Feros with Ornamental Foliage. 611 
The first group of hardy perennial herbs demanding our 
attention is composed of what wc may term florist’s flowers, or 
those genera and species that have varied naturally or through 
artificial manipulation, and whose varieties are in almost uni- 
versal cultivation. It is true that many of these are inferior 
in point of beauty to some species of more recent cultivation 
in gardens. And it is highly probable that many species of 
which we now possess only a single variety, may in a few years 
be represented by as numerous and variable a progeny as some 
of the older inhabitants of our gardens. What has recently 
been effected by intercrossing different species and varieties of 
Clematis may serve as an illustration of what might be done 
in this direction. The following genera include most of those 
garden plants belonging to the foregoing category. Anemone,! 
Ranunculus,! Peonia, Aquilegia, Columbine, Delphinium (Lark- 
spur), Dianthus, Pink, Carnation, Sweet William,? Viola, Hearts- 
ease, Violet, Althea (Hollyhock),? Pyrethrum, Chrysanthemum, 
Campanula, Primula, (Polyanthus, Primrose, Oxlip), Phlox, 
Pentstemon, Antirrhinum, Mimulus; and Lilium, Hyacinthus, 
Tulipa, Crocus, Gladiolus, Fritillaria, Narcissus and Iris—with 
bulbous roots. Several tender herbaceous perennials are grown 
for the summer decoration of the flower garden; as Dahlia, 
Verbena, Petunia, Calceolaria, Lobelia, Veronica, Pelargonium, 
ete., for their flowers; and Coleus, Canna, Amaranthus, Mesem- 
bryanthemum, Perilla, Iresine, etc., for their foliage. 
Herbaceous Plants with Ornamental Foliage.—The taste for 
plants coming under this designation may be said to be of 
comparatively recent origin, or at least we may affirm that it is 
only within the last few years that it has been developed and 
become general. This group includes tall-growing herbs with 
bold or graceful foliage, suitable for single specimens or clumps, 
or for planting at the back of mixed borders ; herbs of inter- 
mediate size with variegated or otherwise ornamental foliage ; 
and dwarf or trailing herbs with green or coloured foliage 
suitable for edging beds or borders or covering rockwork. Those 
hardy herbs of large stature desirable either for their noble habit 
or the amplitude or eleganee of their foliage belong chiefly to. 
the following families: Papaveraceee, Haloragese, Umbellifere, 
Composite, Polygonacez, Cannabinacex, Liliaceew, Graminex, 
1 Tuberous-rocted. ? Usually treated as biennials. 
Rr 
