t8 97 . 



' ' GARDENING. 



181 



POLYGONUM BALDSCHDANICDM. 



must be over fourteen feet high, judging 

 by the figure of a man standing by it. 

 There is a new variety H. Mattegazzia- 

 num remarkable in the size of its white 

 flower heads, the umbels being four feet 

 across, 1 he plant is said to grow six feet 

 high. 



GARDENING IN TEXAS-AQUAT1GS. 

 Our climate is very variable. Our win- 

 ters for the past two or three years have 

 been so mild that the tenderest plants did 

 well the winter throtigh. This winter 

 started in the same way, but suddenly, 

 with only a few hours warning it was 

 freezing. It thawed and then froze again, 

 until now everything has been killed. 

 Our summers are so extremely hot that 

 when the cool breeze from the Gulf comes 

 over the hot land it is immediately turned 

 into dry salt air. I am vervfond of flow- 

 ers and have nice grounds but have be- 

 come almost discouraged. Last summer 

 I had my conservatory filled with choice 

 flowers, but when the summer was over 

 I had only a few lerns left. It may be 

 that i do not know how to meet the re- 

 quirements of this trying climate. Can 



some reader of Gardening assist me? 



Can you suggest some grass suitable 

 for an indoor aquarium that will always 

 look green under water and that will 

 thrive? 



I would also like advice as to a suitable 

 water lily for an out-door aquarium five 

 feet wide and four feet deep. 1 wish some- 

 thing with not too large a leaf and that 

 will stand out of the water (not laying 

 flat upon the surface), will stand a warm 

 climate and bloom eontinuouslv. 



Galveston, Tex. . J. N. S. 



We would suggest Papyrus antiquorum 

 for a handsome grass. Its beautiful 

 tufts stand up out of the water and are 

 particularly graceful. It is of very easy 

 growth. The pretty little "Parrot's 

 Feather" [Myriophyllum) is a good sub- 

 ject for aquarium planting also. It is 

 small and a neat growing plant. We are 

 at a loss to name a water lily that has 

 "leaves above the water and blooms con- 

 tinuously." Nelumbium speciosum 

 stands above the water but only blooms 

 part of the season, while nymphaeas, 

 especially the Zanziharensis type, will 



bloom continually so long as there is no 

 frost to check them, yet their leaves lie 

 mostly on the surface and shut out light 

 below. 



It will be best to try a variety of plants 

 for the aquarium and weed out the unde- 

 sirable if any such are planted. 



Oneco, Fla. Reasoner Bros. 



POLYGONUM BALDSGHUANICUM. 



In our issue of February 1, 1897, we 

 called the attention ol our readers to this 

 new climbing polygonum, and are now 

 able to present an illustration of a plant 

 photographed in the gardens of Messrs. 

 V. Lemoine & Son, Nancy, France. We 

 then stated that it bloomed from June 

 until September, which would bring it 

 up to the time that the somewhat similar 

 flowers of the Clematis paniculata ap- 

 pear. 



At this season of the year when we are 

 enjoying one member of this familv at 

 breakfast, in the shape of buckwheat 

 cakes, it is pleasing to anticipate the 

 pleasures of the future, when we mav 

 have this beautiful climberin our gardens. 



A limited stock was placed upon the 

 European market last fall at ten francs 

 each, but soon bought up. It is now 

 being propagated and will undoubtedly 

 be one of the novelties of merit of 1898. 



While the list of polygonums contains 

 a vast number of weeds, many of which 

 are door-yard pests, some are quite orna- 

 mental when in suitable positions. As a 

 rule they are root- spreaders and therefore 

 caution should be used when planting. 



One of the most ornamental is the Jap- 

 anese species, P. cuspidatum and its vari- 

 ety crispum, the type growing about five 

 feet high and producing its creamy-white 

 flowers in drooping feathery panicles in 

 July and August. 



Another one not weedy in its nature is 

 P. affine, from Nepaul, with rosy-red 

 flowers in dense spikes in autumn and 

 less than a toot in height. Of late years 

 a more robust form, P. sachalinense, from 

 the island of Saghaliu between Siberia 

 and Japan, has been recommended both 

 for a forage plant and to ornament wild 

 waste places where the ground is moist, 

 where it will attain a height of eight to 

 ten feet, producing racemes of flowers of 

 a greenish-white color. 



CARPET BEDDING. 



In making the American flag of plants 

 on a lawn what is the best plant to use 

 in making the whitestars? Which is the 

 best white that can be raised from seed 



sown now: 

 Minnesota. 



New Subscriber. 



The best white for the purpose is the 

 dwarf alyssum raised from cuttings. It 

 can be raised from seed but in that case 

 the plants must be sorted as to height for 

 seedling plants vary in this respect. We 

 have also used Echereria secunda glauca 

 and santolina for the purpose, and 

 though neither is quite so white as the 

 alyssum they will stand more unfavora- 

 ble weather. Fred. Kanst. 



Chicago. 



WALL TRELLIS. 

 One of the most durable, cheapest and 

 most easily made trellises for kitchen 

 walls, sides of barns, tall fences or out- 

 buildings, where one desiresto train roses 

 or vines of any description, is made as 

 follows Take dressed 2x4s and spike 

 them securely on to the wall, running 

 longitudinally to the desired height, 

 placed with the narrow face against the 

 wall and about three feet apart. Run 



