Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 43 



1J-2 ft. high, having silvery- white flowers with yellow centres, the variety 

 grandiflorum being particularly fine. 



The species mentioned above are all easily raised from seeds sown in 

 pots or shallow boxes in gentle heat in March, the young plants being 

 afterwards pricked out in boxes, or three or four being placed in a 5-in. 

 pot and grown on for sale in May and June. The stems, being fragile 

 in most cases, require a thin twig to hold them up, with a piece of black 

 cotton, &c., tied round. 



Forget-me-not (Myosolis). This pretty-flowered and popular genus 

 embraces hardy plants, several species of which are natives of Britain, in- 

 cluding the Wood Forget-me-not (M. sylvatica) and the Marsh Forget-me- 

 not (M. palustris). For present purposes, however, two outstanding types 

 merit notice: those suited for pot culture and those best adapted for 

 bedding. Of the first named, Star of Love, Bouquet, Gem, and Perfection 

 are the best, and of the latter, dissitiflora and Royal Blue. The former 

 set embraces rose, white, and blue; the latter, light and dark shades. 



The chief value of Forget-me-nots lies in growing them in pots for 

 market work or as cut flowers. In each case, if early produced, they find 

 a ready sale. Royal Blue, and dissitiflora in blue and white, are in- 

 valuable for cutting or for bedding out, and are worth growing in quantity. 



Their cultivation is very simple. Sow seeds in May or June and trans- 

 plant the seedlings early to cool, partially shaded quarters, finally potting 

 those desired. The plants may be readily increased by cuttings or by 

 division, the latter operation being best done in early spring when the 

 flowering is past. As an acre of Forget-me-nots will yield about 80,000 

 plants at 6 in. apart, or, allowing for footpaths, about 65,000, they may 

 be looked upon as a fairly remunerative crop. Five thousand dozen 

 plants at 6d. per dozen would yield a gross return of 125, thus allowing 

 enough for the grower who is fortunate enough to obtain a good and 

 ready sale. 



Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Next to the Wallflower or Sweet 

 William the Foxglove is still worthy of attention by the commercial 

 gardener, and those who specialize in root crops more particularly. The 

 plant must be regarded and treated as a biennial, as indeed it is; hence 

 the seeds should be sown in the spring of each year and flowered the 

 following summer. The plant is of the easiest cultivation, growing freely 

 in any good garden soil, and not opposed to those of chalk or sand. In 

 cool and shady places also it thrives quite well. 



Sow the seeds in the open in March or April, the former for preference, 

 covering the seeds very lightly. Transplant the seedlings during showery 

 weather when large enough to handle. Early transplanting should be 

 practised, as upon the making of a large rosette of leaves in the season 

 of planting a good flowering afterwards depends. Late sown or late 

 vegetating seeds may not flower the year following the sowing, hence the 

 desirability of starting early. Put out the seedlings into their permanent 

 quarters when large enough. There is a considerable range of colour 



