216 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



white flowers in very early spring. Others well worth 

 growing are P. viscosa, P. auricula with its varieties, 

 P. auricula marginata and P. naarginata, both of 

 which like lime; P. calycina, also a lime-lover, P. 

 glutinosa, and P. minima. They all like to be closely 

 surrounded with rocks, and the soil should be deep, 

 light, and fairly rich. Atragene alpina, the Alpine 

 Clematis, will do well in a sheltered place on the 

 north side, but it must have a good space to grow in. 

 It likes a fairly rich soil mixed with humus and lime. 

 Near it may be placed Polemonium confertum mel- 

 litum, which has sweet-scented white flowers and 

 grows about 9 in. high. This plant often dies out 

 after a year or two, but it is easily raised from seed 

 and is one of the most beautiful flowers of the Rocky 

 Mountains. Aquilegia pyrenaica, the smallest of the 

 Columbines, also does well on the north side. It is 

 a rare plant, growing only a few inches high, and a 

 form of A. vulgaris is often sold for it. The true 

 plant is well worth growing. 



Where there is an excavated rock garden many 

 beautiful plants may be grown upon its lower northern 

 slopes. It is in such a position that Ramondia pyre- 

 naica does best, placed between rocks so that its roots 

 run almost horizontally backwards, and so that the 

 sun never strikes upon its leaves. It likes a fibrous 

 soil of loam, peat, and leaf-mould, with a good dose 

 of lime. It is always finest near to water, but will 

 do well without it, provided it gets no sun. Its true 

 beauty is only shown when it is flourishing. Plants 



