Herbaceous plants. 353 



hairy leaves ; flowers originally white, now found in all 

 colors. P. violacea ; leaves smaller, ovate-lanceolate, 

 rosy-red or violet. The original species is seldom met ; the 

 hybrid forms sold under the name of P. hybrida are the 

 most common, and are much used for summer bedding. 

 The finest strains of these are grandiflora, found in the 

 following colors : white, white and rose, rose-crimson, car- 

 mine, violet, and often two-colored ; grandiflora flore pleno, 

 the double varieties of the above ; superbissima, fine out- 

 line, wide throat, and brilliant colors. All are propagated 

 by means of seeds sown in the open ground or in a cool 

 frame or greenhouse. 



Tobacco, Nicotiana. The only species generally grown 

 for ornament is the very handsome and desirable JST. affi- 

 nis. As an annual, it may be propagated with ease. The 

 leaves are comparatively small, six inches long, ovate, stem- 

 leaves smaller ; stems two or three feet high, simple, bearing 

 a loose panicle of creamy white flowers with a terete tube 

 three inches long and a flat limb as much across. Forms 

 very nice beds in summer. The ground between the plants 

 may be covered with some low, constant-flowering species 

 such as pansies or bedding violets, or even verbenas. 



THE GENTIAN FAMILY. 



Gentian, Gentiana. These are very attractive plants, 

 but sometimes difficult to cultivate. They do best when 

 introduced under natural conditions and left undisturbed 

 afterwards. Some of the rarest and choicest of all herba- 

 ceous plants belong to this genus. Most common are : 



