THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. nierembergia. 



705 



black centre), and alba nigra (white and 

 black centre). N. discoidalis has dark 

 purple flowers edged with white, and the 

 flowers of its variety elegans are maroon 

 margined with white. N. maculata has 

 large white flowers blotched with violet 

 and its variety purpurea is of a mauve 

 colour. These kinds are all worth growing. 

 They thrive in any soil, and are of the 

 simplest culture. In spring some pretty 

 combinations may be effected by arranging 

 the masses in harmonising colours. All 

 Nemophilas are well suited for edgings 

 and for filling small beds, as they are 

 compact in growth. The insignis section 

 should always be preferred to the others. 

 Seeds should be sown early in August 

 for spring - flowering, and in April for 

 summer -blooming. To secure a good 

 display of flower, however, the best time 

 to sow is in August, and the soil should 

 be a light one, where the seed can ger- 

 minate freely, and where the plants will 

 not become too robust before winter sets 

 in. If the seed be sown where the 

 plants are to flower, the results will be 

 most satisfactoiy ; but if transplanting 

 be necessary, it should be done early 

 in the winter. A ball of earth should 

 be attached to each plant, and to secure 

 this thin sowing is indispensable. These 

 plants often grow better and give prettier 

 effects in the cooler northern parts of 

 the country and in Scotland. Hydro- 

 phyllaceae. 



NEPETA {Cat J//;//).— Herbaceous 

 perennials, of which N. macrantha has 

 rather showy purple flowers, but is too tall 

 and coarse for the border. N. Mussini is 

 an old plant, flourishing in ordinary 

 garden soil, and was once used for 

 edgings to borders, a purpose for which 

 its compact growth suits it well ; but 

 none of these plants are among the best 

 for choice borders. 



NEPHRODIUM. — North American 

 ferns, some hardy, and very handsome, and 

 these thrive under the same conditions as 

 our native ferns. The chief sorts are 

 N. Goldieanum, N. intermedium, N. mar- 

 ginale, and N. noveberacense. Several 

 Japanese and Chinese species thrive 

 without protection in mild localities, but 

 they cannot be recommended for general 

 culture. N. fragrans is a sweet-scented 

 Httle form. It is somewhat delicate, but 

 thrives in a sheltered situation. 



NERTERA {Fridtiiii^ Duckweed).— N. 

 depressa is a pretty creeping and minute 

 plant, thickly studded with tiny reddish- 

 orange berries, and with minute round 

 leaves which are suggestive of the Duck- 

 weed of our stagnant pools. •, It forms 



densely matted tufts in the open air, best 

 perhaps on level spots in the rock-garden. 

 It is also often grown in pans, and out-of- 

 doors in some places may recpire pro- 

 tection in winter. N. depressa may be 

 propagated by dividing old plants inta 

 small portions and placing them in small 

 pots in a gentle heat until they start into- 

 growth, and then removing them to a 

 cooler atmosphere. Rubiaceje. New 

 Zealand. 



NICANDRA. — N. physaloides is a 

 pretty Peruvian half-hardy annual, about 

 2 ft. high, of stout growth, bearing in 

 summer numerous showy blue and white 

 bell-like flowers, and thriving in an open 

 position in light soil. Seed should be 

 sown in heat in early spring or in the open 

 air about the end of March, and the 

 seedlings should be transplanted in May. 

 One plant is sufficient for a square yard. 

 Solanaceje. 



NICOTIANA {Tobacco).— 'ilov.y half- 

 hardy annuals of rapid growth, and good 

 subjects for grouping with other stately 

 plants. The varieties differ chiefly in the 

 stoutness and the height of their stems, and 

 in size of their leaves and flowers, these dif- 

 ferences depending largely on cultivation. 

 The best growth is got in rich ground 

 and sheltered positions. Seed must be 

 sown in February in a warm house or 

 frame. Prick off the plants as soon as 

 they appear, and pot them in a genial heat 

 of, say, 60^. Then about the end of May 

 fine plants will be ready for putting out 

 from 6 or 8 in. pots. They will start off at 

 once, and not cease growing until frost 

 comes. The most useful of all is N. 

 afifinis, used largely in gardens large and 

 small, in distinct groups or with other 

 things. It is much smaller in leaf and habit 

 than such kinds as N. macrophylla, and 

 therefore more suitable for small gardens. 



N. colossea is a large-leaved kind which 

 has been grown in recent years, but it is 

 eclipsed by its variegated form which is 

 one of the most graceful plants for beds or 

 borders. 



N. Sanderse is a hybrid form of rich 

 and varied colour, of easy culture for the 

 flower-garden. 



N. wigandioides is well adapted for 

 subtropical bedding in positions where it 

 will be surrounded by dvvarfer plants. 



NIEREMBERGIA.- -The onh- quite 

 hardy Nierembergia is N. rivularis (White 

 Cup), one of the handsomest of all. The 

 stems and foliage trail along the ground like 

 those of the New Holland \'iolet, while 

 barely pushed above the foliage are open 

 cup-like creamy-white flowers, usually 

 nearly 2 in. across. They continue during 



