GROUPS OF GARDEN FLOWERS 31 



cessful in a moist climate, such as that of Ireland, than in drier positions. 

 The old Pompadour, a perfectly double crimson flower, is delightful ; 

 it is a quaint, old-fashioned Primrose, and happy is he who can get large 

 tufts of it. Unfortunately it is not a success in the south. This variety, 

 more than any other, requires a moist climate and cool soil. Double 

 lilac, lavender, white, and yellow are very charming also. 



Pyre thrums. Among the many denizens of the herbaceous border, 

 few, if any, are capable of giving such a wealth of graceful and beautiful 

 coloured flowers for a small outlay of time and money as the Pyre- 

 thrums, yet they are not grown nearly so extensively as their many 

 merits demand. In addition to being first-class subjects for garden 

 decoration, they are splendid for cutting, their long stems and graceful 

 forms rendering them exceedingly attractive when arranged in tall vases. 

 The range of colours now obtainable in these plants is so large that all 

 tastes may be satisfied and both double and single flowers of all colours 

 may be procured. 



As regards soil, the Pyrethrum is not at all particular, although, like 

 most other plants, it delights in a deeply-worked, well-enriched rooting 

 medium, and if this is of a rather cool nature so much the better. Where 

 the soil is light and inclined to be sandy it may be rendered suitable 

 by the liberal addition of cow manure, and if the plants are mulched 

 during hot weather they will give good returns in soil of this description. 



Planting may safely be done at any time during the winter until the 

 end of February, providing the soil is not frozen or over-wet, and care 

 should be taken to shake some fine soil well among the mass of fibrous 

 roots, otherwise they will get matted together and not take to the new 

 soil so well. In the border a good effect may be obtained by planting 

 triangular groups composed of three plants of one variety, and where 

 they are used for filling large beds, it is best to use only one or two sorts 

 of the same colour. 



During the growing season, and especially when the flowers are just 

 beginning to push up from the base, in May, the plants are benefited 

 by frequent waterings with weak liquid manure. Light twiggy stakes 

 will be needed to support the flowers, and these should be so placed that 

 the plant retains its natural and graceful outline. Immediately the 

 flowers have become shabby they should be cut down quite close to 

 the ground, a mulching of well-decayed manure placed round the plants 

 and the waterings with liquid manure continued. If this is done a 

 second crop of most welcome flowers will be produced in the autumn. 

 Propagation is easily effected by dividing the old clumps when they 

 are lifted for replanting in the winter months. 



The following are all excellent varieties which may be thoroughly 

 relied upon : Doubles Aphrodite, pure white ; Carl Vogt, white, early ; 

 Empress Queen, blush ; Ivonne Cayeux, primrose yellow ; King Oscar, 

 crimson-scarlet, and Lord Rosebery, carmine-scarlet ; Singles Langport 

 Scarlet, rich cardinal scarlet, new ; Cassiope, crimson-purple ; Dorothy, 

 flesh colour ; Edna May, clear pink, and James Kelway, crimson-scarlet. 



Rockets, Sweet or Double. These are delightful, old-world 



