Soldanella comprises a most interesting group of the smallest and most beautiful of Alpine plants. It is nearly related to Cortusa and Primula, but is easily distinguished from either by the cup-shaped deeply-fringed corolla, and by the style of the foliage, which, with the simplest variation, is the same in all the species, and at the same time very distinct from that of any of the species of the related genera. They are found at very lofty elevations on the Alps of Europe; two, at least, of the species ascend to near the line of perpetual snow. To be successful with them, we must, as near as circumstances will permit, imitate the climate and other conditions of their native homes. I have seen them succeed very fairly in an open peat border in Ireland, but they are soon lost if any attempt is made to cultivate them in the open border in the majority of localities - and, indeed, success is not always sure on rockwork; but with proper care and attention they are very manageable in pots, wintered in frames, and bloomed there, and transferred to the rockwork to make growth. A moderately shady position is best, and they would suffer a constant state of saturation, and be the better for it while growing, provided the drainage is good; but when ample growth is made, less moisture is necessary.

In nature they are deluged with snow-drip while growing, but it must be remembered that on the steep mountain-sides and rocky places on which they are found it is impossible that stagnation can take place. In winter they will endure much cold, but suffer disastrously from damp; the frame, therefore, in which they are wintered should be cool and dry; and if they are left on the rockwork out of doors, a ledge projecting overhead, so as to protect from battering showers, would be a good safeguard. Propagate by division immediately after flowering, and by seeds sown as soon as ripe, in a cold frame.

Soldanella Alpina

Soldanella Alpina has small round leaves, dark-green, smooth, and somewhat leathery, on short stout stalks. The flower-stalks are erect, bearing two or three bright purple, slightly bell-shaped, deeply-fringed flowers. Flowers in April or May. Sandy peat and loam. Very high elevations on the Alps, Pyrenees, and Apennines. •

Soldanella Montana

Soldanella Montana is closely allied to Soldanella alpina; the leaves are similar in form but larger, and the flowers are more numerous in the umbel, less deeply fringed, and paler purple. Flowers in April and May. Found in moist open woods at high elevations on the mountains of Austria and Bohemia. Very sandy peat and loam, the peat predominating.

Soldanella Minima

Soldanella Minima is perhaps the prettiest, as it is also one of the least, of the group. The leaves are very small, and nearly round or kidney-shaped. The flower-stalks are erect but slender, bearing usually only one comparatively large flower, whitish, and veined on the inner surface with pale purple, the fringe not deep. Flowers in April and May. Mountains of Switzerland, Styria, and Carniola. Same soil as for the two preceding species.

Soldanella Pusilla

Soldanella Pusilla is very beautiful, but rather rare. It is in the way of Soldanella minima; the flowers, however, are bright blue, and I have met with an almost copper-coloured variety that is interesting. From the Alps of Switzerland. Flowers in April and May. Sandy peat and loam, the peat predominating.