CHAPTER XVI 



FOURTH WEEK IN APRIL 



THE rock border is now very gay with hanging, snowy 

 masses of Arabis albida, purple aubrietia, too, wall- 

 flowers in many rich shades of colour, anemones, 

 tulips, and the gold-dust plant (Alyssum saxatile), con- 

 trasting delightfully with the purple as it mingles with the 

 aubrietia. The new double-flowered variety of arabis is a 

 great improvement on the original single blossom, but it 

 opens its blooms a few weeks later than that flower, so that 

 both may be grown with advantage, for we should not like 

 to miss the first promise of bloom, which shows on the 

 original arabis in February sometimes. Both are easy 

 plants to grow, and can be increased by cuttings or division 

 of the roots, but, when once established, they should not be 

 much interfered with if long trailing masses of blossom are 

 required. Aubrietia (the purple rock cress) is another 

 member of the cruciferae which should be in every garden ; 

 it is easily raised from seed in slight warmth, and the seed- 

 lings should be pricked off into boxes of light soil whilst 

 quite small, planting them out in October ; and alyssum is 

 grown in the same way. Cuttings of arabis and aubrietia 

 should be taken directly after flowering, placing them in 

 light sandy soil, in a cold frame or under a hand-glass. 



Amongst the permanent plants in the rock border, the 

 intense blue of Gentiana acaulis (gentianella) is conspicuous, 

 a plant which should not be unnecessarily disturbed when 

 once established (for it is decidedly capricious), but requires 

 a slight mulch of rich soil each year in spring to do well, 

 The brilliant scarlet of Anemone fulgens, too, is noticeable, 



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