BULBS AND TUBERS HARDY SPECIES 55 



good purple, all manner of delicate middle tints. The working 

 up of a good strain of these most delightful Anemones from 

 seed and by a rigid selection is a most pleasant and interesting 

 task. But some smaller and less showy species must not be 

 overlooked. The hardy Greek Windflower (A. blanda) and 

 the Italian A. apennina raised from seed will give in succes- 

 sion quantities of their starry flowers of clearest porcelain to 

 deepest azure, and, though we may see them at their best, 

 nestling in mossy glades under the shelter of the budding 

 Chestnut-trees of their native woodlands, yet nothing can be 

 sweeter than the way they open their blue eyes on a sunny 

 morning upon very different surroundings in a strange land. 

 Another species, A. stellata, which Is rosy-purple in its primary 

 form, but ranges from pure white with dark stamens to cherry- 

 red under cultivation, also deserves a place. 



Probably most people would think of trying Anemones for 

 an unheated greenhouse without any suggestion. It is much 

 more rare to find Persian Ranunculus grown in pots for the 

 same purpose, yet these are well worth a trial. Years ago 

 beds of Ranunculus were the pride and glory of many an old- 

 fashioned garden, and the slender claw-like tubers were 

 increased and preserved, year after year, with the utmost skill, 

 and laid by in paper bags with loving care until planting time ; 

 but now we should probably do better to buy our stock 

 yearly. In a warm greenhouse Ranunculus fails utterly in 

 pots, but in a cold frame there should be no difficulty, and a 

 September potting ought to give most acceptable flowers in 

 April, when we begin to want a change from Narcissus and 

 Hyacinths. 



Of miscellaneous hardy bulbs and tubers, what a long list 

 might be given. Let a few be named by way of reminder. 

 To begin with, there are large Snowdrops of sorts which 

 coaxing will seldom bring into flower before their appointed 

 time, but which open pure and free from stain under glass ; 

 and Winter Aconite, not amiss upon a wintry day and almost 



