FLORICULTURE. 353 



Dielytra, or bleeding- heart, has graceful sprays of heart-shaped 

 pink and white flowers, blooming- in May or June. Foliag-e finely 

 cut and very pretty. They soon g-row to immense plants. 



Helianthus, multiflorus or plenus. The flowers are from three to 

 four inches in diameter, double as any double dahlia and very free 

 blooining. 



Iris, lleur de lis, German iris. There are several varieties, among- 

 the most desirable being Madame Chereau, white-edged and feath- 

 ered violet. 



Aurea, golden yellow, Princess of Wales, white atropurpurean; 

 rich purple, very fine and early. 



Perennial phlox. These fine, hardy plants are among the most 

 satisfactory'^ for clumps and borders. They are of dwarf, sturdy 

 growth, perfectly hardy, and in late summer fairly cover themselves 

 with iminense pyramidal trusses of brilliant flowers, varying in color 

 from pure white with rosy eye to red with beautiful tnarkings; often 

 six inches across. 



Herbaceous pseonies. These very valuable plants are much 

 neglected, and yet they are among our best hardy plants. Once 

 planted they need no further care, and each succeeding- year only 

 adds to their beauty. The varieties commonly known are desirable, 

 but the newer varieties produce very large, handsome, regularly 

 formed blossoms, resembling- large roses. 



Ainong the hardy lilies I would mention two which are especially 

 desirable, lilium candidum, with pure white flowers, and lilium 

 auratum, or gold-banded lily of Japan, having large blossoms of 

 white and gold. 



There are many other hard}' flowers that all can grow that I might 

 mention, but as I do not wish to take up any more time at present 

 we will leave the rest. 



ROSE CULTURE. 



MRS. I. ATWATER, MINxVEAPOLIS. 

 (Kead by Mrs. D. Morrison, at the last Sutniner Meeting). 



It would be rank presumption in me to think that I could say any- 

 thing to this society on the subject of rose culture that would be 

 new or interesting. On the pages of your annals are inscribed 

 papers from far more capable pens than mine, and giving- the re- 

 sults of wider experience. But, if I understand rightly the busi- 

 ness of your society, one of its functions is to encourage the gener- 

 al cultivation of flowers, making a specialty of roses, and to in- 

 struct the general public in the intelligent and successful treatment 

 of them. I am often asked to explain m}" own methods of rose cult- 

 ure, and especially in regard to the continuous blooming of perpet- 

 ual roses; and the hope that I may give some useful hints to inex- 

 perienced amateurs, is my excuse for trespassing on the time of 

 your society. 



In many gardens in this city, I have observed that perpetual 

 roses do not blossom at all after the June period is over, or, if they 

 do bloom, it Is only at rare intervals and with inferior flowers. 

 This ought not to be; perpetuals should bloom all through the sum- 



