January 10, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
I?. 
THE ROCK GARDEN. 
Ramondia pyrenaica. 
The successful cultivation of this charming Alpine in the 
open air is no easy matter in the southern and eastern counties 
of England, unless a proper situation is selected for it. 
Shade is necessary in order to secure the proper degree of 
moisture, and the presence of rocks to keep the spongy and 
hairy leaves relatively dry in winter. The plant can be tilted 
on its side, where the rocks are sufficiently steep to permit of it, 
and moisture is thus prevented from lodging in the crown. 
When grown in pots the conditions can he secured by standing 
the pots in a cold frame, facing the north. 
the depth of which the photograph does not show very clearly. 
Most of the plants are situated near the top, where they get 
the greatest amount of light, but some of them scatter away 
down towards the bottom. The roots were inserted between 
the crevices of the sandstone, and though good soil is scanty 
tlie plants are happy, and flower splendidly every year. The 
soft purple flowers rise above the rosettes of leaves in great 
numbers, and to a height of -1 in. to 6 in. on the leafless scapes. 
11. p. alba succeeds as well as the typical form. Near the base 
of the recess the allied Haberlea rhodopensis, from Greece, 
also grows well and flowers freely. 
This part of the rockery is also of considerable interest, not 
only to visitors, but connoisseurs and lovers of hardy plants 
generally, for there is always something of interest in the same 
recess as the Ramondia and its allies, besides the Ferns. One 
of the most important, of these is the blue Himalayan Poppy 
(Meconopsis Wallichii), a biennial which, after being reared 
Ramondia pyrenaica at Kew. 
As our illustration refers to a fine colony of this plant in 
the rockery at Ivew, we may as. well describe the conditions 
under which it is grown there. About a foot or two. under the 
surface of the natural soil most of the ground consists of 
fine sand. The site of the rockery was excavated, and the 
material thrown on the top, so that a considerable elevation 
was obtained. 
At the southern end is a belt of Elm, Lime and Holly 
trees, whereby shade is secured for most part of the day, 
except in the early morning. Just here, in a rather narrow 
and deep recess, the Ramondia finds a comfortable home. 
The sides of the recess are built up rather steeply with a 
coarsely granular sort of red sandstone. When being built 
the stones were piled over one another, leaving little space for 
a made-up compost of any kind. Shade and moisture were 
the principal objects aimed at to meet the convenience and 
requirements of Ferns, which are still largely grown on the 
steep sides of the recess. 
The Ramondia occupies the northern aspect of the recess, 
in the frames with other seedlings, takes it® place here for the 
rest of its life. The large, deeply-'!®™ leaves are thickly 
covered with pale orange or rusty-coloured hairs that give the 
plant an interesting aspect at all times. During the first 
year, it only forms a rosette of such leaves, but during the 
second year, if strong enough, it throws up a stem t 0 i the height 
of 3 ft. to 5 ft. or more, and bearing pale blue, drooping flowers 
on the branches. The plant is perennial, but liable to die oft’ 
occasionally owing to. the moisture of our wet climate lodging 
in the foliage. 
Equally interesting as an associate is Cypripedium spect-a- 
bile, the finest of all the hardy Slipperworts. Being dwarier 
than the Meconopsis, it occupies the front portion of the floor 
of the recess, facing the visitors, and flowers in June. The 
conditions that suit the other plants in this happy community 
seem to suit the Cypripedium, and, judging from the vigorous 
growth made and the flokvers produced 1 , the plants are perfectly 
happy and contented with their surroundings. While per¬ 
fectly exposed to subdued light, they are never exposed to sun¬ 
shine, except in the early morning. 
