174 
September, 18»9. 
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Some of the new Poppies are very hand- 
some, and well worth growing. This is 
especially true of the Japanese varieties, 
which are odd as well as beautiful. Mr. ^ 
Falconer has a charming collection of 
these showy annuals, which he grows in 
large masses with striking effect. We were 
surprised to see in an old farm garden 
up in the mountains at Waltham, Vt., a 
very handsome double variety, scarlet 
crimson in color, large, and as round as a 
ball. We took a fancy to it, and have been 
promised some of the seed. Here we also 
saw Hollyhocks grow n in large masses, and 
the effect was decidedly pleasing. These 
masses of Hollyhocks were near where the 
chickens live and run; and Mrs. Preston, 
who presides over this garden, explained 
that she put the Hollyhocks there because 
the chickens could not scratch them out, as 
they did more delicate things, and flowers 
of some kind she must have just there. 
This is a hint worth remembering. The 
double varieties would be more desirable, 
as the flowers are more enduring. Pansies, 
too, and plenty of them, found a place in 
this mountain-side garden, besides some 
good old plants that have now become rare. 
Floral INotes for September. 
The Swi\ax.(ltfyrsiphyUum asparagoides) is a 
very handsome vine, grows well in a room, 
and is useful for a variety of ornamental 
purposes. Few plants are more extensively 
grown by florists for bouquets, baskets, 
wreaths, festooning, and similar work. It 
would be hard to find a substitute for it for 
some purposes. 
Old pots of Smilax may now be repotted. 
The plant may be multiplied by dividing 
the tubers. Plant in rich soil, and give plen- 
ty ol water while growing. Train the shoots 
on green strings, one shoot, to each string. 
The string may be cut with the shoot at- 
tached. which makes it easy to handle for 
whatever purpose used. 
The red spider has a decided liking for 
Smilax . This pest is best destroyed by fre- 
quently syringing or sponging the leaves. 
Tobacco smoke should not be used, as it turns 
the leaves yellow and destroys the beauty 
of the plant. The accompanying illustration 
(Fig. 1260) is an excellent portrait of this 
beautiful climber. 
The atmospheric conditions which usual- 
ly prevail in September, especially from the 
middle to the last of the month, make it pe- 
culiarly a suitable time for the propagation 
of plants by cuttings, and professional men 
are not slow to improve it. There are few 
plants that can not be successfully propa- 
gated at this time, and also somewhat later. 
If the plants are to be grown in rooms, 
much the better plan is to put in the cuttings 
early, that they may become well establish- 
ed before they are taken into the house. 
This is especially true of Coleus, Achyran- 
thes, Roses, and similar plants, which sel- 
dom do well in rooms unless they are pret- 
ty well established in pots before being tak- 
en in. Cuttings of Zonal Pelargoniums may 
be put in later, or at almost any time, and 
will take root readily in the sitting room 
window; but even these make more satis- 
factory plants when rooted early. 
There is nothing better in which to root 
plants generally than pure sand. The col- 
or of it is a matter of no moment at all. 
That superstition has nearly died out. The 
important point is always to keep the sand 
moist. While too much moisture may in 
certain cases prove to be deleterious, the 
opposite condition is pretty sure to be fatal 
in all. There are still old-fashioned people 
who strike their cuttings in wide-mouthed 
bottles of water, and with considerable suc- 
cess. The condition of uniform moisture is 
best preserved by a little shade, which it 
should not be difficult to find. It is better to 
p »t the cuttings before they have made long 
roots, which are sure to be more or less brok- 
en even with careful handling. Some (if 
not all; kinds of cuttings may be potted as 
soon as they are well callused, and in 
that condition they are much eas- 
ier to handle. Shade for some days after 
potting is quite necessary, and too much 
watering is now to be avoided. As a rule, 
use small pots for the cuttings. Putting small 
plants in large pots is a mistake not unfre- 
quently made by inexperienced amateurs. If 
no other evil follow, the plants are apt to 
make too much and too gross wood for ear- 
ly blooming. Too much richness in the soil 
is also to be avoided, and for a similar 
reason. These few hints are for general 
application, and should prove useful to the 
inexperienced. 
The new Japan Lilac (Syringa Japonica ) 
is described as beingof tree-like form, grow- 
ing from ten to twenty feet high, and 
producing large panicles of fragrant white 
flowers. We have not yet seen it in bloom; 
but, from all accounts, it should be consid- 
ered an acquisition. English botanists 
have lately pronounced this Lilac and the 
Privet sold under the name of Ligustrum 
Amurense to be identical. This Privet has 
been in the catalogue of the Messrs Parsons 
for a number of years. We should like to 
know whether the Ligustrum Amurense of 
Messrs. Parsons’ catalogue is the Syringa 
Japonica, as we presume it to be. It is 
always a misfortune to have a plant go out 
under two or three names, which sometimes 
seriously interferes with its wide dissemina- 
tion, and always creates confusion. The 
flowers of the Japan Lilac were exhibited 
in London a year ago, and it would seem 
for the first time. Prof. Sargent, as we 
are informed, had it in bloom considerably 
earlier than this, and he may possibly know 
whether it is identical with the Ligustrum 
in the Parsons’ catalogue. 
The continuous wet weather has been dis- 
astrous to the farmer and hurtful to some 
kinds of flowers, while other kinds have de- 
lighted in it. Among the latter may be 
named the beautiful Day Lily or Plantain 
Lily ( Funkia subcordata ,) which is showing 
a profusion of its handsome, sweet-scented 
white flowers. This graceful plant is 
equally at home in the border or on the 
lawn, but needs a little shade. (See Fig. 207). 
Look over the pots of dormant bulbs and 
tubers, and repot as needed. Some will 
need only a top dressing, which is given by 
removing the soil down to the roots, and 
replacing it with fresh, rich soil. Some 
will need shifting into larger pots. Freesias, 
Ixias, etc., may be shaken out and separat- 
ed, unless they have begun to grow, in 
which case they should later on be shifted 
into larger pots. 
Calla Lilies will need attention now. If 
they were turned on their sides, and dried 
off. they should be shaken out and repotted 
in fresh soil. It may be necessary to sep- 
arate the roots and pot them singly. The 
small offsets should in all cases be removed, 
and put in small pots for future use, and 
not thrown away. Three large or flower- 
ing roots may be put in a ten-inch pot where 
room is an object. The soil should be rich, 
and contain a considerable portion of leaf 
mould, if obtainable. The Calla likes 
plenty of water at the roots and overhead. 
The red spider sometimes makes its home 
on the under side of the leaves when the 
plants are kept too dry or are grown in a 
dry atmosphere; but an occasional use of 
the syringe or sponging will readily subdue 
them. Callas are so easily grown in a 
room that one window at least should be 
full of them. 
