THE OXA/JS. 



so-called cactus dahlias, a name which 

 seems far-fetched now-adays. It was 

 the color and not the form that gave the 

 point to the comparison in the first place, 

 and we now have a very great variety of 

 colors in that form — colors that do not 

 necessarily remind one of cacti. The 

 white variety, Mn. A. Feart (¥\'-j,. 1122), 

 has a form very similar to that of the 

 brilliant red cactus dahlia pictured in 

 1879. The cactus type has been kept 

 quite pure, and of late years it has also 

 been modified into some of the loose and 



flowing forms of the Japanese chrysan- 

 themums. 



The place for dahlias is the garden. — 

 They can never have a place in land- 

 scape gardening because the first fro^t 

 kills them. I often think their strength 

 is dissipated when they are strung along 

 a walk or other border. Personally, I 

 believe in flower beds, but not in the 

 middle of a beautiful green lawn. Tlu' 

 grass has a quiet story to tell, and il 

 dahlias intrude they should be put out 

 for disturbing the peace. 



THE OXALIS. 



M' 



O.ST of our housekeepers who 

 ,..,,,, are flower lovers have taken 

 /\ V ]_\ pleasure in the thrift and 

 daintiness of the old-fash- 

 ioned Oxalis rosea and also Oxa/is all'a. 

 which they generally know as pink and 

 white Shamrock ; but they have not dis 

 covered half the possibilities of this gem 

 of plants. It embraces a number of 

 species of pretty, neat growing plants, 

 elegant in foliage and bi'.om, the latter 

 being produced in great profusion, and 

 embracing a wide range of color. It is 

 one of the most satisfactory of bulbs for 

 window culturt For potting, use a 

 good rich soil with a sprinkle )f sand in 

 it, placing from one to three bulbs in a 

 four inch pot ; stand in a dark cool place 

 for a few weeks to root thoroughly, then 

 remove to a sunny situation in the win- 

 dow, or conservatory, in a temperature 

 of about 60° Fahr. One of the best 

 varieties for window culture is Oxalis 

 alba illustrated by the accompanying 

 cut. It will be seen that this is not the 

 old Oxalis alba, but an improved Oxalis 

 alba, having much larger blooms and of 

 which the foliage branches out from a 

 parent stem. Its dwarf, spreading habit 

 and profuse bloom make it unsuriiasscd 



as a table plant. Flowers and leaves 

 fold at night and open in the morning 

 as with the old variety ; unless the plant 

 is grown in a partially shaded situation, 

 when the flowers remain open all night- 

 O.xalis Bermuda buttercup, the newest 

 of yellows, is of more luxuriant growth, 

 and blooms in greater profusion than 

 0.xalis alba ; one bulb will be sufficient 

 for a five or six inch pot. The flowers 

 are of purest buttercup yellow, and of 

 great substance. Well-grown plants have 

 produced as many as seventy- five flower 

 stems, and over one thousand blooms in 

 one season. The bulbs of this Oxalis 

 have been grown in the congenial soil 

 and climate of Bermuda, until the bulbs 

 have attained great strength, hence the 

 wonderful flower productiveness. I might 

 here mention Oxalis lutea, a splendid 

 large, canary yellow, of strong, upright 

 growth ; the leaves of a dull green color, 

 with a deep purple tint on the reverse 

 side. This, in a small pot, will materially 

 brighten up a collection of plants. \Vhile 

 growing, the plant should be frequently 

 turned so that all sides may get the 

 power of the sun, that the growth may 

 be symmetrical. Water regularly, mak- 

 ing sure the roots, as well as the ujipcr 

 ■4 



