6 



THE FARM AND GARDEN 



OUi^ LOWBr? Gai^den. 



October is the very best month for iilanting 

 winter or spring blooming bulbs, whether in the 

 garden or tor blooming in the house. A\'e have 

 also spoken about several varieties in our last 

 number, and will devote our floral space in this 

 number to several others which will be found 

 very useful and attractive, as well as ornamental. 

 Among the best we may mention the 

 Narcissus. 



It is a very fine class of early blooming flowers, 

 including tlie well-known Daffodil and Jonquil, 

 llost of the varieties are hardy, and sliould be 

 planted in the autumn, like 

 w"l?'," c'"*..gp'o"ra-Jr the Hyacinth, but may re- 

 teiii Toil tiie iuiporuincc of main in the ground anum- 



TotlnK for Ihcm. take around , j, '^ f i - i 



• copjof tiioK.BMA^uGAR. ber ot years, alter which 

 Dl!^■, and gii buijscriptious. {(jgy ^.j)! becomc SO matted 



One friend sent us (*0 w\r , •.. . , ... 



Dames taken on last election together as to make a divi- 

 *i*y- sion of the roots necessary. 



Thesinglc Narcissus is e.ttremely hanly, and pop- 

 ular as a Ijorder flower, and the central cup being 

 of a different color from the si.K jietals, 

 makes thi; flowers exceedingly attract 

 ive. Some have the petals of a liglit 

 yellow, and the cup orange; others 

 Lave the jietals white and the cu]) yel- 

 low ; while the l^oet's Narcissus i.S'.n-- 

 ci-ssus Poeticua), sometimes calhvd 

 Pheasant's Eye, is snowy wliite, the 

 cup cream color, with a 

 delicate fringed edge of ^\ 

 red, which gives its latter *^" 

 name. The double varie- 

 ties are very desirable. 

 The common Daflbdil is 

 well known under that 

 name, though not so well 

 known by its true name, 

 " Van Sion." 



The Polyantlius Narcis- 

 sus, however, are the most 

 beautiful cla.ss of Narcis- 

 sus. The flowers are pro- 

 duced in clusters or trusses 

 of from half a dozen to 

 three times that numlier. 

 Like the otliers, they show 

 even.' shatle of ctdor, from 

 the purest imaginable 

 ■white to . d e e ]> orange. 

 They are not (juite hardy 

 in this climate, unless 

 planted in sandv soil and 



well covered bijforc winter, and then they often 

 fail ; but, for flowering in pots iutlie house, they 

 are un>nrpassed, and nothing can be more .satis- 

 factorv for this purpose. They will also flower 

 well in glasses of water, like tlie Ilyacintli, and 

 it is desiraljle to grow a few tliat way. 

 MCSCAKI. (Grape Ihjacintli], 



These are verv pretty bulbous plant.s of the lily 

 familv, all of tlie easiiist culture ami flowering in 

 spring and early summer. They can be planted 

 out iiTtlie garden where they \yiU do ytjry nicely, 

 or be grown as window plants in pots or bo.xes. 

 In all cases thev thrive best in rich, deep, sandy 

 loam, and are I'asilv multiplied by separation of 

 the bulbs.»vepy three- y«ar9.'M. IJotryoides i^ a 

 well-known aiid deservedly favorite bulb, which 

 has distiiietlv dressv appearance, from its while 

 teeth on its IJlue globose clusters. It grows about 



of a beautiful mauve color bearing a close resem- 

 blance to purple feaihers, being cut into clusters 

 of wavy filaments. Tliough com])aratively speak- 

 ing, this species is imw seldom seen in gardens it 

 is in every way quaKficd for a place in it. 

 MrsK Hyacisth. [Muscari Moscliulum). 



Has in clusters, flowers of ^ dirty yellow hue, 

 .and very inconspicuous, but it amply atones for 

 its sho.-tcomings in tiiis respect by its delicious 

 fragrance. 



MUSCARI RACEMOSrM. 



With its dark purjde elnsteis and its strong 

 smell of plums is a familiar old kind. Its leaves 

 are long and weak, almost lying jirostrate on the 

 ground ; whereas, in M. Botryoides and its varie- 

 ties they stand boldly erect. It will hold its own 

 anywhere, and, if permitted, will spread over a 

 good deal of ground. 



kW the above' Muscaris will grow finely in the 

 house under various modes of culture. 



SOSERILLA. 



nine inches in height, and is therefore very suita- 

 biefora from lirle in aborder. The varieties Pal- 

 lidum and .\llium are very distinct ami even more 

 beautiful. The former hiis pale sky-blue clusters. 

 Feathkr Hyactnths. (.V. Com. Jffonxlrosiim). 

 Is quite distinct from any other Hyacinth, 

 growing one foot or more in height ; its flowers. 



COLCHICrM .\l-TrMXALE. 



Commonly known as Autumn Crocus. The 

 flowers appear before the leaves, are of a rosy- 

 purple color and rise two or three inches above 

 the surface, in clusters of about six. It flowers 

 from September until Xoveinber. There are sev- 

 eral varieties of this plant, the principal being 

 the double purple, white and stripeil ; Iloseuni, 

 Rose Lilac, striped with white ; Pallidum, ))ale 

 rose ; Album, pure white ; and Atropurpureum, 

 deep purjdc. 



COLCHICrM Parkijjsosi. 



