three months in summer, and bright pink. It is sometimes called Gypsophila saxifraga, and is an elegant little plant for rockwork, or front lines of borders, or small beds, in some secondary massing arrangement, as it bears the sun and all kinds of weather well; and, in fact, delights in the fullest exposure, and prefers a light sandy but rich soil. Propagate by seed and division. There is a double-flowered variety in cultivation, but not yet plentiful. Native of the Alps and Pyrenees.

LINEÆ.

Besides being of immense value in manufactures, the Flax family is, for its bulk in species, one of the most brilliantly ornamental of those that furnish hardy herbaceous subjects. Of the three genera comprised in the order, two of them are represented in the British flora, Linum and Radiola, the latter an interesting annual, but with no pretensions to beauty. Linum is therefore the only group to which we can turn for a selection of hardy plants, but there are not a few species in it that are very beautiful and hardy. There are not a great number of the species—that is, perennial ones—in cultivation, but there are several of the best in gardens, though not often seen. Their culture is very easy. They require a good, rich, sandy loam, dry rather than otherwise, and one or two are the better for a mixture of peat or leaf-mould, well decomposed, incorporated with the loam. Some are suitable for rockwork adornment; others are more congenially circumstanced in the mixed border, where the soil is proper; and some of them are not fastidious as to the quality, if it is not liable to stagnation by wet. All may be propagated by seed easily, which they generally produce freely, and by cuttings taken before the stems are too old and hardened, but sufficiently firm to avoid the risk of damping, to which they are liable when too soft and succulent. There is a safe medium, which cannot be described in words, nor can a time be named for taking them in all localities, as the growth will vary much in different places; but a little observation and experience will serve to guide the earnest amateur in this seemingly difficult point, in which, however, there is really less difficulty in practice than in description. If the cuttings are taken early in the summer, they should be treated in the same way as described for Pinks and cuttings of hardy subjects generally, being placed in sandy soil under a hand-light, in partial shade,

or where they may be shaded from strong and direct sunlight, and the very soft point of the cutting be removed; if taken late they will be more successful if placed on slight bottom-heat, shaded, and kept close till they show signs of growth, when they will require a little air, and the shading gradually discontinued. The seed may be sown in pots in a cold frame, in March or April, in the open border, or where the plants are designed to remain, and seed will be found the least troublesome means with amateurs.

A very

L. alpinum (Alpine Flax).-A very dwarf species, with numerous almost prostrate stems, clothed with linear, short, sharp-pointed leaves. The flowers are dark blue, in terminal clusters, appearing in summer for about two months. pretty plant for rockwork in sandy loam and peat in a dry sunny position. Height 6 inches. Native of most of the mountainous parts of Europe.

L. arboreum (Shrubby Flax).—This is a dwarf somewhat shrubby plant with rather straggling habit and milky-green egg-shaped leaves. The flowers are borne in sparse terminal clusters, bright yellow, the petals somewhat pointed. Flowers early and late, and continuously in summer. It is a fine showy

plant for rockwork. My experience of it only embraces observations made in the neighbourhood of London, and I should hesitate putting it in any exposed position north of that locality. There, and southwards, it will be perfectly safe in the mixed border, and will form a most pleasing addition to it; and northwards also, in very favourable dry sunny places, or warm sheltered sea-coast localities, it may be safe; but while stock is limited it should have the protection of a cold frame or handglass, and mat or dry litter in winter in severe weather. Height about 18 inches. Native of mountains in Asia Minor, S. Europe, and N. Africa.

L. austriacum (Austrian Flax).-Where space is limited, and the Alpine Flax cultivated, this may not be worthy of a place; but if the collection is a large one, it will be found distinct and useful for certain purposes in which the other is not so suitable, and especially as a mixed-border subject will its larger and more robust nature be useful in the less favourable localities for alpine plants. The flowers are the same colour, and appear about the same time, as those of the Alpine Flax; but the plant is taller by a few inches, and more spreading in habit. Native of Austria.

L. campanulatum (Bell-shaped Flax). This species grows about 18 inches high, with broadish lanceolate milky-green leaves clothing the numerous not very erect stems. The flowers

F

are bright golden yellow in terminal clusters, appearing in June and lasting till August. Best suited for sunny positions on rockwork in the northern counties; but about London and southwards will succeed well in the mixed border in light dry sandy peat and loam. Native of southern Europe.

L. hirsutum (Hairy Flax).-Only a very small portion of this species is hairy. The calyx enjoys a hirsute covering, but other parts of the plant are hairless. It grows from 18 inches to 2 feet high in masses of spherical outline. The leaves are somewhat egg-shaped or broadly lanceolate. The flowers are large, somewhat bell-shaped, purplish blue, and appear in terminal trusses in June, and last a month or two. Native of the Pyrenees. Adapted to border culture and rockwork in light sandy loam.

L. monogynum (One-styled Fiax).—This is a beautiful purewhite flowered species, rising rather erect about 18 inches, with numerous stems, clothed rather thinly with narrow lanceshaped leaves acutely pointed. The flowers are large in terminal corymbs, and appear in the summer months. Best adapted for rockwork in warm positions, and in the south may be tried everywhere in moderate shelter.

