OULTIVATION OP FLOWERS — OSAUB ORANGE HEDGES, 



89 



jlauteii, it may be with care, a majority fold their 

 irms, ami say by their actious, "Now let ua wait for 

 he fruit," Jco. No greater folly than this caa be 

 lone. What would be thought of him who having 

 avested his nieaus iu a manufactory, should then shut 

 lown the gate, and let the machinery lie still and 

 ust lor want of use, and yet the comparison holds 

 rue; what is a ti-ee or plant but a machine from au 

 Umighty hand, endowed with power to select from 

 he earth, or absorb from the restless winds, the ma- 

 erials for its own support and growth? 



CnLTIVATIO N OF FLOWEK& 



What flowers pay best ? is a question often asked 

 y the devotees of Flora. Enjoyment and outlay both 

 onsidered, I for one will answer, annuals. You reap 

 11 the benefit from them the first year; they are con- 

 enient for those who have not a permanent residence 

 as they ought not to be planted in the open ground 

 efore the 10th or 15th of May); the ground is clear 

 f roots, ready to be worked and manured deeply ; 

 aanges of form can be pm'chased to stock a yard for 

 hat a few respectable shrubs would cost. They 

 resent every variety of height and color. Some are 

 warf, suitable for edgings, as Portulacca, sweet Al- 

 rssum. Candytuft, Rocket Larkspur, Campanula Lo- 

 liii, Viscaria, China Pinks, and the dwarf Asters, all 

 f which will bloom until hard frost. Another class 

 ir sowing in beds by themselves, as Phlox Drum- 

 "londii, Pettmias, Verbenas, Pansy, Asters, Caccalia, 

 fignonette, Godetia, Clarkia, Escholtzia, Bartonia, 

 oreopsis. Hibiscus (trionum), Centranthus (macrisip- 

 on), and Centaurea or Bachelor's Button, and many 

 thers, and then there are the climbers, that can be 

 ained in all the forms that fancy can suggest, or even 

 ) simple strings, such as the large flowered Morning 

 rlory. Sweet Peas, Thunbergia, Mansandia, Canary 

 ird flower, and the scarlet flowering Beans. Besides, 

 aere are others of all colors and heights to fill up 

 ae odd corners and places, as the purple, white and 

 ellow sweet Sultans, Tinnea, Scabiosa or Mourning 

 Jride, Balsams, Stocks, Globe Amaranths in colors, 

 inapdragon, Lupins, Lotus (jacobeaus), Crepis (bar- 

 larta), Helychrisam, Gilia, High Mignonette, Lava- 

 eras, pink and white, Ageratum, Ammobium, Rock- 

 t Candytuft, and many others, with some double 

 Sunflowers, Persicarias, and tall Mallow for a back- 

 p"Ound, all of which, except the Balsams, will endure 

 evere frost without injuring their bloom. But some 

 vill say, they have to be planted over every year. We 

 idmit that, but to me it is a pleasure to plant and 

 ffatch the growth of new varieties, though many 



times have I been disappointed ^\hen tlie flowers 

 came, to find when I had ordered one kind, another 

 had been sent in its stead, sometimes finding the flow- 

 er not worth a place in the darkest corners; but not 

 so with any of these, they will always give satisfac- 

 tion. I have named near fifty varieties which 

 would cost very little. Even fifteen or twenty 

 varieties well selected will make a good display, 

 and can generally be obtained for $1 per package, 

 or at least for si.x cents a paper. I conclude 

 by saying to one and all, plant seeds. If you have 

 not room for fifty varieties, plant twenty; if not room 

 for that number, plant ten ; children love flowers, and 

 who does not ? An Amateur. 



[We are much obliged for the above communica- 

 tion, and should be pleased to have the fair author 

 continue her favors. 



TuE Florist and Horticultural Journal, edited by 

 H. C. Hanson, 63 Walnut-street, Philadelphia, com- 

 menced with the January number, its fourth volume. 

 It is got up in fine style, having in each number a 

 colored plate of a new plant, or fruit, most of which 

 are executed in Europe. It is a very valuable work, 

 conducted with much ability, and we notice among 

 its contributors many gentlemen who in this country 

 have taken the lead in horticulture. Its price is very 

 low, only $2 per year, in advance. 



OSAGE ORANGE HEDGES. 



" I have been cultivating the Osage Orange as a 

 substitute for rail fence for three years — have sown a 

 quart of seed each spring. The first quart was care- 

 fully sown, after soaking a number of days in warm 

 water, from which I obtained nearly 1200 plants, one- 

 third not germinating until the next spring. The 

 second quart similarly treated did not produce 100 

 plants. On the 30th of last April, I sowed the third 

 quart of seed, which had been soaked in warm water 

 five days, to which I added as much saleratus as I 

 could take up in my thumb and finger, repeating the 

 dose as often as necessary. As soon as sown, the 

 rows of seed were covered with boards, which were 

 not taken off until some of the plants had made their 

 way up to them. I think every seed must have vege- 

 tated, as it produced about 8,000 plants. I think 1 J 

 inches about the right depth to sow the seed, and it 

 is essential to have the soil deep, mellow, rich and 

 moist. My plan of planting a hedge has been, to 

 throw up land ten feet wide with the plow, going as 

 deep as possible, strike a furrow in the centre, stretch 

 a line over the centre, put m the plants 14 inches 

 apart, carefully pressing the soil around them, and 

 placing them where wanted. I cultivate a row of 

 potatoes, or some other vegetable which will not 

 shade them on each side the first and second season. 



