HARDY PLANTS. 
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sown in gentle heat in spring, afterwards planting out the 
seedlings ; also by division in spring. 
Ononis (Rest Harrow). — Hardy perennials, belonging to 
the Pea family (Leguminosae), and adapted for growing on 
banks or large dry rockeries. They will grow in almost any 
soil, and soon cover bare sp*ts with dense foliage. Plant in 
autumn or spring. The most noteworthy kinds are : O. 
arvensis, pink or white, Britain, ift. ; O. rotundifolia, pink, 
i8in., S. Europe; and O. fruticosa, purple, 2ft., S.W. Europe. 
Increased by seed sown outdoors in April ; cuttings of ripened 
shoots in a cold frame in September; division of the roots in 
autumn or spring. 
Onopordon (Cotton Thistle). — Hardy plants, with 
thistle-like foliage, belonging to the Daisy order (Composite). 
Mostly suitable for the wild garden or large shrubbery borders, 
or for sub-tropical bedding. The plants have whitish woolly 
stems and finely-cut leaves. O. Acanthium is the well-known 
Scotch Thistle, with woolly foliage and a tall branching habit, 
height 5ft. ; a hardy perennial O. arabicum has downy foliage 
and grows 8 to 10ft. high ; native of S. Europe and a biennial. 
O. illyricum, a native ot S. Europe, has very spiny foliage and 
grows 6ft. high ; also a biennial. There are several others, 
but the foregoing are the best. Sow seeds in the open border 
in April, and when the seedlings are well up thin them out to 
3 or 4ft. apart. 
Onosma (Golden Drop). — There are several species of 
this genus of Borage-worts (Boraginaceae), but the only one of 
any note is O. taurica (Golden Drop). This is a perennial, a 
native of the Caucasus, and bears golden-yellow, tubular, 
drooping flowers on one-sided spikes in summer. The flowers 
are almond-scented. It grows 6in. high. This plant will 
succeed best on a sunny rockery in a well-drained, sandy loam, 
mixed freely with grit and small pieces of sandstone. Plant 
in spring. Increased by cuttings inserted in gritty soil in 
small pots in a cold frame during summer. This plant very 
rarely yields perfect seeds in this country. 
Ophiopogort (Snake’s Beard). — Hardy herbaceous 
perennials, of no striking beauty, belonging to the Nat. Ord. 
Haemodoraceae. The following species are suitable for group- 
ing in shrubbery borders where other flowers fail to thrive : 
O. jaburan, growing a foot or so high, and bearing lilac-tinted 
flowers on slender spikes in July. O. japonicus grows ift. 
high, has narrow, arching leaves, and lilac blooms in summer. 
O. spicatus grows ift. high and bears dainty spikes of lilac 
flowers. There are pretty variegated forms of O. jaburan and 
