248 



very buds themselves are handsome for several 

 weeks before they open. C. dealbata, an earlier 

 species from the Caucasus, is a medium-sized 

 plant, with silvery foliage and pretty rose-purple 

 flowers. The Persian sweet-sultan (C. moscha- 

 ta), though an annual, is always worth the trou- 

 ble of growing. 



One of the largest-leaved perennials is the 

 great groundsel (Senecio macrophylld), the leaves 

 of which attain an immense size in shade, but as 

 yet I have been unable to cause it to flower ; the 

 leaves wither quickly in the sun, and it is also 

 very sensitive to dry weather. S. pule her, a very 

 late species, bears large purplish blossoms, with 

 yellow centers, a handsome and distinct flower, 

 the best of its tribe. Scabiosa Caucastca is by 

 far the best of its section of the teasel family, 

 and, being a perennial, is more valuable than 

 the biennial S. atropurpurea, also a handsome 

 flower. When grown in congenial soil the for- 

 mer is a beautiful medium sized border-plant, its 

 large, flat lavender flowers being very distinct, 

 and gracefully placed on tall stems. 



In specifying Lychnis chalcedomca as one 

 of the most dazzling reds, I meant no reflection 

 on the scarlet avens or Geum. It has as bright 

 an eye as a rabbit ; at least, it is as red as a rab- 

 bit's eye. An inhabitant of the Bithynian Mount 



