FIFTY BEST ROCK PLANTS 317 



An excellent contrast to the Lithospermum is 

 Arenaria montana, which has large white flowers. 

 But care must be taken that the Arenaria does not 

 smother the Lithospermum, as it grows at a great 

 pace. It will thrive anywhere except in deep shade or 

 a bog, and few rock plants are more beautiful. It can 

 be raised from seed almost as easily as mustard, or 

 any shoot will root quickly. It is equally beautiful 

 mixed with Saponaria ocymoides, another rampant 

 plant, also of the Pink family, and with bright pink 

 blossoms. This also should be raised from seed, and 

 cut back whenever it gets leggy. A small shrub of 

 the highest beauty and value is Daphne cneorum, 

 especially the finer variety of it called majus. This, 

 like the Lithospermum, has certain definite wants. 

 It thrives best among rocks and in the same kind of 

 soil as the Lithospermum. It must not have either 

 too dry or too damp a place, but may be grown either 

 on the south or the north side of a sunny open rock 

 garden. There is some dispute as to whether it likes 

 lime, but it will certainly thrive without it. It is 

 difficult to increase except by layers, and these take 

 some time to root. Whenever the shoots grow leggy 

 they should be layered, and then the plant will spread 

 and increase in vigour. It is beautiful at all times 

 of the year, but the beauty and scent of its pink blos- 

 soms are incomparable. It has the reputation of 

 being capricious; but this is probably because it dis- 

 likes disturbance, bad drainage, sour soil, and an ex- 

 posed position. It should not be planted anywhere 



