NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



63 



ing them frequently, and removing all that are de- 

 caying. Many farmers have found a great advan- 

 tage in strewing lime on plaster among potatoes af- 

 ter harvested. In this way the disease has often 

 been arrested, when it was proceeding rapidly with 

 the work of destruction. The mode of saving by 

 fumigating with sulphur, as recommended last year 

 by Dr. Hayes, is very troublesome, and it does not 

 generally succeed. 



The modes generally adopted to save potatoes 

 from the rot, injure their quality very much, hence 

 they are generally of an inferior quality since the 

 rot has prevailed. All exposure to the air and sun, 

 whether in casks or not, also in keeping them in 

 warm stores, and spreading out to the air, though 

 tending to prevent the rot, are destructive to the fine 

 qualities of good potatoes, so that they are often 

 saved from the disease, and yet nearly lost in qual- 

 ity. Before the rot prevailed, the best way of sav- 

 ing potatoes, was to dig and turn them into a cart, 

 and then cover them with a rug, and in a few hours 

 put them into the cellar, in large close bins, slightly 

 moist, as they come from the soil; and they were 

 better for keeping the cellar dark and close, and 

 covering the bins with hemlock or other evergreen 

 boughs. But those palmy days for potatoes are 

 past, and now our mode exhibits a paradox, as we 

 lose the potato in saving it. 



If the rot continues, further experiments and 

 more thorough investigation will lead to a more 

 systematic and successful mode of cultivation and 

 management, that will enable us to avoid the evil, 

 in a greater measure. The reader will please ex- 

 cuse the length of this article, which has exceeded 

 our intentions at the commencement, and yet we 

 have omitted many things. 



For the New England Farvier. 



SELE3CTI0N AND CULTIVATION OF 



FLOWERS. 



Mr. Editor: — Although I should prefer native 

 plants for a small collection, there are still many 

 flowers of foreign origin, which, by long cultiva- 

 tion or similarity of climate, have become perfectly 

 hardy, and in forming a large assortment it is de- 

 sirable to select the most beautiful kinds from dif- 

 ferent sections. 



Among these, perennials require the least care, 

 and are generally the hardiest. One of the earliest 

 as well as the most beautiful is a dwarf species of 

 Iris, sometimes called Lily of the Valley. The 

 petals are of a delicate blue, with a rich velvet text- 

 ure, and it blossoms profusely; it should be placed 

 in a slightl}'' elevated situation, as the flowers rise 

 but a few inches from the ground; if placed on the 

 south side of a building, it will blossom mucli ear- 

 lier. 



There is another variety of Iris generally called 

 Flower-de-luce which grows much larger, flowers 

 later, and is generally beautiful; a variety of Iris 

 called Blue Flag grows abundantly in meadows 

 and along the banks of streams. 



The common Peony is known to almost every 

 one, and is a very showy as well as hardy plant. 



The various species of perennial Phlox, although 

 some of them appear rather coarse upon close in- 

 spection, are extremely showy at a little distance, 

 and as they blossom at different seasons, they form 

 a succession lasting nearly through the summer; 

 when well rooted, they are not easily destroyed. 



The Scarlet Lychness, with its large bunches of 

 scarlet flowers, is highly ornamental and easily cul- 

 tivated. 



But the flower which has attracted the most at- 

 tention in my collection, is the Grand Flowering 

 Larkspur. It continues flowering for a considera- 

 ble length of time; its petals are quite delicate and 

 of a rich blue color, and its leaves are somewhat 

 ornamental, giving it an imposing appearance with- 

 out presenting anythingof that coarseness to which 

 large plants are liable. 



The Pink, although not as hardy as the flowers 

 which I have named above, may be cultivated with- 

 out difficulty, by raising plants from seed every two 

 or three years, and the species are so numerous that 

 a very respectable flower garden might be filled 

 with Pinks alone. Among the most beautiful, are 

 the Carnation Pink, tlie Double Grass Pink, and 

 the Bunch Pink or Sweet William; the flowers of 

 the latter are fascicled, continue a long time in 

 bloom, and present almost every variety of color 

 from white to dark velvet red. Nearly all the va- 

 rieties are sweet-scented, which makes them uni- 

 versal favorites. 



The Tiger Lily, the Monk's-hood, Columbine, 

 and Burgundy Rose, are also worth a place in a 

 large collection, although the latter is not perfectly 

 hardy. 



There is another class of plants which are called 

 annuals, but which may be made to become peren- 

 nial in this climate if kept in the house in winter. 

 In spring they may be increased by cuttings to any 

 desired extent. The Petunia and Verbena are ex- 

 amples of this class, and may in this manner take 

 their places among the finest ornaments of the gar- 

 den. 



The best method of raising plants by cuttnigs is to 

 place them in a slight hot-bed in such a manner 

 that one joint may he above, and one below the 

 surface of the ground; they should be well watered 

 and partially protected from the lays of the .sun. 

 If this cannot be done, they may be planted in a 

 flower-pot, and a common drinking glass inverted 

 over them. 



Annuals are generally more difficult to cultivate, 

 but some of them are pretty hardy. The seeds 

 should be protected from the sun and beating 

 rains by laying something over them; I have found 

 coarse straw as good as any thing; it should be 

 fastened at the ends to prevent the wind from blow- 

 ing it away, and it should he removed before the 

 young plant makes its appearance. 



Among the most beautiful annuals may be named 

 Drummond's Phlox, the China Aster, Branching 

 Larkspur, and for training on walls oi against the 

 sides of houses, the Blue and Purple Morning Glo- 

 ry, Sweet Pea, Crimson Cypress Vine, and Nastur- 

 tium or Indian Cress. 



The Balsam is very hardy, and if any method 

 could be adopted to secure double flowers, would 

 be very fine. 



The Double French IMarygold and the Striped 

 African Marygold are easily cultivated, and, al- 

 though not so fine as many otlier flowers, are some- 

 what ornamental. 



