A CHAPTER ON PHLOXES. 



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ded into five segments, with a conspicuous 

 tube, more or less curved ; stigma trifid ; a 

 small, deeply five-cleft, calyx. 



With the exception of P. druvimondii, all 

 the known species are perennials. This 

 annual species, by the way, is the richest 

 of all in its colours, as there are varieties 

 of purple, crimson and scarlet, having a pe- 

 culiar velvety appearance. There is also 

 every tint of red, rose, pink,- and varie- 

 gated ; and when the various sorts are inter- 

 mingled in masses, they produce a surpass- 

 ingly rich effect. It certainly stands at the 

 head of all annuals. It continues in bloom 

 at least three months. 



Of all hardy perennials, we do not re- 

 member another family of flowers so proli- 

 fic in the number of its species and varieties, 

 so ornamental to the borders from May to 

 November, so perfectly hardy and easily 

 cultivated, and so freely propagated as the 

 Phlox. When we are consulted in relation 

 to the most suitable, ornamental, hardy her- 

 baceous plants for the flower garden, as we 

 frequently are. Phlox is always named first. 

 Of this family alone, we could make a flower 

 garden that would present, through the sea- 

 son, a succession of bloom that would ever 

 be varied and interesting. 



The species vary much in time of flow- 

 ering, height, foliage and mode of inflores- 

 cence. The flowers in most species are ar- 

 ranged in panicles or corymbs, which are 

 either elongated on the stem, or in terminal 

 dense or loose panicles or corymbs, present- 

 ing nearly a level, spherical, or pyramidal 

 top, varying in the different varieties. 



The properties of a fine Phlox are not 

 laid down in the floral books, as is the case 

 with many flowers ; but on account of the 

 multiplicity of the varieties, and the neces- 

 sity of discarding many old sorts, as well as 

 rejecting new seedlings of inferior proper- 

 ties, we will give the criterion of a good va- 



riety, according to our fancy : The corolla, 

 which is salver-form, should be flat ; the 

 segments of the corolla perfectly free from 

 any notch or undulation, of a circular form 

 and rose-leaf edge, interlapping each other, 

 so as to give the corolla a perfectly round 

 shape. (In many of the varieties, the seg- 

 ments are wedge-shaped, which gives the 

 corolla an open starry appearance — this is a 

 great imperfection.) The corolla sho-uld 

 have a long, slightly curved tube. The 

 flowers should be arranged in a symmetrical 

 corymb or panicle. If in a corymb, it should 

 form a dense spherical or pyramidal head ; 

 the branches, which are scattered down the 

 stem, should all rise in a regular manner, 

 their flowers intermingling and forming the 

 base of the pyramid or sphere. Most of the 

 late sorts produce their flowers in corymbs. 



The flowers of the early varieties are 

 mostly in elongated panicles ; in this case, 

 the flowers should extend at least half the 

 length of the stem to the top, forming a re- 

 gular cone, well filled with flowers to the 

 apex. The colour of the flower should be 

 distinct ; the flower is very much improved, 

 in the light coloured varieties, when it has 

 a red or purple eye, or if the flower is dark 

 with a white eye : if white, it should be 

 clear and without stain; if variegated, re- 

 gularly striped. 



The usual mode of propagating the Phlox, 

 is by division of the roots, which in the ear- 

 ly varieties should be done soon after flower- 

 ing, in June or July. For the late sorts, 

 the spring is the most suitable time. All 

 the varieties succeed well from cuttings, 

 which should be taken from the plants in 

 the spring. They root very easily. This 

 mode is adopted with valuable new varieties, 

 when it is important to increase the stock 

 as rapidly as possible. In the descriptions 

 that follow, the species cannot always be re- 

 cognized. Florists, with their novel seed- 



