MISCELLANEOul PAPERS. 181 



Let amateurs continue to grow 8eedlin<^s. Encoura<?e improve- 

 ment in this glorious plant and Hower, and new yearly surprises will 

 await us in unimagiued beauty of grander Geraniums yet unborn. 



Petunias would be close rivals for first place with me, if the plant 

 had greater power of erect habit of growth. 



A little staking and tying, in which the stakes may be concealed 

 by the plant, will remedy this defect. 



I come to the Verbena as soon as possible in my list, for the reason 

 that 1 admire its intrepid disposition and its industrious habits. Out 

 from the cold of the first spring frosts its bright green leaves come 

 unblanched, and over the grave of the last dead Hyacinth and Tulip it 

 raises its many-colored banners, some perfumed and some only beauti- 

 ful, never ceasing to repeat its beauty until bleak autumn has shut out 

 the last ray of summer. 



With a feeling akin to awe, I approach the Pansy ; for it always 

 seemed to me that Paasies could understand words. I wonder that 

 this flower has not been used by some heathen people as an object of 

 worship. Pansies certainly have eyes, but I suppose they see not. 

 looses bave they, but they do smell, or some of them do, we all know. 

 If yon want Pansies and Phloxes all summer, make several sowings 

 and grow young plants. Sow from February to April, or start a few 

 Pansies for very early in cold frame about the first of January. Won- 

 derful improvements have been made in the Phlox in the last few years, 

 remarkable in variety of form and brilliance. 



If you can admire a coquette, you will like the Lantana. A gay 

 dress to-day and an entirely different and grander one to-morrow; a 

 gorgeous mingling of all colors the next: you never can describe her. 

 You must give her a name and remember it. But you may be sure you 

 will find her in some high color almost every day in the year. 



For the greatest amount of bloom for the least labor we will take 

 the Vincia next. Pink or white, with occasionally a different colored 

 eye, no perfume, but crowded with blossoms through wet and dry, 

 good for cut flowers and healthful in growth, I regard the Vincia as indis- 

 pensable for variety. I would have placed the Carnation pink earlier 

 in my list had it not been for the fact that the true Carnation is a little 

 difticult for most amateurs to manage. The Carnation needs a cool, 

 partially shaded location, but its beauty and fragrance pay for all they 

 cost. 



The Margaret carnation is easily grown from seed, and may be 

 had in bloom the same season and all the season. 



The writer grew about fifty Marguerite carnations from seed the 

 past season, every one of which bloomed more profusely than the old 



