Gardening for Amateurs 



mended for potting. Employ crushed chalk 

 or sandstone chips in liberal quantities for the 

 plants partial to these respective ingredients ; 

 the roots must be deeply placed in the soil 

 and made quite firm, particularly around the 

 collar, so that the soil may not wash away 

 during winter and leave it exposed to the 

 mercy of slugs and drying winds. The 

 choice alpines that are grown in pots are best 

 planted in the rock garden in spring ; only 

 strong plants must be placed out, the weaker 

 ones being held back for another year. 



The list of plants given on page 601 are 

 those of which seed can be procured readily, 

 and if the instructions are carefully followed 

 success will invariably result. 



TWENTY-FIVE ROCK PLANTS TO 

 BEGIN WITH 



Even in a comparatively small rock 

 garden one can accommodate a large number 

 of different kinds, but it is wise to begin 

 with a small selection of really beautiful 

 flowers. The following twenty-five represent 

 the selection of Mr. Clarence Elliott : 



Alyssum saxatile. The common name 

 of this is " Gold Dust," and a very appro- 

 priate name it is too, for when in flower 

 in May and June the whole plant is a 

 cloud of the most beautiful feathery rich 

 gold. It is easily raised from seed and 

 will live for many years, forming a* low 

 spreading cushion about 1 yard across and 

 6 to 9 inches high. It likes poor soil, 

 enjoys lime, and demands full sun. It is 

 equally good on the flat or festooning steep 

 rock faces, or it makes a fine wall plant. 

 The flowers are deliciously honey-scented. 

 There is a showy double-flowered variety 

 which lasts well, and to increase which one 

 must strike cuttings, and a beautiful pale 

 lemon-yellow variety which comes fairly 

 true from seed. 



Androsace lanuginosa. As a family 

 the Androsaces (Rock Jasmines) have the 

 reputation of being difficult to grow, but this 

 lovely Himalayan species is easy. It enjoys 

 gritty loam in full sun, deep root run. and a 

 slope down which to trail. Its trailing stems 

 are clothed with silky leaves of great beauty, 

 and in late summer come countless heads of 

 charming rosy-lilac flowers with reddish eyes. 

 It continues to flower until frost intervenes, 



and this late flowering adds much to the 

 value of the plant. A top dressing of granite 

 chips is of great help to this as to many 

 choice alpines. It retains moisture in the 

 soil, keeps the roots cool and the leaves and 

 flowers clean, and I think the reflected sun- 

 heat from the stone helps to ripen the plant's 

 growth. There is a pretty, almost white 

 variety of Androsace lanuginosa called Leicht- 

 lini which associates well with the type. The 

 easiest way to propagate is by cuttings. 



Anemone Pulsatilla (The Pasque 

 Flower). A rare native of English chalk 

 downs, hopeless to collect on account of its 

 long woody root, but easily raised from seed, 

 which, however, must be fresh. Forms a 

 sturdy clump about 1 foot across with fern- 

 like foliage, and in spring beautiful purple 

 flowers, soft and silky on the outside, and 

 foaming over with rich golden anthers. 

 The great silky feathery seed-heads which 

 follow are also very attractive. Height, 

 6 to 18 inches, easy to grow in any good 

 loam in full sun, and is best on the flat at the 

 base of the rocks. The white variety is less 

 attractive than the type. 



Arenaria montana (The Mountain 

 Sand wort). Easy and glorious on any 

 light, rich soil in full sun, preferably among 

 the rocks, giving masses of slender stems with 

 narrow leaves of rich green. In early summer 

 come thousands of great showy blossoms 

 which produce a superb effect. Trailing 

 habit. An old plant will cover 1 square yard 

 or more. Easily raised from seed or may be 

 struck from cuttings. Planted near Litho- 

 spermum prostratum, the two plants may be 

 allowed to intermingle and will give a charm- 

 ing combination of snow and sapphire. 



Aster alpinus (The Alpine Aster). A 

 tufted plant which throws up 6-inch stems 

 in June, each of which bears one great violet 

 Daisy-flower with an orange disc. There is 

 a white variety which is not very attractive, 

 a form called speciosus, with rather larger, 

 handsomer flowers than the type, as well as 

 various rosy and rosy-lilac forms, some of 

 which have received fancy names, and most 

 of which are pretty. The plant is quite easy 

 in good loam, and is best on the flat. It is 

 benefited by frequent top dressing and an 

 occasional dividing and replanting, as the 

 stems are apt to grow leggy. 



