THE ROGKFOIL OR SAXIFRAGE 173 



that is so charming. Mossy Saxifrages look especially 

 well when planted on top of a mound of soil, which they 

 soon transform into perfect little hills of green. They 

 are far more likely to suffer from damp in winter on 

 the flat than when planted on a slope from which excessive 

 wet has a chance to escape. 



During the last few years the hybridist has been 

 busy amongst the Saxifrages of the mossy section, as 

 well as the others. Many new varieties have been raised 

 of various degrees of excellence, but some of the taller 

 kinds are of very loose and untidy growth, and, handsome 

 though the flowers may be, the plants have little attrac- 

 tion. The charm of the best Mossy Saxifrages lies in 

 their neat and tufted habit, with flowers in proportion, 

 on stems that hold themselves erect. It is evidently 

 the influence of our native Rockfoil (S. granulata) that 

 has tended to develop the taller and less graceful habit 

 that is characteristic of many of the newer sorts. For 

 general use, easy cultivation, and close-tufted growth, 

 the following sorts are the best in this section : 



5. caespitosa. This plant is found growing over the 

 whole of the Northern and Arctic regions, and naturally 

 varies to a great extent. Many names have been applied 

 to the different forms, among which may be mentioned 

 S. decipiens and S. sponhemica, but although Ithe extreme 

 varieties may be quite distinct, they are connected by 

 intermediate kinds, and it is thus difficult, or even im- 

 possible, to distinguish between the various so-called 

 species and varieties. Attempts have been made to 



