Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



75 



largely for sale in spring and early summer. The most popular, however, 

 are N. ajjinis, the white sweet-scented species, 2-3 ft. high, and the rose, 

 pink, and purple -flowered hybrids under , the name of JSanderce, which 

 have been raised by crossing N. affinis with N. Forgeti the latter a 

 Peruvian red-flowered species. N. sylvestris has large leaves and dense 

 clusters of long -tubed sweet-scented flowers which remain open all day, 

 unlike those of N. affinis, which are best in the evening. A fine Tobacco, 

 having the large leaves marbled and blotched with creamy white and 

 pale yellow, is N. tomentosa, better known as colossea variegata. It is 

 an excellent plant for beds and borders, and is best raised from cuttings in 

 spring inserted in sandy soil with bottom heat, but with the tops uncovered. 

 N. glcmca, with yellow flowers, N. macrophylla or gigantea, with pale-red 

 flowers, N. suaveolens, white, and the Common Tobacco (N. Tabacum), 

 with rosy flowers, are all worth attention. They are easily raised from 

 seeds in gentle heat. In the milder parts of the kingdom, and especially 

 in parts of Ireland, attempts have been made to grow N. Tabacum as an 

 article of commerce. There is no doubt it could be so grown, and very 

 fair profits might be made. The percentage of nicotine would probably 

 be greater than in the real Havana Tobacco, but this would make the 

 leaves more valuable from an insecticide point of view. 



Nierembergia rivularis. This South American perennial with droop- 

 ing or creeping stems, spoon-shaped leaves, bell-shaped flowers 1-2 in. 

 across, is a charming plant for growing in window boxes or pedestal 

 vases. It flourishes in moist sandy soil, and may be increased by 

 cuttings, seeds, or rooted portions of the stems. N. frutescens has 

 narrow leaves and delicate blue or white flowers; and N. gracilis has 

 long-tubed white blooms streaked 

 with purple and with a yellow 

 centre. The plants are raised from 

 seeds annually in the same way as 

 China Asters, Zinnias, &c. 



Nigella damascena (DEVIL-IN- 

 THE-Busn; FENNEL FLOWER).. A 

 pretty hardy annual 1-2 ft. high, 

 with finely cut leaves and large 

 white or blue flowers. There is a 

 double -flowered form, and also a 

 dwarf strain. N. hispanica is the 

 "Love -in -a- Mist" (fig. 228), has 

 white, purple, and deep-blue flowers. 

 One of the best forms is "Miss 



Jekyll ". 



Nolana atriplicifolia (grandiflora). 



A beautiful trailing Peruvian hardy or half-hardy annual with hairy 

 stems and blue funnel-shaped flowers with a white centre pure white 

 in the variety alba. 



Fig. 228.-Nigella 



