September 12, 18S1. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
19 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
Choice Plants in Flower. 
Lilium tigrinum splendexs. —The Tiger Lily is 
now in all its glory, and when planted in quantity is 
capable of producing magnificent effects. When 
planted in the open ground or amongst Rhododen¬ 
drons the stems vary from 18 in. to 4 ft. or more, 
according to the strength of the bulbs. The linear 
leaves are of a bright shining green, but occasionally 
assume a bronzy or black appearance on certain 
individual plants. The numerous bulbils in their 
axils serve to distinguish this species. The flowers 
of the variety under notice are borne in a broad 
deltoid or sub-pyramidal raceme, are of large size and 
bold in character, and orange-red with fewer and 
larger blackish-crimson spots all over the segments. 
The species is very robust and hardy. Some large 
beds of it in different parts of the gardens at Kew 
are now highly conspicuous. 
Linum monogynum. —This has more right to the 
title of New Zealand Flax than the plant which has 
already appropriated it (namely, Phormium tenax), 
seeing that the latter is not a Flax at all, whereas 
the former is both a species of Flax and comes from 
New Zealand. It is of subshrubby character after 
it attains some age, and annually throws out fresh 
shoots which flower. Some of the branches get partly 
killed back during winter in this country, with the 
effect that the plant remains about a foot in height, 
well furnished with foliage, and the shoots terminat¬ 
ing in large pure white flowers. In the Channel 
Islands it sometimes forms a bush 3 ft. high. It is 
readily propagated by seeds or euttings. 
Lythrum virgatum. —The Twiggy Loosestrife 
lacks the bold and massive effect of our own native 
wilding (L. Salicaria), which is now the glory of the 
banks of the Thames and other rivers, canals, and 
streams in England ; but it certainly has a charm and 
grace of its own. The stems are slender and twiggy, the 
leaves narrow, and the purple flowers are plentifully 
produced in the axils of the upper leaves, as well as 
on the slender lateral shoots which give the inflores¬ 
cence a panicled appearance. The species is a 
native of Tauria, from whence it was introduced in 
1776, and is perfectly hardy, flowering all the summer. 
Coreopsis lanceolata. —None of the perennial 
species of Coreopsis are neater or more showy when 
in bloom than the subject under notice. It varies 
from 18 in. to 3 ft. high, but a medium height is both 
more common and preferable. In fact it should 
occupy the second or third line from the back of a 
herbaceous border, and when planted in fair sized 
clumps it cannot fail to be a conspicuous object even 
at a distance during the months of August and 
September. Propagation is easily effected by divi¬ 
sion after the flowering period is over. 
Chrysanthemum arcticum. —The leaves of this 
species are deeply divided with wedge-shaped seg¬ 
ments, and the stems dwarf and spreading. The 
rays are pale purple or lilac, and therefore both 
characteristic and distinct, for the majority of 
Chrysanthemums have white or yellow rays. 
Lophanthus anisatus. —Owing to the particular 
odour of this plant it is spoken of as the 
Anise Hyssop. It is a North American plant 
introduced in 1826, but by no means common in 
gardens considering its showiness, hardiness, and 
the length of time it has been in this country. The 
leaves are heart-shaped, deep green above and hoary 
"beneath. The stems vary from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 
height, and terminate in cylindrical spikes of blue 
flowers with a purple calyx that in the aggregate is 
conspicuous even after the corolla has dropped. 
The plant is a member of the Labriate family, which 
includes Mint, Sage, Lavender, Thyme, and other 
sweet-smelling herbs. 
Phygelius capensis. —Where prizes are offered 
at exhibitions for herbaceous plants, especially in 
the northern counties, the Cape Figwort is generally 
in great request to make up the stands. The droop¬ 
ing scarlet, or almost crimson, tubular flowers are 
produced in long racemes terminating the stems. 
