THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. HESPERIS. 493 



and the divisions of the perianth divided 

 almost or entirely to their base. The 

 leaves are about five or six to a growth, 

 about 1 8 inches long and half an inch 

 broad, bright green above, and pale but 

 not glaucous on the under surface ; flower- 

 stem i to 2 feet in height, bearing a 

 corymb of large orange-yellow flowers. 

 H. rittilans and Sieboldi of gardens belong 

 to the same species. 



H. FLAVA (Yellow Day Lily). Few 

 plants can be grown with so little trouble 

 in the border, and give- such a valuable 

 return as this one the flowers large and 

 in such quantities, emitting such an agree- 

 able fragrance, as to earn the name of 

 yellow Tuberose. The length of time the 

 flowers last enhances its value as a border 

 plant. It is hardy, and though not so 

 robust in habit as H. fulva, it increases 

 rapidly, and where the soil is good, might 

 be naturalised. On banks the beautiful 

 light green curving leaves hang gracefully, 

 surmounted by bunches of large yellow 

 heads of flower in June and July. Europe 

 and N. Asia. H. Thunbergi and japonica 

 are forms of this species. 



H. FULVA (Copper-coloured Day Lily) 

 is a much larger plant than H. flava, and 

 more suitable for extensive planting in 

 semi- wild or rough parts of the garden. 

 It is variable under cultivation, and the 

 numerous forms now grown, many without 

 names, are all worthy of attention. H. 

 disticha is a well-known garden variety of 

 this species, notable for the fan-like form 

 of its growths. The flower- stem is forked 

 near the summit, and carries two or three 

 heads of flowers, six to eight blooms on 

 each, of a brown-orange colour. 



H. MIDDENDORFIANA. From Amur- 

 land ; in appearance resembling H. 

 Dumortieri; but the leaves are broader, 

 the flowers about the same size, closer, 

 and paler in colour, and with a distinct 

 cylindrical tube half an inch or so long. 

 It is of easy cultivation. 



H. MINOR. Known in many gardens 

 under the name of H. graminea, from its 

 grass-like foliage, was formerly classed by 

 the older botanists as a variety of H. flava, 

 though now considered distinct. It is the 

 smallest though not the least showy, and, 

 like flava, sweetly -scented, the flowers 

 lasting two or three days. It makes a 

 handsome plant for a rocky bank, and 

 even when flowers are absent the pretty 

 grass-like leaves are welcome. It flowers 

 during June and July. It is also known 

 under the names gramini folia and pumila. 

 Siberia. Aureole, Citrina, Baroni, and 

 Sovereign are modern hybrid sorts of 

 much value. 



HEMIPHRAGMA. H. heterophylla 

 is a dwarf trailing plant of the Figwort 

 family, bearing inconspicuous flowers, 

 succeeded by bright red berries about 



the size of small peas, on slender creep- 

 ing stems. It is rather tender, and 

 requires a sheltered and well-drained 

 spot in the rock garden. Himalayas. 



HERACLEUM (Giant Parsnip). - 

 Umbelliferous perennials, mostly of 

 gigantic growth, having huge spread- 

 ing leaves and tall flower-stems, with 

 umbelled clusters of small white 

 flowers i foot or more across. Though 

 well-developed plants of the large 

 kinds have a fine effect when isolated 

 in copse or wood, they are out of 

 place in the flower garden and 

 suitable only for the rougher parts 

 of pleasure grounds, the banks of 

 rivers or lakes, and other places where 

 they can grow freely without injury 

 to other plants. The finest are H. 

 giganteum, lanatum, sibiricum, eminens, 

 Wilhelmsi, and pubescens, all of which, 

 when in flower, are 5 to 10 feet high. 



Of quite unique presence is the bush- 

 forming H. Mantegazzianum, from the 

 Caucasus, which attains to 6 to 7 feet 

 high and a diameter of 8 to 10 feet. In 

 flower or leaf it is the best and most 

 imposing. All are increased by seed. 



HERNIARIA. Dwarf perennial 

 trailers, forming a dense turfy mass, 

 green throughout the year. There are 

 two or three species, but the most 

 important is H. glabra, which has been 

 largely used as a carpeting plant on 

 account of its dwarf growth, and it is 

 always a deep green, even in a hot 

 season. 



HESPERIS (Rocket}. H. matronalis 

 is a popular old garden plant, and 

 among the most desirable of hardy 

 flowers. It bears showy, varied, and 

 fragrant flower-spikes. The original 

 single-flowered kind grows i to 3 feet 

 high, and has pinkish flowers, but the 

 double kinds are much more valued. 

 There are two distinct forms of the 

 double white Rocket as well as of the 

 double purple Rocket in cultivation. 

 One is a tall white, turning to a pale 

 flesh colour with age ; the other is the 

 old white variety, of dwarfer growth, 

 with smaller and more compact 

 flowers. It is met with in the north, 

 but is little known in the south, where 

 it does not flourish so well as the com- 

 mon variety. There is the old purple 

 double Rocket and a free - growing 

 dwarf form known as Compactness, 

 which has also larger and darker 

 flowers. Rockets require care in cul- 

 tivating, and will soon be lost if left 

 to themselves. They should be divided 



