554 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
•June 27, 1903. 
The Herbaceous Border. 
PLANTS IN BLOOM. 
Eremurns robustus. 
Of all the species of Eremurus that have been introduced 
to cultivation, none of them exceeds the stately grandeur of E. 
robustus and its; variety, E. r. elwesianus. The latter owes its 
distinction merely to its greater vigour. E. robustus usually 
grows 4 ft. to 6 ft. in height, and in the latter case 2-1 ft. to 
■i ft. would be occupied with a columnar dense raceme of flowers 
which have been variously described as rose and pink, but, as 
usually seen in this country, the flowers are merely flesh-pink. 
The colour, even then, is. very delicate and just sufficient to 
show the difference between it and E. himalaicus, which has 
white flowers. As the crowns are usually solitary and take 
some years to reach the flowering stage, the best method of 
propagation is by means of seeds, which are freely produced as 
a. rule.. 
Aquilegia chrysantha. 
The various hybrids which have arisen between the above 
species and A. caerulea are usually ornamental enough in a 
way, but it seems to 1 me that the colours are often undecided, 
indefinite, or too much mixed. I think that cultivators might 
with advantage endeavour to raise varieties from A. chrysantha 
without intermixture with any other species, in order that the 
yellow of the flower might be intensified to golden-yellow and 
orange. There seems no reason why this should not be effected 
even" at, the expense of a. little trouble m keeping the seed 
plants apart, from others while in bloom. The plant is very 
easily grown in pots, so. that for seeding purposes a. very good 
plan would be to keep the very best in a cool, airy house by 
themselves until they have passed out of bloom. When the 
seedlings, come into bloom they can again be subjected to a 
rigorous selection in order to get the most intense colours and 
the largest blooms. 
Iris ochroleuca. 
When June is nearing the end the above stately Iris makes 
its presence felt. in. the garden border on account, of the hand¬ 
some appearance of i^s white and yellow flowers. The falls 
have a. large golden blotch on the disc, thus contrasting wit i 
the white of the rest of the flower beautifully. The leaves are 
sword-shaped, veiy similar to those of the wild I. Pseudacorus, 
but they are taller, and the stems being about 3 ft. to 4 ft. 
high, they just overtop the leaves and show the beauty of the 
flowers. Some hybrids have been, produced by using the above 
as one of the parents, but some of them are no. great improve¬ 
ment upon the original. 
Primula sikkimensis. 
The above is a native of the Sikkim Himalayas and well 
merits the title of Himalayan Cowslip, even if that name be 
not generally adopted. Strong growing plants attain a height, 
of 2°ft., and produce from twenty to forty flowers in an umbel. 
Each individual flower has a longer stalk than our natice 
Cowslip, and this, allows tire numerous flowers to hang down, 
oracefully and assume a. more drooping and elegant habit 
of growth than the Cowslip. The flowers are also more de¬ 
cidedly cup-shaped than those of the Cowslip, and of a beautiful 
clear yellow. Like many of the Himalayan Primroses, the 
plants are not very durable, especially in certain seasons, but 
seeds are easily obtainable, and a. stock can readily be kept up. 
Iris Xiphion Thunderbolt. 
This is one of the most distinct of the Spanish Irises, but 
is so distinct, from the type that some of the older botanists 
have described it as a distinct species; under the names of I. 
sordidum and I. speetabilis, both of which names might, apply 
very directly to the plant, according to the point of view taken 
by the botanist. The falls are chest nut-brown, with a. large 
orano-e blotch on the disc, while the; standards are bronzy- 
purple During the past fortnight or so this striking variety 
has been much in evidence in the florists’ windows, showing 
that it is highly appreciated by the public for the distinct 
effect which it produces. Not only this, but various other of 
the Spanish Irises might be grown in gardens where the soil 
is friable, well drained and fairly rich. 
Campanula persicifolia alba grandiflora. 
Within recent years considerable improvement has been 
effected in the size of the flowers of the old peach-leaved bell¬ 
flower. The white variety under notice is quite as useful and 
effective as the blue, one, contrary to. the usual rule. When 
grown under favourable conditions the stems reach a height 
of 2 ft. to 2£ ft., and flowers produced on plants of that vigour 
are very large 1 and handsome. The plant is so easily pro¬ 
pagated by pulling it to pieces in early autumn or in spring 
that no difficulty is occasioned in getting the requisite stock. 
The plant is so easy to grow that on some estates in Scotland 
where it has been planted out in the vicinity of drives it has 
become naturalised, and is perfectly capable of taking care of 
itself. 
Incarvillea Delavayi. 
As we get better acquainted with this plant it seems to 
prove more vigorous and hardy than, it was at. first expected 
to be. The flower-stems now easily reach a height of 2 ft. or 
more, and produce a raceme of large and sho w} flower’s. These 
are of a rich rosy-carmine with a deep yellow throat, and are 
both handsome, and interesting. A fairly deep, rich and friable 
soil should be selected for it, so that no superfluous moisture 
will lodge about the roots during winter. Should any pro¬ 
tection be considered necessary, a layer of cocoanut fibre or 
coal ashes, might, be placed over tire ground in. winter. What¬ 
ever covering is used, it should be removed sufficiently early m 
the spring to allow the soil the benefit, of sunshine. After all 
danger of severe and continuous frost is over, there is no, 
necessity for the protection any longer. 
Kniphofia caulescens. 
The above may be considered a. bold and handsome species 
of distinct, outline. The leave® carry themselves more erect 
than those of the old K. aloides. They are also, broader, more 
glaucous, and arranged in a dense tuft upon a. stout, erect 
caudex, thereby giving the plant a. distinctly tufted habit, 
almost like a Yucca. The flowers are produced in a short, 
dense raceme on the top of the stem, forming a conical head, 
the upper portion of which is red and the lower pale yellow, 
indicating that about, half the head is; in bloom. 
Lathyrns undulatus. 
Some years ago we heard a good deal about a, new Lathyrus 
under the name of L. Sibtliorpii, but the plant ha® since been 
discovered to. he L. undulatus, previously described by the 
botanist Boissier. It. is a. native of the shore® of the Dar¬ 
danelles, and it is surprising that it had not become a more 
common herbaceous plant, many years ago 1 . It is much dwarfei 
in habit than the common Everlasting Pea, and blooms about 
tlie end of May and in June. The rosy-purple flowers recall 
those of the common Everlasting Pea, but their earlier appear¬ 
ance should warrant a. more extended cultivation of this plant 
in gardens.. It is as easily propagated from seeds as thd 
better-known specie®. 
Spiraea Anmcus Kneiffii. 
The ordinary form of Goat's Beard is a, strikingly handsonn 
plant., even when grown in pieces of moderate size in the her 
haceous border. Finer effect® even can be produced by plant 
ing it in circular beds on the grass and allowing the plants h 
develop into large masses. The flowers are very freely pro 
duced, and form fluffy masses of creamy white. These masse 
of flowers are differently arranged from those of the Meadot 
Sweet and more gracefully disposed. The variety S .A 
Kneiffii merely differs by having the leaflets deeply divide! 
into- very narrow segments, so that a well-furnished plant ha 
a very light and graceful appearance, more graceful even tha 
the type. Propagation is easily effected by division in Match 
or as soon a® the weather is sufficiently warm to. stimulate fie- 
growth. 
Asphodelns raxnosus. 
During May and June this forms a stately object in thebe) 
haceous border. The leaves remind one of those of an Eremina: 
