1 888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



269 



tion of Violets offered to her. Tens of thoiisiinds 

 of bunches were thrown fiver the railinifs of the 

 TuiUcries. The ser\ants piletl them up Into pyra- 

 mids which reached as liiifl) as the llrst tloor win- 

 dows. They decked the doors with them, and 

 the great baicony, from which tlie Emiircss 

 greeted the people, seemed n\ade of Violets.— 

 Y(ntth.'<^ Compafiinn. 



The Purple Fringe. In South Europe, in our 

 Southern States, and over a larife portion of the 

 states east of Lake Michigan, the Venetian 

 Sumach, or as we call it. Purple Frinjre, (R)iu.i 



Clumi) itf Roman HyacinUif. 



CDtimis,) stands in the select lists of shrubs for 

 the lawn. But the variety originally received 

 from the nurseries of Southwest Europe has not 

 proven hardy in the West, except in a few fav- 

 ored spots south of the -list parallel. But our 

 observations in Central Russia convinced us that 

 Loudon and other authorities were wrong in 

 assigning the species exclusively to "sunny 

 places in the south of Europe and Asia, from 

 Spain to Caucasus." As imported from Voronesh, 

 in Central Russia, we find it to be perfectly hardy, 

 and even more beautiful in foliage and flower 

 than the real Venetian Sumach. Our bushes are 

 now the " admired of all admirers," and show no 

 traces of winter injury.— Pro/. J. L. Budd, Inwa 

 Agricultural Cnllege. 



Do You Grow the Boman Hyacinthl We doubt 

 not that many who read this article are not well 

 acquainted with this distinct, handsome, sweet 

 and early blooming Hyacinth. No better rec- 

 ommendation of its great value for winter cut 

 Bowers could be given than the fact that com- 

 mercial tlorists force it to an extent equaling 

 without doubt, that of all other varieties of Hya- 

 cinths put together. The preferred color of the 

 flower is white. The spikes of bloom are dfe- 

 tinctively delicat« in appearance, being quite 

 slender in their parts as compared with ordinary 

 varieties. They are also produced mfire freely 

 than the same in ordinary kinds, the rule being 

 about four or more spikes from each strong bulb. 

 Another respect in which this variety stands alone 

 is in earliness of blooming; started at the same 

 time as others, it will be in flower easily two weeks 

 ahead of the earliest single sorts. It is, in fact, 

 the only Hyacinth that can readUy be brought 

 into bloom as early as December. It requires 

 the same treatment as other varieties. 



The annual index and title page for volume III, 

 closing with this issue, appears in the present 

 number. The manner in which the four pages 

 which it comprises are inserted reijuires only that 

 the stitches of the paper be taken out to release 

 these intact for use in binding. To say that we 

 are proud in having laid before our readere the 

 matter in the present volume represented by 

 such a complete and elaborate index but fairly 

 expresses our feelings. It has been our aim as 

 publishers to give in the volume now closing, a 

 greater amount of valuable matter, a greater 

 number of costly engra\ ings, and all of better 

 quality, as regards type, presswork and paper, 

 than has ever before been offered, in the world on 

 horticultural subjects, for the money. Whether 

 or not we have succeeded in this remains f<>r 

 the reader to say. Do you ask regarding the 

 future? Our answer is .ludge of this by the past, 

 but don't hesitate to invite your friends who are 

 interested in horticulture (and who is not) to 

 venture a dollar on a years subscription for 

 themselves. 



Orchid Collecting. Every portion of the tropics 

 remarks the Boston Advertiser, is now being 



searched by Orchid hunters sent out by the Lon- 

 don importers of rare siiecinieus. One liius six- 

 teen collectors in various parts of tropical South 

 America, Africa, Asia and the islands in the 

 I'aciflc and Indian oceans, anil they employ many 

 natives, in fact one of our consuls in Venezuela 

 reports that the Orchid trade is rendering the 

 country prosperous, as poor men will often 

 obtjiin more for an Orchid root procured from a 

 swamp oi- the branch of a tree than they receivcMl 

 for hard labor during a dozen years. Collecting 

 Ls attended by dangei's and los.ses of property as 

 many valuable specimens are lost on account of 

 lack of facilities for transport4ition. One London 

 dealer was lately infoi-med that 19,000 Orchids 

 had been ruineil on the Red sea during a 

 storm. Another instance of loss among the Phil- 

 lippine Islands is that of liO.OOO specimens being 

 spread on the beach to dry, when an unusually 

 high tidal wave swept them all into the sea. A 

 ct>lIector in Peru had his r<M)ts in sacks on mules, 

 which were confiscated by a party of soldiers, 

 who laughed aboutthe Orchids having value. 



