184 FLOWERS AM THE FLOWER GARDEtf. 



bright blue flowers. The Tangier Pea, L. Tingitanus, is 

 a tall-growing annual with purple flowers ; and L. grandi- 

 florus, or large -flowered, is also handsome. L. odoratns 

 the well-known Sweet Pea, one of our sweetest annuals. 

 The annuals are grown from seed sown in spring, in 

 common soil, and the perennials are increased by divi- 

 sion in spring, or by cuttings of the young shoots, struck 

 under a bell glass. 



The Peony and the Moutan, or tree peony, are orna- 

 mental both in foliage and in their large brilliant flowers. 

 They are of various colours, and interesting varieties 

 may be got by crossing. For obtaining new sorts, the 

 seed should be sown in September ; some may come up 

 the following spring, others the spring after. Common 

 peonies may be increased by division of the root ; the 

 tree peony by division, by grafting on the roots of the 

 other, or by cuttings of young shoots taken in spring, 

 and struck under a hand glass, with a little heat. It is 

 also grown from suckers and layers. The tree peony 

 must be protected in winter and spring ; it does well for 

 forcing. They flower in the spring. 



The Obelliscaria pulcherrima is such a gay flower that 

 it should have a place in every flower garden, especially 

 as a few pennyworth of seed may be bought ; it is hardy, 

 and will grow in any garden soil. It grows about two 

 feet high, with rich crimson flowers, edged with yellow. 

 It flowers in August, and lasts in flower a long time. 



The large and small Periwinkle, Vinca major, and 

 V. minor, are especially useful and valuable for covering 

 shaded banks, which they greatly ornament with their 

 rich green foliage and bright blue flowers. It is well 

 that we may use so pretty a plant under the drip of 

 trees, where so few things will prosper. The variegated 

 foliaged periwinkle is pretty, and it, too, produces 

 bright blue flowers in great abundance. These trailing 

 plants like a soft moist situation, and increase plenti- 

 fully by runners, which strike root at the joints, like 

 strawberries. To make the plant produce seed, it must 

 be grown in a pot, and not allowed to throw out runners. 

 It is an evergreen. In Vinca rosea, the flower is rose 



