OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 229 



from higher cultivation (by giving them richer soil, liquid 

 manure, and by judicious confinement of their roots), be brought 

 into a more floriferous condition, and when the flowers appear, 

 they can be removed into some cool light situation, under cover, 

 so that their beauties can be more enjoyed, and not be liable to 

 damage by splashing, &c. Plants so grown should be potted in 

 sandy peat, and a few pieces of sandstone placed over the roots, 

 slightly cropping out of the surface ; these will not only help to 

 keep the roots from being draughted, but also bear up the 

 rosetted leaves, and so allow a better circulation of air about the 

 collars, that being the place where rot usually sets in. In the 

 case of specimens which do not get proper treatment, or which 

 have undergone a transplanting to their disadvantage, they will 

 often remain perfectly dormant to all appearance for a year or 

 more. Such plants should be moved into a moist fissure in rock- 

 work, east aspect, and the soil should be of a peaty character. 

 This may seem like coddling, and a slur on hardy plants. Here, 

 however, we have a valuable subject, which does not find a home 

 in this climate exactly so happy as its native habitat, but which, 

 with a little care, can have things so adapted to its requirements 

 as to be grown year after year in its finest form ; such care is 

 not likely to be witnheld by the true lover of choice alpines. 



This somewhat slow-growing species may be propagated by 

 division, but only perfectly healthy specimens should be selected 

 for the purpose, early spring being the best time ; by seed also it 

 may be increased ; the process, however, is slow, and the seed- 

 lings will be two years at least before they flower. 



Flowering period, May to July. 



Ranunculus Aconitifolius. 



ACONITE -LEAVED CROWFOOT, or BACHELORS' BUTTONS ; 



Nat. Ord. K/ANUNCULACE^. 



AN herbaceous perennial, of the alpine parts of Europe, and for 

 a long time cultivated in this country. It grows 1ft. high, is 

 much branched in zigzag form, and produces numerous flowers, 

 resembling those of the strawberry, but only about half the 

 size ; the leaves are finely cut and of a dark green colour ; it is 

 not a plant worth growing for its flowers, but the reason why I 

 briefly speak of it here is that I may more properly introduce 

 that grand old flower of which it is the parent, E. a. fl.-pl. (see 

 Fig. 79), the true "English double white Crowfoote," or Bachelor's 

 Buttons ; these are the common names which Gerarde gives as 

 borne by this plant nearly 300 years ago, and there can be no 

 mistaking the plant, as he figures it in his " Historic of Plantes," 

 p. 812 ; true, he gives it a different Latin name to the one it 

 bears at the present time ; still, it is the same plant, and his 

 name for it (R. albus multiflorus) is strictly and correctly 



