1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FAR^^IER. 



247 



myrtle grows to a great size ; having an enor- 

 mous trunk, and standing one hundred feet 

 high before it expands its canopy of foliage. 



JU. communis — the common myrtle — is the 

 species usually cultivated in this country. It 

 is the myrtle of the Scriptures, and has several 

 varieties. The broad-leaved is the Jew's myr- 

 tle. They still regard it with veneration, and 

 are anxious to obtain it for the celebration of 

 their Feast of Tabernacles. In Europe it is 

 frequently cultivated expressly for that pur 

 pose ; the most devoted obeying literally the 

 command of the prophet Nehemiah to "Fetch 

 olive, and pine and myrtle." The leaves of 

 this variety grow in threes. There is also an- 

 other broad-leaved variety ; also a narrow- 

 leaved, the box-leaved, and the Chinese. 

 This last bears purple flowers ; the others 

 white. The myrtle is propagated by cuttings 

 stuck in sand under a glass. Cut the slip at a 

 joint ; and cover it with sand half-way to the 

 next joint. When it is rooted set in a three- 

 inch pot drained with crocks. Soil — one-half 

 garden loam ; and the remainder sand and leaf 

 mould in equal proportions. It needs air and 

 regular watering to flourish Avell, also frequent 

 washing. In the winter give it a sunny situa- 

 tion ; but in summer keep it in the shade and 

 water it sparingly. It need not be re-potted 

 till the second year. Do not change the jDOt 

 too often as it stops its growth — only be sure 

 that it is not pot-bound. If not too frequently 

 disturbed it soon becomes a large plant, one of 

 the neatest and handsomest for the parlor. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 CULTUKE OF PLANTS. 



Mr. Editor : — I merely wish to say how 

 interested I am in those articles entitled "How- 

 to make Home Happy." 



Not having, like the woman who does not 

 live in her shoe, a cluster of olive branches to 

 superintend and direct in the way they should 

 go, I am more especially devoted to my house 

 plants, of ^^Ilich I have a choice colliction. 



I live in a farm house, and my kitchen, like 

 many old farm house kitchens, is dark and 

 homely, but my two south windows filled with 

 plants present a cheerful, pleasant appearance 

 with their luxuriant green leaves, and bright 

 beautiful flowers, even in the middle of winter. 



I have often wished my husband would 

 take a more practical view of the valuable 



hints to be found in the Fakmer, on the differ- 

 ent items of farming ; but now I have an op- 

 poi'tunity to try some of those rules myself. 

 I have a number of the varieties of plants 

 mentioned by Miss Hale, and I intend to ap- 

 ply the rules therein laid down to their culti- 

 vation. If they do not thrive as well under 

 that system, you may be sure I shall find fault, 

 for my flowers seem like pet companions. 



Allow me to add that I hope we shall have a 

 few hints on dahlia raising. They are great 

 favorites of mine, and I would like to know if 

 there is a way to obtain a variety of those 

 beautiful flowers except from the seed, which 

 is a slow way of getting them. 



A Subscriber. 



Concord, Vt., Feb. 22, 1867. 



Remarks. — Thank you for the compliments 

 expressed and implied. We think you will not 

 regret following the directions given, but as 

 you already appear to have good success with 

 your plants, and seem to be a little doubtful 

 whether the new plan is as good as your own, 

 adopt the new by degrees. Try it, for in- 

 stance, on the additions you make, from time 

 to time, to your stock. You will find, before 

 the chapters on Plant Culture are completed, 

 many varieties named which will be new to 

 you, probably, and Avhich would doubtless 

 thrive well with you, and amply repay you for 

 your trouble. 



Such a windoAv as yours should have some 

 hyacinths in it, next winter. There can hardly 

 be anything easier to grow than they have 

 proved with us, and the common varieties are 

 not expensive. For garden culture, to be 

 planted in the fall, good bulbs will cost from 

 $1.50 to $3.00 per dozen. For pot or glass 

 cultui-e, the price is i-ather higher. Single 

 bulbs will cost you from 25 cts., to $3.00 each, 

 according to rarity and beauty. Named va- 

 rieties can be had for $1.00 a dozen, or for 

 $1.75 a dozen without names. The blossom 

 is fir.e and very fragrant. We have jr.st put 

 aside one lot which have done blossoming, and 

 have another lot coming forward to take their 

 place. 



The dahlia was extremely popular once, but 

 of late years other flowers have taken its place, 

 and it is not anything like so common as ten, 

 or even five years ago. You can best pro- 

 cm-e a variety at the florists, and we recom- 



