When the hybridizer produces a plant that has none of the 

 faults of its parents, particularly if we have despaired over these 

 faults, how pleased we should be with the new Platycodon Mariesi 

 Nana which never under any circumstances becomes floppy or 

 droopy, a grave defect in the Platycodon family, both tall and 

 dwarf. They are greatly beloved, although requiring careful stak- 

 ing just at a certain stage of their growth, when first starting into 

 flower. With this new Platycodon Mariesi Nana, no staking is 

 necessary at any time. It is compact, graceful, bushy and more 

 dwarf than Mariesi ; besides it also comes in two shades, that pure 

 deep blue and thick fine white of the Mariesi. As an edging plant 

 they might be rivals of the Carpathian Hare-bells except that the 

 foliage and grace of the latter are not excelled by any plant, old 

 or new. They always remind me of a doll's crinoline skirt, they 

 are so lacey, so miniature. 



The need of beautiful low-growing plants is being met far 

 beyond the expectations of the most sanguine amateur gardener, 

 and the fact that so many of these new hybrids are blue must 

 indeed be gratifying to all amateurs. Myosotidiflora is a hardy, 

 charming little Anchusa less than a foot tall and with flowers as 

 blue and not unlike the forget-me-not Palustris. It will thrive in 

 full sun or partial shade and is really hardy and a more lasting 

 perennial than the taller Anchusas. The Japanese herbaceous 

 Anemones are becoming almost as keenly welcome in our gardens 

 as the plants heretofore better knov/n, and now we have a Chinese 

 specie of lower growth than the Japanese, being but a foot high and 

 of a delicate mauve tone. It blooms all through August and Sep- 

 tember, its name is Hupehensis. I saw it growing in front of 

 Madame Paul Dutrie phlox, both a-flower and both so exquisite. 

 Nearby were the nodding, lavender bonnets of Scabiosa Caucasia 

 and Japonica, with the very dwarf, violet mauve Phlox Nana 

 Caerulea and Argon, which is also very dwarf and a fine silvery 

 pink, pale pink Speciosum Lilies and small masses of that extraor- 

 dinary hybrid Viola (Atropurpurea) a Russian violet purple filling 

 a shallow wall bed. The harmony of the mauve, lavender, silvery 



49 



