HARDY PLANTS. 
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yellow flowers in summer. Both are adapted for growing 
on sunny rockeries, and will thrive in ordinary soil. They 
quickly spread over stones, and when in flower are decidedly 
showy and interesting plants. Plant in autumn or spring. 
Easily increased by division of the plants in October or 
March. 
Echinocactus. — This is a genus of Cactaceous plants, 
one species of which, E. Simpsoni, a native of Colorado, is 
hardy. It has a globular-shaped stem furnished with white 
spines and bears purple blossoms in March. It should be 
planted in a gravelly soil in a sunny rockery, and be protected 
during the winter from rains — its great enemy — by a hand- 
light. 
Echinops (Globe Thistle). — Handsome hardy perennials, 
with pinnately-cut foliage and round, bristly flower-heads. 
Well-grown plants produce a fine effect in the borders when in 
flower. They belong to the Daisy order (Compositae). E. 
Ritro is a handsome species, growing 3ft. or so high, and 
bearing blue flowers in summer, which are most useful for 
cutting. E. bannaticus (Syn. E. ruthenicus) has downy 
stems and finely-toothed, leathery leaves with spiny seg- 
ments ; height, 3ft. ; flowers deep blue, summer. E. 
sphaerocephalus has finely cut, silvery foliage and pale 
blue flower heads. Giganteus is a variety of the latter 
with large flower heads, and albidus has white heads. 
These plants will succeed in ordinary, deep soil in sun 
or shade, and may be massed in the wild garden or grown 
in shrubbery borders. Plant in autumn or spring. Increased 
by seeds sown in gentle heat in spring, also by division of the 
roots in autumn or spring. 
Echium (Viper’s Bugloss).— Hardy annuals or biennials, 
belonging to the Forget-me-not order (Boraginaceae). These 
plants are well suited for growing in hot, dry, gravelly or 
chalky soils. E. creticum bears red flowers in long racemes ; 
E. plantagineum grows 3ft. high, and bears dark blue flowers ; 
E. vulgare, the native Viper’s Bugloss, has red and blue 
flowers. All flower in summer and grow 2 to 3ft. high. Sow 
seeds where required to grow in September, to produce plants 
for early flowering next season ; or in March for flowering later 
in the year. 
Eomecon (Cyclamen Poppy). — The only species of this 
genus belongs to the Poppy order (Papaveraceas). E. chionan- 
tha is a hardy perennial, a native of China, grows ift. high, 
and bears white flowers with orange stamens in summer. It 
has creeping roots and cyclamen-like, yellowish-green leaves. 
