76 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Speedwell. ( Veronica amethystina). Some of the early bloom- 

 ing speedwells, as this species, will give a perfect sheet of 

 blue inflorescence early in the season. 



Lily of the Valley. Possesses so much merit that it must be 

 included in the list. 



Iris. {Iris Florentma). The German varieties of iris are pref- 

 erable. 



Yellow Day Lily. {Hemerocallis flava). 



Larkspur. 



Phlox. Varieties can be planted to give flower from April to 

 October. 



Peony. The best red is Paeonia officinalis and the best double 

 w^hite is P. f estiva tnaxima. 



Lupine. {Lupinus jiolyphyllus). In early June ; but unfortu- 

 nately does not always retain its perennial habit. 



Gaillardia. 



Aster. The aster Lady Trevellyn is very recommendable. 



Veronica ( Veronica longifolia). 

 or 



Sunflower. There was none better than the ten-petaled Helian- 

 thiis decapetalus. 



Mr. Manning stated that there were three thousand varieties 

 of hardy perennials catalogued by nurserymen and to select 

 twelve of them was a difficult proposition. 



Kenneth Finlayson advised the growing of Spiraea Van 

 Houttei rather than S. Thunhergii which in his experience was 

 not good after three years. 



