HARDY PLANTS. 
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gans, lilac, 4ft. ; cordifolius Sweet Lavender, lavender, 3ft. ; 
ericoides, white, 3ft. ; ericoides Desire, white, 3ft. ; Vimineus, 
white, 3ft. ; Vimineus Osprey, pale pink, 2jft. ; Vimineus Star- 
shower, creamy-white, 3ft. ; Novae-Angliae Brilliant, crimson, 
4ft. ; Novae-Angliae Mrs. J. F. Rayner, deep crmson, 4ft. ; 
Novae-Angliae Mrs. S. T. Wiight, rosy-purple, 5ft. ; Novi-Belgii 
Archer Hind, blue, 4ft. ; Novi-Belgii Climax, blue with golden 
centre, 4ft. ; Novi-Belgii Daisy Peters, white, 3ft. ; Novi-Belgii 
Perry’s Pink, reddish-pink, 3ft. ; and Novi-Belgii Mrs. Mar- 
shall, clear mauve. 
Astilbe (Goat’s Beard).— Hardy herbaceous perennials, 
belonging to the Saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae). They have 
elegant foliage and bear their flowers in graceful, feathery 
racemes or spikes. These plants do well in moist borders 
or on the fringe of a pond, and prefer a partially or wholly 
shaded position. The soil should be fairly rich. If grown 
in borders, give plenty of water in dry weather. Plant in 
spring. Increase by division of the roots in spring. The 
chief kinds are : A. chinensis, rose, very effective, summer ; 
A. Davidii, reddish-purple, 4ft. ; A. rivularis, yellowish-white, 
3 to 4ft. ; A. rivularis major, handsome foliage, white flowers ; 
A. Arendsi Ceres, rose-lilac; Pink Pearl, pink ; Salmon Queen, 
salmon-pink ; and Venus, rosy-violet, 3ft., summer. Natives 
of Japan, India, etc. 
Astragalus (Milk Vetch). — Hardy perennials, members 
of the Pea family (Leguminosae). Of this genus there are 
about 600 species, but very few of them are worthy of culture 
except in very large gardens. The only species we shall 
mention here are A. adsurgeus, bluish-purple, June, 6in. ; A. 
pentaglottis, purple, blue and white, June, 4in. ; A. monspes- 
sulanus, rosy-lilac and white, June, i8in. ; and A. vaginatus, 
rosy-purple and white, July, ift. The foregoing will thrive on 
any dryish sunny rockery, or on the margins of borders. Ordi- 
nary, light soil. Plant in autumn or spring. Increased by 
seeds sown in sandy soil in a cold frame in spring, or by 
cuttings in a frame during summer. Natives of Europe. 
Astrantia (Master-wort). — Herbaceous perennials with 
palmate leaves and flowers surrounded by leafy bracts. Nat. 
Ord. Umbelliferae. These plants are suitable only for the 
wild garden or woodland borders. They do well in shade and 
in ordinary soil. Not advised for small gardens. A. major 
grows 1 to 2ft. high, bears white or pink flowers in umbels, 
surrounded by bracts which are white on the underside and 
pink on the upper one. 1 This is a naturalised plant in woods 
in Worcestershire. A. helleborifolia is a Caucasian species, 
growing 1 to 2ft. high and bearing pink flowers surrounded 
