the front line planted between suitable pieces of stone, or they may be relegated to a particular spot, and placed on an artificial rockery. Most of the hardy bulbs will do well enough in the border, care bein taken not to disturb them while leafless and dormant. Some geep-rooting perennials do not spread much at the surface, and only require refreshing from time to time by top-dressin s. Others, as the asters, spread rapidly; those possessing this habit should be taken up every second or third year, and, a nice patch being selected for replanting from the outer portions, the rest may be either thrown aside, or reserved for increase; the portion selected for replanting should be returned to its place, the ground havin meanwhile been well broken up. Some plants are a t to decay at tie base, frequently from exposure caused b the liffing process going on during their growth, these should be taken up annually in early autumn, the soil refreshed, and the plants returned to their places, care being taken to plant them sufficiently degp Only a section of some of the best of the decorative hardy perennials can be noted, before we pass on to those popular subjects of this class which have been directly influenced by the hybridize and improver. Many more might be added to the subjoined list .-Acaena.-Neat trailing plants adapted for rockwork, thriving in aandiy A. mwrophylla and A. myrlophylla have pretty spiny ea so owers.
Acantholzmon.-Pretty dwarf tufted plants, with needle-shaped leaves, adapted for rockwork. A. glumaceum and A. venustum bear bri ht pink flowers in luly and August. Light sandy loam. Acanthus.-Bold handsome plants, with stately spikes, 2 to 3 ft. high, of flowers with spiny bracts. A. mollzs, A. latzfollus, and A. lpngzfolzus are broad-leavgddsorts; A. spmosus and A. spmoszsszmus ave narrower spin toot e leaves.
Achzllea.-Handslome composite plants, the stronger ones of easy culture in comrron soil. A. Eupatonum and jilzpendula, 3 to 4 ft., have showy yellow corymbose Bowers; A. rosea, 2 ft., rosy-crimson; and A. Ptarmzca {lore-pleno, 2 ft., double white flowers. Others suitable for front ines or rockwork are A. tomentosa, 19 in., bright yellow; A. aegyptzaca, 1 ft., silvery leaves and yel ow flowers; A umbellata, 8 in., silvery leaves and white flowers; and A. Clavennae, 6 in, with silvery leaves and pure white flowers. Acomtum.-Handsome border plants, the tall stems crowned by racemes of showy hooded flowers. A. Camarum, £3 to 4 ft., has deep purple flowers in August; A. sznense, 1% to 2 t., has large dark purple flowers in September; A. vanegatum, 3 ft., has the flowers white edged with blue; A. autumn ale, 3 ft., has pale blue flowers; A. Anthora, 1 to 2 ft., yellow; and A. Japomcum, 2% ft., deep blue flowers, produced in September and October. A. Wzlsom, a new species from China, 6 ft high, with bluish-purple flowers. Adenophora.-Bell-shaped flowers. A. stylosa, 2 ft., ale blue, ele ant; A. dentzculata, 1% ft., dark blue; and in A. lzlufolia, 1% ft., pali blue, sweet-scented-all blooming during summer. Light soil. Adoms.-A. vernalzs, 1 ft., has large bright yellow stellate flowers in April Deep light soil. A. amurenszs is a line Chinese species. Ajuga.-Free growing, dwarf and showy. A. replans, 8 in., has creeping runners, which A. genevenszs has not; both bear handsome spikes of blue labiate Bowers. Ordinary soil. Allzum.~»Hardy bulbs of the garlic amily, some species of which are ornamental; the inflorescence is umbel late. In A. azureum, 1 to 2 ft., the flowers are deep-blue; in A. Moly, 1 ft., golden yellow; in A. neapolztanum, 1% ft, white, very handsome; in A. mquetrum, 8 in., white with green central stripes; in A. pedemontanum, 9 in., reddish-violet, ver beautiful, the umbels nodding. Alstroemena.-llleautiful plants with fleshy tuberous roots, which are the better if not often disturbed. A. aurantzaca, 2 to 3 ft., oran e streaked with red, in July and August; A. chzlenszs, 2 to 3 ft., blood-red, streaked with yellow, affording manv varieties. Deep sandy loam or peat. Shou d be planted at least 6 or 8 in. deep. Althaea rosea.-The hollyhock is a noble perennial, 6 to 15 ft. high, wiitlg flower? of every colour except blue. Requires rich loamy soil an p enty O space.
Alyssum.-Showy rockwork or front row border plants of easy culture in any light soil; the plants should be frequently renewed from cuttings. A. saxatzle, with greyish leaves, and deep yellow flowers? riroduced in April and May, and the dwarfer A. montanum are use u .
Amaryllzs.-Noble half-hardy bulbs, for planting near the front wall of a hothouse or greenhouse; the soil must be deep, rich and well drained. A Belladonna, the Belladonna Lily, 3 ft., has large funnel-shaped flowers in September, of a delicate rose colour. The variety A. blanda has paler flowers, almost white. Anehusa.-Pretty boraginaceous herbs, easily grown. A. ilalica, 3 to 4 ft., has blue star- ike flowers. A. sempervirens, 1% ft., rich blue, is well suited for rough borders.
Androsace.-Pretty dwarf rock lants, requiring rather careful management and a [gntty soil. A lgtaliana, yellow; A. Wulfeniana, purplish-crimson; . wllosa, white or pale rose; A. lactea, white gigp y;ellow eye; A. lanaggigosg, delicate rose; and A. Chafnaejasme, e ica e rose, are some o the est.
Anemone.-The Japanese kinds, A. japonioa, flowers white and purple. are very easily grown and are particularly line in autumn. The scarlet A. fulgens, and A. coronama, the poppy anemone, are useful for the front, or in nooks in the rockery; while the common hcépatica (A. hepatica) with its bright blue flowers should also have a p ce.
