THE V 



of glass to be cared for till the plants are half grown. 

 This plan seems much better than others that have been 

 practiced. 



In making the beds to receive the potted plants, 

 throw the manure in without treading, within eight 

 inches of the glass ; then put on six inches of earth. 

 This will bring the lettuce within two inches of the 

 glass. Fifty plants will go under a 3x6 sash ; and as 

 the manure settles and the plants grow, the distance of 

 the lettuce from the glass remains about the same. 

 The heads on the outer edges of the beds thus have an 

 equal chance with the central ones. The danger from 

 frost early in the season, and from scorching later in 

 the spring is greater, and the sashes will require more 

 care to prevent injury. 



Dandelion roots set in the bench now will be ready 

 for market or use in about four weeks. The round 

 radish grows well also in a close house, but the long 

 ones do not succeed well ; they want more air and 

 deeper and finer soil than the round ones. 



New Carnation. — A new carnation has been origi- 

 nated on the grounds of Peter Henderson & Co. It is 

 called American Flag carnation, and promises to be 

 quite valuable. It is moderate in size, handsomely and 

 quite regularly striped with crimson on a white back- 

 ground. The foliage shows that it is descended from 

 the most hardy roots. 



The manner of growth is about the same as that of 

 the pink, for the clusters are rather short-jointed and 

 four or five blossoms are borne upon a single main 

 stem. The variety is a sport from Portia, itself a fine 

 scarlet. The striped sort will probably attain consider- 

 able prominence. 



Lilies and Roses. — Referring to planting of lilies, 

 the germs are not so hardy as one might suppose from 

 the catalogues. They do better with some protection 

 from frost, and it pays to take the trouble. Every gar- 

 den should be full of roses. Fortunate people who live 

 where the winters are mild can have grand roses, but 

 in this severe climate the question of hardy roses is a 

 matter of experiment. The Austrian roses are hardy 

 here, but the fine hybrid perpetuals, etc., have to be 

 thoroughly protected ; yet in severe climates, sufficient 

 protection will often smother the plants. — P. F. 

 Blodgett, \'i-rinonl. 



Prairie Soil and Moisture. — I notice the item under 

 this head on page 241, April No. of American Garden. 

 It presents something new — new to me, and I want more 

 upon that subject. Our prairie soil is rich, but the facts 

 are as stated, and there must be some good reason why 

 larger crops are not brought to the harvest. Is the hy- 

 groscopic capacity of our soil at fault ? Who has the 

 facts ? The theory is beautiful, and may be as true as 

 beautiful- (?) And if so, what are we going to do about 

 it ? Where is the remedy ? — O. L. Barler, Benlrice, 

 Neh. 



Variations of Prunus Padus. — The bird cherry 

 as found in eastern nurseries, introduced from west 



SA Y. 755 



Europe, has not proved hardy in central Iowa, and I 

 know of no good specimens north of the 40th parallel 

 in the prairie states. Finding varied forms of the tree 

 in Poland, North Silesia, and in all the Russian prov- 

 inces east to the Volga in the summer of 1882, I (de- 

 cided to introduce a number of typical forms for trial. 

 These have proved entirely hardy up to the 44th pa""- 

 allel, and some of them, I believe, are handsomer in 

 foliage, habit and bloom, than the common varieties of 

 west Europe. In central Russia the common form is 

 known as Pruntts Piuhis, iiiacrocarpa . It is a rapid up- 

 right grower with dark green foliage and long racemes of 

 pure white flowers that open in the season of the Per- 

 sian lilac. This will prove hardy, I think, up to the 

 45th parallel in the prairie states, and will be liable to 

 sun-scald of stem if trimmed up when planted south of 

 the 40th parallel. 



As we reach the provinces west of the Volga we find 

 the most common form to be upright in habit when 

 young, but as the tree attains size the branches become 

 pendent. In early spring they are among the most 

 beautiful trees on our grounds, as the pendent branches 

 show off the pure white blossoms to better advantage 

 than the varieties with upright habit. We were in- 

 formed by Dr. Maximowicz that in central Asia, and 

 in the valley of the Amur, the common form is known 

 as Prunus Maacki. Beyond all doubt this is merely a 

 variety of the bird cherry, but the tree is more spread- 

 ing in habit, is denser, in foliage, and it flowers more 

 than two weeks earlier than the varieties noted above. 

 It also — as stated elsewhere — is inclined to start its 

 buds prematurely in winter, while the macrocarpa and 

 pendent variety of the Volga hibernate as perfectly as 

 the currant or Duchess apple. I was called to task for 

 stating that the cultivated cherry was worked on Primus 

 Padus on the Volga. Yet, 1 believe it to be true, and 

 at this time our grafts upon it appear to be doing well. 

 — J. L. BUDD. 



Zinnias are among the most showy of summer an- 

 nuals and deserve the careful attention of every lover 

 of flowers. They are natives of Mexico, but are now- 

 cultivated in nearly every clime, although they belong 

 to the half hardy class of annuals. The beautiful 

 double specimens, of various shades of color, which are 

 seen in the gardens during summer are varieties of 

 Zinnia e'legans which m its natural state is single ^nd 

 of a scarlet color. 



Zinnias are among the easiest plants to grow. They 

 will bear some neglect, and will stand a long period of 

 dry weather without injury. During periods of stormy 

 weather they make rapid growth but are liable to be 

 blown over or broken off by the winds. The improved 

 varieties are very beautiful and should find a place 

 everywhere, as they are most valuable for cut-flowers. 

 If the blossoms are removed as soon as they begin to 

 fade, and the plants are not allowed to perfect seed, 

 they will continue to grow and to produce an abundance 

 of flowers until frost comes. The seed should be sown 

 in a hot-bed about the end of March, and as soon as 



