98 Cultivatimi of the Phlox. 



the globe. It is also one of the most brilliant herbaceous 

 plants we possess. About fifty species have already been 

 introduced into England ; upwards of thirty of them since 

 the year 1800, and until about the year 1824 these species 

 were only cultivated, no attempts having been made to raise 

 seedlings. At that time some few fine varieties were pro- 

 duced in England, and since then scarcely a year has passed 

 without adding some new variety to the list. Within a few 

 years, the French and Belgians have attempted the cultiva- 

 tion of seedlings, and, with their skill and perseverance, have 

 brought about greater results than had previously been 

 achieved by English florists ; entirely new and unique varie- 

 ties have been produced, so superior to the older ones, as 

 well as the different species, that few of the latter are now 

 considered worthy of cultivation. Our own cultivators have 

 lately given much attention to this elegant tribe, and, with 

 a few exceptions, their seedlings have equalled, if not sur- 

 passed many of the foreign varieties. 



There are few hardy plants which combine so many merits 

 as the phlox; perfectly hardy, of the easiest cultivation, 

 and flowering from May to November, no garden can be 

 considered complete without them. Some are of dwarf habit, 

 creeping upon and covering the ground ; while others are of 

 stately appearance, rising to the height of five or six feet. 

 Some bloom in long and dense panicles, while others present 

 a broad and showy corymb of flowers. In color, they pre- 

 sent every shade, from the purest white to the deepest crim- 

 son ; and a few are striped, edged, or delicately shaded and 

 tinted. In a well selected collection, there is scarcely a day, 

 from the early blooming of ihe snowy nivalis, in April or 

 May, to the very verge of winter, but what some of them will 

 be found in flower. 



We have said that they are of the easiest cultivation. 

 This is true. With little or no care they will flower well ; 

 but, like all other plants, their beauty may be greatly en- 

 hanced by skilful cultivation. The reason why they are not 

 often seen in greater perfection, is owing to the very reason, 

 that they ordinarily grow so freely, no efl"orts are made to 

 improve them. Generally they are allowed to stand in the 

 same place, in the border, year after year, until they have 



