HAEDY EXOTIC i LuWEKlNU I'LANTS. 157 



Catch-fly, Silene. — Dwarf ur spreudiii*^; plants, allied to tlie pinks, 

 and UL'iierallv with A\liite oi' rosv flowers. The choice mountain kinds, 

 such as S. Lagasca), alpestris, Schafta, etc., are among tlie most charm- 

 ing subjects that can l)e naturalised on rocky places or banks, associated 

 Avith very dwarf subjects. Such fine annual or biennial kinds as 

 S. Armeria or S. pendula are anumg the best for this purpose, and 

 might be easily established by scattering a few seeds in such j)laces. 



Bloodwort, Sanguinaria canadensis. — This little plant, which 

 abounds in the woods of Canada and North America, and which is 

 verv rarely indeed seen well groA«i in our gardens, Avill thrive under 

 the branch&s of deciduous trees as Avell as the Avinter aconite, and in 

 spring will produce an efl'ect as beautiful as singular. 



Squill, Scilla. — Several kinds of ScUla, closely allied to the 

 common bluebell, Avould do quite as well in our Avoods as that Avell- 

 knoAvii native plant, notably S. campanulata, S. bifolia, S. sibirica, etc. 

 Bifolia and .sibirica Avould be better on sunny banks or sheltered 

 frincres of shrubberies Avith a good aspect. The tall kinds Avould do in 

 AA'Oods or copses like the Idueliell. With the dwarfer squills might be 

 associated the grape liyacintli and tlie amethyst hyacinth (Hyacinthus 

 amethystinus). 



Comfrey, Hynvphytum. — Herbaceous plants of the borage order, 

 usually vigorous, and with handsome blue floAvers. One of the hand- 

 somest spring flowers is Symphytum caucasicum. and it is also one of 

 the easiest things to naturalise, running about Avith the greatest freedom 

 in shrubbA- or any Avild places. Coarse kinds, like S. asperrimum 

 (unfit iox garden culture), thrive apace among the largest plants in 

 wild places, and there look quite beautiful AA'hen in flower. 



Scabious, Scabiosa, Cephalaria, Knautia. — Sometimes handsome 

 and usuallv free-groAving herbaceous plants, bluish, purplish, or 

 yelloAsish in tone. Among these may be seen, in botanic and other 

 gardens, plants suited for naturalisation, but scarcely Avorthy of a place 

 in the garden. The fine S. caucasica aa-ouM thrive amidst coarse 

 vegetation in ^ood soil, as would the Knautias. 



Stonecrop, Sedum. — Minute and usually prostrate plants, mostly 

 Avitli white, yelloAv, or rosy floAvers, and occurring in multitudes on 

 most of the mountain chains of northern and temperate countries. 

 There are few of these interesting and sometimes very pretty plants 

 that Avould not gxoAv on the top of an old Avail, or thatched house, or 

 stony bank, or bare gi'ound, as AA'ell as our conmion Stonecrop. All 

 groAv in any soil, are as easily increased as any weed, and groAV any- 



