Colors of Flowers. — The fugitive property of some colors is well known, and 

 in no way better exemplified tlmn as they naturally exist in flowers. The fume 

 arising from a common suljiUur match, which is, in fact, sulphuric acid, will 

 cliange purple and crimson colors to pink. The blue, in combination with red, is 

 readily discharged ; indeed, a pink or purple flower might be completely bleached 

 by holding it in the fumes of sulphur. Thus roses and dahlias have been made 

 to assume a variegated and very novel appearance. Bright pink stripes and 

 veins may be produced on the dark purple petals of pansies, and other dark- 

 colored flowers, with a camel-hair pencil and oil of vitriol, to yield rather a 

 pleasing effect. Such lines should not be drawn to the edge of the petal, or a 

 little injury will soon be evident ; nor should they be strong or near together, as 

 they quickly spread. — Maund^s Auctarium. 



Salvia Gesneriflora. — The brilliant scarlet flowers of this plant make it a 

 most attractive object in the greenhouse. As soon as it has done flowering, cut- 

 tings should be taken off, and struck in a moderate bottom heat ; and, when 

 struck, harden them off gradually till they will bear placing in the open air. 

 Repot as they require it, using soil as follows : Two parts turfy loam and one 

 part rotten manure. Give them plenty of drainage, but never let them want 

 water. A little weak liquid manure will assist them. I always bloom my plants 

 in large pots. By liberal treatment I get good specimens by autumn, some of 

 which I use for early forcing (for which purpose they answer admirably), while 

 others come in well for blooming in the greenhouse. I never keep the old plants 

 a second year, as I find young ones, well managed, do better, for they not only 

 bloom more satisfactorily, but the flowers are much larger. — Mid. Flor. 



DiELYTRA SPECTABiLis (now Diervilla). — Although the Dielytra is properly 

 classed as a spring flowering plant, yet, if propagated by cuttings of the young 

 shoots in the spring, and planted out in June in a sheltered situation, it will con- 

 tinue to throw up a succession of blooms till late in the season. It thrives best 

 in a rich light soil, and should be plentifully supplied with water in dry weather. 

 Last season I saw a bed so treated in the front of a greeidiouse, in bloom in Sep- 

 tember, and it appeared likely to continue in flower much longer, if frosts did not 

 occur. To procure a stock of plants, a few old roots should be placed in heat in 

 February ; take off the young shoots as they advance, and strike them in a simi- 

 lar way to dahlias ; they should afterwards have a shift, and be kept in a frame 

 till all danger of frost is over, when they may be planted out as above. 



Another authority says : — 



It is decidedly wrong to recommend dividing a plant of Dielytra at any season 

 it may be in growth, with the view of strengthening the plant. You may divide 

 it for the purpose of increasing the number of plants. 



The way to manage them for large specimens is to ])ut them into their ^^oii"«?r- 

 inff-pots as soon as it is safe to turn them out after flowering; to plunge the pot 

 one inch over the rim in a warm, sheltered place, where the wind is not likely to 

 affect the shoots ; to see that the plants do not want for water, or have too much 

 of it ; to cut them down any time after the 20th of Sci)tcmber ; to take up the 

 .pots and turn them on their sides in a dry shed or outhouse early in November. 

 When we transplant the roots from the open ground the flowers arc not so fine. 



Can Flowers be grown in a City ? — This question has often been asked by 

 the admirers of those fragrant gifts of nature. As a lover of a garden, and 

 being doomed to pass the greater part of the year in a city,»I determined to try i 



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