FLOWERS IN THE LITTLE GARDEN 51 



ber blooming and fine substance are attributes possessed by 

 hardly any other perennial. 



Peonies deserve a volume to themselves; and I shall name here 

 only three, which would be excellent starting-points in this mag- 

 nificent tribe: Baroness Schroeder, Marie Crousse, Primavere; 

 white, pink, pale yellow. In a standard list, these sell, in the 

 order listed, at a dollar and a half, four dollars, and five dollars 

 each. The two last are costly, but well worth the money; and 

 how much better to procure three superb subjects than a dozen 

 mediocre ones. As these peonies grow and flourish, they may be 

 divided, and a larger planting seciu:ed from the beautiful origi- 

 nals. These three together are very beautiful, either in the open 

 or for cutting. 



Artemisia lactiflora, mentioned in one list, is one of the beau- 

 ties in any August border. The two hardy gypsophilas are 

 G. paniculata elegans and one of the same name, vnthflore pleno 

 added to its title; the first is single, three feet tall, and gives a 

 deUcate gray- white effect of bloom; the second has tiny double 

 white flowers, and, when well established in a garden, is an object 

 to marvel at. Of Shasta daisies one of the finest is known as King 

 Edward VII; and in veronicas, for earlier purple, V. spicata is 

 good; yet the variety longifolia suhsessilis is one of the very 

 valuable plants for the hardy border. 



Columbines, in our day, have become such wonders that all 

 one needs to do is to buy a packet of named long-spurred hybrid 

 seed, sow it in spring or midsummer, transplant in September, 

 and in this way secure ultimate large free-blooming plants. 

 These hybrids are by all odds the finest of the aquilegias. In 

 irises the dazzling multitude is such that it is nearly impossible 

 to suggest even a few names; but, mentioning one or two that 

 I know, without regard to type, or to anything but general 

 magnificence of beauty, I would say, get these seven as a begin- 



