220 



JOURNAL OF HOSTICULTDBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ April 1, 1869. 



at the end of September, and winter in a greenhouse. Height 



3 to 5 feet. 



Phokmicm tenax. — Foliage long, Iris-like. Height 4 to 

 6 feet. This forms a fine group. It requires a plentiful 

 supply of water, and may be wintered in a cold pit, protected 

 from frost. Sow in heat, pot-off the seedlings when large 

 enough, and forward them in a pit or cool greenhouse. Plant 

 out in May, and take up in October. 



•PoLYiiNiA GEASDis. — Foliage handsomely cut. The plant is 

 of rapid growth, and well adapted for groups or masses. Height 

 from 6 to 8 feet. 



SoLAxuM EETACEUM. — Folisge bright green, veined with 

 purple ; tine ; 5 to feet. S. giganteum, leaves large ; flowers 

 purple, followed by scarlet fruit; (J feet. S. marginatum, 

 foliage silvery, margined with white; 4 feet. S. laciniatum, 

 leaves green, finely cut or divided ; 4 to 5 feet. S. macrocar- 

 pum, leaves large ; (lowers dark blue ; 5 to ti feet. S. pyra- 

 canthum, leaves covered with orange prickles; flowers purple; 



4 feet. S. robustum, leaves large and bronzed, with yellow 

 spines ; 4 feet. 



The above are fine for beds or groups. The seed should be 

 sown early in April, in light rich loam two parts, and one part 

 leaf mould, and placed in a hotbed. Pot-off the young plants 

 when large enough to handle, and when established remove 

 them to a light and airy position in the greenhouse, repotting 

 as often as the pots become full of roots. Keep the plants 

 rather dry during the winter, and encourage them in spring so 

 as to have them strong and well hardened-off for planting out 

 early in June. Kich light soil should be used, and a plentiful 

 sapply of water given in dry weather. Take up the plants 

 before frost, pot, and winter them in a greenhouse, keeping 

 dry, and in February prune-in and place in beat, repotting 

 after they have started afresh, and give a moist heat, so as to 

 secure good growth before planting-out. 



Vekbesina verbascifolia. — Large leaves in profusion, pro- 

 duced fresh and vigorously late in autumn. 3 to 4 feet. 



•WiGANDiA CARACASANA. — Leaves large, and very fine for 

 groups or masses. Of free robust growth. S to 4 leet. 



W. UKENS and W. Vigieei are very closely allied to the pre- 

 ceding in style and manner of growth, but are of less vigorous 

 habit. 



4. PERENNIAL AND HARDY. 

 Af.temisia jCDAicA.^Foliage much divided, in colour resem- 

 bling that of a Centaurea, but not so silvery. The plant is of 

 graceful, compact habit, and attains a height of from 3 to 

 4 feet. Sow the seeds in light sandy soil, place in a mild hot- 

 bed, and prick-off the seedlings when large enough. Con- 

 tinue them in the hotbed until established, then harden them 

 o&, plant-out in the open ground in light soil, and remove to 

 the beds in the spring of the following year. It is pretty for 

 the centres of beds, for groups, and for lines in ribbon-boider 

 ■arrangements. 



Ar.uNDo coNspicuA. — In growth and inflorescence very like 

 the Pampas Grass, but it llowers six weeks earlier. It is de- 

 sirable for specimens on lawns. Sow in turfy loam and leaf 

 mould, in April, in a mild hotbed. Pot-off the young plants 

 singly when large enough to handle, keep them in a frame 

 until established, then harden them off, and pot as required, 

 wintering them in a cold frame, with the pots plunged to the 

 rim in coal ashes, or in a warm sheltered situation out of doors. 

 Plant-out in April, in good rich soil, where required. Height 

 from 6 to 8 feet. 



Cekastium Biebebsteixi and C. tomentosum, both well- 

 known silvery-leaved plants. Sow in sandy soil in March, 

 place in a hotbed, prick off the seedlings about 1 inch apart in 

 pans, and when established remove them to a cold frame. 

 Harden-off, and plant-out in May, at from G to !) inches apart, 

 where required for edgings, or lines in beds or borders. The 

 seed may be sown out of doors in April, in sandy soil, and the 

 plants pricked off, and planted-out in autumn or spring. Of 

 the two G. Biebersteini has the larger and more silvery foliage, 

 but C. tomentosum is of closer habit. 



CisEr.AEiA MAEiTiMA. — Foliage silvery, little inferior to that 

 of the Centaurea, and well known. Very desirable for beds or 

 borders, and admitting of a variety of adaptations. Sow in 

 light soil in March, place in a hotbed of 70', prick-off the seed- 

 lings iu pans or shallow boxes, continue them in heat until 

 May, then harden-off and plant out at the end of the month. 

 Height 2 feet. 



Elymus arenaeeus. — Large ornamental Grass. 4 feet. 



Gyneeiuji aegexteum (Pampas Grass). — Well known. Fine 

 for specimens on lawns, centres of groups, or in borders. 



