686 



ROMNEYA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. ROMULKA. 



their fragrance is delicate. The flowers 

 are borne mainly on the points of the new 

 shoots and on laterals nearest the points, 

 more sparingly on the lower laterals. 

 It seems quite hardy in our country, 

 with old mortar, rubble, and perfect 

 drainage. An American told me he had 

 never seen it so well in its own country 

 as in my garden in Sussex, where the 

 only protection it has is a few ashes 

 thrown round the roots in winter. It 



do not seem to come so well. R. tncho- 

 calyx, a recent addition, is dwarfer, 

 more reliable in blooming, and more 

 freely flowering, though less handsome 

 than the older kind. 



R. TRICHOCALYX. Is another beauti- 

 ful and stately plant, evidently as hardy 

 as R. Coulteri, but somewhat dwarfer, 

 and if anything more free to flower. 

 In my garden it takes its place with other 

 hardy perennials and is not protected 



Romneya Coulteri. 



flowers right into autumn, and is beauti- 

 ful and stately in effect. Where it 

 will notjgrow well in the open, it would 

 do so in many places against a wall 

 with a southern aspect. When necessary, 

 transplanting should be in spring, just 

 before growth begins. 



For winter protection, pine needles 

 form the best covering, and, after these, 

 rough cocoanut fibre. A point in starting 

 is to get healthy plants in pots, planting 

 in spring and not disturbing the roots 

 much. For its propagation seeds is 

 the best way, as from division the plants 



in any way. A fine distinct plant, well 

 deserving of culture. 



ROMULEA. Bulbous plants of the 

 Iris family. They are of dwarf growth, 

 and have grassy foliage ; but though 

 their blossoms are showy, they are not 

 perfectly hardy, and they require to 

 be grown either in frames or in very 

 warm sheltered borders, in light soil. 

 The best known are R. Bulbocodium, 

 ramiflora, and Columns, natives of 

 S. Europe, and R. rosea and R. 



