STONE-CROP 151 



senses and revive the spirits. They may be 

 pressed in sugar, and so they are good against 

 pestilential infections, the palsie, cramp, and such 

 like infirmities of the braine and sinewes. The 

 same floures infused in vinegar, and set in the Sun 

 for certaine dayes do make a very pleasante com- 

 fortable vinegar, good to be used in time of con- 

 tagious sickenesses, and very profitable at all times 

 for such as have feeble spirits, and that are subject 

 unto swounings." We illustrate the plant on 

 Plate XVI. 



The stone-crop, or wall-pepper, that we have 

 already referred to as one of the attractive flowers 

 of a rough old wall, though one of our smaller 

 plants, is a brilliant addition to one's floral finds, 

 since it is in its flowering season a mass of golden 

 yellow, while at all other times it forms a beauti- 

 fully verdant cushion. It is one of the easiest of 

 plants to grow, as the smallest piece, either with 

 a root or without it, if just dibbled into the ground, 

 at once starts and spreads very quickly and freely. I 

 We tried it once as a bordering to a bed, and for a 



1 " Of the slip it is propagated by setting it in dry banks 

 or on stone wals, for there it delighteth most to grow, and 

 will shift for itself wherever it be planted, for it neither careth 

 for heat nor cold, but abideth its place alwaies." BLAKE. 

 The extract is from his " Compleat Gardener's Practice," 

 published in 1664. He had great faith in himself, and tells 

 us : " Search the World, and there's not to be found a book 

 so good as this," 



