FUMITORY. 143 



They are pretty, and very hardy. As they do not increase 

 very fast, they should not be parted oftener than once in 

 three years. They hke a hght sandy soil, and the earth 

 should be kept moderately moist. The last species grows 

 wild in many parts of Europe. It has the scent of the 

 Cowslip. 



The Bladdered Fumitory is rather tender. It is an an- 

 nual plant, raised in a hot-bed, and not exposed to the 

 open air till June. The other kinds are hardy, and may 

 be treated in the same manner as those first mentioned. 



GENTIAN. 



GENTIANA. 



GENTIANE^. PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 



So named from Gentius, King of Illyria. — French, la gentiane. — 

 Italian, la genziana. 



The Gentians are very numerous, and many of them 

 eminently beautiful. They are generally difficult to pre- 

 serve in a garden; and being long-rooted, very few are 

 adapted for planting in pots. The smaller kinds, how- 

 ever, may be so cultivated ; as the Swallow-wort-leaved, 

 which does not exceed a foot in height, and has large light- 

 blue bell-shaped flowers, blowing in July and August. This 

 species is a native of many parts of Europe ; it must have 

 a moist loamy soil, and be placed in the shade. The roots 

 only are perennial; the stalks decay annually; and of most 

 of the species, the flowers appear but once in two or three 

 years. They all like moisture, and should be watered 

 liberally in dry weather, particularly the March Gentian, 

 which has also fine blue flowers, though few in number. 

 They blow in August and September. This species 



