HAEDY HEEBACEOUS PLANTS. 73 



HARDY HEEBACEOUS PLANTS. 



But few really good varieties of this class of plants 

 have been introduced in the past year. Some of the older 

 sorts which have long been neglected have again appear- 

 ed, and claim attention. This shows progress, although 

 at first we might look upon it as a retrograde movement. 

 The aim of the horticulturist should be, not only to im- 

 prove upon the old, but to produce new varieties of supe- 

 rior merit ; while, at the same time, the old ones should 

 not be discarded just because they are old, or others 

 petted for the only reason that they are new. Progres- 

 sion may be shown in careful and judicious selection as 

 well as in production, for valuable qualities are constantly 

 being discovered in plants that have long been known. 

 In the first volume of the Recced we gave a list of some 

 of the most j^opular species and varieties; we now add a 

 few more. 



Aquilegia cmrulea (Blue Columbine). — A beautiful na- 

 tive species, lately introduced from the Rocky Mountains. 

 The flowers are of a peculiar shape, having long spurs, 

 which point downward, while the flowers stand erect, 

 similar to the A. Siberica. The color is azure blue, slightly 

 shaded with a yellowish pink or cream. 



Aquilegia pyrenica. — A beautiful dwarf variety, re- 

 sembling A. alpina, but smaller, and with fewer flowers, 

 these being comparatively large, and of a pale lavender 

 blue. — Floral Ilagazine. 



Aquilegia glandulosa. — An old species, introduced from 



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