ALBERT R. MANN 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 AT 
 
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924051745937 
 
FAMILIAR 
 GARDEN FLOWERS 
 
 FIGURED BY 
 
 F. EDWARD HITLME, F.L.S., F.S.A. 
 
 AND DESCRIBED BY 
 
 SHIRLEY HIBBERD 
 
 " The 'loveliest flowers the closest cling- to earth, 
 And they first feel the sun : so violets blue ; 
 So the soft star-like primrpse drenched in dew— 
 The happiest of spring's happy, fragrant birth. 
 
 . To gentlest touches sweetest tones reply. 
 Still humbleness with her low-breathed voice 
 Can steal o'er man's proud heart, and win his choice 
 From earth to heaven, with mightier witchery 
 Than eloquence or wisdom e'er could owu. 
 Bloom on then in your shade, contented bloom, 
 Sweet flowers, nor deem yourselves to all unknown, — 
 Heaven knows you, by whose gales and dews ye thrive ; 
 They know, who one day for their altered doom 
 Shall thank you, taught by you to abase themselves and live." 
 
 Keble. 
 
 .■fftftfj jfrmrs 
 WITH COLOURED PLATES 
 
 * * 
 
 CASSELL and COMPANY, Limited 
 
 LONDON, PAULS <& MELBOURNE 
 
 ALL BIGHTS RESERVED 
 
MOT 
 
 H62_ 
 S-tA, £^'- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In presenting the fifth bouquet of flowers from the 
 home garden, occasion is made for returning thanks for 
 the generous manner in which, with all their faults, the 
 several gatherings have been received. The form of 
 the work compels concentration, and it is well known 
 that to write a long letter is much easier than to write 
 a short one. It has sometimes troubled me that the 
 brief space at command for presenting information 
 compelled me to omit matters which, at the moment 
 of writing, appeared to me of the highest importance. 
 But now, when the task is completed, I see clearly that 
 in the lightest of brief sketches there may often be 
 conveyed a considerable amount of useful information, 
 and perhaps in such a case as the present all that is 
 really required. Unhappily, the shortness of the otory 
 is no defence against the intrusion of error, and while 
 returning thanks for the cordial reception which the 
 former volumes of the work have obtained, it is 
 necessary to ask pardon for any slips of the pen that 
 may be discovered. S. H. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Spanish Ibis 
 Amethyst Eeyngo 
 Boltaedia . 
 Japanese Anemone 
 Picotee 
 Taosonia . 
 Tobch Lilt 
 Single Dahlia . 
 Rose Campion . 
 Maeechal Niel Rose 
 Mignonette 
 Giant Balsam . 
 Hawthoen . 
 Chey santhemum 
 Love-Lies-Bleedino 
 Rhododendeon . 
 Boedeb Pinks . 
 Afeioan Lily 
 Gentianella . 
 i/apageeia . 
 Sweet William. 
 
 . 
 
 PAOE 
 . 1 
 
 
 , 5 
 
 
 , 9 
 
 . 
 
 , 13 
 
 . 
 
 . 17 
 
 
 21 
 
 » 
 
 25 
 
 . 
 
 . 29 
 
 • 
 
 . 33 
 
 . 
 
 , 37 
 
 , 
 
 . 41 
 
 . 
 
 . 45 
 
 
 . 49 
 
 . 
 
 , 53 
 
 
 57 
 
 
 . 61 
 
 
 65 
 
 
 . 69 
 
 
 . 73 
 
 
 , 77 
 
 
 81 
 
vi 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 
 
 . 85 
 
 HOLLYHOCK. 
 
 
 . 89 
 
 
 
 . 93 
 
 FOEGET-ME-NOT . 
 
 
 . 97 
 
 CSCsr. ('/V^S.V 
 
 
 ' . 101 
 
 Verbena . 
 
 
 105 
 
 Major Convolvulus. 
 
 
 109 
 
 Day Lily 
 
 
 . 113 
 
 Lily of the Field . 
 
 
 . 117 
 
 Common Flax . 
 
 
 . 121 
 
 Coreopsis . 
 
 
 . 125 
 
 Candytuft. 
 
 
 . 129 
 
 Cuphea 
 
 
 . . .133 
 
 Rosy Yabeow . 
 
 
 .137 
 
 
 
 . 141 
 
 
 
 . 145- 
 
 Sweet Clematis 
 
 
 . 149 
 
 Cape Leadwoet. 
 
 
 . 153 
 
 Incomparable Daffodil 
 
 
 . 157 
 
 Index of English Names 
 Botanical Names 
 „ ,, Oedees . 
 
 . 161 
 
 . 163 
 
 165 
 
SYNOPSIS. 
 
 SPANISH IBIS.— This iris (I. xiphium) and the English iris 
 (J. xiphioides) are so nearly alike that there can he no impropriety in 
 regarding them as forms of one and the same species. They "both helong to 
 South-western Europe, where we meet with another differing immensely in 
 character, the great Iris Iberica, a species lately introduced and now much 
 sought after hy collectors of hardy plants. The iris family afford the student 
 a ready opportunity of ohserving some of the more prominent characters of 
 monocotyledons in which the flowers are fashioned on a model greatly differ- 
 ing from those of dicotyledons. The former have no distinct calyx and 
 corolla, hut in the latter these are usually conspicuous and afford useful 
 characters in the determination of species. As a, garden plant the Spanish 
 iris represents the hulbous-rooted section of iris, as the German iris repre- 
 sents the rhizomatous section. The hulbous species have flat or incurved 
 leaves, hut the fleshy, fibrous -rooted kinds have ensiform or "flag " leaves. 
 See under " Aconitnm." p. I. 
 
 EBYNGITJM, from a name adapted hy Pliny. N.O., Apiaeets, or 
 TJmbellifers. Linnjean: 5, Pentandria ; 2, Dir/i/nia.— Between an eryngo 
 and a, parsley or hemlock, what a difference ! It seems to the casual eye 
 impossible that plants so apparently dissimilar can he so closely related. 
 But as happens again and again, the gradations are of the most gentle kind 
 in the several modifications, and thus the extreme forms are brought into 
 harmony by the several links that unite them. The. plants are herbaceous, 
 the leaves divided, the flowers in umbels. Eryngium is an extreme form of 
 an umbellifer ; the inflorescence needs but to be carefully examined to reveal 
 its relationships. P- ''• 
 
 CENTATJREA, a classical name commemorating the curing of a 
 wound in the foot of Chiron, the centaur, by the juice of the plant. X.O., 
 AsUracece. LraraiAN: 19, Syngenesis ; 3, Frustranea. p. 9- 
 
viii FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 POPPY ANEMONE.— The generic term Anemone, or wind- 
 flower, is from anemos, the wind, or from the river Anemo, that flowed past 
 the city of Ravenna, where probably anemones grew abundantly in ancient 
 times. In its relationships the anemone comes near to the ranunculus. One 
 of its peculiarities is an involucre of three pieces usually distinct from the 
 flower, and there is no pore or nectary as in the ranunculus. p. 13. 
 
 DIANTHTTS, from dios, divine, and anthos, a flower, the "flower of 
 Jove." N.O., Caryophyllaeeee. Linn^ean: 10, Beeandria ; 2, Bigyina. 
 
 p. 17. 
 
 TACSONIA is named from tacso, by which one of the species is 
 known in Peru. N.O., Passifloraeece. LiNNiEAU: 16, Monadelphia; 2, Pen- 
 tandria. — The passion flowers constitute a magnificent family of herbs and 
 shrubs, mostly of rampant growth and climbing habit. The flowers are 
 unique in structure as well as in beauty ; the fruits are often handsome, and 
 make even more show than the flowers in some instances, while a certain 
 number of them are edible, though as regards wholesomeness sometimes a 
 little doubtful. The botanists are not agreed as to the structure of the 
 flowers, for it is a question if there are any proper petals ; but the view that 
 appears to prevail is that the outer series of floral envelopes are sepals, 
 and those within them petals. There is yet another view possible : to 
 consider that there are no sepals, but the whole series within and without 
 are petals. p.2\. 
 
 TKITOMA, from treis, three, and temno, to cut, in allusion to the 
 three sharp edges of the hard-textured leaves. N.O., Liliacea. Linxjean : 
 C, Hexandria; 1, Monogynia. p. 25. 
 
 DAHTjIA, named after Dahl, a Swedish botanist. N.O., AsUraeetc. 
 Linioban: 19, Syngenesia; 2, Superflaa. p. 29. 
 
 LYCHNIS, from lychnos, a lamp, in allusion to the colour of the 
 flowers. N.O., Caryophyllaceee. Linn.ean: 10, Beeandria ; i, Pentagynia.— 
 As a near relative of the pink, carnation, and silene, the lychnis sustains the 
 honours of the family by producing brilliant flowers. All the members of 
 this order are herbaceous plants, or sub-shrubby ; none of them are trees in 
 any proper sense of the word. We have had clove carnations ten years 
 old with stems as hard as flint, and as thick as a large man's thumb ■ but it 
 is not often any of the pink tribe attain to so mature a condition. One of 
 their constant characters is the jointed and forked growth of the stems- 
 another is the simple form of the leaves, which are opposite, and often 
 unite and clasp the stem. The flowers are usually hermaphrodite, consisting 
 
SYNOPSIS. ix 
 
 of five sepals and five petals ; the stamens equal in number to the petals or 
 double ; styles thread-like, bearing the stigmas on their internal surface ; 
 fruit a one-celled capsule. In this order occur, in addition to the plants 
 already named, the cerastium, spergula, saponaria, and gypsophila. They 
 are for the most part useless, and also for the most part harmless. It is often 
 stated that the clove of the spice-box is the produce of a caryophyllaceous 
 plant ; but that is a mistake arising out of the name Caryophyllus aromaticus. 
 This is a member of the family of myrtles. It is the spicy odour of the 
 carnation that obtains for it the specific name of Caryophyllus; but the 
 two " cloves " are in the natural system separated by as many as ninety-four 
 orders. p. 33. 
 
 GrEUM, from geo, to stimulate, the roots of some of the species being 
 employed in medicine, and sometimes as substitutes for Peruvian bark. 
 N.O., Rosacea. Linn-ban: 12, Icosandria; 3, Polygynia. — The geum, or 
 avens, is allied to potentilla, and is consequently a near relative of the 
 bramble and strawberry. Instead of producing a succulent receptacle called 
 for convenience a "fruit," the geums and potentillas produce dry carpels. 
 They are of considerable importance, however, on account of the tannic acid 
 of their roots, those of the common avens, or Herb Bennett, being sometimes 
 employed to flavour ale, while the roots of the common tormentil are in the 
 north used in place of hops in brewing. For botanical characters see 
 under "Rosa." p. 37. 
 
 RESEDA, from resedo, to calm, from its supposed healing or sedative 
 properties. N.O., Resedacece. Linn2ean: 11, Dodecandria ; 3, Trigynia. — 
 Although the fragrant mignonette is a native of Egypt, we have two native 
 species of reseda that closely resemble it, but have not its delicious fragrance. 
 The British mignonette is known as Dyer's rocket, having in ancient times 
 been much employed as a green dye. The plants of this order are few in 
 number, and are all of a soft herbaceous character, producing flowers in 
 racemes or spikes. Our garden mignonette is a favourite with the honey- 
 bees, but the honey they obtain from it appears to have no special character. 
 
 p. 41. 
 
 IMPATIENS is explained by touching the ripe seed-pod of any 
 kind of balsam, the elasticity of the valves causing the sudden ejection of 
 the seeds to a considerable distance. N.O., Bahamacem. Lutn-ean: 5, 
 Pentandria ; 1, Monogynia.— The order consists of herbaceous plants, mostly 
 annuals, with irregular flowers. The number five rules in the flower, there 
 being five sepals, five petals, five stamens, five carpels, consolidated into a 
 five-celled ovary, and there are other repetitions of the same number. 
 Although so eccentric in habit, and with flowers irregular in construction, 
 
x FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the balsams come near to the sedate and orderly crane's-bills. The balsams, 
 however, are for the botanical student far more interesting than the 
 crane's-bills ; in fact, the problems suggested by the flower are intricate 
 and perplexing. The species are partial to warmth and humidity, and most 
 of them prefer shady places. p. 45. 
 
 CRATJE GrTTS, from kratos, strength. N.O. Rosacea;. Lintosan: 
 12, Icomndrla ; 2, Di-pentagynia. — See summary under " Rosa." p. 49. 
 
 CHRYSANTHEMUM, from chrysos, gold, and anthos, flower. 
 N.O., Asteracece. Linn^ian: 19, Syngenesia ; 2, Snperflua. p. 53. 
 
 AMARANTHTTS is of doubtful origin, but the accepted etymology 
 is from the supposed imperishability of the flower, a-mairaino implying a 
 thing that does not wither. N.O., Amarantacece. Linn.2ean : 21, jlloncecia; 
 5, Fentandriti. — The species are herbs or shrubs, with flowers in dense heads 
 or spikes, coloured sepals, and no proper petals. They come near to the 
 chenopods in general structure. p. 57 
 
 RHODODENDRON.— The name is compounded from rhodon, 
 rose, and dendron, tree. It is the rose-tree, or tree-rose. N.O., Bricaeea. 
 LiNNiEAN: 10, Decandria; 1, Monogynia. — The rhododendrons constitute 
 a great and important section of the family of heaths. They are shrubs or 
 trees, mostly evergreen, with funnel-shaped flowers consisting of five lobes 
 with ten "stamens, but there are a few curious exceptions to the rule. The 
 magnificent Rhododendron Griffithianum has sixteen stamens, and some of the 
 species have but eight. The casual eye recognises the more prominent 
 characters, such as the style of the leafage, which is very distinct, and the 
 appearance of the flowers in dense clusters at the ends of the branches, the 
 buds before expansion being clothed with leafy scales. There are, however, 
 some singular exceptions to the prominent characters by which the rhodo- 
 dendrons are generally known. Thus the Dahurian species is deciduous and 
 the leaves are small, so that the plant has always a spare appearance ; the 
 flowers, moreover, occur siugly, or at most only two or three together. 
 And yet this is much valued in the American garden for its early flowers, 
 which appear in advance of the leaves and are of a lovely purple colour. 
 These and their companions, the azaleas, are commonly spoken of as 
 " American plants," but the New World has supplied but few of the many 
 that are in cultivation. Rhododendron maximum and Azalea calendiilacca are 
 natives of the North American continent, but the far east has supplied more 
 species than the far west to our gardens— Siberia, China, the Himalayas, 
 and Aaia Minor being the principal sources of supply. The Pontic rhodo- 
 
STXOPSIS. xi 
 
 dendron is an example of a kind of vegetation common to some parts of Asia 
 Minor, where may also be found the Pontic azalea, which has yellow or 
 orange-coloured flowers. Among the flowers of the Alps occur two rhodo- 
 dendrons, namely, H. ftrrttginenm and M. hirsutum, which are of dwarf 
 growth and exceedingly beautiful when in flower. Between the rhododen- 
 drons and the azaleas the differences are but few and slight, but the 
 cultivator distinguishes them readily, for in general complexion they differ 
 in a greater degree than in details of structure. The stamens are usually 
 five in number, the flowers are often glandular and clammy, and many of 
 the species are as decidedly deciduous as the rhododendrons are decidedly 
 evergreen. But there are species intermediate between the two genera, and 
 therefore to keep them apart is a matter of convenience more than of 
 necessity. p. 61. 
 
 DIANTHUS.— See synopsis. p. 65. 
 
 AGAPANTHUS, from agape, love, and anthos, a flower. N.O. 
 Ziliacece. p. 69. 
 
 GENTIANELLA.— See synopsis. p. 73. 
 
 LAP A GEM A is so named in honour of Josephine Lapagerie, wife 
 of the first Napoleon Bonaparte, whose beautiful garden at Malmaison con- 
 tributed in various ways to the advancement of botanical science. N.O., 
 Philesiacem. Linnjean: 6, Hexandria; 1, Monogyitia. — This fine South 
 American twiner is allied to the similax and the philesia. The fruit is said 
 to be eatable ; the root has the properties of sarsaparilla. p. 77. 
 
 DIANTHUS.— See synopsis. p. 81- 
 
 PHYLIiOCACTTJS is a leafy cactus, the growth being leaf- 
 like ; the flowers form on the edge of the expanded phyllode or leaf. N.O., 
 Crictaccce. LINNJ3AU : 12, Icosandria ; 1, Monogynia. — This represents the 
 great family of succulent plants known as Indian figs, all natives of the 
 American continent, though variously described as natives of China, the 
 Mauritius, and even of Europe ; in all these cases the plants have been 
 introduced and naturalised, and though appearing as wildings are of 
 American origin. A "leafy cactus" is a plant without leaves, the greater 
 part of this great family being characterised by the absence of those organs, 
 the exact state of the case being that leaf and branch are of one and the 
 same substance, at least, in the earlier stages of growth, although in due 
 time woody fibre is deposited and considerable rigidity of structure is 
 secured. The flowers are in many instances very showy, and consist usually 
 
rsu FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 ■of an indefinite number of sepals ana petals, with many stamens and 
 stigmas. The fruit is succulent, many-seeded, and in most cases wholesome 
 and agreeable to the palate, though, generally speaking, tame and insipid. 
 In Mexico the fleshy cactuses are eaten by cattle, being first bruised by them 
 with their hoofs to subdue the formidable spines. In the Galapagos, land- 
 -tortoises subsist in great part on these plants. The insect that produces 
 cochineal subsists on an opuntia, which was formerly largely grown for the 
 ^purpose, but is perhaps now, in great "part, superseded by aniline dyes. 
 
 p. 85. 
 
 ALTHEA, from altheo, to cure, in allusion to the emollient properties 
 of the mallows and their kindred. N.O., Malvacem, or Mallows. Linn2EAn: 
 16, Monadelphia; 8, Polyandria. For notes on the order, see under 
 " Malope," in synopsis. P- 89. 
 
 BEGONIA.— See synopsis. p. 93. 
 
 MYOSOTIS, from mys or mils, a mouse, and otis, an ear ; in allusion 
 to the shape of the leaves. N.O., Boraginacea, or Borageworts. Linn^ban : 
 5, Fentandrw; 1, Monogynia. — It is important to note as characters of the 
 borage family that the stems are round, and the leaves alternate, whereas in 
 the labiates that come so near to them the stems are square, and the leaves 
 ■opposite ; moreover the flowers of borageworts are regular, while the leaves 
 are not furnished with resinous dots, and their properties are emollient rather 
 than aromatic. The plants of this order are mostly natives of temperate 
 i-egions of the northern hemisphere, very rare in arctic, and quite unknown 
 in tropical countries; The " coolness " of borage, for which it is employed in 
 flavouring beverages, may be attributable to the presence of nitre. There 
 are not many useful plants in the family, but we must remember that the 
 prickly comfrey (Symphitam asperrhnum) has acquired importance in late 
 years as a forage plant, and the young leaves of the common comfrey 
 (8. officinale) have some repute as a substitute for spinach. p. 97. 
 
 PANSIES, Viola tricolor. N.O., Violacem. — Calyx of five sepals, 
 ^produced at base. Petals five, unequal, the lowest produced into a spur ; 
 very variable in colour. Stamens five, filaments very short ; anthers 
 ■connate, two of them spurred, on inner broad surface of filaments. Style 
 single, clavate ; stigma large, capitate. Ovary one-celled, with three 
 parietal placentas. Fruit capsular, three-valved. Stipules very large, 
 foliaceous, deeply divided into linear lobes, crenate. Leaves oblong, deeply 
 •crenate. Stem weak, angled, branching freely.— Cultivated fields and waste 
 ground. May, June, July, August, September. Annual or biennial. Very 
 Tariable. «_ 20^ 
 
SYNOPSIS. xiii 
 
 VERBENA, from the Celtic retrain, a plant of magie and mystery. 
 
 " Here holy vervayne, and here dill, 
 'Gainst witchcraft much avayling ; 
 Here horehound 'gaynst the mad dog's ill, 
 By biting, never failing." 
 
 N.O., Verieniicece. Linn^an : 14, Didynamia ; 2, Aiiffiosperma. — The 
 plants of this order are trees or shrubs, the flowers tubular, and of one 
 petal as in the primula, jasmine, and many other subjects in which the- 
 lobed limb suggests a series of petals. Several members of the order are of 
 importance in the arts, but none of them are of great utility, save one, 
 and that is the renowned Tcctona grandis, the teak of the ship-builder, the 
 noblest of the timbers of Asia. Associated with the verbenas are, as above 
 noted, the teak, the calliearpa, olerodendron, vitex, and the lantana. p. 105. 
 
 CONVOLVULUS.— See synopsis. p. 109. 
 
 HEMEROCALIiIS, from liemero, a day, and hallos, beauty, in 
 allusion to the brief duration of the flowers. N.O., Ziliaeea 1 . LIUN2EAN: 
 6, Hexandria ; 1, Monogynia. — See synopsis under "Lilium." p. 113. 
 
 LILIUM.— See synopsis, p. 117 
 
 CRIMSON FLAX, or LINUM. The generic name is from 
 tinon, flax, from which we have linen, line, lint, linseed, &c. N.O., 
 LinacecB. Linn^jan: 5, Pentandria ; 5, Pentagytiia. — The order com- 
 prises herbs and woody plants with entire leaves and hermaphrodite 
 flowers. The calyx and corolla are each of five pieces, and the stamens 
 agree in number and are alternate with the petals. The fruit is a capsule 
 containing many compressed ovate seeds which are without albumen, 
 and have a mucilaginous integument. The common flax is Linnm 
 usatissimum, one of the most useful of plants, the history of which carries 
 us back to the earliest days of civilisation. It is believed to be a native 
 of Egypt ; but that belief may rest upon the fact that it first acquired proper 
 renown there, and being used by a cultivated people, obtained through them 
 an honourable place in literature. This plant, everywhere grown for 
 its tenacious fibres, is comparatively unknown in gardens, and the observer 
 of vegetable forms who is unacquainted with it may be advised to sow a few 
 common flax seeds in the spring, and in due time look for an elegant tuft of 
 vegetation crowned with pretty blue flowers. p. 121. 
 
 COREOPSIS, from koris, in allusion to the resemblance of the seed 
 to a small beetle.— See under "Aster," in synopsis. p. 121. 
 
xiv FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 CANDYTUFT {Iberis). A genus of Cnwiferos. Name Iberis, from 
 Iberta (Spain). Distinguished by unequal petals. See Brassicaceas order. 
 
 p. 129. 
 
 CUPHEA., from Jcuphos, curved, referring to the form of the seed- 
 pods. N.O., Lythracem. LnraraAKr : 11, Dodecandria ; 1, Monogynic. — 
 The Loosestrife family consists of herbs, shrubs, and trees, very variously 
 furnished with leaves and flowers, and consequently a troublesome one to 
 the student. The leaves are usually simple ; the flowers hermaphrodite ; 
 the calyx tubular, and the corolla is inserted in the summit of the tube. The 
 principal genera are Lythrum— of which we have a fine example in our 
 riverside plant, L. salicaria— Cuphea, Lagerstromia, Feplis, and Ameletia. 
 A member of this order, the Physocalymma floribunda of Brazil, supplies the 
 rosewood of commerce ; and another, the Lausoma alba of Egypt, is the 
 source of the celebrated henna, or heune\ which the ladies of the East 
 employ for dyeing their nails and fingers. p. 133. 
 
 ACHILLEA, from Achilles, pupil of Chiron, who first used it in 
 medicine. It' is worthy of note that the mighty Achilles, who slew Hector, 
 at Troy, was trained in horse-riding by Chiron the Centaur. The coinci- 
 dence makes the derivation doubtful. 1ST.O., Composite, or Asteracece. 
 Linn^an: 19, Syngenesia ; 2, Superflua. — See under "Aster," in synopsis. 
 
 ' p. 137. 
 
 DIELYTRA, from dis, two, and elytron, a sheath or wing-case. 
 It is also called Diclytra and Dicentra. N.O., Fumariacew. Linn^an : 17, 
 Siadelphia ; 2, Hexandria. — The plants of this order are herbs closely 
 allied to the poppies. The leaves are alternate, much divided ; flowers 
 irregular, sometimes in terminal racemes, sometimes opposite the leaves, 
 the colours usually purple, red, and yellow, more rarely white. Good 
 examples of structure are furnished by the wild fumitory, the corydalis, 
 and the dielytra. It will be seen~that the calyx consists of two flat pieces 
 that soon fall off ; the corolla is tubular, formed of four unequal petals. In 
 the fumitory the largest petal is drawn out into a spur ; but in dielytra 
 there is no spur. The fruit is usually a pod containing many seeds, which 
 are shed by the opening of the pod in two valves. The plants of this order 
 have but liltle importance in the arts, and they are, for the most part, 
 as innocuous as they are useless. The common fumitory (F. officinalis) 
 is, however, often used as a medicine in skin diseases, and as an aid to 
 the stomach after exhausting fevers. In many places the juices of the 
 fumitories or smoke-worts are used to curdle milk. p. 141. 
 
 ZINNIA, named after J. G. Zinn, German Professor of Botany. 
 N.O., Composited, or Asteracem. Linn^ban: 19, Syngenesia ; 2, Snperflua. 
 — For characters see under " Aster." p. 145. 
 
srxopsis. xv 
 
 CLEMATIS.— See synopsis. p. 149. 
 
 PLUMBAGO, from plumbum, lead. N.O., Phimbaghiaecee. Lin- 
 n.ean : 5, Pentandria ; 1, Monogynia. — Herbs or shrubs with alternate 
 leaves, and regular flowers consisting of one-pieeed calyx and corolla, each 
 divided into four or five lobes. Stamens as many as the lobes, and placed 
 opposite to them. A comparatively unimportant order, the principal 
 members of which are the statice or sea lavender, the acantholimon, and 
 the plumbago. All these are useful in one way or another in the arts and in 
 medicine, some of the statices being employed in tanning leather, and the 
 leadworts being emetic when taken internally, and powerfully stimulant to 
 the skin when applied externally. p. 153. 
 
 INCOMPARABLE DAFFODIL.— See under "Narcissus," 
 in synopsis. P- 157. 
 
 " Broods there some spirit here? 
 The summer leaves hang silent as a cloud, 
 And o'er the pools, all still and darkly clear, 
 The wild wood-hyacinth with awe seems bowed ; 
 And something of a tender cloistral gloom 
 Deepens the violet's bloom. 
 
 " The very light that streams 
 Through the dim dewy veil of foliage round, 
 Comes tremulous with emerald-tinted gleams, 
 As if it knew the place were holy ground ; 
 And would not startle, with too, bright a burst 
 Flowers, all divinely nursed." 
 
SPANISH IRIS. 
 
FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 SPANISH IRIS. 
 
 Iris Xipli'mm. 
 
 HERE are two species iris so 
 nearly alike both in name and 
 nature that beginners are apt 
 to consider them as one and 
 the same. One is called the 
 English iris (/. Xvpluuiilex) , the 
 other is the Spanish iris (/. 
 Xiphiwm). Both are natives of 
 the Peninsula. They belong to 
 Spain, Portugal, and the Pyre- 
 nees, and by the men of science 
 are regarded as scarcely speci- 
 fically distinct. But in a work 
 of this kind we must not enter 
 into scientific questions except 
 in a very surjerficial way, and 
 it must suffice us to show, not 
 how these two so-called species 
 spring, as it were, from one root, but how they may be 
 distinguished by the amateur who desires to derive from 
 his garden some useful knowledge. 
 
 The Spanish iris flowers earlier than the English, and 
 is the taller of the two, and the more fragrant. The 
 Spanish iris produces a smaller flower than the English. 
 
2 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 The Spanish iris usually produces two to three flowers on 
 a stem, and the English iris is usually one-flowered; but 
 they both vary in this respect, and the number of flowers 
 on a stem is no trustworthy criterion for distinguishing 
 the species. The natural colour of the Spanish iris is 
 azure-blue, but there are many varieties in which shades 
 of yellow and chestnut appear. The English iris is sky- 
 blue, with darker shades and a bold yellow spot on the 
 external divisions. As regards their requirements and 
 mode of growth and flowering there is no difference 
 whatever. Where the one sort thrives, there also will the 
 other, and they make very pretty beds and border groups. 
 As bedding-plants, however, they are of small value, 
 because their beauty so soon passes away. 
 
 To grow these beautiful flowers in a satisfactory 
 manner, they should have a deep sandy soil, not of a dry 
 starving nature, and not swampy or boggy. As border 
 flowers both these sections of the iris family are worthy of 
 attention, as the colours they lend to a collection of hardy 
 plants differ much from such as commonly prevail in their 
 season of flowering, and they are interesting flowers for 
 observation in detail. One advantage in using these as 
 border flowers rather than as bedders is that when the 
 clumps die out, as they are apt to do, they are scarcely 
 missed, whereas it is a great vexation, when beds have 
 been well furnished and are expected to improve, to find 
 them marred by gaps or weak places where they ought, 
 according to the ordinary run of experiences, to be at their 
 very best. On warm, dry, sandy soils perhaps the losses 
 we have become familiar with do not occur. It has been 
 our lot to be compelled to prepare soils especially for 
 plants of this class, by carting in material, and mixing 
 
SPANISH IBIS. 3 
 
 with our heavy staple ; and no oue accustomed to horticul- 
 tural practice needs to be told that a made soil never 
 answers its intended purpose like a soil naturally adapted 
 for the same purpose, and which the making process is 
 intended to imitate. However, in beds of sandy loam 
 on a clay foundation we have grown all the more delicate 
 kinds of iris with success fully remunerative, but we have 
 had to endure the occurrence of occasional gaps in the 
 plantations. 
 
 Amongst our pets for this special culture we must 
 enumerate Iris reticulata, I. amcena, I. cristata, I. iberica, 
 I. juncea, I. nudicaulis, I. pumila. As for the last, on 
 heavy clay land at Hermitage, some half,-dozen varieties 
 prospered so well without any particular aid whatever 
 that we are disposed to recommend this dwarf " Crimean 
 iris " for any soil. 
 
 According to the legend, Iris was a messenger of Juno, 
 who transformed her into the rainbow. But she lives 
 in this flower, which has some rainbow colours, and in 
 every eye that can distinguish between blue, and brown, 
 and russet, and ruby. 
 
 The strong growing and useful German iris, or " com- 
 mon flag " of the gardens, is a grand plant when grown in 
 collections, as the varieties are strangely and beautifully 
 coloured. And as regards colour, the deep blue of the 
 common flag is in its' way unique. But the iris of the 
 florists is Iris Kcsmpferi, otherwise known as I. Imvigaia. 
 This is a native of Japan. It is of dwarf robust growth, 
 and produces magnificent flowers in every variety of 
 colour-tones, blue predominating. Some trouble has been 
 experienced in the cultivation of this resplendent flower, 
 and it may be of service to the reader if we give some 
 
4 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 brief practical directions. In the first place, then, it 
 should be borne in mind that Kaempfer's iris requires a 
 very moist soil in the growing season ; it is, indeed, some- 
 what of a marsh plant. It follows that, in preparing a 
 bed for it in any position that is not naturally very damp, 
 the bed should be somewhat below the general level, so as 
 to retain much of the summer rain, as also of water given 
 by manual labour. Another point of importance is to 
 plant in a rich deep loamy soil, and to lay on the bed a 
 few inches of fat manure. 
 
 In addition there are two noble species worthy the 
 attention of those who value really choice plants. They are 
 Iris iheriea (already mentioned) and Iris sits/ana. They 
 produce very large and singularly marked flowers, wanting 
 perhaps in what superficial observers call beauty, but truly 
 beautiful and somewhat remarkable for all that. These 
 noble species are hardy in the more favoured parts of the 
 south and west, but in the neighbourhood of London they 
 require to be grown in a frame or greenhouse. 
 
AMETHYST ERYNGO. 
 
AMETHYST ERYNGO. 
 
 Eryngium amethystlnum. 
 
