BORDER PLANTS 57 



are clearly marked, and the plants kept under regular 

 observation. It is not much trouble to take them up 

 in the autumn and set cheap early-blooming Tulips in 

 their places ; the Tulips can be sacrificed when they go 

 out of bloom in April. Fresh loam, with a sprinkling of 

 bone meal, should be used when the Gladioli are re-planted. 

 There are few better varieties than Angele, cream ; 

 Armagnac, crimson ; Canicule, scarlet, yellow throat ; 

 Enchantresse, lilac, suffused rose ; Halle, blush ; Grand 

 Rouge, crimson ; Marie Therese, cream ; Pascal, rose, 

 white throat ; Sanspareil, orange, white throat ; and Van 

 Dael, pink ; for not only are the colours bold and clear, 

 but the flowers are well set on the spike. There is an 

 interesting Gladiolus, little known even to lovers of this 

 flower, called tristis concolor ; it has few claims to beauty 

 in comparison with the great hybrids, for the flowers are 

 greenish white in colour ; but it has a delicious evening 

 scent. It differs from the majority in being a spring 

 bloomer. Another interesting Gladiolus is praecox, which 

 is so early a bloomer that it can be had in flower in summer 

 from seed sown in heat early the same year ; there are 

 several colours. 



GYPSOPHILA (LACE FLOWER or CHALK PLANT). 

 The majority of those who grow Gypsophilas do so for the 

 use of the gauzy flowers as auxiliaries to cut bloom of 

 larger and more brilliant things. So light and intangible 

 are they that they serve as a foil ; and are often set like 

 a veil over bouquets. But if a few sprays are wanting in 

 individuality a large plant of the popular species panicu- 

 lata, three or four feet high and through, is striking. The 

 new double form flore pleno is considered by many to be 

 superior to the old single type, and may be commended 

 to the attention of those who admire these plants. The 



