164 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDEnM. 
February  20,  1896. 
HEPATICAS. 
Among  the  many  floral  gems  of  early  spring  few  have  been  admired 
for  so  long  a  series  of  years  as  the  Hepatica  or  Noble  Liverwort,  as  it 
was  called  by  our  ancestors.  It  is  an  “  old-fashioned  ”  flower,  having 
been  in  cultivation  for  more  than  320  years,  and  claimed  in  olden  times 
the  admiration  of  highborn  dames  and  humble  housewives,  besides  that 
of  the  sterner  sex  who  followed  the  gentle  art  of  gardening  as  zealously 
as  we  do  at  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Nor  can  we  wonder  st 
this  when  we  see  fine  clumps  of  the  varieties  of  the  common  Hepatica 
sparkling  in  the  sunshine  of  February  and  March,  pleasing  all  by  their 
flowers  of  purest  white,  blue,  or  purple-blue,  and  ranging  from  almost 
ruby-red  of  H.  triloba  splendens  to  the  softest  flesh  colour.  When  we  see 
such  a  picture  of  floral  beauty  we  are  surprised  at  the  vagaries  of  fashion 
which,  at  one  time,  left  the  Hepatica  to  the  old-fashioned  garden,  where 
the  old,  old  flowers  were  cherished.  Happily  this  may  be  said  to  have 
passed  away,  and  the  renaissance  which  has  come  has  brought  an  ever 
increasing  admiration  of  such  plants  as  these. 
Botanically  speaking  the  Hepatica  is  an  Anemone  belonging  to  the 
Ranunculacere,  and  should  be  spoken  of  as  A.  Hepatica,  and  what  we 
know  as  Hepatica  angulosa  as  Anemone  angulosa  ;  but,  although  modern 
botanists  apparently  agree  with  Linnaeus  in  this  classification,  popular 
usage  is  too  firmly  fixed  to  be  readily  altered,  and  the  subjects  of  this 
article  are  likely  to  remain  “  Hepaticas  ”  for  many  long  years.  Thus  we 
shall  speak  of  them  here,  feeling  satisfied  that  there  is  less  risk  of 
confusion  in  so  doing  than  in  adopting  the  more  scientific  name. 
The  noblest  of  ail  the  Hepaticas  is  H.  angulosa,  a  well-flowered 
plant,  of  which  is  here  figured  (fig.  24).  This  is  a  very  beautiful  Liver¬ 
wort,  with  fine  five-lobed  leaves,  and  large,  handsome,  sky-blue  flowers, 
sometimes  over  2  inches  across,  with  black  anthers,  and  a  tuft  of  yellow 
styles.  There  appears  to  be  a  little  conflict  of  authority  regarding  the 
native  habitat  of  this  species,  “  Paxton’s  Botanical  Dictionary  ”  giving 
it  as  North  America,  in  which  it  is  followed  by  the  1886  edition  of  the 
“  Cottage  Gardeners’  Dictionary,”  and  a  generally  reliable  work  on 
hardy  flowers,  Nicholson’s  “  Dictionary  of  Gardening,”  and  a  few  other 
works  state  the  habitat  to  be  Transylvania,  and  the  “  Kew  Handbook  ” 
gives  it  as  “  Eastern  Europe.”  Through  the  kind  offices  of  Mr, 
J.  N.  Gerard  of  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  U.S.A.,  the  writer  ascertained 
that  H.  angulosa  does  not  occur  in  the  United  States  ;  and  through  the 
same  gentleman  communication  was  opened  with  Mr.  Macoun  of  the 
Canadian  Geological  Survey,  and  Mr.  Goldie  of  Guelph,  Ontario,  both 
of  whom  are  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  flora  of  the  older  provinces 
of  the  Dominion,  and  both  agree  that  the  Angled  Hepatica  is  not  to  be 
found  there. 
One  is  thus  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  Transylvania  is  the  place  of 
origin  of  the  plant,  and  this  is  corroborated  by  a  conversation  the  writer 
had  a  year  or  two  ago  with  Mr.  Lindsay,  the  able  Curator  of  the 
Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens,  who  said  they  had  a  plant  named 
H.  transylvanica,  which  appeared  the  same  as  H.  angulosa. 
So  far  as  the  growing  of  H.  angulosa  is  concerned  it  presents  no 
difficulty  in  ordinary  gardens,  preferring  an  eastern  exposure  and  a  sandy 
loam  enriched  by  the  addition  of  a  little  cow  manure.  It  is  to  be 
regretted,  however,  that  in  the  majority  of  gardens  this  Hepatica  is  a 
shy  bloomer,  a  good  sized  clump  frequently  giving  only  a  few  flowers. 
