II4 ALPINE PLANTS 
sections, and it has rather been my endeavour to group 
in the preceding chapter plants of somewhat strong or 
rampant growth that may be planted anywhere without 
fear of their overwhelming and damaging plants of smaller 
and slower growth. Therefore in this chapter quite a num- 
ber of plants are included which, although slow of growth, 
are not of fragile or delicate constitution. In families 
like Campanula, Saxifraga, Primula, etc., both rampant 
and restricted or diminutive kinds are met with. It is 
a fairly safe rule to plant the stronger growers in colonies 
by themselves, and to group the smaller ones apart from 
anything of a creeping or spreading character. 
ACANTHOLIMON GLUMACEUM.—Known as Prickly Thrift, 
this plant makes compact little cushions of stiff awl- 
shaped leaves. Given a high and dry position where it 
gets well baked, the plant produces a fine show of rosy 
pink flowers during midsummer. This is one of the plants 
that should have a mulching of sandy soil in winter or 
early spring, as it is inclined to become leggy and naked 
if this little attention is lacking. 
ACHILLEA.—This genus contains many useful and 
deservedly popular plants, several of which are highly 
esteemed as being particularly good for cutting, but there 
are approaching a score of European and Asiatic species 
or garden forms and varieties of them which are of dwarf 
compact habit, and have elegantly cut or otherwise orna- 
mental foliage. These are capital plants for rock-work, 
or for the margins of beds or borders planted with larger 
hardy plants. Of white-flowered kinds both A. ageratum 
and ageratifolia have also silvery white foliage, and A. 
