HARDY EXOTTf 1- LOWERTXi i T'T.AXTS. 145 



one sees conspicuous aiiiouL; herbaceous vegetation in America, would 

 jii'iKluce very showy cH't'cts in autunni, and might perhaps more 

 particuLirly interest those who only visit their country seats at that 

 time of year. The Silphiums, especially the compass plant (S. 

 laciniatum), and the cup plant (S. perfoliatum), are allied in general 

 aspect and character to the Helianthuses, and are suitable for the same 

 purposes. 



St. John's Wort, Hypericum. — Tlie well-known St. John's wort 

 has already in many places made good its claim as a wilderness jslant, 

 and there is scarcely one of its numerous congeners which will not 

 thrive in vrild. and rough places, in any soil. They haA^e all the same 

 bright yellow flowers as the St. John's wort, and are nearly all taller. 

 Some of the newer kinds have the handsome large flowers of the St. 

 John's Wort. It should be noted that the common St. John's Wort so 

 exhausts the soil of moisture that it may be the cause of the death of 

 trees, and should therefore be looked after. Many places have too 

 much of it, as they have of the common Laurel. 



Rocket, Hesperis. — The conmion single Rocket (Hesperis mat- 

 ronalis) is a .showy useful jilant in copse or shrubbery, and very easily 

 raised from seed. 



Evergreen Candytuft, Iberis. — Compact little evergreens, form- 

 ing spreading bushes from 3 inches to 15 inches high, and sheeted with 

 white flowers in spring and early summer. There are no plants more 

 suitable for naturalisation in oj^en or bare places, or, indeed, in any 

 position where the vegetation is not strong enough to overrun tliem. 

 They, however, attain greatest perfection when fully exposed to the 

 sun, and are admirable for every kind of rocky or stony ground and 

 banks. 



Iris, Fhur de Lis. — These plants, once so well known in our gardens, 

 rivalling (or rather exceeding) the lilies in beaut\-, are varied and 

 numerous enough to make a wild garden by themselves. The many 

 beautiful varieties of germanica will grow in almost any soil, and may 

 be used with good effect in woods, copses, by Avood walks, or near the 

 margin of water. I. sibirica, rather a common kind, will grow in the 

 water ; and, as this is not generally known, it is worthy the notice of 

 any one taking an interest in aquatics. It is probable that others of 

 the beardless kinds will also do well -with their roots below the water, 

 and if so, they will one day much imjirove the rather poorly adorned 

 margins of artificial waters. On the other hand, I. pumila, and the 

 varieties of germanica, are often seen on the tops of old walls, on 



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