666 



SOME GOOD YUCCAS. 



that is as different from either parent as can easily 

 be conceived. Fig. 4 is the nine-foliolate leaf of a 

 large, rank-growing bush which bears little pink 

 single flowers only an inch in diameter. Fig. 3 

 shows leaflets of the Rugosa type, but the stems 

 show only the rudiments of thorns. Fig. 5 has the 

 habit of Harison's Yellow, and bears little pink and 

 white flowers that resemble those of neither parent. 

 Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show tea blood, and like a hundred 



others, just manage to live through the winters and 

 make a feeble, mildewed growth during the summers. 



Our readers will see that it is not easy to count 

 upon the vigor of a hybrid seedling, or upon any 

 other characteristics, by those of the parents. He 

 will further see that such offspring do not of neces- 

 sity, or in most cases, bear any striking resemblance 

 to them. E. S. Carman. 



The Rural New- Yorker. 



SOME GOOD YUCCAS. 



THE group of yuccas, of which the cut (page 

 661) shows a member, has afforded our house- 

 hold and friends a great deal of pleasure for 

 very little pains. About four years ago I obtained 

 from John Saul, of Washington, among other plants, 

 a dozen yuccas, comprising Y. fila)iie7itosa and its va- 

 I'iety Jiaccida {Y. flaceida), Y. gloriosa var. recurvi- 

 foUa., { Y. recurva), Y. gloriosa var. sufierba (}'. sii- 

 perba), and Y. flexilis ( K stenophylld). They were 

 all planted together in front of a shrubbery com- 

 posed of lilacs, spiraeas, viburnums, roses, altheas, 

 Philadelphus, pyrus, Japanese weigelas, etc., the 

 foliage of which makes a good back-ground for 



Fig. g. 

 [Hybrid with long leaflets.] 



Fig. 6. Tea Blood. 



the spikes of cream-colored flowers of the yuccas. 

 By planting out the off-shoots, we now have a large 



group, and the variety is interesting from the different 

 characters of the foliage and the extension of the time 

 of flowering. The greater 

 number bloomed this year 

 in April and May To-day 

 (October 2d) there are two 

 spikes of superba that wilj 

 open their bells during the 

 week. The specimen of 

 recurva ( Y. gloriosa var. re- 

 iiirvifolia) that, by reason 

 of its extra size and vigor, 

 tempted me to secure a 

 memento of its beauty by 

 means of my camera, was 

 at its best on August 26th. 

 All prove hardy with me. 

 The leaves from lawn trees and shrubbery that drift 

 among them to the depth of six or eight inches in fall 

 are left till spring, when they and any decayed foliage 

 are removed and a little rotted manure scattered 

 among them. This, in addition to cutting out the 

 flower-stalks when faded, and pulling up the few weeds 

 that appear, comprises all the labor expended upon 

 them. For these slight attentions we. have a tropical- 

 looking evergreen plant that attracts notice at all sea- 

 sons. Its appearance on a light carpet of snow is very 

 striking. 



How far north the yuccas would survive under this 

 treatment I do not know. Filamen- 

 tosa is the hardiest, and very striking 

 with its white threads. With an extra 

 bed of leaves and some pine boughs, 

 I fancy it would endure a severe 

 winter with impunity. It is well 

 suited to the farmer's lawn, as its 

 pointed leaves effectually repress cats, 

 dogs, and fowls from its domain. 

 Single specimens are common, and 

 near here there is a long straight 

 line of them by a walk, but I think, 

 good reader, that you would like 

 them best in a large irregular clump. ' ed leaflets.] 

 [ F. filamentosa is hardy in the northern states. — Ed.] 



Orange Co., Virginia. Arthur Davenport. 



Fig. 10. 

 [Hybrid with round- 



