DESCRIPTIVE AND SELECTIVE. 263 



pendula or its variety compacta. These are sown in 

 spring to flower in summer, and often in August to 

 bloom in spring, when their sparkling flowers are very 

 cheerful. There are, however, several perennial forms, 

 and very pretty they are. The popular name Catchfly 

 originates from the sticky sap on the stems. The 

 Alpines will thrive in sandy loam, especially if a Uttle 

 peat is added. Seed of several is procurable, and may 

 be sown out of doors in spring. When the plants 

 are established they may be increased by division 

 between autumn and spring. Acaulis, the Cushion 

 Pink, or Moss Campion, shown in one of the coloured 

 plates with Gentiana hrachyphylla, is charming. It forms 

 thick cushions and bears pink flowers in early summer. 

 The flowers are all but stemless, hence the specific 

 name, the flowers seeming to rest on the foliage. 

 This is still more marked in the variety exscapa, which 

 is dwarf er than the type. There is a white variety, 

 alba ; a larger, taller, darker one named grandiflora ; 

 and a double called plena. Alpestris is a pretty 

 European Alpine, growing about six inches high, and 

 producing sheets of white flowers in May. It is quite 

 hardy, and loves a sunny site with gritty soil. Eliza- 

 hethcB is a little known but exquisite species, quite 

 distinct from the others. It has glistening foliage, 

 and large brilliant rose flowers, with white centre, 

 which are produced as late as July. Maritima is the 

 British Sea Catchfly. The double form is a pretty 

 trailer, which produces its large double white flowers 

 in June, over a dense carpet of foliage. Pennsylvanica, 

 the American wild Pink, is an early bloomer, bearing 



