LABIAT^E. 227 



adapted for moist rockwork in sandy loam. Propagate by divi- 

 sion in spring. 



Lavendula spica {Lavendei'). — There is no reason why a plant 

 like this, though cultivated in gardens solely for use in domestic 

 concerns, should not be turned to account as an ornament. It 

 is undoubtedly an ornamental plant, but has become so much 

 identified with the business of herb-growing and herb-cutting in 

 our minds, that its beauty as an ornamental subject is lost sight 

 of But its glaucous foliage, its peculiar and attractive habit, 

 and its no less attractive whorled spikes of flower, quietly assert 

 their claim on our admiration, independently of the agreeable 

 fragi-ance of the flowers. It is a beautiful plant, worthy of being 

 rescued from the bye-corner into which it is generally thrust in 

 most gardens. But it is no herbaceous plant : it is a little shrub, 

 but so much akin to herbaceous plants, both in habit and asso- 

 ciation, that there is no risk of bad taste in associating it with 

 herbaceous plants either in the border or on rockwork. It is 

 perfectly hardy, but likes a warm, dry situation and soil the 

 best. The propagation may be effected by seed or by cuttings, 

 — the latter inserted in sandy soil in a cold frame in autumn ; 

 the former may be sown in spring in a warm dry spot out of 

 doors, in March or April. Native of the south of Europe. 

 There is a white-flowered form, smelling as sweet, and flowering 

 as well, as the blue, which will be considered worthy of a place 

 for variety's sake, wherever the blue may be permitted, amongst 

 ornamental plants. 



Mentha (3fi7it). — Not any of the Mints, so far as I know, 

 can be put fonvard as ornamental in flower ; but the variegated 

 forms of M. piperita, rotwidifolia, and viridis, are well worth 

 growing in collections for the sake of foliage effects. They 

 grow any^vhere in any soil, and are easily propagated. 



Melittis Melissophyllum {Bastard Balm). — This pretty and 

 interesting plant is indigenous to Britain, being found wild in 

 a few places in the south and south-western parts of England. 

 The plant reaches the height of i foot or 18 inches, and is 

 erect and dense in habit, with many simple stems. The flowers 

 are borne in whorls in the axils of the leaves on the upper part 

 of the stems, and present the appearance of a dense terminal 

 spike. The calyx is the most prominent feature in the plant ; 

 it is creamy white, thin, almost membranous, unusually large 

 for a Labiate, and is much inflated or nearly bell-shaped. The 

 corolla, about an inch in length, projects only a little beyond 

 the calyx, falHng over it with the broad lower lip, and is pink, 

 purple, or variegated, white and pink, or white and purple, in 

 the few varieties of this plant that have been observed. Not 



