Gardening for Amateurs 



137 



of several kinds will be found in seed-lists, 

 but as a rule seedlings are generally grown 

 with the idea of getting new and improved 

 sorts, as they are not likely to come true. 

 An excellent example of splendid new seed- 

 ling sorts are the Arendsii Astilbes, raised 

 from seeds obtained by crossing the reddish- 

 purple Astilbe Davidii and the white Astilbe 

 japonica. 



A few of the best kinds are A. Chinensis, 

 3 feet high, bearing graceful plumes of white 



in height, with big plumes of creamy white 

 flowers in June and July ; A. vulgaris 

 major is a distinct plant, 3 to 4 feet high, 

 with handsome foliage and graceful plumes 

 of white flowers at their best during August 

 and September ; A. grandis, a Chinese sort, 

 might be described as a white-flowered 

 form of A. Davidii, flowering in August and 

 September. 



Splendid Novelties for the Shady Border. 

 The Arendsii Astilbes, which were raised 



A border of Michaelmas Daisies (Perennial Asters). 



tloucrs tinged with pink, in July and August ; 

 A. Davidii, a comparatively new Goat's 

 Beard from China, 3 to 5 feet high, with 

 rosy red flowers from July to September; 

 A. japonica (perhaps better known in gardens 

 av Spiraea japonica) the popular white 

 Spiraea of the florist's shops Blondin. 

 Silver Sheaf, Floribunda, and W. E. Gladstone 

 are all excellent varieties of this, \\ith \\hite 

 flowers borne in attractive plumes; IVach 

 Blossom and Queen Alexandra, 1J to i' tt t 

 high, have pale pink or lle*h -coloured 

 blossom in June and July ; A. aruncus i- a 

 tall-growing Goat's Beard. I IWt or HI..M- 



cm t IM* ('out incut, soon found favour among 

 -ccUcrs after novelties, and they have not 

 l>een disappointed. They llower during 

 lulv and August, and grow from 2 to 4 

 feet high. A few of the best are Ceres, 

 lilac-rose; .Juno, violet rose ; Pink IVarl. 

 delicate pink ; Salmon (.Mieen. >almoii-pink : 



Vcmi-. \ inlet r.M- ; Yr-t.l lll.ic rn-e. All 

 are \.-ry beautiful and ju-t the thing for 

 the >hady lx>rder. 



Campanula (Bellflower). The Cam- 

 panula^ an- very numerous, and comprise 

 perennials, biennials and annuals. The hardy 

 ]>erennials vary greatly in height, the two 



