Anemone. 325 



This space must then be filled with the compost of mixed 

 earth, leaving it a few days to settle before the roots are 

 planted. Observe to place that side of the roots next to the 

 earth, in which the decayed rudiments of small thready fibres 

 are seen ; then cover them about two inches deep with the 

 prepared soil. This may be done at three different periods in 

 the fall, with a month's interval between each planting, by 

 which means the clumps will flower in succession during the 

 spring. Some should also be reserved for spring planting, to 

 flower in summer, and those planted as late as August will 

 flower in the autumn. In choosing roots, select, those that are 

 fresh, plump, and of a moderate size, as large roots that are 

 hollow in the centre never blow strong. The roots may be 

 divided to increase the best varieties, but care must be taken 

 not to break off the little tubers, as everyone of these will pro- 

 duce a plant. The time to take up the roots will be known by 

 the decay of the leaves, and in no case should they be suffered 

 to remain in the ground after the proper time, for in wet years 

 the roots will shoot afresh and be thereby considerably weak- 

 ened. -Wash the roots when you take them out of the ground, 

 and then spread them on a mat or board in a dry shady place. 

 When perfectly dried they are more securely kept in bags, 

 hung up in the ceiling of a dry room, than when kept on 

 shelves in boxes, where the mice will frequently destroy them. 

 The stem of a model double Anemone, should be strong, 

 elastic and erect, and not less than nine inches high. The 

 corolla should be at least two inches and a half in diameter ; 

 consisting of an exterior row of large, substantial, well-rounded 

 petals, or what is termed guard leaves ; at first horizontally 

 extended, and then turning a little upwards, so as to form a 

 broad shallow cup, the interior of which should contain a great 

 number of long, small petals, imbricating each other, and 

 rather reverting from the centre of the blossom. The color 

 should be clear and distinct, when diversified in the same 

 flower, or brilliant and striking if but simple, as blue, crimson 

 and scarlet, in which case the bottom of the broad exterior 

 petals is generally white ; but the beauty and contrast is con- 

 siderably increased, when both the exterior and interior petals 

 are regularly marked with alternate blue and white stripes 



