ORN 
PAP 
range of the vegetable creation, is in it¬ 
self a dwarf, unpresuming genus, which, 
apart from other considerations, pos¬ 
sesses high claims on the culturist’s at¬ 
tention for its own intrinsic loveliness. 
Grown in the manner recommended for 
Ophrys, the neat pretty blossoms are 
plentifully produced without trouble ; 
or if the plants can be accommodated 
with a cold frame when they make then 
first appearance above ground, the 
flowers will unfold a fortnight earlier. 
ORNITHOGALUM (Linn.) Nat. 
Order Liliacece. An extensive genus of 
white flowering bulbous-rooted plants. 
The hardy species are easily cultivated 
in rich earth, where they rapidly increase, 
and are desirable for bedding, as the 
blossoms are produced at an early period, 
when flowers are always welcome ; the 
remaining portion being somewhat tender 
should be grown in pots, that they may 
have the protection of a frame through 
the first stages of their growth ; when 
the flowers are about to expand, the pots 
may be plunged in any desired position. 
The roots of the whole should be taken 
up annually, and preserved through the 
winter in dry sand. 
OXYLOBIUM (De Candolle.) 
Nat. Ord. Leguminosce. Handsome 
spring flowering greenhouse plants from 
New Holland, which should be grown in 
well drained pots of peat and sand; 
they should be occasionally stopped while 
young to ensure dwarf bushy specimens. 
The flowers are orange and yellow, are 
freely produced, and very pretty, particu¬ 
larly those of 0. obtusifolium,0. Pultencea , 
and 0. capitatum. 
PiEONIA (Willdenow.) Nat. Ord. 
Ranunculaceae. This genus include some 
of the very finest of our border plants : 
they are tuberous-rooted perennials, with, 
for the most part, annual leaves and 
stems, though the tree-pseonies have 
stems which endure several years, and 
in consequence the plants assume an ar¬ 
borescent character ; all are hardy, and 
remarkable for the large size and rich 
colouring of their flowers. They delight 
in rich soil, let its texture be what it may ; 
the Chinese species, P. Moutcm , and its 
varieties, papaveracea, Banksii, Hu/nei, 
Reevesiana, and variegata, should have 
a mixture of peat, loam, and silver sand 
in equal quantities; while all the others, 
either of European or other origin, will 
be found to grow best in turfy loam, en¬ 
riched with half its quantity of thoroughly 
decayed manure. P. officinalis and its 
varieties are found in nearly every garden, 
being the hardiest of the whole; these, with 
P. edulis , and its varieties, have deciduous 
stems, and never need other protection 
in the severest weather than to have the 
earth thrown roughly over them crowns, 
or a covering of leaves or mulch. The 
varieties having caulescent stems, some¬ 
times require to be matted over, lest 
hard frost injure the terminal buds, and 
thus prevent their blooming; these are 
frequently grown in pots, and by a gentle 
forcing, may be had in bloom at a very 
early season, when their showy flowers 
are much esteemed. The following are 
very beautiful varieties of Moutan; 
papaveracea, rosea plena, Humei, Ameslei , 
albida plena, and Reevesiana; varieties 
of edulis; albijlora, fragrans, rubescens, 
Whitleji, and Pottsii; varieties of offici¬ 
nalis ; blanda, albicans, Baxteni , rosea, 
and Sabini. The tree-pseonies are pro¬ 
pagated by laying their branches in the 
manner practised with Carnations, and 
the others by division of their roots, or, 
when it can be had, seed will perpetuate 
any of them. 
PANCRATIUM ( Willdenow. ) 
Nat. Ord. Amaryllidacece . This genus 
has lately been very much reduced in 
number and interest by breaking it 
up into other genera, and as it now 
stands it is only the hardy species P. 
maritimum , P. carolinianum , and P. illy- 
ricuni that are worth growing: these 
should be planted in a warm deep border 
of rich earth, covering the bulbs about 
four inches deep ; here they may remain 
several years, and will flower freely. 
PAP AYER (Linn.) Nat. Or. Papa- 
veracece. Regarded as an ornament to the 
flower garden, there are but tlnee or four 
species of poppy at all worth cultivating. 
These are P. orient ale, a perennial grow¬ 
ing to a height of four feet, and produc¬ 
ing large crimson flowers with a blotch 
