May 27, 1876. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



411 



coloured flowers, many of the racemes being over 12 inches in 

 length. From some of the spurs depend fifty racemes. I 

 should like to hear if many such plants are in existence. I 

 may add that these plants would have covered many more 

 feet of wall, but are prevented doing so by vineries on either 

 side. — J. A., Gardener. 



THE GALEGAS. 



Now that hardy flowers are having a reasonable share of 

 attention bestowed on them, and are again deemed worthy of 

 a place in our gardens, it is not inopportune to note the merits 

 of this useful geuus of border plants. 



The Galegas are very old and very hardy Leguminous herb- 

 aceous perennials, and 

 are known by the popu- 

 lar term of " Goat's 

 Rue," in reference to 

 an old idea thai the 

 herbage was superior 

 for mUoh cows and 

 goats. About half a 

 dozen species are cul- 

 tivated, the best beiii;: 

 G. oflicinalis and ts 

 white variety alba, and 

 G. orientalis. 



G. officinalis is one 

 of oar oldest border 

 plants, having been in- 

 troduced from Spain 

 more than three hun- 

 dred years ago. It is 

 only to be found where 

 collections of hardy 

 plants are cherished, 

 or where it has taken 

 care of itself in some 

 shrubbery border where 

 it has been tolerated to 

 continue. Little more 

 than a toleration to 

 exist it does not re- 

 quire, for it has a most 

 accommodating na- 

 ture, and will grow and 

 flower year by year 

 with as little attention 

 as most plants. And 

 yet it is not only agree- 

 able but decidedly or- 

 namental ; indeed, it is 

 one of the best of tall- 

 growing back plants for 

 the herbaceous border. 

 Its sprays are ever in 

 request for cutting for 

 bouquets, possessing 

 an airy lightness and 

 an Acacia-like foliage, 

 which group to advan- 

 tage without flatness and formality. Besides, the flowers are of 

 a colour which is pleasing and always welcome, being of a 

 lively light blue. They are produced with great freedom from 

 the axils of the leaves, and the long spikes are very effective. 

 The plants commence flowering in July, and continue until 

 the autumn — indeed, until the growth has ceased, for so long 

 as the plant grows it flowers. 



The height of the plants depend on the nature of the soil. 

 In rich ground they attain a height of 3 to 4 feet, but in poor 

 soil not more than half that height, but in each case they 

 flower profusely ; moreover, the plants will bear cutting and 

 pinching, and are easily kept within required bounds. This 

 and the white variety are two very useful border flowers where 

 hardy plants of moderately robust growth are in request. They 

 will flourish in any ordinary garden soil, and only require to 

 be staked and neatly tied, and to be pinched when necessary 

 to keep them in order. They will flourish on the same site 

 for many years, providing their fleshy roots are not ruthlessly 

 mutilated in winter digging. 



They are increased by root-division during the spring and 

 early summer months, the plant, in fact, being so easy of 



growth as to bear removal almost at any time when not in 

 flower. These are free-growing yet compact and pleasing 

 border plants, and worthy of cultivation for their ornamental 

 appearance, and for their usefulness in affording a supply of 

 flowers for cutting. 



G. orientalis and the rest of the species are more weedy and 

 spreading than the preceding, still where a love of hardy 

 flowers prevail they are desirable as affording variety. But 

 for general usefulness the species now figured and its white 

 variety are the most worthy. — W. 



Fig. 98. — Galega orFiciNALis. 



CONIFERS IN EXPOSED SITUATIONS.— No. 2. 

 Crimean Silver Fir (PiceaNordmanniana). This Conifer, 



handsome as it is, does 

 not stand the wind 

 well, and becomes de- 

 pressed in habit, the 

 perpendicular growth 

 being slow and weak. 

 The leaves are some- 

 what browned in win- 

 ter, and the last year's 

 growths have a sickly 

 yellow hue in spring. 

 In moderately shelter- 

 ed positions it does 

 better and is fine, its 

 bright green foliage 

 contrasting well with 

 the dark glaucous shad- 

 ing of P. nobUis. 



Noble Silver Fir (P. 

 nobilis). This is of free 

 growth, not suffering 

 from wind and ex- 

 posure, and in my esti- 

 mation is the finest of 

 all Conifers ; its dense 

 dark green foliage, sil- 

 very or glaucous be- 

 neath, having an ex- 

 tremely beautiful ap- 

 pearance. 



Spanish Silver Fir 

 (P. pinsapo) is a par- 

 ticularly handsome 

 tree, its growth being 

 peculiar. The nume- 

 rous branches are pro- 

 duced in whorls, every 

 leaf and branch being 

 arranged with perfect 

 symmetry, and is 

 highly ornamental. It 

 is not injured in the 

 least by wind, but 

 grows vigorously , form- 

 ing a specimen of great 

 beauty. 



Great Californian 

 Silver Fir (P. grandis). Of this there are evidently two varie- 

 ties perfectly distinct, and of different degrees of hardiness. 

 One variety is somewhat sparse of leaves, which are rather 

 long and slightly curved or curled. This grows but mode- 

 rately, and is so cut by a haid winter as to lose soma of its 

 leaves in spring. It is very handsome notwithstanding, but 

 is not so hardy nor so free in growth as the other, which is 

 more dense in foliage, of deeper green, and grows 2 to 3 feet 

 in a season, truly a beautiful quick-growing kind; it is oc- 

 casionally slightly browned by cutting winds. 



The Common Silver (P. pectinata), and Balm of Gilead 

 (P. balsamea), do not do well except in sheltered positions, and 

 there they attain noble proportions. In exposed positions the 

 growths are browned, which spoils their appearance. 



Siberian (also Swiss) Pine (Pinus Cembra). The upright 

 conical growth and dense glaucous shading of the leaves, which 

 are deep green on the upper surface, and from its habit taking 

 up little room, renders it one of the most desirable Pines for 

 a small pleasure ground, especially where something evergreen 

 and taller than shrubs is required. It is also one of the best 

 for planting ia the neighbourhood of towns. In very exposed 



