LAVATERA 143 



Lath'yrus — continued. 



they form, as the plants cannot undergo two duties 

 successfully. A second sowing may be made in 

 April or even as late as the beginning of June. An 

 autumn sowing is sometimes made for early spring 

 flowering, but it is not always easy to keep the 

 plants alive during a cold winter. The season is 

 a long one, and with attention it is quite easy to 

 have an abundance of flowers till the middle of 

 October. 



Lavate'ra (called after two Swiss naturalists of the 

 name of Lavater). Nat. Ord. Malvacece. 



This is a family of rather coarse-growing plants, 

 a few of which only are fit for the garden, these 

 being mentioned below ; the second is a decided 

 acquisition, very gay in a good rich soil, and 

 splendid to cut from. The Convolvulus-like flowers 

 are very similar to those of Malope and are pro- 

 duced in the axils of the leaves. 



L. arhoT'ea variega'ta, or Tree Mallow. This is a 

 handsome biennial plant, the leaves marked 

 with white. It makes a good q^qcI in company 

 with other fine foliaged plants, branching out 

 into a broad, compact head, like a miniature 

 tree, about 6 ft. in height. The flowers 

 are red. 



L. trime^tris. This annual grows 3 ft. high in 

 good rich soil. The flowers, which are very 

 abundantly produced in J uly to September, are 

 rose coloured, and there is a white variety 



