2.W 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



July, 



A Handsome Floral Design. The Im- 

 proved " Rock of Ages." 

 The beautiful custom of using (loners as 

 gift.'i aud otherwise at funerals has brought 

 in a demand for some floral pieces of mas- 

 sive proportions and elegance. A common 

 design of this character in the past has been 

 the elaborate and handsome piece known as 

 the " Gates Ajar," but Its very elaborate- 

 ness is an objection to it. Something that 

 is more simple, and at the same time more 

 massive and stately in character is much to 

 be preferred on occasions of this kind. 



Of various designs that have 

 come from the makers of wire 

 forms to meet this demand, 

 none has met with more favor 

 than that known as the " Rock 

 of Ages." But the forms as 

 they are sent out, consisting of 

 an upright cross, very massive 

 in its proportions, and having 

 a large cubical base, present 

 too many straight lines and 

 angles to be entirely satisfac- 

 tory. A great improvement on 

 this is the handsome design ot 

 the same name shown in our 

 engraving on this page and as 

 made by a leading florist of 

 Buffalo. This design for beau- 

 ty, dignity and simplicity is 

 uneqvialled by any floral piece 

 We have ever seen, and as such 

 pleasure is taken in describing 

 its construction. 



The common "Rock of Ages" 

 form, having a cubical base, is 

 used as it comes from the wire 

 worker. But to this is attached 

 underneath a rough board bot- 

 tom of a shape something as 

 shown in the lower figure an- 

 nexed. This form is used for 

 securing the essential charac- 

 teristic of the design namely: 

 an imitation in flowers of an 

 irregular pile of stone from 

 which the cross rises instead 

 of from a cubical floral base. 

 Starting with such a bottom 

 of irrregular shape sphagnum 

 is piled on to it and against the 

 original wire base in a manner 

 to imitate the stones of various sizes. The 

 sphagnum is secured by winding round and 

 round. It is seen that two of the roimd parts 

 (« (/) of the bottom are much larger than the 

 others, the object of this being the forma- 

 tion of two stones on opposite sides of suffic- 

 ient size to receive respectively the lines 

 " Rock of Ages " and " Cleft for Me," worked 

 in small fresh rtovvers,or in colored immortels 

 on a base of other flowers. In all about 

 seven or eight "stones "are made to con- 

 stitute the base, the smaller ones being 

 formed in a double tier. 



In the making-up of the design after all 

 parts, cross included, are filled with sphag- 

 num, flowers are used something as follows: 

 The cross is made of white blooms through- 

 out, one kind like Carnations being prefera- 

 ble to a mixture. Special pains should be 

 taken to have the corners and angles care- 

 fully defined. The "stones" are made 

 usually each of a different colored flower, 

 those rather dark being preferred. For a 

 ground on which to letter, sometimes a sur- 

 face of Sweet Alyssum is used, or Pansies 

 or Violets are veiy suitable. One or two of 

 the smaller " stones " may be made of crim- 

 son Carnation with good effect. 



Aside from the flowers thus used on the 

 body of the design, there is made an elabor- 

 ate loose garland of Roses, having long 

 stems and tied to have the cut ends of these 

 I)rotruding freely. This garland is attached 

 with its stem end to the base of the cross as 

 if it grew from the pile of stones. The other 



is carried over an arm of the cross and is 

 allowed to hang loosely down the other side. 

 By using Roses of one color, as rose or yel- 

 low, the effect of thus having a simple 

 loose garland extend over the plain heavy 

 cross of white is extremely beautiful. 



After the "stones" and lettering of the 

 base have been formed, this part is finished 

 by using Fern fronds and long-stemmed 

 fiowers in the crevices as if they had grown 

 there. A line of Fern fronds is inserted at 

 the extreme bottom of the base all around. 

 For flowers to be used as it growing from 



THE IMPROVED ' ROCK OF AGES " FLORAL DESIGN 



the crevices, such simple kinds as Pansies, 

 I Daisies, Lily of the Valley, Roman Hya- 

 I cinths, etc., are to be preferred to any others. 

 Some of their foliage should always be used 

 with them to better give the appearance of 

 their having grown from the rock pile. 



About Some of the Newer Begonias. 