Is a most distinct and beautiful plant, dis- 

 tinguisheil readily fromany of the foregoing by the 

 peculiar checkeri'd markings of the violet purjile 

 flowers. It also produces its flowers in autumn, 

 ami its foliage in spring. All the colchicums 

 are well suited for approiiriate places in the rock 

 garden, and they thrive well iu any soil, provided 

 it is not too poor'or too lieavy. But to have them 

 to perfection, choose a spot of a .sandy character; 

 in fact, such a spot as is likely to dry up during 

 summer, here they will luxuriate anil enjoy the 

 autumn, winter, and early spring rains. 

 Ixi.\S. . _ 



Prob.ibly because they are considered tender 

 and require treatment under glass, these charm- 

 ing South African bnlbs are not grown as much 

 as they ought to be. They yield an abundance 

 of bright bloom in snmnier for cutting. For cul- 

 ture out-doors, choose a li^'ht loamy soil, thor- 

 oughly drained, and with a due south aspect. 

 Plant from September to January at a depth of 

 three to four inches and one to three inches apart. 

 As earlv plantings make foliage during the 

 autumn," it is necessary to give protection during 

 severe frosts, ftfi'd this may- be accoiMiiLislied by 

 hooping the beds aver and covering when' neces-' 

 sarv with mats. Ixia Jlacnlara is a very pretty 

 variety to plant in pots for early winter blooming. 

 Eanxxcuhs. 



ThePersian Ranunculus are among the choicest 

 of garden flowers we have, and are now used 

 extensively by florists for forcing, being.' for the 

 most part, of the simplest culture. The varit=- 

 ties are innumerable and are divided iiiti\ vari- 

 ous sections, such as the Dutch, Scotch; Persian',- 

 Turkish, and French. Each of these represents 

 a distinct race, but all are beaiitifuland well de- 



serving of any amount of care and attention in 

 their cultivation. They are well adapted for 

 cultivation in pots, and anywhere or in any posi- 

 tion in the garden, but best when seen in bold 

 masses. The culture of the Ranunculus is gen- 

 erally considereii somewhat diflieult, though it 

 is simple if a few essential particulars are ob- 

 served. The soil best suited for the Ranunculus 

 is loam, thoroughly mixed with a third of its 

 bulk of good, decayed stable manure. The situ- 

 ation should be open, but not exposed. The 

 prepared soil should occui)y about fifteen inches 

 in depth of the bed, and should be put in a 

 month or so before planting. This takes place 

 toward the end of February or beginning of 

 March, but in mild localities it may be done in 

 • •etolier, if good protection is given to insure 

 against freezing. Plant about li inches deep, 

 jilaciug the claws of the roots downward, ami 

 about 5 inches apart. After planting, a top- 

 dressiug may be given, gently beaten with a 

 spaJe to olitaiu a firm sur- 

 face. As the Raininculu; 

 delights in a moist soil, 

 watershouldbe]ilentifully 

 supplietl if there is a de- 

 ficiency of rain, ami iu no 

 case must the roots be 

 allowed to become very 

 dry. Another light top- 

 dressing of artificial ma- 

 nure or guano will be ben- 

 eficial just as the foliage 

 develops. AVhen the flow- 

 ers are passed, and the 

 leaves fade away, tiie roots 

 must be taken up, dried, 

 and .stored in a cool place in s.and 

 until next jdaiiting season. If left 

 in the ground after tlie foliage is 

 caved, tlie roots are injured by 

 I'ains, and are pever strong. The 

 Persian varieties are the finest as 

 regards compactness and symmetry 

 of growth, as well as beauty of col- 

 oring, Imt the Turban (Turkish) 

 varieties are of a hardier constitu- 

 tion and freer growth. 

 .\N'E.MI)KES. 

 This highly-ornamental class of 

 easily-cultivated hardy plants is be- 

 coming better known and more 

 jio]>ularcach succeedingyear. Like 

 the Ranunculus, they are well 

 adapted for jiot and border culture, 

 and among early-flowering 

 jilants, are unsurpassed for variety and richness 

 of color. They succeed well in any moist and 

 well-drained, 'fertile soil, and are 'usually set 

 about i5 inches deep in ri>ws G inches apart, and 

 may be planted in October or November. For 

 pot culture use a rich, porous compost, and secure 

 L'ood drainage. Four good roots are enough for 

 a five-inch ))ot. Set the pots iu a cold frame or 

 other cool situation until the roots are started, 

 after which they may be removed at pleasure to 

 wherever intended to bloom. 



There are many different varieties of Ane- 

 mones, viz.: Double and Single, French Double 

 Chrysanthennim-rtowered Anemones, Anemone 

 Fulgens (Scarlet AVind Flower), which is of the 

 richest scarlet, and blooms from March until 

 May. No hardy s]iring flower can compete with 

 it tis regards brilliancy and color, which, when 



Stanhopea Ocitlata. 



lighted up by bright sunshine, becomes perfectly 

 dazzling. To' insure success, it should hnvea libe- 

 ral supidv of manure incorporated with tlie soil, 

 which shiiuld lie mulched with st.abic manure be- 

 fore fro.st sets in. Tlie flowers of O. Fulgens will 

 be found to ex|)and beautifully in water, and last 

 fora week or more if cut w hen just coming into 

 bloohi and keiit in a luoderatelv warm room. 

 ■ .[ 



. yO I«fO£J«>t*3t ^ 



