Aug. 1, 1SG9.J 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



171 



actually not been dug over since the autumn of 

 1867, when I pricked in my first plants. Last 

 autumn the young seedlings came up a fortnight 

 after I had pulled up the old plants ; and as they 

 completely bid the ground, I left them. I have it 

 also growing in a bed of Standard Rose-trees, 

 where it is very luxuriant, and serves to hide the 

 naked stocks. The great fault of Geranium hccidum 

 is that the flowers are not quite sufficiently numerous ; 

 but by careful selection, it is quite possible that a 

 floribund variety might be obtained ; probably also 

 a white variety. 



Many of our wild flowers are so pretty that I am 

 quite sure they only want introducing into gardens 

 to be appreciated, needing no improvement. Myo- 

 sotis sylvatica is already a favourite, and is admitted 

 into very " swell " gardens now ; but I have seen it 

 grown in cottage gardens ever since I was a boy. 

 It contrasts admirably with Woodruff (Aspertila 

 odorata). A beautiful early spring bed would be a 

 centre of Yellow Dead-nettle {Galeobdolon luteum); 

 next, a ring of Purple Orchis, then one of Woodruff, 

 the whole surrounded by Eorget-me-nots. These 

 might alternate with later plants to succeed them 

 (after the manner of "Hornby Mills Garden" so 

 pleasantly described by Henry Kingsley*), in which 

 Campanulas, foxglove, Golden Rod, Speedwell, 

 Geraniums of various kinds, Chrysanthemums, and 

 many others — some or all of them— might play their 

 parts. 



The best way to begin to improve wild flowers 

 would be collect the seeds of any that are fixed upon 

 as likely subjects, during the autumn. When this 

 seed is sown in good rich soil, especially if it be 

 quite different from its native soil, — as, for instance, 

 bringing seed from chalk to sandstone, and vice 

 versa — there is great probability of some change 

 taking place. Most plants are enlarged and im- 

 proved by successive growth in richer soil, but many 

 varieties may be raised as well. If any variety is 

 deemed worth perpetuating and intensifying, the 

 proper way is to pull up every other plant of the 

 kind, so that it may not be impregnated with the 

 undesirable varieties, and to save seed from that 

 plant only. The chances are that next year the 

 seed will produce a considerable number of plants 

 of the desired variety, some of which will be more 

 fully developed than the parent. These must in 

 like manner be selected, destroying all others, and 

 at last permanent varieties, often very unlike the 

 original, are formed. Plants are very pliant in the 

 hands of the skilful floriculturist, and there is no 

 saying what curious changes may be induced by 

 careful selection; but time and patience are re- 

 quired. 



It is rather curious, however, to find, when we 

 look over a catalogue of British plants, how many 



* Argosy, vol. i. p. 394. 



there are that already serve to adorn our gardens 

 some that could not very well be spared ; such as 

 Sweet Violets, Wallflowers, and Lily of the Valley 

 Golden Ball, Columbine, Broom, London Pride, 

 Periwinkle, Jacob's Ladder, Primroses and Cow- 

 slips, Thrift, Mezereon and Eritillary, are all wild 

 English plants, and are all constantly seen in 

 gardens. 



I can count up nearly one hundred and fifty wild 

 plants that I have seen in cultivation. Many of these, 

 like Monkshood, Rose of Sharon, Evening Primrose, 

 Borage, and Snowdrops, are questionable natives ; 

 and I have no doubt that some have originally 

 escaped from gardens, especially such as were likely 

 to have been cultivated, because they possessed 

 strong medicinal qualities, and have become wild. 

 Some are grown in their natural wild condition, but 

 many are only admitted into gardens when they have 

 become double, like Lady's Smock, Anemone, and 

 Marsh Marigold, or when they have variegated 

 leaves like the cultivated form of Coltsfoot. 



Some of the following plants seem to me to be 

 particularly suitable for cultivation or improvement. 



Anemone nemorosa, especially a delicate blue variety 

 that is sometimes found. 



Viola sylvatica, var. Riviniana, the flowers being 

 large and numerous. 



Polygala vulgaris, an intense blue, but the flowers 

 would require to be greatly increased in size. Varies 

 to white and pink. 



Genista tinctoria, as handsome a plant as the 

 greenhouse lemon-scented Cytisus. 



Vicia sylvatica, a very elegant climbing plant. 



Vicia Cracca. 



Prunus Padus, the Bird Cherry. This is sometimes 

 planted; it is one of the most beautiful flowering 

 shrubs that grows. 



Potentilla Anserina, leaves and flowers both hand- 

 some. 



Potentilla Tormentilla, flowers capable of great 

 enlargement, and very prone to become double. 



Chrysanthemum leticanthemum. Several annual 

 Chrysanthemums of this character of flower have of 

 late been introduced into the seedsmen's lists, but 

 I have not yet seen one to compare with our wdd 

 plant. 



Jasione montana. 



Euphrasia officinalis, Eyebright. This little plant- 

 grows in the form of a pretty miniature shrub. There 

 is a lilac variety, which is very pretty. 



I hope these few' remarks and hints that I have 

 written may induce some of the readers of Science- 

 Gossip to begin working at a subject which, if it 

 should lead to no practical results, has, at any rate, 

 the merit of a little novelty. But wild plants under 

 cultivation are sure to undergo some curious changes, 

 and the observation of these can scarcely fail to be 

 of scientific interest. 



Robert Holland. 



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