192 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



volumes of the Floral World. There are, of course, many more desirable books, 

 but these should be in the first list. 



Hardy Herbaceous Plants.— I am afraid that the request I have to make 

 may prove troublesome ; but I really cannot be offended if you decline to answer it, 

 for then I must watch your pages aUentively. I have a small garden, and enclose 

 a list of what plants I have in it ; but occasionally I am for a short time without 

 bloom, especially in the spring. Can you recommend a iQvr cheap herbaceous 

 plants to fill up those voids, and thereby greatly oblige — E. A. Moss Rose, Snow- 

 drop, Winter Aconite, Siberian Scillas, Crocus, Pansies, Colchicura vernum, Hepa- 

 ticas, Triteleia uniflora, Blue Anemone, Daisies, in sorts ; Tulips, early and late ; 

 Alpines, or Baziers ; Yellow Primrose, Wallflowers, Iberis semperflorens, Aubrietia 

 Campbelli, Violets, Hyacinthus Nonscriptus, Carnations, Picotees and Pinks, Nar- 

 cissus poetica, Moutan Pseony, Auricula-eyed Sweet William, Perpetual Roses, 

 in quantity ; Iris Germanica, Gentiana septemfida, Cheiranthus, in variety ; 

 Yellow Alyssum, CEnothern Missourensis, Fritillarias, Andromeda, Trollius Arceri- 

 canus, Phloxes, Saxifrages, Sedums, Bulbocodium vernum, Trumpet Lil}^, Gla- 

 diolus, Lilium lancifolium. Verbenas, Pentstemons, Lobelias, Colchicum autum- 

 nale. — [This is a very good list of E. A.'s, and may be useful to many of our 

 readers. As there is a lack of spring flowers, we recommend the addition of the 

 following : — Orobus vernus forms a bush-like mass, and is covered with purple 

 flowers in April ; Myosotis sylvatica, and M. alpestris, blooming freely in April and 

 May, and far surpassing in beauty the most costly jewellery. Plant patches of syl- 

 vatica wherever places can be found for them. Polyanthuses are not in the list. 

 Sow seed now, cr better still, buy a few hundred plants of Mr. Webb, of Calcot 

 Gardens, Reading. Narcissus bulbocodium is one of the best of all the spring 

 flowers. Nepeta violacea takes up the tale in blue when the spring flowers are just 

 over. Herbaceous pseonies come in at the same time superbly. Allium ursinum is 

 a pretty white flowering plant to flower at the same time as yellow Alyssum and 

 perennial Iberis. Anemone fulgens is a grand scarlet-flowering species for the 

 spring, scarce but invaluable. Aquilegias are also desirable, and all the kin^ls arc 

 good. Where established they sow themselves, and continually increase, and they 

 are at their best in May. Arabis alpina is not in the list ; it is indispensable for 

 sheets of white in April and May. Geranium sanguineum is a charming thing to 

 flower from the 1st of May to the end of August. Corydalis bulbosa presents its 

 pretty purple flowers in April. Dondia epipactis should be in the list, though it 

 flowers in March. If E. A. consults the O'Shane's lists many more good things may 

 be found.] 



AucuBA HiMALAicA. — I obscrve in the Floral World, in an article by you on 

 the Aucubas, the following remark on A. Himalaica: — "This appears to be quite 

 hardy, but has not, as far as we are aware, been fully tested as to its ability to 

 undergo the rigours of this climate." Now last June I placed in the open ground a 

 young plant of Himalaica, which stood all the rigour of the winter, without suffer- 

 ing in the least degree, and, too, after the hard weather had departed, pushed forth 

 its new leaves in a most vigorous manner. Close to this plant, Garrya elliptica, 

 JBuddlea globosa^ CeanotJius azureus, and Laurestinus, were cut to the ground, the 

 two first destroyed, root and branch. No doubt you will hear from other quarters, 

 but I thought you would like to have as much evidence as possible as to the hardi- 

 ness of the plant. — J. J., Winqham, Kent. 



Hardiness of Salsify. — My attention was directed to this root by an article in 

 your April number. I sowed abed of it, and a bed each of parsnips, three sons of 

 carrots, and of scorzonera on the 8th of April. About the middle of May the beds 

 ■were all green, showing a good plant. On the 23rd of May we had a bitter frost, wliich 

 destroyed all the young carrots, parsnips, and scorzonera, but left the salsify unhurt. 

 I am greatly obliged to you for suggesting the cultivation of this root, which I have 

 frequently heard of as a delicious vegetable when properly cooked. I think its 

 hardiness a great point in its favour. — T. R. [We sowed salsify on the 20th of 

 February, and the bed is evenly covered with strong plants after four severe frosts. 

 At Stoke Newington, all the early sown seeds, with the sole exception of the salsify 

 were destroyed by frost, and had to be sown again on the 2nd of May.] 



