A YEAR'S GARDENING 



orange-red bladder-like pods on erect stems, which, when cut and 

 dried, make a highly decorative display in vases and last a long time. 

 Another, and perhaps better variety, is P. Francheti (the Chinese 

 Lantern), of much larger growth and bearing fruit-pods of briQiant 

 coral-red; while for a third variety we have P. edulis (the Cape 

 Gooseberry), which, however, is not hardy and should be treated as 

 a greenhouse plant. All may be grown from seed, and the two first 

 named may be sown in the open in spring. 



PHYSOSTEGIA. A family of hardy perennials useful for 

 summer flowering and thriving in any ordinary soU. P. virginiana 

 is a good variety, growing about 2 feet high and bearing fine spikes 

 of purple flowers, while the form called sfieciosa has larger and deeper- 

 coloured flowers. Both may be increased by division. 



PHYTEUMA {Rampion). Many of these plants will be found 

 useful for the Rock Garden. P. Sieberi, for instance, is a pretty little 

 plant forming low tufts on which it bears stems of 4 or 5 inches 

 long terminating in flowers of dark blue. It should have a sunny 

 position and needs a moist soil. P. Jmmile is also good, but it needs 

 a sheltered position, being resentful of cold moisture, though it 

 enjoys plenty of water in summer. Its blue flowers are borne on 

 rather longer stems than those of P. Sieberi. Another variety often 

 recommended is P- comosa, but it is very slow in growth. It has 

 heads of purple flowers closely set on hoUy-like leaves, and thrives 

 best in a cleft where it can root deeply. It is best raised from seed; 

 the other two by division. 



PINK. See Dianthus. 



PLATYCODON. There are several varieties of this plant which 

 are inclined to be troublesome in culture, but the dwarf variety, 

 P. Mariesi (the Chinese Bellflower), maybe treated as a hardy per- 

 ennial. Its flowers may be either blue or white, and its dwarf habit 

 prevents its beautiful fohage from breaking away as in the larger 

 varieties. It may be raised from seed. 



PLATYSTEMON. A species of Poppy, of which P. californicus, 

 a hardy annual, is a useful variety, producing charming tufts of 

 delicate foliage thickly studded with lemon-coloured flowers. It 

 thrives in ordinary soil and should be sown in patches, where it is in- 

 tended to bloom, and well thinned out. It will not bear transplanting, 



PLUMBAGO. A graceful perennial, of which the two varieties, 

 P. capensis and P. LarpentcB, are of value for the greenhouse and 



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