128 



THE FLORIST. 



trees on the margin of the forest. They derive their nourishment 

 from the decayed bark which has collected in the holes and crevices, 

 and there they produce their brilliant inflorescence amid a variety of 

 Passion-flowers, Bromelias, and Ferns. The creepers, like a graceful 

 tracery, interlace the branches, and swing to and fro in the breeze, 

 sometimes hanging from the trees a hundred feet, rendering it 

 scarcely possible to distinguish the gorgeous climbers from the trees 

 which they adorn. It is difficult to determine at what height Orchids 

 will grow. They flourish on the topmost branches, and are found 

 upon slender boughs a few yards from the ground. In general, how- 

 ever, they do not aff'ect great heights ; and their variety of form and 

 richness of colour attract attention even from the untaught savage. 

 Some that by accident have become detached from the trees may be 

 seen growing vigorously on the ground or upon stones. In such situ- 

 ations I have found Liparis elata, Cyrtopera Woodfordii, and some 

 of the Catasetums. Gattleyas flower as beautifully and as finely on 

 rocks as on trees. 



Hope Nurseries, Bedale. C. May. 



HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



The " massing -system" of flower -gardening, now so universally 

 adopted, has nearly driven these out of the field. Many of them, 

 however, are very pretty, and would well repay the little care and 

 attention which they require. A shrubbery or wall-border some four 

 or five feet broad might be made to assume a gay dress throughout 

 the year by judiciously classifying these plants. As regards their 

 heights and colours, the tallest should, of course, be kept farthest 

 from the walk, and in front a few patches of pretty annuals might be 

 introduced with advantage. The following list will supply plants 

 suitable for the purpose : 



Aconitum Starkianum ; blue, 3y feet high. 



bicolor ; blue and white, 4 feet high. 



Alyssum saxatile ; yellow, 6 inches high. 



Anemone coronaria pleno ; double scarlet, 10 inches high. 



Arabis caucasica ; white, 8 inches high. 



Aubrietia deltoidea ; pale lilac, 6 inches high. 



Campanula glomerata ; blue, 15 inches high. 



pleno ; double purple, 1-^ feet high. 



■ persicifolia maxima ; blue, 2 feet high. 



alba pleno ; double white, 15 inches high. 



urticifoUa pleno ; double white, 1-^ feet high. 



Ce7'astium frigidum ; white, 6 inches high. 

 Co?ydalis nob His ; yellow and brown, 15 inches high. 

 Dracocephalum argunense ; light blue, 1^ feet high. 

 Delphinium Barloicii ; blue and purple, double, 3 feet high. 



amoenmn ; blue, 5 feet high. 



dictyocarpum ; blue, 5 feet high. 



