278 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



that had flax-like leaves. The specific name signi- 

 fies that the plant is of common occurrence. It was 

 bestowed by Linneus, but so far as England is 

 concerned is an entire misnomer ; the plant, though 

 locally common, is distinctly rare. It is a lover of 

 the limestone and the littoral, and we are bound to 

 confess that it soon perished with us, as our inland 

 position supplied neither of these prepossessions. 

 It is, however, an interesting plant, and we gladly 

 figure it, since many persons have never seen it. 

 As we have another goldilocks, one of our numerous 

 buttercups, the present species is differentiated by 

 the prefix flax-leaved. The second figure on the 

 Plate is the flax itself; the similarity in foliage 

 between the two plants is very marked. The toad- 

 flax, a plant that we have already referred to, bears 

 this common name, and also its less used local 

 name of flax-weed, from its flax-like foliage. 



The cultivated species of flax are very charming. 

 We have four wildlings, but those who like to go 

 outside this narrow limit and invoke the aid of 

 the florist have a very considerable choice. The 

 Linumflavum, or the L. campanulatum, are yellow- 

 flowered ; the L. viscosum purple ; the L. provin- 

 ciate deep blue. Others we need not give them in 

 detail are pure white or in varying tints of blue. 

 Those who would cultivate any kind of flax success- 

 fully must remember that they all enjoy a sunny 

 aspect and a dry soil. 



