SOME GOOD FLOU'ERS IN MY GARDEN. 



Ml 



petals and white, purple veined lip, but in the profusion 

 in which we saw them the flowers were surpassingly 

 beautiful. The creeping rhizomes ran far up the slender 

 trees, or on the larger trees formed great mats encircl- 

 ing the trunks. To add to the beauty, the ground was 

 carpeted with lycopodium, and ferns nodded from every 

 crag. The sun was high enough to shine down into the 

 valley, and we saw all under the most favorable aspect. 

 Words are tame to give an idea of the beauty. We 

 lingered until long after the sun had left the valley ; 

 then, loaded with plants, we returned to spend the night 

 at our camp of the night befere. I remember that I 

 had given an Indian an immense mat, which I had 

 stripped off a tree, to carry, rolling it up with the plant 



side within, but I was startled to come upon him clothed 

 in aspasia, for he had unrolled it and put it around his 

 body as a more convenient way of carrying it. How I 

 should like a photograph of him as he appeared ; a 

 perambulating orchid ! Passing a quiet night at our for- 

 mer camp, we, the next day, made an easy march to the 

 house of our friend, the only incident of interest being 

 our securing a couple of pacas, a small rodent, the best 

 wild meat on the Amazon, which made us a royal 

 supper. No further excursions for a few days, for 

 to have seen Aspasia epidendroidL's by the tens of thou- 

 sands and to live on turtle and paca was happiness 

 enough without further exertion. 



Para, Brazil, i8gi. Edward S Rand, Jr. 



SOME GOOD FLOWERS IN MY GARDEN. 



MY OPINION OF THEM AND WHAT I DO WITH THEM. 



|HE MAGAZINE has not space 

 enough to describe them all, 

 but if the editor will allow I 

 will tell more about my favor- 

 ites from time to time. First 

 as to the myrtles. 



Myrttts coiniiuniis , of which 

 there are several varieties, natives of Asia, Europe and 

 South America, are not surpassed in beauty of foliage 

 by any exotic shrub. Some have broad leaves, while 

 others are narrow, and very fragrant. This fragrance 

 comes from an oil secreted in little cells, seen as dots 

 when the leaves are held up against the light. The 

 flowers are lovely and fragrant, of a pure white. These 

 half-hardy shrubs will thrive nicely in ordinary garden 

 soil ; they are readily increased by cuttings of the same 

 year's growth when it is commencing to ripen ; the 

 cuttings to be rooted in sand and covered with a tumbler. 

 Cuttings taken off at any time, even from old wood, will 

 root if properly cared for. AI. communis may also be 

 raised from seeds. The common broad-leaved myrtle 

 will live out-doors all winter in the south, and make 

 beautiful hedges. At the north it should be culti- 

 vated in pails or tubs, and stored in the cellar over 

 winter. 



Crucianella slylosa is a hardy perennial from the mount- 

 ains of Peru, and is a lovely little plant. It grows 

 about a foot high and bears beautiful bright pink flow- 

 ers in great abundance from June until frost ; it thrives 

 in ordinary good garden soil, and is of the easiest 

 culture. 



The godetias produce the most brilliant colors when 

 grown in a poor soil, but that makes the plants smaller 

 and weaker, while a rich soil makes them grow more to 

 leaves, with fewer blooms. 



Antigonon hp/opus is a grand climber, a native of 

 Mexico, and is quite hardy with protection. It is bul- 

 bous, and the shoots are killed to the ground by frost in 

 the fall, but in spring it soon starts up and grows 



rapidly, blooming all summer and fall, It bears rose- 

 colored flowers in long racemes, and at a distance the 

 abundance of blooms produces the effect of roses ; hence 

 it is called mountain rose, Rosa de montana. It is also 

 called queen's wreath. 



Blue hydrangeas are greatly admired, and it makes 

 one feel jubilant to think the blooms of hortensia may 

 turn from pink to blue. Sometimes they come 

 this color with scarcely any trouble. There are sev- 

 eral means used to change the colors, but sometimes 

 they will not produce the desired effect and the flowers 

 will stay pink. Among the many recipes recommended 

 are wood ashes, alum and water, common salt, carbon- 

 ate of soda, nitre, and water in which tan has been 

 steeped. Each of these has been successful at times, 

 yet no dependence can be placed upon them. However, 

 among the novelties Hydrangea sapphira makes its bow, 

 and will undoubtedly be eagerly sought after by lovers 

 of blue hydrangeas. 



The gentians have pretty flowers as well as tonic pro- 

 perties ; the flowers are of pretty blue shades. They 

 should have an abundance of air and a light rich soil to 

 do their best. The perennial varieties are increased by 

 dividing the roots and the annual ones by seeds ; these 

 should be sown as soon as they are ripe in the autumn. 



Lemon verbena, Aloysia citriodora , is esteemed for the 

 fragrance of its leaves, but the flower has no beauty ; 

 this plant requires great care in watering, as if it has 

 not enough water the leaves will curl up and wither, 

 while if it has too much water the leaves will soon drop 

 off. 



Worms do harm by rupturing the fibres, particular- 

 ly of potted plants, and greatly impede the fiee penetra- 

 tion of water ; they are usually discovered by the worm 

 casts which are thrown up on the surface of the soil. 

 When this is the case, the plant with its ball of earth en- 

 tire should be turned out of the pot and the worms 

 picked out from the roots. 



Argemones or prickly poppies are highly ornamental 

 hardy annuals and perennials, natives of Mexico. They 



