126 breck's xew book of flowers, 



abundantly repay all the labor that may be bestowed up- 

 on it. 



I have succeeded very well, in its cultivation, by keep- 

 ing the roots out of ground until March, and then plant- 

 ing them in a bed prepared in the fall, that had been 

 kept covered till the time of planting. The roots of the 

 Anemones are solid, flattened masses, like those of ginger, 

 and are multiplied by dividing them. 



More than one hundred and fifty choice varieties are 

 enumerated in some of the Dutch catalogues of the 

 present day, classed as follows : — red, or blood color ; 

 rosy and white, flamed with purple ; sky blue ; purple or 

 ash color ; rosy, with green, and white, and agate. 



A fine double Anemone should stand upon a strong, 

 elastic and erect stem, not less than nine inches high. 

 The blossom or corolla, should be at least two and a half 

 inches in diameter. The outer petals, or guard leaves, 

 should be substantial, Avell rounded, at first horizontally 

 extended, and then turning a little upwards, so as to form 

 a broad, shallow cup, the interior part of which should 

 contain a great number of long, small petals, imbricating 

 each other, and rather reverting from the centre of the 

 blossom. There are a great number of small stamens in- 

 termixed with these petals, but they are short, and not 

 easily discernable. The color should be clear and distinct 

 when diversified in the same flower, or brilliant and strik- 

 ing if it consists only of one color, as blue, crimson, or 

 scarlet, etc., in which case the bottom of the broad ex- 

 terior petals is generaly white ; but the beauty and con- 

 trast are greatly increased when both the exterior and in- 

 terior petals are regularly marked Avitli alternate blue and 

 white, or pink and white stripes, etc., which in the broad 

 petals should not extend quite to the margin. 



Propagation. — By dividing the roots for the fine sorts, 

 and by seed for new varieties. 



