2 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



be made to insure a rapid growth, making plants large 

 enough to flower by fall. Or, the seedlings may be planted 

 out in the border when danger of frost is over, and taken up 

 in the fall before frost : these plants will bloom all winter. 

 About one -half of the newer growth should be cut off when 

 they are taken up, as they are very apt to spindle up when 

 grown in the house. When grown from cuttings, young 

 wood should be used, which, after being well rooted, may 

 be treated in the same manner as the seedlings. 

 The varieties with variegated leaves have been 

 improved until the foliage effects are equal to 

 the flowers of some varieties; and, these are a 

 great addition to the conservatory or window 

 garden. The staple spotted -leaved type is A. 

 Thompsoni. A compact form, now much used 

 for bedding and other outdoor work, is Savitzii, 

 Abutiion striatum which is a horticultural variety, not a distinct 

 species. The old-fashioned green-leaved A. striatum, from 

 which A. Thonpsoni has probably sprung, is one of the 

 best. A. megapotamicum or vcxillarium is a trailing or 

 drooping red-and-yellow-flowered species, which is excel- 

 lent for baskets. It propagates readily from seed. Abu- 

 tilons are most satisfactory for house plants when they are 

 not much more than a year old. They need no special 

 treatment. 



Aconitum. MONK'S HOOD. WOLF'S BANE. 



Hardy herbaceous perennials allied to larkspurs. They are 

 showy border plants, usually flowering the first year from 

 seed, if the seed is started early, and bearing panicles of 

 quaint hood- shaped, rich flowers. The colors have a wide 

 range, but are usually deep blue. The improved varieties 

 are much superior in size and markings. Aconitums are 

 most effective when planted in a mixed border : the flower 

 stalks being held well up, show the blossoms to good ad- 

 vantage. Seed may be sown every two years, as the plants 

 in their year-old and 2-year-old stage have the largest 



