104 
tiie amateur’s flower garden. 
Achillea (Milfoil).— A quite unimportant group of plants. 
They will grow in any soil, and may be multiplied by division. 
A. csgyptiaca is a pretty white foliage plant, occasionally em¬ 
ployed for edgings in the parterre. A. jilipendula is a fine 
plant for the shrubbery, graceful in foliage, and with showy 
yellow flowers. A . millefolium is the common milfoil, a most 
valuable plant for lawns on dry hot soils, and for turfing 
banks. The variety with rose-coloured flowers is an extremely 
pretty shrubbery and cottage garden plant. The double flower¬ 
ing variety of A. ptarmica is a gem for the border, and a good 
plant to grow in pots for the conservatory, and moreover it 
forces well. 
Aconitum (Monkshood).— A showy family of rustic plants, 
of a most poisonous nature, which in any case should not 
be planted without consideration of the possibility of their 
proving dangerous. They are well adapted for large borders 
and the skirts of shrubberies, where their stately forms and 
handsome flowers show to great advantage. A deep, rich soil 
suits them well, and they will bear partial shade. They are 
propagated from seeds sown in spring, and division of their 
flesby roots in autumn. The best are A. napellus , with blue 
and white flowers; A. Japonicum , violet blue; and A. tauricum y 
dark blue. The gigantic A . lycoctonum makes a striking object 
in woodland scenery, but cannot be considered a border plant. 
Adonis. —The best of this family is A . vernalis, an old 
favourite, with finely-cut leaves, and large 3 ^ellow flowers, which 
appear in March and April. A. apennina is the same in 
character, but comes into flower immediately after vernalis. 
A. pyrenaica flowers in June. These plants require a deep 
moist rich soil. They may be increased by seeds sown in 
March, or by division of the root at the same season. 
Agapanthus (African Lily).—The well-known A. umbel* 
latus is quite hardy, and is a first-rate border plant. It 
requires a deep rich moist loam, and will thrive equally well 
in sun and shade. Multiply by division of the roots in April 
or in August. The white-flowered variety is as hardy as the 
blue, but the variegated-leaved variety is scarcely hardy 
enough for the border. 
Agrostemma (Rose Campion).—The varieties of A. goto - 
naria , of which there are at least three, are extremely sliowjq 
and have the good quality of flowering freely all the summer 
long. They will grow in any moderately good soil, and 
