356 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



and rose-colored Japan anemones; the many irises, with their various 

 colors ; the several herbaceous p^eoniee ; the bracteate, oriental and 

 other poppies; the columbines; the scarlet Lychnis ; some of the finest 

 hardy asters; dicentra, coreopsis, rhexia, adonis, etc. Such bulbs as 

 hyacinths, squills, crocuses, tulips, snowdrops, daffodils, etc., will not 

 be overlooked. — Country Gentleman. 



THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON. 



An authority says : The hanging; gardens of Babylon were built 

 by Nebuchadnezzar to gratify his wife, Amytia. The gardens were 

 over 400 feet square, built terrace upon terrace until they were twen- 

 ty-seven feet higher than the walls, or 400 feet. The top was sustained 

 by a series of arches one above the other, and each terrace was bounded 

 by a solid wall twenty-two feet high. On the top arches were first laid 

 flat stones, sixteen feet by four feet; over these weeds and bitumen ; 

 then two rows of cemented brick covered by sheet lead, upon which was 

 laid earth sufficiently thick to nourish large trees^ The gardens were 

 thick with the blooming plants and shrub? which were admired by 

 Queen Amytia in her native Media. The different terraces and groves 

 contained fountains, parterres, seats and banqueting rooms ; in fact, 

 all the splendor and magnificence of Eastern art seems to have lav- 

 ished upon these gardens by King Nebuchadnezzar in order that his 

 Median bride should be happy in her new home. Fen cannot picture 

 the grandeur of the conception or the perfection of the execution, of 

 these gardens, which have been, and are the wonder of all ages. — 

 Western liuraU 



FLOWERS. 



A NEW RACE OF VERBENAS. 



The handsome cut shows the new verbenas offered by Messrs^ 

 Henderson & Co., who thus describe them : 



" In 1883 we found among a bed of eeedling verbenas one seedling 

 which was entirely distinct from the others, and which was vastly su- 

 perior in size, substance and brilliancy of color. The foliage was alsO' 

 entirely distinct, being larger and heavier than the ordinary varieties,. 

 and the plants of wonderfully vigorous growth. In 1884 we succeeded 

 in getting a few hundred seeds from it, which "broke" into nearly 



