ANDROSACE. THE EtiGLlSti FLOWER GAkDEti. ANDROSACE. 



33$ 



below is thoroughly moistened, ordin- 

 ary drought has little effect. 



A few kinds such as A. lanuginosa 

 and sarmentosa do well in ordinary 

 conditions of soil ; but many of the 

 dwarf kinds rarely thrive except in 

 northern or hilly districts. When out 

 of flower, it is easy to forget such tiny 

 plants, so that they may suffer neglect 

 while making the summer growth. A 

 constant watch is needed for aphis, 

 slugs, and red spider. Towards 

 autumn syringing them with clear 

 water does good, and a surface-dressing 

 of soil and stone-chips helps before 

 winter, and should be renewed in 

 spring, if need be, when all planting 

 should also be done. When this top- 



ward to the Pyrenees, where four others 

 occur peculiar to that country. A 

 large group belongs to the Himalayas, 

 and reaches thence to China. They 

 may be divided into two groups ; one 

 including such easily grown kinds as A . 

 lanuginosa, and a second group forming 

 stemless tufts, and found only in rocky 

 clefts. The following list gives the 

 best kinds in cultivation and of value 

 for the rock garden : 



A. ALBANA. One of the mossy kinds, 

 forming small rosettes of deeply-toothed 

 oval leaves and dense heads of pale pink 

 flowers from April to July. 



A. ALPINA. A gem for the rock garden, 

 not easily grown. Its tiny tongue-shaped 

 leaves are in crowded rosettes, forming 



Androsacc sarmentosa (engraved from a group on rock garden at Friar Park). 



dressing is well done, fresh roots are 

 often made from the underside of the 

 prostrate stems, and this is a great 

 gain. The woolly-haired kinds, which 

 often fail from damp in our winters, 

 should be planted in the crevices of 

 upright rocks, or under ledges. The 

 rocks among which they are planted 

 should be well sunk in the ground with 

 thin layers of good soil and broken 

 stone between them ; the roots delight 

 in the layer of moist earth just under 

 stones. Most kinds thrive in full sun, 

 the best aspects being south and west. 

 Over forty species are known, and 

 others may be found when the moun- 

 tains of India, Thibet, and China are 

 fully explored. About twenty kinds 

 are found in the Alps, some extending 

 eastward by way of Austria, or south- 



cushions of 2 or 3 inches high, covered in 

 June with flowers one from each rosette 

 rosy-purple with a yellow centre. It 

 needs peat soil, moisture at the root, and 

 a rather shady spot. Syn. A . ciliata, 



A. BRIGANTIACA. Apretty plant thriving 

 only in sandy or granite soils and upon 

 slopes shaded from strong sun. It comes 

 very near A . carnea, but with leaves of 

 deeper green, and pure white flowers. 



A. CARNEA. One of the best kinds, early 

 in flower, free, and easily grown in light 

 soils without lime. It does not form 

 rosettes, but little spreading shoots covered 

 with narrow-pointed leaves of grey-green, 

 and heads of rosy or pink flowers with a 

 yellow eye. Water freely in dry weather, 

 and shelter from the sun in summer. Alps 

 and Pyrenees. Seeds sown as soon as 

 ripe. 



A. CARNEA var. EXIMIA. A form of the 

 last, hardier, more robust, and with larger 



