LATE SHOWERS & EARLY FLOWERS 



visiting the large nurseries, that the increased popularity April 

 of Orchids, pot Roses, Carnations, and other plants has ^"^5 

 not materially affected the position of that old-time 

 favourite, the Fuchsia. It is still grown a great deal. 

 The plan with it is to dry it off in autumn, keep it 

 dormant through the winter, start it again in spring by 

 putting it in a warm house, pruning the shoots close 

 back, and syringing it. If more plants are needed, some 

 of the young shoots are taken off when about three 

 inches long, and inserted in sandy soil. They root 

 quickly if kept warm and close, and in the course of the 

 summer make good flowering plants. 



Soine Special Herbaceous and Rock Plants. — Herba- 

 ceous plants may still be put in ; indeed, early April is 

 one of the best periods of the year for the work, as the 

 plants are just beginning to grow. In Chapter III. I 

 gave a list of "stock" herbaceous plants — kinds which 

 can be bought from all growers at a moderate cost. Let 

 me now name a few of special interest, for the benefit of 

 those who are familiar with the "old stagers," and want 

 to add something fresh to their collections. The plants 

 may be expected to cost rather more than the old 

 species : 



Aconitum. — Sparks' variety is a fine deep blue Monkshood. 

 Adonis Amurensis is a handsome yellow species from Japan, with 



fern-like foliage, flowering in February and March. It grows 



a foot high. There are double forms of this fine plant. 

 Alyssum Saxatile Flore Pleno is a double form of the well-known 



"Gold Dust." 

 The Dropmore variety of the well-known Borage, Anchusa Italica, 



is superior to the type ; the flowers have the rich blue of the 



Gentian. 

 Anemonopsis Macrophylla bears drooping Anemone-like flowers 



in charming waxy sprays ; they are white, with a blush tint. It 



grows about i8 inches high, and enjoys a shady place in the 



border. 



177 M 



