POLEMONIACE^. 20I 



thing, and rather more deHcate than the species. Native of 

 North America. Flowers in April and May. 



P. sul)ulata {Awl-leaved P.) — Nearly related to the last. It 

 has a similar matted but more extending growth. The leaves 

 are awl - shaped, terminating in a sharp hard point. The 

 flowers pink, rather larger than in the last, but appearing about 

 the same time. The P. Nelso?iii is a fine white - flowered 

 variety of this species. Both require the same conditions as 

 regards soil as the last. Native of North America. 



P. suaveolens yariegata. — This is an erect-growing plant, 

 about 2 feet high, with panicles of white flowers, and pretty 

 lance-shaped shining leaves variegated with white. It is a 

 choice variegation, and worthy of a place in the most select 

 collections. 



Polemonium {Greek- Valerian). — This is a small genus of good 

 border-plants, the best known of v/hich is P. cceruleimi, popu- 

 larly named Jacob's Ladder, or Greek-Valerian. The species 

 are mostly natives of North America, Europe, and northern 

 Asia, and are all hardy plants, succeeding well in ordinary 

 garden-soil, and may be readily propagated by division. 



P. caBnileum {Jacob's Ladder). — A well-known plant, so well 

 known as scarcely to require description. It has long been 

 cultivated in gardens of all classes, but for a good many years 

 it has been rarely seen in those of higher pretensions than the 

 cottager or amateur, whose tastes inclined him to cling to old- 

 fashioned border-plants. It is perhaps the best of the group 

 for general border decoration, though not the only one worthy 

 of being cultivated in larger collections. The plant grows 

 about 2 feet high, producing masses of handsome pinnate 

 leaves at the roots, a few of which clothe the erect flower-stems ; 

 the latter terminate in trusses of pretty soft blue flowers, which 

 appear in June and July. Native of Britain and other coun- 

 tries of Europe, and of northern Asia and America. There is 

 a handsome white-flowered variety, forming an excellent com- 

 panion to the blue; and there is the still more handsome varie- 

 gated-leaved form of the white-flovv^ered sort, which no garden 

 should be without. It is one of the most elegant of herbaceous 

 plants, having all the grace of form of a delicate Fern, along 

 with a distinct and beautiful variegation. It is now much used 

 in flower-gardening in many w^ays, and its fine colouring and 

 outline render it most valuable in the bedding system, and as 

 a mixed border or rock plant it is always attractive and pretty. 

 It succeeds best in moist deep loam, and altogether does better 

 in a moist position than a dry one. In damp cold localities, 

 however, though the plant endures the winter well out of doors, 



