White Flowers 183 



ROCKET. Sweet (Hesperis matronalis). 2-3 ft. A hardy plant with 

 coarse pointed leaves and loose racemes of white and lilac flowers very 

 sweet-scented at nightfall with an odor like Clove-Pink. Does best in 

 sandy, rich moist soil. Propagate single varieties by seed, the double 

 variety by division of root. If taken up as soon as the flowering season 

 is done, and transplanted into rich light soil, it will attain an extraordi- 

 nary size, and flower splendidly the next season. Also a lilac variety. 



ROMNEYA COULTERI. In California a shrub 6-8 ft. high, but in the 

 East it is nearly herbaceous. A very handsome addition to the garden, 

 blooming freely from early summer to autumn, with delicately scented 

 white flowers from 4-6 in. across, having a central boss of golden sta- 

 mens. It needs a sunny sheltered position and very rich soil. I have 

 been unable to raise it from seed and know but one nurseryman who 

 offers it. In a moderate climate it is certainly worth trying; it has been 

 known to be hardy as far north as Scotland. 



SWEET-WILLIAM (Dianthus barbatus). 2 ft. A hardy garden favo- 

 rite that grows in a great variety of colorings. The flowers form a flat- 

 topped cluster, borne in great profusion. If cut back as soon as flower- 

 ing is over, new blooms will appear. While they can be raised easily 

 from seed, they rarely come true to color, owing to the cross-fertilization 

 by insects. Propagation of a certain variety may be secured by division 

 of the root or by covering a plant with fine gauze during the flowering 

 time. If by division, cut off the blooms as soon as the color is learned, 

 lift the plant and reset in very rich light soil where it will throw out a 

 heavy growth from the root, which may be carefully divided either in 

 spring or autumn and reset. Whole borders may be secured from a few 

 plants in two or three years. There are beautiful pale pink and bril- 

 liant pure red varieties that are much more attractive than those with 

 markings and eyes of another color. See Pink and Red Per. June. 



THRIFT, SEA-PINK (Armeria cephalotes Formosa, var. alba), i ft. 

 A white variety with a low tuft of narrow leaves and an erect red stalk 

 bearing a close head of handsome flowers. It is difficult to divide the 

 root, and it is better to propagate by seed. There is a lovely pink va- 

 riety. Still another variety, A. maratima also called A. vulgaris is in- 

 creased rapidly by division, and as the seed comes up quite regularly 

 it is often used by either method as an edging instead of Box. See 

 Armeria, Pink, Per. June. 



ULMARIA FILIPENDULA, see Dropwort. 



VALERIAN. Spurred, JUPITER'S BEARD (Centranthus albus). 2 ft. 



