150 FLOWER-GARDEN PERENNIALS. {MARCH. 



with small flowers in large close flattened panicles. V. 

 dioica is remarkable for having the stamens and pistils 

 in separate flowers, situated on different plants ; the 

 flowers are of a blush colour, and the roots when 

 planted must be protected from the cats, for they are 

 delighted with them, and scrape them up. V. phu, a 

 large growing species with white flowers; and V. rubra, 

 with its varieties, are the finest of the genus. They 

 are now given to Centranthus. They are all of easy 

 culture in common garden earth, but preferring moist 

 shady situations. In flower from May to September. 



Viola, a genus consisting of upwards of eighty spe- 

 cies, of low pretty plants, of great diversity of colour 

 and foliage. Many of them are natives, and well worth 

 a situation in our gardens. They mostly delight in 

 sandy loam, and a little shade. A few of the species 

 grow in moist situations. The most esteemed varie- 

 ties for fragrance are, V. odorata purpirea pl&na, double 

 purple, with V. odorata alba plena, double white. They 

 flower very early, and make good edgings where they 

 are kept in order ; flowering profusely from April to 

 June, and flowering again in autumn. 



yucca, Adam's-needle. This is a very showy and or- 

 namental genus ; their character forming a picturesque 

 contrast in the Flower-garden ; foliage long, narrow, 

 lanceolate, and stiff; with white companulate flowers, 

 about two inches in diameter, in conical spikes from 

 two to four feet long, arising from the centre of the 

 plant, containing frequently from two to four hundred 

 florets. They are principally native plants. Y. stricta 

 is the freest flowerer. Y. superba ; Y. akifolia ; Y. 



