BIENmALS. 



247 



the border." The drier the weather and the more burning the sun, the 

 finer the plants and the more brilliant the flowers. It is a plant much 

 grown in the hot sun of Italy, but very little in this country ; but 

 wherever a dry, gravelly, sun-baked border exists, there the Portulaca 

 should be planted. 



" Full gay was all the ground and queint, 

 And poudred, as men had it paint, 

 With many a fresh and sundry flour. 

 That casten up full good savour." — Chaucer. 



BIENNIALS. 



There are many plants which are grown one year, and form their 

 flowers the second. These are called Biennials, and, like annuals, 

 each plant should stand alone, and have sufficient room around it to 

 develop its beauties. 



Of biennials, some of the large varieties of Stocks are splendid. 

 At Cheltenham I have been surprised at their majestic appearance 

 but. with me the plants have invariably died during the winter. 



For a summer flower, growing in shady places, the Foxglove 



{Digitalis purpurea, fig. 499) stands unrivalled. It 



is a native of this country ; and a single plant, as it 



grows in the lanes of Devon- 

 shire, attains to a height of six 



feet, and has numerous side 



stems, each having its group 



of flowers. The natural flower 



is exquisitely beautiful, but 



there are florists' varieties which 



are highly commendable. I use 



the foxglove in quantities to 

 adorn the shady parts of my ferneries, and those parts of my garden 

 where the general flower garden merges into the ferneries and alpineries 

 By sowing seed in spring, strong flowering plants are obtained for the 

 next year. This plant grows in Epping Forest, and in most woods. 



Fig. 500. — Mimulus. 



Fig. 499. — Foxglove. 



