1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 309 



cuttings may be taken to the extent required immediately before the 

 summer occupants claim their quarters, and the old plants be turned 

 on the rubbish-heap, or utilised in any other way. 



A. argenteum, Silvery-leaved Mad wort. — This is a compact-growing 

 species, with small oblong leaves, broader at the point than base, silvery 

 on the under-side, and dotted above with minute starry grey hairs. 

 Flowers in dense panicles, yellow, appearing in April and May ; native 

 of Piedmont and Corsica, in exposed rocky places. Best fitted for 

 culture in rockwork, and succeeds but indifferently in the open ground, 

 where the soil is naturally moist : height 9 inches to 1 foot. 



A. gemonense, Austrian Madwort. — This is a splendid sort, of 

 shrubby diffuse habit, with large lanceolate leaves, hoary on both sur- 

 faces, the margin marked with a few obscure teeth. The flowers are 

 produced in great profusion in April, May, and June, and are very con- 

 spicuous in masses at a distance, being bright golden yellow. This is 

 the most valuable of all the spring yellow bedding plants, being supe- 

 rior to the ordinary form of A. saxatile in vigour, colour, and profusion 

 of bloom. It grows well everywhere, and in a variety of soils, and is 

 quite hardy, but prefers light dry loam. Where the ground is wet, 

 little hillocks should be raised to plant upon, in order to secure immu- 

 nity from the effects of stagnation. It may be naturalised on dry 

 banks in semi-wild places with ease, if rabbits do not abound in the 

 place ; but need not be attempted if they do, as they are partial to the 

 plant in a strong degree. 



A. saxatile, Mock- Madwort. — Botanists are not at one with each 

 other regarding the distinctness of this plant from A. gemonense, and 

 the strongest opinion appears to be favourable to regarding the latter 

 as a variety of the Rock- Mad wort. The two forms are, however, quite 

 distinct for horticultural purposes in large collections, but in smaller 

 only one may be recommended ; and in that case A. gemonense should 

 be preferred, as being the most beautiful, and adaptable to a greater 

 variety of uses. A. saxatile is, however, equally well fitted for natu- 

 ralising on dry banks and about the walls of ruins, where a little soil 

 may be introduced for it to grow in. Height about 9 inches. Native 

 of many countries of S. Europe and W. Asia. Flowers about the same 

 time as A. gemonense. A variegated form of this species may or may 

 not be considered valuable, according as taste in these things sways 

 one. My own opinion is that it is worthless; the contrast between the 

 hoary ground-colour and the creamy-white margins is not sufficiently 

 distinct ; and the variegation has the effect also of depreciating the 

 beauty of the flowers, which is very obvious when the two sorts are 

 grown side by side. 



Arabis, Rock-Cress. — This is a rather numerous family, and presents 



