262 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



species proper argenteus, a small hoary plant with 

 yellow flowers in summer ; and incanus, also with 

 yellow blooms in summer, are two of the best. They 

 like sandy loam, and may be raised from spring-sown 

 seed in the first place, afterwards being propagated 

 by division. The two first species should have moist 

 peat and a sheltered place. S. pulcher is a splendid 

 border plant. 



SHORTIA. — A small but interesting and beautiful 

 genus. The best known species is galacifoliaj which 

 is a real rock gem, having creeping tufts of evergreen 

 foHage, which assumes a warm colour in the winter, 

 and is then quite showy. The pretty fringed flowers 

 are white to pink, and are borne in spring. It is a 

 North American plant, and is quite hardy. Although 

 it is sometimes advised to be grown in moist peat, 

 I have had it very good on the face of a rock wall on 

 a poor chalky soil. Loam with a little peat and some 

 limestone grit certainly suits it. When established 

 it may form offsets, and if so they may be taken ofl, 

 and struck in sandy soil. The other species is uni flora, 

 which bears pale pink flowers in spring. 



SIBTHORPIA EUROP^.A (Cornish Money- 

 wort). — A pretty creeper for the bog garden, where 

 it thrives in moist sandy peat, or leaf mould, and bears 

 pink flowers in summer. It may be propagated by 

 division in spring. The variegated-leaved form is very 

 distinct, but it cannot be grown in the open, and is 

 generally used for hanging pots or baskets. 



SILENE (Catchfly). — A very popular genus. 

 Every flower-gardener knows the Httle pink annual 



