GARDEN FLOWERS. 161 



white flowers in early spring. Rough usage has little effect 

 on this plant, and a turf might be made of it that would 

 stand much better than grass the wear and tear of passing 

 multitudes. It would, moreover, endure unharmed almost 

 any droughts. Ardbis al/pina (alpine-rock cress) is a 

 spring-flowering plant about six inches high that would 

 also make a good carpet in a group of herbaceous plants.. 

 Its small flowers are white and profuse, and there is a varie-, 

 gated-leaved form that is also attractive. The foliage of the 

 ajugas is also suited for the carpet effect, although some of 

 them when in flower are nearly a foot high. The blue 

 flowers are not nearly so valuable as the dense mat of 

 foliage. There is one species — reptmis alba and rubra — 

 white- and red-leaved bugle — that is particularly valuable 

 on account of its dark purple mats of leaves four to six 

 inches high. 



The aubrietias are valuable low-growing plants that 

 bloom in early spring. There are half a dozen or more 

 kinds having dwarf-tufted habits that more or less fit them 

 for the carpet effect. 

 The flowers are gen- 

 erally of a bluish- 

 purple shade, except 

 A. jLeichtlinii, which 

 has a bright rose- 

 colored bloom. Au- 

 brietias look well STEMLESS GENTIAN. 



planted in masses (centiana acauus.) 



among rocks. Another pretty spring-blooming plant, suit- 

 able for carpet effect, is the mouse ear (GerasUum Bieber- 



