September 5, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
0 
SELECT HARDY PERENNIALS. 
(Continued from p. 807, Vol. I.) 
Hemerocallis, or Day Lily. —Having hriofly called 
attention in the concluding remarks of my note in the 
last issue to the Christmas Rose, I will now pass on and 
glance at the genus Hemerocallis, or Day Lily. The 
generic name Hemerocallis is derived from Hemera, a 
4ay, and Kallos, beauty ; thus a day beauty, a day being 
the time which the flower of various species last. The 
English name, therefore, of Day Lily is a very appro¬ 
priate one, since the reflexed trumpets or flowers are by 
no means unlike those of the trumpet section of Liliums. 
The genus itself comprises some handsome species, for 
the most part vigorous, of free growth, and producing 
in quick succession during the summer months numerous 
spikes terminated by clusters of Lily-like flowers, which 
produce a bold and striking effect in the border. These 
Day Lilies are true herbaceous perennials, and form 
compact tufts of long lanceolate recurved leaves. 
Thunbergii, a distinct plant, with clear, bright yellow 
flowers, about 2 ft. 6 ins. high. The above-named 
kinds are all distinct and good, distinct both in foliage 
and flowers, and may be classed as among the best of 
summer-flowering perennials. 
Hepaticas. —These are a group of lovely 'dwarf plants, 
so beautiful in spring time. At the present time we can 
only allow them to remain in their respective places, so 
I will defer my remarks on these to another time. 
Hesperis matronalis albo plena (the old Double 
White Rocket).—To many of our readers the latter 
appropriate name will be much easier to remember than 
the former, though that is not so cumbersome as many. 
Who does not know something of this fine old- 
fashioned plant, which in days of yore, like the double 
Wallflowers, could frequently, and in plenty, be 
found in almost all cottage gardens ? Methinks de¬ 
scription is not necessary, for all must remember the 
compact, handsome, pyramidal and branching spike of 
this favourite old plant, a favourite in bygone days, 
they will soon emit roots, and be in fit condition for 
planting out in their permanent quarters in early 
autumn, and, provided the weather is comparatively 
dry and open, I much prefer autumn to spring for 
planting these Rockets, inasmuch as the ground itself 
is generally in better form, and the plants also have 
the advantage of becoming well established, for had 
they to remain in the cutting frame, even were the 
lights off, they would become weak and leggy from 
being overcrowded ; by this means a stock of young 
vigorous plants may be guaranteed, a far better way 
than by dividing the old plants. The best known 
kinds are the double white and the double purple. 
There is a double red, if not quite lost; I have not 
seen it for years, however, and should any reader of 
The Gardening World be the possessor of the true 
variety, I should feel much obliged if he would com¬ 
municate the fact of its existence. The name is taken 
from Hesperos, evening, toward which time the flow r ers 
are more fragrant than usual. 
“ALPINE POINT,” BATTERSEA PARK. 
The following are among the best for general pur¬ 
poses :—H. disticha fl. pi., with large double flowers of 
a bronzy yellow, growing 3 ft. high, is one of the best 
and most showy. H. fiava is a clear golden yellow, 
and one of the most useful of all ; apart from its value 
as a decorative plant in the border it is especially 
adapted for forcing, a fact which makes it doubly valu¬ 
able, and being free-flowering and of dwarfer growth are 
points favouring its extended use for vase or conservatory 
decoration at the early months of the year. Among 
other plants it is very effective, and when forced gently 
the golden yellow of its fragrant flowers loses none of 
its original beauty by being a shade lighter in colour. 
Plants for forcing should be lifted towards the end of 
September and potted, as by being thus early they 
have an opportunity of making new roots previous to 
winter. H. japonica grows about 2 ft. high ; interior 
of flowers soft yellow, exterior of a bronzy orange. H. 
Kwanso fl. pi., a large, showy kind, with double flowers 
of a rich bronzy orange ; of this there is also a varie¬ 
gated form, which makes handsome specimens either in 
the border or in isolated positions on the lawn. H. 
and an indispensable plant to-day. It is so free- 
flowering, that if not carefully watched it often, in 
excessively hot summers, and especially so in somewhat 
stiff soils, completely exhausts itself. It needs attention 
just now : directly the flowers begin to fade cut away 
the spikes, fork the surface of the soil about the plants, 
and if the weather be dry, give a thorough watering, 
and mulch heavily with short rotten manure, spent hops, 
cocoa-nut refuse, or any similar material. Your plants 
will then be secure, for nothing, I may remark, tends 
to weaken plants (and especially those having weak 
constitutions) more than allowing the old spikes to 
remain and the production of seeds ; in the present 
instance, by removing them the energies of the plant 
will be centred in the young shoots or buds around the 
lower part of the stem. 
In about a fortnight or three weeks plenty of young 
breaks will be apparent, and these, when about 4 ins. 
long, may be stripped off with a heel attached, and 
inserted in sandy loam under handlights in a shady 
position. If they receive occasional waterings, leaving 
the lights off for an hour or so after each watering, 
Hollyhocks. —With the lapse of a few years these, 
among the most showy of summer and autumn-flowering 
perennials, have undergone a great change. They 
were at one time prominent in many gardens, and for 
those of large size few could equal their giant spikes 
of flowers, double in the extreme, with colours so 
diversified that made their towering spikes objects of 
universal admiration. Strangely enough, though too 
true, the disease, only too well-known among these 
plants, has been much against their being employed 
in garden decorations, though fortunately this is not 
so prevalent among seedling forms as among thr 
named kinds. They are very effective ; indeed, none 
more so. I say, fortunately the disease is not so 
prevalent among seedlings as among the named kinds, 
because it will be satisfactory to the amateur and 
general public, who so much admire these plants, to 
know that they may still have them of equally fine 
form and as diversified as hitherto by employing 
seedlings (selected seedlings, of course) as in the 
named kinds, for several formerly large growers of 
named kinds known to the writer have given them up 
