358 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



spot, or water should be provided. A variety of exposures should be secured, 

 as well as soils. Of course, if it is intended to display a lot of curious rocks, 

 soil will not be required, for such a display can be made to better advantage 

 without plants to interfere. 



In planting a rockery the greatest care should be taken not to introduce 

 very weedy plants with underground stems, for if such a plant once gets a foot- 

 hold the chances are that the rockery will have to be pulled down to exterminate 

 them. Probably ferns, as a class, are better adapted to a rockery in shade than 

 any other ; but in a more open situation such plants as the following will be 

 found to succeed without being too weedy : 



Phlox subulata and vars. P. stellaria P. amcena, achillea tomentosa, 

 X'thionema grandiflorum, alyssum saxatile, Arabis albida, armerias, asperula, 

 campanula carpathica, cerastiums, dianthus, erysimum pulchellum, geraniums, 

 gypsophilla repens, iberis, lotus corniculatus, myosotis, papaver alpinum, sedums, 

 sempervivums, silene, stellaria, thymus, tiarella, tunica, veronica rupestris. V. 

 amethystina, vinca minor, violas. 



Of shrubs the following are excellent : 



Daphne oneorum, juniperus procumbens, cytissus purpureus, berberis 

 thunbergii, lonicera Albertii. 



It is probable that in this list are some kinds not hardy in Canada, and this 

 should be kept in mind in selecting from it. 



Brookline, Mass. Warren H. Manning. 



THE PURPLE BEECH. 



All thoughtful planters know that the Copper beech is one of the principal 

 pigments upon the landscape gardener's palette, with which to paint the land- 

 scape, and as artists are always careful in the use of their high colors, so, in like 

 manner, does a judicious planter take care how he distributes his few precious 

 high tones which are so important and telling in true ornamental planting, and so 

 productive of bad results if thoughtlessly planted. 



The grouping of Copper beeches with other trees requires much thought to 

 do it well. Sometimes one sees happy combinations result from hap hazard 

 planting, but it is always best to well consider where to place such important trees. 

 There can be no rule, but there is a principle to act on A Copper beech 

 never produces the best effect if any heavy green tree is close to it, neither must 

 it jar with a tree of similar color, like that of the Purple sycamore, or Purple 

 birch, though a group of Silver birches could not have a finer setting than the 

 Copper beech. It never looks well if planted out in the open, where its full out- 

 line can be seen against the horizon. I should always seek for it a background 

 of lamer trees. — Vick's Magazine. 



