3 6 THE HOME FLORIST. 



generally a faint shade of crimson ; suitable for bedding or for pot culture. A. Prince Alfred, 

 of dwarf habit, having flowers of a delicate lilac shade. A. Tom Thumb, the smallest variety 

 of all, rarely attaining more than six inches in height ; flowers of a light porcelain blue color. 



AGROSTEMMA (Hardy Annual). 



A family of plants that flower freely in summer, and although not as valuable as many kinds, 

 they may be grown with the greatest ease from seed, and having long stems and rather attractive 

 colors and forms, are pretty in bouquets and other floral arrangements. 



The varieties commonly grown are New Scarlet, a bright colored variety, Cccli Rosa, of a 

 deep rose color. 



ALOYSIA CITRIODORA LEMON VERBENA (Greenhouse Perennial, 33, 45-, So ). 



A neat growing shrub, with elegant light green lanceolate leaves that are undoubtedly more 

 deliciously fragrant than those of any other plant in cultivation. It is a difficult matter to 

 describe a fragrance with words that may be rightly comprehended. The fragrance of this plant 

 somewhat resembles that of lemon fruit, yet besides possesses a pure sweetness and wholesome- 

 ness that is indescribable. I occasionally meet with persons of cultivated tastes, to whom 

 the fragrance of such flowers as the Heliotrope, Mignonette, Tuberose, Jasminum, etc., which 

 are prized by nearly every one, are found to be surprisingly distasteful, but I have yet to find 

 the person to whom the fragrance of the Lemon Verbena is not agreeable in the highest degree. 

 Although the Aloysia is a tender perennial, it sheds its leaves in the fall, and enters into a natu- 

 ral state of rest during winter, in which condition it is kept over until spring in some moder- 

 ately dry place, like under the shelving in a conservatory or on a shelf in the cellar away from 

 frost. The soil about the root should not be allowed to become dust dry, but at long intervals 

 may be treated to a small quantity of water. In March or April it should be brought to light 

 and be watered frequently to induce a new growth for the season. It may also be pruned at 

 this time. The plant is suitable either as a pot plant or for bedding out, and will prove itself 

 to be one of the easiest to cultivate. 



ALTERNANTHERA (Greenhouse Perennial, 33, 60, 90). 



A genus of ornamental foliage plants, with variously marked leaves, that are well adapted 

 for pot culture, baskets, vases, and for bedding out in ribbon lines or edging to flower beds, 

 being of similar sizes and contrasting beautifully with variegated Alyssum and Thyme for such 

 purposes. They grow rapidly, and form compact, globular-shaped plants of from five to twelve 

 inches high, which are extremely beautiful. In hot August weather young plants can readily 

 be obtained from cuttings for winter decoration and from which to propagate spring stock. The 

 plants are quite easily injured by frost and should be planted out late enough in the spring to 

 avoid danger from this cause. 



A. Amabilis, the foliage of this variety is finely variegated with orange, rose and green; 

 vigorous. A. Latifolia, broad smooth leaves, with many bright colors and tints on green 

 ground resembling autumn leaves. A. Spathulata, leaves carmine and green, the carmine 

 predominating; five inches. A.* Spectabile, leaves orange, bronze and scarlet. A. Versicolor, 

 a beautiful and distinct variety of rose and deep crimson color ; nine inches. 



ALYSSUM, SWEET (Hardy' Annual). 



A pretty little plant, easy to rear from seed and to cultivate in summer and winter for 

 bouquets, its pure white scented flowers, which are produced abundantly, rendering it valua- 

 ble for this purpose. For summer culture sow in the open ground where it is to bloom, 

 or transplant from the seed bed ; in either case leaving four inches of open space between 

 the plants. It is also a useful plant for hanging basket and vase culture. To have an abun- 

 dance of flowers in winter, sow about July 1st and cultivate in pots during summer. This 

 plant is perennial in habit if the flowers are picked and it is kept in a growing temperature. 



ALYSSUM, VARIEGATED SWEET (Greenhouse Perennial, 35, 50, 80 ). This is a pretty 

 variegated variety that is grown from cuttings. It is quite similar in appearance to the above 

 variety, but white predominates over the green in the leaves, making it exceedingly ornamental, 

 aside of its many white sweet scented flowers ; although one of the finest droopers for planting 

 at the edge of hanging baskets and vases, and also as a pot plant, it is one of the very best low 

 bedding plants for planting in ribbon lines or for edgings, as it assumes a dense compact form 

 when bedded. 



AMARANTH US (Half-Hardy Annual). 



While some varieties of the Amaranthus family are highly esteemed as garden and pot plants 

 for their beautiful, showy foliage, and others for the fantastic form and arrangement of the flowers 

 and foliage, some usually advertised in seedmen's catalogues are scarcely deserving of culture, 

 unless planted in the back ground, or grouped with plants to be seen from a distance, on account 

 of the coarseness of the foliage and flowers, but these are so easily grown from seed, which may 

 be sown directly where they are wanted, that after all perhaps they are entitled to our considera- 

 tion. As a rule, both the flowers and foliage of the various Amaranthus are more brilliant in a 

 poor soil and also in dry seasons. 



A. JSicolor Ruber, a very fine, new bedding plant, the seed of which should be sown in heat 

 in March or April ; the lower half of the leaf a red scarlet, the upper half maroon, sometimes 



