HARDY FLOWliRS. 93 



those crowns which come asunder easily. E. robustus 

 is the most commonly planted, and is hardier and 

 more easily grown than any of the family. The spike 

 will sometimes rise to a height of nearly ioft., and is 

 closely set with rose-tinted flowers. A beautiful kind is 

 E. himalaicns, hardy, and with a spike of white flowers 

 about 8ft. high wdien fully developed. E. Olga; is not 

 so tall, the spike being only about 4ft., and the flowers 

 are of peach colour. It is very charming and distinct ; 

 so also is the citron yellow coloured E. Bungei, which 

 is dwarf, and very conspicuous when in bloom. The 

 Eremuri mentioned are all so beautiful that one cannot 

 name any kind and call that the finest. E. robustus, 

 however, should be the first, as it is more easily grown, 

 perhaps, than any other. 



Ericas (Heather). — These will be described fully in the 

 tree and shrub chapter. 



Erigerons. — A beautiful family of hardy planls, all 

 increased very readily by dividing the tufts in spring, 

 when new growth commences. The most important 

 kind is E. speciosus superbus, which is worth planting in 

 large beds in the grass, and using, indeed, in almost any 

 part of the garden, as iis mauve-lilac flowers are produced 

 in rich profusion, so much so that a large mass of it is a 

 sea of co'our. It remains long in beauty, and is a plant 

 that should be in every garden. Even if small tufts are 

 pi mted in February they will be quite large in the 

 summer, and flo,ver gaily — E. aurantiacus, which has 

 orange red coloured flowers, its variety splendens, E. 

 glabellas, E. macranthus, the pretty Daisy-like, pinky 

 white E. mucronatus, E. multiradiatus, also a small- 

 flowered kind, and E. salsuginosus ; but of all this 

 throng no one is so vigorous and 

 useful as E. speciosus superbus. 



Eryngiums (Sea Hollies). — A pre- 

 cious group of hardy plants, repre- 

 sented in our native flora by the 

 little spiny, silvery-leaved E. mariti- 

 mum, or Sea Holly. They require 

 a warm, thoroughly well-drained 

 soil, where there is not the slightest 

 stagnation about the roots, and a 

 sunny spot, otherwise that steely 

 blue colour, which is their chief 

 charm, will not be developed. 

 They may be increased by division 

 of the roots in spring, and cut- 

 tings of the roots, that is, bits of 

 roots, will thrive in light soil, putting 

 them about 2in. deep, and they 

 should be about I Jin. in length. In 

 raising from seed, a very simple and 

 good way of procuring a stock, sow 

 it as soon as ripe in shallow pans of 

 light soil, and place in a cold frame. 

 One must not be impatient about the 

 appearance of the seedlings, but as 

 a rule Eryngium seed germinates 

 well. Plant out when large enough, 

 which will not be for about a year. 

 The most charming kinds are E. 

 alpinum (Alpine Sea Holly), E. 

 amethvstinum, E. giganteum, E. 

 Oliverianum, and the pretty small- 

 flowered E. planum, which bees 

 delight in. 



The taller group is very handsome, 

 but it is only in the wild or sub- 

 tropical garden that it is advisable 

 to use them. Bromelioefolium, 

 Pandanifolium, and Lasseauxi are 

 the most striking. 



The spiny, thistle-like stems of the 

 dwarfer kinds are useful to cut for 

 winter decorations, as they are in a 

 way "everlastings." 



Erythronium (Dog's-tooth Violet). 

 — A delightful family of bulbous 



plants, flowering in early spring, and may be 

 planted in the lower parts of the rock garden, at the 

 margin of shrub groups, or even naturalised in grass. 

 They enjoy a light soil, composed chiefly of leaf-mould, 

 moisture without stagnation, and partial .shade. Such a 

 race as this, dainty in colour and form, should be well 

 grown. E. Dens-canis is the best-known kind, and there 

 are many beautiful varieties — white, rose, and other 

 colours, none poor ; and this Dog's-tooth Violet is as 

 easy to manage as any. It is never prettier than when 

 planted at the edge of a bed filled with American plants, 

 such as hardy Azaleas and the like. The name Dog's- 

 tooth arose from the bulbs resembling in shape the tooth 

 of our canine friend. Besides this species and its varie- 

 ties, there are many other beautiful kinds, chiefly from 

 the North- West of America. E. americanum is a graceful 

 delicate yellow flower with mottled leaves, as in Dens- 

 canis ; indeed the leaf-colouring of this pretty race is as 

 distinct as the subtle hues of the flowers. E. giganteum, 

 with prettily mottled leaves and yellow and orange 

 flowers, E. grandiflorum, golden yellow, E. Hartwegi, 

 pale yellow, E. Howelli, also yellow, with orange base, 

 E. montanum, pure white, and yellow in the centre, are 

 all worth a place in the garden. Nor must the charming 

 E. revolutum be omitted. Watsoni, E. Johnstoni, and 

 E. Hendersoni are distinct and handsome. The way to 

 increase Erythroniums is by bulb offsets ; also by seed, but 

 from four to five years elapse before seedlings bloom. 

 When planting cover the bulbs with sand, as anything 

 approaching stagnation is fatal to success. 

 Fritillarias. — These constitute a charming race of plants, 

 some of them being especially fitted for naturalisation in 



FRiriLLARIA [Snake's heaU). 



