4 RANUNCULACE^. 



A. apennina (Apennine A.) is rather a diminutive plant, 

 but one of the loveliest of spring flowers. It grows about 6 

 inches high, with small, dark-green, much-divided leaves, and 

 large bright blue flowers on slender erect stalks an inch or two 

 above the foliage. It has become naturalised in a few localities 

 in England and in one place in Scotland, and in some of our 

 floras is accounted indigenous ; but it is no true native, though 

 by naturalising itself in these few cases it has shown that our 

 climate is not unsuited to it. I remember some years ago 

 seeing a spot of some square yards in extent, in an open wood 

 in one of the midland counties of Ireland, entirely carpeted 

 with this lovely plant and A. nemorosa in pretty equal mixture, 

 and in flower. It was no design ; they had probably been exiled 

 years before to this spot from the kitchen-garden only a little 

 way off; but it was a happy accident, and the effect was very 

 beautiful. The natural soil was a very heavy clay on a damp 

 cold bottom, and it was consequently very moist ; but on the 

 surface of the clay was a thin stratum of vegetable mould, the 

 accumulations of many years from the trees overhead, and in 

 this the Anemones luxuriated vigorously. How desirable it is 

 that our shrubberies, woods, pleasure-grounds, and semi-wild 

 places should be embellished with such loveliness as this plant 

 and hundreds of others yield at so Httle cost and trouble ! It 

 is one of the earliest-flowering species, flowering in March and 

 April along with Hepaticas, Primroses, and many other spring 

 flowers, and is therefore available for spring bedding, and for 

 this purpose should be kept in pots in the reserve ground. It 

 is charming on rockwork, or in bed or border, should be planted 

 everywhere, and is one of those bright things that should have 

 a place in every amateur's garden. Divide in autumn. Native 

 of the mountains of Italy. 



A. coronaria. — This is the parent of the sho^vy-coloured 

 Poppy Afie??w?ies, once so engrossingly popular, and which still 

 worthily hold a distinguished place among gay border-plants. 

 The fine double varieties are cultivated at great cost and trouble, 

 requiring very special and expensive preparation of soil, and 

 much care and attention throughout the whole period from 

 planting to lifting time, to insure success. The single varieties 

 require less of this inconvenient expense and labour, and are 

 as useful for all purposes, except for exhibition ; and they may 

 be kept in supply by annual or biennial sowing as easily as any 

 hardy annual or biennial plant. Sow in April or May in a 

 well-dug, lightly-manured piece of ground, in a warm situation 

 out of doors, and transjDlant in autumn to the blooming quar- 

 ters, planting the roots 2 or 3 inches apart, and they will 