Rockery for Bulbs. To our mind many things 

 may be better grown in a rockery, however snuill, 

 than in the open border,and this especially applies 

 to a large number of the smaller bulbs. Our friend 

 "Amateur Gardener " tells how to construct such 

 a one as follows: In a sunny situation mark out 

 the site, giving as irregular an outline as circum- 

 stances will permit, dig out the soil to a depth of 

 two feet and put a layer of one foot of rough 

 stones, broken bricks, and so on, to afford drain- 

 age. Over this put the roughest of the dug-out 

 soil until level with the ground line. Then select 

 the largest of the roekwork clinkers or stone- 

 work, and place them closely together round the 

 margin to retain the rest of the soil. Of course, 

 to have it raised, more soil than that exca- 

 vated will be required, and this portion should 

 be of good quality, and have a liberal proportion 

 of sand mixed with it. Fill uy* to the level of the 

 bordering work, and let it settle for a few da.vs, 

 afterwards putting on more to the required 

 height. Over the surface of the completed 

 mound, bury about half deep, and to present as 

 natural appearance as possible, more stones, 

 lea\ing in the course plenty of interspaces for the 

 occupants. When the whole has well settled 

 down, the planting may be proceeded with. 

 Suitable bulbs are plentiful, and a selection may 

 be made of Snowdrops, Crocuses, Narcissus 

 minor. Lilies, Chionodo.xas, Hepaticas, Anemone 

 apennina, Bulbocodium vcrnum, Frittilaria mel- 

 eagris, Muscari botryoids, Scilla Siberica, Cory- 

 dalis bulbosa (solida), Winter Aconites, Gladiolus 

 communis, Allium neapolitanum, Spanish and 

 Persian Iris, Sternbergia.s, Colchicums, Anemone 

 eortinaria, A. nemorosa, Kanuuculus, and so an, 

 all of which are dwarf in growth, and would 

 prosper in such a situation. For the sake of 

 variety, a choice might be made of herbaceous 

 plants such as Iris i>umila. Primroses, Aubretias, 

 Dielytra eximia, Trolliuses, and Phlox reptans, 

 while some of the Sedums, Sempervivum ami 

 mossy Saxifrages, particidarly S. Camposi, would 

 offer a pleasing contra.st. Where the space per- 

 mitted, a few larger-growing plants might be in- 

 termingled to break the vmiformity of growth. 

 These will readily occur to anyone with the 

 slightest acquaintance with gardening matters, 

 but Snapdragons may be mentioned as particu- 

 larly suitiible. The above list is very far from 

 e-xhausting the plants adapted for such a pur- 



A Fi'ost Rack with rover. See oi>po8ite Page. 

 pose, and no doubt every one will have a jiartic- 

 ular favorite to make conspicuous. One of mine 

 would be Zauschneria Califi>rnica, which would 

 delight in such a situation, an<l be one of the 

 brightest ornaments in the autuMm.-.4^((aiii Rtnii. 



Floral Happenings in New York. 



The society pa])ers say that nothing is taking 

 place at present, and the florists echo that state- 

 ment. There is reall.v nothing in the way of 

 decorating in the city, and naturally business is 



very dull. There are many events calling for 

 tittral work at the summer resorts, chieHy dinners 

 and luncheons, but all the origiiuil Ideas are 

 Ix'ing reserved for the more remunerative .season. 

 Gladiolus Is used a great ileal in largi- pieces; a 

 big sloping basket of yellow Hoses and sulphur 

 colored Gladiolus was very handsome. Very 

 few Hybrids arc to be seen; there Is always a 

 dearth of them at this season. 



