OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 165 



Its flowers are produced in branched heads, dense and numerous, 

 on stems a foot or more high ; each flower is lin. or l^in. across, 

 the five petals being of a transparent golden yellow, distinctly 

 veined with orange ; they are broad, and overlap each other ; 

 calyx small, and of a dark olive-green colour ; segments finely 

 pointed. The leaves are 2in. or more in length, lanced, but 

 inclining to spoon shape; sessile, stout, smooth, entire, and 

 glaucous. Through the summer new stems are quickly grown, 

 which, in their turn, become topped with clusters of bloom, and 

 so a succession of flowers is kept up until autumn. On rock- 

 work it is effective, the situation, to some extent, meeting the 

 requirements of its somewhat tender constitution ; it may also 

 be grown well in beds or borders, but they should be of a sandy 

 character, and raised, unless it is intended to take up the plants 

 for the winter ; in such positions four or five specimens form a 

 charming group, and nothing can be finer than the effect of 

 other Flaxes, of a tall and spray-like character, grown near 

 and amongst this golden yellow, such, for instance, as L. Narbon- 

 nense and L. perenne. 



It is easily propagated by seeds, which should be sown in the 

 autumn as soon as ripe ; it may also be divided, but I have found 

 the quickest and best results from cuttings taken in a half- 

 ripened state. They should be put round the side of a rather 

 large pot in sandy peat ; the warmth, shade, and moisture of 

 a cucumber-frame will cause them to root quickly, when they 

 should be potted off singly, so as to make sturdy plants before 

 the winter sets in, and such young stock ought to be wintered in 

 a cold frame. 



Flowering period, August and September. 



Lithospermum Prostratum. 



PROSTRATE GROMWELL; Nat. Ord. BORAGINACE.^. 

 SOMETIMES called the Gentian L., from its bright blue gentian- 

 like flowers. By many this species is considered synonymous 

 with L. fruticosum. They are, however, very dissimilar. Our 

 subject is an evergreen and stunted trailer ; L. fruticosum is a 

 deciduous trailer and very vigorous ; both, however, are perfectly 

 hardy. The most striking characteristics of the Prostrate Grom- 

 well are its fine dark blue flowers and procumbent habit. It is 

 a native of France, and only within the last sixty years has it 

 been introduced into this country. Its habit is most distinct as 

 compared with the various long-stemmed species. It much 

 resembles the well-known Veronica prostrata in its general 

 appearance. 



Its flowers are sparingly produced from the axils of the leaves, 

 but, being large compared with the size of the foliage, they are 

 very effective when they first open. The dark but bright 



