POPULAR GARDENING. 



125 



root-stocks, which are more liable to shrivel 

 than those which are shorter and thicker. 



in diameter, and before the advent of snow 

 ours were a picture. Out of a collection of 

 IS sorts there is none to compare with this. 



Notes on Spring Flowering Bulbs 

 and Hellebore. 



v.. OBFET. I'ASSAIC CO., S. J. 



In the January number of Popular G.\u- 

 DKNiNii Mr. Falconer observes "there are 

 very few of the Alliums worth gi'owing as 

 pot plants." I send herewith a specimen of 

 Allium triquetrum, which I think you will 

 admit is one of the few. A 12 inch pan has 

 upwards of 40 tiower stems showing 011 it, 

 each bulb producing 3 stems. The flowers 

 are white keeled with green, with broad, 

 graceful foliage. It seeds freely, and if 

 sown when ripe produces flowering plants 

 first year. It is a native of Algiers. 



Lachenalias are a class of plants well 

 worthy of cultivation. One of the best is 

 L. Nelsoni, a hybrid variety, resembling 

 Ij. tricolor, but is more robust. The spikes 

 are thrown well up above the foliage, and 

 last about sLx weeks in perfection. Ours 

 are grown in shallow 8-inch pans, several of 

 which are promising a dozen or more 

 spikes of bloom. 



Another pretty bulbous plant is Tritelia 

 unirtora, and well adapted to pot culture. 

 The flowers are white with a blue line in 

 each petal, and are also sweet scented, riv- 

 aling even the Freesia in this respect. The 

 variety Lilacina has sky blue flowers and is 

 a suitable companion to the type. 



The Hoop Petticoat Narcissus, (N. bulhn- 

 (■<i(litui>) and varieties, should also be in 

 every collection of spring bulbs. Ours have 

 been flowering for the past six weeks, and 

 very beautiful they are, lasting a longtime, 

 and if taken care of and not allowed to be- 

 come dust dry in summer, they bloom well 

 year after year. All the above do well in 

 an ordinary greenhouse where frost is ex- 

 cluded, and a temperature of 4^' to .50° main- 

 tained. They should be potted in August 

 before root action commences, in sandy 

 loam, a little peat and decayed manure, and 

 will by the display of flowers in spring well 

 repay any attention bestowed on them. 



We And that to do Montbretia Pottsii well 

 it needs to be kept green through the winter, 

 drying off does not seem to answer. It is 

 not so with M. crocosm*- 

 flora; this may be lifted in 



Vf-C*I»-^->rv^ cellar with Gladiolus, etc. 



^^,»- 



CRIMSON CARNATION POPPY. 



and when planted in spring soon grow- 

 rapidly. A bed of it here last sununer was 

 a blaze of color for two months, far superior 

 to its reputed parents, M. Pottsii and 

 Croscosmia aurea, which were growing on 

 either side of it. 



Apropos of Hellebores there is none to 

 compare with H. niger altifolius, the blooms 

 of which are pure white from 3 to 4 inches 



About Some Garden Poppies. 



ELMER E. SCMMEY, ERIE CO., N. Y. 



Why the Perennial or Oriental Poppies 

 (P((7»ii'ir Orinittilin) as one class were ever 

 subjected to the slight by flower lovers that 

 they seem to bear is not easy to understand, 

 as "we consider their extremely showy 

 qualities when in bloom, together with their 

 moderate demands in the way of attention. 

 As to the latter point it is reduced to about 

 this: A rich, moist, well-drained soil; di- 

 vision and resetting in August after the 

 season's growth is matured (if division is de- 

 ferred, as is sometimes done, until spring. 

 Init a few weak flowers will be had the sami- 

 season). This section really is entitled to a 

 frcmt place among our hardiest perennials. 

 The rich orange-scarlet flowers, borne 

 singly on the rough three-foot flower stems 

 are five or six inches in diameter. They are 

 at their best in the month of June. At the 

 base of each of the four petals is a deep pur- 

 ple-black spot, suggesting a cross. Num- 

 erous purple stamens shower a profusion of 

 golden pollen over the parts, causing an ap- 

 pearance that is plea.sing. 



Besides increasing by division of the roots, 

 the Perennial Poppy is easily grown from 

 seed. This should be sown some time pre- 

 vious to midsummer for a crop of bloom 

 the following season. An excellent situa- 

 tion in which to grow the plants is the 

 shrubbery border, on its sunniest side, the 

 fiowers showing finely against the backing 

 of green that is afforded. Separate clumps 

 of them in that portion of the grounds de- 

 voted to wild garden are also well in place. 

 The Bracted Oriental Poppy (var. hractc- 

 (ttum) from Siberia is a remarkably fine 

 dwarf form of the Oriental, though scarcely 

 so fi-ee blooming. Its low habit and pleas- 

 ing style of flowers \\ith their green leafy 

 bracts beneath, renders this a most pleas- 

 ing variety. The flowers come in a variety 

 of colors. 



