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The Country Gentleman's Magazine 



HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



AJUGA REPTANS (Common Bugle).— 

 A most useful and interesting plant, 

 by no means rare in moist meadows and open 

 woods in this country. There are two 

 varieties of this species, one with white, the 

 other with pale purple flowers ; there is also 

 a variegated form. All are useful plants for 

 the flower garden, as edging plants or other- 

 wise; spikes about 6 inches high, flov/ers in 

 whorls — April and ]\Iay. 



Ajiiga pyramidalis (Geneva Bugle). — This 

 is a biennial species, native ■ of Southern 

 Europe, in some respects differing little from 

 the preceding. The spike diminishing up- 

 wards gives it a pyramid form ; spike of 

 flowers longer and more hardy. It does not 

 produce runners, and succeeds well in the 

 open border in a moist shady situation, grows 

 about a foot high, and blooms in May. Both 

 species are easily propagated by cuttings of 

 the side shoots, at any moist mild season of 

 the year. 



A^lchemilla vulgaris (Bearsfoot or Ladies' 

 Mantle). — A well - known native plant, 

 common on sloping banks and high pastures ; 

 yellowish green, perhaps more interesting than 

 beautiful, being destitute of any corollas. 

 But, taken as a whole, it is worthy of a place in 

 the most select collection ; the leaves, which 

 are sustained in long petals, are divided into 

 several lobes, roundish and scalloped at the 

 edges (hence the name, Ladies' Mantle.) The 

 flower-stems are often a foot or more high, 

 divided into many branches, and have at each 

 •joint one small leaf, shaped like those pro- 

 ceeding immediately from the root. The 

 variety with variegated leaves is a grand 

 addition to the list of hardy border plants. 

 The leaves are fully as large as those of 

 the species, but the flower-stems do not 

 branch out so much. Both bloom in April 

 and May. 



Alchemina alpina (a Mountain Ladies' 

 Mantle), and A. conjunctor (the Caucasian 

 Ladies' Mantle), are valuable rock plants. 



When once thoroughly established, they 

 propagate themselves fast enough by seed. 



Allium. — Very few of the many species of 

 Garlic are worthy of cultivation as hardy 

 ornamental plants. The following is a selec- 

 tion : — A. molle is worthy of a place in the 

 mixed border, for the sake of its bright 

 yellow flowers, which are showy; the three 

 outer petals are spreading, the three inner 

 ones erect; lasts several weeks in perfection. 

 It should be planted at some distance from 

 the walk, its strong Garlic scent being 

 objectionable; grows about i8 inches high, 

 and flowers in IMay. A. roseum, as an early 

 blooming species, and A. odoratum, as a late 

 bloomer, with white flowers, are probably the 

 best and cheapest kinds. They are natives 

 of the Pyrenees, and succeed well in any 

 garden soil. They increase rapidly by 

 division, which should be done in autumn. 



AlsircE7)mria. — A genus of singularly in- 

 teresting and beautiful plants, tuberous-rooted 

 perennials, natives of Mexico and South 

 America, but quite hardy in good light, well- 

 drained soils ; in most parts of Britain, in 

 damp, tenacious soils, they are liable to die 

 out, in which case they should be grown in 

 pots in a cold frame, and plunged in the open 

 border in April. They bloom during July 

 and August. A. Pelegrina is a charming 

 species, with whitish flowers, beautifully 

 veined and spotted with red. A. aurea, and 

 A. psittacina, with purple flowers, are the 

 hardiest and best. 



Althcca officinalis (Common Marsh Mal- 

 low) A. narbonensis (Narbon Mallow), and 

 A. rosea (Rose Mallow). The latter is a 

 Chinese species, and the parent of our noble 

 race of Hollyhocks. These are particularly 

 worthy of attention as good subjects for the 

 sub-tropical gardens, often growing from six 

 to eight feet high in moist ground, blooming 

 late in the season in great profusion. They 

 will grow in almost any soil or situation, are 

 increased by seed or division. Early spring 



