264 



SHRUBBERIES A^^D FLOWER-GARDENS. 



[chap. 



be soft, change it once a week, and put in a pinch of saltpetre 

 every time you change it. Keep the glasses in a place mode- 

 rately warm, and near to the light. A parlour window is a 

 very common place for them, but is often too warm, and brings 

 on the plants too early, and causes them to be weakly. This 

 should be avoided by all means, as it often causes a fine root to 

 blow badly. Of the narcissus kind, the polyanthus narcissuses 

 are, in my opinion, far the most to be preferred for glasses. 



LIST OF FLOWERS. 



424. ACONITE, or monk's-hood. — Lat. Aconitum napellus- 

 A perennial plant from Germany ; which has been long known in 

 English gardens, and is still cultivated, notwithstanding the warn- 

 ings of Miller and many others, who produce evidence of the 

 poisonous effects of the plant in all its parts ; and not only poi- 

 sonous when eaten, but even when injudiciously smelled to. Its 

 varieties are, deep blue, white and red. It flowers in the months 

 of May and June, the flowers coming in a spike at the top of a 

 stalk of three feet high. The leaves are of a shining green, and 

 very much divided. It makes a considerable show in the larger 

 flower-borders ; likes almost any good soil ; and is propagated 

 either by parting the roots in the autumn, or by sowing the seeds 

 in the spring in the flower-nursery. Aconite {the pyramidal). — 

 Lat. A.pyramidatum. A very tall plant, growing full six feet high, 

 and blowing, in July and August, a very handsome long spike of blue 

 flowers. A handsome plant for the back of borders. Hardy and 

 perennial. Propagate by seeds and by parting the roots. Aconite, 

 winter. — Lat. Hellehorus hyemalis. A very common but pretty 

 little flower, yellow, growing close to the ground, and blowing, in 

 February and March, a little yellow flower seated close upon the 

 leaf. This plant should be placed in clusters and amongst the 

 early flowers, such as crocuses. It may be plentifully propagated 

 by parting the roots in summer-time, from June to October, when 

 the leaf has dried down. 



425. ADAM'S NEEDLE.— Lat. Yucca flaccida. A South- 



