236 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Nolanas are trailing plants with Convolvulus-like flowers 

 suitable for rockeries or mixed borders. N. atriplicifolia, has 

 blue, white, or yellow flowers ; it grows 6in. high, and flowers 

 in July. The seed should be sown in the open border in April, 

 and the plants well thinned out. 



Papaver (the Poppy genus) contains several annual species 

 which are valuable decorative border plants ; the flowers are 

 produced in great abundance, and are much prized for vase- 

 work. The seed should be sown in March or April, where the 

 plants are intended to flower. Papaver Hookeri is an orna- 

 mental bushy plant, 3ft. to 4ft high, 

 flowering in autumn. The flowers 

 vary in colour from pale rose to crim- 

 son, each petal having a white or 

 black spot at the base. P. RJiaas 

 (common Corn Poppy) has scarlet 

 flowers, which are produced in June. 

 It grows about ift. in height. Under 

 cultivation it has produced many 

 varieties with both single and double 

 flowers, amongst which is flore-pkno 

 (Fig. 127), with -double flowers. The 

 following garden" strains have also 

 originated from this species, viz. : 

 the Shirley Poppy, the Carnation- 

 flowered, and the Ranunculus- 

 flowered. Shirley Poppies, an ex- 

 ceedirigly popular race of single 

 Poppies, raised during recent years 

 by the Rev. W. Wilks, are all grace- 

 ful plants, yielding flowers of various 

 colours, embracing delicate shades of 

 rose, pink, and blush. By sowing 

 in spring and early summer for suc- 

 cession, they may be had in flower 

 from May to October. The seed is 

 very fine, and should, on this account, 

 be "sown quite thinly, and merely 

 sprinkled over with a little finely-sifted soil, afterwards thinning 

 out to 6in. apart. They grow about ift. in height. Carnation- 

 flowered, with large handsome double-fringed flowers, of various 

 brilliant colours ; grows about 2^ft. in height. Ranunculus- 

 flowered, or French Poppies, have fine double flowers, with 

 thin petals; flowers of various colours; height ift. Papaver 

 setigerum is a species with white or violet-coloured flowers, 

 growing from ift. to 2ft. high, and flowering in July. It is 

 very like the Opium Poppy, but differs in having the teeth 

 of the leaves ending in stiff bristles, and in the stem, as 



Fig. 127. — Papaver Rhceas 

 flore-pleno. 



