PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



325 



left, as is often the case, until the 

 end of March, they are almost sure 

 to suffer. They may also be propa- 

 gated by seeds, which should be sown 

 quickly, as if kept for any length of time 

 the germination becomes uncertain. 

 If liberally treated, the seedlings will 

 flower the second year, attaining their 

 full strength during the third and 

 fourth years. 



They are too vigorous in growth to 

 go with the dwarfer rock-plants, but 

 if we grow the mountain shrubs in 

 association with the rock-plants, then 

 such handsome plants may be grown 

 between them with good effect. 



Trollius acaulis. Anativeof thehigher 

 Himalayas, and one of the most charming 

 of dwarf bog-plants, rarely exceeding 4 to 

 6 inches in height, bearing in early April 

 its bright golden-yellow flowers, suffused 

 with purple-brown on the outside. It is 

 hardy, and will be found useful for the 

 moist spots of the rock-garden, in moist 

 peat. 



T. Asiaticus, which also includes 

 chinensis, Fortunei, and other forms, has 

 deep, orange-yellow flowers, and bright, 

 orange-red anthers. It has a wide 

 distribution both in China and Japan, 

 and is hardy even in exposed positions. 

 It differs from the European Globe-flower 

 chiefly in the flowers being orange, and 

 less globular, and in the small and finely- 

 divided foliage, and taller growth. This, 

 and its varieties, form a valuable group, 

 and when grown in moist places bear 

 brilliant orange flowers. 



T. Europaeus is an extremely variable 

 plant, and so widely spread that almost 

 every locality has its particular form. 

 Raised from seed, it also gives much 

 variety, particularly in habit, and often 

 in flowers and foliage. Many of the 

 names in Catalogues are for slight forms 

 of this. Some few of these, of course, are 

 distinct varieties, such as T. e. aurantiacus. 

 It is, like its parent, of strong constitution, 

 flowers freely, and bears its flower-stems 

 well above the handsome foliage. 



The known species of Trollius, ac- 

 cording to the "Hortus Kewensis," are 



T. altaicus, americanus, asiaticus, caucasicus, 

 dschungaricus, emarginatus, europceus, Lede- 

 bouri (this has pale yellow flowers, and 

 is a strong grower), and patulus, 

 but whatever differences these may show 

 botanically, a few species give us the best 

 effects of the plants. 



TROP^OLUM (Indian Cress'). A 

 few of these tuberous and fragile 

 climbers of great beauty may well 

 take a place among the shrubs near 

 the rock-garden ; their fine colour and 

 distinct form being most precious. 

 Where any shelter or background of 

 Holly or evergreen shrub is used, 

 they are admirable, planted beneath 

 the bushes in rather open leaf-soil, 

 and let alone. 



Tropaeolum polyphyllum (Indian Rock- 

 Cress). A distinct plant, whether in or out 

 of flower ; the leaves glaucous, densely 

 crowded on a stem a quarter of an inch 

 thick, and when planted on a warm sunny 

 part of the rock-garden, the stems creep 

 about, snake-like, through the vegetation 

 around, some to 3 or 4 feet in length 

 bearing yellow flowers. It is tuberous- 

 rooted, quite hardy in dry spots and on 

 sunny banks, where it should not be often 

 disturbed ; springs up early, and dies 

 down at the end of summer. Cordilleras 

 of Chili. 



T. speciosum (Flame Nasturtium). A 

 splendid creeping plant, with long annual 

 shoots, gracefully clothed with six-lobed 

 leaves, and such brilliant vermilion 

 flowers that a long shoot of the plant is 

 startlingly effective. It is impossible to 

 find anything more worthy of a position 

 in which its shoots may fall over or climb 

 up the face of some high bank in the rock- 

 garden or among Hollies or other shrubs 

 near. It thrives in deep, rich, and rather 

 moist soil, best in cool places, or in those 

 near the sea, and not so well in a dry 

 atmosphere. When a position is selected 

 for it, the soil should be made light, and 

 deep, and free, by the addition of leaf- 

 mould, peat, fibry loam, and sand, as the 

 nature of the ground may require, and the 

 surface should be mulched in summer 

 with an inch or two of leaf-mould. It 



