THE FLOEAL WOELD A^^D GAEDEN GUIDE. 109 



till toe beginning of June, and should then be planted out. In 

 sheltered places they will all survive a mild winter in England, but in 

 exposed districts they will probably perish. The most hardy of all are 

 Bocconia cordata and B. Jajyonica, and these are also the two best for 

 plantiDg out. It would be well to keep a few in pots, shifting them 

 oa to pots of at least six inches diameter during the summer. These, 

 the second year, would take the place of any that the winter destroyed. 

 A good plan to protect such things in winter is to place over them 

 large empty flower-pots, and cover the flower-pots with a heap of 

 straw or cone of coal-ashes. Bocconia frutescens is equally adapted 

 for the garden in summer, but is the most tender, and must be 

 taken up before winter if it is desired to keep it. 



Scotch Thistle — Onopordon acanthmm. — This is supposed 

 to be well known, but it is not, for many inferior plants are substi- 

 tuted for it. I advise that the seed be purchased under the 

 Latin name, and that not a word be said about Scotch thistle. The 

 proper place for it is in front of the shrubbery, it is too coarse for 

 the flower-garden. Sow where the plants are to be, and thin them 

 to at least three feet apart. 



Chamcepuce diacantha. — This is one of the most elegant and re- 

 markable plants of late years introduced to our gardens. It is in 

 the fashion of a dwarf thistle, the leaves lying flat on the ground ; 

 the colour of the leaves is a greyish-green, and they are formidably 

 armed with long glistening silvery spines. The proper way to treat 

 this is to sow seeds every year, as the plants are in perfection the 

 second year, anrl after that may be expected to die ofi". vSow the 

 seeds two in a pot, using 6()-size, and place the pots in a gentle heat. 

 Some of the seeds are a long time before they vegetate, therefore do 

 not be in haste to throw them away. The plants need not be potted 

 off", but in June may be planted out, and in September should be 

 taken up for the winter. A rich mellow soil should be chosen, and 

 the position should be sunny. In case the plants should not be of 

 fair size by the middle of June, do not plant them out, but pot them 

 separately in 60-size, and plunge them the first season. The next 

 season plant them out in May. It makes a fine edging to a clump 

 of any such noble plants as solanums, and is quite worthy to fill a bed. 



Peeenxial CucuiiBEE — Cuciwiis pcrouiis. — This is an unknown 

 plant, to make it popular will be one of the duties of my stay 

 in England. At home we use it to cover rough banks and tall trel- 

 lises ; it runs about freely, and makes a grand display of large hoary 

 leaves. It is essentially ornamental. The plant is quite Jiardy, 

 and displays its full beauty and vigour onlij ivhen left several years in 

 the ground. I shall not speak of other plants of the cucumber, or 

 gourd tribes, because their beauties and uses are pretty well known. 



Ferula communis. — This is a splendid fern-like plant, well 

 adapted for the choice garden. Sow the seed in May in the open 

 border in the kitchen garden or reserve ground, covering it with a 

 tile till it germinates. Transplant them a foot apart, and let them 

 remain till the second season, when they may be planted where they 

 are to remain for embellishment ; on the margin of the shrubbery, 

 and near to water scenes, they are noble objects. 



