OXALIDE.^. 93 



est localities of England and Ireland. There are two indige- 

 nous species, O. acetosella and O. corniciilata, the former abun- 

 dant in most localities in woods and moist shady places ; the 

 other is not so common, being confined to a few places in the 

 south of England ; but from our experience of it in gardens in 

 the shape of the variety named O. c. rub?'a, so much used in 

 bedding -out, there is every reason to believe that it would 

 establish itself anywhere in light rich soil if once sown or planted 

 out. In many gardens it is troublesome after the first year. It 

 seeds abundantly, and germinates in spring and all through 

 the summer like the hardiest weed. In warmer climates it is 

 perennial ; but in view of its self-rearing habit, although it is 

 annual in this countr)', there is no reason to doubt but that it 

 would be equally luxuriant and abundant with our indigenous 

 perennial Woodsorrel if turned out into warm banks and less 

 shady positions than that species naturally aftects. Of the per- 

 ennial exotic species we have not many in cultivation, which 

 is somewhat strange when the elegance of foliage and pretty 

 and profuse flowering qualities of many of them are considered. 

 It is not owing to any difficulty that exists in cultivating them, 

 unless it be in the absence of difficulty, for there is no class of 

 plants more simple in their cultural requirements. Of course 

 I am referring to their culture in pots, and in that way their 

 neat and compact growth, and their habit of free and continu- 

 ous flowering, along with the fact that, by a judicious selec- 

 tion of species, they may be had in bloom the year round in 

 such humble glass structures as are generally possessed by 

 amateurs, commend them strongly to that class of cultivators ; 

 and the autumn and spring flowering species would be found 

 most useful in gardens of greater pretensions, especially where 

 much room and table decoration had to be supplied in winter. 

 But this is a digression ; and to return to such as may be 

 cultivated in the open air. It has already been stated that 

 these are few — at least our experience has not revealed many 

 that may be safely left out all the year round. But in mild 

 localities, where there are borders alongside walls or around 

 hothouses, the following species have done well and proved 

 attractive objects ; and no doubt others equally ornamental 

 would adapt themselves to such circumstances freely enough, 

 while one or two of the selection will be found hardy enough to 

 succeed on rockwork in sheltered sunny situations in less favour- 

 able localities. They all delight in a free porous rich loam, dry 

 rather than otherwise, and are propagated by means of the 

 natural increase of tubers or bulbs, by seed, and, in the case of 

 those furnishing stems, by cuttings also. 



