1869.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 221 



delights in a cool somewhat shady situation, as on the north side of 

 rockwork, or a bed of shrubs, where it would escape the scorching 

 effects of the mid-day sun ; and in such circumstances it will be 

 found neither troublesome nor fugitive. 



Trachelmm is another genus of Campanulacese, which is very dis- 

 tinct in feature from any of the other genera. The only species, T. 

 cseruleum, which has proved hardy in this country is a native of south- 

 ern Italy. It grows about H foot high, with many erect stems clothed 

 with ovate acute dark olive-green leaves, and terminating in crowded co- 

 rymbs of dark azure-blue funnel-shaped flowers, lasting from June till 

 August. It is rather a showy plant while in flower, but the flowering 

 period is followed by one of considerable seediness. Its chief recom- 

 mendation is, that it adapts itself pretty comfortably to droughty situ- 

 ations, and is quite at home with a handful or two of soil on an old 

 wall or piece of rock. 



In the natural order Ericaceae there are very few hardy herbaceous 

 plants. Among the Chimaphilas, Pyrolas, and Monotropas, there are 

 some curious and pretty things ; but in a horticultural sense they are 

 almost destitute of beauty, and at the most can only be recommended 

 here for cultivation among alpines in partially-shaded rockwork, in 

 sandy peat and a little loam. They should never be disturbed while 

 doing well. But there are certain of the shrubby genera of this order 

 of plants which contain sjDecies and varieties of great excellence for 

 the herbaceous border, the margins of shrubberies, for grouping in 

 the spring garden, and for decorating rockwork, as taste and circum- 

 stances may prescribe. Erica yields the largest number of valuable 

 things for these purposes. E. carnea and its varieties form, perhaps, 

 the most interesting and beautiful group of these hardy heaths. 

 They begin to bloom often so early as January, and continue flower- 

 ing on till May and June. They are most easily cultivated, and, 

 being of dwarf compact habit, they are available for the spring garden ; 

 and if kept in pots in the reserve ground, their value as temporary 

 tenants of the beds of the summer flower-garden, in circumstances 

 requiring these to be filled in winter, is very high indeed. E. tetralix, 

 and the few varieties sprung from it, are handsome, and flower from 

 June till August and September. E. Australis is another early bloom- 

 ing species. It comes on in March, and lasts till the end of May, and 

 often into June. E. Mediterranea begins to flower about the same time 

 as the last-named species, but continues for a shorter period. This is by 

 some considered merely a more erect and taller form of E. carnea, but 

 as it is a remarkably distinct form, it is quite entitled to a specific 

 appellation in gardens at least. The var. nana alba of this species is 

 a fine compact sort for rockwork or for the spring garden. E. ciuerea. 



