1877.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



327 



and air, and as little of the artificial heat of the 

 room as possible. These remarks apply espe- 

 cially to Mignonette, which is very impatient of 

 in-door confinement. Succulents, such as Cacti, 

 are excellent window plants in this respect, as 

 the dry air does not affect them. To keep the 

 air about the plants moist, is one of the secrets 

 of window culture. Some who have very fine 

 windows well stocked with fine plants, make 

 glazed cases with folding doors of them, by 

 which, when the room is highly heated and very 

 dry, they can be enclosed in an atmosphere of 

 their own. Where it is not convenient to have 

 the window enclosed from the room by a folding 

 door, much benefit has been found by using a 

 simple curtain. This will prevent injury from 

 the coal or illuminating gas, which is often as 

 destructive as the dry atmosphere. 



Aquariums are now so well understood, as to 

 be in a fair way to become essentials in the room- 

 gardening of all persons of taste. Growing 

 plants, fishes and water reptiles are placed in 

 the same globe or tank of water, and the gases 

 which the fish reject are the food of the plants; 

 while the plants, on the other hand, prepare the 

 elements necessarj' for the health of the fish. 

 By this beautiful principle of reciprocity, both 

 plants and animals remain in perfect health, 

 without the water scarcely ever being changed. 

 A tank for plants and animals might form the 

 base of a pretty parlor ornament, a central por- 

 tion consisting of a case for ferns and similar 

 plants, and a cage for birds on the top. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



TUBEROUS ROOTED BEGONIAS, CYCLAMEN 

 PERSICUM, &c. 



BY W., NORFOLK, VA, 



Stepping into the small greenhouse of David 

 Barker the other day I was astonished at his 

 magnificent display of new tuberous-rooted 

 Begonias with handsome foliage and in full 

 flower. They are chiefly from choice hj'bridized 

 seed ; of great variety in color, from pure white 

 to deepest scarlet, many salmon and orange 

 tinted, with occasionally a strong tendency to 

 produce double flowers. I doubt if such another 

 collection of this charming novelty is to be 

 found in this county. When better known, 

 they must become as popular here as in Europe. 

 As far as tested they are most suitable for bed- 



ding plants, surpassing the Geranium in their 

 beautiful foliage and large flowers of richest 

 hues, and will soon become a great acquisition 

 to the garden and lawn. In England, they have 

 already superseded it to a great extent, being 

 more vigorous and floriferous. 



Mr. Barker has been fortunate in saving a 

 fair quantity of seed, carefully hybridized, from 

 his best siDecimens, which he will offer this sea- 

 son, and when it is borne in mind that large 

 flowering plants are grown from seed in a few 

 months, the value of the tuberous-rooted Be- 

 goina cannot be too highly appreciated. 



Mr. B. has also devoted rtiuch time and atten- 

 tion to the Persian Cyclamen, of late more 

 generally cultivated in this country. His bulbs, 

 from the best strains of European seed, already 

 show foliage of immense size and exquisite beau- 

 ty, a foretaste of the rich display of bloom so 

 soon to follow. 



I cannot omit the bare mention of his choice 

 Gloxinias and hybrid Petunias, the latter superb, 

 often five feet in height, and of every conceiva- 

 ble shade and variety of marking. 



This choice collection of these and other 

 novelties his little greenhouse affords, will well 

 repay a call from those who are favored with ac- 

 cess to more pretentious establishments. 



ALOCASIA LOWII. 



BY MAN-SFIELD MILTON, CLEVELAND, O. 



One of the grandest, beautiful leaved plants in 

 cultivation. There are some very beautiful 

 species in this genera of plants, but this stands 

 pre-eminent. The upper surface of the leaf is a 

 deep green, the mid-rib and secondary ribs an 

 ivory white, the under side a soft dark purple. 

 It is a native of Borneo, and therefore requires a 

 high, moist temperature to fully develop its dis- 

 tinct markings. It requires for soil, lumps of 

 peat, charcoal, fibrous loam and pieces of sand 

 stone; during its growing season abundance of 

 water, and when at rest it should be kept just 

 moist enough to retain its foliage. It is not so 

 easily grown as most of the Alocasias in cultiva- 

 tion, but when convenience is afforded a plant 

 of it should be seen. In a dry atmosphere the 

 red spider is a deadly enemy to it, often doing 

 considerable damage before its presence is ob- 

 served ; frequent spongings will keep the plant 

 healthy and free from insects. 



