100 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
summer, or by seeds sown in pots of sandy soil in a cold 
frame in spring, and kept moist. None of these plants will 
withstand drought, so keep the soil moist. 
Armeria (Thrift or Sea Pink). — Hardy perennials, with 
grass-like leaves, belonging to the Sea Lavender family 
(Plumbaginaceae). The Thrifts are summer-blooming plants. 
The common species known as Thrift (A. maritima) grows 
wild on the sea cliffs of this island, and is also extensively used 
as an edging to borders in small gardens. It has red flowers. 
I here is a white variety named alba, also a crimson one named 
coccinea, all of which are worthy of culture. Other showy 
kinds are : A. bracteata rubra, crimson ; A. bracteata rosea, 
rose ; A. cephalotes rubra, red ; A. maritima laucheana, 
crimson ; and A. plantaginea splendens, rose. All the last- 
named sorts are best grown on a sunny rockery in good, 
ordinary soil. They dislike dampness. Plant in autumn or 
spring. Increased by seeds sown in sandy soil in a cold 
frame in April, also by division of the plants in March. 
Artemisia (Wormwood). — Hardy shrubby or herbaceous 
perennials, belonging to the Daisy family (Composite). The 
Southernwood or Old Man (A. Abrotanum) is the best known 
species, this being grown in most gardens for the sake of its 
aromatic hoary foliage. This grows 2 to 4ft. high. Of the 
other species A. anethifolia, a herbaceous perennial, growing 
3 to 5ft. high and bearing panicles of white flowers in autumn ; 
A. lactiflora, a stately-growing species, bearing white fragrant 
flowers in autumn, and growing 4 to 5ft. high ; A. alpina, 6 to 
8in., yellow, useful for rockery culture, are the only ones worthy 
of notice here. The foregoing will succeed in any dry soil 
and sunny spot. Plant the perennials in spring, and sow seeds 
of the annual species outdoors in April. The Southernwood 
may be increased by slips or cuttings inserted in the ground in 
summer ; the herbaceous kinds by division of the root in 
April. Natives of Europe and Asia. 
Asclepias (Milk Weed or Swallow Wort). — Hardy herba- 
ceous perennials, natives of N. America, and belonging to the 
Nat. Ord. Asclepiadaceae. The species most worthy of culture 
are: A. acuminata, red and white, July, 2ft.; A. Douglasii. 
purple-lilac, fragrant, July, 2 to 3ft. ; A. incarnata, red or 
purplish, July, very fragrant, 3 to 4ft. ; A. quadrifolia, lilac- 
white, fragrant, July, ift. ; A. syriaca (Syn. A. cornuta), 
purple, fragrant, July, 3 to 5ft. ; A. tuberosa, bright orange, 
July to Sept., 1 to 2ft. ; A. variegata, white with red centre, 
July, 3 to 4ft. A. incarnata requires a moist soil, such as the 
margin of a pond, and the others a rich sandy or peaty soil. 
Plant in spring. Increased by seeds sown in sandy soil in a 
