THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



Snowdrops {Galanthus.) 

 The first flower of spring is the delicate Snow- 

 ■drop. With the first of March it makes it« ap- 

 (pearance throiish the .snow. One never tires of 

 its modest beauty, whatever may be its snrround- 

 in<»s. The leaves corajilete tlieir functions so 

 «arly in the year that they may be planted in 

 grass that is rejjeatedly mown as well as on 

 banks in pleasure grounds or halfwild places. 

 The Dulbs may be inserted a couple of inches 

 into the turf, and the spot afterwards made firm 

 and level, especially if it be on a trimly-kept 

 Jawn. Tiiere are about lialf-a-d(»zen species in 

 cultivation, all of which bear a strong resem- 

 blance to each otlier. The common G. Nivalis is 

 recognized by its dwarf, narrow leaves and small 

 dowers. The Crimean Snowdrop (G. Plicatiis) 

 has very broad leaves, the marijins of wliich are 

 curiously turned down or deflected, and the 

 flowers are larger than tliose of Nivalis. 



Galanthus Elwesi 

 Is the finest, ])erna|>s, as well as the largest. The 

 flowers are almost three times the size of the 

 ordinary variety. It is very desirable for for- 

 cing or growing in the house, and has a deli- 

 cate fragrance. Although not new in England, 

 it is only being introduced in this country this 

 year. 



The Snowdrops may be planted, say a dozen in 

 <|uite a small pot or saucer, and will bloom very 

 readily. They are perfectly hardy, and may re- 

 main several years in the ground without being 

 removed. The 



SSOWFLAKE (Lcucojlim) 

 [I»--sometime3 called the large Snowdrop, from its 

 (resemblance to this delicate flower. It is much 

 flarger and more robust in growth. The flowers 

 are white, drooping bells marked with green 

 both inside and out, and are produced in clusters 

 of from four to eight blooms on each stem. Tliey 

 are excellent subjects for rockwork, thriving in 

 any rich and well-drained soil. Imported bulbs 

 !uake little show for the first year, but after that 

 itime, when established in sandy loam and peat, 

 in a somewhat shady border, they flower 

 (regularly. 



The Dotjblb Stjnflower. 



Winter Acokite {Lryanthes nyemulis.) 

 A valuable small plant, with yellow flowers, 

 surrounded by a whorl of shining green divided 

 leaves, and a short blackish underground stem 

 resembling a tuber; three to eight inches high; 

 flowering from January to March. It grows in 

 any soil, and often naturalizes itself freely in 

 grass, and is very beautiful when the flowers peep 

 in early spring, looking like golden buttons. A 

 few roots scattered here and there, will soon form 

 a carpet glowing into sheets of yellow in winter 

 or spring. We may so enjoy it without giving it 

 positions suited for rarer and more fastidious 

 plants, or taking any trouble about it. 

 Tkiteleia Unifi.ora. 

 This is another bulbous plant that deserves 

 more attention tlian has hitherto been paid to it. 

 It is delicately colored, free-flowering and hardy. 

 The dowers are of an iride-scent white with blne- 

 ish reflections, and marked on the outside through 

 the middle of the divisions with a violet streak 

 which is continued down the tube. Tliey open 

 with the morning sun. are conspicuously beauti- 

 ful on bright days, and close in dull and sunless 

 weatlier. They come into flower with, or before 

 Scilla .Siberica, and remain during the last days 

 ■of.\pril still in effective bloom, when the vivid 

 blue of the Aquil has been long replaced by green 

 leaves. It flowers profusely in pots, and will 

 flower boldly in the most unfavorable position. 

 Tiiere are several forms whicli differ in the shade 

 of their flowers. For rockwork borders or edge- 

 ing they may well be recommended. When 

 jplanted for house culture four or six bulbs may 

 we placed in one pot in a medium rich soil mixed 



with some sand, and this may be done during 

 autumn, keeping them first in a cool place. 

 After flowering stop watering until lall, and then 

 plant them in the open ground. The bulbs are 

 very cheap and can theretore be procured in 

 quantities. 



TULIPA Geeigi. 



Of all the known species of tulip this is perhaps 

 the most showy and desirable as a garden plant. 

