872 WOODWARDIA. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



YUCCA. 



broken-up sandstone mixed with it. It is 

 a good plan to place Woodsias between 

 little blocks of sandstone which just peep 

 out of the soil. These blocks of stone 

 could be covered with Sedums and other 

 flowering rock plants. The best hardy 

 species are W. ilvensis and W. alpina ; 

 there is also a very beautiful North 

 American kind named W. obtusa. 



WOODWARDIA. There are a few 

 hardy species of these noble Ferns. All are 

 handsome, have broad beautifully arching 

 fronds, which are especially ornamental if ] 

 seen a little above the level of the eye. 

 Woodvvardias thrive under the ordinary 

 conditions of the hardy fernery, and 

 succeed in a shady position if they have a 

 light peaty soil that is moist in summer. 

 The principal hardy kinds are W. areolata I 

 (angustifolia) and W. virginica, both from 

 N. America ; W. japonica and W. orien- 

 talis, from Japan ; and W. radicans from 

 Madeira. W. radicans is the tenderest, 

 and requires a sheltered position, and< I 

 perhaps protection in severe cold. 



WULFENIA. W. carinthiaca is a re- 

 markably dwarf, almost stemless evergreen 

 herb, 12 to 18 in. high, bearing in summer 

 showy spikes of drooping purplish-blue 

 flowers. Found only on one or two moun- 

 tains in Carinthia. \V. carinthiaca is a pretty 

 plant for rock-gardens or borders, but 

 should have a light moist sandy loam. W. 

 Amherstiana from the Himalayas, similar 

 to the Carinthian species, but more showy, 

 rare, and we have seen it only in Kew 

 Gardens. It is hardy, grows freely in any 

 position in the rock-garden, but prefers a 

 shady spot and light rich soil. Scrophu- 

 lariaceae. 



XANTHOCERAS (Chinese Chestnut}. 

 X. sorbifolia is a beautiful dwarf hardy 

 tree, but not a rapid grower ; its leaves 

 elegant, and its flowers, which are white 

 and marked with red, borne in erect clus- 

 ters, but to thrive it requires a climate 

 warmer than that of Britain. 



After having been for many years a 

 rare plant in English gardens it is becom- 

 ing more widely known and cultivated, 

 and among the gardens where it succeeds 

 well is that at Offington, Worthing, where 

 it has ripened its fruits, which recall to us 

 in form and size the fruits of the Horse 

 Chestnut. The seedlings raised from 

 English ripened fruits may give us fine 

 varieties, as there is a great difference 

 among individuals of this shrub as regards 

 the size of flower and cluster as well as 

 in the colour of the flowers. China. At 

 Kew it thrives but indifferently compared 

 with specimens I have seen in mild coast 



gardens, but I imagine that against a 

 wall it succeeds better, for at Kew it 

 reaches the top of a 12 ft. wall, while as 

 an open bush it is only half that height. 



XERANTHEMUM. A', anmium is a 

 hardy annual, one of the prettiest of Ever- 

 lasting flowers, growing about 2 ft. high, 

 and, if sown in patches, yields abundant 

 masses of white, purple, and yellow 

 double, single, and semi-double blossoms. 

 A packet of mixed seed sown in any 

 ordinary garden soil in March will give a 

 variety of colours. The principal kinds arc 

 Album, white ; imperiale, dark violet- 

 purple ; plenissimum, dark purple, double : 

 superbissimum, double, globe-flowered ; 

 and Tom Thumb, a compact dwarf variety. 

 The flowers are excellent for cutting, and, 

 if dried in autumn, are useful for winter 

 decoration. S. Europe. Composite. 



XEROPHYLLUM (Turkey's Bearcfy 

 X. asphodeloiaes is a beautiful tuberous- 

 rooted plant with the aspect of an Aspho- 

 del, forming a spreading tuft of grassy 

 leaves, its tall flower-stem terminated by 

 a raceme of numerous white blossoms. 

 It grows well in a moist, sandy, peaty 

 border, and in the drier parts of boggy 

 ground. Pine barrens in N. America. 



X. tenax. This very beautiful species 

 is found wild in various parts of North 

 America, especially in Pine barrens, on 

 the east and west sides of the continent. 

 The flower-stems 2 to 5 ft. high, the raceme 

 varying from I to 2 ft. long, the flowers 

 crowded and attractive, the segments 

 white with a violet centre. Division or 

 seed. D. K. 



YUCCA (Adam's Needle}. In its own 

 peculiar habit and style of growth the 

 Yucca has no rival among hardy plants. 

 Though the stiffest of all garden plants, 

 it has grace and elegance, under all con- 

 ditions, if the plant is not cramped for 

 room. Yuccas seem fitted for various 

 uses, as a single plant may stand alone on 

 a lawn, or in the centre of a bed, or 

 numbers may be grouped with other plants, 

 or form a bed by themselves. Yuccas look 

 especially well on rock-garden banks. 

 They are not very particular about soil, 

 but do not flourish so well in sand, chalk, 

 or peat. They are hardy save in very 

 severe winters and on cool soils. All of 

 the kinds mentioned below are so vigorous 

 that it is almost impossible to kill them. 

 Suckers, unless carefully taken, are apt to 

 die down to the ground when first planted ; 

 but if they are left alone they will 

 renew their growth in a few months. 

 There are several hardy species well suited 

 for the flower-garden, and quite distinct 



