7 8 THE HOME FLORIST. 



Jerusalem Cherry, producing an immense crop of scarlet, cherry-like fruit, from early in the fall 

 until after Christmas. Plants grown from seed are more productive of fruit the first season, 

 than those struck from cuttings, or those several years old. Sow in the spring for fall bloom, 

 and bring forward during summer either in ample sized pots, plunged in the open air, or else 

 by planting out and taking up and potting the plants in September. S. Pseudo- Capsicum fol. var. 

 is a dwarf variety of the above. Aside of its other good qualities, the foliage is margined .with 

 sulphur yellow to half the depth of the leaves. Whether used as a house plant, for bedding, or 

 for vase or basket decoration, it is a valuable plant. 



SPIREA (Hardy Herbaceous Perennials and Shrubs). 



A genus containing a large number of species, including herbaceous plants and shrubs, 

 natives of Europe, Asia, and America. They are all hardy, and produce showy flowers, usually 

 in heads, their prevailing colors being white, pink, crimson, etc. Of the easiest culture in any 

 garden soil, the herbaceous varieties propagating by division of the roots. The Astilbe Japonica, 

 which is separately treated on, on page 39, belongs to this family. S. Filipendula Plena is a 

 highly esteemed variety, with deep green foliage of beautiful form, and pure white clusters of 

 bloom, produced in June on stems from one to two feet high There is also a variety with 

 variegated foliage and whitish flo.wers. 



STATICE MARITIMA THRIFT, SEA PINK (Hardy Herbaceous Perennial). 

 A low growing plant of dense growth, which is valued for edging beds, walks, etc., being 

 one of the best in cultivation for this purpose. It grows rapidly in any garden soil, and can be 

 multiplied to any desired extent almost, yet does not partake of a weedy character in any way. 

 The plants grow less than six inches high ; are very compact, with narrow deep green leaves, 

 and little heads of pink flowers in June and July. Should be taken up once every few years, 

 and be divided and reset. 



STEVIA (Greenhouse Perennial, 33, 45, 8f). 



The Stevias, although botanically distinct from Eupatoriums (see Eupatorium, page 52), are, 

 in points of free growing and winter flowering qualities and their general requirements, almost 

 precisely the same as that family of plants, being with them of the easiest culture and a superior 

 class of plants for the conservatory, and also useful for window culture. For their management, 

 follow directions given for that family. 



Compacta, an early flowering variety, with large compact heads of pure white flowers; con- 

 tinues in flowers nearly all winter, and longer than any other variety of either Stevia or Eupat- 

 orium. Scrrata, a free flowering variety, blooming most freely about the holidays. The flowers 

 are white and arranged loosely and gracefully along the stem. 



STOCK GILLYFLOWER (Half -Hardy Annuals, Biennials and Perennials). 



A genus of half-shrubby plants grown from seed, which produce spikes of elegant fragrant 

 single and double flowers of many desirable and showy colors, including pure white. The plants 

 are in no respect delicate, are easily reared, and in the different sections afford varieties of the 

 greatest value, either for bedding or for pot culture in the window, the conservatory (tempera- 

 ture, 33, 45 to 55, 80) or the open-air plant stand. All kinds of Stocks should be transplanted 

 from the seed pots or beds in \vhich they are started while they are quite small, as their slender 

 roots soon extend to such a distance that the plants cannot be taken up without loss of fine root- 

 lets, and consequent injury. 



TEN WEEK STOCKS. These are important annuals ranking in general desirability as 

 garden plants with the Aster, Balsam, Phlox Drummondii, Portulaca, Zinnia, etc., but are 

 superior to either of these in their admirable adaptability to pot culture for blooming either in 

 summer or winter. The section includes varieties, ranging in growth from one-half to one and 

 one-half feet in height, which embrace a large variety of colors, such as white, bright crimson, 

 carmine, blue, lilac, chamois, rose, blood-red, yellow, violet, purple and various shades of these, 

 most of which are exceedingly pure, striking and fragrant, and a large percentage of the plants 

 will produce flowers perfectly double. They delight in any well enriched soil. For summer 

 flowering the seeds may be sown in the hot-bed or cold-frame in April, or the open ground in 

 May, allowing the plants to stand twelve inches apart. For winter flowering, sow in July, 

 August or September, and cultivate in pots in the open ground until cool autumn weather, when 

 they should be moved under protection, but still treated to an abundance of fresh air as late in 

 the season as possible, and also frequently in winter. During their flowering season in pots, 

 they will be benefited by occasional waterings with weak liquid manure. 



AUTUMNAL OR INTERMEDIATE STOCKS. This section are prized on account of their flower- 

 ing late in the autumn and winter, which necessitates that they be grown in pots, and brought 

 into the window or conservatory for blooming. For this purpose the seeds should be sown in 

 the spring. Seeds may also be sown in July or August, for plants to flower in the spring, A 

 large number of bright and desirable colors are embraced. 



EMPEROR OR IMPERIAL STOCKS. This desirable class of Stocks are better suited for pot 

 culture then for bedding, and are perennial in habit, frequently lasting for several years. If the 

 seeds are sown in spring they will bloom in autumn, while for spring flowering they should be 

 sown in July and August. The colors are white, rose and crimson, and the plants attain a height 

 of eighteen inches. 



