630 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Crocus. — Many of these are useful. They may be 

 dotted thickly among Daisies and other low-growing 

 plants, as they flower early from February onwards. 

 Mice and pheasants are especially fond of them. 



Doronicum austriacum, a deep yellow-flowered com- 

 posite, growing about 15 inches high and flowering early 

 in April. D. plantagineum is similar to the preceding, 

 but taller, 2 feet or more high, and therefore useful for 

 backgrounds and for beds at a distance. Propagated by 

 division in May, and by seeds sown in March. 



Eranthis hyemalis. — The well-known Winter Aconite. 

 The roots may be planted deeply and left permanently in 

 the beds, as they are apt to become a nuisance if lifted 

 and replanted every season. 



Erica carnea, purple, and alba, the white variety, com- 

 mence flowering in January and continue until the 

 middle of March. They should be planted in peat when 

 making growth, but it is not necessary during winter and 

 spring if the soil in the beds is free from lime, or nearly so. 

 Increased by division after flowering. 



Galanthus nivalis, and its double form, and G. Ehcesii, 

 are the most useful of the Snowdrops for spring bedding. 

 They should be planted deep enough to allow the summer- 

 bedding plants to be put in and taken out without inter- 

 fering with the bulbs. 



Helleborus. — The Lenten Roses, such as ff.abchasicus, 

 H. colchicus, II. olympicus, H. orientalis, and their numer- 

 ous hybrids, are useful as "dot" plants among beds of 

 Violets, Winter Aconites, &c. Their flowers — although 

 not showy — last a considerable time, and their foliage is 

 elegant. They should be planted in permanent positions 

 whenever possible, as transplanting weakens them. They 

 flower from February to April. Increased by division 

 after flowering, and by seeds. 



Heuchbea hispida (Richardsoni), has dark velvety 

 brown leaves, which are effective when associated with 

 flowering plants. Propagated by division in May. 



Hyacinth. — The single varieties are the best bedders. 

 They look very formal if planted in straight lines, and 

 are better when disposed somewhat irregularly in the 

 beds, with some low-growing plant, such as Aubrietia. 

 Arabis, Saxifraga, or double Daisy, underneath. The 

 brighter -coloured sorts are the most useful bedders, 

 such as: — Blue — Grand Lilas, La Peyrouse; red — Robert 

 Steiger, Veronica, Waterloo ; ichitc — La Grandesse, 

 Grand Vainqueur. They flower in March and April. 



IiKDCOJUM. — The pretty Snowdrop - like flowers of L. 

 vernum, the Snowflake (fig. 757), and its varieties are 

 excellent for beds and borders, and if planted where they 

 need not be disturbed they become established and flower 

 freely in early spring. The petals are pure white tipped 

 with yellow-green. L. carpaticum is about a month 

 later; L. cestivum has flower-stalks over a foot high 

 bearing clusters of white bells in April or May. 



Lunaria biennis variegata. — The variegated form of 

 Honesty is worth using as a " dot " plant among other 

 things, such as Forget-me-not, or Aubrietia. The variega- 

 tion does not appear until the spring, when the plant 

 commences to grow. Increased by seeds sown in May 

 and transplanted as soon as large enough. 



MYOSOTIS alpestris. — The variety known as Queen 

 Victoria is a week later than the others, and is also 

 stronger in habit and constitution ; it grows 15 inches 

 high and flowers in April. Propagated by seeds sown 

 on a north aspect as soon as ripe, transplanting when 

 large enough to a sunny position ; also by division, 

 but the plants never succeed so well as seedlings. M. 

 dissitifiora, the blue-flowered variety is one of the most 



useful, as it gives a mass of pale -blue colour early in 

 April. The variety alba is like the preceding except in 

 colour, and it flowers at the same time. It reproduces 

 itself true from seed. 



Narcissus. — The Ajax section is the best for this pur- 

 pose, and only those having a strong constitution should 

 be chosen. Some of the best are bicolor, Horsfeldii, 

 bicolor grandis, Emperor, Empress, Irish King (Ard 

 Righ), princeps, &c; minor nanus forms a very pretty 

 edging if planted thickly; they may be planted deeply and 

 left in the beds during the summer for several seasons. 

 They flower from the middle of March onwards according 

 to the season and variety. 



Phlox amosna grows 6 to 9 inches high and has flowers 

 of a deep rosy -pink colour, produced in April. It 

 spreads rapidly in the spring, and should not be planted 

 closely in the autumn. Propagated by division after 

 flowering. P. divaricata grows 12 to 15 inches high and 

 forms handsome cushions of lavender-coloured flowers in 

 April and May. Propagated by division and by cuttings 

 in May. P. subulata and P. frondosa are useful dwarf 

 plants for edging and for small beds; flowers pink, 

 varying only in the shade of colour. P. Nelsoni is white, 

 free, and pretty. They flower in May. Propagated by 

 division and by cuttings after flowering. 



Polyanthus {Primula variabilis). — A good yellow 

 strain of this is very useful, also other decided colours 

 such as red, dark-purple, and white. Of the latter Gil- 

 bert's Harbinger is by far the best, having fine trusses 



Fig. 757.— Sno-wflake (Leucojum vernum). 



of large white flowers with a yellow eye. They flower 

 in February and March. The gold-laced and show 

 varieties are of less value for bedding. Propagated by 

 division before the middle of April. 



Primrose {Primula veris). — The double white, lilac, 

 sulphur, and blue forms are much appreciated where 

 they do well, but owing to peculiarities of soil, or 

 climate, or both, they often fail to thrive. 



Pyrethrum parthenifolium aureum (Golden Feather), 



