added, suits it well, if the
drainage is good; and it likes a half-shady position.

=Plants that are sadly neglected= are the airy-fairy Sea-lavenders or
_Statices_, with their filmy heads like purple foam; _S. gmelini_ and _S.
limonium_ are two of the best. When cut, they last a long time, and are
very useful for giving a graceful appearance to =stiff bouquets=.

The dwarf _thalictrums_ are =good rockery plants=; they are =grown for
their foliage=, which bears a striking resemblance to the maidenhair fern.
_T. adiantifolium_ and _T. minus_ are very pretty; their flower-heads
should always be cut off, so as to promote the production of their fine
fronds, which have the property of lasting well when cut.

The =aromatic scent of thyme= is very pleasant on a rockery; not only
should the silver and golden varieties be grown, but also those bright
kinds which give us sheets of purple, pink, and white blossom during
summer; to thrive they must be exposed to full sunshine, when =they will
attract innumerable bees=. The new kind, _T. serpyllum roseus_, is
splendid, the tiny flowers coming in such profusion as to completely hide
the foliage. All are low-growing, having the cushion habit of growth.

_Veronicas_ are not often seen, yet they are exceedingly pretty, and
continuous bloomers. =Amateurs should not begin with the shrub tribe=, as
these are somewhat tender, but if _V. incana_, _V. longifolia-subsessilis_,
and _V. prostrata_ are obtained, they will be sure to please. The first
and last are low-growing, but the other is two feet high, and has long
racenes like soft blue tassels, which hang down in the most charming way.

=A few words on some more bulbs= that look well on rockeries, besides the
crocus and dwarf iris before-mentioned, may not be amiss: the =winter
aconites= are most appropriate so placed, and show to greater advantage
than in the level border. Their golden flowers, each surrounded by a frill
of green, come forth as early as January, if the weather be propitious.

The _chionodoxa_, called also =glory of the snow=, is very fresh and
pretty, with its bright blue flowers having a conspicuous white eye. If
left undisturbed they will spread rapidly, and come up year after year
without any further trouble; they are =very cheap=, and will do in any
soil.

=Snowdrops= are charming on rock-work, and may be placed close to the
_chionodoxa_, as they bloom almost together.

The =grape-hyacinths= have very quaint