108 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



on limestone so much the better. It is curious that 

 while in all the other crane's-bills the flowers are 

 in pairs, in this one they stand singly on the long 

 stems. In the other species one or two scales 

 will be found at the forking of the stems, and these 

 scales may also be seen on the stem of the blood 

 crane's-bill, as a sort of concession to crane's-bill 

 custom, though the second stem puts in no appear- 

 ance. Those who have only seen it as a garden 

 plant can form little or no idea of its vigour of 

 growth and luxuriance under conditions fully favour- 

 able to its well-being. 



The noble meadow crane's-bill, two or three feet 

 in height, surmounted by its large purple flowers ; 

 the charming little shining-leaved geranium that, 

 like the herb Robert, turns so rich a crimson in the 

 Autumn, the dove's-foot, are all common species 

 that must be by no means overlooked. The Gera- 

 nium argenteum, the silver-leaved crane's-bill, 

 figured on Plate XXX., is a foreigner. Its pale 

 grey foliage makes a charming contrast with the 

 surrounding verdure. 



The celandine finds a welcome place in our 

 rock-garden, partly from its golden blossoms, but 

 more especially from the quaint form of its foliage. 

 We figure the plant on Plate XL, but exigencies of 

 space compel us to be content with a very small 

 leaf; many of the leaves are really seven or eight 

 inches long. The celandine is an ornamental her- 



