1 58 GARDEN FL O WERS. 



years is the bluets (Houstonia cceruka). It is common 

 enough in the fields and woods of many localities of 

 America, but is none the less well deserving of cultiva- 

 tion. In height it only reaches about four inches, and the 

 flowers are small, light blue, pale lilac, or often almost 

 white, showing a yellowish eye. It is a dainty flower, and 

 does well in the front part of the border or in rock-work. 

 Saanfraga cordifolia (heart-leaved saxifrage) is one of the 

 earliest of plants. Indeed, it some- 

 times blooms so early in March 

 that the flowers are injured by late 

 frosts, but to this danger all very 

 early flowers must be more or less 

 *" jj ' exposed. It is a curious-lookinor 



"^ - -., ^^Blc_ xjHSSsSsS'jSSsh! ' & 



plant, this saxifrage, when in bloom. 

 The thick, fleshy roots bear a 

 cluster of large heart-shaped, thick 

 HEART-LEAVED SAXIFRAGE. evergreen leaves, from the centre 



(SAXIFRAGA CORDIFOUA.) a i -i . . , 



01 which arises, in early spring, a 



large naked stem, bearing at the top a spreading cluster 

 of bell-shaped, rose-colored flowers. In height it is some- 

 times a foot. 



Few plants give more delight on their first arrival in 

 spring, and afterwards until October, than the violets, the 

 bird's-foot violets of the United States ( Viola pedata). 

 They are much prized in Europe, and should be equally 

 valued here. The dark-green leaves are handsomely cut, and 

 the pale or deep blue flowers, an inch across, are very abun- 

 dant and showy, although only four or five inches high. The 

 pansy bird's-foot violet ( V. pedata var. Ucolor ) is a rare and 



