REMARKS ON THE HEPATICA. 197 



leave the amateur to suit himself, his experience and fancy heing 

 likely to afford the best directions on the choice of plants suitable for 

 him to cultivate. 



ARTICLE III. 



REMARKS ON THE HEPATICA. 



BY A COUNTRY CURATE. 



To me the early flowers of spring possess more than ordinary interest ; 

 and one of the neatest is the humble Hepatica in its varieties ; and 

 every flower-bed or border within sight of the dwelling-house ought 

 to be ornamented with these lovely harbingers of still more extensive 

 displays of beauty and fertility. 



I have not been possessed of a plot of ground for a garden more 

 than three years ; but since I have, I have used every means to 

 obtain a stock of the early spring flowers. I now possess the follow- 

 ing : — Single blue, double blue, single white, single red, single pink, 

 and the double red. I have read of several other varieties, but 

 cannot find them at any nursery establishment I have yet applied to. 

 I am quite aware, if attention had been paid to the raising of seed- 

 lings, other beautiful distinct varieties might have been raised. I 

 am now, for the first season, attempting it ; and next spring I hope 

 to have the pleasure of having raised some other good ones. I have 

 been told there is a double white variety in existence in this country, 

 as also a double yellow, and a single white with red anthers ; but I 

 have not yet been able to obtain them. 



The following kinds I have read of, and give the descriptive list 

 with a view to bring the lovely little flower more into notice, and to 

 encourage the production of seedlings, as well as to get all the kinds 

 I can additional to my present stock ; and I shall be obliged if any 

 reader of the Cabinet who possesses others I have not would inform 

 rnc, through the medium of the conductor of this magazine, and I 

 shall be glad to treat for a plant of each : — 



1. The great single blue Hepatica. — The leaves are somewhat 

 brown, and hairy at their first coming, which after are broad ; the 

 flowers are of a fair blue colour, with many white chives or threads 

 (stamens) in the middle. 



2. The small blue H. — The leaves of this Hepatica are smaller by 

 the half than the former, and grow more abundantly, or bushing thick 



