8 PERENNIALS. [J/flfTC/l. 



pedicles, rising from the root on a small stem. The double 

 varieties are desirable for their beauty, but require the pro- 

 tection of a frame during winter. They are in colour red, 

 white, yellow, lilac, purple, and crimson. P. eldtior is the 

 Oxslip, from which all the Polydntliuscs have been grown. 

 They are in variety innumerable, and are those whose flowers 

 are in umbels, on a scape or flower-stalk, rising from three 

 to nine inches. The rules for judging of their merits are 

 wholly artificial, agreed on from time to time by florists. 

 The one that is the leading beauty this year would, in a few 

 years, be far in the rear. The principal character is that 

 the corolla is not notched or fringed ; the colours pure and 

 distinct, not running into one another; the tube small; the 

 eye round, and a little prominent. Being surrounded with 

 white, and the ground purple, is a tine character. P. auri- 

 cula. From this the highly esteemed varieties have ori- 

 ginated. The cultivated auricula has many admirers, both 

 for its exquisite beauty and fragrance. For the criterion of 

 a fine flower, see April. There are several other species 

 worthy of a situation, such as P. cortusoides, P. dentiflbra, 

 P. suaveolenSj P. decora, with P. sc&tica and P. farinosa, 

 both small, neat species. A shady 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 have been recommended for feeding silk worms. 



Plumbago Larpantca, Lady Larpants, Lead-wort, dark 

 blue, flowering from July till frost; a very great acquisition 

 to the flower-garden; will require to be covered in winter in 

 the Eastern and Northern States. 



Potentillas are similar to the strawberry in habit and ap- 

 pearance. P. nepalensis, or formdsa, has rose-coloured 

 flowers; P. atropurpurea; P. Russellidna, scarlet; P. Hop- 

 woodidna, bufi" and scarlet; 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 with 

 a few leaves or litter during the severity of winter ; they de- 

 light in light soil. 



Sapondria officindlis, and S. o. plena, are fine free-flower- 

 ing, dwarf plants; the colour is pink in both double and 

 pingle varieties. The roots run under ground, and care should 

 be taken to keep them within bounds; they flower from Jun 



