266 



THE GAJtVENEirS MONTHLY 



[Scpte tuber, 



rially dotrnct from the beauty of tlie i)laiit. 

 Other httlo things in pots may also he potted 

 into a trifle larger pots, if they show signs of 

 growing freely, though care must he taken not 

 to have the pots too large. Large pots are objec- 

 tionable in window gardening, llnnging baskets 

 may also be got ready now, so that the jjlants in 

 them may grow and get well established before 

 the Winter sets in. Many pretty ornamental 

 designs, out of very common things, may be 

 applied to pot culture for rooms, and often with 

 very good etVect. All that is essential to be 

 be rememberod is, that whatever is done or 

 employed, whether shells, old crockery, Avood- 

 work or wire, some provision must always be 

 made for the rai)id draining away of water. 

 This is what the holes are for in the bottom of 

 flower pots, and all substitutes must have some 

 such way for water to escape. 



In our gardens we have now many hardy 

 bulbs which are well looked after, but we have 

 rather neglected bulb culture in rooms, and yet 

 there is nothing easier, and few things more 

 interesting. Last season we saw in several 

 rooms good plants of the Amaryllis Johnsoni, and 

 the whole tribe of Amaryllis is, indeed, among the 

 best of bulbs for this purj)ose. We do not know 

 any American nurseryman who makes a 

 specialty of them, but a few years ago Mr. John 

 Sherwood, of Bristol, Pa., had a good collection. 

 The nuniber of varieties (by hybridization) and 

 species (by importations), haveso much increased 

 in Europe, that now they have some kinds 

 that will bloom — one or another — all the year 

 through. For the benefit of those who may not 

 know what are Amaryllises, we give a cut on the 

 preceding page of a new kind, introduced by Mr. 

 Wm.Bull,fro)n Lima, in Peru (A. VittataHarriso- 

 niae), and which he thus describes : — "A remarka- 

 bly distinct and effective variety of Amaryllis. It 

 has a stout glaucous green scape, bearing a two- 

 valved spathe, from which issue several (about 

 five) pedicellate flowers, which are remarkable 

 for their long narrow tube, fully three and a half 

 inches in length, the segments of which are 

 slightly spreading at the tip, opaque waxy white, 

 and marked on each of the six segments with 

 two broad deep crimson lines, running a con- 

 siderable distance down the tube. The flowers 

 are sweet-scented, with a faint order of Daphne." 

 They are so easy of culture that we have known 

 some to flower year after year in the same pot, 

 and under neglect that would destroy most 

 o'rdinarj' plants. 



Those who have greenliouses, pita or frames, 

 will now see to having any necessary repairs 

 attended to. White-washing annually is service- 

 able, destroying innumerable eggs of insects, in 

 the war against which the gardener should take 

 the initiative; sulphur mixed with the white- 

 wash is also serviceable. Powerful syringing Ls 

 a great help to keei»ing plants clean, and should 

 be rrc(iuently resorted to. 



It is a very good time to look around for 

 soil for potting purposes. The surface soil of 

 an old pasture forms the best basis, which can 

 afterwards be lightened with sand, or manured 

 with any special ingredients to suit sjjccial cases, 

 as required. The turfy or peaty surfaces of old 

 wood or bogs also come very " handy." A stock 

 of moss should also be on hand for those who 

 crock pots, in order to cover the potsherd; moss 

 also comes in useful for many purposes con- 

 nected with gardening, and should be always on 

 hand. 



Ornamental annuals for winter-flowering 

 should be at once sown, not forgetting Mignon- 

 ette, to be without which will be an unpardon- 

 able sin. Chinese Primroses, Cinerarias, Calceo- 

 larias, Pansies, Polyanthus, etc., should be sown. 

 Winter-blooming Carnations and Violets should 

 not be forgotten. They are now essentials in all 

 good greenhouse collections. The Calla Ethio- 

 pica, old as it is, is a universal favorite, and 

 should now be repotted, when it will flower 

 through the Winter finely. Oxalis, Sparaxis, 

 Cyclamens, and such Cape bulbs that flower 

 through the Winter, should be replotted now. 



C0M31UNICA TIONS. 



TABERN/EMONTANA CORONARIA FLORE- 

 PLENO. 



BY EDWIN LONSDALE, GERMANTOWN, PA. 



Knowing your just appreciation of the good 

 and the beautiful, I send flowers for your gratifi- 

 cation that were taken from a plant I liave here 

 under the above name. No flowering plant is 

 worthy of more praise than this one. In color, 

 elegance in the arrangement of the petals, 

 delicacy in fragrance, freedom of bloom, it has 

 few equals and no superior. The color is pure 

 white ; the petals are elegantly crimped at the 

 edges, and there is less formality in the make-up 

 of the flower than any other with which I am 

 acquainted. 



