118 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



addition to the annuals, there are several varieties that are 

 perennial, equally ornamental, which require much the 

 same treatment as the generality of perennials. 



FOXGLOVE. 



(DIGITALIS.) 



44 The Foxglove and the fern, 



How gracefully they grow, 

 With grand old oaks above them, 

 And wavy grass below." 



The Foxglove is a beautiful perennial rooted, flowering 

 plant, with rough leaves, throwing up an erect stem about 

 three feet high. The flowers are spiked and numerous, at 

 the safcrts time very showy, bearing a beautiful purple 

 flower, in their native state, while some in cultivation 

 have receded from that deep richness to a bluish color. 

 There is also a yellow, rather small and dingy, not worth 

 the trouble of cultivating. The leaves of the Foxglove 

 are ovate pointed, from four to eight inches long, and about 

 half of that in width ; the foot stalk is short and winged, 

 the upper are alternate and lanceolate, and obtusely 

 serrated at the edges, with a rough surface of a deep 

 green color, the under part more downy than the upper. 

 The flowers are numerous and connected with the stem by 

 short peduncles hanging down ; each flower is of a bell 

 form, or rather like the finger of a glove ; the inner side of 



