HARDY PLANTS. 
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in April, or in heat in February, the seedlings being trans- 
planted in small pots, grown in heat till May, then hardened 
off and planted outdoors the end of May. Formerly known 
by the generic name of Chamaspeuce. 
Codonopsis (Bell-wort).— Interesting hardy perennials, 
belonging to the Campanula order (Campanulaceae). C. ovata 
is a pretty Himalayan plant, with bell-shaped flowers, blue, 
veined with white, and growing about a foot high. The flower- 
ing period is June. This plant will grow in ordinary soil in a 
sunny border. Plant in autumn or spring. C. Bulleyi, lav- 
ender-blue, is a charming rock plant with trailing shoots. 
Increased by seeds sown in sandy soil in a cold frame in 
spring. When the seedlings are large enough to handle 
transplant them into other boxes, and finally plant out in 
summer. Increased also by cuttings of young shoots in a 
cold frame in spring, and by division of the roots in autumn. 
The latter must, however, be done very carefully. 
Collinsia. — Hardy annuals, belonging to the Foxglove 
order (Scrophulariaceae), and natives of N. America. C. 
bicolor, and its numerous varieties, are very pretty kinds 
for massing in borders or beds. Bicolor has lilac and white 
flowers, and grows a foot high. The varieties thereof are 
alba, white ; candidissima, pure white ; alba rosea, white and 
rose ; multicolor, lilac, rose, white, and violet-striped ; and 
marmorata, white, lilac and carmine. C. bartsiaefolia aiba 
grows gin. high, has white flowers, and is suitable for edgings. 
C. grandiflora has deep blue and lilac flowers ; and its variety, 
violacea, violet and white flowers, both growing lft. high. C. 
tinctoria purpurea, reddish-violet, ift. ; and C. verna, blue 
and white, ift., are also pretty kinds. Seeds of all, except C. 
verna, may be sown in the borders in September for early 
flowering, and in April for summer blooming. When the 
seedlings are well up thin them out to 4 or 6in. apart. They 
will then make bushy plants and flower more freely. C. verna 
can only be sown in September in the borders. 
Collomia. — A neat, dwarf-growing hardy annual, be- 
longing to the Phlox order (Polemoniaceae). It is a native of 
Chili, grows 12 to i8in. high, and bears bright red flowers in 
summer and autumn. A very showy annual to grow in masses 
in a sunny border. Ordinary, well-drained soil will suffice. 
Sow in the open border in April, and thin out the seedlings 
later on to 4 or 6in. apart. This pretty annual (C. coccinea) 
often reproduces itself from self-sown seeds. 
Commelina (Blue Spiderwort). — The only species of 
this genus that is worth growing is C. ccelestis, a native of 
