166 HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS. 



A. tomentosa is a dwarf, woolly-leaved evergreen, with yellow 

 flowers. Increased by division. 



A. mongolica grows about 18 inches high, bears single white flowers. 

 Comes into bloom early, and is used for cutting. All of the kinds need 

 full sunshine. 



ACIPHYLLA SQUARROSA and A. COLENSOI-New Zealand umbel- 

 liferous plants, with dense rosettes of sharp-pointed leaves. In a young 

 and flo werless stage they are attractive, and may be used in Summer for 

 rockwork. In the colder parts the plants should either be lifted and 

 stored in a frame, or protected by a covering of some kind. Both are 

 raised from seeds sown during the latter part of February. 



ACONITUfl (Monkshood) In the warmer parts of the country, where 

 the Delphiniums will not thrive, some of the Aconitums will be found to 

 be pretty fair substitutes, as they thrive moderately well where the sun 

 is only allowed to strike them through a leafy shade. If the soil around 

 them is given a mulch of 2 or 3 inches deep, to preserve moisture, they 

 will flower all the better for it. The species are very numerous and have 

 a wide geographical range. A.napellusisthe best known; unfortunately 

 it is one of the most poisonous of cultivated plants, but hurtful only 

 when taken internally. Some of its varieties are A. n. album, flowers 

 white; A. n. longibracteatum, rich blue; A. n. bicolor, white and lilac; 

 A. n. Braunii, deep purple. A. ochroleucum and A. pyrenaicum have 

 pale yellow flowers. A. napellus and its forms flower about midsum- 

 mer. A. Fischeri, a pale blue flowered native species, blooms late in 

 Summer. Propagated by division in Fall or Spring. 



ACORUS CALAMUS VARIEGATUS (Variegated Sweet Flag) is a 



grassy-looking plant, with finely marked leaves. It is well suited for 

 growing on the margins of artificial lakes; few other places will keep it 

 in a healthy state unless the soil be moist and partly shaded. It should 

 be propagated by division of the rhizomes, as growth commences in 

 Spring. A. gramineus variegatus is an exceedingly handsome little 

 variegated plant, growing only a few inches high. It will thrive in 

 much dryer soil than the first-named species. It makes a great number 

 of grassy-looking growths, so that division is an easy matter at almost 

 any time. 



ADONIS The annual species, of which there are two A. sestiralis 

 and A. autumnalis are more commonly grown than the perennials of 

 which there are five. A vernalis, A. pyrenaica and A. amurensis are very 

 elegant species for borders or rockwork. The last named species is one 

 .of the earliest plants to bloom out of doors; very heavy frosts do not 

 Beem to hurt the growth above ground in January and February. The 

 flowers are large, yellow ; the foliage much divided. Propagation bv 

 eeed is a rather slow method. Large plants will best stand division in 

 early Autumn. 



/ETHIONEMA CORIDIFOLIUM A slender, evergreen shrub, growing 

 about 6 inches, suitable for edgings of borders or for rockwork. Very 

 readily raised from seeds which should be sown in Autumn and the seed- 

 lings put out early in Spring. When in rockwork pockets give a mulch- 

 ing of leaf soil or moss to prevent baking of the earth and to keep the 



