218 



PBACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



IBBEIS 



June. The other characters as described 

 above. 



Culture and Propagation. — It grows 

 freely in light sandy soil, and seeds may 

 be sown in the open border in spring 

 from the beginning of April to the end of 

 June if a succession of flowers is required. 



IBERIS (Candytuft). — A genus hav- 

 ing about 20 species of annual or biennial 

 smooth branched herbs or underahrubs, 

 with entire or pinnatifid, often fleshy, 

 leaves. Flowers racemose or corymbose, 

 white or purple, the outer ones radiating. 

 Sepals equal at the base. Petals 4, the 2 

 outer ones larger than the others. 



Cultv/re amd Propagation. — All the 

 Candytufts are easily grown in ordinary 

 garden soil, in exposed sunny situations. 

 The annuals and biennials are raised by 

 seeds sown in the usual way, varying the 

 date of sowing according to the period 

 when it is required to have the plants in 

 bloom. Thus, seeds may be sown as soon 

 as ripe in cold frames so that a stock of 

 strong sturdy plants will be ready for 

 planting out in spring in mUd weather. 

 In February and March seeds may be 

 sown in gentle heat, afterwards pricking 

 the seedlings out, so as to enable them to 

 develop previous to their being planted 

 out about the end of May. In April and 

 May seeds may also be sown in the open 

 border where the plants are to bloom. 

 When the seedlings are well above ground 

 they must be thinned out, but not trans- 

 planted. 



In this way a good succession of 

 flowers may be obtained from early 

 summer to the end of autumn. 



The sub-shrubby perennial kinds are 

 valuable plants for the border or rock 

 garden, on account of their deep green 

 masses of foliage, and clusters of flowers, 

 which last a long time. The perennials 

 may be raised from seeds, but it is gener- 

 ally more convenient to root cuttings 

 during the summer months in a shaded 

 border or under handlights ; or to divide 

 the plants after flowering. The stems 

 may also be bent down and covered with 

 light rich soil. In this way* roots will 

 develop as from layers, and the shoots 

 may be detached in spring. 



I. afBnis. — A pretty annual or bien- 

 nial species, native of France, rarely ex- 

 ceeding 8 or 9 in. high, with a much- 

 branched tufted habit, and pinnately 

 divided leaves. The flowers appear in 



spring and summer, and are of a pure 

 white, the sepals only being tinted with 

 violet before the buds open. An excellent 

 little plant for borders and edging. 



Culture So. as above. Increased by 

 seed. 



I. amara .{Common Candytuft). — A 

 British annual 6-9 in. high, with lance- 

 shaped, acute, slightly toothed leaves, and 

 racemes or corymbs of white flowers in 

 summer. The variety hesperidifolia is 

 larger and prettier than the type, and is 

 also more vigorous in growth. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 



I. bernardiana (J. Buhani). — A Pyre- 

 nean annual, 6 in. high, with spoon-shaped, 

 lobed, deep glossy green leaves in dense 

 compact rosettes, and corymbs of pink 

 flowers in summer. 



Culture etc. as above. Increased by 



I. ciliata. — A rather smooth herbaceous 

 biennial about 9 in. high, native of S.W. 

 Europe. Leaves linear, entire, edges 

 hairy at the base. Flowers in June and 

 July, white. The variety taurica may be 

 treated as an annual or biennial. It has 

 somewhat fleshy leaves fringed with hairs, 

 the lower ones spoon-shaped, sometimes 

 with 2 teeth at the apex ; the upper ones 

 linear. Flowers white, corymbose, a httle 

 earlier than ciliata proper. 



Culture So. as above. Increased by 

 seeds. 



I. corifolia. — A Sicihan alpine 3-4 in. 

 high, probably a small variety of 7. sew.- 

 pervirens. Leaves linear, entire, blunt, 

 smooth, in dense tufts. It has masses of 

 small white flowers early in May, and 

 looks well in the rock garden near the 

 edge. 



Culture dc. as above. 



I. coronaria (JRocTcet Candytuft). — 

 A beautiful annual, the native country of 

 which is unknown. It is about 1 ft. high, 

 with lance-shaped, entire, leathery leaves, 

 and numerous long dense heads or spikes 

 of pure white flowers, borne well above 

 the foliage in summer. The form known 

 as ' Giant Snowflake ' is very fine. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 



I. correxfolia. — A splendid evergreen 

 garden hybrid (probably between semper- 

 florens and saxatiUs) about 1 ft. liigh. 



