SAXIFRAGA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



SAXIFRAGA. 795 



of the flowers of Aretia Yitalliana. S. 

 aretioicles requires a moist and well- 

 drained soil, and being so tiny, must be 

 protected from coarser neighbours. Seed j 

 and careful division. 



S. Burseriana. None of the Rockfoils j 

 surpass S. Burseriana in vernal beauty, i 

 It is almost Moss-like in habit, forms 

 broad patches, and spreads rapidly over j 

 the earthy interstices of warm moist sand- 

 stone, if planted where it will not suffer ' 

 from stagnant moisture. The blossoms 

 are borne singly on slender red stalks, 

 which rise 2 or 3 in. above the general 

 surface of the plant, and are pure white, 

 the margins of the overlapping petals 

 elegantly frilled or crisped. They appear 

 freely in January and February. Before 

 they are expanded, their crimson-brown 

 unopened buds have a cheerful effect as 

 they emerge from the compact silvery 

 tufts of foliage, while interspersed among 

 full-blown flowers they enhance the 

 pearly whiteness of the petals. S. Bur- 

 seriana soon forms good-sized tufts in the 

 open border or in the rock-garden, but 

 prefers a dry sunny situation and calcare- 

 ous soil. All lovers of hardy spring 

 flowers should possess it. There are two 

 or three distinct forms which differ from 

 each other chiefly in habit, one being 

 much more tufted than the others. There 

 is also a form with larger flowers than 

 those of the type, but not more desirable ; 

 it is called grandiflora. Large panfuls of 

 this early Rockfoil are pretty in the 

 greenhouse. Austrian Alps. 



S. csesia resembles an Androsace in 

 the neatness of its tufts. On the Alps it 

 covers the rocks and stones like a silvery 

 Moss ; and on level ground, where it has 

 some depth of soil, develops into beautiful 

 little cushions 2 to 6 in. across. It has 

 pretty white flowers in summer on smooth 

 thread-like stems, i to 3 in. high. Though 

 a native of the high Alps and Pyrenees, it 

 thrives in our gardens in very firm sandy 

 soil, if fully exposed and well watered in 

 summer. It may also be grown in pots 

 or pans in cold frames near the glass; but, 

 being very minute, should always be kept 

 distinct from coarse neighbours, as even 

 the smallest weeds will injure or obscure it. 

 Seeds or careful division. Of similar 

 character are S. calyciflora, S. luteo-viridis, 

 S. Kotschyi, S. valdensis, S. squarrosa, 

 and S. diapensoides, all dwarf, and, for 

 the most part, difficult to grow, though 

 their beauty amply repays the trouble 

 bestowed on them. They should be 

 grown in the same way as S. cassia. 



S. csespitosa. A dwarf kind form- 

 ing dense carpet-like masses of foliage. 



arranged in neat tufts, studded in summer 

 with white blossoms. It succeeds in 

 almost any situation in any garden soil ; 

 is useful for margins to herbaceous borders, 

 and makes a beautiful covering for moist 

 banks. It is one of the most variable of 

 all Saxifrages, and of its numerous varie- 

 ties the most distinct are palmata and 

 grcenlandica. 



S. ceratophylla (Stags-Horn Rockfoil}. 

 An ornamental species of the mossy 

 section, with dark, finely-divided leaves 

 and numerous pure white flowers in loose 

 panicles in early summer. It quickly 

 forms strong tufts in any good garden 

 soil ; and is adapted for any kind of rock- 

 garden, whether grown in level tufts on 

 the flat portions, or in sheets overhanging 

 the brows of rocks. Spain. Seed or divi- 

 sion. Similar to this species are S. pani- 

 culata, ladanifera, Wilkommiana, geranio- 

 ides, irrigua, ajugaefolia, and aquatica. 



S. ciliata. One of the broad-leaved or 

 Megasea section with large broad leaves, 

 covered with soft hair, and carried on creep- 

 ing stems. The flower-stems are 6 to 9 in. 

 high, and bear numerous large flesh- 

 coloured flowers in spring. A native of 

 North India, S. ciliata is suitable for open- 

 air culture in the south of England only, 

 but is so handsome and distinct that it 

 should be tried wherever it can be grown. 

 A sheltered nook in the rock-garden, par- 

 tially shaded, suits it best. 



S. cordifolia. This Siberian plant 

 differs in aspect from the ordinary dwarf 

 Rockfoils, having ample heart-shaped 

 leaves on long and thick stalks. Its clear 

 rose-coloured flowers are arranged in 

 dense masses, and in early spring half 

 conceale'd among the great leaves, as if 

 hiding from the cutting breath of March. 

 S. cordifolia and its varieties flower in 

 any soil and position ; but to encourage 

 early-flowering, place them in warm 

 sunny positions, where their fine flowers 

 may be induced to open well. These 

 Saxifrages are perhaps more fitted for 

 association with the larger spring flowers 

 and herbaceous plants than dwarf al- 

 pines ; and may be naturalised on bare 

 sunny banks, in wild sunny parts of the 

 pleasure-ground, or by wood walks. They 

 may also be used with effect near cas- 

 cades, or on rough rock- or root-work, or 

 on the rocky margins of streams or artifi- 

 cial water ; in fact, they are the fine- 

 foliaged plants of the rocks. There are 

 several handsome varieties of S. cordi- 

 folia, the finest of all the group being one 

 called purpurea. 



S. Cotyledon (Pyramidal Saxifrage}. 

 This beautiful kind embellishes with 



