BORDER PLANTS 43 



spikes, making the plant a pyramid of bloom from near 

 the ground to the tip. The flowers are of shining Gentian 

 or Salvia patens blue. Even on a thin, poor, chalky soil, 

 and in a dry season, I have had it a yard high and full of 

 bloom ; on rich soil it is nearly double the size. It is 

 at its best in June and July, but it is beautiful for many 

 weeks. There is no more valuable plant for massing in 

 wide borders, and it could be used with splendid effect 

 in large beds with a vigorous white early blooming Rose 

 like Blanc double de Coubert, or with salmon and white 

 Sweet Peas sown in autumn to give early summer bloom. 

 Liberally grouped, the plants would give glorious colour 

 pictures. The Dropmore Bugloss has a thick, strong, 

 Seakale-like root, which may be set three or four inches 

 below the surface in planting, and by which it may be 

 propagated in spring, the roots being cut up into pieces 

 and put into soil well lightened with sand. Opal is a 

 splendid variety with lighter flowers, and Perry's variety 

 is large and fine. 



ANEMONES. Alpine-lovers, equally with herbaceous 

 gardeners, find uses for the charming Windflowers. The 

 latter work chiefly with the Poppy and Japanese Ane- 

 mones. In POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS I showed how 

 it is possible to get Anemone bloom for the greater 

 part of the year by choosing different kinds, and starting 

 some of the varieties at different periods. I may here say 

 that while Lady Ardilaun, Vase d'Argent and Whirlwind 

 remain among the best varieties of the Japanese Ane- 

 mone, Alice is a fine carmine rose, and rosea superba 

 a splendid pink, King of Scarlets remains the most 

 valuable of the double Poppy Anemones. Lovers of 

 the Pasque Flower, which may be used alike in rockery 

 and border, should become acquainted with the dark 



