The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-11
DIII o. . N MD MECHANIC.

rich spike. or a panicle Of bloom
There are six very well known varle-
ties some have white flowers. \.
Napellus we find To be best Unlike
the Achilleas. the AConltum does best
in = partly shaded moist spot, although
il will grow in the full sun
Alvssum Saxatite j the perennial
relative al the well-known annual.
Sweet Alyssum. Ii i = very ancient
plant. though rarely seen. The Greeks
supposed that the Alyssum special
properties that relieved thirst. Ii i 3
dwarf plant. covered with golden ye'-
low blooms. Ii i well adapted for
rock work. as the name indicates.
There has recently been an effort 10
divide the species from Sweet Alys-
sum. but botanists refuse 10 make the
distinction.
Amsonia Tabernaemontana, Is q har-
DIV perennial, SOME two feet IN height,
with delicate, pale blue flowers, in
terminal clusters. 1t was named after
Mr.. Chas. Amson. a traveller, and
while it is valued and planted abroad,
is net often found in cultivation, as 1t
has the misfortune of being native to
North Carolina. Fine specimens may
be found at the lower Cape Fear. Ii
is easily cultivated, Towering IN the
summer. A. SaliCIfelia has narrower
leaves. Although native, we have
never heard a common name for it.
Anchusa ~Italica, is a large rough
looking plant, coarse and unpleasant
in appearance SO far as foliage is CON
cerned, but with bright blue flowers of
wonderful delicacy and brilliancy in
such a rude setting. 1t bears profuse-
" and for a long period. The name is
derived from words meaning paint
for the skin, the plant having been
employed in the early ages for that
| 1t is also known as Bugloss.
There are varieties with purple and
red flowers, but the blue is the best.
Anemone. We not describe this ia
miiiar border plant. Not the least
delicate and lovely are our native
sorts, that may be transplanted readi-
\, il placed IN q shady moist spot a.
puisatllla. the Pasque Flower, has been
ne common property of the English
Joets for II ,ee centuries.
\. 0 tcnsis IS the species from
h.ch the Dutch have pro luced their
wo hundred varieties. The roots
look Ike pieces OF ginger. They MAY
Oe planted in the fall as first imported,
)r III the sprin; , at the present season.
L is usual TO poC them at the North,
OFT with Us they are perfectly hardy,
and may be found in all shades of red,
purple, sky blue, rose with green,
agate, white, blood color. or ash color.
They require strong rich soil to dis
play their full beauty, and continue
much longer when shaded from the
sun. 1t improves them 10 cake up
and dry off the tubers in the shade,
after the foliage turns brown.
Anthericum liliastrun is an exquisite
plant. which throws up many tall
stems, laden with miniature lilies, or
rather scilla like. blooms OF pure white.
1t is Sc metines called st. Bruno's lilv,
and we think it a gem.
Aquilegia, or columbine, is one of
the best old hardy border plants, and
so far as the old sorts derived from a.
vulgaris are concerned, we need not
stop to describe them. The name is
derived from the Latin word for eagle.
an account Of the supposed resemblance
Of the Speer to taIOns.
A. glan1ulosa is a very beautiful
species, from Siberia, more dwarf IN
habit than the former, with deep blue
flowers, the margin of the corolla pure
white.
There is another distinction which
we have never seen mentioned by any
writer. There are two shades of color
OF the leaf.
Coerulea is new, with very long
spurs, of sky blue color: it is from the
Rocky Mountains and has been called
the finest hardy border plant. A.Chey-
santha Is yellow, and is also new, and
from the West. it is quite distinct
from the other. y. Canedensis is the
old scarlet and yellow. We have OBJ
served it wild among the rocks near
Niagra. There are some very pretty
double varieties also, with erect flow
ers, and the whole family add much to
the brightest Of the garden in early
Spring. They may be moved al anytime
IN safety, and are propagated by
dividing the plants. Good cultivation
imprOXeS them Mnnlerfnnr