DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 391 
down gently and cover half an inch deep with rich, light 
mould; if dry weather follows, water moderately, and 
the layers will soon take root. The plants thrive best in 
well manured loam, in a shady situation, and preserve 
their flowers longer; though they will grow and flower 
abundantly in almost any situation. A Pansy, to be per- 
fect, should stand up well above the foliage; the petals 
should be flat without any curl or wrinkle, the edges 
without notch or serrature; the upper, lower, and middle 
petals so arranged, as to form as near as possible a perfect 
circle or oval. 
WHITLAVIA. 
[Named in honor of F. Whitlaw, an Irish botanist.) 
Whitlavia grandiflo6ra.—An elegant annual from Cali- 
fornia, with blue, bell-shaped flowers. It produces its 
flowers in continued succession, from June to October. 
In habit the plant resembles the Phacelias, but the flow- 
ers are more like the Campanula ; of a very rich dark- 
blue. In heavy, wet soils, this plant does not succeed 
well, but flourishes in light, sandy loam, There is a va- 
riety with white flowers. 
XERANTHEMUM. 
[Name from Greek words signifying dry and a flower, on account of the dry 
nature of the flowers, which retain their color and form for many years.} 
Xeranthemum 4nnuum.— Purple Everlasting,—and a 
variety with white flowers, are popular border annuals, 
of easy culture in light, rich soil. Like the Helichrysums, 
they are valued for their properties of retaining their col- 
ors and form, when gathered and dried, and are much 
prized in forming winter bouquets for vases, etc, 
