Part II. ARMERIA—ARUM. 153 



inches high, each bearing a large, roundish, closely packed head 

 of handsome satiny deep rose-coloured flowers. It is one of the 

 finest and most distinct perennials in cultivation, and should be 

 in every select mixed border, and on every rockwork among the 

 taller and stronger plants. It comes from North Africa and 

 Southern Europe, and, though hardy on free and well-drained 

 soils, occasionally perishes during a very severe winter, espe- 

 cially on cold soils ; it should therefore be placed in a warm 

 position on rockwork, and in very well-drained, deep, and good 

 sandy loam. It is known under various names — Armeriafor- 

 mosa, A. latifolia, A. mauritanica, A. pseudo-armeria, Statice 

 lusitanica, and Statice pseudo-arnieria. It is, fortunately, easily 

 raised from seed ; and, as it is not easily increased by division, 

 it is a good plan to sow a little of it every year. Varies a little 

 when raised from seed ; but all the forms I have seen are worthy 

 of cultivation. 



ARMEEIA VULGARIS.— Co»2»Z(?« Thrift. 



This inhabitant of our sea-shores, and also of the tops of the 

 Scotch mountains and the Alps of Europe, is very pretty with its 

 soft lilac or white flowers springing from dense cushions of grass- 

 like leaves ; but it is the deep rosy form of it, which is rarely seen 

 wild, that deserves universal cultivation in gardens. It is like 

 the common Thrift in all respects but the colour of the flowers, 

 which are of a deep and showy rose, and produced like those 

 of the common form, in profusion. It is useful for the spring 

 garden, for covering bare banks or borders in shrubberies, for 

 making most attractive edgings, and for the rockwork. Easily 

 propagated by division, and, as old and large plants do not 

 bloom so long or so continuously as younger ones, occasional 

 division (say every two or three years) and replanting are de- 

 sirable. 



ABUM 1TAIA0X5M..— Italian Cuckoo Pint. 



A HANDSOME hardy plant, with shining green leaves, decidedly 

 veined, and sometimes spotted, with white, which, beginning to 

 push up in October when other plants are going to rest, are in 

 perfection in mid-winter and early spring. When these die 

 down in early summer, the attractions of the plant are not gone, 

 for the brilliant scarlet fruits, packed in oblong masses at the 



