COLUMBINES 65 



pact and upright in growth, its spurs are rather shorter 

 and its flowers not so widely opened. Its leaves are 

 even more delicately cut, and it flowers some weeks 

 earlier. Besides being one of the most beautiful of 

 all columbines, it is unfortunately one of the few that 

 are difficult to grow, often dying out quickly in Eng- 

 lish 1 gardens, and sometimes refusing to flower at 

 all. It must never be disturbed while at rest, but 

 should be moved, if at all, after it has flowered. It 

 is best grown from seed sown as soon as ripe or in 

 spring; and the seedlings should be placed in their 

 permanent homes as soon as they are large enough 

 to be moved; or, if they are not large enough till late 

 in the year, they should be left till the spring, and 

 wintered in a cold frame. There is still a good deal of 

 uncertainty about the conditions which suit Aquilegia 

 glandulosa best, as it is a most capricious plant. But 

 it seems to prefer a light soil enriched with humus 

 and a rather cool situation. Drought will often kill 

 it off quickly. It should have a westerly or north- 

 westerly aspect, as the flower-buds form very early 

 and are apt to be withered up by the morning sun, 

 when it follows a sharp frost. It is a plant well worth 

 trying on sheltered north-westerly slopes of the rock 

 garden; and it may be that a dash of lime in the soil 

 will assist its growth. Some people say that it likes 

 a heavily manured soil; but manure is probably more 



*May and June in the United States. A. glandulosa, according to 

 Bailey, is likely to flower only two or three years, and should be treated 

 as an annual. L. Y. K. 



