CULTURE OF OUR NATIVE PLANTS. 51 



native, and have no doubt that it can be cultivated to advantage. As a 

 border flower its curious leaves and blossoms must at once recommend it, 

 and in a greenhouse it is well worthy a place. In selecting the plants for 

 removing choose those growing in the most exposed situations, and in as 

 high land as possible ; they will be far more likely to succeed than plants 

 from a sheltered marshy situation. Place the plants thus carefully re- 

 moved with a portion of the sod, and as much earth as will adhere to the 

 roots in a peaty soil, in a damp sheltered spot in the garden. They will 

 thrive, and only need a little light covering in the winter. For greenhouse 

 culture, transplant as before, but pot in a rich peat. Shade the plants and 

 give them plenty of water ; remove to the coolest part of the greenhouse 

 and shade them from the strongest rays of the sun, and there will be little 

 difficulty in obtaining fine plants. 



Lobelia cardinalis and syphilitica; two very beautiful varieties. The 

 latter is the blue lobelia of the Middle States, that which grows in such 

 profusion around the falls of Niagara. It is of very easy culture, and may 

 be raised from seed, which it produces abundantly, or transplanted. It 

 does not require a moist soil, though it will flourish in wet meadows. The 

 former is our well-known Cardinal flower ; its culture is not difficult; like 

 the variety just mentioned it seeds abundantly and the seed germinates 

 readily. It does well in a moist spot in the garden, and increases greatly 

 in size, a single plant throwing up a dozen spikes of bloom. In a pot it 

 grows and flowers well. Lobelia inflata is hardly worth cultivation. 



Corydalis cucuUaria, or, as vulgarly called, Dutchman's Breeches, we 

 have never seen in cultivation around Boston. Probably there is only a 

 moderate degree of care necessary to ensure success, but having never ex- 

 perimented with it we cannot speak with certainty. The beauty of the 

 flower will, however, well repay any exertion. 



Erythronium Americanum, or Dog-tooth Violet, most singularly and in- 

 appropriately named, as it is a true lily, and the smallest variety we have. 

 The root is a delicate bulb, which may be safely removed after the flower- 

 ing season, and just when the leaves are beginning to die down, which will 

 be about the last of June. To produce any effect a large number of the 

 bulbs should be planted together. Soil, rich loam, a little damp. 



We have however noticed that this bulb is impatient of cultivation, and 

 after a few years grows very weak ; whether the fault was ours, or the na- 

 ture of the plant, we cannot as yet decide. 



Gentiana crinata, or Fringed Gentian — the most lovely of our autumn 

 blossoms, is cultivated with difficulty; the flower is a perfect picture of 

 beauty. Some doubt appears to exist as to its nature, as it will suddenly 

 spring up in situations where none had been known previously ; there is 

 difficulty in saving the seed, for the capsules are subject to the attack of a 

 small maggot, which completely destroys the seed. We have however, 

 seen flourishing in a friend's g-crden, plants which he had removed in the 

 spring from their native fields. 



Bartsia coccinea or Painted Cup — we have never cultivated or seen it in 

 cultivation ; a wet, marshy place would be absolutely necessary ; to those 

 having this requisite, it is worthy many trials. 