 EASIDE botanists are well ac- 
 quainted with the curious 
 spiny leaves of the sea-holly, 
 which attract no less by their 
 glaucous colour than their 
 challenge of war. When in 
 flower the plant has a fine, 
 daring sort of beauty, and 
 may remind one of the story 
 of the thistle that the invad- 
 ing Dane trod upon, when, by 
 reason of his cry of pain, the 
 plant was "promoted to the 
 banner of Scotland. This sea- 
 holly might be called a thistle, 
 but, as a matter of fact, it is 
 an umbelliferous plant, where 
 as the thistle is a true com- 
 posite. The alliance of the 
 eryngo is with the hemlocks, 
 that of the thistle with the 
 asters : and so an eryngo is 
 
 not a thistle, but agrees in the circumstance of being 
 
 armed for defence against all ordinary foes. 
 
6 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 All the eryngos, our own seaside friend in particular, 
 may be turned to account by drying them for winter de- 
 corations, their tough texture and very distinctive forms 
 favouring this use of them. Whether the roots of the 
 garden eryngos are of any economic value we cannot say ; 
 but we call to mind that the bitter roots of the British 
 wilding have enjoyed some fame as a valuable tonic, and 
 from the most ancient times have been made into a sweet- 
 meat with the aid of sugar. Once upon a time the town 
 of Colchester presented royalty with a delicate sample of 
 candied sea-holly roots, and the sale of the article thereupon 
 increased greatly, while, as a matter of course, many won- 
 derful cures were effected by the confection. 
 
 Eryngium amethystinum is a native of Styria. It has 
 been cultivated in English gardens more than two centuries, 
 yet even now it is scarce, because perhaps it is not showy. 
 In respect of beauty it is certainly unique. The flower- 
 heads are not less delightful in their construction than 
 their colour, and the leafage harmonises in a weird sort of 
 way with the amethyst tufts that crown the plant. It is 
 perfectly hardy, and needs no more than the most ordinary 
 care, the best place for it being a sheltered border or a 
 dry ledge of a spacious rockery. This and other species 
 are increased by seeds and divisions, and for the purposes 
 of a private garden the division of a strong plant when 
 commencing growth in spring will be sufficient. 
 
 Other species of eryngium that an amateur of such 
 plants will gladly secure should be named here in the 
 interests of this kind of gardening, the adherents to which 
 are sadly few. E. giganteum is a plant of stroDg growth 
 and very tine proportions, producing heads of purplish 
 blue flowers. It attains a height of from four to five feet. 
 
AMETHYST ERYNGO. 7 
 
 and presents a noble appearance in the border. E. alpinum 
 is a charming miniature. E. spina alba is also a pretty- 
 dwarf plant suitable for the rockery. 
 
 We shall now mention a few more plants that make 
 no appeal in colour to the casual eye, but are, never- 
 theless, most desirable garden plants where there is space 
 for their accommodation and taste for their eccentricities. 
 Foremost in the category we should place the gigantic 
 Eryngium p and ani folium as the type of a group of which 
 the amateur does not require many examples. This plant 
 stands far apart from the pretty subject figured; it has a 
 singular body of leafage, slightly twisted in the way of 
 a screw pine, and a quite unattractive head of flowers. 
 Similarly noble is the large-leaved Senecio Japonicus, which 
 grows to a height of five feet, and finishes its career by a 
 display of orange-coloured flowers that are decidedly coarse, 
 but also decidedly magnificent. Polygonum cuspidatum is 
 another of the giants, requiring plenty of room, and being 
 quite unfit for a place in any ordinary rockery. It is a 
 glorious plant, but requires for its full development about 
 as much space as a proper four-roomed cottage. Elymus 
 glancifolius is a cheap hardy grass with glistering blue 
 leaves that will thrive on any heap of dry sand or stone. 
 It is too coarse for the rockery, but a broad-minded amateur 
 may be happy with it for an outdoor companion. Ferula 
 tingitana is the giant fennel, a most interesting and proper 
 rockery or border plant, loving moisture and warmth. 
 
 Its rich green colour is very different to the curious 
 colours we have had before us in this chapter. Finally, 
 PAormium tenax, the New Zealand flax, demands a place 
 in the garden of every true amateur, and, strange to say, 
 the beautiful variegated-leaved variety is more hardy than 
 
8 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the green-leaved. It will grow anywhere, but needs a 
 good place to display its beauty. 
 
 When eryngos flower, autumn has come, and Nature 
 prepares to strew with leaves the pathway on which Winter 
 will steal with noiseless tread upon us. Hartley Coleridge 
 caught the idea, and thus he sang of it : — 
 
 " The mellow year is hastening to its close ; 
 The little birds have almost sung their last, 
 Their small notes twitter in the dreary Wast — 
 That shrill-piped harbinger of early snows ; 
 The patient beauty of the scentless rose, 
 Oft with the morn's hoar crystal quaintly glassed, 
 Hangs, a pale mourner for the summer past, 
 And makes a little summer where it grows : 
 In the chill sunbeam of the faint brief day 
 The dusky waters shudder as they shine, 
 The russet leaves obstruct the straggling way 
 Of oozy brooks, which no deep banks define, 
 And the gaunt woods, in ragged, scant array, 
 Wrap their old limbs with sombre ivy twine." 
 
BOUVAKDIA. 
 
 Bourardia triphylla. 
 
 'INTER-FLOWERING green- 
 house plants have been, with- 
 in the past few years, consi- 
 derably enriched hy the intro- 
 duction of improved varieties 
 of houvardias. They are all 
 neat-growing and free-flower- 
 ing shrubs, producing deli- 
 cate tubular flowers in clus- 
 ters; and, though none of 
 them should be described as 
 massive or showy, they are 
 invaluable, whether as plants 
 or as flowers, for various 
 decorative purposes. More 
 than this, they are particu- 
 larly well suited for the green- 
 house of an eclectic amateur, 
 for they belong to a higher 
 range in gradations of merit 
 than many subjects that are 
 in general favour, and they 
 
 require a little more care than the generality of plants 
 
 that flower in the winter season. 
 
10 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 Bouvardias are members of the great order of Cinchonads, 
 and are, therefore, remarkably well connected as regards 
 family relationships. In this order we find the trees that 
 produce Peruvian bark, and with them such important 
 subjects as coffee, ixora, rondeletia, manettia, gardenia, 
 musssenda, and ipecacuanha. Of Dr. Bouvard, curator of 
 the Botanic Garden at Paris, there is not much known; 
 but we find in the books a treatise on the iungi of the 
 forest of Mormal, published at Lille, but whether by the 
 man of science to whom the genus Bouvardia is dedicated, 
 we cannot say. 
 
 The Cinchonads agree pretty nearly in one of their re- 
 quirements. When under cultivation they need more than 
 the average warmth of the greenhouse, many of them 
 being true stove plants, and a few requiring the hottest 
 place in the stove. The bouvardia is an exception so far 
 that greenhouse cultivation suffices for it ; but to enjoy its 
 beautiful flowers in winter, something approximating to 
 stove culture must be practised. For keeping the plants 
 in health a temperature of 35° to 45° Fahr. suffices during 
 winter, but we prefer to get them forward for winter 
 llowers, and to provide for them a temperature of 50° to 
 65°, with a rather liberal amount of atmospheric moisture, 
 for when thus aided they bloom with delightful freedom, 
 and there is nothing in the winter garland under glass 
 that can surpass them. 
 
 Bouvardias may be grown from seeds and cuttings. 
 In a garden of limited extent, propagation by cuttings 
 alone should be practised, as it is at once certain, simple, 
 and rapid. The cuttings should be taken from growing 
 plants in the month of March or April, and planted firmly 
 in sandy pe.it, and the process of rooting is promoted by 
 
BOUVARDIA. 11 
 
 a kindly moist heat, say a temperature of 70°. The best 
 soil for them is a good turfy loam, with a reasonable addi- 
 tion of sharp sand ; but in good peat they grow freely. In 
 any case, strong manures are rather to be avoided than 
 used, although we must confess that we have often aided 
 large specimens by administering weak manure water occa- 
 sionally. 
 
 In the formation of specimens, the natural growth 
 should be humoured rather than checked ; but a moderate 
 amount of stopping to promote the formation of side shoots, 
 and to furnish the lower parts of the plants, may be advis- 
 able. Over-potting is to be guarded against, therefore 
 there should be no shift until the pots are well filled with 
 roots, when the next size should be used; not, as some over- 
 hasty cultivators advocate, pots two or three sizes larger. 
 The long rods that rise from the base indicate healthy 
 vigour, and should not be stopped until they have attained 
 their full length and are beginning to harden, when a 
 moderate shortening may be performed. 
 
 To regulate the flowering time of all such plants is an 
 easy matter. It may be reckoned that from six weeks to 
 two months will be required from the last stopping to the 
 time of flowering, according to the season. If they are to 
 be allowed to flower at their own time, there should be very 
 little stopping. But if they are required to flower at a 
 particular time, then flowering should not be allowed in 
 advance of that time, but should be checked by careful 
 stopping, training, and a shift into the next size of pots 
 when the roots need it! This practice will tend to the for- 
 mation of large handsome plants, but must cease entirely 
 six to eight weeks before the time at which it is desired 
 they shall flower. It only remains then to leave them 
 
12 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 alone, with no more shifting or stopping, keeping them 
 warm enough and liberally supplied with water, with — if 
 the pots are well rilled with roots — weak liquid manure 
 occasionally. 
 
 There are double and single bouvardias in cultiva- 
 tion, all of them exceedingly beau'iful. A fine half-dozen 
 for a comfortable greenhouse are : Bridal Wreath, white, 
 very fragrant ; Queen of Roses, rosy pink ; Hogarth, rosy 
 scarlet; Dazzler, full bright scarlet; Alfred Neuner, double 
 white; Jasminifiora, white, fine for winter. 
 
 When they are to be wintered in a cool house, bou- 
 vardias may be planted in the open ground to make free 
 growth from June to September. 
 
JAPANESE ANEMONE. 
 
JAPANESE ANEMONE. 
 
 Anemone Japonica. 
 
 HE white anemone represented 
 in the plate is variously 
 known as the vine-leaved, 
 or Anemone vitifolia, and 
 by a name that brings it 
 nearer to us, as Honorine 
 Johert. It should be under- 
 stood at the outset that it 
 is the white form of Ane- 
 mone Japonica, of which 
 we have a purplish-red form 
 that is regarded as the 
 specific type. As a matter 
 of fact, we know not which 
 of the two should be re- 
 garded as the specific type ; 
 nor does it matter. If we 
 ask the evolutionists to help 
 uSj they will be bound to 
 say that the white is the 
 original, the "real Simon 
 Pure." 
 
 The vine-leaved anemone is a different plant, not so 
 good as the one before us, but a near relative, and in all 
 
 
14 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 probability a form of it, thus making 1 excuse for the con- 
 fusion that has arisen as to their supposed identity. 
 Anemone vitifolia is a native of Nepal/ in the shady 
 valleys of which it is plentiful, and though not equal 
 to our present subject as a garden flower, it is a delicate 
 beauty, flowering earlier than the Japanese plant, and being 
 less in size and less pure in its whiteness ; it is, in fact, 
 tinged with purple, red, or bronze, as influenced by soil and 
 various degrees of exposure. This plant is figured in the 
 Botanical Magazine (t. 3,376), from plants grown by Mr. 
 Don, at Knyppersley Gardens, Congleton ; but we owe 
 the introduction of A. vitifolia to Dr. Wallich, who may 
 be styled the father of Indian botany. In describing it he 
 says : " It grows in all the forests of the great valley and 
 uhe surrounding mountains, delighting in the most shady, 
 retired, and moist situations in the vicinity of rills and 
 torrents." The figure in the Botanical Register (t. 1,385) 
 shows a larger flower and stouter growth than the B. M. 
 figure, and will justify our regarding the* vine-leaved 
 anemone as the Nepal form of our Anemone Japonica. 
 
 To Siebold's " Flora Japonica " we are indebted for 
 the first description of this anemone, but to our own Robert 
 Fortune for the plant itself. It was figured in the Botani- 
 cal Magazine, in 1847 (t. 4,341), by Mr. W. H. Fitch, the 
 red form alone being then known, and the figure showing 
 it in higher colour than we have ever seen in the flower 
 itself, although familiar with it from its first introduction. 
 Sir W. J. Hooker, in describing it, said : " I cannot but 
 fear that what have been transmitted to our gardens ex- 
 hibit strong marks of the flowers being double, which 
 may account for the fact mentioned by Siebold of the 
 seeds rarely coming to perfection." The " fear" entertained 
 
JAPANESE ANEMONE. 15 
 
 by the celebrated botanist it has been our fortune (or 
 misfortune) to have realised, for a few years since, when 
 botanising in North Wales with Mr. Alfred Slocombe, we 
 met with Anemone Japonica in a garden at Conway in 
 a completely double state. We must add that, having 
 lost their central cluster of golden stamens, the double 
 flowers were less beautiful than the single or semi-double 
 examples common to. our gardens. 
 
 The red form, then, was the one originally introduced. 
 But the vine-leaved anemone, an older plant, served well 
 as a complement to it, and but for an accident might by 
 this time have acquired popularity as its proper companion 
 in the hardy garden. The accident was the appearance in 
 the garden of M. Jobert, at Verdun-sur-Meuse, as the pro- 
 duet of the red-flowered anemone, of this lovely white 
 form, which, in, commemoration of its origin, was named 
 Honorine Jobert. It is now, we hope, made evident to 
 the reader that the name last cited is admissible for 
 literary purposes, while the name often adopted for our 
 subject, Anemone vitifolia, is inadmissible, because it repre- 
 sents the Nepal, and not the Japanese, form of the anemone. 
 We have thus justified our head-line, this " autumnal 
 white lily," as it has been playfully designated, being the 
 white-flowering, and probably primal, form of Anemone 
 Japonica, which " righted itself " by sporting from the red 
 form in M. Jobert's garden. 
 
 The reader will not ask about the sowing of the seeds, 
 because the story tells of the rarity of their ripening in 
 this country, which Sir William Hooker unwisely attri- 
 buted to the tendency of the red form to doubling. It 
 must be understood that to obtain seeds is not a matter of 
 routine, and for all ordinary purposes it may be said that 
 
16 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the plant does not produce' seeds. However, that is of small 
 consequence, because to divide the plants is an easy matter, 
 and, moreover, every bit of. the root will make a plant with 
 skilful management. 
 
 The words of Wallich on the growth of the Nepal 
 plant give the key to the cultivation of this beauty from 
 Japan. It loves partial shade and moisture. For hot, 
 dry, starving situations it is not well adapted; but, putting 
 aside all extreme conditions, we may safely say that the 
 Japanese anemone will grow anywhere. 
 
PICOTEES. 
 
PICOTEE. 
 
 Dianthus caryophyllus. 
 
 JCOTEES differ from carna- 
 tions in having the colour con- 
 centrated on the outer edge of 
 the petals, whereas in carnations 
 the colour is disposed in bands 
 and blotches Ion git udiu ally. It 
 is a question with the experts 
 which is the oldest form of the 
 flower, and that question is one 
 of very great interest both to 
 the florist and the student of 
 the laws of evolution. Mr. 
 E. S. Dodwell, a man of ex- 
 tensive knowledge, and a most 
 successful cultivator of these 
 flowers, holds firmly to the 
 opinion that in the develop- 
 ment of the flower the picotee 
 appeared in advance of the 
 flaked carnation. His theory 
 is that the self-coloured flower 
 changed in the first instance to an edged flower, and that 
 this became a carnation by the spreading of the colour 
 from the edge towards the centre. We have held, and 
 
 4 E 
 
18 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 still hold, that the carnation produced- the picotee, which 
 is the very opposite of the doctrine held by the gentleman 
 named above. Our conviction rests on no hypothesis, but 
 on recorded facts ; still, as there is no finality in such 
 matters, we leave the question to the further considera- 
 tion of the reader. 
 
 Considered etymologically, a picotee is a spotted flower ; 
 and when a number of seedlings flowering for the first 
 time are under inspection, it will be observed that the 
 term is quite appropriate) for a certain number show a dis- 
 position in the colours to pass inward from the edge in 
 dots and dashes. In Parkinson's " Paradisus," page 313, 
 the figure of " Master Tuggie, his Princesse/' will display 
 a showy flower, with frilled edges and conspicuous spots, 
 in respect of which the author describes it as " very beau- 
 tiful, and exceedingly delightsome." The truth must be 
 told that this sort of thing is not now allowed. A picotee 
 must -no longer be spotted, but have a distinct and sharp 
 marginal line of colour, the breadth of which will deter- 
 mine whether it is a light-edged or heavy-edged flower : 
 those that are most prized having a very fine line of colour, 
 which entitles them to be designated wire-edged. 
 
 The rules that now determine the degrees of merit in 
 these flowers may be said to date from July 25, 1850, 
 when a grand trial exhibition of carnations and picotees 
 was held in the Royal Nurseries, Slough, and nearly thirty 
 stands were put up, in addition to the blooms presented for 
 class showing. This was followed, on the 7th of August 
 of the same year, by a similar exhibition at Derby, when 
 there were presented thirty-six stands of six, fifteen of 
 twelve, and upwards of a thousand single specimens. It is 
 a curious fact that at both these brilliant encounters the 
 
PICOTEE. 19 
 
 principal first prizes were carried off by Mr. Charles Turner 
 and Mr. E. S. Dodwell, the first representing the commer- 
 cial cultivators, the second the amateurs. The fact seems 
 to prove the rarity of first-class skill in handling these 
 flowers, for with any approach to equality of power in 
 the competitions the prizes must have been more freely 
 divided. 
 
 The National Carnation and Picotee Society, founded 
 in 1851, has established on a firm basis the standard of 
 technical merit in these flowers, while leaving a liberal 
 margin for the introduction of new forms, should they arise, 
 as also for new methods of displaying them, for it is only 
 in certain classes that strict compliance with fixed rules 
 is required. The picotee class has acquired special and 
 peculiar interest, from the introduction of flowers with a 
 yellow ground and sharply-defined and brightly-coloured 
 edges. It is no new thing to see yellow in these flowers, 
 for Parkinson rejoiced in the "yelow or orenge-tawny 
 gilloflower." But the yellow-ground picotee, as now 
 known, is a modern creation, for which we are indebted to 
 Mr. Richard Smith, of Witney, Oxon., who, in the year 
 1858, in the exhibition at Moira, took all the prizes offered 
 for flowers of this class. He had refashioned it by cross- 
 ing and selecting, and he had his reward. Among the 
 finest yellow-ground picotees seen by the present gene-ra- 
 tion of florists was one shown by Mr. James Douglas, 
 of the gardens at Great Gearies, Ilford, in the exhibition 
 of the National Society, 1886. It bears the name of 
 Annie Douglas, who should be proud of her own and 
 her father's flower. 
 
 It may be an advantage to amateur cultivators of these 
 flowers to remark that they are less hardy than carnations, 
 
20 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 and require more care to take them through the winter. 
 The finer kinds should be potted in the autumn, and kept 
 in a frame or airy greenhouse until the spring, when they 
 may be planted out, or flowered in pots, at discretion. For 
 the general potting-up of rooted layers, the favourite date 
 with growers in London, and as far north .as the Trent, is 
 October 20th ; beyond Trent, an earlier date is required. If 
 potted too early, they make more growth than is desirable 
 before winter ; but if too late, the winter cripples them. 
 
 It has been urged, and it may be again urged, that 
 carnations are most useful flowers for town gardens. The 
 same cannot be said of picotees, and, therefore, the town 
 amateur may be advised not to speculate in picotees until 
 he has acquired some experience with their more hardy 
 relatives. 
 
TACSONIA. 
 
TACSONIA. 
 
 Taesonia Van Vohemi. 
 
 ^ ASSION-FLOWERS and tae- 
 sonias are so nearly related, 
 that it is for botanical rather 
 than horticultural purposes 
 that they are separated, as 
 will be shown in the Synop- 
 sis, where technical matters 
 admit of treatment more 
 conveniently than here. It 
 may be stated at once that 
 the plant represented by the 
 accompanying plate is the 
 finest climber known to cul- 
 tivation for a spacious con- 
 servatory or cool plant-house. 
 A temperature not lower 
 than 40° will keep it safelj' 
 through the winter, and from 
 May to November the natural 
 temperature suffices; or, in 
 other words, it needs no 
 aid from' artificial heat ex- 
 cept during the four or five 
 winter months, and then only sufficient to keep it safe 
 from frost. It is of no use to plant this rampant grower 
 
22 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 in a small house ; and to attempt to grow it in a pot is 
 about as unreasonable as to attempt to raise eagles in canary 
 cages. 
 
 There are times when " comparisons are odious ; " in 
 the present ease they might be ridiculous, for there is no 
 plant at our command that could be put before, or even 
 beside, this magnificent beauty; for even the lapageria, 
 lovely as it is, becomes nothing when we have seen Tac- 
 sonia Fan, Folmemi in a thorough state of prosperity in a 
 great conservatory, where it is quite at home. 
 
 All the passion-flowers and tacsonias are natives of 
 South America ; and although a certain number are strictly 
 tropical, not a few of the most beautiful are met with in 
 temperate regions. M. Van Volxem, a Belgian amateur, 
 met with this plant in a garden at Bogota, whence it was 
 taken to Belgium in the year 1858, and very soon there- 
 after made its way into many European gardens. It has 
 been found also in the Quindiu Andes, at high altitudes. 
 It was probably first flowered in this country in the Exeter 
 Nurseries of Messrs. Lueombe, Pince, and Co., for Sir 
 Joseph Hooker was indebted to that firm for the first plant 
 presented to the Royal Gardens, Kew, from which the first 
 figure published in this country was prepared, to make 
 known the wonder unto many {B. M. } 5,571). 
 
 Its comparative hardiness is no matter for surprise, for 
 M. Van Volxem reports that it resists a temperature of 
 freezing-point in its native country ; but it should never be 
 exposed to a condition so severe in cultivation, for as a 
 matter of fact, no plant is so hardy under cultivation as 
 when living its own life and managing its own affairs. 
 The grandest example that we have seen of this plant is 
 in a great conservatory used for a store-room for giant 
 
TAC80NIA. 23 
 
 tree-ferns, palms, and cycads, in the gardens of Eastnor 
 Castle, the residence of Lady Henry Somerset. The 
 plant clothes the whole of the roof structure, and from the 
 rafters, that support it sends forth innumerable pendent 
 garlands of the richest leafage, abundantly adorned with 
 the glowing flowers. Mr. William Coleman, the talented 
 head-gardener there, may boast that from a plant a foot 
 long he has developed the grandest flowering climber in 
 the kingdom. 
 
 The first thing to be done for this and any other tac- 
 sonia is to prepare for the roots a capacious border of 
 mellow turfy loam ; the drainage must be perfect, the soil 
 must be deep. The next business will be to put in the 
 plant. We might say "plants/' but, generally speaking, 
 one is enough for a house of great size. The best time for 
 planting is ' in spring, before growth commences, and the 
 planting should be done with care, to insure the spreading 
 out of the roots and their being covered with three or four 
 inches of fine soil. From the time of planting water must 
 be given occasionally, but in moderation, for until the roots 
 have become active frequent Watering will prove injurious. 
 But when in free growth, the plant will need an abundant 
 supply ; and when two or three years have passed, the 
 border should be annually refreshed with a top-dressing of 
 fresh soil, the upper crust of old soil being removed to 
 make room for it. 
 
 The propagation of tacsonias and the like does not 
 come within the range of an amateur's operations ; but this 
 essay would be incomplete were the subject excluded from 
 notice. Tacsonias are usually raised from cuttings of young 
 shoots, which root quickly in a propagating house, or on a 
 hotbed that is in good working order. The cuttings should 
 
24 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 be about six inches in length, and should be potted singly 
 in five-inch pots, with sufficient drainage, and a soil of 
 equal parts loam and sand. They must not be shifted from 
 these to larger pots, for the object is to secure strong young 
 plants, with a good ball of roots to begin life with when 
 planted out. 
 
TORCH LILY. 
 
 Tritoma vvaria. 
 
 FAMILIAR name is not often so 
 .;" i obviously justified as the 
 name of the flower before 
 us j a less elegant but quite 
 appropriate and even more 
 familiar name for it is 
 "Red-hot Poker." What- 
 ever may be said for its 
 beauty, it is certainly the 
 most striking flower for its 
 season, making a fiery glow 
 in the shrubbery borders 
 and a genuine conflagra- 
 tion in the parterre. It is 
 scarcely a proper subject for 
 the parterre, perhaps ; in 
 any case, to plant tritomas 
 in masses is a bold proceed- 
 ing, needing a little extra 
 care to avoid a violation of 
 good taste. We have used 
 them in masses with sin- 
 gularly good effect in a country garden, where there 
 were ample breadths of grass and trees. The tritomas 
 
26 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 were in large, long beds, and mixed with them were lilies, 
 and the outer boundary was made up with agapanthus, 
 which, as a hardy plant, flowers at the same time as the 
 tritoma, and, when established, flowers as freely. 
 
 The flame or torch lily will thrive in any good soil, but 
 a deep sandy loam is certainly the best for it. Occasionally 
 it produces seed freely, but we must confess we never took 
 the trouble to sow any, because we could always obtain 
 as many plants as were required by the simple process of 
 division, which not only multiplies the stock, but insures 
 flowering plants at once, without the necessity for nursing. 
 It has been our rule, in dividing tritomas, agapanthuses, 
 crinums, and other such plants, to pot the divisions in the 
 smallest pots possible with sandy soil, and so keep them 
 until growing freely, when, the pots being filled with roots, 
 they may be planted out with safety. In places where the 
 climate is genial and the soil dry, the divisions may be 
 planted where they are to remain, for there will be but 
 little risk of failure. These fine plants are thirsty subjects, 
 and if it be possible to supply them with abundance of 
 water during hot, dry, summer weather, they will repay 
 such attention with liberal interest. But it is of the very 
 first importance that the ground they occupy should be 
 reasonably dry during winter. A boggy or sour situation 
 will insure the death of many in a severe winter, but on 
 well-drained land these plants are perfectly hardy ; and if 
 killed down in spring, as will sometimes happen, they will 
 in due time renew themselves from the roots, if left undis- 
 turbed and kept free from encroaching plants that might 
 spread over and injure them. 
 
 Tritomas are natives of South Africa, and members of 
 the great order of Lilies. There are not many species, and 
 
TORCH LILY. 27 
 
 the few recorded are more than are wanted, if their value 
 is to be estimated from the gardener's point of view. We 
 begin with T. uvaria, as the best of the group in respect 
 of hardiness, amplitude of dark, rigid leafage, and an 
 abundant production of its cylindrical racemes of fiery- 
 flowers. 
 
 The varieties known as T. glaucescens and T. Bitrchelli 
 have no special value as garden flowers, but will prove 
 interesting to amateurs whose tastes range freely amongst 
 plants. But for T. nolilis and for T. grand is a good word 
 may be said. These are noble plants, and have a remark- 
 ably fine effect when well placed in a spacious rockery. T. 
 nohilis is scarce und dear; T. uvaria is plentiful and 
 cheap, and the best for all general purposes, though in cha- 
 racter below that of T. nolilis. 
 
 Tritoma caulescens is a beautiful plant, with peculiar 
 glaucous leafage and a stout stem, bearing a dense head 
 of flowers of a fiery-red colour passing into yellow. It is 
 strikingly distinct, and a proper adornment of a roomy 
 rockery, where it should have a sumiy situation on a well- 
 drained sandy soil. It is hardy, but unequal to the en- 
 durance of severe conditions ; therefore it is advisable to 
 give it some protection during frosty weather. 
 
 T. eariio&a is a good plant, of smallish growth, forming 
 a series of tufts, from which rise the flower-stalks, a foot or 
 more high, bearing crowded flowers of a rich orange-buff 
 colour. 
 
 T. Macowani is a pretty little plant, usually regarded 
 as requiring greenhouse cultivation, although it is probably 
 hardy. The flowers are in a dense cluster, the tube red, 
 the mouth yellow. 
 
 T. Boqperi is a grand plant, from British Kaffraria. 
 
28 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 The leaves are broad, and average eighteen inches long ; the 
 flowers appear on a stout stem, and form a club-like mass, 
 brilliantly coloured red and yellow. It is as hardy as T. 
 uvaria, and flowers later. 
 
 In gardens that afford accommodation for interesting 
 plants of robust habit many fine subjects may be associated 
 with tritomas. Not a few of these are also lilywovts, such 
 as asphodels, fritillarias, day lilies, funkias, or plantain 
 lilies, phormiums, yuccas, and aspidistras. The closely- 
 allied order of amaryllids will supply for the same purpose, 
 crinums, alstromerias, and vallotas. For the cool plant- 
 house the last-named order gives agaves, clivias, doryanthes, 
 and true amaryllis, all of them having high claims on the 
 attention of amateurs who are not wedded to the common- 
 place in the pursuit of pleasure in the garden. 
 
•',:-; 
 
SINGLE DAHLIA. 
 
 DahVui variabilis. 
 
 Kb- ASH ION brings into opera- 
 
 tion principles that are at 
 once shallow, subtle, and 
 complex. Previous to the 
 year 18S0 single dahlias 
 were not in high repute, 
 and, in fact, were scarcely 
 known. Then, like some 
 sky-rockets properly made 
 and effectually lighted, 
 they soared upwards, shed- 
 ding new light on society, 
 and, by a false glitter, filling 
 the sky with imitation stars. 
 Well, " It is an ill wind," 
 &c. The suddenly-acquired 
 popularity of the single 
 dahlias drew attention to 
 the double dahlias, which 
 at that time were under a 
 cloud, and immediate results 
 were the formation - of the 
 National Dahlia Society, 
 and the holding of a series of annual exhibitions in the 
 Crystal Palace, Sydenham, for the advancement, not of 
 
30 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the doubles only, but for all kinds of dahlias, including 
 the pompons and lilliputians, that are so signally service- 
 able for decorative purposes. Thus the single dahlias have 
 accomplished some good in their new career, and while so 
 employed have made a triumph of another kind, and one 
 considered to be on the verge of the impossible : they 
 have given society a new pleasure ! 
 
 The dahlia was introduced from Mexico in 1 789, and 
 was named after Dahl, the Swedish botanist. There hap- 
 pens, however, to be a genus of fabaceous plants named 
 Dalea, and, to prevent confusion, the new arrival from 
 Mexico was renamed Georgina. But Dahl prevailed ; the 
 confusion that was feared never happened, and the disused 
 name Georgina is still at the service of the botanists when 
 events shall make excuse for using it. The first species of 
 dahlia introduced was that called superflua, which does not 
 mean that the plant is, in colloquial terms, " superfluous," 
 but that it belongs to the Linnsean section of composites 
 called Syngenesia mperjlua, in which the florets of the 
 exterior differ from those of the centre of the flower. 
 This same Dahlia superflua has been renamed variabilis 
 and crocata, the first of these two being now generally 
 adopted as indicating the variable nature of the plant to 
 which we are indebted for our magnificent series of garden 
 dahlias. 
 
 There is no risk incurred in the broad statement that 
 the dahlia is entitled to stand in the very front rank of 
 garden flowers. There is nothing easier to grow ; there is 
 nothing to which it may be properly compared that so 
 rarely fails to satisfy ; and there is absolutely nothing that 
 could take its place for the same season, were it blotted out 
 of existence. A plantation of dahlias will keep flowering 
 
SINGLE DAHLIA. 31 
 
 most abundantly for nearly four months ; and even in the 
 middle of November they will still be bright and full of 
 flower, and will so continue until a decided frost occurs, 
 which, of course, will effectually close their gay career. 
 
