82 THE HOME FLORIST. 



September these are gone over, and the runners which start into growth about this time are 

 removed. This operation is repeated every few weeks, and in October the plants are taken up 

 and potted, or if to be forced in the conservatory they may be planted directly on the beds. 

 The plants will not bear much confinement, and a crop of flowers can only be expected where 

 plants are kept cool (32, 45, 75) and treated to an abundance of fresh air. The double varie- 

 ties may be wintered with entire safety in a cold-pit, or by receiving protection in the open 

 ground. All delight in cool places, and a little shade. Propagate by division and cuttings. 



WALL FLOWER CHERIANTHUS CHEIRI (Half- Hardy Perennial.) 

 This is a well known plant, of the easiest culture from seed, and suitable for pot or garden 

 culture. It commences flowering in the spring of the second season after sowing ; during the 

 preceding winter should be kept in the cellar, cold-pit, or cool part of the conservatory. There 

 are handsome double and single flowers, very fragrant, with orange and yellow colors predomi- 

 nating, and these shaded red, brown or violet. 



WAX PLANT. See Hoya. 

 XERANTHEMUM (Hardy Annual). 



A class of everlasting flowers, possessing considerable merit for drying for winter decoration. 

 There are white and several shades of light purple flowers, which are double and borne on long 

 substantial stems that retain their strength \vith drying. The plants are robust and easily grown 

 from seed, which starts readily and may be sown in heat or where the plants are wanted. 



Double Zinnia Flower. 



ZINNIA, DOUBLE (Half-Hardy Annual). 



The improved Double Zinnia of the present day is emphatically one of the most valuable 

 annuals that can be grown, and one that is deserving of a place in every flower garden. The 

 plant is robust, free-growing and exceedingly prolific, and may be reared from seed sown under 

 glass, transplanting the plants when small, or in the open ground, as soon as danger from frost 

 is over. The flowers are of beautiful form and texture, perfectly double in the best sorts, and 

 afford white, scarlet, yellow, purple, salmon, violet and other colors in the different varieties. 

 They begin to appear when the plants are very young, retain their attractiveness for a long time, 

 and increase in number and beauty until hard frosts. Unfortunately the Zinnia, like many other 

 choice double kinds of seed-grown plants, will only produce a certain percentage of double 

 flowers from the best of seed. I generally set the plants six or seven inches apart, in rows 

 twenty inches apart, and then as they come in flower thin out one half or moi'e of the poorest, 

 and thus retain only those of superior quality. This thinning must be done with caution, and 

 several flowers should be allowed to form on a plant before deciding whether to pull it up or not, 

 as plants which will in season produce the most double flowers, frequently show their first ones 

 only partially double. The Zinnia will thrive in any garden soil. 



