DOWNINGIA 99 



protection of a wall. It grows much after the style of a 

 Runner Bean, and bears clusters of rosy-violet flowers which 

 are followed by rich ruby-coloured pods that are very 

 interesting and attractive. If each seed is sown in a 3-inch 

 pot and placed in a temperature of about 65° in March, 

 and the seedlings are subsequently potted and duly hardened 

 so as to be ready for planting out early in June, good results 

 may be expected, especially if the season is a warm one, like 

 that of 1911. 



DOWNINGIA 



Two charming little Hardy Annuals that have not yet 

 received the attention they merit are Downingia elegans and 

 D. pulchella {CatnpanulacecB). They are Californian subjects 

 and love the sunshine ; they grow about 6 inches high, and 

 give bright blue flowers, with white or yellow centre. There 

 is much to commend them for bedding purposes, and they 

 have the merit of being easily raised from seeds sown either in 

 gentle heat or on a warm border in the early Spring. They 

 should be planted about 6 inches apart. D. pulchella makes a 

 good plant for small, hanging baskets. Other names for the 

 Downingias are Clintonia elegans and C. pulchella. 



EUCHARIDIUM 



California is the home of a large number of Annuals, and 

 no doubt many more Californian plants would be popular here 

 if long bright summers were usual. The Eucharidiums 

 {Onagracea) do not come prominently before the public, but 

 they are none the less beautiful and useful. Two species are 

 Hardy Annuals, and these are E. Bretveri, 6 inches, pale rose, 

 fragrant ; and E. concinnum, 8 inches, from blush to lilac- 

 purple. There is a grandiflorum variety of the latter species 

 which is sometimes given the dignity of specific rank, but it 

 is merely a variety with larger flowers than the type. 



Autumn-raised seedlings give by far the best results, there- 



