404 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 235. 



tremely floriferous, the blooms being of a yellow hue with 

 reddish centre. 



But a small number of the Asters have as yet shown their 

 blossoms. A. macrophyllus, a species with very large cor- 

 date leaves, about two feet high, was the first to flower. Its 

 rays are of a whitish or lilac tinge, and the flowers are now at 

 their best. It was closely followed by A. corymbosus, a similar 

 plant with smaller ovate leaves anil white flowers. A. Her- 

 veyi and A. ptarmicoides will soon be in full bloom. The ray 

 florets of the former are violet, and those of the latter, which 

 is an exceedingly graceful plant, pure white. The large pale 

 blue flowers of A. Lindleyanus are just beginning to expand, 

 as are the rosy purple blossoms of A. Novje-Anglias, one of the 

 most beautiful species in the entire genus. 



Solidago arguta is the only one of the Golden-rods whose 

 full complement of flowers has appeared so far. It is a very 

 pleasing plant, about three feet high, and most desirable 

 on account of its early flowering. The flowers are of a lively 

 yellow, leaves bright green, and the habit compact. 



Cambridge. Mass. M. Barker. 



The Water-garden. 



A QUATICS are still the centre of attraction with their ever- 

 ■^"^ renewed flowers, variety of color and the general ani- 

 mation which is never so marked in formal flower-beds. The 

 Lotus (Nelumbium speciosum) always commands the first 

 attention, as its noble flowers in the morning sun tower above 

 its foliage, which is quite as noble, while the modest night- 

 blooming Nymphseas hide their faces until the brilliant light 

 is past. No aquatic has been more satisfactory this season 

 than the Lotus, and none has required so little attention. 

 Medium-sized roots have made rapid growth and flowered 

 profusely, and are now established ; but it is a question 

 whether it would not be better, where cold winters render 

 them uncertainly hardy, to make shallow tanks, eighteen 

 inches to two feet deep, and plant every season. And yet the 

 Lotus seems difficult to start in some places, and I have had 

 the same trouble here when I buy dormant roots. I find no 

 trouble when planting them in shallow water, and filling up as 

 growth advances. For deeper water, plants with stronger 

 growths and numerous roots can be used with safety. In all 

 cases the water requires to get naturally warm to start active 

 growth. The season was somewhat backward for planting, 

 and it was the latter part of April before the roots above men- 

 tioned were planted, but they were flowering well the latter 

 part of July, and will continue for some time. With few ex- 

 ceptions, the flowers are as large as those planted the pre- 

 vious year. 



It is particularly necessary to have the tanks and ponds well 

 stocked with fish. In tanks where I had few fish I had an 

 abundance of Dragon-fly larvae, which punctured the young 

 growth and flower-buds of Nymphasas, and, of course, de- 

 formed them seriously when they were open. 



One of the most ornamental of the Arrowheads is the double 

 form of Sagittaria Japonica, which is now in flower. It will 

 succeed admirably in a tub that is water-tight, or it may be 

 planted in moist places or on the edge of the Lily-pond. The 

 flowers are pure white, perfectly double, as large as a Carna- 

 tion, and produced abundantly on a scape similar to that of 

 our native species. 



Dongan Hills, N. Y. Wm. Tricker. 



Francoa ramosd. — The Francoas are natives of Chili and be- 

 long to the Saxifrage family. There are but three species, 

 and all are perennial but not hardy here, though they might 

 be successfully cultivated in the more favored sections of the 

 eastern states as they are in some parts of England and Ire- 

 land, where they are grown as border-perennials. These in- 

 troductory remarks are necessary, as I know of no firm in 

 this country that offer either seeds or plants of any of the 

 species. Our seeds were obtained from Mr. W. Thompson, 

 Ipswich, England. The popular name given to the plant in 

 question is Bridal-wreath, owing to the long-branching 

 sprays studded with pure white flowers, and it is surprising 

 that florists have not taken the plant in hand, for it would be 

 invaluable for summer cutting, either for indoor use in vases 

 or for any other purpose for which cut flowers are desired. 



Francoas are best grown from seeds which germinate 

 readily, and the plants may be potted off separately and grown 

 on to seven or eight inch pots, as they may require. The 

 treatment given Calceolarias and Cinerarias would suit them 

 well for the winter months. During the following summer the 

 plants will bloom freely, producing as many as twelve sprays 

 to a plant in a vigorous specimen, each spray being about 



three feet long and flowering for two-thirds of the length. 

