366 THE ALPINE FLORA 



none should be rejected, for very few will be a cause of 

 disappointment as regards elegance and charm, nor many 

 a trouble by exigences or caprice. Given light and air, 

 and all will go well, if excessive damp is avoided and 

 plenty of limestone provided, except for such granitic 

 species as Jlllioni, excisa and pulla. In order to be 

 effective the scheme of planting should be bold and 

 generous, the taller varieties, of which per sici folia is the 

 best, in the borders, and the dwarfer, among which pulla 

 is the gem, to trail over and among rocky ledges. All 

 the Swiss varieties are good, but no collection should 

 omit the dainty but difficult Jfllioni from the western and 

 southern Alps, J(aineri from nothern Italy, and Zoysii 

 from Austria. A periodic division in autumn with liberal 

 dressing of leaf-moned acts like a charm ; it is difficult to 

 imagine without seeing the difference made, to the taller 

 varieties especially. Propagation by seed is ridiculously 

 simple, and if some species, like thyrsoides, prove 

 biennals, next spring is pretty certain to see an abundant 

 crop of self-sown seedlings. A monograph on the culture 

 was published in The Garden, June-October, 1910. 



Description : Calyx short with five narrow lobes, 

 lanceolate or ovate ; corolla five-lobed, bell-shaped ; 

 stamens free, with filaments dilated at the base ; three 

 thread-like stamens. 



C. pusilla (PL LX1V). A low-growing, matted little 

 plant, with longish oval and toothed lower leaves, and 

 dainty racemes of handsome bells on slender, nodding 

 4-5 m. stems. June-October; mountain slopes, especially 

 on chalk. The flowers are variable in colour, deep lilac- 

 tinted blue in the type, and white in an altogether 

 exquisite variety. Nothing seems to come amiss to this 

 "most beautiful of all weeds" as it has been described; 

 it is invaluable as a carpet or edging in borders, rockeries, 



