68 THE ROSE BOOK 



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And think of the simple, yet nevertheless very 

 charming, colour schemes that may be so easily arranged : 

 the white with the pale blue, the purple with the gold, 

 the rose with the pale yellow, or the creamy, blue- 

 margined ones all alone. Why, you have only to plant 

 Violas beneath the roses to ensure a perfect garden 

 of flowers from May Day to Michaelmas. If the roses 

 are grouped in colours of similar shade, then one may 

 arrange still more elaborate schemes, choosing Violas 

 to match the roses with which they are associated. 



Other flowers besides Violas may be used for cover- 

 ing the surface of the rose beds. The blue Lobelia (the 

 compact, not the spreading form) is suitable, and some 

 of the annuals may be employed. The dwarf white 

 Alyssum, for instance, is a perfect little plant for the 

 purpose ; its low, quickly spreading tufts are full of 

 bloom for months together, and they come at the bid- 

 ding of a few seeds scattered in March. One may even 

 use the creeping Pompon wichuraiana roses referred to 

 in a later chapter for covering the surface of the beds, 

 while Pinks are quite suitable. 





