8 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



I Jaly 2, 1874. 



ragped and forlorn appearance, many of tbem sooner or later 

 peiishing, and thus the negligence which was apparently of so 

 trifling a character in the first instance does eventually Beri- I 

 ously affect the appearance of an entire design. I 



Thus much, and certainly not more than it deserves, of the 

 high rank of the Saponaria amongst the notable flowers of 

 spring ; but I cannot turn from it without a parting word con- 

 cerning its value as a decorative plant in summer and autumn, 

 a couple of sowings in Maich and April affording a supply of > 

 plants that, with ordinary care, will form beds of as attractive j 

 and ornamental an appearance as any which are filled with the' 



choicest Geraniums. It is also well adapted for planting in 

 vases, its trailing growth drooping over and concealing parts 

 of the sides in a most picturesque manner. ^I;:^^!^ 



Silene pendula is an old and general favourite, ranking next 

 in importance to the Saponaria. It, too, has a nice spreading 

 habit of growth, reaching barely a foot in height, and if 

 planted in a poor soil it may be kept as low as 3 or 4 inches 

 from the surface. It is altogether of a bolder type than Sapo- 

 naria, beds of it forming striking masses of deep pink. The 

 seed should be sown about the last week in July. There are 

 white varieties both of Saponaria and Silene that are equally 



Design for a small sprixg gabden on turf. 



1. Saponaria calabrica, pinlc. 



2. Mjosotis sylvatica alba, white. 



S. Nemophila iDsignis j^raudifiora, blue. 



4. Limnantbfs PmiKlasii. pale jellow. 



5. Saponaria calabrica, pink. • 



valuable and effective, and which, with Myosotis sylvatiea 

 alba, form a capital trio, each of which possesses such dis- 

 tinctive features as to render all three indispensable in all 

 colour-combinations of any extent. 



Of plants having blue flowers we may take one of the 

 loveliest of Californian annuals, Nemophila insignis grandi- 

 fiora, too well known to need description, sowing the seed the 

 last week of August, and the graceful Myosotis sylvatiea, 

 which requires to be sown quite two months sooner than the 

 Nemophila. The Nemophila should have a light, rich, porous 

 soil raised well above the surrounding level, as it suffers very 

 much from excessive moisture. I have had whole beds of it 

 die outright in winter when the soil has been of a close ad- 

 hesive texture. Myosotis sylvatiea, which may often be found 

 in its wild state in Scotland and the north of I'jogland, ought 

 peihaps to have had the tirst place, for while the Nemophila 

 is occasionally somewhat uncertain, this fine plant is invaii- 



6. Saponaria calabrica alba, white. 



7. Mjosotis sjlvatica, blue. 



The central bed may be Silene pendula, pink, with an edging of Nemophila 

 insignia, blue. 



ably good, forming most attractive masses of blue. The 

 slender yet sturdy growth of the stems, surmounted by the 

 well-proportioned clusters of pretty blue flowers, gives an 

 air of lightness and grace, which has, doubtless, contributed 

 very materially to its present popularity. To these may 

 be "added the pretty blue Oollinsia verna grandiflora, sown 

 early in August; and if yellow is required, Lasthenia califor- 

 nicii, sown about the end of August, makes a fine bed of rich 

 golden yellow, and it continues in full beauty from April till 

 late in June. It is of a somewhat tall straggling growth, and 

 therefore should be planted thickly. Limnanthes Douglasii, 

 of a pale yellow or straw colour, is also a useful plant. Its 

 seed should be sown the first week of September. 



With the exception of the different periods of time at which 

 it is necessary to sow the various seeds in order to produce a 

 uniform display of flowers, the whole of this small but very 

 choice selection of spring-flowetirig annuals are amenable to 