Antennana.-Composite plants, with everlasting flowers. A margarztacea, 1% to 2 ft., has white woolly steins and leaves, ar1J white flower-heads.
Anthencum.-Charming border flowers. A. Lzlzastrum, St Bruno's Lily, 1% ft., bears pretty white sweet-scented flowers in May; A. Hooken (Chrysobactnm), 2 ft., with long racemes of bright golden yellow flowers, requires cool peaty soil.
Aquzlegia.-The Columbine family, consist in of beautiful border flowers in great variety, ranging from 1 to 2 or 3 in height. Besides the common purple A. vulgaris with its numerous varieties, double and single, there are of choice sorts A. alpma and A. pyrenazca, blue; A. glandulosa, A. jucunda, and A. coerulea, blue and white; A. lepton is, blue and yellow; A. canadenszs, A. Skmnen, and A. truncatu, (calzformca), scarlet and yellow; A. chrysantha, ellow; and A. fragrans, white or flesh-colour, very fragrant. Liglit rich garden soil.
Arabzs.-Dwarf close- rowing evergreen cruciferous plants, adapted for rockwork ant? the front part of the flower border, and of the easiest culture. A. albzda forms a conspicuous mass of greyish leaves and white blossoms. There is also a charming double variety. A. lucula, which is also white-flowered, bears its bright gre'~1 leaves in rosettes, and has a variety with prettily gold-margined leaves. Arenana -Evergreen roc plants of easy culture. A. gramzmfolit., and A. lanczfolza are tufted, with grassy foliage and white Bowers, while A. baleanca, a creeping rock plant, has tiny leaves and solitary white flowers.
Armena.-The Thrift or Sea-Pink, of which the common form A. mantzma is sometimes planted as an edging for garden walks; there are three varieties, the common pale pink, the deep rose, and the white, the last two being the most desirable. A. cephalotes, 1% ft., is a larger plant, with tufts of linear lance-shaped leaves, and abundant globular heads of deep rose flowers, in June and July. Ascleplas.-A. tuberosa is a handsome fleshy-rooted plant, very impatient of being disturbed, and preferring good peat soil; it grows 1 to 1% ft. high, and bears corymbs of deep yellow and orange owers in Stéptember. A. mcarnata, 2 to 4 ft., produces deep rose sweet-scente flowers towards the eno of summer. Asperula odorata.-The woodruFf, a charming white-flowered plant with leaves in circles. Well adapted for carpeting the border or rockery.
Asphodelus.-Handsome liliaceous plants, with fleshy roots, erect stems, and showy flowers, thriving in any good garden soil. A. albus, 4 ft, A. aestwus, 4 ft., and A. ramosus, 4 ft., have all long tapering keeled leaves, and simple or branched spikes of white flowers; A. luteus, 2 ft., has aw -shaped leaves and dense spikes of fragrant yellow flowers; A. capzllarzs is similar to A. luteus, but more slender and elegant.
Aster.-A very large family of autumn-blooming composites, including some ornamental species, all of the easiest culture. Of these, A. alpznus, I ft., and A. Amellus, 1% ft., with its var. bessarabicus, have broadish blunt leaves, and large starry bluish flowers; A. longzfolzus formosus, 2 ft., bright rosy lilac; A. elegans, 3 to 5 ft., small pale purple or whitish; A. laxus, 2 ft., purplish-blue; A. pendulus, 2% ft., white, changing to rose; A. pyrenaeus, 2 to 3 ft., ilac-blue; A. turbmellus, 2 to 5 ft., mauve-coloured, are showy border plants; and A. Novae Anglzae, 5 to 6 ft., rosy-violet; A. cyaneus, 5 ft., blue-lilac; and A. grandzflorus, 3 ft., violet, are especially useful from their late-flowering habit. Astzlbe.-A. japonica, 1 to 1% ft., better known as Hoteia japomca. or Spiraea japonica, thrives in peat or sandy soil; its glossy trip innate leaves, and feathery panicles of white flowers mrly in summer, are very attractive. It proves to be a fine decorative potplant, and invaluable for forcing during the spring. Astragalus.-Showy pea-flowered plants, the smaller s ies adapted for rockwork; sandy soil. A. dasygloms, 6 in., has bliiishpurple flowers in August and September; and A. monspessulanus, 8 in., crimson-purple in ]ul[y; while A. hypo glottis, 6 in., produces in summer compact heads o pretty flowers, which are either purple or white. There are many very ornamental kinds. Aubnetza.-Beautiful dwarf spring-blooming rock plants, forming oarpety tufts of flowers of simple cruciferous form. A. delloidea is of a deep lilac-blue; A. Campbellzae is more compact and rather darker, approaching to purple; A. gmndzfiora and graeca are rather la er, but of a lighter hue. Light sandy soil. rgambusaf-The bamboo family are elegant arborescent grasses (see BAMBOO).
Baptism.-Stoutish erect-growing, 2 to 3 ft., with smooth foliage and spikes of pea-like flowers. B. australzs is purplish»blue, B. alba, white, B. exaltato, deep blue; all flowering in the summer months.
Bellis.-B. perennis flare-pleno, the Double Daisy, consists of dwarf showy p ants 3 to 4 in. high, flowering freely in spring if grown in rich light soil, and frequently divided and transplanted. The whlte and pink forms, with the white and red quilled, and the variegated-leaved aueubaefolia, are some of the best.
Bocconia.-Stately poppyworts, 6 to 8 ft B. cordata has heart shaped lobed leaves, and lar e panicles Of small flesh-coloured
flowers. Sometimes called Macleaya. Deep sandy loam.