200 GLENN YS HANDBOOK 



They rtyow readily in rich light loamy soil, the hardy ones 

 planted out in the open horders or in beds, and the tender 

 ones potted and kept in a frame or on a shelf in a cool green- 

 house. The tal'er species, with their long spikes of staiTy 

 flowers, are very ornamental. They all increase by means of 

 offsets, as is the case with other bulbs. 



OROBUS. BfTTER Vetch. [Legiiminosae, § Papilionaceae.l 

 An extensive family of hardy perennials, with hardly an 

 exception. Common light deep garden soil. Division. 



OSAGE ORANGE. See Macix'Ra. 



OSMUXDA. Flowering Fern. [Osmundacefe.l The 

 Osmunda rerfalis, called the Osmund Royal, is one of the 

 finest of our native ferns. It grows in marshy situations, or 

 at least where there is a constant supply of moisture. This 

 fern is seldom seen in cultivation above three or four feet 

 high ; but in some of its native localities, as, for example, on 

 the banks of the Irish lakes, it reaches ten or twelve feet 

 high, and combines with its inherent nobility of aspect a great 

 degree of elegance and grace. In a less luxuriant state it is 

 rather rigid than graceful, but in any healthy condition 

 beautiful. This differs from other ferns in not having its 

 fructification scattered on the back of the fronds, but col- 

 lected together, and forming the entire upper part. To grow 

 them well they must have peaty soil and plenty of moisture. 

 0. cinnmnomea, 0. r/rncilis, 0. interrupta, 0. regalis, and 0. 

 spectahiUs are all cultivated. 



OXALIS. Wood Sorrel. [Oxalidaceae.] A very ex- 

 tensive, a very varied, and a very ornamental genus. The 

 majority of the species are bulbs from the Gape of Good Hope 

 and South America, and well suited for pot culture in the 

 greenhouse : most of these, however, will grow in a warm 

 diy sheltered border in the flower garden, especially if pro- 

 tected during winter by a covering of some dry open material, 

 such as sawdust or half-decayed leaves. The best plan of all 

 is to plant them out in a bed made up in a frame or pit, and 

 covered with glass. They thrive in equal parts of peat, loam, 

 and leaf-mould. Another bulbous group is quite hardy : 

 these need only to be planted out in a bed. and allowed to 

 grow as they please for several years. The soil should 

 contain some proportion of peat and leaf-soil. The fleshy 



