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MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



Eranthis hiemalis* and others. The similarity between the 

 first-year stage of this plant and that of the May-apple, 

 Podophyllum peltatum, is pointed out by Holm.f 



Both have the peculiarity that during the first year 

 of their development the plants rely entirely upon the cotyle- 

 dons for that portion of their food which they must obtain 

 from the air. These cotyledons are in evidence only during 

 a few months and disappear during the summer. Here must 

 be sought one of the reasons for the apparent non-success of 

 the propagation by seed of the plant under discussion. Too 

 readiiy the conclusion will be arrived at that the plants have 

 died. 



When, in the frame, some time after the mulch has been 

 removed, the cotyledons make their appearance, it becomes 

 necessary to provide shelter from the sun's rays and the 

 drying effect of the wind. Screening is essential. Watering 

 is necessary only when the soil threatens to become too dry. 

 The screening must be continued during the summer, even 

 after the seed-leaves have disappeared, and the soil must never 

 be allowed to become dry. At the approach of winter a 

 light mulch of leaves must be put on, and during the coldest 

 weather some protection is to be given. The next spring, as 

 soon as danger of extreme cold weather is over, the mulch 

 can be removed, and each plant will produce a single leaf. 

 The plants can remain in the frames during the summer, with 

 the necessary sheltering and watering, and an occasional ap- 

 plication of manure water early in the year. About August 

 the plants can be removed to their permanent location and 

 the frames prepared to receive the next lot of seed. Using 

 a double set of frames, the growing of Hydrastis from seed will 

 be a matter requiring but little space and less work, which 

 after the first three years may be considered to yield a return 

 equal to that part of the crop formerly retained for propagat- 

 ing purposes minus the rental of the extra land needed. 



Though the number of papers dealing with Hydrastis cmia- 

 densis is limited, from a morphological, anatomical and taxo- 

 nomic standpoint the plant has received a very thorough 



* Irmisch, Thilo. Ueber cinige Ranunculaceen. 3. (Bot. Zeit. 18: 221). 

 t Holm, Theo. Poduphyllum peltalum. (Bot. Gaz. 27 : 419). 



