354 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Chinese species (C. indicum), the early kinds of which 

 now fill an important place in the decoration of the 

 herbaceous border during late summer and early autumn 



(see special article). Of the others, C. maximum is un- 

 doubtedly the best. It grows from 1 to 2 feet high, the 

 stems clothed with dark-green foliage, and bearing large 



Fig. 427.— Chionodoxa sardensis. 



white flowers, which are most effective in the border, as 

 well as being useful in a cut state. Propagation is easily 

 effected by division or seed. 



C. carneum. Rose, 1£ foot. Caucasus. 



C. latifolium. White" 3 feet. A form of the following. 



C.Leucanthemum. White, 

 double, 2 feet. Europe (Bri- 

 tain). 



C. maximum. White, 

 2 feet. Pyrenees. 



C. nipponicum. White, 

 l£ foot. Japan. 



Cimicifuga. — Tall, 



stately plants of easy 

 culture, growing luxu- 

 riantly in a rich soil, 

 their feathery plumes of 

 creamy - white flowers 

 being most effective in 

 the border or in a moist 

 sunny position in the 

 wild garden. Propa- 

 gated by division or 

 seed. 



C. americana. Creamy- 

 white, 2k feet. North Ame- 

 rica. 



C. racemosa (n?. 4^). 

 White, 4 feet. North Ame- 

 rica. 



C. simplex. White, 3 feet. 

 Japan. 



Clematis. — The 

 hardy herbaceous spe- 

 cies of this genus are 

 well suited for flower 

 borders. They can be 

 planted at any time, and 

 ordinary garden soil suits them. Propagation is effected 

 by means of seeds. The large -flowered garden forms may 

 be employed in a variety of ways in the border, or even 

 in beds (see special article). 



Fig. 428.— Cimicifuga racemosa 



C. Davidiana. Pale-blue, 2 to 3 feet. China. 

 C. integrifolia. Blue, white centre, 2 to 3 feet. 

 C. recta. White, 2 to 3 feet. South Europe. 



South Europe. 



Cnicus. — Summer - flowering composites of Thistle- 

 like habit. Two species are fit for the borasr, or, better 

 still, the wild garden, C. hetcrophyllus is an excellent 

 sub-aquatic, C. criophorus preferring a drier situation. 

 Both purple, natives of Europe. 



Colchicum (fig. 429). — Late-blooming bulbous plants, 

 producing charming effects in the wild garden in late 

 autumn, when their large Crocus-like flowers are deve- 

 loped, the foliage appearing in the spring. All the many 

 varieties of C. autumnale, the native Meadow Saffron, 

 are worth growing, their colours ranging from pure white 

 to beautiful rosy - lilac ; there are also striped forms. 

 C. Bivonce has large rosy-lilac flowers, and C. ParJcinsoni 

 has beautifully-chequered reflex segments. 



C. autumnale and vars. White to pale-purple, 9 inches, 

 Europe (Britain). 



C. Bivonce. Rosy-lilac, 6 inches. South Europe. 



C.montanum. Purple, 8 inches. South Europe. 



C. ParJcinsoni. Lilac and purple, 6 inches. Asia Minor. 



C. speciosum. Rose-purple, 1 foot. Caucasus. 



Commelina (Spiderwort). — Allied to Tradescantia. 

 The flowers, which are of the richest blue, are produced 

 in summer and autumn. C. coelestis and its variety alba 

 are fine border plants, attaining a height of about 2 feet. 

 Propagated by offsets or seeds. 



Convallaria (Lily of the Valley).— Graceful plants of 

 dwarf habit, preferring a cool, shady place. The native 

 species, C. majalis and its forms, are too well known to 

 need description. They flower in May and June, and 

 can be increased by division. The soil in which they are 

 established should be enriched from time to time with 

 leaf-mould or rotten manure. This plant is very largely 

 forced by market-growers. 



Convolvulus. — Twining plants of free growth, and 

 mostly with handsome flowers. They are apt to prove 

 troublesome in the borders on account of their spreading 

 habit, and it is difficult to eradicate them. The common 



