300 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



[PART II. 



(which grows a few inches high and 

 bears numerous rosy-pink blossoms), 

 the Cloud-berry, R. Chamcemorus (also 

 dwarf and with white blossoms), the 

 Dewberry (R. Ccesius), and R. saxa- 

 tilis, are pretty for the rock-garden 

 in moist soil. 



RUSCUS (Butch&r's Broom). Wiry 

 half-shrubby plants, often neglected, 

 but having some good qualities, even 

 for the rock-garden or shady places 

 near. The hardy kinds may be planted 

 under the shade of trees. Propagate 

 by division of the roots. The R. 

 aculeatus (Common Butcher's Broom) 

 is a native of copses and woods, 

 bearing bright red berries where the 

 two sexes are present. This dense, 

 much-branched Evergreen rarely grows 

 more than 2 ft. high, and its thick, 

 white, twining roots strike deep into 

 the ground. The Alexandrian Laurel 

 (R. racemosus) is a graceful plant, with 

 glossy dark green leaves, and is one of 

 the best plants for partial shade, and 

 thrives best on free leafy, or peaty soil. 

 R. Hypophyllum, a very dwarf kind, 

 and R. Hylpoglossum are also in 

 cultivation, and of easy culture in 

 ordinary soil. 



RUTA (Rue). R. albiflora is a 

 graceful autumn-flowering plant, about 

 2 ft. high, with leaves resembling 

 those of the common Rue, but more 

 glaucous and finely divided. The 

 small white blossoms, borne in large 

 drooping panicles, last until the 

 frosts. In some localities it is hardy, 

 but should have slight protection in 

 severe weather. It is also known as 

 Boenning-Tiausenia albiflora, and is a 

 native of Nepaul. Another pretty 

 plant is the Padua Rue (R. patavina), 

 4 to 6 in. high, with small golden- 

 yellow flowers of the same odour as 

 the common Rue, which I saw used 



with pretty effect in the Belvedere 

 Garden in Vienna. 



SAGINA GLABRA (Lawn Pearl- 

 ivort\ A plant known from being 

 much talked of a few years since as a 

 substitute for lawn-grass, and though 

 it has not answered the expectations 

 formed of it in that way, it is a minute 

 alpine plant, welcome for forming carpets 

 as smooth as velvet, dotted with many 

 small white flowers, the light, fresh 

 green, moss-like carpet being starred 

 with them in early summer. It is 

 useful in forming carpets of the freshest 

 and closest verdure beneath taller, but 

 small and rare bulbs, or other plants, 

 which it may be desired to place to the 

 best advantage. It is multiplied by 

 pulling the tufts into small pieces, and 

 replanting them at a few inches apart ; 

 they soon meet and form a carpet. 

 Although it does not generally form a 

 good turf, yet it is possible, by selecting 

 a rather deep, sandy soil, and by keep- 

 ing it clean and well rolled, to make a 

 close turf of it ; but this is rarely worth 

 attempting, except on a small scale, 

 and when it begins to perish in flakes 

 here and there, it should be taken up 

 and replanted. 



S A L I X ( Willow}. Among ^ the 

 Willows there are certain dwarf kinds 

 which, though without the floral 

 beauty characteristic of the Alpine 

 flower, may yet be useful here and 

 there in the rock-garden and in the 

 marsh-garden, among them being the 

 Netted Willow (S. reticulata), the 

 Thyme-Leaved Willow, the woolley 

 Willow (S. lanata), and S. herbacea, or 

 any other dwarf mountain or Arctic 

 Willow, all of the easiest culture and 

 increase. 



SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS 



(Bloodroof). A distinct North Ameri- 



