42 THE NEW GARDENING 



cases in which the roots have been mistaken for Horse- 

 radish and eaten with fatal results, does not prevent 

 flower-lovers from using it in their borders. Nor, with 

 reasonable care, should there be any trouble. In all 

 conscience the Monkshood, with its dark green serrated 

 leaves and tall spikes of dark blue flowers, is different 

 enough from the rambling Horse-radish. The common 

 Monkshood, Aconitum Napellus, is a good border plant, 

 and I would call attention to the beauty of the variety 

 bicolor, which has white flowers, margined with violet, 

 and is to my mind a more attractive plant than the pure 

 white form, album. Wilsoni is a new Chinese species 

 with blue flowers, late blooming. In poor soil the Monks- 

 hood may be used near the front of a small border, 

 but where the soil is deep, rich and moist they will grow 

 four feet high or more, and should be set farther back. 



ADONIS. Few of the smaller perennials are better 

 known than Adonis vernalis, which is largely planted for 

 the brightness of its yellow flowers in spring. Lovers 

 of the cheerful old plant may consider the claims of the 

 double form (plena) of the less familiar species amurensis. 

 Yellow, with green centre, the flowers are borne in spring 

 on stems about a foot high. It is a good plant, and quite 

 easy to grow in the ordinary soil of the herbaceous 

 border. 



ANCHUSA (BUGLOSS). That beautiful Boragewort, 

 Anchusa Italica, has long been esteemed by lovers of 

 hardy plants for its brilliant blue flowers, but it is now 

 giving place in gardens to what is called the Dropmore 

 variety. I do not know of any blue-coloured perennial 

 to vie with this noble plant. In well-tilled soil, and with 

 adequate moisture, it will form a bush four feet high 

 and through, with flowers in short branchlets on long 



