OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 9 



large, dark blue, forget-me-not-like flowers, nearly all their length. 

 The little white eyes of the blossoms are very telling (see Fig. 4). 

 The flowers are held well out from the large leaves of the main 

 stem by smaller ones (from lin. to Sin. long), at the ends of 

 which the buds and flowers are clustered, backed by a pair of 

 small leaflets, like wings. Just before the buds open they are of 

 a bright rose colour, and when the flowers fade the leafy calyx 

 completely hides the withered parts, and other blooms take their 

 places between the wing-like pair of leaflets ; so the succession 

 of bloom is kept up through the whole summer. The leaves of 

 the root are very large when fully grown during summer over a 

 foot long those of the stems are much less ; all are lance- 

 shaped and pointed, plain at the edges, very hairy, and of a 

 dark green colour. The stems are numerous, upright, and, as 

 before hinted, branched ; also, like the leaves, they are covered 

 with stiff hairs, a characteristic common to the order. Well- 

 established plants will grow to the height of 3ft. to 5ft. 

 Flowering period, May to September. 



Anchusa Sempervirens. 



Nat. Ord. BORAGINACE^:. 



THIS is a British species, and, as its name denotes, is evergreen ; 

 not, let me add, as a tall plant, for the stems wither or at least 

 become very sere, only the large leaves of the root remaining fresh ; 

 and though it has many points of difference from A. Italica, 

 such as shorter growth, darker flowers and foliage, and more 

 oval leaves these form the distinctions most observable. By its 

 evergreen quality it is easily identified in winter. There is also 

 an important difference from the axillary character of the flower 

 stems. With these exceptions the description of A. Italica will 

 fairly hold good for this native species. 



This Alkanet has various other names, as Borago sempervirens, 

 Suglossum s., and with old writers it, together with allied 

 species, was much esteemed, not only for the flowers, but for its 

 reputed medicinal properties. To those who care to grow these 

 good old plants I would say, well enrich the soil; when so 

 treated, the results are very different from those where the 

 plants have been put in hungry and otherwise neglected situa- 

 tions ; this favourable condition may be easily afforded, and will 

 be more than repaid. Strong roots may be transplanted at any 

 time, and propagation is more quickly carried out by division of 

 the woody roots, which should be cut or split so that each piece 

 has a share of bark and a crown. Just before new growth has 

 begun, as in January, is the best time for this operation, so that 

 there is no chance of rot from dormancy. 



Flowering period, May to September. 



