210 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Mignonefte requires a rich soil, and it a little lime or <>ld 
mortar can be added previous to sowing the plants will thrive 
all the better for it. To ensure bushy specimens, nip out 
the points of the main shoots when a few inches high. Nat. 
Ord. Resedacece. 
Rheum (Rhubarb). — Several species of rhubarb are grown 
in flower gardens for the sake of their noble and handsome 
foliage. Few plants have a more imposing effect than a well- 
grown specimen of R. officinale grown on the lawn. Unfortu- 
nately the rhubarbs do not maintain their beauty for long. 
In May and June, however, they certainly lend picturesqueness 
to the garden, and are worth growing in large gardens where 
there is plenty of room. Besides R. officinale, a native of 
Thibet, growing 8 to ioft. high, there are a few other species, 
such as R. Emodi, 6 to ioft., a native of the Himalayas ; and 
R. palmatum, 5ft. , a native of Asia; and its cut-leaved variety 
tanguticum. Even the rhubarbs cultivated as a vegetable are 
not to be despised as flower garden plants where plants of 
noble foliage are desired. Handsome as the foliage of the 
foregoing species is, the beauty of the plant is still further 
enhanced by the large panicles of inflorescence which are 
borne well above the handsome leaves. The roots require to 
be planted in early spring in deeply-dug and well-manured 
soil. In a rich soil the growth will be luxuriant and the 
general appearance more imposing than if grown in poor 
soil. May be grown on the margins of a pond or stream ; as 
an isolated specimen on the lawn ; and in the shrubbery 
border. Increased by seeds sown in heat in spring ; also by 
division in autumn or spring. Nat. Ord. Polygonaceae. 
Rhexia. (Meadow Beauty). — R. virginica is a charming 
little bog plant from Virginia, growing gin. high, and bearing 
bright rosy-purple flowers with protruding golden stamens in 
July and August. It belongs to the Nat. Ord. Melastomaceae. 
It requires to be grown in moist sandy peat in partial shade. 
A moist nook on a rockery or the margin of a bed of peat- 
loving plants would suit its requirements nicely. Plant in 
autumn or spring. Increased by division in spring. 
Rodgr er sia. (Rodger’s Bronze-leaf). — R. podophylla is a 
noble, hardy, herbaceous perennial with large, palmate, bronzy 
foliage and creamy white flowers borne in panicles in June 
and July. It grows about 3ft. high, is a native of Japan, and 
belongs to the Saxifrage order (Saxifragaceae) A really hand- 
some nlant to grow in a peaty soil in a moist shady position. 
