A COLLECTING DAY ABOVE AROLLA 93 
Some of them don’t even bear commending, either. A 
few years ago I got seed of an Androsace called mac- 
rantha. I bought it because the name sounded so allur- 
ing. A big-flowered Androsace, bless me, what a joy! 
Who would have suspected a trap? But up came the 
seed, so thick that I at once smelled out a disappoint- 
ment; it is only weeds that germinate so eagerly. The 
seedlings grew like Jonah’s gourd, and then appeared the 
spikes that were to bear the eponymous big flowers. 
Well, that plant bore the smallest flowers I have ever 
seen, and in the most enormous calyces. Beware, then, of 
Androsace macrantha, all ye that have Greek! And as 
for that rarest of Italian new-comers, 4ndrosace Mathildae, 
I have not yet tried it, feeling a presentiment that it 
belongs to the not too easily distinguishable cousinhood 
of A. wulfeniana and A. ciliata. 
As for propagating ; the high Alpines may, with great 
care, be raised from cuttings struck in moist silver sand, 
duly shaded. All the sarmentosa group may be pulled 
to pieces at pleasure, and every piece will grow ;—a little 
more care, please, with villosa and arachnoidea. Most 
of the others can be divided with ease, and Jactea, 
with the annuals, of course, comes profusely from seed. 
Raising the rest from seed is hopeless unless the seed be 
fresh, and, even so, is doubtful, slow work, though 
ultimately, perhaps, a gain. 
