May 6, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
370 
The Herbaceous Border. 
effects of high winds in our spring months, no other protec¬ 
tion is necessary. 
Plants in Bloom. 
The Aconite-leaved Buttercup (Ranunculus aconitifolius). 
Several of the Buttercups are practically mountain flowers, 
and require a cool, moist climate to bring out their best quali¬ 
ties. Others again, like the European Globe Flower, though 
not exactly mountain plants, delight in hilly districts, where 
they grow upon low hills or in the mountain valleys. The 
plant under notice likes cool and moist conditions. The 
single form apart from the foliage is not in my opinion particu¬ 
larly ornamental, but the double one is certainly a very hand¬ 
some plant in districts where it succeeds. The petals are very 
numerous, closely overlapping, and this, together with the 
number of flowers produced, serves to give the plant a very 
handsome appearance in the border. Quite 
ordinary treatment and a fairly good garden soil 
meet its requirements where it succeeds. 
The double one is easily propagated by a 
careful division of the crowns, which do' not 
spread or increase very rapidly. 
Californian Guamash (Camassia Cusickii). 
For many years the ordinary Quamash was 
the only inhabitant of gardens in this group, but 
more recently quite a number of beautiful 
forms have been added. This Californian species 
is the most bulky in growth of all of them on 
account of the great length and width of the 
leaves, which are glaucous-green above and dark 
green on the back. The steins on an average 
rise to the height of 3 ft., and bear in the upper 
half a raceme of large, soft lilac-blue flowers, and 
as these expand the upper portion of the stem 
lengthens until the plant reaches its full stature. 
It is the first species t 0 ‘ commence flowering, 
and the others follow in succession during the 
month of May. The starry flowers measure 
U in. to 2-J- in. in expanse. 
The Broad-leaved Sphrge (Euphorbia epithym- 
oides). 
For some years past a dwarf form of Spurge 
has been grown in gardens under the name of E. 
pilosa major. It has no relation to E. pilosa, how¬ 
ever, other than its dwarf habit and early flower¬ 
ing custom. It was really introduced to British 
gardens in 180.J from Austria, and appears to 
have been lost to. cultivation until its re-intro¬ 
duction in recent years. At flowering-time the 
stems are only 12 in. high and are well clothed 
with oblong, downy leaves. Under the flower- 
heads are five large leaves usually spoken of as 
bracts, followed by smaller ones upon the 
branches and surrounding the flowers. All of 
these during April and May are bright yellow, 
and serve to render the plant highly con¬ 
spicuous. It is of easy cultivation, and a sufficient number of 
plants may usually be obtained by division in March. Other¬ 
wise cuttings of small unflowered shoots may be rooted under 
handlights or in cold frames during summer. 
The Pale-flowered Fritillary (Fritillaria pallidiflora). 
The large size of the flowers and their distinctness from most 
other species to. be seen in gardens generally serve to make 
this species desirable in borders, where it flowers during April 
and May. The flowers are bell-shaped, but considerably 
lengthened, and at first are creamy-yellow with light green 
veins on both faces, and mottled with brown inside. As they 
are dying off they become shaded with pale rose, which adds 
considerably to their beauty. Notwithstanding their pale 
colour they both harmonise and contrast with the glaucous 
eaves, which are much broader than in the Snake’s-head Fritil- 
ai y- Beyond selecting a sheltered place to guard against the 
iae Ked-flowered Lungwort (Pulmonaria rubra). 
Several species of Lungwort have been cultivated in gardens 
for many years, but nevertheless a larger number exists on the 
Continent than is generally supposed. The above sptecies, in¬ 
troduced from Transylvania within recent years, appeals to the 
cultivator from several points of view. The leaves are of a 
uniform, rich green, not spotted as in the better-known forms, 
and the bright red flowers maintain their colour until they are 
practically fading, and in these respects the colour is more 
distinct than the changeable hues seen not only amongst Lung¬ 
worts, but a large number of the family. The average height 
of the plant would be about 9 in. In mild winters it comes 
into bloom in February or March if grown in a sheltered posi¬ 
tion. It is therefore suitable for planting where early flowers 
An American Dog’s-tooth Violet iErythronium Hendersoni). (See p. 373.) 
are desirable, and furnishes a colour that is quite rare amongst 
early flowers. 
The Plaintain-leaved Leopard’s Bane (Doronicum planta’ 
gineum). 
The ordinary form of this plant occurs wild in a few British 
localities. In gardens, however, it has become one of the most 
popular within the last twenty years or so. Besides being 
known in gardens everywhere, the market gardeners have 
taken to growing both plants and flowers for market. For 
this reason we now frequently see it mixed with hand bouquets 
or bunches of flowers of all sorts. It is of the easiest cultiva¬ 
tion, but the largest flowers are obtained from clumps which 
have been recently transplanted. As the rootstock grows 
rapidly the crowns soon get crowded unless this precaution is 
taken. It is not particularly desirable to get great stature 
unless for the wild garden, bat it is advantageous to get 
