FART II] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



275 



great majority of these are natives 

 to the mountains of North America. 

 The alpine kinds are brilliant in colour 

 and as easily cultivated as any plants 

 can be for the rock-garden ; for which 

 no more precious plants have ever 

 been introduced, and they are easily 

 grown on " dry " walls and as edging 

 plants. Coming from a cold northern 

 country like ours, they rival the spring 

 flowers of Europe in brilliancy and 

 fine colour and abundance of their 

 flowers, and help to add a fresh glory 

 to the spring. All thoughts 

 of special soils or fancies may be 

 given up in their case, as they grow 

 like native plants in ordinary soil, 

 and are easily increased by pulling 

 to pieces. Some, perhaps not a few, 

 kinds are not yet introduced, and 

 this is a pity, as nearly every moun- 

 tain Phlox we know is beautiful and 

 free under cultivation. 



The mountain Phloxes are so 

 closely allied that general cultural 

 remarks may suffice. Well-drained 

 ordinary garden soil and sunny 

 exposure are essential. Though 

 hardy, the damp of mild winters is 

 hurtful to some kinds in low-lying 

 places, and as the plants do not seed 

 freely, they must be increased by 

 cuttings. A sharp knife and a careful 

 hand will soon remove the two or three 

 pairs of leaves with their included 

 buds, without damaging either the 

 slender stem or the joint. These should 

 be taken off in July, when the branches 

 are just commencing to harden, and 

 inserted in sandy soil in a frame where 

 they can be shaded from full sunshine, 

 and given the benefit of the night 

 dews by the removal of the lights. 

 They will soon root and become good 

 flowering plants the following season. 

 With large patches, the readiest way 

 is to sprinkle sandy soil over the entire 



plant, and to work the same gently 

 amongst the branches with the hand. 

 If this be done during the summer 

 or the early autumn, the trailing 

 branches will form roots tlie following 

 season, and may be planted elsewhere. 

 Most of them are easily increased by 

 careful division of the tufts in autumn 

 or early spring. 



There is a good account of the 

 plants, from a botanical point of view, 

 by James Britten, in the Garden of 

 29th September 1877. 



Phlox amsena. A very hardy little 

 Phlox, spreading with rosy flowers in early 

 summer, a native of dry places in the 

 southern states, but so hardy in Britain 

 that I have seen it naturalised on poor 

 clayey banks in a wood. A good rock 

 and wall plant. 



P. Carolina is a handsome plant, about 

 1 ft. high, with slender steins terminated 

 by a cluster of large showy rosy flowers. 

 Syn., P. ovata. 



P. divaricata (Wild Blue Phlox). 

 Larger than the Creeping Phlox or Moss 

 Pink, attaining a height of about 1 foot, and 

 bearing lilac-purple blossoms. The plant 

 thrives in good garden soil, and flowers 

 in summer. In moist copses and woods, 

 Canada, and southwards. Syn., P. Gana- 

 densis. 



P. pilosa is a pretty plant, 10 or 12 

 inches high ; with flat clusters of purple 

 flowers \ to f inch in diameter, from 

 June to August. It is one of the rarest 

 in gardens, another kind being sold for it. 

 The true plant reminds one of P. 

 Drummondi. Another rare species is 

 the true P. biftda, an elegant plant, the 

 flowers bluish-purple. Canada and south- 

 wards and westwards. 



P. reptans (Creeping Pink). With the 

 large flowers and richness of colour of 

 the taller Phloxes, this mantles over 

 borders and rockworks with a soft green 

 about an inch or two high, and sends up 

 stems from 4 to 6 inches high, each 

 producing from five to eight deep purplish- 

 rose flowers. It is by no means fastidious 

 as to soil or situation, but will be found 

 to thrive best in peat or light rich soils. 



