RObGERSlA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



continues at intervals till autumn. It 

 may be known when not in leaf by the 

 dense rusty hairs covering the young 

 twigs. Its branches are brittle and 

 apt to get broken by high winds, especi- 

 ally if it has been grafted high ; there- 

 fore choose a spot sheltered from high 

 winds. If the branches become heavy, 

 especially in flower time, support them 

 by stakes. It may be grown as an 

 espalier, like a fruit tree, and this will 

 protect it from winds, or it may be 

 trained against a wall. There are several 

 so-called varieties, but none is more 

 beautiful than the type. N. America. 



R. KELSEYI (Kelsey's False Acacia). 

 This is a new kind found by Mr Kelsey, 

 of Boston, a very graceful shrub, pretty 

 in flower and having its seed-pods covered 

 with red bristles. For some time this 

 plant will doubtless be propagated by 

 grafting on the common Acacia, but 

 the sooner we get it from seed the better. 



R. NEO-MEXICANA (Western Locust 

 Tree.) A spreading shrub or low tree of 

 20 to 25 feet. It is a vigorous plant of 

 fine habit, the young shoots, the under 

 side of the leaves, the flower stalks, 

 and the seed-pods covered with short 

 brown bristles ; the branches bear two 

 spines at each node. Its bluish-green 

 leaves are rather long and gracefully 

 drooping, while the flowers, of a pale 

 rose colour, are carried in short dense 

 clusters towards the end of the summer. 

 It is a useful addition to the group, 

 hardy, and flowering freely when quite 

 small. This is the only kind found in 

 the western states of America. It does 

 not thrive in heavy cold soils. N. 

 America. 



R. VISCOSA (Clammy Locust). Smaller 

 than the ordinary False Acacia, but is 

 elegant in foliage and beautiful in flower. 

 The flowers resemble those of Decaisne's 

 variety of the common Acacia, being 

 of a pale pink colour, but the clusters 

 are shorter and denser. It is a beauti- 

 ful lawn tree, flowering while the tree 

 is still small ; fully grown it is of pictur- 

 esque habit, from 30 to 50 feet high, 

 thriving best in a deep light soil in a 

 sheltered spot. 



RODGERSIA. Reputedly peat 

 and moisture-loving, one of the finest 

 groups of the Bronze Leaf (R. podo- 

 phylla) I have ever seen was growing 

 until a few years ago fully exposed in 

 light, loamy soil, without root moisture, 

 in the sun -kissed garden of the 

 Misses Ewbank at Ryde, Isle of Wight. 

 Given moisture, or sandy loam and 

 leaf-mould, with partial shade, Rod- 

 gersias are of quite easy culture. 

 Established examples will reach, when 

 in flower, to a height of 4 feet, or 

 even 5 feet. Essentially plants for 



effective gardening, a free grouping 

 of them in the rock garden, or by shel- 

 tered streamlet in prepared soil, is 

 among the best ways of seeing them to 

 perfection. They are native of China 

 and Japan and amenable to cultiva- 

 tion throughout the British Isles. 

 Seeds and division of the root-stock 

 when the plants are dormant are the 

 best methods of increase. The follow- 

 ing are all worth growing : 



R. ^SCULIFOLIA. A strong-growing 

 species with erect panicles of pinky-white, 

 fragrant flowers, on stems 3 to 4 feet 

 high. The leaves, as the specific name im- 

 plies, resemble those of the Horse Chest- 

 nut, and at maturity assume a rich 

 bronzy-green. A fine plant for waterside 

 gardening. 



R. PINNATA. A distinct plant, whose 

 handsome panicles, 3 to 4 feet high, 

 of rosy-pink flowers, stand out well above 

 the emerald-green, often bronzed, red- 

 tinged leaves. In this the leaflets are 

 arranged in pairs. R. pinnata alba is a 

 distinct wild form, with a leaf effect re- 

 sembling that of R. cesculifolia. This 

 produces panicles of creamy-white flowers. 



R. PODOPHYLLA (Bronze Leaf). At 

 once the best known and perhaps the most 

 picturesque of the whole race. Above the 

 handsome five-parted leaves, and rising 

 to 4 feet or so high, the tall panicles of 

 creamy-white flowers produce an effect 

 not unlike that of a giant Meadow Sweet. 



R. SAMBUCIFOLIA. With large pinnate, 

 deep-bronze leaves, and panicles of 

 creamy-white flowers in July. A novelty, 

 and probably not yet in general cultiva- 

 tion. E. H. J. 



R. TABULARIS (Table R.). A very extra- 

 ordinary-looking plant with leaves like 

 round trays. It is free and hardy and 

 a fine thing for association with the 

 greater fine-leaved hardy plants. The 

 flowers are creamy-white and borne well 

 above the leaves. 



All require the same treatment, and 

 if well grown flower well "every second 

 year. R. tabularis is a bold-growing 

 and handsome species with huge pel- 

 tate leaves and plumes of cream-white 

 flowers. 



ROMNEYA (White Bush Poppy}. 

 The fairest plant that ever came to 

 our land from that country of flowers, 

 California. 



R. COULTERI (Matilifa Poppy). A tall 

 perennial, with, when well grown, beauti- 

 ful close leaves and an immense white 

 fringe of flowers. The lustrous white 

 flowers are of a peculiarly delicate texture, 

 the petals somewhat transparent, and 

 yet enduring in a good state for days ; 