 To grow dahlias for exhibition demands skill and the 
 enthusiasm that delights in conquering difficulties. To 
 grow dahlias for delight is such an easy matter, that it is 
 enough to plant the roots in April or May, and do nothing 
 more but keep down weeds and wait patiently for moun- 
 tains of flowers. The dahlia is, in fact, a flower for every- 
 body, and any soil or situation will produce dahlias ; for 
 dahlias share with chrysanthemums the honour of bright- 
 ening back yards in smoky towns, these two beauties being 
 the flowers of all flowers in smokeland. To this it should 
 be added that in a rich soil — and it can scarcely be too rich 
 — and in country air, dahlias attain to a perfection that is 
 not possible under less favourable conditions ; and thus we 
 present the two sides of dahlia culture, with the happy 
 conviction that they are both bright sides, and differ but 
 in degrees of brightness. 
 
 The routine of dahlia culture consists in starting the 
 roots into growth in heat in March, and striking cuttings 
 of the shoots produced to pro vide plants for planting out at 
 the end of May. They should be put at from two and a 
 half to five feet apart, according to the relative vigour of 
 the varieties, the grand show class requiring a space of at 
 least four to five feet from plant to plant. They must be 
 well supported with stakes against the wind, or they must 
 be made to support themselves by a clever twist that snaps 
 but does not break the stem, and compels them to sit on 
 the ground, as it t were, and form spreading bush-like 
 instead of tree-like masses. When in autumn frost has 
 
32 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 blackened the tops, the roots are lifted and stored in dry 
 earth in any shed or cellar, in the same way as potatoes, for 
 they are as hardy as potatoes, and need no more care 
 for their safe keeping. 
 
 Since the single dahlias have become popular, many 
 persons have taken to raise dahlias from seeds, a practice 
 that was left entirely to the florists previously. This is a 
 very simple proceeding. The seeds are sown in light, rich 
 soil, in February, and the young plants are raised on a hot- 
 bed or in a warm plant-house, and have careful nursing to 
 be stout and strong for planting- out in June. Dahlias 
 grow slowly for some time after being planted, and all the 
 slugs and snails in the parish will scent them, and taste 
 them if allowed. One settled mode of protecting them is 
 to provide a crop of lettuces on the ground, for the vermin 
 will feast on these and leave the dahlias alone, and in due 
 time the lettuces, having served their purpose, may be 
 taken away. 
 
ROSE CAMPION. 
 
EOSE CAMPION. 
 
 Lychnis coronaria. 
 
 PLANT may be common and 
 yet have an uncommon appear- 
 ance, as may be seen in the 
 example before us. The rose 
 campion, which is now classed 
 as a lychnis, but may with pro- 
 priety be catalogued under its 
 other name, Agrostemma coro- 
 naria, is as common as any 
 good garden plant known. But 
 it is peculiarly distinct, and may 
 be recognised at any reasonable 
 distance by its hoary leafage, its 
 forked style of growth, the 
 arrangement of the leaves in 
 pairs, and the splendour of its 
 solitary flowers. The rich pur- 
 plish-crimson of these can never 
 be imitated by the art of man, and when we see the best 
 possible picture of them we must ask with Thomson, 
 "Who can paint like nature?" and take the negative reply 
 he gives. We may see in stained glass, when the sun shines 
 through- and floods the pane with fiery hues, a near approach 
 to the transparent and delicate but intense richness of this 
 4 & 
 
34 * FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 flower. But there is little need for a perfect imitation 
 when the reality is at the command of all, for in the spring 
 season the huckster florists sell rose campions at a penny 
 each; they will grow almost anywhere, and whoever would 
 despise them for their cheapness would deserve to see 
 no more flowers in this world, whatever he might see in 
 the other. 
 
 A small story may be worth telling, and here is a very 
 small one of which this plant is the subject. A few years 
 ago we visited a millionaire in a famous centre of manu- 
 facturing industry. The gardens were reputed to contain 
 four acres of glass, devoted for the most part to grapes, 
 pines, and peaches. The residence was a castle of high re- 
 nown for political influence and princely hospitality. In 
 making the tour of the gardens, and passing from begonias 
 to bananas, and from orange groves to houses filled with 
 orchids, we were invited by the head man to turn .aside to 
 see something " special." This proved to be a clump of 
 the common rose campion that had located itself near the 
 foot of a tree and had made a tremendous growth, and 
 was then covered with delicious flowers — a penny plant 
 prized by the millionaire and almost worshipped by his 
 gardeners ! 
 
 There are three forms of this plant in cultivation, com- 
 prising the single red (here figured), the single white, and 
 the double redT John Gerarde figures the two. single kinds 
 in his usual truthful manner, and he records that in 1597 
 they were growing " plentifully in most gardens." He 
 speaks of the soft leaves as being "fit to make candle weekes," 
 and refers to the brightness of the flowers' as suggesting 
 "the names by which it appears they were then known, as 
 in English, the " gardner's delight, or gardner's eie ; in 
 
ROSE CAMl'loy, 35 
 
 Dutch, Christes eie ; in French, oeillets, find oeillets Dieu." 
 It was also known as the rose of Mary and the rose o{ 
 Heaven. In respect of its properties, it was classed by the 
 herbalists with the thousand and odd plants that were 
 considered of sovereign use against the bites of scorpions, 
 a feature of our English writers on plants that betrays 
 at once their indebtedness to the herbalists of Southern 
 Europe, and their want of discretion in copying for readers 
 utterly ignorant of scorpions, except as revealed in museums 
 and books. 
 
 With a woolly plant before us, we may ask, " What 
 is the use of vegetable wool ? " In the arts it is com- 
 paratively valueless, but as a part of a living plant it is 
 of considerable importance, and, a priori, it is fair to 
 assume that the plant could not well do without it. The 
 "wool," of which the common mullein affords a familiar 
 example, consists of closely-packed jointed hairs, which are 
 a veritable extension of the cellular tissue, and exercise a 
 powerful influence in the life- economy of the plant. When 
 the earth is parched and the root finds no moisture, these 
 hairs promote a copious condensation of the night dew, 
 which trickles down to the blade of the leaf, and thus 
 they serve as food-collectors, as do the tentacles of an 
 anemone or the cilia of an animalcule. But when the 
 dry heat of the day returns, they serve to protect the 
 sensitive leaf -surface from which they spring; and, in 
 fact, the " wool " is to the plant a protector at all seasons 
 against extreme conditions. We meet with hairy and 
 woolly plants in all kinds of situations ; but they appear 
 to be in a special manner adapted to the mountains and 
 the deserts, where keen frost, copious dews, and great 
 heat and drought are characteristics of the average cou- 
 
36 FAMILIAR GAliDEX FLOWERS. 
 
 ditions of plant-life. The plants that sting are rendered 
 offensive by the poison glands that accompany the hairs 
 with which their leaves are beset ; these are brittle, and 
 at a touch they part from their attachment and burst 
 and diffuse their acrid secretions. The most terrible of 
 all stinging plants is the devil's leaf (JJrtica urentissima) , 
 which sometimes causes death by tetanus. 
 
 Amongst the plants nearest allied to the rose campion 
 we must name the corn cockle (Ag rostemma githago) , a fine 
 thing as a wilding, and occasionally seen in gardens. 
 Better, however, than this are the scarlet lychnis of China 
 (L. grandijiora) ; the shaggy lychnis [L. Haageana), the 
 petals of which are curiously horned ; . Siebold's lychnis 
 (L. Sieboldi), with terminal heads orbeautiful white flowers; 
 and the German catchfly {L. vitscaria) . These are worth a 
 place in the very choicest selection of hardy plants. 
 
 S N \ \ 
 
 \ \ \\ 
 
MARECHAL NIEL ROSE. 
 
MAEECHAL NIEL ROSE. 
 
 only in 
 faction 
 
 Marechal Xtel. 
 
 ARJECHAL NIEL, who con- 
 quered the Malakoff at Se- 
 bastopol in 1855, helped to 
 gain the Battle of Solferino 
 in 1859, and filled the post 
 of Minister of War in the 
 French Government in 1867, 
 is commemorated in the name 
 of the finest of all yellow 
 roses, which very nearly satis- 
 fies the immense require- 
 ments of one that may be 
 characterised as the best of 
 all the roses in the world. 
 When well grown, and in 
 perfection of flower, it is not 
 within the power of the most 
 learned rosarian to name a 
 better variety ; but that does 
 not settle the question. One 
 fault it has, and the only one 
 we shall dare to name : it 
 is not sufficiently hardy, and 
 
 specially favoured places will it give complete satis- 
 
 without the aid of glass. 
 
 This point must be kept 
 
3S FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 in mind by the amateur. It is not here declared that glass 
 is absolutely needful, for in truth we know of hundreds of 
 gardens in which it is not only prosperous, but profitable, 
 on open walls— as, for example, the famous Calcot Gar- 
 dens, near Reading, where flowers are cut in great plenty 
 for Co vent Garden Market at a time when the value of 
 each flower is represented by a silver coin, and not many 
 are required to touch gold. But the fact remains, that 
 though in some districts hardy enough, yet in many 
 places, even in the south of England, the Marechal Niel 
 rose requires the help of glass. 
 
 The golden Marechal was raised by M. Pradel, a great 
 rose-grower of Montaubon, and first appeared in this 
 country in the year 1864. To this gentleman the rose 
 world is indebted for many exhibition roses — as, for ex- 
 ample, Due de Nassau, Madame Ristori, Vicomtesse de 
 Cazes, and others. 
 
 The Marechal Niel rose is certainly tinctured with 
 the blood of the famous Gloire de Dijon, raised by 
 M. Jacotot, of Dijon, and made known in this country 
 in 1853. It is less hardy than the Dijon splendour, 
 but of similar growth, being vigorous to a wonder, noble 
 in leafage as well as in flower, profuse in its liberality of 
 bloom, of fine form, delightfully sweet, and though vary- 
 ing from creamy primrose to something like an orange, as 
 influenced by circumstances, having for its proper colour 
 a rich buttercup yellow, a delight always, even in a ribbon 
 for a brunette. 
 
 For complete success in the cultivation of this rose a 
 spacious house and a good border are necessary. It must 
 have free warren in a rich deep soil for its roots to forage* 
 and plenty of room to run next the glass, with free ventila- 
 
MARECHAL NIEL HOSE. 39 
 
 tion at all times, and sufficient heat in winter to exclude 
 frost. It will submit to moderate forcing for an early 
 bloom ; but the cultivator must be cautious to use always 
 the least possible amount of artificial heat for the purpose 
 in view, for there are no roses, whether hardy or tender, 
 that can endure a high temperature, except it be in sum- 
 mer, when growth is vigorous and air can be admitted 
 freely. The result of injudicious forcing must always be 
 a plague of insects first, and mildew to follow, with a bloom 
 wanting in quality, and more especially wanting in colour. 
 
 The choice of the roots for any rose is always a matter 
 of importance. This fine variety, in common with many 
 others, thrives on its own roots ; therefore when raised 
 from cuttings is likely to prosper. But it does not thrive 
 on the generally useful Manetti stock that is so largely 
 employed in the propagation of useful garden roses. In 
 all rose gardens the practice of the propagator is to bud 
 Marechal Mel on the English briar; and it appears to 
 be well situated for healthy growth on briar stocks of 
 three to five feet high. The amateur is, therefore, warned 
 against experiments that may end in disappointment. 
 There may be many suitable stocks for Marechal Niel in 
 addition to the English briar, but we do not know of them. 
 The reader who is disposed to find a better may, for a first 
 trial, try Mr. Bennett's grand rose Her Majesty, for that 
 appears adapted to serve as a stock for the most vigorous- 
 growing roses, such as the Marechal, Gloire de Dijon, and 
 the race of vigorous hybrid Bourbon roses. 
 
 The grave question of the pruning comes in here. In 
 a few words we shall be enabled to combine a general with a 
 particular lesson. In the first place, then, those who do not 
 know exactly how to prune should not prune at all. This 
 
40 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 applies to fruit trees, roses, and to trees and shrubs of all 
 kinds. Generally speaking, fruit trees bear earlier and 
 more abundantly when left entirely unpruned, for Nature 
 is generous, and prefers her own modes of management. 
 In the next place, when pruning is to be done, the manner 
 of the growth should give the key to the method. The 
 more vigorous the growth the less severe must be the 
 pruning, for it is evident that long rods are required, and 
 if we shorten them with a bold hand we may promote wood 
 growth, and have 110 flowers. But roses that make but a 
 moderate growth may be cut in rather closely. It suits 
 Marechal Niel, and Gloire de Dijon, and all other vigorous- 
 growing roses, to be left their full length ; but when any 
 long rod becomes exhausted, it should be cut clean out 
 from the base, and its place will soon be supplied with a 
 vigorous young cane, which will, if allowed, accomplish all 
 that is required of it. 
 
MIGNONETTE. 
 
 Wk'fe, Reseda odorata. 
 
 ||§i;'- PLANT may have no history, 
 and yet be full of fame. It 
 is so with the mignonette, 
 which was unknown to the 
 authors of the best of our old 
 English gardening books, and 
 the history of which may 
 be written on the thumb- 
 nail. It is a plentiful weed 
 in Northern Africa, and more 
 particularly in Egypt, whence 
 it travelled to Italy, and 
 made its way northward. In 
 1742 Lord Bateman saw it 
 in the Royal Garden of 
 Paris, and secured seed for its 
 introduction to this country, 
 where it soon became as 
 famous as in Prance, its delightfully fresh perfume being 
 a sufficient recommendation. The French gave it the 
 familiar name it bears of " little darling," and none 
 would desire to improve upon that. It is never spoken of 
 as a reseda except in botanic gardens, and the most en- 
 lightened company would be nonplussed if one were to 
 4 H 
 
H FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 remark on the sweetness of Reseda odorata without at the 
 same time giving it the name by which it is more com- 
 monly known. 
 
 The mignonette is an annual or a perennial, at the com- 
 mand of the cultivator. At the moment of writing this 
 we have near at hand plants of gigantic stature, that have 
 flowered almost continuously winter and summer through 
 a term of seven years, and appear capable of continuing 
 the delightful performance for seven years more, if aided 
 with a reasonable amount of care. Any one who has a 
 greenhouse may easily grow mignonette to a great size, 
 say, for example, to the stature of a man, and of breadth 
 proportionate to form a noble tree, the two requisites being 
 a rich light soil and complete immunity from frost, in 
 a house well supplied with air and light. At the 
 moment of writing this we can see on a garden border a 
 patch of self-sown mignonette, and by this example we 
 can rank it with the weeds of the garden. Indeed, for 
 many years past we have always had as much outdoor 
 mignonette as we needed without sowing a single grain 
 of seed. The self-sown plants scatter seed freely, and we 
 have to destroy a considerable number of the plants that 
 appear uninvited and in excess of requirements. Thus we 
 have presented the two extremes of mignonette culture ; 
 but we must add that the pot culture of mignonette is the 
 most remunerative, for well-grown specimens are unique 
 in beauty, and their fragrance in the conservatory or 
 dwelling-house is invaluable. 
 
 It was a happy thought of the man who first entered 
 upon the work of improving the mignonette. We call to 
 mind the time when only one sort was known, and now we 
 can find a round dozen. They are not all good ; but two 
 
MIGNONETTE. 43 
 
 or three of the number are characterised by fine qualities 
 of colour, growth, and perfume. The most distinct of the 
 varieties are the following : — Parson's White has white 
 flowers, and for that reason is interesting; another of the 
 same class is Garraway's White. These are of quite 
 secondary importance ; they are scarcely white enough to 
 attract attention, and they are somewhat deficient in con- 
 stitutional vigour. Miles's Spiral has the yellowish-brown 
 flowers of the common sort, but a fine, compact habit of 
 growth, the flowers appearing in numerous bold spiral 
 clusters. The Tall Pyramidal is of vigorous habit, and 
 well adapted for pot culture to form handsome specimens. 
 The very best of the series is the one called Golden Queen. 
 This is of dwarf, but robust, habit ; the flowers are of the 
 colour known as " old gold," and a well-grown bed or 
 clump has a distinct and pleasing appearance. 
 
 The most useful form of mignonette is in small pot 
 specimens, which may be destroyed after one season of 
 flowering. The seed may be sown at any time; but the 
 usual time of sowing is the month of August. About 
 half a dozen seeds are sown in a five-inch pot, the soil 
 employed being a rich, light, loamy compost. When the 
 plants appear, all but the three strongest are removed. A 
 light, warm, airy place in the greenhouse is selected for 
 the plants, which soon make a healthy growth, and flower 
 from Christmas until late in the spring, giving from first 
 to last the least imaginable amount of trouble, and proving 
 their usefulness by the delight of every one who can see or 
 smell them. When large specimens are required, the seed 
 should be sown in three-inch pots, and one plant only left 
 in the pot to grow. This must be shifted into a five-inch 
 pot as soon as it needs more root room, and again to a six 
 
44 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 or eight-inch pot, great care being taken to prevent any 
 injury to the roots. A certain amount of training will be 
 necessary to form a handsome tree, and the golden rule 
 must be observed, never to allow it to ripen a single seed ; 
 in fact, the seed-pods should be assiduously removed as 
 fast as they appear. 
 
GIANT BALSAM. 
 
GIANT BALSAM. 
 
 Impatient glandntifcra. 
 
 OLI ME TANGERE" are 
 brave words for a shield or 
 banner, but with the lovers 
 of fun in ancient Rome it 
 was an expression of irony, 
 and had reference to temper 
 rather than courage, or to a 
 calamity of the nose rather 
 than to stoutness of heart. 
 In later days these words 
 had a more solemn signifi- 
 cation in connection with 
 pictures in Christian churches 
 illustrative of a moving epi- 
 sode in the New Testament 
 story. When the balsam 
 was first called " Touch-me- 
 not" it would be hard to 
 say, but the name reaches 
 far back in the usage of 
 gardens. 
 
 It is a question if any 
 balsam can be considered a native of Britain. We have, 
 however, two British species in the books. They are 
 
46 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 Impatiens noli me tangere, the yellow touch-me-not, found 
 in Northern England and Wales, but not in Scotland or 
 Ireland; and the coppery touch-me-not (7. fvlva), to be 
 found only in a few places near rivers in the county of 
 Surrey. The giant balsam, rising to the height of a man, 
 with coarse but somewhat noble herbage and handsome 
 purple or rosy flowers, is Impatiens g land ulif era, so called 
 because of the glands at the base of the serratures ; it is a 
 native of Northern India. 
 
 It is easy to demonstrate the appropriateness of the 
 familiar name of this plant, and any kind of balsam will 
 serve the purpose. When the seed-pod is ripe, a touch 
 causes it to explode and scatter the seed far and wide. 
 Nature has various ways of distributing the seeds of 
 plants : some are furnished with wings, and. fly to new 
 pastures ; some attach themselves to the animals that 
 browse amongst them, while others are swallowed with 
 herbage as food, but resist the action of the digestive 
 organs. There are many that are discharged by the plants 
 into space, such as those of the violet, the squirting 
 cucumber, and the balsam. 
 
 It is common to see in half-neglected gardens great 
 masses of the three balsams mentioned above, the conse- 
 quence of the freedom with which the plants scatter their 
 seeds from year to year. It often happens that the yellow 
 and the purple get mixed together, and a difficulty arises 
 as to their identification. It may be useful, therefore, to 
 the reader if we briefly describe each so far as regards 
 their distinctive characters. 
 
 The yellow balsam grows one to two feet high; the 
 stems are swollen at the nodes, the leaves are pale o-reen 
 toothed, flaccid; the perfect flowers grow on axillary stems, 
 
GIAXT BALSAM. 47 
 
 singly or in pairs, the hooded sepal ending in a long spur, 
 which is henfc back upon the flower. It is a curious fact 
 that these flowers, which are so particularly noticeable, are 
 infertile; the seeds are produced by minute, imperfect 
 flowers that are seldom noticed by anybody. 
 
 The copper or orange-coloured balsam resembles the 
 yellow, except that the flowers are of a deeper colour, 
 spotted with reddish-brown, and the spur is very closely 
 bent back, and slightly notched at the extremity. 
 
 The glandular balsam rises to six, eight, or even 
 twelve feet, and is of coarse though noble growth in a 
 rich soil .when aided by a rainy season. In a dry season 
 it makes a good growth, and scatters seed freely; but it is 
 evidently a rainy-climate plant, and makes a grand appear- 
 ance in the autumn following upon a wet summer. The 
 leaves are three to five inches long, ovate, sharply serrated, 
 the serratures at the base being glandular. The flowers 
 appear in clusters of three or more, and many of these 
 clusters being closely associated, and all arising from 
 axils of leaves, constitute a large leafy corymb or panicle. 
 The flowers are large, and of various shades of purple ; the 
 seed-vessels, when ripe, burst on the slightest touch with 
 much force, and the seed is sent flying in all directions to 
 a considerable distance from the parent plant. 
 
 From the interesting family of balsams our gardens 
 have derived a few of their choicest treasures. The very 
 useful Balsaminea hqrtensis, which is the balsam of the 
 flower garden, we have spoken of. But we should now 
 mention two that are less known, but quite worthy of a 
 place in our budget. 
 
 Hooker's balsam (Impatiens Hookeriana) is a native of 
 Ceylon, requiring stove culture to insure a display of its 
 
48 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 curious flowers. These are of large size, white, with a few 
 red stripes ; the spur is long and stout, and curved in a 
 half-circle when the flower is mature, but when in bud, it 
 forms beneath the bud a large circle, like a big letter O. 
 
 Mrs. Jerdon's balsam (Imp aliens Jerdonia) is a beau- 
 tiful curiosity, native of the Neilgherries, requiring warm 
 greenhouse cultivation. The stems are almost tuberous, 
 and in any case noticeable for their swollen appearance. 
 The leaves appear only on the upper part of the gouty 
 stems; they are ovate, and at their junction with the 
 petiole there are two or three purple glands. The flowers 
 are brilliant red and yellow, with a very short spur, 
 
HAWTHORN. 
 
THE HAWTHORN. 
 
 Crataegus oxyacantha. 
 
 the "milk-white thorn that 
 scents the evening gale " had, 
 as a literary subject, been " un- 
 attempted yet in prose or rhyme," 
 the temptation would at this 
 moment be too strong to be re- 
 sisted. But turn to the books, 
 dear reader, and see that whoever 
 could say or sing something in 
 its praise has made the most of 
 his advantage. The history of 
 the thorn has in consequence 
 grown to vast proportions. We 
 may therefore devote the small 
 space at our disposal to a new 
 essay on the place of the thorn 
 in the garden ; and we begin by 
 V*^*" ^11 <^~ '^ saying that the double variety 
 
 here figured represents a very 
 important and splendid section 
 of thorns that, in the most proper sense of the term, may 
 be described as pictorial and garden trees. 
 
 It may be said of the thorns that they are more ac- 
 commodating than any equally handsome class of hardy 
 4 I 
 
50 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 deciduous trees. Go to Lincoln's Inn Fields in June, and 
 there you shall see, flowering freely, a line collection ot 
 varieties of Crataegus oxyaeantha in a most thriving state in 
 the very heart of smoky London, where earth and air have 
 been poisoned by coal-smoke for centuries. Go to Troutbeck 
 la July, and walk up the Vale to Kirkstone Pass, and you 
 may see thousands of hawthorns blooming gaily, and you 
 may note by the herbage and the colour of the soil that 
 they are all located on a basis of starvation, where oaks 
 and elms would no more grow than they would on a cheese- 
 plate. And you may go to Cobham Park, and see huge 
 " creeping " thorns thriving in a good soil that produces 
 the finest timber ; and after this, wherever you meet with 
 thorns, you will probably note that they are almost careless 
 of conditions, as though endowed with a special power of 
 adapting themselves to any circumstances short of being 
 made into faggots and put upon the fire. And they adapt 
 themselves to that fairly well, for thornwood is capital 
 fuel, but the adaptation is of quite a temporary nature. 
 
 The inexperienced observer who notes the immense 
 difference between the " hawthorn in the dale " and the 
 double-flowered tree of the garden will be disposed to 
 regard them as distinct species, for indeed the distance in 
 time as well as in appearance from one to the other is 
 great. Nevertheless, the nature of the transition may be 
 studied on the hills and in the woods, for there will be 
 found among the wild thorns examples varying in the 
 colours of their flowers from the purest white to several 
 shades of blush, flesh, and rosy pink ; and the scientific 
 observer will readily and properly conclude that by 
 systematic selection and raising plants from seed many 
 fine varieties might soon be obtained, even if our present 
 
THE BAWTHOMK. 51 
 
 grand group were obliterated. We have noted many- 
 interesting " sports " on our own pink and scarlet thorns 
 that only needed to be "fixed;" by grafting and other 
 modes that are commonly pursued, to prove useful additions 
 to the lists of established kinds. 
 
 In selecting thorns for the garden it will be well to 
 ensure a goodly proportion of the single scarlet and pink 
 varieties, for these make a double display, their red berries 
 being fully as ornamental in autumn as their beautiful 
 flowers are in the early summer. Moreover, where there 
 are plenty of haws there will usually be plenty of birds, 
 and the glorious song of the thrush is as much to be 
 desired in a garden as any of its other delights. Of the 
 splendour of the double varieties there can be no question 
 at all, but they produce no berries, and the individual 
 flowers are, in our opinion, far less beautiful than the single 
 kinds. But tastes differ ; and on that point we shall say 
 no more, as we shall find matters of fact enough to fill out 
 our pages. 
 
 A selection having to be made for the borders and 
 shrubberies, it will be proper to suggest that the Glastonbury 
 thorn should be included in it. This is the variety that is 
 said to flower on Old Christmas Day, and we have actually 
 seen it in flower on the 6th of January on our cold land in 
 the Valley of the Lea ; but it has happened only once in the 
 course of nearly thirty years. At Glastonbury and else- 
 where in the west of England the event may be looked for 
 whenever mild weather occurs at midwinter, and in that 
 is to be found one of the points of interest attaching 
 to this variety. Amongst other points of interest must 
 be noted the fact that this variety produces a brilliant 
 show of large golden-green leaves long before any other 
 
52 FAMILIAR GARL-EN FLOWERS. 
 
 thorn shows the faintest glimmer of greenness. Therefore 
 if there is a sheltered nook near the house in which a thorn 
 may be planted with propriety, then the Glastonbury thorn 
 is the very tree for that nook, because it will make a 
 cheerful object in the view from the windows in those 
 early spring- days when new leaves and flowers are eagerly 
 looked for as spiritual food to revive us from the depressions 
 01 the winter. The true story of the Glastonbury thorn, 
 as told in the Gardener's Magazine for Dec. 21st, 1878, is 
 much more wonderful than the legendary nonsense that is 
 retailed in guide-books, and makes it appear that the tree 
 came originally from the East, and established itself at 
 Glastonbury in a natural way and without the help of 
 any miracle. 
 
 " Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade 
 To shepherds looking on their silly sheep, 
 Than doth a rich emhroider'd canopy 
 To kings, that fear their subjects' treachery P" 
 

 
 CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
 
CHKYSANTHEMUM. 
 
 Chrysanthemum Indimin. 
 
 '.HJBYSANTHEMUMS have 
 been known in Europe for 
 fully two hundred years, yet 
 they have been but recently 
 < { "discovered/'' for as a fa- 
 miliar garden flower the his- 
 tory of the plant dates from 
 , the year 1843, when the first 
 public exhibition of chrysan- 
 themums was held in the 
 ancient city of Norwich . Very 
 soon thereafter followed the 
 formation of the Stoke New- 
 ington Chrysanthemum So- 
 ciety, the first exhibition of 
 which was held in the year 
 1846. This society may be 
 regarded as the parent of a 
 thousand, for although three years later in its birth than 
 that at Norwich, it has served as the model for all similar 
 societies, and as the school of chrysanthemum culture for 
 the whole world. During a run of about forty years the 
 village that has become so identified with this flower was 
 better known to the floral world than any other suburb 
 
54 FAMILIAR GASBEA" FLOWERS. 
 
 of London, for with the return of the chrysanthemum 
 season Stoke Newington was "in everybody's mouth." 
 Alas ! history will not keep to established grooves ; this 
 model society has become " National," and the flower, 
 through the growth of its renown, has actually lost one 
 of its most picturesque associations. 
 
 Pictorial art in China and Japan owes much of its life 
 to the chrysanthemum and the pseony. These flowers are 
 seen on their splendid pottery, and in the fantastic pictures 
 of the native artists, in all possible degrees of naturalism 
 and conventionalism, both flowers happily lending them- 
 selves to the invention that likes to make a toy of the 
 truth. The chrysanthemum is in both countries a greater 
 favourite than the pseony ; and it must be confessed that, 
 while we have derived from China and Japan the parents 
 of our finest varieties and the types of the most distinctive 
 forms, we are not the less indebted to them for the lessons 
 that are the basis of our chrysanthemum cultivation. From 
 the Chinese our gardeners have learned the art of pro- 
 ducing specimen flowers of the most finished " incurved " 
 form, such as the figure of Jarclin des Plantes accompany- 
 ing these remarks may suggest to the reader. For a full- 
 sized specimen the size of the page does not suffice, for 
 we are familiar with flowers that could not be put into a 
 man's hat,' so large are they. 
 
 The Chinese chrysanthemum was first accurately de- 
 scribed by Breynius, in his " Prodromus," 1689, under the 
 name of Matricaria Japonica maxima, and he states that six 
 varieties were at that time in cultivation in Holland. It re- 
 ceived its present botanical name of Chrysanthemum Indicam 
 from Linnaeus, whose " Species Plantarum " first appeared 
 in the year 1753. The first specimen known to have been 
 
CHRYSANTHEMUM. 55 
 
 grown in England was one that bore small yellow flowers, 
 in the Botanic Garden, Chelsea, in the year 1764. It is in- 
 teresting to be enabled to add that a dried specimen of this 
 very plant was (with others) presented by the famous gar- 
 dener at Chelsea, Philip Miller, to the Royal Society, and is 
 now in the herbarium of the British Museum, in the series 
 known as " Miller's Specimens.'" But this plant perished 
 soon after the transfer of Miller's specimens ; and it was 
 not until the year 1789 that the true Chinese chrysan- 
 themum obtained a place in Europe. In that year M. 
 Blanchard, a merchant of Marseilles, imported three plants, 
 the white, purple, and violet ; but the purple only survived 
 that expedition to become a garden flower. In the year 
 following the Royal Gardens, Kew, obtained a specimen of 
 this purple chrysanthemum; and thus the large-flowering 
 chrysanthemum, the queen of autumnal flowers, obtained a 
 home in this country. One hundred years have passed, and 
 every year has seen something of importance added to its 
 history, for from the first flowering of well-grown plants 
 in Colville's nursery, at Chelsea, in the year 1795, it has 
 been a subject of public interest and of increasing im- 
 portance in the social circle. There are now over two 
 thousand varieties named and registered, and hundreds of 
 societies that especially recognise and encourage the culti- 
 vation. The number of these societies being ever in- 
 creasing is an intimation that the chrysanthemum has not 
 even yet reached the zenith of its fame. 
 
 In the cultivation of this plant, it should be kept in 
 mind that it is not perfectly hardy in this country, and, 
 therefore, as a garden flower that every year challenges 
 the winter by flowering late, it is often much marred by 
 unkind weather. In the autumn of a recent year, the 
 
56 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 chrysanthemums in London gardens being spared frost, fog, 
 and heavy rain, made a wondrous display, and compelled all 
 observers to note the exceeding rarity of such a November 
 festival. Then we saw the colours of the flowers in their 
 highest perfection, far exceeding in depth, purity, and 
 brilliancy the best specimens as seen in exhibitions, for 
 these last are necessarily flowered under glass. The 
 severest winters do not indeed kill the plants, hut one or 
 two days of " dirty weather " in November may damage 
 the bloom so far as to deprive it of all beauty. 
 
LOVE-LI ES-BLEEDING. 
 
LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING. 
 
 Aniarfuithitfi cmifhftits. 
 
