FLOWERS IN MARCH. 



HE crocus and the primrose bloom 

 In amber's varying dyes : 

 And snow drops aid to chase the 

 gloom, 

 Inspir'd by lowering skies. 



So gems — with answering hues — adorn 

 The necks of ladies fair ; 

 The topaz, and the pearl, there woin, 

 Do with those flow'rs compare. 



The amethyst and aconite 



Alike their tints display ; 



The violets too, as sapphires bright. 



Their purple tribute pay. 



Narcissus next appears, forsooth. 

 In jealous jellow clad ; 

 Because he lov'd himself, poor youth ; 

 And, cross'd in love, grew mad. 



Ere long, rose, (oh, beauteous flower !) 

 Itfc fragrance will exhale ; 

 And, after ev'ry soft'ning shower, 

 Fresh perfume ev'ry gale. 



The infant buds, as emeralds, shine ; 

 But soon, a crimson dye. 

 The jagged calyx rich will line. 

 And seem like rubies nigh. 



That semblance mark luxuriant earth. 

 In precious boons bestows, 

 Twixt radiant gem? that lie beneath, 

 And flow'i-s the surface shows I 



'Tis thus the Delia's matchless charms. 

 Which joy around impart ; 

 Within her smiles each floweret blooms ; 

 Each gem shines in her heart. 



I. KiNODOM. 

 March, 18 J 4. 



$ ©^p Bcoi^ Table. ^ 



Park and Oct-Door Association. First 

 Report, Louisville, Kentucky, 1897. 



We liave just received a copy of this Report 

 from Mr. \V. H. Manning, of Boston. The 

 report covers al)out 100 pages, not only show- 

 ing the excellent work of the Association, but 

 also containing many valuable papers. As an 

 example, we quote from Mr. Manning's paper 

 on Park Designs and Park Planting : 



Plantations upan the public streets, about 

 recreation grounds, or at points where large 

 crowds will congregate, should be made up of 

 plants with uninteresting flowers and a vigor- 

 ous constitution, tough branches or prickly 

 stems, so that they will repel rough usage and 

 recover quickly from an injury ; while those 

 standing close to pleasure walks, terraces, 

 windows, and about buildings, where thej' 

 will be under inspection at all times, should 

 be made up of varieties having foliage and 

 flowers and stems that are attractive at all 

 seasons ; whereas plants that are to form a 



part of a landscape to be viewed at a distance 

 should be selected on account of the effect of 

 light and shade that they will produce. Sim- 

 ilar considerations will prevail in working out 

 the details of all plantations. 



It is generally coming to be realized that 

 native plants, especially those having a vigor- 

 ous growth and healthy foliage, should pre- 

 dominate in all permanent out-of-door plan- 

 tations, and that with these the exotics can 

 be used to give variety, but in such a manner 

 that no serious injury to the appearance of 

 the plantation will result from diseases to 

 which they are more subject as a class than 

 natives. 



Primarily p'.ants are used by a landscape 

 designer as a painter uses his pigments, to 

 sejure certain landscape effects He does not 

 select a plant for a position because it is rare, 

 but because it gives just the shade of color, 

 texture, or outline to complete the ideal pic- 

 ture he has formed in his mind. 



CATALOGUES. 



Seed Anntal, l!>yf<, A. W. Livingston's Sons, Columbus, Ohio. 



The ash-leaved maple (Acer negundo), 

 a herald of spring, with its beautiful 

 green foliage, and its rapid growth, 

 would be an excellent street tree, were it 



not for the bag-worm and web-cater 

 pillar being so found of it. It should 

 be skilfully pruned to keep it in good 

 health. — Mass. Hor. Society. 



