SAXIFRAGES (ROCKFOILS). 175 



Most of the Saxifrages thrive in ordinary garden 

 soil, and are propagated by seed or division in spring. 



The difference in the habit of the Saxifrages has led 

 to some attempt at classification. The botanists have 

 formed more than a dozen different sections, each with 

 its distinctive title, but the average flower-lover and 

 hardy plant dealer is satisfied with the more rough 

 and ready plan of throwing the mossy section into one 

 group, the encrusted species with foHage in rosettes 

 into a second, and the broad-leaved into a third. 



The following are a few of the best of the Mossy 

 Saxifrages. 



Guildford Seedling. — ^This precious little Rockfoil 

 forms a dense mass of green mossy foliage, from 

 which rise large numbers of pretty rosy flowers. It 

 blooms in spring. 



Hypnoides. — This is the typical Mossy Saxifrage, 

 a British plant, forming the closest of carpets, and 

 never fresher in its lively green than in winter, when 

 most plants are dingy. It will thrive in almost any 

 soil, in sun or shade, spreads fast, bears transplanting 

 at almost any season, and is easily increased by division. 

 The flowers are white, but there are several varieties 

 of it, such as purpurea, with red flowers, and rosea, 

 rose. They bloom in spring. 



Decipiens. — Bears flower stems about six inches 

 high, and abundance of white flowers in May. There 

 is a variety called grandi flora, and there are others. 



Muscoides. — ^This pretty little species has yellowish 

 flowers, and the brighter varieties, such as atropur- 

 purea, deep red ; Rhei, rose ; and Rhei superba, deep 



