34 FAMUAAK GARDES FlOirEItS. 



'"■amiot suppose there would lie an)- cliftieiilty in sejjavatiiio' 

 it were it needed, for fatty matters readily take up the 

 most delieate and evanescent (jdouvs of flowers. 



Although the common musk is to be fcmnd in evevv 

 garden, its proper home seems to lie the cottage window; 

 and assuredly the cottagers appeal' to know best ho«' to 

 grow it, if we may judge hy the huge buxom plants that 

 ^ve meet T\'ith in exhibitions of A\'indo\'\' Howers. The two 

 important points in the growing of musk are to put the 

 plants into fi'esh rich soil as soon as they begin to grow in 

 spring, and to give them aljundance of water. Havin^' 

 had occasion to grow a few large plants of musk at times, 

 we have proceeded as follows : — A certain numfier of jjots 

 containing last year's plants are shaken out as soon as thev 

 begin to sprout in spring, and are potted in large pots only 

 half jUleil with a mixture of equal parts of rotten hot-bed 

 inannre and fresh turfy loam. As the plants o-iow, fresh 

 soil is added, until the ]iots are hlled to within an inch of 

 the rim, and then tlie jiots are stood in pans containing 

 always ahout one inch depth of water. iV greenhoiise or 

 frame is the best place for them while making their earlv 

 growth, and they must have abundance of light and air ; 

 but ^^hen the glowing summer has set in thev may l)e 

 anywhere out of doors, but should lie in a sheltered nook, 

 fiecanse a strong wind or the wagging of a dog's tail may 

 seriously injure the frail growth, ami spoil the plants for 

 the season. A certain amount of snjiport, in the wa\" of 

 neat stakes, must be provided, and the plants should lie 

 carefully trained ; but they should never be trained out iu 

 a flat form, unless there is a s]iecial reason I'oi' it — a round 

 bush-form lieinij; more natural and pleasing. 



A very pleasing surprise was afforded to the horticultural 



