OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 247 



the foliage. It is rather a slow grower, and not so readily 

 increased as most Saxifrages ; it is greatly benefited by having 

 pebbles or small stones about the collar. These keep it moist at 

 the roots during the growing season. If a little dry cow manure 

 or guano is dusted amongst the stones during early summer, the 

 results will soon be seen ; such growth, however, should not be 

 stimulated during the latter half of the year, or from its want of 

 ripeness it will be liable to damage during winter. This practice 

 of top dressing greatly assists the parts touching the earth to 

 root, and so either an increased stock or larger specimens may 

 sooner be obtained. 

 Flowering period, March, 



Saxifraga Fortunei. 



FORTUNE'S SAXIFRAGE ; Nat. Ord. SAXIFRAGACE^E. 

 THIS, as may at once be seen by a glance at Fig. 86, belongs to 

 the lobed-leafed section. It is as yet new in English gardens, 

 and is often grown in pots in warm glasshouses. It is, however, 

 perfectly hardy, having stood out with me in the open for the 

 past three years. It is nearly related to 8. japonica and its 

 varieties, but is without the stolons or runners. In this climate, 

 with outdoor treatment, it flowers in October until cut down by 

 frost, which sometimes happens before the flowers get well out. 

 It has been stated not only that it is not hardy, but that its flower- 

 ing period is May. With me it has proved otherwise, and others 

 have proved it to flower naturally in October. I also observed 

 it in bloom in the Hull Botanic Gardens on the open rockwork in 

 November, 1882. I have no doubt that autumn is the natural 

 season for well-established plants to flower ; weaker specimens 

 may fail to push forth ere the frost cuts down their leaves, 

 when the dormant buds must remain sealed for the winter, but 

 ready to develope with the return of longer and warmer days. 



The flowers are arranged in panicles on scapes nearly a foot 

 high, the panicles being Gin. long and Sin. in diameter. The 

 petals are long and narrow, of uneven length, and notched; 

 colour pure white. The calyx is well developed ; segments oval, 

 notched at the ends ; colour, pale apple green. Stamens, long and 

 tipped with beautifully orange-coloured anthers. The ovary is 

 prominent, and of a pale yellow. Besides the above features, the 

 flowers, which mostly look sideways and are quite an inch across 

 their broadest parts, have one very long petal at the low side, 

 and the two next are at right angles with it, less than half its 

 size, the two upper ones being still less ; the effect is both 

 unusual and pleasing. The leaf stalks are long, stout, and of a 

 succulent nature, semi-transparent, and slightly furnished with 

 longish hairs ; the stipules are ample, and of a bright red, which 

 colour extends for a short length up the stalk. The leaves are 



