292 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



having each of its five petals terminated in an in- 

 curved horn-like spur. We have now many beautiful 

 varieties in our gardens, hut it is doubtful if we 

 have advanced much beyond what our forefathers 

 possessed one hundred and fifty years ago ; then 

 " there were 

 great varieties 

 of this plant, 

 the flowers of 

 which are very 

 double, and 

 beautifully va- 

 riegated with 

 blue, purple, 

 red, and white." 

 But we have 

 one great ad- 

 vantage over 

 our forefathers, 

 .in that we in- 

 herit several 

 very handsome 

 and striking 

 species that 

 were intro- 

 duced from the 

 Alps of Europe, 

 from the Rocky 

 Mountains, 

 from the Hima- 

 layas, and else- 

 where : species 

 varying much 

 in character of 

 flower, and ha- 

 bit of growth ; 

 some less hardy 

 than our com- 

 mon Colum- 

 bine ; but all of 

 great value, 

 and which have 

 been used for 

 crossing pur- 

 poses, placing 

 us in possession 

 of many beau- 

 tiful garden 

 varieties. A. 



alpina, A. chrysardha, A. cmrulea, A. glandulosa, 

 and A. Skinncri, among others, may be mentioned 

 as particularly deserving of attention as introduced 

 species, and they have produced forms of great 

 beauty. 



The common Columbine is perfectly hardy, and 

 it will flourish in stiff wet soils where many 



Columbine (Aqtjilegia vdlgaeis) 



other plants will fail ; and it will also do well 

 under the shade of trees. Many of the double 

 varieties are exceedingly beautiful, especially some 

 that have dark colours, edged with white on their 

 many petals. Some admire the single varieties 



most ; others, 

 the double ; 

 but all are well 

 deserving of 

 cultivation, and 

 when once 

 grown will not 

 soon be aban- 

 doned again. 



Aquilegias 

 are propagated 

 by means of 

 seed, and it 

 should be sown 

 in pots or pans 

 of good, light 

 soil, early in 

 March, which 

 place in a cold 

 f ram e : the 

 seeds will soon 

 grow, and when 

 the plants are 

 strong enough 

 the}' should be 

 planted out in 

 the open 

 ground, in rich 

 soil. If the 

 season is fa- 

 vourable to a 

 quick growth, 

 most of the 

 seedlings raised 

 from the seed 

 sown in March 

 will flower, and 

 so they would 

 be practically 

 annuals. The 

 general rule, 

 however, is to 

 sow in June, in 

 the open air, on 



a warm border. The Aquilegia is a very hardy 

 plant ; the severest frosts do not injure the common 

 varieties; but such species as coerulea, glandulosa, 

 and others, are less hardy, and require to be grown 

 in a lighter soil in a more elevated position, exces- 

 sive damp often being fatal to them. 



Any fine varieties that it is desirable to increase 



