424 
THE GARDENING WORLD. March 4, ibm. 
MYOSOTIS SUTTON’S BLUE GEM. 
Within recent years great improvements have been 
made in the alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpes- 
tris), which seems more amenable to the art of the 
cultivator than any other species which has been 
brought into gardens from wild habitats. Some of 
the earlier forms raised were about 12 in. high; but 
now we have them varying from 4 in. to 6 in. and 
upwards. Sutton's Blue Gem is an upright or almost 
pyramidal habited variety, about 8 in. high, and 
flowers profusely during the spring months. For 
this reason it is well adapted fcr spring bedding, and 
may be planted in small beds by itself, in clumps in 
borders, or as a ground work for bulbs or other 
spring-flowering subjects. The flowers are bright 
blue, and of large size for a Forget-me-not, so that 
clumps or masses of it here and there in the flower 
garden have a brightening effect. It is of the easiest 
culture, and is raised from seeds. The accompany- 
illustration was lent us by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
Reading. 
--f*- 
HIBISCUS MANIHOT. 
During the last century or two, many showy and 
interesting plants have been introduced, grown for a 
while, and afterwards lost. With so many modern 
improvements in the way of houses suitable for plant 
culture, and heating, there is no reason why many of 
the old favourites should not be re-imported for the 
adornment of our greenhouses and conservatories, 
where variety is always looked for and appreciated. 
Hibiscus Manihot was originally introduced from the 
East Indies in 1712, but also grows in various other 
tropical countries. It has been figured twice in the 
Botanical Magazine, t. 1702 and 3152. Somewhat of 
a sensation was created when it was shown at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on August 
24th, 1897, and again on September 7th following, 
when it was accorded an Award of Merit. 
The plant is a herbaceous perennial and grows to a 
height of 35 ft. to 4 ft., the stems being clothed 
with handsome leaves deeply cut into finger-like 
divisions, after the style of Manihot utilissima. The 
flowers are of great size ard of a clear, light yellow, 
with a dark crimson-maroon eye, such as we see in 
the annual H. Trionum. They are produced on the 
upper portion of the stems and branches, opening in 
succession over a considerable period of time. To 
those who have not seen the plant in flower we may, 
say that it resembles a gigantic Evening Primrose, 
but strikingly different on account of the dark eye of 
the flower and the deeply divided leaves. Though a 
perennial, it may be flowered the first season by 
sowing seeds during the early months of the year. 
Some fine effects may yet be produced by using it in 
beds of the flower garden during summer ; but in the 
meantime, till the species becomes more common, 
plants in pots are highly effective in the greenhouse 
and conservatory. The accompanying illustration 
put at our disposal by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Read¬ 
ing, shows the upper part of a plant. 
SOME NEW AND RARE HARDY 
HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
Like the men of ancient Athens, the peoples of 
modern civilisation are ever on the watch to hear or 
learn some new thing, and the lover of hardy 
plants is not excepted in this continual search after 
the new. The expert cultivators, who are increasing 
in number as in expertness, day by day, see to it 
that no stone is left unturned, to keep up a constant 
supply of novelties. All the arts known to them are 
practised ; distant countries are ransacked for plants 
that have hitherto escaped notice, whilst those 
already in cultivation are subjected to reiterated 
intercrossing,in order to briugintermediate forms into 
existence, and promising varieties that are thus 
brought into being, or are called out by the simpler 
stimulant of high cultivation, are carefully selected 
and as carefully increased. During the last year or 
two some very notable additions have been made to 
the ranks of our showy hardy plants, exclusive of 
the wonderful races of Paeonies, V iolas, Carnations, 
and other florists’ floAers. Herbaceous plants of all 
kinds have been looking up, and no part of the year 
has been forgotten. 
To attempt to enumerate all these in a single 
article would be impracticable, but there are a few 
that stand out above all the rest as acquisitions of 
sterling merit. The modest Violet has been improved 
oat of all resemblance to its former self, and those 
mammoth flowered varieties California and Prin¬ 
cess of Wales indicate the possibilities that lie hidden 
in the flower. We may yet have Violets as big as 
Begonias, but we shall then probably lose the sweet 
perfume which up to the present has been preserved 
in both the varieties mentioned. Nature now and 
again gives a pointer as to what may be done with 
a flower. Witness the case of that fine Primrose 
Evelyn Arkwright, which was found wild in Dtnsmore 
Wood, Hereford, in 1887, but was transplanted and 
cared for, until last year it obtained a crown of 
reward in an A. M. from the R H. S. The 
common British Bugle Ajuga reptans has been con¬ 
sidered worthy of being brought into civilised plant 
life, and like other subjects whose balance has been 
disturbed, so to speak, has proceeded to throw off 
other forms. One of these A. r. metallica crispa is 
a very distinct and handsome looking plant with deep 
bronzy-green, crinkled foliage, and tall spikes of 
ultramarine blue flowers. 
Our friend the Daffodil has not been forgotten, and 
hybrids innumerable have been raised of late, not a 
few of which have attained to distinction. The P« et’s 
Narcissus has been much employed, and such forms 
as Homer, Ortflamme, Will Scarlet and White Lady, 
betray a good deal of poeticus blood. Of trumpet 
Daffodils the handsome bicolor Mrs. Walter Ware 
is a real beauty. The latest arrival isN. trimon, 
which pseudo-classic name appears to be only an 
attempt at indicating the parentage N. triandrus, and 
N. monopbyllus. For culture in pots this interesting 
hybrid is worthy of attention. 
“ As handsome as Adonis ” might well be applied 
to the newest arrival, Adonis amurensis, with its 
branching stems and Fern-like foliage much after the 
style of A. pyrenaica, and its large bright goldea 
flowers with which it greets the rains of February 
and the winds of March. Gerbera Jamesoni is not 
absolutely new but it is new to many people, seeing 
that it is rarely seen. The dense tufts of Dandelion 
like leaves, and the glorious discs of orang - 
scarlet flowers are most handsome. The plant is 
not too hardy, for it is a native of the Transvaal, and 
it should be planted in warm, light soil und rneath 
the shelter of a south wall, and then it is all right. 
Whilst speaking of plants that do well in a hot dry 
soil we should not forget to mention that charming 
little Sun Rose Helianthemum Mrs. C. W. Earle, 
and which is perfectly at home on a dry bank where 
most other things would give up the ghost. The 
glowing crimson flowers are very neat. Many 
members of Papaveraceae have also the faculty of 
flourishing in dry places. Meconopsis cambrica 
flore pleno, a very handsome double orange flower is 
worthy attention, whilst Eschscholtzia californica 
flore pleno rosea is a real acquisition, inasmuch as it 
represents a new break in colour, white and orange 
only having been obtainable hitherto 
Hibiscus Manihot. 
