100 LEGUMINOS^. 



foot, and blossoms most profusely throughout the months of 

 July, August, September, and October, and often also into 

 November, if the situation is a warm one, or the weather mild. 

 The flowers are borne on slender footstalks in heads, and are 

 pink in varying shades, often almost white. The rockwork and 

 mixed border are its most suitable positions, but it is not unac- 

 commodating, and adapts itself to any situation readily enough, 

 provided the soil is not very adhesive and moist. 



C. varia, var. compacta. — This variety differs from the species 

 only in having, as the name implies, a more compact and re- 

 stricted habit of growth, a quality which will perhaps recom- 

 mend it for special purposes, and on that account it is noticed 

 here along with the species. 



Galega {Goafs-Rue). — This is a genus of rather straggling 

 habit, but yielding beautiful flowers. They are all of rather 

 large growth, and are therefore not well suited for culture in 

 narrow borders, or where space is limited ; in fact, they may 

 not be admissible into choice collections, yet their beautiful 

 racemes of flowers and remarkable continuity of bloom render 

 them among the most useful of hardy plants, especially where 

 large quantities of cut flowers are required. They are of easy 

 culture, thriving in most soils if well drained, and they prefer 

 sunny positions. Propagate by division in autumn or spring, 

 and by seed sown in a cold frame in spring. They all require 

 early attention in the matter of support, else they break down 

 and become irrecoverably disfigured for the season. 



G. \S\.Q\i^{Two-lobed Goafs-Rue.) — This species grows about 

 3 feet high, with weak flexible stems, clothed with long pinnate 

 leaves, the leaflets of which are somewhat downy, and slightly 

 two-lobed at the apex, the midrib being prolonged beyond the 

 lobes into a sharp point Flowers somewhat variable in colour, 

 but usually pale purple, produced in long rather loose racemes. 

 Appearing in June and throughout summer and autumn. 



G. officinalis {Officinal Goafs-Rue). — This is even a taller 

 species than the last, but with the same weakly stems, which 

 are clothed with light-green pinnate leaves, the leaflets being 

 acutely lanceolate. The flowers are blue, appearing in hand- 

 some racemes from early summer throughout till autumn. 

 There is a white variety, G. o. var. alba, which would be useful 

 along with the blue where space can be afforded for both. 

 Native of the south of Europe. 



G. persica {Persian Goafs-Rue). — This is dwarfer by a foot 

 than either of the preceding, but, excepting in so far as lower 

 stature may be considered an improvement, the habit is very 

 much the same. The leaflets are oblong, egg-shaped, with an 



