308 HARDY HERBACEOUS FLOWERS. 



Here, we have hardly attained to the same nicety of discrimi- 

 nation with regard to Pansies as obtains in the Old World. 

 "Without troubling ourselves with minute distinctions, the flowers 

 are admired for their beauty ; yet even the child in Pansy-lore 

 will prefer those that are most circular in outline, and whose 

 colors are pure and distinct. 



Yucca. — Adam's Needle. — "We desire to call attention to the 

 Yucca, a most beautiful and interesting plant, yet very seldom to 

 be met with in our gardens. The pecidiar foliage is so strikingly 

 in contrast with that of all other plants that for this alone it is 

 always desirable, yet in addition to this, its appearance when in 

 in bloom is exquisitely charming, especially when seen by moon- 

 light. The variety known as Filamentosa, so called from the 

 threads that hang from the edges of the leaves, is the only one 

 that we know to be sufiiciently hardy to endure our climate. Very 

 probably some of the other species, such as T. Gloriosa, would 

 winter safely beneath the snows of more northern localities, when 

 it would perish in the open winters of the lake regions. "We 

 most sincerely hope that every one who has a garden wiU, at 

 least, plant the Filamentosa and enjoy its rare beauty. 



To enjoy this plant to the best advantage a bed should be 

 prepared, of light rich soil, that will hold at least half-a-dozen 

 plants at about two feet apart each way. The first season they 

 will not be likely to bloom, but they will bloom the second, and 

 increase in size, and in a few years completely fill the bed. They 

 should be allowed to remain in the same bed without being dis- 

 turbed, for as they increase in size and strength they will flower 

 more and more abundantly. 



It is propagated by dividing the roots, and very readily from 

 seed. The seedlings differ considerably, and we hope some lover 

 of flowers will take this plant in hand, and, by sowing seed, raise 

 some new and desirable hardy varieties. 



The flowers are borne on tall branching flower stems, from 

 four to six feet high, which are nearly covered with large, beU- 

 shaped, creamy-white blossoms. Llr. E. S. Band, living near 



