HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 169 



often lost. It should be grown in rich, damp soil, 

 and not be allowed to dry up. 



The Hellebore. 



The best of the Hellebores is the " Christmas Eose " 

 {H. niger}, a plant by no means so well known as 

 its merits deserve. It is the best winter flower 

 we have ; and by covering, the plant with a cold 

 frame, to keep the snow from crushing it, may be 

 gathered any day from November to April. It 'is 

 attractive both in foliage and flower : the former is 

 large, deep-cut, dark shining evergreen ; the latter 

 measure from one to two inches in diameter, are 

 white, often tinged with pink, single, and full of 

 bright golden stamens. 



Cold has no effect upon them : if frozen hard, they 

 thaw out uninjured. The plant is perennial, and 

 requires a deep, moist soil, where it will not dry up 

 in summer. 



When once planted, it should not be disturbed, 

 as it does not transplant readily, and takes long to 

 become well established. 



H. fcetidus, a native of England, is showy in 

 foliage and flower, but with us has not proved 

 hardy. 



H. viridis, which much resembles it, but is a 

 smaller plant, is hardy, and is naturalized in some 

 parts of the country. 



S. olympicus is a beautiful species from India, 

 with pinkish flowers, figured in Bot. Reg. 28, t. 58. 

 It is not quite hardy, but by covering the plants 

 with a frame we winter them successfully. 



