wells its olive-shaped buds. At this stage a good specimen clump is
very attractive, and is only more so when the fine blooms first open.

[Illustration: FIG. 81. SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS.

(One-half natural size.)]

It should be grown amongst some such carpeting plants as _Sibthorpia
Europaea_ or _Linaria pilosa_, so as to protect it; moreover, these
creepers are suited for a similar soil and position. The soil should be
light, either of sandy or vegetable character, but one that cannot bake;
shade from the mid-day sun is essential, as also is plenty of moisture.
When the growths have become crowded, as they do in about three years,
it is as well to lift, divide, and replant at a distance of 3in.; this
is best done after the tops have died off in summer; plant 4in. or 5in.
deep.

Flowering period, April and May.

Saponaria Ocymoides.

ROCK SOAPWORT, _or_ BASIL-LEAVED SOAPWORT: _Nat. Ord._
SILENACEAE.

A very hardy alpine from France, and one of the most floriferous
subjects that can be placed on rockwork, where should be its position.
During a single season it is no uncommon thing to see a small plant grow
into a large cushion 2ft. in diameter, and only 6in. or 9in. high. In
planting it this fact should not be overlooked, not only for the sake of
giving it plenty of room, but also in order that less vigorous subjects
near it may not become overgrown; it blooms all summer, and though the
flowers are small and not at all bright, their numbers render it
attractive.

The flowers, which are about 1/2in. across, are of a pink colour, and
produced on many-branched prostrate stems; the calyx is five-toothed;
the corolla is formed of five flat petals; the leaves are small,
basil-like, oval-lance shaped, entire and smooth; the general appearance
of the plant when in bloom is that of a compact mass of small leaves and
flowers, the latter predominating.

It will grow in any kind of soil, but prefers that of a vegetable
character, with its roots amongst large stones; but, strictly speaking,
it needs nothing but an open situation and plenty of room to spread. It
ripens an abundance of seed, and there is not a better mode of
propagation than its own; hundreds of stout seedlings appear the
following spring around the parent plant, and these may then be
transplanted, and they will flower the same season.

_S. o. splendens_ is a variety of the above very much improved indeed;
and though one cannot discard the good old