ERYSIMUM 43 



in the Summer and Autumn. The flowers are not very effec- 

 tive individually, but they are bright orange-scarlet and borne 

 in clusters like a bunch of tassels, this style of inflorescence 

 giving rise to the popular name of Tassel Flower. Emilia 

 flammea is quite hardy, and may be sown out-of-doors in 

 early September to stand through the Winter and flower 

 early in the following Summer. It is usual, however, to sow 

 seeds in April and transplant the seedlings to their flowering 

 quarters as soon as they are large enough to be easily handled. 

 Another method is to sow in gentle heat in April, harden off 

 the seedlings in the usual way, and plant them out in May or 

 early June. It must be remembered that this useful plant — 

 useful especially for association with other flowers in various 

 kinds of floral decorations — does not take kindly to root dis- 

 turbance, consequently leaf soil should be freely used in the 

 seed bed. 



ERYSIMUM 



^^ Hedge Mustard" 



Very useful little plants are the Hardy Annual Erysimums 

 {CrucifercE). There are two species that interest us in this 

 connexion, and they are E. arkansanum and E. Perofskianum. 

 The former is i foot high and has yellow flowers, while the 

 second has orange-coloured flowers and is from i foot to \\ 

 foot high. Both plants are suitable for bedding, and E. Perof- 

 skianum is particularly good for Spring displays or for the Rock 

 garden. Seeds may be sown in Autumn and again in Spring 

 to secure a long flowering season, but in most gardens they 

 seed freely, and self-sown plants are abundant. It would 

 appear, however, that in the colder northern districts E. 

 arkansanum is practically a biennial. The Erysimums, or 

 Hedge Mustards, are very like the Wallflowers in leafage, 

 habit, and flowers, but the latter are smaller and produced in 

 shorter spikes. 



