FLOWERS. 



121 



a brilliant yellow, with rich purple centre. It is easily 

 raised from the seed. 



Golden everlasting — Xeranthemum lucidum — is a very 

 singular plant, and produces bright yellow flowers, which, 

 if plucked before the seed ripens, will hold their brightness 

 for years. It is much admired. The seed should be 

 planted early, as the plant will flower late in the season. 



Hollyhock. — AlthcBa. — This is a showy plant for a 

 shrubbery. It is hardy and perennial. There are various 

 kinds ; single and double, white, red, yellow, black, and 

 variegated. 



Honeysuckle. — This plant is very beautiful in its place; 

 it climbs up houses, and over hedges : it forms arbours and 

 bowers : it blooms in clusters. Three varieties we shall 

 name. The Italian (Lonicera Italica) produces an abun- 

 dance of flowers early in the season, diffusing a rich 

 fragrance all around. The flowers are changeable. The 

 variegated (Lonicera caprifolium) blooms monthly, and has 

 a delightful fragrance. The scarlet trumpet (Caprifolirm 

 sempervirens) blooms monthly, — scarlet flowers, — and makes 

 a beautiful appearance. They may be propagated by seed 

 or cuttings, but best by layers. 



Hyacinth. — Hyacinthus orientalis, — This is a bulbous- 

 rooted plant, and, like all other plants of this class, is peren- 

 nial. It is a beautiful and fragrant flower ; it blooms early. 

 It will bloom in glasses filled with water in a room, but 

 better in pots of earth. It is best propagated by offsets. 

 While the parent root is blowing, it sends out several young 

 ones. They should be planted at the depth of four inches. 

 There are many varieties of this favourite flower, both sin- 

 gle and double ; the former have the most vivid colours, 

 but the latter are generally preferred. Such was the rage 

 in Holland for this superb flower, that, .in the year 1771, 

 four thousand dollars were refused for a single bulb. 



Hydrangea — Hydrangea hortensis — is a small shrub, and 

 produces very large flowers, which are changeable. The 

 flowers are at first green — change gradually to rose-colour — 

 then to green — occupying the space of about six months. It 

 is a house-plant ; will bear some frost ; but must be kept 

 during the winter in a green-house, sitting-room, or cellar, 

 into which some light is admitted. This ornamental shrub 

 is easily propagated by cuttings. 



Ice-plant — Mesemhryantheum crystallinum — is an annual 



plant, and has an icy appearance. It is singular. The 



seed should be planted in pots early in the spring. ^ 

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