530 



CASSELLS POPULAR GARDENING. 



the ligMs oj hand. Fig. 83 is a section of a portion 

 ■of the front of a small house containing a longitudinal 

 table for plants. The sash, «, is hinged to the top 

 plate b, and is opened to any extent by pushing out 

 the handle c, which is furnished with holes that fit 

 ■on an iron stud fixed in the lower wall-plate d. This 

 handle is fixed to the sash by a universal joint, so 

 that when the handle is drawn in on shutting the 

 sash, the handle instead of lying amongst the plants 

 is turned aside, and laid upon the wall-plate contain- 

 ing a second stud corresponding with one of the 

 holes, which, when fastened, will prevent the light 

 irom blowing open in windy weather. 



The apex ventilator can be opened in a similar 

 way, that is, provided the lights are hinged to the 

 lop wall-plate. 



AQUATIC PLANTS. 



By E. Irwin Lynch, 



BOa AND MARSH PLANTS. 



Acorns Calamus (Sweet Flag). — A native Flag 

 •of our river-sides, chiefly in Norfolk and Suffolk. 

 The leaves are sword-shaped, and from three to six 

 ieet high, borne by a creeping stem or rhizome. 

 In foliage it is ornamental, and is suited for the 

 margin of a pond. The leaves when bruised have a 

 •sweet aromatic smell, and the rhizome has been 

 used in medicine and in confectionery. A variegated 

 form of this is known as A. japonicus argenteo- 

 ■striatus, and it is considerably ornamental. The 

 ■only other species is A. gramineiis, a dwarf and 

 extremely pretty grass-like plant, with bright green 

 leaves. Of it there is also a variegated form. This 

 species is a native of Japan, and A. Calamus is a 

 native of Europe, Asia, and North America. The last 

 flowers in June and July ; flowers of A. gramineus 

 -we have not seen. Aroidece. 



Alisma Plantago (Water Plantain). — Though not 

 showy in blossom, this plant is stately in habit, 

 and a clump well placed is decidedly ornamental. 

 The leaves are erect, and broadly lance -shaped; the 

 flowers, of pale pink or rose, grow profusely in 

 panicles. It is common in ditches, and produces 

 itself freely from seeds, but as a weed it is not 

 troublesome. It is widely spread in the North 

 Temperate regions. Flowers from Jime to August. 

 A. natans is a rare and pretty British species worth 

 growing, and A. ranuncidoides, also British, may 

 be regarded for collections. Alismacecc. 



Anagallis tenella (Bog Pimpernel). — One of the 

 loveliest of native bog plants, and not difiicult to 

 grow in spongy or moist ground in company with 

 other lowly herbage. The flowers are sometimes 

 aningled in the wild with those of the blue Wahlcn- 



bergia hederacea {Campanula hederacea), and it is diffi- 

 cult to imagine any prettier association. It is a per- 

 ennial creeping plant, with small, round leaves, and 

 during July and August the rosy flowers form quite 

 a sheet of blossom. In pots or pans it is easily culti- 

 vated, but if planted by the flowing water of a rivulet 

 the happiest success is most likely to be attained. It 

 extends south to North Africa. Flowers in July and 

 August. PrimulacecB. 



Arundo Donax (Provence Reed). — This is a noble 

 large-leaved and distinct Grass, which attains in 

 the West of England a height of ten feet, and in 

 less favoured parts of the coimtry attains fine 

 dimensions. It should have a sheltered position, 

 with good soil of sandy character, and be planted by 

 the side of ornamental waters. There are few plants 

 which afford a more tropical effect. This is figured 

 in "The English Flower Garden." The variety 

 versicolor is splendidly variegated and is even more 

 highly ornamental ; but, so far as we have seen it, 

 it is less robust. In the work just referred to we 

 have the information that propagation may be 

 effected by placing a stem in a tank of water, when 

 little plants with roots ^ill soon start from the 

 joints. These should be potted, and soon make fine 

 plants. Both these plants are much less used than 

 their merits deserve. As they are lost during severe 

 winters, some protection should be afforded them. 

 Native of South Europe and the Levant. The 

 British Thragmites communis [Arundo phragmitis) is 

 also ornamental, especially when in flower, and is 

 worth planting in the shallow margins of large pieces 

 of water. 



Caltha palustris (Common Marsh Marigold). — 

 There are few brighter flowers of the marsh than 

 this, during the spring months, and as Tennyson 

 expresses it, " The wild Marsh Marigold shines like 

 fire in swamps and hollows gray." It is a showy 

 and variable plant, effective in aU its forms, but 

 most excellent in some of them. There is a double 

 variety of the common, the double variety called 

 monstrosa, and a double dwarf variety, distinguished 

 as oiana Jiore-pleno. C. radicans is a distinct variety of 

 the preceding, with depressed stems, rooting at the 

 nodes, and triangular leaves. It was supposed to be 

 extinct in Forfarshire, where it grew, but it has not 

 long since been found again. C. naia)ts is distinct 

 from the above kinds in its procumbent stems and 

 cordate-reniform leaves, and the flowers are white. 

 This is Siberian. Caltha leptosepala, not long since 

 introduced from California, has a one-leaved stem, 

 which bears one or two flowers. C. purpurascens, 

 another new kind, is said to have purplish stems and 

 bright orange flowers. All these will grow in moist 

 ground, but the finest luxuriance is obtained close to 

 water. There are several other kinds not cultivated, 



