HOCK AND WATER GARDENS 123 



Hardy ferns are charming for semi-shady positions, the black Spleen- 

 wort (Asplenium Adiantum nigrum), the common Polypody (Poly- 

 podiurn vulgare), the Oak Fern (P. Dryopteris), the Beech Fern (P. 

 Phegopteris), and the common Hartstongue (Scolopendrium vulgare), 

 of which there are numerous crested varieties, are a few of the most 

 interesting. 



There are single white, double, and variegated Rock Cresses (Arabia 

 albida), the Blue Rock Cress (Aubrietia) in many shades of colour ; 

 the Moss Pink (Phlox subulata) P. divaricata, P. canadensis, P. 

 Laphami, the Creeping Pink (P. reptans) ; the Madworts (Alyssum 

 saxatile), golden yellow, and the pale yellow variety citrina : the 

 evergreen Candytufts (Iberis sempervirens and I. gibraltarica), both 

 with white flowers. Amongst the Rockfoils or Saxifragas alone 

 there is sufficient material to plant a rock garden. A few of the 

 best known are S. cotyledon and the variety pyramidal is, S. longi- 

 folia, S. Wallace!, S. muscoides, and its varieties atropurpurea and 

 Rhei. Suitable also are S. sarmentosa, commonly known as Mother 

 of Thousands owing to the freedom with which it surrounds itself 

 with young plants ; London Pride (S. umbrosa) and S. crassifolia, a 

 plant with large leathery leaves and rosy-lilac blossoms. A very 

 pretty group of rock plants are the Pinks or Dianthuses ; these are 

 best represented by the Cheddar Pink (D. caesius), the Maiden Pink 

 (I), deltoides), and the Rock Pink (D. petraeus). Yellow Flax 

 (Linum arboreurn) should also be included. The Primroses or 

 Primulas may be planted largely on a rockery, some requiring open 

 sunny positions, while others thrive best in semi-shade. P. capitata, 

 P. cortusoides, P. denticulata, P. farinosa, P. japonica, P. marginata, 

 and P. nivalis, the double white, sulphur, and lilac Primroses, and 

 Alpine Auriculas are at home in the rockery. 



How to Make and Plant a Water Garden 



In country and occasionally in suburban districts a pond or small 

 running stream is sometimes available, where with very little trouble 

 a water garden may be formed. I have in mind several gardens 

 bounded on one side by a ditch, where, except in an unusually dry 

 summer, there is always an abundance of water. By a little excava- 

 tion in such places, accommodation for aquatic and bog plants can 

 readily be found by diverting the water in one or more places. 

 Broadly speaking, the chief points to consider in the 



