THE SNAPDRAGON AND LINARIA FAMILY. 529 



many cases be multiplied by seeds sown in heat, or by layers. 

 M. Porcher (see ' Du Fuchsia/ 4th ed. p. 27, 28) men- 

 tions a hybrid between Verbascum blattaria and the Water- 

 betony, Scrophularia nodosa; and, as is well known, there are 

 several natural hybrids between the species of the first- 

 named genus. V. nigro - blattaria is a hybrid between V. 

 nigra and V. blattaria, and was discovered by M. Diny near 

 Schlestadt. 



Antirrhinum (Snapdragon}. A genus of ten or fifteen 

 species of annuals or sub-shrubby plants, natives of the Medi- 

 terranean region, a few being found in California. A. majus is 

 the best known in gardens, its seminal forms being innumer- 

 able. As a plant for clothing old stone walls or dry stony 

 banks, this plant has no equal. All the species seed freely, 

 and the seed germinates readily sown in autumn or as soon as 

 ripe. Any desirable form may be perpetuated by cuttings of 

 the young lateral growth. It would be interesting to know 

 what results would follow if A. latifolium, which is a native of 

 S. Europe, was used along with A. siculum and A. asarina for 

 crossing with the common improved forms of A. majus. Very 

 interesting results might possibly be obtained by hybridising 

 some species of Linaria with this reciprocally. Antirrhinums 

 have of late years been much improved by careful selection, 

 and we have now several races, and some of the most showy 

 kinds have been named, these being perpetuated by cuttings. 

 A variegated-leaved Antirrhinum which originated in the gar- 

 dens at Mellerstain, Berwickshire, is interesting, as plants raised 

 from cuttings of the variegated growth have withstood the 

 frosts of winters (1873-74), having assumed the form of shrubs, 

 while the ordinary green-leaved varieties were killed. 



Buddleia (JSuddleias). A large genus of American, Indian, 

 and S. African plants, represented in our gardens by the purple- 

 flowered B. Lindleyana, the orange-flowered B. globosa, and 

 others. They are readily propagated by cuttings of the 

 ripened wood or of the roots. Seeds are sometimes pro- 

 duced on warm dry soils, and these germinate readily, sown 

 as soon as ripe in pans of rich light earth, and placed on a 

 shelf near the glass. Buddleia intermedia (see ' Revue Hort.,' 

 1873, P- I 5 I ) is a hybrid between B. curviflora and the well- 

 known B. Lindleyana, and it is singular to notice that although 

 the first-named species was the seed-bearing parent, the off- 

 spring, in habit of growth and colour of flower, more closely 

 resembles the male parent, B. Lindleyana. B. curviflora seeds 

 very freely, hence is a good female parent, but B. Lindleyana 

 rarely produces fertile seeds. 



2 L 



