Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 37 



very pretty. The plants flourish in ordinary good garden soil, and may 

 be increased by root cuttings inserted in gentle heat in spring; by careful 

 division of the rootstocks in autumn or spring; and by seeds, which, how- 

 ever, germinate slowly and erratically. The trade in this plant is confined 

 to nurserymen, the prices varying from 6d. to Is. each according to size 

 and variety. As a pot plant it ought to sell fairly well in market, as 

 many people would like it for experimenting with at nighttime. If a 

 lighted match is applied on a dark night the volatile oil that is secreted 

 from the stems and leaves will readily catch light, and justify the name 

 of "Burning Bush" (fig. 195). 



Dimorphotheea aurantiaca. This is a fine showy composite annual 

 from South Africa. It grows 1-1 J ft. high, and produces its rich golden- 

 orange Marguerite-like flower heads, 2J-3 in. across, with a purplish-black 

 centre, in great profusion during the summer months. The seeds should 

 be sown in February and March in gentle heat, afterwards pricking the 

 seedlings out and hardening oft' for the open air by May. This species has 

 just begun to find its way to market, and is likely to become popular. 

 There are several other species, amongst the best being D. Ecklonis, with 

 pure-white Marguerite-like flower heads, tinged with soft mauve purple 

 outside. D. pluvialis is somewhat similar, but unfortunately the flower 

 heads close in dull weather, or early in the afternoon even in sunny weather. 



Dodecatheon Meadia. A handsome North American hardy herbaceous 

 perennial, known as "Shooting Stars" and "American Cowslips", grows 

 about 1 ft. high, and has tufts of oblong-obovate leaves and umbels of rosy 

 purple or lilac Cyclamen-like flowers on top of an erect stalk. There are 

 several forms, such as Clevelandi, rich violet blue; Hendersoni, bright 

 crimson with a yellow base; integrifolium, rose crimson; Jeffreyanum, 

 purple rose; and patulum, yellow. They are all increased from seeds 

 sown in spring, and by division. The trade is small. 



Doronicum (LEOPARD'S BANE). Hardy border perennials of great 

 vigour, freedom of flowering, and general utility. Valuable alike in the 

 cut state for pot or market work, or for spring flower gardening on a large 

 scale. The leading kinds are: D. austriacum, D. caucasicum, and D. 

 plantagineum excelsum (syn. Harpur Crewe). The flower heads are 

 yellow in each case, Marguerite -like in appearance, and very showy. 

 Moreover, they are among the earliest of spring-flowering plants, pro- 

 viding sheaves of blossoms in March and April in the open. The two 

 first-named are of rather dwarf habit of growth, 1J or 2 ft. high, the 

 last-named reaching to 3 ft. high and having the most handsome flowers. 

 It is, however, less freely flowered than the others named. 



Propagation is effected in springtime by division, preferably imme- 

 diately after flowering, when the plants, if divided piecemeal and replanted 

 in good ground, will make excellent examples for another year. The 

 Doronicums are among those plants of which both the tops and the 

 bottoms may be sold; hence for these reasons, as also their decorative 

 value, they are among the most profitable things to grow. The plants 



