Thistles tioned, as its pale pink flowers are so useful in August and 
September, and it is a robust perennial capable of taking. care 
of itself. The large white Convolvulus, also, another late 
summer plant, though it is a dangerous enemy to get into the 
flower borders should, if possible, be allowed to take possession 
of rough banks or to twine itself over hedges. 
A list such as this could go on almost indefinitely and I 
shall close it with a mention of the Thistles, for the bane of 
some hotter country may be a boon sometimes for us! The 
sketch of the variety Onopordon tauricum may suggest some 
of the late handsome varieties, which are useful in the Wild 
Garden late inthe year. This variety is strictly biennial, taking 
its full two years, and cannot be cajoled into flowering in fifteen 
months, like a Canterbury Bell if sown in the spring. Last 
autumn I tried potting up the largest seedlings, and keeping them 
in a cold frame through the winter, in the hopes of inducing 
them to flower this year; but they have only made great 
handsome rosettes of silver leaves, and not one has thrown up 
the centre stem which should be six to eight feet tall. They 
look magnificent through the whole period of their growth, 
which takes many weeks. Grouped in a bed with Oriental 
Poppies, they are quite tall enough in June to contrast their 
silver leaves with the scarlet flowers; by August they have 
attained their full height and are ready as a background to 
Tritomas or other late summer flowers; and well into the 
autumn they are still picturesque, though some of their silvery 
bloom will have been dashed. 
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