QLD-FASHIQNEP GARDEN FLOWERS, 227 



Pyrethrum Uliginosurrt. 



MARSH FEVERFEW; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITE. 

 A VERY bold and strong growing species, belonging to a numerous 

 genus ; it comes to us from Hungary, and has been grown more 

 or less in English gardens a little over sixty years. It is a 

 distinct species, its large flowers, the height to which it grows, 

 and the strength of its willow-like stalks being its chief 

 characteristics. Still, to anyone with but a slight knowledge of 

 hardy plants, it asserts itself at once as a Pyrethrum. It is 

 hardy, herbaceous, and perennial, and worth growing in every 

 garden where there is room for large growing subjects. There 

 is something about this plant when in flower which a bare 

 description fails to explain; to do it justice it should be seen 

 when in full bloom. 



Its flowers are large and ox-eye-daisy-like, having a white ray, 

 with yellow centre, but the florets are larger in proportion to 

 the disk ; plain and quiet as the individual flowers appear, when 

 seen in numbers (as they always may be seen on well-established 

 specimens), they are strikingly beautiful, the blooms are more 

 than 2in. across, and the mass comes level with the eye, for the 

 stems are over 5ft. high, and though very stout, the branched 

 stems which carry the flowers are slender and gracefully bending. 

 The leaves are smooth, lance-shaped, and sharply toothed, fully 

 4in. long, and stalkless ; they are irregularly but numerously dis- 

 posed on the stout round stems, and of nearly uniform size and 

 shape until the corymbose branches are reached, i.e., for 4ft. or 

 5ft. of their length ; when the leaves are fully grown they reflex 

 or hang down, and totally hide the stems. This habit, coupled 

 with the graceful and nodding appearance of the large white 

 flowers, renders this a pleasing subject, especially for situations 

 where tall plants are required, such as near and in shrubberies. 

 I grow but one strong specimen, and it looks well between two 

 apple trees, but not over-shaded. The idea in planting it there 

 was to obtain some protection from strong winds, and to avoid 

 the labour and eyesore which staking would create. 



It likes a stiff loam, but is not particular as to soil if only it 

 is somewhat damp. The flowers last three weeks ; and in a cut 

 state are also very effective ; and, whether so appropriated or 

 left on the plant, they will be found to be very enduring. When 

 cutting these flowers, the whole corymb should be taken, as in 

 this particular case we could not wish for a finer arrangement, 

 and being contemporaneous with the Michaelmas daisy, the 

 bloom branches of the two subjects form elegant and fashionable 

 decorations for table or vase use. To propagate this plant, it is 

 only needed to divide the roots in November, and plant in deeply - 

 dug but damp soil. 



Flowering period, August to September. 



Q 2 



