THE MONK'S-HOOD 203 



people possibly might scout, from its very poisonous 

 properties, but which is none the less a charming 

 plant. We figure it in Plate XXI. We plant it 

 liberally in the shaded portions of our rock-garden, 

 and the rich masses of deep purple blossom rise 

 amidst the ferns and form a very attractive feature. 

 The monk's-hood, aconite, 1 helmet-flower, or wolf's- 

 bane Aconitum napellus though awarded a place 

 in our British flora, has only a few stations assigned 

 to it in our plant lists, and must undoubtedly be 

 recognised as an introduction. It was, in fact, first 

 cultivated in England about the year 1596, and any 

 plants apparently wild can be but strays that have 

 more or less thoroughly established themselves. 

 Those who would see it at its best may encounter 

 it freely enough in the woody and mountainous dis- 

 tricts of Europe : we have seen it growing grandly 

 on the Alps, up to an altitude of some six thousand 

 feet. In Germany it is the Eisenhut or Munch 

 cappen, names equivalent to our helmet-flower or 

 monk's-hood. We also grow, to our great pleasure, 

 the yellow monk's-hood the Aconitum Anthora of 

 the botanists. 



If we may credit Ovid, the aconite first sprang 



1 u Thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends, 

 A hoop of gold to bind thy brothers in : 

 That the united vessel of their blood 

 Shall never leak, though it do work as strong 

 As Aconitum." 



SHAKESPEARE. 