In  order  to  overcome  this  some  growers  have  divided  the  plants  severely, 
but  this  drastic  course  has  proved  ineffectual,  and  the  shyness  appears 
due  to  the  want  of  some  constituent  in  the  soil.  There  is  some  difference 
of  opinion  as  to  the  best  time  for  planting  H.  angulosa,  but  my  experi¬ 
ence  is  that  it  may  be  planted  most  successfully  in  spring  when  the 
plants  have  just  finished  flowering.  When  autumn  planting  is  followed 
Hepaticas  are  frequently  lifted  out  of  the  soil  by  frost,  and  they  are  thus 
weakened,  and  sometimes  altogether  lost  unless  timely  attention  is  given 
to  pressing  them  into  the  ground.  H.  angulosa  major  is  a  fine  variety 
with  larger  flowers  of  lighter  colour,  but  the  writer  has  no  knowledge  of 
the  appearance  of  either  white  or  red  varieties,  although  it  is  probable 
that  these  exist  in  the  native  habitat  of  the  plants. 
While  the  Angled  Hepatica  has  the  defect  of  shy  blooming  in  most 
gardens,  its  congener,  the  common  Hepatica  in  its  several  varieties, 
presents  no  such  drawback.  With  scarcely  an  exception  it  grows  and 
flowers  freely  in  gardens  where  it  obtains  a  moderately  light  soil,  and 
will,  if  left  alone,  with  an  occasional  top-dressing,  increase  in  size  and 
beauty  from  year  to  year.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere, 
being  widely  distributed  over  continental  Europe  and  North  America. 
It  is  possible  that  it  may  be  also  distributed  over  Northern  Asia,  as  it  is 
said  to  be  largely  cultivated  by  the  Japanese,  who  are  reported  to  possess 
some  fine  varieties.  These  may  have  originally  come  from  North 
Ametica,  but  it  is  highly  probable  .that  they  are  either  indigenous  to 
Japan,  or  from  the  adjacent  continent.  There  are  many  interesting  and 
beautiful  varieties  of  the  ordinary  Hepatica  triloba  or  Anemone 
Hepatica,  among  which  may  be  included  what  is  known  as  H.  acutiloba, 
which  comes  from  North  America  and  has  prettily  formed  leaves.  It 
does  not  seem  a  fixed  species,  as  in  its  native  woods  it  and  the  ordinary 
leaved  Hepatica  run  into  each  other.  Another  form  is  H.  variabilis, 
with  marbled  leaves,  but  this  is  not  recognised  at  Kew  as  a  species,  being 
ranked  as  a  variety  of  A.  Hepatica.  Both  acutiloba  and  variabilis  vary 
in  colour  of  flower. 
The  ordinary  single  blue  Hepatica  is  recognised  as  the  typical  form, 
but  by  means  of  sports  and  Beedlings  an  increasing  number  of  varieties 
have  arisen,  all  of  which  can  only  be  briefly  mentioned.  The  double 
blue,  or  more  correctly  speaking,  the  several  double  blue  varieties,  are 
very  pretty  and  still  too  rare,  owing  to  their  less  accommodating  nature. 
These  are  beautiful  little  flowers  like  buttons,  and  mostly  beautifully 
imbricated.  There  are  several  single  pink  or  red  varieties,  one  named 
Splendens  being  particularly  vivid  in  colour,  and  a  great  beauty.  The 
double  pink  Hepatica  is  a  well-known  favourite,  and  large  clumps  are 
very  attractive.  There  is  also  a  pretty  purple  variety  known  as 
H.  Barlowi,  and  by  some  thought  to  be  a  distinct  species.  There  are 
also  a  few  white  varieties,  a  well  marked  distinction  between  two  of 
these  being  that  one  has  white  and  the  other  pink  anthers.  A  pretty 
blush  white  variety  is  also  to  be  obtained.  There  is  a  double  white 
which  is  exceedingly  rare,  and  almost  unobtainable.  This  variety  has 
long  been  spoken  of,  and  for  years  the  writer  believed  it  to  be  a  fabulous 
plant,  although  thinking  it  possible  that  such  a  variety  could  be  pro¬ 
duced.  He  has,  however,  received  incontestable  evidence  that  the  flower 
exists,  although  rare  and  difficult  to  grow. 
The  cultural  requirements  of  the  common  Hepatica  and  its  varieties 
are  similar  to  those  of  H.  angulosa,  so  that  nothing  further  may  be  added 
on  this  point,  but  a  few  lines  on  the  raising  of  seedlings  may  be  of 
service. 
By  raising  seedling  Hepaticas  there  is  practically  no  limit  to  the 
shades  which  may  be  obtained  in  the  range  of  colours  included  among 
these  plants,  besides  the  possibility  of  obtaining  the  coveted  double 
white.  The  seeds  should  be  carefully  saved  when  ready  to  fall,  and 
may  either  be  sown  immediately  or  kept  until  later.  They  may  be 
sown  in  the  open  ground,  but  as  they  do  not  germinate  for  some  months, 
and  are  liable  to  be  disturbed  and  brought  to  the  surface  by  worms,  it 
will  be  found  desirable  to  sow  them  in  boxes,  in  which  the  young  plants 
can  remain  for  a  year  or  two.  The  seeds,  if  sown  when  ripe  or  up  till 
August,  should  germinate  in  spring,  and  many  will  flower  the  third  year. 
