UP-TO-DATE OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



begin to fade, is well known and widely planted, but only 

 in the shape of the old kind, crocosmaeflora. I frankly 

 admit that this is a very delightful flower, but it is excelled 

 in splendour by some of the newer sorts, such as George 

 Davison, Germania, Etoile de feu, and others. I must 

 allow alas ! that they cost a little more, but they are 

 well worth introducing to the notice of the home gar- 

 dener. 



There are plenty of lovely Daffodils that scarcely any- 

 one but an enthusiastic Daffodiller grows ; yet the home 

 gardener still plants the old time favourites (or buys them 

 mixed, which is deplorable), sublimely ignorant of the 

 spring feasts of loveliness he is missing. The good 

 varieties are so numerous that I shall not attempt to 

 detail them, but perhaps my reference will drive the 

 reader to a good bulb catalogue when planting time 

 comes, and the next spring make him sigh for the joys 

 he has previously missed. The old purple Flag or 

 German Iris is undoubtedly a glorious flower ; but even 

 higher praise is merited by some of those wonderful 

 blooms in yellow and gold and white and brown and 

 other fascinating shades that are now to be had. A few 

 of them would add a fresh delight to the home garden in 

 May and June. 



Who would be without Sweet Williams in his 

 garden ? Or, again, without Snapdragons ? Yet those 

 that are commonly seen are depressing enough. The 

 old-fashioned Sweet William, with small, " spotty " 



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