82 



THE FLOWEK GABDEIS". 



tional petals, which encourages the hope that double 

 flowers may hereafter be obtained. Sow the seed as 

 soon as ripe. 



Evening Primrose. — Oenothera (it ought to be pro- 

 nounced with the e accented long) is the Greek name of 

 a herb which we are unable to specify now. It cannot 

 have been an Evening Primrose, because they all come 

 from America. Some are biennial, seeding freely ; others 

 are perennial, like the very pretty CE. tetraptera, or Four- 

 winged CEnothera, which sends up stems covered with a 

 succession of large white flowers from July to October, 

 and is readily propagated by runners from the root, in 

 any garden soil. The two commonest yellow Evening 

 Primroses are, CE. snaveolens, which opens its sweet- 

 scented flowers at the approach of night, and CE. serotina, 

 of more shrubby habit, but equally prolific of flowers. 

 These will become almost weeds in a garden, from their 

 rapid multiplication by seed. CE. macrocarpa produces 

 handsome yellow flowers all summer long. Propagate by 

 cuttings and root-division. CE. Drummondi is a tenderer 

 yellow-flowered species. CE. speciosa, from Louisiana, has 

 sub-shrubby trailing stems ; oblong lanceolate indented 

 leaves, pubescent underneath; large white flowers in 

 bunches, sweet-smelling towards night, appearing from 

 July till stopped by frost. Eequires preservation from 

 excessive moisture in winter. CE. rosea, from Mexico, is 

 hardy, has oval, pointed leaves, produces numerous pink 

 flowers from June to October, and is reproduced abun- 

 dantly from self-sown seeds. CE. purpurea is a North 

 American annual, which may be either sown where to 

 remain, or be pricked out from a nursery-bed. CE, acaulis, 

 Stemless or Dandelion-leaved Evening Primrose, from 

 Chili, is a hardy perennial, bearing large white flowers 

 tinged with pink. It will be thus seen that the Oeno- 

 theras afford useful materials for keeping a garden gay. 

 The tenderer kinds are apt to suffer from the dampness 

 of an English winter. 



Everlasting. — More than one genus of plants is known 

 by this name amongst gardeners. Gnaplialium orient ale 



