ALPINES AND AVALL PLANTS. 



181 



Eahly Experiences. 



All my early experiences had to do with small bits of plants removed 

 from the parent for the most part, or the surplus plants from the annual 

 or biennial potting. This, unfortunately, has its drawbacks, and I 

 remember one wall in particular that was well stocked contained in the 

 main only small bits. This is naturally catalogued as among early mistakes 

 in wall gardening, and is mentioned here for guidance. Much better 

 results are secured by grouping, whether seeds or young plants or both are 

 employed. 



Plants in Groups. 



For example, assuming the plants are forthcoming, a sample of grey 

 wall may be secured by employing Saxifracja longifolia, S. lingulata, 

 S. Hostii, S. cochlearis, Achillea umhellata, Dianthus ccbsuis, &c., &c. 

 Another mass may be had from Alyssum saxatile, and fine pictures of 

 colour by massing the Aubrietias, though always separately and not in 

 mixed varieties. In shade or partial shade many of the crusted Saxifrages 

 are very beautiful ; while in the drier positions the Arachnoid section of 

 House Leeks and the hardy Opuntias should be employed freely. Or, again, 

 nothing could possibly surpass a rugged bit of wall devoted entirely to the 

 following Saxifrages : — S. longifolia, S. Cotyledon, both of these having 

 immense panicles of white blossom, while the June flowering S. cocJdearis, 

 with its mass of snow-white flowers, is perhaps the most satisfying of all. 

 Then in the red Valerian, in Dryas, Anchnsa italica, Otlionna cheirifolia, 

 we have plants worthy of being specialised in like manner. All that is 

 needed to give effect to such things is suitable walls and suitable environ- 

 ment. This much conceded, the remainder resolves itself into the 

 thought of the planter. 



Old Walls — Seeds. 



Very old walls and boundary walls — boundary walls particularly — I 

 consider are infinitely better if treated with seeds, particularly so if, as 

 sometimes happens, a moss-covered plinth exists, for this will be of 

 material help when the seeds germinate. For these walls the commoner 

 things are best — Wallflow^ers, Snapdragons, Poppies, Thrift, Aubrietias, 

 and if a tall and showy plant be desired I know nothing that can in any 

 way compare with the red Valerian. Two other plants deserving special 

 mention are Zanschneria californica and Corydalis capnoides aurea. 

 These are especially valuable, if not indeed invaluable, for quite dry 

 walls. Both, however, should be sown in the walls, as plants fail again 

 and again ; while in freshly-built walls the former is much easier to 

 establish if the stolons can be laid in as the wall is built. Indeed, 

 numbers of plants may thus be established with comparative ease that 

 are most difficult after. 



Time for Planting. 



As to time, I consider early autumn the best for a large number of 

 seeds and plants, particularly where the former are long in vegetating. 

 Plants may be inserted, too, in springtime, and of course success depends 

 largely on the attention bestowed on the newly planted subjects. 