W. F. LAKE. ERIE CO., N, Y. 



At the appearance of the florists' cata- 

 logues each season, I almost invariably turn 

 first to the pages devoted to Begonias, and 

 especially to the new introductions. Bego- 

 nias are so easily grown, and so well adapt- 

 ed to shaded windows (providing that care 

 is taken to keep dust away from the leaves), 

 that they become favorites with those giv- 

 ing them a trial. One soon desires to pos- 

 sess all the really valuable new kinds as 

 fast as they appear, and does not tire of the 

 old varieties nearly so fast as in the case of 

 Geraniums and more common plants. I 

 usually have about fifty thrifty plants, of 

 nearly as many different varieties. 



In house culture, the chief requirements 

 are a partially shaded location, a light open 

 soil, and a warm, moist atmosphere. I have 

 a way for helping to secure this desirable air 

 moisture (not only required for Begonias, 

 but also for the general collection of plants) 

 which I have never seen in print nor 

 used by any one else, and find it very valua- 

 ble. It is to let sponges become filled with 

 water and place among the pots of plants. 

 As the water evaporates, directly under the 



leaves of the plants, the troublesome red 

 spiders become discontented and sick. 



By the use of the sponges, the pots may be 

 placed considerably closer together than 

 where saucers of water are employed to meet 

 this end ; but care should be taken that the 

 sponges are not put directly on the earth in 

 the pots as they are liable to make the earth 

 too wet, when it becomes soggy and injuri- 

 ous to the growth of the plant. In the case 

 of large specimens, the sponges may be 

 placed among the branches without harm, 

 and oftimes with much good in preventing 

 the red spider. Water may be 

 occasionally sprinkled on the 

 foliage, if care is taken that the 

 sun does not shine (hereon un- 

 til it becomes dry. Thus treat- 

 ed, specimens may be had 

 which are the finest of con- 

 servatory or house plants. 



There are some of the more 

 tender varieties of the flower- 

 ing section, and the smaller 

 growing Rex which do not 

 grow very luxuriant outside of 

 the greenhouse, but if placed 

 in a Wardian case will grow 

 entirely as large and fine, aud 

 when used with Ferns make a 

 very pretty arrangement. 



Following are mentioned 

 some of the recent introduc- 

 tions growing among my col- 

 lection : Argentea Guttata, a 

 cross between Olbia and Alba 

 Picta with purple bronze, ob- 

 long leaves, with silvery mark- 

 ings. Has white flowers, aud 

 does very nicely in common 

 window. Compta, a Brazilian 

 variety of very free growth, its 

 leaves surmounting pale pink 

 footstalks five inches long. The 

 leaves are satiny green with 

 silver tinge along the midrib. 

 Diadema is a distinct variety 

 though not entirely new. Leaf 

 is rich Olive green, very nicely 

 spotted with white, and above 

 average in size, growth inclined 

 to be compact. A cross of this 

 variety with Rex has produced 

 a kind called mirabunda, which 

 is most beautiful, being a thrifty flowering 

 variety, leaves clear green, with silver dost 

 and marblings. If the plant is small, one 

 at first sight would be sure to call it a Rex. 

 A gem among Begonias, combining beau- 

 tiful foliage with fiowers as well, is B. man- 

 icata aurea. The plain manicata with its 

 clean and glossy green leaves is a very fine 

 plant, but when it comes to having the 

 leaves so beautifully blotched with cream 

 deepening into canary, no other Begonia, es- 

 pecially among the light kinds, is so attract- 

 ive. The combination of colors is most 

 pleasing. For a winter and spring blooming 

 Begonia, 

 nothing can 

 be superior to 

 freeflowering 

 Semperflor- 

 ens Amelia 

 Bmant. It is 

 a strong free- 

 growing sort 

 of sterling 

 worth. It has 

 the habit of 



frequently Form of Base used in the Improved 



, , . . Roek of Ages, a, h, c, for yiHng 



Dloommg at shape to the ••stones,'' d, slats 



the junction "at^i^^t wire base. 



of the ribs of the leaf which impart a novel 

 appearance when exhibiting this peculiar 

 character. It is not flxed, however, for like 

 other kinds it flowers from the axis of the 

 leaf. The flowers are carmine rose, a color 

 not common among Begonias flowering free- 



