Many other plants might be

the early dwarf phloxes, many species and varieties of lychnis, dicentra for those who like it, and several early varieties of dianthus ; for white, the iberis, and, above all, the cerastiums. named as suited for early massing. As soon as their bloom begins to fade, they may be taken up, divided, and planted out of sight in a reserve-garden. Annuals or bulbs, grown in pots, may then be turned out into their place; and thus, with no great trouble, a bed may be kept in constant bloom from April to the end of October. The perennials planted in the reserve-garden will be benefited by the removal; and in the autumn they may be replanted in their old place, in order to bloom again in the following spring.

Among the names mentioned above, we forgot to include an extremely pretty native plant, akin to the cowslip and the primrose; both of which, by the way, are excellently adapted for spring-bedding. The plant we mean is Dodecatheon Meadia, or the American cowslip, which grows wild in the Middle and South-western States, and, when transplanted to the garden, takes to its new position very kindly. The flowers, at first sight, resemble those of the Persian cyclamen; for the petals are thrown back in the same manner, but the yellow anthers protrude from them in the form of a long pointed cone, or beak; and, as the flowers grow together in a cluster at the top of the stem, they suggest the idea of a flock of birds on the wing. The flower-stems are rarely more than a foot high, rising from a tuft of smooth green leaves close to the ground. The petals are generally of a bright purple, sometimes white; and the flower is one of the prettiest and most interesting of our natives.

The dodecatheon is perfectly hardy; but, as the leaves always die immediately after the flowering, those unacquainted with it often suppose that the plant itself is dead. The root, however, remains in full life, and, after lying dormant in the earth for about ten months, grows and blossoms vigorously again in the next spring.

The best way to raise a bed of dodecatheons is from the seed. This should be sown in boxes of light, peaty soil, immediately after it ripens. It comes up the following spring, makes two small seed-leaves, and then apparently dies. In the succeeding spring it shows life again, and makes a vigorous tuft of leaves, though it rarely blossoms till the third spring. The seedlings vary a good deal in size and color; and the varieties sold under

the high-sounding names of Dodecatheon elegans, Dodecatheon gigantea, and so forth, are merely seedling varieties of our native species.

The dodecatheon is not so well fitted to produce a mass of color as many other spring-flowers; and, when it is used for this purpose, the plants should be set not more than four or five inches apart. Its more appropriate position is that of a simple border-flower.

The family of the lychnis supplies some of the brightest decorations of the garden in spring and early summer. Lychnis fulgens, and the new hybrid from it called L. Haageana, will make, when planted closely in beds, a mass of color as vivid as that of the scarlet geranium. In some localities, they have not proved perfectly hardy in New England; but, where the ground is light and well drained, they may be safely trusted. There is a white species known as Lychnis Sieboldii; and L. Haageana is said to be a hybrid between this and L. fulgens. They are all raised very easily from the seed, which, if planted early, produces blossoms the first year. L. Haageana sports into a great number of varieties, differing greatly both in size and color, and exhibiting every shade from the most vivid scarlet to light pink. Another lychnis of the same type has lately been introduced from Japan. It is called Lychnis Senno. As we have only tried it one season, we cannot speak of it with confidence, but are disposed to think it less hardy, and more liable to disease, than L. Haageana. It is sometimes of a vivid red, and sometimes very prettily striped with red and white. All the abovementioned species of lychnis bloom in large clusters when well grown, and bear flowers from one to two inches in diameter.

virtue of remaining a long time in bloom.

They also have the

Lychnis Viscaria is a native of Britain, of very little beauty in its single state; but there is a double variety, which may justly be called one of the most splendid of perennials. It bears dense spikes of flowers of a deep red, rising about eighteen inches from the ground, and, when the plants are properly arranged, forming a mass of vivid color. Nothing is easier than the cultivation of this species. It is perfectly hardy, and very readily multiplied by pulling the plant to pieces when the bloom is over, and planting out the separated parts in a light border. By shading them for a few days, they will not fail to grow, whether they had roots at the time of planting or not. The foliage is a tuft of bright-green leaves, somewhat like those of the pink in form. This lychnis has lately been christened the "Ragged

Robin;" but the plant to which that name rightfully belongs is Lychnis floscuculi, a species inferior in beauty.

Most of those familiar with New-England woods know the Cypripedium, or lady's-slipper. Some varieties of it are perfectly manageable in the garden. Among these, one of the prettiest, and certainly the easiest of cultivation, is Cypripedium parviflorum. Its color is bright yellow. It is hardy, may be increased rapidly enough by dividing the roots, and grows in a good garden loam, though it much prefers a soil of peat or well-rotted leaves mixed with loam. It will be prudent to put a covering of leaves, or, what is better, short pieces of boards, over it in winter. The most beautiful of the genus Cypripedium spectabile bears large white flowers tinged with reddish purple. Its appropriate place is in a deep moist bed of peat, and it is impatient of any other soil.

Two species of Cerastium have lately been introduced, which, for supplying masses of white early in the season, will scarcely find their equals.

Cerastium tomentosum grows about six inches high, and, in the course of one or two seasons, spreads into a broad circular bed or cushion, which, towards the end of May, seems transformed into a patch of snow by its thousands of white blossoms. It is hardy, easy of culture in common garden-soil, and readily increased by dividing the roots. Cerastium Biebersteini has been more recently introduced, and is remarkable for the silvery tint of its foliage. The flowers are said to be larger than those of C. tomentosum, equally numerous, and of the purest white. It has stood two winters here without protection, and will no doubt blossom next month, when we shall be able to report with more assurance of its quality.

Anemone narcissiflora, a native of the Alps, is pretty enough to deserve a place in every herbaceous garden. Paradoxical as it may appear, many plants which are of an uncertain hardiness in our climate would bear the winter better if it were more severe; that is, if there were more snow. Many herbaceous plants which bear the climate of Canada uninjured are

apt to perish in our less rigorous but more capricious winters. A deep covering of snow, without a January thaw, is an excellent protection against the frosts, the wind, and the sun, which, by their alternate action, often prove so deadly. Alpine plants, as a rule, need this protection. Anemone narcissiflora, however, usually escapes uninjured; though, in one or two cases, we have known it to succumb.

The veronicas form a very numerous family, of which some of the members are among the best of hardy flowering-plants. Among them all, there is no one more to our liking than the dwarf species Veronica pulchella, which, after a year or two of culture, will form a mass of bloom half-spherical in form, and of the deepest sky-blue color. Its utmost height does not exceed eighteen inches. It is easily increased by seed or division, and we never knew it to suffer in the hardest winter.

Verbascum Phoeniceum, Lupinus polyphyllus, Dianthus cruentus, Ranunculus aconitifolius, and countless other flowering perennials, make this season gay with a brilliant and varied bloom. We must pass them all over in silence;