132 FLOWEES AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



of the root. I have seen somewhere that the Monarda 

 didyma produces the scent called bergamot. 



The pretty little Hepaticses deserve a place in the 

 flower garden, on account of their showing their gay- 

 coloured flowers early, while flowers are yet scarce. 

 They require a light sandy soil and a shady situation. 

 They should be taken up, divided, and replanted every 

 second or third autumn, for if the roots rise above ground 

 the plants are very likely to die. 



The Garden Rocket, Hesperis metronalis, is a tall-grow- 

 ing plant which requires good cultivation to make it 

 grow fine. When the plant has done flowering, it should 

 be taken up and transplanted into fresh, very rich, light 

 friable soil ; the earth from an old celery trench is good 

 for this purpose, and under this treatment the double 

 white and double purple rockets grow to be very fine 

 flowers. 



The St. John's Worts, Hypericum, are especially valu- 

 able from growing well under the drip of trees ; in fact, 

 they prefer moisture and shade, where their rich green 

 foliage and bright yellow flowers show very well. They 

 grow from seed, and may be propagated also by division 

 of the roots. 



The Gentiana Acaulis, or Gentianella, a low-growing 

 plant, with blue flowers of intense brilliancy, is beautiful 

 for a border. It, and all the gentians, require abundance 

 of free air ; they will not do in the neighbourhood of Lon- 

 don, or any similar locality. They like a light rich soil, 

 and do well in a mixture of loam and peat, enriched 

 with vegetable mould ; acaulis may be planted in peat 

 alone. Some of the gentians are perennials, and may 

 be propagated by division of the roots ; arid some are 

 annuals, which, as well as the perennials, may be raised 

 from seed, which must be sown directly it is ripe. The 

 root of Gentiana lutea is an intense bitter ; the gentian 

 ^f the druggists. When grown in pots a little heat does 

 good. 



The Solidago, or Golden Rod, is quite hardy, with yel- 

 low feathery flowers. There are many varieties, which 

 are showy tall plants for the back of a border, flowering 



