HARDY EXOTIC I'LUWERIXG PLANTS. 129 



Milk Vetch, Astrdf/alu!^.— An enormously numerotis family of 

 beautiful liardy plauts, represented to but a very sli<j;lit extent in our 

 gardens, though hundreds of them are hardy, and many of them among 

 the most pleasing of the many Pea flowers which adorn the hills and 

 mountains of the ntnlhern world in Asia, Europe, and America. They 

 are mostly suited for rocky or gravelly situations, or bare banks, though 

 some of the taller sj)ecies, like A. galegiformis, are stout enough to take 

 care of themselves among the larger perennials. This plant is valuable 

 for its handsome port and foliage, though its flowering equalities are not 

 such as recommend it for the garden proper. The numerous species 

 from the Mediterranean sIku'cs and islands could be successfully intro- 

 duced on banks and slopes in our chalk districts and in rocky places. 

 A. ponticus, a tall kind, and A. monspessulanus, a dwarf one, are both 

 worth "I'owiiiL!;. 



Masterwort, Asfrantia. — This is an elegant genus, of which few 

 species are known, five being European — found in Italy, Carinthia, 

 Greece, and the centre of Europe — others from jSTorthern Asia. They 

 are among the few umbellates with attractive and distinct flowers, and 

 yet they are rarely seen in gardens. In the wild garden they are quite 

 at home among the Grass and medium -sized lierbaceous plants, and 

 partial shade prolongs their cpiaint beauty. In fact they are far more at 

 home in the thin wood or copse than in the open exposed mixed border. 



Blue Rock Cress, Auhrietia. — Dwarf Alpine plants, with purp- 

 lish flowers, quite distinct in aspect and hue from anything else grown 

 in our gardens, and never perishing from any cause, except being over- 

 run by coarser subjects. They are admirable for association with the 

 Alyssums and Arabises in any position where the vegetation is very 

 dwarf, or in rocky bare places. There are several species and varieties, 

 all almost equally suitable, but not differing much in aspect or stature 

 from each other. The Aubrietias come chiefly from the mountains of 

 Greece, Asia Minor, and neighbouring countries. Wherever there is 

 an old wall, or a sunk fence, or a bare bank, evergreen curtains may 

 be formed of these plants, and in spring they will be sheeted witli 

 purple flowers, no matter how harsh the weather. 



Great Birthwort, Aristolochia Sipho. — A noble plant for cover- 

 ing arbours, banks, stumps of old trees, etc., also wigwam-like bowers, 

 formed with branches of trees. It is American, and will grow as high 

 as thirty feet, A. tomentosa is distinct and not so large in leaf. These 

 will scarcely be grown for their flowers ; but for covering stumps or 

 trees they are valuable, and afi"ord a distinct type of foliage. 



K 



