502 THE PLEASURE, OR [Sept. 



wort, creeping Greek valerian, and every other kind of hardy 

 fibrous-rooted perennials that are past bloom. 



Cut down the stalks of such flowers as are decayed, and where 

 they are not to be transplanted, dig the ground about them and add 

 some rotten dung or fresh earth to the borders, which will greatly 

 strengthen their roots. 



This will also be a very good time to collect from the fields, 

 swamps, and woods some of the favourites of the Most-High, which 

 he has decorated with such a profusion of lustre and beauty, that, 

 "Solomon in all his glory" was not equal to. These are to be taken 

 up and treated as directed in page 470. 



The various kinds of tuberous-rooted flowering-plants may now 

 be propagated by slipping or parting their roots, such as paeonias, 

 spirsa filipendula, Hag-irises, Helleborus hyemalis or winter aconite, 

 &c. This last should have its roots planted in small clusters; for 

 small solitary flowers scattered about the borders, are scarcely seen 

 at a distance, but when these, snowdrops, crocuses, and dwarf 

 Persian irises, are alternately planted in bunches, they will have a 

 very good effect, as they flower at the same time and are much of 

 a siz.e. You may also divide and transplant the roots of the Hel- 

 leborus niger, or Christmas rose, Helleborus viridis.or green helle- 

 bore, Helleborus ranunculinns, and Helleborus fcetidus, stinking 

 hellebore, or bear's-foot. The Helleborus lividus, purple, or great 

 three flowered black hellebore, is a very desirable plant; it is usual 

 to keep this in the green-house, where it will flower in February 

 and continue a long time in bloom. It may now be propagated in 

 like manner as the other species. 



The Fair Maids of France. 



The double flowering variety of the Ranunculus aconitifolius, 

 aconite-leaved crowfoot, or Fair Maids of France, is greatly es- 

 teemed for the delicate beauty of its numerous flowers. It is per- 

 fectly hardy, and grows generally from a foot and a half to two 

 feet high, the stalks branching out at top into several divisions, at 

 each of which there is one leaf of the same shape of the root leaves, 

 divided into five lanceolate lobes each; the four side-lobes are upon 

 foot-stalks coming from the side of the principal stalk, and the 

 middle one terminates it; they are deeply serrate, and have several 

 longitudinal veins. The flowers are pure white, very double, each 

 standing upon a single foot-stalk. The root is perennial and com- 

 posed of many strong fleshy fibres, formed like that of the Ranun- 

 culus asiaticus or garden ranunculus, and increasing in the same 

 manner. It is a native of the Alps of Europe, and is very scarce 

 at present in America. 



This beautiful plant flowers generally in the latter end of May 

 and June, and may be propagated by taking up the roots now or at 

 any time after the stems decay, separating the offsets, taking care 

 at the same time to preserve the crown of each unhurt, and plant- 

 ing them in any good garden earth. Their thick fibres are to be 

 spread around, and the upper part of each root is to be covered 



