THE GARDEN OF ALPINES 23 



The family of Saxifrages includes many varieties which 

 are purely Alpine, in fact the genus is probably more 

 fully represented in the mountain ranges of the Alps 

 than any other. They are of the simplest culture and 

 embrace plants of such varied habit, that a beautiful 

 garden might be made of the Rockfoils alone. The 

 large leathery-leaved kinds should be grown in the 

 lower terraces, the silver-hued and green-tufted varieties 

 in the middle spaces, whilst the tiny moss-like growths 

 of the smallest of the genus, will cling to the joints and 

 crevices of the highest rocks. 



The Pyramidal Saxifrage (S. Cotyledon) is one of the 

 largest, and is readily increased by offsets from the 

 parent plants. Its large silvery leaf rosettes and spikes 

 of white blossoms contrast vividly with patches of blue 

 flowers. S. longifolia is even larger, with grey leaves 

 dotted with white, and large panicles of creamy flowers. 

 In a crevice among the rocks the huge leaf tufts are 

 most striking, and providing the roots can penetrate 

 deeply, it will be quite at home in a perpendicular wall. 

 The plant seeds freely and the stock may be readily 

 increased. S. Aizoon is valuable more for its silvery 

 foliage than for its flowers ; S. lantoscana, in the in- 

 crusted-leaves section, has a drooping flower spike with 

 bright clusters of narrow leaves. Of altogether smaller 

 habit is the tiny S. caesia, which at first sight might be 

 taken for a small silvery moss clinging to the surface of 

 weathered boulders. The flowers are white, and the 

 plant though not always easy to establish, usually thrives 

 in sandy soil which is not allowed to become dry in 

 summer. S. Burseriana is one of the most precious 

 plants in the whole of the Alpine garden. As early as 

 January the silver foliage is flecked with brown buds, 

 each carried on a small red stalk. It does best in a well- 

 drained chalky soil, and soon spreads among the stones. 

 S. aretiojdes is so diminutive that special care must be 



