ANEMONE 281 



Hyacinth, and Tulip are applied, the Windflower is equally well 

 adapted. We do not advise its employment as single specimens, but 

 it answers admirably in lines, groups, or beds, and the colours admit 

 of numberless harmonies and contrasts. 



The commoner Anemones need only to be planted about three 

 inches deep, with the eyes, upwards, at any time between September 

 and March, and they will require little or no attention afterwards. 

 Under trees, instead of planting in a formal pattern, it is worth while 

 to put them in with some attempt at natural grouping, and not too 

 close together say from six inches to a foot apart. In such positions 

 they may be left undisturbed for years ; and if the soil happens to be 

 a good sandy loam, they will thrive and increase. In masses or beds 

 within the garden, however, a richer effect is wanted, and the dis- 

 tance between the roots should not exceed from four to six inches. 



A choice collection of roots is worth more care, and florists are 

 accustomed to prepare the beds for their reception with fastidious 

 exactness. The soil, if not considered suitable, is taken out to the 

 depth of two feet, and is replaced by a rich and specially prepared 

 compost. Although the individual flowers produced by this method 

 are generally very fine, and the total effect of the bed is exceedingly 

 beautiful, yet the truth must be confessed that for ordinary gardening 

 the system is extravagant and unnecessary. As a hobby, it is, of 

 course, justifiable enough ; but Anemones of high quality can be 

 grown by a much simpler mode of procedure. One deep digging 

 there certainly should be, and a layer of manure at the bottom of each 

 trench is sound practice, for it supplies the roots with food and a cool 

 subsoil. Poor land should also be enriched by incorporating a dress- 

 ing of decayed manure as the work proceeds. Subsequently one or 

 two light surface forkings will help to make the bed mellow. A rough 

 plan, showing the name and position of every root, will be a safer 

 record than labelling in the usual way, and it also prevents the dis- 

 figurement of the bed. There should be a distance of six inches be- 

 tween each root ; and they may be put in singly by means of the 

 trowel, or in drills drawn three inches deep. The former method is 

 generally adopted for groups ; but to insure regularity in flowering, 

 the planting must be uniform in depth. For beds, drills are more 

 reliable, and they are speedily made. 



The time of planting determines to a considerable extent the 

 date of flowering ; and, as the roots may be put in during autumn, 

 winter, and early spring, it is easy to secure a succession of Ane- 

 mones from January until May. But this flower is of so much more 