 It blooms freely in April or May, its large 

 goblet-shaped flowers being generally of a vivid 

 .scarlet color; but there are also purple and yel- 

 low flowered forms. The bulbs are so extremely 

 hardy that they will withstand with impunity 

 freezing and thawing, and even when the leaves 

 are half-grown they will endure a temperature as 

 low as zero without any protection. The plant 

 is a vigorous grower, attaining a height of from 

 nine to fifteen inches, and bearing flowers from 

 four to si.x inches in diameter, wiien fully ex- 

 panded ; and three or four lance-shaped glaucous 

 leaves, with undulated margins, the whole of the 

 upper,snrfiice being boldly blotched witli purple 

 or chocolate brown. Varieties occur without 

 spots ; and withers with yellow and spotless flowers. 

 It grows freely in any light rich soil in an open 

 sunny position, and rarely requires transplanting. 

 Any one who admires handsome flowers should 

 not fail to get at least a half dozen bulbs. 

 The Sunflower. (Helianthus.) 



In the neighborhood of Philadelphia, sunflow- 

 ers have been grown this year in enormous 

 quantities, and well they deserve it. As an 

 ornamental plant they are of much value, their 

 robust growth rendering them suitable for many 

 situations where plants of smaller growih would 

 be quite lost. The large double variety, of which 

 we give an illustration, is especially desirable, 

 not growing over five feet in height, and produc- 

 ing dozens of flowers on a plant. 



DiA^THU.s Chinensis. (Chimse Pinl-.) 



This species has given rise to a beautiful race 

 of flowers. It is an annual, biennialor perennial, 

 according to the way it is grown or sown. If 

 sown early, the ]ilants will flower the first year; 

 if late the second. On dry soils, if the winters be 

 milt.l, it will live for two or tiiree years. The 

 varieties both single and double are now verj- 

 numerous and beautiful ; they may be classed 

 under D. Heddewigi and D. Laciniatus. The 

 forms of Heddewigi, the Japanese varietv, are 

 dwarf and very handsome, while there are also 

 the double flowered forms of it, particularly 

 Piadematus which are verv double and large. 

 The laciniatcd section have the ))etals very deeply 

 cut into fine fringe, and of this cla.s3 there are 

 also double forms. Sow under glass in February 

 with very little or no l>ott<mi heat ; give air freely 

 during open weather and ]>lant out in April in 

 well cultivated soil, which need not be rich. 

 Place the plants from nine to twelve inches apart 

 each way, and they will form compact tufts 

 which will lie covered with blossoms. 

 Stanhope.*. Oculat.^. 



This is the most curious of Orchids and one 

 easy to nmnage. It is always grown in baskets, 

 through the hottom of which the flower stem will 

 creep. They are strangely shajied, resembling 

 some kind of an animal ; the color is creamy 

 wnite, spotted with violet crimson. The fragrance 

 of the flowers is so strong that some people call it 

 sickening. Being of the easiest culture, we would 

 recommend it to those who love rare flowers. 

 Something that everybody has not. 

 Dicentka. 



There are about half a dozen cultivated species 

 of which the following are the finest: — 



Dicentra Chrysantha. A fine plant, forming a 

 spreading tuft of glaucous rigid foilage, from 

 which arises a stiff leafy stem, three feet to four 



feet high, bearing long branching panicles of 

 bright golden yellow blossoms, each one inch 

 long. It flowers in August and Septemijer, the 

 seedlings do not bloom until the second year. 

 The hardiness of this handsome ]dant has not 

 been fully tested in our northern localities. 



D. Eximia combines the grace of a fern with 

 the flowering qualities of a good hardy perennial. 

 It grows from one foot to twelve feet high, and 

 bears its numerous reddish-pnrjile blos-soms in 

 long drooping racemes. It is useful for the rock 

 garden and mixed border, and enjoys a rich 

 sandy soil. 



D, Formosa is similar to the preceeding, having 

 also fern-like foilage, but is dwarfer in growth, 

 the racemes are shorter and more crowded, and 

 the color of the flower is lighter. 



