HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS. 141 



PLATYCODON GRANDIFLORUM (Chinese Bellf lower)— An erect grow- 

 ing plant, with flowers resembling those of the Campanula. P. g. 

 Mariesii is a variety of dwarfer habit, and bears larger flowers. The 

 roots are thick and fleshy. Seedlings raised early in Spring sometimes 

 bloom late the same season. 



PRinULA (Primrose)— There are few of the species but what are 

 worth growing. Many of them, however, are unsuited to the climate 

 of the Eastern States, it being too cold in Winter and too hot in Sum- 

 mer. A few of the species and many of their varieties do well. P. vul- 

 garis and the varieties with double yellow, red, purple, white, and lilac 

 flowers succeed well if they are given water during the growing period. 

 They will even stand in almost full sunshine, but they thrive best in half- 

 shaded spots. All of them are best increased by division very early in 

 the season. P. elatior is the Oxlip, and what is known as the Cowslip 

 is P. veris. The Polyanthus is a garden race, said to be a hybrid be- 

 tween the last-named species and P. vulgaris. The different varieties 

 are useful for rock work and for borders. A good selection of forms may 

 be had from seed sown in Spring; but the plants will not bloom until 

 the second year. Some of the Himalayan species do fairly well in this 

 latitude if given a position shaded from sun in Winter and mulched in 

 Summer. P. denticulata and its forms are among the best. P. sikki- 

 mensis should be tried in damp, shady ground by the margins of lakes. 

 P. cortusoides Sieboldii produces pure white, crimson and lilac colored 

 flowers; very useful for cutting. The plants have creeping root stocks, 

 and thrive best when protected by a frame in Winter. In the Fall those 

 plants which are to remain in the open during Winter should be gone 

 over, and those which have their crowns above the surface of the soil 

 lifted and replanted, so that the roots may be protected. 



RUDBECKIA (Conef lower)— Nearly all of the species are worthy of a 

 place in the herbaceous border. A few of them are valuable for supply- 

 ing cut flowers. R. speciosa(R. Newmanni) grows from 2 to 3 feet high; 

 the color of the outer florets is orange-yellow, while those in the center 

 are almost black. R. maxima is a much taller species, valuable for cut- 

 ting. R. laciniata attains a height of 4 feet. The variety known as 

 Golden Glow has large double yellow flowers; the best of all for cutting. 

 R. purpurea (Echinacea purpurea) has purple florets. Some of the spe- 

 cies are easily raised from seeds, but most of them may be divided freely 

 if the work is done before they make much growth in Spring. 



SALVIA PRATENSIS— This species has very long spikes of flowers in 

 bright blue, rose, and white. They flower in May, and are exceedingly 

 attractive. They all seed freely, and if sown early in the Fall, will 

 bloom the following Spring. S. azurea and S. a. grandiflora are tall- 

 growing species, with blue flowers. They are easily increased from cut- 

 tings in the Fall months. 



SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS (Blood Root)— A dwarf-growing native 

 plant that, in sunny positions, is one of the earliest to open its flowers, 

 which are pure white, about 2 inches across. It is increased from seeds 

 and by division. 



