6 



THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



Our? FLOWBr? Gai^dbn. 



Gloxinias. 



The HybriJ Gloxinias, recently raised in 

 Ens;land, 'are much superior to the imported 

 species, both in size and form, and their colors i 

 are almost unlimited, varying, as they do, from j 

 the purest white, through the ditiVrent shades of j 

 pink, to deep red, and from pale-lilue to intense ! 

 purple, with endless kinds of spotting and band- 

 ing, with liglit and dark colors; in tact there are 

 few flowers in which there is so much variety, 

 and they also possess other points equally note- 

 •WDrthv. Gloxinias are, at tliis writine:, in their 

 full beautv. We believe no one in this locality 

 knows how to grow tliem as well as Mr. H. A. 

 Dreer, who annually makes a magnificent display 

 of them (as well as' Tuberous Rooted Begonias). 

 We have seen plants covered with flowered and 

 magnificent foliage, some of the leaves measuring 

 seven and one-half by eight inches. It is now 

 too late to give instructions for growing them, 

 but those who have a stock on hand should 

 remember tliat after flowering less water must be 

 given, shading discontinued, and more air admit- 

 ted so as to ripen the growth. When the leaves 

 have died down, the "sod should be allowed to 

 become quite dry ; keep them through the 

 winter in a tempe'rature of .50°, but cooler than 

 that for anv length of time is not safe, they 

 generally winter best when the bulbs are allowed 

 to remain in the soil and jiots in which they have 

 been grown, but as tliey become large and are in 

 pots of a considerable size, this is not always 

 convenient; in that ca.se the roots should be 

 stored in paper bags, filled with dry sand to pre- 

 serve tliem from the air, otherwise they shrivel, 

 and thereby receive serious injury. It is too soon 

 now to sow seed, but the most expeditious way 

 of propagation is by leaf cnttinys. If the leaves 

 are taken otf now,' when fully matured, with a 

 portion of the stalks attached to them, and this 

 portion is inserted in four or five-inch pots, 

 drained and filled with half )ieat or loam and 

 sand, witli half an inch of sand on the top, and 

 kept in a brisk heat, slightly shaded and moist, 

 they will form healthy bulbs before winter. If 

 the varietv to be increased is scarce, several may 

 be produced from single leaves by cutting the 

 midrib tlirough on theunder side, in four or five 

 places. Then lay the leaves fiat on the soil in 

 pots or ])ans prepared as above ; over each place 

 where the midrib has been severed, secure the 

 cut parts to the soil with a pebljle or apiece of 

 bent brass wire run through the leaf into the 

 soil ; at these points small tubers will be formed 

 which will make good flowering plants next 

 season. 



Prop.\g.\tin-g Pectzia Gracilis. 

 When this plant is well grown it will throw 

 ut> yonng suckers from the roots, and these may 

 be taken' otl' in the autumn with a sharp knife, a 

 portion of the root being attached, cut back to a 

 few inches, and then tliey may be potted. 

 PiscHiNG Plants. 

 The chief object ol jiinching plants is to make 

 those of straggling liabits of growtli a.ssume a 

 dense, evenly 6ranehed one, or to get the ])lants 

 into some form dift'ereiit to tliat of its natural 

 growth. In pinching out any Coleus or soft 



wooded plants, generally two shoots start from 

 every point that is stopped, and if one wants to 

 get a plant to assume a pyramidal form, broad 

 and well filled up at the base, the cultivator must 

 clieck the upward tendency of growth, 'in most 

 varieties, Tjy pinching out the points of the 

 strongest shoots. Pinching out the flowering 

 points is advantageous when we want to retard 

 the plants without exhausting their energies, by 

 allowing them to flower when not required. 



Petunias attek Bloomin'g. 

 Petunias, when they have done blooming, 

 should be thrown away, taking care, however, 

 that some young plants' have first been propaga-^ 

 ted from tl'iem by taking cuttings of the tops of 

 the young growtl'i ; these cuttings root very freely 

 in a'hot bed. When Abutiloiis become old and 

 leggy tliey should also be increased by taking 

 cuttings of the young wood ; these form roots 

 very readily, and the young plants, if taken care 

 of, will siio'n grow into a flowering size. Tiiftc- 

 TOSf.s-, when done flowering, and after the leaves 

 decay, require a season of rest. The pots con- 

 taining the roots should be laid on their sides, 

 and they do not require any water until they 

 begin to flower next spring. 



