July 7, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
705 
HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS IN 
FLOWER. 
Phlox glaberrima. —This is the typical wild form 
of the species from which the summer flowering 
Phloxes have been obtained, although the garden 
forms of that name have probably all been raised 
from the variety P. g. suffruticosa. The stems vary 
from one to two feet in height according to variety, 
and the flowers are produced during the summer 
months. The flowers of the type under notice are 
red and produced in flattened panicles of moderate 
size. The species is a suitable subject for the second 
line of the border. 
Lathyrus grandiflorus. —The flowers of this 
species well deserve the name of grandiflorus, for 
they are larger than those of any other. To balance 
this they are fewer, each peduncle bearing only two 
as a rule. They are bright rose, deepening almost 
to crimson at the base of the standard which is very 
large and effective. The plant is of moderate stature 
compared with some of the Everlasting Peas, grow¬ 
ing about 3ft. high as a rule. It should be grown in 
the third or fourth line of the border. 
Oenothera fruticosaYoungi. —The usual height 
of this plant is 18 in., and by the time it attains this 
stature, a good sized bush is an acquisition for the 
garden. The flowers are produced on the top of the 
stems from small branches, so that the plant increases 
very little in height during the whole flowering 
period. The individual blooms are of large size, and 
of a bright, clear'yellow. Propagation may be effected 
by seeds, which it produces in abundance, by 
division in October, or by cuttings of the flowerless 
shoots under a hand-glass at the present time. 
Geranium pratense.— This British wilding is one 
of the best of the stronger growing kinds, on account 
of the size and the quantity of its flov/ers. Those 
of the type are bluish purple, the blue shade being 
very prominent and telling when the plant is thriving 
under suitable conditions well exposed to the light. 
Under cultivation it has given rise to several beautiful 
varieties with pale blue, striped, pure white and 
double flowers. Neither cultivation nor propagation 
occasion any trouble whatever. 
Phyteuma orbiculare— Individually, the flowers 
of this plant are small, but they are aggregated in 
globular heads of a deep blue, and are therefore 
neat and attractive. The plant usually attains a 
foot in height, but may be dwarfer or taller according 
to the conditions under which it is grown. The neat 
habit makes the species suitable for cultivation on 
the rockery, but it is equally amenable for the 
border. Nor is it particular as to soil, although in 
its native habitats it grows on chalky pastures. 
Increase is slow, but it can be propagated by 
division. 
CoRONiLLA iberica. —The beauty of this plant is 
that it forms a dense mass, creeping over the rockery 
or border where planted, and producing bright 
yellow flowers in quantity for weeks together. 
Doubtless the rockery is the best place for it on 
account of the dwarf and trailing character of the 
stems. When once fairly established it roots deeply 
and constitutes a long lived-plant. It may be pro¬ 
pagated by seeds, and even in some cases by division, 
but as the roots are few and very stout they do not 
readily divide. 
Campanula turbinata. —The wild type of this 
plant is very dwarf and bears a solitary flower on 
the stem. For some years past, however, it has 
been so crossed withC.carpatica that one seldom sees 
any but the improved forms, which differ chiefly by 
having a variety of colours and bearing a greater 
number of flowers on the stem. Naturally it is best 
adapted for cultivation on the rockery on account of 
its dwarf habit; but not being particular as to soil 
it may be planted on the ordinary border with every 
hope of success. Propagation by cuttings is the usual 
method adopted with it. 
Campanula pulla.— A sunny position with a fair 
amount of moisture in the soil are the conditions 
most favourable to this dwarf species. Given those 
conditions it occasions no trouble whatever, but 
flowers regularly every year. What it most objects 
to is deep shade, which weakens the plants, and 
when under the drip of trees rain is prevented from 
reaching the ground and the plants sufier from 
starvation. The stems seldom exceed 3 in. or 4 in. 
in height, and bear a solitary, drooping, deep purple 
flower. Propagation can be accomplished by divi¬ 
sion, and by cuttings when they can be had free from 
flowers. 
