LITTLE GARDENS 



red, as In roces, grading into the lilacs and pur- 

 ples of beardtongue, rock-cress, mourning-bride, 

 closed gentian and so to the blue of pansy, 

 fringed gentian, columbine, centaurea and ager- 

 atum — a rainbow that would be no longer 

 a bow, but the completed circle. This is 

 merely a fanciful arrangement, because these 

 plants are not simultaneously in bloom, nor 

 are they named with any regard for grada- 

 tion in size, for where a circular bed is 

 occupied by several varieties, the tallest must 

 be in the center, the next tallest in a band 

 or ring about it, and so, in successive diminu- 

 tions till the low-growing ageratum, verbena, 

 heliotrope, mignonette, candytuft, alyssum, al- 

 ternanthera or portulaca forms the outer edge. 

 In placing the tallest plants in the center we not 

 only satisfy the desire for a formal yet simple 

 arrangement, placing the conspicuous plants 

 where they shall overtop the others while allow- 

 ing them to be seen, but we minimize the shade 

 they will cast, so as to give to each occupant of 

 the bed an equal chance for prosperity with the 

 stoutest. The nasturtium is useful as a bedding 

 plant, also for borders, and as a vine; and if 

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