50 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in the limits of a single article, say all its importance demands, i. e., the 

 cultivation of the rarer varieties of our wild plants. We do not now ap- 

 proach a new subject, but one often discussed, and perhaps the most satis- 

 factory way of treating it will be to give our own experience on the culture 

 of many of these plants. 



Trillium. A most beautiful tribe of plants, of which we have several 

 fine species. 



T. cernuum, or Nodding Trillium, will grow in any damp, peaty or loamy 

 soil ; it is very common, and only needs transplanting ; it is, however, the 

 least showy and attractive species. 



T. pictum, or Painted Trillium ; a most beautiful species ; flower pure 

 white, each petal delicately painted with dark lake ; quite rare in the 

 vicinity of Boston. Bigelow describes it as found only on Ascutney moun- 

 tain, Vermont. Mr. Bre^k has gathered it in Lancaster. In the Middle 

 States it is more abundant ; and the writer has found it in great plenty in 

 a swamp in Dedham, and has repeatedly exhibited it at the weekly displays 

 of the Society. All attempts to domesticate it have, however, failed ; it has 

 been transplanted at every season, but with little success ; the bulbs never 

 flowering after the second year, and dwindling away. The finest plants 

 ever in the writer's garden were transplanted by accident, in removing from 

 the swamp a large bush of Clethra alnifolia. They for some time did well, 

 but were finally lost. From this, however, we may deduce, that if the soil 

 were taken from the swamp with the plant, and sufficient shade afibrded, 

 the chances of success might be increased. 



T. grandiflorum is not met with wild, around Boston, though we have 

 seen fine plants in gardens. Tt is the most beautiful of the species, and 

 does well in cultivation. It needs a drier soil than T. pictum. The petals 

 are about one to two inches in length, pure white, then changing to a dark 

 rose color. 



T. erectum bears a flower of a dark purple color, of an offensive odor, 

 and is found in old woods in the western part of the State. We have seen 

 fine plants in the Cambridge Botanic Garden. 



T. sessile is not found at the North. The leaves are beautifully varie- 

 gated. We have seen a plant in the Botanic Garden. 



Viola pedata ; a very handsome species ; it may be flowered in the border, 

 by removing the sod with the plants, from their native pasture, but we have 

 never been able to flower it well ; and the seed does not come up in the 

 garden. 



Anemone nemorosa and thalectroides ; very pretty, but, being small and 

 delicate, they require careful culture; a little clump is very showy; a 

 shady situation and rich leaf mould suit them well. There is a fine double 

 variety of A. nemorosa. 



Rhexia Virginica, a curious and very pretty purplish pink flower, bloom- 

 ing in August. We have never cultivated it, as it grows abundantly in 

 our grass land. It seems to flourish equally well in a very damp and dry 

 soil ; well worthy of cultivation. Transplant or raise from seed. 



Sarracenea purpurea. We have had good success with this beautiful 



