208 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



[PART II. 



stone in peaty loam, but is of slow growth, 

 and it takes some years to form a good 

 tuft. It seems to thrive in very stony 

 and peaty earth, with abundance of white 

 sand, and should be planted in a well- 

 drained but not a dry position. 



Daphne striata (Striated Garland 

 Flower). A sweet-scented hardy trailing 

 species. It forms dense, twiggy, spreading 

 masses, 1 foot to 3 feet across, which, in June 

 and July, are covered with rosy-purpled, 

 scented flowers in clusters. The trailing 

 and spreading habit of this plant recom- 

 mends it for covering bare spots. France. 



DARLINGTONIA CALIFORNIA 



(Californian Pitcher-plant^). A most 

 singular plant, resembling the North 

 American pitcher-plants, but distinct ; 

 the leaves, which rise to a height of 

 2 feet or more, are hollow, and form 

 a curiously shaped hood, from which 

 hang two ribbon-like appendages, the 

 hood often a crimson-red, and the 

 flowers are almost as curious. Found 

 to grow in our climate, if care be taken 

 with it, and it would be difficult to 

 name a more interesting .plant for a 

 hog garden. It is less trouble out of 

 doors than under glass ; indeed, it 

 only requires a moderately wet bog 

 in a light spongy soil of fibrous 

 peat and chopped Sphagnum Moss. 

 Place by the side of a stream, in 

 any moist place, the plants fully ex- 

 posed to direct sunlight, but sheltered 

 from the cold winds of early spring 

 when they are throwing up their young 

 leaves. They require frequent water- 

 ing in dry seasons, unless they are in 

 a naturally wet spot. When they 

 become large they develop side shoots, 

 which, taken off and potted, soon make 

 good plants. The plant is also raised 

 from seed, but this requires several 

 years. I found it on the Californian 

 Sierras about little springs on the hills 

 thickly tufted among the common 

 Rush. 



DENTARIA (Toothwort\ Pretty 

 and interesting perennials of the Stock 

 family, of which there are some half a 

 dozen species in cultivation, all worth 

 growing in half-shaded positions in 

 peat beds among rock shrubs. They 

 grow best in a light sandy soil, well 

 enriched by decayed leaf-mould, or in 

 soil of a peaty nature. Their flowers 

 are welcome in the early days of 

 spring, and remain in beauty for some 

 time. They are of easy propagation 

 by the small tuber-like roots. Some, 

 such as D. bulbifera, bear bulblets on 

 the stem, and from these the plant 

 may be increased. The species are 

 D. bulbifera, 1 foot to 2 feet high. 

 Flowers in spring; purple, sometimes 

 nearly white, rather large, produced 

 in a raceme at the top of the stem. 

 D. digitata, a handsome dwarf kind, 

 about 12 inches high, flowering in 

 April; rich purple, in flat racemes 

 at the top of the stem. A native of 

 Europe. D. diphylla is a pretty plant, 

 growing from 6 inches to 12 inches 

 high, and bearing but two leaves. 

 The flowers are purple, sometimes 

 white, and occasionally yellowish. 

 Woods in North America. D. ennea- 

 pliylla is about 1 foot high; flowers 

 creamy white, produced in clusters in 

 April and June. A pretty plant for 

 a shady border. Mountain woods in 

 Central Europe. D. maxima is the 

 largest of all the species, growing 2 

 feet high. Flowers pale purple in 

 many flower-heads. N. America. D. 

 pinnata is a stout species, at once 

 distinguished by its pinnate leaves ; 

 14 inches to 20 inches high ; flower- 

 ing from April to June ; large, pale 

 purple, lilac, or white, in a terminal 

 cluster. Switzerland, in mountain 

 and sub-alpine woods. D. polypliylla, 

 similar to D. enneaphylla, is about 

 1 foot high, with flowers in clusters, 



