THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



LYCIUM. 673 



between L. fulgens and L. coronata or 

 grandiflora. It is one of the best of this 

 valuable group of border plants, in itself 

 extremely variable, affording nearly every 

 shade of colour, from the brightest scarlet 

 to white. The flowers are large, of good 

 substance, and produced in the greatest 



Double Ragged Robin. 



profusion all through the summer months ; 

 indeed, as a permanent "bedder" we have 

 rarely seen its equal. Where it can be 

 managed, a partially shady spot should be 

 chosen for the most brilliantly coloured 

 forms, as the flowers fade somewhat when 

 exposed to bright sunshine. Apart from 

 this they will be found to grow more 

 strongly, and continue longer in beauty in 

 a cool spot. The plants vary in height 

 considerably, and this should be taken 

 into account when choosing for permanent 

 bedding use. The variety called hybrida 

 is a veritable gem, dwarf, compact, and 

 giving an abundance of prettily fringed, 

 vivid scarlet flowers. The colours seem 

 fixed, and we have now good distinct 

 scarlet, crimson, pink, salmon, and several 

 white forms, all worthy of attention, and 

 suitable as substitutes for Geraniums in 

 summer bedding. They can be increased 

 with the greatest ease either by cuttings, 

 division, or when in quest of new forms 

 by seed, which is best sown as soon as 

 ripe in boxes and placed in a cold frame. 

 The seedlings by the end of May will be 

 ready to plant in their permanent quarters. 

 They may almost be treated as annuals 

 or biennials, especially in heavy soils, 



where the hopes of their living through 

 severe winter in northern counties will be 

 limited indeed. In the neighbourhood of 

 London they give very little trouble, and 

 are a source of much enjoyment. 



L. Lagascae. A lovely dwarf alpine 

 plant, with many bright rose-coloured 

 flowers, about f in. across. It is suited 

 for adorning fissures on the exposed faces 

 of rocks, associated with the smallest 

 alpine plants. It is easily cultivated in 

 the rock-garden in any free sandy or 

 gritty soil. An exposed position should 

 be preferred, as the plant is very free in 

 growth. The flowers appear in early 

 summer, and if not weakened by shade, 

 or by being placed in frames, are in fine 

 condition when the plant is about 3 in. 

 high. Readily increased by seed. Syn., 

 Petrocoptis Lagascas. 



L. Viscaria (German Catchfly). A 

 British plant, with long Grass-like leaves, 

 bearing in June 

 many showy pani- 

 cles of rosy-red 

 flowers, on stems 

 10 to nearly 18 in. 

 high. The bright- 

 coloured variety 

 called splendens is 

 the most worthy of 

 cultivation. L. V. 

 alba, a charming 

 white variety, is 

 worthy of a place 

 in gardens, as also 

 is the double va- 

 riety, which has 

 rocket-like blooms. 

 They are excellent 

 for the rougher parts 

 of the rock-garden, 

 and as border plants 

 on dry soils. The 

 double variety is 

 used with good 

 effect as an edging 

 plant about Paris. 

 Easily propagated 

 by seed or division. 

 LYCIUM (Box 

 Thorn}. Rambling 

 shrubs, the best-knownbeing L. europseum, 

 a common climber on cottage walls. 

 Though not a showy flowering shrub, few 

 others are so rapid in growth, so graceful, 

 and so indifferent to the nature of the soil. 

 It is also suited for covering porches, 

 pergolas, and arbours, and in late summer 

 and autumn, when every long drooping 

 branch is thickly hung with small orange- 

 scarlet berries, it is pretty. The flowers 

 are small, purple and white, and the 

 X X 



Lycium chinense. 



