HOUSTONIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. HYACINTHUS. 593 



however, .thrives better on soft mud-banks 

 than when submerged. The deep-cut 

 leaves form a dwarf deep-green tuft over 

 the mud, and from this tuft arise stems 

 bearing at intervals whorls of handsome 

 pale lilac or pink flowers. As water and 

 bog may be associated with the rock- 

 garden, this plant may with advantage 

 be grown at its margin in the water or 

 on a bank of wet soil. It grows from 

 9 in. to 2 ft. high, flowers in early 

 summer, and is abundant in many parts 

 of England. 



HOUSTONIA (Bluets). A very pretty 

 little American plant, H. ccerulea forming 

 small, dense cushion-like tufts, and from 

 late spring to autumn bearing crowds of 



specimen to 

 centre of a 



Houstonia coerulea. 



tiny slender stems, about 3 in. high. The 

 flowers are pale blue, changing to white. 

 There is also a white variety. It succeeds 

 best in peaty or sandy soil, in sheltered 

 shady nooks on well-drained parts of the 

 rock-garden. As it sometimes perishes 

 in winter, it is advisable to keep reserve 

 plants in pots. Propagated by careful 

 division in spring, or by seed. H. serpyl- 

 lifolia and H. purpurea are allied species 

 and alike in stature and wants. 



HUME A. A very graceful half-hardy 

 biennial, 3 to 8 ft. high, H. elegans having 

 large leaves with a strong balsamic odour, 

 and forming, when in flower, an elegant 

 feathery pyramid of reddish-brown blos- 

 soms. It is highly ornamental as a 

 back line to a long border, as a single 



let into the lawn, as the 

 bed or vase, or in masses 

 with other elegant foliage plants. Ex- 

 cellent effects may be obtained by com- 

 bining it in masses or groups with other 

 good plants. For cutting, its light feathery 

 sprays are useful. The proper time to 

 sow seed is July or August, as plants 

 do not bloom the first year, and, if raised 

 before those months, get too large to 

 winter conveniently, often becoming 

 leafless below, and the nakedness of 

 stem detracts from their beauty. To 

 .prevent this, they should be well fed 

 during winter with weak liquid manure, 

 and be shifted into larger pots early in 

 spring. Rich soil should be used, as 

 they can only be kept healthy by good 

 feeding. When planting them out in 

 beds, which may be done by the first 

 week in June, put under each a spadeful 

 of rotten manure and mix it up with the 

 soil. As the plants, when large, hold a 

 good deal of wind, they must be securely 

 staked to prevent their being damaged. 

 Composite. Australia. 



HUMULUS (Common Hop}. H. 

 Liipitlus, a well-known vigorous twining 

 perennial is admirable for bowers, especi- 

 ally when vegetation that disappears in 

 winter is desired ; and will soon run wild 

 in almost any soil, among shrubs or hedge- 

 rows. A slender plant climbing up an 

 Apple or other fruit tree, near the mixed 

 border, looks well. Division. 



HUNNEMANNIA. H.fumat icefoUa 

 is an erect perennial, 2 to 3 ft. high, with 

 glaucous foliage, like some of the Fumi- 

 tories. Its flowers are large and showy, of 

 a rich orange, and in form are like Esch- 

 sc.holtzia californica. They continue long 

 in perfection. Being a native of Mexico, 

 it is rather tender, and not satisfactory for 

 open-air culture. Poppy family. 



HUTCHINSIA. A neat little alpine 

 plant, H. alpina having shining leaves and 

 white flowers, in clusters about i in. high, 

 quite free in sandy soil, and easily 

 increased by division or seeds. In an 

 open spot, either in the rock-garden or in 

 good free border soil, it becomes a mass 

 of white flowers. Its proper home is the 

 rock-garden, though in borders of dwarf 

 and choice hardy plants it may be grown 

 with success. Central and S. Europe. 

 Cruciferae. 



HYACINTHUS (Hyacinth"). The 

 familiar garden Hyacinth is not generally 

 included among hardy plants, though it is 

 perfectly hardy, and, when treated as it 

 should be, is most important. The parent 

 of all the varieties is H. orientalis ; this is 

 as hardy as a Daffodil, and its varieties are 

 Q Q 



