SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 



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ripest. This would be in July. So there are really tw r o periods 

 when Christmas roses may be increased by division. 



The Snowdrop, next in our list of early flowers, like Helle- 

 bores, has an autumn and a winter blooming species ; but the 

 majority belong to the spring, and I must not pass over a plant 

 which, though so common, has never lost its interest and value 

 in the eyes of all who visit gardens or woodlands as winter is 

 leaving us. Our collection of Snowdrops has been enriched by 

 some fine forms of this flower, Galanthus Elwesii discovered by 

 Mr. Maw, and some varieties of G. nivalis amongst the number. 



I think I have been told by Mr. G. Maw, our great collector 

 and authority on the Crocus family, that flowering examples of 

 Croci may be found in every month of the year. But many of 

 the best known species are spring-blooming, and I introduce 

 three which I may justly place in my group of very early flow T ers, 

 of which Crocus Imperati is a type. These are prone to appear 

 at a very early period of the year, being lured by the first gleam 

 of spring sunshine. But it is too often the case that their beauty 

 is marred by foul weather, but not invariably so. This season 

 I had a mass of C, Imperati in bloom in February, and a charm- 

 ing effect was produced. 



Whether I have been unusually fortunate in my method of 

 propagating that charming plant Anemone blanda, or that I have 

 been early in the race in securing it, I know not, but I have 

 certainly succeeded in obtaining a large stock, raising some 

 fine varieties, and convincing many of my friends of the great 

 value of the plant for spring decoration. It is a plant that will 

 not be lost to our gardens ; it seeds freely, and I find it appearing, 

 self-sown, in many places. It would be a great plant to naturalise 

 in our woodlands, and would mix well with the wild Wood Ane- 

 mone, nemorosa. The first gleam of spring sunshine awakens 

 this little gem of the earth from its winter rest, and as the days 

 lengthen it throws up a succession of its bright starlike blue 

 flowers, and its season of bloom is longer than A. apennina, 

 which produces a pale blue flower and is altogether widely 

 different from A. blanda. It may be propagated by dividing the 

 tuberous roots or raised from seed, which should be sown as 

 soon as ripe. Light gritty loam with well-decomposed leaf-soil 

 suits it best. 



In gardening, while our admiration is perhaps too readily 



