384 



Gardening for Amateurs 



in the cottage garden primarily because the 

 owner, while he digs round it and applies 

 manure occasionally, yet leaves the roots 

 undisturbed. The roots of the Fraxinella 

 delight in a deep sandy loam, or the usual 

 light black soil of the old-fashioned border 

 which has been cultivated for years. It 

 thrives in sunny and half-shaded positions. 

 After planting or transplanting is under- 

 taken several years elapse before the clumps 

 attain their full size. Thus if one has a 



tamnus Fraxinella, grows 2 to 3 feet high, 

 bearing attractive rosy-purple flowers from 

 June to August ; albus is a beautiful white 

 variety, and caucasica a stronger, taller- 

 growing plant with rosy-red or purple 

 flowers. 



Doronicum (Leopard's Bane). The 

 Doronicum has handsome, large yellow 

 Daisy-like blooms during spring and early 

 summer. Thriving in almost any soil, even 

 on dry banks, and flowering .in sun and 



Leopard's Bane (Doronicum plantagineum). 



bold clump, flowering freely, instead of 

 dividing it, one should sow seeds or purchase 

 a few plants when it is desired to increase 

 the stock. Sow the seeds as soon as ripe 

 in a shallow box or pan of light, sandy soil, 

 placing ample drainage in the bottom ; 

 place in a cold frame or cool greenhouse. 

 From what has been said previously it will 

 be recognised, that seedlings do not reach 

 flowering size for several years. The Dic- 

 tamnus has thick, fleshy roots ; if these 

 are cut into pieces in March and planted 

 on a warm and well-drained border, they 

 wiU flower earlier than plants grown from 

 seeds. The Common Burning Bush, Die- 



positions not too heavily shaded, it is useful 

 alike for large and small gardens. Th& 

 plants are readily increased by division of 

 the roots, preferably from July to October, 

 on a shady border. Planting may be done 

 at any time when the weather is mild during 

 winter, but as the plants blossom during 

 spring and early summer the work should 

 be completed by late autumn if possible. 

 Seeds also form a ready means of propaga- 

 tion ; they should be sown on a border 

 out of doors from April to June with the 

 view of obtaining flowering plants a year 

 later. The best of all the Leopard's Banes 

 is Doronicum plantagineum excelsum (syn.. 



