SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 387 



that it is known in England by the common name of "Aaron's Rod." "There 

 are two reasons," says this writer, "why it should be called by this name : 

 First, the Romans dipped the stems in tallow, and burnt them at funerals. 

 Secondly, the simple spike is long, cylindrical, and on it is a quantity of 

 densely packed, very large, handsome golden-yellow flowers. The stem is five 

 feet high. The flowers, when dried in the sun, give out a fatty matter, which 

 is used in Alsace as a cataplasm in the hemorrhoidal complaints. Formerly 

 the plant was called barbascum, from barba, meaning a beard, an allusion 

 either to the shaggy nature of its foliage, or else to two of the five stamens, 

 which are hairy. 



FRAGRANT FLOWERS. 



The pleasures of gardening, both indoors and in the open air, are greatly 

 promoted by the introduction of sweet-scented flowers. At the present time in 

 many collections, the Olea fragrans, Daphne Indica, Orange and Lemon, give 

 grateful perfume ; and how pleased we all are to meet these old favorites when 

 in bloom. Later on, the Gardenias, Rhyncospermums, etc., blossom, and by 

 a little judgment it is easy to have some sweet-scented plants in flower the 

 whole season through. To those accustomed to walk through the woods in the 

 spring-time, the pleasure derived from the fragrant flowers need not be told. 

 And many of us know how positively beneficial to the invalid is a bunch of 

 delicately scented flowers. It gives instant pleasure by its sweetness, and 

 awakens a desire to be able to be about to enjoy nature's gifts more fully. 



We cannot do without our gay-colored flowers for bedding and other pur- 

 poses, but we ought to have our odoriferous plants more widely known. In 

 almost all catalogues we find plants grouped under various headings, such as 

 "ornamental foliage," "climbing," "variegated," etc. I think it may pay to 

 add what many often look for, viz. : sweet-scented plants. — W. E., in Garden- 

 ers' Monthly. 



WHAT FLOWERS WILL GROW IN THE SHADE? 



This question is put to me every spring by scores of city people, whose little 

 patch they wish to devote to flowers is so walled up by neighboring houses that 

 the direct rays of the sun never touch it. But few plants will develop their 

 flowers there, and none will do it as well as if it were lighted up by sunshine a 

 part of the day. Fuschias, pansies, forget-me-nots, violets, lobelias, lilies of 

 the valley, phloxes, and other barbaceous plants whose native habit is shady 

 wood, will do best, but even these languish if denied all direct sunlight. 



The best effect in such situations, is produced by ornamental leaved plants, 

 the beauty of which is not dependent upon their flowers. Among these may 

 be mentioned the gold aud silver variegated leaved geraniums, acryantus, alter- 

 antheras, begonius caladiums, centauress, coleuses, etc., which, if planted so 

 as to bring the various shades in contrast, produces a pleasing effect, which con- 

 tinues during the entire summer months, and is not surpassed by any display 

 of flowers. — Peter Henderson. 