 HE amaranth -is a fact and a 
 fancy. It is the flower of 
 immortality, the flower of 
 love, the flower of fame, 
 and the flower that accom- 
 panies Hope until she is 
 ruthlessly swallowed by De- 
 spair. " Love-lies-bleeding" 
 is a name needing no ex- 
 planation to one who has 
 seen the flower, for often 
 the pendent inflorescence, of 
 a brilliant crimson colour, 
 may be likened to streams 
 of blood; but as a figura- 
 tive expression it might 
 with equal propriety be 
 called " Hate-lies-bleeding." 
 Amaranthus is the unfading 
 flower, amar giving the ad- 
 jective to the noun. By a 
 confusion common in the history of words, amar has been 
 changed to amor, and thus the unfading flower becomes 
 the flower of love : the outward characters explain the rest. 
 4 J 
 
58 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 The mythical or fanciful part of the history of this 
 flower admits us to the region of poesy, and we find the 
 amaranth to be a flower of the gods. Better for us at 
 ■present, perhaps, is the adoption of the flower by Milton 
 for crowning the celestial beings that bow before the 
 throne of the Most High, in " Paradise Lost" — 
 
 " To the ground, 
 With solemn adoration, down they cast 
 Their crowns, inwove with amarant and gold : — 
 Immortal amarant, a flower which once 
 In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, 
 Began to bloom ; but soon for man's offence 
 To heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows 
 And flowers aloft, shading the fount of life, 
 But where the river of bliss through midst of heaven 
 Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream ; 
 With these that never fade, the spirits elect 
 Bind their resplendent loeks inwreathed with beams. 
 Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright 
 Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, 
 Impurpled with celestial roses, Bmiled." 
 
 It is fortunate for Milton that jasper has a great 
 range of colours. It is best known in the world of art 
 by the Wedgwood ware, so called; but it will scarcely 
 be considered a mistake on our part to say that jasper has 
 never been seen of the colour of any amaranth known in 
 gardens. 
 
 Shelley, in " Rosalind and Helen," thus introduces our 
 flower : — 
 
 " Whose sad inhabitants each year would come, 
 > With willing steps climbing that rugged height, 
 
 And hang long locks of hair, and garlands bound 
 With amaranth flowers, which, in the clime's despite, 
 Filled the frore air with unaecustom'd light. 
 Such flowers as in the wintry memory bloom 
 Of one friend left, adorned that frozen tomb." 
 
10 YE- L1ES-BLEEMXG. g9 
 
 It is a sad drop from the heights to which the poets 
 carry us to the uncomfortable suggestions of the old 
 French name for the flower, " Discipline des religieuses " — 
 the nun's whipping-rope. Another French name takes 
 the " amor " into consideration, for it is " Fleur de ja- 
 lousie." The geographical enterprise of the Spanish and 
 Portuguese is reflected in the name — " Papagayo" — it bears 
 in the Peninsula ; it is there the parrot flower, though 
 quite unlike a parrot, except in its brilliant colour. 
 
 All the amaranths are annuals, and all that are known 
 are worth growing. Three of the number are of con- 
 siderable importance to amateurs who require flowers in 
 plenty at the least possible expense, and needing but very 
 little exercise of horticultural skill. They comprise the 
 one here figured, Amaranthus caudatus, which will grow 
 in any soil, but attains to a splendid character when located 
 in a rich, deep, moist loam. It is sufficient to sow the 
 seed on the border where it is to remain ; but for a well- 
 managed garden, the proper practice is to sow in pans or 
 pots, and raise the plants in a frame, and plant them out 
 when large enough. There is a yellow-flowered variety, 
 and there is one with whitish flowers ; but the common 
 crimson is the most effective. 
 
 Prince's feather is a replica of the foregoing, but with 
 upright instead of pendent inflorescence. Its book name 
 is Amaranthus hypochondriacus. It is more hardy, grows 
 to greater size, and lasts longer in flower than love-lies- 
 bleeding; but though a fine plant, it must be placed 
 second in order of merit as regards distinctive beauty. 
 
 A showy amaranthus is A. sjjeciosns, a native of Nepaul, 
 growing three to four feet high, with reddish-purple 
 leaves, and crimson flowers in dense whorls. If sown in 
 
GO FAMILIAR GARDEX FLOWERS. 
 
 the open border in April, it makes a fine plant, but it 
 is better to sow in March; in a warm house or frame, to 
 insure a longer season of growth and a fuller development. 
 
 The globe amaranth, the cockscomb, and the pyramidal 
 celosia are true amaranths, the last-named being one of 
 the mosu lovely plants of its class in cultivation- It is only 
 an annual, and requires the warmth of the stove; but its 
 feathery plumes of many colours are unequalled for dis- 
 tinctness and lustre.. Its book name is Celosia pyramidalis. 
 
 How many of the amaranths are edible we cannot with 
 precision say. We have grown A. polygonoiies in a frame 
 for use as spinach, and found it excellent. Another species, 
 A. trktis, is largely used as food in India ; and the young 
 stems of A. oleraceus are in the same country eaten as a 
 substitute for asparagus. 
 
RHODODENDRON. 
 
THE 
 KHODODENDKON. 
 
 Rhododendron ponticmii. 
 
 HE tendency to depreciate the 
 commonplace is very strikingly 
 illustrated in the preference 
 given to rhododendrons of al- 
 most any and every kind over 
 this very old and most familiar 
 garden flower. So anxious are 
 raisers and planters to obtain 
 something different to the 
 cheap, hardy, accommodating, 
 and uniformly beautiful Pontic 
 species, that they are always 
 prepared to produce and plant 
 and vindicate varieties that are 
 tender, shy, and of ungainly 
 growth, for the sake of colours 
 to which they are unaccustomed. 
 But when seen in masses, co- 
 vered with their bountiful bloom in many shades of rosy- 
 purple, these Pontic rhododendrons surpass all others in 
 point of beauty ; and they have a certain freshness that 
 is indescribable, but must be felt when the surroundings 
 are in harmony with the rich but soft colouring. One of 
 the best places near London in which to see these plants 
 
62 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 in perfection is Cobham Park, near Gravesend ; but the 
 London parks can show fine groups, and the nurseries 
 at Bagshot and Woking are renowned throughout the 
 world, not only for the mere growing of rhododendrons," 
 but for the multiplicity of magnificent hybrids that have 
 .been obtained by systematic labour long continued. There 
 we shall find them in the opening of the summer gaily 
 dressed with banners of scarlet, crimson, rose, purple, white; 
 with shades of yellow, amber, brown, blue, and even black. 
 And many of the splendid hybrids are as hardy as the more 
 common plant before us ; and their beautiful colours and 
 floral characters give a special interest to the magnificent 
 exhibitions that are annually held in the Botanic Gardens, 
 Regent's Park, and elsewhere in places of public resort. 
 
 The common purple rhododendron appears to have 
 been introduced to cultivation in this country in the 
 year 1763. It is described in Martyn's edition of 
 "Miller" (1807) as "native of the Levant and Gibral- 
 tar; also of Georgia, in the southern sub-Alpine tracts 
 of Caucasus, and where it affects wet places in beech and 
 alder coppices, on rocky mountains, but not on high 
 Alps." In Aiton's " Hortus Kewensis " (1811) there are 
 three references to technical descriptions of the plant, and 
 one of them carries us to the only authentic figure we have 
 succeeded in finding ; for this being a very " common " 
 plant, the picture-makers are quite unable to look up to 
 it. The figure is in the Botanical Magazine, t. 650 (1803), 
 and, though truthful and sufficient, is a far inferior figure 
 to the one now before the reader. This is to be explained 
 by the fact that a good garden variety has been selected 
 for the present purpose ; and our specimen is characterised 
 by broad petals and a great depth of colour. 
 
THE MWnODEXmiOX. 63 
 
 It will occur to the reader to ask whether this plant 
 is to be taken note of in connection with the poisonous 
 honey that we have discoursed upon in describing 1 the 
 Pontic azalea ? The deleterious honey known to the 
 ancients, and. described by Dioscorides and Pliny, and 
 which plays a dramatic part in the grand story of Xeno- 
 phon, was certainly not a mythic substance. The in- 
 habitants of Georgia were but too familiar with it. In 
 the opinion of the writer, who for many years has been 
 intimately familiar with the greatest plantations of rho- 
 dodendrons of this country, and of Europe generally, the 
 common purple rhododendron produces honey that is as 
 wholesome as that from the clover, the heather, or any 
 other good bee plant. Indeed, were it otherwise, we 
 should be too frequently and forcibly informed to remain 
 in doubt upon the subject. But in the Botanical Maga- 
 zine, under t. 650, occurs a very interesting note, as 
 follows : — " A middling-sized rhododendron, which had 
 been somewhat forced, standing in a very light, airy bow- 
 window facing the north, produced a large drop of very 
 pellucid nectar at the base of the broadest segment of each 
 corolla ; as the flower decayed, this drop mostly crystal- 
 lised. A number of these crystals were collected, five of 
 which weighed a grain. They were very transparent, re- 
 sembling in appearance and taste the purest white sugar- 
 candy. The same has been observed in some degree, but 
 not to nearly the same extent, on some other trees simi- 
 larly situated ." Many who observe minutely have seen 
 these saccharine tears in flowers, but few have proceeded 
 beyond the casual observation. 
 
 As for Pontus, it is a mysterious geographical entity ; 
 and to work out its boundaries will cost some labour, even 
 
64 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 to the geographer familiar with the ancient books. But 
 there is a way out of every difficulty. Whoever desires a 
 quick guide to the mysterious Pontus may refer in any 
 modern work to Anatolia. 
 
 The Pontic rhododendron will grow in any peaty, 
 sandy, or light loamy soil. It does not thrive in clay or 
 sticky loam, and it will sooner or later perish in a soil 
 containing any notable proportion of calcareous salts. 
 Therefore on limestone and chalk a soil must be pre- 
 pared for it. In carving a garden out of a wilderness, 
 the old grass turf, sliced off about an inch thick, and 
 chopped over with sharp sand, will make a capital compost 
 for rhododendrons. But where any difficulty arises, the 
 way out o£ it is tc cart in good turfy peat (not bog) soil. 
 
BORDER PINKS. 
 
BOEDER PINKS. 
 
 Dianthus pliaitarins. 
 
 an easy matter to write 
 Dianthus plumarius, and 
 then regard the name as 
 a sign that we have traced 
 the pink to its source. 
 But here, as elsewhere, 
 there is room for difference 
 of opinion, because between 
 the wild flower and the 
 flower of the garden there 
 is a great gulf fixed. It 
 is convenient to regard D. 
 caryopliyllus as the origin 
 of the carnation, and the 
 species named above as the 
 origin of the pink, but 
 other species come near 
 to both flowers, and in 
 their garden forms the two 
 sweet old favourites are 
 very distinct. All the allied 
 forms may be termed mural 
 plants, for the Cheddar pink loves limestone rocks, the 
 wild clove is the "castle pink" of poetry, the pheasantV 
 
66 FAMILIAR GARJOEX FLOWERS. 
 
 eye pink (D. plumariai) has a special love for the walls of 
 
 Ludlow Castle, and the Deptford pink {B. armeria) haunts 
 
 dry chalky banks about Cobham, Higham, and Sandwich, 
 
 and joins with all the rest in hinting to the lover of pinks 
 
 that to grow such flowers well a dry calcareous soil is much 
 
 to be desired. 
 
 We call pinks " old-fashioned " flowers, and perhaps we 
 
 should find them, more often mentioned in old than in 
 
 modern books. Cowper, in his tender lines on his mother's 
 
 picture, includes the pink amongst the favourites of his 
 
 childhood :— 
 
 " Could time, his flight reversed, restore the hours, 
 When, playing with thy vesture's tissued flowers, 
 The violet, the pink, and jessamine, 
 I pricked them into paper with a pin." 
 
 In the " Paradisus " of John Parkinson we have evidence 
 of the importance of these flowers in old English gardens, 
 and it may interest readers of the dry-as-dust school to 
 look upon a pink or carnation in the first place as a true 
 gilly-flower, and next as the true clove that served for 
 the payment of a reserve, or, at all events, as the emblem 
 of acknowledgment in the constitution of a tenure. The 
 authority for this is Turner's paper on the horticulture of 
 the Middle Ages, and it dates from a time when the clove 
 of commerce and the peppercorn were equally unknown. 
 
 Border pinks differ from show pinks only in flowering 
 more freely, and with less perfection of form and colour, 
 many of them being destitute of the " lacing" that is so 
 much valued as a characteristic of the flowers that are 
 grown for exhibition. The show pinks are richly and re- 
 gularly marked with broad bands of colour on each petal, 
 but border pinks are irregulariy marked, or are self-coloured : 
 
BOUDJILt riXJiil. 67 
 
 that is, of one colour only. The true pinks, whether show 
 or border flowers, are generally esteemed for their spicy 
 fragrance. But there is a class also much valued that 
 are often quite wanting in fragrance : these are known as 
 "■ mule" pinks, being hybrids of Dianthus plumarius with 
 other species, such as, perhaps, D. casius, D. sinensis, and 
 D. superius. The mule pinks are not only useful as border 
 plants, but are often grown in pots for forcing, being easily 
 managed to supply flowers throughout the winter, and more 
 especially at the dawn of spring, when flowers are much in 
 demand, and are often very scarce. 
 
 There is no flower in the garden on which the amateur 
 may with greater advantage bestow attention than on the 
 pink. The shortest and surest way of securing a fine lot 
 is to sow a pinch of good seed in the month of April, and 
 raise the young stock in a frame. Sow in pots filled with 
 sandy loam, and keep these moderately moist, and closely 
 shut up and shaded in the frame until the young plants 
 appear, when the tactics must be changed in favour of air 
 and light. All seeds germinate more regularly and vigo- 
 rously if screened from the light, but the growth that young 
 plants make in a subdued light is likely to be weak and 
 unhealthy. Give them as much air as the weather will 
 allow, with water enough, but no excess, for the pink is a 
 dry plant, and sooner suffers from damp than cold. When 
 they are large enough to handle, plant them out on a 
 border of fine soil in a sunny' position, at about three inches 
 apart. In the event of having to prepare a border for 
 them, make it up of sifted turfy loam and sharp sand in 
 about equal proportions. When the pinks begin to crowd 
 one another, take them up, and plant them where they are 
 to remain for flowering. 
 
68 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 When pinks are grown in any quantity, a good bed 
 should be prepared for them, rich and deep, but in a 
 sunny, well-drained situation. The month of September 
 is the best time for a general planting of pinks, more 
 especially when the plants are purchased and named varie- 
 ties are preferred. 
 
 Named pinks are multiplied from layers and pipings, 
 the last being most in favour. Pipings are taken from the 
 slender shoots at the time the plants are in flower. They 
 should be cut at a length of three or four joints below the 
 growing tuft, or " grass," and this tuft, or grass, must be 
 somewhat shortened. A bed should be prepared in a cool 
 shady spot, such as the north side of a hedge, or in the 
 partial shade of old gooseberry-trees. About four inches of. 
 fresh fine soil should be spread, and on this the pipings 
 should be firmly planted three inches apart. 
 
i 
 
 AFRICAN LILY. 
 
AFRICAN LILY. 
 
 dpapnrtthns umbellatus. 
 
 jOTHING that the great African 
 continent has given us in the 
 way of flowers can surpass in 
 value the glorious old African 
 lily, which brings the rare 
 blue colour into the great 
 family of lilies. From Africa 
 we have the magnificent ter- 
 restrial orchids called disas, 
 any number of heaths and 
 pelargoniums, not a few of 
 the finest palms, and the hard- 
 leaved eycads. But for use- 
 fulness, the agapanthus stands 
 alone ; and if we are called 
 upon to find a companion for 
 it, the Valletta purpurea shall 
 have the preference over all 
 other African plants; and 
 this, although called Scar- 
 borough Lily," is, strictly 
 speaking, an amaryllis. The 
 agapanthus, or African lily, 
 has been classed as a crinum, as a hyacinth, as a polyanthus, 
 
70 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWER '. 
 
 and a tulbaghia ; its modern name dates from the publica- 
 tion of Aiton's " Hortus Kewensis," wherein, on the authority 
 of L'Heritier, it is entered by the name now universally 
 recognised. It was cultivated in the Royal Gardens at 
 Hampton Court in 1692, therefore it is no novelty ; and 
 yet of its history there is not much to be said. 
 
 This fine plant is commonly and advantageously re- 
 garded as requiring protection in winter, and is, therefore, 
 grown in pots and tubs. It is, however, quite hardy in 
 the southern counties, and in London survives an ordinary 
 winter in the open border, where, if spared for a few years 
 the trial of a severe and prolonged frost, it increases to a 
 large, mass, and flowers freely in the month of September. 
 The winter of 1885-6, the longest we have known, though 
 certainly not the severest, affected out- door plants at Kew 
 so slightly, that when, in the month of April, the spring 
 renewed the growth of vegetation, they were found to be 
 fresh and green, and scarcely touched by the winter frost. 
 In the Botanical Gardens of Manchester some large clumps 
 have stood out in borders for several years, with but little 
 harm, from which they have soon recovered. Some very 
 fine clumps that we had in the open border, on heavy land, 
 in a northern suburb of London, were so much injured by 
 the keen frost that occurred in the month of March, 1880, 
 that it was not until the end of May that they presented 
 above ground a new growth of green leaves from the roots ; 
 and in that year they did not flower, having enough to do 
 to accomplish their re-establishment. 
 
 We are particular to set forth these facts, because, 
 when a noble plant, such as the one before us, proves to 
 be hardy enough to brave an average winter in the open 
 ground, the gain to all lovers of a garden is immense. 
 
AFRICA X Lilt. 71 
 
 But, as remarked above, the plant is with advantage treated 
 as requiring protection in winter, and, generally speaking, 
 the amateur cultivator will insure the best success by 
 practising pot-culture. 
 
 The agapanthus requires a rich, strong, loamy soil, in 
 which it produces a large mass of stout, fleshy roots, that 
 are thirsty in high summer time. It is a mistake to pre- 
 pare a light sandy compost, except when the plants have 
 been cut up for increase; in which case ; for the first potting 
 they should have a sandy soil of a rather poor character, 
 and be put into pots as small as possible. But when they 
 have made new growth, and require more room, the soil 
 should be a rich, strong loam, the pots should be large in 
 proportion to the plants, and from June to August they 
 should stand in pans of water. By this treatment they 
 will make a grand growth, and flower finely. During 
 winter a stable or shed will suffice to shelter them, but the 
 best j>la,ce is a plant-house, heated sufficiently to keep out 
 frost. It is a good practice to shift the plants into pots 
 one size larger than the last when growth commences in 
 the spring, and to continue this practice until they become 
 too large for the purposes required, when they may be 
 divided by carefully cutting through at the crown, while 
 being cautious not to seriously mutilate the roots. Each 
 piece removed should have a bunch of roots of its own ; 
 and if these are unmanageable when they are potted, they 
 may be shortened, but must not be severely cut back. For 
 some time after the divided pieces have been potted in 
 small pots very little water should be given. To be out 
 of doors from the 1st of May to the 1st of October will 
 suit the agapanthus well. 
 
 There are some half-dozen varieties of Aga.joant7t.us 
 
72 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 umbellatus, comprising one with flowers of a pure white 
 colour, one of very dwarf habit with narrow leaves, and 
 one the leaves of which are beautifully variegated. For 
 all ordinary purposes, the common blue robust variety is 
 the best. We have had large plantations of this plant, 
 mixed with tritomas, gladioli, and lilies. They gave but 
 little trouble, and made an impressive display of their 
 various and magnificent flowers — a kind of " hardy gar- 
 dening " not often seen, though neither costly nor difficult. 
 
GENTIANELLA. 
 
GENTIANELLA. 
 
 Gentiana acaulis. 
 
 j^KLUE flowers are the least plen- 
 tiful, and the philosophers 
 tell us the reason why. All 
 flowers, they say, were at 
 first green ; from this they 
 diverged to yellow and 
 white; their next advance 
 was to shades of red. Their 
 triumphant colour — or, say, 
 their final stage in chromatic 
 evolution — is blue. If we 
 accept the hypothesis — for 
 theory it is not — we must 
 regard the gentians as in- 
 capable of further change in 
 respect of colour ; they have 
 passed through all the pre- 
 scribed phases, and having 
 reached the goal, may rest 
 and be thankful, while 
 myriads of flowers in the 
 earlier stages are still slowly fighting their way to the 
 "blue ribbon" of the turf amidst which they sparkle 
 and glow. 
 
74 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 Gentians rank amongst the noblest of Alpine flowers, 
 and they give us tones of blue that never fail to excite 
 surprise, no matter how familiar we may be with them. 
 Their geographical range is certainly South European ; but 
 their head-quarters are the mountains that run east and 
 west from Transylvania to Cape Finisterre. India, too, has 
 its true gentians and its exacums, these last being marvels 
 of colour — the petals intensely blue, and the stamens in- 
 tensely yellow. 
 
 Conjuring is easy when you know how to do it ; and 
 so also is the growing of gentians. It is given to few to 
 succeed, while many fail, and our business in these pages 
 is to point out the way to success for any and every 
 lover of these much-loved flowers. Go with us up the 
 mountain, and you shall see them in the pastures, and in 
 nooks amongst the rocks, where they are exposed to the 
 fullest light, and are frequently bathed in mountain mois- 
 ture. You will never see them in a dry soil; you will 
 never see them in such shaded hollows as the ferns creep 
 into ; and you will not often see them where keen breezes 
 prevail. They like sheltered nooks, open to all the light of 
 heaven and to the kindlier airs of the mountain ; and their 
 roots must have constant supplies of moisture, or the plants 
 will surely fade away. These conditions may all be secured 
 in gardens ; and as a matter of fact, all the gentians are 
 well grown in gardens by the few — it is with no pleasure 
 we say the very few — who know how to do it. 
 
 The gentianella (Gentiana acaulis) is one of the easiest 
 to manage as a garden plant, but is useless on a very dry 
 soil. A deep moist loam will suit it well, and a surfacing 
 of stones seems always to its taste ; in fact, a stony soil 
 deep and moist, will suit this and many more of the gentian 
 
GENTIANELLA. 75 
 
 family. We have seen this flower employed with excellent 
 effect as an edging, its compact tufts of deep green leaves 
 rendering it a quite respectable plant. Its usual place is 
 the rockery, for which it is so well adapted that if only a 
 score of rock plants are wanted, the gentianella should be 
 one of them. The custom of planting little mites of plants 
 we shall not object to, because the planter must have 
 freedom of action when the purse is appealed to ; but we 
 are bound to say that a small tuft of this beauty is never 
 sufficient for its vindication as the perfection of a rock 
 plant. A few large patches or carpets are required, and it 
 is easy to obtain them by sowing the seeds every year in 
 pans in a frame, and nursing the young plants carefully, 
 remembering also that they are perfectly hardy, and are 
 more in need of protection against drought than against 
 frost or wind or sun. 
 
 The spring gentian, or Gentiana verna, is the proper 
 companion to the gentianella. It will generally thrive in 
 the same soil, and both will sometimes display a vagrant 
 quality in spreading from the comfortable bed prepared for 
 them to the adjoining gravel-walk, in which, if allowed', 
 they will run riot, as if to show how they love to be in 
 contact with stones. The vernal gentian, however, needs 
 a moist, sandy soil, and it is an advantage if smallish 
 pieces of sandstone are mixed with it; but moisture is 
 before all things important, the sure result of dryness at 
 the roots during May and June being the death of the 
 plants. In a soil they like they root deeply, and the 
 stones on the surface check evaporation and help to sustain 
 the plant by the retention of moisture. 
 
 The Bavarian gentian (G. Bavarica) is like the vernal 
 gentian, but has fewer leaves, and the flower-stems are 
 
76 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 thickly clothed with a leafy setting for its brilliant blue 
 Mowers. This requires a boggy soil, and in making a bed 
 for it, spongy peat should be selected. 
 
 The swallowwort gentian (G. asclepiadea) is a free- 
 growing, herbaceous plant, bearing blue or white flowers 
 on long leafy sprays. It will thrive in a moist loam or 
 peat, and appears always to be happiest when slightly 
 shaded. 
 
 The crested gentian (G. septemjida) is a very fine plaut, 
 of moderate growth ; the flowers are set in clusters, the 
 colours being blue and white within, and greenish-brown 
 without, while the alternate petals are finely fringed. 
 This gentian requires moist, sandy peat. 
 
 The easiest mode of increasing gentians is to divide the 
 roots, but this should never be done until the plants have 
 spread in large patches, for it is difficult to keep small 
 pieces alive. The three that have first place in our list 
 afford seed in plenty, and to raise a stock of plants is at 
 once a simple and entertaining business. 
 
'\. 
 
 LAPAGERIA. 
 
LAPAGEKIA. 
 
 Lapageria rosea. 
 
 'LANTS of recent introduction, 
 more especially those from 
 the great Western continent 
 that we call the New World, 
 do not willingly lend them- 
 selves to literary treatment. 
 In respect of the book treat- 
 ment of natural history sub- 
 jects, we run in vicious 
 grooves ; and if the garrulous 
 " ancients " have nothing to 
 say, we seem to be struck 
 dumb, for the sources of 
 knowledge appear to the mere 
 bookmaker to be in what are 
 called the " classics." Alas, 
 for the case before us ! Theo- 
 phrastus and Ovid knew not 
 the lapageria ; and it has not 
 been known to our gardens 
 at the present date for so 
 many as sixty years. The 
 flowers had been described by Ruiz and Pavon as " Formo- 
 sissimj" but the lapageria was unseen at Kew until 1847, 
 
7» FAMILIAR GARDEN ^FLOWERS. 
 
 when an American gentleman, Mr. R. Wheelwright, pre- 
 sented a plant obtained from Concepcion, Chili, and very 
 shortly thereafter it was talked about, as it deserved to be, as 
 one of the wonders of botanical discovery. Messrs. Veitch, 
 about the same time, secured it through their successful 
 collector, the late Mr. Thomas Lobb ; and, as a matter of 
 course, it was cultivated by them for commercial purposes. 
 
 At this point we wish to mention an incident in the 
 history of the lapageria of interest much greater, even if less 
 attractive, than any possible association of the unknown 
 thing with human loves or inhuman follies in Greek or 
 Roman poetry might be. The plant was figured in the 
 Botanical Magazine in 1849 (t. 4,447), and reference thereto 
 will enable any one who knows the flower to say that the 
 figure is admirably lifelike. But read the story that accom- 
 panies it, and you will learn that the artist, Mr. Walter 
 Fitch, had no living flowers at command, for none had then 
 been seen in this country. The story declares that " our 
 flowers are taken from dried specimens, aided by coloured 
 figures made in the native locality. " Thus we leave the 
 overworn "classic" groove; we are not to consult the 
 ancients about a flower that for them did not exist, but we 
 have forced upon our attention the fact that a botanical 
 draughtsman may, by means of dried specimens and secon- 
 dary helps, produce a portrait that shall have, for both 
 pictorial and scientific purposes, the value of a drawing 
 from the life. To this remark it should be added that very 
 much of botanical draughtsmanship in recent years has been 
 founded on dried specimens and descriptions, and, generally 
 speaking, technical accuracy has been secured thereby. 
 
 The lapageria belongs to the Smilax family, and there- 
 fore, by a little adroit management, it may be dragged 
 
LAPAGERIA. 79 
 
 into the classical connection ; but we shall resist the temp- 
 tation, and say that in the country it adorns its roots are 
 used for the same purposes as sarsaparilla, while, the ripe 
 pulpy fruit is eaten, and is much prized for its agree- 
 able flavour. It was first described, as noted above, by 
 Ruiz and Pavon, in " Flora Peruviana/' and was by Dr. 
 Lindley included in a new order called Philesiea? ; but Dr. 
 Hooker, in his ." Flora Antarctica," placed it in the Smilax 
 alliance, and there it remains most properly. The genus 
 is named in honour of Josephine Lapagerie, wife of Napo- 
 leon Bonaparte, who, in her gardens of Malmaison, ren- 
 dered some special services to botany. 
 
 Lapageria rosea, and its white variety alba, have given 
 much trouble to cultivators ; but being now well under- 
 stood, they occasion trouble no longer. They are so nearly 
 hardy, that the cool plant-house is the best place for them, 
 generally speaking, while it is probable that in some 
 favoured spots in Devon and Cornwall they may prove to 
 be sufficiently hardy to thrive on open walls and trellises 
 through a series of average seasons, and perhaps survive 
 the occasional severe winters that put all such plants of 
 doubtful hardiness to the extreme and final test. The soil 
 for the lapageria should be good turfy peat, with a con- 
 siderable mixture of sharp siliceous grit. It should be free 
 from calcareous matter, and, generally speaking, what is 
 known as silver-sand and brown orchid peat are the safest 
 materials for a compost. We have found that the fine grit 
 . sifted out of the sweepings of gravel roads and paths is the 
 best of grit for such a purpose, provided the material is 
 siliceous, and not calcareous — a point on which any one 
 may be easily satisfied. Another requisite is an abundance 
 of root moisture. It is not, indeed, necessary to provide the 
 
80 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 roots with a running rill of water ; but a large bulk of 
 soil must be provided, and the supply of water must be 
 copious and constant all through the growing season. 
 Liberal root room, and correspondingly liberal head room, 
 are conditions of importance in the cultivation of this 
 superb climber. When these are provided, there is little 
 else to do beyond training the plant to the wire or rafter 
 near the glass, and shortening the growth only when it 
 becomes too luxuriant for the situation. When in any 
 way cramped or starved, the lapageria is more plague 
 than profit. Better always a thriving tuft of native 
 chickweed than a poor example of any grand exotic ! 
 
SWEET WILLIAM. 
 
THE 
 SWEET WILLIAM. 
 
 Dianthus barbatus. 
 
 ARROW-LEAVED varieties of 
 this useful flower are called in 
 the old books " Sweet Johns," 
 and the broad-leaved " Sweet 
 Williams." We speak of the 
 carnations and pinks as the 
 true gilly-nowers, and have 
 ample authority for so doing. 
 But at the present time the 
 gilly-flower of the midland 
 counties is the wallflower, and 
 in old times the wallflower was 
 called the sweet william. These 
 confusions of popular names 
 serve as a perpetual justifica- 
 tion for the use of the Latin 
 names of plants whenever it is 
 intended to specify particular 
 things, and leave no margin 
 for the exercise of fancy or 
 the changeable vagaries of 
 custom. The plant before us 
 is Dianthus barbatus, the bearded pink, and the name 
 
 applies to this and no other. 
 
 The French know it as 
 
82 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the nosegay of pinks, we know it as the sweet william, 
 and it has been known as Jove's flower, London pride, 
 tolmeiners, and London tufts. For the association with 
 Jove there is good excuse, the name Bianthus giving the 
 key thereto. Cowley, in the fourth book of his poem on 
 plants, makes a special passage on the subject — 
 
 " Sweet william small has form and aspect bright, 
 Like that sweet flower that yields great Jove delight ; 
 Had he majestic hulk, he'd now he styled 
 Jove's flower : and if my skill is not heguil'd, 
 He was Jove's flower when Jove was hut a child. 
 Take him with many flowers in one conferr'd, 
 He's worthy Jove, e'en now he has a heard." 
 
 There is no flower of the garden better adapted than 
 the sweet william to the means and requirements of the 
 town amateur, for it is most easily grown and always gives 
 delight, even when far removed from the perfection it at- 
 tains in the hands of skilful florists. And it will be well 
 for the lovers of cheap hardy flowers to know the florist's 
 model of a sweet william, for what are called " auricula- 
 eyed" flowers are sumptuously beautiful and as easy to 
 grow and keep as the commonest, for it is the good 
 breeding in them, accomplished by regular crossing and 
 severe selecting, that has brought the flowers to the splendid 
 standard with which we are now familiar. 
 