Some  cover  the  boxes  with  a  piece  of  slate  laid  on  the  soil,  but  this  is 
not  at  all  necessary,  and  can  be  dispensed  with. 
The  writer  thinks  it  better  to  sow  thinly,  and  allow  the  plants  to 
remain  in  the  boxes,  with  a  little  top-dressing,  until  they  have  made 
two  years’  growth,  when  the  bottom  and  sides  of  the  box  are  removed 
and  the  young  plants  placed  in  the  border  without  further  dislurbance. 
In  my  garden  a  large  number  of  young  plants  are  coming  into  flower, 
and  promise  to  yield  some  interesting  results.  It  is  to  seedling  raiaing 
we  must  look  for  improvements  in  these  beautiful  flowers,  improvements 
which  are  quite  within  our  reach,  and  which  would  greatly  enrich  the 
beauty  of  our  gardens.  Much  interesting  matter,  including  a  good  deal 
about  the  double  white  Hepatica,  remains,  but  space  will  not  permit  of 
further  enlarging  upon  these  long  favourite  flowers,  the  beauty  of  which 
is  worthy  of  being  more  largely  recognised. — S.  Arnott. 
MODERN  GRAPE  GROWING— ESTIMATE  of  VARIETIES. 
( Continued  from  page  99.) 
Some  of  my  younger  readers,  to  whom  I  may  not  be  well  known, 
will  perhaps  think  that  because  I  do  not  place  Muscat  of  Alexandria  far 
above  all  other  Grapes  for  quality  that  I  have  not  succeeded  particularly 
well  with  this  variety.  If  such  is  the  case  I  would  refer  them  to  the 
Journal  of  Horticulture  for  November  3rd,  1881,  where  the  present 
esteemed  assistant  editor  says  of  the  Muscats  under  my  charge,  “  It  is 
the  finest  sight  of  the  kind  I  have  seen,”  and  ventures  an  opinion  "  that 
a  similar  example  of  culture  had  not  been  achieved  in  the  time  in  the 
Queen’s  dominions.” 
Since  that  time  great  progress  has  been  made  with  the  cultivation  of 
Muscats,  and  this  Grape,  which  was  once  thought  difficult  to  manage, 
has  been  found,  where  the  houses  and  appliances  are  favourable,  to  be 
easier  to  bring  to  perfection  than  is  the  Black  Hamburgh.  I  grant  that 
the  Black  Hamburgh  is  one  of  the  easiest  Grapes  to  grow  if  one  only 
aims  at  moderate  quality,  but  real  perfection  is  quite  another  thing,  and 
is  more  frequently  seen  in  almost  any  other  variety,  including  Muscat 
of  Alexandria.  1  consider  a  house  of  Black  Hamburgh  with  a  good  crop 
of  bunches  averaging  3  lbs.,  made  up  of  berries  3^  inches  in  circum¬ 
ference,  and  as  black  as  Sloes,  shows  a  greater  amount  of  cultural  skill 
than  does  a  perfectly  coloured  crop  of  Muscats  of  the  same  dimensions  ; 
but  either  of  them  forms  a  very  pretty  picture,  and  well  repays  the 
cultivator  for  rising  with  the  sun  on  bright  summer  mornings. 
As  for  the  so-called  varieties  of  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  I  have  never 
been  able  to  detect  any  difference,  although  I  have  frequently  had  the 
supposed  peculiarities  pointed  out  to  me.  One  gentleman  in  particular 
was  very  enthusiastic  when  he  detected  a  Vine  under  my  care  which  he 
was  certain  was  Bowood  Muscat.  He  could  tell  the  difference  at  a 
glance  as  soon  as  he  entered  the  bouse,  and  pointed  out  the  distinctive 
features  in  berry,  bunch,  and  general  growth.  Asked  if  I  was  convinced, 
the  reply  was,  "  Not  exactly,  for  all  the  plants  were  raised  by  myself 
from  one  particular  Vine.” 
It  would  hardly  be  correct  to  say  that  I  consider  the  quality  of 
Muscat  of  Alexandria  inferior  to  that  of  the  Black  Hamburgh  ;  that  to 
a  great  extent  must  be  a  matter  of  individual  taste ;  but  I  do  say  that 
it  is  a  greater  feat  to  grow  a  house  of  Black  Hamburgh  perfect  in  every 
way  than  it  is  to  grow  a  similar  one  of  Muscat  of  Alexandria.  Personally 
I  have  several  times  had  a  house  of  Muscats  which  I  was  proud  of,  but 
not  only  have  I  never  grown,  but  I  have  never  seen,  a  house  of 
Hamburghs  which  would  have  satisfied  me. 
Sometimes  at  the  smaller  shows  there  is  a  class  for  the  best  two 
bunches  of  Grapes,  irrespective  of  colour,  and  I  have  been  acting  with 
judges  who  were  inclined  to  pass  over  fairly  good  bunches  of  Black 
