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CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



Funkia. — This represents a genus of handsome- 

 foliaged plants, comprising some of the most orna- 

 mental in cultivation. Their noble aspect, elegant 

 outline, and hold Palm-like foliage, render them ex- 

 ceedingly attractive, either for pot-culture or for 

 planting in the open air ; they also form grand ob- 

 jects for exhibition purposes. There are a number 

 of kinds, differing materially in the character of 

 their foliage and the colour of their flowers, and 

 all are worth cultivating. A few of the best are 

 F. Fortunei, the Plantain Lily, and its handsomely 



with the biennials, easily grown, and readily in- 

 creased by cuttings or by seeds. Some are single- 

 flowered; a few of the newer sorts have double 

 blossoms. The prevailing colours are yellow, orange, 

 or fiery-red, and black ; and the flowers are large, 

 bold, and showy. One of the best known is G. picta, 

 and of this there are a few varieties differing some- 

 what in colour, but all equally useful. G. hybrida 

 splendid a is one of those things that should be in 

 every garden ; it is so free, striking, and effective. 

 One of the best also is G. aristata grandiflora ; this 



Gaillardia aristata grandiflora {natural size 



variegated form ; F. ovata undulata, the White- 

 margined Funkia, the pale green leaves handsomely 

 margined with white ; F. Sieboldi and its variegated 

 form ; F. spinosa, with its slender graceful spikes of 

 pure white flowers, produced in great abundance. 

 For cutting purposes this can be strongly recom- 

 mended ; also F. subcordata, frequently grown as F. 

 grandiflora, a noble-foliaged species for summer decor- 

 ations, and a grand flowering plant for autumn ; but 

 as it flowers so late it should be lifted and placed in a 

 cold conservatory until it has done blooming; the blos- 

 soms are large, pure white, and slightly scented. It can 

 be had in bloom in November and December. All the 

 Funkias should be planted in a generous sandy loam. 



Gaillardia. — This also is a most useful genus 

 of hardy decorative plants, more properly classed 



has a more perennial character than any just named, 

 and it produces large numbers of blossoms from 

 early summer till late in autumn. The flowers 

 are fully three inches in diameter, and crimson, 

 orange, and yellow prevail. The best double form 

 is a variety of G. picta, named Lorenziana ; the 

 flowers are completely filled up with quilled 

 florets. This, when grown from seed, is found to 

 vary somewhat, but all the varieties are very pretty 

 indeed. They do well in any good garden soil, 

 but a sandy loam is preferable. The Gaillardia is a 

 plant that can be successfully grown in pots, and 

 treated in this way is found very useful for green- 

 house decoration. 



Helleborus (Christmas Hose). — A more useful 

 group of hardy plants can scarcely be imagined 



