POPULAR GARDENING 



FOR TOWN AND COUNTRY. 



"ACCUSE NOT NATURE, SHE HATH DONE HER PART; DO THOU BUT THINE."— Ujltoh. 



Vol. 1. 



l^J^Sr, 188S. 



No. 8. 



Japanese Zebra Crass. 



In our garden the hardy ornamental 

 grasses have alwa3's been favorites. But 

 among our collection of these, comprising 

 many sorts, there is no other one kind 

 which gives better — we were about to say 

 gives equal — satisfaction, to the Japanese 

 Zebra Grass, EiihiUn japonicn zehrina 



The acconipunying engraving af- 

 fords a very good representation of 

 the plant we are speaking of. Unlike 

 all other variegated grasses, this one 

 has its striping or marking across the 

 leaf, instead of longitudinally. It 

 grows tjve or more feet in height, 

 forming a most striking and graceful 

 plant, resembling nothing else that 

 we know of, in cultivation. The ex- 

 panded flower spikes resemble the 

 ostrich plumes, and when dried, last 

 for j'ears. 



This variegated Grass we find use- 

 ful in many waj's. In the mixed 

 border amongst herbaceous plants it 

 is a pleasing and striking object, and 

 in a cut state for tlic decoration of 

 large vases it is most valuable, as its 

 graceful arching leaves gives a degree 

 of brightness to floral arrangements 

 not otherwise obtainable. The varie- 

 gation, too, is clear and well defined, 

 a circumstance which adds to its 

 beauty. It is a great gain to be able 

 to cut spikes of it four feet high for 

 indoor decoration. 



When first introduced from Japan 

 it was believed that this plant would 

 not prove hardy. Years of cultiva- 

 tion with it as far north as Buffalo 

 proves it to be entirely so, and we 

 are able to cut from it in the open 

 borders up to the end of November. 



Anj' soil not too rich suits it; in rather drj' 

 poor material we find that the variegation is 

 more clear and defined. We have grown it 

 in pots the year around, and find that it 

 makes a capital plant for mixing with Ferns 

 and other fine foliaged plants in the con.ser- 

 vatory. 



This very desirable plant may now be had 

 of all dealers in hardy plants. It can also 

 be raised from seed, packets of which can 

 be bought for about twenty cents each. 



inches of the tips, and this leads quickly to 

 the putting forth of two or three side 

 branches. After these have grown suffi- 

 ciently, I cut these back also and thus keep 

 on until the plant has seven or eight branches. 

 Of course siich a method retards the 

 blooming somewhat, liut is it not far better 



The Abutilon, or Flowering Maple- 



BY MRS. M. D. WELI.COMK, YAR-MOI'TII, >rE. 



This Is one of the best of plants for the 

 window, garden and bedding out. It is a 

 strong grower, does not mind the close heat- 

 ed atmosphere of our dwellings, and it is 

 not fastidious in regard to soil. It needs 

 some training, for it seems in so much of a 

 hurry to grow, and all, that it rarely stops to 

 branch, unless forced to do so by being de- 

 capitated. 



In viiy management of the plants, when 

 they are about a foot high I cut off a few 



THE JAPANESE ZEBRA GRASS. 



to have half a dozen branches full of flowers 

 a little further on, than one tall stalk earlier? 



As Abutilon plants do not generally bloom 

 very much during the earlj- part of winter. 

 I begin in December to cut back the plants, 

 and by ilarch they are ready to bud. This 

 year I counted 22 Inids on one plant in 

 March, and they were only the beginning 

 of an abundance to follow. 



The double flowering Abutilon is a beauty, 

 both in foliage and blossom. Those mottled- 

 leaved are very attractive, even should they 

 never have flowers. Due de Malakoft' is 

 specially beautiful with its large niajile 

 leavesmarbled witli green, yellow and white. 



Not only do I cut back Abutilon, as indi- 

 cated above, but all plants that are disposed 

 to grow tall and branchless. Fuchsias I 

 train a good deal In this way. 



Shady Gardens. 



The grounds of many homes are .sliaded 

 heavily by trees and buildings, a condition 

 of things not at all favorable either to the 

 growth of grass or an abundance of flowers. 

 When trees cause most of the trouble, if 



sufficient courage could be summoned to 

 thin them out freely, the results in most 

 every way would be more satisfactory. 



In our opinion it is a wholly wrong notion, 



that heavy, extended shade, is more pleasant 



than shade that is broken up by numerous 



open spaces. Such spaces admit sunsliine 



to give comfort in cool weather and 



breezes in hot weather, and together 



life and health to grass and plants as 



well as to the dwellers in the home. 



But even with thinning the trees a 

 good deal, some dark shaded spots 

 against buildings and elsewhere will 

 still exist. These are usually a source 

 of great perplexity to the manager, 

 regarding how to have the surface 

 furnished to look well. Too often 

 such places are perfectly bare, even 

 of grass. Ordinary grass, or such as 

 is brought by the sodders from 

 meadows, is illy adapted for use here, 

 as countless experiments have shown ; 

 but by preparing the ground for seed- 

 ing — and then .sowing such kinds of 

 grass as the Creeping Bent (Arjrontiit 

 slohiiifini), or Green or June Grass 

 {Toil pratenms), both of which do well 

 in partly shaded places — a respecta- 

 ble looking cover might be had in 

 many such spots that now are bare. 



Aside from this class of grasses, 

 there is quite a long list of pKants 

 that will thrive where it is shaded 

 from one-half to three-fourths of the 

 day. At the head of the list stand 

 the Ferns, and such bulbs as the Tidip, 

 Hyacinth and Crocus. Then there 

 are the Snow-drops, Tiger Lily, Val- 

 ley Lily, Solomon's Seal, Wake- 

 Robin, Spring Beauty, Periwinkle, 

 Money-vine and other hardy perennials 

 which seem to prefer partial shade. 



Among annual flowers that need but little 

 sunshine, are the Adonis, Daisy, Pansy, 

 Whitlavia, and JIarigolds. 



Fuchsias, Lobelias, silver-leaved Gerani- 

 ums, Achyranlhes, Begonias. Callas, Alter- 

 nantheras, and Caladiums, from the green- 

 house, all succeed fairly well in shade. 



With an array of materials like this, it 

 ought not to be difficult, in most cases, to 

 make tlie shady places beautiful witli foliage 

 or flowers. 



The Trembling Aspen. 



This is a favorite lawn tree with many 

 planters. Henry Ward Beecher, a gentle- 

 man whose knowledge of trees is very wide, 

 is for one, enthusiastic in recommending it. 

 It is a species of Poplar, and is known liotan- 

 ically as PopnliiK tnmti'uides. 



Aside from the characteristic charms this 

 tree possesses, through its leaves being agi- 

 tated in a lively manner by even the slightest 

 breeze, it assumes a handsome form and ma- 

 jestic proportions under the most ordinary 

 circumstances. Unlike some of the Poplars, 



