116 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



stems, too often taken for roots, whereas the main roots are still 

 deeper, very long for so small a plant, and furnished with silky 

 feeders. Good crowns potted in rich fibrous loam and plunged 

 in sand, fully exposed, with an unstinted supply of water, is the 

 substance of the simple treatment my plants receive the year 

 round ; they are still in the Sin. and 4in. pots in which they were 

 placed three years ago, and during spring they are covered 

 with flowers. When a pot is lifted out of the sand in which it is 

 plunged, the fine long silky roots are seen to have made their 

 way through the hole. Spring is the best time to plant. 

 Flowering period, April to June. 



Geranium Argenteum. 



SILVERY CRANE'S-BILL: Nat. Ord. GERANIACE^. 

 A HARDY perennial alpine from the South of Europe, introduced 

 in 1699. It is, therefore, an old plant in this country, and is one 



FIG. 44. GERANIUM ARGENTETJM. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



of the gems of the rock garden ; very dwarf, but effective, as 

 may be seen by the illustration (Fig. 44). The foliage is of a 



