162 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



ACONITUM 



smooth or slightly hairy stems. The 

 long-stalked leaves are divided into 5-7 

 incised and toothed lobes, and the bright 

 blue flowers with a white centre are 

 borne in loose racemes during the early 

 summer months in May and June. 

 Culture dc. as above. 



D. Zalil (D. sulphureum). — A beautiful 

 tuberous-rooted species 6 ft. or more high, 

 native of Afghanistan, with deeply cut 

 leaves and tall spikes of soft yellow 

 flowers during the summer months. 



CuUu/re and Propagation. — Unfortu- 

 nately this species is somewhat tender 

 except in sheltered sunny places in the 

 south. It, however, flowers and seeds 

 freely, but has a habit of dropping its 

 leaves when in bloom. Although a peren- 

 nial, it is best to raise seedliugs in gentle 

 heat every spring so as to have young 

 plants ready for planting out in well- 

 manured soil at the end of May. Or the 

 seeds may be sown in cold frames as soon 

 as ripe, so that the seedlings will be well 

 advanced for planting out the following 

 spring. 



ACONITUM (Aconite ; Monks- 

 hood ; Wolfsbane). — An extensive genus 

 of ornamental and dangerously poisonous 

 perennials with palmately lobed or out 

 leaves. Flowers in terminal racemes 

 or panicles, blue, purple, yellowish, or 

 white. Sepals 5, the upper one helmet- 

 shaped, or like a monk's hood. Petals 

 2-5, small, the 2 upper with long claws 

 hooded at the tip, the 3 lower minute or 

 absent. Carpels 3-5 becoming follicles 

 when ripe. 



Culture amd Propagation. — Aconites 

 grow well in any garden soil, and if 

 not disturbed for years will become 

 splendid clumps, and produce masses of 

 handsome flowers. As the roots have 

 frequently been mistaken for Horse- 

 Badish, care should be taken to keep the 

 plants as far away from the kitchen garden 

 as possible, and even from the ordinary 

 flower borders, in case of accidents. 

 Copses, shrubberies, or the edges of 

 stireama or ponds are suitable places for 

 these plants to grow. 



Aconites are easily increased by seeds 

 or division of the roots in early autumn, 

 but preferably in spring, as growth is 

 about to commence. After performing 

 the latter operation, the hands should be 

 well washed as a precaution, or gloves 

 may be used. 



Aconites may also be raised from 

 seeds sovra as soon as ripe in the open 

 border in half-shaded spots. Very often, 

 however, they do not sprout until spring. 

 The seedlings are pricked out into pre- 

 pared soil for further growth, and allowed 

 to remain until the autumn or the follow- 

 ing spring before being shifted to their 

 permanent positions. 



There are a very large number of 

 varieties, but the following are among 

 the best for garden purposes : — 



A. album. — A rare and handsome 

 tuberous-rooted species 4-5 ft. high, 

 native of the Levant. The large pure 

 white flowers with erect helmet are 

 freely produced in August. 



Culture do. as above. 



A. an^stifolium. — A tuberous-rooted 

 Siberian species 2-3 ft. high, with deep 

 blue flowers, having a closed hemispherical 

 hood, produced in June. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. Anthora. — A species, 1-2 ft. high, 

 from the Pyrenees. The pale yellow 

 flowers appear in July on downy panicles. 

 There are several varieties of this species, 

 among which may be mentioned Deca/n- 

 dollei, eulophum gra/ndiflorum, Jacquinif 

 and nemorosum, aU with yeUow flowers. 



The black roots are more or less turnip- 

 shaped and poisonous. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



A. autumnale. — A European species 

 3-4 ft. high, producing its bluish-purple 

 flowers from July to November. 



Culture de. as above. 



A. barbatum {A. squarros^im). — A 

 native of Siberia, 2-6 ft. high, with hairy 

 leaf stalks. Flowers in July, creamy 

 yellow, rather downy, having the middle 

 sepals densely bearded. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. biflorum. — A very rare alpine 

 species, about 6 in. high, native of 

 Siberia. The pale blue, usually twin 

 flowers, downy outside, appear in June. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. chinense {A. Fortwnei}. — A stately 

 Chinese species 4-6 ft. high, with very 

 bright and intense blue flowers, borne on 

 large compound racemes from July to 

 September. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A delphinifolium. — A rare alpine 

 species with slender stems, 6-24 in. high, 



