This is a large family of plants, many of them mere weeds, whine others are handsome flowers, suitable for the garden.

Silene armeria. - Lobel's Catch-fly. - A very hardy annual, with dense umbels of pink, and another variety with white flowers, from June to October; one and a half foot high.

Silene compacta. - Compact-flowered. - Another beautiful species similar to the last, except the flowers are more crowded in the umbel.

Silene pendula. - Pendulous-flowered. - A dwarf, bushy habit; pink flowers, from June to September.

Having the plants once in the ground, there will always be a plenty of self-sown seeds in the spring.