190 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



only briefly refer to the Honeysuckles, Jasmines, 

 Virginian Creeper, several varieties of the Grape- 

 vine, Sweet-briars and Climbing Roses, and even 

 Brambles, though these last, like Ivy, are apt to 

 become dangerous encroachers if not kept within 

 bounds. The article just referred to will supply all 

 needful details under this head, and offer abundant 

 material for choice. 



Plants for Growing in or on Roots. — 



Although it is not needful, nor yet desirable, to 

 convert all Rooteries into Ferneries, so far as the 

 furnishing of the tops and sides of the roots is 

 concerned, yet it must be admitted that few plants, 

 thrive better in or on blocks than Ferns. 



Many of the hardy Ferns specified in our lists will 

 answer for the furnishing of blocks ; the Polysti- 

 chums, Hart's-tongues, and Lady and Royal Ferns 

 being among the most striking and suitable. While 

 as for clothing the sides of blocks, and sending forth 

 its charming tufts of verdure and gold from every 

 nook, cranny, or crevice of stump or root, there is no 

 plant to equal the Golden Polypody. 



In striking contrast to these are the hardy Adam's 

 Needles, or Yuccas, which have a charming effect 

 raised on blocks, so as to exhibit all their beauties 

 of form. Such families as the Acanthus, Arundos, 

 Crambes, Fumarias, Panicums, Bamboos, Tritomas, 

 crown and enrich the blocks with a classical style of 

 beauty. 



Quite another and equally effective style is pro- 

 duced by a rather free use of variegated and verdant 

 coniferous plants in blocks, such as the different 

 species of Cupressus, Retinospora, Arborvitae, and 

 Golden and Silver Yews. 



The Japanese and other Maples, and such shrubs 

 or herbaceous plants as the different species and 

 varieties of Spiraea, Daphne, Deutzia, Euonymus, 

 Forsythia, Genista, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Hyperi- 

 cum, Ribes, Sumach, Tamarix, Wiegelia, Berberry, 

 &c, produce admirable effects in blocks. Ericas, 

 Azaleas, Andromedas, Crytomerias (especially ele- 

 gans in a small state), Parnettyas, Laurustinus, 

 Kalmias, Vincias, and the smaller-leaved Rhododen- 

 drons, such as Myrtifolia and Daphnoides, Skimmia 

 Japonica, &c, are also good plants for these pur- 

 poses. True, some of these, such as the Ericas, 

 Kalmias, &c, are heath plants. But what is more 

 simple and easy than the filling of a block here 

 and there with peat, another with loam, &c, just 

 where wanted, and then and there making each to a 

 very considerable extent the centre of a new form of 

 life and beauty ? 



Descending from shrubs to herbaceous plants, the 

 following genera and species look well on or de- 

 pending from roots : — 



Acanthus latif olius. 

 Achillea asplenifolia. 

 Alstomeria aurea. 

 Anemone angulosa. 

 Anemone cserulea. 

 Anemone palmata. 

 Anemone syivestris. 

 Aquilegia glandulooa. 

 Arum Italicum. 

 Asphodelus ramosus. 

 Astragalus monspessulanus. 

 Calystegia pubescens. 

 Campanula turbinata, and 



many others. 

 Delphinum in variety. 

 Dicentra (Dyletra) spec- 



tabilis. 

 Dictamnus fraxinella. 

 Epilobium angustifolium. 

 Epimedium phmatum. 

 Ferula glauca. 

 Funkia Sieboldi. 

 Geranium sanguineum, and 



others. 



Gypsophila panicnlata. 

 Helleboras niger, and its 



varieties, and also other 



species. 

 Hemerocallis gramrnea and 



others. 



Iris flavescetis, Germanica 

 variegata, and others. 



Lychnis Chalcedonica, and 

 others. 



Menyanthus trifoliata. 



Myosotis dissitiflora, and 

 others. 



(Enothera speciosa, reparia, 

 niacrocarpa, and others. 



Phytolaca decaudia. 



Polygonum cuspidata. 



Rudbekia laciuata. 



Salvia argentea. 



Sedum Sieboldi, spectabile, 

 and others. 



Tropaeolum speciosum, and 

 others. 



Veronica corymbosa. 



These are but mere samples of the many herbaceous 

 plants suited for the furnishing of blocks. It is by 

 no means, however, to be taken for granted that one 

 plant of each of these families is to be placed in a 

 block in the centre of it or otherwise to look exactly 

 like the same plant placed in a border. But rather 

 that each root, large or small, is to have character 

 and distinctness imparted to it, by being wholly 

 furnished with an irregular group of such plants. 



Strong objection has been taken to the growth 

 of Alpine plants in blocks. Some affirm that the de- 

 composition of the wood is inconsistent with that 

 solidity and sweetness of base that are indispensable 

 to the successful culture of the more rare Alpine 

 plants. There maybe some force in the objection, 

 which, however, can be obviated by placing stones in 

 the roots, quite hidden from the eye, and planting 

 the more choice Alpine plants in the chinks of these, 

 or the crevices between two or more stones. By this 

 simple expedient most of the choice Alpines already 

 specified in our chapters on " Alpineries " would grow 

 freely in or on the roots. A great many of the most 

 common and useful dwarf plants as root-clothers 

 have also been omitted, such as Aubrietias, Arabis, 

 Alyssum, Arenaria, Cherianthes, Dianthes, HeKan- 

 themum, Linum, Silene, Saponaria, Saxifrage, 

 Sedum, and Sempervivum. 



The following are pendent plants, for planting in 

 holes or crevices at considerable elevations from the 

 ground, or depending from the tops of the blocks : — 



Alyssum sasatile. 

 Antirrhinum rupestre. 

 Arabis procureum. 

 Aubrietias — all. 

 Calystegia pubescens. 

 Campanula garganica. 

 Campanula rotundifolia 



Cerastiums. 

 Convolvulus arvensis. 

 Dianthus deltoides. 

 Epigcea repens. 

 Fragaria media. 

 Galium vemum. 



Genista prostrata. 

 Helianthernums. 

 Linaria alpina. 

 Linaria cymbalaria. 

 Linum decumbens. 

 Linum flavum. 

 Lotus cornicuiatus. 

 Lysimachia nemorum. 

 Lysimachia nummu- 

 laria. 



Malva campanulata. 

 Phlox reptans. 

 Plumbago larpentse. 

 Potentilla alpestris. 