 These cheerful favourites are grown from seeds and 
 cuttings, the last-named method being resorted to only in 
 the case of the double-flowered kinds or those of the single 
 that are required for some special purpose for which they 
 must be all alike. To raise a stock from seed requires no 
 appliances whatever, as the seed may be sown in the border, 
 and the plants may be transplanted to where they are 
 wanted when large enough. But the best way is to sow the 
 
THE SWEET WILLIAM. 83 
 
 seed on a bed of fine soil in a frame in a sunny position in 
 the month of April or May. As soon as the young plants 
 begin to crowd one another transplant them to a sunny 
 border four inches apart, and in September remove them to 
 the places they are to occupy for flowering the next season. 
 It is a good plan in decorating a mixed border to put them 
 in clumps, but single plants make fine heads of flowers, 
 and should need no support whatever and' no special care 
 in the management. Sweet williams certainly like a rich 
 soil, and in hot, dry weather water is good for them, as 
 for many other beauties; but we have here no delicate 
 subject that needs much nursing, and the principal point 
 is to give every plant a good place, with food below and 
 light above, for in shady and sour places they are of no 
 use whatever. 
 
 To raise a stock from cuttings is an easy matter, but 
 requires care, because the cuttings must be taken in the 
 height of summer, when any neglect may prove fatal to 
 them. Any plant it is intended to propagate in this way 
 will supply a number of slender shoots at the base, those 
 that rise in a robust manner for flowering being quite un- 
 suitable. The best cuttings are about two inches in length, 
 or three at the utmost, and it is well to plant them in a 
 frame or under hand-glasses. However, a shady spot near 
 a hedge will answer very well with the help of a sprinkling 
 of water twice a day. It was part of our business when 
 forming a fine strain of sweet williams some years ago to 
 raise a very considerable number from cuttings to insure 
 the finest possible quality of plants for seeding. And it 
 proved an exceedingly easy task to root the cuttings in the 
 border of a cucumber house amongst the cucumbei-s, the 
 cuttings having the advantage of the warmth and moisture 
 
8* FA. VI LIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 necessary for the cucumbers together with the shade 
 afforded by their large leaves; 
 
 When thriving in a good border sweet williams last 
 many years, although classed as biennials. But often the 
 ripening of seed proves fatal to them ; therefore, any that 
 are worth keeping should be assisted by the removal of the 
 faded flowers before the seed-pods swell. There is no special 
 advantage, however, in keeping them, because young plants 
 produce the finest flowers, and it is advisable to raise a fresh 
 stock every year. 
 
 These flowers are not often grown in pots, and for 
 general purposes it would be waste of time to pot them. 
 But an exception occurs in the case of the splendid double 
 crimson variety, the flowers of which are large, rich, and 
 appear in profusion, while the plants are truly perennial, 
 and make fine pot-plants for windows and boxes. 
 
CACTUS. 
 
CACTUS. 
 
 Phyllocactua crenatus. 
 
 PHYLLOCACTUS is a" leafy" 
 cactus, as distinguished from 
 a melocactus, which resembles 
 a melon , or an echinoeactus, 
 which may be likened , to a 
 hedgehog. The phyllocactus 
 section of " Indian figs " in- 
 cludes many that were for- 
 merly classed with cereus, 
 the torch thistle, and with 
 epiphyllum, the " leaf-flower- 
 ing" section. For all or- 
 dinary purposes these leaf- 
 flowering cactuses are the 
 most iiseful of any, being of 
 rapid growth, flowering freely 
 and gaily, and requiring 
 no particular care either 
 to multiply them or to keep them through the winter. 
 The cactuses are now freely scattered throughout the 
 world, and are familiar weeds in many countries that 
 afford them a dry bed in winter and a glowing sun in 
 summer, with sufficient rain at times to enable them to 
 make their annual growth for extension and renewal. 
 
86 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 Their frequent appearance on the shores of the Medi- 
 terranean has led many an artist astray, and we call to 
 mind at this moment a fine picture, " Ruth and Naomi," 
 in the Academy of 1885, wherein a group of flowering 
 cactuses adorns a corner of the vineyard of Boaz. But the 
 persons represented in the picture never saw the cactus, for 
 it is, in all its forms, a strictly American plant, and was 
 unknown in the old world until some time after the dis- 
 covery of the new by Columbus in the year 1498, when, in 
 his third expedition, he first landed on terra firma in the 
 immediate vicinity of Trinidad. That Spain and Portugal 
 should first become possessed of plants from tropical 
 America was not only a proper consequence of the na- 
 tionality of the early adventurers in the West, but a con- 
 sequence also of the fitness of their conditions, for the 
 rugged mountain sides of the sunny peninsula present a 
 proper home for a large proportion of these curious plants. 
 Their own seat of power is Mexico : there they run riot on 
 hot sandy plains, or barricade the mountain pass against 
 the traveller with their wreathing, snake-like growth, that 
 must be approached with caution because of its formidable 
 spines; or by covering. the ground with spherical masses 
 more terrible than the caltrops that the ancient warriors 
 threw upon the field to cripple the enemy's horses. 
 
 A considerable proportion of the members of the great 
 cactus family are wholesome and useful ; but there are 
 exceptions, for a few that exude a milky fluid have the 
 acridity of euphorbias. The globular kinds are of great 
 service to the wild horses, which break them with their 
 hoofs to obtain the cool, juicy flesh free from contact with 
 the dreadful spines ; and a considerable number produce 
 edible fruits, the plant before us being an example. The 
 
CACTUS. 87 
 
 prickly pear, or Indian % of commerce, is the product of 
 Opuutia vulgaris, a very handsome greenhouse plant that 
 grows in a succession of green oval disks dotted with 
 spines, and produces in the early days of summer a glorious 
 show of large, satiny, yellow flowers. The much-valued 
 cochineal is the produce of an insect, the Coccus cacti, that 
 lives on the cochineal cactus, Ojauntia cochinillifera, a 
 Mexican plant now largely established in the Canaries and 
 in Java, but which has been put in the shade somewhat by 
 the competition of aniline dyes, which have at least the 
 merit of cheapness. 
 
 In the cultivation of cactuses, the requirements are few 
 and simple, but must not be trifled with. Cactuses demand 
 a somewhat calcareous sandy soil, with the most perfect 
 drainage, for damp is their greatest enemy. It is too 
 much the rule with cultivators to employ a very poor soil ; 
 but this is a mistake. A really generous soil is requisite 
 to ensure free growth and fine flowers ; but the drainage 
 must always be the first consideration, for that being 
 faulty, all other conditions, however suitable, are of no 
 value whatever. At all times cactuses should be in the 
 fullest light possible, and throughout the winter they 
 should have no water, or no more than will just suffice to 
 prevent shrivelling. 
 
 The summer treatment should include liberal supplies 
 of water, and in the case of fine specimens that show 
 promise of producing a great crop of flowers, weak liquid 
 manure may be given until the flowering is over. It is a 
 common error to keep these plants on short commons all 
 the summer long, the result being a poor growth and very 
 few flowers. They want warmth, light, air, and substan- 
 tial food, and, as a rule, should be under glass the whole 
 
88 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 year round. Some half-dozen species, of which Opuntia 
 Rafinesquiana is an example, may be planted on the open, 
 rockery to run the race with other hardy plants ; but the 
 ■ situation must be dry and warm, and lodgment of water in. 
 winter must be carefully guarded against. 
 
 The following are the best of the cactus family for an 
 amateur's garden : — Mammillaria applanata, M. gracilis, 
 M. caput-medusa, M. decipiens, Echinocactus Simpsoni, 
 Cerens grandiflora, C. flagilliformis, Echinocactus pecti- 
 natus, Phyllocactus Ackermanni , P. anguliger, Opuntia 
 monacantha, 0. curassavica. With these by all means 
 place a Stapelia, which loves a warm window and judicious 
 neglect. 
 
HOLLYHOCK. 
 
 Althaa rosea. 
 
 HE eclipse of a grand garden 
 flower must be reckoned as a 
 domestic calamity, and this we 
 have had to endure in the 
 cultivation of the hollyhock. 
 But an eclipse is only a tem- 
 porary obscuration; if suns and 
 moons recover their wonted 
 brightness, we may reasonably 
 hope to see the hollyhock once 
 more in its proper splendour, 
 the noblest occupant of the 
 country garden. Remember- 
 ing the late Cecil Lawson's 
 magnificent picture, " The 
 Minister's Garden," we feel 
 that the restoration of the 
 hollyhock must be attempted, 
 in the interests of art no less 
 than to maintain the high delights of the summer garden, 
 and the pleasant memories it treasures for reflective ob- 
 servers. 
 
 The hollyhock was introduced from China in sufficient 
 time for the enjoyment of our grand old gardeners, for 
 
 4^* 
 
90 Familiar garden flowers. 
 
 Parkinson figures the double hollyhock under the name o£ 
 Malva rosea multiplex, a name it might still bear with 
 propriety, for it is a true mallow, and may be grown for 
 fibre or fodder with possible advantage. As a garden 
 flower it attained its highest fame in the first half of the 
 present century, Lord Hawke, as an amateur, and Mr. 
 Chater, of Saffron Walden, as a trade cultivator, being its 
 best representatives. As an exhibition flower it ranked 
 equal with the dahlia, and good collections comprised 
 flowers of all colours, the size, the form, and the fashion 
 thereof being truly sumptuous. But the eclipse came. It 
 is but a paltry shadow that for a season blots the sun from 
 the heavens. It was a paltry fungus, finding a home first 
 on the common mallow of the fields, and thence spreading 
 to the garden, that caused the eclipse of the hollyhock. 
 Beyond all doubt the railways were the proximate cause of 
 the mischief, for on railway banks the mallows run riot, 
 and form the breeding grounds for the pest that for 
 a time excluded the hollyhock from our autumnal exhibi- 
 tions. In view of the facts, we can with emphasis repeat 
 the advice of Thomas Tusser, who, occasionally, in his 
 " Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry," says " destroy 
 mallow." The grower of the hollyhock should allow no 
 wild mallows to come near his garden. 
 
 It is possible the cultivators contributed in some degree 
 to the eclipse. The new varieties were in great demand, 
 at prices decidedly remunerative, and it was the custom to 
 propagate them in a high temperature, and often, with a 
 view to increase the plants rapidly, the more expensive 
 named kinds were grafted on roots of unnamed seedlings ; 
 and in order to promote a perfect junction of the graft with 
 the stock, it was necessary to keep them for a time in a 
 
BOLL YHOCK. 91 
 
 steaming heat, which caused a quick growth and a cor- 
 responding debility of constitution. The practice has been 
 abandoned, because the demand for named hollyhocks has 
 declined, and now the plants are generally raised from 
 seed, and as such are biennials, flowering in the second 
 year, but becoming perennials, if needful, at the discretion 
 of the cultivator. 
 
 It is a fortunate circumstance that seedling hollyhocks 
 do not greatly vary from the form and colour of the parent 
 flowers. It follows that, when the seed is obtained from 
 plants carefully selected for their fine qualities, a good 
 bloom may be expected by adopting the simplest and the 
 cheapest method of cultivation. The seeds may be sown 
 at any time from March to August ; but early sowing is 
 advisable, as the plants can be put out in time to make a 
 free growth the first season, to prepare them for a strong 
 bloom in the season following. 
 
 As a considerable number of the finest named sorts, 
 that were things of renown fifty years ago, are still in cul- 
 tivation, the propagation by divisions and cuttings is still 
 a matter of some importance. The time for this business 
 is in the decline of the summer, or early in the autumn. 
 It is an easy matter to detach from the base a short shoot 
 or portion of the stool, and these being potted, and kept 
 through the winter in a frame, will grow freely in the 
 spring, and should be planted out as soon as the weather 
 permits in April or May — the earlier the better, provided 
 there is no particular danger of injury from frost. In 
 places much exposed the planting must be later than in 
 warm, sheltered situations. 
 
 The requisites for the production of a fine bloom of 
 hollyhocks are a deep, rich, moist soil ; perfect drainage, to 
 
92 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 prevent injury by winter damp; and full exjjosure to air 
 and light. In places much overshadowed by trees, or 
 where much hemmed in by walls and fences, hollyhocks 
 do not prosper. They love sunshine and fresh air ; they 
 love good living ; and in a hot, dry season may with great 
 advantage be liberally supplied with water. 
 
 On the question of single versus double hollyhocks there 
 is not much to be said, because what is preferred to-day 
 may be rejected to-morrow. Having through a course of 
 years grown collections of the finest named hollyhocks, our 
 own taste inclines to the double flowers, the beauty of 
 which might tempt one to speak of them as sublime. But 
 few, very few, of the lovers of flowers in the present day 
 have any proper idea of what a hollyhock of the florist's 
 type is like ; in the days when they were freely and finely 
 exhibited they filled with surprise the novitiates, and we 
 hope to see them do so again, for, as we have said above, 
 between eclipse and annihilation there is a difference. 
 Disease has not destroyed the potato, and this, our 
 grandest of border-flowers, gives many welcome signs of 
 its intention to live through the trial. 
 
BEGONIA. 
 
THE BEGONIA. 
 
 Begonia intermedia. 
 
 EGONIAS may bo divided into 
 two great classes : those that are 
 grown for their leaves, and those 
 that are grown for their flowers. 
 The last-named section may be 
 divided into those that are de- 
 ciduous, and flower in summer ; 
 and those that are evergreen, 
 and flower at all seasons. The 
 summer-flowering kinds may be 
 properly spoken of as familiar 
 flowers, but they are somewhat 
 new to our gardens, and have 
 probably not yet attained to the 
 fulness of their fame. 
 
 The introduction of Begonia 
 Boliviensis, B. rosceflora, B. 
 Pearcei, and some few others, was 
 in the nature of a floral surprise to the British public. 
 Their very distinct and fine characters and their compara- 
 tive hardinuds were recommendations of the highest im- 
 portance to cultivators. There was a cry for more, and 
 more were found ; and the florists, in the frenzy of a new 
 fascination, went to work and Created new begonias by 
 
94 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the score, and were not content with single flowers of all 
 colours, but resolved to have them double, and were soon 
 gratified by complete success. Ninety-six varieties were 
 entered in Messrs. Veitch and Son's catalogue some twenty 
 years ago, and another fifty might be found in other cata- 
 logues of London houses, and another hundred probably in 
 those of Continental firms; so that, in round numbers, 
 there must be over two hundred named varieties of flower- 
 ing begonias now in cultivation. 
 
 All the begonias require a light, mellow, rich soil. 
 A very suitable mixture for the flowering section, when 
 grown in pots, may be prepared by mixing together equal 
 quantities of turfy yellow loam, old rotten hotbed manure, 
 and well-rotted and sifted leaf -mould. If it is not some- 
 what granular and kindly in texture, silver-sand must be 
 added ; but often the loam and leaf -mould contain as much 
 grit as is needful. We will suppose that you begin the 
 cultivation in the month of May. The plants will then be 
 small, and without flowers. At the end of the month, and 
 thenceforward to the middle of June, during warm, dull 
 weather if possible, they may be planted out. An open, 
 sunny, sheltered position is desirable. Any amount of sun- 
 shine they can endure, but wind and rain are unfavourable 
 conditions. In preparing the bed there need be no elaborate 
 arrangements. A good garden soil, well broken up and 
 enriched with a liberal addition of mellow manure, will 
 answer perfectly ; and as regards after-management, there 
 is almost nothing to do beyond keeping the. bed clear of 
 weeds, and giving the plants an occasional good soaking of 
 water during very dry weather. Such aids as sticks and 
 ties they ought not to need; but if you happen to plant 
 tall-growing sorts, they must be supported in good time, 
 
T&E BEGONlA. 9* 
 
 or sudden gusts of wind may snap their succulent stems. 
 When the beauty of the bloom is past, the roots may be 
 dug up, and stored away in sand on a shelf in the green- 
 house, or any other place where they will be safe against 
 frost, and they should be a little damp, or at least not 
 utterly dry. In February or March the tubers may be 
 planted either in pots or boxes, and placed in a temperature 
 of about 50°, to begin a new growth. The pots or boxes 
 should be nearly filled with potsherds, for if the tubers are 
 put in any depth of soil beyond about three inches they will 
 be in danger. A compost such as is recommended above 
 will suit them, but a better compost, both for starting 
 tubers and cuttings and seeds, will be one consisting of 
 equal parts turfy loam, leaf-mould, and sharp sand, with 
 no manure at all. If a large stock is needed, the first shoots 
 may be snapped off when an inch or more in length, and 
 struck as cuttings in a temperature of 6.0° in a somewhat 
 close frame. When the cuttings are rooted they must have 
 more and more light and air, and must soon be potted off 
 singly in thumb-pots, after which the management will be 
 the same as with any other bedding plants. 
 
 To raise these begonias from seed, boxes or pots should 
 be provided with plenty of potsherds, and only two or three 
 inches of sandy soil, containing much leaf-mould or peat. 
 The seed is as fine as snuff, and must be sprinkled with great 
 care, to spread it evenly over as large a space as possible. 
 The month of March is the best time to sow the seed, but a 
 fair growth may be obtained in a good season by sowing in 
 April or May. When the seedling plants are large enough 
 they must be pricked out, and when they have made a new 
 growth they must be potted into thumbs. 
 
 The raising of new varieties may be accomplished by 
 
90 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the simple process of growing a few of the very best sorts, 
 keeping them in an airy greenhouse, and saving all the 
 seed they produce. But the prudent way is to fertilise them 
 artificially, in which case all male flowers should be removed 
 in the bud from the plants selected for seed-bearing, but the 
 female flowers need not be removed. 
 
 The beginner in begonia culture will be inclined to ask, 
 " How shall I distinguish the males from the females ? " 
 There is nothing easier. You know how different are the 
 flowers of a pumpkin or a cucumber — one produces golden 
 pollen, but has no fruit at its base ; the other produces no 
 pollen, but there is the fruit complete, though small, 
 attached to the base of the flower, and distinguishable in 
 the very earliest stage while the flower-bud is yet but a 
 mite of a thing. It is just the same with the begonia. 
 Usually the flowers appear in threes, two gentlemen with a 
 lady between them. But this is no matter. The female 
 flower has a triangular fruit or seed-pod at the baseband 
 the male flower has nothing. 
 
FOR(3ET-|VlE-NOT 
 
FOBGET-ME-NOT. 
 
 Myosotis palustris. 
 
 ROM a scorpion grass to a 
 forget-me-not is in words a 
 strange transition, but the 
 differing names represent 
 one and the same thing. 
 A myosotis is a mouse's ear, 
 which is but a poor simili- 
 tude for such a pretty plant 
 as the one before us. As 
 for the name suggestive of 
 its use against a venomous 
 creature, it may interest the 
 reader to learn that so-called 
 scorpion plants were abun- 
 dant in old times, and their 
 appearance in such books as 
 Turner's Herbal tells a- tale 
 of some importance. It 
 illustrates the fact that our 
 early writers followed the 
 lead of continental botanists 
 in a slavish manner, and as 
 in the south of Europe plants that twist in' the way of a 
 scorpion were supposed to be specifics against the bite of 
 4 o 
 
98 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOW MRS. 
 
 the creature, so the English writers provided plants for 
 the same purpose, in apparent ignorance of the fact that 
 in England there were no scorpions. The story of the 
 knight who was drowned in obtaining a tuft of forget-me- 
 not for his lady love is a modern affair, and, therefore, not 
 true. Were it but very old, it would be better entitled to 
 credence, for age improves a fantastic tale more surely 
 than it improves wine, and we can easily believe any- 
 thing that belongs to the dark ages. But the story has 
 its uses for the amateur gardener, because it takes him 
 to the brook-side, where the true forget-me-not {Myosotis 
 palustris) will be found with its feet in the water, and pro- 
 bably having for a companion another blue flower, the 
 brooklime {Veronica beccaiunga). 
 
 Thus we obtain through romance a key to the cultivation 
 of forget-me-nots. One species, Myosotis rupicola, which 
 we shall note again as M. alpestris, loves rocks and stones, 
 and will thrive in a comparatively dry position, but all the 
 rest require a moist soil, and will generally look happy in 
 borders near a stream or in damp situations that many rock 
 plants would not thrive in. Our native species, referred to 
 above, although when growing wild a constant searcher for 
 water, may be well grown in an ordinary border if accom- 
 modated with a moist rather than a dry position. It is a 
 good subject for surfacing the ground under shrubs and 
 amongst ferns in a moist spot, for its leafage is neat and its 
 flowers are beautiful : it is from these the jewellers take 
 their model when working up turquoises in rings and other 
 such work. The yellow centre is a distinctive mark of our 
 common forget-me-not, and suits at once the taste of the 
 artificer and the customer, for by this mark is the flower 
 known to all the world. The yellow centre is not wanting 
 
FORGET-ME-NOT. 99 
 
 in other species, but in this it is conspicuous, and com- 
 bined with a peculiar tone of light starchy blue ; it is 
 
 " The blue and bright-eyed floweret of the brook, 
 Hope's gentle gem ! the sweet forget-me-not." 
 
 The British species of myosotis are eight in number, 
 and all are called " scorpion grasses" because of the twist of 
 the flower-stem, which is supposed to resemble a scorpion's 
 tail. Amongst our native species, the best for the garden 
 is M. alpestris, referred to above, a real mountaineer, found 
 in plenty on some high limestone ranges in the north ; it 
 produces flowers that come near to those of M. palustris. 
 This alpine plant is well adapted for the rockery, but must 
 have a deep bed of gritty soil, which may be improved for 
 the purpose by an admixture of some proportion of cal- 
 careous matter. Its large head of bright blue flowers is 
 occasionally sweet-scented. 
 
 Very near the last is the woodland species, M. sylvatica, 
 which is rare as a wild plant, but one of the best known 
 in gardens, for it is a favourite as a bedding plant, and 
 extensively grown in such noted gardens as those of Clive- 
 den and Belvoir Castle. It is not so partial to moisture as 
 palustris, but requires a deep soil, and will thrive either in 
 sun or shade. There are white, rose, and striped varieties. 
 
 Perhaps the most useful of all in the gardens is the 
 early flowering M. dissitiflora, which produces large sky- 
 blue flowers, which sometimes pass into rosy red or pure 
 white. This requires a moist soil, and is of great service 
 for spring bedding. 
 
 The most distinct, but not the most useful, because it is 
 somewhat tender, is the Azorian forget-me-not (M. Azorica), 
 which produces flowers of the deepest blue, with an almost 
 
100 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWER*. 
 
 infinitesimal eye. A sandy soil in either sun. or shade will 
 suit this beauty, of which there is a splendid variety named 
 Impemtrice Elizabeth. 
 
 Forget-me-nots are found serviceable as pot-plants, 
 and also to grow in beds, in frames, and pits, to furnish 
 early flowers. In winter and spring their flowers are as 
 much valued as violets, and are as easily secured ; but the 
 reader may be warned that what is called " forcing " must 
 not be attempted, for a strong heat in the dark days would 
 ruin forget-me-nots. Whether in pots or a bed, the soil 
 should be loamy, with much grit, and, if possible, clean leaf- 
 mould. Water forget-me-nots must have in plenty, and 
 air and light they will need if stout, well-coloured flowers 
 are desired. It is a good plan to take up from the borders 
 in the autumn large clumps, and pot them without break- 
 ing them up. These wintered in a frame with plenty of 
 air will give a fine crop of early flowers, and may then 
 be thrown away. 
 
PANSIES. 
 
THE PANSY. 
 
 Viola tricolor. 
 
 > LORISTS who make a speci- 
 ality of pansies will not, 
 owing to their colour, ap- 
 prove of the specimens set 
 before us in the plate. It 
 is by no accident that we 
 disappoint the florist of the 
 model flowers he would like 
 to see portrayed, but of set 
 purpose and serious inten- 
 tion. It would he poor 
 policy in such a work as this 
 to set forth floral models, for 
 our business is to figure and 
 describe familiar flowers. 
 These pansies have been 
 selected from a garden bor- 
 der as samples of the general 
 average ; such flowers as the 
 great world loves, and, while 
 loving them, entertains no 
 disrespect for the more technically perfect flowers of the 
 florist, but recognises the broad truth that in what may 
 be termed nature's imperfections there are beauties that 
 
102 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 the products of human skill do not reveal. The florist's 
 double rose is a glorious thing, but the " canker of the 
 hedge " has charms that the exhibition roses give no hint 
 of ; indeed, when a " show-rose " shows an " eye " it is 
 condemned, and it is the eye or yellow centre of the 
 gauzy-textured " sweet wild-rose " that, as compared with 
 garden roses, gites it a peculiarly distinct and delightful 
 character. A rose with an eye is an awful thing, and a 
 pansy with rough petals and blotches put on the " wrong 
 way " is not less awful ; but, for all that, it is one of the 
 familiar flowers which the world will not willingly let die. 
 
 Pansies may be described as hardy plants that will 
 grow anywhere and in any kind of soil. The humblest 
 cottager can grow pansies, and not a few cottagers are 
 pansy fanciers. Still, it cannot be said with any ap- 
 proach to truth that the pansy can be grown anywhere 
 under a great variety of conditions. As a matter of fact, 
 it is a somewhat fastidious flower, but as easy to manage 
 as any when the conditions are suitable. It requires a 
 deep moist sandy soil. In a dry starving land it will 
 scarcely live, but a real sandy loam suits it to a nicety. 
 It is comparatively useless as a town flower, and is 
 certainly one of the very worst of London flowers. 
 Country air it likes, but that is not all. In the east of 
 England it does not thrive as it does in the west, and in 
 the south it is quite poor as compared with its free growth 
 and exceeding beauty in the north. The reader possibly 
 perceives the secret of success in the cultivation of the 
 pansy. It likes pure air and humidity. 
 
 Prom a horticultural journal we learn that the annual 
 rainfall in London averages twenty-four inches, in Bath 
 twenty-nine inches, in Ayr, which is near Paisley, forty- 
 
THE PANSY. 103 
 
 four inches. If other comparisons are made between what 
 may be called pansy and non-pansy districts, it will be 
 found that relative humidity goes far to explain the differ- 
 ence. Some people find delight in making soft showers 
 by means of the water-engine in the flower garden. Some 
 plants are benefited thereby and some are not. The roses 
 and the pansies may all the summer long be gratified with 
 a morning and evening shower, to their advantage ; the 
 geraniums, petunias, mesembryanthemums, and portulaeas 
 will do very well without it. 
 
 The routine cultivation of the pansy is quite simple, 
 although in matters of detail there is much to be thought 
 of in connection with the higher culture of the flower. In 
 any and every case it is of the first importance to be for 
 ever producing young plants. The easiest way to do it is 
 to sow seed in pans filled with light rich soil, and keep the 
 pans in a cold frame until the seed has started. Pansy 
 seed may be sown at any time except in the depth of 
 winter, and the very best time is immediately on its 
 becoming fully ripe. The named varieties are grown from 
 cuttings, and those may be easily struck in spring and 
 summer in a cold frame, but there is" one golden rule to be 
 observed to insure success. The cuttings must be made 
 from young shoots; the old shoots will strike, but they 
 never make fine plants. To obtain a stock very easily for 
 filling a bed, it is sufficient to divide the old plants into 
 as many pieces as possible, taking care that each piece 
 has a few roots. But this is a slovenly way j it is better 
 to sow seeds or strike proper cuttings. However, the 
 dividing process in careful hands answers fairly well, and 
 if carried out during moist, kindly weather gives but little 
 trouble, and every scrap will soon make a plant. 
 
104 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 As remarked above, a sandy loam is the jwoper soil for 
 the pansy. This may be enriched with leaf-mould and 
 rotten hotbed manure for the production of fine flowers, 
 but a soil rank with fresh manure is not fit for pansies ; 
 they require a deep moist roothold, but will never thrive 
 in contact with powerful stimulants. The necessity for 
 humidity is all-important ; but mere damp is as injurious 
 to pansies as to other flowers, and therefore good drainage 
 is essential both for plants in beds and plants in pots. 
 The show kinds and the best of the fancy pansies make 
 beautiful pot-plants when carefully cultivated, and there 
 is no flower more likely to gratify a painstaking amateur 
 who has no ambition to become a competing florist than 
 the fancy pansy grown in pots as a frame plant. The 
 frame secures for the fancy pansy, under suitable manage- 
 ment, the moist and comparatively pure air it so much loves. 
 
■'-i0frm 
 
 VERBENA. 
 
THE VEKBENA. 
 
 ongir 
 
 Verbena hybrida. 
 
 ILTHOUGH there is no such plant 
 in the learned books as Verbena 
 hybrida, the name may be allow- 
 able now as compassing the 
 fact, and as suggesting in- 
 teresting possibilities. A flower 
 has been formed from the in- 
 ter-crossing of Verbena melin- 
 ites, V. Tweediana, V. incisa, 
 and other species of South 
 American origin, and this com- 
 pound we call the verbena, 
 which, in its collective charac- 
 ter, may for garden purposes 
 have the rank of a species. It 
 is not improbable that it has 
 the power of a species too, for 
 the cultivators cross the varie- 
 ties only now, fearing to spoil 
 the flower by the introduction 
 of any more alien blood. The 
 great range' of variation of this 
 favourite is explained by its 
 it presents us with all colours save yellow, but its 
 
106 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 range is chiefly in the shades of red and purple, passing to 
 pure white in one direction, and purple-blue in another. 
 The parent species were introduced to cultivation from 1826 
 to 1837, and therefore we may regard the present subject 
 as somewhat of a novelty, although, in the language of 
 the garden, the verbena is quite an old flower, because we 
 have seen it come in and go out of fashion. Its beauty 
 remains — change of fashion does not affect that; and its 
 usefulness is not greatly diminished, even though the ver- 
 bena is no longer in much request as a bedding subject. 
 
 The generic name refers to the vervain, or ferfain of 
 Celtic superstition. This, the Verbena officinalis of British 
 botany, was in great repute in pagan times as a herb of 
 sacrifice and a medicine of great power. The Roman poets 
 frequently allude to it, and the later gatherers of mystic 
 lore found it useful to adorn their verses. Spenser asso- 
 ciates the " dull poppy " with the " vein-healing verven ; " 
 and Drayton declares the " holy vervayne " to be " 'gainst 
 witchcraft much availing." The vervain is as nearly 
 destitute as may be of any useful property, and the South 
 American verbenas are in the like case ; they haye but their 
 beauty to recommend them, and that is sufficient. 
 
 The garden verbena fell from its high estate in a way 
 that many other favourites have fallen : not through the 
 frown of public disfavour, but by the prevalence of a 
 mortal plague. What was called " verbena disease " com- 
 pelled in many cases a discontinuance of the cultivation ; 
 but as the plant fell into neglect the disease disappeared, 
 and its health and vigour were restored — a fact very sug- 
 gestive of the evil of what has been termed " over-cultiva- 
 tion." The fact is, the gardeners had to crowd and starve 
 thousands of plants to keep pace with the demands of the 
 
TEE VERBEXA. 10? 
 
 bedding. system, and the verbena suffered most of any, for 
 the sufficient reason that it cannot endure to be crowded 
 and starved. It requires generous culture, in a somewhat 
 pure air ; and being nearly hardy, debility of constitution 
 must result from crowding it in warm houses for months 
 together, to be followed by planting it in poor soil to brave 
 the summer heat with insufficient root hold. 
 
 The verbena requires a rich loamy soil, a somewhat moist 
 position, and a free and pure air. The heat of the stove 
 is deadly to it ; and to be dry at the root for any length 
 of time — as must happen often when large numbers of 
 plants are wintered with the aid of but few attentions — 
 is certainly injurious, if not deadly. When employed for 
 bedding, the plants should be wintered in a cool, airy 
 house, with the aid of sufficient heat to keep out frost ; and 
 a new stock should be propagated from cuttings of the 
 tender-growing tops in the month of March. When care- 
 fully managed, these young plants have the vigour of seed- 
 lings, and when planted out at the end of May, in beds of 
 rich loamy soil, make a free growth and flower superbly. 
 It is not good at any time to pot rooted runners or to 
 divide old plants ; it is always best to make plants from 
 cuttings in the autumn, and from these to make a fresh stock 
 from cuttings in the spring. The verbena roots so readily, 
 and is of such kindly growth when treated fairly, that 
 there should be no difficulty in its management as one of 
 the best of plants for the summer flower garden. 
 
 As a frame plant, to grow into specimen form, the 
 verbena is of great value. For this purpose, a beginning 
 should be made with autumn cuttings, and in the spring 
 these should be put into five-inch pots, and be shifted on 
 until they fill eight-inch pots, the growth being trained out 
 
108 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 on a wire balloon, or any kind of trellis that may be pre- 
 ferred. Having flowered, they should be destroyed, and 
 the stock of specimens kept up by a succession of young 
 plants. 
 
