GARDEN FLOWERS. 161 



white flowers in early spring. Rough usage has little effect 

 oil this plant, and a turf might be made of it that would 

 stand much better than grass the wear and tear of passing 

 multitudes. It would, moreover, endure unharmed almost 

 any droughts. Arabia alpina (alpine-rock cress) is a 

 spring-flowering plant about six inches high that would 

 also make a good carpet in a group of herbaceous plants. 

 Its small flowers are white and profuse, and there is a varie- 

 gated-leaved form that is also attractive. The foliage of the 

 ajugas is also suited for the carpet effect, although some of 

 them when in flower are nearly a foot high. The blue 

 flowers are not nearly so valuable as the dense mat of 

 foliage. There is one species reptans alba and rubra 

 white- and red-leaved bugle that is particularly valuable 

 on account of its dark purple mats of leaves four to six 

 inches high. 



The aubrietias are valuable low-growing plants that 

 bloom in early spring. There are half a dozen or more 

 kinds having dwarf-tufted habits that more or less fit them 

 for the carpet effect. 

 The flowers are gen- 

 erally of a bluish- 

 purple shade, except 

 A. Leichtlinii, which 

 has a bright rose- 

 colored bloom. Au- 

 brietias look Well STEMLESS GENTIAN. 

 planted in masses (GENT.ANAACAUUS.) 



among rocks. Another pretty spring-blooming plant, suit- 

 Able for carpet effect, is the mouse ear ( Cerastium Bieber- 



