131 



about them ; a few pieces of stone buried around 

 them will answer a similar purpose. 



Among suitable rock-plants which should 

 not be forgotten are Adonis vernalis (the grace- 

 ful rock-cress), the finer cinquefoils, many of the 

 Szlenes, Saponaria ocymoides, Lotus cornicula- 

 tus, Genista saggitalis, the Dodecatheons, the 

 Alyssums, the Androsaces, the Alpine Dian- 

 thus, and such of the Alpine harebells as do 

 not spread too much at the root. The species 

 and varieties specified in this, and alluded to in 

 other chapters, are a few of many desirable 

 plants suitable for the rock-garden. 



There are hosts of others I am not familiar 

 with that I have not enumerated ; there are 

 many that have not been alluded to because 

 they are objectionable either on account of 

 creeping root-stalks, bad colors, or other rea- 

 sons ; there still remain many tender or capri- 

 cious subjects it is difficult to manage in our 

 trying climate. But each one should try for 

 himself plants which he thinks desirable, and 

 thus ascertain their adaptability to soil and cli- 

 mate. I am informed, for instance, that Onos- 

 ma taurica, one of the finest of Alpine plants, 

 that is very difficult to manage in England and 

 that has failed with me, is' successfully grown in 

 Boston. I might say the same of many other 



