HARDY PLANTS. 
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Fragaria. (Indian Strawberry). — F. indica, the only 
species to be mentioned here, is a pretty trailing plant, bearing 
golden-yellow flowers and red berries. A suitable plant to 
grow on sunny rockeries where its shoots can trail about and 
show the flowers and fruit to advantage. Increased by runners 
removed and replanted in autumn or spring. 
Francoa (Maiden’s Wreath). — A genus of more or less 
hardy perennials, natives of Chili, and members of the Saxi- 
frage order (Saxifragaceae). Except in mild districts these 
plants cannot be relied upon to survive the winter outdoors. 
When planted out permanently a well-drained, sunny rockery is 
the best place for them. The soil should be moderately light and 
rich. Plant in March or April. In colder districts it is better 
to grow the plants in pots under glass and to plant them out 
in May, or to plunge them in their pots. They must be 
removed indoors in September. F. appendiculata, flowers 
pale red, borne in July ; and F. ramosa, white, July and 
August, are the only two species worth growing. Height, i to 
2ft. The flowers are borne on long branching stems and are 
useful for cutting. Increased by seeds sown in heat in early 
Bpring, also by division of the root-stocks in March. 
Funkia. (Plantain Lily). — Hardy herbaceous perennials, 
natives of Japan and belonging to the Lily order (Liliacese). 
Some have pretty flowers and others beautiful foliage. They 
do well in shady borders, on the margins of water, on rockeries, 
or as edgings to borders. The strong growing species look 
well grown in bold groups in the wild garden. A deep, rich, 
well-manured soil is essential to ensure fine foliage. Plant 
in autumn or spring. The principal species and varieties are : 
F. Fortunei, foliage bluish or glaucous, flowers lilac, June, 
height i8in. ; F. lancifolia, leaves narrow and green, flowers 
lilac, Aug., height 8 to pin. Of this there are several varieties, 
namely : aureo-maculata, leaves variegated with green and 
golden yellow ; marginata, leaves margined with white and 
flowers lilac ; undulata, leaves green, flowers purple ; undulata 
argente, leaves variegated with silver and green, flowers lilac ; 
undulata unvittata, foliage dark green with silvery mid-rib, 
flowers purple. F. ovata has glaucous green foliage and 
bluish-white flowers, borne in May, height 12 to i8in. There 
are two varieties of this, aureo-variegata, leaves variegated 
with gold, silver and green ; and marginata, leaves green, 
broadly margined, with white and purple flowers. F. sie- 
boldiana has greyish foliage and soft lilac flowers, borne in 
summer, height 2 to 2$ft. The variety major has large, hand- 
some leaves and fine spikes of lilac flowers. Major marmorata 
is another variety with blue-green foliage and lilac flowers ; 
