266 Flowers of May. 



the high-sounding names of Dodecatheon elegans, Dodecatheon gigantea, and 

 so forth, are merely seedling varieties of our native species. 



The dodecatheon is not so well fitted to produce a mass of color as many 

 other spring-flowers ; and, when it is used for this purpose, the plants should 

 be set not more than four or five inches apart. Its more appropriate posi- 

 tion is that of a simple border-flower. 



The family of the lychnis supplies some of the brightest decorations of 

 the garden in spring and early summer. Lyclmis fulgcfts, and the new 

 hybrid from it called L. Haageana, will make, when planted closely in beds, 

 a mass of color as vivid as that of the scarlet geranium. In some locali- 

 ties, they have not proved perfectly hardy in New England ; but, where the 

 ground is light and well drained, they may be safely trusted. There is a 

 white species known as Lychnis Sieboldii ; and L. Haageana is said to be a 

 hybrid between this and L.fidgens. They are all raised very easily from the 

 seed, which, if planted early, produces blossoms the first year. L. Haageana 

 sports into a great number of varieties, differing greatly both in size and 

 color, and exhibiting every shade from the most vivid scarlet to light pink. 

 Another lychnis of the same type has lately been introduced from Japan. 

 It is called Lychnis Smno. As we have only tried it one season, we cannot 

 speak of it with confidence, but are disposed to think it less hardy, and 

 more liable to disease, than L. LLaageana. It is sometimes of a vivid red, 

 and sometimes very prettily striped with red and white. All the above- 

 mentioned species of lychnis bloom in large clusters when well grown, and 

 bear flowers from one to two inches in diameter. They also have the 

 virtue of remaining a long time in bloom. 



Lychnis Viscaria is a native of Britain, of very little beauty in its single 

 state ; but there is a double variety, which may justly be called one of the 

 most splendid of perennials. It bears dense spikes of flowers of a deep 

 red, rising about eighteen inches from the ground, and, when the plants are 

 properly arranged, forming a mass of vivid color. Nothing is easier than 

 the cultivation of this species. It is perfectly hardy, and very readily mul- 

 tiplied by pulling the plant to pieces when the bloom is over, and planting 

 out the separated parts in a light border. By shading them for a few days, 

 they will not fail to grow, whether they had roots at the time of planting or 

 not. The foliag2 is .a tuft of bright-green leaves, somewhat like those of 

 the pink in form. This lychnis has lately been christened the " Ragged 



