V5 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



variety of colors. A good catalogue gives a short description of 

 this sort of flowers. The one known by the French as the " zm- 

 mortelle,''^ is a decided favorite with all who cultivate them. My 

 mantleshelf has been garnished all winter with these everlasting 

 flowers. Some of the new Dionthus are particularly worthy of 

 notice. Some of these pinks open to the size of a silver dollar. 

 They grow readily from the seed, which at present sells at very 

 high prices for some of the rarest sorts. There is a new variety 

 of the Clarkie that is a very superior flower ; it also grows from 

 the seed. The German asters grow in great variety ; our only 

 trouble is to know how to inquire for the right sort. Truffant's 

 French asters give satisfaction where the more common sort 

 would not. 



The phlox, if cultivated in good soil, will shoot rapidl}', and 

 seed saved from these sport flowers will often give new and supe- 

 rior varieties. The only way to get satisfaction in buying flower 

 seeds is to first learn exactly what you want. For instance, 

 "phlox" is the name of a whole family of plants, and would not 

 at all sugest the particular variety which the cultivator might 

 desire to purchase. Mr. Pardee told an anecdote of how a vil- 

 lage was improved in its appearance by the act of one little girl, 

 who had a passionate love of flowers, and took great pains to 

 introduce them into generel cultivation. Her influence was such 

 that owners of dwellings not only planted flowers and ornamen- 

 tal plants, but as soon as they bloomed and showed their beauty, 

 the owners began to paint their houses and fences, and in a few 

 years there was a very great change in the appearance of the 

 whole village, all growing out of such a small beginning as was 

 made by this little girl. 



Mr. Wm. Lawton spoke earnestly of the beneficial efiects upon 

 every community where flower cultivation is prevalent. He 

 urged most earnestly the attention of all city residents who have 

 a little spot of ground, as well as to all country residents, the 

 importance to the rising generation of cultivating a love of flow- 

 ers as great amelioration of character. 



WILD FLOWERS AND PLANTS. 



Andrew S. Fuller — If we had spent half the time and money 

 upon some of our wild native flowers, that we have spent upon 

 imported flowers, we should have had a much better assortment. 

 There is the Phloxes and Lady Slippers of the western prairies, 

 superior to any that we have ever imported. Besides, some of 



