400 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Mullein, or Verbascum. 



shady positions. All have yellow flowers, 

 which are useful for cutting ; they bloom in 

 late summer and autumn. The usual method 

 of propagation is to divide the roots at any 

 time from November to March when the 

 weather is favourable. If desired seeds can 

 be sown on a border outside during April 

 and May. Six of the best are S. Canadensis, 

 5 feet ; S. Golden Wings, 5 feet ; S. Shortii, 

 5 feet ; S. spectabilis, 4 feet ; S. ulmifolia, 

 5 feet ; S. neglecta, 5 feet. Two valuable 

 Golden Rods for the rock garden are S. 

 Buckleyi and S. Virgaurea nana. 



Spiraea (Meadow Sweet). The grace- 

 ful plume-like flower spikes of the various 

 perennial Meadow Sweets lend a charm to 

 any border. Plant them for preference in 

 moist situations ; if in dry soils liberal sup- 

 plies of water and a mulching of manure must 

 be given in summer. The season of flowering 

 is June to August. The plants are increased 



by division during the time for replanting, 

 which is from October to March. While they 

 will grow in most soils, rich moist ground is 

 necessary to bring the Meadow Sweets to full 

 beauty. The following are the best : S. 

 Aruncus (Goat's Beard), 4 feet to 5 feet, tall 

 white plumes ; S. astilboides, 2 feet, white ; 

 S. Filipendula flore pleno (Double Drop- 

 wort), 2 feet, double white ; S. japonica, 

 1 feet, white plumes ; S. camtschatica 

 (gigantea), 6 feet to 8 feet high, white, im- 

 mense feathery plumes, a lovely waterside 

 plant ; S. lobata (venusta) (Queen of the 

 Prairie), 3 feet to 4 feet, rose ; S. palmata 

 (Pink Meadow Sweet), 1 feet to 2 feet, rosy- 

 crimson ; S. Ulmaria (Common Meadow 

 Sweet), 2 feet to 3 feet, charming by the 

 waterside ; the double variety, flore pleno, 

 is a fine plant for north borders. 



Statice (Sea Lavender). Perhaps the 

 chief purpose for which these attractive plants 

 are grown is to supply cut flowers to arrange 

 with others that lack grace and elegance. 

 In a cut state the Sea Lavenders have a two- 

 fold value, for in a dried state they are useful 

 for winter decoration, while the light, grace- 

 ful flower panicles last a long time on the 

 plants in full beauty. The plants prefer a 

 sunny position and light sandy soil. Seeds 

 sown in a cold frame from April to June, or 

 on a border outside, form the best means of 

 propagating Sea Lavenders, though division 

 of roots in autumn or spring may also be 

 practised. Plant in autumn or spring. The 

 best are S. Gmeliiii, 1J feet high, purple- 

 violet ; S. incana (S. tatarica), 1 foot, ruby j 

 red ; S. latifolia, 2 feet to 2| feet (the Great 

 Sea Lavender), the best for border decoration, 

 forming cloudy masses of small lavender blue 

 flowers; S. Limonium, 1J feet- to 2 feet, 

 purple-blue. There is also a hybrid strain, 

 the best of which have been named Beauty, 

 Lavender, Lilac Queen, etc., while the re- 

 mainder are sold as mixed hybrids. Statices 

 flower from June to September. 



Thalictrum (Meadow Rue). The 

 foliage of the Meadow Rues is almost as 

 attractive and ornamental as the blooms. 

 Thalictrums thrive in ordinary garden soil, 

 preferably in a position that is not hot and 

 dry ; partial shade is really best. They 

 are increased by seeds sown on a border 

 out of doors during April and May and by 



