TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR. 



345 



ing the summer, the wires and vines could 

 then be removed both together, laid down 

 and covered up during the winter with leaves 

 or straw. This method is also useful for 

 shading windows, etc., in summer, as no 

 time is lost waiting for the plants to make 

 growth. 



The Ampelopsis quinquefolia, or common 

 Virginian creeper, is another useful hardy 

 trailing plant that is often overlooked for 

 something far less pretty and effective. The 

 small white insect, the thrip, that attacks 

 the outdoor roses earlier in the season, often 

 attacks the Virginia creeper and other 

 plants during the hot weather. A syringing 

 once or twice a week with strong tobacco 

 water, or a weak solution of Paris green 

 water, will keep down these numerous and 

 voracious little pests. The exotic climber, 

 Cobea scandens, can also be used very 

 effectively in various ways around and about 

 the lawn during summer. Seeds or cuttings 

 of this plant must be started in heat in 

 April, or early in May, and kept safe from 

 frost until June, when they can be planted 

 out in rich, light soil and kept well watered. 

 This plant stands the sun well, and has a 

 decidedly tropical appearance, especially 

 when covered with its large purple cup- 

 shaped flowers. 



There are many other plants that are sun 

 resisting in their nature, many of them 

 being natives of countries where tropical or 

 sub-tropical climates prevail. Those per- 

 sons having the advantage of a greenhouse 

 to winter their plants in, have no difficulty 

 with these natives of warmer climates ; 

 many of them can, however, be wintered 

 successfully in the dwelling house, or even 

 in a warm cellar. 



The numerous family of Agaves, most of 

 which are natives of the southern part of 

 North America, chiefly Mexico, are very 

 useful for outdoor decoration in summer. A 

 few of these plants stood out in large pots or 

 tubs, give a lawn a decidedly bright and 



sub-tropical appearance. The two varieties 

 mostly seen on lawns are the Agave Ameri- 

 canus that has plain, pale green leaves, and 

 the variegated variety of the same species. 

 Most of the Agaves are of verj- slow growth, 

 but do not, as many suppose, take a cen- 

 tury to reach maturity and produce their 

 immense spikes, as many specimens of these 

 so-called centun,- plants have been known to 

 flower many years before their age had 

 reached the centurA- mark. Some varieties 

 of the Agaves flower annually for years in 

 succession, but most of them, like the two 

 varieties mentioned, produce their blossom 

 and then die. Agaves like a light, fairly 

 rich sandy loam to grow in, with plenty 

 of drainage at the bottom of the tub or pot. 

 Keep the roots moist, but not saturated 

 with water in summer ; in winter they 

 require ver}- little if any water. Our water- 

 ing is often responsible for many failures 

 with Agaves and similar plants of a succu- 

 lent nature. No amount of sun has any bad 

 effect on the hea\y massive foliage of these 

 natives of the south, when once they have 

 become hardened, after having been kept 

 perhaps in close, dark quarters during the 

 winter. 



Many varieties of the Yucca and Aloe 

 family are easy to grow, and make very 

 desirable plants for outdoor use in summer. 

 They require similar treatment to the 

 Agaves. 



Cannas can also be used very effectively 

 in different ways on the lawn in summer, 

 their beautiful foliage, ranging in color from 

 pale green in some varieties to dark purple 

 in others, and their curiously marked orchid 

 like spikes of flowers, entitle them to a 

 prominent position amongst our sun-resist- 

 ing, summer decorative plants. On small 

 lawns where beds or mixed borders of foliage 

 plants cannot be used, groups of cannas 

 grown in pots or tubs, placed in suitable 

 positions on the lawn, have a particularly 

 pleasing effect. The roots of the cannas 



