LINUM, (Flax,) Nat. Ord. Linace<z. 



Every one is acquainted with our common flax, which is a Linum, and has been cultivated 



for a good many thousand years, certainly since the time 

 when Joseph gained such distinction in Egypt, for we 

 read that Pharaoh clothed him in fine linen ; and we are 

 ;* also told in the history of the plagues that occurred in the 

 time of Moses, that the flax was smitten. There are sev- 

 eral varieties of ornamental flax well worthy of culture, 

 however, which few people know. The plants are very 

 graceful, the foliage and stems delicate, and the flowers 

 \ on the light, spray-like plants, seem floating in the air. 

 Seeds may be sown either under glass or in the garden. 



Height one foot. There are several varieties, white, blue, rose and yellow, and all desirable. 



PAP AVER, (Poppy,) Nat. Ord. Papaveracea. 

 There are a few Perennial Poppies that are not only worthy of cultivation, but exceedingly 



valuable to the gardener. The Oriental Poppy, for 



instance, which is of the most intense scarlet, with 



a blackish or purplish blotch at the base of each 



petal, we have seen six inches in diameter. It is a 



monstrous single flower, and the flower stems gen- 

 erally reach three or four feet in height. There are 



other varieties somewhat similar in character, but 



we have never found any better. All the perennial 



Poppies are perfectly hardy, and seed may be sown 



in the open ground. Our engravings show the 



appearance of the plant when in bloom, as well as 



the form of the flower, of course much reduced in 



size. The single large perennial Poppies are^ a 



great addition to the herbace- 

 ous border, and are of great 



value among shrubbery, as they 



tend to relieve and lighten up 



the usual dark and sombre 



character borders or clumps of 



shrubbery assume after the 



early summer. A few plants of 



annual Poppies, and other free- 

 growing hardy annuals, will give the shrubberies a cheerful and graceful wildness quite charming. 



PENTSTEMON, Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacea. 



The Pentstemon is one of the best of the perennial border plants. The very pretty long- 

 tubed flowers grow in panicles, 

 and are purple, blue, scarlet, 

 rose and white. The Pentste- 

 mons are all natives of Amer- 

 ica, and are very popular in all 

 parts of the world. Our en- 

 gravings show the habit of the 

 plant, and also a portion of a 

 panicle, with flowers of natural 

 size. Seeds may be sown in 

 May, in a cool, shady place, or 

 under glass. The flowers of 

 different varieties present a great 



difference in appearance, some with a bold, open mouth and a generous throat, while others are 



of the form shown in the engraving. 



104 



