332 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 229. 



most splendid displays I have seen have been in light, sandy 

 soil, almost sea-shore sand, in full exposure to the ocean, the 

 plants appearing to relish the salt spray. 



Kew. f , L, 



Hardy Herbaceous Plants. 



THE theory that the colors of the flowers of certain genera 

 were limited received a severe blow when the scarlet 

 Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule) was discovered in California 

 some years ago ; and still later when the yellow D. Zalil, from 

 central Asia, produced quite a sensation. The latter species, 

 however, is only an annual, or biennial at best, and is likely to 

 be superseded by the newer D. Przewalksyanum, which is a true 

 perennial, and perfectly hardy, having stood the winter here 

 unprotected. The leaves are orbicular-peltate, handsome. 

 The spike is branched, about five feet high. The flowers are 

 small, but abundant, sulphur-yellow, with short, scarcely 

 spreading sepals lined with black hairs, and anthers black. 

 The spur is long, straight and abruptly pointed. This species 

 comes from central Asia, a region which, as yet, has been very 

 little explored. For nearly all recent introductions we are in- 

 debted to the late Dr. Regel, to whose kindness and generosity 

 a large army of correspondents can testify. 



Cimicifuga racemosa is a strikingly bold and handsome bor- 

 der-plant, a native of the United States. It would make an 

 elegant lawn specimen, fit to rank with Eulalias and other tall 

 grasses for this purpose. The leaves are broadly triternate, 

 with serrated margins like those of Astilbe Japonica, but 

 with a spread of a foot or more. The compound spike is 

 clothed for eighteen inches of its length with small, white, 

 saucer-shaped flowers, which last a long time in good condi- 

 tion. The flower-stalks stand fully three feet clear of the 

 foliage, stiff, erect, and without the least need of a stake. When 

 out of bloom it is never unsightly. It may be raised from seed, 

 which, however, needs more than a year to germinate, or by 

 division, but it is very slow to establish itself. The specimens 

 to which I have reference have required three years to attain 

 the perfection of the original plant before it was divided. 



Of the many border Catchfly-plants the scarlet Lychnis Chal- 

 cedonica excels them all for general usefulness. The bright- 

 ness of its flowers attracts the eye from a considerable distance. 

 It is very hardy, and is more or less in bloom from June until 

 frost. The flower-heads resemble those of the common Sweet 

 William, and the plant is just as easily raised from seed, and 

 will bloom the first season if sown early. There is a double 

 variety, also in bloom, but it is not nearly so robust as the sin- 

 gle form. 



Bocconia cordata is a well-known border plant, although 

 somewhat despised, on account of the rapidity with which it 

 spreads, crowding out almost everything but the coarser Sun- 

 flowers ; and, from the fact that when once established 

 it is hard to get rid of. When properly used it is an ef- 

 fective plant, and here we find it very serviceable with tall 

 Sunflowers, Silphiums and New England Asters, as a screen 

 for a by-path leading to the house. It is a native of China, 

 and belongs to the Poppy family. The leaves are heart- 

 shaped, with deep round clefts, glaucous green on the upper 

 surface, and almost white beneath, which makes a very pretty 

 effect when there is breeze enough to turn them over. Small 

 white flowers terminate the stems, arrayed in a plume-like 

 panicle. It is easily propagated by cuttings from the axils 

 of the leaves or by division of the roots. 



Campanula latifolia, var. macrantha, as it now appears with 

 large pendent bells of blue, reminds me of the large plants of 

 this species at the old Botanic Gardens, at H uU, England. Not all 

 Campanulas are vigorous enough to endure our winters well. 

 Many live through, but scarcely recover sufficiently to make 

 any progress during the succeeding summer. At Hull there 

 were large old specimens seven feet high, the clumps at the 

 base measuring two or more feet across. C. Van Houttei, a 

 very handsome garden hybrid, lives along and blooms spar- 

 ingly, but never does justice to its reputation. InC. Pallasii,now 

 in bloom for the first time here, we have a plant of promise, 

 since every specimen came up after the winter with increased 

 vigor. The leaves are ovate-cordate, with sinuated margins. 

 The plants grow from two to three feet high, and make nice 

 bushy, self-supporting specimens. The flowers are about 

 two inches long by nearly one inch in diameter, violet-purple 

 and pendulous; it is easily raised from seed. The variety Speciosa 

 of C. glomerata is a most satisfactory plant, being thoroughly 

 hardy. It grows about two feet high, bearing terminal and 

 axillary heads of bright blue flowers, and lasts in bloom from 

 June to September. 



