232 



The HorticnlUirisi and Journal 



subsequently received seed of the new canna 

 Marechal Valliant (it having the reputation 

 of being the most ornamental variety of that 

 family), we thought we would germinate it 

 with more success than we usually had. Hav- 

 ing previously tried it in the various ways ap- 

 proved by scientific seed growers, I found the 

 following method to be the most reliable : 

 Prepare the soil in boxes, pans, etc. ; sow 

 therein your seed a half inch deep, and place 

 in a low temperature. Keep very wet with 

 cold water, and in this situation remain for 

 three days. Keep them cool and wet all the 

 time. The seed being now thoroughly satu- 

 rated with cold water and other substances 

 contained in soil, remove the box or pans to a 

 dark, warm place, where the temperature will 

 average 70 or 75 degrees, and keep the soil 

 humid and moist. The sudden change from 

 cold to heat will have a great germinating in- 

 fluence on the seed ; the hard shell will soften, 

 and the seed will sprout rapidly. You ask, 

 perhaps, why not soak the seed in cold water 

 for a period before sowing ? AVet soil, that 

 has been exposed to the weather, is to be pre- 

 ferred, as the ammoniac substances of the soil 

 have a softening influence. 



Suburban Gtardener. 



Lycojiodiuui deitticulata (or Kraussi- 

 ana) is used in immense quantities around 

 London for decorative purposes, one florist 

 there purchasing annually about $3,500 worth. 



Mafflesia Arnoldi. — Dr. Arnold, the dis- 

 coverer of this flower, says : "To tell the 

 truth, had I been alone, and had there been 

 no witnesses, I think I should have been fear- 

 ful of mentioning the dimensions of this flower, 

 so much does it exceed every flower I have 

 ever seen or heard of. It measured a full 

 yard across, the petals, five in number, which 

 were subrotund, being 12 inches from the base 

 to the apex, and it being about a foot from the 

 insertion of one petal to the opposite one. 

 The nectarium (or central cup), in the opinion 

 of us all, would hold 12 pints, and the weight 

 of this prodigy we calculated to be 12 pounds. 

 The whole of the flower is of very thick sub- 

 stance, and has the f-niell of tainted beef." 



Doable I*oinsettia,—]^ohQrt Buist tells 

 the Gardener's Chronicle, that he believes 

 this plant can be readily flowered 20 inches 

 across and 12 inches high. " Such a crimson 

 crown has not been found in all tlie realms of 

 plant growing." He has seen specimens 13 

 inches across and nine inches high. 



Rose Madame Trifle. — My plant of 

 Madame Trifle has the appearance of being a 

 well-favored seedling of that " perfection of a 

 rose," (xloire de Dijon. It blooms very con- 

 stantly — well, perhaps more regularly than 

 Gloire de Dijon itself. The blossoms are of a 

 far more delicate yellow-tinted white — that is, 

 at a distance they appear whiter, and are con- 

 sequently more showy, a delicate — beautifully 

 delicate — creamy yellow being just discernible 

 upon closer inspection. The half-opened buds 

 are very beautiful. The full-blown blossoms 

 are globular in shape, seldom expanding fully 

 to expose the center. — The Florist. 



Keiv Strain of AmarijUis — The vari- 

 eties of Amaryllis raised from A. pardina arc 

 likely to form the most useful race of all. 

 They flower very freely, which is not the case 

 with the older and better known forms; and, 

 better still, they flower freely in winter and 

 early spring. — The Garden. 



Red (Spirier.— Amateurs, who are troubled 

 with red spider upon their Fuchsias, and won- 

 der, without satisfaction, as to the causes of 

 the dropping of the leaves, will find some con- 

 solation in this advice of the A7nerican Far- 

 mer : If they would look on the outside of the 

 leaves carefully, Avhen the first sign of distress 

 is noticed, they might discover the cause in 

 the shape of almost infinitessimal insects 

 called red spiders, which suck the juices en- 

 tirely out of the leaves of plants upon which 

 they are allowed to remain. They increase 

 very fast in a high, dry atmosphere. The 

 remedy is clear water, forcibly applied to the 

 foliage, more particularly the under sides, as 

 often as necessary. Syringe plants freely in 

 the morning before the sun shines upon them, 

 and in the evening after the sun has gone off" 

 of them. Clear water and the syringe are 

 great aids in floriculture. 



