196 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



The intermediate section is recommended as a happy 

 mean between the old majus section and the Tom 

 Thumb. The former is too vigorous in growth for the 

 rock garden, the latter somewhat stunted. The inter- 

 mediates grow about a foot high. The dwarf, creamy 

 species asarina is worth growing. 



AQUILEGIA.—See Chapter III. 



ARABIS (Rock Cress or Mountain Snow). — In the 

 many references already made to this useful plant in 

 the present work, emphasis has been laid on its some- 

 what straggHng habit. With its common associate 

 the Aubrietiay and with the pure white Snow-in- 

 Summer, it does splendid service, but it is apt to over- 

 grow weaker gems. The double is more compact than 

 the single, and in every way a better plant, but even 

 that must be prevented from encroaching on weak 

 things. If planted on the top of a rockery — and they 

 never look better than rambhng down the face of a 

 rock — they ought to have a reservation of their own, 

 unless, indeed, their neighbours are vigorous things 

 Uke Fumitory and Valerian, which are quite capable 

 of looking after themselves. There are two largely 

 grown species of Arabis, albida and alpina. The 

 former is the better, and the double is a variety of it. 

 There are also forms with variegated leaves, of which 

 argentea variegata, with silver variegation, is perhaps 

 the best. Lucida variegata has green foliage edged 

 with yellow. There is a species, aubrietioides, with 

 pink flowers. Those of the Arabises of which seed is 

 not procurable may be increased by division, the 

 double by cuttings. 



