RANUNCULACE.^. 3 



purpose of increase of bulk or quantity of plants. They will 

 require, also, careful attention to the state of the drainage, and 

 a plentiful supply of water in the growing season. These plants 

 are all easily propagated by division in spring when growth 

 commences, or by seeds sown in small pots or pans in a cold 

 frame in J\Iarch. 



Anemone comprises rather an extensive group of highly-or- 

 namental plants. In the various species there is much variety 

 of colour and some diversity of habit, and the uses in orna- 

 mental gardening to which they may be applied are almost as 

 various as their natural characteristics. All the species are 

 hardy ; but some are natives of regions so lofty that in our 

 comparatively favoured climate they seem to live too fast, 

 and consequently never appear in good condition, and soon 

 lose constitution and die. A. ve7iialis may be taken as an 

 example of this class, and it is rarely seen in good dress in 

 cultivation, yet is unquestionably one of the finest of the group; 

 but such peculiar species have been omitted in making the 

 following selection. Any peculiarity of soil or treatment re- 

 quired by any species will be duly noted in its proper place, 

 but here it may be remarked generally, that Anemones prefer 

 a rich and rather heavy loam. They succeed well, however, in 

 many light soils ; but in the more tenacious clays many of the 

 smaller species refuse to grow, and a very liberal incorporation 

 of gritty matter and leaf-mould is the only sure means of recon- 

 ciling them to such. They may be propagated by seeds or by 

 division of the roots. The seeds should be sown in February 

 or March in a cold frame, or, if convenient, in a mild hotbed, 

 using small pots or pans, and loam and well-decomposed leaf- 

 mould, with a liberal allowance of sand. Division of the roots 

 may be done either in early autumn or early spring. All the 

 very early-flowering species are better divided about the end of 

 September or throughout October, or indeed any time soon 

 after growth is matured and the leaves decayed, but the later 

 bloomers may be left over till March. 



A. alpina {Alpine A.) — This is a tall-growing species of very 

 distinct appearance. It grows about i8 inches high. The leaves 

 are large, much and deeply cut, and of a fresh green colour. 

 The flowers are large, cup-shaped, creamy-white inside and pale 

 livid purple outside. A beautiful plant either in bed, border, 

 or rockwork, and should be in every collection of hardy garden 

 plants, being free in growth in any soil of fair quality. Flowers 

 in April and ^May. Native of most of the great mountain- 

 ranges of Europe. A. suIpJuwea of some catalogues is but a 

 well-marked variety of this species with lemon-coloured flowers. 



