324 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[November, 



not close up to a great extent, and possibly if it 

 were planted in a shady position it would have 

 its open flowers all the time. Its duration of 

 bloom is long. Mine commenced to flower in the 

 middle of June, and now this morning (a dull 

 one), on the 13th of August, it is still in glory and 

 no appearance of giving out. It will have to be 

 remembered that it could only be used in a very 

 large bed or border, as its height, at least two 

 feet, makes it fit for nothing else. There is no 

 plant that can be easier grown ; but a grub is ex- 

 tremely fond of it in the early stages. Any one 

 using it the coming season will be delighted with 

 it I feel satisfied. Supt. Gov't Grounds, Can. 



EUPHORBIAS FOR EMBANKMENTS. 



liY M. D. 



For the railroad embankment I will recommend 

 Euphorbia Cyparissias. Near Mumford, Western 

 New York, I saw a spread of it, the which covered 

 an area of ten feet square, or more. 



It had evidently started upon level ground on 

 one side of a shallow railroad cutting, and thence 

 extended over and down the incline, composed of 

 yellow infertile soil. 



It is a pretty, gray, level-topped thing, needing 

 little or no care. It ceases its upward growth at 

 eight or ten inches, and at that point maintains its 

 fresh looks the summer through. 



As a companion plant for this, I would suggest 

 the annual, and weaker, E. peplus, with pale, but 

 not gray, green leaves, and growing erect to ten 

 inches, usually ceasing, however, at a less height. 

 Though not a common plant, I have found it at 

 several points here in Rochester. Apparently it 

 loves the shade, but " Gray's Manual " does not so 

 state. In one instance 1 discovered a large yard 

 almost filled with it, the plaiit, and the ground in 

 which it grew, having doubtless been undisturbed 

 for a considerable length of time. Rochester, N. V. 



PLANTING TUBEROSE SETS FOR SETS 

 AND BULBS- 



liV MRS. J. S. R. THOMSON. 



I noticed with great interest the article of Ernest 

 Walker in October number, page 297, on " Propa- 

 gating from Blindwood," especially that point 

 made. The difference in time cuttings took to 

 bloom. My experience is his exactly, and I was 

 meditating this article when his confirmed me in 

 my determination to write it. This spring I ven- 

 tured to experiment in raising tuberoses by field 



culture, hoping to be benefited in many ways — 

 lost health regained ; developing one more re- 

 source to the South ; and last but not least, a lib- 

 eral amount of pin money. I went into it heart 

 and soul and purchased from two sources sets to 

 plant. I took that admirable work of Peter Hen- 

 derson as my sole guide, "Garden and Farm 

 Topics," and went in all things by rules laid down 

 in it. 



" Experience is a good teacher," and being a 

 close and interested observer of this (to me) un- 

 trod field I took careful note of the experiment, 

 and to-day I feel I am so much richer for it, I want 

 to tell my observation and see if I am correct. 

 One party who furnished me with sets sent them 

 very small indeed, not larger or longer than a 

 snap bean, whilst the other sent them full as large 

 as my fourth finger, or size of groundnut. The 

 first I planted with many misgivings, only faintly 

 hoping for bulbs large enough to offer in sale; 

 second or largest I felt sure would be all my heart 

 could desire. With good seasons and liberal cul- 

 ture, September 29th and 30th saw my bulbs all 

 harvested, 30,000 of them, and I am astonished at 

 the result. 



I naturally supposed that the larger sets would 

 produce the larger bulbs, and vice versa, the small 

 planted, only a moderate-sized one — but I am 

 compelled to tell the truth, 1 see no material 

 difference in them on an average. The small 

 sets have produced the most uniform bulbs, and 

 in many cases a superior sized one, but with this 

 great distinctive diff"erence : — the largest sets 

 planted are crowded with many young sets, many 

 of them almost as large as parent set ; whilst the 

 small ones used are only sparsely furnished and 

 those are small compared to the parent or central 

 bulb. In fact it is sometimes difficult to dis- 

 tinguish bulbs from sets, they are so near same 

 size ; whilst in the small set the central bulb is 

 bold and exceedingly well-formed. Hence, 1 

 draw this conclusion : — that the large set had so 

 far perfected its growth, that soon after it was 

 planted it not only began to develop size, but to 

 reproduce itself in sets; whilst the small one had 

 to go on and develop to full maturity before it 

 could produce sets. In consequence, the set had 

 most of the nourishment to the full development 

 of those fine bulbs, whilst the others had it only in 

 part, the many sets around them absorbing their 

 full share. Herein lies the good of experience. 

 One growing bulbs, alone for their size, I think 

 should use extra small sets with most liberal cul- 

 ture ; whilst those wishing both good bulbs and 



