Thistles tioned, as its pale pink flowers are so useful in August and 

 September, and it is a robust perennial capable of taking care 

 of itself. The large white Convolvulus, also, another late 

 summer plant, though it is a dangerous enemy to get into the 

 flower borders should, if possible, be allowed to take possession 

 of rough banks or to twine itself over hedges. 



A list such as this could go on almost indefinitely and I 

 shall close it with a mention of the Thistles, for the bane of 

 some hotter country may be a boon sometimes for us ! The 

 sketch of the variety Onopordon tauricum may suggest some 

 of the late handsome varieties, which are useful in the Wild 

 Garden late in the year. This variety is strictly biennial, taking 

 its full two years, and cannot be cajoled into flowering in fifteen 

 months, like a Canterbury Bell if sown in the spring. Last 

 autumn I tried potting up the largest seedlings, and keeping them 

 in a cold frame through the winter, in the hopes of inducing 

 them to flower this year ; but they have only made great 

 handsome rosettes of silver leaves, and not one has thrown up 

 the centre stem which should be six to eight feet tall. They 

 look magnificent through the whole period of their growth, 

 which takes many weeks. Grouped in a bed with Oriental 

 Poppies, they are quite tall enough in June to contrast their 

 silver leaves with the scarlet flowers ; by August they have 

 attained their full height and are ready as a background to 

 Tritomas or other late summer flowers ; and well into the 

 autumn they are still picturesque, though some of their silvery 

 bloom will have been dashed. 



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