CULTIVATION AND ANALYSIS OF PLANTS. 
favorite old white Day Lily of the gardens, is a beautiful border plant and perfectly 
hardy. The fine heart-shaped leaves of the Funkia are always pretty from their first 
sprouting until they fall; and the plants are well adapted to fill an unsightly waste place, 
as their habit is so cosmopolitan that they will grow in any'soil, though they are by no 
means indifferent to a rich one. The rich, pearly and very fragrant trumpet-shaped flower, 
which survives only for a day, but is promptly followed by its fellows, is a great 
favorite wherever known, and amply compensates for the little care it requires in cultiva- 
tion. In hardy and cold-enduring properties the Funkias are excelled by but few plants, 
enduring the winters of even our northern latitudes without injury. Grown easily out of 
doors, under trees or in open beds, no collection should be considered complete without 
them. As house plants the smaller variegated sorts are much used, and under such favor- 
able circumstances these often anticipate their season of flowering. For the embellishment 
of cemeteries, public parks and other places not receiving close attention, they have been 
found very acceptable, withstanding privation and neglect better than most cultivated 
plants. They are usually propagated from divisions of the roots, which grow in large 
masses, and are easily separated, either while the plant is dormant—that being the best 
time —or while in bloom. The method is the same as in the Dicentra. 
GARDHNIA. 
7 9h HENCE sprang the error that confounds the Gardenia with the 
(ps i Cape Jasmine it is somewhat difficult to conjecture, as they resemble 
each other only in the odor they emit, and even belong to different 
‘ families, the Gardenia being a Madder. They have been known 
=~ in cultivation under this name (given them by Linnzus in honor of his 
correspondent and friend, Dr. Alexander Garden, of Charleston, South 
PREY former name it is difficult to say. It is a very fine, robust, ornamental shrub, 
ee with thickish, glossy leaves of an oblong or elliptical form; and produces large, 
) loose masses of double flowers. The G. camelliflora has a large double flower 
not unlike a medium sized Camellia, hence the name of the species. All the 
Gardenias delight in a rich soil, composed, in equal parts, of leaf-mold, old 
cow-manure and good loam; and, except when dormant, in abundant moisture, which, 
however, should not be suffered to become stagnant. It is important, and even necessary 
to their well-being, that they be kept clean; and hence, if syringing be found insufficient, 
the sponge should be cautiously and gently applied, the hand supporting each leaf while 
it is being washed. They will give an abundance of white flowers during the winter when . 
properly cared for and supplied with the necessary warmth, which should not be less than 
sixty-five degrees. In even the coldest sections of our country they can be put out of doors 
in the summer, and allowed to rest for one or two months, when, if desired, it can be started 
to grow again by the free application of water. It is propagated by cuttings of the young 
side-shoots, which should be treated in the usual way already mentioned under Abutilon; 
364 
Pex, 
ASL 
