A irOJ/A.V'S GARDEN. 



733 



gusting to see old sticks, dirty rags, or refuse of any l;ind 

 thrown on the snow in winter, or in the mud during the 

 wet season. If I could have either a nice tidy back yard 

 or handsome grounds in front, I should have the back 

 yard, and I should make it neat and clean, and even 

 pretty, with velvety green lawn, and roses, shrubs and 

 a bed of flowers , also nice little beds of radishes, let- 

 tuce, cucumbers, etc., if possible. Fine manure is much 

 more valuable for crops and plants than coarse manure, 

 as it mixes better with the soil, and is more easily ap- 

 propriated by the plants. 



The hardy Garden Pinks, in all their exquisite color- 

 ing and sweet fragrance, rank high amongst our list of 

 hardy garden plants. There is Alba Jimbriata, almost 

 like a lovely pure white carnation. Then Snow, which 

 is certainly the equal of a white carnation in size and 

 form and color. But it is of another flower I would 

 speak, the double Lychnis Vi.uai ia. It is very like the 

 pinks, yet botanically it is quite distinct. It is a 

 very choice hardy plant for the garden, and every plant 

 lover should possess at least one root of it. It grows 

 well in nearly all locations, needing no particular kind 

 of soil. It is very hardy, grows freely and blooms pro- 

 fusely. The flower stems grow to a height of eighteen 

 inches, and support flowers of a bright, rich, magenta 

 color. It may be easily increased by dividing the roots, 

 and is very efiective when planted in patches, in beds, 

 borders or rockeries. It flowers in June, and is a pleas- 

 ing plant. 



ExocHORDA GRANDiFLORA is a beautiful hardy 

 shrub, a native of Northern China and Japan. It is re- 

 lated somewhat to the spirfeas, and like them is per- 

 fectly hardy. It is of pretty, compact habit. The 

 flowers are produced in racemes, and have pure white 

 petals, showing a dot of green in the center. Each 

 raceme bears from eight to ten flowers, the opened 

 flowers being about an inch and a half in diameter. The 

 buds are so cunning and so round that they look like 

 pearl beads. The foliage is of a bright soft green, which 

 adds to the beauty of the plant. This shrub is not 

 very particular as to soil, as it will thrive and grow 

 almost anywhere. 



Various Plants. — There are many plants that are so 

 hardy that they will flourish with but trifling care and 

 attention, and without many of the advantages demaded 

 by others which are more delicate in habit. But all 

 should have proper care as to their needs, and should be 

 given locations most suited to them, where they will do 

 better and prove much more satisfactory. Many plants 

 are like salamanders, and will stand any amount of heat 

 and sunlight, and these do best if placed in a south win- 

 dow ; others will thrive in an east or west window, but 

 will grow very little if placed where they get the direct 

 sunshine during the middle of the day. Few plants will 

 bloom well in a north window, yet those which are 

 grown for the beauty of their foliage, instead of flowers, 

 generally do well in such a location ; ferns, violets, 

 begonias, etc., are among those which will succeed 

 there. Geraniums and oxalis do best in a south window, 



while feverfew, begonias, callas, mignonette and fuchsias 

 do well in east or west exposures. 



There is one thing in the repotting of plants which is 

 of the utmost importance, and which, when neglected 

 by amateurs, will often cause failure. This is the 

 proper firming down of the soil around the plant. Press 

 it down as hard as possible with the fingers. 



Drainage is also quite as important an item with 

 'these plants. Be sure to begin with a clean pot ; then 

 take seme clean broken potsherds, place the larger 

 pieces at the bottom over the hole, and fill in the chinks 

 with the smaller ones. Very few plants can dispense 

 with proper drainage, especially the delicate growers. 

 The earth will get sour and sodden and the plant will 

 fail to grow. 



Never try to take up old verbena plants. It will not 

 be worth while to bother with them. Rather root fresh 

 cuttings and keep them over winter. They grow quickly 

 and do much better. 



To succeed with the Clematis Jackiiiaiiui , it must be 

 well pruned. I know of a man who cuts his Jackmanni 

 down to the ground every fall During the next sum- 

 mer his vine will grow from ten to twelve feet high, and 

 It will be covered with one mass of bloom. 



The Fig may be easily grown as a window plant, but 

 certain rules or directions should be carried out when 

 the leaves have all fallen, and the wood is well ripened, 

 which will be generally about the middle of October. 

 The plant should be washed, brought indoors, and 

 placed in a warm, well-lighted window. It will seem to 

 make no progress towards growth, and there will be 

 many who will become discouraged ; but if they would 

 have a pretty fig tree with good genuine figs on in the 

 summer, they must keep the little tree over in a warm, 

 light place during the winter, even if it takes the best 

 window. In March the plant will begin to show signs 

 of growth, when commence watering with tepid water; 

 never let the soil become dry, neither take the other ex- 

 treme of keeping the earth fairly sodden or stagnant. 

 Keep the leaves clean by syringing them frequently, 

 especially on the underside where the red spider is 

 liable to lurk. As soon as there are six good leaves on 

 each shoot, the shoot should be pinched back. When 

 the weather becomes warm the tree should be put out 

 of doors where the sun is hot and in every warm 

 shower When the plant gets large enough for an 

 eight or ten inch pot it need not be repotted oftener 

 than once in two years. But take off the top soil and 

 add fresh soil and a top dressing of ground bone and 

 wood ashes. When fruit begins to swell, give liquid 

 manure occasionally. 



The Drac^nas are very ornamental plants for house 

 culture ; they are easily grown, and are exceedingly 

 graceful, standing well the hot dry air of our living rooms. 

 The plants need repotting every spring and fall. Dur- 

 ing the winter the leaves should be wiped off with a 

 damp sponge, as often as the dust accumulates on them. 

 They need some sunshine, to bring out the colors, and 

 require considerable moisture. Dracit:na tertnitialis is 



