44 terennials. {March. 
few leaves or litter during the severity of winter; they de- 
light in light soil. 
tSaponaria officinalis, and S. o. plena, are fine free-flower- 
ing, dwarf plants ; the colour is pink in both double and 
single varieties. The roots run under ground, and care 
should be taken to keep them within bounds ; they flower 
from June to October. S. coespitbsa is a neat growing spe- 
cies, of a rose colour. They will grow in any soil. 
Silene. Several of this genus are popular annuals, but 
the herbaceous species are very indifferent. S. viscdsa and 
S. viscdsa /lore-plena are frequently cultivated for their 
beauty ; they will grow well if not too much shaded. 
Saxifraga, above one hundred species. Many of them 
are beautiful plants for rock-work. They are regardless of 
cold, but will not generally withstand much moisture. A 
few of them are highly deserving a situation in any garden. 
S. kirsulum and S. crassifblia are used in some countries 
for tanning. S. granuldta multiplex has fine, double, white 
flowers, and is desirable. S. umbrbsa, London-pride, makes 
a beautiful edging for a flower border; the flowers are small, 
but, on close examination, its colours are unrivalled. It is 
sometimes called "none so pretty." S. sarmentbsa is kept 
in the green-house, but is perfectly hardy, and makes a fine 
plant in a shaded situation, and will grow where grass and 
other plants generally die. We have no doubt that it would 
make a good fancy edging. S. pulchiUa and S. pyramidalis 
require protection ; these are easily cultivated, and flower in 
spikes from May to July. 
Spiraeas. A few species are showy plants, and continue 
flowering from May to September. S. ulmdria multiplex, 
Meadow-sweet, has sweet-scented, white flowers, in long 
dense spikes. S. filipendula multiplex, Drop-wort, double 
white. S. lobdta is a native, and has fine rose-coloured 
flowers, and blooms in June and July; JS. japonica, beautiful 
dwarf white ; these are the finest of the herbaceous species, 
and will grow in any common garden soil. 
Stdticc, Thrift. A genus containing many fine herba- 
ceous plants ; only a few of them arc common in collections. 
The finest of them are scarce, and said to be " bad to culti- 
vate." S. vulgaris, once Armeria vulgaris, is a valuable 
plant for an edging, and does well in our climate, flowering 
in great profusion from May to July. When done flower- 
