6;6 KERNERASAXATiLis. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Kalmia angustifolia. 



light or sandy. It will not thrive in stiff 

 or chalky soils. Its lovely clusters of pink 

 wax-like flowers open about the end of 

 June, when the bloom of the Rhododen- 

 dron and Azalea is on 

 the wane, and last 

 for a fortnight or 

 longer. The broad 

 foliage makes it al- 

 most as valuable an 

 evergreen shrub as 

 the Rhododendron. 

 There are varieties 

 of the common kind 

 having, in some cases, 

 larger flowers, and 

 in others, flowers of 

 a deeper colour, the 

 finest being maxima, which is much 

 superior in size of flower and richness of 

 tint. The Myrtle-leaved Kalmia (A'. 

 myrtifolia) seems to be only a variety of 

 K. latifolia, with smaller Myrtle-like foli- 

 age. The growth is dwarf and compact, 

 and the flowers are almost as large as 

 those of K. latifoUa. The other species 

 of Kalmia, though very beautiful, are of 

 less value, because they are smaller, more 

 delicate, and less showy, but in peat-soil 

 gardens they should be grown. K. 

 angustifolia grows about \\ ft. high, and 

 bears in early June dense clusters of rosy- 

 pink flowers. K. glaiica and K. hirsiita 

 are also pretty shrubs, K. glaiica flower- 

 ing in early summer, and K. hirsuta in 

 August. 



Kaulfussia. See Amellus. 

 KERNERA SAXATILIS.— A neat 

 little plant forming a compact tuft of foli- 

 age, and in early summer a dense mass of 

 tiny white blooms. It grows in any soil 

 in an open position in the rock garden, 

 where it is an attractive plant in spring, 

 and may be freely propagated by seeds. 

 Europe. 



Kerria japonica. 



KERRIA (Jew's Mallow). — The 

 double variety of this Japanese shrub, K. 



japonica, is an old favourite in cottage gar- 

 dens. The large yellow rosette flowers are 

 more showy than those of the single kind, 

 which is a pretty shrub. Though usually 

 planted against walls, the Kerria is hardy, 

 and may be grown as a bush except in the 

 coldest parts. The variegated-leaved form 

 of the single variety is more delicate than 

 the double form, or the green-leaved single 

 form. 



Knautia. See Scabiosa. 



KITAIBELIA VITIFOLIA.-A 

 large, coarse-growing plant, from 4 ft. to 

 6 ft. or more high, with Grapevine-like 

 foliage. It bears in summer large white 

 blooms from the upper parts of the stems. 

 The plant is too coarse for border cul- 

 ture, but adapted for growing among 

 shrubs or for naturalising. Seed or divi- 

 sion. Hungary. 



KLEINIA REPENS.— A small, dwarf, 

 succulent plant with cylindrical leaves of 

 a bluish glaucous grey. It is used for 

 geometrical beds in summer, but is not 

 hardy. Propagated by division in early 

 spring in heat, afterwards potted and 

 planted out in May in light dry soil. 



KNIPHOFIA ( Torch Lily or Flame 

 Flower). — Handsome and very distinct 

 perennials which are prevented by severe 

 winters from becoming very popular. The 

 genus, as understood by botanists, is re- 

 stricted to the mountains of Abyssinia and 

 the Cape, with the exception of one species 

 found by Speke and Grant near the Equa- 

 tor, and one or two kinds indigenous to the 

 mountains of Madagascar. There are 

 twenty or thirty species, and none of the 

 six found in Abyssinia is identical with any 

 sort found at the Cape. The Kniphofias, 

 and especially the forms of K. uvaria, are 

 among the most striking of autumn flowers. 

 Large irregular groups in open spots 

 give a brilliant effect in autumn, and they 

 require no attention beyond an occasional 

 top-dressing of rich soil or well-rotted 

 manure. During the late winters many 

 kinds have perished from frost, but these 

 dangers may be averted by a covering of 

 dry leaves or ashes in late autumn. The 

 stemless kinds are easily propagated by 

 division and by seed when produced in 

 favourable seasons ; but not the stemmed 

 or caulescent kinds. However, those 

 who wish to increase their stock of the 

 stemmed kinds need not fear to behead 

 them ; in fact, this is the only way in 

 which K. caulescens can be propagated, 

 as, otherwise, it seldom develops ofl"shoots. 

 When so treated it will throw up a large 

 number of shoots, which, if allowed to re- 

 main until a few roots are produced, may 

 be taken off and kept in a close frame for 



