50 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



together which contrast well in colour, and bloom at the 

 same time. The dwarf daffodil and the grape hyacinth, 

 for instance, one being pale yellow and the other blue, look 

 well together, and I remember an accidental contrast of 

 these colours that was exceedingly pretty, though it was 

 formed by a large dandelion which had got rooted in a 

 border of gentians, where its bright yellow stars, mingling 

 with the vivid expanse of blue, made such an attractive 

 show that the intruding weed was suffered to remain 

 till the flowers had faded, when it was somewhat reluc- 

 tantly dug up. 



" Oft sparing what the florist knows 

 To be but gavidy 



Another very pretty contrast may be made by planting 

 double yellow and double lilac primroses alternately as a 

 border edging ; there is also a common pale yellow auri- 

 cula, which looks well planted beside a lilac one of the 

 same tribe; blue gentians and common yellow primroses 

 also contrast well; and I have seen nosegays arranged of 

 those last-named flowers, which had a beautiful effect. 



Before quitting this subject of the grouping of plants 

 according to their colours, I must refer to the fact that 

 nature herself has in many instances shewn us the example, 

 setting off a purple flower with a yellow centre, or with 

 yellow anthers, and contrasting the red colour not only of 

 our flowers, but of wild fruits, such as the holly and moun- 

 tain ash, with the green leaves. Some most interesting 

 examples of this natural arrangement of complementary 



