158 THE WILD GARDEN. 
where if they are not too much overshadowed by trees and coarse vege- 
tation. Such kinds as S. spurium, S. pulchellum, kamtschaticum, and 8. 
spectabile are among the most ornamental. The last, being a stout 
herbaceous plant, would be worth associating with such in wild places. 
There are nearly 100 species of stonecrop in cultivation in Britain. 
Saxifrage, Saxifraga—A very extensive genus of plants, abun-— 
dantly distributed on mountains in northern countries. For our 
present purpose they may be broadly thrown into five sections—the 
mossy section, represented in Britain by S. hypnoides; the silvery 
section, represented by 8. Aizoon ; the London Pride section, by the 
Kerry saxifrages ; the Megasea section, by the large cabbage-leaved S. 
crassifolia ; and the oppositifolia section, distinguished by its rosy-purple 
flowers. With the exception of the Megasea and oppositifolia sections, 
which have rosy flowers, most of the saxifrages have white blossoms 
spotted with red ; a few are yellow, and all are very hardy, and: the 
easiest to grow of all alpine flowers. The mossy, silvery, and purple 
saxifrages may be naturalised with the greatest ease on bare rocky or 
mountainous grounds, amidst dwarf vegetation ; but, as the places in. 
which this kind of ground occurs are comparatively few, the Megaseas, 
and the Kerry saxifrages, are probably the most generally useful, as 
they can fight their way amongst coarse grass and other common herbs. 
There: are probably nearly 150 species in cultivation in the botanic 
gardens of England, though in many private gardens they are very 
little known. 
Houseleek, Sempervivum.—Very dwarf and succulent plants, 
with their fleshy leaves arranged in dense rosettes, and mostly with 
curious but seldom conspicuous flowers, abounding in mountainous 
regions, and: very hardy. The greater number of these grow quite 
as freely as the common Houseleek in any arid soil, and in any position 
where the vegetation is not taller than themselves, such as on bare 
sandy banks, gravelly heaps, etc. There are about fifty hardy kinds 
in cultivation in the gardens in this country. 
Meadow Rue, Thalictrum.—Tall and vigorous herbaceous plants, 
mostly without any beauty of flower when closely examined, but often 
affording a pleasing distant effect when seen in masses, and hence 
desirable for this mode of gardening, though seldom suitable for 
a position in the garden proper. They grow in any soil, and should 
be placed among yank herbs and coarse vegetation, not in the fore- 
ground, which might be occupied by more brilliant subjects. There 
are many kinds not differing much in aspect ; some of the smaller ones 
