APRIL NOTES IN THE GARDEN 71 



of the April Tulips; but these are now lengthening 

 rapidly with the rain, and everything promises well, 

 if only we can now have some sunshine to warm the 

 sodden ground. The winter was unusually trying for 

 delicate plants, since the warmth of the earlier months 

 forced them into growth, and then, when they had 

 forgotten that there was such a thing as winter, there 

 came a bitter spell in February, with not only frost, 

 but cutting north-east winds. These do more harm 

 than the frosts themselves, particularly to shrubs 

 that are not quite hardy, and even to shrubs that will 

 endure any amount of frost at the roots. Of twelve 

 plants of Lithospermum prostratum, planted on the 

 north-western slope of a rock garden, seven that were 

 sheltered by rocks from the north-east wind are scath- 

 less; the other five, unsheltered, had nearly all their 

 branches killed and are now only just beginning to 

 sprout from the stock. The shelter was only slight, a 

 rock rising a few inches above the soil, on the north- 

 east side of the plants, but it was sufficient to protect 

 them, and they will be covered with blossom in a few 

 weeks, while the others will take months to recover. 

 Thus it is that the gardener learns hard lessons from 

 adversity. Lithospermum prostratum is often said 

 to be a capricious plant. What it needs is protection 

 from north-east winds, rocks to keep its roots cool if it 

 is in a hot soil or situation, and a light rich soil quite 

 free from lime. Then it will flourish and prove itself 

 to be the finest of all rock plants. 



The rock garden is already full of things to see. 



