Aconitum

Sparks' variety is a fine deep blue Monkshood. Adonis Amurensis is a handsome yellow species from Japan, with fern-like foliage, flowering in February and March. It grows a foot high. There are double forms of this fine plant. Alyssum Saxatile Flore Pleno is a double form of the well-known "Gold Dust." The Dropmore variety of the well-known Borage, Anchusa Italica, is superior to the type; the flowers have the rich blue of the Gentian. Anemonopsis Macrophylla bears drooping Anemone-like flowers in charming waxy sprays; they are white, with a blush tint. It grows about 18 inches high, and enjoys a shady place in the border.

Artemisia Lactiflora is a handsome white Wormwood, 4 feet high.

Asters (Perennial)

New varieties of Michaelmas Daisies come out annually, and it is somewhat difficult to keep pace with them. The following are very good:

Acris nanus, lilac, only 1 foot high. Amellus Favourite, rose, 2 feet high.

„ Framfieldii, violet. Coombe Fishacre, flesh-coloured, 3 1/2 feet high. Cordifolius Ideal, lavender, 3 1/2 feet high. Diffusus Horizontalis, red and white, 2 1/2 feet high. Edwin Beckett, lavender, 4 feet high. Enchantress, blush pink, 3 feet high. Laevis Hon. Vicary Gibbs, reddish blue, in sprays, 2 1/2 feet high. Mrs. S. T. Wright, rosy purple, 4 feet high. Noviae-Angliae Mrs. J. F. Rayner, crimson, 5 feet high. Novi-Belgii Captivation, blush pink, 3 feet high. „ „ F. W. Burbidge, heliotrope, 4 feet high. „ „ Top Sawyer, lilac, 4 feet high. „ „ White Queen, white, 4 feet high. Vimineus Delight, white, very small feathery foliage, 3 feet high. Astilbe Chinensis Davidii is a handsome Chinese "Spiraea," which has received a first-class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society. The colour is purplish crimson. Height, 3 to 4 feet. Aubrietia Prichard's Al is a fine variety of coloured Rock Cress, deep violet in colour. It is a useful addition to our rockwork and carpeting plants. Calceolaria Golden Glory is a very brilliant hardy hybrid, which ought to prove very servicable in the herbaceous border and in beds. Campanula .Carpathica White Star is a beautiful variety of a popular old plant, with white saucer-shaped flowers. Height, 1 foot. Cimicifuga Simplex is a charming Japanese species, bearing white flowers late in summer. Height, 3 feet. Gerbera Jamesoni (the Transvaal or Barberton Daisy) is a brilliant scarlet-flowered plant that is not quite hardy, and is consequently grown by many in frames or cool greenhouses, but will pass the winter in sheltered places if the soil is light and friable. Height, 1 foot. It is a remarkable plant, which botanists are now crossing so as to increase the choice of colour. They have already attained considerable success. Gypsophila Paniculata Flore Pleno is a double variety of the well-known "Lace Plant" or "Gauze Flower," which is grown a good deal for mixing with cut flowers. The double, like the single, has white flowers, which do not fall after they have been cut and dried. Heloniopsis Breviscapa is an interesting little winter blooming plant, with white flowers. It only grows about 4 inches high. Hepatica Angulosa Alba is a white form of an old favourite. Incarvillea Delavayi made a considerable stir with its fine rosy red, Gloxinia-like flowers, and fern-like leaves, when first introduced. I. Grandiflora is a newer giant species from China, with rose flowers. It likes a dry, warm position. Height, 2 feet. Iris Sibirica Snow Queen is a lovely pure white variety of the Siberian Iris, and enjoys moist soil. Height, 3 feet. Lathyrus Latifolius White Pearl is a very fine pure white form of the Everlasting Pea. Lavender Munstead Dwarf is an early-blooming, fragrant variety that grows about half the height of the common type. Lychnis Grandiflora is a Japanese species, with salmon flowers.

Height, 1 1/2 feet. Papaver Orientale Lady Roscoe is a splendid rose-pink variety of the Oriental Poppy, and Princess Ena, a nice orange salmon.

Phlox Divaricata Or Canadensis

There are two very fine varieties - one a "Plumbago" blue, being called Perry's variety; and the other, a deeper or violet blue, called Lapham's variety. (Among many fine varieties of perennial Garden Phlox I may name George A. Strohlein, an enormous orange-scarlet flower with a deeper eye. Readers who do not know what to choose among the older varieties might note that the following have been selected for special notice by the Royal Horticultural Society: Coquelicot, orange-scarlet. Esclarmonde, lilac, white centre. Etna, glowing orange-red. Eugene Danzanvilliers, lilac-blue, white centre. Moliere, salmon, rose tint, cerise eye with white ring. Tapis Blanc, dwarf white.) Primrose Evelyn Arkwright is an immense variety, flowers pale yellow and fragrant, but several times as large as those of the common Primrose. Primula Pulverulenta is a handsome species from China, the flowers of which are borne in whorls in the same way as those of Primula Japonica. The colour is crimson. The foliage is slightly mealy. Height, 1 to 1 1/2 foot. Ramondia Pyrenaica Alba is a white form of a well-known Alpine.

It is a beautiful plant, and will thrive in a shady part of the rockery. Senecio Clivorum is a Chinese species, with large, loose heads of many flowers, borne in summer. It is a good plant for heavy soil, and thrives near water. Stokesia Cyanea Praecox and its white variety, Alba, are beautiful border plants. The former has lavender-coloured flowers.

They bloom in late summer and autumn. Height 1 to 1 1/2 foot. Thalictrum Orientale is a pretty and distinct plant with glaucous blue foliage and white flowers in branching heads. Height, 2 feet.