OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWEBS. 5 



live in the most reeky towns, only mentioned here to introduce 

 A. P.fl.-pl., which is one of the most useful of border flowers. I 

 am bound to add, however, that only when in flower is it more 

 presentable than the weedy and typical form; but the grand 

 masses of pure white bachelors'-button-like flowers, which are 

 produced for many weeks in succession, render this plant 

 deserving of a place in every garden, It is a very old flower in 

 English gardens. Some 250 years ago Parkinson referred to the 

 double flowering kind, in his " Paradise of Pleasant Flowers," 

 as a the'n common plant ; and I may as well produce Gerarde's 

 description of the typical form, which answers, in all respects, 

 for the double one, with the exception of the flowers themselves : 

 " The small Sneesewoort hath many rounde and brittle braunches, 

 beset with long and narrowe leaues, hackt about the edges like a 

 sawe ; at the top of the stalkes do grow smal single flowers like 

 the fielde Daisie. The roote is tender and full of strings, 

 creeping f arre abroade in the earth, and in short time occupieth 

 very much grounde." The flowers of this plant are often, but 

 wrongly, called " bachelors' buttons," which they much resemble. 



For cutting purposes, this plant is one of the most useful ; not 

 only are the blooms a good white, but they have the quality 

 of keeping clean, and are produced in greater numbers than 

 ever I saw them on the single form. Those requiring large 

 quantities of white flowers could not do better than give the 

 plant a few square yards in some unfrequented part of the 

 garden ; any kind of soil will suit it, but if enriched the bloom 

 will be all the better for it. The roots run freely just under the 

 surface, so that a large stock may soon be had ; yet, fine as are 

 its flowers, hardy and spreading as the plant proves, it is but 

 seldom met with. Even in small gardens this fine old flower 

 should be allowed a little space. Transplant any time. 



Flowering period, June to August. 



Aconitum Autumnale. 



AUTUMN MONK'S-HOOD ; Nat. Ord. E-ANUNCTJLACE^E. 

 HARDY, perennial, and herbaceous. This is one of the finest 

 subjects for autumn flowering. The whole plant, which stands 

 nearly 3ft. high, is stately and distinct (Fig. 2) ; the leaves are 

 dark green, large, deeply cut and veined, of good substance, and 

 slightly drooping. The flowers are a fine blue (a colour some- 

 what scarce in our gardens at that season), irregularly arranged 

 on very stout stems; in form they exactly resemble a monk's 

 hood, and the manner in which they are held from the stems 

 further accords with that likeness. These rich flowers are 

 numerously produced ; a three-year-old plant will have as many 

 as six stout stems all well furnished, rendering the specimen very 

 conspicuous. 



