THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
213 
imagined they had found their way back to their origi¬ 
nal stony clefts and chinks on the mountains. At a 
later date I had before me a lot of these plants, that, as 
surplus stock, were destined for the rubbish heap, but it 
seemed a shame to throw them away. There was in 
progress then the formation of a playground under the 
shade of some large trees. A space was paved with 
bravely in the shade of the trees.] r The sorts that stood 
this severe test with the least amount of deterioration 
were: Alstromeria anrea, A. pelegiina A. psittacina, and 
A. hcemantha, to which may be added a few of “Van 
Houtte’s seedlings which are usually grouped under the 
specific designation as A. Van Houttei. 
But to do full justice to these plants an open spot is 
Alstromeria Chiliensis. 
concrete for the purpose, and enclosed on three sides 
with raised banks, on which were planted Ivy, Wood¬ 
ruff, Sun-roses, and these rejected Chilian Lilies. The 
Ivy spread at a rapid rate, and the Alstromerias were in 
danger of being blotted out. But this did not happen, 
for they throve amazingly and during nine years, suc¬ 
cessively, pushed up through the Ivy and flowered 
required, and a well-drained, loamy, sandy, or peaty 
soil. A. aurea will thrive on damp loam, and will not 
soon die even on an undrained clay. But it does not 
demand any special conditions, being hardy and accom¬ 
modating. All that are worth growing in open borders 
in the country—more especially those named above— 
will thrive in any open town-garden where the best 
