PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



175 



than the American, and in the vast 

 and not yet explored regions, there 

 may be gems for the rock-garden. 



The dwarf habit of these Hima- 

 layan Daisies makes them valuable 

 for the rock-garden. They are all 

 found in the temperate regions of 

 the Himalayas, a few at high eleva- 

 tions, and are hardy. 



Aster stracheyi. A pretty plant, more 

 or less hairy, and rarely more than 1 

 inch to 3 inches or 4 inches in height. 

 The flowers are about the size of those of 

 the Michaelmas Daisy, the involucre 

 bracts few, scarcely overlapping, all 

 about one length, and usually narrow 

 and pointed. Native of the Western 



Aster stracheyi. 



Alpine Himalayas, Kumaon, at 13,000 

 feet elevation, flowering with us in early 

 summer. It is hardy in the open air, 

 and forms a charming rock-garden plant, 

 thriving best in half-shady spots. 



A. alpinus (Alpine Starwort). This 

 might be called the blue Daisy of the 

 Alps, so diminutive is it when met with 

 high up or even in rich green alpine 

 meadows. In a wild state it does not 

 form the sturdy tufts which it does in 

 gardens, and, like the wild Orange Lily, 

 is more beautiful when isolated in the 

 grass. The flower is of a pale blue, with 

 an orange-yellow eye, 2 inches across on 

 plants cultivated in gardens, smaller in 



a wild state. It forms tufts 8 to 10 

 inches high, slightly downy, and some- 

 times velvety. There is a white variety. 

 Easily multiplied by division, thrives 

 well in any sandy soil, and begins to 

 flower in early summer. 



Of the very large Aster family there 

 are few dwarf enough for our purpose, 

 one of the best being that known as 

 versicolor, which, as it is somewhat pros- 

 trate, might be planted with good effect 

 on the lower parts of the rock-garden. 

 A. altaicus is also a dwarf species, with 

 mauve-coloured flowers, and A. Eeevesii 

 is a dwarf kind. 



ASTRAGALUS (Milk-Vetch).-Per- 

 ennial and alpine plants of the Pea 

 flower order, the species numerous, 

 but, so far as is now known, not very 

 important for the rock-garden. The 

 Tragacanth plant (A. Tragacanthd) 

 forms a dwarf grey bush, and is 

 hardy, and may be grown even in 

 towns, but it is not attractive in 

 flower. Some are natives of Britain. 



Astragalus hypoglottis (Purple Milk- 

 Vetch). A dwarf, prostrate perennial, and 

 large heads of bluish-purple flowers. In 

 Britain it is found chiefly on the eastern 

 side of the island from Essex and Herts 

 to Aberdeen, and on dry, gravelly, and 

 chalky pastures. It is pretty on level 

 spots, and should always be associated 

 with very dwarf subjects ; and though 

 it is not particular as to soil, it will be 

 found to thrive best in open, well-drained, 

 sandy loam, or in chalky soil. A variety 

 has paper-white heads of flowers sitting 

 close upon the dwarf carpet formed by 

 the leaves. It looks showy for such a 

 dwarf white plant, and the flowers look 

 singular from contrast with the short 

 sooty or black hairs. It is so distinct 

 from any other cultivated alpine plant 

 in flower about the same period, that it 

 would be wise to form a little carpet of 

 five or six plants of it in some level spot, 

 as it is not at all difficult to grow. 



A. Monspessulanus (Montpellier Milk- 

 Vetch). A vigorous kind, with leaves a 

 span long, the leaflets smooth on the 

 upper surface, and with short whitish 



