Part II. SAGINA—SANGUINARIA. 309 



SAGINA GLABRA. — Lawn Pearlwort. 



A PLANT very generally known in consequence of being much 

 talked of a few years since as a substitute for lawn-grass, and 

 though it has not answered the expectations formed of it in 

 that way, it is none the less a very beautiful and minute alpine 

 plant exceedingly welcome on rockwork, and forming carpets 

 almost as compact and smooth as velvet on, level soil, dotted 

 with numerous small but pretty and white flowers, the light, 

 fresh green, moss-like carpet being starred with them in early 

 summer. It is unsurpassed for forming carpets of the freshest 

 and dwarfest verdure beneath taller, but coinparatively small, 

 beautiful and rare bulbs or Other plants which it may be de- 

 sired to place to the best advantage. It is most readily multi- 

 pUed by pulling the tufts into small pieces, and replanting them 

 at a few inches apart ; they soon meet and form a carpet. 

 It is also readily increased by seeds, but this mode is rarely 

 worth resorting to, unless it is desired to propagate the plant 

 largely for lawn-making. Although it does not generally form 

 a permanent and satisfactory turf yet it is quite possible by 

 selecting a rather deep Sandy soil, and by keeping it perfectly 

 clean and well rolled, to make a beautiful turf of it ; but this 

 is rarely worth attempting except on a small scale, and when 

 it begins to perish in flakes here and there, it should be taken 

 up and replanted. It is very commonly grown in gardens under 

 the name of Spergula pilifera, but it really is a variety of Sagina 

 glabra of the Alps, found on high mountains in Corsica. Are- 

 naria ccBspitosa, Spergula subulata, axidSpergulasaginoides (a 

 British plant) are also names by which it is known in gardens 

 and described in gardening periodicals. 



SANGUINAEIA CANADENSIS.— .S/f'Oisi'wo/. 



•A CURIOUS, distinct, and pretty plant, with thick underground 

 stems, from which spring kidney-shaped leaves cut into large 

 wavy or toothed lobes, sea-green in tone, and full, of an orange- 

 red and acrid juice. The 'Stems grow from fqur, to six inches 

 high, each bearing a solitary and handsorne white flower when 

 the plant is established, in healthy tufts, which are very effective 

 in early spring. I have always observed this plant grow best in 

 somewhat shaded and moist positions and in rich but well- 



