37 



Solidago Shortii, probably the best of the so-called Golden Rods, 

 with spreading, finely arched heads of yellow blossoms appearing 

 from August and onwards. 



As they are coarse feeders and soon impoverish a rich soil, a top 

 dressing of good manure every autumn and winter will enable the 

 plants to be grown longer than usual without removal to renew 

 the soil. They are best increased by division in early autumn or 

 spring. 



Veratrum nigrum. — An ornamental native of Central Europe, with 

 erect stems 2 to 4 feet high, slightly bulbous at the base. The blackish- 

 purple flowers, with oblong blunt segments, are borne in June in dense 

 racemes i to 3 feet long. Veratrums prefer a rich, loamy soil, with 

 a little peat and leaf mould present ; the plants may be increased 

 by separating the tufts about September or October, and this method 

 is preferable to seed raising, as they germinate very irregularly and 

 slowly, and very often not until the second year. 



Aster ruber. — A variety growing about 6 feet high, and bearing 

 masses of bright pink flowers in August and September. The last 

 example for this row is 



Rudbeckia angustifolia.— A native of wet places from New Jersey 

 and Kentucky to Florida and Texas, 2 to 5 feet high, with slender stems 

 ana narrow glossy leaves. The flowers, during September and October, 

 are of an orange-yellow colour, with a blackish-purple centre. As the 

 seed rarely ripens, division during autumn or spripg is resorted to 

 for increasing stock, and the plants prefer plenty of space in which 

 to develop to the best advantage. 



Now comes the third row from the back, emd with the next forms 

 the centre of the border. As examples, the following : — 



Asphodelus luteus. — Synonymous with Asphoddine lutea. It is 

 a native of Southern Europe, 3 to 4 feet high, its erect-growing stems 

 being covered with deep green, awl-shaped three-sided furrowed leaves, 

 with distinct paler leaves. The pretty sweet-scented yellow flowers 

 are borne in summer in a long dense raceme, each blossom springing 

 from the axil of a buff-coloured bract. They flourish in ordinary 

 garden soil, and are increased by root division in early Spring. 



Sidalcea spieata rosea. — This plant has flowers of a rosy-pink 

 colour and reaches a height of about 5 feet. Where the plants are not 

 killed by winter frosts, division in early autumn or spring is the usual 

 method of propagation, but seedling plants are usually more satis- 

 factory. 



Rudbeekia laciniata flora pleno. — The double-flowered form of 

 the R. laciniati mentioned previously, but does not grow quite so tall. 

 It is treated and propagated in a similar fashion. 



Senecio Veitchianus, which is 5 feet in height, bears its yellow 

 flowers during August and September. It is easily and generally 

 increased by division, but this one also comes true when raised from 

 seed. 



