96 THE NEW GARDENING 



to a degree ; it is not far from the hue of that lovely 

 Sweet Pea Lady Grisell Hamilton, which long held 

 undisputed sway in its colour, and is not yet forgotten, 

 although, as we see elsewhere, modern forms have 

 largely superseded it in gardens. Lavender has a grey 

 leaf. Coming to the red Aubrietias, one of the first of 

 the improved forms was Leichtlinii, which held its own 

 quite easily until the advent of Fire King. The latter 

 is perhaps the most vivid of all the Rock Cresses. Varying 

 from clear rose to a deeper, rosy magenta, it is in all its 

 hues a brilliant and glittering flower, playing a brave 

 part in lighting up the rockery in late spring. Bright 

 as are these varieties they lack, to my mind, the beauty 

 of Moerheimii, which is less vivid, but is a variety of 

 the most delicate colour and refined appearance. In 

 size this is perhaps the largest of all the Aubrietias, 

 and the colour is soft pink, contrasting pleasingly with 

 the grey leaf. It is a lovely variety, and its quality 

 is of the kind that grows more attractive with a long 

 acquaintance. The variegated Aubrietias are not of 

 great importance. They lack the free, graceful, natural 

 habit and appearance of the green and grey-leafed forms ; 

 and if not actually out of place on the rockery are hardly 

 in keeping with its main characters. If they are liked, 

 positions that are not too important and conspicuous 

 can be found for them ; but they can never take the 

 place of the bolder, freer varieties with plain leaves. 

 Argentea variegata, which has a white-edged leaf, 

 is possibly the best. The propagation of the choice 

 Aubrietias is naturally a matter of greater moment than 

 that of the common varieties, such as graeca and pur- 

 purea, seed of which is sold cheaply by every seedsman. 

 One's thoughts turn to cuttings, inasmuch as the plants 

 produce abundance of young shoots, but Aubrietias 



