WINTER MEETING AT CARTHAGE. 157 



The Mexican Morning Glory grows rapidly, producing large palmate leaves 

 of an olive-green color and bright, rosy, purple flowers in profusion ; it recom- 

 mends itself wherever seen. 



Among the Cannas there is but little choice nowadays; the tall sorts have, in 

 fact, been discarded in many places. The new French Dwarf varieties, howev( r, 

 are growing into greater favor every year, and we look forward to the time with 

 pleasant anticipation when they will be as great a factor in our bedding varieties 

 as are the Geraniums and Verbenas of to-day. Among the sorts which promise 

 most at this time are Madam Crozy (red and yellow), Paul Morquant (salmon), 

 -Capt. P. De Suzzoni (yellow with chestnut spots ), Alphonse Bouvier ( deep crim- 

 son). Star of '91 (red and yellow), and dozens of other varieties which are now 

 being advertised by progressive dealers. 



SPRING FLOWERING BULBS. 



This class, planted in the fall in the open ground, will bloom in spring before 

 it is time to plant summer flowering stock. The varieties most desii'able are the 

 many colored Tulips, the Dutch Hyacinths, the Crocuses and the Narcissus or 

 Daflbdils ; Lilium Candidum, often called St. Joseph's lily ; and the Japan lilies, 

 Auratum, Rubrum, Roseum and Album are grand. There are many other vari- 

 eties of lilies with magnificent flowers, but they have not as yet been sufliciently 

 tested for hardiness to warrant my recommending them here. 



There are many small flowering bulbs in this class of half-hardy character 

 which are quite desirable; among them are the Snowdrops, Anemones, Ranun- 

 culus, Sparaxis and Ixias, but it takes a great many of these to make an extensive 

 «how, and as they are not thoroughly hardy, we do not find them very popular. 



ROSES . 



Perhaps you expect me to give you a long list of roses ; if you do, you will be 

 ■disappointed. There are many varieties which produce magnificent fragrant 

 flowers, but not very freely ; others which produce such flowers very freely, but 

 are not hardy enough, and still others with other defects which more than over- 

 come their good qualities. These roses I have carefully avoided to such an extent 

 that the list which I recommend to you to-day contains only seven names of vari- 

 eties of whose merits we have become convinced through long acquaintance and 

 through tests. Ther do not produce the largest flowers, nor the most fragrant 

 fl^owers, and are not to be considered as the best by the florist for forcing under 

 glass or in houses, but are mentioned as the best varieties for out-door culture. 



They are: Madam Chas. Wood, a very free flowering, hybrid, perpetual vari- 

 ety, producing good-sized flowers freely throughout the summer. 



flermosa, a pretty shade of pink ; the flowers are not very large, but are very 

 perfect in form and freely produced ; a universal favorite. 



Louis Phillippe — anyone that wants a red rose to be fufl of flowers and efl"ec- 

 tive all the time, should try this ; like Hermosa, the flower is rather small, but the 

 size is more than made up for by the quantity of flowers produced. 



Gels is of the same size, form and habit as both Louis Phillippe and Hermosa, 

 but of a very delicate blush- white in color ; it is so near white that it is used for 

 that color in bedding. 



Duchess de Brabant— this is a hardy tea rose of a lively, deep pink color, 

 good-sized flower, very sweet scented, and having stood with us for a number of 

 years in the open ground, we feel thoroughly justifled in calling it perfectly hardy ; 

 it is a strong grower. 



