Herbs wit/i Ornamental Foliage. 6 1 1 



The first group of hardy perennial herbs demanding our 

 attention is composed of what we may term florist's flowers, or 

 those genera and species that have varied naturally or through 

 artificial manipulation, and whose varieties are in almost uni- 

 versal cultivation. It is true that many of these are inferior 

 in point of beauty to some species of more recent cultivation 

 in gardens. And it is highly probable that many species of 

 which we now possess only a single variety, may in a few years 

 be represented by as numerous and Variable a progeny as some 

 of the older inhabitants of our gardens. What has recently 

 been effected by intercrossing different species and varieties of 

 Clematis may serve as an illustration of what might be done 

 in this direction. The following genera include most of those 

 garden plants belonging to the foregoing category. Anemone, 1 

 Ranunculus, 1 Paeonia, Aquilegia, Columbine, Delphinium (Lark- 

 spur), Dianthus, Pink, Carnation, Sweet William,* Viola, Hearts- 

 ease, Violet, Althaea (Hollyhock), 2 Pyrethrum, Chrysanthemum, 

 Campanula, Primula, (Polyanthus, Primrose, Oxlip), Phlox, . 

 Pentstemon, Antirrhinum, Mimulus ; and Lilium, Hyacinthus, 

 Tulipa, Cro.cus, Gladiolus, Fritillaria, Narcissus and Iris with 

 bulbous roots. Several tender herbaceous perennials are grown 

 for the summer decoration of the flower garden ; as Dahlia, 

 Verbena, Petunia, Calceolaria, Lobelia, Veronica 1 , Pelargonium, 

 etc., for their flowers ; and Coleus, Canna, Amaranthus, Mesem- 

 bryanthemum, Perilla, Iresine, etc., for their foliage. 



Herbaceous Plants ivith Ornamental Foliage. The taste for 

 plants coming under this designation may be said to be of 

 comparatively recent origin, or at least we may affirm that it is 

 only within the last few years that it lias been developed and 

 become general. This group includes tall-growing herbs with 

 bold or graceful foliage, suitable for single specimens or clumps, 

 or for planting at the back of mixed borders ; herbs of inter- 

 mediate size with variegated or otherwise ornamental foliage ; 

 and dwarf or trailing herbs with green or coloured foliage 

 suitable for edging beds or borders or covering rockwork. Those 

 hardy herbs of large stature desirable either for their noble habit 

 or the amplitude or elegance of their foliage belong chiefly to 

 the following families : Papaveracese, Haloragea?, Umbelliferae, 

 Composites, Polygonacese, Cannabinacese, Liliacese, Graminese, 



1 Tuberous-rooted. a Usually treated as biennials. 



