149 
PARK AND CE/nCTERY. 
monly distributed in all temperate regions, but rare 
in the tropics. With the exception of the autumn 
flowering A. japonica, they are not seen in Amer- 
ican gardens as frequently as they deserve. It is 
probable that more attention should be given to 
providing them with half-shady situations. The 
Pasque-flower, the wood-anemone and A. hepatica, 
are all natives, but not at all improved, or, indeed, 
often seen in cultivation. Many are grown in the 
gardens of Europe, both single and double, and are 
extremely showy and beautiful in the early spring. 
Adonis has 6 or 8 good species, all Asiatic or 
European. 
Rannnculns is a much more widely dispersed 
and extensive genus having 200 species scattered 
over the earth. With the exception of the double 
R. aconitifolius and R. acris, white, and yellow 
“Batchelor’s buttons,” they are rarely seen in 
perfection. Seedsmen import them, but except for 
climates like California they vegetate too early and 
are too tender for the north. They should, how- 
ever, be valuable planted out in green-houses. The 
colors of the Asiatic and African kinds are superb 
and in fact scarcely surpassable by any flowers. 
Caltha has 9 species in Europe, Asia, America, 
Australia and New Zealand. C. palustris “in 
green and gold refulgent, towers, a glory o’er the 
scene” in many parts of the Atlantic states, and is 
very common in Britain. 
Trollins has 10 species in Europe, Asia and 
North America. The double forms are found in 
nurseries flowering in May, June and again some- 
times in August. They are worth growing, prefer- 
ably in moist situations, but do well in garden soil. 
Helcborus has some 6 good species in Europe, 
Central and Eastern Asia. With the exception of 
H. viridis and its varieties, they mostly require the 
shelter of a frame, as they flower very early. 
Eraiithis has 9 species in Europe and the 
mountains of Asia. E. hyemalis is often regarded 
as British, but is scarcely a true native; it is one of 
the earliest yellow spring flowers, and often spreads 
largely under the partial shade of trees or lawns. 
Nigclla ( “love in a mist”) has 23 species in 
Europe and East Asia; they are annuals and use- 
ful for carpeting beds of early flowering Ranalcs, 
such as Anemone, etc., which die down soon after 
flowering. 
Aquilegia has a great many varieties described, 
but only some 8 good species, many of them, both 
single and double, are very beautiful garden flow- 
ers in May and June. 
D e Ip hill him s, “Larkspurs,” have 70 species in 
Asia, Europe, North America and Abyssinia. 
They are often beautiful blue, white and pink 
garden plants, in both perennial and annual kinds. 
the latter again very useful for carpeting beds past 
their season of beauty. 
Aconitiim, in 19 species, European, Asiatic and 
North American, bear the herbaceous Larkspurs 
some resemblance in aspect and color. Some are 
yellowish, mostly all are stately beautiful summer 
flowers, but should never be planted where the 
roots can be mistaken for edibles. They are viru- 
lently poisonous. 
Actea, in 2 species, is the equally poisonous 
‘ ‘Baneberry. ” 
Xanthorhiza is a little native shrub, the “Yel- 
low root.” 
Pceonia has 10 species, European, Asiatic and 
North American. They are familiar and highly ap- 
preciated June flowering shrubs and herbs, beauti- 
ful and gorgeous. They have been selected in a 
great range of color. Small plants take a few years 
to arrive at a full measure ot perfection, and the 
less they are disturbed when in a favorable place 
the better., 
James MaePherson. 
( To be Continued. ) 
Premature Burial. 
The Humane Society through its publication, 
“Onr Dumb Animals J has for some time been agi- 
tating in favor of adopting methods to insure against 
premature burial. In a recent issue it described 
what precautions are taken in Munich, to which Dr. 
Albert M. Blodgett, of Boston, added the following: 
This is not only true of Munich, but of many 
other places in Europe, and is an undoubted ad- 
vance upon the custom in America. 
“There are many signs which indicate death, 
but the most of these cannot be employed by un- 
skilled persons. There are one or two which are 
absolutely reliable under all circumstances, and 
which may be employed by any person however 
unskilled he may be, and to the accuracy of which 
no doubt can be attached. 
“One indisputable proof of death is obtained by 
simply keeping the body under observation until 
the skin begins to show changes of color and the 
softening of texture which indicate the commence- 
ment of decay, so-called mortification. 
“When this has commenced, there can no longer 
be the slightest doubt of absolute death. This test 
is so easy of application and the source of such in- 
finite relief to the friends, that it would seem that 
the knowledge of it should be more general. 
Although Chicago boasts of some two thousand acres of park 
area, laid out in such a way as to girdle the city, it is sadly in 
need of small parks interspersed among the crowded districts, a 
fact which is being at last discussed in quarters likely to create 
active consideration. The percentage of the disposition of funde 
for the park system gnereally is 60 per cent for maintenancs 
and 40 per cent for improvements, out of something over one 
million dollars income per annum. 
