10 SAMILIAS GAItD£N FLOWERS. 



in general, both in leaf and flower and love of shade, the 

 small-leaved saxifrages being for the most part lovers of 

 sunshine. The noble Saxifniga conlifoha, S. cras-si/'olici, 

 and the plant before us, S. liijidata, constitute a group 

 having large leaves rising from a stout root-stock, and 

 bearing panicles of rosy flowers on stiff tteslry stems in 

 the months of April and May. The first has flowers of a 

 clear light rose colour, which aj)pear somewhat early ; the 

 second has flowers of a rosy red, which appear later than 

 those of the first kind ; the third produces lighter-coloured 

 flowers than the others, and flowers earl}'. To these may 

 be added a scarce hybrid, raised by Mr. Parker, of Tooting, 

 called jS'. atrojrurpiirea, the flowers of which are of a deep 

 rich purplish-rose colour, and exquisitely beautiful. All 

 are handsome and useful ; but if one only is wanted^ 

 S. crassifolia, the thick-leaved variety, should have the 

 preference. 



These plants are hardy, and capable of taking care of 

 themselves, Vjut they do not prosper in any Ai-j or exposed 

 position. Damp, cold, and deep shade are alike hurtful to 

 them ; but a moist ledge or bank, where trees will give 

 partial shade in the heat of summer, is just the place where 

 they may be expected to grow freely and flower bravely. In 

 Paris they are much employed for mixing with other spring 

 flowering plants in beds ; but in this country they are 

 not often S(j used, perliaps because when summer arrives 

 they are found occupying ground which can be more ad- 

 vantageously filled with plants that flower later and con- 

 tinuously. We have had many jilantations of these saxi- 

 frages under various conditions, but one situation seemed 

 especially favourable to the plants. This was a small 

 sheltered fruit garden, consisting of rich, deep, and de- 



