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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



BHEUM 



old tree stumps or rocks, and may be 

 increased by division. 



P. orientale [St. John's Staff). — A 

 beautiful East Indian annual, growing in 

 one season from 3 to 10 ft. high, having 

 knotted, downy stems branched towards 

 the top. Leaves large, alternate, oval 

 acute, downy, with sheathing stalks. 

 Flowers in August, deep rosy-purple, in 

 long drooping racemes from the axils of 

 the leaves and the ends of the branches. 

 There is a variety vnth white flowers, 

 and also one having the leaves beautifully 

 variegated with green and gold, the flowers 

 being of a clear lilac colour. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is useful for the decoration of parks 

 and large gardens in masses by itself or 

 among thin shrubberies ; by the sides of 

 streams, lakes or ponds, or even on lawns it 

 looks particularly ornamental. It flourishes 

 in ordinary good garden soil, and requires 

 abundance of water dmring the summer 

 months and during its rapid growth. 

 Seeds may be sown in the open ground in 

 April and May, or under glass before that 

 time, and the seedlings transplanted at a 

 distance of about 2 ft. when large enough. 



P. sachalinense. — A vigorous perennial 

 10-12 ft. high, native of the Sachalin 

 Islands. Leaves 8-12 in. long, more or 

 less broadly ovate oblong, tapering to a 

 point, glaucous and prominently veined 

 beneath. Flowers late in summer, of a 

 delicate green, in slender drooping axillary 

 racemes. 



Culture dc. as above. This resem- 

 bles P. cuspidatum, but is readily dis- 

 tinguished by its angular striped stems 

 and larger leaves. It flourishes in moist 

 soil and is effective near ponds, lakes &c., 

 or among bold groups on grass land or 

 lawns, and may be increased by division 

 in early autumn or in spring. 



P. sphserostachyum. — A pretty Hima- 

 layan species with linear-oblong or lance- 

 shaped acute leaves 3-5 in. long, some- 

 what crisped and crenulate, smooth, 

 glaucous or downy beneath; lower ones 

 stalked, upper ones sessile. Flowers in 

 August and September, blood-red, in 

 broad cylindrical rounded spikes. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 attractive species is usually perfectly 

 hardy, but is rather slow-growing, and 

 should therefore be allowed to make 

 large clumps before being disturbed for 



purposes of increase. A little mulching 

 of well-rotted manure in autumn or 

 winter vsrill serve to keep the soil in a 

 fertile condition. Besides dividing the 

 roots in spring, seeds may also be sown in 

 cold frames as soon as ripe in autumn, 

 and the young plants, if sturdy enough, 

 may be transferred to the open groimd 

 the following spring. Seedlings, how- 

 ever, do not bloom well until the second 

 or third year after sowing the seed. The 

 plants like plenty of sunshine and water 

 in summer, and thoroughly well-drained 

 soil, so that the roots will not be chilled 

 by the wet in vidnter. 



P. Taccinifolium. — A pretty Himalayan 

 perennial with woody trailing stems, and 

 smooth ovate or eUiptic bright green 

 leaves, sometimes tinged -with red above. 

 Flowers late in summer and autumn, 

 bright rose, freely produced in long 

 roundish spikes. 



Culture and Propagation. — An excel- 

 lent species for the rock garden, where it 

 can trail over rocks, boulders, old tree 

 stumps &c. Increased by division and 

 seed. ' 



RHEUM (Bhubaeb). — A genus of 

 vigorous, rather coarse-growing perennial 

 herbs, with a thick and rather woody 

 rootstock. Leaves very large, radical 

 sinuate - toothed or palmately lobed, 

 strongly nerved ; stipules ocreate, mem- 

 branous. Flowers in racemes, panicles 

 or clusters on erect branched leafy stems. 

 Perianth composed of 6 petaloid, almost 

 equal segments. Stamens 9, rarely 6. 

 Ovary 3-angled ; styles 3. Fruit a broad 

 or narrowly 3-winged nut. 



Culture and Propagation. — The Ehu- 

 barbs flourish in a deep rich loamy soil, 

 and when judiciously planted give a luxu- 

 riant and picturesque appearance to a 

 garden. Care, however, must be taken 

 not to introduce the kitchen garden style 

 into the flower garden. A plant here and 

 there in the shrubbery or in the wilder 

 parts of the garden is quite sulficient to 

 produce a good effect. They may all be 

 increased by seeds sown in spring on a 

 gentle hotbed, the seedlings being after- 

 wards transferred to the open ground 

 about the end of May. The rootstocks 

 may also be divided in autumn or early 

 spring. Owing to the more or less glossy 

 nature of the leaves, and the ease and 

 rapidity with which most of the kinds 



