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FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



thickly clothed with a leafy setting for its brilliant blue 

 Mowers. This requires a boggy soil, and in making a bed 

 for it, spongy peat should be selected. 



The swallowwort gentian (G. asclepiadea) is a free- 

 growing, herbaceous plant, bearing blue or white flowers 

 on long leafy sprays. It will thrive in a moist loam or 

 peat, and appears always to be happiest when slightly 

 shaded. 



The crested gentian (G. septemjida) is a very fine plaut, 

 of moderate growth ; the flowers are set in clusters, the 

 colours being blue and white within, and greenish-brown 

 without, while the alternate petals are finely fringed. 

 This gentian requires moist, sandy peat. 



The easiest mode of increasing gentians is to divide the 

 roots, but this should never be done until the plants have 

 spread in large patches, for it is difficult to keep small 

 pieces alive. The three that have first place in our list 

 afford seed in plenty, and to raise a stock of plants is at 

 once a simple and entertaining business. 



