JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
488 
[ Juno 15, 1882. 
sunshine, and with proper treatment as to watering they will ger¬ 
minate freely enough, some kinds much more quickly than others, 
as I have known many lay for months before germination, even as 
long as twelve months in the case of A. narcissiflora. The young 
plants only require pricking off into pans and finally planting out 
in rich soil, when they rapidly make good flowering plants. The 
species and varieties briefly described below are all attractive 
plants and well worth growing, especially where hardy plants are 
encouraged. All are good border kinds, and many of them can 
be fittingly employed for the embellishment of the rockery. 
A. alpina. —A very lovely species found in Central Europe, 
also a dwarf form occurs on the Rocky Mountains. It grows 
12 to 18 inches high, with hairy many-lobed leaves on long stalks. 
Flowers numerous, 2 inches or more across, white internally and 
pale purple outside. 
A. sulphured. I regard as a good variety of the above. It is similar 
in all respects except the colour of the flower, which is sulphur 
yellow. They are both charming plants, enjoying rich sandy 
loam in a warm position, the flowers appearing in May and June. 
A. apennina. —Native of Southern Europe, also occurring in 
some British localities. It has divided foliage and bright blue 
flowers, the petals of which are narrower and more numerous than 
in our common Wood Anemone, and the rhizomes are thicker and 
shorter. There is a variety blanda with sky-blue flowers, appear¬ 
ing very early. A white-flowered variety also, about the same 
size as those of the typical form, is very lovely. They are all 
well adapted for spring bedding, also for naturalising in woods, 
wild places, and by the margins of lakes, where they will take 
care of themselves, flowering during the early part of the year. 
A. coronaria. —Native of the Mediterranean region, known by 
the ternate finely divided leaves and brilliant coloured flowers, 
varying considerably—scarlet, blue, purple, nearly white, or 
striped. There are also double-flowered forms, equally variable 
and very desirable as decorative plants. They may be had in 
bloom from early spring to autumn by planting them out at 
intervals from October to April, where they will flower very freely 
in light rich soil, and yield a constant supply of flowers at a very 
trifling cost in labour and outlay. 
A. decapetala. —A very pretty Californian species growing from 
12 to 18 inches high. Leaves ternate, much divided, light green. 
Flowers about 2 inches across, creamy white, full-petalled. This 
is a pretty rock plant, free-growing, flowering in June and July. 
A. japonica. —A strong-growing species, native of Japan. It 
grows from 1| to 3 feet high. Leaves rough, variously lobed, or 
sometimes nearly simple, on long stalks. The flowers are nume¬ 
rous on freely branching stems, quite 3 inches across, of a rosy 
red colour. The variety alba with its large pure white flowers is 
very valuable. Hybrida is a form intermediate in colour between 
the last two. The flowers are very fine. These are among our 
most useful autumn flowers and should be largely grown, as there 
is no difficulty attending their cultivation when once established 
in any position. 
A. mvltflda. —This occurs in the Northern United States. It 
grows from 9 to 12 inches high, with numerously lobed leaves 
covered with long silky haiis. Flowers freely produced, about 
1A inch across, of a pale red colour. There is also a variety named 
Hudsoniana from the same part, similar to the type, with white 
flowers and very floriferous. They succeed well in damp positions, 
flowering during May, June, and July. 
A. narcissiflora. — A handsome Russian plant growing from 
9 to 12 inches high, with freely divided silky foliage, giving the 
plant a greyish appearance. Flowers in umbels, yellowish white, 
about an inch across, on long footstalks. This is probably the 
most distinct of the genus, a beautiful plant for the rockery or a 
sandy border, flowering during May and June. 
A. nemorosa. —This native species has divided leaves and nume¬ 
rous flowers, white inside and tinged with red outside. There are 
several double-flowered varieties which are very free and showy. 
Alba plena, pure white ; rosea plena, light rose-coloured flowers, 
very pretty, but not so common ; bracteata plena, flowers white, 
surrounded by green bracts, very distinct. There is also a most 
beautiful variety named Robinsoniana, with stouter foliage and 
very much larger flowers of a pale sky-blue colour and very grace¬ 
fully disposed. A blue-flowered variety is found in the western 
States of America. 
A. jmlmata. —A South European species of dwarf habit. Leaves 
roundish cordate in outline, but palmately lobed. Flowers about 
2 inches across, bright yellow, very freely produced. This is one 
of the most handsome plants where it is quite at home. It delights 
in a compost of loam and leaf soil in a damp situation on the 
rockery, where it will succeed if left undisturbed, flowering during 
May and June. 
A. Pulsatilla. —Th : s species occurs wild in a few localities in 
this country, also in other parts of North Europe. It grows not 
more than 6 inches high, with finely divided hairy foliage. Flowers 
2 inches or more across when expanded, deep purple, covered 
externally with long silky hairs. There is another kind very 
similar named Halleri, but I do not remember any distinction 
between them. They are both early-flowering (April and May), 
and very pretty, succeeding well on the rockery, or in a warm 
and sandy position in the border. 
