March.} PERENNIALS. 49 



to October. S. caespitbsa is a neat growing species, of a rose 

 colour. They will grow in any soil. 



Silenc. Several of this genus are popular annuals, but the 

 herbaceous species are very indifferent. S. viscdsa and S. 

 viscdsa fibre-plena are frequently cultivated for their beauty; 

 they will grow well if not too much shaded. 



Saxifruga, above one hundred species. Many of them 

 are beautiful plants for rock-work. They are regardless of 

 cold, but will not generally withstand much moisture. A 

 few of them are highly deserving a situation in any garden. 

 S. hirsutum and S. crassifblia are used in some countries 

 for tanuing. S. granulata multiplex has fine, double, white 

 flowers, and is desirable. S. umbrbsa, London-pride, makes 

 a beautiful edging for a flower border ; the flowers are small, 

 but, on close examination, its colours are unrivalled. It is 

 Bometimes called "none so pretty." S. sarmenlbsa is kept 

 in the green-house, but is perfectly hardy, and makes a fine 

 plant in a shaded situation, and will grow where grass and 

 other plants generally die. We have no doubt that it would 

 make a good fancy edging. S. pulcMlla and S. pyramiddlis 

 require protection ; these are easily cultivated, and flower in 

 epikes from May to July. 



tSpirceas. A few species are showy plants, and continue 

 flowering from May to September. S. ulmdria multiplex, 

 Meadow-sweet, has sweet-scented, white flowers, in long dense 

 spikes. $. filipendula multiplex, Drop-wort, double white. 

 S. lobata is a native, and has fine rose-colom-ed flowers, and 

 blooms in June and July; S. japdnica, beautiful dwarf white ; 

 these are the finest of the herbaceous species, and will grow 

 in any common garden soil. 



Stalice, Thrift. A genus containing many tine herba- 

 ceous plants ; only a few of them are common in collections. 

 The finest of them are scarce, and said to be " bad to cul- 

 tivate." S. vulgaris, once Armiria vulgaris, is a vn.i "* 

 plant for an edging, and does well in our climate, lioweriT*w 

 in great profusion from May to July. When done flower- 

 ing, the stems should be cut off. The foliage is an agreea- 

 ble evergreen ; the plant increases rapidly, and in a few 

 years may be planted to a great extent. S. specibsa has red 

 flowers, erowded in spreading panicles. S. fsirt&rica has 

 also very showy flowers, and is now given to the genus "Lojx.- 

 iintkema. S. latifblvi and S maritxma are the finc.is. 7, 

 5 



