ALPINE FLOWERS. 



311 



Sedums, but none surpasses S. Sieboldii (fig. 660), which flowers in 

 September. When these autumnal sedums are in flower, it is marvel- 

 lous to see the number of bees which frequent them. Nearly all the 

 sedums are most readily propagated by division, and many of them, 



Fig. 659, — Sedum anglicum. 



Fig. 661. — S. Fabaria, or S. spectabile. 



Fig. 660. — Sedum Sieboldii. 



as 5. Fabaria (fig. 661), freely sow themselves, so care must be 

 taken that the coarser varieties do not propagate themselves to the 

 destruction of the weaker. They grow well in fresh soil, but 

 degenerate when they remain long in one situation. All the cultivation 

 required is to prevent them from overrunning each other, or being 

 overrun by other plants. In a plot of arid ground probably no class 

 of plants can give so much satisfaction for so little trouble. They 

 will cover the top of a wall, and make a posi- 

 tion by nature the most uninteresting, assume 

 by art all the loveliness of a flower garden. 



The Sempervivums are an interesting tribe, 

 as they live where almost any other plant 

 would perish, even on blocks of sandstone, 

 with scarcely a trace of vegetal mould. Many fig. 661 fl:.-Sempervivum tectomm 

 species live out-of-doors throughout the year, but some require pro- 

 tection in winter. The Sempervivum tectorum (fig. 661 a) is the only 

 British species. 5. montanum (fig. 662) is perfectly hardy. 5. caK- 

 fornicum (fig. 663) is both showy and useful for the edging of flower- 



