420 ALYSSUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



AMARANTHUS. 



some, but the first does most injury. It 

 appears on the under sides of the leaves 

 as soon as the hot weather sets in, and is 

 difficult to dislodge. If there is any trace 

 of red spider before planting out, the whole 

 plant, except the roots, should be dipped 

 in a pail of soft soapy water, to which a 

 pint or so of tobacco liquid has been 

 added. It will be well to syringe the 

 under sides of the leaves with the mixture 

 if the plants have been planted out before 

 the pest is perceived. Thrips may be de- 

 stroyed in the same way, and it is well to 

 syringe the plants every day in hot 

 weather. 



THE HOLLYHOCK FUNGUS (Puccinia 

 malvacearuui) is very destructive to the 

 Hollyhock. When once it seizes a col- 

 lection, probably the best way is to destroy 

 all the plants affected. Those that do not 

 appear to be attacked should be washed 

 with soapy water in which flowers of 

 sulphur has been dissolved. The sulphur 

 will settle at the bottom of the vessel, and 

 must be frequently stirred up when the 

 mixtuie is being used. Sulphur seems to 

 destroy almost any fungus ; and may de- 

 stroy this in its very earliest stages, but 

 will not when established. 



ALYSSUM (Madwort\ Rock and 

 alpine plants, the species much resemb- 

 ling each other. A. saxatile (the Rock 

 Madwort or Gold Dust) is one of the 

 most valuable of yellow spring flowers, 

 hardy in all parts of these islands. The 

 colour of its masses of bloom and its 

 vigour have made it one of the best- 

 known plants. It is often grown in half- 

 shady places ; but like most rock-plants 

 it should be fully exposed. It is well 

 fitted for the spring garden, and the 

 mixed border, and for association with 

 evergreen Candytufts and Aubrietias. In 

 winter it perishes in heavy rich clays 

 when on the level ground. A native of 

 Southern Russia, it flowers with us in 

 April or May. There is a dwarfer variety, 

 distinguished by the name of A. saxatile 

 compaction, but it differs very little from 

 the old plant. A. Gemwiensehasthe habit 

 of A. saxatile, but larger flowers. A. mon- 

 tanum is a dwarf plant, spreading into 

 compact tufts, 3 in. high. A. podolicum, 

 is a small hardy alpine from South Russia. 

 It has in early summer, a profusion of 

 small white blossoms, and is suited for the 

 rock-garden or the margins of borders. 

 A. pyre?iaicum is a neat rock-plant with 

 white flowers. A. spinoswn is a silvery 

 little bush with white flowers. A. ser- 

 Pyllifolium is a grey-green leaved form, 

 with yellow flowers. Small plants quickly 

 become Liliputian bushes, 3 in. to 6 in. 



high ; and when fully exposed, are almost 

 as compact as Moss. 



Among other kinds sometimes grown 

 are A. IViersbecki, and A. olympicum, 

 but they are not quite so good as the com- 

 mon kind. The alpine and rock kinds are 



Alyssum montanun 



of easy culture in light or dry soil, as indeed 

 are all the species. A. maritimum is the 

 Sweet Alyssum, a small annual with white 

 flowers, useful as a carpet plant. It grows 

 on the tops of walls in the west country, 

 and in sandy places. In these situations 

 it is perennial, but in gardens is grown as 

 an annual, sowing itself freely. There is 

 a variegated form. 



AMARANTHUS (Prince's Feather, 

 Love-lies-bleeding). Annual plants, some 

 of distinct habit and striking colour. The 

 old Love-lies-bleeding (A. caudatus) with 

 its dark red pendent racemes, is a fine plant 

 when well grown, butA.spectesus and some 

 other varieties are finer. The more vigor- 

 ous species grow from 2 to 5 ft. high. It is 

 best to give them room to spread, otherwise 

 much of their picturesque effect will be 

 lost ; and to use them in positions where 

 their peculiar habit may be seen to ad- 

 vantage, as, for example, in large vases 

 and edges of bold beds. Easily raised 

 as any annual, they deserve to be well 

 thinned out and put in rich ground, so that 

 they may attain full size. The foliage of 

 some varieties is very rich in its hues, and 

 planted with Canna, Wigandia, Ricinus, 

 Solanum, their effect is good. The varie- 

 ties of A. tricolor require a light soil and 

 a warmer place. They do well in gardens 

 by the seaside, and sow the seed in April 



