SMILAX SNOWFLAKE 203 



ture, the ease with which it may be grown and the uses to 

 which the festoons of leaves may be put, entitle it to a 

 place in the conservatory or greenhouse. Seed sown in pots 

 or boxes in January or February, the plants shifted as 

 needed until planted on the bench in August, will grow fine 

 strings of green by the holidays. The plants should be set 

 on low benches, giving as much room as possible overhead. 

 Green-colored strings should be used for the vines to climb 

 on, the vines frequently syringed to keep down the red 

 spider, which is very destructive to this plant, and liquid 

 manure given as the vines grow. The soil should contain a 

 good proportion of sand and be enriched with well-rotted 

 manure. After the first strings are cut, a second growth 

 fully as good as the first may be had by cleaning up the 

 plants and top-dressing the soil with rotted manure. 

 Slightly shading the house through August will add to the 

 color of the leaves. The odor from a vine of Smilax 

 thickly covered with the small flowers is very agreeable. 

 Snapdragon, or ANTIRRHINUM. An old garden 



favorite, flowering freely through a long season. The dwarf 

 strain is well adapted for bedding or borders. Any light 

 soil, well enriched with rotted manure, will grow Snap- 

 dragons to perfection. Distinct varieties should be propa- 

 gated by cuttings, as they do not come true from seed. 

 Sow seed early in the spring. 



Although bloom may be obtained the first year, late 

 sown plants sometimes persist over winter and bloom early 

 in the spring. Snapdragons make good window plants. 



Snowdrop (Galantlius) . This is one of the 

 earliest flowers of spring, always welcome. It should be 

 planted in the edge of the border. The bulbs may be 

 planted in October in any good border soil and left undis- 

 turbed for years; or they may be potted at that time, and 

 after forming roots be gently forced into bloom in winter. 



Snowflake (Leucoium) . Culture same as for 

 Snowdrop. 



