RANUNCULACE/E. II 



orange flowers with long spurs. Flowers in April and May. 

 Native of Guatemala. 



A. vulgaris {Common C.) — This species is a native of 

 Britain, and is rather a time-honoured plant in gardens. It is 

 variable in its character under cultivation, and many beautiful 

 and some extremely curious varieties have sprung from it. 

 Some of the double varieties are splendid and interesting 

 border-plants, and are very useful for cut-flowers, as they stand 

 long fresh, and may be sent a great distance in the cut state. 

 There are white, pink, lilac, bhie, purple, dark-crimson, red, 

 yellow, and variegated colours in double flowers, and they are 

 well worth some space and attention in every garden. There 

 are later and earlier flowering varieties also, and a close suc- 

 cession may be kept up from the end of May till the end of 

 July. There is also a variety with prettily variegated foliage 

 named in catalogues A. v. Ven'CBfiea?ia. 



Caltha. — This is the common Marsh-AIarigold so abundant 

 in our marshy places and by brook-sides all over Britain. It 

 is a genus of few species, and were it not for the double-flowered 

 variety of C. palustris, our native one, it would be devoid of 

 floricultural interest. This is a good old-fashioned plant not 

 now often seen in gardens, but deserving of a place in any 

 select collection of ornamental hardy herbaceous plants. It is 

 a neat-growing plant about 9 inches in height, with handsome, 

 glossy, dark-green, kidney-shaped leaves, and a profusion of 

 large, double, bright-golden flowers — more golden than the 

 most auriferous Calceolaria — and which become brighter and 

 more profuse when showers are plentiful. It is most suitable 

 for the front lines of mixed borders of hardy herbaceous plants, 

 and may be used with good efl"ect on shady damp rock work, as 

 well as in the v.-ay suggested by the natural habits of the single 

 form, and be made to light up otherwise dreary spots in the 

 spring and early summer months. It naturally prefers a very 

 moist soil, and does not object to considerable shade; but it 

 does not refuse to grow in any ordinary garden soil, even if 

 somewhat dry. Flowers from April till well into July. Pro- 

 pagate by division any time from November till March in open 

 weather. 



Cimicifuga {Bicgwort). — This genus resembles and is nearly 

 related to Actcsa, and, like it, comprises very few species. 

 They are tall strong-growing plants, and may be used for the 

 embellishment of mixed borders and shrubberies, and for 

 naturalisation in woods and partially shady places. They are 

 rarely if at all met with in private gardens, and are little known 

 beyond the precincts of botanical gardens, but are well worth 



