1 62 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[June, 



white violets and pansies were the spring flowersi 

 and^ were followed by splendid beds of ranuncu- 

 lus, anemones, alstromerias, carnations, hand- 

 somer than we have them to-day. Stock gillies, 

 precious wall flowers, asters and balsams were 

 planted in beds bordered with double daisies, 

 dazzling primula veris, Spanish grass, auriculas, 

 pinks, blue dwarf iris and boxwood. The white 

 lily and golden candlestick grew luxuriantly, 

 dwarf delphiniums, monkshood, lychnis calce- 

 donia, double hesperis matronalis, aquilegias, 

 were of many varieties and grown to perfec- 

 tion. The hardy phlox and that handsome dark 

 red peony as well as a large collection of iris, but 

 rarely the handsomest of all, the Iris susiana. 

 When dahlias were introduced from Mexico, they 

 were highly valued. The possessor of a plant like 

 that looked upon it as a treasure. Verbenas were 

 first only of two kinds, melindris and coerulia ; 

 and although a great deal thought of at that time 

 they were replaced by an endless and beautiful 

 collection of their sisters. 



I cannot refrain from mentioning a few plants 

 with which I have been acquainted and which 

 made a deep and lasting impression upon my 

 young day observations : 



First — An eglantine rose, a large bushy plant 

 whose foliage spread spicy and agreeable odors, 

 whose flowers were blood red inside petals, and 

 yellow on the outside. There was not, likely, a 

 more charming bush than this rose was when in 

 bloom. Its blossoming time was short, but rich, 

 blooming and elegant. 



Second — A perennial spirsa (Venusta) which I 

 saw only once in a florist's place. The plant 

 when full grown is from three to four feet high, 

 the flower about eighteen inches long, a perfect 

 bouquet. It was of a deep pink color somewhat 

 like sp. lobata, the form like sp. Billardi. but close 

 like a bloom of colored pampas grass. I never 

 saw a more graceful flower and it imparted a 

 heavenly enjoyment. 



Third — A delphinum perennial with very large 

 steel blue flowers ; it was the largest part of sum- 

 mer in bloom, and far handsomer than D. chinen- 

 sis or formosum. 



Fourth — A perennial aster about eighteen inches 

 high and bloomed the latter part of summer, it 

 was a beautiful, perfect, semi-double purple flower 

 as large as a German aster, but a delicate grower. 



Fifth— Another perennial whose name I was 

 told was Tropseolum canadensis. It was between 

 three and four feet high, clover-like, and blossomed 

 in July. It was covered with little yellow flowers 



shaped like a canary bird — a very interesting 

 plant ; but this, as well as some others, has dis- 

 appeared to make room for newer and more 

 fashionable plants, and now only exists in my 

 memory. I have not seen one of them in 

 thirty-five years. 



The hedging of the gardens was delightful to 

 look upon. Long rows of clipped trees, hedges, 

 evergreens and shrubs were sheared to various 

 forms. Orange and lemon trees, laurel and pome- 

 granate, oleander and myrtle were placed in tubs 

 and stone receptacles. Garden seats were placed 

 at convenient places between beautiful fountains 

 unexcelled at the present day, and which were 

 playing at certain times for the enjoyment of the 

 visitors. The above mentioned vines were skill- 

 fully trained over lattice-work forming shady 

 garden houses. There were allegorical groups 

 and single statues representing mythology and 

 horticulture. The large lawns were bordered 

 and planted with shade and ornamental trees and 

 evergreen shrubs such as are described above. 

 There were carriage drives all around the park. 

 Perennials in the center and the balance of the 

 bed filled out with annuals, were planted on both 

 sides of straight plots. Entrances to residences 

 and balconies were generally ornamented with 

 large numbers of plants in tub and pot, and caused 

 a royal appearance. From an emperor's palace 

 to a laboring man's cottage flowers were culti- 

 vated. There may be a reason or an excuse for a 

 man not cultivating flowers, but if a woman does 

 not love flowers she cannot be sociable, she lacks 

 heart and is never amiable. Certain clubs and 

 corporations in convents made a specialty of 

 growing and generating varieties in classes of 

 plants, and raised them to perfection, while all 

 plants of the known world were exhibited in royal 

 gardens. Camellias, were raised in one place, 

 azaleas in another, pelargoniums in a third, gerani- 

 ums, auriculas, alstromerias, stocks, wall flowers, 

 sweet Williams, primulas, tulips, asters, balsams — 

 whichever kind was preferred — were attended to 

 with the greatest love. 



(To be concluded.) 



IMPROVED POLYANTHA ROSES. 



BY ANTOINE WINZER, WEST GROVE, PA. 



I send you by to-day's mail a few blooms of the 

 new Polyantha rose Mignonette, also two small 

 plants of the same variety. I considered it last 

 winter the finest novelty we iiad in new roses. 

 The habit of the plant is good. It is a very free 



