Rambling Notes. 285 



RAMBLING NOTES. 



I HAVE read with much interest the remarks of " Enthusiast " on his fa- 

 vorite flowers, and, while agreeing with all he says of the gladiolus, desire 

 to add to his list a few favorites of my own. 



I had in blossom, last summer, some most lovely named varieties of the 

 English iris ; and either because it was the first time we had seen it, or 

 from its own great merit, we lingered round the plot with continued admi- 

 ration. Of phlox I have fifty named kinds : but the really distinct varie- 

 ties might be reduced to twelve ; and Mrs. Kane is, we think, the best of 

 these. 



For a fine late bloomer, we like the American Japonica. It is all the 

 better for a little winter protection. 



By protecting the blossoms from early frosts, — our method being to 

 hang a basket on a stake over the cluster, — this plant maybe kept in 

 blossom a long time. 



The red fraxinella claims attention, not only for its beauty, but for its 

 agreeable perfume. The white variety diffuses an odor the reverse of 

 delightful. 



We did not mean to speak of flowers, but of evergreens and fruit, when 

 we took up the pen ; but a beautiful bouquet of our favorite flowers has 

 led us astray. 



Our blackberries were killed by the severity of the winter ; even the Kit- 

 tatinny, which the growers of Newton, N.J., assured us was perfectly hardy. 

 As to raspberries, the Doolittle came out all right ; the ends of the Clarke 

 had to be cut back ; the Philadelphias were about half killed, and the Pur- 

 ple-cane partly destroyed. Long-continued storms blasted nearly all the 

 apple and pear blossoms. Currant-bushes are but scantily furnished with 

 berries, and the cherries are hardly on the list of fruits. Strawberries 

 were protected by the snow, and came out well. 



Lawson's cypress is tipped with russet-brown, as is also Hovey's arbor- 

 vitae ; while some retinosporas are fit only for the wood-pile. 



The pyramidal and the Siberian arborvatae came through the ordeal safely ; 

 but Lobbs is tender. The Nootka-Sound arborvitae is scorched every win. 



