EOCK, ALPINE, FERN, AND WILD GARDENING. 



191 



Saxifraga argentea. 

 Saxifraga hypnoides. 

 Saxifraga sarmeutosa. 

 Sedum Siebolui. 

 Seduia spuriuni, &c. 



Trifolium pentaphyllum. 

 Trifolium repens. 

 Veronica prostrata. 

 Zauschneria Calif ornica. 

 &c. &c. 



The Rootery may also be planted with, bulbs, and 

 few plants gain more by being lifted near to the 

 eye. It gives quite a new character to not a few 

 of them, and a Rootery mainly furnished with 

 such bulbs as Snowdrops, Crocuses, Gladiolus, Hya- 

 cinths, Bulbous Irises, Lilies, Narcissus, Orchis, 

 Scillas, Tigridias, and Tulips, has quite a rich and 

 glowing character. 



Ornamental grasses are also suitable. A few blocks 

 furnishedjwith Briza maxima first suggested this idea. 

 The plants filled the entire crown of the blocks, and 

 drooped gracefully over the side, and this and Briza 

 gracilis were repeated to such good purpose until 

 the following, among others, were added : — 



Agrostis nebulosa. 

 Agrostis pulchella. 

 Anthoxanthum gracile. 

 Broinus brizseformis. 

 Bromus elegans. 

 Eragrostis elegans. 

 Erianthus Eavennae. 



Erianthus stricta. 

 Elyrnus caput Medusae. 

 Pauicum maxima. 

 Panicum sulcatum. 

 Stipa elegantissima. 

 Stipa pinnata. 



Furnishing of the Ground- lines. — There 

 are two points to be aimed at in this matter: 

 the chief is the carpeting of the interstices be- 

 tween the blocks with dwarf vegetation ; the other, 

 the adding to the effects of the blocks themselves 

 by the employment of tall, striking, and, as far as 

 may be, different vegetation from that used either 

 in or around the roots. Taking the latter first on 

 a larger scale : some of the smaller and more orna- 

 mental trees, such as the cut-leaved Birch and 

 Beech, the variegated and other Maples, Laburnums, 

 Almonds, Acacias, Weeping-willows, &c, prove 

 very effective. Among shrubs the taller Spiraeas, 

 Deutzias, Syringas, Sumachs, Brooms, Tamarisks, 

 Berberis, choice Hollies, the purple-leaved Fil- 

 bert, and similar kinds, are striking. A few choice 

 green variegated Coniferse are also admirable, pro- 

 vided these have not been used on the larger 

 blocks. In regard to the use of trees, however, or 

 large shrubs, it must be understood they are to be 

 kept small, or removed when they become too large, 

 as otherwise they will grow up to the utter ruin of 

 the Rootery. But the chief reliance must be on tall 

 and striking herbaceous plants, such as the Hera- 

 cleum, Foxglove, Fennel, Globe Artichokes, Scotch 

 and other Thistles, Single Sunflowers, tall or 

 Ox-eyed Daisies, Monkshoods, Michaelmas Daisies, 

 Golden Rods, tall reedy Arundo donax, Verbascum, 

 the New Zealand Flax, plain and variegated; 

 Rhubarb, and, in a word, almost any plant with 

 striking leaves or flowers, too coarse or too tall for 



the herbaceous bed or border, would prove useful, 

 and chiefly for those very qualities, among the roots. 



Of course these strong-growing subjects would be 

 planted chiefly among the blocks, and their tops 

 would be disposed of so as to lighten, not hide, the 

 effect of the latter. 



Dwarf Clothing of Interstices in the 

 Rootery. — As already remarked, the more you 

 dwarf the plants on the base-line, the greater the 

 apparent height of the blocks, and as they are set to 

 give height, it is obvious that the lower in reason 

 the plants used the better. Hence the importance 

 of a free use of Forget-me-nots, Daisies, Hepaticas, 

 Valley Lilies, Primroses, Violets, Alpine Auriculas, 

 Oxalis, Aubrietias, Iberises, Alyssums, Wind-flowers, 

 Wood Hyacinths, Woodroof, and dwarf Phloxes, 

 Pansies, Irises, and bulbs, &c, for base-lines. There 

 is hardly any limit to the plants available for this 

 purpose. The following list of suitable plants, in ad- 

 dition to the above, will be found useful : — 



Pblox subulata. 

 Potentilla gracilis. 

 Potentilla reptaus. 

 Santolina'alpina. 

 Saxifraga (auy of the dwarf 



species). 

 Sedum (any of tbe dwarf 



species). 

 Seline maritima. 

 Sempervivum (any of the 



dwarf species). 

 Thyme, Golden, Silvern, 



Lemon, and common. 

 Veronica alpina. 

 Veronica cbarnsedrys. 

 Veronica repens. 

 Vicia argentea. 

 Vincia (in dwarf varieties). 



A-juga reptans variegata. 

 Autennaria alpina. 

 Antennaria tomentosum. 

 Arenaria Balearica. 

 Arenaria montana. 

 Arenaria verna. 

 Campanula fragilis. 

 Campanula hederacea, &c. 

 Cerastium Biebersteinii. 

 Cerastium tomentosum. 

 Convolvulus Mauritanica. 

 Ivy (creeping, common, 



and variegated). 

 Lamium of sorts. 

 Lin aria cymbalaria. 

 Lithospermum prostratum. 

 Lysimachia nummularia. 

 Malva campanulata. 

 Phlox reptans. 



The whole of the plants recommended for Rooteries 

 are equally suitable for Rockeries, and the general 

 principles of planting and furnishing are the same in 

 both cases, only the clothing of rocks should not be 

 carried quite so far as that of roots in general, and a 

 considerable portion of the latter should be fully ex- 

 posed, the rocks probably adding more than the roots 

 to the effects of the flowers by their contrast and 

 intrinsic beauty. 



The general culture of the Rootery is practically 

 identical with that of the Rockery, though demand- 

 ing perhaps rather more constant care. 



Slugs and other Pests. — Slugs are the greatest 

 foes of Rooteries and Rockeries. They find excellent 

 breeding, hunting, and feeding grounds around the 

 many nooks, corners, and debris of such places, and 

 the more choice the specimens the more certain they 

 are to prey upon them. Frequent night-hunts, traps 

 of Cabbage-leaves, bran, and cold Potatoes, picklings 

 of lime and soot, dry and hot, are among the best slug- 



