HARDY PLANTS. 
159 
linii is a somewhat tender species bearing vermilion, red and 
yellow flowers on stems 4ft. high in August. Distachya is a 
variety bearing several heads of flowers on the same stem. 
K. Macowanii is a dwarf species, bearing orange-red flowers on 
stems 12 to i8in. high in August; a fine rockery plant. K. 
Northiae grows 4ft. high, and bears pale yellow flowers tinged 
with red on the upper segments, in June and July. K. pumila 
is a dwarf species, with orange-red flowers borne on scapes 
i8in. long in August. K. Rooperi is a tender species, bearing 
orange-red flowers in dense racemes on stems 2ft. high in 
July. K. sarmentosa has creeping, underground stems, and 
orange-red flowers on the upper'half and yellow on the lower 
part of the spikes. The hybrids are numerous. The best are 
Corallina, scarlet and orange-red ; Atropos, rich red ; Lemon 
Queen, lemon-yellow ; Pfitzeri, orange-scarlet ; and Cloto, 
carmine-scarlet. Others will be found in the various trade 
lists. The foregoing are natives of S. Africa and Abyssinia. 
Kniphofias are noble plants for planting singly on lawns, 
grouping in masses in the wild garden, or growing in the 
mixed hardy plant borders. A good bold tuft of K. aloides, 
caulescens, or any of the hybrids look well near the margin 
of a pond or stream, as they like a fair amount of moisture. 
K. Burchellii is, however, an exception, this preferring a dry 
bank or a well-drained, sunny border. Few plants are more 
showy in the garden in late summer and autumn, the stately 
spikes of brilliant flowers then displaying their rich warm 
colours to good advantage. Any well-drained, good, ordinary 
soil will suit the plants. Plant in early autumn or in spring, 
and give an annual mulching of well-rotted manure in winter. 
In hot weather water freely, and when the flower spikes form 
apply occasional doses of weak liquid manure. In winter 
protect the base of the plants with bracken or dried tree-leaves. 
Increased by seeds sown outdoors in April ; by suckers ; also 
by division of the plants in autumn or early spring. 
Lamium (Dead Nettle). — A genus of rather weedy plants, 
two of which only are worth growing in gardens. These 
are L. maculatum aureum, with golden foliage, and L. macu- 
latum argenteum, with silvery foliage. These two are worthy 
of a place in moist borders where little else will thrive. They 
will grow in any good ordinary soil, are best planted in 
autumn, and easily increased by division of the roots in 
autumn or spring. Nat. Ord. Labiatas (Sage family). 
Lastfaetnia. — L. glabrata (Syn. L. californica), the only 
species grown, is a hardy annual, belonging to the Daisy 
order (Composite), and a native of California. It grows 
12 to i8in. high, bears orange-yellow flowers on downy stalks 
in summer. A showy annual to grow in bold masses in a 
