of Rural Art and Taste. 



101 



kerosene, as the oil floats on the water, and" 

 is skimmed off by the plants ; of course care 

 is required not to use extra quantity of kero- 

 sene, or it will injure the plants, and it is not 

 safe to use it at all on many plants ; but it is 

 certain death to all insects. After the plants 

 have drained for an hour, wash them well 

 with clean water and the foliage will appear 

 as if fresh varnished ; this mixture must not 

 be used when foliage is young and tender, but 

 if thoroughly cleaned in the winter, it is sel- 

 dom required at any other time. 



Caladiuins. — Do not forget to prepare a 

 good stock of Caladiums, both for growing in 

 pots for furnishing the greenhouse in summer, 

 and also for planting outside at the end of May. 

 These latter should not be exposed to a very high 

 temperature ; it is best to let them start in a 

 moderate heat, for if the plants have a quan- 

 tity of tender leaves, when planted out, those 

 leaves will be scorched up and the plant have 

 to make a fresh start ; on the contrary, those 

 for inside decoration are benefited by a good 

 heat, if early growth is required ; these plants 

 are useful to occupy vacancies, when the har- 

 dier plants have been removed outside. We 

 have often heard complaints that Caladium 

 bulbs decay in the winter ; this is caused by 

 keeping them too wet or cold, or perhaps 

 both ; they should be preserved in a tempera- 

 ture of sixty degrees through the winter. We 

 seldom lose one per cent, under these circum- 

 stances. 



Varieties. — We will give the names of a few 

 of the most desirable and distinct varieties for 

 the benefit of those requiring a small collection. 

 Of course the list could be extended to several 

 times this number, but those we name we would 

 grow ourselves if confined to a small space : 

 No. 1, list for planting outside — Esculentum, 

 Albo-violacca, Wightii, Verschaffeltii, Sede- 

 nii, Alphonse Karr, Bataviense, Chantini, 

 Bicolor niajus, Javanicum, Mirabile, Meyer- 

 beer. No. 2, selection of old varieties for pot 

 culture — Alphande, Alphonse Karr, Ama- 

 bile, Argyrites, Baron de Rothschild, Belley- 

 mei, Bicolor majus, Bicolor picturatae, Can- 

 nartii. Dr. Bois Duval, Hubianum, Md. Houl- 

 let, Meyerbeer, Pottshamii Rubronervium, 



Triomphe de la Exposition, Raulini, Wightii. 

 No. 3, a few selected new varieties — Prince 

 Albert Edward, Maxime Duval, Jules Put- 

 eys, Alfred Bleu, Devinck, Due de Batibor, 

 and Excellent. We have not, at present, 

 found the yellow varieties, which were much 

 praised in England when sent out, at all sat- 

 isfactory, being poor growers, and the yellow 

 will not stand the sun. The varieties men- 

 tioned are all good growers, and will stand 

 the sun as well in this country as in England, 

 Prince Albert Edward is a grand addition to 

 the white-leaved section, having brilliant crim- 

 son veins and also clouded with the same on 

 the white ground. Any old, rough plants of 

 Abutilon Thompsonii should be reserved for 

 planting out ; they make a grand show during 

 summer and can be lifted previous to frost. 

 These will be found very usefiil for cutting 

 large shoots during winter to mix in vases of 

 cut flowers. 



Look over large plants of Aloes, Arundo and 

 other plants preserved in cellar, and remove 

 them to lighter quarters at the earliest oppor- 

 tunity ; such plants are best planted out early, 

 for if they remain until the weather is warm 

 they often commence to grow, and the growth 

 made under these circumstances is weak, and 

 sure to suffer when removed to light and air. 



Savinfj F'achsia Seed, — Mr. Cannell, 

 the great Fuchsia grower, says : " When the 

 seed pods are thoroughly ripened, partly dry 

 them in the sun, after which cut them in 

 halves and quarters with a moderately sharp 

 knife, and minutely examine each part ; the 

 old self-colored varieties produce seed very 

 freely, but the choice kinds very sparingly, 

 particularly the light varieties. An abund- 

 ance of hollow seed will be found, but good 

 plump seed is about half the size of that of 

 the Pansy, and is easily distinguished and 

 picked out." 



A Cirele. — Make a circular bed with 

 A rundo Donax in the center, next surrounded 

 by Abiitilon Thompsonii, next Achyranthus 

 hindnnii, and outer edge with Ce7itaurea 

 gymnocarpa. 



y./ 



