1880.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



331 



introduced in 1629. In its native country it is 

 an evergreen climber, attaining a height of over 

 twenty feet, but in cultivation it is not often seen 

 growing as a climbing plant. 



The foliage is light, airy and graceful, and the 

 deliciously fragrant, star-shaped, pure white 

 Sowers, are produced in the greatest profusion^ 

 from October to May, and it is extensively culti- 

 vated by all florists for its flowers, which are 

 e-xtensively used by bouquet makers. 



It is a plant of easy cultivation, merely requir- 

 ing a compost made of two-thirds loam and 

 one-third well-rotted manure, well mixed ; good 

 drainage is indispensable, and a temperature of 

 of 50° will suit it very well. The plants should 

 be cut back into shape, and planted out in the 

 open air the first week in May, and taken up 

 and potted carefully about the middle of Sep- 

 tember. 



If large specimens are wanted, do not cut back 

 so severely, but train the shoot on a neat trellis 

 and allow the branches to droop. Thus treated 

 this Jasminum will form an elegant specimen 

 plant, well suited for the decoration of the win- 

 dow garden or conservatory. 



It can also be grown as a climbing plant by 

 planting it out in a well prepared border, or in a 

 large pot or tub, where, if a little attention be 

 given as to training, it will soon attain a height 

 of ten to fifteen feet, covering a considerable 

 space; or it can be trained up the rafters of the 

 greenhouse. I prefer to cultivate this Jas- 

 minum as a pot plant, so that it can either be 

 planted out or plunged in the open air during 

 the summer months. When it is grown inside 

 it is liable to become infested with the scale to 

 which it is unfortunately very subject. This 

 Jasminum is easily propagated by cuttings but 

 fine string plants can easily be obtained by lay- 

 ers during the summer season. 



I think that if Mrs. R. P., who inquired for 

 a free flowering white climber, in the August 

 Monthly, page 237, will try this plant grown as 

 a climber, she will be pleased with it, and that it 

 will prove very satisfactory. I hope that she will 

 try it and report the result. 



I suppose the position I took in regard to this 

 Carnation in my April price list is the cause of 

 the discussion, an 1 as I seem to be in the minor- 

 ity, J must ask a little of your space to defend 

 myself. 



In iinswer to the article I published in April 

 last, there appeared to the public a special cir- 

 cular defending the Carnation, and accusing me 

 of personalities, etc. In answer to this special 

 circular, in ray May list, I published the enclosed 

 article, which, as you will notice gives the opin- 

 ion of most of the principal cut-flower dealers in 

 Chicago with their names, and that they all 

 agree with me in what I claim— that is, that the 

 bloom of this Carnation will not keep. 



I could give you the names of other cut flower 

 dealers, and also of many greenhouse men, who 

 say the same thing ; and it seems very strange to 

 me that while every one I see, who has had an 

 opportunity of judging of its merits, agrees with 

 me, all the articles in your paper take the oppo- 

 site side. 



PETER HENDERSON CARNATION. 



BY W. L. SMITH, AURORA, ILL. 



HYGIENIC AND THERAPEUTIC RELA- 

 TIONS OF HOUSE-PLANTS. 



Read before the Alumni of the Auxiliary Department of Medi- 

 cine, University of Pennsylvania, February 6, 1880. 



BY DR. J. M. ANDERS, PHILA. 

 (Concluded from page 297.) 



Deeming it necessary that the experimental 

 data should receive supporting evidence of an 

 unequivocal character before the efficacy of 

 plants in the treatment of this disease would be 

 firmly established, the writer opened a corres- 

 pondence with some prominent practitioners, 

 besides making inquiries of those with whom he 

 came in contact, soliciting a brief statement of 

 their observations in regard to the effects of 

 plants on the sick.* The almost unvarying re- 

 sponse has been in about the following terms : 

 " I cannot help you, for my attention has never 

 been directed to the points in question." A 

 notable exception is the letter of my friend Dr. 

 Hiram Corson, of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. 

 This letter I have already published in a pre- 

 vious article, but the great interest of the case 

 described will be ample apology for inserting an 

 extract from it here. He writes, " My mother. 



I notice that the discussion on Peter Hender- , *'^^^. '^"ter would still be grateful for any interesting in- 



. . . . t formation upon this suVject, for without aid it would be almost 



son Carnation is still occupying a place in your impossible either to establish the position taken or to correct 



„_i„^„„ ' temporary conclusions, and he wishes to make a further study 



columns. i of the subject. Address 16X8 North Eighth street, Philadelphia 



