MOUXTAIN WINB-FLOtrER. 139 



L'ssenci's; he destroys mauy by draining tlie land, others 

 by burning the land, and others again by clearing away 

 the woods that certain flowers need for shelter and jiro- 

 teotion. The botanists all agree in declaring that this 

 lovely anemone is not a native, but as they know nothing 

 about the way in which it first olitained its foothold here, 

 we are nut inclined to accept their declarations. 



The mountain anemone, or Apennine windtlower, is in 

 every jjroper sense of the term a rockery plant. It attains 

 to its highest luxuriance of growth in aljjine pastures, the 

 pure air, strong light, and abundant humidity of the 

 mountains favouring the production of large flowers of 

 the most delii;htful colour. Its serrated leaves provide a 

 soft green groundwork for the large blue flowers, which 

 rise fronr four to six inches, and are in perfection during 

 jNfarch and April, occasionally lingering on to the middle 

 of ^la}'. Nevertheless, th()ui;-h loving the breezy heights, 

 tliis sweet Hower readily accommodates itself to the condi- 

 tions of garden cultivation, and is not easily overpowered 

 b\' other robust habited plants, for when established it 

 spreads in dense tufts, and holds its own against all 

 weather and all \'egetable antagonists. As a plant for pot 

 culture, for the frame, or al[)ine house, it is invaluable, 

 because it may then be set upon the jjarlour table if need 

 l)c, but in the alpine house it helps to make a cheerful 

 picture with other anemones and with the drabas, the 

 smaller irises, the erythroniums, and the primulas that 

 flower at the same time, rendering a, genuine alpine house 

 one of the best of toys for a true amateur of the garden. 



As companions of Anemone apeiuiina on the rockery, 

 the following are admiral)ly adapted, and will afford much 

 delight ; — Anemone hlanda, flowers deep sky-blue, larger 



