PLANTS FOE CAKPETING 97 



It is an excellent plant for filling in rough and cold 

 places; it is a sturdy thick-leaved plant growing 

 about eighteen inches high, bearing quantities of 

 starry blue flowers, a beautiful shade of blue, like 

 a large Forget-me-not. It spreads very quickly, and 

 a few plants will soon fill a large space, and when 

 once it is well established the appearance is excel- 

 lent, for it is a handsome plant and not at all 

 " weedy " looking. 



Valerian. The well-known Valerian (Cent- 

 ranthus') is a grand plant for massing in odd corners 

 and crannies, for it will grow in the poorest of soil, 

 or indeed where there is no soil, as it is quite at home 

 on brick, and even on flint, walls, but yet will 

 thrive also where it is in almost complete shade 

 under trees. The red and the white varieties are 

 much more beautiful than the pink ; the two former 

 make lovely effects of colour if left to group them- 

 selves. It grows readily from seed, and the young 

 plants flower the first year ; you will find masses of 

 self-sown plants round the old ones every autumn. 



Arabis. The double white Arabis is another 

 plant that will spread with extraordinary rapidity. 

 It does not appear to be at all fussy as to soil, but 



I fancy it is at its best in a light one, and situated 

 7 



