HARDY PLANTS. 
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border. S. sancta, yellow, March and April ; Greece ; loam ; 
well-drained sunny rockery. S. sarmentosa (Mother of Thou- 
sands), yellow, white, scarlet, summer; sunny walls or 
.ockeries; somewhat tender. S. Cymbalaria or Sibthorpii, 
yellow, March to August; Caucasus; biennial; damp walls or 
rockeries. 
4. Megasea Section. — These are distinct from the pre- 
ceding species. They have large, leathery, shining leaves 
and are of robust growth. They succeed well in ordinary soil 
in sun or in shade, and also do well in town and suburban 
gardens. May be grown in masses in shrubbery borders or in 
the woodland garden. Of special value because they flower 
early in the year. The two species generally grown are S. 
cordifolia, rose, 1 ft., Siberia; and S. crassifolia, red, gin., 
Siberia. Purpurea, crimsoD, is a fine form of S. cordifolia ; 
and gigantea. purple; Progress, rosy-pink; Distinction, pale 
pink ; and Milesi, white, equally good varieties of S. crassi- 
folia. 
The Encrusted Saxifrages are increased by offsets or divi- 
sion, as well as by seed. All the other kinds may be increased 
by seeds likewise; by cuttings; and by division. 
Scabiosa. (Scabious). — A genus of hardy annuals or bien- 
nials and perennials, belonging to the Teazel order (Dipsaceae). 
The Sweet Scabious (S. atropurpurea), a native of S. Europe, 
is a popular annual or biennial, largely grown for the sake of 
its fragrant flowers, which are most valuable for cutting. It 
grows 2 to 3ft. high, and bears double-crimson flowers on 
branching stems in July and August. The following are 
extremely pretty varieties of it: Candidissima fl. pi., creamy- 
white ; King of the Blacks, dark purple ; marginata, purple, 
edged white; nana fl. pi., dwarf ( 1 Sin. ) , various colours; 
minor aurea, yellow; The Fairy, blue; hybrida Victoria, 
various colours, very pretty. Seeds should be sown outdoors 
in April to yield plants for flowering in August ; and in Sep- 
tember for flowering the following June and July. Sow thinly, 
and thin out the seedlings to a foot apart. Seeds may also be 
sown in gentle heat in March and the seedlings planted out 
in May. The best of the perennial species is S. caucasica 
(Caucasian Scabious). This grows from 1 to 2ft. high, and 
bears large pale blue flowers, often 3m. across, in summer. It 
is a lovely plant for the mixed sunD'/ border, and its charming 
flowers are exquisite for cutting. A sandy, well-drained soil 
is necessary to grow it well. In some gardens it is only of 
biennial duration, especially where the soil is damp or the 
district cold. It is therefore advisable to grow a fresh supply 
annually from seeds sown outdoors in July, transplanting the 
