EASILY GROWN ROCK PLANTS 7 
a soft pea-green on the surface. They may be grown in 
total shade, but will thrive in sun so long as provided 
with plenty of moisture. Where it is desired to emphasize 
certain colour effects, a background or setting of Alchemilla 
foliage may be relied upon to achieve that purpose. 
AtyssuM.—There are at least a score species and 
varieties of perennial Alyssums, some of which, at any rate, 
should find their way wherever alpine plants are grown. 
Alyssum saxatile, and its improved variety compactum, 
must be voted worthy of inclusion in the best dozen plants 
for the rockery, whilst for beds without stones few plants 
can yield as much colour in a given space as a good patch 
of two year old Alyssum saxatile. A dry bank, a patch 
of gravelly or chalky soil, a wind-swept corner, or anywhere 
except a very wet, ill-drained position, will suit the plant, 
and its shaggy mass of golden yellow flowers will compel 
attention and admiration throughout spring and early 
summer. Even when out of bloom the grey-green foliage 
is beautiful. There is a good double flowered variety, 
and a pale lemon one named citrinum. The double one 
is best propagated by cuttings, but the others are very 
easily raised from seed, and if sown as soon as ripe the 
plants will bloom the following spring, but will be far more 
prolific the second and following years. Several other 
species of Alyssum, although quite tiny and perhaps 
meagre so far as flowers are concerned, are very effective 
by reason of the glistening whiteness of their foliage, which, 
by the way, is always whiter if the roots run among lime 
or chalk. A. alpestre, condensatum, and meellendorfi- 
anum are three of these white-foliaged, yellow-flowered 
