54 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



beautiful spikes of showy flowers, purple, white, yellow, spotted, 

 red, &c. They are more strictly biennials, but often bloom for 

 'two or three years. Sow middle of May, and take off new shoots 

 to perpetuate sorts. 



HolyJtocJc {Althea rosea). — One of the oldest flowers, but has 

 undergone modern improvements. Tkis too, is classed among 

 biennials, but by taking off the new offsets, or propagating by 

 slips, desirable kinds are perpetuated. Some of the dwarf double 

 sorts are very desirable, growing about four feet high, while the 

 tall sorts reach six and eight feet. They continue in flower a long 

 time, from the first opening of the lower bud until the final burst- 

 ing of the topmost one. Sow at any time in May, or even in June 

 and July, and they will flower the following season, 



Penstemon Wrightii (scarlet), Miirrayanum (vermillion), and 

 Jeffreyanwn (light blue), are handsome perennials bearing their 

 bell-shaped flowers in graceful spikes. They grow from one to 

 two feet high, and flower from June or July until October. There 

 are several other species not mentioned above, all pretty, and 

 most of them hardy. Do best sown in a hot-bed, but may be sown 

 in a warm open border, the middle or last of May. 



Perennial Phlox. — If only three perennial flowers are grown 

 in a yard, one of them should be a root of phlox. A bed of the 

 different colors — always obtained from seed — will form a magnifi- 

 cent show all summer long. The prevailing colors are purple, 

 red and white, often delicately blended in the same flowerj one 

 variety of dwarf habit, called " moss pink," forms a perfect mat 

 of bloom the last of April or early in May, and is often employed 

 for edging. Others, such as maculata (Flora's bouquet), with pur- 

 plish red flowers. Van Houtleii, striped, grow one a half to two 

 feet high, and flower in June and July, while the tall growing fall 

 sorts such as Mary Ann, purple centre and white margin, Wilderii, 

 deep red, and many others, grow two to three feet high, and 

 flower from July until September, so that with this flower alone 

 an endless variety of bloom may be kept up through the season. 



Garden Pink {Diant/ms Jwrtensis) is closely allied to carnation, 

 but more hardy. It is easily grown, perfectly hardy, very fra- 

 grant, about one foot high, blooming the last of June. Sow on a 

 dry soil middle of May. 



Garden Rocket {Hesperis matronalis). — The sweet, purple sort 

 is one of the best; very fragrant, flowering in long spikes in May 

 and June. It is- perfectly hardy, easily grown, and is a good 