A. ranunculoidcs .—This is known as the yellow Wood Anemone. 
It is very similar to the common Wood Anemone in other respects 
than the flowers, which are bright yellow, about the same size as 
those of the latter kind. It is a pretty plant for the rockery, 
border, or woodland, flowering during April and May, and is 
found in a few British localities and distributed throughout 
Europe. 
A. stcllata. —This is also known as A. hortensis. The typical 
form is a native of Southern Europe. It has ternate leaves, not 
so finely divided as those of A. coronaria, and star-like flowers of 
a light purple colour, but varying considerably in colour. There 
are now a large number of hybrids with both single and double 
flowers, scarlet and purple, which are extremely showy, the colour 
of many being particularly brilliant. There is also a beautiful 
natural variety from the Greek Mountains, which produces large 
dazzling scarlet flowers with full petals during the spring and 
summer months. It is called A. stellata fulgens, and succeeds 
well in ordinary borders, and when in good condition it is one of 
the most attractive plants possible to possess. 
A. sylvestris. —This beautiful species is a native of Germany, 
growing from 1^ to 2 feet high, with deeply palmately lobed 
leaves and numerous flowers nearly 2 inches across, white, appear¬ 
ing during May and June. It succeeds well in ordinary soil, and 
we consider that amongst the spring-flowering species of Anemone 
this should have a similar place to Anemone japonica amongst 
the summer and autumn-flowering kinds. The woodcut (fig. 95) 
is a faithful representation of a spray of this charming species. 
—J. 
ALEXANDRA PALACE DECORATIVE EXHIBITION. 
June 10th. 
The first of the Shows for the present year at the northern Palace 
was held on Saturday last, being devoted to bouquets, buttonholes, 
table decorations, Pelargoniums, and miscellaneous ornamental designs 
with flowers such as floral arches, &c. Though the display was not 
extensive, the hall at the east entrance was well filled, the exhibits 
being arranged to the best possible advantage by Mr. J. Forsyth 
Johnson. 
The contributions in the class for table decorations constituted an 
important feature, and in the leading arrangements much taste was 
manifested. Miss A. Williams, Victoria Nurseries, Upper Holloway, 
was adjudged chief honours for a table set for twelve persons, bright, 
graceful, and informal. The principal stand had a central tube filled 
with Ehodanthes, Centaureas, and Grasses, three lower branches con¬ 
taining chiefly Masdevallias, Saxifrages, and Grasses, the base being 
formed with Cattleyas, red Bouvardias, and Fern fronds. Two end 
designs were formed, plants of Cocos Weddelliana as the centre, 
with Epidendrum vitellinum, Bouvardias, scarlet Zonal Pelargoniums, 
Chrysanthemum frutescens, and Tuberous Begonia flowers, sufficient 
Fern fronds being employed to tone the whole agreeably. The fruit 
comprised Apricots, Cherries, with white and black Grapes. Miss 
A. W. Stuart, 84, Seven Sisters Road, Holloway, secured the second 
position with an effective arrangement, but scarcely light enough, 
since the principal flowers employed were Brassia caudata, Sobralia 
macrantha, Tuberous Begonias, and Masdevallias. Mr. W. J. Buster, 
St. Mary’s Cray, followed with a neat design, but not sufficiently 
bright nor diversified ; Ehodanthes with fronds of Lygodiums were 
gracefully employed. Miss A. Williams was again the most success¬ 
ful competitor with a table set for six persons ; and instead of the 
formal glass stand in the previous exhibit, a graceful plant of Cocos 
Weddelliana formed the centre, surrounded by Centaureas, Gladiolus 
Col villi albus, Anthurium Schertzerianum, Stephanotis, Oncidiums, 
and Gloxinias ; small end glasses containing Ehodanthes, Centaureas, 
and Grasses. Miss E. Sperling, 31, St. George’s Road, Regent’s Park, 
was second with a design in which Bouvardias, Cactus flowers, and 
Eucharis formed the chief features. Mr. Buster took the third place 
with a table on which scarlet Zonal Pelargoniums and Linums 
predominated. 
The best bride’s bouquet was shown by Miss Williams, and com¬ 
prised a choice selection of flowers. Phalsenopsis grandiflora, Eu¬ 
charis, Odontoglossum Eoezlii alba, Gardenias, Tuberoses, white 
Roses, and the double Tabernremontana were freely arranged with a 
due proportion of Adiantum gracillimum and A. cuneatum. Mr. J. 
Prewitt, Hammersmith, followed with a pretty but less choice 
bouquet, Mr. W. Brown of Richmond being third with a neat arrange¬ 
ment of well-selected flowers. For three bridesmaids’ bouquets Mr. 
Prewitt gained chief honours with combinations of Bouvardias, Eu- 
charises, Azaleas, Zonal Pelargoniums, Spiraea, and Fern fronds, the 
