BOTANICAL. INDEX, 
9a 
Corn Flower, Harebell, Sweet-William, Lobelia, Stevia, Eupatorium, Stellaria, etc. 
All these, and a great many other varieties of native plants which are more or less 
abundant throughout the country, can be collected by any one by a careful search, 
especially upon uncultivated land; but you will never be fortunate enough to find 
them all growing together. 
In the list of introduced (foreign) hardy plants and shrubs, probably nothing is 
more effective than the so-called Pampas Grass, standing in a clump on the lawn. 
But our experience is that Saccharum Maddeni, (Fig. 68, p. 107,) being the most hardy is 
the most desirable for this latitude. It requires no protection during winter, and if 
left undisturbed for a few years will attain a dense, gigantic size. Of course the 
plumes will not compare with those from California, (Fig. 55,) but as they add such 
a tropical aspect to the lawn during the last of summer, they are almost indispens- 
able. Next to the Pampas Grass, we think Polygonum Sieboldi, from Japan, (Fig. 54,) 
should have a “reward of merit,” for it is certainly one of our most meritorious 
plants. It dies down to the ground each Fall, but in the Spring starts early and 
grows rapidly, attaining a height of 4 or 5 feet by the middle of August, when it 
commences to throw out its innumerable racemes of white flowers among the thick- 
set, large, heart-shaped or oval leaves, and remains in perfection until frost. Like 
all other tall-growing, hardy herbaceous plants, the roots spread quite extensively, 
for which reason they should be planted where they can form a large clump. The 
list of hardy herbaceous plants worthy a place in each collection is a very long one, 
and we can only refer to the more effective in this place. 
But we cannot close this article without a word in reference to our locality, for 
our friends in the Southern States and California must keep in mind that we live in 
a cold climate, where the word Winter does not mean continuous rains, as it does in 
all warm latitudes, but indicates a cold and dreary season of snow and ice, with the 
ground often frozen three feet deep for weeks together. Consequently, we must con- 
tent ourselves with rather unpretentious hardy plants and shrubs, while many of our 
readers are enjoying the delightful fragrance of the Tea Rose, Gardenia, Pittosporum, 
Jasmine, etc., as well as the still richer perfumes from theflowers of sub-tropical fruit 
trees, standing in the open ground and vieing with each other in their efforts to 
make Winter the loveliest portion of the year. 
It seems that many do not understand that the object of what is termed “ pro- 
tection ” to plants, is not to keep them warm. It is rather to keep them cold, though 
not for that either. It is to protect them against the wind, the sun, and sudden 
changes of temperature. There is nothing better than evergreen boughs; but when 
these are not easily obtainable, long manure thrown lightly over the beds and held 
there by sticks stuck diagonally, or any light substance, will answer just as well. 
— Moore's Rural New Yorker , Sept. 28th. 
[From Scraps and Queries Department of Gardeners’ Monthly, for Sept.] 
* * * I send you by this mail a double Lilium candidum, which has appeared 
in my candidum bed. * * * * The plant is vigorous, and there are ten double 
flowers on the spikes. n. w. m. 
This is a very interesting freak. It is not double in the usual sense of double 
flowers, but a simple mass of white leaves terminating the stalk, the leaves scattered 
closely along about one inch of stalk. And yet it shows how closely leaves and 
flowers are allied in nature, when leaves can be made to look like white petals. — Ed. 
Gardeners' Monthly. 
With this number we close Yol. 1 of the Botanical Index, and January 1, 1878, 
we shall commence Yol. 2, which we hope to improve and make as attractive as 
possible. We propose to continue giving full illustrations of all the subjects referred 
to, as heretofore, because good pictures will convey a better idea of any subject than 
words can do. The subscription price will remain at twenty-five cents a year, which, 
however, does not begin to pay the cost of publishing, unless we can secure a large 
subscription list; and we hope all our friends, who have the good wishes of our suc- 
cess at heart, will encourage us in a substantial manner. 
