THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[January, 



division with large spots of a reddish brown or 

 chestnut color on a yellowish ground, forming a 

 fine contrast with the white of the petals. The 

 style column is of a bright yellow, of the form of a 

 long hollow sheath, terminated by three mottled 

 plates enclosing the style within them. This should 

 be quite an acquisition to our summer borders and 

 a good companion for the already known and ad- 

 mired varieties of this showy family. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



EUONYMUS RADiCANS.— It is Surprising that for all 

 the attention which has been called to the creeping 

 burning bush, there should yet be so little inquiry 

 for it. A correspondent says : " I should be glad 

 to know that its value for walls was appreciated. 

 I am told that there is a two-story house in Nash- 

 ville completely covered to the eaves with it, and 

 that it is very beautiful." 



Datura arborea. — A lady of Charleston. 

 S. C, writes that she saw near that city a plant of 

 Datura arborea fully ten feet high and broad in 

 proportion, literally covered with fragrant blossoms 

 and buds in great quantity. .Such a plant~is 



naturally a treasure to its owner. This plant is 

 often grown in northern gardens as a tub plant, to 

 be protected in winter from frost, and is always 

 appreciated. It deserves, however, a still wider 

 popularity. 



Transplanting Seasons. — " R. O.," Philadel- 

 phia, writes: "Will you be kind enough to inform 

 me which season you consider best for transplant- 

 ing trees — spring or fall ? It is held by some that 

 fall is the best time, while others claim that spring 

 is preferable." 



[This is one of the questions that can never be 

 finally decided. If trees are in good condition 

 when planted, and are planted properly, they will 

 only die from what happens to them after they are 

 planted. If the weather which follows is "awful," 

 there may be ill-success with the planting. It may 

 be a terribly cold winter, or a terribly hot summer. 

 As we cannot tell in advance, one season is about 

 as safe as another. One thing we all know, which 

 is that spring is a more busy season than fall, and 

 on this account in our own practice we plant all 

 we can in fall. On this account it is the best for 

 us, and, when the winter does not prove too 

 severe, we find it the best on all other accounts. — 

 Ed. G. M.] 



Greenhouse and House Gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



The temperature of the greenhouse at this season 

 should be maintained at about 50°, allowing it to 

 rise 10° or 15° under the full sun,' and sink 10° 

 or so in the night. Though many of our practical 

 brethren differ from us — men, for some of whose 

 opinions we entertain the highest respect — we do 

 not recommend a very great difference between 

 night and day temperature ; we think 10° ample 

 allowance. It is following nature, no doubt, but 

 we would rather strive to beat nature. She can 

 not make the specimens we do, nor flower them so 

 beautifully or profusely ; and in many other re- 

 spects we think the practical gardener can much 

 improve on her red tape notions and old-fashioned 

 courses. 



Many plants will seem to be full of roots, and 



the temptation to repot will be very great ; but if a 

 plant is desired to flower freely, the fuller of roots 

 the pot is the better. Continual pot — tering is the 

 bane of plant culture. If the soil is so very much 

 exhausted that the flowers are likely to be small 

 and poor, a half inch of the old soil in the pot, on 

 the surface, may be replaced by a top-dressing of 

 rich compost. But watchfulness must be after- 

 wards exercised, or the plant will get over-dry, as 

 the loose soil on the top will often appear wet 

 when, in reality, all below is as dry as a powder 

 horn. 



In many greenhouses we have noted lately more 

 attempts at a tasteful arrangement of the plants, 

 than used formerly to prevail, when the only object 

 of a greenhouse seemed to be a mere store place 

 for border flowers during winter. This is very 

 commendable, and might be much improved on. 



