CHAPTER III. 



Aquilegias (Columbines). 



Amongst the most beautiful and valuable of all 

 hardy flowers, the Columbines are yet open to the 

 same criticism as the Snapdragons — that their stature 

 is too great for the rock garden. It may not be 

 desirable to grow them on a small rockery, where 

 there is only room for a limited number of plants, 

 and it is desired that these should be of the best low 

 Alpine type ; but a few of the choicest sorts might be 

 included in large rock gardens. Some, it must be 

 remembered, are smaller and neater in growth than 

 others. Soil, too, has its influence, but the amateur 

 must not expect to curb the vigour of Columbines 

 by putting them on thin, chalky ground, for they 

 are such pronounced lime-lovers that with a little 

 encouragement in the form of spring showers they are 

 likely to grow into big masses. Some of the noblest 

 individual plants that I have ever had grew on thin, 

 fibreless soil over chalk, and after two years' establish- 

 ment were two feet through, and threw sheaves of 

 flowers over a yard high. In such a condition they 

 were more suited for the herbaceous border than the 

 rockery. Their foHage alone makes them attractive, 

 resembling as it does some of the Maidenhair Ferns 



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