14 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



then Viola cornuta fronting that, with Viola lutea next this, and using 

 Ajuga reptans again to throw it up by contrast, and in front of it another 

 pleasing gem, the golden-blotched double-crimson Daisy Bellis aucubse- 

 folia. This is just one of those pretty things that must always have a pro- 

 minent place in my winter garden. Writing of this Daisy, let me here 

 mention that a neighbour of mine has developed its capacity to propa- 

 gate itself to a wonderful degree. Just two years since he possessed 

 three small plants only, but by dint of constant attention, and especially 

 a liberal use of house and yard sewage, he holds now a stock, derived 

 from the original three only, of over one thousand, all strong plants. 

 This fact will show that the talk about this Daisy being "miffy," as it 

 is termed, is wide of the truth.* I also use largely for edging purposes 

 for my walks the Stachys lanata ; it does admirably in my dry soil. 

 I should like to commend this plant as an edging to all amateur culti- 

 vators and cottagers who may wish to have their gardens look neat and 

 tidy. Pansies are with me a strong feature for spring blooming, and 

 good rooted plants put out early will often give me a few stray flowers 

 right through the winter. One border filled with them has a line of a 

 seedling crimson, and another of a seedling light of my own : with these 

 are also a fine new variety that promises to be the best white bedding 

 pansy out, and also the Cliveden yellow and Cliveden blue varieties. 



One of the prettiest of all my winter blooming plants is the single 

 crimson Primrose. Strong plants of this will commence blooming in 

 November, and will continue throwing up their lively bright crimson 

 flowers at every gleam of winter sunshine. Then there are several 

 varieties of the early blooming double Primrose, that will soon be 

 challenging my admiration ; and not a few of the gold-laced Polyan- 

 thus, that are always pretty, early, and acceptable. I cannot find space 

 to closely enumerate all the winter plants that my garden possesses, 

 but mention must be made of charming Myosotis dissitiflora, so early, 

 fine, and free-blooming; Silene pendula ruberrima and S. pseudo-atocion, 

 the last one a capital acquisition, the colour almost magenta, and of 

 better shape than the rest. 



Perhaps the best time to say more about my other blooming plants 

 will be a few months later on, when all are in bloom. About April 

 I expect my garden will be very gay. When the sweetest notes of the 

 early song-birds are being first heard, when all nature is putting on her 

 choicest garb, and the earth is lovely with her works, — then will I 

 again revert to this pleasant theme, and picture how my garden looks 

 when the full flush of floral beauty is on it. A. D. 



* Despite A. D.'s statement to the contrary, everywhere about Edinburgh this 

 Daisy has proved utterly unmanageable, and nearly every one has given up its 

 culture in despair. It evidently requires a warm light soil, and a cool moist 

 situation, but not a wet cold one. — [Eds.] 



