Suggestions for the hnprovement of the Verbena 



47 



ment in which little or almost nothing has ornamental ; and by the latter, long endur- 



yet been done. By prosecuting the foimer ance in the tiowers, that invariable accom- 



the most objectionable feature in the plants paniment of doubling, \ull be obtained — 



may not only be overcome, but rendered really W. G. 



HERBACEOUS AND ALPIXE PLANTS. 



[Continued from vol. \-iii., page 405 1 



ACHILLEA forms a numerous genera 

 of herbaceous fibrous-rooted peren- 

 nials, mostly natives of southern Europe, 

 several of which are purely alpine, perfectly 

 hardy in this countr}', and worthy of a place 

 in large collections. The following selec- 

 tion will meet the requirements of %illa gar- 

 deners : — 



A. tomentosa. — A lovely plant for the mixed 

 border; leaves tomentose, very finely cut, 

 with a stem-clasping petiole ; flowers yellow, 

 ^^•ith a fine aromatic smell ; continues a long 

 time in beauty, and a plant which should be 

 in every collection. It will grow in almost 

 any soil or situation; height about iS inches ; 

 flowers from ]May to August. 



A. Alilkfolium. — The rose and variegated 

 sorts are very pretty varieties of the common 

 ]Milfoil or Yarrow, which grows so plenti- 

 fully by the roadsides in many parts of Eng- 

 land. These are amongst the most elegant 

 of our dwarf-growing native plants, the former 

 bearing close broad-topped corj^mbs of a 

 lovely rose colour, instead of white, as in the 

 common type ; the latter is a variegated form 

 of the common species. Both are admirably 

 adapted for rockery cultivation, but will ac- 

 commodate themselves equally well in the 

 open border and in any ordinary garden 

 soil. The variegated variety makes a fine 

 edging plant for large beds. 



A. umbellata is also a fine rock plant, and 

 well suited for edgings, silvery-leaved, very 

 hardy, and dwarf. 



A. AEgyptiaca is also a fine rock plant, de- 

 lighting in a dry exposed situation, a fine 

 subject for variety, having very pretty foliage. 



and pale yellow flowers ; seldom exceeds i 

 foot in height. 



A. ptarmica, commonly known in this 

 country as Sneezewort, from the dried pov/der 

 of the leaves ha%ang a tendency to provoke 

 sneezing ; common in some parts of Britain 

 by the sides of ditches, Sec. A most useful 

 plant for the sub-tropical garden, shrubber)', 

 or mixed border. The flowers are white, on 

 stems reaching from 2j4 to 3 feet high in 

 good ground. This is the same plant which 

 is known in some country places under the 

 name of Bastard Pellitory. The roots, -which 

 have a bitterish aromatic taste, are some- 

 times used as a remedy for toothache. There 

 is also a very fine double form of this species. 

 A. macrophylla, A. Eupatorium, and 

 A. filipendula, will be useful species for the 

 sub-tropical garden. 



A. tanacetHoUa, A. aurea, A. ageratujn, and 

 A. Clavennce, will come in well for the mixed 

 border. This latter species, I may say, is a 

 fine rock plant. 



All the species of Achillea may be propa- 

 gated by division of the roots, either in spring 

 or autumn. ]SIany of them are readily in- 

 creased by seeds, which should be sown in 

 ]\Iarch, and transplanted as soon as strong 

 enough to handle. These will flower the 

 following summer. A strong loamy soil 

 suits them best. 



Acorus Calamus (the common Sweet Flag) 

 is found growing wild in some parts of Eng- 

 land, in wet marshy places and on river 

 banks. It has long sword-shaped leaves, 

 and a singular cylindrical spike of flowers, 

 rendering it a valuable and a distinctive 



