PLANTS WORTH GROWING 93 
perennial. As its name tuberosa implies, its roots 
are fleshy, but planted in well-drained soil in a fairly 
sunny spot it will thrive and yield an increasing 
quantity of flowers each year. Seeds sown as soon 
as ripe germinate freely, but the young plants require 
about three years to develop into flowering crowns. 
A. incarnata is quite a different plant with rather 
sombre purplish flowers in tufts or loose umbels. 
Its chief merit is that it has great attraction for 
bees, and may with advantage be planted in the 
vicinity of hives. 
Asperula. — Several of the Asperulas, commonly 
known as Woodruff, are of low growth or spreading 
habit, and are useful for carpeting the ground 
between bulbs, pentstemons, or other erect-growing 
subjects as well as for rock-work. One species of 
distinct character which should be far more generally 
cultivated than it is, on account of its extremely 
decorative character, is A. hexaphylla. The stems 
of this plant are slender and wiry, clothed with 
narrow pointed leaves, which nestle in whorls to 
the stem. The flowers are tiny and pure white, 
arranged in flattish umbels or panicles. The flower 
heads are small by comparison with Gypsophila, but 
in grace and elegance the Asperula is quite its equal, 
and its lasting powers are great. A cool moist root- 
run in an open, rather spongy soil, suits the Asperula, 
and it is a good subject for growing under the partial 
shade of trees. When increase of stock is required 
a clump may be lifted and its hard, rambling under- 
