136 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



it is sown as soon as ripe, but plants so raised are two or three 

 years before they flower. The quicker method of increase is by 

 division of the roots. This can only be done successfully when 

 the old stock is in robust health. Pieces of roots taken from 

 old and unhealthy specimens will remain in the ground for 

 twelve months as immovable as stones, whereas the least 

 Trits of clean young growths will form nice blooming plants the 

 first year. 



Flowering period, December to March. 



Helleborus Odorus. 



SWEET-SCENTED HELLEBORE ; Nat. Ord. BANTJNCULACE^E. 

 LIKE all the Hellebores, excepting the white-flowered H. niger 

 and its varieties, this has, until very recently, been much 

 neglected, notwithstanding that its name implies the rare and 

 desirable quality of a sweet odour ; moreover, it is of easy 

 culture, very hardy, and a free bloomer. It is a native of 

 Hungary, and was introduced to English gardens in 1817. It is 

 like H. purpurascens, only its flowers are green ; it even more 

 strongly resembles our native H. viridis. All its foliage is 

 renewed annually. It belongs to the section having stems 

 few-flowered, forked, and bearing floral leaves. It grows 9in. 

 to 12in. high. 



The flowers are green, small, nodding, and scented. The 

 sepals are nearly round, and overlap each other. The flowers 

 are produced at long intervals on the twice-branched, stout, pale 

 green stems ; they are supported by prettily-cut leaves, having 

 lance- shaped segments, finely serrated, also having large sti- 

 pules. The radical leaves are palmate, covered with a fine down 

 on the under surface. The segments are oblong, undivided, 

 and at the base quite entire, but finely toothed near the top. 

 The bloom lasts a long time, either cut or in the growing 

 state. There is nothing very distinct to the eye about this 

 species, but it is to be commended for the sweetness of its 

 flowers. 



Like other Hellebores, it should be grown in a shady place, 

 where there is a good depth of rich sandy loam. Propagated by 

 division of healthy stock at almost any period. 



Flowering period, February to March. 



Helleborus Olympicus. 



OLYMPIAN HELLEBORE ; Nat. Ord. E/ANUNCTJLACE^E. 

 THIS comes from a Grecian habitat, as the specific name denotes ; 

 still it is perfectly hardy in this climate, and it deserves a place 

 in every garden. It is not so old in English gardens as some 

 kinds, and may not be much known ; at any rate, it is seldom 



