158 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



tube and five divisions, curiously cornered ; the flower is fully Jin. 

 across, and in its unopened state is hardly less pretty than when 

 blown. The leaves are borne on stout woody branches, have 

 short stalks, and a bent or contorted habit ; they are thick, 

 leathery, shining, smooth, and of a dark green colour on the 

 upper side; underneath they are a yellowish-green. In form 

 they are elliptical and entire, being Sin. to 4in. long. Healthy 

 specimens are well furnished with foliage ; otherwise it is spare, 

 and when that is the case the flowering is rarely satisfactory. 



As this subject requires to be grown in moist vegetable soil, 

 such as leaf mould or peat, it is useless to plant it where these con- 

 ditions do not exist ; moreover, the rule with species of the order 

 Ericaceae is to require a pure, or approximately pure, atmosphere. 

 Doubtless these conditions will debar many from growing this 

 shrub successfully ; but I may add, where its requirements can be 

 afforded, not only should it be freely planted, but it will probably 

 thrive without any further care. 



As a cut flower it is exquisite, if taken with a good stem and a 

 few leaves ; to many it may appear odd when I say it is too good 

 to cut, but there are others who will comprehend me. The 

 flowers can nowhere show to more advantage than on the bush, 

 and it seems a pity to take its strongest branches for the sake of 

 transferring the blossom. 



It is a slow-growing subject, but easily propagated by layering 

 the lower branches ; no matter how old or hard the wood has 

 grown, if pegged well down they will soon become rooted. 



Flowering period, June to August. 



Lactuca Sonchifolia. 



Sow THISTLE-LEAVED LETTUCE ; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITE. 

 THIS is one of the few ornamental species of a somewhat 

 numerous genus ; it is, moreover, perennial and hardy in this 

 climate characteristics not common to the family. It came 

 from Candia, in 1822, since which time it has been grown in 

 English gardens, more or less, as a decorative plant; it is 

 of unusual form, especially in the foliage. I think it would 

 scarcely be called handsome ; but the flowers, which are a fine 

 pale blue, and of the form usual to the order, are too good to be 

 overlooked, and their value is enhanced by the fact of their 

 being produced so late in the year. 



In speaking of the flower as a subject of the pleasure garden, 

 it is unnecessary to describe it beyond saying that it is of a rich 

 but pale blue colour, and over lin. across, produced on stalks 

 nearly 2ft. high, in lax panicles. The leaves are large about 

 1ft. long and 9in. wide have a stout midrib, are pinnate, and 

 most curiously lobed. The leaflets, moreover, are fantastically 

 shaped, being again lobed, also toothed and bent in various 



