i885.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



'73 



fixed laws that regulate the decorative art in 

 flowers. Too many blooms are used for single 

 baskets and bouquets, wheie they are crowded 

 together promiscuously, exhibiting a mass of petals, 

 the form and color of each separate flower being 

 indistinct, with little of its own foliage to render 

 the proper effect. The more nearly roses are 

 shown as they naturally grow, the handsomer they 

 are. The stiff artificial stem, without the leaf of 

 the flower, propped up by smilax, ferns, and other 

 green things than its own, is not like Nature. 

 Hand bouquets of roses and buds are more beau- 

 tiful when made of one variety with its own foliage, 

 stems long and loosely bunched, having a small 

 number, well chosen, of sweet odor. A collection 

 in basket form or for parlor decoration had better 

 lack a flower than have one too many, the object 

 being to form a graceful, refreshing and suggestive 

 picture, preserving an 'easy negligence mixed 

 with art.' Show each bloom separately, reposing 

 in its own green, and a few colors have a better 

 effect than many. If a combination is thought to 

 be desirable, red, white and buff form a pleasing 

 one. The beauty of roses is much enhanced when 

 displayed in masses. As a rule, if there are to be 

 many flowers, use the delicate shades ; if few, the 

 deeper tones. Large and choice roses are always 

 more effective when displayed in proper standards 

 for their reception as single specimens." 



Clematises as Pot Plants. — Though per- 

 fectly hardy, these are often grown as pot plants, 

 and are special features at some of the Horticul- 

 tural Exhibitions in the old world. 



Expensive Orchids. — Orchids are very ex- 

 pensive, because they cannot be readily propa- 

 gated so as to give good plants in a reasonable 

 time. They are, therefore, mostly imported from 

 their native haunts. It has been discovered that 

 one choice kind, Phalaenopsis, may be increased by 

 root cuttings. How far this may be the case with 

 others depends on experiment. 



A Large Chrysanthemum, a French variety, 

 Mademoiselle — well, let us say Miss — Cabrol, is re- 

 presented as being between nine and ten inches 

 across. 



The Camellia. — At one time the camellia was 

 the leading plant for furnishing cut flowers. The 

 introduction of forced roses, carnations, &c., com- 

 pletely dethroned it. It was sent further to the 

 rear than it deserved. It is now advancing again, 

 and florists tell us there is considerable demand 

 for camelUa flowers. 



The Rose-leaf Fungus. — Under this name, an 

 alarming trouble is exciting the rose growers of the 

 old world. It is said to be "epidemic" in Ger- 

 many. It is described as a species of Asteroma ; 

 but the description of its terrible effects indicates 



a very close relationship to the one formerly de- 

 scribed by Mr. Wm. Trelease as playing havoc 

 with American roses. 



Toads in Greenhouses. — Those troubled with 

 wood-lice in greenhouses may obtain immunity by 

 introducing a few toads. They are very useful 

 creatures. 



Utilizing the Trunks of Tree Ferns. — 

 Some tree ferns were sent from Australia to the 

 Centennial, but arrived dead. These trunks are 

 still in the fern house, but have other kinds grow- 

 ing out from the trunk. It seems like adding in- 

 definitely to the species of tree ferns. 



A Fine Chrysanthemum. — Mr. Wm. Barr, of 

 Orange, New Jersey, tells the Garden: "My 

 gardener, Mr. John Farrell, has been successful 

 this year in growing some of the finest standard 

 Chrysanthemums ever shown in this country. He 

 exhibited eight to the New York Horticultural 

 Society, ranging in height from 7 feet to 8 feet 6 

 inches. We had one, Elaine, which was 9 feet 6 

 inches, but that was unfortunately broken by a 

 severe wind storm. 



DisE.\SES OF Roses. — One would suppose that 

 of all plants the least liable to diseases would be 

 the dear old rose, which has maintained a popu- 

 lar standing forsome three thousand years. But 

 the French journals are full of accounts of all 

 sorts of "maladies" that bother the queen of 

 flowers when she is trying to look her best and 

 prettiest. The " Nielle " (mildew) seeming to be 

 the most pestiferous of all these "mal-seant" 

 things. 



Early Flowering Azaleas. — L' Horticulture 



Beige says that Azaleas Sigismund Rucker and 

 Wilson Sanders, will bloom easily in September. 



NEW OR RARE PLANTS- 



Double Bouvardias. — The double Bouvardias, 

 raised by Nanz & Neuner, are having a remark- 

 able run of popularity all over Europe. 



Begonia hybrida gigantea. — Under this name 

 Heineman offers a new begonia that has the male 

 flowers six inches across ! An Italian paper says 

 one might take the flower for a huge pansy. 



Coleus, Nonsuch. — Coleuses change very much 

 from what they were under glass when they get 

 into the open ground. The raiser of this one 

 claims that it holds its own through all treatment. 



