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BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS. 
of rliis species are now to be met with, the colours 
varying from the pure white through deep orange 
crimson to rose-tinted forms. The seeds should be 
sown in March or April. 
FUNKIA ( Plantain Lily). — Ornamental foliage 
plants with beautiful funnel-shaped flowers drooping 
from the scapes. The plants have thickish root- 
stocks by means of which they can be divided in 
spring. A well-drained sandy loam, enriched with 
decayed manure, is the best medium in which to 
grow them. There are several species of Plaintain 
Lily — all natives of Japan — but the best hardy ones 
are F. grandifiora, with ovate, heart-shaped leaves and 
pure white sweet-scented flowers, from July to Septem- 
ber ; F. lancifolia with lance-shaped leaves with white 
or lilac blossoms ; the variety called alb o -marginal a has 
the leaves edged with creamy- white ; while undulata 
has wavy leaves, which in the variegated form are 
heavily streaked and blotched with white ; F. ovata 
has ovate leaves and bluish-lilac flowers from May 
to July, and its variety marginata has the leaves 
broadly edged with creamy-white ; F. Sieboldiana 
is an elegant plant with large ovate leaves about 
a foot long and covered with a dense glaucous 
“bloom.” The large flowers are white, shaded 
with lilac. Closely related is Fortunei with pale 
glaucous-green leaves, and lilac blossoms. F. subcordata 
has pale-green ovate leaves, and pure white flowers 
in August. 
GAILLARDIA.— These showy and useful plants 
flourish in any good garden soil that is well- drained 
and manured. The perennial Gaillardias have been 
