10 RANUNCULACErE. 



early; but in order to secure this, they should be encouraged as 

 much as possible under frames or hand-glasses while in the 

 seedling state. The following selection includes the best and 

 most distinct of the species at present known, and they are 

 fine, in some cases splendid, ornaments for the mixed border, 

 and for rock work. 



A. alpina {Aipine C.) — This is one of the best. It grows 

 about I foot high, with a considerable tuft of finely-cut leaves 

 at the roots, and rather erect leafy stems, producing numerous 

 large purplish -blue white- centred flowers. Prefers a rather 

 moist shady position on rockwork, with considerable depth of 

 soil. Flowers in May and June. Native of the Swiss Alps. 



A. canadensis {Ca?iadia?i C.) — This is a tall and rather 

 graceful species, growing about 2 feet high, with loose pani- 

 cles of flowers. The flowers are large, but not so spreading 

 as in some, with straight spurs of moderate length, beautiful 

 bright red, shaded with orange in the centres. Flowers in 

 April, May, and June. Native of North America. 



A. cserulea {Sky-bhie C.) — This is a remarkable and splen- 

 did species of recent introduction. It grows about i foot high, 

 and produces numerous very large flowers with long slender 

 spurs, light violet-blue, shaded with pure white. Flowers in 

 May and June. Native of the Rocky Mountains. Succeeds 

 best treated in the way recommended for A. alpina. 



A. fragrans {Fragra?it C.) — This is not one of the most 

 showy, but is very distinct. It grows about i foot high, with 

 downy, somewhat clammy leaves, is very profuse-flowering. 

 The flowers are pale yellow or straw, furnished with short 

 hooked spurs, and appear in ]May and June. Native of the 

 Himalaya. 



A. glandulosa {Clammy C.) — This is a very showy and free- 

 flowering species, growing about 18 inches or 2 feet high, with 

 abundant foliage. The flowers are very large, blue and white, 

 and have short spurs. Flowers in May, June, and July. Native 

 of Siberia. There are two or three excellent varieties of this 

 species in cultivation. 



A. glauca {Grey-leaved C.) — This is a distinct and interesting 

 plant, though not so strikingly showy as some of the preced- 

 ing. It grows about 18 inches or 2 feet high, with ample 

 glaucous foliage and large numerous flowers, the spurs of which 

 are shortish and red, and shading into the pale yellow of the 

 other parts of the flowers. Flowers in May and June. Native 

 of the Himalaya. 



A. Skinneri {Skinner's C.) — This is one of the best. It 

 grows 9 inches or i foot high, producing numerous scarlet and 