Spiraea Aruncus.— Despite its being an old- 
fashioned subject this Spiraea is still a most impos¬ 
ing subject when in season. The feathery panicles 
of small, creamy flowers make themselves conspicu¬ 
ous, even from a distance. The plant usually grows 
4 ft. to 5 ft. high, so that it should occupy the back 
line of the border. A mass of it in the shrubbery 
would also make an imposing feature while it lasted. 
Gypsophila CERASTIOIDES. — This beautiful 
Alpine plant has kept flowering later than usual; it 
is quite unlike other species in cultivation, even in¬ 
cluding the dwarfer kinds, such as G. repens. The 
leaves are hairy, like those of a Cerastium, as the 
names implies, and the short stems creep over the 
ground. The flowers are produced in cymes and 
are white with red veins and very pretty. The beauty 
of the plant would be overlooked and lost if grown 
anywhere except upon the rockery. 
Veronica Teucrium latifolium. —The forms of 
V. Teucrium are very numerous, and that under 
notice is one of the tallest forms and the best for 
border culture. The stems grow about a foot high 
or slightly over, and produce their flowers on 
axillary racemes near the top, so that the foliage 
is completely hidden with bloom of a bright blue at 
the present time. The broad leaves are ovate and 
but shallowly divided or serrate. The plant is best 
suited for the second line in the border and requires 
no staking unless wet weather and rich soil should 
make it unusually tall. 
Lychnis Flos-Jovis.— The beauty of this Campion 
can only be conceived when seen in a mass in full 
bloom. The flowers are of a most lovely shade of 
rose, and when a batch has been raised from seed, 
some of the plants are almost sure to have darker 
flowers than the rest. The plant is hoary with a 
woolly tomentum, and usually grows from 12 in. to 
16 in. in height. It may be propagated by seeds, 
division and cuttings. 
-- 
DOUBLE-FLOWERED 
HERBACEOUS PAEONIES. 
So much has been written on these hardy border 
plants that little margin is left for further notes. 
Still, they command attention, and to those few who 
are so unfortunate as not to be able to see them in 
their full floral beauty in a large collection I give a 
few remarks regarding them. It is obvious that 
they will be much sought after for the embellish¬ 
ment of almost all gardens—large or small—in town 
or country. The perspective of such stately plants 
is simply charming and can only be described by 
those who grow them, the undefinable tones of 
colour blending with such subtle graduations, that 
for a moment one is dazed to look for the most beau¬ 
tiful, as they afford such a feast of colour. The fact 
that they are so accommodating and show such 
unwillingness to being disturbed renders them 
essential garden favourites. Let the compost be a 
rich deep loam, well worked and mixed with well 
rotted manure, in which they will grow and luxuriate, 
giving a profusion of bloom. 
A succession of bloom can be had from May, 
continuing until the middle of July. The first to 
flower are the old European species, double and 
single (P. officinalis), and very decorative they are, 
either in beds or on the rockery, possessing as they 
do, such diversity of character in stem and foliage, 
some tall and others dwarf. A very pretty and 
interesting species is P. Broteri, new, with rich 
crimson flowers, cup-shaped, and conspicuous 
golden-yellow anthers, the stem and leaf stalks are 
a coral-red. The first known plant when introduced 
to England flowered at Messrs. Barr & Sons’ 
Nursery in 1886, it delights in partial shade. 
Paeonia tenuifolia, with fern-leaved growth, and a 
very distinct species, is a beautiful object indepen¬ 
dent of its brilliant crimson flowers, and is well 
adapted for the rockery. There is also a double 
variety of it. Then follows the single and double 
Chinese varieties (P. albiflora). All of these are 
deliciously scented, varying in colour from pure 
whites and blushes, to roses and the deepest 
crimsons. A selection of about eighteen to twenty 
varieties might be had at very little cost, and would 
provide the most delightful vision of showy and 
lavish colouring as one could wish, and thus enhance 
the garden with crowning glory by the addition of such 
noble plants.— IF. L. 
Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs by 
A. D. Webster. A valuable guide to planters of beautiful 
trees and shrubs for the adornment of parks and gardens 
Price, 3S ; post free, 3s. 3d. Publisher, Gardening World,’ 
I, Clement s Inn, Strand, London, W.C. 
THE ROYAL NURSERIES, 
SLOUGH. 
