COMMON GAEDEN FLOWERS. 



255 



annual Pea, namely, L. sativus, but generally sold as 

 Z. azureus ; it is not fragrant like i. odoratus. It 

 is of dwarf growth, and bears profusely charming 

 pale blue blossoms. It does well in good garden 

 soil. 



The Scabious {Scabiosa). — The generic name 

 [Scabiosa) means Scurfy, from scabies, "scurf," in 

 allusion to the scaly pappus of its seeds, which, on 

 the doctriae of signatures, led to its use in leprous 

 diseases. Scabies is also rendered "the itch": this 

 plant being considered by our forefathers a certain 

 cure for that eruptive disease. The Scabious is in- 

 cluded in the order Dipsacacece, which also compre- 

 hends the Teasel — both the cultivated and the wild 

 varieties. The former {Dipsacus fullonum) is very 

 useful in that the heads are employed by f uUers to 

 raise the nap on woollen cloths. For this purpose 

 they are fixed round the circumference of a cylinder, 

 w^hich is made to revolve against the surface of the 

 cloth, and raise the nap, by their hooked, stiff, spiny 

 bracts ; and this they do better and more effectively 

 than any mechanical contrivance hitherto invented. 

 In the clothing districts of Somersetshire and York- 

 shire, the cultivation of the Teasel is a matter of 

 consideration. This plant is a native of the South 

 of Europe, and may also be found wild in England, 

 but it cannot be regarded as indigenous, having, in 

 all probability, escaped from cultivation. The wild 

 Teasel is Dipsacus sijlvestris, a stout herbaceous plant, 

 with an erect prickly stem, and large bright green 

 leaves, which are prickly underneath, and noted at 

 the base, and often contain water. It is common 

 by roadsides and in hedgerows. The bracts of this 

 species are not hooked at the points, and therefore 

 the heads are not adapted to the use of clothiers. 

 The leaves, uniting at the base, and forming a basin 

 round the stem, collect water, and the country people 

 regard the water as a cure for warts, a remedy for 

 bleared eyes, and a beauty-wash for the face — hence 

 it is called Venus' Bath. There is another curious 

 custom practised by the country people of England. 

 If the heads are opened longitudinally in September 

 or October, there is generally found a small worm in 

 each : only one is found in each head. People collect 

 three, five, or seven of these — always observing to 

 make an odd number — and sealing them up in a quill, 

 wear them as an amulet against the ague (Hogg's 

 "Vegetable Kingdom"). Of the British species 

 the best known is S. succisa, the Devil's Bit Scabious. 

 "It is commonly called," says Gersirde, " Morstis 

 diaboli, or Devil's Bit, of the root (as it seemeth) 

 that is bitten off — for the superstitious people hold 

 opinion that the Devil, for envy that he beareth to 

 mankind, bit it off, because it would be otherwise 

 i^od for many uses." This is a perennial; is in 



tiower from August to October, and it grows in 

 grassy, rather moist pastures. The Field Scabious 

 is Knautia arvensis. It was named so in honour of 

 Dr. Knaut, a physician and naturalist of Halle, in 

 Saxony. Arvensis, " field," frequently refers to the 

 usual plan of growth. In addition to being commonly 

 known as the Field Scabious, in some parts of the 

 North it is known as the Great Blue Capes, or Caps, 

 from its tuft of blue flowers. It is a well-known 

 plant in corn-fields, where it is injurious ; but in 

 pastures, as it produces a large amount of herbage 

 which is readily eaten by all the farming stock, it is 

 not so objectionable. The whole plant is slightly 

 bitter and astringent, and has been recommended as 

 remedial in various disorders, both internal and ex- 

 ternal; "but," says Dr. Martyn, "woe be to him 

 who trusts on such broken reeds." The flowers, if 

 fumigated with tobacco -smoke, have their delicate 

 blue colour changed to a bright green. This is 

 caused by the ammonia contained in the smoke. 



The cultivated Scabious are all hardy herbaceous 

 perennials ; the best known in our gardens are the 

 varieties of *S'. major, of which there are tall-growing 

 and dwarf-growing sections, both double and single. 

 There is a very fine dark purple form, known as 



atropurpurea, which came from the East Indies; 

 and there is a rich scarlet variety from Germany, 

 named atrococcinea. What are known as the 

 German Scabious are greatly improved garden 

 varieties of different colours ; all being very fine 

 and showy. S. caucasia, the Caucasian Scabious, is 

 one of the handsomest hardy perennials we possess, 

 and one which should be grown by everybody, if 

 only for the sake of its flowers for cutting, a use to 

 which they are particularly well adapted. They 

 last for a long time in water, and their peculiar 

 soft lilac - blue shade is charming. It grows two 

 feet or so in height, forming a spreading dense 

 tuft, and thriving well in any open place in ordi- 

 nary garden soil. It is a vigorous grower, tho- 

 roughly hardy, and very free-blooming. This is a 

 native of the Caucasus and Armenia, in arid places. 

 It can be propagated by a di^dsion of the root, or 

 from seeds, as in the case of the German and other 

 garden varieties. All that we have named succeed 

 well in ordinary garden soil. There are a few other 

 species, such as S. graminifolia, the Grass-leaved 

 Scabious, from the mountains of Italy and Switzer- 

 land, which should be grown in sandy loam on the 

 margins of warm borders ; S. ochroJeuca, the Yellow 

 Scabious, from Germany, requiring a similar position 

 and soil ; and S. Webbiana, Webb's Scabious, from 

 Phrygia, also needing a warm border and sandy 

 loam. But the cultivation of these is mainly in 

 botanic gardens, where collections of species are 

 preserved. 



