298 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



It grows 6in. high, the older rosettes elongate and form leafy 

 flower stalks, which are topped by drooping panicles of flowers, 

 somewhat bell shaped; each flower is fin. long, of a yellowish 

 white colour; the petals are finely pointed, and well supported 

 by a fleshy calyx; the bloom is slowly developed and very 

 enduring, even when the worst weather prevails. The leaves 

 are arranged in flat rosette form (the rosettes from lin. to 2in. 

 across), lower leaves spathulate, those near the centre more oval. 



All are fleshy, covered with short hairs, and somewhat clammy 

 to the touch. Its habit is neat, and it adorns such situations 

 as otherwise suit it, viz., banks or risen beds, and such other 

 positions as have already been named. 



Its culture is easy, but it ought to have the compost it 

 most enjoys peat and grit and it should be sheltered from the 

 strong winds, otherwise its top-heavy flower stalks will be laid 

 prostrate. When it once finds a happy home it increases fast ; 

 the thick stalks are procumbent and emit roots. These may 

 either be left to form large specimens or be taken off during 

 the growing season for stock. Excessive wet is its greatest 

 enemy. For such subjects, the wire and glass shelters are not 

 only a remedy, but very handy. 



Flowering period, summer, until stopped by frosts. 



Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea. 



BED WHORTLE-BERRY; sometimes called COW-BERRY; 

 Nat. Ord. YACCINACE^. 



ALTHOUGH a native evergreen, and in some parts occurring 

 extensively, it proves to be both decorative and useful as a 

 garden subject ; as a neat evergreen it is worthy of a place, 

 especially when it is not to be found near in a wild state. It is 

 seldom seen without either its waxy and pink-tinted white 

 flowers or its bright clusters of red berries, but in October it 

 carries both, which, together with the fine condition of the 

 foliage, renders the shrub most attractive. It grows Gin. to 9in. 

 high under cultivation. 



In form the flowers somewhat resemble the lily of the valley, 

 but they are closely set in the stems and partly hidden, owing to 

 the shortness and drooping character of the racemes ; not only 

 are the flowers pleasingly tinted, but they exhale a full and spicy 

 odour; the buds, too, are tinted with a lively pink colour on 

 their sunny sides. The berries are quickly developed, being 

 nearly the size of the holly berry, but a more bright red. The 

 leaves are stout, shining, and leathery, and ofttimes pleasingly 

 bronzed. They are over ^in. long and egg-shaped, being bent 

 backwards. The stems are furnished with short hairs, are much 

 oranched, and densely foliaged. This compact-growing shrub 

 would make a capital edging, provided it was well grown in 



