CHAPTER XI. 

 WHAT TO GROW IN ROCK-GARDENS. 



IN the course of a somewhat lengthy letter a friend who 

 had just built a rock-garden once wrote to me " I have 

 been to see the noted rock-gardens one hears so much about, 

 but I am more bewildered by them than you can think. 

 They contain thousands of sorts of plants. I go and look 

 at them. I wonder ' Will this suit me ? ' 'Is this hard 

 to grow ? ' and I come away baffled. What shall I grow ? 

 How many of these are suitable ? " 



This is the case with many beginners. The advice 

 given "to go and study the rock-plants in a big 

 rock-garden " is good enough, but it is apt to lead to 

 confusion. It is only possible in the space at my disposal 

 to refer to some of the subjects most deserving of attention. 



Acantholimon Glumaceum : This is a pretty little plant 

 for a sunny position in the rock-garden. Its rose flowers 

 are given from July to September. Height about 6 ins. 



Achillea : This spreads rather rapidly and should not 

 be put near very choice things. It does well in any good 

 soil, and can be planted in the autumn or the spring. It 

 can also be raised from seeds sown in the spring. 



Good Varieties. 

 Achillea 



argentea (white), July-Sept. > . 6 ins. 

 rupestris (white), June . . . . *. 4 ins. 



/Ethionema : There are several good sorts of this, and 

 they are all pretty rock-plants. They are not hard to grow 

 provided they are given a rather poor sandy soil. They 



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