LINUM 



FLAX OBDEB 



LINUH 28S 



loam, to which may be added a little peat 

 or leaf mould. In bleak or northerly 

 parts of the British Islands, the plants 

 should have warm, sheltered positions. 

 Unless otherwise stated, the species 

 described below are all pereimials. 



To secure the finest and most brOliant 

 effects Linums should be grown in large 

 patches, arid the colour of their flowers 

 should always be taken into consideration 

 when massing them with plants of other 

 colours, so that a harmonious result is 

 obtained. 



L. alpinum. — Native of Europe, 6 in. 

 high, with linear, awl-shaped leaves, full 

 of pellucid dots. Flowers in summer, 

 large, blue, 3-9 on each stem. 



Culture <tc. as below for L. flavum. 

 This is well suited for the rockery or for 

 massing in the front of the flower border. 



L. angustifolium {Pale Flax). — A 

 smooth, glaucous, native species about 

 1-2 ft. high, with sharp linear-lance- 

 shaped leaves. Flowers from May to 

 September, less than 1 in. across, pale 

 lilac-blue. 



Culture dec. as below for It. flavum. 



L. arboreum. — A beautiful dwarf 

 shrub about 1-1| ft. high, native of Crete, 

 with bluntly wedge-shaped, reciu:ved 

 leaves. Flowers in early summer, yellow, 

 \\ in. across. 



Culture and Propagation. — This is 

 an evergreen species, and when grown in 

 sheltered spots retains its freshness dur- 

 ing the winter months. Grown as a pot 

 plant in a cool or slightly heated green- 

 house, it may be had in bloom in February 

 and March. Seeds are rarely ripened, 

 but plants are readily obtained by means 

 of cuttings of the more or less ripened 

 shoots during July and August. They 

 may be inserted in sandy soil in a cold 

 frame, and kept shaded and damp until 

 rooted. Afterwards the plants should be 

 given as much hght and afr as possible, 

 except in very frosty weather, and by 

 April and May they will be fit for trans- 

 planting to the flower border, or against a 

 wall, according to locality. They require 

 slight protection during severe winters in 

 northern parts of the kingdom, although 

 hardy in ordinary winters in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London. 



L. austriacum. — A smooth Austrian 

 Species 1-2 ft. high, with linear lance- 

 shaped acute leaves, covered with pellucid 



dots. Flowers in summer, pale bluish- 

 purple. Closely related to L. perennc. 



Culture de. as below for L. flavum. 



L. campanulatum. — A glaucous plant, 

 about 1 ft. high, native of S. Europe. 

 Lower leaves rounded at the apex, the 

 others more or less broadly lance-shaped. 

 Flowers from June to August, bright 

 yellow, borne in corymb-like cymes. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is closely related to L. flavum, 

 and it is possible that hybrids between the 

 two exist. It is as a rule too tender to 

 stand our winters except in the mildest 

 parts of the south and west, and like L. 

 arborewm it rarely produces good seed 

 in our climate. New plants, however, 

 may be obtained from cuttings taken in 

 July and August and inserted in a cold 

 frame in the way described under L. ar- 

 boreum. 



L. flavum. — A handsome species 12- 

 18 in. high, native of Austria and Hungary, 

 with sharp narrow lance-shaped leaves, 

 without stalks. Flowers in summer, 

 golden-yellow, freely produced, but in 

 more compact heads than those of L. 

 campanulatum. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species resembles L. arborewm in appear- 

 ance and blossom, and also L. camipanula- 

 tutn, but its stems die down in winter. It 

 is, however, much hardier than these other 

 two species, and throws up vigorous 

 shoots in spring. Seeds are also fr-eely 

 produced in favourable seasons, and new 

 plants may be obtained by sowing them 

 in the open border as soon as ripe, in a 

 warm sheltered position. They do not, 

 however, germinate '.till spring, and then 

 the seedlings may be either pricked out 

 into good rich soU or thinned out 12-18 

 in. apart. Warm sunny positions are 

 best, and shade should be avoided, so as 

 to get a greater abundance of blossom. 



L. grandiflorum. — A beautiful smooth 

 Algerian annual 6-12 in. high, with linear 

 lance-shaped acute leaves, and large rose- 

 coloured flowers IJ in. across in summer. 



Culture and Propagation. — By sowing 

 seeds at intervals plants may be had in 

 bloom from May to October. Plants for 

 flowering from October onwards in the 

 greenhouse may be obtained by sowing 

 seeds in pots in summer and giving plenty 

 of water. There are several forms in 

 cultivation, the best known being cocoi- 

 neum, roseum, rubrum, and splendens. 



