LABIATE. 229 



wild places, or be used for ornamenting the margins of shrub- 

 beries. Propagate by division. 



N. Glechoma {Grotmd Ivy). — The common form of this very 

 abundant but nevertheless pretty weed is not desirable in culti- 

 vated places ; and it is so very generally to be found in neglected 

 spots in nearly every locality in the country, that there is no 

 reason to recommend it for naturalisation. But there is a hand- 

 some variety of it, with variegated leaves, not nearly so much 

 grown as it deserves to be. The pretty orbicular leaves are 

 blotched with yellow, and the prostrate or creeping growth is 

 not so rampant as in the normal state of the species. It is one 

 of the neatest of edging plants, and the most easy to manage, 

 every joint foniiing a plant. Wherever the means or facilities 

 for propagating large quantities of bedding plants are limited, 

 this should be looked after for edging or carpeting. It is a 

 good covering for roughish rocky banks or stumps, wherever it 

 may have as much soil and moisture as will support it, and is 

 a pretty edging to rustic baskets. 



N. macrantha {Large-flowered Cat-Mint). — The plant grows 

 about 2^ feet high, rather straggling, and branching much. 

 The leaves are broadly and bluntly lance-shaped, toothed, and 

 somewhat hoary, on stalks below, but becoming shorter, and 

 ultimately stalkless above. The flowers are large, bright blue, 

 in rather open whorled spikes. Native of southern Europe. 



N. Mussini(J/z/j'j-/;2V Cat-Mifit). — A dwarfer and more diffuse 

 plant than the last, better known in private gardens under the 

 names teucrifolia and longflora. It has bluntly-heart-shaped 

 hoary leaves. The flowers are in long one-sided racemes, 

 beautiful soft blue. They appear in late spring or early sum- 

 mer, and continue in profusion during summer and autumn. 

 Height I foot or 18 inches. Native of Siberia. Although not 

 one of the brightest of flowers, this is rarely surpassed amongst 

 border perennial plants for the length and persistency of its 

 display, and its attractive neatness throughout spring, summer, 

 and autumn. It was freely used in bygone years in bedding 

 out, and it is occasionally used in that way yet : for this purpose 

 it must be propagated by cuttings annually in spring, requiring 

 the same treatment as Verbenas and suchHke bedding stock. 

 Treated thus, the plants are neater and uniform, and the bloom 

 is even more sustained. 



Phlomis. — These are striking herbaceous or sufifruticose 

 plants, with usually large downy and hoary leaves and conspic- 

 uous whorled heads of flowers. They are splendid subjects, 

 all that are sufiiciently hardy for the purpose, and only such 

 will be here selected, for naturalising in open woods and rocky 



