March.'] PERENNIALS. 45 



highly esteemed varieties have originated. The cultivated 

 auricula has many admirers, both for its exquisite beauty 

 and fragrance. For the criterion of a fine flower, see 

 Bpril. There are several other species worthy of a situa- 

 tion, such as P. cortusoides, P. dentiflbra, P. suaveolens, 

 P. decora, with P. scotica and P.farinosa, both small neat 

 species. A shady situation agrees best with them; and 

 they require loamy soil, free from any kind of manure, ex- 

 cept it be fully decomposed. The leaves of P. veris have 

 been recommended for feeding silk worms. 



Potentillas are similar to the strawberry in habit and 

 appearance. P. nepalensis orformosa, has rose-coloured 

 flowers ; P. atropurpurea ; P. Musselliana, scarlet; P. Hop- 

 woodiana, buff and scarlet ; and P. splendens, yellow, with 

 superb leaves. These are the finest of the genus, and flower 

 from May to September. It will be well to protect them 

 with a few leaves or litter during the severity of winter ; 

 they delight in light soil. 



Saponaria offitinalis, and S. o. plena, are fine free flow- 

 ering dwarf plants; the colour is pink in both double and 

 single varieties. The roots run under ground, and care 

 should be taken to keep them within bounds : they flower 

 from June to October. S. ccespitosa is a neat growing spe- 

 cies, of a rose colour. They will grow in any soil. 



Silene. Several of this genus are popular annuals, but 

 the herbaceous species are very indifferent. S. viscosa 

 and S. viscosa fibre plena are frequently cultivated for their 

 beauty ; they will grow well if not too much shaded. 



Saxifraga, above one hundred species. Many of them 

 are beautiful plants for rock-work. They are regardless 

 of cold, but will not generally withstand much moisture. A 

 few of them are highly deserving a situation in any gar- 

 den. S. hirsutum and S. crassifolia are used in some 

 countries for tanning. S. granulata multiplex has fine 

 double white flowers, and is desirable. S. umbrosa, Lon- 

 don-pride, makes a beautiful edging for a flower border; 

 the flowers are small, but on close examination its colours 

 are unrivalled. It is sometimes called " none so pretty." 

 S. sarmentosa is kept in the green-house, but is perfectly 

 hardy, and makes a fine plant in a shaded situation, and 

 will grow where grass and other plants generally die. We 

 have no doubt but it would make a good fancy edging. S. 