 It is a simple matter, and especially worthy of the 
 attention of amateur cultivators, that the verbena may 
 be grown as an annual from seed, and will afford a de- 
 lightful display of colour in the summer and autumn. 
 The seed may be sown in autumn, and the plants may 
 be wintered on a shelf near the glass, and being shifted 
 in March to insure vigour of growth, may be planted out 
 in May for flowering. But where this routine might be 
 inconvenient, sowing in March will suffice; a moderate 
 heat will soon bring up the seed, and the young plants 
 will need only the usual treatment of half-hardy annuals 
 to insure the most satisfactory results. 
 

 ' 
 
 . Vv*v| 
 
 ■ *^** 
 
 MAJOR CONVOLVULUS. 
 
MAJOE 
 CONVOLVULUS. 
 
 Convolvulus major. 
 
 HIS sweet old favourite is best 
 known to botanists as Phar- 
 bitis hispida or Ipomoea pur- 
 purea ; but the garden name 
 of Morning Gloiy might be 
 sufficient for present purposes, 
 for it is universally understood. 
 The plant was known to Par- 
 kinson, who, in 1656, described 
 it as the " greater blew Bind- 
 weede, or Bell-flower with 
 round leaves." Linnaeus named 
 it Convolvulus purpureas , un- 
 der which na,me it was figured 
 and described in the Botanical 
 Magazine, 1790, tab. 113. In 
 Miller's " Gardeners' Diction- 
 ary " it is described as " an 
 annual plant, whicb grows 
 naturally in Asia and America, 
 but has been long cultivated 
 in English gardens by the title of Convolvulus major. Of 
 this there are three or four lasting varieties ; the most com- 
 mon hath a purple flower, but there is one with a white, 
 
110 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 another with a red, and one with a whitish-blue flower, which 
 hath white seeds." Miller recommends sowing on the open 
 border, " where the plants are designed to remain;" but 
 it is better practice to sow the seeds in pans or pots, and 
 nurse them under glass, so as to be strong and growing when 
 put oat in May for flowering. This secures to our subject 
 a longer growing season than it can possibly have when 
 sown in the open ground ; and if planted out in rich light 
 soil, it will soon run to ten or twelve feet, and present its 
 lovely flowers in profusion. There is not a finer subject at 
 our command for the study of delicate gradations of colour 
 than this ; its shades of red, blue, and purple are unique, 
 and in its beauty of form it will ever surprise us, how- 
 ever familiar we may be with it. In the catalogues of 
 the seed-houses, about a dozen varieties are offered, but 
 they are all to be found in a packet of mixed seed. 
 
 A hardier species of convolvulus is that known as 
 Ipomosa kederacea, or the ivy-leaved pharbitis. The leaves 
 are' three to five lobed, the middle lobe ovate — a character 
 peculiar to this species-. The usual colour of the flower 
 is deep glossy blue ; the petals are rough, with yellowish 
 hairs. This species may be sown on the open border with 
 better prospect of success than the finer and more free- 
 growing plant above described, and both are worth a place 
 in any garden. 
 
 A grander plant than either of the foregoing is the 
 red and blue convolvulus (Ipomcea rubro-cmruled) , a native 
 of Mexico, introduced about 1823, but not fully recognised 
 until the year 1834) when it was figured in the Botanical 
 Magazine, t. 3,297, from specimens flowered in the garden 
 of John Alleard, Esq., of Stratford Green, Essex. The 
 seeds from which Mr. Allcard's plants were grown were 
 
MAJOR CONVOLVULUS. Ill 
 
 collected by Mr. Samuel Richardson, in the province of 
 Gruanaxuato, in Mexico, and were sent over to Mr. Powles, 
 of Stamford Hill, who liberally distributed them. 
 
 This fine plant has purple-tinted branches, large cor- 
 date pale green leaves, and axillary clusters of flowers, 
 which are most elegantly wreathed in spiral folds of red 
 and white while in bud, but finally open to flowers that are 
 five-lobed, and of a clear pale blue colour, sometimes striped 
 with white. Being raised from seed, and sown in February 
 or March, and carefully grown on in a warm house, the 
 plants may be put out in June in a warm, sheltered 
 situation, and soon after will begin to show their lovely 
 flowers. 
 
 The minor convolvulus (already figured and described : 
 Vol. IV., p. 61) is known as Convolvulus minor and 
 Convolvulus tricolor, the three-coloured convolvulus. This 
 is truly a hardy annual, that may be sown in autumn 
 to stand the winter, or with other annuals in the spring. 
 It forms a beautiful bed when in a sunny position on the 
 north or west side of a house within view from the win- 
 dows. The fresh flo-wers that oj)en with the morning will 
 all turn their faces to the south or east, and thus will be 
 seen to peculiar advantage. The combinations of blue, 
 yellow, and white in the flowers afford a rare lesson in 
 colour. There are many varieties, and mixtures are gene- 
 rally preferred. But the finest form is undoubtedly the 
 dark purple ; it is truly sumptuous in colour. 
 
 A sweet rockery plant is the Mauritanian convolvulus 
 (C. Mauritanicus) , of dwarf habit, producing in summer 
 lovely light blue flowers. It is not quite hardy, and must, 
 therefore, be wintered with other tender bedding plants 
 under glass, and planted out again in summer. It is 
 
112 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 admirably adapted for baskets to suspend in the green- 
 house, but is very happy in a sheltered nook in front of 
 the rockery. 
 
 There are a few hardy species worth a permanent place 
 in the garden. Convolvulus dahuricus is a fine twining 
 perennial with purple flowers. C. sepidm is a grand plant 
 with white flowers, but a dangerous intruder if allowed to 
 run at its own sweet will. C. sylvaticus is a delightful 
 plant to run over a rough bank, and C. scammohia makes 
 a pretty pole plant, full of delicate suggestions for an 
 artist. 
 

 DAY LILY. 
 
THE DAY-LILY. 
 
 Eemerocallis Jlava. 
 
 f HE day-lily is not in high repute. 
 Nevertheless there are not many 
 plants that can surpass it in use- 
 fulness or beauty. Imprimis, it 
 will grow in any soil, and if the 
 villainous spade chops its unseen 
 roots, it will come through the trial 
 and sprout up again in the way of 
 a mutilated horse-radish. It will 
 thrive under the deep shade of 
 plantations where the ground is as 
 dry as dust all the summer, and 
 pretty well exhausted of all good- 
 ness by the hungry roots of the 
 trees. When in flower a large 
 clump presents a beautiful appear- 
 ance, and when not in flower the 
 fresh cheerful green and the elegant outlines of the sword 
 or sickle-shaped leaves are pleasing features. But there 
 .remains to be told a fact "not generally known," and 
 it is that this beautiful lily may be turned to excellent 
 account to furnish fodder to cattle, and more especially to 
 cows in milk. 
 
 As garden plants the day-lilies deserve much more 
 
114 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 attention than they have as yet obtained. Their flowers 
 are ^ showy and fragrant, and there are in cultivation 
 about a dozen species and varieties, all, highly ornamental. 
 The commonest of the series are the yellow (Hemetocallis 
 Havd) and the copper [H. fulva). Amongst the many 
 good things secured to us by the late Mr. Robert Fortune 
 — most fortunate of botanical travellers— was the Japan 
 species {H. kwanso), of which there are two or three 
 varieties. One of these, called Kwanso flore plena, has 
 green leaves and double yellow flowers ; the other, called 
 Kwanso flore joleno foliis variegatis (which, if not long 
 enough, may be lengthened by prefixing the generic 
 name Hemerocallis) , has splendidly variegated- leaves and 
 double yellow flowers, and atones for the length of its 
 name by the fact that it is the finest hardy: variegated- 
 leaved plant in cultivation ! There are many costly stove 
 plants grown for the beauty of their leaves that really 
 come short of the splendour of this hardy plant, which 
 may be purchased for a couple of shillings and grown in 
 the commonest soil, and will, with very little care, make a 
 superb ornament for the conservatory or for the choicest 
 rockery or border. 
 
 To do justice to the three day r lilies that have been 
 named thus far, H. flava, fulva, and kwanso, will prove an 
 agreeable task for one who is earnest in gardening. But 
 there are a dozen more worth having, such as Dumortier's 
 (H. Dumortieri), with narrow leaves and reddish-brown 
 flowers; the grass-leaved (H. graminea), also with narrow 
 leaves, but with yellow flowers, which are scarcely" so 
 handsome as those of H. flava. The two-rowed (S. 
 disticha) has the leaves set in two rows very distinctly ; 
 the flowers are yellow without and reddish within. Nor 
 
THE DAT-LILY. 115 
 
 need we stop here, for there is a pink-flowered species 
 called H. Japonica, less robust in growth than the others, 
 but well adapted for a place on a rockery, where its form 
 will contrast well with the tufted plants. And yet one 
 more, which brings us back to the subject of the plate. The 
 common yellow day-lily may be obtained in a variegated 
 form, the variety being catalogued as "striatis." It is 
 not equal to the variegated kwanso, but it is a fine plant,, 
 and worthy of pot-culture to decorate the conservatory 
 while its elegant striped leaves have the freshness of new 
 -growth upon them. 
 
 Shady borders give much trouble, and whatever may 
 be grown in them with some degree of certainty must be 
 made much of. The day-lily is one of the very best of 
 plants for such places, provided it can obtain a fair share 
 of the rainfall of the winter. Deciduous trees permit the 
 herbs at their feet to live by affording access to them of 
 the rain that falls between November and April ; but ever- 
 greens are less merciful and kill everything beneath their 
 shade. The veratrums are noble associates with day-lilies 
 in shady borders, and two very humble but elegant weeds, 
 the Enchanter's nightshade and the dwarf elder, may be 
 allowed to run amongst them. 
 
 The starved appearance of shady borders is often the 
 consequence of starving treatment. In a general planting 
 or renovating, a really radical system should be adopted. 
 All ill-looking shrubs that are in a dying state should be 
 rooted out and cast on the rubbish-heap. The ground 
 should be well dug and liberally manured, care being taken 
 to spare the large roots of the trees from injury. If a few 
 " wigs " of the smaller roots are cut out it will not much 
 matter. The ground being thus prepared, strong well- 
 
116 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDES FLOWERS. 
 
 rooted plants of suitable kinds should be planted, the most 
 useful shrubs for the purpose being common Privet ever- 
 green and deciduous Euonymus, Yew Box, Holly, Ruscus, 
 Skimmia, and all the kinds of Ivies, the green-leaved ivy- 
 known as " Hibberd's Emerald " being one of the best. 
 The large-leaved Periwinkle and the sweet "Woodruff may 
 be mixed in the front line or put in clumps, with sheets 
 of white violets between. 
 
LILY OF THE FIELD 
 
LILY OF THE FIELD. 
 
 Lilium chalcedoHieum. 
 
 HE lily of the field is not of 
 necessity a lily of any kind that 
 will correspond to our defini- 
 tions; it may be understood as 
 a flower, and that is sufficient. 
 To make a serious botanical 
 study of the purport of the im- 
 pressive lesson of the lily in the 
 Sermon on the Mount would be 
 to put our paltry views of nature 
 on a level with the most homely 
 and searching of Divine admo- 
 nitions. It must suffice, there- 
 fore, to say that the frail flower 
 painted by the creative hand 
 surpasses in glory the greatest 
 works of man, and teaches him 
 the sources of his benefits and 
 , his dependence on the bounty 
 of Heaven. But associations 
 have their uses to the mind of 
 man, and it is neither irreverent, 
 nor unreasonable to ask if any particular lily might be 
 associated with the lesson that has sunk deeper perhaps 
 
118 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 than any into the human heart. There are probably only 
 two species of lilium common to the Holy Land; at all 
 events only two are mentioned in Dr. Tristram's " Sprvey 
 of Western Palestine." These are Lilium candidum, seen 
 wild on Lebanon, and L. chalcedonicum, marked as not 
 seen, though known to be in the country. 
 
 This lily is known in gardens as the scarlet martagon. 
 ' It is, however, quite distinct from Lilium martagon, which 
 is commonly called the Turk's cap. The last is one of 
 the commonest lilies, but a good border flower for all that, 
 and one that has many forms, as, for example, the pure 
 white and the Dalmatic, the colour of which is blackish- 
 purple. The common variety is of a dull purple colour, by 
 no means attractive, nevertheless pleasing and useful. 
 
 The scarlet martagon is not common, although easy to 
 cultivate and resplendent in its beauty. In the later days 
 of July it presents a liberal head of turban-shaped flowers 
 of the most brilliant sealing-wax red colour. It is quite > 
 hardy, and thrives in any good soil, but is not happy in a 
 Calcareous soil nor in one that is of a poor dry nature. 
 
 How far east this lily extends we do not know. It is 
 probably scattered through the temperate parts of Southern 
 Asia, for we meet with one very much like it in Japan, the 
 book name of which is L. callosum, less in growth than 
 chalcedonicum, but serving fairly well as a small copy of 
 it. Another nearly related kind is L. camiolicum, of which 
 there are vermilion and yellow varieties. 
 
 For the full enjoyment of lilies a considerable extent 
 of garden is necessary, for when many kinds are planted 
 in proximity their several beauties seem to neutralise each 
 other. In isolated clumps and groups, set off by masses of 
 leafy vegetation, these distinct and striking flowers appear 
 
LILY OF THE FIELD. 119 
 
 to singular advantage. Most delightful is 'it in a walk 
 through a woodland scene to come upon great clumps of 
 L. cmratum, the golden-rayed lily of Japan ; or the cream- 
 tinted, sometimes buff -coloured, L. testaceum, also known 
 as L. exeelsum ; or, most noble of all, and least of all under- 
 stood, L. giganteum, that loves a deep, damp bed of loam 
 or peat, and needs shelter in the spring from the frosts 
 that are then so destructive. 
 
 The cultivation of lilies in pots is much practised, and 
 with many special advantages. In large gardens pot 
 lilies are needed for the conservatory and entrance hall ; in 
 market gardens they are wanted to supply cut flowers in 
 advance of the season for lilies in the open ground. The 
 amateur who would succeed in growing lilies in pots must 
 observe a few golden rules. In the first place the potting 
 should be completed at the. earliest time possible after the 
 plants have flowered, for immediately the flowering is over 
 •they begin to make new roots. If the bulbs have to be 
 purchased, therefore, ordei-s should be given early, and the 
 potting should be completed immediately the bulbs comp 
 to hand. 
 
 Another golden rule is to insure perfect drainage by 
 packing the crooks with care before the compost is put in 
 the pots, for unless surplus water can escape readily, the 
 soil will become sour, and the plants will not prosper. As 
 regards the soil, a mellow hazel loam containing abundance 
 of vegetable fibre, such as loam from rotted turfy will suit 
 any lilies, as will also turfy peat of the best quality. The 
 lovely L. longiflorum is "decidedly partial to peat, but will 
 thrive in loam with the rest.^ A calcareous soil is not good 
 for any of them. Finally, all lilies enjoy liberal watering 
 and abundance of light and air. 
 
120 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 The most useful lilies are the following :^-L. Brotsnl, 
 with very large trumpet-shaped flowers, white, delicately" 
 striped outside -with purple. B. aura turn, a, giant of its 
 race, the flowers expanded, with yellow or red stripes on 
 a . white ground. L. candidmm, the common white lily, 
 thriving almost anywhere, and yet a little fastidious. . 
 L. jtlialcedonicwm, always thriving best in a rich deep 
 loam. L. croceum, good and cheap, very accommodating. 
 L.elegans, usually orange red, but variable, and always 
 useful. L. longiflorum, a lovely trumpet-shaped flower of 
 the purest white ; it requires a peaty soil, but is not very 
 particular; in a cold locality a sheltered spot should be 
 selected for it. L. tigrinum, the tiger lily, is very gay, 
 .and some varieties flower late ; hence the Laureate puts it 
 into the autumn garland: 
 
 " Heavily hangs the broad sunflower 
 Over its grave in the earth so chilly, 
 Heavily hangs the hollyhock, 
 Heavily hangs the tiger-lily." 
 
COMMON FLAX. 
 
COMMON FLAX. 
 
 Limtm usatissimum. 
 
 HE garden of economic plants 
 exists in idea only ; there is no 
 ; such thing as a matter of fact. 
 The subject now before us sug- 
 gests that a studious amateur 
 gardener might accomplish 
 what has been accounted one 
 of the greatest triumphs imagi- 
 nable — the creation of a new 
 pleasure — by forming a garden 
 of economic plants. Some of 
 these are exquisitely beautiful, 
 and others, that might not 
 attract by their beauty, will 
 always interest by their direct 
 relation to our daily comfort 
 and to our national prosperity ; 
 for mere usefulness is in one sense true beauty, but when -we 
 make that declaration we must beware of being overheard 
 by professors of extreme sestheticism . In the garden of 
 economic plants we should find the "flax, of course, and 
 the hemp also. How few amongst the thousands who have 
 gardens really know either of these plants ! Where shall we 
 find the pretty lentil from the seeds of which Jacob made 
 4 R 
 
122 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 his mess of pottage ? Who knows the canary grass, with its 
 handsome plumes that finally shed shining seeds for the 
 little birds ? How many of our wayside botanists could 
 find us the earth-nut, if a sudden famine made its sweet and 
 nourishing root acceptable in the place of bread ? The 
 beauty of the cotton plant is unsuspected, and the sugar 
 maple gives a shade that is very pleasant. It is easy to 
 begin, but no one can say where we should end in collecting 
 and cultivating economic plants. 
 
 The common flax (Linum usatissimum) is a beautiful 
 plant, likely to appear, with the hemp and the canary, 
 as mere weeds in the garden of the bird fancier, because 
 the waste of the cages must be sometimes scattered. As 
 regards the flax, it is a weed of the world, for it occurs 
 everywhere as a wilding, not only in Europe and Northern 
 Africa and Asia, but in the southern hemisphere, having 
 been carried by the hand of man wherever he has carried 
 merchandise. It is a tall, slender, exceedingly neat plant, 
 with narrow lanceolate leaves and flowers, crowning the 
 stems in a loose corymb, conspicuous for their large size 
 and their bright blue colour. The petals are obovate and 
 the sepals are pointed. The oily seeds are contained in a 
 depressed globular capsule ; they are of a rich dark brown 
 colour, glossy, of a peculiar flavour, and in their medical 
 uses decidedly laxative. It is not often they are given to 
 caged birds, but every one who has the care of these in- 
 teresting creatures should keep a few " linseeds " in the 
 store-room in case of emergency. Birds that are fed almost 
 exclusively on canary and hemp, with perhaps insufficient 
 vegetable food, may be benefited by an occasional treat of 
 two or three of these oily laxative seeds. The oil that is 
 pressed from linseed is of great importance in the arts, 
 
COMMON FLAX. 123 
 
 one of its uses being to supply the principal material for 
 printers' ink. Indeed, the flax has done more for literature 
 than any other plant that can be named. The linum, or 
 lin, supplies from its stem the fibre for linen, and from 
 linen waste is made paper. The ink and the paper may 
 therefore be said to be derived from one and the same 
 source, and this plant is the commonest thing in the world, 
 and grows everywhere, while as to its beauty, we may search 
 far ere we shall find a plant of its own range of habit 
 and colour that can surpass it. To compare it with the 
 plumbago is not unfair, and we incline to the opinion that 
 in the comparison the flax will have the best of it. 
 
 There are four British species of flax, perhaps ; at all 
 events, there are four in the books. One we will consider 
 disposed of. The next is the perennial flax [Linum perenne) . 
 It often so nearly resembles the common species that we 
 doubt its specific independence. However, the sepals are 
 obtuse, the root-stock is perennial, the stems are sometimes 
 procumbent, and the plant is a mountaineer, whereas the 
 common flax is a lowland plant. The pale flax is Linum 
 angusUfoliwn ; it has pointed sepals, but in general com- 
 plexion resembles the perennial flax, and it is sometimes a 
 perennial and sometimes an annual. Its common name 
 indicates that its flowers are of a paler blue than the others. 
 The cathartic flax is a slender annual with white flowers, 
 and one that will puzzle the young botanist who has not 
 yet mastered the characters of the flax family. 
 
 The Alpine flax (L. nlphium) is perennial, and of exceed- 
 ingly dwarf habit. It is a pretty rock plant, and requires 
 a sunny situation and a dry soil. The one-styled flax 
 (L. monogynum) is so called because it usually has one 
 style instead of five, but this character is not constant. It 
 
124 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS, 
 
 is a fine, showy plant, producing large white flowers, and 
 is quite hardy in a well-drained peaty soil. It may be 
 raised from seeds or cuttings, but is not easily increased by 
 division. But the finest of all, after the scarlet flax, is the 
 yellow flax (L. Jiavum), which is often grown in quantities 
 for the flower markets, the best proof possible of a certain 
 quality which the florists denominate usefulness. It is a 
 gay, hardy perennial, good enough for any garden, and 
 very distinct in all its characters. It does not often ripen 
 its seeds, but it is easily multiplied by cuttings. The 
 flowers are golden-yellow, opening early in the morning. 
 The evergreen flax (L. arboreum) is of shrubby habit, 
 the leaves are greyish-green, the flowers yellow; a good 
 rockery plant. The Narbonue flax {L. Narbonnense) is a 
 grand species, a little tender. The flowers are light blue. 
 
COREOPSIS. 
 
THE COEEOPSIS. 
 
 Coreopsis Ictnceolata. 
 
 OPPOSITE plants so abound 
 in all parts of the earth, and 
 more especially in temperate 
 and sub-tropical zones, that it 
 is impossible to regard them 
 collectively without experienc- 
 ing a tendency to speculate on 
 the beginnings of things. Are 
 they the radiata of the Vege- 
 table kingdom, and therefore 
 somewhat primitive in the 
 chronological sequence of vege- 
 table development? Are they 
 primordial ? No ; we will get 
 away from such questions, and 
 for the present rest content 
 in saying that there are 9,000 
 species of composite plants 
 known to botanists, and they constitute about a twelfth 
 part of the entire vegetable kingdom. Considering their 
 number, the proportion of useful plants amongst them 
 is small, but in respect of their usefulness there is just 
 the same sort of family likeness that, we discover in the 
 cross-worts and the grasses. As in the crucifers a whole- 
 
126 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 some pungency is the predominant property, and in the 
 grasses there is an almost complete absence of medicinal 
 virtue, but a prodigious power of producing food, so the 
 composite plants are characterised by the production of a 
 tonic stimulant, and the fragrance of the camomile is in 
 many ways repeated in this vast group of plants. But 
 we shall not seek in vain for useful plants among the 
 composites, for the lettuce, endive, salsify, artichoke, and 
 sunflower are composites ; and if we can for once put the 
 clulce before the utile, we shall find an immense assemblage 
 of these plants adorning our gardens. The dahlia is one of 
 the number ; the coreopsis is another. Between the two 
 how great and glorious is the floral throng! 
 
 The coreopsis, or calliopsis, is one of the first among 
 garden plants to make an impression on the young amateur 
 florist. It is sure to be included in his first purchase of 
 garden seeds, along with the Virginia stock, ten-week 
 stock, sweet-pea, and mignonette ; and as these are all 
 good things, we may congratulate him that he begins the 
 world well in floriculture, and deserves to prosper. And 
 our plant belongs to that happy-go-lucky family of flowers, 
 the seeds of which may be sown where they are to remain 
 in almost any kind of soil, and will come to gladness 
 rather than grief, even with very bad gardening. Short of 
 taking them up every two or three days to see how they 
 are getting on, they will bear almost any amount of mis- 
 taken kindness, such as watering too much or not watering 
 at all; being left as "thick as thieves," instead of being 
 thinned betimes, and in being located in a shady place in- 
 stead of the full sunshine. One of our sages has remarked 
 that " Nature never did betray the heart that loved her ; " 
 but it seems Nature goes out of her way to encourage and 
 
THE COSEOl'SIS. 127 
 
 accommodate the hearts that love her " not wisely ," but 
 she does not know of those who love her " too well." 
 
 The seedsmen's catalogues will show that there are many 
 sorts of coreopsis in cultivation. They are all good, and 
 therefore all worth growing. They are mostly adapted by 
 their height for the second or third' row in the border, and 
 as they are rather late in flowering, they should be sown as 
 early in March as may be convenient. 
 
 The coreopsis takes its name from the resemblance of 
 its seeds to a Jcoris, or bug; but the name might by the 
 fanciful, who care nothing for philology, be derived from 
 korus, a helmet, because that word has grown so as to cover 
 anything that glitters ; and a bunch of coreopsis may be 
 properly spoken of as a floral coruscation. And it is not 
 a long way round to derive a coruscation from a helmet, 
 because a few thousands of bright helmets moving in a 
 mass make a glitter worthy of a grand name. In North's 
 " Plutarch " (p. 395) we read of the Thracians and Mace- 
 donians, that " the glistering of their harness, so richly 
 trimmed and set forth with gold and silver, the colours of 
 their arming coats upon their curaces, after the fashion of 
 the Medes and Scythians, mingled with the bright glistering 
 steel and shining copper, gave such a show as they went and 
 removed too and fro, that made a light as clear as if all had 
 been on a very fire, a fearfull thing to look upon." Having 
 digressed so far upon the hint of a fanciful derivation, and 
 knowing it to be as nice to be hung for a sheep as a lamb, 
 we subjoin an extract from More's " Psychathanasis " 
 (II. 2, 16), in which occurs a quaint illustration of the 
 possibilities of speech : — 
 
 " But oft when the weak tody's worn and wasted, 
 And farr shrunk in, the nimble phantasie 
 
128 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 (So far shee's from being -withered and blasted) 
 More largely worketh, and more glitterandly 
 Displays her spreaden forms, and chearfully 
 
 Pursues her sports." 
 
 The other generic name by which these plants are known, 
 Calliopsis, means " beautiful flower," or " lovely eye ; " or 
 it may be regarded as a reminder of Calliope, the first of 
 the nine muses, who was not only lovely to look upon, but 
 had an enchanting voice. 
 
 All the species of coreopsis are natives of the New 
 "World, where they range from far north to the hottest of 
 the West Indian islands. It is usual to speak of the genus 
 as consisting wholly of yellow-flowered plants, but C. alba 
 has white flowers ; C. diversifolia, crimson ; C. rosea, red ; 
 and C. atropurjjwrea, dark purple. Several species are in 
 repute as dye-plants on the American continent. C. tinc- 
 toria is so called on account of its value to the dyer ; but 
 perhaps G. tricolor is of more importance — at all events, it 
 is not the least of its kindred in its economical relations. 
 Although the flowers of these dye-plants may be yellow, the 
 dye obtained from them is red. 
 
CANDYTUFT. 
 
THE CANDYTUFT. 
 
 Ibcri 
 
 ANDY, or Candie, is the old 
 English name for the island of 
 Cretej and the tufted flower 
 before us having been brought 
 from Crete, obtained the name 
 of candytuft. It is recorded 
 by Gerarde that he received 
 seeds of the "candie-mustard" 
 from Lord Edward Zouche, 
 and that they produced in his 
 garden flowers that were " som- 
 times blewe, often purple, som- 
 times carnation or horse-flesh, 
 and seldom white," their leaves 
 being of " a graie or ouerworne 
 greene colour." The generic 
 name Iberls refers to the 
 Spanish peninsula, the ancient Iberia, where the candy- 
 tufts abound. 
 
 These are cruciferous plants, and particularly worthy 
 the attention of young botanists, because of the irregular 
 form of the corolla. One of their number is an inhabitant 
 of Britain : it is Iberis amara, the bitter candytuft; a rare 
 
 weed in chalky corn-fields, more often met with in Oxford- 
 4 S 
 
130 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 shire and Berkshire than in any other parts of the country. 
 This produces white flowers, which are followed by two 
 lobed seed-pods, which have been valued for their real 
 or supposed curative effects in heart disease and asthma. 
 Whether the plant" is, strictly speaking, a native, is at least 
 doubtful, but we will not dwell on a point so abstruse. 
 
 The candytufts may be divided into two classes, the 
 annual and the perennial. They are amongst the cheapest, 
 the most gay, and the most easily managed of our garden 
 flowers. The annual kinds may be sown in autumn to 
 bloom in the month of May, or they may be sown in spring 
 to bloom in June and July. In the seedsmen's catalogues 
 will be found a beautiful series of varieties, the whole of 
 which may be grown to advantage in any garden where 
 there is room for an assortment of gay flowers. The most 
 distinct of these are the umbelled candytuft (Iieris um- 
 bellata), of which there are varieties with white, purple, 
 crimson, and rose-coloured flowers ; the fragrant candy- 
 tuft (/. odorata), which has white flowers agreeably scented ; 
 the pinnate-leaved (I. pinnata), with flowers whitish in 
 heads which lengthen as the flowers expand ; the rocket 
 candytuft (I. coronaria), a fine white flowering kind, allied 
 to I. umlellata. When sown in spring these require a rich 
 moist soil and a sunny situation ; when sown in autumn 
 a dry soil is to be preferred, because of the risk of loss 
 during the winter. They are, however, quite hardy, and 
 as regards conditions by no means exacting. One thing 
 must be mentioned — they do not transplant well; there- 
 fore it is best to sow them where they are to flower, and 
 thin out as soon as possible, so as to isolate every plant, 
 for wherever they are crowded they will be weak in growth, 
 and produce but few and poor heads of flowers. 
 
THE CANDYTUFT. 131 
 
 The perennial species are fine plants for the border and 
 the rockery, and will without harm bear a certain amount 
 of shade. Any good loamy or gravelly soil will suit them. 
 They thrive on chalk, but on undrained clay they are liable 
 to injury in winter, and if really in a swampy place will 
 certainly perish. Although classed as " herbaceous/'' these 
 candytufts are miniature trees or under-shrubs, richly green 
 all the winter through, and flowering in spring or early 
 summer most profusely. They are models of neatness, and 
 when they attain to some size they are paragons of beauty, 
 as none would dispute after seeing our plants, measuring 
 a yard across, of the lovely white flowering rock candytuft. 
 
 The most useful of this section are the following : — 
 Iberis corifolia (the coris-leaved candytuft) is very dwarf, 
 and flowers early ; the flowers pure white, the growth 
 densely cushioned. /. coriacea (the thick-leaved candytuft) , 
 probably a hybrid; it is of shrubby habit, and rises to a 
 foot in height; the leaves oblong spatulate, the growth 
 free, the flowers pure white, produced in great abundance 
 and rather late; one of the finest hardy rock-plants we 
 have, needing only an open sunny position to give joy to 
 all beholders. The Gibraltar species (/. Gibraltar lea) is 
 a straggling grower, the flowers, blush-white, appearing 
 early ; it is a good rock-plant, but not tidy enough for a 
 highly-dressed border. The rock candytuft (/. saxalilis) is 
 the most useful of all; it grows compactly, has a fine 
 green colour all the winter; the leaves are linear and 
 rather fleshy, the flowers white and lasting long. Tenore's 
 candytuft (/. Tenoreana) is like the Gibraltar plant, but 
 less rpbust, and less to be desired, as it is apt to die off in 
 winter unless in a warm, sheltered, and well -drained soil. 
 
 All these may be grown from seed ; but they do not 
 
132 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 always produce seed, and it is scarcely worth while looking 
 after it, because they can be more advantageously raised 
 from cuttings. These should be taken when the growth of 
 the young shoots is nearly completed, and just before they 
 begin to harden. Dibble them into a bed of sandy earth, 
 give them a sprinkle of water, put a bell-glass or hand- 
 light over, and — -forget them. In about two months you 
 may remove the bell-glass, for they will be all rooted. It 
 will be well to leave them undisturbed until the month of 
 April following, when they may be planted out to grow 
 into specimens. Border-plants that are somewhat strag- 
 gling in form may be improved by judicious pruning, and 
 by pegging a few shoots into places that are vacant. We 
 have had the rock candytuft on a highly-dressed border, 
 and we kept all the plants in shape by annual clipping, the 
 result being that they were as round and convex as watch- 
 glasses. We do not advise any general adoption of this 
 procedure, but where everything should be formal and 
 precise it is at least admissible. 
 