Florists’ flowers of all kinds have been grown here 
for generations past, each kind coming to the front 
in its proper season. At present Carnations, 
Picotees, Pinks and Roses are in their full glory, or 
should be, though we must regret that what the 
frost left of the Roses, the hail destroyed. To give an 
idea of the destructive hailstorm that passed over 
this district some weeks ago, we may state that a 
large plant of Chimonanthus fragrans upon a wall 
will show the effect of the hailstorm all the season, 
for the first crop of leaves was completely riddled. 
A houseful of one year old plants of the pink 
Malmaison Carnation in rude health presents a bold 
and attractive appearance. They are mostly grown 
in 48 with a few 32-size pots, and must have been 
well cared for to bring them to their present con¬ 
dition. Amongst them we noted some plants of 
Lady Middleton, a striped variety of the same race, 
with pink stripes on a white ground. The Auricula 
house is at present filled with a large assemblage of 
Malmaison and other Carnations. It may here be 
mentioned that the Auriculas now being potted are 
standing by thousands in cold frames with a northern 
aspect, and seem healthy though quiet in the hot 
veather that has prevailed for some time past. 
A large collection of Carnations and yellow-ground 
Picotees in pots and standing in the open air will 
make a display when the others are out of bloom. 
On the occasion of our visit a large number of the 
Carnations in bloom were away at Windsor on the 
occasion of the Rose Show there. Still, several 
other houses were filled with the popular flowers in 
various stages of progress. Lady E. Balfour is a 
beautiful Carnation of a delicate flesh colour and 
incurved at the edges. Mrs. Cannell is a new 
variety with large and fragrant soft rosy-pink 
flowers. Mrs. Hamlet Riley is like a pale Miss 
Joliffe, but has larger flowers of the palest flesh 
colour. The more we see of Germania the better 
we like it, especially when treated in the way that 
Mr. Turner grows it, for the flowers are of huge 
size, neat in form, and of the most beautiful yellow. 
Mrs. Fred is a pure white variety with broad and 
massive looking petals that are perfectly entire at 
the edges. The petals are not very numerous, but 
are considered to have the finest form of any Carna¬ 
tion in cultivation. C. Turner is a scarlet flake 
variety of good form. A pretty and delicate-look¬ 
ing Picotee is Madeline, with a narrow rose edge. 
Of recently raised bizarres. Dr. Hogg is one of the 
best, for it took the first prize last year as the best 
of its class. It is striped with crimson and scarlet 
on a white ground. Lady Mary Perry is a beauti¬ 
ful rose flake. The seifs are the most widely 
esteemed, and amongst these we may name the soft 
rosy Rose Unique. Uriah Pipe takes the cake for 
spicy fragrance and dark crimson colour. 
The Pinks are all in the open ground and consist 
chiefly of laced varieties, although large quantities 
of Her Majesty are grown. Some of these are 
shaded and the size of the flowers and their purity 
under these conditions is simply charming, whether 
for forcing or for outdoor culture. Snowflake is 
equally suitable. The long pod is not so liable to 
split as in the case of the previously named one, and 
the petals are fewer but broad and pure white. 
Amongst the laced varieties there is none to excel 
Boiard for the solidity of its broad, red edge, and the 
dark crimson blotch at the base. In most seasons it 
is the best. The lacing of Device is also red, but 
the petals have a narrow white edge that serves to 
beautify the flower considerably. The Duke of York 
(Thurstan) is a new variety and a huge one—pro¬ 
bably the largest laced Pink in cultivation. The red 
edge is broad but in some cases imperfect, although 
that may be the fault of cultivation in this particular 
case. The outer edge is white. Mr. Turner says, 
that to do the lacing justice. Pinks must be piped in 
June and planted out in September. Nevertheless, 
if this Pink behaves well in the future, we shall hear 
more of it. The Rector is less than half the size as 
far as number of petals is concerned, but it is a very 
pretty one with a purple lacing. 
One house is devoted to seedling Begonias which 
are being improved by selection and seed sowing of 
the best kinds. Amongst new Roses we noted 
Madame Pernet Bucher, a Tea variety and an 
improvement upon Soprano with pale yellow flowers, 
dying off almost white. The Crimson Rambler still 
asserts its claim to attention as a showy and most 
