Notes and Gleanings. 155 



The Artillery Plant, Pilea allitrichoides, or Pistol plant, is a native of 

 the West Indies, and a very elegant and interesting subject for stove and green- 

 house culture. We have frequently used it to furnish indoor cases, for which 

 purpose it must be grown to a good size in pots, and be plunged in the place it 

 is to occupy, and it will continue to grow and bloom from May to October, in 

 the temperature of a dwelling-room. The minute, fern-like leaves, and red- 

 dish pins'-head sort of blossoms, fit it well for association with fine-leaved plants. 

 It is named the Artillery or Pistol plant, because, when sprinkled with water on 

 a hot, sunny day, the flowers emit little puffs of pollen, like discharges of smoke 

 from fire-arms. Floral World. 



Plants for a Ribbon Border. — A border at Rockville, was planted as 

 follows, and I thought it looked very effective : Line i, Cerastium Biebersteini ; 

 2, Pelargonium Golden Chain ; 3, Iresine Herbstii ; 4, Pelargonium Flower of 

 Spring ; 5, Purple King Verbena ; 6, Pelargonium Rose Queen ; 7, Centaurea 

 candidissima ; 8, Pelargonium Stella, with a tall backing. I was here again 

 much pleased with several beds of Pelargonium Amy Hogg, the color of which 

 in the mass was most charming. English yournal of Horticulture. 



The Myosotis dissitiflora. — I am pleased to observe that this beautiful 

 early blooming Forget-me-not has found a footing in Ireland. It is, however, far 

 from common with us yet, and nine tenths of the people who have gardens are 

 entirely ignorant of the existence of this Myosotis. Once seen and grown it will 

 not easily be forgotten, and must soon become a universal favorite. I find every 

 winter that the smallest and most compact plants withstand severe weather far 

 the best. Strong woody plants invariably suffer. The wisest plan is to get 

 seed, and sow it during July, or the beginning of August ; and then when the 

 seedling plants are large enough to handle, prick them out on an open border, 

 where they will get plenty of light and air, so as to prevent their being drawn. 

 Small plants, that only just peer through the ground, will begin to develop their 

 pretty flowers at each point early in March, and the blooming will continue for 

 two or three months. When the soil is stiff and wet, or very severe frost pre- 

 vails, it is certainly wisest to house the plants in frames during the dead of win- 

 ter, and get them into their permanent homes about the end of February. A 

 dozen or two of plants potted up in forty-eights, and put on an airy shelf, will 

 soon be a mass of bloom, and will be most acceptable even in the finest con- 

 servatory. Gardener' 5 Record. 



Pruning Ivy. — In pruning ivy, it is proper to remove with the shears every 

 leaf and shoot, so as to cut it close, and secure a close, even growth. All the 

 leaves, whether with long or short stems, should be cut off. The leaves with 

 short stalks are last year's late growth, and those with long stalks are partly last 

 season's early growth, and partly the late growth of the previous year ; but as a 

 rule the long-stalked leaves are rendered so by their having to elongate to reach 

 the light, in consequence of their being covered by the young growth. Ivy 

 sheds its leaves about July. English Journal of Horticulture. 



