CHBIEANTHUS 



WALLFLOWER OBDEB 



AEABIS 205 



C. mutabilis. — A tender shrubby 

 species 2-3 ft. high, native of Madeira. 

 Leaves somewhat downy, linear lanoe- 

 shaped, finely toothed. Flowers appear 

 in early spring, cream-coloured at first, 

 becoming purple or striped with age. 



Culture lie. the same as 0. asper 

 above. 



C. scoparius. — A half-hardy shrubby 

 species from Teneriffe, 2-3 ft. high, linear 

 lance-shaped entire and somewhat downy 

 pointed leaves. The flowers appear in 

 May, at first white, changing to purple. 



Culture Sc. the same as for C. asper 

 above. 



C. semperflorens. — A half - hardy 

 shrubby plant 1-2 ft. high, from Morocco. 

 The entire roughish leaves are linear 

 lance-shaped and the yellow and white 

 flowers appear at various seasons. 



Culture and Propagation. — The per- 

 ennial Wallflowers must be kept dry in 

 winter and in sheltered places. They 

 may be increased from cuttings taken 

 in August or September, and during those 

 months inserted in a shady place or in 

 boxes of sandy soU. Also by seeds as for 

 C. asper. 



BARBAREA (Winter or American 

 Cress). — A genus consisting of about 20 

 species of smooth, fibrous-rooted biennials 

 or perennials, with angled stems. Flowers 

 yellow on erect terminal racemes, some- 

 times with bracts. 



Culture ajnd Propagation. — These 

 plants grow in any soil, and are readily 

 increased by cuttings, suckers, seeds, or 

 division of the roots. The variety men- 

 tioned below having double flowers rarely 

 or never produces seeds. It must there- 

 fore be increased by dividing the roots in 

 early autumn or in spring, or by inserting 

 cuttings of the side and basal shoots in 

 sandy soil in a cold frame, or a shady 

 border in the summer. 



B. vulgaris flore piano [Double Yelloio 

 Bochet). — This is the only variety worth 

 growing on account of its bright yellow 

 double flowers which appear from June 

 till the autumn. The lower leaves are 

 cut like those of a Dandelion, the upper 

 ones being obovate, toothed or pinnatifid. 



There is a form with yellowish varie- 

 gated foliage, which may be reproduced 

 from seeds, or by the other methods 

 mentioned above. It makes a good 

 edging plant, and is also suitable for the 

 rockery. 



B. praecox, a British plant, ia some- 

 times grown as a salad, the lower leaves 

 being used in the same way as Water 

 Cress and also for seasoning and garnish- 

 ing. 



ARAB IS (Wall Cress; Eook 

 Cress). — A genus of 60 or more species 

 of smooth or hairy annual or perennial 

 herbs, the lower leaves of which are 

 stalked and spoon-shaped, the upper ones 

 stalkless, entire or toothed, rarely lobed. 

 Flowers mostly white, rarely purple or 

 rose. 



Culture amd Propagation. — These 

 plants grow in dry spots, and are very 

 suitable for the rockery or mixed border, 

 where their masses of snowy white 

 flowers render them conspicuous in 

 spring. They are increased from seeds 

 sown in the open border in April and May, 

 or as soon as ripe. The seedlings are 

 pricked out when large enough, and may 

 be transferred to the places where they 

 are to flower either about the end of Sep- 

 tember or in spring. Seedlings often 

 come up spontaneously where a plant is 

 flourishing. Cuttings of the perennial 

 species placed in a shady border in summer 

 wiU also root freely, and the young plants 

 thus raised may be transplanted in 

 autumn. As soon as flowering is over 

 the plants may also be divided and re- 

 planted in good garden soil, care being 

 taken to water the plants well after 

 moving. 



The following are some of the best 

 kinds for the flower garden, but there are 

 several others met with occasionally in 

 botanical collections. 



A. albida (A. caucasica). — Aplant 6-9 

 in. high, native of Tauria and the Cau- 

 casus. Leaves few, toothed, hoary or 

 downy, the lower ones obovate oblong, 

 the upper ones cordately sagittate clasping 

 the stem. The white flowers appear m 

 masses from January to May. The 

 variety variegata has variegated leaves, 

 and is much used for edgings. 



Culture (Be. as above. 



A. alpina. — A European plant 6 in. 

 high, with many-toothed lance-shaped 

 acute hafry leaves, the lower ones stalked, 

 the upper heart-shaped, stem -clasping. 

 Flowers white, March to May. A double- 

 flowered form has recently appeared. It 

 has no_ stamens or pistil, but the petals 

 are 12 instead of 4 in number. There is 

 a variegated form having leaves bordered 



