126 ORNAMENTAL BRITISH PLANTS. 



well: — The cuttings from old plants strike freely in leaf mould and 

 silver sand, adding a small portion of loam. When the plants have 

 fairly rooted, I pot them off singly into three-inch pots ; and after tlie 

 first season's growth I remove the plants into six-inch pots, using two 

 parts loam, one part leaf-mould, one part rotten cow-dung, the other 

 part silver sand. In these pots they flower most abundantly lor several 

 years successively, without being repotted, only occasionally removing 

 the top soil, and supplying in its place a little well-decomposed cow- 

 dung. The plants are then placed in a cool frame, giving at all times 

 plenty of air, only just exclude tlie frost. They are extremely impa- 

 tient to heat, and during the summer the plants like to dwell in a 

 humid atmosphere, witli a slight shading, when the sun has great 

 power; this prevents the appearance of the red spider, to which the 

 plants are very much subjected. Some of the plants I have under my 

 care are about thirteen inches in height ; when they have attained 

 eighteen inches high it is my intention not to remove the runners from 

 the plants, but to encourage them to grow, and train to wires from the 

 extremity down to the rims of the pots. I imagine then the jilants 

 will form very interesting objects. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE MECONOPSIS CAMBRICUM, 

 AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL BRITISH PLANTS, 



SUITED FOR GROWING IN A ROCK GARDEN. 

 BY AMICUS. 



I HAVE taken in your nice little work, the Floricultural Cabinet, 

 from its commencement, and I find it furnishes me with much useful 

 assistance in managing my flower garden, being without a regularly 

 educated gardener. 



I am induced to write to you in consequence of your requesting to 

 hear from any one who has succeeded in cultivating the Meconopsis 

 Cambricum, as I have done so for the last ten or twelve years, and 

 with such success, that it has become rather a troublesome weed in a 

 rock garden, made in an old stone quarry. I originally gathered the 

 seed in North Wales ; but it now sows itself, in shady moist places, in 

 peat soil. I shall be glad to send you some seed in the autumn. — 

 [AVe shall esteem the favour. — Cond.] 



I have for some years collected as many of the ornamental British 

 plants as I have been able to grow in my rock garden ; and as I see 

 you are recommending the practice, I send a list of such as I iiave 

 succeeded in retaining ; and I have no doubt that, with more skill and 

 attention than I am able to give, the number might be considerably 

 increased. 



Alchemilla alpina. Lady's Mantle. 



arvensis, vulgaris. 



Alisma plantago. Water Plantain. 

 Althaea officinalis, Marsh Mallow. 

 Anemone appcnnine, Wind flower. 

 iiemorosa, Wind flower. 



