nd downy. The plant or shrub grows
18in. high. As already hinted, the habit is procumbent, the older flower
stems being woody; not only is it a bright object for rockwork, but it
is in its finest form when most other flowers are past. The branches are
useful in a cut state; the slender spikelets, with their pale green and
brown tinted bracts, are very pretty by gas light, and they keep well
for a long time in water.

The Marjorams are fond of a dry situation, and this is no exception to
that rule. Rockwork or raised beds of sandy loam suits it to perfection,
provided the aspect is sunny. It will, therefore, be seen that there is
nothing special about its culture, neither is there in its propagation;
cuttings may be taken in summer, or the rooted shoots may be divided at
almost any time.

It flowers from September to the time of severe frosts, and is in its
greatest beauty in October.

Orobus Vernus.

PEASELING, OR SPRING BITTER VETCH; _Nat. Ord._
LEGUMINOSAE.

A hardy herbaceous perennial; it flowers in very early spring, and
sometimes sooner, but it is in full beauty in April, its blooming period
being very prolonged. Not only is this bright and handsome pea flower
worth attention being a very old subject of English gardens, but also
because of its intrinsic merit as a decorative plant. I say plant
designedly, as its form is both sprightly and elegant, which, I fear,
the illustration (Fig. 70) can hardly do justice to--more especially its
spring tints and colours.

[Illustration: FIG. 70. OROBUS VERNUS.

(One-fourth, natural size.)]

Pretty nearly as soon as the growths are out of the earth the flowers
begin to appear. The greatest height the plants attain rarely exceeds a
foot; this commends it as a suitable border plant. Individually the
flowers are not showy, but collectively they are pleasing and effective.
When they first open they are a mixture of green, red, blue, and purple,
the latter predominating. As they become older they merge into blue, so
that a plant shows many flowers in various shades, none of which are
quite an inch long, and being borne on slender drooping stalks, which
issue from the leafy stems, somewhat below the leading growths, the
bloom is set off to great advantage. The foliage in form resembles the
common vetch, but is rather larger in the leaflets, and instead of being
downy like the vetch, the leaves are smooth and bright. In a cut state,
sprays are very useful, giving l