HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



echinus (a hedgehog). In smelling this flower contact should 

 therefore be avoided ; it is rather forbidding ; the disk has 

 changeable hues of red, chocolate, and green. The leaves of 

 the root are oval, some nearly heart-shaped, unevenly toothed, 

 having long channelled stalks; those of the stems are lance- 

 shaped, distinctly toothed, of stouter substance, short stalked, 

 and, like those of the root, distinctly nerved, very rough on both 

 sides, and during September quickly changes to a dark, dull, 

 purple colour. The habit of the plant is rather " dumpy;" 

 being spare of foliage, thick and straight in the stems, which 

 are drum-stick like ; it is for all that a pleasing subject when in 

 flower ; I consider the blooms too stiff for cutting, more espe- 

 cially as they face upwards. 



Unlike many species of its order, it is somewhat fickle. I 

 have lost many plants of it ; it likes neither shade nor too much 

 moisture ; latterly I have found it to do well in a sunny situation, 

 in deep rich loam and vegetable soil mixed. If planted with 

 other ray flowers it forms a fine contrast, and when once it has 

 found suitable quarters the more seldom it is disturbed the 

 better. It may be propagated by division, which may be more 

 safely done after growth has fairly started in spring, or it may 

 be done at the sacrifice of the flowers in late summer or early 

 autumn, before growth or root action has ceased. 



Flowering period, September to end of October. 



Edraianthus Dalmaticus. 



Nat. Ord. CAMPANULACE^:. 



A RARE and beautiful alpine species, from Dalmatia and Switzer- 

 land. At the end of July it is one of the most distinct and 

 charming flowers in the rock garden, where it not only finds a 

 happy home, but, by its neat and peculiar habit, proves a 

 decorative subject of much merit. This desirable plant (see 

 Fig. 36) is quite hardy in this climate, being herbaceous and 

 perennial; it has, however, the reputation of being difficult 

 to manage, but, like numerous other things, when once its 

 requirements and enemies are found out, the former supplied 

 and protection from the latter afforded, it proves of easy 

 management. In some instances these conditions may, though 

 stated in such few words, prove comprehensive ; but in this case 

 it is not so. The position and soil it most seems to enjoy may 

 be readily afforded in any garden, as we shall shortly see ; but, 

 so far as my experience goes, the slugs are its most persistent 

 enemies. Especially when in flower do they make long journeys 

 to reach it ; they go over sand and ashes with impunity, and 

 often the beautiful tufts of bloom are all grazed off in one night. 

 I had occasion to fetch in from the garden the specimen now 

 before me, and, when brought into the gas-light, a large slug 