The Iceland Poppy (P. nuiJicnuloa dwarf 

 species from Siberia and Northern America, 

 has deeply cut leaves, large, rich, yellow and 

 other colored flowers on stems a foot to l."> 

 inches high, and is valuable for the border 

 or rock work, forming rich masses of cup- 

 like blossoms. This, like the preceding one, 

 is easily rai.sed from seed, which is fortunate, 

 as the dwarfs, though they be true peren- 

 nials, seem not to be sufficiently hardy to be 

 generally reliable in our American winters. 

 The Alpine Poppy, a native of the higher 

 Alps in Europe, is another pleasing peren- 

 nial species, to be treated as an annual. Its 

 beautiful white flowers having a yellow cen- 

 ter on stems a foot or less in height, and 

 with its lobed, finely cut foliage is attractive. 

 But notwithstanding the merit of the per- 

 ennial species of Poppies, no doubt the more 

 common, if somewhat less beautiful Poppies 

 of the hardy annual class, will also con- 

 tinue to be popular among flower growers. 

 Of these the seed may be sown either in the 

 fall or spring, but with a gain of several 

 weeks in flowering time, by adopting the 

 former time. The seed should be sown thinly 

 in rich soil where they are wanted to bloom, 

 thinning out the plants to six or eight inches 

 apart. In semi-wild parts of the garden and 

 along drives they may be made a prominent 

 feature, as few other plants, whether hardy 

 or not, will afl:'ord so brilliant and etfective 

 a display, resembling indeed Tulips as 

 seen from a distance. 



Among the best sorts are the French and 

 German Poppies, known botanically as 

 Pa paver lilHrax, and embracing such varie- 

 ties as Carnation, liauunculus and mcotee 

 Poppies. These latter are double flowering 



I forms of tlie common red Corn Poppy, and 

 show nearly every shade of color except blue 

 and yellow. In height they range from two 

 feet to three feet. 



P. iiiiil>riisiini is a striking and showy sort, 

 dazzling scarlet flowers with a jet black 

 blotch on the inner face of each petal, some- 

 times margined with a.shy grey. The black 



/^ 



PAPAVER PAVONIUM (PEACOCK POPPY.) 



spot being conspicuous on the outer surface 

 of the petals it makes of masses of plants a 

 grand display early in summer, following 

 Anemone fulgens, and vieing with it in bril- 

 liancy. This species is a native of the Cau- 

 casus and is a very hardy annual. 



The Opium Poppy (P. KdiniiifcniiinslumlA 

 also be mentioned. This in its natural state 

 has large, single, variously colored flowers 

 which soon fall away, being succeeded by a 

 capsule from which, when wounded, there 

 exudes a milky juice that on drying forms 

 the opium of commerce. The hybrid varie- 

 ties of this species deserve a place among 

 our most ornamental kinds. They require 

 the same treatment as do other annual sorts. 



i>"iO. Propagating Large-leaved Begonias. I 

 presume > nu refer to B. Hex ami its \arietie,s. If 

 so, would Siiy that tlie.v euii be ri-adily inureased 

 by taking the older or well matured leaves and 

 euttinsr them in secti()n^^, cutting each section in 

 such a manner as to form a .iunetioii of the nbs 

 lit the lower end of the cuttuit!-. Then lay them 

 in pots or pans filled with :^aiid, and place in a 

 warm, damp place, or place the Ua\es, cut as 

 above clescribed, in 11 warm, clamp part, of the 

 propagating bed.— ('. E. P. 



riTA. Camellia Management. Do not trim the 

 roots, but about the Uttli nf May plant out in a 

 well enriched border, in a partially shaded situa- 

 tion, and mulch with coarse littery manure. 

 Water whenever necessary, and syringe freely 

 during hot, dry weather. Sponge off the leaves 

 occasionally. About the middle of September 

 take up and repot. Use porous or soft baked 

 pots, and let them be proportional*^' to the size 

 of the plants. Drain the pots well, if the plants 

 are one-third tilled with drainage it is none too 

 much Use a compost cimiposed of two-thirds 

 turfy loam, and one-third well decayed cow ma- 

 nure Never permit the plants to suffer tor want 

 of water at any time, and after the plants are 

 brought inside, place them where an average 

 temperature of from 4U' to .50° is mamtamed. 

 K.vtremes of drought or moisture, or a high lem- 

 piMatinr after the plants are brought inside will 

 cfi-taiMlN Icii.l to ((ropi>iiig of the tnids. When 

 the pUuits an- in a state of growth, they may be 

 given a higher temperature of from 10 to 1.) de- 

 grees.— t'. E. P. 



.lie. Cyclamen Treatment for Continuous 

 Bloom. To insure as long a season for these as 

 ]i<jssible the plants should be divided and kept in 

 two different temperatures; those that are 

 Uowering or fast approaching this condition pro- 

 duce the finest blooms when accommodated with 

 the temperature of a warm greenhouse, say 45° 

 to 50° bv night, and a little warmer in the day, 

 but witu this tliey should be kept well exposed 

 to the light, with air every day. Give particular 

 attention to keeping down aphides which, it 

 allowed to remain undisturbed even tor a short 

 time do irreparable mischief to the leaves and 

 advancing Howers. Those that are intended to 

 -;oceeed tlie earliest blocaiiing lot should be kept 

 quite cool, so as to retard the expansion of tne 

 Howers as long as possible. 



