EOCK, ALPINE, FERN, AND WILD GARDENING. 



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many rockeries. The flowers are of a pink colour, 

 half an inch across, and appear from May to 

 August. It is dwarf in height, hut will cover 

 a considerable space if in health : it should con- 

 sequently be so planted as to have space for develop- 

 ment. Easily raised from seeds. A native of 

 France. 



* Saxifrages. — If our rockeries had to depend on 

 this family alone for their adornment they might be 

 made very beautiful all the year round, for whether 

 in or out of flower they are always lovely. They 

 are abundant in Eill the great mountain chains of the 

 Northern Hemisphere. They vary from the tiniest 

 size to large-leaved plants of somewhat coarse 

 appearance. The bulk of them, however, are just 

 such plants as are most suitable for the rookery, 

 where they grow in bosses and cushions which are 

 always bright and cheerful to look at. In a very 

 excellent list of Alpine plants issued by one of the 

 leading firms of nurserymen, this interesting family 

 is divided into five sections : — (1) Encrusted Saxi- 

 frages: leaves in rosettes, silvery in appearance. 

 (2) Geum type : leaves generally oval or roundish, 

 flowers in dense spikes (London Pride the most 

 widely diffused of the type). (3) Moss-Uke Saxi- 

 frages : these are the kinds forming dense cushions 

 most usually seen on rockeries. (4) The OppositifoHa 

 type : plants of prostrate habit, of which one of our 

 most beautiful native Alpines is a characteristic 

 representative. (5) Miscellaneous Saxifrages, which 

 includes a number of diverse plants mostly bearing 

 yellow flowers. The cultivation of the bulk of Saxi- 

 frages is so easy that any one can grow them in 

 almost every position. They are readily increased 

 by division, and the smaller the portion planted, 

 provided it be planted firmly, the more likely it will 

 be to thrive. The very small slow-growing kinds 

 reqnire just a little more attention in planting than 

 the more robust sorts, but no real difficulty will be 

 found in planting any of them. The bulk of the 

 Saxifrages grow rapidly, and must be allowed suffi- 

 cient room to spread. They must not be planted 

 near slower-growing smaller plants, or they will soon 

 smother them. It is also advisable to plant the 

 smaller and slower-growing kinds where they will 

 run no risk of being overgrown by their neighbours. 

 The following are among the best Mnds in the five 

 sections enumerated, suitable for rockeries of aU 

 descriptions : — 



Section I. — Encrusted Saxiekages. 



Section II. — Geum Type. 



Saxifraga Aizoon. 

 S. axetioides. 

 S, Bnrseriana. 

 S. cEesia. 

 S. Cotyledon. 

 S. crustata. 

 S. Hostii. 



S. jnniperina. 

 S. lantoscana. 

 S. longifolia. 

 S. pyxamidalis. 

 S. Bocheliana 

 S. diapensioides. 



Saxifraga Andrews!. 

 S. Bucklondi. 

 S. G«uuL. 



S. Geam crenulata. 

 S, Geum deutata. 



S. Geum gracUis. 



S. hirsuta. 



S. umtrosa. 



S, umbrosa foliis variegata. 



Section- III. — Mobs-like Saxipijages. 



Saxifraga ajugEefolia. 

 S. atropurpurea. 

 S. csespitosa. 

 S. ceratophylla. 



S. hypnoides. 

 S. Maweana. 

 S. tenella. 

 S. Wallacei. 



Section IT. — Oppositifolia Section. 



Saxifraga oppositifolia. 

 S. oppositifolia alba. 

 S. oppositifolia major. 



S. oppositifolia pyreuaica. 

 S. retusa. 



Section V. — Miscellaneous Saxifrages. 



Saxifraga aizoides. 

 S. Cymbalaria. 



S. Hircnius. 



Many other kinds might be named, but the above 

 will doubtless prove quite sufficient for the bulk of 

 growers, and will supply all the types suitable for 

 rockeries except the large-leaved Megaseas, which 

 we think too large except for very bold rockeries. 



* SciUa amcma (Pleasing SquiO). — A pretty bulbous 

 plant which supplies neat flowers early iu the spring ; 

 although not so attractive as others of the same 

 genus, it is worthy of a place on a fully-furnished 

 rockery. Ordinary garden soil. Propagated by oc- 

 casional division of the bulbs. Native country un- 

 certain, but is naturalised in many parts of conti- 

 nental Europe. 



*Scilla hifolia (Two-leaved Squill) . — As this blooms 

 very early it should be planted in a somewhat shel- 

 tered position, where, during bad weather, a little 

 protection could be afforded, thus saving the flowers 

 from injury. Several varieties of this useful plant 

 will be found in most of the catalogues, and they are 

 all worth growing. Ordinary garden soil. Europe. 



* Seilla nutans (Blue-beU Squill).— This is our 

 native wild Hyacinth, as it was formerly called 

 on account of the general form of the perianth — so 

 abundant in woods and elsewhere, and always very 

 beautiful. Suitable for the rougher parts of the 

 rockery where the ground is covered by some dwarf 

 surfacing plant. There are several varieties, some 

 very pretty. Ordinary garden soil, and any position 

 where room can be afforded to grow it in masses. 



Seilla sibirica (Siberian SquiU).— This is the most 

 universal favourite among the Squills; it blooms 

 after S. bifolia and before <S. mncena, and is usually 

 in perfection about the time of the 'Varsity Boa'' 

 Race. The flowers are of a lovely dark blue colour. 

 As it blooms so early, the position assigned it should 

 be as protective as possible from rough winds. It is 

 perfectly hardy, and may be gi-own iu almost any 

 soil except heavj' clay. 



