vigorous, but
not at all "miffy." The leaves are richly coloured pale green, white,
and pink; and the flowers, as seldom occurs in variegated forms, are
larger and more handsome than in the parent; in all respects, it is as
useful, and, for forming an edging, perhaps more suitable than the
common form.

Both kinds like a good fat loam and a moist situation; they may be grown
either in borders or on rockwork, but specimens on the latter compare
poorly with those grown otherwise; either they are too dry, or the soil
gets washed from them, so that the new roots, which strike down from the
surface-creeping stems, do not find the needful nourishment. Their
increase is easily effected by division of the rooted stems any time
after they have done flowering. If the season is droughty, they should
be well watered.

Flowering period, May to July.

Veronica Pinguifolia.

FAT-LEAVED SPEEDWELL; _Nat. Ord._ SCROPHULARIACEAE.

This is a rather uncommon species, being of the shrubby section, but
unlike many of its relative kinds, it is perfectly hardy, also evergreen
and very dwarf; a specimen three or four years old is but a diminutive
bush, 18in. through and 8in. high. The habit is dense, the main or old
branches are prostrate, the younger wood being erect and full of very
short side shoots.

The flowers are produced on the new wood; the chubby flower-spikes issue
from the axils of the leaves near the leading shoot; in some cases there
are three, in others four, but more often two. Each flower spike has a
short, stout, round stem, nearly an inch long, and the part furnished
with buds is nearly as long again. At this stage (just before they begin
to open) the buds are rice-shaped, snow white, waxy, and arranged cone
form. They are, moreover, charmingly intersected with the pale green
sepals in their undeveloped stage. The little bunches of buds are simply
exquisite. The flowers are small, pure white, waxy, and twisted in the
petals. The two filaments are longer than the petals, having rather
large anthers, which are bright purple. This pleasing feature, together
with the young shoots in the midst of the blossoms, which have small
stout glaucous leaves tipped with yellow--nearly golden--give the
clusters a bouquet-like appearance. The leaves are small--little more
than half an inch long--and ovate, slightly cupped, stem-clasping, and
opposite. They are a pale glaucous hue, and closely grown on the stems;
they greatly a