52 ^ THE FLORIST. 



BRITISH PLANTS. 



While your excellent periodical is devoted chiefly to the cultivation 

 of Florists' flowers, one may perhaps be permitted to introduce also 

 some remarks on a few of our most important and conspicuous na- 

 tive plants. Many of these, if subjected to judicious treatment, would 

 doubtless admit of very material improvement, both in regard to the 

 character and beauty of the plant, and also in respect to the size and 

 colour of the flower. 



Who, e.g., could object to have numbered among our numerous 

 herbaceous plants the common Loosestrife (^Ly thrum Salicarid) } A 

 more showy and elegant plant probably could not be grow^n, while 

 it admits of the easiest possible culture. 



Sedum Telephium or Orpirie is already occasionally met with in 

 borders ; but it merits a more extensive cultivation. The flowers of 

 this exhibit almost a purple. The plant is common in this neigh- 

 bourhood in many lanes and fields. 



Helianthemum guttatum, or Rock-rose, would well repay any 

 labour bestowed upon it. I remember sowing some of its seeds, 

 where the plants were allowed to bloom, and then taking them to an 

 exhibition, at which, as a choice and delicate annual, and being in 

 full bloom, they attracted considerable attention, and were much ad- 

 mired. 



Geranium pratense, with its flowers of a beautiful blue colour, 

 and which contribute largely to adorn our different pastures in the 

 months of Jime and July, is in general considered to be a showy 

 plant, and may deserve experiment. Its height is about tw^o feet. 



Verbascum nigrum, as an opposite colour, its large corolla being 

 yellow, would succeed well if planted in our borders ; and when once 

 an inmate, from the attractive character of its flow^ers, it would not 

 be likely to be again set aside. 



The Alchemilla alpina boasts of a very pretty satin fohage, by 

 which it powerfully recommends itself to our culture and care. 

 Speaking of this species. Dr. Hooker observes, " this is one of the 

 most elegant of our native plants." 



Calamintha sylvatica, or the " New Calaminth," as so called, 

 has been only rather recently discovered, though the distinguished dis- 

 coverer, Dr. Bromfield, is now no more. This has been grown by me 

 in the following manner : the young plants were potted in autumn, 

 and during winter were aflPorded shelter in a cold frame. In the 

 month of April I transferred them to pots of a larger size, repeating 

 the operation in June. They were then watered copiously, and placed 

 in the shade. With such treatment I have grown them to a pro- 

 digious extent ; one plant consisting of upwards of fifty spikes, the 

 whole of which have at one time presented themselves in the most 

 complete mass of bloom. This method of growing the New Cala- 

 minth produces both plants and flowers unusually large, besides ren- 

 dering the plant exceedingly prolific in respect to bloom. 



Lysimachia vulgaris, the corolla of which exhibits a handsome 