Height 6 to 8 feet or more. This and the preceding may ba 

 raised as described for Arundo conspicua. 



Ferula communis. — This, the Giant Fennel, on account of 

 its finely-cut or divided foliage, and stately growth, is very 

 ornamental and effective for specimens in borders, or as a 

 mass. S feet. 



Ferula gigaktea. — Superior to the above in stateliness of 

 growth, and hardiness. Height 11 to 12 feet. Sow in a warm 

 spot out of doors in sandy soil in May, watering in dry weather, 

 and pricking-out the young plants about C, inches by a foot 

 apart, shading for a few days until established. In autumn 

 protect with a covering or mulching of 3 inches thick of leaf 

 mould or short litter. Plant-out in March or April. Eich, 

 light, deep soil is most suitable, but except in warm situations 

 the plant is not hardy in heavy soil. In exposed situations it 

 does not prosper. The plant is herbaceous, and should be 

 covered in autumn with a top-dressing of leaf mould or littery 

 manure, placing it over the crown, and for some distance 

 around. 



Heeacleum giganteum. — Large cut foliage, of tall, stately 

 growth. The plant is not suitable for flower gardens, but re- 

 markably fine for shrubbery borders and in woodland scenery, 

 also for margins of lakes and on islands, but not where water 

 remains stagnant. Sow in the open ground in April or May, in 

 good rich soil, and not very thickly ; when large enough prick 

 off the young plants about (J inches apart, shading for a time, 

 and keeping them watered until established, and plant-out in 

 spring. The seed may be sown at once where the plants are to 

 remain, digging the ground deeply before sowing. Two, three, 

 or more plants, may be grouped together, and they have then 

 a better appearance. Height 8 feet. 



Pybeierum Golden Feathee. — Foliage yellow, habit dwarf 

 and compact, altogether a fine plant for beds or lines in borders. 

 Height 1 foot. Sow in sandy loam and leaf mould, place in a 

 gentle heat, and when large enough prick-off about an inch 

 apart in pans, and continue in heat, keeping the plants near 

 the glass, and admitting air freely. Harden them off, and 

 plant-out in May, lor which purpose the seed should be sown 

 early in March. It may be sown during summer, but not after 

 August, in a warm, sheltered situation, or in a cold frame ; 

 the plants should then be pricked-ofi" in sandy soil in a warm 

 situation, and planted-out in spring. 



Rheum Emohi. — Simply a large-leaved Rhubarb, and not 

 despicable for borders. 2 feet. Sow in a pan placed in a frame, 

 and when the seedlings have attained some size harden them 

 off, prick them out in good rich soil out of doors, and plant out 

 early in spring. 



RuDEECKiA Neumanni. — Foliage very like that of a Sun- 

 flower ; flowers yellow. The foliage is showy, but the plant is 

 only suitable for borders. 3 feet. 



liuDBECKiA srEciosA, — FoUago showy, and the flowers par- 

 ticularly so, being bright yellow, with a black disc. 3 feet. 

 Sow in light rich soil in April or May, and prick-off when large 

 enough, planting-out in the spring of the following year. 



♦Salvia aegentea. — Fohage large and silvery; fine for beds 

 or borders. 2 f«t. 



•S. cHioNANTiiA. — Lcaves lanceolate, glaucous, and woolly; 

 flowers white. A fine sort for beds or borders. 2 feet. 



The preceding two are very desirable plants, and adapted for 

 centres or other arrangements in beds, and for lines in borders. 

 Sow in sandy soil in March, place in a hotbed, prick or pot-o3 

 the young plants singly when large enough to handle, grow 

 them in heat, harden them off in May, and plant out in the 

 beginning of June. Except in sandy, well-drained soil, the 

 plants are scarcely hardy, and they should, therefore, be taken 

 up in October, potted, and wintered in a cool, light, airy part 

 of the greenhouse, increasing them by cuttings of the young 

 firm shoots in spring, as with Cineraria maritima. Light 

 sandy soil, enriched with leaf mould, is most suitable. 



*SvLi]tuM ebueneum. — Leavcs of a dark glossy green, with 

 white midribs, spiny, and blotched with white. 3 feet. Dis- 

 tinct and fine ; adapted for groups, or the centres of beds, and 

 for borders. Sow in gentle heat in March or April, and treat 

 as for Eheum Emodi. It should have a sheltered situation, 

 and a rich but well-drained soil. 



•Ceambe coEDiioLiA. — Lcavcs large and fine; indeed, it is 

 one of the finest of herbaceous plants, and quite hardy. 1* to 

 2 feet. Sow not very thickly in light soil in March or April, 

 and plant-out in spring. Fine for beds or borders. 



Stacdys lanata. — Foliage white and woolly ; fine for plant- 

 ing in shade, or under trees, where a close carpet is required, 

 ' and desirable for edgings to beds, or hues in borders. 1 foot. 



