3° 



FLORA AND SYLVA, 



in English gardens, nor is this by any 

 means a common plant. In the south- 

 west it is successfully grown out- doors, 

 but over the great part of our islands 

 though well-established plants may 

 bloom outside in late summer, it cannot 

 stand a winter in the open, but is worth 

 its place anywhere as a pot plant. The 

 long spikes of orange-scarlet flowers, 

 with a lighter throat, about 2 inches 

 long and covered inside and out with 

 short hairs, are borne tier above tier 

 with a score or more of flowers in each 

 whorl. These handsome clusters last in 

 beauty for several weeks and are quite 

 unlike any other flower. In Mohamedan 

 countries it is a general favourite, and 

 known as the " minaret plant" from its 

 fancied resemblance to these many- 

 storeyed buildings. Upon the Medi- 

 terranean coast it is also common and 

 its shrubby character so develops dur- 

 ing a series of mild winters as to reach 

 9 or 10 feet in height, with flower- 

 stems of proportionate length. These 

 are excellent when cut, lasting well in 

 water and pretty under artificial light 

 seen in long spikes. The leaves are long 

 and tapering, of a pale greyish green, 

 with a graceful downward droop. 



For English gardens young plants 

 should be raised in early spring from 

 cuttings of the side-shoots, which root 

 readily in a gentle bottom-heat. Pot- 

 ting off should be done as needed and 

 the plants fully exposed during summer 

 and housed in early autumn ; they will 

 then bloom inside during winter and 

 spring, and if lightly cut back yield 

 a second show planted in the open 



border. Pinching of the young plants 

 should be done with care, for if stopped 

 too late it results in weak twigs and no 

 flowers ; second year plants should be 

 trimmed after flowering and then left 

 alone. The object is to get stout, well- 

 ripened growths of 3 to 4 feet ; weak 

 shoots will not flower, nor is it strange 

 in view of what it must cost the plant to 

 produce such spikes of colour. Trying 

 winds or brusque changes of tempera- 

 ture must be avoided, for a check often 

 causes loss of leaves and a melancholy 

 aspect. During dry weather waterings 

 should be copious, with liquid manure 

 from time to time, for in its native 

 haunts the plant is almost an aquatic, 

 growing beside streams and in moist bot- 

 toms. In town gardens it rarelydoes well, 

 being sensitive to the fogs and darkness 

 of our winter days, but in districts more 

 favoured it often makes a brave show 

 during the dull season. Where cuttings 

 are not to be had the plant may be raised 

 from seed, which is freely produced and 

 often springs up around the plants in 

 gardens of the Riviera. There is a varie- 

 gated form to be found in the south of 

 Europe, and a white variety is grown in 

 gardens of Capetown, but it has not yet 

 found its way to this country. 



BOOKS. 



"THE PRIMROSE AND DARWINISM."* 



Those who accept the Darwinians at their own 

 valuation might be enlightened by reading this 

 book, which shows the shallow methods and 

 hasty reasonings of the school of Darwin and 

 Lubbock, and their followers, like the late Mr. 

 Grant Allen. The followers of Darwin were 

 much like the old florists, who inclined to knock 

 anybody on the head who did not accept their 



* " The Primrose and Darwinism," by " A Field Naturalist," M.A., Camb. London : Grant Richards. 6s. 