CUPHEA. 
 
THE CUPHEA. 
 
 Caphea platycentra. 
 
 UPHEAS restore to us the light of 
 other days. Time was when all 
 the lovers of gardens, and more 
 especially the practitioners of chro- 
 , matic colouring, were at fever heat 
 P in discussing the relative merits 
 .,. of Cuphea platycentra and Cuphea 
 v eminens and Cuphea miniata, and 
 all other cupheas, known or un- 
 known, that might be located in 
 the parterre to the advantage of its 
 systematic artistic colouring. " But 
 now''' — the scene is changed; the 
 men are changed; the fashion is 
 changed ; cupheas &re unknown — 
 
 " The light of other days is faded. 
 And all their glory past." 
 
 But who shall say triey are less 
 beautiful than they were ? who shall appraise a plant in 
 the way of a broker, and value it by what it may fetch 
 in the money market? "A thing of beauty is a joy 
 for ever; its loveliness increases" where there are souls 
 to appreciate it, and therefore we shall claim the cuphea 
 as a "familiar garden flower," and in the fervour of 
 
134 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 appreciation of its real merit forget the fame of an hour 
 that it enjoyed as an integer in the now historical bedding 
 system. 
 
 The plant before us is the real old " Crystal Palace " 
 cuphea, the best of the bedding plants of that particular 
 style and tone. When employed in the splendid displays of 
 bedding at Sydenham it was found to be amenable to very 
 simple treatment, and we shall condense for the good of 
 our readers the system of culture adopted there by Mr. 
 Eyles and Mr. Gordon, as communicated by them to us pro 
 bono publico. The stock was raised from cuttings in June 
 and July, and the earlier the better, generally speaking. 
 When struck so late as September a fair bloom may be 
 secured the following year, but the earlier struck cuttings 
 make the best bedders, because in the spring they may be 
 cut back so as to form very strong bushy plants for the 
 summer display. The stock raised for bedding may be very 
 well wintered in boxes, and if there is not enough of them, 
 cuttings may be struck in heat in February and March, 
 and will make useful plants for the beds, though lean as 
 compared with well-wintered plants from autumn cuttings. 
 Any good soil will suit the cuphea when bedded out, and a 
 dry sunny position may be selected where there is ample 
 choice. But if there is no choice, the happy conclusion 
 may be laid to heart that it will do veiy well almost 
 anywhere. 
 
 The virtues of the plant are not yet all told. Oh, dear 
 no. It is a real gem for winter flowers, and whoever would 
 keep a greenhouse or conservatory gay through all the 
 dead season would do well to grow a few plants of this 
 particular species. Strike the cuttings in May, and in 
 the same month prune rather severely any old plants you 
 
THE CUl'HEA. 135 
 
 have to make bushy young plants of them. Grow them 
 with care, so that they do not suffer for want of water, and 
 when re-potting use a rich, mellow, sandy loam. But in 
 all stages keep the plants in rather smallish pots, and you 
 will find them almost always in flower. If you suspect 
 you are carrying the starving process too far, help them 
 with manure water. A few large specimens are worth 
 having, therefore old plants cut back and re-potted as soon 
 as they make new growth are likely to pay for their keep. 
 The plant likes moisture, but it is dangerous to say so, 
 because when liberally grown it is too leafy, and the 
 flowers are few and very much hidden. 
 
 Cuphea silenoides is a good half -hardy annual, blooming 
 from July to September. The flowers are purple, and a 
 tinge of purple is seen in the branches. It is effective 
 when massed with some yellow flower, but not of much 
 account alone. 
 
 Cuphea nun-iota is an annual or perennial, at the will of 
 the cultivator. The flowers are in leafy racemes, the petals 
 , purple or rose. It will flower all the summer in moist soil. 
 
 Cuphea lanceolata is a vigorous plant of erect habit, with 
 conspicuous and beautiful purple flowers. The end of the 
 tube expands into three divisions, two of which form what 
 we may term top petals, and the third a broad notched 
 petal. To liken the flower to an orchid would not be outre. 
 
 Cuphea Jorullemis is probably the finest species known. 
 The flowers are scarlet, tipped with yellow. 
 
 Cuphea purpurea, a pretty hardy annual, with bluish 
 or pale purple flowers, will prove useful to associate with 
 asters and balsams for autumnal bloom. 
 
 Cuphea cinnabarina may be grown to a fine specimen 
 form as a greenhouse plant. The flowers are large, the 
 
136 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 tube much puffed out, the limb expanding 1 regularly lite 
 a miniature gloxinia, the colour pale red. 
 
 Cup/tea verticillata is a nearly hardy species of moderate 
 growth, the flower tube yellowish-red, the limb expanding 
 irregularly and curiously, the colour violet. 
 
 The cupheas belong to the family of loosestrifes, of 
 which perhaps the best-known garden flowers are the 
 lysimachias. That any of these will stop strife will of 
 course be understood, or why should they have such a 
 collective and enviable name ? Hear what the great Pliny 
 saith : "If a pair of yoked oxen quarrel, a branch of 
 loosestrife laid upon their shoulders will effect an in- 
 stantaneous and perfect reconciliation." Dodoens, speak- 
 ing of the yellow lysimachia, says : " The perfume of this 
 herbe dryed, driueth away all Serpentes and venemous 
 beasts, and killeth flies and knattes. 5 -' Gerarde makes a 
 variation on the drying of the perfume by saying, " The 
 smoke of the burned herbe driueth away serpents ; '' and 
 he quotes Pliny to the effect that " it dieth haire yellow ; 
 which is not very vnlike to be done by reason the flowers 
 are yellow.'" 
 
ROSY YARROW. 
 
THE EOSY YAEEOW. 
 
 Achillea asplenifolia. 
 
 O liken a flower to a gem or 
 jewel of any kind is probably un- 
 fair, but the temptation is often 
 too great to be resisted. The 
 forget-me-not suggests the tur- 
 quoise, the pimpernel may be 
 likened to a coral, and the lovely 
 flower before us is like a ruby, if it 
 is like anything save its own sweet 
 self. When a tuft of this yarrow 
 is in full bloom there will not be 
 found in the garden, however rich 
 it may be, a flower of any kind 
 that can surpass it in beauty, 
 although many make more show 
 
 'M^W^'W^ anc ^ are n °k ^ ess wor ^ a y °^ our 
 
 admiration. It is well to bear in 
 mind that this is a distinct species 
 of yarrow, because it is commonly classed as a variety of 
 the British Achillea millefolium, which in all its states 
 and stages is unworthy of attention as a decorative garden 
 plant; whereas the rosy-flowered or asplenium-leaved 
 yarrow is at once a different plant, and far more beautiful 
 both in leaf and flower. 
 
 4rp 
 
138 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 As regards cultivation there is not much to be said. 
 Any soil will suit this plant, but it needs a sunny aspect, 
 or it becomes drawn and wiry, and fails to hold up its 
 head. To increase the stock, it is sufficient to divide the 
 roots when growth commences in the spring, but they 
 may be divided at any time if it is a matter of importance 
 to secure a quantity for any purpose. A large clump or 
 bed has a rich and interesting appearance when in flower, 
 and continues so for a considerable length of time. We 
 have used it advantageously to plant amongst lilies, which 
 really need some light spreading herbage to partially clothe 
 and conceal their stems, and in fact the bare ground ought 
 never to be visible where lilies grow, for it is their nature 
 to rise out of grass and other light herbage, the roots of 
 which are also indirectly advantageous to the lilies by 
 quickly taking up any excess of moisture resulting from 
 heavy summer rains. 
 
 The common yarrow we dismiss for the present as a 
 mere weed, but we shall restore it to the garden presently, 
 for a particular purpose. The yarrows most worthy of 
 cultivation, in addition to the one here figured, are the 
 following : — The sneezewort (A. ptarmica), a neat-habited 
 British plant, with white flowers; the double variety is 
 a serviceable thing to supply cut flowers. The woolly 
 yarrow {A. tomentosa) , a neat plant, with woolly leaves, 
 and successive corymbs of gay yellow flowers. The great 
 yarrow (A. filipendula) , with rough pinnate leafage, and 
 large heads of bright yellow flowers that rise to a height 
 of four or five feet in a good soil and sunny situation. 
 The silvery yarrow [A. clavennm), a very neat plant, with 
 white leaves and pretty heads of white flowers. This is a 
 mountain plant, and requires a dry position on a rockery, in 
 
TUB ROSY YARROW. 139 
 
 a peaty or sandy soil, when it soon becomes a striking and 
 interesting object. There are a few others of less im- 
 portance that the hungry collector will soon discover, but 
 they will not suit many of our readers. 
 
 It is time now to restore the common yarrow {Achillea 
 Millefolium) to a place in the garden. It has no claim to 
 admiration in respect of beauty, although as a weed it is 
 pretty enough. But it is of great service to clothe with 
 fresh green herbage any hot, dry bank on which grass 
 becomes unsightly in the height of summer. It is, in 
 fact, a good lawn plant, bearing the scythe well, and 
 enduring drought better than any other lawn plant, save, 
 perhaps, the Dutch clover, which keeps a show of green 
 herbage when the grasses are burnt up and as dry as 
 stubble. The common camomile (Anthemis nobilis) has a 
 similar power of endurance, and might be sown with 
 yarrow and clover on dry chalky or gravelly soils where 
 it has been found difficult to establish the true grasses as 
 lawn plants. One other step may be taken to ensure a 
 smooth and fresh greensward in the event of a droughty 
 summer, and that is to set the mowing machine so that it 
 shall not shave so close as to cut into the roots of the 
 lawn plants, for many a good turf has been ruined by 
 frequent close cutting, as though mowing and destroying 
 were to be one and the same thing. 
 
 The yarrows are bitter plants, more or less aromatic, 
 and for the most part innocuous. Having found a place 
 for Achillea millefolium in the garden, we must now 
 direct attention to the fact that it should have a place 
 in the permanent pasture, as affording to cattle a needful 
 astringent and stomachic. In some parts of Sweden it is 
 employed in the making of beer, being at once a stimulant 
 
140 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 and an aromatic tonic, and, like the tormentil in certain 
 parts of North Britain, a fair substitute for the hop. The 
 sneezewojt (A. ptarmicd) has somewhat the flavour of tar- 
 ragon, and may be used in place of it in a salad. When 
 dried and reduced to powder it is a cheap substitute for 
 snuff ; hence its familiar name. Finally, several species of 
 achillea, and possibly all, are in some degree applicable as 
 substitutes for tea. We have in our wanderings tasted 
 many curious kinds of tea, and can speak of two only out 
 of the number as in any way endurable, and even at that 
 undesirable. One was a brewing from a handful of new 
 hay, which a sweet old dame declared delicious to drink, 
 and a certain cure for all possible diseases. The other was 
 a decoction of green sneezewort, which was also declared 
 to be excellent in some way or other. It was endurable 
 to drink, and soon suggested that a judicious use of it 
 might serve one instead of a sea voyage, to promote one 
 of the more famous and supposedly-beneficial consequences 
 of a life on the ocean wave. 
 
LYRE FLOWER. 
 
THE LYRE- FLOWER. 
 
 Dielytra spectabilis. 
 
 PH" HIS extremely elegant plant bears 
 a variety of names, and we may 
 take our choice amongst them. 
 It is a Dielytra, a Dicl//trn , a 
 Dicentra, a Fa nutria, a Cory- 
 clalis. We prefer the first of 
 these generic designations, be- 
 cause it was adopted on the 
 occasion of the introduction of 
 the plant to this country, and 
 we are, therefore, accustomed 
 to it, and object to any change. 
 Moreover, the two styles on 
 which the original name is 
 founded are conspicuous fea- 
 tures of the flower, and there 
 is a pleasing euphony in dielytra that 
 commends it to the ear. 
 
 The fame of this plant had gone out 
 into many lands where the plant itself had never been seen. 
 It was never seen alive by Linnaeus, but he described it from 
 dried specimens, and thus filled Europe with the hope of 
 obtaining and keeping it. It was Robert Fortune's good 
 fortune to meet with it in the north of China, and to 
 
142 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 transmit it safely to the Horticultural Society of London, 
 by whom it was received in 1846. Many a more costly 
 acquisition may be referred to as testimony to the useful- 
 ness of this society, but this cheap, common, and very 
 charming plant confers as much honour as any upon those 
 who have enabled every cottager to obtain it to give light 
 to his homely garden. How delicate is its leafage; how 
 elegant the curved raceme bearing its two-winged or lyre- 
 shaped pendent flowers of the most exquisite tint of rosy 
 pink! 
 
 Although hardy and accommodating, this plant needs 
 a little care to ensure a free growth and a plentiful bloom. 
 It will grow in any soil, but is happier in a deep, mellow, 
 sandy loam than in a stiff clay or starving limestone. 
 Moreover, a certain amount of shelter is to be desired 
 for it. On our heavy land in a northern suburb of 
 London we have seen it many times cut down by frost 
 in the month of May, and half blown away by strong 
 wind in June. The finest plant we have ever seen was 
 in a little front court of a small dairy in Highgate, where, 
 for several summers in succession, there was a tuft of 
 dielytra quite four feet high and as much through, the 
 supreme elegance and richness of which we could not hope 
 to describe. It was sheltered by high walls in a very 
 close, snug spot, and no doubt the soil was well drained, 
 warm, and fertile, for it is not often that fine plants of 
 any kind spring out of the " riddlings of creation/' 
 
 The amateur who has accommodation for a display of 
 spring flowers under glass will find this plant invaluable 
 to associate with hyacinths and early tulips and tazetta 
 narcissi in the conservatory. As a pot-plant it is one of 
 the easiest to manage, for it grows freely in the spring in 
 
THE LTSE FLOWES. H3 
 
 a sunny greenhouse, and provided it obtains water enough, 
 is pretty sure to flower finely. We have never seen an 
 aphis or any other insect enemy upon the plant, and we 
 found it a very easy matter to produce great specimens in 
 ten and twelve inch pots, although tho most useful plants 
 are those that make a bountiful head of bloom in pots 
 of seven to nine inches diameter. The soil that suits 
 fuchsias is the best for dielytras, and nearly the same 
 treatment throughout will suit both those plants; con- 
 sequently they may with advantage be grown together. 
 
 A nearly allied plant of great beauty is Dielytra 
 eximia, which has fern-like leafage of a brilliant golden- 
 green colour, and elegant racemes of purplish-red flowers. 
 This also is worthy of pot-culture, and is invaluable for 
 the front of a rockery. Dielytra ekrysantAa is a fine 
 border-plant producing yellow flowers. A more humble 
 but pleasing little plant is Dielytra cucullaria, which 
 should be planted in a sheltered shady nook of the 
 rockery ; it forms a cushion-like tuft, which during summer 
 is covered with racemes of small white flowers. In 
 searching for any of these in a trade list, it will be well to 
 bear in mind that they are often entered under the name 
 Dicentra, and occasionally under Fumaria. They are all 
 fume-worts, and allied to our gay garden flower, the 
 yellow corydalis [Fumaria lutea), which delights to run 
 over an old wall and adorn it with tufts of golden 
 fringe. 
 
 The annual and biennial kinds of corydalis and fumaria 
 are but little known, but they well deserve the attention 
 of amateurs. The seeds may be sown in autumn or spring, 
 and if the clumps are severely thinned, a good growth and 
 an abundant bloom will be ensured. They are especially 
 
144 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 useful on rockeries and rough banks, where, having been 
 sown once, they will in many instances obtain a per- 
 manent position by means of self-sown seed, which are 
 freely scattered if the plants are left alone. Corydalis 
 glanca and Fnmaria capreoluta lutea may be mentioned as 
 good examples of this class of flowers. There are many 
 first-class annuals that maintain themselves by self-sown 
 seeds — as the mignonette, nemophila, eschseholtzia, and 
 others. 
 
ZINNIA. 
 
THE ZINNIA. 
 
 Zinnia eleyiois. 
 
 HERE are some eight or ten 
 species of zinnia known to gardens, 
 but only one of them has become 
 a favourite, and that abundantly 
 deserves the pre-eminence it has 
 attained as one of the most 
 splendid of our annual flowers. 
 The figure carries us back to the 
 original form of the flower as it 
 was known fifty years ago, and 
 it represents very faithfully the 
 variety known as "coccinea," or 
 the scarlet-rayed zinnia . The 
 species was introduced from Mexico 
 in 1796, and the scarlet-rayed 
 variety came into our hands in 
 1829, and was thought much of 
 for its brilliant colour and stately habit. During the fifty 
 years that have elapsed since it appeared, the flower has been 
 improved in all its characters, and we now possess a race 
 of perfectly double zinnias, the flowers of which show no 
 central disc, but are perfect rosettes of exquisite form, and 
 of every shade of colour except blue. There is not a more 
 striking instance of floral advancement, accomplished by 
 
146 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 systematic selection;, than is afforded by the zinnia, which 
 is at once one of the largest, most various, and long-standing 
 of our many good and cheap annual flowers. 
 
 The ziunia is named in honour of J. G. Zinn, Pro- 
 fessor of Botany and Natural History at the University 
 of Gottingen. He was born in 1726, and studied under 
 Haller. One of the most important of his labours was a 
 demonstration of the relation of vision to the action of the 
 brain as well as to the structure of the eye, the particulars 
 of which were given in his essay entitled " Descriptio 
 Anatomica Oculi Humani." Another important service 
 rendered to science was his catalogue of the plants in the 
 Academical Garden of Gottingen. He died in April, 
 1758, at the early age of thirty-two. 
 
 The zinnia belongs to the great family of composite 
 flowers, and is a native of Mexico. It is sometimes called 
 the Mexican marigold — a designation in some degree 
 justified in the case of the yellow varieties, but by no 
 means to be encouraged, for in its essential character it is 
 some distance removed from the genus Tageies, and its 
 normal colour is red or crimson ; and hence the finest 
 varieties are certainly not, even by a stretch of fancy, to 
 be classed with marigolds. 
 
 How to grow the zinnia is perhaps the question of 
 principal importance to the readers of this. It is a half- 
 hardy annual, and must not be grown in a half-hearted 
 manner. The seeds should be sown about the middle of 
 April, but not earlier. They may be sown on a hotbed, 
 and they will then germinate very quickly. It is, however, 
 better practice to sow in a frame or under a hand-light, in 
 light rich earth, so as to obtain the plants by a slower 
 method, and with a corresponding surety of a fine bloom. 
 
THE ZINNIA. 147 
 
 If the weather happens to be cold, cover the frame over at 
 night with a mat, and give no air at all until the plants 
 begin to appear, when air should be given cautiously, so as 
 to prevent any shrivelling of the tender leaves by a dry 
 east wind, and at the same time to ensure that healthy 
 " stubbiness " that is so desirable in all young plants. As 
 the plants advance they will require water and air increas- 
 ingly, and nearly the same treatment as balsams demand 
 should be given them. One point must be impressed on the 
 mind of the amateur, and it is that, in common with the 
 aster, the balsam, and other first-class annuals, the plants 
 should never receive a check ; for that will not only result 
 in a deterioration of the bloom, but will also probably render 
 the plant an easy prey to its myriad insect enemies. 
 
 The planting-out is an important matter. If the "bed 
 is made of old, soar, worn-out stuff, you will have no fine 
 zinnias. The soil should be rather light and decidedly rich, 
 and deeply stirred, and the position should be warm and 
 sheltered. A garden in the northern suburbs of London, 
 where the soil happens to be heavy and damp, was found 
 to be unfavourable to zinnias, for the owner of that garden 
 was resolved to have them as fine as he had often seen them 
 in Paris, but had never seen them in England. And in 
 the end this was accomplished, for a slojiing bank facing 
 the south was prepared for them, by deep digging, abundant 
 manuring, and the incorporation with the stiff stajile soil 
 of a large proportion of road-grit and leaf-mould. Then, 
 indeed, the zinnias displayed their beauties lavishly, and 
 all the extra labour was amply compensated. 
 
 In any case, the bed should be made ready at the time 
 the seed is sown, or earlier. As to the time for planting out, 
 that must depend in part upon the weather, and in part 
 
148 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 on the state of the plants. Choose mild quiet weather if 
 possible, but above all things have the plants stubby and 
 strong, and of a healthy green colour, as the result of tbe 
 access to them of abundant light and air. If you must 
 plant during dry sunny weather, you have but to shade 
 and water them carefully, and take care that the plants do 
 not suffer any serious check. 
 
 There are two so-called species of zinnia that occasionally 
 obtain attention — namely, the Z. grancliflora and Z. fenui-. 
 folia; but as ornamental plants they are of no particular 
 value, and it does not appear to the writer hereof that they 
 are ugly enough to please the botanist — the reader being 
 of course aware that, by a bit of harmless irony, the florists 
 hand over to the botanists all the ugly and unmanageable 
 plants that they have resolved to exclude from their gardens. 
 But of the veritable Zinnia elegans there are innumerable 
 varieties, single and double, and all are good; but the crim- 
 sons and scarlets, of all amongst our annual flowers, are 
 the best, the yellows and purples come next in merit, and 
 the whites must rank lowest of all. 
 
SWEET CLEMATIS. 
 
THE 
 SWEET CLEMATIS. 
 
 Clematis flammula. 
 
 HE "Traveller's Joy," or 
 "Virgin's Bower/' is the repre- 
 sentative of the genus Clematis 
 in our glorious English hedge- 
 rows, which, it may be proper 
 to observe, are without parallel 
 in all the world for distinctive- 
 ness and beauty, although it is 
 common to hear and perhaps 
 fair to admit they afford signs 
 sometimes of careless farming. 
 But no matter, the traveller's 
 joy (Clematis vitalbd) is a 
 glorious " weed," more espe- 
 cially in the counties of Kent 
 and Buckinghamshire. It is a 
 lover of chalk and limestone, 
 and where these rocks prevail 
 we may look for it, and be happy 
 if we find it wreathing fantastic 
 garlands about thorn trees and blackberry bushes; and 
 having made a wild foam along the roadsides with its white 
 flowers, changing the scene by making any amount of soft, 
 featherv, silky down for the field-mice to line their little 
 
150 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 nests with. It is a bonny plant, the traveller's joy, and 
 deserves its honourable and refreshing name ; but as a 
 garden plant it is valueless in comparison to the plant here 
 figured, the Clematis flammula of Linnaeus, which has a neater 
 growth, and in the days of its exuberant flowering emits a 
 fragrance so rich and powerful as to overpower all other of 
 the autumnal odours of the garden. Both plants are common 
 in Italy, and their tender shoots are gathered by the Italian 
 peasant and boiled as a pot-herb — a service they are not 
 called upon to render with us, because, in truth, our gardens 
 supply us with better vegetables, albeit they have no 
 Italian climate to help them. 
 
 The sweet clematis is sufficiently hardy to endure the 
 ordinary winters of Britain, but severe winters are likely to 
 prove fatal to it, and it is always in danger more or less 
 when planted in situations where it is exposed to keen 
 winds or shade or damp. It is a sunshine plant, requiring 
 an open but somewhat sheltered location, and a good depth 
 of fertile, well-drained soil. It is often seen resting on the 
 roof of a shed, covering a gable or gateway, or clothing a 
 trellis with luxuriant masses of its cloudlike leafage and 
 foamy flowers. But nowhere does it appear with greater 
 advantage than when on a rockery, where, as Mr. Moore 
 happily expresses it in his work on " The Clematis, " 
 " being allowed to assume a decumbent habit, its myriads 
 of pure-white blossoms seem to pour down the declivities 
 like masses of drifting snow, at the same time embalming 
 the air with their fragrance." 
 
 As a slender climber of perennial duration it is adapted 
 for many purposes in the garden, and the mention of one 
 of them will tend, in a word, to enlarge the theme. It is 
 often planted in beds with the new hybrid clematis, of 
 
THE SWEET CLEMATIS. 151 
 
 which the famous Jackmaniii is the type. These grand, 
 purple, lavender, blue, and white flowered varieties are 
 amongst the grandest of so-called "bedding plants," as 
 they are also of proper verandah and trellis climbers, but 
 they are all destitute of odour, and the admixture with 
 them of C. flammula adds the charm of sweetness to their 
 gorgeous colours. 
 
 All these resplendent hybrids, in the production of which 
 Mr. George Jackmau, of Woking, led the way by his 
 original course of procedure in cross-breeding — his Jack- 
 man in being the first and, strange to say, the most useful 
 of the series — all these are hardy and easily managed, 
 and require in the English garden nothing more than a 
 rich deep soil and some degree of shelter, with a fair 
 share of the light of heaven all the year round. When 
 first planted they may be said to go away at a bound, 
 the growth in the second season often reaching thirty 
 to forty feet. But after a few years they make a less 
 vigorous growth, and become bare at the base of the 
 stems. Then it becomes advisable to cut them down to 
 within about a foot of the ground-line, and to remove - 
 a little of the top soil and replace it with rich mellow 
 stuff from an old hotbed or a stack of stable-manure. 
 The plants will again grow with vigour for two or three 
 or more years, and will in due time once more show signs 
 of failing. It is advisable then to destroy them and 
 remove the soil they have been growing in, and make a 
 new bed with fresh stuff and plant again. Owing to 
 its prodigious flowering, Jackmanni is usually the first to 
 " run out," but on deep and strong soil it will last ten to 
 twenty years, if aided by occasional cutting back and 
 refreshing the roots with a top-dressing. 
 
152 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 A remarkable exemplification of the splendour of the 
 hybrid clematis as bedding plants may be seen in the 
 entrance to the vast nurseries of Mr. Richard Smith, 
 St. John's, Worcester. Here, amidst the richest greenery 
 of coniferous trees, grass lawns, and banks of ivy, we 
 behold a great hemisphere of the richest violet-blue which 
 may be likened to the mighty shield of a warlike wanderer 
 from Olympus. It is a bed of Jackman's clematis trained 
 over a frame of hoops, and throughout the summer it is 
 literally solid with the resplendent flowers. To form such 
 a bed in any garden would be quite an easy matter, for the 
 chief elements are time and patience. 
 
CAPE LEADWORT. 
 
THE CAPE LEADWOKT. 
 
 Plumbago c/ipensis. 
 
 HE names of plants present for 
 our consideration innumerable 
 strange questions, mostly of a 
 mirth-provoking kind, but some- 
 times sad enough. The name 
 that now confronts us possesses 
 but little interest of any kind; 
 but the reader may very properly 
 ask why a plant should be called 
 a plumbago? It is, perhaps, 
 impossible to explain the reason 
 of the name, but it seems to 
 have originated from the use of 
 one of the species as a remedy 
 in some disease of the eye. Then 
 the decoction of the plant was 
 probably considered the equivalent of a solution of lead, 
 or the name of the disease may have carried with it an 
 allusion to the metal. The blue colour of the flowers is 
 not far unlike that of pure lead that is as yet free from 
 corrosion and dirt. But, after all, plumbago is not lead; 
 it is "graphite/' and graphite is a natural charcoal, or 
 silicate of carbon, without a shadow of lead in its substance. 
 It derived its name from its likeness to lead, or "plumbum ;" 
 
 4 V 
 
\U FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 and it is commonly believed to this hour that " black- 
 lead," or graphite, is identical with the metal lead, although 
 they differ as much as chalk and cheese. 
 
 The Cape leadwort is a half-hardy climbing shrub, with 
 scaly leaves, and diffuse panicles of phlox-like flowers of a 
 soft azure-blue colour. It may be planted out during the 
 summer, and will grow and flower freely ; but to be fully 
 appreciated it should be grown in the greenhouse, and have 
 careful training to a wall, pillar, or trellis, when it will 
 soon declare itself one of the most elegant plants of its 
 class in cultivation. As for the cultivation, it is of the 
 simplest possible kind, for the plant will grow in any 
 ordinary compost in which there is a fair proportion of 
 peat or leaf-soil, with sharp, gritty sand. To multiply 
 the stock is an easy matter, for cuttings of any age will 
 strike at any time with the aid of a little heat, although 
 it is better to take cuttings of young shoots in the later 
 part of the summer, and strike them under a bell-glass. 
 
 There are about a dozen species of plumbago known in 
 gardens. The genus is related to statice, armeria, and 
 acantholimon, constituting a group called the Plum- 
 baginacece, all of them herbs or undershrubs, and most of 
 them having a liking for the sea-shore, as, for example, 
 Armeria vulgaris, the common thrift, which you may find 
 in plenty on the rocky coasts of those northern counties 
 that look out on the stormy North Sea. 
 
 The best-known plumbagos are P. capensis (here 
 figured), and the two hardy species P. Europaa, native of 
 Southern Europe, and Lady Larpent's (P- Larpentce), 
 native of China. The last-named is sometimes described 
 as Valoradia plumbaginoides, on the authority of Hooker, 
 who removes it from the genus plumbago because of some 
 
TSE CAPE LEADWORT. 155 
 
 trifling peculiarities of structure. These two hardy species 
 are well adapted to plant on the face of a rockery, and 
 they are equally adapted to clothe low trellises with their 
 neat leafage and beautiful blue flowers. 
 
 The tropical species comprise the Mexican (P. Mexicana), 
 with white flowers ; the diamond-leaved (P. rhombifolia) , 
 with blue flowers ; the rosy (P. rosea), with red flowers ; the 
 Ceylon (P. Zeylanica), with white flowers ; and the climbing 
 (P. scandens) , with white flowers. The last-named is the best 
 of the series. These, in common with P. capensis, may 
 be had in flower all the winter by a little management, 
 and in that case will often prove serviceable to supply cut 
 flowers for decorative purposes. 
 
 The plumbagos are bitter and acrid, and perhaps 
 poisonous. The root of the European species is sometimes 
 chewed as a cure for toothache, and a preparation of it 
 with olive oil is in high repute in the south of Europe as 
 a cure for ulcers and the itch. All the species probably, 
 and certainly several of them, have striking vesicatory 
 properties, so that when rubbed upon the skin they pro- 
 duce inflammation, and may therefore supplant cantharides 
 and other irritants. The statices have nearly the same 
 properties, but are bitter, and are astringent rather than 
 acrid. 
 
 The most interesting of the British plants that are 
 allied to plumbago is doubtless the sea lavender (Statice 
 limonium) , which may be met with on muddy sea-shores ; 
 the thrifts, or armerias, are but rarely seen in such 
 situations, the sandy and rocky shores being their usual 
 habitat. The flowers of the sea lavender are purplish, and 
 are produced in corymbose panicles. There is a white 
 variety, and there is also a lilac-coloured variety which is 
 
156 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 often catalogued as a separate species under the name 
 Statice angustifolia. The great sea lavender (Stalice 
 latifolia), native of Eussia, is one of the finest hardy 
 border plants in cultivation. 
 
 " Ye gentle shades between the trees and flowers, 
 With you, ye laughing race, I'll deck my bowers. 
 Oh that my theme would grant the fond delay, 
 Nor with too urgent haste forbid my stay ! 
 With what delight my hands each spray should guide, 
 And teach your curling tendrils where to glide. 
 In woven bowers and roofs your shoots should grow, 
 And 'neath your network arch the riv'let flow ; 
 Around yon elm your wedded arms should wind, 
 Emblem of strength, with gentlest beauty joined. 
 
 You then to whom their lowly pomp is given, 
 Display with art these charming gifts of Heaven : 
 Let every season have their brilliant bloom, 
 Their laughing colours, and their rich perfume ; 
 Let each in turn the well- wrought chaplet wear, 
 Thus ne'er shall fade the garland of the year ; 
 But new-born joys shall every season bring, 
 Each month a bower, and every bower a spring." 
 
THE INC0MPAKAJ3LE 
 DAFFODIL. 
 
 Narcissus incom-. 
 
