12 THE BOOK OF BULBS 



varieties. It likes a peaty soil, and prefers shade. It is 

 a charming plant to naturalise in the woods, where it 

 flowers in March and April. 



A. baldensis, the Mount Baldo Windflower, is of erect 

 but dwarf habit, and grows about six inches high. It 

 has little white flowers tinged with blue or red, and does 

 well on a rockery in half-shade in sand and peat. 



A. blanda, the Fair, or Greek Windflower, is one of 

 the earliest of our flowers in sunny gardens, and fre- 

 quently opens soon after New Year's Day. It needs a 

 well-drained, warm position, but flowers better on a 

 stiffish soil. 



There are several forms of this very beautiful Wind- 

 flower. That called cypriana has flowers which vary 

 from white to lilac and pale blue, and the variety taurica 

 has blooms which embrace an even deeper blue among 

 its shades. The variety scythinica is one of the choicest. 

 The exterior of the flower is blue, while the inside is 

 pure white. The seeds of A. blanda should be sown as 

 soon as ripe. 



A. caroliniana, a North American Anemone, now re- 

 ferred to heterophylla, grows about nine inches high, 

 and has finely cut leaves and white or purplish flowers 

 in May. It likes a shady place and peaty soil. 



A. coronaria is the well-known Poppy or Crown 

 Anemone, which is so wonderfully varied in its form 

 and colouring. We have no more effective flower than 

 this in beds or lines in May. For cutting, its blooms 

 are most useful. This Anemone is best propagated 

 from seed annually. It likes a rich, light soil, and cow 

 manure is the best to apply to it. The " St Brigid" 

 strain is a charming one, and the flowers it produces are 

 of great beauty. Tubers of A. coronaria of excellent 

 quality can be purchased at a very low price, and should 

 be planted in a sunny position about three inches deep 

 in October or November. Seeds should be sown in 



