187t.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



77 



any oily substance. This can be syringed. Tur- 

 pentine has to be applied with a brush. Ed. 

 G. M.] 



Name of Plant.— J. S., Wilmington, Del.— 

 This is Iris Chinensis, or as recently stated in 

 the Gardener's Monthly, now Moraea fimbriata. 



Names of Plants.— H. L., Danville, Va.— No. 1. 

 Not an orchid, but Bryophyllum calycinum. 

 No. 2. Heterocentron roseum. No. 3. Probably 

 a Cistus, but should have a flower to decide. 



Flowering of Chinese Primrose. — H. L., 

 Danville, Va., says: — " I should be glad to know 

 if it is usual for the Cliinese Primrose to flower 

 in the same manner as the Japan Primrose, that 

 is in whorls, one truss of flowers above anotlier. 



I have a lot of the above raised trom seed sown 

 last Spring now in full bloom, pyramidally ar- 

 ranged, from deep rose to pure white. Foliage 

 from natural green to very dark color, with 

 flower stems nearly black. Not having seen the 

 like before, hence my troubling j'ou." 



[It is not common, but they sometimes do. 

 The double Chinese Primrose always does. 

 There is a tendency in the whole family in this 

 direction. The common yellow English Prim- 

 rose generally has but single flowers on stems 

 springing from the root; but occasional ones 

 are seen with flowers from one common stem 

 as the common form of Chinese Primrose, and 

 there is no reason why under some peculiar cir- 

 cumstances even another whorl might not be 

 produced.— Ed. G. M. 



RUIT AND MEGETABLE GARDENING. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



This is a busy season south of Pennsylvania 

 in this department ; here, we must wait till the 

 end of the month, and northward, still later. 

 The crops noted will, of course, be dependent 

 on the arrival of the season, which is rather indi- 

 cated by the ground becoming warm and dry, 

 than by the almanac. It is very important to 

 have crops early ; as soon as the ground is there- 

 fore in good condition put in the seed. Possibly 

 a cold rain might come and injure them, and 

 you may lose and have to make a new sowing. 

 Even so, it is but the loss of the seed and labor, 

 while, if the seed do not die, the early crop will 

 more than repay that risk. 



In the hot-bed, Pepper, Egg plant. Tomato and 

 Cucumbers may be sown, anrt in a cooler hot-bed 

 frame Early York Cabbage, Cauliflowers and 

 Celery. Those who have not got a hot-bed can 

 sow a few pots or boxes, and keep them near the 

 light in a warm room. 



In the open air, peas and potatoes are about 

 the first crop to be attended to ; of the former, 

 the varieties have now become so numerous that 

 even " new grapes " will soon have to give way 

 in that respect. Of new early Potatoes, we think 

 Goodrich's Seedling is the best; the best older 



variety is perhaps, the Early White Sprout. 

 Beets, the Early Six Week Turnip-rooted, is per- 

 haps the earliest. Carrot, the Early Horn Cu- 

 cumber, the Early White Spine or Early Cluster, 

 Lettuce, the Silesian, or Early Curled — to cut 

 before heading; and the Early Butter left to 

 head, are the first in season. Among the Ra- 

 dishes, the Old Shor.t-top, and the Red and 

 White Turnip are still ahead. Spinach, the Old 

 Round-leaved ; so that on the whole there has 

 been little advance made on all early kinds of 

 vegetables. 



In addition to sowing of the above. Onions 

 Leeks, Parsnips and Parsley must be sown at 

 this season — not for the main crop, but to have 

 a few in advance of the rest. To keep over the 

 Winter almost all kinds of root crops become 

 tough or coarse if sown too soon. 



In the open ground Peas and Potatoes receive 

 the first attention. Then Beets and Carrots. 

 Then Lettuce, Radish, Spinach, Onions, Leeks 

 and Parsley. Beyond this, unless in more fav- 

 ored latitudes than Pennsylvania, little can be 

 done until the first week in April. There is noth- 

 ing gained in working soil until it has become 

 warm and dry. 



In regard to fruits, our remarks last month 

 will be generally in order. 



