696 



CURRENT GARDEN LORE. 



and have a fragrance that is at once characteristic and 

 distinct. It is peculiarly aromatic and nutty, not sickly, 

 like that of the stephanotis and tuberose. We seem here 

 to have a dangerous rival to the stephanotis, beautiful as 

 that climber is, for this schubertia is just as free in 

 growth, making shoots of great length in a single season, 

 and bearing clusters of from eight to ten flowers. The 

 schubertia has two flaws, however ; the unpleasant odor 

 of the leaves when bruised, and its abundance of reddish- 

 brown hairs. But its advantages outweigh its disadvan- 

 tages, and it seems to be only a matter of time when the 

 plant will become a general favorite. Although often 

 described as a green-house plant, it requires an interme- 

 diate temperature to bring out its full character. When 

 seen in perfection its ele- 

 gance and informality ren- 

 der it attractive, while all 

 appreciate the nutty fra- 

 grance of its stephanotis- 

 like flowers, — Garcienniff 

 Illustrated. 



Grass of Parnassus. — 

 This is an extremely inter- 

 esting and pretty little 

 genus of bog-plants, chief 

 amongst which is the sub- 

 ject of the illustration, 

 Fartiassia palustris, a 

 native of Britain. On 

 marshy land or in bogs in 

 the rock-garden it is a most 

 charming flower, and is 

 by no means an uncommon 

 plant in gardens. When 

 cultivated the fine effect it 

 gives is really surprising. 

 We find that a sandy-peat 

 soil answers well for all 

 plants of this species. They 

 are readily raised from 

 seed, and most of them 

 may be increased by di- 

 visions. P. asarifolia is 

 an extremely pretty plant, 

 with larger flowers than 

 the British species. The 



flowers are large, white and produced in summer. /'. 

 Caroliniana, from the North American swamps, has 

 large, white flowers netted with green or purple lines, 

 and when growing well is very effective. P. fimbriata, 

 with large fringed flowers, is the most beautiful of the 

 North American forms, and is well worth special care. 

 The leaves are curiously hollowed out near the base. 

 P. nubicola, introduced a few years ago from the Him- 

 alayas, is a fine robust species with large white or straw- 

 colored flowers. The leaves are elliptical. P. palustris, 

 the common grass of Parnassus, has white flowers and 

 cordate, stem-clasping leaves. It is one of the freest 

 bloomers and, in our opinion, the best of the genus for 

 culture in an ordinary artificial bog. — The Garden. 



mm 



KAib OF PARNASbUb. (Pamaibia palustn: 



Water-Plants in Japanese Gardens. — "The Japa- 

 nese garden contains no large growths. It is paved with 

 blue pebbles, and its center is occupied by a pondlet, a 

 miniature lake fringed with rare plants, and containing 

 a tiny island. Here and there at the edge of the pond, 

 and almost level with the water, are placed large flat 

 stones, on which one may either stand or squat, to watch 

 the lacustrine population or to tend the water-plants. 

 There are beautiful water-lilies with bright green leaf, 

 disks floating oilily upon the surface, and many 

 lotus plants of two kinds, those which bear pink and 

 those which bear pure white flowers. There are iris 

 plants growing along the bank, of which the blos- 

 soms are prismatic violet, and there are various orna- 

 mental grasses and ferns 

 and mosses. But the pond 

 is essentially a lotus pond ; 

 the lotus plants make its 

 greatest charm. It is a de- 

 light to watch every phase 

 of their marvelous growth, 

 from the first unrolling of 

 the leaf to the fall of the 

 last flower. On rainy days 

 especially the lotus plants 

 are worth observing. Their 

 great, cup-shaped leaves, 

 swaying high above the 

 pond, catch the rain and 

 hold it awhile ; but always 

 after the water in the leaf 

 reaches a certain level the 

 stem bends, and empties 

 the leaf with a loud splash, 

 then straightens again. 

 Rain-water upon a lotus 

 leaf is a favorite subject 

 with Japanese metal-work- 

 ers, and metal-work only 

 can reproduce the effect, 

 for the motion and color 

 of water moving upon the 

 green, oleaginous surface 

 are exactly those of quick- 

 silver.'' — Atlantic 

 Monthly. 



The Parapee Palm. — The Parapee palm {Guilielma 

 speciosa) is cultivated by the Indian aborigines of the 

 Guianas for its fruit, which they use largely as food. 

 They plant it about their settlements, and, where it is 

 fonnd apparently wild in the forests, examination will 

 show that such situations were formerly occupied by the 

 Indians. In some seasons the fruit is produced without 

 seeds, while in others it contains seeds, the variation 

 occurring in the fruit of the same trees. When boiled 

 or roasted it has something of the taste of a dry, mealy 

 potato. It is palatable and nutritious. The fruits, 

 which are about the size of a pigeon's egg, are borne in 

 bunches of from forty to sixty. There are two or three 

 bearing seasons in a year. — Garden and Forest. 



