PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



On my own walls there is a pretty 

 variety of colour, purple, white, and 

 a pretty rose. Do not try to cover the 

 " in. 



ERIOGONUM. North American 

 plants which, as seen on the Rocky 

 Mountains and alpine regions in, 

 California, are of much beauty, but 

 which I have never seen good in cultiva- 

 tion, except, perhaps, E. umbellatum, 

 which, from a dense spreading tuft of 

 leaves, throws up numerous flower- 

 stems, 6 inches to 8 inches high, with 

 yellow blooms in umbels 4 inches or 

 more across, forming a pretty tuft. 

 It is worthy of a place on any rock- 

 garden or border, in light, sandy soil, 

 in which it has never failed to bloom 

 profusely. Other species are E. com- 

 positum, flavum, racemosum, ursinum. 



ERITRICHIUM NANUM (Fairy 

 Forget-me-not^. An alpine gem, closely 

 allied to the Forget-me-nots, which 

 it far excels in the intensity of the 

 azure-blue of its blossoms. Though 

 reputed to be difficult to cultivate, 

 a fair amount of success may be en- 

 sured by planting it in broken lime- 

 stone or sandstone, mixed with a small 

 quantity of rich fibry loam and peat, 

 in a spot in the rock-garden where it 

 will be fully exposed, and where the 

 roots will be near masses of half-buried 

 rock, to the sides of which they de- 

 light to cling. The chief enemy of 

 this little plant, and indeed of ajl 

 alpine plants with silky or cottony 

 foliage, is moisture in winter, which 

 soon causes it to damp off. In its 

 native mountains it is covered with 

 dry snow during that period. Some, 

 therefore, recommend an overhanging 

 ledge, but if such protection be not 

 removed during summer, it causes too 

 much shade and dryness. A better 

 plan is to place two pieces of glass 



in a ridge over the plant, thus keeping 

 it dry, and allowing a free access of 

 air, but these should be removed early 

 in spring. Alps of Europe, at high 

 elevations. 



ERODIUM. Dwarf, greyish rock 

 plants of the Geranium order, but less 

 vigorous, and suited for warm and 

 sunny spots on the rock-garden, also 

 for dry walls where such are made. 



Erodium carvifolium (Caraway-leaved 

 Heronsbill). A good perennial species, 6 

 to 10 inches high, producing red flowers 

 larger than those of E. romanum, the whole 

 plant being more vigorous, and more 

 decidedly perennial than that species. A 

 native of Spain. 



E. macradenium (Spotted Heronsbill). 

 Allied to the rock Heronsbill, but dis- 

 tinguished from it by the two upper petals 

 being marked with a large blackish spot, 

 the lower petals being larger and of a 

 delicate flesh-colour, veined with purplish 

 rose, two to six flowers being borne on stalks 

 from 2 to 6 inches high. The flowers 

 are pretty, and the entire plant has an 

 agreeably aromatic fragrance. It is easily 

 grown in chinks and dry spots, in warm 

 rather than rich soil, and is increased from 

 seeds, and also by division. Pyrenees. 



E. manescavi (Noble Heronsbill). A. 

 showy kind, with long, much divided 

 leaves, from which spring many stout 

 flower-stems, each bearing an umbel of 

 from five to fifteen handsome purplish 

 flowers, each more than an inch across. 

 It is distinct, and deserves a place in 

 every collection, flourishing on the level 

 ground, and being a vigorous grower, it 

 should be associated with the strongest 

 rock plants only. A native of the 

 Pyrenees, flowering in summer, and, when 

 the plants are young and in fresh soil, 

 for a long time in succession. Easily 

 raised from seed, and in cultivation grows 

 from 10 inches to 2j feet high. 



E. petraeum (Rock Heronsbill). A small 

 kind, with much divided, somewhat 

 velvety leaves, and rather large, lively 

 rose, or white-and- veined, but not spotted 

 flowers, from 3 to 6 inches high, and 

 thriving in warm and dry chinks or 



