1871. 



NEW ENGLAOT) FAEMER. 



503 



world. We should select those that have a 

 light and graceful foliage, and produce fra- 

 grant or brilliant flowers. Roses are much 

 used for this purpose and are very beautiful 

 for a few weeks. The Gem of the Prairies is 

 the handsomest variety now cultivated. _ It is 

 a hybrid betwixt the Queen of the Prairie and 

 Madame Laffay, but its Howers are far more 

 beautiful than those of its parents, and they 

 possess much fragrance. Baltimore Belle is 

 an old favorite, blossoming in large clusters of 

 nearly white Howers. Mrs. Hovey is purely 

 white. 



Wistarias are much cultivated on account of 

 their rapid growth and delicately cut foliage, 

 which is covered with pendant racemes of light 

 blue or pure white flowers. The Chinese spe- 

 cies grow more rampant than the American, 

 and are not as desirable in some situations on 

 that account. Both Roses and Wistarias are 

 such strong growers, that they are not as suit- 

 able for porches as some other vines, but are 

 preferable for training up on pillars and twin- 

 ing about the cornices of piazzas, or over ar- 

 bors. The Japanese Honeysuckles, which 

 have been imported in these few last years, 

 are very fragrant and their foliage is evergreen 

 in some localities. The variegated leaved va- 

 rieties'are very beautiful for porches or lattice 

 work ; they grow rapidly and their stems are 

 wirv ; the foliage is beautifully netted with 

 gold ; and the flowers are white and rarely 

 frat^rant. The Lonicerahalliana is one of the 

 best species ; its flowers are white, but change 

 to a golden yellow, and are very odorous. 

 The Dutch Monthly HoneysuckIe_ blooms 

 neai-ly all summer, if planted in a moist, shady 

 situation, but in hot, dry soil, it is apt to lose 

 its leaves and become mildewed. The Trum- 

 pet Honeysuckles are well known and always 

 beautiful. 



Among the importations of the few past 

 years from Japan, we find a beautiful vine, 

 Akehia quiitata, with five-lobed leaves, and 

 very peculiarly shaped chocolate purple flow- 

 ers which bloom in May and June. The fo- 

 liage is tough and leathery, and hangs on the 

 branches nearly all the winter. It is admira- 

 bly adapte<l to" light, latticed porches. 



The different species of the Clematis are 

 very lovely for ornamenting porches or veran- 

 das. There are two or three varieties which 

 produce double flowers which belong to the 

 species of Clematis viticella, blooming from 

 June to September. Clematis tlammula is an 

 European variety which blooms in July, and 

 is very fragrant. Some of the large-flowered 

 varieties are very lovely, but are not hardy 

 enough to bear our New England winters 

 without being laid down and covered with 

 evergreen boughs or straw. Clematis llorida 

 and Clematis lanuginosa are among these va- 

 i-ieties. 



Within the past ten years some very beauti- 

 ful hybrids have been raised by the English 

 florists. Among these are Clematis Jack- 



manni, with large, deep-colored violet flowers 

 and it blooms profusely. Clematis rubra- 

 violacea differs from the former in the color 

 of its flowers, which are shaded with a reddish 

 violet tint. The Golden Bignonia is not com- 

 monly cultivated, but is a very choice plant in 

 the INliddle States. It is nearly evergreen and 

 supports itself by tendrils. The Pipe_ vine, 

 Arisfolochia sipho makes a large growth in one 

 season, and will cover a great extent of trellis. 

 The peculiar shape of its flowers gives it the 

 name of Dutchman's Pipe. 



The Ivies are well known to all our readers, 

 and there is a native species called the Five- 

 fingered Ivy, which is very pretty, especially 

 in the autumn when its leaves are brilliantly 

 tinged with crimson. 



Our native grape vines make a delightful 

 shade over kitchen or dining-room piazzas. 

 Five or six years ago we planted the seed of a 

 delicious Hamburg grape. It germinated, 

 grew vigorously, and we flattered ourself 

 that we had obtained a new variety which 

 might be of some value. But no; when it 

 fruited we were possessed of the commonest 

 grape of the wild woods — the little, sour, blu- 

 ish purple, "fox" grape. "Cut it down," 

 was the general exclamation of the household, 

 "Why should it cumber the ground ?" 



But we thought best to save it as a shade 

 for a kitchen piazza, and as we write we gaze 

 through its leafy depths with great satisfaction . 

 No bug touches it ; its broad leaves cool the 

 air and keep off the sun, and when it is in 

 bloom it perfumes the house with its delicious 

 fragrance, but its fruit is of no account. Still 

 it does its work, fulfils its mission, and we are 

 content with it. 



Unless we pay some care and attention_ to 

 our climbing vines their beauty is greatly im- 

 paired. It gives them a dishevelled, slovenly 

 appearance to grow without training and pru- 

 ning. The long branches should be carefully 

 nailed up, or entwined around the lattice work 

 or twisted about strings. The side shoots 

 should be confined with bits of leather and 

 nails. 



Morning Glories, common as they are, are 

 very beautiful in our eyes. We love them 

 for old associations, for childish recollections. 

 They grow and bloom without care or atten- 

 tion, and in the early morning are indeed a 

 <Tlorv. Their clinging stems are entwined in 

 a marvellous entanglement. No hand can un- 

 twist them. They wreathe the kitchen and 

 dairy with perfect beauty. Let us all plant 

 them and love them. s. o. J. 



CURIOUS INSTINCTS OF THE BEE. 



Honey bees are governed by instinct and 

 not by art. They never deviate from the 

 course they were created in. The first comb 

 they ever built was as perfect as at the pres- 

 eat day ; no art has improved the shape or 

 size. 'One bee lays all the eggs, while the 



