country, being often cut up in spring by late frost, and again in autumn by early frost in the pride of its bloom, especially in late cold localities. It enjoys a warm sunny aspect and light, rich, well-drained loam, and is worthy of a good position, being a gay and choice plant. It is a diffuse plant, producing numerous flexible stems, hard, wiry, and somewhat angular. The leaves are numerous and rather thickly placed alternately along the stems and branches, and are obovate or oval, tapering most at the base, but stalkless. The flowers are in terminal clusters, fine bright blue at first, but changing afterwards to deep violet; they appear in August, September, and October. Height 9 to 12 inches. Native of China.

POLYGONACEÆ.

Polygonum (Knotweed).-This is a very generally weedy group, numerous in species. One or two species only are worthy of a place in collections of hardy ornamental perennials, on account of their pretty flowers and neat habit. The three species selected below do well in any kind of well-drained soil, the two last being more susceptible of injury from damp, or damp and cold combined, than the first. They are propagated by division.

P. Bistorta (Snakeweed).—This plant is found in wild places in many parts of Britain, preferring chiefly moist places, as about the margins of streams; and it is more useful for introducing into such places than for the herbaceous border, unless the collection is an extensive one. It is not averse to shade, and may be usefully introduced into moist woods. Propagate by division. The stems are simple, erect, terminating in a longish cylindrical spike of pink flowers very densely packed. The leaves at the roots and base of the stem are large broadly lance-shaped; those on the stems are similar in shape, but smaller, and often heart-shaped and almost stalkless. Flowers in early summer, lasting often late in moist places. Height about 18 inches or 2 feet.

P. Brunonis. This plant is creeping in habit, with numerous close-lying stems, clothed with lance-shaped toothed evergreen leaves, tapering sharply at both ends, on longish stalks. The flowers are deep rose in dense but irregular spikes, supported on stems about 9 inches high; they appear rather late in summer, and continue late. Native of the Himalayas.

P. vaccinifolium (Whortleberry-leaved Knotweed).-Like the last, this is a creeping evergreen plant, but with neater habit and leaves, and even prettier and more profuse flowers. The leaves are acutely oval, dark green, entire, and shining. The flowers are pink or rose, in regular graceful spikes, appearing about July and lasting till late autumn. The plant suffers often in spring from late frosts, the leaves becoming embrowned, but otherwise it is hardy. It should have a sunny warm position, and might escape the scathe of late frost in sheltered warm rockwork.

ORCHIDACEÆ.

This, perhaps the most interesting and splendid of all natural orders of flowering-plants, comprises some singular and beautiful hardy species. Very few of them are known outside botanic gardens, and they are reputed to be difficult to cultivate. Some are undoubtedly difficult to keep, requiring peculiar conditions as regards soil and other circumstances. These will not be introduced here. But there are others so easy to manage under very ordinary circumstances and by ordinary experience, and so beautiful and interesting, that they cannot be omitted. If I had the option, I should prefer cultivating all these Orchids in pots well drained on a cool bed of ashes in the best aspect-that is, the sunniest that could be chosen, and in a frame so as to have it entirely in my power to control light and otherwise to adapt atmospheric conditions to the requirements of the various subjects. But it is often Hobson's choice in this as in many other things with cultivators, and they must make the best they can of their circumstances. There is, however, an absorbing interest in the structure of these plants which, independently of their beauty, will induce those whose love of plants is genuine to take up their culture, even under difficulties which enthusiasm will make light of. They may be cultivated in pots, then, in the way indicated above. Some, as will be shown afterwards, may be grown in the mixed border; all may be grown on wellconstructed rockwork; and for the majority, a good gritty fibrous loam will be found generally congenial. Special requirements will be noticed afterwards where necessary. One very general condition to their wellbeing is that of covering the surface of soil, be it in pot, border, or rockwork, with some

thing to prevent excessive evaporation, from which they all suffer more or less during the growing period. In nature they are all found growing amongst and mixing with other lowgrowing plants like themselves. They are natives of hilly pastures, moist or dry, woods, thickets, and bogs. The herbage of such places cannot be imitated closely in cultivation, but we have many little plants quite adapted for the purpose of surfacing in such cases. The tiny Ionopsidion acaule, the Spergula, and smaller Arenarias are all fit for this purpose; and a pinch of the seed of any of these may be cast over the soil thinly, and will need no further attention. Other surfacings, such as Sphagnum and other mosses, and cocoa-fibre, may be adopted; but the living protection will be found the best, and always sweet and wholesome.

In

Cypripedium (Lady's Slipper).-There are several handsome and interesting species of this group in cultivation. The peculiar slipper-like form which the lip assumes is a very obvious and striking feature, and they are altogether, as regards structure and colouring, amongst the most beautiful of hardy Orchids. cultivation they are best grown in some free, open, porous soil, such as fibry loam and peat; but good turfy loam, well sharpened with sand, will do alone if good peat cannot be had. The drainage should be good; no stagnation should be permitted. They will not succeed well in open exposed borders, being fond of an hour or two's shade in the middle of the day. They require good supplies of water in the growing season, but when the foliage begins to go off they should get less, and be kept pretty dry throughout the winter. Propagated by division in autumn or spring; if the latter, let it be early.