There is a tendency to form decorations of 

 several soils of flowers, instead of combining it 

 to one. \s a rule, Koses are taken as the central 

 idea, and other flowers added to them. Pansies 

 seem to grow in favor; the present strains are so 

 tine that it increases the estimation in which this 

 popular flower is held. Sweet Peius are still In 

 high fin-or. Some very pretty diiuier and lunch- 

 eon arrangements are made with loose maiwes of 

 this flower, shading from white through all the 

 variations of pink to crimson. The handsome 

 new strains of Hollyhock, such as Pester Hender- 

 son hius sent out, are used etCectively in floral 

 work, especially the white and some soft tints of 

 yellow. Hut it is unwi.se to put them in the 

 vicinity of more delicate flowers. 



Some pretty lettering has been done with 

 flowers of Browallia elata; its intense blue is 

 prettier than the usual Immortelles. Not that a 

 high class city florist is in the habit of doing much 

 lettering, even when he makes designs. It is 

 more usual to make a plaque cover for a casket 

 than to make an ordinary set design. Whenever 

 designs are attempted they are simple and grace- 

 ful, while the custom of decorating the rooms in 

 which funeral services are held is both beautiful 

 and appropriate. 



At one watering-place dinner some little time 

 since there were little Orange plants on the table, 

 but the Oranges, instead of growing naturally, 

 were filled with jellies, Chinese fashion, and fas- 

 tened on. However, this was a confectioner's, 

 rather than a florist's, arrangement. 



All through the summer we see striking ar- 

 rangements of rather coarse flowers, which aw 

 as much a mat terof necessity as of taste. Really, 

 there is not a very wide selection to choose from 

 during July and August, hence the bold combi- 

 nation of Gladiolus, Hollyhock, Calliopsi.s, Core- 

 opsis, and the like. 



A little later we shall see gorgeous arrange- 

 ments of Golden-rod and Asters, which have 

 been fiLshionable of lateyeais, and then the flood 

 of Chrysanthemums will begin to vc.v the souls 

 of the Rose growers. The finest floral arrange- 

 ments always contain Orchids; many beautiful 

 and ea.sily grown varieties are in flower during 

 the summer months. Miltonia specfjiliilis is very 

 useful; so are many Odontoglossums and Oncid- 

 lums. Some charming bouquets have been com- 

 posed of a centre of these flowers, with a border 

 of loose Roses, the Orchids Ix'ing raisi'd abo\e 

 the latter. The prettiest green to go with this ar- 

 rangement is Adiantum Farleycn.se or cuneatum; 

 mo.st of the large florists try to get up a good 

 supply of these useful ferns. 



There is some disposition towards higher table 

 decorations; a tendency to use light Palms or 

 Ferns, as formerly. Still, this depends on the 

 taste of each indi\1dual decorator. Those jiretty 

 fairy lamps used last year are now out of style; 

 gone to the same limbo as colored satin table- 

 cloths. Latel}-, one would see more Sweet Peas 

 worn on the street than any other flowers. Women 

 wear neat little bunches of them, while men wear 

 a cluster of two or three. They fade quickly, 

 but are charming while they last. 



Some of the watering-place correspondents 

 have been telling us a lot about the elaborate 

 use of flowers there. One woman was described 

 as ciinying a parasol with ribs and bonier of 

 natural flowers, which were, of course, removed 

 ilaily, but there is a strong supposition that the 

 writer drew on his imagination for big facts. 



The prizes for floral designs offered by the 

 national Society at the New York convention 

 will call out a little originality, it is hoped. 

 Doubtless there will be something of the kind at 

 the Chrysanthemum show in the autumn. If we 

 have the promised great private show we shall 

 be likely to see some very Hue decorative effects. 

 A regular Jungleof the Dove Orchid is promised, 

 which, if advertised, will draw a great many. 

 All the non-professionals expressed much disap- 

 pointment at the last Orchid show, because this 

 flower was not forthcoming, and appeared deeply 

 injured because it could not be flowered at that 

 season. A little typographical eccentricity in 

 the last issue makes me speak of Lencadendrui; 

 Leucodendron was meant. 



Emii.y Louise Tapun. 



