HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 155 



But where can we find all these-? many will ask ; 

 and out of our own garden we should be at a loss 

 where to seek for them. We know of no florist of 

 this country who can supply an order ; yet these 

 plants should be grown by thousands, and be as 

 cheap and as common as violets. 



In England they are very cheap ; and a few shil- 

 lings will buy a dozen plants, well rooted in pots, 

 and all ready to put out in the border. Like all 

 spring-blooming plants, they should be imported in 

 the autumn, wintered in a cold frame, and trans- 

 planted to the border in early spring. 



If imported in spring, they usually make a rank 

 growth in the cases, which perishes when the plants 

 are set out ; and, as no second growth is made, the 

 plant dies. 



For years we lost all our spring-imported plants ; 

 but since we have imported in autumn, it is seldom 

 we lose a plant. 



All the Hepaticas are natives of Europe and 

 North America. They are low-growing plants, with 

 evergreen, lobed leaves, and thrive well in any deep 

 garden soil. 



Our native varieties, transplanted from the woods, 

 grow freely, and soon form large clumps. 



All the varieties are worth growing. Had we to 

 choose one, it would be the double red, as it has the 

 most brilliant flowers, blooms earlier than the others, 

 and more readily accommodates itself to various 

 soils and exposures ; but we should be loath to give 

 up any. 



The Hungarian H. angulosa is the largest species, 



