OLD-FASHIONED GAEDEN FLOWEBS. 237 



It should be grown amongst some such carpeting plants as 

 Sibihorpia Europcea or Linaria pilosa, so as to protect it ; more- 

 over, these creepers are suited for a similar soil and position. 

 The soil should be light, either of sandy or vegetable character, 

 but one that cannot bake ; shade from the midday sun is 

 essential, as also is plenty of moisture. "When the growths have 

 become crowded, as they do in about three years, it is as well to 

 lift, divide, and replant at a distance of Sin. ; this is best done 

 after the tops have died off in summer ; plant 4in. or 5in. deep. 



Flowering period, April and May. 



Saponaria Ocymoides. 

 BOCK SOAPWORT, or BASIL-LEAVED SOAPWORT : Nat. Ord. 



SlLENACE^. 



A VERY hardy alpine from France, and one of the most flori- 

 ferous subjects that can be placed on rockwork, where should be 

 its position. During a single season it is no uncommon thing to 

 see a small plant grow into a large cushion 2ft. in diameter, and 

 only 6in. or 9in. high. In planting it this fact should not be 

 overlooked, not only for the sake of giving it plenty of room, 

 but also in order that less vigorous subjects near it may not 

 become overgrown; it blooms all summer, and though the 

 flowers are small and not at all bright, their numbers render it 

 attractive. 



The flowers, which are about in. across, are of a pink 

 colour, and produced on many-branched prostrate stems; the 

 calyx is five-toothed ; the corolla is formed of five flat petals ; the 

 leaves are small, basil-like, oval-lance shaped, entire and smooth ; 

 the general appearance of the plant when in bloom is that of a 

 compact mass of small leaves and flowers, the latter pre- 

 dominating. 



It will grow in any kind of soil, but prefers that of a vegetable 

 character, with its roots amongst large stones ; but, strictly 

 speaking, it needs nothing but an open situation and plenty of 

 room to spread. It ripens an abundance of seed, and there is 

 not a better mode of propagation than its own; hundreds of 

 stout seedlings appear the following spring around the parent 

 plant, and these may then be transplanted, and they will flower 

 the same season. 



8. o. splendens is a variety of the above very much improved 

 indeed ; and though one cannot discard the good old plant for 

 its very recent offspring, the former is certainly very much 

 eclipsed. Splendens has foliage slightly different, but its 

 flowers are much larger and brighter ; and though it may not be 

 quite so vigorous, in this case that may be considered an 

 improvement. It is said to come true from seed. 



Flowering period, May to August. 



