SAXIFRAGES 299 



The section which contains the rarest, most beau- 

 tiful, and most delicate of the saxifrages is known as 

 the Kabschia section. The saxifrages included under 

 it nearly all want some care and are all mountaineers. 

 They should be grown among large rocks that are 

 sunk deep into the soil, and must have perfect drain- 

 age and be quite free from any drip. The chief dif- 

 ficulty in their cultivation is to provide them with a 

 place that is dry enough in winter and cool enough 

 in summer. In a sunny rockery they do best, as a 

 rule, with a west or northwest aspect. On the south 

 side they are apt to be burnt up by the sun. Their 

 soil should be composed of light loam, silver sand, 

 leaf mould, and mortar rubble or pieces of limestone, 

 and the surface should be covered with rubble or 

 limestone. They should also be placed so that their 

 roots can run under a large stone. This sounds a 

 formidable list of directions; but many of the Kab- 

 schia saxifrages are worth any amount of trouble; 

 and any one who has seen a fine clump of S. burseriana 

 would be ready to take it. It grows in minute silvery 

 tufts, and from these in March rise flowers large for 

 the size of the plant and like delicate little white 

 roses. There is no more beautiful spring flower in 

 the world; and it is not really diflBcult to grow, with 

 a little care. Burseriana major is a finer variety; and 

 there is one called Gloria, not yet in commerce, and 

 said to surpass all other forms. The easiest and most 

 useful of all these saxifrages is S. apiculata, a vigorous 

 plant which makes large tufts of deep shining green. 



