Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 81 



Thus treated the seeds soon vegetate, and the seedlings, having been given 

 the shelter of a cold frame, may in September be transferred to the open 

 nursery beds. Seeds may also be sown in heat in January and February. 

 The young plants should be pricked out into shallow boxes when large 

 enough to handle, and later on may be placed singly in 3-in. pots or 

 planted out 4 in. apart in frames. They will be in bloom by the 

 middle of May and early June, and are then fit for sale in pots, or with 

 the roots wrapped in hay or moss. [E. H. J.] 



Papaver. This genus comprises the various kinds of Poppies annual 

 and perennial. The Iceland Poppy (P. nudicaule), a native of Siberia 

 and North America, is the finest of all for market. Although really a 

 perennial it is treated as an annual or biennial. The seeds are sown in 

 April and May, and the young plants are pricked out and afterwards 

 transplanted by September about 1 ft. apart. There are several varieties, 

 but the tallest are the best for selling. The flowers have white, yellow, 

 orange, &c., shades, and if cut before open they last well. Large quantities 

 are grown for market, the flower stems being cut as long as possible and 

 stood in water a few hours before they are packed for market. 



The Oriental Poppy (P. orientate and its variety bracteatum) is a true 

 perennial, is quite hardy, and produces large crimson-scarlet flowers in 

 early summer. The plants are best raised from seeds, and will flourish 

 in any garden soil. 



P. pilosum from South-east Europe is a handsome perennial Poppy, 

 1-2 ft., with pale-scarlet to deep-orange flowers. There are several fine 

 hybrids between this and other species, the flowers having many shades 

 of colour. 



The " Shirley Poppy " is said to be a form of the common Corn Poppy 

 (P. Rhceas). It has lovely blooms of all shades of delicate colour except 

 blue. The trade is usually in the seeds in spring. These are best sown 

 in March where the plants are to bloom, the seedlings to be thinned out 

 to 9 in. apart. 



The Opium Poppy (P. somniferum), a beautiful annual, 3-4 ft. high, 

 with white, rose, or lilac flowers, is chiefly grown for the heads or capsules, 

 that are sold to chemists and herbalists. The seeds are sown in spring in 

 rows 2 ft. apart; the plants are afterwards thinned out about 1 ft. apart 

 and kept free from weeds during the summer. The capsules are ripe 

 in August. 



In addition to the above there are numerous kinds of garden Poppies, 

 the seeds of which are sold in spring. There are single and double varieties 

 of all shades of colour, and special names like the " Danebrog ", the " Tulip ", 

 " Japanese Pompon ", &c., have been given to some of them. 



Parnassia palustris (GRASS OF PARNASSUS). A charming little bog 

 plant with rounded leaves and white flowers. There are several North 

 American species and nubicola from the Himalayas, all very similar in 

 appearance. They like damp peaty soil, and are increased by division and 

 from seeds. 



VOL. II. 21 



