HERBACEOUS FLOWERS. 



93 



They are propagated by offsets, which must be potted 

 separately, require abundance of water, as they naturally 

 grow by the edges of ditches, and require the protection 

 of a frame or greenhouse in winter. The above produce 

 bright-scarlet flowers on tall upright spikes. L. syphilitica 

 and coelestis are of humble growth, and produce a long 

 succession of light, bright-blue, small flowers, during the 

 latter part of summer ; charming plants for bedding or 

 borders, but must be wintered under shelter. Propagate 

 by cuttings and root-division ; by seed also, if you can 

 get it. L. ramosa, from Australia, has large cobalt-blue 

 flowers. Sow in autumn, winter in a frame, and plant in 

 the open ground in spring. L. heteropliylla, a pretty, 

 blue-flowered annual, taller than the preceding, also from 

 New Holland, requires the same culture ; as does L. 

 bicolor, from the Cape, a perennial, flowers white and 

 blue. 



London Pride — Saxifraga tcmhrosa. — From the Alps ; 

 forms a pretty edging with its rosettes of leaves. Clip 

 the flower-stems close with a pair of shears, as soon as 

 the period of bloom is over ; increases troublesomely by 

 offset suckers. Heart-leaved Saxifrage, S. cordifolia, 

 from Siberia, with large leaves in proportion to the size 

 and number of its dull-pink flowers, scarcely deserves 

 cultivation. S. granulata. a native plant, is grown, as a 

 double variety, for its pretty white flowers. S. crassifolia 

 is in repute amongst village doctresses, for its leaves, as 

 a cooling application to blisters and wounds in winter 

 when beet and mallows are not to be had. S. sarmentosa, 

 from China, is a pretty plant to suspend in a pot, but 

 will not bear our winters. Propagates itself by runners, 

 like the Strawberry. Several other species of Saxifrage 

 make pretty rock-plants — (their name signifies " Rock- 

 splitter," from the supposed effects of their roots, which 

 penetrate into narrow chinks) ; — but they are rather 

 agreeable stop-gaps in the border than the claimants of 

 rank as florists' flowers. - 



London Tuft, or Sweet William — Diantlius barbatus. — 

 Makes a showy bed, from its shades and combinations of 



