only suitable for localities where the soil is dry and the climate good. Where they succeed well, they grow very rapidly, making very long shoots. The older they get, the more freely do they bloom. They should be pruned in summer immediately after they are done blooming. The shoots should be thinned out, particularly those that are of most gross growth, as they are least likely to ripen. The growths left should not be shortened back much-merely topped.

The Macartney and Microphylla are also good climbing Roses, and bloom in autumn, but they are, like the Banksian, tender, and require warm, sheltered situations. In the generality of localities, it is much better to substitute for these tender varieties the Boursault and Ayrshires for summer, and the hardiest of the Noisettes and Perpetuals for autumn flowering.

Almost all the Roses we have enumerated are excellent as standard and half standard Roses; and those who admire them in that form can find plenty of them very cheap in the principal nurseries all over the country.

CHAPTER VIII.

ALPINE PLANTS-HARDY FERNS-AQUATICS, ETC.

A Selection of fifty of the best and most easily cultivated Alpine or Rock-work Plants.—In our gardens, the section usually going by the name of Alpine plants exhibits plants of many habits and widely diverse characters —from the English Lady's Slipper to the quaint and interesting little Acana of New Zealand, with its long crimson spines. In common language, Alpine plants are understood to be such as grow on high mountains; but, as we generally collect them, a dwarf and beautiful little bulb of the Cape may stand beside that exquisite gem, Gentiana bavarica. As our selection of these will be limited, it shall be confined to what we may term the true Alpines-those little evergreen gems that enamel the higher mountain ranges of Europe with a beauty which, compared with that of the great vegetations of hot countries, is as finest jewellery compared to massive brasswork. As they differ somewhat in tastes and capabilities, an explanatory word will be added here and there, as is considered necessary.

Aubrietia grandiflora :-There are several Alpines in this natural order that usually take precedence of the Aubrietias; but, like the Iberises, they are best associated with herbaceous plants. A grandiflora is named as one among many well worth growing, and as remarkably well suited for the embellishment of every

kind of rock-work. The variegated varieties are good rock plants. Æthionema cordifolium: A charming little spreading Alpine, with

neat habit, glaucous foliage, and pretty, soft, pink flowers freely produced. It can be easily raised from seed, and loves a sandy loam.

Acæna Novæ Zealandiæ: A little plant, forming a dense carpet covered with singular crimson spikelets—as curious as it is charming. Antennaria dioica rosea: Rosy pink-a little gem.

Antennaria tomentosa : Quite a gem for a dwarf silvery plant. Makes capital dwarf bands or edgings, but in moist places must be taken up and stored in dry frames.

Androsace chama-jasme: Dense clusters of white flowers with yellow

eyes.

Androsace lanuginosa : Have seen this do beautifully in the open border in light sandy soil. Flowers lilac and white with yellow eyes; trailing white silvery foliage.

Androsace villosa: A small neat plant with white flowers, slightly tinted with pink.

Acantholimon glaumaceum: a very pretty dwarf, and very hardy plant.

Alyssum speciosum: Makes a very neat silvery bush-quite a fairylooking plant.

Anthyllis montana: First-rate either on rock-work or in the border -doing well even in the stiff London clay.

Campanula pulla: Exceedingly pretty-blue and white variegated. Wherever much rock-work has to be covered, C. pumila and its white variety will be found very useful.

Calandrinia umbellata : This may be considered not strictly an Alpine, but it is, without question, the most glowingly coloured of all dwarf plants, being a dazzling magenta crimson. It thrives as a perennial in the chinks of rock-work; but as young plants bloom so abundantly, it is best to raise some plants every year from seed. It likes a fine sandy or peat soil. We know of nothing more useful for sprinkling over a rock-work in summer, -its blooms are so attractive after the spring things are gone. Dianthus alpinus: One of the loveliest Alpines in cultivation, with large and beautiful deep rose-coloured flowers spotted with crimson. It thrives best in peat or rich sandy loam, and with moisture.

