14 



THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



OUF? Flowbi^ Gai^dbn. 



Water and Bog Plants. 



This is tlie time of the year when plants that 

 grow by the waterside are so much admired in 

 natural scenery. Yet tlie.y are seldom turned to 

 as much advantage in cultivation as they might 

 be. In any garden of some extent a small lake 

 or pond might be introduced and be a source of 

 great enjoyment: a little rockcr.v in the centre 

 or border of it will make a suitable place for 

 planting many desirable things. With tlie large 

 number of suitable plants at our service, it appro- 

 priately employed, the margins of water might 

 be made to surpass even the natural riverside 

 vegetation. In the majority of erases, if the edges 

 of artificiarwater are clothed at all, they have a 

 monotonous appearance, on account of the con- 

 tinuous fringes of plants of a common-ijlace type 

 used, whereas if a greater variety of kinds t>l' 

 varied height, habit, and tlower were employed, 

 and disposed in irregular groups, some close to 

 the margin, some at a distance from them, and 

 some even partly submerged, good efiects would 

 be obtained. The principal consideration is :\ 

 knowledge of tlic positions in which the plant.-. 

 thrive best, and the degree of moisture in vvbicli 

 they will tlourish. 

 The grouping of 

 them etlectually 

 is easily accom- 

 plished. The fol- 

 lowing consists of 

 vigorouis-growing 

 plants that, in fa- 

 vorable localities 

 when once plant- 

 ed, will take care 

 of themselves. 



A r u n d a Con- 

 spicua (New Zea- 

 land Reed), as 

 well as the Gy- 

 nerium Argen- 

 teuni (Pampas 

 Grass) flourish by 

 water better than 

 any other posi- 

 tion, providing 

 there is n()t an 

 excessive amount 

 of stagnant 

 moisture about 

 the roots. One or 

 two kinds of Kly- 

 mus (Lyne Grass) 

 are excellent for 

 wet places where 

 choicer p 1 an ts 

 would not flour- 

 ish. The m o s t 

 suitable being E. 

 Giganteus, which 

 grows some ■! to 5 

 feet high. E. Vir- 

 ginicus and E. 

 Canadensis, both 

 native species, of 

 tall, vigorous 

 growth. ' 



Bamboo.s. 



There is no oth- 

 er type of harjl.v 

 plants from 

 which such beau- 

 tiful effects can 

 be produced by 

 water margins, as 

 the various kinds 

 of Bamboos 



which thrive in our climate. Planted by the side 

 of a running stream or near the margin of a lake 

 or 'pool, they succeed and soon attain a great 

 height. Among the hardiest, we may mention 

 Arundinaria Falcata, Bambusa Arundinacea, 

 Metake, Viridis Glaucescens, and Nigra. 



Hedges and rushes are essentially w.atcr plants, 

 and many of them give good eft'ects when plant- 

 ed in bold groups. For this purpose some ol the 

 finest may be used. Typha Latifolia (Reed 

 Mace) grows in tufts of two-rowed, flat leaves 

 from lyi to 2 feet long. From the centre of each 

 tuft springs a stem (i or 7 feet high, which, in the 

 flowering season, is terminated by a close, cylin- 

 drical spike 9 inches long, of a dark olive color, 

 changing to a brownish-black as it ripens. This 

 is one of the most striking of our water-plants, 

 and may be usijd with excellent effect. In addi- 

 tion to the common yellow Flags, several other 

 kinds make good water-plants, especially Iris 

 Slberica, a tall-growing kind with glossy foliage 

 and flowers either of a rich jnirple or white. Tne 

 beautiful Iris Krempfcri. although not of a large 

 Bize, must be included in this list. It flourishes 

 best in wet places, and if such a position could 

 be allotted to it where the water now and then 



could be made to flow over the soil, it would, if 

 planted in peaty soil, flourish far better than in 

 an ordinary border. 



Pondeterias, of which there are three species, 

 are about .3 feet high. They have arrow-shaped 

 leaves and blue flowers of various tints, pro- 

 duced on stout stalks well above the foliage. 

 They require to be put in one foot or so of water, 

 and are therefore well adapted for jjlanting a 

 little w.ay from the margin. 



Caladium F]sculentuin is a bold plant, liaving 

 large and ini]>osing-htnking leaves. Its grand 

 out lines and aspect, when well developed, make 

 it worthy of all attention and of a prominent 

 Ijosit.ion wherever the climate is warm enough 

 for its growth. It is not hardy, and the roots 

 must be taken up in the fall. 



Water Ijillies, and the jilants allied to them, 

 have a beauty specially tiieir own, and they arc 

 among the most pleasant objects in our natural 

 and artilicial waters when not allowed tobc(^ome 

 to<» densely malted. Kvei\v kind of Water Ial.v 

 that is bardy in this country is worth obtaining 

 and growing. The aim should be to plant them 

 that their effect shall be good and their power of 

 s|ireading limited. 11 is possible to do tliis in ar- 

 lilicial waters by conlining the rii^h soil !(► cer- 

 tain places. The common Calla will also tlourish 



spli'ndidly in water, much more so than when 

 ^'rown in pots. Besides t lie above named, there 

 ai-e dozens of other small as well as large-growing 

 native plants that can be ttsed to .advantage. 