ASPAKAGIS FOR ORNAMENT. 

 The London Garden says : ''Among the plants 

 grown for use in our gardens as vegetables, there 

 are some— as the Globe Artichoke, Asparagus, 

 and some sorts of Beet — which might well be 

 employed for ornament also. Of all useful 

 plants, however, none lend their leafy growth 

 with better ettect when planted with Irises, 

 Lilies, Foxgloves, Poppies, and other sliowy and 

 bright-colored flowers, than does the common 

 Asparagus. Its light and feathery sprays are in 

 reality more fresh and graceful than are those of 

 the Bamboos, and some of our visitors are quite 

 delighted with it, as seen in the flower borders 

 here and there. We use it also in a cut state, 

 along with ferns and other greenery, for relieviug 

 the bright coloring of cut blossoms of all kinds, 

 and where flowers" are cut largely for decorative 

 purposes it will be found most useful. It is not 

 easv to sav why there should be a prejudice 

 against the ornamental employment of useful 

 plants, but that such does exist " goes without 

 saying." .\s a friend said to me the other day, 

 " if the apple tree did not bear apples, we should 

 then grow it largely as an ornamental shrub or 

 tree." 



iPOMEA NOCTYPHYTON. 



We have several times mentioned this beauti- 

 ful climber, which is a desirable acquisition for 

 anyone having a garden or a greenhouse. The 

 plant requires a very warm i)lace, and it is said 

 that it requires a te'mperature of at least 60° to 

 keep it over during the winter. It is a very 

 rank grower, some branches increasing in length 

 six inclies in one day. As to soil it does not seem 

 particular, we have seen it planted out in a 

 shallow bench with only some moss and manure 

 to cover the roots, and' from a small cutting set 

 in last mav. Several strong branches have grown 

 for a length of ten to twelve feet. It is very 

 interesting to watch the flowers unfold at about 

 eight o'clock in the evening. They look like a 

 huge, pure white Morning Glory, and have a 

 delicate perfume. Tlie flower is not quite as cup 

 shape as the Morning Glory, and the stem is very 

 much longer. It should do very well in a large 

 pot, and would be the flower 'for the working 

 man who is busv all day, because he can enjoy 

 this in the eveni'ng. AVe believe it is only pro- 

 pagated from cuttings. 



A Handsome Bkgonia. 



Of the many beautiful plants we have seen few 

 can compare with the tuberous rooted Begonia 

 Pearcei. The foliage of which is most remarka- 

 ble by its splendid variegation ol light-green and 

 metailic-lironze. When held airainst tlie light it 

 is still brighter. The flowers which stand well 

 alwve the foliage are also of a peculiar color for 

 Begonias, lieing a clear canarv yellow. This is 

 a plant for which, no doubt, tiiere will be great 

 demand, both for its flowers and decorative 

 qualities- 



ASPARAGUS PLUMOT0S. 



This is one of the most elegant plants that one 

 can grow in a cool greenhouse for furnishing an 

 inexhaustible supjily of foliage for arranging 

 with cut flowers, a desideratum at all seasons. 

 The feathery appearance of the finely divided, 

 deep-green leaves has a charming effect, inter- 

 mixed with cut flowers. One Pliiladel])hia 

 florist has a housefull of it, and no doubt they 

 will go off with a boom. 



Ac.\ciAS. 



The varieties of ,\cacias do not seem to meet with 



that amount of attention to which their beauty 



would seem to entitle them. All of them possess 



charming light-yellow or orange colored blooms. 



and hardy foliage that sufiers but little from 

 confinement in the dwelling-house. They are 

 striking plants wlien grown in the form of stand- 

 ards, and not mutilated or weakened by being 

 pinched back. Such subjects gain new and 

 unexpected beauties if they are merely pruned 

 once, as soon as the blooming period is over. 

 WlKTER AND SPRING BLOOMING BULRS. 

