GARDEN FLOWERS. 39 



Blue Hibiscus. Easily grown in common soil, and very 

 pretty. Propagated by seed sown in open borders in May. 



A. Dillenia; hardy annual; 18 inches; flowers blue, in Au- 

 gust; Mexico; 1858. 



ANOMATHECA. [Iridaceae.] Pretty half-hardy bulbous 

 perennials. Soil, light rich loam. Propagated readily by 

 seeds or by offsets. A. cruenta, planted out in a bed, makes 

 a pretty show, the bloom lasting till September. The seed 

 should be sown in wide-mouthed pots or seed-pans, very 

 thinly ; and if the plants come up too thick, they must be 

 thinned. The next season, they may be planted four or 

 five in a pot, and the following year they may be bedded 

 out in spring and the bulbs taken up in autumn. The 

 flower is very bright, sparkling, and effective. The plants 

 also do well in pot-culture, although very subject to red 

 spider ; and bloom all summer contrasting prettily in the 

 greenhouse with Gloxineas and Achimenes. 



A . cruenta (blood-colored) ; half-hardy bulb ; i foot ; flowers 

 scarlet, in June ; Cape of Good Hope ; 1830. A. juncea (rush- 

 leaved) ; half-hardy bulb ; I foot ; flowers lilac, in May ; Cape 

 of Good Hope ; 1791. 



ANTENNARIA. [Compositae.] Small hardy and half- 

 hardy herbaceous perennials. The smaller kinds are suit- 

 able for pot-culture. Soil, sandy loam. Propagated by 

 division. 



A. Alpina (Alpine) ; hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; flowers pink, 

 in June; Europe; 1775. A. Carpatica (Carpathian) ; hardy 

 perennial ; 6 inches ; flowers pink, in June ; Carpathian Moun- 

 tains ; 1775. A. dioica (dioecious) ; hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; 

 flowers pink, in June ; England. A. margariticia (pearly) ; hardy 

 perennial ; I foot ; flowers white, in July ; England. A. plan- 

 taginea (plantain-leaved) ; hardy perennial ; i foot ; flowers 

 white, in June ; Virginia, 1759. A - triplinervis (triple-nerved) ; 

 hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; flowers white, in August ; Nepaul ; 

 1823. 



