146 ALPINE FLOWERS. Part II. 



chiefly valuable for its power of thriving on stiff, cold, and bad 

 soils. I have never seen any dwarf alpine flower thrive better 

 on the stiff clay of North London, which proves that the plant 

 may be grown anywhere. Resisting any cold or moisture, it is 

 peculiarly fitted for a position among the dwarf plants in the 

 front rank of the mixed border, while it is of the first order of 

 merit as a rockwork plant. A native of the Alps of Europe, 

 propagated by division and by seeds. 



ANTIRRHINUM MAJUS. — Snapdragon. 



Like the Wallflower, this claims a place from the facility with 

 which it may be grown on old walls and ruins, or even on the 

 tops of walls far from old. Had we but the common variety, -it 

 would be well worthy of our attention from this habit, but when 

 it is considered how many beautiful striped, and self-coloured, 

 and flaked, and mottled, and delicately dotted kinds are now 

 aburidant in gardens, and raised from seed as easily as grass, 

 few will doubt the desirability of naturalising them where- 

 ever there is an opportunity so to do. I speak of their merits 

 apart altogether from ordinary garden culture, for which also 

 they are so well adapted. In all but the rougher kind of rock- 

 gardens, they would be out of place, though some very dwarf 

 sorts recently raised, and now obtainable in nurseries, are small 

 enough for association with subjects growing about half a foot 

 high, or a little more. 



AQUILEGIA AXSTNA-.-'-Alpine Columbine. 



This plant, widely distributed over the higher parts of the 

 Alps of Europe, is indispensable to the choice collection of 

 alpines. The stems rise from less than one to more than two 

 feet high, bearing showy blue flowers, and leaves deeply 

 divided into hnear lobes. There is a loySy variety with a 

 white centre to the flower, which, in consequence of its exqui- 

 site tones of colour, is certain to be preferred, and many will 

 say they have not got the " true " plant if they possess only 

 the variety with blue flowers. It does not require any very 

 particular care in culture, but should have a place among the 

 taller ornaments of the rockwork, and be planted in a rather 

 moist and sheltered but not shady spot in deep sandy loam or 

 peat. It may be increased by seed or division. In moist 



