12 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



A. millefolium (thousand-leaved) ; hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; 

 flowers greenish, in September ; south of Europe. A. latebrosa 

 pinnatifida and sericea are other species. 



ACANTHOLIMON. Prickly Thrift. [Plumbaginacea?.] Dwarf 

 hardy perennials, very pretty ornaments for rock-work. Soil, 

 sandy loam and peat. Propagated by cuttings of the half- 

 ripened shoots in a gentle heat, by division, or by seed. 



A. glumaceum (gluraaceous). Hardy evergreen perennial ; 

 6 inches ; flowers rose-color, in June ; Armenia ; 1845. 



ACANTHUS. BeaSs-Breech. [Acanthaceae.] Hardy her- 

 baceous perennials, somewhat coarse, but of stately appear- 

 ance, the blooms being borne in a tall spike, white and pur- 

 plish, protected by spiny bracts. They grow in any kind of 

 soil, and propagate most readily by division of the root ; also 

 by seeds. A. spinosissimus has beautifully divided leaves. 



A. Hispanicus (Spanish) ; hardy perennial ; 2 feet ; flowers 

 white, in August ; Spain ; 1700. A. mollis (soft) ; hardy peren- 

 nial ; 3 feet ; flowers white and purple, in summer ; Italy ; 1548. 

 The leaves of this species, growing through an old basket, are 

 said to have given the idea of the Corinthian style of architecture. 

 A. niger (black) ;' hardy perennial; 3 feet ; flowers white, in Au- 

 gust ; Portugal; 1759. A. spinosissimus (most spiny); hardy 

 perennial ; 3 feet ; flowers purple and white, in summer ; south 

 of Europe ; 1629. A. spinosus (spiny) ; hardy perennial ; 3 feet ; 

 flowers white, in August ; Italy ; 1629. 



These plants, in the most northern States, need slight 

 protection in winter. 



ACER. Maple. [Aceraceas.] Hardy trees and shrubs. 

 Common soil. Propagated by seeds and layers. Cuttings 

 will strike in the open ground, if inserted in spring and kept 

 moderately moist. The usual method is by seeds, or, in va- 

 riegated or dark-foliaged varieties, by budding, inarching, or 

 grafting on the common maple. 



A. Austriacum (Austrian maple) ; 40 feet ; flowers green, in 



