96 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



have found it hard to believe that such exquisitely beau- 

 tiful subjects might be grown to perfection in any open 

 garden with the aid of sunshine and fresh air. It is 

 customary for the first agreeable impression of a new 

 plant or flower to be accompanied by the thought that 

 it must be of exotic production, requiring hothouse cul- 

 tivation, and so of course these new aquilegias were 

 regarded as rare and tender, whereas they may be grown 

 by the thousand and the ten thousand from seed costing 

 but a small sum, and what is called a " common garden 

 border" will suffice for all their needs. The raiser of 

 these charming varieties was Mr. James Douglas. 



