CRUCIFER^. 47 



it cannot always be depended on that the progeny will be the 

 same as the parent. The value of Wallflower for embellish- 

 ment can scarcely be too highly rated ; and as it is very gen- 

 erally appreciated, there is no great need for insisting on it ; 

 but there is a purpose for which it is admirably adapted that 

 cannot be too strongly urged, especially as it is only very rarely 

 seen used for it, and that is the decoration of ruins or old walls 

 and rocky banks, where little else having much claim to be con- 

 sidered bright and beautiful will live, far less embellish. The 

 single varieties may be established in such places at very trifling 

 cost and trouble. The merest film of soil, if hard and fimi, will 

 support the plants for years. They may be sown where it is 

 desired they should be estabflshed ; and when they do take 

 hold, they will sow themselves and spread in all directions. 



C. Marshallii {Marshals Wallfloiiier). — This is one of the 

 handsomest, if not the most handsome and showy, of the group. 

 It is said to be of hybrid origin, the alleged parents being C. 

 alpinus and C. Cheiri; but it inherits the characteristics of the 

 former only to any degree, and no one would suspect that it 

 was a blood relation of the latter by a comparison of their 

 respective features. It is rather more robust in habit than C. 

 alpimis, and the trusses of flower are somewhat larger, but it 

 is a most compact plant, growing from 9 inches to i foot high, 

 and producing an immense profusion of bright orange-coloured 

 delicately - scented blossoms. It is a brilliant ornament of 

 rockwork and the mixed perennial border, and a choice sub- 

 ject for massing or edging use in spring bedding-out ; few plants 

 indeed, so hardy and easy to cultivate, equal it in showy beauty 

 and continuance of massy display. Every amateur and cottager 

 should grow a plant or two of it. Flowers from April till July. 



C. ochroleucus {Straw-coloured IVailfiower.) — This species 

 resembles the last in habit and stature, and form of leaves, 

 but the flowers are lemon or straw coloured. It is a profuse- 

 blooming plant, producing its flowers in April, May, June, and 

 July. Height from 9 to 12 inches. Native of Switzerland. 



Diptolaxis tenuifolia — syns. Brassica tenuifolia and 

 Sisymbrium tenuifolium — is a member of an uninteresting 

 genus, and though flowering the summer throughout, would 

 not be tolerated in flower-gardens in its normal state of 

 weediness ; but a variety with variegated leaves is well 

 worth cultivating where variegated plants are in request, 

 as it is tolerably handsome if well managed. The leaves 

 form considerable tufts about 9 inches high, and are 5 or 

 6 inches long, pinnate or pinnatifid, but often also simple 

 or undivided except by a few irregiflar shallow notches per- 



