156 BRITISH PLANTS. 



blossoms are " few and far between " in the flower garden, it really 

 would be an useful and interesting acquisition, and it is indeed strange 

 tliat it lias not long ago been introduced to garden culture, the more 

 especially since tlie Pansy, and the sAveet Purple Violet too, have been 

 so successfully cultivated by the florist. They both have well repaid 

 the care bestowed on them, especially the former ; and we have no 

 doubt but the Hairy Violet may do the same : it really deserves a 

 place in every garden. It grows well in a warm, somewhat shaded, 

 situation ; and as a rockwork ornament it is very beautiful, and grows 

 luxuriantly. Its seed may be gathered in the summer time from the 

 seed-pods that are bent down to the ground and close beside tlie root of 

 the parent plant, or plants may be safely lifted at almost any season. 



Lychnis dioica. Under the specific name dio'ica are included tlie 

 red and the lohite Campion of this country, wliich are respectively the 

 //. diuriia and L. vespertina of Sibtliorpe. In tlie present day they 

 are considered by botanists as merely varieties of one species, although 

 they are certainly well marked varieties. Besides tlie difference in the 

 colour of the flowers, those of the white variety (X. vespertina) are 

 very fragrant in the evening, like the night-blowing stock, while the 

 red variety (L. diiama) is quite scentless. Both varieties ai"e very 

 showy, and of easy culture. . It may be useful to remark that the red- 

 flowered variety requires a more moist situation than does the other. 

 A variety, with flesh-coloured hermaphrodite flowers, has been found 

 in Forfarshire, by Mr. AVilliam Gardiner, and is the var. y. of 

 Hooker's " Brit. Flora." 



Spergula nodosus, or Knotted Spurrey. A lovely little thing 

 well adapted for planting near the base of artificial rockworks and 

 other moist situations. It is a small plant, raising its gi'aceful white 

 flowers only a few inches high on its slender stem ; but it is very beau- 

 tiful, and Mell deserves cultivation. It is found wild in wet, marshy 

 groiuuls, and is by no means rare. 



Geranium sanguineum, or JBloody Crane's JBilL This is a veiy 

 handsome plant, with large showy deep flesh-coloured blossoms, which 

 it produces in profusion throughout the months of June and July ; it is 

 imdoubtedly the most beautiful species of the genus inhabiting this 

 country. It requires a light dry soil, and plenty of sunshine, although 

 indeed we have seen it growing and flowering well under the shade of 

 trees where few other things would grow. It is a perennial, and the 

 roots may be lifted in IMarch, and removed to the flower-border. It 

 has occurred to iis that it would appear particularly well if planted in 

 tnasses ; there would be a perfect blaze of beauty. Tliis plant stands 

 drought well, and so does the following species ; and on this account 

 they may be suitable for planting in extensive rock-works where tall 

 growing plants are required. 



Geranium th^um, or Dusk?/ Crane's-BiU. A dingy sable look- 

 ing flower, . very different from the last species, and by no means so. 

 showy. Its flowers are smaller, and of a ]nirple-black colour; but its 

 leaves are very large and beautiful. There is a variety with white 

 flowers stated in Hooker's "British Flora" to grow at the " Sands of 

 Barrie, near Dundee ;" but local botanists have long looked for it there 

 in vain, and Me believe there is now no wild station for it in Britain. 



