MAY 113 



is how to secure such conditions under an Atlantic sky. 

 Gromwell (Liihospermum prostratum) and gentianella 

 may be; relied on for pure deep blue, at least in gardens 

 to their liking ; but although they grow like weeds in 

 some soils, they perish unaccountably in others. All 

 that can be said is that gromwell hates lime and genti- 

 anella loves it, though quite capable of doing well 

 without it. 



For crimson, one must have recourse to such varieties 

 of the dwarf Phlox as 'Vivid' and to the brighter 

 varieties of Saxifraga muscoides ' Guildford seedling ' 

 for instance ; but scarlet, save in tulips, is only to be 

 had at this early season by the fortunate possessors of 

 soil that suits the brilliant Anemone fulgens. What 

 that soil may be defies analysis or definition ; in 

 one parish this gay wildflower spreads as freely as 

 in an Italian olive-yard, in another it absolutely 

 declines to make its abode. Personally, I have only 

 found one situation it deigns to accept, namely, 

 the top of a retaining wall, where it gleams like 

 fire among that splendid grape-hyacinth, 'Heavenly 

 Blue.' 



All these are flowers of May ; not a hundredth part 

 of them, of course, but enough for a 'prentice hand to 

 start with. Untold sums have been wasted and much 

 discouragement entailed by beginning with plants 

 requiring special treatment. Success with these ensures 

 some of the keenest pleasures in horticulture ; but the 

 road thereto lies through modest endeavour, ingenuity 

 in baffling the devilish appetite of slugs, vigilance and 

 discretion in controlling the invasion of strong growers 

 H 



