ADONIS, Nat. Ord. Ranunculacece. 



Adonis vernalis is the handsomest of the family, and is really a desirable border plant, with 



delicate foliage and a large flower, compared to- 

 the size of the plant, which is only about a foot 

 in height. The blossoms are yellow, produced 

 in May and June, and on account of this early 

 blooming exceedingly valuable. The Adonis- 

 prefers a rather light soil. Seed may be grown 

 in the open ground, and success is almost certain- 

 Flowers cup-shaped. This flower is now so seldom seen that it will be pronounced new by many, 



ALYSSUM, Nat. Ord. Crucifera:. 



Alyssum saxatile compactum is an excellent free-growing Perennial, yet of a compact habit,, 

 and with pretty, small, golden yellow flowers, growing in dense 

 clusters. Its popular name is Gold Dust. The Alyssum flowers 

 very early in the season, when flowers are scarce, and this, with its 

 other merits, make it quite valuable. Height of plant about ten 

 inches. This is one of the really valuable plants that we can 

 recommend with pleasure, because we know it will more than 

 meet expectations. The Alyssum is well adapted for rock work, 

 and forms an excellent mass for a bed. Seeds grow readily. Plants can be increased by layering.. 



AQUILEGIA, (Columbine,) Nat. Ord. Ranunculacea. 



The Aquilegia is the old and well prized Columbine, of almost every conceivable color, and 

 singular variations of form. It grows wild in almost every temperate 

 country in the world, and we have always heard it called by children the 



Wild Honeysuckle. Like a good 

 many of our Perennials, this 

 flowers early in the spring. The 

 name Columbine was given be- 

 cause the five spurred petals, 

 with incurved heads, have been 

 thought to bear a resemblance to- 

 five doves, the sepals represent- 

 ing the wings. Seeds may be 

 sown in the open ground. A 

 fine bed of Aquilegias when in flower is a beautiful exhibition. Our engravings show both the 

 double and single flowers. Plants can be increased by a division of the roots. 



CAMPANULA, Nat. Ord. Campanulacece. 



The perennial Campanula is the well known, popular, large, blue, bell-shaped flower, known 

 every where as the Canterbury Bell. The C. medium 

 is the only variety really entitled to the name, but it 

 is commonly applied to all. Of late there have been 

 many new varieties introduced, and some of them 

 quite valuable. Calycanthema, shown in the engrav- 

 ing, has the calyx very large, and the same color as 

 the corolla. There are also double 

 varieties of every color produced by 

 the Campanula, white, rose, blue 

 and lilac. The double varieties, 

 though curious, are not really so 

 beautiful as the old single bell. 

 They lose that light, transparent 

 grace that is so attractive in a 

 flower. We never yet saw a bell- 

 shaped flower improved by doubling at least we do not now remember a case of the kind. 



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