266 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



this can be met by planting carpeters near. It loves 

 a light sandy loam, and generally thrives above chalk. 

 When the clumps get thick some of the offsets may be 

 removed and planted for fresh stock, but otherwise it 

 need not be disturbed frequently. This plant differs 

 from the autumn Colchicum in producing leaves and 

 flowers together. Macrantha has the pecuHarity of 

 producing flowers and leaves at different seasons, 

 the former appearing in autumn, the latter in spring. 

 The flowers are larger than those of lutea, and are also 

 yellow. 



THALICTRUM (Meadow-rue).— The best known 

 member of this genus is probably aquilegi folium, 

 and it is a fine plant for the border but too large for 

 the rockery. There are several smaller species, notably 

 adiantifolium, or minus to give it its modern botanical 

 name. The flowers are yellow, and are produced in 

 June ; but they do not constitute the chief beauty of 

 the plant, which lies in the fern-like foliage. This 

 gives it a graceful appearance. The foliage is often 

 used with cut flowers as a substitute for Maidenhair 

 fern, and is superior, as it will last for several days. 

 It is easily grown in light soil, and may be propagated 

 by division. Anemonoides, otherwise Anemone thalic- 

 troides, is also worth growing. Peat may be added to 

 the soil for this species. 



THYMUS (Thyme).— The chief use of the Thymes 

 on the rockery is to form carpets, a purpose for which 

 their dense growth well adapts them. The best known 

 species is serpyllum ; there are several varieties of it 

 and one, lanuginosus, so called on account of its woolly 