D. Specabilis is a beautiful and most import- 

 ant plant for the garden decoration. It always 

 elicits admiration when it is seen in bloom, and 

 although it is so well known, we cannot help 

 referring to it again, now that it is a good time for 

 planting the roots, r.rat least in afew weeksl'rom 

 now. Its singularly beau- 

 tiful flowers, which open in 

 early summer, gracefully 

 susjiended in strings of a 

 dozen or more on slender 

 stalks, resemble rosy hearts, 

 and have received from many the name of 

 bleeding heart. 



Octol>er was a good month 

 last year for subscriptions. 

 We win llindl.v remember Tou 

 If you will Md your fellow 

 subscribers lu niakiDg tliia 

 Te^ir four times as large. 



Dianthu.s Chinensis. 



It succeeds best in warm, light, rich soils, in 

 sheltered positions, as it is liable to be cut down 

 by late Spring frosts. There is a "white" vari- 

 ety, by no means so ornamental, now offered by 

 several prominent florists which is worth growing 

 for variety sake. Plants of Diecentra Spectabilia 

 can be procured at very low figures, and nothing 

 will better repay a little outlay than this pretty 

 species. 



Tritonia Afeea. 



Though usually grown as a greenhouse ))lant, 

 it is a valuable open air flower. The bulbs 

 should remain out of the ground as short a time 

 as i>ossible. They are not entirely hardy aud 

 therefore require a good ]»rotection. The brilliant 

 color of the flowers make them very desirable. 

 Sonerilla. 



On the opposite page we present a small cut of 

 this beautiful wardian case-kj>lant, to siiow its 

 habit of growth. We have described it before. 



A Spray of Tea Koses 

 Is always welcome in winter. Few people know 

 how readily j)]ants can be forced into bloom by 

 Christmas or New Year. Loot over our former 

 numbers and trv it. 



Mfll f% CI /\UfPDQ ''^"'' <"oItiration. 



Ferns, .\lpinf. &c. SEND I i Ht ( ATAI.uCiUE. 

 EDWARD GILLETTE, SouthwUk, Mn„t 



NIGHT-BLOOMING 

 CEREUS.— 



Our offer of this attractive plant in July has attracted 

 so much interest th»t we renew it now. For 6H cents 

 we will send by mail 1 fine plant nf Nisht ISlooni- 

 ine CereuM and the Fann anil Gat-den 1 jear, or 



we will send the plant alone for 40 rts. -fSiamps taken. 



FARiU AND GARDEN, Philndelpliia, Pn. 



CACTI 



"■"■'""ITEXAN" 



PLftNTSL' 



MEXICAN 



_ ..ofare. Strunc*'-w<''rd 



forma. Flowers of eiqalnlte beauty anrf IruBranec. 



Can ship safely tho year round. A rt..\\rr l.>r '■\-t\ -ra-on and 

 clime. Dozens of sorts. Small sample, wll r.".(. •!, M\c., worlh 

 ftto.: nr S Strntm s|ii:cimen^. none alike. A2.<M>. Thousands 

 of dellffhtcd Northern customer*. Free to you ii yi>ii 

 name this paper. Cntalosue. hundnomely Illustrated, 

 f-llinc all alH.iU Cacti. N-'thing lik- ii i-.i -^.rth. Write now. 



TROUPE NURSERIES, TROUP E.TEXAS. 



HARDY PLANTS AND BULBS. 



All the Npw as wfll us ilif (iM snrt^ will hi* Jound in our 

 Catalogw, wiiirh is lorwarded FKKK. 



"WOOLSOiT & CO., 



Lixk Drawer E. PASSAIC, N. J. 



The floral WORLD 



A superb illustrated SI. 00 monthly free" 1 yenr to 



all that enclose this aM. l<i ii.^ now with ■i4<".-for imstaire. 



FLOKAL. ■\VORLn, Hielilaiid I'aik. III. 



^ ORNAMENTAL ^^ 



Foliage plantS 



GREENHOUSE PLANTS, 



BEDDING PLANTS. 



C-\TAI.OG|-E MAILED ON APPLICATION. 

 DAVID FERCUSSON & SONS- 



Ridge and Lehigh Avenues, Philadelphia, Pa. 



