10 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



remind one of those of the pink, Mrs. Sinkins. The 

 Saponaria can be raised from seed. The Silene, being 

 double, cannot, but must be increased by division in 

 early autumn or by cuttings. 



There are two kinds of thyme that are invaluable 

 for the driest, steepest places — namely, the white 

 and woolly varieties of the wild thyme (Thymus 

 serpyllum albus and T. lanuglnosus). A little native 

 plant as low in its growth is Astragalus hypoglottis, 

 with its more beautiful white variety. This is the 

 smallest of all the vetches. It is unfortunately not 

 evergreen, like the Gypsophilas and Silene maritima, 

 but otherwise is admirably suited for steep banks. 

 A plant with beautiful silvery leaves and delicate white 

 flowers which will endure any amount of drought is 

 Tanacetum argenteum (formerly called Achillea), and 

 this looks very well mixed with clumps of thrift, Ar- 

 meria maritima, and especially with the richer coloured 

 thrift known as A. laucheana. Both of these grow 

 about 8 in. high and will afford a httle variety to 

 the perfectly prostrate plants. The Helianthemums 

 (sun roses) are little low-growing bushes covered with 

 white, pink, yellow, or red flowers. A variety with 

 golden yellow flowers and glaucous leaves, some- 

 times called H. croceum, makes a beautiful mixture 

 with the common blue flowered Veronica teucrium; 

 and this may also be mixed with the fine yellow vetch 

 (Coronilla cappadocica), which should be carefully 

 planted and not disturbed. Another Veronica less 

 brilliant, but more delicate in its beauty, is V. pec- 

 tinata, with both blue and pink flowers and downy 



