180 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



[PART IT. 



carried out. The dwarf evergreen, 

 Thunbergs' 'barberry, and B. steno- 

 phylla, are suitable for giving a good 

 effect among rocks. Nor does the 

 absence of rocks debar us from group- 

 ing them near the rock-garden, and 

 enjoying in such positions their 

 beautiful colour in autumn. 



Herberts empetrif o]ia,(Fuegian Berberis). 

 A dwarf, shrubby, trailing species, from 

 the Straits of Magellan, well adapted for 

 rock cultivation, provided a good depth 

 of peaty soil be given it for its under- 

 ground shoots to ramble in. Its flowers 

 are of a bright orange colour, singly along 

 the whole length of the previous year's 

 growth. It has a delicate fragrance. 



BERGENIA. A name used by 

 some Continental botanists for the 

 large-leaved Indian Rockfoils, known 

 in our gardens by the names of Saxi- 

 fraga and Megasea. 



BETULA (Birch}. Though we 

 know the Birch as a forest tree, it may 

 be as well to remember that there are 

 little northern and antarctic Birches, 

 and those from the high mountains, 

 such as the Scrub Birch (B. glandu- 

 losa), the dwarf Birch (B. nana), and 

 the Bog Birch (B. pumila), which 

 might be readily used near rock and 

 marsh gardens of the bolder sort. 



BLETIA HYACINTHINA.-A tall 

 and graceful hardy Orchid, with slender 

 flower-stems 1 foot or more high, bear- 

 ing about half a dozen showy flowers 

 of a deep rosy-purple colour. It 

 thrives in sheltered and half-shaded 

 spots in peaty soil, with some leaf- 

 mould added. In some localities it 

 would be advisable to cover the roots 

 with a handful of protective material 

 during severe cold. It is also known 

 as B. japonica. A very interesting 

 plant for association with the peat- 

 loving Cypripediums in the drier parts 

 of the bog-garden. China. 



BORETTA. One of the recent 

 botanical names for the Irish Heath, 

 which will be found in this book under 

 ERICA 



BRACHYCOME SINCLAIRI, ac- 

 cording to a writer in the Garden, is 

 a gem for the rock-garden, hardy and 

 perennial, bearing little white Daisy- 

 like heads on stems 2 inches or 3 

 inches high, all the summer months, 

 and having a distinct habit of growth. 

 The plant spreads moderately by short 

 stolons, and the foliage is arranged 

 in tufts or rosettes, and is brownish 

 or bronzy-green, and very downy. 

 Those seeking for beautiful miniature 

 plants should take note of this. I 

 grow it in loam and leaf-mould, mixed 

 with small stones, and in a position 

 where it can have plenty of moisture 

 and sunshine. 



The pretty little B. iberidifolia 

 (Swan River Daisy), is one of the 

 annual flowers which may be used 

 with good effect to clothe any bare 

 spaces that may occur in the rock- 

 garden from winter losses or other 

 causes. 



BRUCKENTHALIA SPICULI- 

 FOLIA. A dwarf-plant, belonging to 

 the Heath family. The flowers are 



Bruckenthalia spiculifolia. 



