206 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



The flowers are white, not unlike the small white dog-rose 

 in both size and form ; the calyx is of three leaves, which fall off; 

 the corolla, of six to nine petals ; peduncle nearly an inch long, 

 which joins the stem at the junction of the two leaf stalks, only 

 one flower being produced on a stem or plant. The leaves 

 join the rather tall and naked stem by stalks, 2in. to Sin. long ; 

 they are handsome in both form and habit. As the specific 

 name implies, the leaves are peltate or umbrella-shaped, deeply 

 lobed, each lobe being deeply cut, and all unevenly toothed and 

 hairy at the edges, with^ a fine down covering the under sides ; 

 the upper surface is of a lively, shining green colour, and finely 

 veined. The flower is succeeded by a large one-celled ovate 

 berry, in size and form something like a damson, but the colour 

 is yellow when ripe, at which stage the berry becomes more 

 conspicuous than the flower could be, from the manner in which 

 the young leaves were held. 



We want cheerful-looking plants for the bare parts under 

 trees, and this is a suitable one, provided the surface soil has a 

 good proportion of vegetable matter amongst it, and is rather 

 moist. The thick horizontal roots creep near the surface, so it 

 will be seen how important it is to secure them against drought 

 otherwise than by depth of covering ; a moist and shady posi- 

 tion, then, is indispensable. In company with trilliums, helle- 

 bores, anemones, and ferns, this graceful plant would beautifully 

 associate. Another way to grow it is in pots, when exactly the 

 required kind of compost can easily be given, viz., peat and 

 chopped sphagnum. Thus potted, plunged in wet sand, and 

 placed in a northern aspect, it will be found not only to thrive well, 

 as several specimens have done with me, but also to be worth all 

 the trouble. To propagate it, the long creeping roots should be 

 cut in lengths of several inches, and to a good bud or crown. 

 When so cut in the autumn, I have proved them to rot when 

 planted, but others buried in sand until February, and then 

 planted, have done well. 



Flowering period, May and June. 



Polyanthus. 



Nat. Ord. PRIMTJLACE^I. 



THIS, with its numerous varieties, comes under Primula veris, or 

 the common Cowslip. The improved varieties which have sprung 

 from this native beauty of our meadows and hedgerows are 

 innumerable, and include the rich "gold-laced" kinds which are 

 cared for like children and are annually placed on the exhibition 

 tables as well as the homely kinds, which grow in the open 

 borders by the hundred. The Polyanthus is eminently a flower 

 for English gardens ; and this country is noted for the fine sorts 

 here raised, our humid climate suiting the plant in every way ; 



