■^- NAT. ORDER. — RANUNCULACE^. 99 



of w hich is furni.slied with three at the base. It flowers a little 

 earlier than the other. It sometimes has two flowers on a stem, but 

 usually only one. The peduncles villose and short, so that the flow- 

 er scarcely rises above the leaves ; the petals are five, and roundish ; 

 the stamens about fifty. This plant grows wild in Sweden, &c. 



Propagation and Culture. The varieties of these species are very 

 common and graceful ornaments in gardens. Leaves finely or 

 broadly dissected. Flowers purple, blue, violet, lilac, yellowish, 

 white, or variegated, single or double ; each of which forms, by itself, 

 a highly beautiful garden ornament. 



Anemone hortensis is a well known florist flower, valued for its 

 hardy nature, and also, because it will flower at almost any season, 

 according to the time the roots are kept out of the ground, and the 

 season when they are planted. Many new varieties have been raised 

 from seed, but few of tliem are named by florists, as in the case of 

 Tulips and Pinks. The prevailing colors are red, wiiite, and blue; 

 and semi-double flowers are in nearly as much repute as double 

 ones. A root which has remained in the ground two or three years 

 will attain a great breadth. They are increased by dividing the 

 roots. The soil preferred by the Anemone is a fresh loam, rather 

 heavy than light. The usual time of planting is in October, cover- 

 ing the roots three inches ; but to have earlier bloom, they may be 

 planted in the beginning of September, and to have bloom every 

 month in the year, plant every month. The finer sorts require pro- 

 tection from violent storms and excessive light and heat; but many 

 varieties do exceedingly well in borders. A very severe winter will 

 destroy the roots if the surface is not mulched, but the Anemone is 

 considerable hardier than the garden Ranunculus. 



In order to obtain new varieties, seeds should be saved from fine 

 single or semi-double kinds, and sown in shallow pots or boxes filled 

 with light, rich earth, in August, covering them a quarter of an inch 

 with the same kind of earth ; and when the plants rise, care should 

 be taken to protect them from the frost. In the following season. 



