GARDEN FLOWERS. 151 



'ECHIUM. Viper's Bugloss. [Boraginaceae.] A large ge- 

 nus of hardy annuals, biennials, and perennials, and of 

 greenhouse evergreen shrubs. The hardy sorts grow in 

 common garden soil, and are all best propagated by seeds. 

 The greenhouse species require sandy loam and peat, and 

 are increased by seeds or cuttings, and require to be kept 

 in a rather dry atmosphere during winter. Some of the 

 greenhouse kinds are showy, though not of good habit ; but 

 the hardy kinds are of little value for ornamental purposes. 



HARDY ANNUALS. E. angustifolium (narrow-leaved) ; flow- 

 ers blush, in July ; Spain; 1826. E. arenarium (sand-inhabit- 

 ing) ; flowers purple, in July ; Calabria ; 1 826. E. calycinum 

 (large-calyxed) ; flowers blue and yellow, in July ; south of Eu- 

 rope ; 1829. E. macraiitlnun (large-flowered) ; I foot ; flowers 

 violet, in July; Barbary; 1818. E. Simsii (Sims'); flowers red 

 and blue, in August ; south of Europe ; 1816. 



HARDY BIENNIALS. E. amcenum (agreeable); flowers blue, 

 in July ; Caucasus ; 1 826. E. asperrimum (very rough) ; flowers 

 blue, in July; Caucasus; 1826. E. Dalmricum (Dahurian) ; 

 flowers blue, in July; Dahuria; 1827. E. Italicum (Italian); 

 4 feet ; flowers white, in July ; Jersey. E. Sibthorpii (Sib- 

 thorp's) ; i foot ; flowers red, in June ; Europe ; 1824. E. tenue 

 (slender) ; i foot ; flowers blue, in July ; Sicily ; 1824. E. tuber- 

 culatiun (pimpled) ; I foot ; flowers violet, in August ; Spain ; 

 1820. E. tnolaceuin (violet-flowered); 3 feet; flowers blue, in 

 June ; Austria ; 1658. E. vulgare flore-albo (common white- 

 flowered) ; i foot ; flowers white, in July ; Britain. 



EGG-PLANT. See SOLANUM. 



EGLANTINE. See ROSA. 



EL^AGNUS. Oleaster. [Elasagnacea?.] A genus of shrubs 

 with silvery foliage, consisting chiefly of hardy deciduous 

 species, with a few greenhouse evergreens. For the former, 

 which are useful in shrubberies, the common garden soil 

 will suffice ; and they are increased by seeds, cuttings, or 

 layers. The latter should have loam, with a third peat or 



