42-i 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
from the center of New York Island, proved 
that the number of florists' establishments was 
about five hundred, and the capital used in stock 
and structures upwards of $6,000,000. If the 
number of establishments is nearly correct — and 
there is no reason to doubt it — I am certain that 
t lie value is not overestimated, as we have at 
least half a dozen establishments where the 
capital used in stock and buildings must be 
nearly $100,000 each. And this, too, in New 
York and its suburbs, where the taste is lower 
than it is iu either Boston or Philadelphia. Iu 
ladies' tresses.— (Spiranthes certain.) 
those places, no doubt, their excellent horticul- 
tural societies have done much to refine the 
tastes of the people, and it is to he regretted 
that neither New York nor its adjacent cities, 
with probably over two millions of people, have 
a single horticultural or floricultural society. 
Ladies' Tresses— Spiranthes. 
Those who in October search for the Gen- 
tians and the few late flowers, must have met the 
very striking one represented in our engraving. 
The pure white color, and the singular spiral 
arrangement of the flowers upon the stem, are 
sure to attract attention, and besides these it has 
a very sweet odor, more like that of a spring 
flower than of one of late autumn. The name 
Spiranthes means spiral flower, and is applied to 
a genus of which we have six species. Three 
of them have the flowers in one row, and the 
other three, like the one we figure, have them 
crowded in three rows. The one under consid- 
eration, the largest as well as the most abund- 
ant species, is the Nodding Ladies' Tresses, 
Spiranthes cemua. The 
genus belongs to the large 
and interesting Orchis 
family, which contains 
so many members noted 
for the singular structure 
and great brilliancy and 
beauty of their flowers. 
A great number of the 
plants of this family are 
epiphytes, or " air plants," 
as in the moist atmosphere 
of their tropical homes 
they live attached to 
the branches of trees and 
without any connection 
with the soil. All of our 
Northern Orchids — and 
we have some very beau- 
tiful ones — are terresl ri- 
al, and, like the Ladies' 
Tresses, are rooted iu the 
earth. The species we have 
figured varies much in 
size and foliage, it grow- 
ing from 6 to 20 inches 
high, and specimens have 
been found which nearly 
reached the bight of three 
feet. The long and narrow 
leaves, which spring from 
the root, have frequent- 
ly decayed by flowering 
time, leaving only those 
which clothe the stem. 
We have never tried 
to cultivate this species, 
but think it could be 
grown without difficulty, 
as it is frequently found 
in rather dry ground. 
Snow-Drops. 
A single Snow - drop 
does not amount to 
much — a generous clump 
of them is bright and 
cheery. Some talk about 
their blooming in Febru- 
ary, before the snow is 
off, but those who write 
thus in this country must 
have copied from English 
works. With a very favorable climate we never 
have succeeded in getting them in bloom before 
the end of March or the first of April. Those 
who love delicate little flowers will admire the 
Snow-drop. Our engraving shows it of its 
natural size. It makes no show, but it is wel- 
come for its modesty. An eccentric literary 
man in England who was very fond of con- 
fectionery, used to hide little parcels of sugar- 
plums in all sorts of out-of-the-way places, in 
order to enjoy the pleasure of coming upon 
them unexpectedly. That is the way in which 
we like to grow Snow-drops — puta dozen or two 
bulbs here and there, and then forget all about 
them. In spring, when one is looking about to 
see how things are waking up, it is a real pleas- 
ure to come upon the delicate white flowers. 
SNOW-DROP. 
Snow-drops, like other bulbs, should have been 
planted earlier, but if the ground is still in good 
condition they may yet be put in and do well. 
Anemones and Ranunculuses. 
The bulb catalogues include the Anemones and 
Ranunculuses, though they are not bulbs in any 
sen^e of the word. They are merely dried and 
dormant roots or root-stocks. 
As may be seen by the engraving, 
the Anemone root looks like a 
piece of ginger that had been 
trodden upon, and the Ranuncu- 
lus root is not unlike a many- 
pronged tooth. Nothing can 
show less appearance of life than 
SnovHifop Bulb. 
do these, and it may be on ac- 
count of their unpromising looks that American 
cultivators so seldom try them. We have suc- 
ceeded fairly in an ordinary border without any 
special preparation, only covering the soil with 
a good coating of litter. To get the best results 
the soil should be light and rich, well-rotted 
cow manure being the best fertilizer, and this 
should be given in abundance. When the plant- 
ASE1IOSE. 
RAKUKCCLUS. 
ing is done, cover with litter, or, what is better, 
put down a frame of boards and fill it with 
leaves. The colors of Anemones are white, red, 
and blue, while those of Ranunculuses vaiy 
from white and yellow to blackish purple, and 
frequently diversified with spots and stripes. 
