44 



THE GAHDENER'8 MONTHLY 



[^February, 



about pix wcoks before they are needed, and 

 then allow the flowci-s to come on, and you will 

 by 8ix weeks have a line show of tJeraninm 

 flowers and plants some three feet throuj^h. 

 Should you think this worthy of a place in your 

 Monthly, I may give you more of my expericni'o 

 in stove and greenhouse plants, graperies, &,('. 



[We value this article very highly, and should 

 be much pleased with more of such. Skill in 

 plant growing, at least the evidences of it has 

 been very rare of late, and yet there is nothing 

 which gives so much pleasure as well grown 

 plants.— Ed. G. M.] 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Orchid Culture. — In our country the culture 

 of these plants has nc^t extended very much be- 

 cause of an idea that they require costly houses 

 and great care. In our experience in various 

 parts of the country, we have noted that the 

 most expensive arrangements have generally 

 been the greatest failures, and in many places a 

 large number of kinds seem to do with less care 

 than ordinary greenhouse plants. The flowers 

 are not merely odd, but generally beautiful, and 

 mostly emit a delightful fragrance. In a good 

 collection there are always more or less in 

 flower, so that an orchid house is always a source 

 of great delight. Another interesting point is that 

 in many parts of Europe when an orchid grower 

 dies his plants always bring more than he paid 

 for them. They grow in value with age. We 

 suppose it is not so here yet, because orchid 

 growers hardly know where to find one another ; 

 but it will be so one of these days. In the hope 

 of encouraging their growth we give an engrav- 

 ing of a beautiful one, for which we are indebted 

 to Mr. Wm. Bull. See cut p. 43. 



Maiden Hair Ferns.— Notwithstanding their 

 seemingly delicate structure, we have noted lately 

 that they seem among the most successful of 

 ferns as window plants. There is a vast variety 

 among the genus (Adiantum) to choose from. 



Gas and Oil Light.— The papers tell us that 

 sor>ie towns have rebelled against heavy gas bills 

 and other gas annoyances, and have taken to 

 using coal oil. Those who think this a misfortune 

 have at Iciist this consolation, that they can have 

 flowers of all kinds in oil-lit rooms, when they 

 can have none, except by special contrivances, 

 in rooms where coal gas is burned. And then it 



is healthier, for if a plant die in a certain atmos- 

 phere it cannot be good for mankind either. 



NEW PLANTS. 



Double Poinsetta. — We have from H. A. 

 Dreer, Phihulcliihia. a head of the Double Poin- 

 setta, showing how very great is the improve- 

 ment over the old kind. The " doubleness " con- 

 sists in a greatly increased number of the scar- 

 let bracts which, as most of our readers know, 

 are not the real flowers. 



Golden Maiden Hair Fern. — Everybody 

 knows the beautiful Gymnogrammas, or Golden 

 Ferns. It is said that a Golden Maiden Hair 

 Fern has appeared in England, but we suppose 

 it is with yellowish leaves, and not colored scales, 

 as in ordinary Golden Ferns. 



Winter Flowering Carnations.— It ought 

 not be forgotten by those who want these fqr 

 flowering next winter, that the cuttings ought to 

 be put in now. The plants are grown in the 

 ground all summer, and have to be lifted in the 

 Fall carefully to be put into pots. 



Fuchsia procumbens. — We were pleased to 

 note this plant offered by one of our advertisers 

 last month. We did not know it was in the 

 country. It is said to be remarkable in having 

 the flowers erect, wliich is peculiar in a Fuchsia. 



Azalea Indica,Empereur du Bresil. — A splen- 

 did novelty, flowers very large, very double, 

 quite a perfection of form. The color of the 

 finest pure rose, each petal bordered with a 

 broad pure white band, whilst the whole of the 

 petals are striped lavishly with bright rose and 

 white. The upper lobe is elegantly blotched 

 with brownish red. adding a good deal to the 

 distinction of this really fine new flower. It is 

 no doubt the finest and most distinct variety 

 ever sent out since the introduction of the 

 Azalea Souvenir du Prince Albert, and like that 

 variety it will be duly appreciated by all lovers 

 of this splendid tribe of plants. Azalea Empe- 

 reur du Bresil is a sport of the i\ne double white 

 Azalea Reine du Portugal, so favorably known 

 now as a first-rate variety. — Verschaffelt. 



Triomphe des Doubles Blancs Azalea. — 



This is undoubtedlj' the finest and best double 

 white Azalea ever sent out. The flowers are 

 much larger, much finer, more double, and of a 

 purer white than even in the fine variety Reine 



