6 
GENTIANA GELIDA. 
collection recently made on the Swiss mountains, have been imported from 
Mr. J. Warner, of Geneva, Switzerland, and not a few successfully germinated. 
Taking a hurried glance at all the genera which may be brought beneath the 
term " Alpine plants," we find none so intrinsically valuable as Gentiana. In 
this genus is collected a unique and most delightful congeries of the fairest 
living gems which earth produces. Blue is the prevailing colour of their blossoms, 
varying, how^ever, from the deepest ultra-marine to the softest azure. To this 
circumstance we are inclined to attribute much of their pleasing influence, having 
before remarked that blue-coloured flowers are always favourites ; while the present 
plant cannot fail to be esteemed, for in truth it presents 
" An echo of heaven's loveliest tints." 
In the species now figured, there is, indeed, more decided beauty than in any 
other we have yet had an opportunity of witnessing. It were superfluous to 
enumerate each attractive feature, since it is by their united force that they arrest 
the imagination, and the very faithful execution of our drawing will completely 
confirm the praise we have bestowed. It shall sufiice to say, that the plant grows 
to the height of five or six inches, and bears six or more flower-stems, according 
to its strength, each surmounted by about nine or twelve of its engaging blossoms. 
The plan of culture adopted by Messrs. Young is, to choose a sheltered situa- 
tion, surrounded by evergreen hedges six feet in height, and plant the specimens 
in slightly raised beds of light soil, covering the earth around each plant with 
small flatly-round pebbles, resembling, but much less than, those used for fanciful 
paving. The utility of these stones will be immediately obvious. They prevent 
the rain or worms from forcino; the soil into tlie axils of the lower leaves, and 
thus avert that danger from superabundant moisture which, from such causes, 
so often threatens these plants. The roots are likewise defended from excessive 
wet or drought by this means, and perhaps partially protected from frost. 
The history of our plant is somewhat obscure. It was raised in Britain from 
Siberian seeds, in 1807, but was most likely lost again long after. Messrs. 
Young received it from the Glasgow Botanic Garden a few years ago, and it 
flowers in their nursery in the months of July and August. 
Gentius, a king of Illyria, having experienced the medical virtues of the 
original species, Linnaeus commemorated this incident by embodying the name of 
the monarch in that of the genus. The specific appellation refers to the plant's 
native locality. 
