*Echinops ruthenicus.—A hardy ornamental plant from S. Russia, with stems 3 or 4 feet high, much branched in the upper part, and covered with a silvery down. The leaves are deeply toothed and spiny, of a dark green above, white and cottony underneath. The flowers are blue, and borne in almost spherical heads on the tops of the erect branches. The plant flourishes best in a calcareous soil, but will do well in almost any well-drained ground. Easily multiplied by seed, division of the tufts, or by cuttings of the roots in spring. This is the most ornamental of its distinct family, and is highly suitable for grouping with the finer herbaceous plants. It would also look remarkably bold and well if isolated on the turf.
*Elymus arenarius.—This wild British grass—a strong-rooting and most distinct-looking herb—is capable of adding a striking feature to the garden here and there, and should be quickly introduced into cultivation. Planted a short distance away from the margin of a shrubbery, or on a bank on the grass, and allowed to have its own way in deep soil, it makes a most striking object. In short, it deserves to rank high among really hardy fine grasses, the Pampas and the two Arundos alone surpassing it. I am not quite certain that it is not more useful than the Arundo, being hardy in all parts of these islands. In very good soil it will grow 4 feet high; and as it is for the leaves we should cultivate it, if the flowers are removed they will be no loss. It is found frequently on our shores, but more abundantly in the north than in the south. The variety called geniculatus, which has the spike pendulous, is also worthy of culture, and in its case the flowers may prove worth preserving. It may possibly be useful for covert, and is certainly so for rough spots in the pleasure-ground and in semi-wild places.
*Elymus condensatus (Bunch grass).—A vigorous perennial grass from British Columbia, forming a dense, compact, column-like growth, more than 8 ft. in height, covered from the base almost to the top with long arching leaves, and crowned in the flowering season with numerous erect, rigid spikes, each 6½ ins. long, and resembling an elongated ear of wheat in form. It is a very ornamental plant, and may be associated with our largest grasses. A very distinct variety has been raised in the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens, in which the spikes or ears are much shorter and broader than those of the original form. For this the name Elymus condensatus compactus has been suggested.
Entelea arborescens.—A small, branching, light-wooded tree, 5 to 10 ft. high, with large, alternate, heart-shaped or three-lobed leaves covered with stellate down, and white flowers, somewhat like those of a small dog-rose, borne in umbels on the ends of a branching panicle. It is peculiar to New Zealand, and is the only species of the genus. This used to grow satisfactorily in the Paris gardens, but I have no experience of it in this country. It will require greenhouse treatment in winter, and is of but secondary importance for open-air culture.
*Epimedium pinnatum.—A hardy dwarf perennial from Asia Minor, from 8 ins. to 2½ ft. high, forming handsome tufts of long-stalked radical pinnate leaves, and bearing long clusters of yellow flowers. The handsome leaves remain on the plant until the new ones appear in the ensuing spring. It is not a good plan to remove them, as they serve to shelter the buds of the new leaves during the winter, and the plants flower much better when they are allowed to remain. Cool, moist, peaty soil, and a slightly-shaded position, will be found most suitable for this, and the novel appearance of its foliage claims a place for it among the dwarfer plants, groups of fine-foliaged hardy herbaceous subjects, Mahonias, etc.
*Equisetum Telmateia (Giant Horse-tail).—A British plant of very noble port and much grace of character when well-developed, growing from 3 ft. to 6 ft. high in favourable soil and positions. The stem is furnished from top to bottom with spreading whorls of slender, slightly drooping, quadrangular branches; the whole forming a pyramidal outline of very distinct and pleasing effect. It is a highly ornamental subject for planting in the hardy fernery, the artificial bog, shady peat borders, near cascades, or among shrubs growing best in moist hollows in vegetable soil. Multiplied by division.
*Equisetum sylvaticum is another native Horse-tail of much dwarfer size, but of the most exquisite grace when grown; the stem standing from 8 to 15 inches high, and well covered with numerous slender, spreading, or deflexed compound branches. Very suitable for rockwork, margins of ornamental water, or any of the positions in which E. Telmateia may be grown. It also does well and looks very graceful when grown in pots in a cold frame. Multiplied by division.
*Erianthus Ravennæ.—A highly ornamental grass from S. Europe, somewhat like the Pampas grass in habit, but smaller in size, and frequently having violet-tinged leaves. The flowering-stems grow from 5 ft. to 6½ ft. high; but as it only flowers with us in a very warm season, it must be valued for its foliage alone. Its dense and handsome tufts thrive well in light, dry, calcareous soil, in positions with a south aspect. It thrives but poorly on cold soils, and will probably not grow well north of London except in peculiarly favourable positions, and in well-drained free loams. It is fitted for association with such grasses as Arundo conspicua. Multiplied by division of the tufts in spring or autumn.
