HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS 173 



few plants in pots and keep the blossoms covered with fine cloth 

 while fertilization is in progress. 



Among the red flowering kinds we have A.formosa, A . californica, 

 A. truncata and A. canadensis; in white there are several, among 

 the best being A. californica alba, A. flahellata, a dwarf -growing 

 species with very ornamental foliage; ^. ccerulea alba, and A. vulgar is 

 alba. The best of the yellows are A. chrysantha and A. c.flavescens. 

 In the blue-flowered forms there is a large number to choose from: 

 A. ccBrulea is a very satisfactory species; A. vulgaris ccBrulea, A. 

 olympica are both good. In A. glandulosa the sepals are blue and 

 the petals white. Several of the species and varieties are very 

 easily forced into bloom, among them A . flahellata. It is a trifle 

 later in coming into flower than A. canadensis, which usually is in 

 full flower in this latitude by April 10. A. chrysantha is later in 

 flowering. The Aquilegias have a habit of dying out after the 

 second and third year. 



Propagation. The seeds germinate irregularly when they 

 remain long out of the soil, but when sown as soon as gathered they 

 vegetate very freely, even in mid-Summer. Spring sowing is un- 

 satisfactory, because the seedhngs do not make desirable growth 

 during hot weather, and often more than a year elapses before any 

 flowers are produced. Sow in moderately light soil, and cover 

 lightly with screened moss; keep in an airy, cool house. When the 

 seedlings are large enough they may be pricked oS into boxes, or 

 round the edges of small pots of soil. Put them out in a frame 

 when they are large enough to stand sunshine. If planted outside, 

 where they are to flower, by the end of September they will make 

 fairly strong crowns before cool weather sets in, and in the following 

 Spring will bloom strong and vigorous. Any species which it is 

 desired to increase in the absence of seeds should be lifted, divided 

 and replanted early in the Fall, so that the pieces may have a chance 

 to become established before Winter. 



ARABIS (Rock Cress). Many of the species of Rock Cress 

 are of no horticultural value and are seldom seen outside of botanical 

 collections. Three of them, however, are among the most desirable 

 of Spring flowering plants, and may be found in nearly every garden 

 of any size. They are A . albida, A . lucida and A . alpina. A . albida 

 is the best known; it forms a dense carpet, the stems being long and 

 wiry, with dense rosettes of leaves at the ends. The flowers, which 

 are pure white, are borne in great profusion, almost hiding the 

 foliage. A. alpina is not such a free grower, but is equally suitable 



