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HERBACEOUS GARDEN 
the October crocus (bright blue), are good and 
plentiful. Many other varieties are to be had 
in white, lilac, and yellow. Some of the 
crinums are hardy even on clay, capense 
making a handsome border plant with good 
grey-green foliage and tall umbels of pinky- 
white flowers. Powellii, rose colour, and its 
white form do well on warm, dry soil, or at 
the foot of a wall, but are apt to be cut off by 
May frosts. It is curious to note that if 
allowed to go to seed, what seem to be seeds 
are really little bulbs, which do not ripen as 
seeds should, but fall green on the ground and 
promptly burrow underneath ; they have a 
little tiny tail, which may be a root, or it may 
be to assist them in burrowing, just as a cycla- 
men is helped. Quite a number were col- 
lected and sown, but have not flowered yet, 
though it must be seven years since. 
Dahlias, though not hardy, are included in 
many borders, not only for the sake of their 
late blooming, but because certain colours can 
be obtained from them which are given by no 
late-flowering tall perennial. Now that the 
asters are so good, dahlias need not be chosen 
for pink or mauve ; while yellow flowers are 
plentiful ; but for crimson, scarlet, orange, 
cerise, and maroon we are obliged to go to 
