Of all the autumn-blooming plants none can compare in beauty and grace to the anemone. Its hardy constitution, and the fact that it produces great quantities of pure white blossoms at a time when white flowers are scarce, should make it a general favorite. All summer it has stood an unobtrusive plant, showing its dark green leaves, yet not courting notice. But as summer wanes and autumn approaches, clusters of round, hard buds begin to show. These push up, each upon its own slender stem, far above the leaves and sway and nod to every breeze, while the lovely flowers open, one by one, in pure white splendor, until the whole plant, and it is often a large one, is one mass of bloom, The flowers, in shape and size, are somewhat like our native dog-wood, yet delicate, dainty, waxen, with an indescribable grace of their own. They fold together in the night to re-open the next morning when the sun touches them.

At the time of this writing, in early October, two large plants in the garden are white with bloom. The first flowers began to open in August; as they do not mind a few light frosts, they will probably last quite through the month. In dry seasons the plants require a good supply of water to bring out the bloom in perfection. I have written more particularly of A. japonica var. alba, the pure white variety, as it is most prized on account of its waxen white blossoms, which are much used for cut-flower work and funeral decorations. There is another variety, however, the var. rubra, of a deep rose color and equally hardy with the white.

The anemone planted upon the lawn is most unique, and will cause much comment from those who have never before beheld its wealth of bloom. As a cemetery plant it is invaluable and much used. It reproduces itself by numberless shoots which spring from the rootlets of the parent plant, and which appear like a vigorous young brood shyly peeping forth from the family shelter. The flowers are eight or nine petaled, white and delicate, with a small, yellow-stamened center. They are about two inches in diameter and grow upon • long, willowy and graceful stems, which make them admirable for bouquet arrangement. They last a long time upon the plant, and still longer in water, and when worn, are admired by all who see them.

To the lover of flowers no one variety of plant is better adapted to our climate, affords more satisfaction, or is easier of culture, than the graceful, much loved Anemone japonica. - H. K.