S34 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENING. 



Pilularia globulifera (Pillwort, Pepper-gi-ass).— An 

 interesting plant, though more from a botanical than 

 a horticultural point of view. It has slender creep- 

 ing stems, which grow closely together and produce 

 erect needle-like leaves, two or three inches long. 

 The capsules are produced in the axils of the leaves, 

 and are in the form of small pills— hence the name. 

 There is no difficulty in growing it ; but there are 

 one or two essential conditions. We grow it in pans 

 of peat soil, which stand fully exposed in summer, 

 and in winter are placed in a frame. The pans are 

 about one foot across, and about five inches deep, 

 and stand in saucers of water during the season of 

 growth. Ee-planting is done every spring, the old 

 specimens are broken up and smaU tufts are planted 

 two or three inches apart. The points to be con- 

 sidered important are peat soU, sufficient moisture, 

 and re-planting. Native of Europe (Britain) north 

 of the Alps. Marsiliaeea. 



Finguicula (Butterwort).— These are very charm- 

 ing and pretty plants, which req^uire well-di-ained 

 but wet peaty soil, which being artificially prepared 

 may be mixed with grit and pieces of sandstone. 

 They flourish best on slopes sustained by stones, 

 where the right degree of moisture can be secured 

 with this condition. Slight shade assists a fine 

 development. The finest of the hardy kinds, and 

 perhaps the most easUy cultivated, is the Great 

 Irish Butterwort, P. grandiflora, found in Kerry 

 and Cork, and plentifully in a bog near Penzance, 

 where it has been introduced. It forms rosettes 

 of glistening bright green fleshy leaves, ovate- 

 oblong in shape ; the flowers are of great beauty, 

 an inch across, of violet-blue colour. It ranks 

 properly, no doubt, as a sub-species of P. imlgaria, 

 from which it is easily distinguished by the much 

 larger flowers, and by the overlapping of the broad 

 lobes of the lower lip. P. mtlgarie is the most 

 familiar and the most common. It grows easily, 

 and has very pretty violet flowers, the. lower lobes of 

 which do not overlap. P. alpina and P. lusitaniea 

 are smaller kinds, interesting, biit less showy. 

 P. alpina, found in Skye and Eoss-shire, has white 

 flowers, with yellow throat. P. lusitaniea, a still 

 smaller plant, has Hlac flowers, with yellow throat, 

 and is found in the South-west of England, "West 

 • Scotland, and Ireland. Its leaves are marked with pur- 

 ple veins. This is sometimes found grovring in loam, 

 and probably all the kinds will grow well in it, it 

 water passes through freely. For P. grandiflora loam 

 has been recommended. All these may be grown in 

 pots. They are propagated by buds, which naturally 

 separate from the original crowns. The Mexican 

 P. caudata may be grown from the leaves, and other 

 kinds wiU perhaps do so. It should be tried out of 

 doors, but it is probably not hardy. Zmtibulariacem. 



Frimula.-Seyeral species are exceUent for moist 

 places in the bog garden. P. Jc^po'nca vnR grow 

 splendidly if planted a few inches above the level 

 of the water, so that the roots are withm easy reach 

 of it. If the crowns are close to the water they 

 ..eneraUy perish in winter. Some of the kin^ 

 which do best in constantly moist giound are P. 

 Munroi, P. dmticulata and its varieties, P. fannosa, 

 P. seotica, and P. rosea-one of the most charming 



of all. ^ • ^ 



Sainolus littoralis.—A desirable plant for moist 

 spots ; it has pretty trailing stems, with small ever- 

 green leaves, and pink blossoms in summer. It 

 appears to prefer peaty soU, and is easily divided or 

 increased by cuttings. .Its dwarf habit and pretty 

 growth render it suitable for clothing the ground 

 between large-growing bog plants, ^'ative of New 

 Zealand. S. Valeramli is an unattractive British 

 weed. Flowers in August. Frimulacea. 



Sarracenia purpurea (Huntsman's Cup, Side-saddle 

 j^ower). — This is a, hardy representative of a genus 

 always singular and generally handsome ; it is one 

 of the most ornamental, and grows in tufts of 

 several short stems, each with several leaves, which 

 are pitcher-shaped, spreading out, but curved up- 

 wards, and belUed on the outer side, with an erect 

 lid or blade, the pitcher being formed of the petiole. 

 They are green in shade, but of a duU red colour 

 when exposed to the sun. The flowers are curious 

 and handsome ; they are produced singly on the tall 

 steins, which turn at the top and invert the flower ; 

 the petals are red and drooping, and the style is 

 dilated into a wonderful umbreUa-like expansion, 

 from which the early English settlers in America 

 termed it the Side-saddle Flower. This plant is not 

 difficult to cultivate. It requires moist peaty soil, 

 with Sphagnum, and if the Sphagnum grows the 

 Sarracenia is not likely to fail. Good drainage is 

 essential, but constant moisture not less so. It 

 should have a sunny but sheltered position. It 

 grows in the Central and Northern United States, 

 where, M. Eoezl says, " It spreads among the Sphag- 

 num and finds in the damp moss everything 

 necessary for its existence." Good specimens have 

 been grown on an ordinary border protected by a 

 hand-light and properly watered. Seeds sown on 

 Sphagnum, if good, grow readily, and .tufts may 

 be divided, but imported plants are generally cheap. 

 Sarracenia flava is the next hardiest kind, and 

 splendid pitchers, equal to any but those of the 

 highest culture, have been grown out of doors. It 

 does not appear to be safe in the open air, but it is 

 worth trying, and good success may be obtained for 

 a season at least. In Louisiana it sustains 10° of 

 frost, F., but in summer the temperature rises to 

 100° F. M. Eoezl, the well-known collector, found 



