THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



Ilottonia. — So far as is at present known, this pretty and interesting 

 genus of aquatic plants comprises only two species — the one a native 

 of North America, and unknown to cultivators in this country ; the 

 other inhabits ponds and sluggish streams in England and Ireland 

 and other parts of central and northern Europe. H. palustris (Water 

 Violet) is the European species. It is valuable for introducing into 

 ponds and streams where aquatic vegetation is desirable, being inter- 

 esting and ornamental for a long period during summer. The leaves 

 and barren branches are all submerged ; the former are deeply cut into 

 fine thread-like segments, giving a feathery appearance to the sub- 

 merged growth, and suggesting strikingly the other common name 

 (Featherfoil) by which it is known in some parts of the country. The 

 flower-stems are leafless, and rise erect above the water, bearing several 

 whorls of rather large flowers, deeply divided into five broad lobes. 

 The flowers are variously coloured in different individuals — pale purple 

 is the most common colour, but blue and white and pink are also to 

 be met with, and they appear in June, July, and August, and often 

 also in September. It is easily propagated by division, and also by 

 seeds. If the latter method is adopted — and it is the simplest, if they 

 have to be transported a distance — they should be sown immediately 

 they are ripe in the quarters they are to occupy permanently, the only 

 care requisite being the prevention of the washing of the bottom by 

 floods if the pond or stream in which they are sown be liable to such 

 disturbance, and the destruction that would be caused by waterfowls, 

 till such time as the plants are strong enough to take care of them- 

 selves, which they will be the year after sowing. 



GlobuJaria. — These are charming little Alpine plants, distinguished, 

 as the name implies, by the inflorescence being gathered together into 

 compact globular heads. Some of the species are not hardy in all parts 

 of the country, and the following should be avoided in making selec- 

 tions for cultivation in the open air north of London, unless the climate 

 of the locality is mild in winter and the soil light and warm : — G. 

 Alypum, integrifolia, longifolia, and spinosa. These are likely to 

 succeed well in the southern parts of England and in many parts of 

 Ireland, but, except in the more favoured parts of the west of Scotland, 

 they are likely to succumb to the bad effects of our winter climate in 

 the north. The majority of the hardy species are best adapted for the 

 rockwork in most parts of the country, and most of them succeed well 

 in the open border in light rich naturally well-drained soil, where a 

 little shade can be given them. They are pretty things in pots, and 

 in wet cold localities they will not live for any length of time, unless 



