its hairy and slightly viscid stem and foliage, and strong smell, and its two 

 distinct colourings — rich purples and reddish pinks. Then again, if he 

 observes his plants in early summer, he can never mistake the heart- 

 shaped root-leaves of cordifoHus for any other. This is one of the most 

 beautiful of the mid-season Starworts, with its myriads of small flowers 

 gracefully disposed on the large spreading panicles. Of this the best 

 known and most useful are A. cordifoHus elegans and a paler-coloured and 

 most dainty variety called Diana. 



Once seen he can never forget the low-growing early A. acris or the 

 good garden varieties of A. Amellus, both from European species. 

 Several other kinds, both tall and short, early and late, will be added to 

 those named, but these may be taken as perhaps the best to begin 

 with. 



Where space can be given, it is well to set apart a separate border for 

 these fine plants alone. This is done in the garden where Mr. Elgood 

 found his subject. Here the Starworts occupy a double border about eight 

 feet wide and eighty feet long. They are carefully but not conspicuously 

 staked with stiff, branching spray cut out the winter before from oaks 

 and chestnuts that had been felled. The spray is put in towards the end 

 of June, when the Asters are making strong growth. The borders are 

 planted and regulated with the two-fold aim of both form and colour 

 beauty. In some places rather tall kinds come forward ; in the case of 

 some of the most graceful, such as cordifoHus Diana, the growths being 

 rather separated to show the pretty form of the individual branch. In others 

 it was thought that their best use was as a flowery mass. Each kind is 

 treated at the time of staking according to its own character, and so as 

 best to display its natural form and most obvious use. Like all the best 

 flower gardening it is the painting of a picture with living plants, but, 

 unlike painting, it is done when the palette is empty of its colours. Still 

 the good garden-planter who has intimate acquaintance and keen sym- 

 pathy with his plants, can plant by knowledge and faith ; by knowledge 

 in his certainty of recollection of the habit and stature and colour of his 

 plants ; by faith in that he knows that if he does his part well the growing 

 thing will be docile to his sure guidance. 



In these borders of Michaelmas Daisies one other flowering plant is 



122 



