OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 127 



shady and moist, but by all means well drained. A top dressing 

 of good rotten manure, after all have done blooming, about the 

 end of March, is a great help to them. All the Hellebores may 

 be easily increased by root divisions, but the stock should be 

 strong and healthy. Roots affected with the least rot or canker 

 should be discarded, as from their slowness of growth they will 

 not be worth garden space. Seed may also be raised, but unless 

 sown as soon as it is ripe germination is less certain, and always 

 slower in proportion to the length of time it has been kept dry. 

 I may add that, in February (1883), I noticed a pot, sown with 

 Hellebore seed in February of 1880 ; a few were just pushing 

 through the mould. The seed was sold to me as the produce of 

 1879. Since 1880 I have sown seed ripened on plants that were 

 bloomed for indoor decoration, it being ready about February. 

 From this I had nice little plants in less than twelve months. 

 But by seed the process of propagation is slow, and not advisable 

 unless the object is to obtain new varieties a very easy matter, 

 by the way, with this family, if the simple rules of cross- 

 hybridising are applied. 



All the Christmas Roses should be so planted that they may 

 be conveniently shaded during their blooming time. They 

 mostly flower during the dullest part of the year, and the 

 blossom, more especially the white kinds and those with metallic 

 hues, unless protected, become damaged with mud splashes. 

 Hand-lights or bell-glasses should be freely used. 



Flowering period, January to March. 



Helleborus Antiquorum. 



ANCIENT HELLEBORE; Nat. Ord. RANTJNCULACE^. 

 IN what sense this specific name is applied, or which meaning of 

 the word is supposed to be exemplified in this plant, I have no 

 means of being certain. It is very probable that the name is in 

 reference to its " old-fashioned," but beautiful, flowers ; that they 

 are "worthy," "dearer, more acceptable," and of "more esteem and 

 account," is likely to be the verdict of every amateur who grows 

 this kind sucessfully, for a more lovely flower could hardly be 

 desired large, white, softly toned with pink and grey. Sepals 

 very large, incurved, overlapping each other, having the appear- 

 ance of being semi-double, and being of "good substance. The 

 petals are small, short, of a lively green, and numerous. It is a 

 bold and effective flower, but to see it in its full beauty it should 

 be gathered spotlessly clean, as grey and pink tints are ugly 

 when soiled. The leaves accompanying the flowers are of the 

 previous season's growth, and are produced on slender round 

 stalks, 1ft. to l|ft. long, and much thickened at their junction 

 with the leaves. The latter are nearly a foot across, pedate, or 

 palm-shaped ; the segments or leaflets are sub-divided and of 



