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natural vegetation is not of a rank kind. Flowers in June and two succeeding months. Native of central and southern Europe.

Platycodon grandiflorum, syn. Campanula grandiflora. This handsome plant grows in straggling, weak fashion, about 1 foot high. The leaves are narrow, egg-shaped, slightly glaucous, and minutely toothed. The flowers, deep blue, are very large, open, bell-shaped, in the way of Campanula carpatica, in spare terminal racemes. They appear in July and August. Native of Dahuria. There are two handsome white varieties, the one single, the other semi-double, but both rare, though very desirable plants.

P. chinense, syn. P. homalanthinum.-This does not differ materially from the last. The plant has broader leaves of the same form, and is in every way more luxuriant. The flowers are of the same form, and about the same colour, and appear about the same time. Both are excellent showy border-plants, and in the north are looked upon as doubtfully hardy: they resist any degree of cold, however, that they are likely to be subjected to in any part of the kingdom, but cannot endure the combined influences of cold and wet. If, therefore, the soil is wet and heavy, it is advisable to lift a few roots before winter sets in, and store them in any cold dry place, such as a cold frame or peach-house border; or by putting a hand-glass over the patches, they need not be lifted from their permanent positions. Where the soil is light and well drained, there is no necessity for lifting the roots; but a small mound of coal-ashes placed over them will be beneficial in protecting the crowns from the possibility of harm. They delight most in a sunny warm spot, and a little peat in the soil is very beneficial. The roots are fleshy, and the plants are increased by division of these.

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Symphiandra is a genus of Campanulacea, consisting, so far as is at present known, of only one species. It is simply a peculiar Campanula, and was separated from that genus on the ground of the anthers adhering together somewhat in the manner of the Composites. The only species, S. pendula, syn. Campanula pendula, is a native of the Caucasus. It is a choice and distinct plant, growing 1 or 11⁄2 foot high, with erect stems terminating in rather spare spikes of drooping creamcoloured flowers, large and campanulate, and appearing in June and July. It is regarded as being difficult to keep, and by some on this account it has been set down as a biennial, but it is not so. It is, however, very impatient of full exposure to the sun in light dry soils, and delights in a cool, somewhat shady situation, as on the north side of rockwork or a bed of shrubs.

where it would escape the scorching effects of the mid-day sun; and in such circumstances it will be found neither troublesome nor fugitive. Propagate by division in spring.

ERICACEÆ.

In the natural order Ericacea there are very few hardy herbaceous plants. Among the Chimaphilas, Pyrolas, and Monotropas, there are some curious and pretty things; but in a horticultural sense they are almost destitute of beauty, and at the most can only be recommended here for cultivation among alpines in partially-shaded rockwork, in sandy peat and a little loam. They should never be disturbed while doing well. But there are certain of the shrubby genera of this order of plants which contain species and varieties of great excellence for the herbaceous border, the margins of shrubberies, for grouping in the spring garden, and for decorating rockwork, as taste and circumstances may prescribe. Erica yields the largest number of valuable things for these purposes. E. carnea and its varieties form, perhaps, the most interesting and beautiful group of these hardy heaths. They begin to bloom often so early as January, and continue flowering on till May and June. They are most easily cultivated, and, being of dwarf compact habit, they are available for the spring garden; and if kept in pots in the reserve ground, their value as temporary tenants of the beds of the summer flower-garden, in circumstances requiring these to be filled in winter, is very high indeed. E. tetralix, and the few varieties sprung from it, are handsome, and flower from June till August and September. E. australis is another early-blooming species. It comes on in March, and lasts till the end of May, and often into June. E. mediterranea begins to flower about the same time as the last-named species, but continues for a shorter period. This is by some considered merely a more erect and taller form of E. carnea, but as it is a remarkably distinct form, it is quite entitled to a specific appellation in gardens at least. The var. nana alba of this species is a fine compact sort for rockwork or for the spring garden. E. cinerea, one of the most common of our Scotch Heaths, is at the same time, in some of its varieties, one of the most handsome. They flower throughout the summer and autumn. E. vagans and its varieties, also summer-flowering, are pretty, dwarf, dressy things. E. ciliaris is one of the handsomest of hardy Heaths,

with large purple or pink flowers in leafy racemes. It flowers in summer and autumn. Some of the varieties of the common "Ling," Erica or Calluna vulgaris, are pretty, and well worth a little attention. They are now rather numerous, and vary much in habit, some forming neat tufts or cushions, while others are rather loose and straggling.

Menziesia furnishes several brilliant and elegant species and varieties. M. polifolia and its varieties, of which there are now eight or nine, are a beautiful and showy group of summerflowering dwarf shrubs. The dark purple, the white, named globosa, and the nana varieties, are the best. The latter flowers from June far into the autumn, and is quite a gem. The charming and rare little M. cærulea is more difficult to grow and keep than the foregoing sorts, but it is well worth a little trouble. It succeeds best in sandy peat on rockwork, in a rather moist situation. M. empetrifolia is a most beautiful dwarf species from North America, with rosy-purple or pale-red flowers, which must be cultivated in the same way as the last-named species.

