OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 23 



and deservedly esteemed at the present time; and, although 

 many have proved the plant and flowers to be contrary to their 

 expectations in reference to its common name, " Snowdrop 

 Anemone," the disappointment has been, otherwise, an agreeable 

 one. It only resembles the snowdrop as regards the purity and 

 drooping habit of its flowers. 



Well-grown specimens have an exceedingly neat habit the 

 foliage spreads and touches the ground, rounding up to the 

 flower stems (which are about a foot high) in a pleasing manner. 

 The earliest flowers are very large when fully open quite l^in. 

 across but they are more often seen in the unopen state, when 

 they resemble a nutmeg in shape. Whether open or shut, they 

 are a pure white, and their pendent habit adds not a little to 

 their beauty, as also does the leafy involucre. The leaves are 

 three-parted, the two lower lobes being deeply divided, so that at 

 a first glance the leaves appear to be five-parted ; each of the 

 five lobes are three-cleft, and also dentate, downy, and veined ; 

 the leaf stalks are radical, red, long, slightly channelled, and 

 wiry ; in all respects the leaves of the involucre resemble those 

 of the root, excepting the size, which is smaller, and the stalks 

 are green, like the flower stems. 



In a cut state, the pure satin-white blossoms are fit for the 

 most delicate wreath or bouquet ; they have, morever, a deli- 

 cious clover-scent. It enjoys a light vegetable soil in a slightly 

 shaded and moist situation ; if it could be allowed to ramble 

 in the small openings of a front shrubbery, such positions would 

 answer admirably. 



The roots are underground-creeping, which renders this 

 species somewhat awkward to manage when grown with others 

 in a collection of less rampant habit. On the other hand, the 

 disposition it has to spread might very well be taken advantage 

 of by providing it with a good broad space, than which nothing 

 could be more lovely for two months of the year. 



It is needless to give directions for its propagation, as the 

 runners spring up all round the parent plant. Slugs are very 

 fond of it, and in early spring, especially when the new growths 

 are appearing, they should be kept in check, otherwise they will 

 eat down into the heart of the strongest plant ; a dose of clear 

 lime water will be found effective and will not hurt the new 

 leaves ; if this is followed up with a few sprinklings of sand, the 

 slugs will not care to occupy such unpleasant quarters. 



Flowering period, May and June. 



Anemone Vernalis. 



SHAGGY WINDFLOWER ; Nat. Ord. RANUNCULACE^E. 



A CURIOUS but pretty alpine species, from the Swiss Alps, 

 consequently very hardy. It is not a showy subject, but its 



