ii2 ROCK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



The first group contains many species found in the 

 European Alps and in the Himalayas. They must be 

 grown in very stony soil with ample drainage, and need 

 abundant moisture during the growing season. In winter 

 it is advisable to cover the silky-leaved kinds, like A. 

 villosa, with a piece of glass, raised above the plant some 

 four inches, thus keeping off rain, though admitting 

 plenty of air. From a garden point of view it is the 

 more important group of the two, and the following are 

 a selection of the best : 



A. carnea is a dwarf tufted plant from the granitic 

 Alps of Europe at a high elevation. The flower-stems 

 are about three inches long, and bear bunches of bright 

 rose-coloured flowers in May. A. Laggeri is the Pyrenean 

 counterpart of this, but is a better grower. It differs 

 in having green instead of glaucous leaves, which are 

 also narrower, and blooms in March and April. 



A. Chumbyi. This is regarded as a hybrid between 

 A. sarmentosa and A. villosa, and conies from the Hima- 

 layas.. It may be described as a non-creeping variety 

 of A. sarmentosa, with shorter and very woolly leaves 

 and large bright carmine flowers. It blooms in May. 



A. foliosa. From rocky pastures in the Eastern 

 Himalayas ; it is a vigorous plant with thick creeping 

 stems and large leaves, which colour well in the autumn. 

 The bunches of pink flowers are borne on stems which 

 are often twelve inches high. It flowers from May to 

 September, and grows well in rockwork in a half-shady 

 place. It should be planted in deep, well-drained soil, 



