6 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



All the eryngos, our own seaside friend in particular, 

 may be turned to account by drying them for winter de- 

 corations, their tough texture and very distinctive forms 

 favouring this use of them. Whether the roots of the 

 garden eryngos are of any economic value we cannot say ; 

 but we call to mind that the bitter roots of the British 

 wilding have enjoyed some fame as a valuable tonic, and 

 from the most ancient times have been made into a sweet- 

 meat with the aid of sugar. Once upon a time the town 

 of Colchester presented royalty with a delicate sample of 

 candied sea-holly roots, and the sale of the article thereupon 

 increased greatly, while, as a matter of course, many won- 

 derful cures were effected by the confection. 



Eryngium amethystinum is a native of Styria. It has 

 been cultivated in English gardens more than two centuries, 

 yet even now it is scarce, because perhaps it is not showy. 

 In respect of beauty it is certainly unique. The flower- 

 heads are not less delightful in their construction than 

 their colour, and the leafage harmonises in a weird sort of 

 way with the amethyst tufts that crown the plant. It is 

 perfectly hardy, and needs no more than the most ordinary 

 care, the best place for it being a sheltered border or a 

 dry ledge of a spacious rockery. This and other species 

 are increased by seeds and divisions, and for the purposes 

 of a private garden the division of a strong plant when 

 commencing growth in spring will be sufficient. 



Other species of eryngium that an amateur of such 

 plants will gladly secure should be named here in the 

 interests of this kind of gardening, the adherents to which 

 are sadly few. E. giganteum is a plant of stroDg growth 

 and very tine proportions, producing heads of purplish 

 blue flowers. It attains a height of from four to five feet. 



