6'2 the florist; 



A FEW REMARKS ON HARDY BORDER PLANTS. 



Thk time has arrived when our flower-gardens hegin to put on their 

 spring garments, when Crocuses, Scillas, and Snowdrops, together 

 with the Violet and Periwinkle, peep forth in all their varied colours ; 

 and we should meet their opening flowers with neatness. I therefore 

 venture, before our hands are full, to offer a few remarks on plants 

 which I consider worthy of notice ; and I will begin with 



Aquilegias (Columbines). — Some of these are very ornamental. 

 They grow from one to two feet high, and thrive in common garden 

 soil. They may be increased by seeds, or by dividing their roots. 

 Six of the best are, Glandulosa, white and blue ; Skinueri ; Cana- 

 densis, reddish orange ; Gardneriana, purple, striped ; Davurica, 

 purple ; Brodieana. 



Aconitum (Monkshood). — Handsome, generally tall -growing 

 plants, producing abundance of flowers. All the species are stated 

 to be more or less poisonous. Three or four of the best are Chi- 

 nense, blue ; Versicolor, blue and yellow ; Grandiflorum, pale yel- 

 low ; Ochroleucum, yellowish white. 



Achillea (Milfoil). — The plants belonging to this genus are not 

 all beautiful, but the following are worthy of cultivation : Alpina, 

 white ; Tomentosa, yellow ; Millefolium, white ; Eupatorium, yellow. 



Anemone. — All handsome flowers, from our native white and 

 blue woodland Anemones, to the large Dutch varieties of Coronaria. 

 Some interesting hybrids have already been produced between A. 

 vitifolia and japonica ; and no doubt still better results might be 

 obtained by further following up the subject. They succeed best in 

 a loamy soil. The following might be selected : Japonica, purple ; 

 Pulsatilla ; Sylvestris ; Sulphurea ; Vitifolia, white ; Uralensis ; 

 Richardsonii. 



Baptisia. — Herbaceous Pea-flowered plants of vigorous growth, 

 of which Australis and Villosa especially deserve cultivation. 



Betonica (Betony). — Pretty plants, and well adapted for rock- 

 work. The best perhaps are, Alopecurus ; Incana; Alba; Grandiflora. 



Cardamine. — Low herbaceous plants, of which Trifolia is early 

 and pretty ; Macrophylla is also well worth cultivation. 



Chelone. — Handsome plants, now mostly included in the genus 

 Pentstemon. They succeed well in a mixture of peat and loam. The 

 best are, Barbata ; Gentian oides ; Glabra ; Mexicana. 



Campanula. — Herbaceous plants of much beauty, some of which 

 attain a height of three and four feet. The following are worthy of 

 selection : Barbata, blue ; Speciosa, blue (4 feet) ; Pyramidalis alba 

 (4 feet) ; Grandis, blue (1 foot) ; Carpatica, blue (6 inches). 



Centaurea. — Pretty perennials, of which the most desirable are, 

 Delusta, red ; Depressa, yellow ; Atropurpurea, purple. 



Chrysanthemum. — The most useful and ornamental of all au- 

 tumn flowers. The red, white, and yellow sorts have the best effect 

 in out-door culture. 



Dianthus. — A genus of beautiful flowers, with which all are 



