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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS origanum 



hardy in most parts of the kingdom, 

 although it is apt to be cut down to the 

 ground by very severe frosts in bleak un- 

 sheltered localities. It is one of the 

 oldest plants in British gardens and is 

 met vpith in all kinds of places. It may 

 be increased by cuttings of the shoots in 

 August and September, inserted in free 

 sandy soil under a handlight, and kept 

 under cover until the following May, 

 when they will be weU rooted and fit for 

 transplanting to the open ground. 



There are several other species of 

 Lavender, L. Stcechas with purple flowers 

 being the best, but none is so popular as 

 the common one. 



PERILLA. — A genus with 1 or 2 

 species of annual herbs often with violet 

 or blackish foliage, and small pedicellate 

 flowers. Calyx bell-shaped, 10-nerved, 

 5-cleft, 2-lipped. CoroUa obliquely bell- 

 shaped, shortly 5-lobed. Stamens 4, almost 

 equal. 



P. nankinensis (P. ocymoides crispa). 

 A beautiful tender Chinese annual 1-3 ft. 

 high with broadly ovate, wrinkled, deeply 

 crenate-serrate leaves 2-4 in. long and of a 

 deep dark bronzy-purple colour. Flowers 

 numerous, small, white, in racemes. 



This plant is grown chiefly for the rich 

 effects of its dark coloured foliage which is 

 very showy in masses here and there in 

 the border or on lawns. In using it with 

 plants of other colours care should be 

 taken to avoid incongruous mixtures. 

 There is a form caUed macrophylla crispa 

 with large, handsome, crisped foliage, 

 superior to the ordinary variety. 



Culture and Propagation. — This plant 

 may be raised from seed sown in February 

 or March in gentle heat and grown on for 

 planting out in May like other tender 

 annuals. By pinching out the tips of the 

 shoots fine bushy plants may be obtained. 

 Any ordinary garden soil will suit it. For 

 treatment of annuals in general see p. 78. 



MENTHA (Mint).— A genus of erect, 

 spreading or dwarf perennials with oppo- 

 site leaves and flowers in false whorls or 

 ' vertioillasters,' or spikes. Calyx beU- 

 shaped, 5-toothed, or tubular, 10-nerved, 

 equal or 2-lipped. Corolla 4-lobed, with 

 a bell-shaped throat, stamens 4, styles 2, 

 cleft at the apex. Nutlets ovoid smooth. 



Culture and Propagation. — There are 

 about 25 species of Mint, but only a few 

 are useful for the flower garden. Most of 



the species exhale a more or less aromatic 

 odour so wey- known in the garden or 

 Spear Mint (see p. 1164), Pennyroyal {M. 

 Pulegium), and Peppermint (M. piperita). 

 The kinds mentioned below are chiefly 

 valuable for borders and edgings and will 

 grow in any garden soil. They are easily 

 increased by dividing the shoots, which 

 when they trail on the ground root at 

 almost every joint. 



M. gibraltarica. — This is really a 

 variety of our native Pennyroyal [M. 

 Pulegium). It grows only one or two 

 inches high, and forms dense compact 

 tufts of deep green roundish oval leaves 

 on the surface of the soil. It is admirably 

 adapted for borders and edgings, and ia 

 much used in carpet bedding. Being a 

 native of S. Europe, the variety gihral- 

 tarica is not quite hardy in our climate, 

 except in the mildest parts of the south 

 and west. It may, however, be increased 

 by wintering the rooted portions in cold 

 frames in the unfavourable parts of the 

 kingdom. 



M. Requieni. — A pretty trailing per- 

 ennial 2-4 in. high, native of Corsica. It 

 has roundish leaves and pale purple 

 flowers. It is, however, chiefly valuable 

 for carpeting the soil beneath taller grow- 

 ing plants, and may be increased in the 

 same way as M. gibraltarica above. 



M. rotundifolia. — The variegated form 

 of this British plant is much used for 

 edgings, and for covering dry banks. It 

 has much-wrinkled broadly ovate-oblong 

 leaves, with crenate margins, shaggy 

 above, woolly beneath, and elegantly 

 mottled with green and yellowish-white. 



Culture da. as above. 



ORIGANUM (Marjoeam).— A genus 

 containing about 25 species of bushes or 

 perennial herbs with small entire or 

 slightly toothed leaves, the floral ones 

 all being reduced to bracts. Flowers 

 clustered in globose, oblong, or cyUndrical 

 spikes, sometimes with large coloured 

 bracts entirely hiding the calyx, and some- 

 times with herbaceous, rounded, imbri- 

 cating or ovate lance-shaped bracts not 

 longer than the calyx. Calyx ovoid bell- 

 shaped, ribbed, 5-toothed or 2-lipped. 

 Corolla 2-lipped, the upper lip erect 

 spreading, emarginate or shortly 2-cleft, 

 the lower lip longer, spreading 3-oleft. 

 Stamens 4, sometimes protruding. Nutlets 

 ovoid or oblong, smooth. 



