PLANTS FOR CARPETING 95 



spike and side spike ending in bright purple bracts, 

 which make it extremely effective ; it lasts practi- 

 cally the whole summer, and sows itself lavishly. 

 It is a plant that seems equally happy in shade or 

 in sun, and has no troublesome prejudices as to 

 soil ; the young plants will move easily. Four or 

 five plants are enough to make a good patch of 

 colour, as each plant branches out to a considerable 

 size. 



There are, of course, hundreds of other hardy 

 annuals, many of which are favourites with other 

 people, but I have given you a list of those which 

 I have found most useful and most effective. 



PLANTS FOB CAEPETING. 



If your garden is somewhat large and rambling 

 you will be sure to have some rather hopeless-look- 

 ing corners, which are perhaps too shady for most 

 plants, or too much exposed to cold winds, or 

 maybe they are overhung by trees, or it has proved 

 an exceptionally poor bit of soil, in some way or 

 other ; so it will be well to tell you of a few plants 

 which you can rely on for carpeting such a corner, 

 and hiding all its deficiencies. 



Periwinkle. The small Periwinkle (Vinca 



