368 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ November S, 1864. 



creased by slips like Sage, each slip having an inch or two 

 of the root-stem attached. It makes a splendid row or 

 ribbon all through the summer, and it flowers so well from 

 June to September as to be valuable for bedding purposes ; 

 but being in every cottage garden, and as hardy as the 

 Nettle, no one cares about it. 



Asperula odorata (Woodroof), a common plant of our 

 woods, flowering in May and onwards, is a fine thing as 

 everybody knows. It grows about 9 inches high, has white 

 sweet-scented flowers, likes a sandy soil, and is increased by 

 division. A. taurina, from Italy, is a suitable companion to 

 the English Woodroof, and a very pretty plant. It is in- 

 creased by division. 



Dodecatheon meadia albiflorum is a very pretty American 

 Cowslip, growing freely in loam, attaining the height of a 

 foot, and increased by division. 



What is handsomer than our Cloudberry (Eubus charnse- 

 morus), so dwarf and altogether lovely ? It grows freely 

 from suckers in loam, and better still if a little peat be added. 

 E. saxatilis, too, is no mean ornament, but its blooming- is a 

 little too late, not being general till June, otherwise it is a 

 dwarf trailer with few rivals. 



Again, there is the lovely Cochlearia integrifolia, fenes- 

 trata, pyrenaica, officinalis minor, and its sub-variety 

 rotundifolia, all white-flowered biennials, growing 3 or 4 

 inches high, and all alike fine. 



Cardamine pratensis flore pleno, which has dirty-white 

 flowers, just comes to mind as being suitable for those who 

 may strive to find an excuse for the emptiness of their 

 flower-beds on account of the wetness of the soil. This is 

 the plant for such. C. bellidifolia will suit places at a high 

 elevation, like Ben Nevis on the other side of the Tweed, 

 whilst those situated on low ground will find C. trifolia 

 useful. Division. 



The Hutchinsia calycina and H. alpina are nice things, 

 the former a mere pigmy of about 2 inches, fond of sandy 

 peat soil; and the other 4 inches high, and growing any- 

 where in common soil ; both are increased by division. 



Glaus: maritima alba is a pretty trailer, growing freely 

 in sandy soil, and attaining a height of 3 or 4 inches. It is 

 best raised from seed, and is also increased by division. 



Androsace villosa, with dirty-white flowers, and A. chamse- 

 jasme, dirtier still, are nevertheless very pretty ; but though 

 occasionally flowering early, are not to be depended on. 

 Sandy peat is the best soil for them. Increased by division. 

 Jefi'ersonia diphylla is a pretty plant, doing well in sandy 

 loam. It is increased by division. 



Corema alba, an under-shrub about a foot high, is, beyond 

 ■dispute, fine ; though its flowers are not of the gayest, yet 

 it is handsome, and has white berries afterwards. Eequires 

 sandy peat, and is increased by layers. 



Prunella vulgaris alba, a native plant, is curious, rather 

 precarious as to time of blooming, but as it does occasionally 

 bloom early we must have it, and divide the roots to obtain 

 : a stock. 



Cornus suecica, from the Scotch and Swedish hills, we 

 must also lay hands on, and grow in bog soil, dividing the 

 roots for stock. 



Violas asarifolia, humilis (a little Mexican, only hardy in 

 sheltered situations), odorata alba, odorata alba plena (once 

 common enough, but now scarce), canadensis, bicolor, at- 

 tenuata, and the white Dog Violet (V. eanina alba), are all 

 white Violets more without than with scent ; they are all 

 increased by division. 



Pulmonaria officinalis alba is really ornamental, and grows 

 anywhere. It is about a foot high, and is propagated by 

 dividing the roots. 



Schivereckia podolica is all but an Alyssum, and fine. It 

 should be grown in light soil, and will do better in peat. 

 Division. 



Silene patula and some others, flower pretty early occa- 

 sionally, but generally not before June. 



Cerastiums tomentosum, alpinum, lanatum (will make its 

 way into a ribbon ere long), latifolium, grandirlorum, Bie- 

 bersteini, and glaciale, the first and the last but one well- 

 known ribbon plants, to which others may be added as rivals, 

 especially C. grandiflorum. Division. 



