758 



THE \ SA V. 



the snowflakes, or leucojums. The snowdrop delights 

 in a rather strong loam, m a position where it is sel- 

 dom disturbed. It will thrive freely under trees and 

 shrubs and in the grass on a sheltered lawn, and it does 

 well when planted on a grassy bank. When planted in 

 the border the bulbs are often much disturbed and 

 sometimes seriously injured by the hoeing and raking 

 necessary to keep the beds in order ; and besides the 

 flowers are often greatly disfigured by being dashed 

 about by the heavy rains and winds that are so preva- 

 lent in the spring time. 



For planting the bulbs in a lawn a spade or garden 

 trowel may be used. Insert the spade about three 

 inches into the turf and cut a triangular piece of sod 

 out. Remove the sod and plant the bulbs thickly ; then 

 replace the sod and flatten it down carefully with the 

 back of the spade. Some use a dibble and fill up the 

 hole with garden soil. I object to the dibble because 

 it makes pointed holes and so hardens the ground that 

 it holds water for some considerable time, and the bulb 

 is apt to lodge an inch or so from the bottom of the 

 hole, where it is placed in the best possible position for 

 decay. 



The snowdrop is difficult to force, but it can be made 

 to produce its flowers earlier by covering the plants 

 with a garden frame. When it is necessary to force 

 them in the greenhouse it will be found best to plant 

 them rather thickly in shallow pans, and to subject 

 them to a temperature that shall at no time exceed 50°. 

 Water them occasionally with very cold water. To 

 grow them for the sitting-room they may be planted 

 thickly in pots or pans and then placed in a sheltered 

 situation. Bring them into the house when the buds 

 begin to show. If subjected to any degree of heat they 

 produce nothing but leaves. — H. W. Smith, Baton 

 Rouge, La. 



Lagerstroemia Indica is a very beautiful half 

 hardy deciduous shrub belonging to the natural order 

 lythrarieae. It attains a height of 10 or 12 feet, and 

 has numerous branches. The leaves are opposite, en- 

 tire, roundish ovate, and glossy green in color. The 

 flowers are produced in large, leafy panicles at the ex- 

 tremities of the branches during the months of Septem- 

 ber and October, the individual flowers being large and 

 of a rich rose color. 



The plant is a native of the Indies, where it was dis- 

 covered by Dr. Wallich, who introduced it into England 

 in 1841. It is one of the prettiest as well as one of the 

 most rare species of this splendid genus, and as it is a 

 plant easily cultivated I do not think that too much can 

 be said in its praise. 



The easiest and best method of cultivating this plant 

 is to set it out in a well-enriched, deep border in a 

 sunny situation. I plant it about the loth of May and 

 keep it well supplied with water during the summer 

 months ; and if all goes well it will commence to flower 

 in September, and continue to do so until destroyed by 

 frost. Then it should be taken up carefully, potted, 

 and placed in any situation where it can be given a uni- 



form winter temperature of 40 degrees. Before the 

 plants are brought inside they should be trimmed and 

 all superfluous wood removed. Water must be very 

 sparingly given, the object being to keep the plant in 

 a dormant state until the ensuing May, when it can be 

 planted out and started into growth. 



Propagation is effected by cuttings of the half-ripened 

 wood, and if the young plants are repotted as often as 

 necessary and carefully cared for, nice flowering speci- 

 mens will soon be obtained. 



The lagerstroemia is often grown as a pot plant, and 

 in order to ensure success, it is absolutely necessary to 

 give it an abundance of room for its roots, and good 

 drainage. It should be grown in a compost composed 

 of two-thirds well decayed sods and one-third well de- 

 cayed manure ; mix thoroughly, and during the season 

 of growth apply liquid manure with a generous hand. 



The plant should be taken out of the pot or tub every 

 spring before it starts into growth. Carefully remove 

 all the soil from the roots, and then repot, using fresh 

 compost, and treat as previously advised. During our 

 hot dry summer weather the plants occasionally become 

 infested with red spider, and then they should be thor- 

 oughly syringed every evening until these pests are de- 

 stroyed. — Chas. E. Parnell, Queens, N. Y. 



The Winter Aconite. — The botanical name of this 

 pretty little plant is Eranthits hyemalis. The generic 

 *name is very appropriate and signifies spring flower. 

 This is about the first plant to unfold its flowers in the 

 spring. The blossoms are yellow and are surrounded 

 with a whorl of bright green, finely divided leaves It 

 generally continues to produce its flowers for about two 

 months. The ordinary leaves of the plant appear after 

 it has flowered. The plant thrives well under the 

 shade of trees and upon shady banks and in these situa- 

 tions it is very effective, and is very pleasing when seen 

 under the waving boughs of an evergreen shrub. The 

 soil should be made moderately rich before planting, 

 as the roots may be allowed to remain an unlimited 

 time before being removed. The roots are of a brown 

 color, very uneven in form, and are really underground 

 stems. They should be planted about an inch and a 

 half deep and about two inches apart. A dibble or 

 garden trowel may be used in planting. The plants 

 can be raised from seed, which should be sown as soon 

 as ripe. It is hardy as far north as in Ontario. — H. W. 

 Smith, Baton Rouge, La. 



Out- Door Roses. — I have prepared with great care 

 a bed for 5o tea roses to be planted out next spring, and 

 am anxious to get the best dozen varieties for out-of- 

 door culture. So far I am inclined to make the list as 

 follows — but would be very thankful if anyone will im- 

 prove it or point out any weakness in it. I want to in- 

 clude Perle and Mermet, but they are not satisfactory 

 with me, and ro they are discarded — in this dozen I want 

 only those upon which I can depend for good results in 

 my location. 



Marie Van Houtte, Safrano, Papa Gontier, Som- 

 brieul, Mad. Hoste, Coquette de Lyon, Pumila, Mai- 



