134 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



of the season, without protection. In the month of May the 

 flower-stalks began to be developed, arid produced, in June, 

 spikes of flowers, which were two feet in length, and from three 

 to four feet in height from the ground. The flowers are dis- 

 posed in long terminal clusters, of a beautiful azure blue, with a 

 reddish border, forming a kind of whorls, very near each other, 

 round the stem. The leaves are composed of from twelve to 

 fifteen green, lanceolate leaflets, hairy on the under side. The 

 flowers resemble those of blue Sophora, (Baptisa australis,} but 

 far more elegant. The third year it flowered abundantly, 

 throwing up numerous flower-stems, so luxurious that many 

 were broken by the wind before they were secured by sticks. 

 The third year the roots should be divided, as they become 

 large in rich ground ; the central part first decays, and finally 

 the whole root perishes, unless this operation is performed. 

 There is also a white variety." 



There is also a number of other species, among which are L. 

 grandiflora, and other fine sorts. They are best propagated 

 by seeds ; but, with care, some of the sorts may be increased 

 by divisions of the roots. 



LYCHNIS. 



Lychnis chalcedonica. Scarlet Lychnis. This is common 

 in most gardens, under the name of London Pride. It is an 

 esteemed border flower, of easy cultivation. The flowers are 

 brilliant scarlet, which make it more valuable, as comparatively 

 few flowers of that color are to be found among hardy herba- 

 ceous plants. One of the most splendid decorations of the bor- 

 der is the Double Scarlet Lychnis. It is propagated only by 

 divisions of the root, or cuttings of the flower-stem ; the single 

 variety is raised freely from seed. The cuttings are taken off 

 at any time when the shoots are tender, and planted in a sandy 

 loam, in a warm situation, but covered with a hand-glass and 

 shaded from the sun. When well-established, they may be 

 transplanted into the bed or border where they are to remain, 