C. acaule (Short-stemmed L.)—The whole plant does not exceed 6 inches high. It produces only two leaves, which spring directly from the root. The flower-scape rises between the leaves, terminating in a single flower, which is rose-andwhite, or pure deep rose-colour. The lip, or slipper, is split up the middle, which, independently of other peculiarities, distinguishes this species from every other hardy one in cultivation. Native of North America.

C. Calceolus (Common L.)-This species is a very rare if not nearly extinct native of Britain. It is a large-growing plant, with leafy stems reaching the height of 18 inches. The leaves are large below, diminishing as they ascend the stem both in length and width, the larger ones being egg-shaped and sharply pointed. The flowers appear usually solitary at the extremity of the stem, and are distinguished by the clear

yellow or purple and yellow lip and long brownish-purple sepals and petals; they appear about June.

C. pubescens (Downy L.)-This is nearly related to the last. It grows about the same height; the leaves are similar in form, and are clothed with soft short hairs. The flowers are composed of a yellow lip and long, pendulous, twisted, yellow sepals and petals. Native of North America. The flowers open in

June.

C. spectabile (Noble L.) This is the finest of the species, in cultivation, and perhaps of the genus. It grows about 2 feet high; the stems clothed with broadly egg-shaped leaves covered with longish soft hairs. The flowers are composed of a large inflated lip, rose-coloured, and the sepals and petals, shorter than those of some of the other species, are pure white, and in individuals the lip is also pure white. This species is more partial to shade and moisture than any of the foregoing, and a little peat is beneficial also; indeed, it will often luxuriate better in sandy moist peat alone than in loam alone.`

Goodyera pubescens (Downy G.)—There are several hardy species of this genus, but this is perhaps the best, and is also one of the most easy to cultivate. It is a creeping plant, with egg-shaped leaves, beautifully marked on the green groundwork with silvery-white veins. The flowers in spikes are creamywhite, and appear in June or July. The leaves are the most ornamental part of the plant. The plant is not adapted for culture in the open air the year round, for, though perfectly hardy, and a moisture-loving subject, it must be kept drier in winter than it is possible under ordinary circumstances out of doors. It is, therefore, better grown in pots, or, along with others requiring similar treatment, planted out permanently in a well-drained frame, in sandy turfy peat and loam, with chopped Sphagnum freely mixed therewith. Easily propagated by division in autumn or spring. Native of North America.

Orchis. This is a large genus, in which there are one or two species which may be established in mixed borders and on rockwork. They should only be attempted in cool, moist, partially-shaded borders, in good loam, all the better if it is chalky. The only way to procure sound and vigorous stock to start with is to resort to their haunts in nature, and this may be easily done in the case of the British species at least. They are best lifted when in flower, and should be taken up with balls attached to the roots, and with care. Plant them in patches as large as desirable, for they will not increase much in many years, and leave them undisturbed so long as they are

doing well: and when otherwise, there is no help for it but turn them out and get a fresh supply from the same source.

O. latifolia (Broad-leaved O.)-This species grows about I foot high. The leaves are egg-shaped or broadly lance-shaped, sometimes spotted, more usually not. The flowers are purple,

slightly variegated with a lighter shade of the same colour, in long dense spikes. A native of moist pastures in Britain, the Continent of Europe, and northern Asia. Flowers in May and June.

O. laxiflora (Loose-spiked O.)-A rather luxuriant and handsome species, growing I foot or 18 inches high. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, occasionally spotted. The flowers are rich purplish-red, in long loose spikes, opening in May and June. Native of the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey and many countries of the adjoining Continent.

O. maculata (Spotted O.)—A very beautiful plant, growing about 1 foot high. The leaves are usually lance-shaped and spotted. The flowers are pink or purple, but varying in the depth of colour, with the lip usually marbled with a deeper shade; they are produced in handsome spikes about May and June.

O. militaris (Military O.)—A very beautiful plant, growing 1 or 2 feet high. The leaves below are long, broadly oval, or broadly lance-shaped. The flowers are in dense spikes, are purple, appearing in May or June. A rather local native of Britain, but abundant on the Continent in upland pastures. O. fusca of the catalogues is a marked variety of this plant with darker purple flowers.

Ophrys. This is a singular and beautiful group, equal in beauty if not so showy as the last. Their culture in the open border is hardly practicable, I fear, but they may be established in pots and on rockwork with facility; and the same means and method must be resorted to as have been already described under Orchis for procuring stock. They are more impatient of wet in winter than the species of the last group, and should be well drained if left out on the rockwork, and the same also in pots, for though we find them luxuriating often in moist pastures in nature, they will not submit to the same in cultivation. They are not so particular about shade as the Orchis, but are the better for having the surface of the soil clothed with some dwarf carpeting of herbage.

O. apifera (Bee O.)-The plant grows from 9 inches to 1 foot or more high. The leaves are lance-shaped, rather broad, and bluntish. The curious and beautiful flowers are produced in loose spikes at the top of the stems, and consist of the egg