143 ROGK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



is a most beautiful plant, with rich blue trumpet-shaped 

 flowers in April and May, having a yellowish mark down 

 the throat. In some gardens it is a valuable border plant, 

 forming a carpet of green, covered in early spring 

 with sheets of exquisite blue. Deep and well- drained 

 stony loam in full sunshine is essential, with plenty of 



The Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna). 



water during early summer. Very firm planting is neces- 

 sary. G. a. var. alpina has shorter leaves, and flowers 

 more freely than the type, while there is also a variety 

 with white flowers. A rare form is var. caelestis, with 

 light blue flowers. 



G. Andrewsii (the Closed Gentian) . This is an American 

 plant, which flowers during the summer months. It 

 grows well in half-shady positions, planted in deep loamy 



