224 GLt'-NNYS HANDBOOK 



loam. Increased by offsets. When in growth they are 

 benefited by warmth at the root. 



POLYANTHUS. See Primula. 



POLYGALA. Milkwort. [Polygalacefe.] An extensive 

 genus, containing about an equal number of greenhouse 

 shrubs, hardy perennials, and hardy annuals. The former 

 are the most important in an ornamental point of view, con- 

 sisting of free-flowering evergreen shrubs. They are raised 

 from seeds and cuttings. The former should be sown in the 

 spring, and started in a hotbed ; then inured to the warmest 

 part of the greenhouse by covering them with a bell-glass for 

 the first day, tilting it a little tbe se^^ond, and taking it off 

 the third. When large enough they may be potted singly 

 in three-inch pots, and changed to larger ones as these fill 

 with roots. Cuttings may be struck in sand under a bell- 

 glass with a little bottom heat, the glasses being wiped every 

 day : when rooted they are to be treated like the seedlings. 

 The best soil is turfy loam two parts, and peat one part. 

 The hardy kinds, with the exception of P. chamahuxus, a 

 very dwarf tufted evergreen shrub, well suited for planting, 

 with other small subjects, near the edge of a clump of 

 American plants, are of little importance in a garden. P. 

 cordifolia, flowers purple. P. Dahnaisiana, flowers purple. 

 P. inyrtifolia, flowers purple. The variety grandijiora is the 

 best. P. oppositlfolia, flowers purple. All these are green- 

 house evergreen shrubs. 



POLYGOXATUM. Solomon's Seal. [Liliacese.] Hardy 

 herbaceous perennials. Common soil. Division. 



POLYGONUM. Persicarta. [Polygonacese.] A large 

 genus, not remarkable for floral attractions. There are, how- 

 ever, exceptions. P. orientale, a common hardy annual, 

 which is best self-sown, grows four or five feet high, much 

 branched, with many gracefully nodding spikes of small red 

 flowers, which become conspicuous from their acrgregation. 

 It requires no culture, but if sown artificially it may be done 

 in March. P. amphihium is a beautiful hardy water plant, 

 with short floating stems, and rosy flower-spikes. P. divarica- 

 turn is a pretty hardy perennial, densely branched, forming a 

 large mass, covered with feathery-looking bunches of creamy- 

 white flowers. It is of the easiest culture in common soil, 



