i88i.] A FEW SHOWY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 419 



mixing with Bougainvillea glabra it is most useful, and if the two 

 plants are bloomed near each other, the effect of the two colours is 

 very chaste. 



Begonias of the ornamental - foliaged or Rex type are not so 

 much made use of as they might be. They are so extremely easy 

 to grow, and so clean and fresh-looking, that scarcely any other plant 

 is better adapted for growing below stages, by the sides of passages, or 

 any — often bare and unsightly — places in all houses that are slightly 

 above the temperature of a greenhouse. They even do under gratings 

 where such are used for paths ; and dotted here and there under stages, 

 with the general surface covered with Selaginella denticulata, few 

 things are more effective. All unsightly or bare places on the floor- 

 level of plant-houses can thus be clothed with very pleasing and re- 

 freshing-looking verdure. 



A FEW SHOWY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



Lythrum salicaria roseum superbum (Loosestrife). — This is one of 

 the finest hardy herbaceous plants that we have. It is a stately-look- 

 ing plant — well-established plants of it growing to 4 feet in height. The 

 stems are very stiff, and in sheltered positions it can be grown without 

 much, if any, support. It produces its long spikes of dark-rosy flowers 

 in July and August. It thrives, like other Lythrums, best in rather 

 damp deep soil ; and where these conditions of soil do not exist, it 

 requires to be well watered in dry weather. 



Galega officinalis alba (Goat's Rue). — This is also a stately and most 

 effective back-line plant in mixed borders. It produces its handsome 

 spikes of white flowers for a long time in succession. It is a Pea- 

 flower (Leguminosse), and is an excellent plant for supplying graceful 

 racemes of white flowers for mixing in glasses or any of the purposes 

 for which cut-flowers are used. Blooms from June till September. 



Anther^'* tinctoria. — This is a very brilliant golden-yellow daisy-look- 

 ing plant (a Chamomile) that forms a graceful bush about 2 feet high, 

 and flowers most profusely ; and now that single blooms are more in 

 fashion, it should be a favourite. At all events it is a most effective 

 border plant, producing blooms about the size of the Marguerite 

 Daisy. Blooms in July and early part of August. 



(Enothera speciosa (one of the Evening Primroses). — This is a most 

 showy white flower. It grows about 2 feet high, and produces large 

 blooms — quite 3 inches across — for a long time, from June till the 

 middle or end of August. 



Trollius davaricus. — As far as colour is concerned this is particularly 

 rich — a bright orange-yellow. The flowers are large and open, more 

 than 2 inches across. Height about 16 inches. Blooms in July and 

 August, and is a most effective plant for mixed borders. 



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