Astragalus IMonspessulanus has been in bloom for a month, 

 and is the most ornamental of all the alpine Milk Vetches in 



'cultivation. The stem is very short, with prostrate branches. 

 It seldom grows more than nine inches high, and is covered 

 from spring until autumn with handsome, hairy pinnate 

 leaves. The flowers appear in dense prostrate racemes, red- 

 dish purple, changing to violet, and continue two or three 

 months in bloom. It is a native of south Europe, and is best 

 raised from seed. 



The hoary-leaved Veronica incana makes an excellent rock- 

 plant, and is attractive in or out of bloom. It is often effect- 

 ively used in border-lines for the front rank. Flowers blue, in 

 short spikes. 



Geranium sanguineum cannot be too much recommended 

 to all those who love a plant which " blooms all the time." 

 From June until September this is bright with its salver- 

 shaped, rosy violet flowers, and combined with abundant 

 neatly orbicular-peltate leaves, it never looks untidy. 



That giant among the Heron-bills, Erodium Manescavi, 

 succeeds well here, and is another of those plants which are 

 more or less in bloom the whole summer long. The stems 

 are short or prostrate. The flowers are rose with deeper 

 shades, and are produced rather stragglingly, but its handsome, 

 hairy, fern-like leaves, often a foot in length, alone would 

 commend it. E. macradenum is a more modest little spe- 

 cies, having short stems clothed with elegantly divided foli- 

 age. The flowers are white with purple veins, and not unlike 

 those of a small fancy Pelargonium. It is a native of the 

 Pyrenees, and may be increased either by seeds or cuttings. 



Helianthemum vulgare, the true Rock Rose, with several 

 other species, mostly European, has given us some beautiful 

 hybrids, ranging in color from white through all shades of red 

 and yellow. They are low shrubs, and are more or less in 

 bloom the whole season. 



QSnothera Missouriensis bears surprisingly large flowers for a 

 plant so modest in appearance, compared with many other 

 members of this genus. Neither are its flowers so partial to 

 shade as those of many of its relations commonly known as 

 Evening Primroses, since their flowers open only in the even- 

 ing. It is altogether a desirable plant, and is most effectively 

 placed where its trailing stems can hang over some rocks. 



A few seeds of a much improved form of Dianthus armula- 

 tus were sent me last year. Although this is one of the parents 

 of the beautiful border Pinks, the type in a wild state gives sur- 

 prisingly small flowers. These improved varieties, now in 

 bloom, are, however, large and handsome, mostly of soft pink 

 shades, but all have the darker ring formed by a blotch at the 

 base of each petal-limb. 



Welleslev, Mass. T. D. H. 



The Water Garden. 



TVTYMPH/EA Marliacea albida is a hybrid Water-lily now 

 ■'■ ' bearing flowers which seem to be of the first-class in size 

 and beauty. The petals are narrow and more numerous than 

 those of N. alba candidissima, and they are of a translucent 

 silvery white instead of opaque, as in that variety. The 

 flowers are fragrant and freely produced, and altogether very 

 distinct. 



N. Marliacea carnea is the lightest colored of pink iPond 

 Lilies. The flesh tint is of the clearest and most delicate 

 shade. Nothing could be more exquisite than a half-opened 

 cup-shaped flower in which the charming color is concentrated 

 and relieved by the goldenpetals. The form is that of N. alba. 

 When the flower is fully open the shade is of the faintest. 



N. odorata Carolinensis is a very large full flower of the 

 N. odorata type, with a suffusion of pink. My flowers 

 of this plant have as yet failed to give the full coloring of those 

 grown by Dr. H. T. Bahnson, with whom it originated, and, I 

 presume, some difference of soil in which it is planted may 

 be the cause of this. 



N. gigantea is an Australian species now in flower. This 

 is a tropical Nymphsea, and not to be confused with N. odor- 

 ata gigantea, under which name a large-flowering form of our 

 native Pond Lily is being offered. N. gigantea is probably one 

 of the handsomest of Nymphseas, the color being a satiny-blue 

 shading to white, with yellow silk-like stamens. The flower is 

 carried above the water on a stiff stalk, and is about the size of 

 those of N. Zanzibarensis. The leaves are dentate, green above, 

 and bright purple beneath. From its Antipodean origin this ; • 

 plant would naturally flower in the winter, and it seems a JJ 

 difficult one to start, as it needs warmth. It is said to be im- ■ ' 

 patient of root-disturbance. My tubers started up several times, 

 and for no visible reason as often dropped their leaves. It 

 may be well to say that for the opportunity of flowering this 

 I am indebted to a friend, several hundred miles away, who 

 sent me a strong plant already established. I mention this to 



