RAXUNCULACE.'^. 7 



spring flower-garden it will be found a valuable and attractive 

 subject, and every amateur should have a tuft of it in his 

 garden. It does not thrive so well in heavy as in light soils, 

 dwindles and dies in stiff clays, but luxuriates most in light 

 loams with much decomposed vegetable matter in them ; and 

 peat is also very congenial to it. Native of the south of Europe. 

 Divide in autumn. 



A. rivularis {Rivulet A.) — This is a fine species from 

 northern India. It is showy, free-growing, and free-flowering. 

 Grows to the height of i8 inches or 2 feet, with numerous 

 showy white flowers filled with rather conspicuous purple sta- 

 mens and pistils. Delights most in rather moist soil, and is a 

 very useful border-plant. Divide in early spring. 



A. sylvestris {Sjioivdrop A.) — This is one of the handsomest 

 of the group, though not the most showy. It is a free-growing 

 species with pure white flowers, resembling somev/hat in the 

 bud the flowers of the Snowdj'op. It is hardy and unfastidious 

 as to soil, but prefers rather a shady situation, and would 

 doubtless adapt itself easily to woods and semi-wild places in 

 moderate shade. It should be in every collection of choice 

 hardy herbaceous plants, being a beautiful bed or border orna- 

 ment, and fit also for rockwork decoration. Height about 1 2 

 or 1 5 inches. Native of Italy, France, Germany, and Siberia. 

 Flowers in April and May. Divide in spring. 



Aconitum {Monkshood). — There is much diversity of opinion 

 amongst authorities as to the precise limits of species in this 

 genus. Some maintain that a hundred or more distinct forms 

 are comprised in it, and others contend for only a very limited 

 number ; but between the two, the nomenclature of the family 

 is in a most perplexing tangle. My own experience of some 

 twenty or thirty so-called species under cultivation has led me 

 to the opinion that many mere varieties have been described 

 as species, and that a very short list may be made to include 

 all that is best and most distinct in the forms at present in 

 cultivation. The gay, bold, and striking character of some of 

 the Monkshoods is very well known. They form splendid 

 backgrounds for wide mixed borders of perennial plants ; they 

 are useful also for producing distant effects in pleasure-grounds 

 in association with shrubs ; and their hardy nature and robust 

 mode of growth fit them well for introducing into open woods 

 and semi-wild places. They do not dislike a litde shade, 

 which is favourable to their being naturalised in moderately- 

 shady places, and they thrive in any common soil of ordinary 

 quality. Propagate by seeds in the open air in the end of 

 March or in April, and by division in winter in open weather 



