202 ROGK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



nana, orange red (native of Canada) ; A. flabellata, 

 white ; A. glandulosa (from Siberia), blue and white, 

 A. pyrenaica (native of the Pyrenees), blue and 

 white ; and A. Stuarti, blue and white. Most of 

 these can be raised from seeds, sown under glass 

 or in the open, as directed in the chapter on Alpines 

 from Seeds, but unless the seeds have been saved from 

 plants kept apart from others the seedlings may not 

 come true. Division of large plants in early spring 

 may also be practised, the division being carefully per- 

 formed, so that each piece is left with a growing point or 

 crown. Most of the Aquilegias like a cool and rather 

 moist spot, and a little lime in the soil is helpful. They 

 flower in early summer. Some of the finest are short 

 lived, the most troublesome in this respect being the 

 true A. caerulea, the charming A. glandulosa, and the 

 lovely A. pyrenaica. Seeds are the best means of increase, 

 but, as already mentioned, the seedlings may not come 

 true. 



Arabis (Rock Cress). This is the commonest of all 

 rock garden plants, member of the natural order Cruciferae, 

 and found wild on the Alps of Europe, Asia, and America. 

 Ordinary soil is suitable, but a sunny situation is desirable 

 to ensure free flowering. Propagation is readily effected 

 by cuttings taken in July ; they soon root under a bell 

 glass in a shady border. Arabis albida and its double 

 variety flore pleno are the most popular, the latter is 

 the finer plant, and lasts in bloom for many weeks. The 

 chief fault of these plants is that they grow too rampantly. 



