni, both charming little plauts that 

 are densely covered with bloom in April and May ; Litbosper- 

 mum proatratum, with its dense rich clusters of lovely blue 

 flowers ; and the fine old Omphalodes verna, with its brilliant 



Fig. 23.— Design for a circular bed on turf. 



No. 1. 



1. Pink Daisy (double). Pink. 



2. Ajuga reptans rubra. Deep crimson. 



3. Santolina iocana. Grey. 



4. Viola comuta. Palo blue. 



5. Arabia albida. White. 



No. 2. 



1. Saponaria calabrica. Pink. 



2. Arabis lucida variegata. Yellow. 



3. Sempervivum califomicum. Green and black. The BcroU to be 



slightly elevated. 



4. Kich purple Pansy (Cliveden Perpetual). Purple. 



5. Cheiranthus Marshallii. Clear yellow. 



spikes of deep blue nestling so prettily among the dark green 

 foliage, are all worthy of attention, and are easily cultivated, 

 the annual stock of most of them being obtained by division 

 or cuttings taken immediately after the flowers fade. 



It sufficient space can be obtained for nursery beds behind a 

 north wall, it is preferable to a situation that is fully exposed 

 to the midday sun, whose burning rays try the young offsets 

 so severely before they are well established, that shading 

 should be promptly applied when necessary. Onee fairly 



No. 3. 



1. Viola Lothair. Indigo blue. 



2. Double red Daisy. Ited. 



3. Arabis albida variegata. Pale yellow. 



4. Silene pendula. Pink. 



5. Myosotis sylvatica alba. "White. 



No. 4. — Bulbs. 



1. Scilla Bibirica. Deep blue. 



2. David Rizzio Crocus. Purple. 



3. Cloth of Gold Crocus. Yellow. 



4. Tulip Rose Gris de Lin. Rose tinged with white. 



5. Mixed clump of Hyacinths. 



started, due attention to weeding and watering is all that is 

 necessary till the plants are required for the beds in autumn. 

 There is one rule in reference to the soil of such great import- 

 ance that I do not hesitate to repeat it here. It is never to 

 put spring-flowering plants of any description in soil that is 

 of a close, adhesive, heavy texture, or that is likely to become 

 waterlogged. Make the soil tolerably light, rich, and yet some- 

 what firm, with abundance of gritty matter; drain it tho- 

 roughly, elevate it well above the surroonding level, and it 



