of the Pyramidal S. The leaves are narrow, linear, and encrusted, arranged in large speading star-like rosettes 8 or 10 inches in diameter. The flower-stems are stout, about 2 feet high, clothed with glandular hairs, and bearing a rather close pyramidal panicle of numerous white flowers. This is a very handsome and striking plant, adapted to the same purposes as the Pyramidal S., and rivalling it in the beauty and abundance of its splendid inflorescence. The same soil and other requirements as the Pyramidal S. Flowers in July and August.

S. oppositifolia (Purple Spring S.)—This is a near relative of biflora, and is the only spring-flowering species of the section to which it belongs. It grows only an inch or two high, forming weak straggling stems crowded with small dark-green thick leaves as broad as they are long, thickening at the point, and somewhat keeled or triangular there. The flowers are large, solitary, fine bright purple, appearing in April, May, and June. Native of Britain and many parts of Europe and temperate and frigid Asia. It is a most distinct and beautiful plant, becoming a carpet of purple when in flower, and at other times very pleasing in its diminutive carpet-like growth. It may be cultivated on rockwork or. border, in gritty moist loam, with the greatest success in sunny positions. When grown in borders it is advisable to put a few rough porous stones under and about it, especially if the soil is of a very retentive nature. The species retusa and Kochii are both allies of this, and are pretty plants, being intermediate between oppositifolia and biflora; and as they furnish no decorative features distinct from these, they need not be further noticed here. The varieties S. o. major, S. o. alba, and S. o. pallida, are worthy of notice.

S. purpurascens (Large-leaved purple S.)-I am doubtful if this plant is now in cultivation; indeed I think it is not; but it is so much superior to any other species of the large-leaved section at present in cultivation, that I must here describe and commend it to cultivators in the hope that, if lost, measures may be taken to reintroduce it. It is related to crassifolia, and similar in habit though not so coarse. The leaves are broadly oval, smooth, bronze-green, and lustrous. The inflorescence is on stout stalks, and like that of crassifolia, but the flowers are dark purple or purplish crimson. It is a native of northern India, and was introduced to Kew about the year 1856 or 1857, and flowered in 1858, when it was figured in the Botanical Magazine.' My experience of it is too limited to enable me to speak with confidence respecting its hardiness; but in that respect it is probably equal if not superior to

ciliata from the same country, if not from the same habitat. I can only say that it endured two winters at Kew with impunity in the open ground.

S. Rocheliana (Rochel's S.)—This is another of the dwarf encrusted-leaved section producing rosettes of grey, margined, short, blunt-pointed, lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are white, few together, on stout erect stalks, appearing in April and May. Native of Austria, and is best adapted for rockwork decoration in warm sunny positions.

S. umbrosa (London Pride S.)-This is so familiar in gardens, and so little liable to be confounded with any of its near relatives, that description is not required. Its elegant style of beauty and colouring renders it worthy a place in every collection of hardy border-plants. It is not so frequently seen about woods as the name and the capabilities of the plant for enduring shade would lead one to expect. It is a pretty ornament of mixed borders, and is useful in a variety of ways for edgings and for city gardens, as it has the power of resist ing the evil influences of smoke and dust in a high degree. Any ordinary soil is suitable for it. Native of Ireland and Spain and Portugal in shady places. Flowers in June and July.

UMBELLIFERA.

There is very little floral beauty in this great tribe of plants. One or two species of Astrantia, Eryngium, and Meum may be admissible amongst ornamental plants on account of the combination of a little beauty and much curious interest that they possess, but not any of them are gay plants, although the Eryngiums are undoubtedly very striking. There are other genera that furnish species with striking or handsome foliage, but I am not aware of any besides Astrantia and Eryngium that can be said to approach anything like floral beauty; and the beauty of these does not depend on the flowers but on the leaves of the involucres, which are coloured or otherwise interesting and conspicuous. One or two species of each of these genera and of Meum it may be advisable to notice and describe. Beyond this it is scarcely needful to go, as many of the species which might be recommended as possessing fine leaves become troublesome weeds under cultivation; and some of the best of them, again, are often more difficult to keep than better things

of the same character, or that are at least equally well adapted to produce the same results.

Astrantia (Masterwort). - There are five or six species of this genus grown in botanical gardens in this country, and one or two are to be met with very rarely in private collections. They are very easily cultivated, and are mountain-plants, often inhabiting shady places. Sandy loam, moderately rich, suits them well, and they are easily increased by division. The species selected is, I believe, the most ornamental of the group, and is quite worthy of a place in any collection of mixed herbaceous border-plants.

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A. carniolia (Carniola Masterwort). This plant grows about 1 foot high, having a tuft of five-lobed root-leaves and upright flower-stems bearing small, close, simple umbels of dusky greenish pink flowers and a conspicuous star-like involucre, composed of twelve or more narrow lance-shaped leaves, striped dull greenish-white and red. The flowers appear in May and June, and often well through July if the plant is encouraged with water, which it likes. Native of Carniola and Carinthia in moist upland pastures.

