ANTIRRHINUM, (Snapdragon,) Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacece. 

 The Antirrhinum, perhaps better known by its old and popular name, Snapdragon, is one of 



the very best of our Perennials, and one that always gives a good account of itself the first season, 



blooming abundantly all the first sum- 

 mer, even until after frost. Sometimes 

 the plants suffer in winter, especially 

 when permitted to exhaust themselves 

 by excessive flowering, but they gener- 

 ally flower well the second season, and 

 sometimes the third. When it is desir- 

 ed to keep the plants for flowering the 

 second or third season, never allow seed 

 to form ; and if one half the plant is cut 

 down to near the surface of the ground 

 about the middle of summer, new vig- 

 orous shoots will be produced for the 



next season's flowering. They exhibit a fine variety of colors and are exceedingly brilliant. Sow 



either in the frame or garden, early in spring. Easily transplanted. Set six to nine inches apart. 



The Antirrhinum is easy to grow and sure to please, and we ask those who do not cultivate this 



flower to give it a trial. 



ARGEMONE, Nat. Ord. Papaveracea;. 



The Argemones are free blooming hardy annuals, with large flowers, resembling a single 

 Poppy, while the leaves are armed with slender prickles, and very much resemble Thistle leaves, 

 hence the Argemone is known almost every where as the Prickly 

 Poppy. Natives of Mexico and Peru, and some of the species 

 were introduced into Europe more 

 than two hundred years since. 

 The plants grow two feet in height 

 and make a very good low screen 

 or hedge, for which purpose set the 

 plants about ten inches apart in the 

 rows. The foliage is not only 

 large and very pretty in form, but 

 of a pleasant light green color, and 

 it can be easily imagined that with 

 its large, Poppy-like flowers a 

 hedge of Argemone must be an interesting object. Very few summer hedges will look better. 

 The engraving shows the flower less than one-half the natural size. 



ASPERULA, Nat. Ord. Rubiaccue. 



Asperula azurea setosa is a profuse blooming hardy little annual from the Caucasian Moun- 

 tains, and only introduced to cultivation a few years since. It is of dwarf habit, growing less 

 than a foot in height, and bearing many clusters of small, light blue 

 or lavender, sweet-scented flowers. This is one of the class of 

 pretty, neat little flowers which some persons admire on account 

 of their delicate beauty, and which many condemn as weedy and 

 worthless, because they make no show in the garden. For making 

 up in small bouquets the Asperula is all that 

 can be desired. The engraving shows the 

 habit of the plant as well as the size of the 

 flower, and from this a pretty good idea may 

 be obtained of the use to which it is adapted. 

 We design to be quite particular on this 

 point, because many of our choicest little gems are evil spoken of, just because their friends do 

 not give them a proper introduction. 



56 



