AQUILEGIA. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



AQUILEGIA. 



347 



get the seed, if we can, from the wild 

 home of the species. Sow early in 

 spring, and prick the young plants out 

 into pans or into an old garden frame 



A Columbine. 



as soon as they are fit to handle, 

 removing them early in August to the 

 borders. Choose a cloudy day for the 

 work, and give them a little shading 

 for a few days. 



A. ALPINA (Alpine C.). A beautiful 

 high mountain plant i foot to 2 feet high, 

 with showy blue flowers, and there is a 

 lovely variety with a white centre to the 

 flower. In the rock garden it should have 

 a rather moist and sheltered, but not 

 shady, spot in deep sandy loam or peat. 

 Seed or division. 



A. CALIFORNICA (Californian C.). One 

 of the finest of the American species, with 

 one bold woody stem, 3 feet high, and 

 bright orange flowers. The seeds should 

 be carefully looked after, as having once 

 blossomed the old plant may perish. 

 Thrives best on a deep sandy loam and 

 moist. 



A. CANADENSIS (Canadian C.). The 

 flowers are smaller than the W. American 

 kinds. This is compensated for by the 

 brilliancy of the scarlet colour of the 

 sepals and of the erect spurs, and by the 

 bright yellow of the petals. The true 

 plant is a slender grower, i foot in height. 

 A plant for borders, or placing here and 

 there among dwarf shrubs and plants in 

 the rougher parts of the rock garden. 



A. CHRYSANTHA (Golden C.). This tall 

 and beautiful species is perennial on many 

 soils where the other kinds perish, thriving 

 even on the stiff clay soils north of London. 

 It comes true from seed, which is most 

 safely raised under glass. 



A. COZRULEA (Rocky Mountain C.). 

 This is very beautiful, the green-tipped 

 spurs of the flower being as slender as a 

 thread, and having a tendency to twist 

 round each other. It is hardy, flowering 

 early in summer, from 12 inches to 15 

 inches high, worthy of the best position 

 on the rock garden, and in choice mixed 

 borders, where the soil is free and deep. 

 Unlike the Golden Columbine, it is not 

 perennial on many soils, though longer- 

 lived in cool hill gardens. To get healthy 

 plants that will flower freely, seeds should 

 be sown annually. 



A. GLANDULOSA (Altaian C.). A beau- 

 tiful plant of tufted habit, flowering in 

 early summer a fine blue, with tips of 

 petals creamy-white, the spur curved 

 backwards towards the stalk, the sepals 

 dark blue, large, with a long footstalk. 

 It is a native of the Altai Mountains, and 

 one of the most precious flowers for the 

 rock garden, in deep sandy soil. Seed 

 and division. 



A. SKINNERI (Skinner's C.). A distinct 

 plant, the flowers produced later on slender 

 pedicles, the sepals greenish, the petals 

 small and yellow ; the spurs are 2 inches 

 long and bright orange-red. Though 

 from Guatemala, it comes from mountain 

 districts, and is nearly hardy. While the 

 name is often seen, the true plant is rare. 



A. VIRIDIFLORA. A fragrant Siberian 

 Columbine, the sage-green of the flower 

 and the delicate tint of the leaf offering 

 a delicate harmony. In tjie border it 



