1882. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



109 



the inflorescence. In the Cambridge Botanic 

 Garden this plant forms quite a useful and orna- 

 mental feature in the stove. There it grows in 

 the soil beneath the stage and pipes, quite hiding 

 the latter with luxuriant foliage. Hundreds of 

 flower heads have been produced during several 

 weeks, and almost always it may be found in 

 bloom. It grows better as above situated than 

 in pots. If pot culture is desired the chief con- 

 sideration is to overcome so far as possible its 

 naturally tall habit. To this end it should be cut 

 back periodically, and to form a specimen several 

 may be planted together in a pot. It is fond of 

 moisture, and to produce the best result strong 

 shoots must be grown for flowering. This is the 

 Justicia flavicoma of Lindley, under which name 

 it is sometimes known. It is a native of Brazil. 

 — Journal of Horticulture. 



Dinner Table Decoration. — This is a matter 

 which many take great interest in, and to which 

 they devote much attention. Like all other 

 fashions it needs to be changed to retain admir- 

 ers. When the numbers at dinner vary and the 

 tables are changed in size accordinglj', plants of 

 diff'erent size can be worked in, and a change of 

 the plate or chief centrepieces affords the same 

 chance. Alterations of the kind are always 

 favorable to those who decorate, as none of us 

 like to have the table the same night after night 

 before the same company. • 



As a rule lightness is always appreciated. 

 Plenty of green with a few bright colors is gen- 

 erally most effective. Small glasses are, to our 

 mind, much more pleasing than spreading the 

 decorations on the cloth, and the main pieces 

 should always be done well. Of these we have 

 arranged many, but one of the best we had 

 recently. The stand has a massive silver base 

 some two feet wide, and on this stands for figures 

 holding a flower basket over their heads. This 

 basket is about eighteen inches across, and is 

 sometimes filled with plants and sometimes with 

 flowers. On the occasion we refer to there was 

 a good plant of Cocos Weddelliana in the centre. 

 A quantity of a small green Selaginella covered 

 the pot of this and filled the basket. As a fringe 

 Adiantum farleyense was used, and white Chin- 

 ese Primula and Roman Hyacinth spikes were 

 cut and placed, not too closely, over the surface 

 of the green. The effect of this was more pleas- 

 ing than any centre we have made. The Prim- 

 roses and Hyacinths looked as if they were 

 growing on the little green mound, and the 

 graceful Palm spreading over the whole made 



the combination complete. — M. W. in Journal of 

 Horticulture. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



Steam Heating.—" T. J.," Hartford, writes : 

 " I notice, in your February number, an article 

 on steam heating, by Mr. Taber, in which the 

 author asserts, as a well-known fact, ' that more 

 heat is obtained from one two inch pipe than 

 from two one-inch pipes.' Now, I am using one- 

 inch pipes under the impression that two of 

 them present the same heating surface and 

 therefore give as much heat as one two-inch 

 pipe, besides taking only one-half the quantity 

 of steam and consequently consuming less fuel. 

 Will Mr. Taber please inform me through the 

 columns of your Monthly, whether I am right 

 or not, and if not, why not ?" 



Steam Heating— Mr. Mylius, Florist of De- 

 troit, says : " Mr. Taber, of Detroit, writes an 

 able article about steam, and he states what I 

 know are facts. I think few will use other than 

 steam for heating, in time. Mr. Taber has the 

 same size boiler as mine, but I heat double as 

 much glass with mine as he does with his." 



Camellia Bud Dropping. — " W. F.," Sandusky, 

 Ohio, writes : " I have a Camellia (double red) 

 which has about fifteen buds. They seem to be 

 on a standstill, and I think they should be open- 

 ing now. I have had them this way before 

 when they finally dropped oS". I had a double 

 white one in full bloom, about a month ago ; 

 they both had the best care, their leaves being 

 sponged every day since last fall. I have them in 

 a front room, where geraniums, roses, azaleas, 

 heliotropes, and other flowers are in bloom ; 

 average temperature about 60° Fahrenheit ; hard 

 CDal stove in adjoining room. No buds dropped 

 oS" as yet. If j^ou could advise me what to do, 

 to save the buds and get them to bloom, I shall 

 be under many obligations to you. 



[There are so many reasons why Camellia buds 

 drop, that without seeing the plants no one could 

 give a reason in a special case. If for a long 

 time the plants have been in the shade and sud- 

 denly removed to bright sunlight, they may 

 drop. If sulphuric acid gas, from bad coal, 

 attacks them, they may fiill. Or they may fall 

 from anything which injures the tips of the 

 roots — that is fungus, stagnant water, or dryness 

 of the soil— Ed. G. M.] 



