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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



OXALIS 



air — such as against bushes or hedges 

 with a west or northern aspect. The 

 tubers may be planted in April or May 

 according to season and locality, and the 

 plants may then be allowed to take care 

 of themselves. If coddled too much they 

 are likely to be a failure, but so long as 

 the soil is well drained and fairly good, 

 and the position partially shaded and not 

 too cold, the plants will sooner or later 

 establish themselves. As bearing these 

 remarks out, the reader is referred to the 

 observations on this species at p. 81. 



T. tuberosum. — A beautiful tuberous- 

 rooted climber, 2-4 ft. long, native of 

 Peru, with smooth 5-lobed leaves, trans- 

 versely truncate at the base. Flowers in 

 late summer, scarlet and yellow, with 

 entire or toothed petals. 



Culture <tc. as above for T. penta- 

 phyllum. In unfavourable parts of the 

 country it is safer to lift the tubers in 

 autumn, and store them like Dahlias in a 

 dry place for the winter. 



LIMNANTHES. — A genus of 3 

 species of smooth, spreading annuals, 

 with alternate, dissected leaves, without 

 stipules, and axillary 1-flowered peduncles. 

 Flowers regular, white, yeUow, or rose. 

 Sepals 5, valvate. Petals 5, twisted. 

 Torus flattish, dilated, with 5 glands. 

 Stamens 10, free, nearly perigynous. 

 Fruit 5-lobed, indehisoent. 



The following is the only species 

 generally grown : — 



L. Douglasi. — A showy Californian 

 annual about 8 in. high, with pinnate 

 leaves and stem trailing along the sur- 

 face of the soil. Flowers from spring 

 to autumn, yellow, passing into white 

 streaked with grey, sweet-scented, about 

 \ in. across. There are a few variations 

 from the type in cultivation, the best known 

 being grcmdiflora, which has somewhat 

 larger flowers. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is useful for beds, borders or 

 rookeries, and grows well in ordinary soil. 

 Once established the seeds will sow 

 themselves and reproduce young plants 

 every year without trouble. When 

 required in particular spots, seeds must 

 of course be sown there in either March 

 or September according to the time the 

 flowers are wanted. In cold northern 

 parts it wiU, however, be safer to sow the 

 seeds at either of the periods mentioned 



in cold frames, afterwards pricking the 

 seedlings out about the end of May. 



BALBISIA. — A genus with only one 

 species here described : — 



B. verticillata. — A very ornamental 

 Chilian evergreen shrub, 3-6 ft. high, 

 with opposite or alternate, often 3-parted 

 leaves, without stipules. Flowers late 

 in summer, regular, yellow, solitary, on 

 long stalks. Sepals and petals 5, the 

 latter twisted, hypogynous. Stamens 10, 

 hypogynous, free. 



Cultu/re and Propagation. — This 

 shrub is hardy only in the mildest parts 

 of the country, and should be protected 

 from severe frosts. It may be increased 

 by seeds, or by cuttings of the half- 

 ripened wood, under a bell-glass or hand- 

 light during the summer and autumn 

 months. The rooted cuttings should be 

 grown on in frames or greenhouses until 

 mUd weather in spring, when they may be 

 planted out in warm sheltered positions. 

 They like a well-drained sandy loam. 



OXALIS (Wood Sorrel). — A large 

 genus containing over 200 species, of 

 which only a few are useful for outdoor 

 gardening. They are herbs or rarely 

 dwarf shrubs, with usually 3-lobed, Clover- 

 like leaves. Flowers regular, on axillary 

 or radical, one or more flowered stalks. 

 Sepals and petals 5, the latter hypo- 

 gynous, twisted in bud. Disc none. 

 Stamens 10, free or united at the base. 

 Styles 5, distinct, short, long or medium. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Wood Sorrels thrive in a sandy soil in 

 warm, dry places. They may be grown 

 in masses in borders or beds, or in clumps 

 here and there in the rockery. As many 

 of the species have a bulb-like fleshy 

 rootstook, the offsets from these may be 

 used to increase the plants. The best 

 time to divide the plants is in spring just 

 as growth is about to commence. They 

 increase very rapidly in favourable situa- 

 tions, but few except the native kinds can 

 be regarded as hardy in the British 

 Islands except in the mildest parts of the 

 south and west. The foliage usually dies 

 down in autumn, and if the tuberous kinds 

 are planted 4-6 in. deep they will survive 

 ordinary winters. In the event of severe 

 frosts, a covering of coco-nut fibre, dry 

 leaves &c. is advisable to protect the 

 dormant roots. Seeds if obtainable may 

 also be sown in spring in gentle heat, 

 afterwards pricking the seedlings out. 



