1882. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



if placed in heat under a hand glass, but the 

 easiest and most preferable method of increasing 

 this plant is by seeds, which are freely produced, 

 and from which fine young plants can be ob- 

 tained in the course of a few months. The seeds 

 should be sown early in spring in a pot or pan 

 of well drained, light, peaty, sandy soil; soak 

 the seed in warm water previously to sowing; 

 sow thinly and cover slightly ; place the pot or 

 pan in a warm, moist situation ; keep moist, and 

 shade from bright sunshine. As soon as the 

 plants are strong enough to handle, pot off into 

 three-inch pots, using light, fibrous soil ; keep 

 close and moist, until well established, then 

 gradually expose to the open air. Do not per- 

 mit the roots to get matted or allow the plants 

 to become pot-bound ; but shift into larger pots 

 as often as necessary. During the summer sea- 

 son the plants (if grown in a pot) can be plunged 

 in a partially-shaded situation, care being taken 

 as to watering — syringing. A winter tempera- 

 ture of from 40° to 60° will suit this Harden- 

 bergia very well. 



NATURAL HANGING BASKETS AND 

 EPERGENES. 



BY MRS. C. S. JONES.' 



Those popular fioral receptacles of modern 

 times, called "Hanging baskets," are at once so 

 unique and beautiful, and have become so uni- 

 versally used, that any suggestions tending to 

 impart new ideas regarding them are very 

 generally appreciated. This must plead mj ex 

 cuse for ottering the following hints, intended 

 more especially to aid those amateur florists not 

 blessed with extensive means to purchase the 

 costly receptacles offered in our floral stores. 



Some years since, among a lot of treasures 

 sent me by that generous patron of amateur 

 florists, Mr. P. Henderson, were the first Fit- 

 tonias and Gymostachyums I had ever had the 

 good fortune to possess, and charmed with the 

 rare beauty of the foliage, felt anxious to culti- 

 vate them in the manner best calculated to dis- 

 play it. This, after many exjierimeuts carried 

 on through successive months, which largely in- 

 creased my stock, I found to be so made by 

 means of pendant receptacles and epergenes, as 

 to form one entire mass of wonderfully beautiful 

 foliage, displayed on every side, and which have 

 proved so satisfactory that I feel no hesitation in 

 recommending the mode to others. 



The baskets used for this purpose are of several 

 varieties— the ordinary wire baskets of graceful 



form ; as a matter of economy, muzzles, such a» 

 farmers use for oxen and horses, the globular 

 form of some of which produce specially fine 

 results ; cocoanut shells perforated with half- 

 inch holes; the common flowerpot treated in 

 the same manner, making holes larger or smaller, 

 according to size of pot; this is easily done by 

 first soaking and cutting out with a j.ick-knife 

 and fret-saw blade. The baskets when planted, 

 and in fine growing condition, appear enveloped 

 with the rich foliage, to produce which it is 

 necessary to insert cuttings or small established 

 plants head downwards through the holes in the 

 bottom and sides of the vessels before filling in 

 the soil. The central plant should be first in- 

 serted, the others disposed around it in regular 

 j order, using fresh green moss to pack firmly be- 

 tween them, so as to keep the soil in proper 

 place. I prefer the soft, cushion-like variety 

 found on the trunks of trees for this purpose, 

 not only because of the close felt-like appear- 

 ance as it continues its growth, thus presenting 

 a bright, fresh groundwork of perpetual green, 

 but also because it is better adapted to keeping 

 the soil in place than the loose, coarse varieties, 

 which, though stronger, soon present a brown 

 unsightly appearance. After surrounding each 

 cutting with the moss, and thus covering the 

 bottom and sides of the basket, the whole cavity- 

 must be filled with loose, friable soil, for which 

 nothing compares with "cocoanut refuse," 

 mixed with good loam and clean sand; the 

 upper surface filled with a number of rooted 

 cuttings, placed two inches apart, using a dibble 

 for making the holes. This finishes the oper- 

 ation, and the basket copiously watered with a 

 fine rose, is then liung in a warm, shaded spot, 

 keeping constantly and uniformly moist with, 

 tepid water. This is best eflfected by plunging 

 the basket in a large vessel of water. 



During the growing season these baskets ap- 

 pear like one mass of living beauty, the brilliant 

 foliage of Fittonia gigantea, with its network of 

 rosy crimson, and F. argyroneura, entirely over- 

 laid with a ground work of rich green, form solid 

 masses of luxuriance, the unique beauty of 

 which can only be realized and appreciated by 

 ocular demonstration. Where a round wire 

 basket is used a massive globular specimen is 

 produced, which suspended in proper position is 

 wonderfully imposing. Gymnostachyum Pearcei 

 will perhaps be still more admired thus treated, 

 its elegant metallic green foliage covered closely 

 with a network of intense rosy carmine, pre- 



