102 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



siDgly in small pots, and placing these in a frame in a sunny place, 

 or on a greenhouse shelf, or in a warm, sunny window. When the 

 plants are large enough, and the weather is warm and still, plant 

 them out without damaging or disturbing a single root. The best 

 sorts are Bourhonensis, macrocarpus, Ohennannii, sanguineus^ and 

 giganteus. A packet of mixed seed will aflord a good variety. 



Solamuns are of no use on the rough and ready system ; they 

 require good culture in their early stages, before being planted out. 



Statice latifolia is a fine large-leaved hardy plant, which may be 

 grown from seed. But if only a few are wanted, it is best to buy 

 plants. 



Cucurlits. — "Where there are blanks and half-wild places to be 

 covered, several of the Cucurbits may be grown to advantage ; still, 

 from our present point of view they are somewhat apocryphal. We 

 should be inclined, if pledged to rough and ready methods, to grow 

 on banks, mounds, and half- wild places none but edible gourds ; and 

 we should, if so actuated, sow about the end of April or first week 

 in May, Ilihherd's Prolifiz Early Marroiu (page 62), for the sake of 

 frequent dishes of delicious little marrows, and the following for 

 ornament : — Echinocystis lohata, Gronovea Sumboldtiana, Momordica 

 pterocarjoa, and Trichosanthes cucumerina. Of the large useful edible 

 gourds, the most handsome are, Turlcs Cap, Sicilian, and Zehra. 



Potato. — A variety called Chardon grows in the form of a bush, 

 and produces an abundance of beautiful blue flowers. Planted in 

 shrubbery borders, or in large beds, it has a good eff'ect, and the 

 roots are fair second-rate potatoes. In a small garden it is useless, 

 and in a large garden it is quite unfit for the parterre. 



Zea. — All the varieties of maize, or Indian corn, may be sown in 

 the open ground, and will do well. The way to sow them is in 

 clumps of five to ten seeds in a clump, the seeds a foot apart and 

 five inches deep. If so sown on good ground, they grow to as fine 

 proportions and fruit as freely as if pushed on in heat, and planted 

 out in the usual way. The finest varieties are Z. Japonica variegataj 

 with beautiful striped leaves equal to the variegated Arundo donax. 

 Z. cuzho, a gigantic species, fifteen to twenty feet high ; the seeds are 

 as large as beans, and a ripe cob of fruit is like a bludgeon. Z. 

 caragua, a fine majestic species of free growth. 



For the sake of a change, I now turn to Mr. Salter's catalogue, 

 and select the following : — Angelica levistichum, fol. var,, a fine 

 variegated leaved plant, suitable for a damp place, growing five feet 

 high. Aspidistra lurida, fol. lar., a splendid plant, suitable for a hot, 

 dry, sandy bank ; it has a very tropical character, but is perfectly 

 hardy. JElymus arenarius glaucus, a grand, bluish-leaved grass, will 

 grow anywhere, and hardier than the pampas grass. Ferula tingi- 

 tana, a noble plant for water scenes. Fuchsia gracilis, fol. var. rubra, 

 this pretty plant is one of our best rockery subjects ; it is quite 

 hardy, and in autumn very beautiful. Fhalaris arundinacea, fol. 

 var., this is the well-known " ribbon grass" ; Mr. Salter's variety of 

 it far surpasses all others in richness of colour. Yucca recurva, quite 

 hardy, and the handsomest of all the Yuccas for the parterre or 

 terrace. 



