64 POLYGALACE/E. 



continue to do so for some time. The Pansy delights in strong 

 rich loam with a little sand in it, and is most sustained in its 

 bloom when shaded for some part of the day, and copious 

 moisture can hardly be overdone in the growing season. K 

 tricolor is a native of Britain, and it is the reputed parent of all 

 the races of Heart's-ease. Other European species, there are 

 good grounds for believing, have had something to do with the 

 origin of these favourite flowers; but in the mixed and confused 

 condition of the cultivated varieties now, it is impossible to 

 determine with any accuracy their parentage, but the probability 

 is that tricolor and altaica give rise to the Pansies between 

 them. 



The few species described above do not nearly exhaust the 

 list of plants valuable for ornamental purposes comprised in the 

 group. They are only a few of the best, and the following list 

 contains others well worthy of cultivation in larger collections: 

 V. alpina, 4 to 6 inches, dark purple; V. am(EJia^ 4 inches, 

 dark purple ; V. biflora, 4 inches, yellow, in pairs interesting 

 and pretty ; V. blanda^ 6 inches, white ; V. canadensis^ 6 to 8 

 inches, pale blue ; V. ciicidlata^ 6 inches, dark blue ; V. palm- 

 cBHsis, 4 inches, blue and white ; V. striata, 6 inches, blue and 

 white. 



POLYGALACE.^. 



Polygala {Milkwort) is the only genus in this order that fur- 

 nishes species capable of being cultivated in borders or on 

 rockwork in this country. Of Polygalas there are only three 

 with which I am acquainted in cultivation. They may be cul- 

 tivated on rockwork or in the mixed border in the front lines, 

 succeeding best in light rich loam or loam and leaf-mould. 

 Propagate by division. 



Polygala ciiamaebuxus {Bastard-Box Milkwort). — This is a 

 neat and pretty prostrate shrub, with small leathery egg-shaped 

 leaves and numerous fragrant flowers superficially resembling 

 those of some of the pea-flowers, the wings being pale lemon 

 or cream-coloured, and the keel bright yellow. A pretty and 

 interesting plant in rockwork or the front lines of mixed bor- 

 ders, flowering in May, June, and July. Native of the Swiss 

 and xAjstrian Alps. 



P. paucifolia {Naked-stemmed Milkwort). — This pretty plant 

 is very rare in gardens. It is a native of North America, grows 

 from 4 to 6 inches high, with stems quite naked below, with a 



