general planting than those above mentioned. describe a few kinds: We R. Catawbiense Album. Fine white. R. Catawbiense Album Elegans. White, with green spots; the best of the hardy light varieties. R. Grandiflorum. Blush, changing to white. R. Acubafoliam. Light lilac. R. Azureum. Blush lilac, distinct and fine. R. Bicolor. Rose; distinct white spot on upper petals. R. Candidissimum. Pure white. R. Cœlestinum. Fine blush, yellow eye. R. Cœrulescens. Lilac pink. R. Delicatissimum. Delicate blush, changing to white. R. Gloriosum. Large blush. R. Perspicuum. Clear blush. R. Purpureum Elegans and Grandiflorum. Fine trusses; clear, fine purple. R. Grandiflorum (Waterers). Rose; fine truss. R. Roseum Splendens. Fine rose. R. Blandum. Pale blush, fine foliage. R. Guttatum. Clear white, distinctly spotted. R. Pictum. White; intense spot on upper petals. All the above are hardy enough to withstand a Canadian winter. Rhododendron Ponticum, and its varieties, are not hardy with us. Kalmia Latifolia, the fine mountain laurel, is worthy a place in every garden. There are also varieties of the common Kalmia Angustifolia, or Lambkill, which are very pretty. K. Angustifolia carnea, pumila, and rubra, our swamp Kalmia, K. glauca and its varieties, stricta, and superba, are very ornamental. Kalmia Myrtifolia is a fineleaved variety. All these are perfectly hardy. The Andromedas are a very pretty tribe of plants; of these, the following are hardy: A. Catesbæi, Floribunda, Mariana, Polifolia, and its varieties. The Ledum is a very pretty evergreen, and all its species are hardy. L. angustifolium, buxifolium, procumbens, intermedium, latifolium, palustre, and thymifolium. These are all low-growing evergreens, and very pretty miniature plants. In June they are covered with small white blossoms. We have been thus diffuse on this subject, because it is one on which there is general ignorance; and large sums are annually spent in importing plants which never survive the first winter. All we have mentioned are perfectly hardy, and well adapted to our New England climate. CHAPTER XXII. HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. General Treatment. - Transplanting. - Propagation. - Dielytra.- Lily of the Valley. Adam's Needle. - Larkspur.- Globe Flower. - Phlox.List of Choice Varieties.- Canterbury Bell.- Hepatica. - Pink. - Fraxinella. Cowslip.- Foxglove. - Day Lily. - Iris. - Everlasting Pea.. Lupin. Ragged Robin. - Spirea. - Veronica. Bloodroot. List of fine Species. IN THIS connection, we treat of all hardy biennials and perennials, meaning plants which spring up for two or more years, blooming during the summer from yearly stems, which die down each autumn, the root, in the case of biennials, dying after blooming, or, as with most peren nials, living many years, and springing up every season. These plants are to be especially relied upon for the flower garden, because they require but little care; in fact, they care for themselves. Give them the common garden soil, dig round them, to loosen the earth, each spring, and they will bloom. Yet a little care is well repaid by increased luxuriance of foliage and beauty of flower. In spring each clump should be examined, to see it is not too high out of the earth; there is a tendency with most of these plants to grow out of the ground. When this is found to be the case, take up the plant and re-set it. Transplanting should always be done in the spring; not but what these plants will live if removed in the autumn, but they will succeed so much better by spring planting, that that season is always to be chosen if possible. During the summer, if very large and fine bloom is desired, prune out all the weak stems. In the autumn cover the crowns of the plants with coarse manure or litter; if the plant is an evergreen, protect it with pine boughs from the winter's sun. In spring, dig a few spades full of manure around each plant. These plants are propagated by division of the root, which should be performed in early spring, just as the plants start into growth, or in the latter part of summer, when they have done flowering; this latter treatment is especially adapted for the Phlox. Every eye, with a bit of root, will make a plant. They also produce seed freely, and seedlings usually bloom the second year. We give a list of species, with short descriptions, mentioning the plants in the order in which they are adapted to general culture, considering them as flowering plants. DIELYTRA SPECTABILIS. This beautiful plant is one of the most elegant in cultivation, whether we consider its foliage or flowers. It grows freely, flowers well, and is subject to no insects or disease; and if, after the flowers have faded in the spring, the stalks are cut down, it will throw up a second set and bloom again. Perennial. Flowers, rose and white in May. LILY OF THE VALLEY (Convallaria Majalis). This lovely flower grows alike for the rich and poor. It does well in any rich, loamy soil, and thrives in shade or sun. It produces its fragrant white flowers in May, which are succeeded by red berries in September. Perennial. ADAM'S NEEDLE (Yucca Filamentosa). An evergreen plant, with strong roots and sharp leaves, of a very tropical aspect. In June it throws up a tall spike of white flowers. During the winter, cover the plants with pine boughs. They need a rich soil, and it is a good plan to dig, every fall, |