 For grouping among other plants, either in the open ground 

 or in the conservatory, nothing can be more admirable than 

 Francoa ramosa, the flowers of which are pure white. F. ap- 

 pendiculata is anotlier species with flowers that have a tinge 

 of red with the white. The sprays are not so erect as in 

 F. ramosa, but spread more freely and produce a very pretty 

 effect when blended with other plants. 



The only other species is F. sonchifolia, with which I am 

 not acquainted, but it is said to be equally good, resembling 

 F. appendiculata in the color of the flowers. 



The season of flowering has lasted over two months with 

 us, and this is a good time to make cuttings of the offsets from 

 the old plant, many of which can be procured with roots. 

 They may be treated as young seedling plants in every par- 

 ticular, and should flower next summer. Seeds are also pro- 

 duced freely here and may be sown as soon as gathered. As 

 they are small, they may be treated in the same way as the 

 seeds of the Calceolaria. 



Melianthus major. — I see Mr. Gerard notes the beauty of Me- 

 lianthus major as an ornamental foliage-plant. Too much 

 cannot be said in its favor for this purpose. A word should 

 be added as to the way to obtain or propagate the Melianthus. 

 Only those who have tried cuttings know how difficult they are 

 to root. It is rare, indeed, for any one to succeed in raising 

 them in this way. I find that the seeds germinate as readily 

 as those of the Castor-oil-plant, and make fine young bushy 

 plants for use the same season. Our seeds were procured 

 from the same source as the Francoas, and produced a nice 

 batch of plants, one of which was left out last winter in a Rho- 

 dodendron-bed and carefully protected with leaves, but it died. 



In Ireland the Melianthus is perfectly hardy, and it probably 

 would be equally so in many parts of the United States. It 

 would pay some one in the south to cultivate the plant for the 

 production of seeds, as with the Grevillea robusta\ There 

 would be a ready sale for the seeds when the plant became 

 better known for use among summer decorative planting. Old 

 roots lived over with us in the cold frame last winter after be- 

 ing lifted and cut back, and are now in the open border. With 

 regard to Grevillea robusta a reliable English firm states that 

 "seedlings are easily raised by those who can exercise pa- 

 tience, but we do not know any seed — not even the Auricula — 

 which is so long and so capricious in germinating." They 

 probably have to depend on seed from New South Wales, 

 while seeds obtained here from trees growing in Florida ger- 

 minate as freely as Radishes. Seeds that are imported from 

 the antipodes are difficult to manage, and rarely germinate 

 well, if at all. We have tried many kinds, but with indifTerent 

 success. E- /-I ^ 



South Lancaster, Mass. E- O. Orpet. 



Tradescantia Warscewicziana. — The larger number of the 

 greenhouse species of Spiderworts are cultivated for their or- 

 namental foliage, but the species under notice not only de- 

 serves to be culdvated for its foliage, but also for its beautiful 

 flowers. The plant in flower here is only a small one 

 with a single stem, and was obtained from the Botanic Garden, 

 Edinburgh, about twelve months ago. When the plant gets 

 older it forms a branched sub-arborescent, stout stem, with 

 recurved leaves, having a good deal the appearance of an 

 Aloe. The leaves are about eight inches long, narrow-oblong, 

 acuminate and sessile. The flowers are of a bright purplish 

 rose color, and are produced on a densely crowded branched 

 panicle. Although the flowers are small they are very effec- 

 tive, owing to their density, and as they do not all open at the 

 same time, but in constant succession, the blooming season 

 is of long duration. The cultivation of this plant is very 

 simple; it will grow in any rich, open soil, but needs plenty 

 of water at the roots." This is really a good greenhouse plant, 

 and deserves a place in every collection, especially when it is 

 old enough to form a branched stem. It can be increased 

 from cuttings. 



Costus igneus. — Although this plant was introduced from 

 Bahia in 1882, it has not become common, and is very little 

 known in gardens in this country. There is no reason why 

 this Costus should not become a popular plant, as its cultural 

 requirements are very simple. If potted in ordinary compost 

 and given the same treatment as the general run of stove- 

 plants it vi'ill both grow and flower freely. At this season of 

 the year the bright orange-red flowers, which are different 

 irom any other of its associates, stand out conspicuously 

 among stove-flowering plants. The roots of this plant are 

 thick and fleshy, and they form a strong crown from which 

 the stout, erect stems are pushed up to a height of from 



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