Lìatris is a genus of native plants, containing several fine species, L. squarròsa, large purple heads of beautiful flowers; L. élegans; L. paniculàta. L. macróstachya, now L. spicàta, is a fine large growing species. They have syngenesious purple flowers in long close spikes, differing from other spiked flowering genera by blooming first at the extremity. They grow best in strong heavy soil.
Lychnis. Three species are very desirable in the flower borders. L. chalcedónica has bright scarlet crowned flowers; the double scarlet variety is splendid. There is also a double white variety, L. fúlgens and L. flós-jòvis. They ought to be frequently lifted, and planted afresh, or they will dwindle to nothing. The best time is when they begin to grow. There is a plant known in our collections as Lychnis flós-cucùla, which is now Agrostéma flós-cucùla; it is a fine and showy border plant with double red flowers. They delight in a light sandy rich soil.
Lythrums. A few species flower well, and have small pink blossoms in great profusion, L. alàtum, L. virgàtum, L. diffùsum, and L. lanceolàtum. They will grow in any common garden soil if not too much shaded; and flower from June to September.
Mimùlus, Monkey-flower. A few species may be cultivated. They will grow in any soil or situation. M. lùteus and M. rivulàris are the best. M. moschàtus has a very strong musk scent, to many agreeable. We think it will prove hardy. The two former have large gaping flowers, of a gold yellow, and beautifully spotted with purple in the interior.
Monárdas, a fine native genus and showy. The foliage of several of the species is aromatic, and resembles mint. M. dídyma has long scarlet ringent flowers, in headed whorls; M. kalmiana, flowers very long, and a beautiful crimson, with fragrant leaves. M. Russelliana has red and white flowers; curious and handsome. M. punctata has yellow and red flowers; they grow in any common soil.
Mathíola, is the generic of the Stock-gilly. None of them will survive severe winters; yet many of them are indispensable in the Flower-garden. M. simplicicáulis, Brompton-stock, and its varieties; with M. incàna, Queen-stock, and its varieties, require the protection of a good frame in winter, and about the end of this month, or beginning of next, plant them in good light rich soil to flower, which they will do all summer, if attended to with frequent supplies of water. M. ánnua has about sixteen varieties, valuable for flowering the first year from seed, and are all annuals. They ought to be sown on a gentle hot-bed about the first of this month, and carefully pricked out so as they may be ready to transplant about the end of April or the first of May. Plant them in light rich soil, and they will flower profusely through the season; if it is very dry, they must be watered to keep them growing. The scarlet, white, and purple varieties are the finest; but there are many intermediate sorts all handsome. M. glàbra is the Wall-flower leaved stock, and requires the same treatment as the two former. There are about eight varieties of this, all various in colour. In planting any of these into the open ground, choose cloudy weather, except they have been in pots; in such case, plant at any time in beds, keeping each kind separate.
Œnothèras. The most of them are indigenous, and in Europe they afford a continual ornament to the Flower-garden from April to November, but in our gardens they are entirely neglected. By rejecting these and many others, our Flower-gardens are deprived both of much beauty and interest they might easily possess. These plants delight in light rich soil. Œ. odoràta, sweet scented; Œ. macrocárpa; Œ. mèdia; Œ. latiflòra; Œ. Frazèri; Œ. speciòsa; and Œ. pállida; are all fine native herbaceous plants, mostly with large yellow four-petaled corollas; in bloom from April to September. There are several of them beautiful annual and biennial plants. For the finest, see list.
Phlóx, another American genus, and one of the most handsome in cultivation. It consists of elegant border flowers, valuable for flowering early, and more so for blossoming late in autumn. While the majority of plants blooming late in the season are generally syngenesious, with yellow flowers, these delight us with their lively colours of purple, red, and white. A collection of them properly attended to, would of themselves constitute a beautiful flower garden. It will be difficult to state which are the finest, but the following are select varieties: P. paniculàta; P. acuminàta; P. intermèdia; P. odoràta; P. pyramidàlis; with pyramidàlis álba, which is splendid; P. suavèolens; P. refléxa; P. stolonífera; P. pilòsa; P. divaricàta; P. nivàlis; and P. subulàta. In the spring of 1831, an eminent British collector[A] exclaimed, on seeing a patch of P. subulàta in one of the pine barrens of New Jersey, "The beauty of that alone is worth coming to America to see, it is so splendid." Most of the species delight in a rich light sandy loam. When the plants become large, they ought to be divided, and planted in fresh ground.
[A] Mr. Drummond.
Prímulas, Primrose. To this genus belong the celebrated Cowslip, Oxlip, Primrose, and the esteemed Aurícula. The double varieties of Primrose have originated from P. vulgàris. These are such as carry their flowers on separate pedicles, rising from the root on a small stem. The double varieties are desirable for their beauty, but require the protection of a frame during winter. They are in colour red, white, yellow, lilac, purple, and crimson. P. elàtior is the Oxlip, from which all the Polyánthuses have been grown. They are in variety innumerable, and are those whose flowers are in umbels, on a scape or flower-stalk, rising from three to nine inches. The rules for judging of their merits are wholly artificial, agreed on from time to time by Florists. The one that is the leading beauty this year would in a few years be far in the rear. The principal character is that the corolla is not notched or fringed; the colours pure and distinct, not running into one another; the tube small; the eye round, and a little prominent. Being surrounded with white, and the ground purple, is a fine character. P. aurícula. From this the highly esteemed varieties have originated. The cultivated aurícula has many admirers, both for its exquisite beauty and fragrance. For the criterion of a fine flower see May. There are several other species worthy of a situation, such as P. cortusoídes, P. dentiflòra, P. suavèolens, P. decòra, with P. scótica and P. farinòsa, both small neat species. A shady situation agrees best with them; and they require loamy soil, free from any kind of manure, except it be fully decomposed. The leaves of P. vèris are recommended for feeding silk worms.