 By the exercise of a little taste much pleasure 

 can be derived from the cultivation of bulbs in 

 the house, as well as in the garden. In the 

 liouse they can be grown in a variety of interest- 

 ing ways. Hyacinths, Narcissus, and Crocus 

 may easily be grown in gla.sses. Pot culture, 

 however, is more extensively used, besides look- 

 ing quite natural. Of late "we have been grow- 

 ing bulbs in moss, either in pots or boxes. The Due 

 Van Thol Tulips look splendidly when several 

 bulbs are grown together. A very pleasing way 

 is to take a fair sized basket, and i)lant a variety 

 of bulbs in it, say a row of Crocus on the out- 

 side, next a row of Tulips, and the center plan- 

 ted with one to three, or more, Hyacinths. The 

 soil should be sandy, and have a few pieces of 

 moss broken up fine, mi.xed with it to keep it 

 to keep from becoming packed or heavy from 

 frequent waterings. 



Bulbs, when flowered in the house, should be 

 kept in as moderately cool room as possible. In 

 a warm room they will bloom too early, and the 

 flowers will not last nearly so long. They should 

 be kept in some S|)are room, not so frequently 

 used, and consequently not kept so warm. (It 

 must be remembered that the 1)ulbs must form 

 strong roots before coming in flowers, otherwise 

 they will not expand well.) To have a suc- 

 cession of flowers, a variety of bulljs must be 

 had, and they should also be' planted at intervals, 

 sav every week from the beginning of September 

 until the end of November, even later planting 

 will have satisfactory results, but of course the 

 earliest planted ones will be the best. 



Hyacinths and Crocus will also grow freely in. 

 almost any medium capable of retaining moist- 

 ure. It is said that they will bloom almost as 

 well in sand as in specially prepared and rich 

 composts. Vases, deep saucers, shells, and wire 

 lianging Ijaskets can be made use of for the ])ur- 

 pose, either filled with moss, sand, or water, and 

 l)y a succession of planting flowers can be had 

 from December to May. One of the cheapest 

 arrangements we saw last year was a lot of straw- 

 berry boxes, painted brown (merely dipped in 

 the paint). In these Hyacinths, Tulips, and 

 Crocus were planted. 

 Some had three Hya- 

 cinths others three Tu- 

 lips and six Crocus, and 

 again, some had one Hy- 

 acinth, two Tulips, and 

 some Snowdrops or Cro- 

 cus. 



After these baskets had 

 stood in tlie closet for 

 about a month, a quan- 

 tity of Tradescantia Mul- 

 ticolor and other droop- 

 ing plants were planted 

 with the bulbs, and by 

 the time the latter were 

 in bloom the ba.skets 

 were covered with a 

 drooping nia-ss of green, 

 wliieh made them look 

 very pretty. Large, flat 

 earthenware dishes may 

 l)e convenientlvaltered into ajardiniere by filling 

 them with moss and water, and simply setting 

 the l)ull>3 on the top of the moss. Wire hanging 

 baskets are capital, and if some roots of Oxalis 

 are stuck in tlie moss through the sides of the 

 baskets they will bloom splendidly. 

 A Remedy for Snails. 

 Mr. Dreer's foreman tell^ us tliat he uses air- 

 slacked lime to destroy snails whenever there 

 happens to be any sign "of them. He spreads it 

 all over the soil, "even of the most delicate Odi- 

 antums, and savs it does no injury to the plants 

 wliatever, but destroys and keeps off snails and 

 other pests. 



Dioscorea Discolor. 

 Have you ever grown this beautifVil climber? 

 if not, try it, and you will be pleased with it. 

 It is a tuberous roo"t, and requires a yearly rest, 

 but it can be grown as well in winter as in sum- 

 mer. Tlie foliage is handsomely variegated, the 

 under side being dark maroon. 



tiGRIDIA PaVONIA. 

 We were surprised to learn with what ease 

 these curious flowers are grown and bloomed. 

 Only two months ago some bulbs were bought 

 whi'ch hardly appeared to be of blooming size. 

 Some were planted in the open ground, and made 

 strong growth. A few others were stuck in some 

 moss which was packed around some potted 

 plants set in a large window box. These were in 



SINGLE HVACINTIt 



