Ferula. 137 



munis and tingitana. Probably a few others, including' 

 F. glauca, neapolitana, nodiflora, asparagifolia, Ferulago, 

 and persica, may with advantage be added where much 

 variety is sought, but the effect of any of the first three 

 cannot be surpassed. Among the " aspects of vegetation" 

 which we may enjoy in these cold climes, nothing equals 

 that of their grand leaves, pushing up with the snowdrop. 

 In semi- wild spots, where spring flowers abound, it will 

 prove a most tasteful and satisfactory plan to drop a 

 Ferula here and there in a sunny spot, and leave it to 

 nature and its own good constitution afterwards. In 

 general aspect these plants are much alike ; it is better, 

 however, to describe some of them individually. 



*Ferula asparagifolia. An ornamental perennial, 

 4 ft. or 5 ft. high, with very graceful and finely-cut leaves, 

 the radical ones i ft. to 2 ft. long (including the leaf- 

 stalk), repeatedly subdivided : the divisions very narrow, 

 linear, pointed, and set with hairs ; the upper stem-leaves 

 are reduced to short sheaths, the lowest of which bear 

 a short pinnate limb. 



*Ferula communis. A very fine and striking hardy 

 perennial, growing from 6 ft. to 10 ft. or more high, with 

 much-divided, spreading, shining green leaves, repeatedly 

 subdivided into linear, flaccid segments ; the lower leaves 

 spreading more than 2 ft. each way ; the sheaths of the 

 upper leaves very large. 



*Ferula Ferulago. A very ornamental kind, with 

 striped stems, 6 ft. to 8 ft. high, and much-divided leaves, 

 with divided spreading leaflets, which are nearly as broad 

 as those of F. tingitana, but longer, and of a darker 

 green. 



