AND THE WILDERNESS BLOSSOMED 



feet, and bears from August ist to frost a con- 

 stant succession of white flowers, nearly five 

 inches long, which appear at dusk, and are then 

 very fragrant. There is said to be a still taller 

 variety called Giant Red, which grows to a 

 height of five feet and bears from July until 

 frost immense clusters of rich crimson flowers. I 

 am not yet able to confirm this statement, for 

 although I have bought the seeds annually for 

 several years, and planted them with the utmost 

 care, I have yet to see a single crimson flower. 

 N. alata does best in rich soil and in a somewhat 

 sheltered position. Some twenty-five feet west- 

 ward of the bed I use for them is a fringe of tall 

 trees which shelters them from the afternoon's 

 sun, and induces the blossoms to expand earlier in 

 the day than common. They look well growing 

 with other plants, and I sometimes lay a carpet 

 of Sweet Alyssum at their feet which does not 

 appear to interfere with their growth or bloom- 

 ing. Some authorities recommend sowing the 

 seed as early as February in a warm house, and 

 transplanting to the open ground the last of 

 May. I have had very satisfactory results, how- 

 ever, by sowing my seed broadcast in September 

 where the plants are to grow, and have had stout 



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