SPRING BEDDING. 



629 



gales. Such a position will be comparatively 

 warm in winter, and consequently the flowers 

 will appear earlier, whilst the tender varieties 



Fig. 755.— Anemone Hepatica. 



will have the advantage of shelter during 

 severely cold weather. 



The plants suitable for this purpose are by 

 no means numerous; on the other hand, their 

 colours are varied and pleasing. The following 

 can be recommended for gardens in all except 

 the extremely cold parts of the United King- 

 dom; others of less hardy nature may be added 

 for gardens in the warmest parts, i.e. Devon, 

 Cornwall, &c. 



Ajuga reptans purpurea, useful for its dark-purple 

 foliage in close tufts ; height, about 3 inches. Propagated 

 by division in May. 



Alyssum saxatile. — One of the most effective of yellow- 

 flowered plants for spring bedding, flowering freely from 

 April to June. Propagated by division in May, or by 

 seed sown under glass in March and transplanted to the 

 open border in April. 



Anemone. — Although this genus includes some of our 

 earliest and prettiest spring flowers, they are not suitable 

 for bedding owing to the necessity of planting them in 

 August. They cannot therefore be used where ordinary 

 summer-bedding plants occupy the beds in the summer. 

 A. angulosa is one of the most useful; its blue flowers 

 are produced in March. A . fulgens is quite hardy and 

 produces its brilliant scarlet flowers in March. There is 

 a double-flowered form of it. The Aldborough Anemone 

 is another form with larger flowers, remarkable for rich- 

 ness of colouring, including purple, crimson, and scarlet 

 shades, with a white eye-like ring at the base of the cup. 

 A. Hepatica (fig. 755), of which there are single and 

 double red, blue, and white forms. The red is most 

 effective, but it does not succeed in some places, owing to 

 peculiarities of soil and situation. A warm dry soil, rich in 

 humus, suits it best. Anemones dislike frequent removal. 

 They flower in March. 



Arabis albida is one of the earliest plants to flower, 

 but it must not be used too freely, as it is apt to look 

 untidy before the other plants are at their best. It 



flowers in February and March. Propagated by division 

 after flowering. A. albida variegata is the most useful 

 variegated plant we have for spring bedding. It is less 

 robust than the green form, and requires closer planting. 

 A. lucida variegata is yellower than the last named, and 

 more compact. 



Aubrietia deltoidea. — There are many varieties of this 

 plant, the best being grceca, blue ; ffendersoni, dark- 

 purple ; Ingrami, rosy-pink, fine large flower ; Leichtlini, 

 bright-rose ; variegata, pretty variegated foliage. These 

 are most useful for spring bedding. They commence 

 flowering about the middle of April. Propagated by 

 division not . later than March. A few of the largest 

 plants should be reserved for this purpose when filling 

 the beds in the autumn. The varieties do not come true 

 from seeds. 



Auricula. — The alpine varieties are useful bedders. 

 They should be planted rather closely together in a cool 

 position; or some low-growing plant, such as Saxifraga 

 moschata, may be worked in among them to cover the 

 soil. They flower in April. Propagated by division after 

 flowering, or by seeds sown as soon as ripe in a shady 

 place. 



Bellis perennis.— The double Daisies, including white, 

 pink, and red varieties; indispensable in the spring garden 

 for edgings and small beds. The variegated - leaved 

 variety known as aucubcefolia is also very useful, but is 

 more difficult to grow. Increased by division in May. 

 Time of flowering, March to May. 



Carex riparia variegata is useful for breaking the sur- 

 face of beds as a "dot" plant, and for associating with 

 stiffer-growing things. It grows 1 foot high, and dies 

 down in winter. Increased by division in May. 



Cerastium tomentosum. — A dwarf-growing gray-leaved 

 plant, useful for edging purposes. Increased by cuttings. 



Fig. 756.— Chionodoxa. 



Chionodoxa (fig. 756). — The several species are of the 

 prettiest of the spring - flowering bulbs which may be 

 planted 6 inches deep, out of the way of the summer bed- 

 ding, where they will grow and thrive much better than 

 when replanted annually. Flower in March and April. 



