Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 91 



ground level, or rather below, and not raised. Where space permits, those 

 permanently planted should be set out 2 ft. asunder. In respect of soils, 

 avoid the more sandy and those of a tenacious water-holding character. 

 In planting, keep the crowns level with the soil, to bury them would be 

 wellnigh fatal to the plants. On heavy and retentive soils a small black 

 slug is most destructive to the crown growth, to which a sprinkling of 

 soot now and again or fine coal ash is a useful deterrent. The raising of 

 these plants from seeds is a matter deserving attention. 



VARIETIES. Singles: Gloire de Nancy, pink; Cervantes, rose; Hamlet 

 and Monarch, clear pink; James Kelway, scarlet; Jubilee, crimson; and 

 Mrs. Bateman Brown, reddish crimson, the largest of its race. 



Doubles: Ne Plus Ultra, blush; Aphrodite, Carl Vogt, Princess de 

 Metternich, and Mont Blanc, white; Alfred Kelway, crimson; J. N. 

 Twerdy, reddish amaranth; La Vestale, blush white; Solfaterre, Vance, 

 and Pericles, yellow shades; Captain Nares and Mons. Barral, crimson 

 shades. [E. H. j.] 



Pyrethrum aureum. This is the well-known "Golden Feather" or 

 " Feverfew ", still grown in hundreds of thousands annually for bedding 

 out and carpet-bedding work. It is valued for the bright golden yellow 

 of its leaves, and its dwarf dense growth. There are many varieties, some 

 being more saleable than others; among them may be mentioned "sela- 

 ginoides", the "Golden Curled", the "Golden Moss", and " laciniatum ". 

 The seeds are sown in shallow boxes of gritty sifted soil about January 

 or February in a temperature of 65 F. They soon germinate, and when 

 the seedlings are large enough to lift with a pointed stick they are pricked 

 out into similar boxes (15 in. by 9 in. by 2 in.) in any ordinary compost, 

 each box holding from 90 to 100 plants. They are gently watered, and 

 grown on in heat until well established, the boxes being placed as close to 

 the glass as possible to secure the maximum amount of light. About April 

 a cooler place is given to harden them off, such as in frames, and by early 

 May the sale commences, the prices perhaps starting at Is. per box and 

 coming down to 6d. by the end of the season. 



P. Parthenium. This is the Common European Feverfew, which 

 grows about 2 ft. high, and has deeply cut, lobed and toothed leaves, and 

 white flowers with yellow centres, in summer. The double variety (flore 

 pleno) is grown in some market gardens for cut flower. There are other 

 forms with double flowers, the best being eximia, pure white, rounded; 

 grandiftora, and pyramidalis. The plants are best raised from cuttings 

 sheltered in a cold frame during the winter months, and planted out in 

 March or April. They may also be increased by dividing the tufts. Matri- 

 caria inodora flore pleno (which see) is a closely related plant. 



Ramondia pyrenaica (fig. 240). A pretty Pyrenean perennial with 

 flat rosettes of hairy ovate wrinkled leaves and flattish purple flowers in 

 May and June, on stalks about 4 in. high. There is also a white-flowered 

 variety. Other species are Heldreichi, and serbica, yellow. They are 

 excellent rock plants, requiring peaty soil, and may be increased from 



