FLORA AND SYLVA. 



There are a few other kinds making in all 

 some five or six species found in southern and 

 eastern Asia, but not having yet been intro- 

 duced they may be dealt with briefly. Mis- 

 canthus saccharifer (syn. saccharijiorus) from 

 China, its smooth plumes being sometimes 

 offered by Japanese merchants. Though found 

 at Kew it is almost unknown in gardens spite 

 of its vigour and beauty. It forms stout bam- 

 boo-like stems of 8 or i o feet, woody in texture, 

 with deep violet knotsand base. Theleavesare 

 i\ inches broad and 3 feet long, smooth at the 

 edge, gracefully arching, with a bold white rib 

 down the centre. Grown as at Kew, this kind 

 would form a conspicuous ornament in gardens. 

 The Himalayan Fairy Grass (M. Nepalensis), 

 from northern India, is rarely seen in gardens, 

 with smooth edged leaves and flowers in a dense 

 single head and not divided like others of the 

 group. Other kinds are Ms. cotulifer and pur- 

 pur ascens, both of Japan. 



PENTSTEMON. 

 Amongst free-flowered border plants 

 few are more brilliant than the large 

 group of Pentstemon, an American 

 family of about 100 kinds, scattered 

 widely over Canada and the western 

 United States, with a few stragglers 

 amid the mountains of Mexico and one 

 kind in north-eastern Asia. All are pe- 

 rennials though some of them bloom 

 in their first year from seed and not a 

 few spring from a hard shrubby base. 

 Their variety of habit and colour, as 

 also in size and form of flower, render 

 them one of the most graceful and in- 

 teresting of plant families. Our damp 

 English winters are against these sun- 

 loving little strangers though none the 

 less the hardier kinds will often pass the 

 winter in southern gardens of light soil 

 when protected from frost ; with the 

 shelter of a cold frame nearly all the 

 kinds may be kept safely. Those com- 

 monlygrown are a race of hybridsknown 

 as Pentstemon gloxinioides^ of uncertain 



Culture. 



origin, but believed to be crosses from 

 species such as P. Hartwegi,Cobcea^ and 

 a few others, the seedlings being further 

 improved by selection. Though less 

 common in gardens the variety of wild 

 kinds offers a rich choice for the rock- 

 garden and border, most of them being 

 easily grown and increased, though 

 many kinds do not vary from seed. A 

 great many kinds were introduced early 

 in the last century and grown at Chis- 

 wick, and though some of these have dis- 

 appeared a large number are still grown 

 at Kew and in many trade collections. 



Little need be said as to 

 their need of good soil 

 and abundant moisture. When grown 

 as rock-plants it must be remembered 

 that they need richer treatment than 

 alpi?jes, with constant moisture at the 

 root (often best secured by stones) though 

 enjoying full sunlight. Many kinds are 

 gems for the rock-garden, maintaining 

 in good years a succession of flower from 

 June well into October. Where the soil 

 is very light it should be enriched with 

 cow manure and the roots protected 

 from frost with cocoa-fibre or ashes. 

 Young plants are best raised from cut- 

 tings taken after flowering and slowly 

 rooted in a cool frame of light sandy 

 soil, air being given freely throughout 

 the winter when possible. It is best not 

 to plant out too soon in spring, nothing 

 beinggained by early exposure of plants 

 whose first value is for their autumn 

 display. 



Kinds: — Pentstemon acuminatus. — A pretty 

 plant growing rigidly erect to 1 2 or 1 8 inches, 

 with thick greyish leaves clasping the stem and 

 a compact spike of mauve or violet flowers, 

 wide at the throat and nearly an inch long. 



P. antirrhinoides. — A plant of wiry growth, 