Dianthus petræus: The true dwarf form of this is a first-rate Alpine,

growing freely on the ground as well as on the rock-work, and
producing abundance of deep-rose flowers. It will grow and make
neat cushiony masses where most other species of pinks last but a
very short time.
There are other sweet things in this order, but

those named are the best. Erinus alpinus: We have never seen this plant do so well as when it gets into a piece of old wall. It will cover several feet with a dense moss-like growth, and produce a perfect mass of pretty rosy-purple flowers. It likes dry quarters, and it sows itself freely.

Gentiana verna: An exquisite native Alpine, much neglected, but not difficult to grow in very gritty, moist soil. Rapid drainage and a rapid supply of moisture are necessary to its thorough wellbeing. Brilliant blue flowers. G. acaulis is too well known to need recommending here.

Gaultheria procumbens: This, though a tiny shrubby plant, is, when grown fully exposed, instead of in shade as usual, and covered with its red berries, one of the prettiest objects that can be seen among dwarf plants on a rock-work.

Lithospermum fruticosum: When well established and deeply rooted

in veins of good soil on a rock-work, this is one of the loveliest deep-blue evergreen rock plants in cultivation.

Linaria alpina: A procumbent silvery-leaved plant, with violet flowers with scarlet throats. Sows itself freely, and is easily grown.

Mazus pumilus: A very pretty-coloured and dense-growing little plant. Myosotis rupicola: A most beautiful species-perhaps the finest of the

genus; forms dwarf dense tufts, covered with its deep brilliant blue flowers. Requires a good supply of moisture.

Phlox Nelsonii, white; Phlox frondosa, pink; Phlox verna, rose; Phlox nivalis, white; Phlox procumbens, purple. These are very charming dwarf-growing and free-flowering plants, are very effective, and grow well in rock-work.

Primula farinosa : Few plants are more lovely than this, forming tufts of silvery leaves with pinkish-crimson flowers, supported on white powdered stems. It likes plenty of moisture in summer, but requires thorough drainage, otherwise it will suffer in winter.

Primula nivalis: A charming white-easy to grow.

Primula marginata: Large heads of dark lilac flowers.

Primula ciliata: Purple-fine.

Saponaria ocymoides: Pink - easily grown, and does well in the

ordinary herbaceous border, but is a useful rock-work plant for hanging over ledges.

Saxifraga cæsia: Exceedingly dwarf and pretty.

Saxifraga cristata: Large foliage, narrow, rigid, and edged with white. Saxifraga hypnoides, or any of its varieties or allies, is excellent for furnishing a vivid green carpet in winter.

Saxifraga Juniperina: Very distinct dense spiny tufts, with yellow flowers.

Saxifraga lingulata.

Saxifraga longifolia: The true variety is a splendid plant, much finer than pyramidalis; it is the queen of saxifrages.

Saxifraga oppositifolia, and varieties: Nothing can be prettier in

rock-work.

Saxifraga Mansfieldii: A free-flowering green-leaved kind-very good. Saxifraga pyramidalis: A handsome variety, throwing up racemes of white flowers, 1 to 14 foot.

Sedum Ewersii; Sedum elegans; Sedum sempervivoides; Sedum dassiphillum; Sedum rupestre.

Sempervivum arenarium; Sempervivum arachnoideum; Semper

vivum Californicum; Sempervivum globiferum ; Sempervivum hirsutum ; Sempervivum montanum; Sempervivum soboliferum ; Sempervivum tectorum. These two genera are all beautiful rock-work plants, and of the easiest culture.

Silene acaulis: This is sometimes very pretty when grown in pans for the cold frame arrangement, and it also produces a very dwarf verdant cushion on rock-work. It rarely, however, flowers so freely in a cultivated state as it does on its native mountains, where it forms large masses of its rose-coloured flowers. Soldanella alpina; Soldanella Clusii; Soldanella montana; Soldanella minima: A charming little group. They like a pure sandy loam, or peaty soil and moisture, and they sometimes do well in the common border, when left undisturbed for a time.

Rock-Plants.-The following instructive remarks on cultivating this interesting order of plants are extracted from a list of Alpine plants published by Messrs Backhouse, of York, than whom few are more fit to instruct on this subject; and any one who wants a more extensive collection than we have named cannot do better than consult such a catalogue :