Azalea procumbens, syn. Loiseleuria procumbens, is rather rare, but a beautiful and attractive little evergreen shrub, with terminal clusters of pink or rose-coloured flowers. It should have a moderately shady place on rockwork in sandy gritty peat.

Bryanthus erectus, syn. Menziesia erecta, with something mongrel-like in its aspect, is a most beautiful thing, with heads. or clusters of pink flowers in the way of Kalmia glauca, from which, as one parent, it is supposed to be derived, being regarded as a natural hybrid. It delights in a shady moist position on rockwork.

Epigæa repens is a dwarf, trailing, evergreen shrub, rarely rising above 9 inches high, with white, in some individuals pink, flowers in small clusters, very fragrant, delighting in shady places, and excellent for introducing into woods where the native vegetation is not of a rank character, and where the soil is peaty, or composed of decayed leaves and sand.

APOCYNACEÆ.

This is a magnificent order of plants, of which, however, there are very few herbaceous species, and only a few plants of any kind capable of being associated with herbaceous plants;

but such few as we have are very valuable, both on the score of their beauty and their adaptability to the decoration of positions that it is always difficult to get plants to live in, far less to do well.

Amsonia. This is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants from North America. Without having any very strong claim to be considered beautiful, they have a certain distinction and elegance in their appearance that renders them valuable for certain ornamental purposes. They may be introduced among shrubs with very good effect, and they may be planted in open woods where their robust hardy nature will enable them to establish themselves when less vigorous plants would succumb before the encroachments of the native vegetation. Any ordinary good soil suits them well, and they are easily propagated by division or seeds in spring.

A. angustifolia (Narrow-leaved A.) grows about 2 or 3 feet high, with hairy stems and lanceolate leaves clothing them throughout. The flowers are produced in small panicles in the axils of the upper leaves, are light blue, and appear in July and August.

A. latifolia (Broad-leaved A.) is about the same in stature as the last, but the stems are usually destitute of hairs, and the leaves more broadly lanceolate. Flowers blue, in the same manner; the panicles, rather fewer-flowered, appear about the same time.

A. salicifolia (Willow-leaved A.) has hairless stems, and very narrow lanceolate leaves, attenuated at each end. The flowers are numerous, in small panicles in the axils of the upper leaves. They are blue, and appear about the same time as the others.

Vinca (Periwinkle).-This is the only British representative of one of the most beautiful natural orders in the vegetable kingdom. Like most of the other genera of the family, Vinca is more ligneous than herbaceous; indeed, only one species of the group may be properly classed with herbaceous plants, according to technical rule, but their dwarf habit and natural adaptability to similar purposes bring them nearer to that class of plants than to shrubs of any kind. They are most accommodating in their nature, growing freely in nearly all kinds of soils and situations, preferring moist, shady places, but not refusing to grow freely in those more dry and exposed. They grow freely in the shade and drip of large trees, and may be used for clothing naked banks with great facility and success. Several fine variegated forms also of the hardy sub-shrubby species may be used with good effect for those and for more select purposes, such as the edging of beds and borders of shrubs, draping rockwork and rustic work, and even for the edging of beds and borders of flowers. All are easily pro

pagated by cuttings, in the autumn or in spring, in a cold frame or under a hand-glass, kept moderately close and shaded till the process of rooting has commenced, and by division either in autumn or spring.

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V. major (Large Periwinkle) is the strongest and largest of the hardy Vincas; it grows from I foot to 2 or 3 feet high, according to soil and situation. The leaves are broad, ovate, bright shining green. There are two sorts of branches, those growing erect from the roots and bearing flowers, and those trailing and flowerless, and rooting as they extend. The flowers are large, somewhat bell-shaped, and blue in darker or brighter shades. It flowers throughout the spring and early summer. It is a native of England, in many parts, and of the south of Europe and the Caucasus. There are several interesting and valuable varieties of this species. A white-flowered sort, not very common, has a fine effect, mixed with the blue, on banks, or wherever masses may be grown. The V. major, var. elegantissima, has the leaves blotched and margined with creamy white, and is an elegant plant for many purposes. V. major, var. aurea, is even more beautiful and effective than the preceding. The leaves are richly marked with golden yellow, which in the spring, when young growth is being made, is very beautiful indeed. V. major, var. reticulata, is an elegant but not very striking sort, having the veins of the leaves delicately marked with golden yellow. In rich soils and moist shady situations this is not a constant variety, being apt to run green where over-well fed; but in poorer soil, and more exposed places, the effect of the rich colouring of the veins on the dark shining leaf-ground is very elegant.

V. minor, the common Periwinkle, is much more prostrate and slender than the foregoing species, and is, if possible, more useful for covering banks and for planting under trees. The leaves are smaller than those of V. major, and they are ovatelanceolate. The flowers also are smaller, but more profuse ; they are also more variously coloured, there being blue, purple, violet, pink, and white-coloured varieties. There are also two varieties with prettily-variegated leaves, the one creamy and the other golden yellow. It flowers in April and May, and onwards throughout the early summer months. Native of the same countries as the last, but enjoys rather a wider distribution in northern and central Europe.

V. herbacea (Herbaceous Periwinkle).-This is a very different and distinct plant from either of the preceding. The branches are herbaceous, and have a very limited extension: they are prostrate, and rarely exceed 9 inches in length. The leaves are

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