254 AUTUMNAL FLOWERBEDS 



Of Monbretia, that fine South African bulb which is so 

 easily naturalised on wood margins, the best variety is 

 named 'Germania.' You need hardly grow any other; 

 but you should secure half a dozen tubers of Antholyza 

 paniculata, also from South Africa, resembling a Mon- 

 bretia in its branching flower-stems, but superior to that 

 plant in its broad, bright green foliage. 



It is curious to note the difference in the behaviour of 

 plants brought to the northern from the southern hemi- 

 sphere. Some of them conform at once to our calendar, 

 flowering in April and May, albeit these are autumn 

 months in their native land; but others such as the 

 torch lilies above mentioned being spring flowers south 

 of the equator, become autumn flowers when brought to 

 our northern land. It would be an interesting experiment 

 to watch the result of growing a confirmed autumnal 

 flower like the colchicum in Cape Colony, where our 

 autumn is the African spring. 



Of the speedwells there is a bewildering variety to 

 choose from, both bushes and herbaceous plants. Of the 

 latter, for autumn effect there is none to compare with 

 Veronica subsessilis. Indeed it is the best of all the 

 herbaceous speedwells, conspicuous by its sturdy habit, 

 fine glossy foliage, and deep blue flower-spikes. Among 

 the myriad autumnal asters I will only name two ; he is 

 rich who grows both in perfection. One is Aster bessara- 

 bicus, flowering rather late ; the other is the lovely Aster 

 acris, with clouds of soft mauve blossom throughout 

 September, near which it is well, for sake of contrast, to 

 plant the dyer's camomile (Anthemis tinctoria), a native 

 plant with clear yellow blossoms in great profusion. For 

 white, there is nothing to compare with the Japanese 



