280 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



France gives us one of the most brilliant flowers in A. fulgens. 

 This genus also includes Hepaticas, than which there are no 

 more desirable spring plants. H. angulosa is less difficult to 

 increase than some of the others. Reverting to the Anemone 

 nemorosa section, I may mention two invaluable kinds for general 

 garden culture, one known as A. Bobinsoniana, the other 

 nemorosa plena, or double white. 



I cannot pass the mossy and spreading Phloxes without 

 favourable comment. They are ideal plants, both for rock- 

 work and border, blooming profusely, and supplying tones of 

 colour from pure white to delicate pink and red (colours very 

 welcome in the spring). The species and varieties I employ are 

 amocna, subnlata, frondosa, Nelsoni, and the charming varieties 

 raised by the late Mr. Nelson. They all enjoy a rich sandy loam. 



Our resources in spring plants are not so ample that we can 

 afford to be too critical, and amongst the flowers that might not 

 hold a foremost position, when placed in comparison with some 

 of the more choice or refined in character, is Cardamine rotundi- 

 folia. Neverthless it has the several recommendations that it 

 is hardy, has good foliage, is very early flowering, and flori- 

 ferous, and its masses of white flowers produced by well-grown 

 plants at once claim notice. It is of easy growth, and, like its 

 family, is impatient of drought. Cardamine pratensis fl. pi. is a 

 very handsome variety, and C. trifolia is a plant well worth a 

 place in either borders or on rockwork. 



There is a pretty little bulbous flower not so well known or 

 commonly cultivated as the Scillas, but suitable for association 

 with them, as it blooms about the same time as S. sibirica. It 

 is perfectly hardy, and seeds freely. It is called Puschkinia 

 scilloides. Like other small plants, the best effects are obtained 

 from it when grown in masses. It is not pure white, but a little 

 tinted with light blue ; but it gives the effect of a white flower. 



I have only mentioned two very early Narcissi, those be- 

 longing to my first division of early plants. Following closely 

 on the appearance of minimus come pallidus prcecox, Stella, 

 obvallaris, princess ; and from March until May a succession of 

 these beautiful and interesting flowers appear, making in them- 

 selves a spring garden. The Narcissus is effective, and lends itself 

 to all kinds of positions and never seems out of place, but when 

 disposed irregularly on grassy slopes, amongst rocks, or in clumps 



