128 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



and at the same time brightly coloured and vigorous 

 plants, as well as any. 



Hepatica, which is frequently Hsted under " H " in 

 the catalogues, as though it belonged to a separate 

 genus, is Alpine, and a lime-lover, but it is often 

 disappointing purely on account of its hatred of sun- 

 exposure. It will grow in the poorest of soil, bloom 

 with the Snowdrops and Crocuses, and cover its neat 

 little frame with beautiful flowers, always provided 

 that it has shade. It follows from this that it is not 

 an ideal rock plant, nor is it. To succeed it must have 

 a special position, where it can have protection from 

 the fierce heat of the sun. Failing this it will fade 

 away, and that speedily. One should buy the Hepatica 

 varieties, of which there are several, from bulb dealers 

 quite early in autumn, and plant them at once, then 

 there will be bloom the following spring. Although 

 they like chalky ground, they are not marked stone- 

 loving plants, and will do perfectly well m the border. 

 One may sometimes see a patch in full beauty on a 

 cottage garden border, when one's own plants are 

 dwindling. Shade is more Hkely to be the explanation 

 than anything else. There are several varieties, both 

 single and double, and all are beautiful. They may be 

 propagated by division in Autumn. 



NemorosUy the charming Wood Anemone, is a wilding 

 and thrives in the dense undergrowth of the chalk 

 hills. It need hardly be grown on the rockery, but 

 the beautiful form Rohinsoniana is well worthy of a 

 place, as it is not only a strong, hardy plant, but free 

 in bloom and of a lovely colour. The type is variable 



