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OSTEOMELES. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



OXALIS. 



exotic species are of the simplest culture 

 in the hardy fernery, in moist peaty 

 soil. N. America. 



OSTEOMELES ANTHYLIDIFOLIA. 

 A small evergreen shrub from 5 to 

 6 feet high, mostly grown upon walls 

 in this country, but fairly hardy in 

 the south-west. It has silvery leaves 

 divided into a number of small leaflets, 

 and clusters of white flowers like the 

 Hawthorn, followed by red - brown 

 berries. Native of China and the 

 N. Pacific islands. 



OSTROWSKYA (Great Oriental Bell- 

 flower). O. magnified is a remarkable 

 and handsome hardy plant found by 

 Dr Regel on the higher mountains of 

 Chanat Darwas, in E. Bokhara, and 

 is like a huge Platycodon in aspect, 

 but distinct, the flowers being of great 

 beauty, 4 to 6 inches across, of a 

 delicate purple, veined, and varying 

 from seed ; the leaves are in whorls. 

 The plants like a deep sandy loam, as 

 the carrot-like roots when of full size 

 go down to a depth of 2 feet. They 

 must be carefully handled, as they are 



Ostroiuskya. ma.gnifi.ca. 



very brittle. The Ostrowskya does 

 not apparently thrive equally in all 

 places, and is often disappointing. 

 Seeds germinate readily in a cold 

 frame, but a few years elapse between 

 sowing and flowering. Unique among 

 perennials, it is worthy of any care 

 to make it a success. Plant year-old 

 seedlings where disturbance is un- 

 necessary. 



S T R Y A ( Hop Hornbeam) . 

 According to Mr Bean one is a species 

 common to Europe and Asia Minor, 

 another is of E. Asia, and there is 

 one in western and one in eastern 

 N. America. They are summer- 

 leafing and should be raised from seed ; 

 they thrive in any soil of good or 

 moderate quality, and are all perfectly 

 hardy. 



OTHONNOPSIS (Barbary Ragwort). 

 O. cheirifolia is a distinct Composite 

 plant, with whitish-green tufts, 8 inches 

 to i foot high, or on rich soils perhaps 

 more. It is a spreading evergreen, 

 flowering sparsely on heavy and cold 

 soil, but on light soils often blooming 

 freely in May ; the flowers yellow, 

 about i^ inches across, but not pretty. 

 It is useful from its distinct aspect 

 on the rough rock garden or in the 

 mixed border. Cuttings. Perishes in 

 severe winters ; at least on clay soils. 

 Barbary. 



OURISIA. O. coccinea is a bright 

 dwarf Chilian creeper, bearing in early 

 summer scarlet blossoms in slender 

 clusters, 6 to 9 inches high. For 

 years this brilliant subject was reput- 

 edly difficult to grow. Experience 

 proves, however, that it revels in 

 cool rich loam and leaf soil, and 

 flowers profusely when with these 

 are associated broken sandstone, over 

 which the rhizomes creep and flower. 

 On no account should the rhizomes 

 be buried. Keep them level with 

 the surface. As it forms a perfect 

 mat, it should be divided and replanted 

 every two years. 



OXALIS (Wood Sorrel). Dwarf and 

 often pretty perennial or annual plants, 

 for the most part more happy and 

 free in temperate countries, but some 

 hardy with us on warm borders and 

 on the rock garden. They all thrive 

 best in a sandy soil in the warmest and 

 driest place in a garden. The following 

 are the best kinds for our gardens : 



O. ACETOSELLA (Stubwoit, Wood Sor- 

 rel). The prettiest of all the kinds known 

 for our gardens is our native Wood Sorrel, 

 which bore in old times the better name of 

 " Stubwort " a name which should be 

 used always. This grows in such pretty 

 ways in woody and shady places that in 

 many gardens there is no need to cultivate 

 it. Where it must be cultivated it will 

 be happy in the hardy fernery or in shady 

 spots in the rock garden, or under trees, 

 or the lawn, or in any shady or half -shady 

 places in ground not dug. 



