34 
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS. 
ANTIRRHINUM majus ( Snapdragon ). — The garden 
varieties of the common Snapdragon form one of the 
showiest groups of flowering plants during the sum- 
mer and autumn months. They vary in height from 
6 to 24 inches or more, and are consequently useful in 
the rock garden, flower border, tops of old walls or ruins, 
or in large beds by themselves on the grass. They 
like a rich and well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine, 
■and to secure the best effects it is better to keep the 
dwarf, medium, or tall varieties by themselves rather 
than mix them. Almost innumerable shades of colour 
from pure wTiite to deep crimson and bright yellow, 
with intermediate shades, are now to be obtained. 
Besides those having one pure or “ self ” colour, there 
are many forms in which the blossoms are flaked, 
splashed, or speckled with quite a distinct shade. 
Snapdragons are easily raised from seeds sown in 
gentle heat about February or March in a compost of 
light sandy soil, and not too close together, and in 
autumn in cold frames or warm sheltered borders, so 
as to flower earlier the following year. Any choice 
or remarkable varieties are best perpetuated by means 
of cuttings. These consist of the non-flowering side 
and basal shoots, fairly well-ripened, and inserted in 
sandy soil in August or September in a cold frame or 
handliglit. (Plate 32, fig. 87.) 
AQUILEGIA (Columbine ) . — These charming plants 
belong to the Buttercup family, notwithstanding the 
■curious appearance of their blossoms, the petals of 
which are produced into a tubular horn-shaped spur 
or nectary curved at the tips. They are easily grown 
in ordinary good garden soil, preferably a rich well- 
