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CHAPTER IV. 



As mentioned in the introduction to this book, there are 

 many plants which flower early in the year that are not 

 suitable for planting in the beds after the summer occupants 

 are removed, because they naturally commence growth early 

 in the autumn ; these are best accommodated in herbaceous 

 or shrubbery borders, or in small beds which will not be too 

 conspicuous while they are bare of foliage. Most of the 

 plants mentioned here are quite leafless from the middle of 

 July until February or later. The following plants all belong 

 to this class : Anemone blanda and its varieties, Anemone 

 fulgens and its varieties, Anemone hepatica (syn. Hepatica 

 triloba) and A. h. angulosa, Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), 

 Crocus imperati, Crocus, ordinary varieties in various colours, 

 Corydalis cava albiflora, Chionodoxa Lucillae, Gentian a 

 acaulis, Helleborus niger and its varieties, Iris pumila in 

 variety, I. reticulata, Lily of the Valley, Muscari conicum, 

 Narcissus many varieties, Primula cortusoides, P. Japonica, 

 Puschkinia scillioides, Scilla Siberica, Scilla bifolia, Tulipa 

 Kaufmanniana, and Triteleia uniflora. 



Anemone blanda. This is the earliest of the above in 

 commencing to flower. It frequently appears in December ; 



