164 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



tings arc shaded from all direct sunshine. When 

 rooted they must be potted off, the subsequent treat- 

 ment being a matter of detail. It must, however, lie 

 borne in mind that it takes nearly three years to obtain 

 a good plant. 



Where it is intended to keep the old plants aftcr 

 flowering and grow them on another season, they 

 should, wdien the blossoms are past, be cut back hard, 

 and as sonn as tlie j'oung shoots make their appearance 

 the plants must be repotted, giving them in most cases 

 a pot one size larger than before. The soil should be 

 peat and sand, pressed dnwn \ery firmly, and especial 

 care must be taken when repotting that the ball of 

 earth is not dry, otherwise it will be almost impossible 

 to moisten il in a satisfactorv manner. — The Garden. 



HARDY PERENNIALS FROM SEEDS. 



Attention may be directc<l during the present month 

 to the sowing of any hardy perennials not on hand that 

 are likely to be in request for another season. Such sow- 

 ing may be recommended from a double stand|)oint. In 

 the first pace, seedlings of good things thus ac(iuired may 

 take the place in prominent l)orilers of more common 

 plants ; and in the second, because a Ijatch planted in 

 some outlying part of the garden is always acceptable 

 for cutting. .\ portion of a narrow slip garden, especial- 

 ly if the soil is naturally deep and moist, will be found 

 useful for the purpose, and the sj^ecies and varieties of 

 the same can be planted here in beds of 4 feet, 5 feet, or 

 6 feet, as may be deemed advisable, with inter\'ening al- 

 leys of 2 feet to admit of cutting the flowers withe mt 

 too much treading on the beds. To the lover of hardy 

 plants, propagation of this kind is peculiarly interest- 

 ing, and the seedlings are watched with keen interest 

 right away from their first appearance abii\e ground 

 until the flower is clearly defined. I i)refer lioxes tn 

 the open ground for sowing, the double advantage 

 being that while yet in a young stage there is better 

 opportunity of warding oft' the attacks of insects, and, 

 in the case of seed-sowing, the chance to particularize 

 in the covering given to different seeds. The seeds are 

 sometimes very tiny, and, naturally, only require the 

 least bit of soil on the top. The strips of wood at the 

 bottom of the boxes should be fairly close together, n( it 

 more than 'i inch apart. A few small crocks may first 

 be placed, followed b}- 1 inch of rough leaf-soil, the re- 

 mainder of the compnst consisting mainly of old pot- 

 ting soil, not too dry, tn which have been added a bit of 

 fresh leaf-mould and a little sand: the surface should 

 be even throughout, and pressed fairly firm. Prepare 

 the boxes as it might be to-day, give a soaking of 

 water, and sow to-morrnw, taking care the seed is 

 evenly covered, and, as hinted above, discriminating 

 as to the de])th of covering according to the size of seed. 

 Place the Ixixes in a frame facing north, and shade in 

 bright weather. Be careful the squares of glass are in- 

 tact, as water running in on the soil will wash out the 

 smaller seeds, and, as germination takes i^lace at \a- 

 rious periods, the boxes must be carefully watched. 



It is not necessary to occupy space with a list of 

 things, because the majnrity of herbaceous plants can 

 be raised in this way, and the list would naturally be 

 a long one. It may, however, be pointed out that, with 

 the demand for cut flowers ever on the increase, prefer- 

 ence should be given to those things that can be util- 

 ized for this purpose as well as to make a display in 

 the garden. The selection should also be comprehen- 

 sive so far as the different seascjns are C(Tncerned. T 

 noted above that a planting to furnish cut bloom might 



find a place in a slip garden. If there are trees it may 

 not be advisable to plant close up to them, but many 

 of the things that can be selected will be benefited by 

 partial shade. It is hardly necessary to add that not 

 the least interesting point in this propagation of hardy 

 flowers is that it is within the reach of all flower-lovers 

 who can command a small cold-frame to receive the 

 seed-boxes, and one of somewhat larger size for prick- 

 ing out the seedlings until they can be consigned to 

 ijernianent (luarters. — E.vchaif'c. 



DASYLIRION GLANCOPHYLLUM. 



Ihe. accompanying photograiih of Dasylirion Glanco- 

 |4iyllum is one of a pair which flowered the past month 

 at Pembroke, the cnuntry estate of Captain J. R. De 

 Lamar, (ilen Cove, L. I., over which Robert Marshall 

 presides as superintendent. 



It is a .Mexican plant and belongs to the Ord Liliace. 

 Mower s])ikes were about 10 feet high with Catkin like 

 flowers of a creamy color covering four or five weeks 

 duration. 



The_\- winter it in the cool greenhouse and being ever- 

 green it makes a very interesting subject. In Summer 

 the\ use it out cloors as shown in picture. 



( )rdinary ('arnation soil with 1 third leaf mold seems 

 to suit their re(|uireriients with plenty of water during 

 Siimmei'. 



D.\SVI,IRION r.I..'\XCOI>IIVI.I.UM. 



