HARDY FLOWERS. 



75 



They are easily propagated by root division, and when 

 grim n in the open are liest suited by a damp, deep, and 

 porous soil and a partially-shaded position. Astilbe 

 japonica and its varieties are largely used for forcing, 

 the method followed being to pol the roots in good loam 

 and leaf-mould during the month of ( H'tober, and place in 

 a cold frame, bringing the pots into gentle heat about 

 Christmas, and, after growth has well started, moving 

 into a higher temperature, when they come into bloom 

 in March and April. Alter a season's forcing it is well 

 to allow the roots a year's rest in the open before the 

 next forcing, as they will, by this method, recuperate 

 their strength, and flower far more satisfactorily than 

 if subjected to forcing in consecutive years. 



The best known of the Astilbes 

 are A. chinensis, with blush pink 

 flowers, 2ft. in height, a late intro- 

 duction from China; A. decandra, 

 an American species, bearing white 

 (lowers; A. japonica, the best known 

 of the family, i »f this Astilbe there 

 are several varieties, a variegated 

 one (A. j. folius aureo-reticulatus) 

 and a dark-leaved one (A. j. folius 

 purpureis) owing their distinction 

 solely to the colour of their foliage, 

 while A. j. glahrata and A. j. 

 compacta multiflora are advances on 

 the type in the matter of bloom 

 production, the first-named bearing 

 carmine rose flowers, while the last- 

 named is at the present time the 

 favourite market variety, producing 

 larger and more abundant flower 

 clusters. 



A. Lemoiliei is a beautiful hybrid 

 variety bearing white flower plumes 

 delicately suffused w ith pink ; A. 

 rivularis, from Nepaul, grows to a 

 height of 5ft., and bears yellowish 

 white flowers ; A. rubra, a native 

 of North-Eastern Bengal, is also a 

 strong - growing plant, its flower 

 panicles being tinged with pink ; 

 while A. Thunbergi also bears white 

 flowers shaded with pale pink. 



Astrantia major. -The greyish 



flowers of this hardy plant may be 

 seen to advantage in wild, rough 

 spots in the garden ; but A. major 

 and A. minor are sufficiently showy 

 to introduce into the mixed border. 

 Both kinds are very easily grown, 

 thriving in quite ordinary soil and 

 positions. 



AubrietiaS. — One of the brightest 

 of our spring flowers is the Aubrietia, 

 or Rock Cress. It will grow in 

 almost any situation or soil, though 

 a sunny site, where it can hang 

 down over wall, bank, or rockwork, 

 and where it has a deep and cool 

 root-run, is best suited to its require- 

 ments. Sometimes, after frequent vicissitudes of weather 

 in the way of alternate frosts and thaws, it loses its 

 leaves, and in the early spring appears at the point ol 

 deUh ; but the plant quickly recovers itself, and the bare 

 stems are clothed again with leaves and flowers, seem- 

 ingly as profusely as in seasons when it has been 

 unharmed by the frost. The propagation of the Aubrietia 

 is extremely simple, cuttings taken from the young spring 

 growths, thrown out from the crowns, striking quickly it 

 inserted in pots, pans, or boxes of sandy compost, and 

 placed in frames, from which, when they are fully estab- 

 lished, they may be planted out in their permanent posi- 

 tions. When first planted in the open, they should be freely 

 watered in dry weather, or their roots will experience 

 some difficulty in taking hold of and becoming established 



in the new soil, which should, preferably, be of a porous 

 nature rather than heavy and close, though in some 

 localities Aubrietias may be seen, apparently in the best 

 of health, in soil inclining to clay. These plants may 

 also be raised from seed, but seedlings rarely come abso- 

 lutely true to colour. The seed may be sown in the 

 open ground, and the seedlings thinned out to 3m. apart 

 when large enough lo handle. The plants may also be 

 propagated by division in June or July. 



There are numerous forms of the Aubrietia, many 

 practically identical ones bearing different names. 

 Almost all the garden varieties are descended from 

 Aubrietia deltoidea, which was introduced from Naples 

 in 1710. Amongst those to lie most generally met with 



/' U BRIETlASi 



in gardens are A. Bougainvillei, A. Campbelli, A. 

 columnea, A. erubescens, A. Eyrei, A. Fire King. A. 

 grseca, A. grandiflora, A. Hendersoni, A. hesperidifolia, 

 A. Leiehtlini, A. Mooreana, A. W. Mansfield, 

 A. olympia, A. purpurea, A. purpurea grandiflora. 

 A. rosea, A. Royal Purple, A. Souvenir de W. Ingram, 

 A. spathulata, A. taurica or tauricola, and A. violacea. 

 There is a poor white variety named A. antilibani, but it 

 is of little value and is rarely met with in gardens. Some 

 of the best of the foregoing are Campbelli, lilac; Eire 

 King, crimson ; grreca, violet paling to lavender ; Leieht- 

 lini, rose ; purpurea grandiflora, large purple ; Royal 

 Purple, deep purple; Souvenir de W. Ingram, rich rose ; 

 and violacea, violet. No wall garden is complete without 

 the Aubrietias in the chinks. 



