1878.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



69 



mending it for the same purpose ; but owing to 

 the attacks of a black, Hea-like insect — the same 

 which preys upon Sweet Alyssum and some 

 other phmts — with me, last year, it was not a 

 success. In the Autumn a plant was lifted and 

 potted, and placed in a light and warm green- 

 house, where it is now, and has been for some 

 time past, a mass of bloom, and from present 

 appearances it is likely to remain so for some 

 time to come. 



It is an improvement on the older species — B. 

 elata — the tlowers are larger, and the plant in 

 habit is more graceful and free-tlowering, which 

 will make it a favorite for the decoration of the 

 greenhouse and conservatory, and for cut flowers 

 for the florist. The seed under my treatment 

 did not gei'minate well ; only two plants were 

 raised from as many packets of seed. 



So far the plant has failed to perfect any seed, 

 hut it may readily be increased by taking cut- 

 tings of the young shoots, and inserting them in 

 sand in a warm place, in the ordinary way. 



The color of the flower is pure white, with a 

 yellow center, very delicately shaded with azure 

 blue, reminding one of the prettj' little Hous- 

 tonia ccerulea of our meadows, though this is not 

 so noticeable in the flowers on the plants under 

 glass in "Winter, as it was when growing outside 

 in Summer. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



The Oriextal SPRrcE.— Mr. Samuel Par- 

 sons says — and we quite agree with him, only 

 more in its favor— that it is unlike the Norway, 

 .even when young, in its silvery bark and dark 

 black green foliage. It is unique among ever- 

 greens in this peculiar dark shade : 



" The Oriental spruce is the very best of all 

 spruces, if people did but know it. Unfortu- 

 nately, while young it resembles the Is'orway, 

 lacking somewhat of that spruce's early vigor. 

 As age increases it develops more rapidly, and 

 finally, in no great time, towers into a solid mass 

 of dark, lustrous foliage, possessing a very pecu- 

 liar beauty and marked character on the lawn. 

 It is, moreover, extremely enduring and hardy.'' 



The Trees of Washington. — In reference 

 to the remark we made last month in regard to 

 the low cost and excellent variety of the shade 

 ti'ees of AVasliington, we find the following in 

 a Washington paper before us : 



" Of the cost of the planting and care of trees 

 ni this city, we may safely challenge comparison 



with any similar work of its kind that has ever 

 been undertaken. This statement is made from 

 a somewhat extended knowledge of the cost of 

 tree-planting in cities, botli in this and other 

 countries, and the claim is fully warranted by 

 facts. This arises from the ciirumstance that 

 everything has been done in accordance with a 

 well-considered scheme, which was formed pre- 

 vious to commencing operations, in which every 

 possible contingency that could be foreseen was 

 provided for, based upon a lengthened and diver- 

 sified experience in this and kindred matters 

 relating to rural improvements. This scheme 

 and the practical execution of its varied details 

 has been projected and carried out under the 

 direction of a Park Commission, which Avas 

 organized by the late Board of Public Works, 

 in the latter part of the year 1871. Thi.s com- 

 mission is composed of three of our citizens, 

 who have given much personal attention to the 

 work, and with as little interference as possible 

 to their daily professional duties. To them it is 

 a labor of love for the public good, and their 

 only reward is the inward gratification that re- 

 sults from the execution of good deeds." 



Oak Hill Cemetery, Upper Sandusky, 

 Ohio.— The Wyandot Times reports this as a 

 highly successful undertaking. It embraces thirty 

 acres of land, and has three miles of avenues. 

 Mr. W. T. Harding, who designed and laid out 

 the grounds, and which he still superintends, 

 receives great praise for much of the success 

 which has attended the work. 



Public Parks in England.— Notwithstand- 

 ing the prevalence of beautiful gardens every- 

 where, the English are still multiplying their 

 public grounds. Leeds has Just purchased 300 

 acres, four miles from the city, as a park for the 

 people. 



Standard Eunonymus. — It is said that the 

 Eunonymus radicans grafts readily on E. Eur<v 

 pteus, and makes very pretty lawn plants when 

 so treated. 



NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



Pentstemon Cobcea. — This is one of the 

 finest hardy species of Pentstemon, and is yet 

 very rare in cultivation. The flowers are among 

 the largest of the genus and are produced in 

 loose spikes of 8 to 12 inches in length, broadly 

 l)t'll-sha])ed and two inches or more long, of a 



