THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



its deeply trilobed petals,, those of elegans being entire. The 

 typical flower is deep rose-coloured, but plants now exist with 

 flowers varying from pure white to dark purple, some being single, 

 others double. All are exceedingly showy, and should be grouped 

 in mixed borders where their bright colours will be highly appre- 

 ciated. As cut flowers, they are also in great demand. 



Collinsia. — C. bicolor (Fig. 117) is a pretty, profuse-flowering 

 plant, 1 ft. high, the upper lip of the corolla being white, whilst 

 the lower lip is of a purplish colour. It will stand smoke well, 

 and consequently is very useful for growing in the neighbour- 

 hood of large towns. The 

 seed may be sown in autumn, 

 and the plants protected 

 slightly during severe weather 

 in winter, when they will 

 flower freely in May. If 

 sown in March and April 

 they will flower in about 

 three months from the time of 

 sowing. A white variety is 

 also in cultivation under the 

 name of alba or candidissimet: 

 C. verna, a species growing 

 1 ft. high, and flowering early 

 in' May, has white flowers, 

 with the lower lip of 

 a beautiful blue colour. 

 Although this plant is so 

 handsome, it is seldom seen 

 in gardens, and very rarely 

 met with in nurserymen's 

 catalogues. It ought to be 

 a plant very widely grown, 

 seeing that it produces its 

 flowers at a time when 

 annuals are rather scarce. 

 The length of time the 

 display lasts — from six to eight weeks — ought also to reconv 

 mend it as a plant worthy of a place in every garden. 

 The seed must be sown in August or early in September 

 in pans of light soil, and the seedlings, when large enough 

 to be handled, should be pricked off into other pans or 

 boxes, and kept cool and damp in a light airy position, so as 

 not to force the growth, afterwards transferring to the open 

 border in time to establish themselves before winter sets in. 

 When treated in this manner they very often flower in April. 

 Altogether there are upwards of a dozen species of Collinsia, 

 including C. corymbosa, with the upper lip of a greyish-blue, 



Fig. 117. — Collinsia bicolor. 



