376 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



of purple and black ; botwoeu the veins are patches of silvery white, and 

 towards the edge the purple softens into a delicate, subdued green, forming 

 one of the most harmonioua arrangements of color with which nature indulges 

 us. 



The rich, dark auricula is a plant of gresit beauty for window culture, and 

 is too rarely met with, notwithstanding its claims on account of form and fra- 

 grance. Many who possess them fail of success, because they do not give the 

 treatment required in order to make them perfect their bloom. These plants 

 court the shade, and should be watered very sparingly until they begin to grow ; 

 never pour or sprinkle water on the foliage, especially before flowering, as 

 moisture destroys that fine meal-like substance found on many of the varieties, 

 which so greatly enhances their beauty. Only one stem should be allowed to 

 each plant ; the first one that appears is usually the best. Connoisseurs in the 

 culture of these flowers desire that the pips should be large, flat, and round, 

 with ground color equal on every side of the eye, which should be quite circu- 

 lar, as well as the edge. The tube, a bright lemon yellow, perfectly round, and 

 filled with anthers or thrum ; the eye round and large, the body -color black 

 or violet, in green-edged flowers should be a whole one, not a shaded green. 

 The stem long and sutficiently strong to bear the truss above the foliage — the 

 truss to consist of not less than five full-grown pips. 



In September these plants should be repotted, to have time to become 

 established before winter, which is the best season to take off slips, for two 

 rea.'ions : they do not want so much nursing through summer, which is the most 

 precarious season of the year for these plants ; and they begin to grow and 

 will root afresh sooner. 



There is a lovely little flower, seldom noticed, which is, however, worthy of 

 any pains that may be required to bring it to perfection. It is called the 

 Notylia alhida ; is very graceful in stem, deliciously scented, and beautifully 

 formed, although its flow^ers are no larger than pepper-corns. From a few thin 

 oblong leaves there droops a dense raceme of whitest flowers, perfumed Tike the 

 lilly of the valley. Their black sepal is long, convex, pale apricot colored, 

 very firm, being in all cases turned to the outside of the inflorescence. The 

 flowers are not unlike fairy shells. The rest of the blossom is transparent 

 white; except one little pale apricot spot at the base of each petal. Words, 

 however, can give but a faint idea of this charming little plant which must be 

 seen to be appreciated. 



To have the lilly of the valley in flower about Christmas, the tubers should 

 be taken up in the middle of November, or at latest the third week ; they 

 should be at least t\vo years old ; if older, all the better. Previous to potting 

 it will be necessary to decide how they are to be disposed of when in flower. 

 They are frequently placed in fancy wire or wicker baskets, and still oftener 

 in ornamental vases. If it is intended to remove the tubers when in flower, 

 our plan is to wrap a bit of moss around each, and then pack them away as 

 closely together as possible in pots, or, what is still better, in mignonette boxes 

 filled with light, porous soil. Insert them deep enough to have the soil cover 

 the crowns. Over all place a good thick layer of moss to assist in keeping 

 them moist; and lastly, pots or boxes of the same dimensions as those in which 

 the tubei's are planted are inverted and placed over them, to keep all dark, as 

 darkness is essential to success. Then remove all to a warm pit where they 

 can be supplied with a little bottom heat, which must be gentle at first, but 

 may be gradually increased as the plants show symjjtons of active growth. 

 In three or four weeks, more ox less, according to the treatment they receive, 

 they will be abundantly furnished with their exquisitely scented flowers. They 

 may now be removed and transferred to vases or baskets ; the moss in which 

 they are enveloped greatly facilitates this work. If they are intended to remain 

 and flower where planted, the moss may be dispensed with ; otherwise the 



