FLOWER CULTURE. 



1 80 



FLOWERING GRASSES. 



them once more to exhibit their foliage and 

 flowers. Perennials of the first class par- 

 take of the nature of shrubs, but those of 

 the second are known as Herbaceous 

 Plants. It is only with the culture of a 

 few of the former that we are particularly 

 concerned, and the latter must be dealt 

 with en masse under the special title which 

 belongs to them as a class, namely Herba- 

 ceous Plants, and under the heading Bulbs 

 or Bulbous Plants, a name which is applied 

 to them from the peculiar form, not exactly 

 of the roots, but of that portion of the plant 

 which never perishes as long as the plant 

 lives, and which sends out roots below, 

 and leaves and flowers above, in every year 

 at the proper season. 



Bedding Plants. This done, all that 

 remains is to glance at the culture of bed- 

 ding plants, and the special means adopted 

 for the cultivation of what are generally 

 known as florists' flowers, among which 

 stand conspicuous the anemone, the auri- 

 cula, the chrysanthemum, the dahlia, the 

 ho ?v yhock, the hyacinth, the pansy, the 

 ranunculus, the rose, the tulip, and the 

 violet. The general culture of flowers in 

 the greenhouse must then be looked into, 

 and with this the special treatment of well- 

 known greenhouse plants, such as the 

 azalea, the camellia, Cape heaths, and the 

 pelargonium. The special culture of plants 

 requiring individual treatment will be found 

 under the name of each plant. Mr. Broome's 

 remarks on p. 21 1 will repay perusal. 



Lists of Varieties. Although it is desir- 

 able in the extreme to give lists of plants 

 as an assistance to the reader, it will be 

 useless to absorb space in setting forth long 

 catalogues of the varieties of any single 

 flower, for more reasons than one. In the 

 Srst place, new varieties of florists' flowers 

 are brought out every year in greater or 

 less numbers, and are eagerly sought after 

 for a time to find themselves eclipsed, a^ 

 fears pass on, by new floral gems and stars 



of a similar character which have been 

 brought into being and under the notice 

 of the public ; and in the second place it 

 is difficult to select a few varieties of each 

 plant, with the hope of satisfying every 

 purchaser and grower, for what may suit 

 some will not suit others. Again, when it 

 is said that the known varieties of roses 

 amount to upwards of 2,000, and that the 

 varieties of the pansy are numbered by 

 hundreds, it will be seen at once how 

 utterly impossible it is to give complete 

 lists, and how vain and hopeless it would 

 be to attempt to make selections, seeing 

 how tastes differ, and that many a variety 

 that may have been heartily welcomed at 

 its introduction is, so to speak, "here to- 

 day and gone to-morrow." 



How, then, it may be asked, are persons 

 to arrive at a knowledge of current sorts 

 when .they wish to make purchases and 

 stock their gardens ? The answer is simple 

 and easy. Send to any large grower for 

 his catalogue and price list, which is 

 generally sent out twice a year, in spring 

 and autumn, ana from the flowers and 

 varieties of flowers that are named therein 

 make such a selection as may be in con- 

 sonance with your own tastes and wishes. 



Flowering Grasses. 



There are few plants and shrubs that 

 tend more to the adornment of the lawn, 

 when placed in such spots that they may 

 not interfere with the prosecution of lawn 

 sports and games, than some of the orna- 

 mental grasses of greater or less size that 

 of late years have added considerably to 

 the pleasing variety with which our 

 pleasure gardens and grounds are furnished. 

 On this account, if on no other, it will be 

 useful to mention the names of a few of 

 the most noteworthy of these grasses 

 coupled with a few remarks on their culture 

 and maintenance. 



First, let us consider that splendid im- 



