204 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
One thing must constantly be borne in mind, that it is an error to 
suppose that ‘ little plants ’ require but very shallow soil! As narrow a 
crack or crevice as you please, only it must lead to an abundant supply for 
deeply rooting hungry fibres, that hate both ‘ starvation’ and the irregu¬ 
larity of temperature and moisture inseparable from shallow soil. Gentiana 
verna is a little plant, its tuft of leaves rarely attaining the elevation of an 
inch ; but we are not exceeding the truth in saying that it both likes (and 
apparently requires for full development), 18 inches depth at least of rich 
fibrous loam, interspersed thickly with blocks of limestone! It is almost 
impossible to get ‘ to the bottom ’ of its far-rooting tiny threads in a 
native locality. And the same rule holds good with multitudes, and cannot 
be too closely attended to. Any kind of stone will do for rockwork, but 
sandstone (millstone grit) is the best. 
A host of beauties are usually ready to expand their blossoms with the 
earliest days of spring, and frequently even among the snow. Beginning 
with the last week in the old year, scores of pots of the lovely Anemone 
apennina have expanded their large blue flowers with us on a northern 
border, in spite of frost and snow. They always appear to bloom sooner in 
such a position than with a southern exposure—we presume by ‘ winter¬ 
ing ’ earlier. 
A very large proportion of the most showy species may be grown in an 
ordinary border in common soil, and nearly the whole range of alpine plants 
(which constitutes one of the most interesting class of perennials), may also be 
yrown ivell in p>ots, where a garden is devoid of the rockwork which best repre¬ 
sents their natural ‘ element.’ Whether cultivated in pots, or on rock¬ 
work, it may be well here to state, that after long experience, and far too 
much of that kind of ‘ misfortune ’ which usually attends ‘ experimenting ’ 
upon new plants, we find that, as a rule, it is an error to place in the shade 
in summer, for the sake of coolness, those species which inhabit very high 
mountain regions. These plants, as a class, hate the soft, humid, ‘ lifeless ’ 
atmosphere which shady situations in low districts afford. Living natur¬ 
ally on lofty ridges, they are constantly exposed to high winds and an 
atmosphere of crystalline clearness, through which the sun’s rays dart down 
with a vehemence which often heats the rocks till you can scarcely bear to 
touch them. This brilliant sunshine in the day time alternating with ex¬ 
cessively heavy dews or sharp frosts at night, are the summer conditions of 
a large number of the rarest and most beautiful species in their native 
abodes. And these, born near vast fields of perpetual snow, receive a rapid 
and permanent supply of moisture at the roots, which is checked only when 
wintry winds again bind everything in a mass of ice. 
Very rapid and perfect drainage, combined with an equally rapid and 
continuous supply of water, are therefore essential to thoroughly healthy 
development, On rockwork this may be easily accomplished, by all owing- 
water to escape from a pipe at or near the highest point, in a very slender 
stream, or 1 fast drop,’ which will keep a large * district ’ below both more 
humid and cooler than when similar effects are aimed at by ordinary water¬ 
ing. Some species—such for instance as Eritrichium nanum, Androsace 
lanuginosa, Cerastium alpinum , and those plants generally which have silky 
or cottony foliage, evidently dislike having their leaves w T et by artificial 
means, especially in winter; as in a wild state they are either buried during 
that season in dry snow, or subjected to frosts which destroy every particle 
of moisture. These must either be planted where an overhanging ledge pro- 
