6l2 



Gardening for Amateurs 



A rockery edging to a tennis court. 



a compost of loam, peat, grit and broken 

 stones the following are excellent : Auricula, 

 yellow ; calycina, rose-purple ; carniolica, 

 bluish-purple ; clusiana, rose ; helvetica, 

 crimson - purple ; longiflora, rosy - purple ; 

 marginata, bluish-lilac ; nivalis, white ; and 

 viscosa, rose. Others preferring moist places 

 in peaty soil are Beesiana, purple ; bulleyana, 

 orange-yellow ; denticulata, pale mauve, &c. ; 

 farinosa, lilac ; frondosa, lilac ; japonica, 

 purple, &c. ; involucrata, white ; pulveru- 

 lenta, rosy-crimson ; rosea, carmine-rose ; 

 and Sikkimensis, yellow. Propagation is by 

 division or seeds for the last named set, and 

 by cuttings also for the rock Primulas. 



Saxifraga (Silvery). There are innumer- 

 able varieties and forms of silvery Saxifrages. 

 They form rosettes of silvery-grey leaves, and 

 chiefly in early summer bear plumes of pretty 

 flowers. They thrive in well -drained loamy 

 soil containing a little lime, and should have 

 a sunny spot. Increased by division or by 

 seeds. Practically every one is beautiful, 

 but the following are named as a small 

 selection : Saxifraga Aizoon and its varie- 

 ties, 6 inches ; Cotyledon and variety pyra- 

 midalis, 2 feet ; crustata, 6 inches ; Dr. 

 Ramsay, 12 inches ; Engleri, 9 inches ; 



Hostii, 12 inches ; kolenatiana, 12 inches ; 

 lingulata, 18 inches ; longifolia, 24 inches ; 

 valdensis, 6 inches. 



Saxifraga (Mossy). The Mossy Saxi- 

 frages form low Moss-like tufts of evergreen 

 leafage, and in spring bear a profusion of 

 blossoms, white, pink or red. They need just 

 ordinary, well-drained soil and slight shade. 

 They are readily increased by division. 

 Good sorts are : caespitosa ; exarata ; groen- 

 landica ; hypnoides ; muscoides, and var. 

 atropurpurea ; Wallacei ; Bathoniensis ; and 

 Guildford Seedling. 



Saxifraga (Other). The tufted Saxi- 

 frages that bloom in early spring are de- 

 lightful little plants, and a few of them are 

 indispensable. They need well-drained, 

 gritty soil. S. apiculata, sancta, and Eliza- 

 bethae are yellow ; S. burseriana and its 

 variety Gloria are lovely white- flowered sorts. 

 S. Grisebachii has reddish flowers. All these 

 are suitable for the moraine. 



There are numerous other Saxifrages, of 

 which may be mentioned oppositifolia, that 

 forms a low carpet and is one of the earliest 

 to bloom ; the flowers are rose-coloured ; gritty 

 soil and partial shade are necessary. Saxi- 

 fraga cuneifolia is an attractive little plant 



