iS6 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Aeabis (Bock Cress). — Very hardy and popular 

 white flowering edging or carpeting plants. A. 

 albida attains a height of 6 to 9 inches, and 

 flowers from January to May. A. albida vari- 

 egata is a pretty variegated form. A. lucida 

 variegata, a handsome form of A. lucida, has 

 green leaves broadly margined with yellow, and 

 is an effective edging plant. A. mollis is some- 

 what late in flowering, but the variegated form is 

 worthy of culture. Ordinary garden soil suits 

 those that are to flower, but the variegated 

 forms should have comparatively poor soil, 

 and not be allowed to bloom. They may be left 

 undisturbed for two or three seasons, as they 

 are effective for summer bedding. Arabises are 

 easily increased. Old plants when lifted in the 

 spring may be pulled in pieces, each little 

 division or tuft having about 3 inches of stem 

 attached. Dibble them in firmly in moderately 

 rich soil and a cool position. Old plants may 

 also be divided in the autumn and replanted. 

 Cuttings of the variegated forms to be dibbled 

 out in good sandy soil, covered with hand-lights 

 and shaded from bright sunshine. Neat little 

 plants can also be had by sowing seeds in jians 

 during April or May, these germinating quickly 

 in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings on a 

 cool border. 



Aubretia (Purple Eock Cress). — This class of plants 

 may be briefly summed up as good purple flower- 

 ing companions to arabis. From A. deltuidea 

 have originated several greatly improved forms, 

 the best of these being A. Campbelli, large deep 

 violet-blue flowers ; A. grandiflora, only slightly 

 differing from the preceding ; A. Leitchlini, extra 

 fine and deserving of general culture ; and the 

 variegated form of A. purpurea. Increased by 

 division, cuttings, and seeds, similarly to arabis, 

 or as shown in the illustrations. 



Bellis (Daisy). — Common double daisies (B. per- 

 ennis) are too well known to need any eulogy 

 here beyond the remark that they are admirably 

 adapted for spring bedding. Some of the best 

 garden varieties are B. p. conspicua, red; Crown, 

 pink; Eliza, purple; Eubens, red; and Snowflake, 

 white ; while aucubsefolia should be grown for 

 the beauty of its yellow-veined foliage and 

 crimson flowers. All are suitable for edging or 

 carpeting purposes, and succeed in good garden 

 soil. Hot and dry summer quarters are injurious 

 to daisies. After flowering, lift, divide, and firmly 

 replant the divisions 5 inches apart in rows, 9 

 inches asunder, in a cool damp border. Keep 



these and all other newly-planted divisions well 

 supplied with water in dry weather. 



Cardamine (Lady's Smock). — Though not often seen 

 in beds, this class of plants is yet well worthy of 

 inclusion. C. pratensis flore pleno, the double 

 form of the wild Cuckoo Flower or Lady's Smock, 

 attains a height of 12 inches, is pale purple in 

 colour and flowers during March and April. 

 With this, C. trifolia, height 9 inches, white, 

 flowering in March and April, may be grown. 

 Plant in rich garden soil. Increased rapidly by 

 dividing ; should be grown in a cool, moist posi- 

 tion during the summer. Plant thickly for effect 

 when in flower. 



Cerastitjm (Mouse-ear Chickweed). — C. Biebersteini 

 and C. tomentosum have silvery foliage and 

 white flowers. Both are well adapted for form- 

 ing edgings or for carpeting, and are suitable for 

 summer as well as spring bedding. The plants 

 may either be pulled in pieces when the beds are 

 broken up in May, and replanted where they are 

 to remain another year, or fresh neat plants can 

 be prepared specially for autumn planting. In 

 July or August sufficient growths for this pur- 

 pose may be drawn from the old plants, and 

 planted deeply in lines, box-edge fashion. Al- 

 ways replant these divisions deeply and firmly 

 and clip into shape whenever necessary. 



Ciieiranthus (Wallflower). — The common wallflower 

 (C. Cheiri) will be included under the sub-head- 

 ing "Biennials," but the double-flowering forms 

 other than the German strain have to be treated 

 more as a perennial, increasing or perpetuating 

 the stock by means of cuttings. Not later than 

 May select short young shoots, slip these off with 

 a heel, and lightly trim only. Half fill a hand- 

 glass with equal portions of fresh loam and leaf 

 soil, with sharp sand added. Make this firm, then 

 dibble in the cuttings 2 inches apart each way, 

 well fixing them, afterwards giving a gentle 

 watering and putting on the cover. The north 

 side of a wall is the best position for the purpose, 

 and if disposed more in the open, shade from bright 

 sunshine must be afforded. Wallflower cuttings 

 will also strike root without the aid of glass, in 

 gritty soil and a cool shady position. When the 

 cuttings are rooted, transplant to a well-manured 

 border. 



Coeykalis (Fumitory). — C. nobilis grows to a height 

 of 16 inches, and produces racemes of pale 

 yellow flowers in April and May ; and C. 

 tuberosa, Europe, 8 inches, flowers purple, pro- 

 duced iD March and April, are the only species 



