THE CANADIAN HOETICULTURIST. 



1G5 



to suffer. In summer the plants may 

 stand a time in the open air, and such 

 plants throw up strong spikes after 

 being placed in gentle heat again. 



By following a system of alternate 

 growing and resting periods, several 

 crops of flowers may be obtained in one 

 season ; and by growing a sufficient 

 number of plants to have relays always 

 coming on in succession, plants in 

 bloom may always be had. Bottom- 

 heat, where available, is useful for 

 pushing forward sluggish bloomers. 

 They are very accommodating as to 

 temperature, but during the time of 

 growth they should have a night tem- 

 perature of at least 60^. As they de- 

 light in moisture, the pots must be well 

 drained, and if a little crushed charcoal 

 and sand be mixed with the soil, to in- 

 crease its porosity, it will be an advan- 

 tage. Clear soot water should Vje given 

 occasionally when growing freely or 

 bloominfj. — American Garden. 



VARIETY IN ORXAMEXTAL 

 PLANTING. 



There are no good reasons for the 

 prevailing lack of variety in the trees, 

 shrubs, and other materials employed 

 in making American homes attractive. 

 Among the many hundreds of trees, 

 shrubs, and flowers, that are hardy in 

 nearly e\ery part of this country, and 

 which are now kept for sale in the lead- 

 ing nurseries, there is in the matter of 

 flowers alone, for example, a wondei'ful 

 variety. There is enough difference 

 amonor these in their season of cominor 

 into bloom, to enable one to make a 

 selection, that would affoid a wealth of 

 beauty every week in the North from 

 April to October, and for some months 

 longer at the South. Then the variety 

 that is afforded by diffei'ent forms, 

 habits, and sizes of such plants, the 

 colors and shapes of the leaves, branches, 

 and the ornamental fruits of some, is 

 very great, and adds to their beauty 



and interest. The evergi-een trees and 

 shrubs must also be mentioned for the 

 peculiar attractions they contribute 

 throughout the entire year. Then there 

 are the hardy climbers — a moot useful 

 and easily managed class of ornamental 

 plants, and the acpiatic, bog, and rock- 

 flowering plants and ferns, all of which 

 possess value for special uses. Besides 

 the hardy kinds, possessing permanent 

 value, there is an endless assortment of 

 annual and perennial plants, raised each 

 year from seeds, bulbs, cuttings, or in a 

 green-house or window-garden, that are 

 easily grown, and which serve to render 

 the garden gay for months in the sum- 

 mer, with their characteristically bri<dit 

 flowers. Now all these things are so 

 easily and cheaply procured in the nur- 

 sery and seed establishments, that no 

 one who has a plot of land surrounding 

 the house should put off for any length 

 of time, the setting out of a sufficient 

 assortment to amply embellish the place 

 throughout the entire year. To make 

 the surroundings of one's home attrac- 

 tive, will pay in dolliirs and cents, be- 

 sides contributing to the enjoyment. 

 The writer but recently attended the 

 appraisement of some ornamental trees, 

 twelve years planted, that had to come 

 away on account of the widenino- of a 

 street. The amount allowed the owner 

 as a remuneration for individual trees 

 was as high as seventy-five dollars each. 

 The same trees when planted perhaps 

 cost one dollar each, and the labor of 

 setting, say one-half as much more. It 

 was their worth for shade and oz'nament 

 that governed the price. There are few 

 places where the presence or absence of 

 fine trees and shrubs would not similarly 

 effect their valuation if sold. If there 

 are children, judicious investments in 

 beautifying the surroundings, will afford 

 invaluable retui-ns in cultivating in 

 them a love for and an interest in 

 natural oijjects ; inspiring in them a 

 desire for the study of botany and 



