OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 231 



sought after ; and no wonder, for its flowers are perfection, and 

 the plant one of the most decorative and suitable for any position 

 in the garden. In a cut state the flowers do excellent service. 

 This subject is easily cultivated, but to have large specimens, 

 with plenty of flowers, a deep, well enriched soil is indispensable; 

 stagnant moisture should be avoided. Autumn is the best time 

 to divide the roots. 

 Flowering period, May to July. 



Ranunculus Acris Flore-pleno. 



DOUBLE ACRID CROWFOOT, YELLOW BACHELOR'S BUTTONS? 

 Nat. Ord. RANUNCULACEJE. 



THE type of this is a common British plant, most nearly related 

 to the field buttercup. I am not going to describe it, but mention 

 it as I wish to introduce R. acris fl.-pl., sometimes called "yellow 

 Bachelor's Buttons" indeed, that is the correct common name 

 for it, as used fully 300 years ago. In every way, with the 

 exception of its fine double flowers, it resembles very much the 

 tall meadow buttercup, so that it needs no further description ; 

 but, common as is its parentage, it is both a showy and useful 

 border flower, and forms a capital companion to the double white 

 Bachelor's Buttons (R. aconitifolius fl.-pl.). 

 Flowering period, April to June. 



Ranunculus Amplexicaulis. 



STEM-CLASPING RANUNCULUS; Nat. Ord. RANUNCULACE^. 

 A VERY hardy subject; effective and beautiful. The form of 

 this plant is exceedingly neat, and its attractiveness is further 

 added to by its smooth and pale glaucous foliage. It was intro- 

 duced into this country more than 200 years ago, from the 

 Pyrenees. Still it is not generally grown, though at a first 

 glance it asserts itself a plant of first-class merit (see Fig. 80). 



The shortest and, perhaps, best description of its flowers will 

 be given when I say they are white Buttercups, produced on stout 

 stems nearly a foot high, which are also furnished by entire 

 stem-clasping leaves, whence its name ; other leaves are of 

 varying forms, mostly broadly lance-shaped, and some once- 

 notched ; those of the root are nearly spoon-shaped. The whole 

 plant is very smooth and glaucous, also covered with a fine meal. 

 As a plant, it is effective ; but grown by the side of R. montanus 

 and the geums, which have flowers of similar shape, it is seen to 

 more advantage. 



On rockwork, in leaf soil, it does remarkably well ; in loam it 

 seems somewhat stunted. Its flowers are very serviceable in a 

 cut state, and they are produced in succession for three or four 



