THE CALIFORNIAN TREE,POPPIES, 



297 



if exposed to severe gales of wind, it 

 should be planted in as sheltered a po- 

 sition as possible. Those who are not 

 acquainted with this splendid Magno- 

 lia will welcome the coloured drawing 

 in the present issue of Flora. There is 

 also a portrait in the fine folio work 

 on Himalayan plants by Cathcart and 

 Hooker, though I never saw the flowers 

 so large or of so bright a colour as they 

 are there represented; but this may 

 be the result of different climatic in- 

 fluences. W. E. GUMBLETON. 

 Belgrove, Cork. 



THE CALIFORNIAN TREE- 

 POPPIES. 



In places where they do well few plants 

 are more beautiful during the summer 

 months than the great Tree-Poppies 

 of Western America. Beautiful at all 

 times in foliage and 

 habit, when the great 

 satin flowers of white 

 and gold, 4 to 6 inches 

 across,hang freelyfrom 

 the tips of every lead- 

 ing shoot, they are as 

 beautiful as anything 

 in the flower-garden. 

 California is rich in 

 plants of the Poppy 

 tribe, from low annuals 

 like theEschscholtzias 

 to these fine shrub-like 

 forms which are pecu- 

 liar to theregion. They 

 include Romneyas of 

 two kinds (though for 

 garden purposes the 

 same), Argemone, and 

 Dendromecom and 



may well be treated as a single group, 

 for a garden which meets the needs of 

 one will suit all alike. But they will not 

 do everywhere, being tender in many 

 places, often difficult of increase, or 

 sensitive to root disturbance, and even 

 when growing well, too often shy in 

 flower. No doubt this is why they 

 are not tried in many gardens where 

 they ought to succeed. Natives of the 

 American Pacific coast, a soil fertile 

 and light, but not too dry in summer, 

 suits them best, for, growing often upon 

 the banks of their native streams, mois- 

 ture is essential to them, and unless the 

 soil is fairly rich the blooms are few. 

 None the less, fine plants may be seen 

 in gardens so diverse and far apart as to 

 show that with knowledge of their needs 

 there are few places in the southern 



TREE POPPY (ROMNEYA). 



