e divided, but I have found the quickest and
best results from cuttings taken in a half-ripened state. They should be
put round the side of a rather large pot in sandy peat; the warmth,
shade, and moisture of a cucumber-frame will cause them to root quickly,
when they should be potted off singly, so as to make sturdy plants
before the winter sets in, and such young stock ought to be wintered in
a cold frame.

Flowering period, August and September.

Lithospermum Prostratum.

PROSTRATE GROMWELL; _Nat. Ord._ BORAGINACEAE.

Sometimes called the Gentian L., from its bright blue gentian-like
flowers. By many this species is considered synonymous with _L.
fruticosum_. They are, however, very dissimilar. Our subject is an
evergreen and stunted trailer; _L. fruticosum_ is a deciduous trailer
and very vigorous; both, however, are perfectly hardy. The most striking
characteristics of the Prostrate Gromwell are its fine dark blue flowers
and procumbent habit. It is a native of France, and only within the last
sixty years has it been introduced into this country. Its habit is most
distinct as compared with the various long-stemmed species. It much
resembles the well-known _Veronica prostrata_ in its general appearance.

Its flowers are sparingly produced from the axils of the leaves, but,
being large compared with the size of the foliage, they are very
effective when they first open. The dark but bright blue corolla is
tinged with red, but later on the colour becomes an unmixed blue, and
the blooms increase in size until more than 1/2in. across. The complexion
of the foliage is very dark (holly green), the leaves are about 1in.
long, and are narrow and stalkless; they have much substance and are
rather hard. The whole plant is thickly coated with hairs--a common
feature of this order; but in this species the hairs are remarkably
stiff, those of the edges of the leaves being almost thorny.

The form of growth assumed by this plant eminently fits it for rockwork.
It should be so planted that its densely-branched stems can fall over
the face of a light-coloured stone; in this respect it forms a good
companion to the dwarf phloxes, but it is otherwise a superior rock
plant, being more characteristic and prolonged in its flowering. It
should be allowed to grow to a large size, which will require several
years, or the object may be sooner gained by planting half-a-dozen
specimens in a group; this should be done when the pla