250 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



bright yellowish-green, and tinted from the edges with a reddish 

 bronze, so that, during spring, besides being finely in flower r 

 it is otherwise a pleasing plant to look upon. Moreover, it 

 is one of the few bold kinds of plants which flower so early 

 and therefore a most valuable subject for the spring flower- 

 beds. 



It looks well in any position, either near or back from the 1 

 walks, in shrubs, or as a centre specimen for beds ; it is also a 

 plant that may be moved easily, as it carries plenty of root and 

 earth, consequently it may be used in such designs as necessitate 

 frequent transplantings. It is not particular as to soil or 

 position, but in light earth, well enriched with stable manure, I 

 have found it to thrive, so as to be equal to many of the so-called 

 " fine foliage " plants during summer ; therefore, I should say, 

 give it rich food. To propagate it, a strong specimen with 

 branched crowns should be selected. These branches or stems 

 are ^in. to lin. thick. They should be cut off with as much 

 length as possible ; if they have a bit of root, all the better ; if 

 not, it does not much matter. Let the cut end dry for a little 

 time, take off half, or even the whole, of the largest leaves, or 

 the action of the wind will prevent their remaining firm. When 

 so prepared, the cuttings may be deeply planted in sandy loam, 

 which has previously been deeply stirred. This may be done as 

 soon as the flowers are past, and by the end of the year the 

 cuttings should be well rooted and suitable for moving into the 

 ornamental part of the garden. 



Flowering period, March to May. 



Saxifraga Longifolia- 



LONG-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE ; QUEEN OF SAXIFRAGES ; Nat. Ord. 



SAXIFRAGACEuE. 



NUMEROUS and beautiful as are the species and varieties of this 

 genus, this is the most admired of them all, from which fact it 

 derives its proud name of " Queen." It is of recent introduction; 

 habitat, the Pyrenees ; but though of alpine origin, it thrives in 

 lower, I may say the lowest, situations even in our wet climate. 

 As will be seen by the illustration (Fig. 88), it belongs to the 

 rosette section, and may indeed be said, for size and symmetry, 

 to head the list. There are many forms of it, differing more or 

 less in shape of leaves, colour, habit, and size of rosette. The 

 original or reputed type is but an indifferent form compared 

 with the one now generally accepted as the representative of the 

 species. So readily do the various Saxifrages become crossed, 

 that it is hard to distinguish them ; and when a distinct form 

 is evolved the question occurs, What constitutes or entitles it to 

 specific honours ? Surely the form of which we are speaking 

 must be fully entitled to a name all its own, as it is not possible 



