1878. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



357 



Another feature in the climate of central and 

 western Texas, is its dryness, when compared 

 with the eastern part, which is favorable to 

 health, but not so to gardening. This dryness 

 is, in my opinion, produced by the configuration 

 of the coast of Texas and Mexico, and the winds 

 that prevail here during Summer, namely, south 

 winds. 



By reference to a map of Texas we find 

 that from Corpus Christi, on the Gulf of Mexico, 

 the coast runs in a southern direction towards 

 Tampico \ at about that point it turns southeast, 

 and as Austin is nearly under the same meridan 

 with Corpus Christi, it is apparent that west of 

 this line the Summer winds come over the dry, 

 •sandy plains of southern Texas and northern 

 Mexico void of moisture ; while east of this line 

 the same south winds come moisture laden from 

 the Gulf. Evidently the confinement of the 

 growth of Pines east of this line was caused by 

 it, for the westernmost Pinery of Texas we find 

 in Bastrop county, about thirty miles southeast 

 of Austin. 



Such an uneven surface as the city of Austin 

 presents, is obviously not favorable in all its 

 parts to gardening ; but some of its citizens have, 

 Tjy terracing their lots and hauling in of good 

 soil, made beautiful homes of places that were 

 intended by nature as stone quarries rather than 

 as gardens. But the gardens need irrigation, 

 such as the city of San Antonio has, where a 

 stream of water can be led into nearly every 

 garden. We have water works, but the citizens 

 who take the water are only permitted, if they 

 pay for it extra, to sprinkle their gardens in the 

 morning and evening, which, in my opinion, is 



doubtful whether it benefits the plants so much 

 as it costs. 



With conditions as stated above, no man 

 must expect to find groves of Oranges ; neither 

 can the now so popular Eucalyptus globulus be 

 grown out doors dui'ing winter. And in order to 

 give the readers of the Gardener's Monthly 

 a correct view of what may and what cannot be 

 done in regard to ornamental gardening, I will 

 try to give an unbiased and unprejudiced account 

 of the loading features, not, however, pretend- 

 ing to exhaust the subject. 



VERBENA VENOSA. 



BY DR. G. RHIND, CANANDAIGUA, N. Y. 



This valuable acquisition does not resemble 

 the common Verbena to any great extent. It 

 grows about eighteen inches high, branches 

 freely, and has dark green serrated foliage about 

 six inches high. It is an annual, requires to be 

 sown in January, and kept very moist until the 

 seeds germinate ; afterwards, the treatment of 

 half-hard}' annuals suits it. 



It is really astonishing the quantity of flowers 

 that is produced. From the middle of June till 

 now, the beds planted with it, have been one 

 mass of large pm*ple flowers. I know of no 

 other perpetual purple flowering plant. It does 

 not milldew, and is the proper size to contrast 

 with most Geraniums. When it becomes known 

 it will be indispensible. 



I send you a few flowers of it, Mr. Editor, for 

 your inspection. 



[We are glad to have attention called to this 

 very beautiful, hardy, herbaceous plant.— Ed. 

 G. M.l 



Green House and House Gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



The plants brought into the house in the Fall 

 will perhaps begin to show signs of suffering 

 soon, for insects, over-watering, and sulphurous 

 gases soon begin to tell on the health of the 

 plants. For insects, continual watchfulness, with 

 a sponge and soapy water is one of the best pre- 



ventatives ; and to have plants rather underpot- 

 ted is a good security against over-watering. By 

 this we mean that the pot should be rather be- 

 low than above the wants of the plants. As for 

 sulphurous gases from heaters or burners, there 

 is no remedy but to see that all is tight. People 

 talk of dry air being injurious to plants, when 

 they really mean impure air. Air is seldom too 

 di-y. 



