228 THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
Astilbe Davidii, with flowers of red, has been used 
largely by hybridists in making new border “‘Spiraeas.” 
Needs a moist place 
having ascending lateral branches and 
two to two and a half feet long. Par- 
tial shade is best for this plant since in 
strong sun the flowers bleach. Astilbe 
grandis is similar in habit and vigor of 
growth but has pure white flowers 
larger than those of any other Astilbe, 
and the lateral branches of the flower 
panicle spread horizontally. The leaves 
of both species resemble those of A. 
japonica but are much larger and of 
greater substance. Hybridists in France 
and Germany have employed these and 
other species in the breeding of a new 
and beautiful race of hybrid Astilbes 
of which A. Arendsw is the type and 
there are many named varieties on the 
market. These Astilbes are easily prop- 
agated by division of the rootstock and 
the species may be raised from seeds 
without difficulty. 
Well fitted for planting alongside 
Astilbes or on wet humus-clad rocks are 
Rodgersia aesculifolia, R. pinnata var. 
alba and R. sambucifolia. These are 
strong growing plants with broad thyr- 
soid panicles, each a foot to eighteen 
inches long, of fragrant flowers borne 
well above the foliage on spikes from 
three to five feet tall. In R. sambuci- 
folia the leaves are truly pinnate but in 
the others they resemble in form and 
texture those of the Buckeye (Aescu- 
lus). The flowers are of the purest 
white. Rodgersias are easily raised 
from seeds but they grow slowly; the 
rootstock is a stout rhizome and it is 
best to commence with strong estab- 
lished roots. 
The Rhubarbs are well known and 
their bold foliage and tall flower spikes 
make them noble subjects in a way, yet 
they can scarcely be classed as choice 
herbs. Very unlike an ordinary Rhu- 
barb, however, is the new Rheum Alex- 
andrae. This remarkable plant has neat, 
ovate-cordate, shining dark green 
leaves, each a foot or more long, and.an 
erect tower-like inflorescence a yard or 
more tall, the showy part of which con- 
sists of broad, rounded, decurved cow- 
slip-yellow bracts overlapping one an- 
other like tiles on a house and beneath 
which, secure from rain, nestles clus- 
ters of inconspicuous flowers. This 
Rhubarb is native of the alpine meadows 
and moorlands of the Chino-Thibetan 
borderland where its peculiar and rich 
colored inflorescence makes it conspicu- 
ous from afar. The plant grows well in 
any good, rich, moist garden soil and is 
fond of partial shade and of cow dung. 
It is easily raised from seeds but re- 
quires several years to develop strong 
flowering crowns. 
The Aconites or Monkshoods are old- 
fashioned flowers and count among their 
numbers many good garden plants. One 
of these is Aconitum Wilsonii which is 
allied to the old A. napellus and is a 
strong growing species with stems from 
six to eight feet tall and flowers in Sep- 
tember. The leaves are leathery, dark 
green and deeply incised; the flowers 
large and deep blue in color. After the 
main spike is past axillary branches 
continue to bear flowers until the advent 
of sharp frosts. The rootstock is tuber- 
ous and the plants require a rich soil 
and to get established before the best 
Primula Cockburniana. Orange-searlet flowers each 
an inch across on stalks eighteen inches high. The 
color of flower is very rare in plants. A biennial 
Primula pulverulenta is a charming, hardy Primrose, 
having rich crimson flowers on white dusted stalks two 
feet or more high 
May, 
Artemisia lactiflora. A new Wormwood with feathery 
panicles of milk-white, fragrant flowers. Three feet 
high. A welcome addition to the hardy border 
results are obtained. Another good and 
very distinct Monkshood is A. Hemsley- 
anum. This is a twining plant growing 
from eight to twelve feet high, and in a 
wild state frequents thickets where it 
rambles over shrubs and festoons them 
with a wealth of large blossoms in August 
and September. The flowers vary con- 
siderably in color and although most 
people like the deep blue best others de- 
clare the pale blue forms equally beau- 
tiful. The rootstock is tuberous and the 
twining stems, if made into cuttings in 
late July, root readily. Aconitum Wil- 
seni is easily raised from seeds but the 
opposite is true of A. Hemsleyanum. 
The Meadow-rues (Thalictrum), al- 
though they have beautiful leaves, are 
not regarded as showy garden plants 
yet the new T. dipterocarpum is one of 
the loveliest herbs imaginable. It grows 
eight to ten feet tall and the flower 
stems are very much branched and bear 
relatively large lavender-purple flowers 
in great quantity. The leaves are broad 
and much divided and the whole habit 
and appearance of the plant is most 
graceful and elegant. It requires a 
good, well drained soil, is fond of lime 
and revels in sunshine. Another sun- 
loving herb is Salvia Przewalskii which 
grows two to two and a half feet high 
and has large blue-purple flowers and 
good foliage. 
The Iris family is one of the most 
beautiful of all and Jris chrysographes 
and J. Wilsonti are welcome additions. 
These newcomers are allied to the well- 
known I. sibirica and have a similar 
habit and fibrous rootstocks. They grow 
two to two and a half feet high, are very 
free flowering and have narrow deep 
green leaves. In J. chrysographes the 
standards are brilliant dark purple- 
violet and the falls reddish-purple, each 
with a median stripe and numerous 
spots of golden-yellow near the base. - 
Iris Wilsonti has clear yellow flowers 
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