THE GARDEN IN AUGUST 71 



and the creeping P. reptans. The Cinquefoil much 

 resembles the Strawberry, producing its honey by means 

 of a dark-coloured ridge which runs round the tube of 

 the flower near its base. Its stamens and pistil how- 

 ever develop coincidently, whereas the stigmas of the 

 Strawberry ripen long before the stamens, and con- 

 sequently self-fertilisation is far more common than is 

 the case with the latter. 



It must have been the quinately leaved P. reptans 

 which was formerly in favor as a heraldic device. 

 Folkard says that the number of the leaves answered 

 to the five senses of man. The right to bear Cinquefoil 

 was considered an honourable distinction to him who 

 had worthily conquered his affections and mastered his 

 senses. 



Many species of Potentilla are valuable garden plants, 

 from the little Alpine P. nitida, whose leaves shine more 

 brilliantly than our Silver weed, to the showy P. atro- 

 sanguinea, and the hybrid varieties derived from it, 

 which are the kinds usually seen in gardens. Among 

 these hybrids are a number of single and double sorts, 

 nearly all of which possess good colour — mostly ranging 

 from yellow to scarlet. 



Two other races of garden hybrids are of extreme 

 importance in late summer, the Pentstemons and Phloxes, 

 the latter being among the most valuable of border 

 plants. In selecting varieties of either of these flowers 

 one should be careful to avoid the very washy and hate- 

 ful magentas and purples which are but too frequently 

 seen. The Pentstemons are worthy of greatly increased 

 culture, for they often continue to flower until the 

 frosts of November. 



The great race of hybrid Gladioli derived from G. 

 brettchleyensis and G. gandavensis are now fashionable, as 

 they deserve. The scarlet G. brettchleyensis is itself very 

 hardy and should be grown in quantity. 



