9 Sept., 1907.] Garden Notes. 541 



GARDEN NOTES. 



/. Crouin, Inspector. Vegetation Diseases Acts. 



The Anemone. 



Anemone is a genus of dwarf, perennial, herbaceous and tuberous rooted 

 plants, indigenous to portions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. A 

 large number of species is known ; many are highly decorative, the flowers 

 being of varied form and colour, while others are of little value as garden 

 plants. The average height of the tuberous rooted species is less than 

 I foot, some of the herbaceous kind attaining a height of 4 feet. The 

 so-called florist's anemones have been derived from anemone coronaria, the 

 poppy anemone, a native of South East Europe, florists having raised from 

 this species numbers of types and varieties that produce large blooms of 

 varied form and colouring, combined with increased vigour in the growth of 

 the plants and more profuse blooming. The anemone was at one period 

 largely grown and freely exhibited, but like other garden flowers its culti- 

 vation, for some inexplicable reason, was abandoned for some time, but 

 of late years the plant has again become a favourite subject of cultivators 

 chiefly on account of the excellence of some of the newly distributed types, 

 of which the St. Brigid strain. Crown anemone, is a cons)picuous example, 

 the flo^vers exceeding in size and brilliancy those of the older varieties. 



In this State the anemone is regarded as one of the most eifective and 

 easily cultivated of spring blooming plants, growing freely in most soils, 

 and not requiring to be watered to produce its growth and bloom, owing 

 to the fact that during the dry and hot period of summer the plants are 

 in a state of rest. The tuberous rooted varieties are specially suitable 

 for cultivating in places where water is scarce, a fine display of bloom 

 being obtainable for little trouble and outlay during August, September and 

 October. Anemone Japonica and its varieties are also valuable garden 

 plants. The original species is a native of Japan, and in no way re- 

 sembles the spring blooming kinds. The plants are fibrous rooted, her- 

 baceous perennials, and the growth and flowers are produced during 

 summer and autumn. The flowers are white, and rose in colour, and are 

 borne in umbels on stems from 2 to 4 feet in height. Although classed as 

 a hardy plant this anemone requires cultivation and moisture during the 

 summer months. 



Culture. 



The most suitable soil for anemones of the tuberous rooted class is a 

 moderately light loam which should be well drained to insure success. 

 The addition of clay, or heavy loam to light sandy soils, or sand, ashes, 

 or well decayed manure to heavy soils, will bring them to a condition 

 suitable for the culture of these plants. They may be grown in beds 

 specially prepared for them, or as patches or individual plants in beds or 

 borders. The most important point in their culture is that no manure 

 should come into contact with the tubers or even near them, or their 

 destruction is inevitable. In very poor soils some old and well rotted 

 cow manure may be thoroughly mixed with soil at a depth of below 6 

 inches from the surface, but no fresh manure should be used. The tubers 

 may be .planted from February to May ; where blooms are desired early 

 an open and sunny position should be selected. Tubers should be planted 

 at a depth of 2 inches in heavy soils to 3 inches in light, care being taken 

 that the crowns are placed uppermost. When the plants are grown in 



