16 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



most brilliant scarlet colour, produced singly on tall naked 

 stems, nearly a foot high. They vary in number of sepals, some 

 being semi-double. The foliage is bright and compact, more 

 freely produced than that of most Windflowers ; it is also 

 richly cut. 



It may be grown in pots for conservatory or indoor decora- 

 tion. It needs no forcing for such purposes ; a cold frame will 

 prove sufficient to bring out the flowers in winter. Borders or 

 the moist parts of rockwork are suitable for it ; but perhaps it is 

 seen to greatest advantage in irregular masses in the half shade 

 of trees in front of a shrubbery, and, after all, it is impossible to 

 plant this flower wrong, as regards effect. To grow it well, how- 

 ever, it must have a moist situation, and good loam to grow in. 

 It is easily propagated by division of strong healthy roots in 

 autumn. 



Flowering period, January to June, according to position and 

 time of planting. 



Anemone Japonica. 



JAPAN WINDFLOWER ; Nat. Ord. RANTJNCULACE^. 

 THIS and its varieties are hardy perennials of the most reliable 

 kinds ; the typical form has flowers of a clear rose colour. A. j. 

 vitifolia has larger flowers of a fine bluish tint, and seems to be 

 the hybrid between the type and the most popular variety, viz., 

 A. j. alba Honorine Jobert (see Fig. 8). So much has this 

 grown in favour that it has nearly monopolised the name of the 

 species, of which it is but a variety; hence the necessity of 

 pointing out- the distinctions. Frequently the beautiful white 

 kind is sought for by the typical name only, so that if a plant 

 were supplied accordingly there would be disappointment at 

 seeing a somewhat coarse specimen, with small rosy flowers, 

 instead of a bold and beautiful plant with a base of large vine- 

 shaped foliage and strong stems, numerously furnished with 

 large white flowers, quite 2in. across, and centered by a dense 

 arrangement of lemon-coloured stamens, somewhat like a large 

 single white rose. This more desirable white variety sometimes 

 grows 3ft. high, and is eminently a plant for the border in front 

 of shrubs, though it is very effective in any position. I grow it 

 in the border, on rockwork, and in a half shady place, and it 

 seems at home in all. It will continue in bloom until stopped 

 by frosts. The flowers are among the most useful in a cut state, 

 especially when mingled with the now fashionable and hand- 

 some leaves of heucheras and tiarellas ; they form a chaste 

 embellishment for the table or fruit dishes. 



The plant is sometimes much eaten by caterpillars ; for this 

 the remedy is soapy water syringed on the under side of the 

 leaves. Earwigs also attack the flowers ; they should be trapped 

 by a similar plan to that usually adopted for dahlias. 



