WINDFALLS. 



53 



the humidity of the soil causes it to swell and it slowly 

 liberates the sulphide of carbon. To retard this volatil- 

 ization and prolong its action for several months instead 

 of a few weeks, in order to protect the plants from a re- 

 turn of the insects, all that is necessary is to add creo- 

 sote to the liquid. 



This treatment of the sulphide of carbon is decidedly 

 the best, and it has been preferred to several similar 

 products by the committee on insecticides at the inter- 

 national exposition of i88g. Creosoting the sulphide of 

 carbon renders the capsules capable both of killing and 

 ■driving away injurious insects. Experience shows that 

 in general five capsules, each containing about 150 

 grains, to the square yard is sufficient to kill or drive 

 away all insect enemies. We believe that this remedy 

 will be a valuable aid in all departments of horticulture- 

 ■ — Le Jar din. 



Experiments in Crossings. — At the Cornell Univer- 

 sity station, work in crossing garden plants has become 

 very extensive. The largest efforts have been put forth 

 among the cucurbits, for the purpose of determining 

 first-hand what the limits and influences of crossing are 

 in this polymorphous family. The work of crossing 

 squashes began in 1887, so that this is the fourth season. 

 Last year over 400 pollinations of squashes were made, 

 and the plantings this year cover several acres. Nearly 

 100 new types of squashes and pumpkins have already 

 been obtained. This work will continue for many 

 years, and probably no results will be announced for 

 several years. Photographs of crosses and selections 

 last year numbered over 300. A large experiment is in 

 progress to determine the moot point concerning the 

 contamination of musk melons by cucumbers, and 

 cucumoer crossing has been under way some time. In 

 addition to this crossing, the station is hybridizing ex- 

 tensively m other directions, particularly now with 

 raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, egg-plants, toma- 

 toes, beans, and many ornamentals. The plantation of 

 egg-plant crosses this season comprises some 200 fine 

 plants. — Agricultural Science. 



Hydrangea Treatment. — How shall I prune my 

 Hydrangea tiortensia, paniculaia ? Will it answer to cut 

 back the shoots ?— H. H. H. 



[Keep down all the weak growth, so that the bush 

 will not become too thick. In spring, cut back the last 

 year's growth a half or more. The flowers are born 

 on new wood, ] 



A New Chrysanthemum coronarium. — We here- 

 with send for your opinion some blooms of a new 

 Chrysanthemum coronarium. We have had this strain 

 in cultivation for nearly eight years, but could not get 

 it true. For the last two years it has proved to be con- 

 stant, but we were able to save only a very small 

 quantity of seed. This year the crop seems to be 

 better, and if so, we shall offer it to the trade under the 

 name of Chrysanthemum coronarium, imhricatum. The 

 principal difference from the type is the shape of the 

 flowers, being globular and firm, each petal forming a 



tube. The habit is also better than that of the old 

 form. — C. Platz & Sohn, Erfurt, Germany. 



[The flowers are solid and symmetrical, of good form 

 and clear golden yellow color. They appear to possess 

 points of excellence. — Ed. Am. G.] 



Utility. 



In deepest wood 

 A flow' ret stood 



'Neath unknown skies ; 

 Its petals bright 

 Ne'er gave their liglit 



To human eyes. 



But laden fair 

 With beauties rare 



It called the bees ; — 

 And faintest veins 

 Revealed the gains 



They stor'd in trees. 



An honest man 

 With learning's ban 



Espied the flow'r ; — 

 " Ah ! little swain, 

 Thy life was vain 



Until this hour." 



But Nature knew 

 Of all that grew 



No thing was vain ; 

 The restless tease 

 Of busy bees 



Had render'd gain. 



In honey'd raids 

 And stolen aids 



That life began ; 

 For Nature staid 

 Was never made 



For haughty man. 



Cosmos. — In the late October days, after many frosts 

 have cut the dahlias and other tender plants, the chaste 

 white and pink flowers of the cosmos brighten the cor- 

 ner of the garden. It is worth growing if for no other 

 reason than this habit of late blooming. Along with 

 petunias, phlox and Nicotiana ajfinis. it carries the flower 

 garden fairly into the edge of the winter. 



Leaves from My House Garden. — An Air Garden. 

 — Fasten two hooks in a wall 12 or 14 inches apart, and 

 on these lay a bunch of house-leek — not tying it on. As 

 it draws its nourishment from the air alone, it will elon- 

 gate, and one end where the buds are, will turn upward, 

 and soon bloom like an earth plant. When these blos- 

 soms are over, cut off the lower part of the stalk and 

 plant it in a pot. 



Another air plant is the sedum or stone crop. Hang 

 a bunch of this by a loose cord to a nail in your room. 

 The stalks will turn up and the buds will all open. 



M.'\NTEL Garden. — If you have a mantel-piece over a 

 constant fire you can have a pretty garden. Get some 

 smooth bulbs (medium size) of hyacinths. Procure two 

 vases of clear glass, remove the bottom from one ; place 

 in one of these a bulb head down, filling it over with 

 good leaf mould. Put in this another bulb top up, and 

 put this vase in the whole vase, which should be full of 

 water. As soon as the bulbs put forth leaves, one set 

 will come up into the air, and the other go down into 



