i66 PLANT CULTURE 



ACHILLEA. A hardy composite, with large, flat corymbs of 

 white, yellow, red or purple flowers. The leaves are often much 

 divided. They usually grow from i to 2 feet high. A. plarmica flore 

 plena, the variety known as The Pearl, is one of the most desirable 

 of hardy herbaceous plants, because of the flowers, which are double 

 and white. They are produced in great profusion if the plants get 

 fair treatment. This Achillea should not be divided in Spring, for 

 unless favorable weather conditions follow the operation the plants 

 will receive a check from which they do not thoroughly recover the 

 same season. If taken up and divided during the first half of Oc- 

 tober, replanted and watered if necessary, they will develop working 

 roots before freezing weather, and send up flowers the following 

 season as if nothing had happened. Do not divide the plants too 

 closely, and if the ground in which they are growing is dry, water 

 well before the operation and give another watering when the pieces 

 are replanted. Other varieties oi A. p. flore plena are known as 

 Snowball and Elegans; all of them are white flowered. A. tomentosa 

 is a dwarf, woolly-leaved evergreen, with yellow flowers. Increased 

 by division. A. mongolica grows about 18 inches high, bears single 

 white flowers. Comes into bloom early, and is used for cutting. 

 All of the kinds need full sunshine. 



Culture. It is one of the easiest plants to cultivate in the open 

 border, spreading very rapidly and flowering profusely. 



Propagation. Large clumps may be divided with a spade at 

 any time during Spring or Autumn and replanted. 



ACIPHYLLA. New Zealand umbelliferous plants, with dense 

 rosettes of sharp-pointed leaves. In a young and flowerless stage 

 the}' are attractive, and may be used in Summer for rockwork. 

 A. squarrosa, sometimes called the Bayonet Plant, is very ornamen- 

 tal. A . Colensoi forms a circular bush 5 or 6 feet in diameter, having 

 flowering stems 6 to 9 feet high. In the colder parts the plants 

 should either be lifted and stored in a frame, or protected by a 

 covering of some kind. 



Propagation. Both are raised from seeds sown during tlie lat- 

 ter part of February. 



ACONITUM (Monkshood). The species are very numerous 

 and have a wide geographical range. A . N a pell us is the best known; 

 unfortunately, it is one of the most poisonous of cultivated plants, 

 but hurtful only when taken internally. Some of its varieties are 

 A.N. album, flowers white; A.N.longibracleatum, rich blue; A. N. 

 bicalar, white and lilac; A.N. Braunii, deep purple. A. ochroleucum 



