a wild state. Any of the other hardy European or Asiatic species may be used in the same way, but none of them are worthy of a place in a select mixed border, and all are too gross for the rockwork.

Arnebia echioides, syns. Anchusa echioides and Lithospermum erectum.—A very handsome plant, with erect stems, terminating in a bold compact truss of purple and yellow flowers. The leaves are oblong, clothed as is the stem with conspicuous hairs. Flowers in early summer, continuing for a couple of months. Height about 18 inches. Native of the Caucasus. A handsome border-plant, not easy to keep. Succeeds best in rich light loam or sandy peat and loam. Propagate by cuttings and by seed.

Eritrichium nanus. This is, so far as I am aware, the only species. It is a lovely, rather dense-growing, diminutive, and somewhat delicate alpine plant, reaching only 3 or 4 inches above ground. The leaves are lance-shaped and densely hairy, as is nearly every other part of the plant. It blooms very freely, the flowers being produced singly, and are deep azure blue, opening in June and lasting for some weeks. It is a native of lofty stations on the Alps, bordering on the extreme limits of vegetation, and during the short period of activity it enjoys it is drenched with snow-drip. It is very rare in cultivation, and our experience of it is limited; but, like other subjects from like habitats, it must be treated to the nearest imitation of its natural circumstances that we can attain to in art. A thoroughly well-drained yet moist position on rockwork during the growing period, and a long and dry rest period, would be the most likely treatment; and the soil should be porous sandy loam and peat, the sand predominating, and the whole compact.

Lithospermum (Gromwell).-A very pretty genus of neatgrowing plants, some of which are somewhat shrubby in character. They succeed best in light, well-drained, sandy loam, and are propagated by division and cuttings and seed.

L. prostratum (Prostrate Gromwell).-A very pleasing and pretty spreading prostrate plant, with woody branches and

stems.

The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and hairy. The flowers are borne in small terminal panicles, and are deep blue with a dash of red. They open in May and June. The plant will succeed alike well in border or rockwork if well drained.

L. purpureo-cæruleum (Creeping Gromwell). — A prostrate plant, but often attaining the height of 9 inches or i foot in dry, deep, rich loam. The plant sends out numerous prostrate main stems, which extend in luxuriant individuals 2 or 3 feet.

The flower-stems are erect, clothed with lance-shaped sharplypointed leaves, rather roughly hairy. The flowers few together at the points of the branches. They open in early summer, and continue long. A very handsome plant in border or rockwork, and desirable to naturalise on dry banks in open woods, in which way it is likely to succeed well. Native of Britain, but rare, and southern Europe.

Mertensia virginica, syn. Pulmonaria virginica.—A very handsome and distinct border-plant, better known under the synonymic than the name now applied to it. It grows 1 foot or 18 inches high. The root-leaves are elliptical in shape, quite smooth, and pale green or glaucous in maturity, but in the early stages of growth pale or livid purple. The stemleaves are smaller, but the same shape and colour. The flowers appear in May and continue for some weeks, and are beautiful blue, in pendent racemes or panicles at the ends of the shoots. Flourishes best in moist good loam, but is not over-particular as to soil if the necessary moisture is present. Propagate by division. Native of North America.

Myosotis (Forget-me-not).-This is a familiar group, and much admired for their humble but attractive profusion of flower. They are plants of the simplest habits as regards culture. Most of them are bad perennials, that are apt to wear themselves out in a year or two if not timeously attended to in the matters of lifting and replanting, and refreshing the soil in the spots they occupy. It is well to attend to this regularly annually, and it is best done immediately flowering is done. In the case of certain species it will be necessary to remark more particularly on their treatment in the proper place. They succeed generally best in good rich loam, rather moist and light, and are propagated by seed, cuttings, or division.

M. alpestris (Alpine Forget-me-not).—The doctors are not agreed as to whether this is a good species or a marked variety of M. sylvatica; some of the authorities hold one view and some the other. It is not a point of much consequence to those who are looking for and anxious to meet with distinct ornamental plants, and those disposed to satisfy themselves on the scientific question will find the reasons pro and con in the various floras of this country and the Continent. It is quite distinct as a garden ornament, as well as superior to the best forms of sylvatica. The plant, even when most luxuriant, is only a few inches high. The leaves are rather roughly hairy, on longish narrow stalks, and dark green. The flowers are as large or larger than those of the common Forget-me-not, and usually succeed those of sylvatica in the time of opening, which

is about May or June, and continue for some time. Succeeds best in light sandy loam in moderate shade, and is most easily managed on rockwork, or when a few stones are put about its roots in the borders. A rare native of Britain, and more common on the mountains of the Continent. An attentive eye should be kept on its condition after flowering; and a little stock should be raised annually from seed or by division, but seedlings are always most vigorous.

to

M. azorica (Azorean Forget-me-not).—For general border decoration this is perhaps the best Forget-me-not in cultivation. It is very distinct in habit and colour of flowers from all others, and is perfectly hardy in well-drained soil, though there is a general impression that it is not so. The plant grows from 6 9 inches high, erect and compact, not throwing out creeping stems, as some species do. The stems are clothed with oval lance-shaped leaves, which, along with the stems, are roughly hairy. The flowers are borne in compact terminal trusses, are at first reddish purple, afterwards changing to deep blue. They begin to appear in May, and continue in moist situations, or if well attended to with water in dry weather, the greater part of the summer. It is easily increased by division, cuttings, or seed; and well-established plants are benefited by being annually transplanted in early spring.

