*Silphium trifoliatum.—This species has a smooth, often glaucous, rather slender stem, from 4 ft. to 6 ft. high, branching above. Leaves lance-shaped, pointed, entire or scarcely serrate, short-stalked, in whorls of three or four, the uppermost ones opposite. Flower-heads yellow, more than 2 ins. across, on long stalks, and forming loose panicles. Division. N. America.
*Silybum marianum (Milk-thistle).—A very robust and vigorous-growing native biennial, 5 ft. or more in height, of strikingly handsome appearance, and well deserving to be associated with other large fine-foliaged plants. Its leaves are of very great size, variously cut and undulated, tipped and margined with scattered spines, and of a bright glistening green colour marbled and variegated with broad white veins. Easily raised from seed, and thrives in almost any kind of well-drained soil. Additional vigour and development may be thrown into the foliage by pinching off the flower-stems on their first appearance. If a few plants are raised in the garden and planted out in rough and somewhat bare places or banks, etc., this will soon establish itself permanently.
Silybum eburneum is a more tender species, very closely resembling the above, but with spines which appear as if made of ivory. It is also more constantly biennial, and in consequence its leaves are almost always in the rosette stage throughout the first year. It is somewhat tenderer than S. marianum. Algeria.
The Solanums.—This family, so wonderfully varied, affords numerous species that look graceful and imposing in leaf when in a young and free-growing state. In selecting examples from this great genus we must be careful, as our climate is a shade too cold for some of the kinds grown on the continent, and many of them are of too ragged an aspect to be tolerated in a tasteful garden. Half a dozen species or so are indispensable, but there is quite a crowd of narrow-leaved and ignoble ones which may well be passed over.
Most of these plants may be raised from seed, while they are also freely grown from cuttings, which struck in February will make good plants by May. All the kinds named are suitable for association with the larger-leaved plants, though they do not as a rule attain such height and vigorous development as those of the first rank, like the Ricinus. As a rule, temperate-house treatment in winter is required, and they should be planted out about the middle or end of May, in rich fight soil, a warm position, and perfect shelter. S. marginatum, planted in a very dwarf and young state, furnishes a most distinct and charming effect: it should be planted rather thinly, so that the leaves of one plant may not brush against those of another. If some very dwarf plants are used as a groundwork, so much the better; but the downy and silvery leaves of this plant are sure to please without this aid. It is very much better when thus grown than when permitted to assume the bush form.
Solanum betaceum.—A small tree from South
