For the railroad embankment I will recommend Euphorbia Cyparissias. Near Mumford, Western New York, I saw a spread of it, the which covered an area of ten feet square, or more.

It had evidently started upon level ground on one side of a shallow railroad cutting, and thence extended over and down the incline, composed of' yellow infertile soil.

It is a pretty, gray, level-topped thing, needing little or no care. It ceases its upward growth at eight or ten inches, and at that point maintains its fresh looks the summer through.

As a companion plant for this, I would suggest the annual, and weaker, E. peplus, with pale, but not gray, green leaves, and growing erect to ten inches, usually ceasing, however, at a less height. Though not a common plant, I have found it at several points here in Rochester. Apparently it loves the shade, but "Gray's Manual" does not so state. In one instance I discovered a large yard almost filled with it, the plant, and the ground in which it grew, having doubtless been undisturbed for a considerable length of time. Rochester, N. Y.