M. dissitiflora (Loose-flowering Forget-me-not).—This plant is better known under the name montana than that applied to it recently by Mr Baker. It is distinct from both montana and sylvatica, at least for garden or decorative use, although in many points they closely resemble each other. This flowers or begins to flower in the earliest spring months. In most respects it closely resembles sylvatica, and like it is a perennial of short duration or biennial tendency, and is best treated as a biennial by being raised annually from seed. It is invaluable as a spring bedding plant, or wherever spring flowers are much valued; and in the latter case it should be naturalised on all desirable spots, which will be an easy matter if the soil is tolerably good and moist, for it will then sow itself freely, but not easily in dry gravelly ground in exposed places.

M. palustris (Common Forget-me-not).-A plant so beautiful and so abundant in moist places all over the country as this requires no description and as little remark, unless it be to express astonishment that a subject so much admired in nature should be so much neglected in cultivation. Too little of it is

seen about most gardens. It grows very freely in any good loam; but of course in dry soils, as might be expected in a plant inhabiting the wet positions in which it is most frequently

seen in nature, it does not do well for any length of time. It is a very proper subject, too, for naturalising where it does not already exist, about the banks of streams and all moist or wet spots where it may be desired. Its vigour is improved, when cultivated in borders or beds, by annual lifting and replanting, digging and refreshing the soil at the same time; and it should be done in early spring.

M. sylvatica (Wood Forget-me-not).-A very beautiful plant when grown in masses; but too thin, when only one plant may be viewed as in a mixed border, to be very much admired. It grows I foot high or more, with lance-shaped hairy leaves, the stems also being hairy. The flowers are beautiful azure blue, in racemes several inches long, and begin to open in the late spring and early summer months. The same cultural treatment as dissitiflora, and useful for the same purposes. Native of Britain and other countries of Europe, and the colder regions of Asia.

Onosma tauricum (Golden-Flowered O.)-This is not the only species, but it is certainly the best in cultivation. It is an elegantly pretty plant, growing from 6 to 9 inches high, and forming compact tufts. The leaves are lance-shaped, roughly hairy. The flowers are somewhat barrel-shaped and bright golden yellow, in terminal drooping trusses, appearing in late spring and early summer. Native of the Caucasus. The plant is adapted to the rockwork or border in rich light loam, and is partial to a little peat. Propagate by cuttings and by seed— not easily by division; indeed it is not advisable to resort to that method except in the case of those of experience.

Omphalodes verna (Venus Navelwort).-A very pretty and not uncommon plant in gardens, resembling in the colour and form of the beautiful flowers some of the Forget-me-nots; but there the resemblance stops, for the leaves and habit are not to be confounded by the least knowing in plant-lore. The plant forms dense spreading masses of bright-green egg-shaped leaves, quite smooth, on the surface of which lie the lovely azure-blue white-eyed flowers, which begin to appear in March or April, and in moist or tolerably rich soil continue in greater or less profusion for the greater part of summer. The plant is not fastidious as to soil, and is easily propagated by division.

Pulmonaria (Lungwort).—A pretty numerous group, very few of which are in cultivation. They succeed well in most garden-soils, preferring that which is rich and tolerably moist, and preferring also a little shade. Propagate by division.

P. davurica (Daurian Lungwort).-This species grows about 9 inches to I foot high. The leaves are produced in dense

masses at the roots, and are egg-shaped, with a heart-shaped base, and clothed with dense roughish hairs. The flowers are borne in terminal panicles, and are light blue, with a dash of red on opening, appearing in early summer. Native of the mountains of Dauria, and well fitted for border decoration.

P. officinalis (Common Lungwort).-A well-known inhabitant of cottage-gardens, and generally of the herbaceous borders of all gardens in which such borders are permitted. The large spotted-leaved form is too well known to require description, and is, when the best variety, a plant worthy of a place in any garden; but there are inferior varieties passed about under the same name, for it is a variable species, and some of these are not worth growing if the best can be got. The P. angustifolia of the catalogues is a less ornamental form, with narrower and usually spotless leaves. The flowers of all the forms of the species are borne in forked panicles, usually opening pink or reddish, and shading into different tints of blue. They appear in spring and early summer.

Symphytum (Comfrey). This group is mainly composed of bold-growing, rather coarse plants, adapted for the adornment of open woods and semi-wild places, but neither sufficiently showy nor refined for borders of an ornamental character. They flourish in any common soil, preferring that which is moist, and are propagated by division.

S. asperrimum (Roughest Comfrey).-A large coarse plant with large, roughly-hairy, broad, egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are red and purple, or blue, appearing in early summer and continuing to the end. Height 3 or 4 feet.

Native of the Caucasus.

S. bohemicum (Bohemian Comfrey).—This is a fine species, worthy of a place in select mixed borders, and a very handsome and desirable plant. In good moist sandy loam it grows to the height of about 2 feet, producing broadly-lance-shaped leaves and fine drooping trusses of handsome crimson flowers, which open in the beginning of summer and last a month or two. The name coccineum, which this plant bears in some gardens, is an erroneous one, for which I can find no authority.

S. caucasicum (Caucasian Comfrey).-A good dwarf border species, making considerable development of procumbent stems and foliage. The flowers are deep or purplish blue, appearing in the later spring and early summer months. Native of the Caucasus.

S. officinalis (Common Comfrey).-In moist soil this grows 3 or more feet high, with strong erect stems amply clothed with long and broad lance-shaped, roughly-hairy leaves. It is