i8gS. 



• GARDENiiXL,. 



34 1 



ever been said about its unquestionable 

 value as a border plant. Like the Wah- 

 lenbergias, it has a thick, fleshy root, 

 from which the eyes start out in the 

 spring. Young plants do not grow very 

 strong tor a year or two; they n main 

 dwarf and decumbent, though they bloom 

 persistently even when small; but when 

 once well established the growth is much 

 more robust, the stems being able to sup- 

 port themselves in a more upright posi- 

 tion, and more of them are produced from 

 each root. The leaves are very neat, oval 

 oblong, of aglaucous green, about an inch 

 long and rather closely arranged along 

 the stem. The flowers are produced on 

 the tips of the many slender axillary 

 branches for a long time in midsummer, 

 and resemble those of an ordinary droop- 

 ing campanula; they are about an inch 

 long and measure about the same across 

 the open part. The color is white, slightly 

 tinged with pale blue, and the bells have 

 a distinct, well defined, star-shaped black- 

 ish purple blotch on the inner side at the 

 base of the stout pistil. Along the 

 stronger growth of the older plants, two 

 feet or over in height, the side branches 

 are produced freely, almost at every joint 

 from the ground up to the very tip, and 

 each branch or branchlet is adorned with 

 the dainty bells, which, on their slender 

 support, keep in a constant motion in the 

 slightest breeze. Division is the best way 

 to increase the stock, but seed sowing 

 may be resorted to if it is obtainable, 

 though it takes a number of years for the 

 seedlings to develop into strong speci- 

 mens, while division usually gives quicker 

 and more satisfactory results. As to the 

 hardiness of the plant, I may say that we 

 never lost one from the effects of frost. 

 Even in snowless winters, with some of 

 the carelessly planted crowns fully ex- 

 posed to the action of the weather, we 

 could not notice the slightest injury, 

 but it would not hurt them to receive a 

 liberal covering of manure every winter, 

 this material to be forked in between the 

 plants when spring arrives. It delights in 

 rich soil and the growth is stronger there, 

 though we have no trouble and can make 

 it live and flourish even in dry ground by 

 merely taking the precaution to plant a 

 little "deeper. An irregular patch in the 

 border, planted among early flowering 

 bulbs, makes quite an acceptable display 

 in summer, and the plants hide the yellow 

 or decaying foliage of their companions 

 effectively, without interfering with the 

 spring show, for they start rather late. 

 J. B. Keller. 



FLOWERS FOR THE CEMETERY. 



White flowers are most in demand for 

 cemetery use and appropriately so, for 

 thev symbolize purity. And yet why not 

 represent life and hope as well as purity 

 and plant colors other than white? 

 Brilliant or gaudy flowers would look 

 out of place in the cemetery, and so only 

 delicate colors should be used— a dainty 

 shell pink or a light yellow will be found 

 both beautiful and appropriate. If you 

 wish low growing plants that will bloom 

 constantly, plant the double white 

 achillea or sow seeds of sweet alyssum. 

 The former is a beautiful hardy perennial, 

 bearing double white flowers which 

 strongly resemble miniature roses in the 

 greatest profusion all summer. It is a 

 vigorous grower and will thrive in any 

 situation or in any soil. The dainty 

 sweet alyssum is too well known to need 

 a description. For this purpose nothing 

 could be finer than these two flowers. 



That grand old garden lily, L. candidum, 

 is also a favorite for cemetery planting. 



It bears large snow white, fragrant bios 

 soms and is perfectly hardy. The several 

 varieties of spira'a bear large clusters of 

 delicately tinted flowers. The white and 

 pink colors harmonize well, and when 

 used either singly or in combination, 

 nothing could be prettier than these 

 plants. Then there is the lily of the 

 valley. Who does not admire the exqui 

 site little bells which nod so gracefully on 

 their slender stems? In modest dainty 

 grace and exquisite purity, this flower 

 stands almost without a rival. The lily 

 of the valley is by far the most popular 

 flower we have for cemetery planting. 



Many prefer that the beautiful queen of 

 flowers should reign over the last earthly 

 resting place of their loved ones. Perhaps 

 the variety most adapted to this purpose 

 is A'osa Wichuraiana commonly called the 

 Memorial rose, which is of a trailing 

 nature. It is of vigorous growth, often 

 making canes ten feet long in a season. 

 The leaves form a dense mat of lustrous 

 dark green foliage, with almost thornless 

 stems. During the month of July this rose 

 whitens itself with a pro r usion of exqui- 

 site single flowers. Borne in clusters, 

 they are quite large and have the delicious 

 fragrance of the Banksian varieties. The 

 many golden stamens in the center of the 

 flower form a pleasing contrast to the 

 pure glossy white of the petals. Madame 

 Plantier is a double white rose that is 

 excellent for planting on graves. Other 



splendid varieties are Clothilde Soupert, 

 a delicate pink, Marie Van Houte, white, 

 shaded lemon, Cornelia Cook, the Queen, 

 and Snowflake, all white. The above 

 varieties are hardy. 



Flowers awaken beautiful thoughts 

 and inspire noble impulses. Poets have 

 sung the praises of the rose from time 

 immemorial. Perhaps none has paid a 

 finer tribute to the queen of flowers in its 

 relation to the cemetery than L. E. 

 Landon in the following exquisite verse; 



"Plant the green sod with the crimson rose; 

 Let my friends rejoice o'er my culm repose: 

 Let my memory be like Hie orders shed; 

 My hopes like the promise ofeorh red: 

 Let. strangers share in their breath and bloom; 

 I'lant ve the bright roses over ray tomb." 



Meriden, Conn. 



T. D. Fogg. 



BEDDING PLANTS. 



Ed. Gardening: — Will some of your 

 practical readers give a list of the most 

 suitable material to plant in a circular 

 bed from twelve to fifteen feet in diame- 

 ter or a foot or two larger if necessary in 

 order to contain a suitable number of 

 plants. Name the plants, give the num- 

 ber required, situation and distance apart. 

 It is desired that the bed be sub-tropical 

 in effect, tall and imposing. The mate- 

 rial should be limited to that which may 

 be obtained at a reasonable cost, or 

 raised in a small greenhouse. 



Chicago. J. C. Morgan. 



VASB OF IRIS K.EMPFERI. 



