April, 1889. 
T9 
ORCHARD 
appear that this or any other Coleus would 
not be worth so much trouble. I think it really 
is, and it must be remembered, that only in 
our cool summers do we experience very 
much annoyance. We cannot well dis- 
pense with this variety yet, we must wait 
for a better. For a number of years we 
were comparatively contented with South 
Park Gem, yet it often proved a failure. 
Golden Border also received considerable 
attention, and, in fact, does now, but it is 
also very tender, and not a clear yellow. 
Golden Bedder, therefore, was received with 
great delight; it is such a bright and uni- 
form yellow. John Goode, when first 
brought into notice, was lauded to the skies, 
so that all other yellows, including Golden 
Beddei , seemed doomed; but, I fear, we 
must - ‘bide a wee."’ We have long been 
looking for a yellow sort, of about the same 
habit as Verschaffeltii, so that it could be 
used in all kinds of combinations with it. 
John Goode about fills the bill. Golden 
Bedder and Golden Border, being dwarf, 
are none the less useful for edging or ar- 
rangements of low plants, so the fact is, until 
we can produce something better we can't 
dispense with any of them. With some 
Tessalata has been grow n quite extensively. 
It is of a sufficiently robust character to 
go well with Verschaffeltii, but its color, be- 
ing more green than yellow, is not decided 
enough. Kirkpatrick and Captivation, two 
sorts very much alike have also dropped to 
the rear. They are both strong growers, 
but their color being a combination of 
green, white and yellow is not desirable. 
Good old Her Majesty is still to the front, 
and well worthy of the place; she is hard to 
beat. Very seldom, indeed, does this varie- 
ty fail to come up to expectations. The color 
is not very striking, yet sufficiently so to 
contrast pleasingly with Verschaffeltii. 
Crown Jewel has been grown quite exten- 
sively, and is fairly satisfactory. In parti- 
ally shady places the rich, velvety colored 
foliage is very beautiful, but in full expo- 
sure to the sun it assumes a dirty brown. 
This variety seems to be more subject to at- 
tacks of mealy bug than others of the family, 
at least of those named. I may only add, 
that of all the varieties I have tried for bed- 
ding, those named are my favorites, and I 
think, the best. — James Currie, Wis. 
Floral Notes. 
Among the small-growing ornamental 
grasses grown in the border, there is none 
so beautiful as Slipa pennata, and none less 
commonly seen. Its common name is 
Feather Grass, and its long, graceful awns 
or beards are so prettily feathered as to re- 
mind one of the splendid plumes of a Bird 
of Paradise. The accompanying illustration 
(Fig. 717.) gives a good general idea of the 
plant, which, however, is much more grace- 
ful than the figure. It is largely grown in 
France, and we are told that some French 
ladies wear the feathered beards as a sub- 
stitute for feathers, and this was done in 
England many years ago. The plant is a 
native of England. 
The Feather Grass is used among us for 
winter bouquets, and for this purpose is 
largely imported from France, some of the 
plumes being dyed, the natural beauty of 
the plume dying out in the process. Some 
people, if let alone, would paint a polished 
marble statue with the idea of making it 
more beautiful. There is no reason why 
this handome grass should not be grown 
here in sufficient quantity to supply the 
home demand. It is easily raised from seed, 
is thoroughly hardy, and an old plant may 
be divided up almost indefinitely for mak- 
ing new ones. The awns or beards should 
be pulled a week or so before the seeds are 
ripe to have them at their best. They make 
beautiful ornaments for the parlor and the 
sitting room. 
It will do no harm to state that the so- 
called “Chinese Sacred Lily” is a Narcissus. 
It belongs to the Polyanthus group, and 
bears pretty, sweet-scented flowers in great 
abundance. It has attracted a good deal of 
attention during the last two years, chiefly 
STIPA 1* IN NAT a. Uk, 717. 
from the fact that the Chinese grow it in 
bowls or shallow dishes filled with small 
pebbles, and kept well supplied with water. 
This is a much prettier and less troublesome 
way than growing the bulbs in hyacinth 
glasses; besides, they grow better this way, 
and no support is needed. Hyacinths can 
be grown in the same way. We selected 
handsome white pebbles, varying in size 
from a sixteenth to three-quarters of an 
inch in diameter, and of various forms. 
The effect was pretty, and worth all the 
trouble. 
The bulbs are imported from China, and 
are manifestly grown with great care. 
Heretofore the flowers, so far as we know, 
have all been double; but at least one impor- 
tation last fall proved that there are two 
forms of this interesting Narcissus, a single 
and a double one. Ours proved to he single, 
which we think the prettier of the two. The 
flower has a white perianth and a yellow 
cup, somewhat in the way of Grand Mon- 
arch. It is usual to remove the offsets 
from bulbs of this kind; bur we concluded to 
let them remain, and the result was nine 
flower stalks, all about equally strong. This 
Narcissus is easily grown in the sitting 
room. 
What we have lately seen leads us to say 
that the Freesia should not be thrust aside 
to take care of itself as soon as it has done 
blooming. This is a kind of gratuitous in- 
sult which the spunky little plant will prob- 
ably resent next winter by refusing to bloom 
at all. Give it some sunshine and water till 
the leaves begin to ripen and turn brown, 
and it will then take care of itself till next 
August or later. 
The new Abutilon Eclipse is a very hand- 
some ornamental-leaved plant. It is said to 
be a cross between A. vexi\larium and A. 
Thompsoni. In habit and variegation Eclipse 
closely resembles the variegated form of A. 
vexillarium. The leaves, however, are some- 
what larger, the variegation stronger, and 
the flowers are entirely distinct. It is a 
beautiful addition to variegated-leaved 
plants. 
Primula obcomca will be welcomed by all 
lovers of flowers as a valuable addition to 
winter-blooming plants. Like most of the 
Primroses, it is a dwarf plant; but the pro- 
fuse manner in which it produces its pretty 
white flowers is something wonderful. Its 
delicate fragrance will also be appreciated. 
Here is a plant that has been continuously 
in bloom for three months, and the flower 
spikes are still coming up about as freely as 
ever. We shall purchase new plants rather 
than break this one up to multiply it. It is 
a modest and sweet plant rather than a gay 
one. It is a perennial, and will probably 
prove valuable for windo .v gardening. This 
Primrose has come to stay. 
There are a good many new plants deserv- 
ing of notice. Another is Begonia Socrota- 
na. It belongs to the tuberous-rooted class, 
but is a new and distinct species from So- 
crota. Though introduced into England 
some five or six years ago, it is compara- 
tively unknown here. Last winter it bloom- 
ed sparingly, but this winter it has bloom- 
ed abundantly, and we are much pleased 
w r ith it. It is a dwarf plant, resembling 
B. Rozoeli in habit. The bright green leaves 
are circular in form, and proceed directly 
from the tuber. The flowers are a bright 
rosy pink, and about an inch in diameter. 
It is a deciduous plant. Grown in a warm 
green-house, it is likely to prove a desirable 
winter-blooming plant. 
It is amusing to read in the same cat- 
alogue that Storm King is a “splendid” 
Fuchsia, while Frau Emma is only a “good” 
one. This may be seen in several catalogues. 
Storm King and Frau Emma are one and 
the same plant. This is one of the evils of un- 
warrantably changing the names of plants. 
In this case it is certainly not an improve- 
ment, and is devoid of the merit of express- 
iveness, so far as the plant is concerned. It 
is no compliment, either, to call the beauti- 
ful Emma a Storm King. No man has a 
right to change a woman’s name till he mar- 
ries her. — P. B. Mead. 
