of rough gravelly pastures at high elevations on the Alps and Pyrenees.

P. frigida (Frigid Bastard Vetch).-This species produces many unbranched stems, clothed with leaves composed of eight or more leaflets, bluntly egg-shaped, and slightly fringed on the margin with spreading hairs. The flowers are in short racemes, and pale yellow, appearing in July and August. Native of the Alps of Austria.

Sophora. This group is more remarkable for its handsome trees than for any very valuable hardy herbaceous plants; yet there are a few of these which, though they cannot be commended as select or first-rate ornamental subjects, produce handsome racemes of flowers and fine foliage, and have a certain bold massiveness about them that fits them for some purposes that more showy species would be considered as thrown away in. They are quite worthy of a place in large collections, in borders where ample room may be allowed, and are suitable for furnishing groves and open places about woods with variety of verdure and a little colour; and they may be used also on the margins of shrubberies with good effect. They are propagated by division in autumn, and prefer a rich deep loam, but succeed very well in inferior soils.

S. alopecuroides (Foxtail S.)-This species grows from 2 to 3 feet high, with stout erect stems branching freely on the upper part. The leaves are long, pinnate, composed of many oval leaflets, slightly clothed on the upper side with silky hairs, which become more conspicuous as they increase in age. The flowers are in racemes, terminating the stems and branches, and are dull yellow. They appear in summer. Native of the Levant.

S. flavescens (Yellowish S.)-This species is scarcely so tall and robust as the last, rarely exceeding 2 feet; but in general habit they have a strong resemblance; the same character of leaves; the leaflets broader for their length, the same terminal racemes of flowers, which are, however, pale yellow or strawcoloured. Native of Siberia. The flowers precede those of the Foxtail S. by about a month.

Thermopsis. This is a small genus of handsome and interesting plants; only two species, so far as I am aware, are in cultivation, and these are rare, and seldom if at all seen in private collections, and not in many nurseries. They are worthy of more extensive cultivation, being select and rather peculiar in their style-and plants of that character we want more of in all our gardens. They are not so easy to cultivate as many of the hardy herbaceous perennials. The soil they like best is well

drained rich loam, rather sandy than otherwise; and they have an antipathy to frequent removals, or disturbings as by deep digging in their immediate neighbourhood. On this account it is not a safe process to attempt increasing them by division; but as the two species ripen seed more or less freely, there is nothing to regret in that respect, as propagation by seed will be found both more expeditious and safe. The seed should be sown in pots in a cold frame or under a hand-glass in spring.

T. fabacea, syn. T. rhombifolia (Bean-like T.)—This species grows erect about 18 inches high. The stems are thinly furnished with trifoliate leaves; the leaflets broadly egg-shaped, and diminishing sharply from the centre to both ends, and clothed underneath with silky hairs. The flowers appear in summer in loose racemes, are bright yellow, and rather large. Native of Kamtschatka.

T. lanceolata (Sharp-leaved T.)-This is scarcely so tall as the last. The stems are erect, rarely exceeding 1 foot in height. The leaves are trifoliate, on very short stalks. The leaflets are lance-shaped. The flowers few together, in loose heads, are large, bright yellow, and appear in June and July. Native of Siberia.

ROSACEÆ.

In this large tribe none of the other herbaceous genera can compare in beauty with Spiraea. It is the only genus yielding hardy herbs that can come into rivalry with the handsome shrubs for which the order is distinguished, and some of them are among the most beautiful of hardy border-plants. Yet there are other genera quite worthy of cultivation. Dryas and Dalibarda furnish several pretty rockwork gems, and suitable also for the front lines of mixed borders; and genera Potentilla and Gillenia yield some interesting and pretty subjects for the same purposes.

Dalibarda fragarioides, syns. Waldsteinia fragarioides and Comaropsis Doniana (Strawberry-like D.)-This plant is the only ornamental representative of an otherwise weedy genus, and is erroneously circulated under the name Waldsteinia geoides. It is a low creeping plant, rooting freely as it extends. The leaves are composed of three coarsely-toothed leaflets. The flowers are bright yellow, three or four together on the

stalks, which are numerous. It grows freely in shade or sunshine, delights in deep loamy soil, and is adapted for either rockwork or front lines of mixed borders. Propagate by division. Flowers in May and June. Native of North America.

Dryas. This is a genus of dwarf, moderately - spreading plants, with neat evergreen leaves and pretty strawberry-like flowers. They are easy to cultivate, flourishing well in rich light loam well drained, but also well supplied in the growing season with water. They are best adapted for culture on rockwork, but in well-drained light soil succeed well, also in the front of borders on the level, if partially shaded from scorching sun in summer; their shining dark-green leaves appear to be easily burned up in such positions. If the natural soil is retentive and heavy, a little peat and sand added to it will make it more congenial to these plants. Propagate by division in early spring.

D. Drummondi (Drummond's D.)—This species is from North America. It grows only 2 or 3 inches high, the stems spreading along the surface of the ground; the leaves are oblong in shape, dark green, and shining on the upper side, and clothed with down beneath. The flowers are borne singly on stalks, 3 or 4 inches long, proceeding from the axils of the leaves, and are pale yellow or sulphur They appear in summer. D. octopetala.-This is a native of Britain, and very similar in habit and aspect to the last. The flowers are borne in the same manner, and are creamy white, and appear about the same time. In both species not the least interesting feature appears after flowering; when the heads of fruit are developed, each carpel is surmounted by long feathery tails.

