302 



TREATMENT OF THE JAPAN ANEMONE. 



Any time in spring, before the old plants commence growing, 

 shake or wash the soil clean from them, and afterwards cut their 

 slender wire-like roots into small pieces, from half an inch to an 

 inch in length ; and having provided some pans or pots well 

 drained, and filled with soil composed of sandy loam, peat, and 

 well-decayed cow-dung, in equal parts, strew the small portions 

 of the roots over the surface, and cover them lightly with silver 

 sand ; then place the pots or pans in a frame or pit, where there 

 is a gentle heat and plenty of moisture, they will soon commence 

 growing, and by the beginning of May will be ready for potting, 

 singly, in 3-inch pots, which should be filled with the same kind 

 of soil as before used, returning the plants to the pit or frame in 

 order to recover the effects of the shift. Afterwards, when fairly 

 established in the 3-inch pots, they should be removed to rather 

 a shady situation out of doors, where they will grow rapidly, and, 

 by the end of June, will again require shifting into larger pots; 

 or they may be planted out in the open beds, or borders, for 

 blooming in autumn, observing, however, that whether kept 

 in pots or planted out, the strongest plants be selected, and, to be 

 successful, it is essential that they have rich soil and plenty of 

 moisture. 



If the plants are intended for green-house or conservatory de- 

 coration during autumn, they should be treated as follows : — 

 About the end of June select some of the strongest plants in the 

 3-inch pots, and having well drained some large pots (12-inch), 

 place about six of the plants out of the 3-inch pots, at equal dis- 

 tances in each large pot, employing rich soil of the description 

 already mentioned ; water freely, and place the plants in rather 

 a shaded situation, afterwards treat them like Chinese chrysan- 

 themums, and finally, about the middle of August, remove them 

 to the green-house or conservatory, where they will keep on 

 blooming until succeeded by the chrysanthemums ; in fact, the 

 Japan anemone requires, if grown in pots, to be divided annually 

 like the chrysanthemum. 



If intended for open borders the plants should be obtained 

 from divisions of the old plants, taken off about the end of 

 March, and not from small portions of the roots, for if raised 

 from the latter the plants are never so strong, and seldom bloom 

 well the first season. They should be planted out in May in a 

 rich loamy soil, and afterwards freely supplied with M ater in very 

 dry weather. When fairly established in the^open border they 

 will require no more care, except removing and dividing them 

 once every two or three years, otherwise they become tufts of 

 leaves and weak shoots, and never bloom so finely or so abun- 

 dantly as when removed and replanted at intervals. 



Seeds are only produced by plants grown in the green-house, 

 and therefore the plan of raising plants in this way is not worth 



