J^loi al JVotes. 253 



arrangement is not essential. A friend, whose window is at all times gay with 

 blossoms, and whose success is the envy of all the neighbors, has nothing but a broad 

 window sill, and she has the window curtains so arranged that they fall between the 

 room and the plants. The lace curtains are down day and night, and the damask 

 over only at night. This seems entirely sufficient to prevent injury from gas and dry 

 air — no plants can possibly be healthier than hers are. — Gardener' s Monthly. 



Uurmony of Colors in I'lotvers. 



One of the obscure points of science is the cause of the harmony of colors always 

 observed in flowers. An exchange states that when two colors are found, they are 

 generally complements of each other. The wild asters of Autumn generally have 

 purple rays and yellow disk flowers. The pansy is yellow and purple, and the blue 

 violet has its stamens yellow and its petals a reddish blue. In fact yellow and purple 

 generally go together in flowers. 



A splendid example is alforded by the large his Germanica^ the popular flower-de- 

 luce of our gardens. From the white base of its petals the colorless sap passes into 

 its petals, which become of a gorgeous purple, while the beard of the petals becomes 

 at the tip a very rich yellow, though the lower part of each separate filament is not 

 of the purest white. What chemical or physical law determines the arrangement of 

 color, if there be any such secondary cause, is not yet discovered. 



Two French chemists, Fremy and Cloez, say that the tints of flowers are due to 

 cyauin xanthin, and xanthein, Cyanin is reddened by acids. A supply of vegetable 

 acid developed in a flower would then turn the blue to rose color, while a scarcely 

 sensible quantity might produce a purple. Xanthin is a yellow from the sun-flower, 

 and xanthein the yellow of the dahlia. There are probably other coloring sub- 

 stances. — Household. 



Hegonias. 



This foliage plant is a very desirable one for the conservatory, the silvery markings, 

 distinctly formed, render it an object of great beauty. The hybrids of this plant 

 now being produced, ai'e gorgeous in the extreme. 



Jmperialis — Very pale green leaves, suff'used with rosy crimson, shaded red. 



Vittata — Blotched silvery white ; leaves pointed. 



Sanguinea — Leaves deep glassy green ; underside of a deep blood red. 



Rex — Leaves very large, purplish green, with a changeable metallic lustre, with a 

 broad silvery zone, around the leaf midway from the center; underside purple. 



Madam Wagner — Leaves silvery green, spotted, with very dark edge and centre. 



JJrania — Nearly black green shiny leaves, all edged with crimson. 



Punctata — Dark green leaf, distinctly spotted. 



Maincata — Very large leaves, light green, bordered with crimson ; dotted under- 

 side, with crimson spikes. 



Maadata Ricinifolia — Very large leaves, artistically cut and very curiously 

 marked. 



Arge7itea — Silvery green leaves, tinged purple. 



Nebulosa — Silvery green, with plainly marked dark margin. 



The Begonias do not succeed well outdoors ; at least, if bedded out, should have a 

 shaded border. They require plenty of moisture and warmth, with a soil formed of 

 peaty mould and sand. To those who have not had much experience in growing house 

 plants, would advise them not to attempt the Begonia, only upon a limited scale : to 

 the conservatory they are indispensable. — Ex. 



Jb^lowerinff Shrubs. 



Our flowering shrubs have, and are, giving us a profusion of bloom ; one variety 

 in particular 1 propose to speak of at more length, the Weigela. 



This is a most beautiful, and by too far rare a plant in our rural flower gardens. 

 It is easily propagated from layers, or cuttings started in a shaded hot-bed. This 

 beautiful shrub belongs to the genus Dervilla, but owes its popular name to the 



