Il8 ONAGRACEyE. 



with that energy and skill which is characteristic of the British 

 florist. 



Gaura. — This is a limited group, and I am aware of only two 

 perennial species in cultivation. They are plants of elegant 

 habit and pretty flowers. They are easily cultivated, flourish- 

 ing best in light dry rich soil, and in soils of an opposite char- 

 acter. Carefiil means should be taken to secure perfect drain- 

 age ; and a little protection in the shape of coal-ashes over the 

 roots would be a safe measure in the north in extra cold wet 

 places. Propagate by division in spring, and by seed in pots 

 in a cold frame in early spring, when they will flower the first 

 season. 



G. coccinea {Scaiiet G.) — This is a dwarf rather dense-grow- 

 ing plant, reaching the height of 9 or 12 inches. The stems 

 terminate in rather dense short spikes of bright red flowers, 

 which appear in summer and autumn. Native of the Southern 

 States of North America. A handsome ornament for the front 

 of the mixed border and for rockwork. 



G. Lindlieimeri {Lindheimer^ s G.) — This is a most elegant 

 plant, forming beautiful masses of light flexible stems about 18 

 inches or 2 feet high. The stems terminate in long open spikes 

 of pink or red and white flowers, produced in July and August, 

 and onvrards, in mild seasons and places, till October. Native 

 of Texas. 



CEnotliera {Evening Pi'imrose). — In this genus some of the 

 most sho^\'y and ornamental of hardy herbaceous species of 

 plants are comprised, and there are few that may be considered 

 unworthy of cultivation. In habit, stature, and colour there 

 is some similarity, and this consideration limits the selection to 

 a few of the most showy and dissimilar species. Many bloom 

 for a very long time, and have immense flowers of striking and 

 attractive appearance, and are besides very pleasingly fragrant; 

 in fact, they have all the requisites of choice garden-plants, and 

 deserve more attention than is given them. There are a good 

 many annual and biennial species, and a few of the perennials 

 may be treated as either successfully in heavy wet soil and cold 

 localities, where they are often not good perennials, becoming 

 gradually weaker and even dying off after the first year. They 

 flourish best in light, sandy, well-drained, and moderately-rich 

 soil, and prefer a warm sunny exposure. Propagate by division 

 in early spring, and by seed in pots in a slight hotbed in March 

 when to be bloomed the first season, and in July when to be 

 treated as biennials, sheltering the plants under hand-glasses or 

 by any more temporary shelter in winter. In any case from 

 seed the plants must have early attention in the matter of 