Besides Cerastiums we must have others on account of their 

 foliage: — Funkia Sieboldi variegata, Fragaria vesca varie- 

 gata, and Tinea major variegata, and to these may be added 



more flowering plants, as Saxifraga nivalis, pyrarnidalis, in- 

 termedia, longifolia, longifolia media, polita, tridentata, affi- 

 nis, petraea, elongella, hypnoides and its varieties pulchella, 

 viscosa, muscosa, and angustifolia, and last of all Stachys 

 lanata. 



2ND.— -B1TXE SPEING--FLOWEKING PLANTS. 



Hepatica triloba ccerulea and its variety plena (single and 

 double blue Hepaticas), are amongst the earliest and hand- 

 somest, and why not grow H. angulosa, acutiloba, and ame- 

 ricana? They are fine, but little different in appearance, 

 I mean in flowers, from the commonly cultivated varieties. 

 Division. 



Aubrietias deltoidea, purpurea, and A. deltoidea grandi- 

 flora not only flower profusely in spring, but are in fine 

 bloom now (October 24th), and will continue so throughout 

 the winter. Divided in spring like Arabis, and grown in 

 nursery-beds, they make fine plants by autumn. 



Aster alpinus purpureus is a pretty dwarf species attain- 

 ing a height of 9 inches. It likes light soil with leaf mould 

 or peat. Division. 



Campanula excisa and gracilis, are fine, and are increased 

 by division. 



Borago orientalis, laxifiora, and cretiea, are fine free- 

 blooming plants, the first attaining a height of from 18 inches 

 to 2 feet, and the last two about a foot. They do best in 

 sandy loam. The first is increased by division, and the 

 last two by cuttings. 



Ajuga reptans ccerulea, and the variegated form of A. rep- 

 tans, are nice, not growing more than 6 inches high. Division. 



Omphalodes verna is an elegant plant, not above 6 inches 

 high, and makes a nice bed. It likes a light soil, and is in- 

 creased by division. 



Glechoma hederacea, a weed in almost every hedge, has 

 lovely blue flowers in spring, and can be had in any quan- 

 tity for the trouble of collecting. It is propagated by divid- 

 ing the roots, or putting in cuttings of the rooted stems. 



Geranium pratense, an elegant weed in many meadows, 

 and its double variety (G. pratense flore pleno) from the 

 Scotch mountains, would be eonsiderably enhanced in value 

 if they could only be induced to flower a little earlier ; as it 

 is they are useful. A stock is obtained by dividing the 

 roots. 



Globularia vulgaris, and linifolia, are pretty plants, grow- 

 ing about 6 inches high, the former propagated by division, 

 and the other by cuttings. 



Soldanella alpina, montana, and crenata. Very pretty 

 plants, forming fine beds. They must have extra drainage 

 and free soil, with a little leaf mould or peat. Division. 



Polemonium reptans makes a nice bed, and will grow 

 anywhere. Division. Height about 6 inches. 



Lithospermum prostratum is a pretty trailing plant, at- 

 taining a height of about 1 foot. Propagated by cuttings. 



Anehusa stylosa, myosotidiflora, growing about a foot high, 

 and A. paniculata, a tall species, are fine Borage-like plants. 

 The last is raised from cuttings ; stylosa, though an annual, 

 should be treated as a late-sown biennial, and be sown in 

 autumn ; the Forget -nie-not-like species (A. myosotidiflora) 

 is increased by division. 



Above all, we must have Gentiana verna, acaulis, and its 

 narrow-leaved variety (angustifolia) ; G. pumila, pyrenaica, 

 brachyphylla, humilis, from the Caucasus, though it is an 

 annual, and must be sown every year in September, and 

 then add G. altaiea, a taller species by three-fourths than 

 any of the others. We may obtain them in any quantity by 

 dividing the roots. Well drained soil and leaf mould or peat 

 are essential. 



Sisyrinchium c randifloruni is a pretty thing, requiring 

 light soil, and is increased by division. 



Pulmonaria azurea is well worthy of cultivation. P. mollis, 

 and P. angustifolia, though native species, are fine ; and 

 P. paniculata, and virginica, I have booked for a prominent 

 position. Division. 



Phyteuma pauciflorum (not so few-flowered as the name 

 implies), P. Halleri, and P. Sieberi, are pretty. They are in- 

 creased by division, and grow but a few inches high, except 

 P. Sieberi, which attains about 1 foot in height. 



Erinus alpinus forms a fine bed, not more than 3 or 

 4 inches high, and does all the better if grown in light, dry 

 soil. Division. 



Veronicas petercea, prostrata, aphylla, microphylla, de- 



