January 10, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
19 
1barb\> Iberbaceous plants. 
Romneya Coultcri. 
For some years after the introduction of this Poppywort 
from California, few cultivators were very successful with it, 
for what reason it is not very apparent. Certainly, the plant 
is not altogether hardy, and in certain soils and situations 
it makes little growth during the season. We have seen it 
doing well in Devon, and also in the garden of Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., Burford, Dorking, where his gardener, Mr. 
Bain, treats it as an ordinary herbaceous plant in the open 
border, the soil being the alluvium deposited in bygone times 
Romneta Coulteri. 
bv the Mole, and therefore is porous and well-drained. It 
also does well at Croydon, where the soil is gravelly. 
Judging from the success obtained at these places it will 
yet be found to succeed admirably in many or most gardens 
in the south and other favoured parts of Britain where 
the soil is not too much inclined to be stiff and clayey. We 
are also convinced that it likes the sun, and should therefore 
be planted in sunny, exposed positions, not where it will be 
subjected to frequent gales of wind, but sheltered in that 
respect while open to the sun during most part- of the day. 
The white Californian Poppy makes a branching bush 3 ft. 
to 5 ft. high, or more where it has become thoroughly estab¬ 
lished, and is a handsome object even when not in bloom 
on account of the pinnatifid and deep glaucous leaves, which 
in a measure recall those of the species of Argemone, except 
that they are not prickly, but perfectly soft and smooth. The 
flowers are produced in succession over a long period of 
time, so that a large bush is a handsome object. 
In its early stages the plant should be induced to become 
branched and bushy near the ground, so as to insure a 
succession of stems from that region in the event of the 
younger tops being killed by a severe winter. A considerable 
amount of protection may be given the plant by placing a 
heap of ashes over the roots in winter, and a little way up 
the stems. Our illustration shows the top of a bush, and 
gives some idea of the character of the foliage and the relative 
size of the showy and pure-white flowers. 
Anemone Fulgens. 
Owing to variations in the season, and also 
to the time of planting and its surroundings, 
this splendid border plant may be had in bloom 
at various periods of the year, from February 
to May. It rarely happen®, perhaps, that one 
sees any quantity of it in bloom in February, 
but such does sometime® happen, and I have 
seen a considerable breadth all aglow at that 
early period of the year. 
During winter and spring an open situation 
meets its requirements admirably, but in summer 
a little shade is beneficial in the South 
of England, unless the position is exceptionally 
moist. A water-logged soil would be highly un¬ 
desirable, but in other respects the presence of 
moisture is highly favourable, not only to this 
but various other specie® of the genus. 
The plant, is also amenable to forcing, or, more 
properly, for indoor decoration in cool houses, 
where it may be had in bloom during the winter 
months. In the proper acceptation of the term, 
forcing is unnecessary, because the plant will 
naturally come into bloom then, provided it is 
merely accorded the protection of a cold frame. 
This would, indeed, prove more satisfactory than 
if taken into< a greenhouse or any other large 
structure, unless the pots are stood on a shelf 
close to the glass. When far from the light, the 
foliage and stems are liable to become drawn, 
and in that case the flowers will be smaller and 
scarcely as attractive as when grown under more 
suitable conditions. Like many other things 
that bloom in spring, it delight® in the cool, 
moist weather, the flowers being then durable, if 
not actually damaged by rough and inclement 
weather; but as the temperature rises with the 
advance of spring and e.arly summer, the flowers 
hurry up, making a final and dazzling display 
of their glowing vermilion hue, passing away 
shortly. 
Hepaticas. 
It seems to me that the attempt is too' often 
made at growing this charming section of 
Anemone in too small pieces dotted over the 
ground, so that whem the warmth of spring does tempt 
them into bloom the flowers get bespattered and splashed 
with -the first shower of rain or hail. The plants, too* are 
naturally resentful of disturbance .at the roots, so that they 
should not. be moved too frequently, nor brokem up into, too 
small pieces. When there is a good mass of foliage, the leaves 
shelter one another, and prove more durable than when fully 
exposed to sun and wind in small tufts. The plants them¬ 
selves are really evergreen when grown under favourable con¬ 
ditions, and the setting of foliage keeps the flowers clean and 
sprightly. The bright sunshine of the first fine day, when 
the flowers are on the point of expansion, has a wonderful effect 
upon the blossom, all turning their faces upon the sun with 
the freshness of first expansion.—J. Mel. 