The leaves are ovate or the upper ones lanceolate, 
and the whole plant bears much the aspect of a 
Penstemon, only the flowers are more tubular. A 
sunny aspect near a wall is the best position for it, 
as the stems and leaves are liable to be injured by 
frost in severe winters. The plant is easily propa¬ 
gated from cuttings 
Zephyranthes Candida. — The Peruvian Swamp 
Lily, although it comes from Buenos Ayres, is hardier 
than is generally supposed, and instead of growing it 
in pots cultivators might try it in the open border in 
warm sheltered places. In the mild and equable 
climate of Jersey it is planted in beds alongside of 
the Daffodils, and flowers splendidly during Septem¬ 
ber and October. Narrow borders in front of stoves 
and vineries would meet its requirements in this 
country, and the plant under those conditions would 
develop rich, dark green foliage and a long succes¬ 
sion of large pure white flowers. 
Aster lzevis. — The Smooth-leaved Aster in its 
typical form is one of the best for border decoration, 
flowering finely during the month of September. 
The stems are generally 2 ft. high, but in wet 
seasons they get a little taller, producing flattened 
panicles of bright blue flowers that cover the upper 
part of the plant. The leaves are smooth and of 
a bright shining green. There are numerous forms 
of the species in gardens, some of them reaching a 
height of 4 ft. to 5 ft. ; but although the flowers are 
generally of a bright shade of blue, none of them 
excel the type for beauty and neatness. 
- ♦ r 
WHAT IS A HARDY 
PERENNIAL ? 
This is an easy question to ask, but not so easy to 
answer so far as exhibiting them at flower shows is 
concerned. I was asked the same question as 
“ R. D.” (p. 825, vol. vii.) by a friend who attended 
the Bridgewater Show, and agree that the exhibitor 
staging Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora was 
rightly disqualified, on the ground that it is not a 
perennial in the sense intended by the Schedule. 
No doubt it is a perennial in the strict sense of the 
word, but so is the Oak and the Ash, yet no one 
would dream of putting up either of these in bloom at 
a flower show, because every one understands that 
the word perennial as used in schedules is not 
meant to include them. 
As to thehardinessof Hydrangea paniculata grandi¬ 
flora, I may say that with us it stood the frosts of the 
past winter much better than the common Laurel. 
We have several plants, but not one of them was in 
the least injured, and they are grandly in bloom now, 
while the common Laurel was much damaged The 
judges in question should certainly have said nothing 
against its hardiness, as from my experience in 
various parts of the country it is much hardier than 
any of the other Hydrangeas, and it is greatly to be 
regretted that it is not better known and more ex¬ 
tensively planted. Many know the plant only from 
seeing it grown in pots, with one or more immense 
heads of bloom, almost pure white, and this may 
be the reason why they consider it not hardy. 
I agree with " R. D. ” that schedules are too fre¬ 
quently very loosely drawn up, leaving the door open 
for confusion and contention. When considering 
these classes why not simply say hardy flowers ? 
Why is not a bunch of Ceanothus, of Hydrangea, of 
Jasmine, or of anything else of this class equally as 
deserving of encouragement as hardy flowers from 
the border. They are surely as beautiful as hardy 
Phloxes or Galtonia candicans. As to hardiness, 
plants must be judged by their behaviour in this 
respect in different localities, as what may be quite 
hardy in Devonshire or Cornwall, may not be able 
to stand a .vinter in a colder district. When a plant 
is said to be hardy I think it ought to be qualified by 
stating to what extent.— Con. 
F^uim Hoyes. 
The Golden Perfection Melon. 
It is doubtful if this Melon is surpassed for culture 
in frames. It is an old variety, but none the less 
a good one. During the last three years I have had 
to grow Melons in frames on dung beds ; and wanting 
the fruits in September and October, to get them 
from frames, it is necessary to have a free setting 
sort, and this I have found to be eminently the 
characteristic of Golden Perfection. I have tried 
many new sorts along with it, but have found none 
to equal it yet. Four other sorts are being tried with 
it this season, but none of them compare favourably 
with Golden Perfection. I am not alone either in 
possessing a good opinion of this variety'. My old 
friend, Mr. Birkenshaw, gardener at Bridehead 
House, Dorchester, has grown it for many years as a 
frame variety, and har ing tried it against many other 
sorts, is as convinced as I ant that ji ha? no equal 
r— Con. 
