OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 26 



spring flowers. They should be grown in bold clumps, and if 

 under slight shade, where many other things cannot be well 

 grown, all the better ; still, they are in no way particular any 

 aspect, position, or soil will answer for these robust flowers. 

 Such being the case, few gardens should be without at least the 

 finer forms of the large Bluebell. So fast do these varieties 

 increase by seed and otherwise, that any remarks on their propa- 

 gation are unnecessary. 



Flowering period, April to June. 



Sedum Sieboldi. 



SIEBOLD'S STONECROP ; Nat. Ord. CRASSTJLACE^;. 

 THIS is a capital species. It is perfectly hardy, though not 

 generally known to be so. It is more often seen under glass, 

 and is certainly a pretty pot plant. 



Its stems are 12in. or less in length, slender and procumbent. 

 The leaves, which are rather larger than a shilling, fleshy, 

 cupped, and glaucous, are curiously arranged on the stems, 

 somewhat reflexed, and otherwise twisted at their axils, pre- 

 senting a flattened but pleasing appearance. The small flowers, 

 which are bright rose, are borne in clusters, and remain two or 

 three weeks in perfection. 



It is a fine subject for rockwork, and, moreover, likes such dry 

 situations as only rockwork affords. It should be so planted 

 that its graceful stems can fall over the stones. There is a 

 variety of this species, with creamy foliage, but it is less 

 vigorous ; neither are the flowers so fine in colour. Slugs are 

 fond of these, and sometimes they will eat off nearly every leaf. 

 A sprinkling of sharp sand once a week keeps them off, but 

 trapping them with hollowed turnips is a more effective remedy. 

 Propagated by cuttings pricked into sand in summer, or division 

 of roots when the tops have died down. 



Flowering period, August and September. 



Sedum Spectabile. 



SHOWY STONECROP; Nat. Ord. CRASSTJLACE^. 

 HARDY and herbaceous. This is one of our finest autumn 

 bloomers. During September, the broad massive heads of 

 small rosy flowers, which are arranged in cymes 6in. across, are 

 very attractive, and will, with average weather, keep in good 

 form for a month. This species is somewhat mixed up with 

 another called S. Fabarium ; by many they are said to be 

 identical, but such is not the case. I grow them side by side, 

 and I may say that they are as "like as two peas " up to mid- 

 summer, when they begin to diverge. 8. Fabarium continues to 

 grow to the height, or rather length, of 2ft., and tumbles over ; 



