98 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
these must be perpetuated by cuttings inserted in pots or 
boxes filled with sandy mould and placed in a cold frame during 
July or August. Keep them in the frame till March, then 
plant out. 
Aquilegfia. (Columbine). — A charming race of hardy 
perennials or biennials, belonging to the Buttercup family 
(Ranunculaceae), and natives of Britain, Switzerland, Siberia, 
India, and America. The native species A. vulgaris is a true 
perennial and very hardy. There are single and double forms 
of it of various shades of colour, and the plants grow from 
i to 3ft. high. This kind does well for small gardens or for 
naturalising in woods and the wild garden. A. canadensis 
(Canadian Columbine), flowers scarlet, orange, and green; 
A. ccerulea (Rocky Mountain Columbine), purple and white, 
with long spurs ; A. glandulosa, blue, tips of petals white, 
sepals dark blue; A. truncata, red and yellow; A. Skinneri, 
red, tips of petals golden-yellow, straight, spreading spurs ; 
A. chrysantha, primrose-yellow, purple-tipped sepals, straight, 
slender spurs ; are the leading other species which partake 
more of the character of a biennial than a perennial. That is 
to say, in the South, at any rate, the plants invariably die 
after flowering-, and hence require to be constantly replaced 
by new ones. In Scotland, however, nearly all the foregoing 
retain their perennial character, the climatic conditions appa- 
rently suiting their requirements better. .. There is a very pretty 
hybrid named Stuartii with brilliant blue sepals, white and 
blue petals, and yellow anthers. Tor ordinary garden decora- 
tion hybrid columbines, with long spurs, such as Veitch’s 
strain, are better than the named sorts. They are easily reared 
from seed, and will grow and flower profusely in any soil that 
is not too heavy. Soils of a heavy nature should be well dug, 
have plenty of leaf-mould, old mortar, decayed manure, and 
grit introduced. Light soils should be freely dressed with 
rotten cow dung. Columbines prefer a half-shady or a shady 
border to a full sunny one. Plant any time in spring. Seeds 
may be sown in the open garden in April, or in boxes in a 
cold frame in March. Sow thinly. Transplant the seedlings 
to their flowering positions the following fepring. In the case 
of Stuartii, sow the seeds where the plants are to grow and 
>hin out later, but do not transplant. Seedlings so reared will 
flower the next year. Choice named sorts may be propagated 
by division of the root stock in March or April. 
Ara.bis (Rock Cress). — Dwarf tufted or trailing hardy 
perennials, members of the Cabbage family (Cruciferse). The 
White Rock Cress (A. albida) is a well-known edging or rockery 
plant, with hoary leaves and snow-white blossoms, borne in 
