OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 195 



suffer. I have large patches of it, 3ft. in diameter, growing in a 

 mixture of clay and ashes, formed into a bank 18in. high, sloping 

 north and screened by a hedge nearly 6ft. high from the midday 

 sun, and shaded by overhanging trees ; and I may also add that 

 during the three years my specimens have occupied this shady, 

 moist, but well drained position they have grown and flowered 

 freely, always best in the deepest shade. As before hinted, there 

 is a sort of special treatment required by this plant, but it is, 

 after all, very simple. It is a slow surface creeper, should be 

 planted freely in frequented parts of the garden, if the needful 

 conditions exist, and no more beautiful surfacing can be recom- 

 mended; grown in such quantities it will be available for cutting 

 purposes. As a cut flower it is remarkably distinct and fine ; it 

 so outshines most other flowers that it must either have well 

 selected company or be used with only a few ferns or grasses. 



It is readily increased by division of the creeping roots, which 

 is best done in early spring. If such divisions are made in the 

 autumn, according to my experience, the roots rot ; they should 

 therefore be taken off either in summer, when there is still time 

 for the young stock to make roots, or be left in the parent clump 

 until spring, when they will start into growth at once. 



Flowering period, May to September. 



Papaver Orientale. 



ORIENTAL POPPY; Nat. Ord. PAPAVERACE^I. 



THE Oriental Poppy is a bold and showy plant, very hardy and 

 perennial. There are several colours, but the bright scarlet 

 variety is the most effective. Specimens of it which have become 

 well established have a brilliant appearance during June ; they 

 are 3ft. high and attract the eye from a distance. Among other 

 large herbaceous plants, as lupines, pseonies, thalictrums, &c., 

 or even mixed with dwarf shrubs, they are grandly effective ; 

 indeed, almost too much so, as by the size and deep colour of the 

 flowers they dazzle the eye and throw into the shade the surround- 

 ing flowers of greater beauty. The kinds with brick-red and 

 other shades are comparatively useless. Their flowers are not 

 only smaller, but wind or a few drops of rain spot the petals. A 

 night's dew has the same effect ; the stems, too, are weak and 

 bending, which makes them much wanting in boldness, and when 

 the flowers are damaged and the stems down there is little left 

 about the Oriental Poppies that is ornamental. 



The flowers are Gin. to Sin. across when expanded, produced 

 singly on stout round stems covered with stiff hairs flattened 

 down, and also distantly furnished with small pinnate leaves. 

 Only in some varieties is the leafy bract (Fig. 72) to be found. 

 This variety is sometimes called P. bracteatmn. The calyx is 

 three-parted and very rough ; the six petals (see engraving) are 



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