HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 129 
Milk Vetch, Astragalus.—An enormously numerous family of 
beautiful hardy plants, represented to but a very slight extent in our 
gardens, though hundreds of them are hardy, and many of them among 
the most pleasing of the many Pea flowers which adorn the hills and 
mountains of the northern world in Asia, Europe, and America. They 
are mostly suited for rocky or gravelly situations, or bare banks, though 
some of the taller species, like A. galegiformis, are stout enough to take 
care of themselves among the larger perennials. This plant is valuable 
for its handsome port and foliage, though its flowering qualities are not 
such as recommend it for the garden proper. The numerous species 
from the Mediterranean shores and islands could be successfully intro- 
duced on banks and slopes in our chalk districts and in rocky places. 
A. ponticus, a tall kind, and A. monspessulanus, a dwarf one, are both 
worth growing. 
Masterwort, Astrantia.—This is an elegant genus, of which few 
species are known, five being European—found in Italy, Carinthia, 
Greece, and the centre of Europe—others from Northern Asia. They 
are among the few umbellates with attractive and distinct flowers, and 
yet they are rarely seen in gardens. In the wild garden they are quite 
at home among the Grass and medium-sized herbaceous plants, and 
partial shade prolongs their quaint beauty. In fact they are far more at 
home in the thin wood or copse than in the open exposed mixed border. 
Blue Rock Cress, Aubrietia—Dwarf Alpine plants, with purp- 
lish flowers, quite distinct in aspect and hue from anything else grown 
in our gardens, and never perishing from any cause, except being over- 
run by coarser subjects. They are admirable for association with the 
Alyssums and Arabises in any position where the vegetation is very 
dwarf, or in rocky bare places. There are several species and varieties, 
all almost equally suitable, but not differing much in aspect or stature 
from each other. The Aubrietias come chiefly from the mountains of 
Greece, Asia Minor, and neighbouring countries. Wherever there is 
an old wall, or a sunk fence, or a bare bank, evergreen curtains may 
be formed of these plants, and in spring they will be sheeted with 
purple flowers, no matter how harsh the weather. 
Great Birthwort, Aristolochiw Sipho—A noble plant for cover- 
ing arbours, banks, stumps of old trees, etc., also wigwam-like bowers, 
formed with branches of trees. It is American, and will grow as high 
as thirty feet, A. tomentosa is distinct and not so large in leaf. These 
will scarcely be grown for their flowers ; but for covering stumps or 
trees they are valuable, and afford a distinct type of foliage. 
K 
