34 POTENTILLA MENZIESII. 



Antioerpensis, a new variety, with brilliant orange flowers, produced from May to 

 November, and which, being semi-double, do not close at evening, as is the case 

 with the other plants of the genus. 



All the species and varieties we have enumerated are perfectly hardy, and of the 

 easiest cultivation, though it cannot be said that they will flourish in any description 

 of soil. They succeed best in a good rich earth of some depth, and require, in 

 summer, a plentiful supply of water, especially about the time the flower stems are 

 thrown up. , We have never seen the Potentillas grown in beds, but we think that 

 such an arrangement would be exceedingly interesting, if a proper selection of plants 

 were made. For the centre of the bed one of the shrubby species, such as fruticosa, 

 or floribunda, both with yellow flowers, and growing about four feet high, would be 

 well adapted ; and around these might be grouped the erect-growing herbaceous 

 species and varieties, reserving the trailers, of which there is a fair sprinkling, for 

 the outer circle. 



They are all readily increased by dividing the roots early in spring, and as these 

 descend to a considerable depth, care must be taken that the fibres are not broken. 

 Many of the species ripen seeds, from which new varieties may often be raised, and 

 all the seedlings would flower the second season after sowing ; a few, probably, the 

 first year, if the sowing was effected early, and the plants forwarded in every way. 



A wide field is here open to the amateur florist, and, with a little care and 

 attention, he could scarcely fail to originate some valuable additions to this 

 ornamental family. 



There is an allied genus, of which a few species are occasionally found in gardens, 

 and which fully equal in beauty the Potentillas we have named ; Ave allude to the 

 Geums. They are distinguished from the Cinquefoils by their lyrate leaves, reflexed 

 calyx when in fruit, and, more particularly, by the style of the numerous little 

 granular seed-vessels being jointed. Geum coccineum (the G. Quellyon or Chloense 

 of some authors), is an extremely handsome plant. 



The properties both of Potentilla and Geum, as well as of Tormentilla, another 

 allied genus, are very similar. Many of the species of the three genera are 

 astringent and aromatic, and all are perfectly innocuous. The common Potentilla 

 anserina, or Silver Weed, has been used by tanners ; and P. reptans, another English 

 species, was formerly employed as a febrifuge. 



The generic term, Potentilla, is derived by some authors from potens, powerful, 

 or potentia, power, in allusion to the medicinal properties of the species; but as 

 these are undoubtedly very weak, we incline to agree with those who consider 

 the reference to be to the Latin diminutive, signifying little power. 



The popular designation, Cinquefoil, alludes to the arrangement of the leaflets, 

 which are often in fives, but by no means exclusively so; for many of the 

 species, including Menziesii, have ternate foliage, and it is not rare to find on 