Another form named integrifolia is cultivated, but there is nothing horticulturally important about it that is not possessed by the two species described.

Geum (Avens).-This genus does not furnish much that is beautiful for the mixed border or rockwork. One species, chiloense, is handsome, and continues to keep up a crop of bloom for rather a long period, though it is often towards the end spare enough. The other selected species is dwarf, and best fitted for adorning rockwork, though it is quite admissible in mixed borders, also, in the front. They are easily cultivated, and succeed in any common garden-soil. Propagate by division in autumn or spring.

G. chiloense, syn. G. coccinea (Chile Avens).—There are two varieties of this species in cultivation-one dark crimson, the other a fine showy scarlet. Both are beautiful when at their best, but the latter is the more effective plant of the two. They

grow about 2 feet high, rather straggling, the stems thinly clothed with leaves. The mass of the leaves are about the base of the stems; they are pinnate, with the terminal lobe larger than the side ones.. The flowers are produced in considerable profusion and are large. They appear from June throughout the greater part of the summer. Native of Chili.

G. montanum, syn. Sieversia montana (Mountain Avens).— This a dwarf tufted plant, with numerous pinnate leaves, the terminal leaflet very large and broad and toothed, the others much smaller and diminishing in size downwards. The flowers are borne one on each stalk, the stalk furnished with a small sharply-toothed leaf or two. They are yellow, and appear from May or June onwards throughout the summer, but never in great profusion. Inhabits mountain pastures on the Alps and Apennines.

Gillenia. This is a small genus from North America, comprising only two species. They are elegant rather than showy plants, and in respect of ornamental use they are too much alike in appearance to be desirable in one collection, unless it be botanical. They flourish in any ordinary garden-soil, and are propagated by division in autumn or spring.

G. trifoliata (Three-leaved G.)—The plant reaches the height of about 2 feet, with erect stems, which branch when near the top into loose panicles of numerous white and red flowers. The leaves are composed of three lance-shaped sharply-toothed leaflets. The flowers appear in summer.

The other species (G. stipulacea) has the same habit of growth and the same character of flowers, appearing at the same time.

Its

Potentilla (Cinquefoil).—This is a numerous group. character for ornament is not very high. Many species are pretty, even gay when at the full flush of their bloom; but that does not last long, though the actual blooming period may be stated as lengthened, as for long after the full bloom is over they continue to yield a thin display, but it does not greatly enliven the general seediness that accumulates as the season moves on. They are, however, quite useful and fit for many purposes, if not altogether what is desirable in the choice mixed border. In extensive rockwork and shrubbery borders, and in many half-kept places about open woods, they will be found useful for covering bald surfaces and throwing in a little colour. They all succeed well in ordinary loamy soil, and are propagated by division in autumn or spring.

P. alba (White Cinquefoil).-This is a dwarf species, growing about 6 or 9 inches high, with weak, somewhat trailing

H

stems. The root-leaves are composed of five stalkless leaflets, somewhat connected at the base, and clothed on the under side with dense silky down. The flowers are pure white, borne at the end of the stems and branches. The plant succeeds well in either shade or sunshine. Native of the Alps and Pyrenees.

P. atrosanguinea (Blood-red Cinquefoil).-This is from Nepal. It forms neat rounded masses of leaves, each composed of three leaflets oblong in shape, cut or toothed on the margin, and clothed with white or dull-white down underneath. The flower-stems rise to the height of 1 or 2 feet, rather weak and straggling. The flowers are large deep crimson normally, but variable in colour in different individuals under cultivation, and the plant has given origin to several handsome hybrids. Flowers in May and onwards for a month or two.

P. nepalensis (Nepal Cinquefoil).—This, as the name implies, is from the same country as the last. They are nearly related to each other, but quite distinct in effect horticulturally. The leaves are composed of five oblong leaflets sharply toothed on the margin. The flower-stems rise to about the same height as the last, and are also somewhat straggling as the flowering continues. The flowers are scarlet or purplish scarlet, and some fine varieties and hybrids of various shades of red are to be found in gardens.

P. nitida (Shining Cinquefoil).—This is a very dwarf species, attaining the height of only 2 or 3 inches. It is an elegant little plant with trifoliate leaves, the leaflets somewhat wedgeshaped, toothed at the top, and covered on both sides with shining silvery hairs. The flowers, one or two together on the stalks, are rather small, but beautiful rose-colour. They appear in June and July. This is a pretty plant for rockwork. It is found at lofty elevations on the Alps of Tyrol, Savoy, and Carniola.

P. pyrenaica (Pyrenean Cinquefoil).—This is one of the showiest of the alpine species. The stems are bent downwards at the base, afterwards rising obliquely to the height of about 9 inches. The root-leaves are usually composed of three, but sometimes of five, leaflets. The flowers, several together, are large, with broad bright yellow petals. The plant is adapted for either rockwork or border culture. Flowers in summer. Native of the Pyrenees.

P. rupestris (Rock Cinquefoil).—A close compact species growing from 6 to 9 inches high. The root-leaves are pinnate, composed of usually five egg-shaped toothed leaflets. The flowers are large, pure white, in open few-flowered panicles.