114 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



rockwork, or otherwise, near the more frequented walks, where 

 they must always prove pleasing from their bold and shining 

 foliage, to say nothing of their striking flowers. The propaga- 

 tion of this species should be effected by division of the roots, 

 which are very strong. Each crown should have as much of the 

 more fibrous roots retained as possible, and the parts to be severed 

 should be cut with a very sharp knife; it also ripens seed 

 plentifully. 



Flowering period, June to August. 



Gentiana Cruciata. 



CROSS-LEAVED GENTIAN ; Nat. Ord. GENTIANACE^. 

 AN interesting species from Austria, and one of the " old- 

 fashioned " plants of English gardens, having been cultivated in 

 this country for nearly 300 years. Gerarde gives a faithful and 

 full description of it, which I will quote : " Crossewoort Gentian 

 hath many ribbed leaues spred upon the ground, like unto the 

 leaues of sopewroot, but of a blacker green colour ; among which 

 rise vp weak iointed stalks, trailing or leaning towarde the 

 grounde. The flowers growe at the top in bundels, thicke thrust 

 togither, like those of sweete Williams, of a light blew colour. 

 The roote is thicke, and creepeth in the grounde f arre abroade, 

 whereby it greatly increaseth." Its height seldom exceeds lOin., 

 and it is to be commended because it is one of the Gentians that 

 are easily grown, and is handsome withal. It may be planted in 

 either vegetable or loamy soil the common border seems to suit 

 it ; it spreads much faster than any of the other Gentians I know, 

 with the exception of G. acaulis, and it is in broad masses one 

 sees it to greatest advantage. Propagated by division any time. 

 Flowering period, June and July. 



Gentiana Gelida. 



ICE-COLD GENTIAN ; Nat. Ord. GENTIANACEJE. 

 THIS species comes from Siberia, and has been grown in this 

 country for nearly eighty years. It is a very beautiful species, 

 the whole plant being handsome ; it grows nearly a foot high. 



The flowers are produced in terminal clusters, one large flower 

 being surrounded by a whorl of smaller ones ; they are of a rich 

 purplish-blue inside the corolla, which is rotate ; the segments 

 (mitre-shaped) and the spaces between are prettily furnished 

 with a feathery fringe ; the wide tube is also finely striped inside ; 

 the calyx is tubular, having long awl-shaped segments; the 

 stems are procumbent, firm (almost woody), short jointed, and 

 thickest near the top. The leaves are of a dark shining green 

 colour, from l|in to 2in. long, smallest at the root end, and 

 finishing next the flowers with the largest, which are lance- 



