FROM THE SOCIETY S GARDEN. 55 



3. LiNUM GRANUIFLOHUM. — Desfoiitiuiies Flora Atlantica, 

 Vol. I. p. 277. 



A brilliant little annual, with large rich crimson flowers, 

 lately introduced from Paris. It was originally found in heavy 

 land near Mascara by Desfontaines, who called it species j^ii^icher- 

 rima, as it certainly is. He described it as throwing up clusters 

 of erect or decumbent stems, from 8 to 12 inches high, with 

 smooth scattered leaves, of which the lowest are linear, the upper 

 broader, narrowly lanceolate, and rough at the edge. Tlie flowers 

 are in loose panicles, with very large rose-coloured petals, about 

 twice as broad as in the officinal flax. Five years ago its intro- 

 duction to gardens was announced, with a good coloured plate, in 

 the Revue Horticole, and great expectations were entertained 

 that a really precious novelty had been acquired. But when 

 young plants had been raised, they were found so unmanageable 

 that it was doubtful whether they could ever be kept alive. In 

 fact, many perished, and those which did flower, although realising 

 all that had been said of their brilliancy, were dwindlingand unattrac- 

 tive. In pots under glass they could scarcely be kept alive. Planted 

 out, in 1853, in an open south border, they did better, but still 

 acquired no horticultural value, a circumstance not to be won- 

 dered at in so rainy, cold, and gloomy a summer. The plant, 

 however, is of too much importance for its cultivation to be 

 regarded as hopeless, and therefore the following remarks by 

 M. Ysabeau, recording the experience gained in France, will 

 doubtless be read with advantage . — 



" This pretty annual was figured in the Bcvve Horticole of 

 November 1, 1848. The plant bears a profusion of flowers 

 which remain long in bloom ; it is consequently one which is 

 greatly to be recommended. Since the above date it has been 

 lost in most gardens, and notwithstanding its splendid colour and 

 other valuable qualities, it still is only in the hands of a small 

 number of amateurs. Messrs. Courtois-Gerard and Vilmorin 

 imagine that they have discovered the cause of the disappearance 

 of a plant which was very favourably received at first. It was 

 generally believed that it should be cultivated in pure peat, or at 

 least in peat mixed with a little vegetable mould, or common 

 garden earth. This soil appears to be too unsubstantial for a 

 plant which, like other Linums, requires much vegetable nourish- 

 ment ; and this nourishment not being supplied in sufficient 