L. narbonnense (Narbonne Flax).-This species grows about 18 inches high, with the stems branching much at the base, and clothed with lance-shaped rough-margined acutely-pointed leaves. The flowers are borne in loose graceful trusses, are large and pale blue, with lines of darker hue radiating from the claw of the petals outwards. A fine showy species for rockwork or border, flowering in early summer and continuing for a month or two. Native of the south of France.

L. perenne (Perennial Flax).—This species is a native of Britain, but not common. In nature it is variable, and in gardens there are several species so called, which, while differing in some unimportant characters, are too close in resemblance to the form called perenne to be admissible in any but botanical or very extensive collections along with it. L. perenne grows about foot high, with numerous slender, almost prostrate stems, clothed with small linear sharp-pointed leaves, and the flowers are bright blue in graceful open trusses at the top of the stems. They appear in the summer months early and late. There is a white variety which has long been cultivated, and there is a more recent variety with rose or pink flowers, both of which are well worth places and some attention. Some of the species alluded to above as too near perenne to be admitted in select collections along with it, are, Lewisii, provinciale, and sibiricum, neither of which presents features superior to those of perenne.

MALVACEÆ.

In this natural order there are not many herbaceous perennials of value to flower-gardeners. The perennials generally are characterised by roughness and bulk, or by absolute weediness. There are some pretty annual plants and handsome shrubs, but with these we have nothing to do here. Some of the gross perennials are well fitted, however, for naturalising in open places in woods, where variety of foliage and habit may be desired along with a little colour. Their robust habit and accommodating nature adapt them well for such a purpose, as little preparation will be needed for them in most cases if strong tufts are planted out.

Althæa.—This is a small genus of usually tall-growing plants, very few of which are perennial, the majority being annuals and biennials, one of the latter, A. rosea, being the parent of the varieties of Hollyhock.

A. narbonnensis (Narbonne A.)-This species grows to the height of 4 or 5 feet, and has the stems clothed with five-lobed leaves, very downy. The flowers are borne in panicles in the axils of the leaves on the upper part of the stems; they are large, bright pink, and produced in great numbers in autumn. Propagate by division. Any common soil agrees with it, and it is fit only for naturalising in open spots in woods, or for furnishing a little colour among shrubs. Native of many countries of southern Europe.

Cristaria coccinea. So far as I am aware, this genus contains only the species named; and it is very rare, if in cultivation at all, in this country. It is a very pretty plant, with stems 6 to 9 inches in length and bluish-green leaves, smooth, and much divided into deeply-cut lance-shaped segments, which are again cut or lobed. The flowers are numerous in the axils of the leaves on the upper part of the stems on short stalks. They are bright scarlet, and the lobes of the corolla obcordate, and appear late in summer. In the north it should be planted in peat in a sunny position on rockwork, in the south it will succeed in any tolerably warm border in peat. Propagate by division and seeds, both in spring, the latter in a cold frame, when they will flower the first year. Native of the Southern States of America.

Kitaibelia vitifolia.-I am not aware of there being any other species of this genus. It is a large-growing plant, reaching the height of 4 or 5 feet, the stems clothed with abundance

of sharply five-lobed vine-like leaves, and producing large white flowers, one to a stalk, in the axils of the leaves in the upper parts of the stems. The flowers appear in early summer and continue late. The plant is too gross and not showy enough for select borders; but is well adapted for culture among shrubs, and for introducing into open spaces in woods. Propagate by division. Native of Hungary.

Malva (Mallow).—In this family we have a little more that is beautiful to select from than we had in any of the preceding genera. It is a rather numerous group, but in the hardy section of it there are many weedy plants both annual and perennial; but there are also a few among the latter worthy of culture for different purposes of ornament. They are propagated by division and seeds; other particulars of culture will be given under the different species.

M. cordata, syn. Nuttalia cordata (Heart-leaved Mallow).This species produces stems from 18 inches to 2 feet long. The leaves below are bluntly heart-shaped in outline and are deeply cut, those above become reduced to three narrow lanceolate lobes. The flowers are pink, and appear in summer and autumn. Native of North America. This is a handsome plant when at its best, but is apt to become seedy soon, and exhausts its flowering energies in a short time; it is therefore only suited for secondary purposes, such as giving temporary effect to shrubbery borders in not much frequented parts of gardens. Succeeds in any good garden-soil if moderately dry.

M. involucrata, syn. Nuttalia involucrata (Involucred Mallow). This species produces stems 18 inches or more long, rather prostrate and straggling in habit, clothed with three-lobed leaves heart-shaped in outline, the lobes cut into sharp segments. Flowers on long foot-stalks, one to a stalk, in the axils at the extremity of the stems and branches; purple, with a creamy-yellow centre. This is a handsome plant, but not, I fear, capable of withstanding the winters of the north, especially of Scotland, without protection of some kind. It is fond of peat, and should have a warm sunny position. Propagate by division in spring, and by seed: if sown early in March it may be had in bloom the first year. Native of the Southern States of America. Flowers in summer.

M. lateritia (Brick-red Mallow).-This species is prostrate in habit, with hairy stems and leaves; the leaves, on long stalks, are five-lobed below and three-lobed above. The flowers, red, are on long stalks, and appear in autumn. A very handsome dwarf-plant, suitable for culture on warm rockwork or borders in the milder parts of the country, in sandy peat