THE hellebores, which are popularly known as Christmas Roses, have long been favor -i t e flowers abroad, having been known and cultivated in continental Europe and England for many years. Occasionally they have been relegated to obscurity, only to be brought forward again into general notice by enthusiastic amateurs and cultivators. From the various types have originated many interesting hybrid varieties, and good cultivation has also lent its aid to improving the quality of some of the wild and cultivated varieties. It is only within the last ten years, however, that horticulturists have taken up in earnest the general cultivation and growth of this charming perennial, and the list of varieties has been largely increased in consequence. The variations in some instances are not decidedly marked, and would not be noticeable by the ordinary observer, but in the minds of expert amateurs and growers these distinctions are clearly defined, and each sort has some particular characteristic which commends it to our attention and lends it a charm. This is noticeably the case in the form of H. niger, in which type English growers have been particularly interested, and we find a number of varieties distinguished by local names, to particularize the source of origin.

This system of nomenclature leads to more or less confusion on the part of horticultural layman, and for this reason, it is perhaps better in this brief article to refer only to leading varieties of a distinct type.

The hellebore cannot be classed among the essentially hardy plants which may be grown and made to flower in the open border in any of the northern states. This fact ought to be truthfully stated and understood. The flowers of H. maximus open in November and December, and these are followed during the winter by the flowers of other varieties until about March. The blooming period is closely followed by the growth of the foliage, and by March and April, at the latest, the full round of blossoming and growth has been completed and the plants are at rest until the succeeding fall. Naturally, this habit precludes successful cultivation in the open air. The plants in a well drained soil are hardy enough, but severe winter frosts destroy the flowers and ruin the foliage. In our climate, therefore, we are forced to give them the protection of a cold frame, where they are at their best, and are easily grown. In this position, there is no hardy plants which can compare with them. Their rare beauty, and their isolated period of blossoming, when all other out-of-door plants are denuded of bloom, are qualities so attractive that any trouble or care given them is well expended.

The beautiful cut of H. maximus, the giant-flowered type, which is printed on page 63, is a picture of a handful taken from a plant in December, bearing perhaps fifty such flowers, and will emphasize, better than any other description, their exquisite purity and grace. The blossoms figured in the plate alluded to measured from two and one-half to three inches in diameter, most of the stalks carrying two of the pretty flowers.

Given a deep, rich, well-drained soil, and a frame with an exposure which will afford partial shelter from the burning sun-rays in mid-summer, the hellebores, if undisturbed, will grow vigorously, and in two or three years form large clumps, which will throw up quantities of flowers. These are the essential pre-requisites of success, briefly outlined, and there is nothing difficult or complicated, as may be seen in the cultivation of the hellebore. If a permanent frame is not convenient, it can be removed in the spring, but the plant must have its protection before severe frosts arrive, if a crop of well-formed flowers is to be gathered.

The foliage of the hellebore is strong and vigorous, and adds largely to the beauty of the plant, for in this respect nature rarely errs. The leaves of the various varieties vary much in form, those of H. maximus being the most distinct, but all are glossy, leathery in texture and deeply cut, while the flower stalks are densely mottled with purple, green and white.

Propagation is best effected by division of the crowns, and June and July are perhaps the best months for this operation, as the plants are then at rest. No hardy plant is more sensitive to disturbances than this, and at least two or three years are required to establish the crowns after division. Seed is freely produced, but it is slow and difficult to germinate. It should be sown under glass.

A brief synopsis of the leading varieties will be valuable, and only those are named which are positively distinct and amenable to general cultivation. First of all, in point of size and robust habit, is H. maximus or altifolius. Although a variety of niger, it is much larger in all its parts. The leaf stalks are over a foot long, the leaves broad and palmate, and very dark in color. The flowers are borne in twos and threes on a stem beautifully mottled, and are from two to three inches across, pure white, with a dense cluster of pale yellow stamens. In every respect this is a most exquisite bloom. In flowering habit it is the earliest, the buds pushing out in October and November.

H. angustifolius is closely allied to maximus, but flowers about January. It is also robust in habit, and its flowers are nearly as large as those of maximus, and circular in outline. Mad. Fourcade, another type of niger, bears smaller flowers, and is one of the freest flowering of all the hellebores, but later than either of the first two named. The blooms are pure white, with a bit of green towards the center. It is a very useful sort for cutting on account of its free flowering habit. The foliage is dwarfer and narrower than that of some others.

Then we have H. caucasicus, intermediate between maximus and niger major. The outside of the petals of this variety is tinted with a soft rose color, and the flowers come about January. The growth is vigorous, and altogether it is one of the best. H. niger major is perhaps better known than any of the above, and when true is of great value. Many inferior sorts are sold for the major type. Its foliage is finely cut, bright green and of dwarf habit. The flowers are numerous, and we have seen this plant flowering nicely in the open air in mid-winter, in especially sheltered positions during exceptionally mild weather. It is one of the oldest of the family, and well adapted to general cultiva-tion, having a vigorous constitution. Besides these leading types of H. niger, are several others with slight differences of habit, but not essentially distinct. It may be added that N. caucasicus and maximus both have a delicate fragrance.

The Lenten roses, or forms of H. orientalis, are excessively interesting, for here we find a large group of hybrids with widely varying blossoms. These hellebores are the most robust of all, and carry their foliage until the new leaves supersede them, and this foliage is tall, dark green and broad. They are more easily established and in all re-spects better growers than any of the niger section. We have in mind clumps of them near here, three feet across, which bear from 100 to 150 flowers. Most of them do not show bloom until early spring, say from January to March.

Some of the leading sorts follow : Apotheker Bogren, with large imbricated flowers, of a rich purple rose color; H. colckicus, deep plum color; Commerzienrath Benary, white, freely spotted with crimson dots, and cup-shaped - this is one of the very best of all this group ; Frau Irene Heinemann, rich purple rose, spotted with carmine red, and flowers very large; H. roseus, deep rose, a free flowering sort; Prof. Schleicher, white flowers, and a newer sort, highly spoken of. Many others in addition to the above, such as Gertrude Jekyll, pure white; P. R. Barr, S. C. Heinemann and Hoffgarten Hartwig, are quite distinct, handsome and worthy of a place in any collection.

In time some of our American plantsmen will gather together complete collections of the hellebore family and establish them here; certainly no plant is more worthy of the care and attention which may be expended upon it. In time, moreover, we shall find the hellebore more in favor as a com- • mercial flower, but not until the propagation and growth of the plants are better understood on this side of the Atlantic. Edward L. Beard.

Cambridge, Mass.