4 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



Achillea Filipendula. 



Nat. Ord. COMPOSITE. 



THIS grows 4ft. high, and the foliage, though fern-like, has an 

 untidy appearance, from the irregular way in which it is dis- 

 posed. It is herbaceous, and comes from the Caucasus. The 

 flowers are somewhat singular, arranged in corymbs of a mul- 

 tiplex character; they are very large, often Sin. across. The 

 smaller corymbs are arched or convex, causing the cluster or 

 compound corymb to present an uneven surface; the small 

 flowers are of rich old gold colour, and have the appearance of 

 knotted gold cord ; they are very rigid, almost hard. The 

 leaves are linear, pinnate, lobed and serrated, hairy, rough, 

 and numerously produced. From the untidy and tall habit 

 of this subject, it should be planted in the background; its 

 flowers, however, will claim a prominent position in a cut state ; 

 they are truly rich, the undulating corymbs have the appearance 

 of embossed gold plate, and their antique colour and form are 

 compared to gold braid by a lady who admires " old-fashioned " 

 flowers. It will last for several weeks after being cut, and even 

 out of water for many days. A few heads placed in an old vase, 

 without any other flowers, are rich and characteristic, whilst on 

 bronze figures and ewers in a dry state, and more especially on 

 ebony or other black decorations, it may be placed with a more 

 than floral effect. In short, rough as the plant is, it is worth 

 growing for its quaint and rich flowers alone ; it is seldom met 

 with. Soil and propagation, the same as for A. jEgyptica. 

 Flowering period, June to September. 



Achillea Millefolium. 



COMMON MILFOIL ; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITE. 

 THIS is the well-known wild Yarrow ; it is, however, the typical 

 form of a fine variety, called A. m. roseum, having very bright 

 rose-coloured flowers, which in all other respects resembles the 

 wild form. Both as a border subject and for cutting purposes, 

 I have found it useful; it flowers for several months, but the 

 individual blooms fade in four or six days; these should be 

 regularly removed. The freshly-opened corymbs are much 

 admired. Soil and mode of propagation, the same as for pre- 

 vious kinds. 



Flowering period, June to November. 



Achillea Ptarmica. 



Syns. A. SYLVESTRIS and PTARMICA YTJLGARIS; Common Names, 

 WILD YARROW, SNEEZEWORT, GOOSE-TONGUE, and WILD 

 PELLITORY; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITE. 



A very common British plant, or, I may say, weed, which can 



