White Flowers 169 



COLUMBINE (Aquilegia chrysantha, var. alba). 2-3 ft. The colum- 

 bine is one of the most desirable of our hardy perennials and comes 

 in every color and variety of combinations. The divided foliage makes 

 a bushy growth from which spring many tall stalks bearing erect or 

 drooping flowers that take the form of a cluster of spurred cups. They 

 do best in a rich sandy loam. They are much sought by bees that 

 cross-fertilize the varieties. The way to perpetuate a strain is either 

 to divide the root, or to cover the plant with fine muslin during the 

 flowering season, so that insects cannot get access to the flowers. Sow 

 the seeds when they are ripe, and transplant the seedlings where they 

 are to remain, giving each a space of 9 in. each way. Self-sowing; and 

 though the self-sown plants are particularly vigorous, they are not true 

 to color. From seeds derived from a pale lavender columbine I grew 

 every tone of pink and red, the palest rose, deeper rose salmon, shell 

 pink, old rose and old red. It is in this way that new varieties are 

 secured. 



ENGLISH DAISY (Bellis perennis, var. Snowball). 4 in. A hardy 

 border plant making a tuft of leaves bearing numerous quilled white or 

 white and pink flowers. It thrives best in rich well-manured loam in a 

 cool shady situation. An English authority recommends taking up 

 and dividing plants two or three times a season. They bear transplant- 

 ing even in full flower if taken up with a portion of soil attached. Prop- 

 agate from seed; if sown in early spring it blooms the first year late in 

 July. 



FORGET-ME-NOT (Myosotis alpeslris, var. albus). i ft. A very hardy 

 variety of Forget-me-not in white, sky blue and pink, which makes a 

 close tuft of leaves from which spring many loose spikes of small blos- 

 soms with a yellow eye. One of the most valuable of early perennials 

 either for bedding or as a border plant. It may be planted among hya- 

 cinths or tulips, which will be out of bloom by the time the Forget-me- 

 not is budding. Alternated with ^Egopodium varigata, the blue variety 

 of Myosotis makes a lovely border. Give a rich soil and sunny position; 

 when once established it reproduces itself freely from self-sown seed. 

 Plants derived from seed sown in early spring are especially strong and 

 prolific in bloom the second year. See Blue and Pink Per. May. 



HYACINTH (Hyadnthus orientalis, var. La Grandesse). i ft. An 

 early spring bulb with thick lily-like leaves and a close large spike of 

 waxy fragrant flowers. Plant in October an equal depth of three or 

 four inches in light rich soil in sunny location. Give a light mulch 



