70 FAMILIAH GARDEN FLOWERS. 



above theiiij of whieli there are sometimes as many as five 

 on a stem ; bnt they occur in twos and threes more com- 

 monly. In form and colour the plants are as satisfying as 

 any known Alpine ; they are perfect in smoothness^ and 

 as pure as the snow itself that ofttimes forms the cradle 

 of the plant on the higher levels of the Pyrenees and 

 Carpathians. 



The delicate Ijcauty of this plant will suggest that it 

 needs much care and skill In its cultivation; but the truth 

 is it needs none, being of a most accommodating habit, 

 and af)p)arently quite " at home " on a fairly good rockery 

 in any London garden. 



There are many tirst-class Alpine plants of similar 

 adaptability to the varying conditions of life in gardens. 

 It is, indeed, no difficult matter for the experienced culti- 

 vator to select, say, two to three hundred species, com- 

 prising plants of the highest order of beauty in their 

 several classes, all of them calculated to thrive under the 

 most ordinary conditions of cultivation. Tt may be of 

 some service to the reader if we sketch out the lines on 

 which such a selection should be formed, and we will 

 arrange the subjects in alphabetical order. 



Al/j-saiuii iiioii/a/i/iM and sa.vaitle, with, perhaps, r/ //;('■«//>'. 

 The first ii well known as a brilliant heap of gold in spring. 

 These require a sandy soil and an open position to be 

 quite safe against winter damp. 



Aneiiione apvnuiiia, hlaiula, fnhjoix, Iiejidfica , amjiiloxa , 

 vemoroM, raninicuhi'uh-s, ■■<i/lcextri>!, a lovely group; to 

 which may be added for the Ijorders A. japutiiro, and the 

 section of the florists under A. coroiiar'ni. The strong 

 growers require rich, deep, moist loam ; the more delicate 

 kinds a light loam with a largo proportion of grit. 



