MARCH.] FLOWER-GARDEN PERENNIALS. 1 47 



situation agrees best with them; and they require 

 loamy soil, free from any kind of manure, except it be 

 fully decomposed. The leaves of P. veris are recom- 

 mended for feeding silk worms. 



Potentillas. We mention this genus here as afford- 

 ing several free flowering dwarf plants; not as being 

 certain that any of the most desired species will with- 

 stand our winters, being natives of Nepaul; but, from 

 the character of the plant, we think that they are 

 adapted to bear severe cold. They are similar to the 

 strawberry in habit and appearance. P. nepalensis, or 

 formosa, has rose-coloured flowers; P. atropurpurea ; 

 P. Russelliana, scarlet; P. Hopwoodiana, rose and scar- 

 let ; and P. splendens, yellow, with superb leaves. These 

 are the finest of the genus, and flower from May to 

 September. It will be well to protect them in a frame 

 with the Carnations ; they delight in light soil. 



Saponaria officindlis, and S. O. plena, are fine free- 

 flowering dwarf plants; the colour is pink in both dou- 

 ble and single varieties. The roots run under ground, 

 and care should be taken to keep them within bounds: 

 they flower from June till October. S. ccespitbsa is a neat 

 growing species of a rose colour. They will grow in 

 any soil. 



Silene. Several of this genus are popular annuals, 

 but the herbaceous species are very indifferent. S. 

 viscosa and S. mscosa flore plena, are frequently cultivated 

 for their beauty; they will grow well if not too much 

 shaded. 



Saxifraga, above one hundred species. Many of 

 them are beautiful plants for rock-work. They are re- 



