218 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



[PART II. 



one of the association of the mountain 

 shrub, and the best perennials with 

 the smaller alpine plants. The Barren- 

 worts thrive nowhere so well as among 

 the peat-loving shrubs. We should use 

 in such a case the partial shade of 

 the shrubs as well as the soil suiting 

 them. They also form beautiful 

 carpets below the shrubs, covering 

 the ground as it always should be. 



Epimediums are typical of many 

 garden plants, which, though of great 

 beauty when naturally grown, are 

 rarely artistically used I mean by the 

 word rightly used, both as regards 

 culture and placing. It should never 

 be forgotten that good culture and 

 effect may often go together. Such 

 plants as these are often dotted singly, 

 and among other and coarser things, 

 and they suffer and eventually may 

 disappear under some coarse shrubs or 

 plants. But if we plant them so that 

 they form an effective group, we are 

 not so likely to forget them, and it is 

 then better worth our while to give 

 them the shade and position they 

 want. I have seen these plants grown 

 in the open in botanic and other 

 gardens without a bit of shade ; but 

 place them in partial shade of what 

 we call American shrubs, in peaty 

 soil, and within good broad groups, 

 and the effect will be one of the best 

 we can see in the garden. It would 

 be a case of cultivation and effect 

 and simplicity of culture going well 

 together, because, if we know that one 

 place is given up to a certain group, 

 we are not likely to make mistakes 

 with it, as in the general muddle of 

 the mixed border. 



E. pinnatum is a hardy perennial 

 from Asia Minor, 8 inches to 2j feet 

 high, with handsome leaves, and bear- 

 ing long clusters of yellow flowers. 

 The old leaves remain until the new 



ones appear in the ensuing spring. 

 It is not well to remove them, as 

 they shelter the buds of the new 

 leaves during the winter, and the 

 plants flower better when they are 

 allowed to remain. Cool peaty soil 

 and a slightly shaded position are 

 most suitable. They thrive in half- 

 shady spots in peat, or in moist sandy 

 soil. None are so valuable for general 

 culture as the first-mentioned. The 

 other species are E. alpinum, Europe ; 

 concinnum, Japan ; elatum, Himal. ; 

 macranthum, Japan ; Musschianum, 

 Japan ; Perralderianum, Algeria ; ptero- 

 ceras, Caucas. ; pubescens, China ; pubi- 

 gerum, Caucas. ; and rubrum, Japan. 



EPIPACTIS PALUSTRIS (Marsh 

 #). A pretty hardy Orchid, 1 to Ij 

 feet high, flowering late in summer, 

 with handsome purplish flowers. A 

 native of moist grassy places in all 

 parts of temperate and Southern 

 Europe. A good plant for the bog- 

 garden, or for moist spots near a 

 rivulet, in moist peat. In wet dis- 

 tricts, it thrives very well in ordinary 

 soil. 



ERANTHIS HYEMALIS (Winter 

 Aconite). A small plant, with yellow 



Eranthis Hyemalis (Winter Aconite). 



