HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 159 



We are all familiar with the wild Anemone of our 

 woods (A. nemorosa), varying in color from pure 

 white to deep pink or purple, and tinted like some 

 delicate sea-shell ; but we have not all grown this 

 charming flower in the garden, and watched it day 

 by day, from the first moment the dark foliage 

 breaks through the ground until the delicate blos- 

 som nods in the spring breezes. This is easy to do ; 

 for the plant does well in any light, rich loam, 

 increasing rapidly by its slender root-stocks, and 

 carpeting the ground with rich foliage, spangled with 

 lovely blossoms. We have only to transplant it and 

 let it alone, and year after year it will reward us 

 with a profusion of blossoms. The double varieties, 

 both white and pink, we have in our garden : both 

 are very charming and attractive, and grow as freely 

 as the species. An allied plant is the Rue-leaved 

 Anemones (^A. thalictroides, or Thalictrum aneme- 

 noides'), found both in the single and double varie- 

 ties, pure white, very showy, quite as easy to 

 cultivate, and very desirable, not only for the flower, 

 but also for the delicate foliage. 



Anemone apennina, although a native of Italy, 

 proves hardy with us ; but we have been somewhat 

 disappointed in its proving a very shy bloomer. The 

 flowers are blue, and very showy. 



The English A. ranunculoides, with yellow, butter- 

 cup-like flowers, is precariously hardy, and has not 

 with us proved a satisfactory plant. 



A. narcissiflora, a charming European species, is 

 perfectly hardy, and produces its white flowers in 

 great profusion. 



