it
rarely exceeds 4in. in height, it is very attractive.

The flowers are 11/2in. across, of a variously tinted white, sometimes
with pink and sometimes with purplish-grey inside the corolla. The
outside is yellowish-green; the five lobes of the corolla are arranged
cup-fashion, having four distinct ribs or nerves and wavy margins, the
inner bases being richly tinted with lemon-yellow; what appears at first
sight to be the flower-stalk, 2in. to 3in. long, is really a long round
tube, very narrow for so large a flower; it is of even thickness all its
length. The calyx nearly touches the earth; it is also tubular and
five-cleft. The leaves are from less than an inch to 3in. long, somewhat
spoon-shaped or sub-spathulate and entire, smooth, and very soft to the
touch.

It thrives in a light soil, but it should not be dry. Moisture and a
little shade are the chief conditions required by this lovely creeper,
and where bare places exist, which are otherwise suitable, nothing more
pleasing could well be planted; in dips or the more moist parts of
rockwork, it may be grown with capital effect, but the patches should be
broad. It also forms a good surfacing subject for leggy plants or
shrubs. Lilies not only appear to more advantage when carpeted with the
short dense foliage of this creeper, but their roots are kept more cool
and moist by it, and there are many similar cases in which it will prove
equally useful. It is easily propagated by division of the roots after
the leaves have died off, but I have found spring much the better time,
just as the new growth is pushing.

Flowering period, July and August.

Oenothera Speciosa.

SHOWY EVENING PRIMROSE; _Nat. Ord._ ONAGRACEAE.

A hardy and beautiful perennial species from North America; it is aptly
named, as the flowers are not only large but numerous (see Fig. 66). The
plant has a gay appearance for many weeks. As a garden flower, it is one
of those happy subjects which may be allowed to grow in any odd corner,
no matter what quality the soil may be, and full exposure or a little
shade is equally suitable. No matter where it grows in the garden, it is
a showy and pleasing flower, which, if plucked, is found to have the
delicate smell of the sweet pea. It grows 18in. high, is herb-like in
the foliage, and very distinct from other species, more especially as
regards its slender stems and somewhat large and irregular foliage.

The flowers are a satiny white, delicat