HARDY PLANTS. 
143 
plants yield such real delight and pleasure to the grower. The 
Gentians belong to their own special order, the Gentianaceae. 
The most popular species, and the only ones we shall deal 
with here, are G. acaulis, flowers a brilliant deep blue, March 
to June. This species is the easiest of all to grow. It 
requires to be grown in moist loam, mixed w'ith decayed cow 
manure, on a rockery or as edging to a border. G. Andrewsii, 
a native of N. America, grows i to 2ft. high, has blue flowers 
borne in August, is best grown in sandy soil on a sunny 
rockery. G. asclepiadea (Willow Gentian) is a South European 
species, growing 6 to i8in. high, and bearing purple-blue 
flowers in July. This species may be naturalised in grass or 
in woodland borders, or grown on a rockery facing north. 
Sandy loam. G. Cruciata (Crosswort) grows ift. high, has 
pale blue and green flowers borne in July, and is best grown 
on a shady rockery in sandy loam. G. luteus (Yellow Gentian) 
bears yellow flowers in whorls in July, and grows 3 to 4ft. 
high. Best grown in the wild garden or coarse, shady borders. 
G. pneumonanthe (Heath Gentian) is a native species, bearing 
deep blue flowers in August, and growing gin. high. A grand 
species for naturalising in grass or massing in shady borders ; 
sandy loam. G. septemfida (Crested Gentian) grows 9 to i2in. 
high, and bears blue flowers with white interiors on erect heads 
in July. Does well in sandy loam on a sunny rockery or 
border. G. verna is the most beautiful of all the Gentians. 
It only grows about 3m. high, and bears exquisite brilliant 
blue flowers in April and May. It must be grown in sandy 
loam, freely mixed with bits of limestone, on a sunny rockery, 
where its roots can get plenty of moisture in summer. G. 
Traversii, rose-pink, is a lovely rock species from New Zea- 
land. The best time to plant gentians is in March. Once 
planted let the plants alone, merely top-dressing annually in 
early spring with well-decayed manure and leaf-mould. In- 
creased by seeds sown in sandy soil in a cold, shady frame in 
spring. The seeds germinate very slowly indeed. Also by 
division of the plants in March. 
Geranium (Crane’s-bill). — Hardy herbaceous perennials, 
belonging to the Nat. Ord. Geraniaceae. The species named 
below are excellent plants for rockeries or sunny borders. 
Ordinary well-drained soil. Plant in spring. Increased by 
seeds sown in sandy soil in a cold frame in spring, also by 
division of the roots in autumn. The species worth growing 
are : G. armenum, purple-crimson, July, 2ft. ; Armenia ; G. cine- 
reum, pale red, July, 6in., Pyrenees; G. Endressi, rose, July, 
1 ft. , Pyrenees ;G. grandiflorum, violet-blue, July, 1 ft. ; G. iberi- 
cum, purple-blue, late summer, ift., Caucasus ; G. macrohizum. 
