Chironia
(a classical name, after Chiron, a centaur, son of Phillyra and Saturn; he was famous for his knowledge of music, medicine, and shooting, and taught the use of plants and medicinal herbs). ORD. Gentianeae. Very ornamental small soft-wooded greenhouse perennial herbs or shrubs, all from Southern Africa. Flowers reddish-pink or purple, terminal; corolla salver-shaped, with a narrow tube and a spreading limb, which is longer than the tube. Leaves sessile, opposite, decussate. Stems simple or branched. They thrive in a roughish sandy soil, composed of three-parts peat and one of loam, with a considerable admixture of pure sand. Rather small pots and perfect drainage are matter of importance in their culture. They are easily propagated by cuttings, inserted in sandy soil, and placed in a gentle heat, in spring. Great care must be taken not to over-water, especially in the winter months. C. baccifera (berry-bearing). fl. reddish-pink, terminal, solitary. June. l. opposite, decussate, glabrous, linear-lanceolate, sessile, decurrent, with reflexed edges, longer than the internodes. Branches sub-tetragonal. 1759. (B. M. 233.) C. floribunda (many-flowered).* fl. pink; peduncles solitary, one-flowered; petals obovate. June. l. linear, or oblong-ovate, acute, h. 2ft. 1843. Glabrous, much branched. (P. M. B. xii. 123.) C. glutinosa (glutinous). fl. reddish-pink; corolla large, with an expanded five-parted limb. Summer. l. three to five-nerved, ovate-lanceolate. h. 2ft. 1843. Plant dark green, smooth. (P. M. B. xv. 245.) C. jasminoides (Jasmine-like).* fl. red or purplish; panicles dichotomous; or flowers terminal, solitary on the tops of the branches. April. l. lanceolate, linear. Stem tetragonal. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1812. Plant glabrous. (B. R. 197.) C. linoides (Flax - like).* fl., corolla red, with ovate-oblong, obtuse segments; peduncles terminal, elongated. July. l. linear, erect, fleshy, acute. Stem branched; branches terete, fastigiate. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1787. (B. M. 511.) CHIVES, or CIVES (Allium Schoenoprasum). A hardy perennial, native of Britain. Chives do well in any garden soil, and may be increased by division of the roots, in spring or autumn. Their chief uses are in soups and salads, being preferred for the latter, as they are much milder than onions, and also more tender. If planted in small bunches, about 9in. apart, and not allowed to secd, they will soon form good - sized clumps. When required for use, each clump may be cut in turn, close to the ground; these will soon grow again. Beds should be replanted at least once in three or four years.