68 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



the seedlings are sure to flower the next year. The 

 safest plan is to sow the seed in boxes in a soil made 

 light and rich with leaf-mould. The seed usually 

 takes some weeks to germinate; and the seedlings 

 should be kept moist and lightly shaded, and planted 

 out as soon as they are large enough. If plants are 

 bought, they can be planted in early autumn or in 

 spring. In a light soil they are best planted in autumn. 

 Columbines can also be increased by division, but 

 this must be carefully done with a sharp knife; and 

 divided plants are seldom so vigorous as seedlings. 

 The short-lived North American species, such as 

 Aquilegia caerulea, are not worth dividing and should 

 always be raised from seed. Columbines like a cool 

 place, particularly in a light soil, and many of the 

 more vigorous kinds grow well imder the shade of 

 trees. They are seen at their best, however, in a cool 

 half-shaded border well enriched with manure and 

 humus. In such conditions some of the most vigorous 

 hybrids will grow to a great size and bear himdreds 

 of blossoms for several years. These hybrids, though 

 they may not have all the delicate beauty of Aquilegia 

 glandulosa or Stuartii or caerulea, are better worth 

 growing for the ordinary gardener, as there is no 

 difficulty in their culture, and they are infinitely 

 varied in the colour and form of their flowers and in 

 their foliage. They are, indeed, among the most 

 beautiful of all garden plants; and, as we have said, 

 there seems to be no reason why they should not be 

 made still more beautiful. Nor is there any reason 



