be two years at least
before they flower.

Flowering period, May to July.

Ranunculus Aconitifolius.

ACONITE-LEAVED CROWFOOT, _or_ BACHELORS' BUTTONS;
_Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEAE.

An herbaceous perennial, of the alpine parts of Europe, and for a long
time cultivated in this country. It grows 1ft. high, is much branched in
zigzag form, and produces numerous flowers, resembling those of the
strawberry, but only about half the size; the leaves are finely cut and
of a dark green colour; it is not a plant worth growing for its flowers,
but the reason why I briefly speak of it here is that I may more
properly introduce that grand old flower of which it is the parent, _R.
a. fl.-pl._ (see Fig. 79), the true "English double white Crowfoote," or
Bachelor's Buttons; these are the common names which Gerarde gives as
borne by this plant nearly 300 years ago, and there can be no mistaking
the plant, as he figures it in his "Historie of Plantes," p. 812; true,
he gives it a different Latin name to the one it bears at the present
time; still, it is the same plant, and his name for it (_R. albus
multiflorus_) is strictly and correctly specific. Numerous flowers are
called Bachelor's Buttons, including daisies, globe flowers, pyrethrums,
and different kinds of ranunculi, but here we have the "original and
true;" probably it originated in some ancient English garden, as Gerarde
says, "It groweth in the gardens of herbarists & louers of strange
plants, whereof we have good plentie, but it groweth not wild anywhere."

[Illustration: FIG. 79. RANUNCULUS ACONIT FOLIUS FLORE-PLENO.

(One-fourth natural size; _a_, natural size of flower.)]

Its round smooth stems are stout, zigzag, and much branched, forming the
plant into a neat compact bush, in size (of plants two or more years
old) 2ft. high and 2ft. through. The flowers are white, and very double
or full of petals, evenly and beautifully arranged, salver shape,
forming a flower sometimes nearly an inch across; the purity of their
whiteness is not marred by even an eye, and they are abundantly produced
and for a long time in succession. The leaves are of a dark shining
green colour, richly cut--as the specific name implies--after the style
of the Aconites; the roots are fasciculate, long, and fleshy.

This "old-fashioned" plant is now in great favour and much sought
after; and no wonder, for its flowers are perfection, and the plant one
of the most decorative and suitable