(IMeanings frnnt f Wmll r 
nf Science* 
Chemical Manures for Peas, Beans, and 
Haricots — In the case of a large majority of 
cultivated plants great stress is laid upon a supply 
of nitrogen in some form or other when supplying 
them with manure. Leguminous plants such as 
those above mentioned are not perceptibly benefited 
by supplies of nitrogen, and the reason has been 
sought for by scientists for many years past. One 
explanation is that the deep rooting nature of many 
of them enables them to draw nitrogen from a great 
depth of soil ; another reason is that the presence 
of bacteria in the small tubercles found on the roots 
of Leguminous plants enables the latter to assimilate 
the free nitrogen of the atmosphere. A large per¬ 
centage of nitrogenous constituents are found in the 
tissues, consequently they must have some special 
means of getting it which other plants do not possess. 
What would be considered a complete manure 
for the above crops contains about 320 lbs. of phos¬ 
phate of lime, 160 lbs. of nitrate of potassium, and 
320 lbs. of sulphate of lime, or about 800 lbs. all told 
per acre, at an expense of £1 5s. 4 d. Carbonate of 
potassium should be substituted for the nitrate, but 
the latter is used because much cheaper. No 
nitrogen is really necessary, and even in the above 
receipt for the kinds and relative quantities required 
the nitrogen included is practically of no importance 
whatever. 
Native Food Plants in British Baluchistan. 
—Several plants are eaten by the people as vege¬ 
tables, the principal of which are the young leaves 
of Eremurus aurantiacus, Lepidium Draba, and 
Chenopodium Botrys. The bulbs of Tulips (that of 
Tulipa chrysantha having a pleasant taste like a nut) 
and of Iris Stocksii are eaten, and also the fleshy 
rootstocks of Tragopogon gracile and Scorzonera 
mollis. The nut of Pistacia mutica, var. cabulica, is 
greatly relished, although very small compared with 
that of P. vera, and with a strong flavour of 
turpentine. Amongst other fruits are those of Olea 
europoea—eaten chiefly as a medicine, the kernel of 
Prunus eburnea, Berberis vulgaris, Berchemia 
lineata, Sageretia Brandrethiana, and the fruit of 
Astragalus purpurascens, called “ Palez.” In certain 
years a kind of manna is found on Cotoneaster 
nummularia, whose fruit is also eaten by the people. 
At Sibi, the fruit of Salvadora oleoides is collected, 
and on the higher hills the carraway seed is collected 
in large quantities.— J. H. Lace, F.L.S., in the Journal 
of the Linnean Society. 
Lathyrus sylvestris as a Fodder Plant. —It 
cannot be said that we are very enterprising in 
utilising the native giants at our command either as 
fodder for cattle or other purposes. There are 
several species belonging to the Pea family besides 
. the species of Clover, Common Vetch (Vicia sativa), 
Lucerne (Medicago sativa), and Sainfoin (Onobrychis 
sativa), which we might turn to profitable account. 
For instance, the Whin (Ulex europoea) is an excel¬ 
lent fodder for horses, but its use is dying out, except 
in some parts of Scotland and probably Wales. The 
plants are cut and subjected to a crushing process 
by rolling a large stone like a millstone over them by 
the aid of a horse, after which they may be freely 
eaten by horses. About sixty years ago Vicia Cracca 
was considered an excellent pasture plant. Lathyrus 
pratensis might be used for the same purpose. The 
species of Melilot are greedily eaten by cattle, where 
they grow in a wild state ; the leaves are fragrant 
and no doubt palatable and good food. Within 
recent years some attention has been given to the use 
of Lathyrus sylvestris as a fodder plant where it 
grows in a wild state, and in consequence of this 
some people are now growing it in small quantities 
by way of trial. The only objection to its intro¬ 
duction to the cultivated field is that it is perennial, 
with strong and long roots penetrating the soil 
deeply. Waste land and hill sides, especially of a 
chalky nature, might, however, be permanently sown 
down or planted with it. The stems grow to a 
height of 3 ft. to 6 ft. when supported by anything, 
but no staking is actually necessary as they then 
spread over the ground, forming bulky masses, which 
could be cut and used in a green state or dried and 
used as hay, A top dressing might occasionally be 
given t° up their vigour —7 F , 