Eryngium (Eryngo).—This genus comprises several very striking species, resembling some of the Thistles at first sight, owing to the peculiar character of the involucral leaves surrounding the usually dense, compact, bluntly spike-like heads of flowers. They flourish best in light sandy soil, and might be useful for the decoration of ruins; and are not at all unfit for mixed borders, being handsomely coloured in all the parts in the upper half of the plants selected. They are pretty objects for maceration, for the purpose of making skeletonised bouquets and devices. The veins being stout, woody, and elegantly arranged, render them very attractive when well done in that way.

E. amethystinum (Amethyst Eryngo).-The plant grows between 2 and 3 feet high, with stout woody stems clothed with deeply-cut and jagged hard leathery leaves, grey, green, or glaucous often below, but growing gradually blue, as do also the stems and every part of the plant, and increasing in depth of shade as the flowers are reached. The involucral leaves are about eight in number, enclosing the heads of flowers. Flowers in July, lasting for a month or two. Native of the Tyrol, Trieste, and Tivoli.

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E. maritimum (Sea-holly Eryngo). This species grows I foot or 18 inches high, with very rigid, erect, freely-branching stems. The leaves are pale-bluish green, divided into three lobes, stiffly wavy and prickly on the margin. The involucre

consists of about eight prickly leaves, pale greyish blue, and the head of flowers is a darker shade. Flowers in July and August. A common sea-coast plant in Britain and other countries of Europe.

The following species are no less worthy of notice, but as they possess little that is distinct ornamentally from the foregoing, it is unnecessary to describe them: E. alpinum, blue; Bourgati, blue; cæruleum, blue; planum, blue.

Meum Athamanticum (Spignel).-This plant is worthy of a brief notice on account of the beautiful masses of finely-dissected leaves which it produces. It rivals the most delicate Fern in the intense green and fineness of its leaves, which are produced in dense rounded masses, and have a graceful attractive appearance amongst flowering plants. Native of Britain, and succeeds in any soil.

CORNACEÆ.

The typical genus of this tribe is the only one comprised in it that contains any ornamental herbaceous species. Cornus is not an extensive genus, but is very diverse. The common Dogwood (C. sanguinea) is a familiar example of the tree or shrub section; and C. canadensis is the only worthy representative of the herb section, which comprises, so far as I am aware, only two species; the second one, C. succica, being a native of Britain, and not very ornamental, though often cultivated by lovers of curious alpine plants.

C. canadensis (Canadian Cornel).-Grows about 6 inches high, with unbranched herbaceous stems, having whorled leaves on short stalks, and little umbels of flowers accompanied by involucres of pretty white bracts suffused with purple. Flowers throughout summer and part of autumn. The plant is best adapted for culture on moist rockwork in sandy peat, and requires moderate shade and a cool situation. It is frequently cultivated in pots in frames, but is more interesting on rockwork, and should have no encroaching neighbours. Propagate by division.

CAPRIFOLIACEÆ.

Linnæa borealis (Twin-flower) is the only subject that this tribe offers for our selection. The genus comprises no other

species, and the order no other plant fit to associate with herbaceous or alpine plants. It is a pretty, graceful, fragrant plant, and the great name which it commemorates will add a special interest to those qualities in the minds of those who love botanical science, and revere the memory of the great Swede who was the first to unfold a method of comprehensively studying the vegetable kingdom and gaining an insight into its beauties. The plant is evergreen, with feeble, trailing, wiry stems, clothed with opposite broadly-oval leaves. The flowering branches are short, with a few pairs of leaves, and extend into long slender flower-stalks, each bearing a pair of pretty pink or white bell-shaped flowers appearing in summer. The flowers are fragrant towards evening. It is a native of fir woods in the north-east of Scotland, and has been found also in Northumberland; but it is more common in alpine woods on the continent of Europe in the north, and in northern Asia and North America. When cultivated it is usually treated as a pot alpine, having been more easily kept in that way than in any other. It is not, however, so difficult to cultivate as is generally supposed. It grows best in rough fibry peat and sand, rambling over mossy stumps and roots and stones in moderately-moist partially-shady places. It flowers most freely when fairly exposed to the sun, but is not so easily kept alive and healthy in such circumstances; and perhaps the best position for it to occupy would be that in which it would enjoy shade from the powerful rays of the mid-day sun only.

STELLATÆ.

This is an herbaceous tribe of the great natural order Rubiacea, which comprises the splendid genera Ixora, Gardenia, Musanda, and many other stove and greenhouse species, more or less common in our gardens. Unfortunately, however, these shrubs and trees monopolise the beauty of the order to themselves, and leave to the herbaceous species very little to redeem them from the category of general weediness. There are, however, a few things that may be desirable in the collections of those whose taste and thoughts go deeper with regard to plants than the mere gratification afforded by profuse display of large or gaily-coloured flowers; and there is one time-honoured plant in Woodruff, which cannot possibly be ignored in a book devoted to old-fashioned hardy garden-flowers.