The Botanist's Companion Part 62

19. GENTIANA verna. VERNAL GENTIAN.--A delightful little plant of the finest blue colour the Flora exhibits in all her glory: its scent is also delightful: it is somewhat scarce and difficult to procure; but if more generally known, few gardens would be dest.i.tute of such a treasure.

It is of tolerably easy culture, and grows well in loam: it is small, and is best kept in a pot.

20. GENTIANA Pneumonanthe. MARSH GENTIAN.--Is also a beautiful plant, and grows well in any moist place. From its beautiful blue flowers it is well adapted to the flower garden; it delights in bog earth.

21. GERANIUM phaeum. BLACK-FLOWERED GERANIUM.--This is a perennial, and makes a fine ornamental plant for the shrubbery: it will grow in any soil and situation.

22. GLAUc.u.m Phoeniceum. PURPLE HORN POPPY.--An annual flower of singular beauty, and deserving a place in the flower garden.

23. GNAPHALIUM margaritaceum. AMERICAN CUDWEED.--This plant affords beautiful white flowers, which drying and keeping their colour, it is worth attention on that account, as it affords a pleasing variety with the different Xeranthema, and others of the like cla.s.s in winter.

24. HIERAc.u.m aurantiac.u.m. GRIM-THE-COLLIER.--This is an old inhabitant of our gardens, and affords a pleasing variety.

25. HOTTONIA pal.u.s.tris. WATER VIOLET.--This is a plant of singular beauty in spring; it is an aquatic, and makes a fine appearance in our ponds in the time of its bloom.

26. IBERIS amara. CANDYTUFT.--An annual flower of considerable beauty and interest. We have several varieties of this sold in the seed-shops.

27. IMPATIENS NOLI ME TANGERE.--A very curious flower which is grown as an annual. The construction of the seed-vessel causing the seeds to be discharged with an elastic force is a pleasing phaenomenon.

28. LATHYRUS sylvestris.--EVERLASTING PEA.--This is also a great ornament, and frequently found in gardens; it grows very readily from seeds sown in the spring of the year.

29. LEUCOJUM aestivum. SUMMER SNOW FLAKE.--This is a very noxious plant in the meadows where it grows wild. I have seen it in the neighbourhood of Wooking in Surrey quite overpower the gra.s.s with its herbage in the spring, and no kind of that animal that we know of will eat it.

It is however considered an ornamental plant, and is often found in our flower gardens. It is of easy culture: the roots may be planted in any of the autumn or winter months.

30. MALVA moschata. MUSK MALLOW.--This makes a fine appearance when in bloom, for which purpose it is often propagated in gardens: its scent, which is strong of vegetable musk, is also very pleasant.

31. MELLITIS mellyssophyllum. MELLITIS grandiflora. b.a.s.t.a.r.d BALM.--Both these plants are very beautiful, and are deserving a place in the flower garden: they are of easy culture, and will grow well under the shade of trees, a property that will always recommend them to the notice of the curious.

32. MENYANTHES Nymphoides. ROUND-LEAVED BOG BEAN.--This is a beautiful aquatic, and claims a place in all ornamental pieces of water.

33. NARCISSUS poeticus. NARCISSUS Pseudo Narcissus.--These are much cultivated in gardens for the sake of the flowers. The florists have by culture made several varieties, as Double blossoms which are great ornaments. The season for planting the bulbs of Narcissus of all kinds is the month of October: they will grow well in any soil, and thrive best under the shade of trees.

34. NUPHAR minima is also beautiful, but it is not common. It will form an ornament for pieces of water.

35. NYMPHAEA alba. NYMPHAEA lutea.--These are aquatics, and scarcely any plant is more deserving of our attention. The fine appearance of the foliage floating on the surface, which is interspersed with beautiful flowers, will render any piece of water very interesting: it should also be observed that gold-fish are found to thrive best when they have the advantage of the shade of these plants. It is difficult in deep water to make them take root, being liable to float on the surface, in which state they will not succeed. But if the plants are placed in some strong clay or loam tied down in wicker baskets and then placed in the water, there is no fear of their success: they should be placed where the water is sufficiently deep to inundate the roots two feet or a little more.

36. OPHRYS apifera. BEE ORCHIS.--There are few plants that are more generally admired than all the Orchideae for their singular beauty and uncommon structure. The one in question so very much resembles the humble-bee in appearance, that I have known persons mistake this flower for the animal. It is unfortunate for the amateurs of gardening that most plants of this tribe are difficult of propagation, and are not of easy culture. I have sometimes succeeded with this and other species, by the following method:--to take up the roots from their native places of growth as early as they can be found, and then procure some chalk and sift it through a fine sieve, and also some good tenacious loam; mix both in equal quant.i.ties in water; a large garden-pot should then be filled with some rubble of chalk, about one third deep, and then the above compost over it, placing the roots in the centre, at the usual depth they grew before. As the water drains away, the loam and chalk will become fixed closely round the bulbs, and they will remain alive and grow. By this method I have cultivated these plants for some years together.

In this way all those kinds growing in chalk may be made to grow; but such as the Orchis moryo, maculata, and pyramidalis, may be grown in loam alone, planted in pots in the common way. Care should be taken that the pots in which they are planted are protected from wet and frost in the winter season.

37. ORNITHOGALUM latifolium and umbellatum are also ornamental, and are often cultivated for their beautiful flower. The season for planting the bulbs is about the month of September.

38. PAPAVER somniferum. GREATER POPPY. PAPAVER Rhoeas. CARNATION POPPY.

--These are made by culture into numerous varieties, and are very beautiful; but the aroma, which is pregnant with opium, renders too many of them unpleasant for the garden.

39. POLEMONIUM coeruleum. GREEK VALERIAN, or JACOB'S LADDER.--Is also a beautiful perennial, and claims the notice of the gardener. Its variety, with white flowers, is also ornamental. It is raised from seeds, which are sold in plenty in our seed-shops.

40. PRIMULA officinalis. COWSLIP. PRIMULA vulgaris. PRIMROSE. PRIMULA elatior. OXLIP. PRIMULA farinose. BIRD'S EYE.--All well known ornaments of numerous varieties, double and single. The third species is the parent of the celebrated Polyanthus. The last is also an interesting little plant with a purple flower. It grows best in bog earth.

41. ROSA rubiginosa. SWEET BRIAR.--This lovely and highly extolled shrub has long claimed a place in our gardens. We have several varieties with double flowers, which are highly prized by the amateurs of gardening.

42. SAXIFRAGA umbrosa. LONDON PRIDE.---A beautiful little plant for forming edgings to the flower garden, or for decorating rock-work.