172 PLANT CULTURE 



After the plants make a sufi&cient quantity of roots they should be 

 put out in their permanent quarters, where preparation should be 

 made for them in advance by having the ground deeply worked and 

 well manured. 



ANTIRRHINUM (Snapdragon). The varieties of A. majus 

 have long been grown as hardy perennials in Europe. In the 

 northern and middle parts the climatic conditions are more favor- 

 able for their growth in the late Summer and Autumn months, as 

 they flourish best in a moist, cold atmosphere. In America, espe- 

 cially in the Middle and South Atlantic States, they are best treated 

 as annuals, as the plants which survive the Winter are usually 

 not in as vigorous a condition as could be wished. The principal 

 colors are white, red, purple and yellow, several kinds having com- 

 binations of two or more of these colors. A . Asarina, from the south 

 of France, has a trailing habit; the leaves are grayish green and of a 

 clammy nature; flowers yellowish white". It thrives best in posi- 

 tions partly shaded from the sun. It reproduces itself freely from 

 seeds which ripen in abundance and may frequently be seen growing 

 in the chinks of shady walls. 



Propagation. Cuttings may be put in during October and 

 given the protection of a frame during the cold months. Or seeds 

 should be sown late in September to have gcod-sized plants by the 

 following Spring. The tops of the seedlings may be rooted quickly 

 in the propagating bed of a cool house; or they may be grown from 

 the start with a view of flowering them in pots, for which purpose 

 they are entirely satisfactory. 



AQUILEGIA (Columbine). Hardy perennial plants with 

 very showy flowers. The colors include red, white, blue and yellow; 

 often there are two or more of these colors in the same flower. 

 About 30 species are in cultivation. There are numerous varieties, 

 the results of hybridization, most of which surpass the 

 species in attractiveness as border plants. The Aquilegia is so 

 easily hybridized that it is almost impossible to obtain plants from 

 seeds true to name when two or more species are grown near each 

 other; even with two species apparently very distinct, such as .4. 

 chrysantha and A . flabellala, they readily mix, but the progeny has 

 a very undesirable combination of colors in the flowers. It is al- 

 ways advisable to protect a few flowers of the desirable species 

 from the visitations of insects, so as to make certain of having the 

 seedhngs true. I have found the best way to do this is to flower a 



