4:52 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS claekia 



ripe or in spring, covering the seed beds 

 with lights in case of severe weather ; or 

 by division of the rootstocks in autumn or 

 in spring. The following are a few of the 

 best kinds : — 



E. angustifolium (French Willow or 

 Bose Bay). — A vigorous and rapidly 

 spreading British plant 3-6 ft. high, 

 with lance-shaped, wavy, Willow-like 

 leaves, and spiked racemes of crimson 

 flowers in July. There is a charming 

 pure white variety. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. Dodonaei [E. Halleri). — A Euro- 

 pean species 1 ft. high, with linear 

 obscurely toothed leaves. Flowers in 

 July, deep rose, large, crowded near the 

 top of the branches. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. hirsutum {Codlins and Cream). 

 A British and European species 3-5 ft. 

 high, covered with a soft clammy down, 

 and exhaling a peculiar acid scent. 

 Leaves opposite below, alternate above, 

 ovate lance-shaped, hairy, toothed, half 

 stem-clasping. Flowers in July, usually 

 pale pink, sometimes white. 



Culture dc. as above. This species 

 naturally likes moist places, and may be 

 used in masses at the edges of streams, 

 ponds &c. for effect in the same way as the 

 purple Loosestrife. 



E. luteum. — A pretty N. American 

 Willow Herb 6-9 in. high, with slender 

 stems and broad, bright green leaves. 

 The pale yellow flowers about an inch 

 across appear in summer in clusters at 

 the tips of the shoots. 



Culture ci'c. as above. This species 

 should be planted in a warm position 

 sheltered from the north and east winds. 



E. obcordatum. — A charming Califor- 

 nian species, low-growing, and suitable 

 for moist well-drained parts of the rock 

 garden. Leaves opposite, ovate, stalk- 

 less, glaucous, i-1 in. long. Flowers in 

 summer, bright i-ose-purple, large. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. rosmarinifolium [E. angustissi- 

 muni). — A pretty European species 2 

 It. high, with linear obscurely toothed 

 leaves like the Eosemary. Flowers in 

 July, red, crowded near the top of the 

 branches. 



Culture dc. ns abo^'e. This species 

 makes elegant tufts and produces a grand 

 cft'oct when grown in masses. Owing to 



its comparative dwarfness it may be 

 utilised for the decoration of the rock 

 garden, and grown in light rich sandy 

 soil. 



ZAUSCHNERIA (Californian 

 Fuchsia ; Humming Bird's Trumpet). — 

 A genus with only one species : — 



Z. californica. — A handsome downy 

 branched shrub about 1 ft. high, native of 

 California and Mexico. Leaves sessile, 

 linear lance-shaped, downy, entire or 

 finely toothed, lower ones opposite ; upper 

 ones alternate. Flowers in summer and 

 autumn, bright red, in loose drooping 

 spikes at the ends of the branches. Calyx 

 tube linear, 4-angled, roundish or inflated 

 at the base. Petals 4, obovate, 2-lobed. 

 Stamens 8, alternately shorter. Ovary 

 4-celled ; style with a 4-lobed stigma. 

 Capsule linear, 4-angled. 



Cultv/re and Propagation. — In 

 bleak localities this plant requires pro- 

 tection of the rootstock in winter by 

 ashes, leaves &c., but it grows well in 

 warm sheltered positions. The plants 

 may be increased by sowing seeds in 

 March in gentle heat, or by dividing the 

 rootstocks about the same time. Cuttings 

 of the non-flowering shoots may also be 

 inserted in sandy soil mider handUghts in 

 autumn, and again in spring, and tliis 

 method may be adopted for perpetuating 

 the finest coloured varieties. Of these 

 there appear to be several, among them 

 one named mexicana, which seems to be 

 more hairy than the type, and with more 

 brilliant flowers. The variety latifolia 

 has broader whitish hairy leaves, and 

 rather smaller flowers with a dull red 

 calyx. This species has been found to 

 flourish not only in good rich garden soil, 

 but also in stiff clay, which \\-as baked 

 and cracked by the summer sun. Where 

 the poor shy blooming vai'ieties exist 

 they are sure to cause disappointment, 

 but there is nothing so fine as a good 

 clump of the best forms. 



CLARKIA. — A genus having a few 

 species of smooth or hairy branching 

 annuals, with alternate linear or lance- 

 shaped, entire or toothed leaves. Flowers 

 axillary, solitary, or in terminal racemes. 

 Calyx tube linear, 4-angled ; limb 4- 

 parted. Petals 4-clawed, dilated, entire, 

 or 3-lobed. Stamens 8. 



Culture and Propagation. — Clarkias 

 are very showy plants in the border and 

 grow well in ordinary garden soil. They 



