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THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



the summer and autumn, and have a 

 pleasing effect in the distance, as they 

 suggest Snowdrops at first, and are quite 

 as pretty when closely viewed. To ensure 

 success with Nierembergias have heavy, 

 firm soil, a level surface, and sunny aspect. 



N. atriplicifolia has beautiful and very 

 showy blue flowers with a white centre, 



Nierembergia rivularis. 



The tender Nierembergias are N. frutes- 

 cens, a sub-shrubby plant of erect growth, 

 and N. filicaulis, or gracilis as it is called, 

 which has slender drooping branches. 

 Both have pretty white flowers pencilled 

 with purple, and are suitable for the rock- 

 garden in summer or for drooping over 

 the edges of vases. Propagate by cutting s 

 in spring in heat. 



NIGELLA (Fennel Flower). Hardy 

 annuals of the Crowfoot family, all 

 curious and pretty with feathery Fennel- 

 like foliage and bluish or yellowish 

 blossoms. N. sativa, N. orientalis, N. 

 damascena (Devil in a Bush), and N. 

 hispanica are the kinds cultivated, N. 

 hispanica being the prettiest, growing 

 about i ft. high, and with showy blue 

 flowers from July onwards. There is a 

 white variety and a variety with deep 

 purple blossoms. All the Nigellas should 

 be sown in March, in light warm soil in the 

 open border. They should be sown in the 

 place which they are to occupy, as they do 

 not succeed so well if transplanted. If 

 sown in autumn, the seedlings often 

 survive the winter and flower early and 

 well. 



NOLANA (Chilian ife/#feavr).~Pretty 

 hardy annuals from S. America N. para- 

 doxa, N. prostrata, and N. atriplicifolia 

 among the best. They have slender 

 trailing stems, and flowers generally blue. 



Nigella damascena. 



and there is a white variety (N. a. alba). 

 The Nolanas are suitable for borders or 

 for the rock-garden, as they thrive in any 

 warm open situation in good light soil. As 

 seedlings do not transplant well, seed 

 should be sown in the open in March, and 

 the plants well thinned out. Nolanaceae. 



NOTOSPARTIUM (Pink Broom of 

 New Zealand). N. Cartnichaellice is much 

 like some of the Brooms, hence its name, 

 the leafless, graceful shoots studded late 

 in June with small bright rosy flowers 

 in clusters towards the point. Its grace- 

 ful growth is well seen in the bolder 

 arrangement of the rock-garden. In New 

 Zealand it grows 20 ft. in height, and 

 seems to be fairly hardy here, though not 

 a shrub for cold climates or exposed 

 places. 



NUPHAE ( Yellow Water-Lily). 'Bold. 

 water plants nearly allied to the Water Lily, 

 but not so handsome except in the foliage. 

 The most familiar Nuphar is the common 

 Yellow Water-Lily (N. lutea), which in- 

 habits many of our lakes and slow-running 

 rivers, in company with the Water- Lily. 

 It has a very interesting little variety 

 called pumila or minima, which is found 

 wild in some of the Highland lakes, and 



