1865.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
313 
The Garden Lavender. — Lavandula vera. 
Of all perfumes tvc thiuk tbat of lavender 
flowers the preferable ; its odor suggests cleanli- 
ness, for the reason doubtless, that it is associa- 
ted with freshly washed liuen, it being the cus- 
tom with many houselvcepers to put a little bag 
of Lavender-flowers in the drawer where the 
clothing is kept. Indeed the name is derived 
from tlie Latin law, to wash, on account of its 
use to perfume newly washed clothing, or, ac- 
cording to some authors, because it was used 
in baths. The Lavender plant is a low, much 
branched shrub, from one to two feet high, with 
vei-y narrow leaves of a pale green color. The 
flowers arc borne in a spike at the end of a long 
slender stem, and are of a peculiar bluish color 
which, when imitated in dyed fabrics, is called 
Lavender, or Lavender-blue. The plant is a 
native of the South of Europe, where, as well as 
in England, it is extensively grown. In this 
country it is frequently seen in gardens, and 
around Philadelphia it is cultivated to consid- 
erable extent, for marketing the flowers. We 
were surprised to find that it endured the win- 
ters at Newburgh, N. Y., and no doubt it may 
be successfully grown farther North than has 
been generally supposed. Lavender may be 
GARDEN LAVESDEB. 
raised from the seed sown in the spring, or 
from cuttings ; some of the lower branches, if 
slipped off with a piece of root attached, will 
grow readily. The flowers are used in perfume 
bags in the manner above referred to, and are 
sold to the druggists and perfumers. Their 
value depends upon a volatile oil they contain ; 
from 50 to 70 povmds of flowers, by distillation, 
yield one pound 
of oil, which has 
their characteris- 
tic odor, and is 
used both in per- 
fumeiy and in 
medicine. Large 
quantities of oil 
of Lavender are 
made in England, 
that produced in 
that country be- 
ing preferred to 
any other. Dis- 
solved in alcohol, 
with other aro- 
matics and color- 
ed red, it forms 
the spirit of La- 
vender or Red La- 
vender of the 
shops, which was 
formerly much us- 
ed as a domestic 
stimulant medi- 
cme. The flow- 
ers bloom here in 
June and July ; 
they should be 
gathered before 
they change color, 
di'ied in the shade, and kept in close vessels. 
The illustration is of fuii size, with the stem bent 
to economize space. The shape of its small 
flowers will show it to belong to the Labiate or 
Mint family, all of which are generally aromatic. 
«-t — ■»» — ■ » 
A Stately Garden Ornament. 
(Datura arborea.) 
In an account of the Horse Nettle, given In 
the September AgricuUurist, we mentioned 
that the Solanum, or Night-shade Family, to 
which it belongs, was remarkable for producing 
both nutritious and poisonous plants. It might 
have been added that the same family had 
among its members some that were highly or- 
namental, among the best known of which is 
the generally cultivated Petunia. The genus 
Datura, of tliis family, not only gives us the 
disgusting weed. Datura Stranwniujyi, (figured 
In 3Iay, 18G-1,) popularly known as Thorn-apple, 
or Jamestown-weed, but several other annual 
species, which are really showy garden plants, 
such as Datura metelctides, etc. The Tree Datu- 
ra, Datura arborea, is a shrubby species from 
Peru, which has been for more than a century 
in cultivation as a green-house plant, and is 
now frequently seen where room can be afford- 
ed for it. Were it known with what ease it 
can be managed by those who have no green- 
house, and how fine a plant it is for ornament- 
ing the grounds, it would be much more gen- 
erally cultivated. The plant appears best when 
trained in the tree form, with a single stem sur- 
mounted by a "head of flower-bearing branches. 
The usual hight is four or five feet, but by prop- 
er management they may be grown to the hight 
of 8 or even 13 feet. Our engraving gives the 
shape of the flowers and leaves, but much re- 
duced in size. The hanging flowers are 6 to 8 
inches long, pure white, and very fragrant. A 
double variety, with several corollas, one within 
another, is sometimes cultivated, but to our 
taste the single one is the most pleasing. This 
species is propagated b)' cuttings containing a 
single ej'c, which in a bottom heat will strike 
root and grow very rapidly. The plant is a 
DATURA ARBOREA. 
great feeder and the young ones will need fre- 
quent changing to larger pots of rich soU. Those 
started early from cuttings may be planted out 
in the border when the weather becomes warm, 
and they will blossom the first year ; but if a 
large and strong plant is desired, the best w.ay 
is to pinch off the flower buds, and remove all 
side shoots, in order to get as great a growth of 
stem as possible. By removing the shoots 
which push along the stem and shortening 
those at the top, a symmetrical and compact 
head will be produced, from which will hang a 
great abundance of the large and striking flow- 
ers. At the approach of fiost the plant m.ay 
be taken up and set in a box with its roots cov- 
ered with earth and kept in a green-house, a 
dry cellar, or in any other place where it will 
be safe from frost, until time to set it out again. 
Treated in this way the plant is but little more 
trouble than a Dahlia. The large horticultur- 
al stores have this species catalogued at 50 cents. 
Plants for Garden Edgings. 
BY THOMAS CAVANAOU. ' 
Mr. EnrroR :— Noticing a "basket item" 
asking for information on garden edging, I will 
try to answer it. Nothing is a complete substi- 
tute for Box, for there is no plant which makes 
such a beautiful edging as that, when well taken 
care of and neatly trimmed every season, as it 
should be. But there are many plants which 
ma)' be used instead : Daphne Cueorura, with its 
fragrant pink flowers, forms a verj- pretty edge, 
is quite hardy, and it is used extensively for 
this purpose in Europe. Statice Armcria, or 
Sea Pink, makes a tolerably good edge. A new 
variety of this called Statice superba is very 
pretty, with dark-green foliage, and rose- 
colored flowers. Probably the best plant for 
edges, and one that we have used for some 
years, is the Moss-pink, Phlox subulatn. It is 
very hardy, requiring no protection in winter, 
of quick growth, and requires cutting at least 
once a year. There are white, pink, and lilac 
varieties, the three colors forming a very pretty 
combination. Phlox stolonifera is very beauti- 
