38 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



as might be expected, considering their great beauty, elegance, and 

 fragrance. 



Gr. acaulis — Gdiitianella. — A very lovely plant, familiar in most gar- 

 dens. It is so well known that description would be superfluous ; and 

 its uses as an edging plant for walks, beds, or alleys, and for planting 

 in masses upon banks or in rounded slightly-raised patches in the 

 mixed border or on rockwork, and its brilliant beauty in any or all of 

 these positions, are too well known and appreciated to need remark or 

 recommendation. It has long been a favourite with cottage and ama- 

 teur gardeners, and it is one of those gems that should be in every 

 garden — it is so easily cultivated, and does so very generally well in 

 all parts of the country. Yet accusations of fastidiousness, as regards 

 soil and situation, have been brought against it often, and, as I think, 

 undeservedly. I have seen the plant in every imaginable aspect and 

 position, and in a great variety of soils, and very generally doing well. 

 But it has likes and dislikes — and very few plants that I know have a 

 better right to protest in its own way against ill-usage ; they do not, 

 however, amount to fastidiousness. It dislikes two extremes of soil — 

 brick, clay, and sand ; and it likes solidity, depth, moisture, the latter 

 especially during late spring and early summer, when it is making its 

 growth, but at all times perfect drainage is also liked ; and if these 

 very ordinary and reasonable conditions are attended to, the plant will 

 amply reward in April, May, and June by the brilliancy and profusion 

 of its deep-blue flowers. I would repeat that solidity of soil is of the ut- 

 most importance to success with this, as with every, Gentian ; and deep 

 moist loam it likes best. There is a variety having the tips of the 

 segments of the corolla coloured greenish white ; as a novelty it has 

 some merit, but for simple decoration it is inferior in effect to the 

 normal blue. The plant is a native of mountain pastures in many 

 parts of Europe. 



G. asclepiadea — Sivallowwort-leaved Gentian. — One of the most 

 accommodating of Gentians. A native of bushy pastures on the Alps, 

 the Vosges, and Apennines. It grows 1 foot or 2 feet high, erect and 

 graceful ; the stems are well clothed with stalkless egg-shaped leaves, 

 narrowing much towards the point, and distinctly five-veined. The 

 flowers are produced in rather close spikes, usually in pairs, and almost 

 stalkless, and are deep purplish blue. A free-flowering handsome bor- 

 der-plant, succeeding best in deep rich sandy loam. There is a fine 

 white-flowered variety which is equally easy to cultivate, and both 

 may be used on rockwork, only it must be remembered that the soil 

 should be deep and moist. 



G. cruciata — Crossioort Gentian. — Unlike the two last and the 

 majority of Gentians, this species has the corolla divided into four 



