CANDYTUFT, (Iberis,) Nat. Ord. Crudfera. 



The Candytuft is an old, popular, hardy annual that every one at all conversant with flower- 

 is acquainted with. It is the same flower now that it was two hundred years ago, the improve- 

 ment in its character being very 

 slight. Although the Candytuft 

 grows so freely that it is not con- 

 sidered necessary to give it any par- 

 ticular care, yet it appreciates a 

 little extra culture, as those who 

 take a plant or two for extra good 

 treatment will be fully aware after 

 the trial. A little manure water occasionally, with a thorough softening of the soil around the 

 the plant, and a thinning out of the too numerous clusters of buds, will produce heads of flowers 

 three inches across. The Candytufts are a treasure in the hands of 

 the florist for bouquet making, especially the white varieties, because 

 the flowers are so small and the white so pure, and because by 

 sowing a little patch occasionally flowers can be 

 had at any time, winter or summer. Several 

 times, crimson, carmine and other bright color- 

 ed Candytufts have been announced among the 

 Novelties, but until this summer we never found 

 any better than the old purple, or much differ- 

 ent. We now have a good bright rose, which 

 is a most valuable acquisition. Seed should be 

 sown where the plants are to bloom, either in the 

 fall or as early in the spring as possible. The 

 general form of the Crimson, Purple, Lilac etc., is shown in the engraving ; also the Rocket, 

 which bears its flowers in spikes. 



CASSIA, Nat. Ord. Legttminosce. 



Cassia chamaecrista is a very good annual indeed, with pretty, light green foliage, like the 



Sensitive Plant, and plenty of bright, golden yellow flowers. 

 It is of dwarf, compact habit, about eighteen inches in 

 height, has the appearance of a little hard-wooded shrub, 

 and makes a very pretty border. It is a native of the West 

 and Southwest, and entirely worthy of culture. Persons 

 who see this flower first in its wild state are so delighted 

 with it, and so anxious to have others share their pleasure, 

 that samples of both flowers and seeds are sent us by the 

 hundred. We judge from the demand made upon us for 

 seeds by European seedsmen and florists, that this native 

 American is attracting considerable attention. Sow under glass or open ; set plants a foot apart. 



CATCHFLY, (Silene,) Nat. Ord. Caryophyllacea:. 



There are a great many Silenes with small flowers and not very great beauty. 

 of all is S. Armeria, and generally 

 known as Lobel's Catchfly, named 

 after LOBEL a distinguished old botan- 

 ist of Flanders. Nearly all the species 

 of this genus have a viscid moisture 

 on their stalks, in which it is said flies 

 are sometimes entrapped, therefore the 

 Catchfly part of the name. The Silene 

 Armeria is a free flowering hardy 

 annual, growing over a foot in height, 

 with small flowers, red, white or rose. Set plants six inches apart so as to form a clump. 



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The prettiest 



