GARDEN FLOWERS. 1 93 



stagnant moisture. They desen-e a place in every choice 

 garden for their dwarf habit, bright colors, and early flowers. 

 The plants increase by side-shoots, which spread into a 

 moderate-sized tuft in a season or two if undisturbed ; they 

 are increased in number by separating these tufts, so that 

 each heart, or side-shoot, with roots attached, may become a 

 plant. This is done in spring, the roots being separated into 

 pieces not too small ; for, although the smallest bit would 

 in time spread, they would be two or three seasons before 

 they were fit to plant in the borders : these should be 

 planted in nursery-beds, about six inches apart, and, after 

 one season's growth, they will be large enough to plant out 

 where they are to remain. The beds must be kept clear 

 from weeds. These plants are rather impatient of extreme 

 drought. The double varieties are superior to the single, 

 and therefore are mostly cultivated ; but the double white is 

 very scarce, if not altogether lost, and therefore the single 

 white is grown. 



The single varieties are natives of our woods, and are 

 among the first flowers of spring. The double varieties 

 must be imported from England or Germany. H. acutiloba 

 is only a variety of H. triloba. 



H. acutiloba (acute-lobed) ; hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; flow- 

 ers blue, in March; North America; 1818. H. triloba (three- 

 lobed) ; hardy perennial ; 9 inches ; flowers blue, white, or pink, 

 single or double, in April ; Europe ; 1573. H. atigulosa is a fine 

 species from Hungary, with blue flowers twice as large as the 

 common species, on tall footstalks, in May ; 1864. 



Heracleum. Cow Parsnip. [Umbelliferae.] Large 

 coarse-growing hardy perennials and biennials, bearing large 

 umbels of white flowers. The larger sorts are admirable 

 plants for rough borders, rock-\\T)rk on a large scale, wilder- 

 ness scenery, or wherever a bold, striking, picturesque eflect 

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