72 ALPINE FLOWERS. .Part I. 



nearly hardy enough for our dimate generally, and, from 

 its sweetness and curious beauty, a most desirable plant to 

 cultivate either in a basin or fountain in the greenhouse, or in 

 a warm spot in the open air. It is largely grown in one or 

 two places in the south, and it nearly covers the surface of the 

 only bit of water in the Edinburgh •Botanic Garden with its 

 long green leaves, among which the sweet flowers float 

 abundantly. The curator of the garden accounts for the plant 

 doing so well by the fact that there are springs in the bottom of 

 the water which, to some extent, elevate its temperature. In 

 any sort of a greenhouse or conservatory aquarium, where it 

 may have room to develop itself, it is one of the loveliest of 

 water-plants. In the open air, plant it rather deep in a clean 

 spot and in good soil ; see that the long and soft leaves are not 

 injured either by ducks or any other cause. The Water Ranun- 

 culi, which sheet over our pools in spring and early summer with 

 such silvery beauty, are not worth an attempt at cultivation, so 

 rambhng and unfixable are they ; and the same applies to not 

 a few other things of interest. Orontium aquaticum is a scarce 

 and handsome aquatic for the choice collection, but as beautiful 

 as any is the not-difficult-to-be-found Water Violet (Hottonia 

 palustris). It occurs most frequently in the eastern and cen- 

 tral districts of England and Ireland. The best example of it that 

 I have seen was on an expanse of soft mud near Lea Bridge, in 

 Essex. It covered the muddy surface with a sheet of dark fresh 

 green, and must have looked better in that position than when 

 in water, though doubtless the place was occasionally flooded. 

 Polygonum amphibium and P. Hydropiper frequently flower 

 prettily by the side of streams and ponds, while the Marsh Mari- 

 gold (Caltha palustris), that " shines like fire in swamps and 

 hollows grey," will burnish the margin with a glory of colour 

 which no exotic flower could surpass. A suitable con> 

 panion for this Caltha is the very large and showy Ranunculus 

 lingua, which grows in rich ground to a height of three feet or 

 more. It is not scarce and yet not common — locally distributed, 

 in fact. Lythrum roseum superbum, a beautifully coloured 

 variety of the common purple Loose-strife, and Epilobium 

 hirsutum, are two large and fine plants for the water-side. 



What to avoid.— In the selection of a few illustrations show- 

 ing on what a mistaken principle, and with what deplorable taste, 

 rockwork is generally made, my first intention was to have had 



