August 26, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
185 
M. betonicoides belongs to quite another section, in which the fertile 
stamens are four instead of two, as in the above. It also is nearly related 
to M. nepalensis, and of which it may be said to be a more fully de¬ 
veloped state. The lower leaves are all spinous, not toothed, as in the 
others ; the flowers small, few in a head, of a pretty purple colour. Flowers 
June. Native of Sikkim Himalayas, 10,000 to 13,000 feet. M. longifolm 
which may be made to include M. peraiea, grows from 3 to 4 feet in 
height, covered with a fine pubescence. The leaves are 6 inches or more 
long, doubly tocthed, and spinous, often covered with hairs. Flowers pink, 
about an inch in diameter. Flowers June and July. It may be increased 
in other plants. There are also several other shades of colour in this 
plant, from white to red and pale blues, dark purple, &c., all of which I 
have grown from one packet of seed, and which look very pretty mixed. 
Chrysanthemum segetum has lately been patronised by some people. 
This also well repays for cultivation, as its flowers come much larger 
than in the fields, and by a little selection in seeding the flowers may be 
had much more perfect in form. Both of these are very useful for cut¬ 
ting, as they afford a large supply of flowers from a small space and last 
well in water. The flowers of the Chrysanthemum also continue to 
develope after they are cut for several days. I lately saw a dinner-table 
which was decorated with a mixture of these two, and which was one of 
the best and most effective combinations I have ever seen. A quantity 
Fig. 26.— Mobika longifolia. 
by division in spring, but seeds ripen freely, and these should be sown as 
soon as gathered in autumn. The p'^nt is found at an elevation of 
9000 to 14,000 feet in Temperate and Alpine Himalayas.—D. 
BRITISH FLOWERS WORTH CULTIVATING. 
Many of these are far more telling and conspicuous than some of 
those introduced to this country, and would most likely improve greatly 
under cultivation; and yet they are passed over unnoticed by the 
majority of cultivators, possibly because they are easily obtained. But 
there are signs of increasing interest in our native plants, and deservedly 
so, for if only a poition of the care is expended which is, as a rule, be¬ 
stowed on the natives of southern Europe, they will give better returns 
for the attention. Some of those I am about to mention are cultivate I 
now in a limited sense. 
Centaurea cyanus, the beaut'ful blue Cornflower. I wonder this is 
not grown by everyone. The colour of its flowers is seldom met wi h 
of this Chrysanthemum, which I saw a few days since growing in a field 
with Poppies and ripe Barley amongst it, had a very pretty effect. Both 
the Centaurea and Chrysanthemum may be sown in September to flower 
early the following summer, and if another sowing is made early in the 
spring it will keep up the supply until late in the autumn. 
Chlora perfoliata is another very pretty wild annual. This is so much 
sought after here when in flower, that I have hitherto failed to obtain any 
ripe seed to commence its cultivation. The flowers are a very soft yellow 
colour, and in habit the plant resembles very much the common Centaury 
(Erythrsea Centaurium). Its flowers, however, are much larger. 
Anchusa officinalis is a very showy biennial if planted in poor stony 
soil, which reduces its straggling habit. It is occasionally found in 
gardens. 
Carduus eriophorus, one of the noblest of our native plants ; also a 
biennial. It forms a very striking object where there is room for it to 
develope as a single specimen, and as it grows from 3 to 5 feet high it 
requires to be placed in the background. Its four rows of leaflets on each 
peticde are v t ry curious and pretty. 