 AFFODILS are in the same 
 
 good luck as lilies, if it be good 
 
 luck for a flower to be in 
 
 fashion. They are grown for 
 
 the flower-markets on a scale 
 
 that surprises those who are 
 
 unaccustomed to the statistics 
 
 of commercial horticulture, 
 
 and they are also grown for 
 
 the gardens more extensively 
 
 than any other class of bulbs. 
 
 There are good reasons for this, 
 
 'y and we are bound to state them as 
 
 r fully as our space will allow. 
 
 The two prominent reasons for their 
 popularity are their beauty and their early 
 flowering. Those who know only the 
 common double daffodil of the cottage 
 garden can form no proper conception 
 of the variety of character and the purity and splendour 
 of the more distinctive species and varieties. The gigantic 
 Telamonius, the chaste and queenly Empress, the dashing 
 Emperor, and the great golden Maximus may be named 
 as sumptuous forms of "Lent lilies/'. or trumpet daffodils, 
 
1S8 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 a group of flowers having direct relation to the species 
 known to botanists as Narcissus pseudo-narcissus. As 
 the varieties of this group go out of bloom the varieties 
 of Incomparabilis present their charming flowers. These 
 always appear in a nodding attitude, and they are distin- 
 guished from the group of true Lent lilies by the shorter 
 crown, which, as Parkinson truly describes it, is fashioned 
 like the chalice in which is held the wine at the Lord's 
 table. Here again we have abundant variety in respect 
 of colour, and several double flowering kinds that are 
 exquisitely beautiful. These incomparable daffodils, or 
 " Nompareilles/' as the old writers called them, are scarcely 
 out of bloom ere the first flowers appear on the daffodil of 
 the poets, the Narcissus poeticus, which we are to suppose 
 sprang from the watery grave of the beautiful and vain 
 boy whose fate is told in the story of Ovid. The trumpet 
 daffodils may be described as glorious, the incomparables 
 as beautiful, and the poets as delicate. Here in place of 
 a trumpet or a cup we have a cymbal or ring in the centre 
 of the flower. All the varieties of this group are pure 
 white, and the central ring is red, or orange, or rich yellow. 
 Lastly, to wind up the daffodil season, we have the 
 polyanthus group, or' Narcissus tazetta, which are produced 
 in clusters, or umbels, each flower having in the centre a 
 small neat cup, which is often of a different colour to the 
 perianth, or leaves that form the circumference of the 
 flower. These are much valued for pofc-culture and 
 forcing. 
 
 The Corbularia group must have a paragraph to itself. 
 This group comprehends the species commonly described 
 as Narcissus corbularia (or bulbocodium) , and the several 
 varieties thereof, including one with white flowers, and 
 
THE INCOMPARABLE DAFFODIL. 159 
 
 several that vary in their shades of yellow and have very 
 distinctive outlines. The flowers of these have the tube, 
 or trumpet, so much developed, and the outer segments so 
 much contracted, that " corbularia/' which means " little 
 basket," is a very appropriate collective name for them. 
 They are extremely beautiful, and are peculiarly adapted 
 for pot-culture, for the adornment of the table and the 
 conservatory with their charming flowers, which in some 
 cases are of the richest gold-yellow, in others lemon- 
 yellow and creamy white. When grown in a common 
 border they are liable to destruction by spring frosts, 
 owing to their habit of growing early in the year ; but 
 when grown in pots in sandy soil, they give no trouble, 
 flower delightfully, and multiply in a most satisfactory 
 manner. 
 
 These five prominent groups represent only the most 
 popular and generally useful members of the great family 
 of daffodils. There are twenty or more species described 
 by the botanists, and the collectors who give special 
 attention to them know of hundreds of varieties. It is a 
 fact of immense interest that in the catalogue of bulbs 
 published by Messrs. Barr and Sugden for the year 1878, 
 there are exactly 150 varieties of daffodils described, and 
 offered at prices ranging from five shillings to a penny 
 per bulb. In the " Paradisus " of John Parkinson, 
 published in 1656, there are no fewer than ninety-four 
 plants described as of the narciss family; some of these 
 might with botanical propriety be removed into other 
 classes ; nevertheless the enumeration proves that daffodils 
 were diligently collected and seriously studied in the early 
 days of gardening, for very many of Parkinson's varieties 
 had come down to him as old garden favourites. 
 
160 FAMILIAB GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 The great trumpet daffodils are such as Shakespears had 
 in mind when he spoke of 
 
 " Daffodils that come before the swallow dares, 
 And take the winds of March with beauty." 
 
 The earliness and the hardiness of these brave flowers 
 render them beyond all ordinary measure valuable. It is 
 but rarely the frost harms them, even when they flower in 
 the early days of March, and, indeed, the only enemy to be 
 feared is strong sunshine, which of course does not often 
 occur in the season of daffodils. Add to their hardiness 
 that they are not at all particular as to soil, and that 
 when once planted they may be left undisturbed for years, 
 and what a heap of arguments have we in favour of their 
 cultivation, and in explanation of their ever-increasing 
 popularity ! We will crown the great heap with a fact of 
 some importance. The daffodils thrive in damp places that 
 are partially shaded by trees ; hence they are available to 
 convert into a Tom Tiddler's ground many a spot whereon 
 but few choice flowers would find a happy home. 
 
INDEX OF ENGLISH NAM US. 
 
 The Roman number refers to the Volume m which an account anil figure of the plant 
 may be found, and the Arabic number to the page. 
 
 Abutilon, II. 45 
 Abyssinian Primrose, II. 145 
 Achimenes, III. 29 
 African Lily, V. 69 
 Ageratum, IV. 121 
 Almond, III. 81 
 Alpine "Wallflower, IV. 53 
 Amethyst Eryngo, V. 5 
 Anemone, V, 13 
 Arum Lily, IV. 129 
 Aster, I. 133 
 
 Avens, II. 85 ; III. 1:1. 101 
 Azalea, III. 53 
 
 Balsam, I. 53 ; V. 45 
 Barberry, III. 1 ; IV. 1 
 Begonia, I. 109; III. 85; V. 93 
 Bell Flower, HI. 21, 125, 141, 149 
 Blue Sage, I. 69 
 Bouvardia, V. 9 
 Browallia, I. 101 
 Buttercup, IV. 101 
 
 Cactus, V. 85 
 
 Calceolaria, IV. 117 
 
 Camellia, III. 131 
 
 Campion, IV. 31 ; V. 33 
 
 Canaiy Flower, I. 17 
 
 Candytuft, V. 129 
 
 Canterbury Bell, I. 41 
 
 Carnation, IV. 113 
 
 Catchfly, HI. 157 
 
 China Primrose, IV. 105 
 
 Christmas Rose, I. 33 
 
 Chrysanthemum, V. 53 
 
 Cineraria, II. 21 
 
 Clematis, I. 141 ; IV. 21 ; V. 149 
 
 Columbine, I. 93 ; II. 97 
 
 Commelina, I. S9 
 
 Convolvulus, IV. 61 ; V. 103 
 
 Coreopsis, V. 125 
 
 Cornflower, II. 117 
 
 Coronilla, II. 9:1 
 
 Cowslip, III. 93 
 
 Crassula, II. 9 
 
 Crimson Flax, I. 121 
 
 Crocus, I. 149 
 
 Crowfoot, IV. 69 
 
 Crown Imperial, II. 1 
 
 Cuphea, V. 133 
 
 Cj tisus, IV. 93 
 
 Daffodil, IV. 37, 89 ; V. 157 
 
 Dahlia, V. 20 
 
 Daisy, IV. 157 
 
 Day Lily, V. 113 
 
 Dead-Nettie, IV. 57 
 
 Deutzia, IV. 17 
 
 Dog's Tooth Violet, IV. 9 
 
 Esehscholtzia, II.. 33 
 Everlasting 1 , IV. 29 
 Everlasting Pea, I. 10." 
 
 Feverfew, n. 153 
 Flax, V. 121 
 Forget-me-not, V. 97 
 Foxglove, II. 17 
 Fuchsia, I. 29 ; III. 117 
 
 Garland Daisy, II, 25 
 Gentian, V. 73 
 Geranium, II. 37, 81 
 Gladiolus. I. 77 
 Globe Flower, III. 113 
 Gloxinia, IV. 137 
 " Grape Hyacinth, IV. f 7 
 Greek Valerian, III. 5 
 Guelder Rose, III. 14:) 
 
 Hawkweed, IV. 145 
 Hawthorn, V. 49 
 Heath, III. 153 ; IV. 41 
 Heliotrope, IV. 77 
 Hepatica, III. 121 
 Hollyhock, V. 89 
 Honesty, III. 137 
 Honeysuckle, I. 117 
 Hyacinth, IV. 73 
 Hydrangea, III. 89 
 
 Indian Cress, IV. 133 
 Indian Pink, I. 73 
 Iris, I. 125 ; II. 109 
 Ivy Geranium, II. 129 
 Ixia, II. 109 
 
 Jacob's Ladder, IV. 85 
 Japan Quince, II. 29 
 Jessamine, I. 65, 97 ; II. 
 
 Kerria, IV. 25 
 
 113 
 
162 
 
 FA. in LIAR GAUDILY FLOWERS. 
 
 Laburnum, II., 57 
 Lachenalia, III. 4!) 
 Lady's Slipper, II. 123 
 Lapageria, V. 77 
 Larkspur, II. 133 
 Lavender, I. 37 
 Lead-wort, V. 153 
 Lily of the Field, V. 117 
 Lily (Orange), IV. 5 
 Lily of the Valley, in. 97 
 Lobelia, I. 85 
 London Pride, IV. 141 
 Love Lies Bleeding-, V. 57 
 Lungwort, III. 45 
 Lyre Flower, V. 141 
 
 Magnolia, IV.' 45 
 Mallow, II. 53, 149 
 Mar6chal Niel Rose, V. 37 
 Marigold, I. 49, 61 
 Martagon Lily, I. 145 
 Mezereon, II. 141 
 Michaelmas Daisy, I. 25 
 Mignonette, V. 41 
 Mimulus, HI. 77 
 Monkshood, I. 5 
 Mountain AVind-Flower, II. 137 
 Musk, I. 33 
 
 Narcissus, III. 21, 37 
 Nemophila, III. 73 
 
 Oleander, IV. 65 
 Orange Lily, IV. 5 
 Oriental Poppy, II. 5 
 Oxlip, III. 145 
 
 Pteony, III. 17 
 Pansy, V. 101 
 Passion Flower, IV. 1:1 
 Pea, Everlasting, I. 105 
 Pea, Sweet, I. 113 
 Pelargonium, III. 65 
 Pentstemon, II. 73 
 Perpetual Rose, II. 61 
 Persian Cyclamen, II. 157 
 Petunia, I. 9, 129 
 Pheasant's Eye, IV. 149 
 Phlox, I. 21 
 Picotee. V. 17 
 
 Pink, V. 65 
 Polyanthus, II. 69 
 Poppy, I. 153 
 Poppy Anemone, II. 41 
 Primrose, II. 77 ; IV. 49 
 
 Ranunculus, II. 89 
 
 Rhododendron, V. 61 
 
 Rose (York and Lancaster) , I. 57 
 
 Rock Rose, III. 25 
 
 Rose of Sharon, II. 49 
 
 Rosy Clarkia, III. 109 
 
 Rudbeckia, I. 45 
 
 Salvia, III. 41 
 Saxifrage, HI. 9 
 Siberian Squill, IV. 109 
 Snapdragon, II. 13 
 Snowdrop, I. 137 
 Spanish Iris, V. 1 
 Spider-wort, III. 65 
 Star of Bethlehem, II. 105 
 Stock, II. 121 ; IV. 153 
 Sunflower, III. 57 
 Swallow-wort Gentian, IK. 61 
 Sweet Pea, I. 113 
 Sweet "William, V. SI 
 Syringa, III. 33 
 
 Tacsonia, V. 21 
 
 Tansy, II. 101 
 
 Torch Lily, V. 23 
 
 Tulip, HI. 129 
 
 Turbinate Bell-Flower, III. 141 
 
 Valerian, III. 5 
 Verbena, V. 105 
 Virginia Stock, I. 81 
 
 "Wallflower, I. 1 
 White Lily, I. 13 
 Wind-Flower, IV. 65 " 
 Winged Broom, III. 105 
 Winter Aconite, 1. 157 
 Wisteria, IV. 125 
 
 Yarrow, V. 137 
 
 York and Lancaster Rose, I. 57 
 
 Zinnia, V. 1 15 
 
INDEX OF BOTANICAL NAMES. 
 
 The Roman number refers to the Volume in which an account and figure of the 
 plant may be found, and the Arabic number to the page. 
 
 Abutilon striatum, II. 45 
 Achillea asplenifolia, V. 137 
 Aehimenes longiilora, III. 2y 
 Aconitum napellus, I. 5 
 Adonis autumualis, IV. 140 
 Agapanthus umbellatus, V. 61 
 Ageratum Mexicanum, IV. 121 
 Altluea rosea, V. 89 
 Amaranthus caudatus, V. 57 
 Auiygdalus communis, HI. St 
 Anemone apennina, IT. 137 
 ,, coronaria, II. 41 
 ,, hepatica, HI. 121 
 ,, Japortica, V. 13 
 
 Antirrhinum majus, II. 13 
 Aquilegia leptoceras, II. 07 
 
 „ vulgaris, I. 93 
 Aster amellus, I. 25 
 Azalea Pontica, HI. 53 
 
 Begonia hydrocotylifolia, V. 03 
 ,, intermedia, III. 85 
 ,, Mont Blanc, I. 109 
 
 Bellis perennis, IV. 157 
 
 Berberis aquifolia, IV. 1 
 Darwini, III. 1 
 
 Bouvardia triphylla, V. 9 
 
 Browallia elata, I. 101 
 
 Calceolaria hybrida, IV. 117 
 Calendula officinalis, I. 61 
 Calistemma hortensis, I. 133 
 Camellia Japonica, III. 131 
 Campanula medium, I. 41 
 
 ,, turbinata, III. 141 
 
 Centaurea cyanea, II. 117 
 Cheiranthus Alpinus, IV. 53 
 
 ,, cheiri, I. 1 
 
 Chrysanthemum coronarium, II. 
 ,, Indicum, V. 53 
 
 Cineraria cruenta, II. 21 
 Clarkia pulchella, IH. 109 
 Clematis flammula, V. 140 
 ,, montana, IV. 21 
 „ rubro-violaeea, I. 141 
 Commelina ceelestis, I. 89 
 Convallaria majalis, III. 97 
 Convolvulus major, V. 109 
 „ minor, IV. 61 
 
 Coreopsis laneeolata, V. 125 
 
 Coronilla glauca, IT. 93 
 Crassula coccinea, II. 9 
 
 Crataegus oxyacantha, V. 49 
 Ci'ocus vermis, I. 149 
 Cuphea platycentra, V. 133 
 Cyclamen Persieum, II. 157 
 Cypripedium longifolium, II. 125 
 Cytisus laburnum, H. 57 
 ,, racemosus, IV. 93 
 
 ^Dahlia variabilis, V. 29 
 Daphne mezereuui, II. 1-11 
 Delphinium formosum, II. 133 
 Dcutzia gracilis, IV. 17 
 Dianthus barbatus, V. 81 
 
 ,, caryophyllus, IV. 113 ; Y. ii 
 
 ,, Chinensis, I. 73 
 
 ,, plumarius, V. 65 
 Dielytra spectabilis, V. 141 
 Digitalis purpurea, II . 17 
 Dodecatheon Meadia, III. 93 
 
 Eranthis hyemalis, I. 157 
 Erica Cavcndishiana, HI. 153 
 
 ,, hyemalis, IV. 41 
 Eryngium amethystinum, V. 5 
 Erythronium dens-canis, IV. 9 
 Eschscholtzia Californica, II. 33 
 
 Fritillaria Imperialis, II, 1 
 Fuchsia gracilis, I. 29 
 
 ,, spectabilis, III. 117 
 
 Galanthus nivalis, I. 137 
 Geni&ta sagittalis, III. 105 
 Gentiana acaulis, V. 73 
 
 ,, asclcpiadca, III. 61 
 Geranium sanguineum, II. 81 
 Geum coecineum, III. 13 
 
 ,, sylvaticum, III. 101 
 Gladiolus gandavensis, I. 77 
 Gloxinia speciosa, IV. 137 
 Glycine Sinensis, IV. 125 
 
 Helianthemum vulgare, III. 25 
 Helianthus annuus, III. 57 
 Helichrysum monstrosum, IV. 20 
 Heliotropium corymbosum, IV. 77 
 Helleborus niger, I. 33 
 Hemerocallis flava, V. 113 
 
64 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 Hieracium aurantiacum, IV. 145 
 Hyacinthus orientalis, IV. 73 
 Hydrangea hortensis, III. 89 
 Hypericum calycinum, II. 49 
 
 Iberia umbellata, V. 129 
 Impatiens balsamina, I. 53 
 
 ,, glandulifera, V. 45 
 Iris Germanics, I. 125 
 
 ,, xiphium, V. I. 
 Ixia crateroides, II. 109 
 
 Jasminum nudiflorum, I. 97 
 ,, officinale, I. 65 
 „ revolutum, II. 113 
 
 Kerria Japonica, IV. 25 
 
 Lachenalia luteola, III. 49 
 Lamium maculatum, IV. 57 
 Lapageria rosea, V. 77 
 Lathyius latifolius, I. 105 
 ,, odoratus, I. 113 
 Lavandula vera, I. 37 
 Lilium candidum, I. 13 
 
 „ chalcedonicuui, V. 117 
 
 ,, croceum, IV. 5 
 
 ,, pomponiura, I. 145 
 Linum grandifloruin, I. 121 
 
 ,, usitatissimum, V. 121 
 Lobelia erinus, I. 85 
 Lonicera caprifolium, I. 117 
 Lunaria biennis, III. 137 
 Lychnis coronaria, V. 33 
 
 „ dioica, IV. 81 
 
 Magnolia Soulangeana, IV. 45 
 Malcomia maritima, I. 81 
 Malope grandiflora, II. 53 
 Malva Creeana, II. 149 
 Marshal Niel, V. 37 
 Mathiola annua, II. 121 ; IV. 103 
 Mimulus luteus, III. 77 
 
 ,, moschatus, I. 33 
 Muscari botryoides, IV. 97 
 Myosotie palustris, V. 97 
 
 Narcissus incomparabilis, V. 157 
 „ juneifolius, IV. 37 
 ,, poeticus, IV. 89 
 ,, pseudonarcissus, III. 21 
 ,, tazetta, III. 37 
 
 Nemophila insignis, III. 73 
 
 Nerium oleander, IV. 65 
 
 Ornithogalum umbellatuni, II. 105 
 Pteonia officinalis, III. 1 7 
 
 Papaver orientale, II. 5 
 
 „ somniferum, I. 153 
 Passiflora cserulea, IV. 13 
 Pelargonium lateripes, II. 129 
 ,, speciosum, III. 65 
 
 ,, zonale, II. 37 
 
 Pentstemou gentianoides, II. 73 
 Petunia Phoenicia, I. 9 
 Phlox paniculata, I. 21 
 Phyllocactus crenatus, V. 81 
 Platycodon grandiflorum, III, 125 
 Plumbago eapensis, V. 153 
 Folemonium cseruleum, IV. 85 
 
 ,, reptans, III. 5 
 
 Potentilla alpeBtris, II. 85 
 Primula elatior, II. 69 ; III. 145 
 
 ,, prsenitens, IV. 105 
 Sieboldii, IV. 49 
 
 ,, verticillata, II. 141 
 
 ,, vulgaris, II. 77 
 Pulmonaria officinalis, III. 45 
 Pyrethrum roseum, II. 1 53 
 Pyrus Japonica, II. 29 
 
 Ranunculus acris, IV. 101 
 
 „ amplexicaulis, IV. 69 
 
 ,, Asiaticus, II. 39 
 
 Reseda odorata, V. 41 
 Rhododendron Ponticum, V. 61 
 Richardia _aLthiopica, IV. 129 
 Rosa Damascena, I. 59 
 
 ,, hybrida, II. 61 
 Rudbeckia hirta I. 45 
 
 Salvia Boliviana, III. 41 
 
 ,, patens, I. 69 
 Saxifraga ligulata, HI. 9 
 
 ,, umbrosa, IV. 141 
 Scilla Siberica, TV. 109 
 Silene pendula, IH, 157 
 Syringa grandiflora, III. 63 
 
 Tacsonia Van Volxemi, V. 21 
 
 Tagetes erecta, I. 49 
 
 Tanacetum rulgave, II. 101 
 
 Tradescantia Virginica, ILL &> 
 
 Tritoma uvaria, V. 25 
 I Trollius Europaius, LU. 113 
 ■ Tropseolum canariense, I. 17 
 
 ,, majus and minus, IV. 133 
 
 Tulipa Gesneriana, II. 65 
 3, preecox, III. 12U 
 
 ! Verbena hybrida, V. 105 
 i Viola tricolor, V. 101 
 Viburnum opulus, III. 149 
 
 Zinnia elegans, V. 145 
 
INDEX OF BOTANICAL ORDERS. 
 
 AMARAKTHA CEAi. 
 
 Amaranthus caudatus, V. 57 
 
 AJIAJS YLL1DA CEAi. 
 G-alanthus nivalis, I. 137 
 Narcissus incomparabilis, V. 107 
 ,, junoifolius, IV. 37 
 „ iDoeticus, IV. 89 
 ,, pseudonarcissus, III. 21 
 „ tazetta, III. 37 
 
 API AGE JE. 
 Eryngium amethystinum, V. 5 
 
 APOGYNACEJE. 
 Nerium oleander, IV. 65 
 
 ARADACEAJ. 
 Eichardia -SJthiopica, IV. 129 
 
 AHTEEACEJE. 
 See COMPOSITE. 
 
 BALSAMACEJE. 
 Impatiens balsamif era, I. 53 
 ,, glandulifera, V. 45 
 
 BEGONIACEJE. 
 Begonia hydrocotyKioba, V. 93 
 ,, intermedia, III. 85 
 „ Mont Blanc, I. 109 
 
 BERBERIDA VEAi. 
 Berberis aquifolia, IV. 1 
 „ Darwinii, III. 1 
 
 BORAGINAGEAi. 
 Myosotis palustris, V. 97 
 Pulmonaria officinalis, III. 45 
 
 BRASSICACEJi. 
 Cheiranthus Alpinus, IV 53 
 
 „ cheiri, I. 1 
 
 Iberis umbellata, V. 129 
 Lunaria biennis, III. 137 
 Malcomia maritima, I. 81 
 Mai hiola annua, II. 121., IV. 153 
 
 CACTACEJE. 
 Phyllocactus crenatus, V. 81 
 
 l i'AMPANULACEAi. 
 
 Campanula medium, I. 41 
 
 ,, turbinata, III. 141 
 
 Platycodon grandiflorum, III. 125 
 
 CA FRI FOLIA CEAi. 
 Lonioera caprifolium, I. 117 
 Viburnum opulus, III. 149 
 
 GAR YOPHYLLA CEAi. 
 Dianthus barbatus, V. 81 
 
 ,, caryophyllus, IV. 113; 
 
 V. 17 
 ,, Chinensis, I. 73 
 ,, plumarius, V. 65 
 Lychnis coronaria, V. 33 
 
 „ dioica, IV. 81 
 Silene pendula, III. 157 
 
 CIST ACE JE. 
 Helianthemum vulgare, III. 25 
 
 COMPOSITJE. 
 Achillea asplenif olia, V. 1 37 
 Ageratum Mexicanum, IV. 121 
 Aster amellus, I. 25 
 Bellis perennis, IV. 157 
 Calendula officinalis, I. 61 
 Callistemma hortensis, I. 15! 
 Centaurea cyanea, II. 117 
 Chrysanthemum coronarium, II. 25 
 
 ,, Indicuni, V. 53 
 
 Cineraria cruenta, II. 21 
 Coreopsis lanceolata, V. 1 25 
 Dahlia variabilis, V. 29 
 Helianthus annuus, III. 57 
 Helichrysum monstrosum, IV. 29 
 Hieracium aurantiacum, IV. 145 
 Pyrethrum roseum, II. 153 
 BudbecMa hirta, I. 45 
 Tagetes erecta, I. 49 
 Tanacetum vulgare, II. 101 
 Zinnia elegans, V. 145 
 
 COMMELINA CEAi'. 
 Commelina ctelestis, I. 89 
 Tradescantia Virginica, III. 65 
 
ICG 
 
 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
 
 CONVOL VUZACEAi. 
 Convolvulus major, V. 109 
 ,, minor, IV. 61 
 
 CRASSULACEJE. 
 Crassula cocoinea, II. 9 
 
 DRUPACEJU. 
 Amygdalus communis, III. 31 
 
 EHRETIACEAH. 
 
 Heliotropiuni corymbosum, IV. 77 
 
 ERICACEAi. 
 Azalea Pontica, III. 53 
 Erica Cavendishiaua, III. 153 
 
 ,, liyemalis, IV. 41 
 Rhododendron Ponticum, V. 61 
 
 FABACEJE. 
 
 Coronilla glauca, II. 93 
 Cytisus laburnum, II. 57 
 ,, racemosus, IV. 93 
 Genista sagittalis, III. 105 
 Glycine Sinensis, IV. 125 
 Lathyrus latifolius, I. 105 
 ,, odoratus, I. 113 
 
 FUMARIAGEAS. 
 Dielytra spectabilis, V. 141 
 
 GENTIANAGEAi. 
 Gentiana acaulis, V. 73 
 
 „ asclepiadea, III. 61 
 
 GERANIACEAS. 
 Geranium sanguineum, II. 81 
 Pelargonium lateripes, II. 129 
 ,, speciosum, III. 65 
 
 ,, zonale, II. 37 
 
 GESNERAGEAH. 
 Achimenes longifolia, III. 29 
 Gloxinia speoiosa, IV. 137 
 
 HYDRANGEA CEJE. 
 
 Hydrangea hortensis, III. 89 
 
 HYDROPHYLLA GEJ5. 
 Nemophila insignis, III. 73 
 
 UYPERICACEJE. 
 Hypericum calycinum, II. 49 
 
 IRIDACEAE. 
 
 Crocus vermis, I. 149 
 Gladiolus gandavensis, I. 77 
 Iris Gerraanica, I. 125 
 
 „ xiphium, V. 1 
 Ixia crateroides, II, 109 
 
 JASMINAGEJE. 
 Jasminum nudiflorum, I. 97 
 ,, officinale, I. 65 
 
 ,, revolutum, II. 113 
 
 LAMIAGEJE. 
 Lamium maculatum, IV. 57 
 Lavandula vera, I. 37 
 Salvia Boliviana, III. 41 j( / 
 
 ,, patens, I. 69 
 
 LILIACEAi. 
 Agapanthus umbellatus, V. 61 
 'Convallaria majalis, III. 97 
 Erythroniuin dens-canis, IV. 9 
 Fritillaria Impprialis, II. 1 
 Hemerocallis flava, V. 113 
 Hyacinthus orientalis, IV. 73 
 Lachenalja luteola, III. 49 
 Lilium candidum, I. 13 
 
 ,, chalcedonicum, V. 117 
 
 ,, croceum, IV. 5 
 
 ,, pomponium, I. 145 
 Muscari botryoides, IV. 97 
 Ornithogalum umbellatum, II. 1U-5 
 Scilla Siberica, IV. 109 
 Tritoma uvaria, V. 15 
 Tulipa Gesneriana, II. '65 
 
 ,, prEecox, III. 129 
 
 LIN ACE 'JE. 
 Linum granditloruin, I. 121 
 ,, usitatissimum, V. 121 
 
 LOBELIACEAi. 
 Lobelia erinus, I. 
 
 85 
 
 LYTKRACEAi. 
 Cuphea platycentra, V. 133 
 
 MAGNOLIACEJE. 
 
 Magnolia Soulangeana, IV. 41 
 
 M.ALYAOE-E. 
 
 Abutilon striatum, II. 45 
 Althaea rosea, V. 89 
 Malope grandiflora, II. 53 
 Malva Creeana, II. 149 
 
 OLE AGE Ai. 
 Syringa, III. 33 
 
 ONAGRAGEJE. 
 Clarlria pulchella, III. 109 
 Fuchsia gracilis, I. 29 
 
 „ spectabilis, III. 117. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 167 
 
 - ORCUISAOEJE. 
 
 Cypripedium longifolium, II. 125 
 
 PAPAVIiRACEAi. 
 Eschseholtzia Californica, II. 33 
 Papaver orientale, II. 5 
 „ somniferum, I. 153 
 
 PASSIELORACEAi. 
 - Passiflora cterulea, IV. 13. 
 Tacsonia Van Volxemi, V. 21 
 
 PHIlADELI'KACEAi. 
 Deutzia gracilis, IV. 17 
 
 PHILESIACEAi. 
 Lapageria rosea, V. 77 
 
 PRIJIULACVAi. 
 
 Cyclamen Persicum, II.- 157 
 Dodecatheon Meadia, III. 93 
 Primula elatior, II. 69; III. 115 
 ,, pramitens, IV. 105 
 
 Sieboldii, IV. 49 
 ,, verticillata, II. 141 
 ,, vulgaris, II. 77 
 
 PL ra/2L / GIN ACE Ai. 
 Plumbago caj^ensis, V. 153 
 
 POLEMOXICEAi. 
 Phlox paniculata, I. 21. 
 Polemonium casruleum, IV. 85 
 ,, rep tans, III. 5. 
 
 POM ACE Ai. 
 
 Cratffigus oxyacantha, V. 4!) 
 Pyrus Japonica, II. 29 
 
 RAXUXC VIA CE^ E. 
 Aconitum napellus, I. 5. 
 Adonis autumnalis, IV. 149 
 Anemone apennina, II. 137 
 
 ,, coronaria, II. 41 
 
 ,, hepatica, III. 121. 
 
 ,, Japonica, V. 13 
 Aquilegia leptoceras, II. 97 
 
 ,, vulgaris, I. 93. 
 Clematis flammula, V. 149. 
 
 ,, montana, IV. 21. 
 
 ,, rubro-violacea, I. 141 
 Delphinium formosum, II. 133 
 Eranthis hyemalis, I. 157 
 
 RA XVNCVLA CEAi (continual). 
 Helleborus niger, I. 33 
 Pteonia officinalis, III. 17 
 Ranunculus aeris, IV. 101 
 
 ,, amplexicaulis, IV. 69 
 ,, Asiatious, II. 89 
 Trollius Europsaus, III. 113 
 
 RESEDACEAi. 
 
 Reseda odorata, V. 41 
 
 ROSA CEAI. 
 G-eum coccineum, III. 13. 
 
 ,, sylvaticum, III. 101. 
 Kerria Japonica, IV. 25 
 Mart'chal Niel, V. 37 
 Potentilla alpestris II. 85 
 Rosa Damascena, I. 57 
 
 ,, hybrida, II. 61 
 
 IlVr.IACEAZ. 
 Bouvardia triphylla, V. 9 
 
 SAXIFRA GA CEAi. 
 Saxifraga ligulata, III. 9 
 ,, umbrosa, IV. 141 
 
 SCROPII ULA RIA CEAi. 
 Antirrhinum majus, II. 13 
 Browallia elata, I. 101. 
 Calceolaria hybrida, IV. 113 
 Digitalis purpurea, II. 17 
 Murrains luteus, III. 77 
 
 ,, moschatus, IV. 33 
 Pentstemon gentianoides, II. 73 
 
 SOLAXAf'EAi. 
 Petunia Phoenicia, I. 9 ; I. 129 
 
 TERNSTR OMIA CEAi. 
 Camellia Japonica, III. 131 
 
 THYMELACE.E. 
 Daphne mezereum, II. 141. 
 
 TROPAiOLIACEAi. 
 Tropseolum canariense, I. 17 
 
 ,, majus-and minus, IV. 
 
 133 
 
 VERBEXACEAi. 
 Verbena hybrida,_V. 105. ' 
 
 VIOL ACE Ai. 
 Viola tricolor, V. 101. 
 
 Printed by Oaksell & Company, Limited, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.G.