OxALis Floribcnda. — Were I desired to select the most picturesque plant, yielding a long- 

 continued and profuse crop of flowers without artificial attention to its after-growth, I should 

 without hesitation fix upon this. It is a dwarf, tuberous, herbaceous plant, rising from two 

 to four inches in height, each plant forming a terminal crown of leaves (similar to a small- 

 growing Clover), from the centre of which arises a profusion of bright rose-colored flowers, 

 continuing in succession from June until September. The principal precaution required for 

 its successful management consists in adapting the soil to the tuberous structure of its 

 roots, which difi"er from most others in their thick, fleshy, unbranched form, capable of 

 absorbing an excessive amount of fluid, beyond what is required for the support of the 

 simple crown of leaves upon their summit. As a general rule, the amount of soil, and the 

 nutritive properties which it contains (when applied to plants), should always bear a strict 

 relation to the extent of growth which they are capable of maturing during the current 

 year. Every degree beyond this is an evil, which lessens the vital energy of their organs. 

 To induce fertility in the plant, an artificial soil should be prepared in equal portions of old 

 light garden loam, heath mould, and well-washed river or silver sand, and well incorporated 

 with finely-broken brick refuse, equal to one-third of the whole amount. Thus treated, it 

 forms a very beautiful object, either for edging or in the parterre, and when seen expanding 

 its bright blossoms for successive weeks, it appears as one of the few objects of which it 

 raay be remarked that it has " few equals, and no superiors." In common with some 

 others, this interesting plant is much degenerated by the inferior varieties from seed, which 

 have almost supplanted the original species, the former being much less compact in their 

 growth, and less brilliant in their flowers. The latter is known by its leaves being not more 

 than from two to three inches in length, and by its flowers being uniformly circular, and 

 firm in their texture, varying from bright to darker shades of rose color, and when found 

 in favorable situations, the profusion of bloom almost covers the foliage. — W. Wood. 



Propagation of the Anemone Japo^ica. — If a root of this plant be taken from the ground, 

 after flowering, it will be found to resemble brown cord, divided into a great number of 

 ramifications. Upon its surface will be perceived a great multitude of little white conical 

 projections, sometimes growing singly, sometimes springing up in clusters, and occasionally 

 I)roducing scales on their sides. They are young buds, every one of which, if cut from the 

 parent, will grow, and form a strong young plant in a few weeks. These buds are not con- 

 fined to the main trunk of the root, but extend even towards its extremities, so that every 

 fragment of the plant is reproductive. Such being the case, he who possesses an Anemone 

 Japonica, has nothing to do but turn it out of its pot, when at rest, clean its roots, chop 

 them into pieces about half an inch long, and then place them in some light fibrous soil, 

 near the surface, in a gentle hotbed, and in a few weeks he will have as many healthy young 

 plants as he may have chopped the root into pieces. Such is the wonderful power of repro- 

 duction in this plant, to which, indeed, we have few parallels. — G. C. 



On Supporting Plants by Stakes. — Primary importance must be attached to the time at 

 which support of any kind is to be afforded. The principal evils to bo corrected in the 

 methods at present pursued are staking plants at too late a period, and doing it with un- 

 suitable materials, or in a slovenly way. If a si)ecimen be not early staked, however 

 neatly this operation may be afterwards performed, it will ever betray the neglect from 

 which it has suffered, and can very rarely be brought into the required position. Beyond 

 this, there is the danger of being broken or injured from wind and other causes, to which it 

 is exposed prior to staking, and the fact that it is not necessary for stakes, when timeously 

 applied, to be so strong ; when, by consequence, they are not rendered so prominent or per- 

 ceptible. Let a plant be staked while it is small or young, and its appearance will remain 



