Flowers of ]\Iay. 265 



the early dwarf phloxes, many species and varieties of lychnis, dicentra 

 for those who like it, and several early varieties of dianthus ; for white, 

 the iberis, and, above all, the cerastiums. Many other plants might be 

 named as suited for early massing. As soon as their bloom begins to fade, 

 they may be taken up, divided, and planted out of sight in a reserve-garden. 

 Annuals or bulbs, grown in pots, may then be turned out into their place ; 

 and thus, with no great trouble, a bed may be kept in constant bloom from 

 April to the end of October. The perennials planted in the reserve-garden 

 will be benefited by the removal ; and in the autumn they may be replanted 

 in their old place, in order to bloom again in the following spring. 



Among the names mentioned above, we forgot to include an extremely 

 prett}^ native plant, akin to the cowslip and the primrose ; both of which, 

 by the way, are excellently adapted for spring-bedding. The plant we 

 mean is Dodecatheon Meadia, or the American cowslip, which grows wild in 

 the Middle and South-western States, and, when transplanted to the garden, 

 takes to its new position very kindly. The flowers, at first sight, resemble 

 those of the Persian cyclamen ; for the petals are thrown back in the same 

 manner, but the yellow anthers protrude from them in the form of a long 

 pointed cone, or beak ; and, as the flowers grow together in a cluster at the 

 top of the stem, they suggest the idea of a flock of birds on the wing. 

 The flower-stems are rarely more than a foot high, rising from a tuft of 

 smooth green leaves close to the ground. The petals are generally of a 

 bright purple, sometimes white ; and the flower is one of the prettiest and 

 most interesting of our natives. 



The dodecatheon is perfectly hardy ; but, as the leaves always die imme- 

 diately after the flowering, those unacquainted with it often suppose that 

 the plant itself is dead. The root, however, remains in full life, and, after 

 lying dormant in the earth for about ten months, grows and blossoms vigor- 

 ously again in the next spring. 



The best way to raise a bed of dodecatheons is from the seed. This 

 should be sown in boxes of light, peaty soil, immediately after it ripens. 

 It comes up the following spring, makes two small seed-leaves, and then 

 apparently dies. In the succeeding spring it shows life again, and makes 

 a vigorous tuft of leaves, though it rarely blossoms till the third spring. The 

 seedlings vary a good deal in size and color ; and the varieties sold under 



VOL. I. 34 



