92 OXALIDE.^. 



were hit upon, no doubt its admirers would be numerous. 

 But, as a rule, the plant does not establish itself readily in any 

 place, no matter how favourable it may be to its healthy exist- 

 ence : it flowers little, if at all, the first, and not much the second, 

 year after planting ; but from the third or fourth year onwards 

 there is a rich reward for the exercise of patience and care. 

 Such tardy progress is scarcely tolerable in this railroad age. 

 There must be very little waiting for results, and only a short 

 step must bridge our efforts and -the effects in the flower-garden, 

 or we impatiently discard the materials as unfit. Unfortunately, 

 therefore, for the universal popularity of this charming plant, 

 it will not be coaxed into early effectiveness ; yet many, when 

 it becomes better known, will be pleased to wait a little for 

 such a treat as it ultimately affords. Another hindrance to its 

 becoming universally cultivated lies in its being fastidious — 

 almost capricious, indeed — as to soil and situation. It reaches 

 its greatest strength and beauty in a ricli, moist, deep soil, and 

 in partial shade ; but while I have seen it yielding all its beauty 

 in the north of Scotland, planted in thin soil and clambering 

 over a bald granite rock rising a few feet out of the soil, and 

 in the same neighbourhood luxuriating on one of the finest but 

 most wind-raked terraces in the country, I have also seen it in 

 the south of England refuse to grow in nearly every kind of 

 soil and degree of aspect, even with all conceivable coaxings. 

 This is probably owing to climate. It is very impatient of atmo- 

 spheric drought, as well as at the roots ; and the absence of the 

 long bracing nights and refreshing dews of the north is perhaps 

 the cause of the ill-success of the endeavours I have seen made 

 at cultivating it in the south. In planting, the roots should be 

 put 6 or 7 inches into the soil, and the planting is best done in 

 February or March ; the surface should then be mulched with 

 good old manure, and there should be twigs or some kind of 

 support inserted into the soil for the growths to cling to as soon 

 as they appear above ground. This is of much importance, as 

 it enables the plant to establish itself earUer than it would 

 othenvise do. 



OXALIDE^. 



The only genus we will have occasion to notice here in this 

 order is Oxalis. It is numerous in species, many of which are 

 highly ornamental, but very few have any claim to be considered 

 hardy, except in the most favourable circumstances in the mild- 