 The choice depends a great deal on the locality, 

 and the facilities for getting them. 



RUELLIA MACItANTHA. 



Our florists have lost sight of this good old 

 plant, yet it deserves to be again brought into 

 notice because of its merits, and especially tie- 

 cause of its blooming in December and .lanuar.v 

 with the greatest of freedom. The flowers are o.' 

 a rich rose color, shaded with lilac, and give the 

 plant at all times a cheerful and impressive look. 

 When in bloom we do not know of a plant that 

 is more admired. It grows siilcndidly in a 

 temperature of .5.5 degrees, and is therefore most 

 desirable for those having the convenience of a 

 small green house. 



Rose Niphetos in a Cool House. 

 It is well known that Niphetos is not only one 

 of the best Si'ai>ed roses in bud, but also one of 

 the whitest, esjiecially when grown under glass 

 outside. Especially in cool situations, the purity 

 of the white is not seldom marred by a dash of 

 greenish yeliow. But much depends on site and 

 temperature. As the season advances, or rather 



as the weather becomes reasonable, doubtless 

 the Niiihetos Rose will become as pure as a Gar- 

 denia, a ilithcult llowcr to mat<4i in whiteness. 

 They are never so pertectly beautiful, however, as 

 when a small portion of two or three of the outer 

 petals are slightly sutlused with pink on the 

 outer edges. This dash of color brings out the 

 white with more vividness. 



WiSTEKIA SINENSIS. 



This well-known and popular climber is never 

 seen to as much advantage iis when allowed to 

 grow naturally among large trees, where it hargs 

 in long te.sjoons and produces an immense mass 

 of bloom in the early spring months. 

 Foxgloves. 

 Wild Foxgloves seldom dilTer in color, but 

 when cultivated they assume a variety of colors, 

 I and include white, cream, rose, red, deep red' 

 ' and other shades. The charm, however, of these 

 ■ varieties lies in pretty throat-markings, spots 

 and blotehings of deep purple and maroon; 

 these, when seen in large flowers, make tbcm rc- 

 seinlile Gloxinias, hence the name Gloxiniflora, 

 applied to some Hue. spotted kinds. The garden 

 plants are more robust, the stems stouter, and 

 the flowers much larger than those of the'wild 

 plants, and they make- grand border flowers. 

 Tlicy look Well as a background to mixed bijr- 

 ders, as.sociated 

 with other tall- 

 growing subjects; 

 and theimproved 

 varieties are de- 

 sirable additions 

 to the wild gar- 

 den, M'hcre, if 

 sown or planted 

 in bold masses, 

 they have a fine 

 eltect. They are 

 good too among 

 Rhododendrons, 

 where these 

 bushes are not 

 too thickly plant- 

 ed, and t b ey- 

 break the masses 

 of foliage charm- 

 ingly. The seed 

 being small, it is 

 best sown in pans 

 or boxes under 

 glass, early in 

 May, and when 

 the young plants 

 are well up they 

 sluiuld be placed 

 « u t of doors to 

 get thoroughly 

 hardened before 

 being planted 

 out. Where plant- 

 ed in shruhber.v 

 borders, it is well 

 to make varied 

 clumps of seve- 

 ral plants, as they 

 produce a finer 

 effect than when 

 set singl.v. Not 

 unfrequently the 

 Foxglove blooms 

 two years in suc- 

 cession, but in all 

 cases it is well to 

 sow a little seed 

 annually, and if 

 there be any to 

 spare, it may be 

 scattered in other 

 places where it 

 may be desirable to estal)lish the plants. Those 

 who do not <lesire to sa\e the seed should cutout 

 the centre spike as sot>n as it gets shabby, and 

 the side-sh(»ots will be considerably benefitted 

 Ihereb.v, especiall.v if a good supply of water be 

 given in dr.v weather. In the case of a good 

 variety, a side-shoot will supply an abundance 

 of seed. 



Cleaning Palms. 

 Dfrlng this and next month. Palms arc very 

 li.able to become afl'ected with rod spider and 

 scale, and to 7irevent this, fhej' should be syr- 

 inged frequently.— say twice a da.v. A good 

 sponging of the leaves with soap-suds will keep 

 them fresh and bright looking. 



Chrysanthemums. 

 No doubt you have a fine lot of these popular 

 plants growing in your garden, intended to send 

 to your locid exhiltition next fall. If so, take 

 good care of them during these hot days. Fre- 

 quent s.vringing ^\■ill "be necessary to keep down 

 aphides.- Branches should Jje checked and well 

 spread out, so as to let the light and air in " every 

 nook and corner" of the plants. Wcekl.v soak- 

 ings with luanure water will als<t be ftuind bene- 

 flcial, and a mulching with manure will be still 

 better. But why talk any more about them here. 



