198 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



cannot be transplanted without receiving a check, or do not bloom 

 satisfactorily until well established. We will, therefore, paaa them 

 by, as being suitable only for the herbaceous border, where they can 

 remain undisturbed throughout the year. There are plenty of good 

 things which can be propagated and transplanted with the same 

 facility as the commonest of tbe scarlet geraniums, and which also 

 will make a most beautiful display. The most useful of the spring- 

 flowering plants for massing are, unquestionably, Alijssums, Arahis, 

 Auhrietias, Daisies, Forget-me-Nots, Iberis, Phloxes, Pansies, Primu- 

 las, Silenes, Wallflowers, and Violas. These are rather too many for 

 an amateur to begin with in quantities ; and it will, in most cases, 

 be well to select from them the Daisies, Porr/et-me-Nvts, Silenes, and 

 Wallflowers. With the exception of the daisies, which can be pur- 

 chased at a very cheap rate, these can be raised from seed sown early 

 in July, and, provided the arrangements are good, the display will 

 be very effective. The Arabis can also be recommended, for it pro- 

 ■duces new roots so freely that it may, during the summer, be pulled 

 to pieces most unceremoniously, and planted in nursery beds with 

 the full assurantje of its taking root and producing a stock of plants 

 by the autumn. 



The dwarf growing Alyssum saxatile produces a mass of flowers 

 close upon the surface, and of the brightest yellow ; and is one of the 

 finest yellow spring flowers for edging purposes we have ; itcan be pro- 

 pagated during the summer by me;ins of cuttings of the side-shoots, in- 

 serted in sandy soil, under hand-glasses, placed on a shady border, and 

 iilso by seed sown at the same time. As it is of rather slow growth the 

 young plants will not be large enough for planting in the flower beds 

 until the autumn of the year following the striking of the cuttings 

 or the sowing of the seed, and in the meantime they must be planted 

 in a nursery bed, when sufficiently advanced, to afford them a chance 

 of becoming well furnished with roots and side shoots. The plants 

 may be employed in the flower garden several years in succession, 

 if the straggling shoots are pruned in when they are removed from 

 the seed-bed. 



Arahis albida, is the best of its class ; it has pure white flowers, 

 and when in bloom is about ten inches in height. To increase the 

 stock and keep the plants compact, pull the clumps to pieces either 

 when they come from the flower beds or in the course of the summer. 

 Shorten the stems if necessary, and plant in lines, either in a sunny 

 or shady position. It is of no consequence their not having any 

 roots, but sufficient stem must be left to admit of their being fastened 

 properly, and when they are without roots and put in a sunny posi- 

 tion, they must have some kind of shade for a fortnight or three 

 weeks after planting. It is not of much use to lift a large mass in 

 the autumn, and then pull it to pieces and plant in the beds, as it is 

 practically impossible to produce satisfactory results. 



Aubrietia deltoidea, lilac, and A. purfurea, purple, are the two 

 best aubrietias. They should be propagated in precisely the same 

 manner as the arabis, with the exception that as they are of much 

 smaller growth tliey should be divided into small clumps instead of 

 singly. They both grow about three inches in height, and are very 



