2l6 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING, 



There is a variety grown in gardens, fimbriata, having rose- 

 coloured flowers with white . centres, which is certainly an 

 improvement on the type. As its name implies, it has fringed 



petals (Fig. in). Another 

 variety, with dark purplish 

 flowers and of neat, compact 

 habit, is known as purpurea; 

 it forms an ornamental plant 

 for growing in dense patches 

 in the border. 



ALYSSUM' maritimum, 

 often known as Kceniga 

 maritima, is the Sweet Alys- 

 sum. Though only growing 

 6in. high, it forms a charming 

 little bedding plant, valuable 

 also for rockwork and for 

 edgings in the spring flower 

 garden, producing, as it does, 

 numerous small white flowers 

 on its much-branched stem. 

 It commences to flower in 

 early spring, and continues 

 throughout most of the sum- 

 mer. It produces seed in 

 abundance, and if not inter- 

 fered with, will become self- 

 sown. It is an excellent 

 bee-plant, and is familiar 

 in some gardens under the 

 name of Alyssum odoratum. There are in cultivation two or 

 three varieties of it, viz., Little Gem, a dwarf compact-growing 

 plant, only 4m. high, suitable for edging, and Rock Alyssum, 

 a dwarf, spreading plant, valuable for rockwork, baskets, or vases. 

 Both varieties have white flowers. A variegated form is also 

 grown. 



Amblyolepis setigera (Helenium setigerum). — A composite 

 plant, with fragrant orange-yellow flowers. It is a native of 

 Texas, and, in this country, grows from ift. to 2ft. high. 

 Although seen at its best in July, it flowers most of the 

 summer. 



Ambrosia mexicana is a fragrant hardy annual, growing 2ft. 

 high ; it is valuable for bedding on account of its sweet-scented 

 and ornamental foliage. 



Ammobium alatum (Winged Everlasting) is closely related 

 to the Gnaphaliums. It has white, chaffy flowers, with numerous 

 yellow disk-florets, borne from May to September; height from 



Fig. hi. — Agrostemma cceli-rosa 

 fimbriata. 



