HARDY PLANTS. 
91 
into other boxes, and plant out in May. A. maritimum varie- 
gatum has silvery-yellowish foliage, grows 4 to 6 in. high, 
and makes a splendid edging plant for beds or borders. In- 
crease by cuttings or division. The former should be inserted 
in boxes or in beds in a cold frame in August or September, 
kept there till spring, then planted out. Division may be 
carried out in autumn or spring. The Sweet Alyssum, though 
generally known and grown as an annual, is really a peren- 
nial. It is only when grown on old walls or in sandy soils that 
it retains its perennial habit. The variegated form, however, 
is a true perennial. Of the other species, the best known is 
the Gold Dust, Money-bags, Yellow Alyssum, or Rock Madwort 
(A. saxatile). This is a shrubby species, growing ift. high, 
with hoary foliage and rich yellow blossoms borne in April 
and May. There is a dwarf variety named compactum, and 
one called variegatum, which has yellowish-white foliage. The 
two former may be reared from seed, and the latter by cuttings 
only. All three are suited for the rockery, or as edgings to 
borders. A. montanum has hoary foliage, grows about 4m. 
high, and bears yellow, fragrant flowers in early summer. 
Good rockery plant. A. alpestre grows 3m. high, bears yellow 
flowers in June, and is well suited for growing on old walls or 
in the clefts or chinks of a rockery. A. argenteum has silvery 
foliage, yellow flowers borne in June, and grows 6in. high. 
A. gemonense sulphureum is a new pale lemon-coloured kind, 
well adapted for the rockery, or as an edging to, or for 
massing, in herbaceous borders ; height 6in. A. rostratum is 
a silvery-leaved, yellow-flowered species, blooming in early 
summer, and adapted for border edgings or for rockeries ; 
height 6in. We ought also to mention the new' double-flowered 
form of A. saxatile, known as A. saxatile, fl. pi. This grows 
6in. high and bears masses of brilliant golden-yellow blossoms 
in April and May. It is a decided acquisition for massing in 
borders or on the rockery. All the species named, excepting 
A. maritimum and its varieties, will succeed in any good, 
ordinary soil that is not too heavy and damp in winter. We 
have found it a good plan to mix plenty of old mortar with 
the soil. They may be planted in October or March. Propa- 
gation is effected by cuttings inserted in a shady border in 
summer, or in pots in a cold frame in August ; by division of 
the roots in October or March ; or, excepting the double and 
variegated sorts, by seeds sowm outdoors in April or May. 
Natives of Europe and Asia. 
Amarantus (Prince’s Feather; Love-lies-bleeding). — 
Hardy and half-hardy annuals, belonging to the natural order 
Amarantacem. The hardy species include the Love-lies- 
bleeding (A. caudatus), with pendulous racemes of dark-red 
