October, 1889. 
191 
ORCHARD# RND 1 ORRDEN 
FLOWER, 
GARDEN 
Floral Notes. 
On examining bulbs kept in pots during 
the summer it is found that they have be- 
gun to grow much earlier than usual, owing 
to the peculiar weather. Oxalis Bovoiei has 
been in bloom since the first week in Au- 
gust. Freesias are now (Sept. 1) two or 
three inches high, and bulbs of other kinds 
seem to be taking an early start. It will be 
well, therefore, to give all an overhauling. 
Bulbs that were shaken out and put in bags 
will, of course, remain dormant longer. 
The first flowers, however, 
will come from the early 
started plants. There is an 
advantage in this, that it 
gives a succession of bloom. 
There will be this fall a 
good supply of the Chinese 
Narcissus for growing in 
water. These are handsome 
and interesting plants. They 
may be grown in bowls, soup 
plates, or any plain or orna- 
mental dish two or more in- 
ches deep. Place clean 
stones (preferably white) 
around the bulbs to give 
them a firm support when 
in bloom, and fill up the dish 
with water. The water 
must be replenished as fast 
as it evaporates. After 
growth has begun the dish 
should be placed near the 
light. Do not break off the 
side bulbs. As a rule, each 
one will bloom. There are 
two varieties, one with sin- 
gle and the other with dou- 
ble flowers, both being frag- 
rant. With a little judg- 
ment and taste the dishes 
may be made quite orna- 
mental. 
talk by-and-by. At our suggestion, Messrs. 
Thorburn & Co., and Hallock & Son had 
collected a fine lot of plants which they of- 
fer for ten cents each; a fabulously low 
price for such a little gem. — P. B. Mead. 
Perennial Phlox. 
There is a commendable tendency to the 
employment of hardy herbaceous plants 
more largely in the garden than has been 
known for a long time past and there is no 
doubt but that this desirable state of things 
has been brought about largely by the won- 
derful improvement and development made 
of late years in this class of plants. Fash- 
ions change in gardening as in other things 
and it is not long since ’‘bedding styles” and 
“ribbon planting” were all the rage, to the 
Phloxes as they are called. They have been 
so hybridized and crossed that the Phlox is 
now undoubtedly one of the finest of our 
late summer and autumn flowers, for al- 
though the early sorts begin blooming in 
June the finest flowers come later, and for 
continuity and masses of bloom are exceed- 
ed by none. The old type of Phlox threw 
up tall, slender, rather thinly-leaved stems 
of from three to four feet with but small 
heads of bloom, often more or less scraggy 
and irregular. The Phloxes of to-day are 
; quite dwarf and stocky, producing flowers 
in immense panicles sometimes eight and 
ten inches long and from six to eight inches 
across. The colors are of various shades 
from white to brilliant crimson and purple, 
i Some are all of one color whilst others have 
two or more, delicately 
shaded or blended together, 
and others yet have a centre 
or eye of a color distinct 
from that of the rest of the 
flower. In many varieties 
the color changes later 
to a darker shade or color. 
But they are all magnificent 
flow T ers and bloom continu- 
ously from June until frost. 
The plants are of easy cul- 
ture and require but a rich 
soil to give good results. 
The clumps should be lifted 
about every third year, di- 
vided and replanted, and this 
is best done in the autumn. 
Our illustration. Fig. 133, 
represents very fairly a 
group of Phloxes. The small 
plant in the left foreground 
is the Phlox subuiata or 
Moss Pink, a prostrate spe- 
cies which forms a dense 
mat and is completely cov- 
ered in early spring with 
beautiful bright pink flow- 
ers. There are many varie- 
ties of Phlox and their num- 
ber continues to increase. 
Certainly no genus of plants 
is better qualified to adorn 
our gardens in its many 
forms than is this. 
Doclecatheon Mectdia is a 
native herbaceous plant but little known 
and rarely seen in cultivation. Being hardy 
in nearly all parts oPthe country, it should 
have a place in every garden. The flower 
is very singular, and bears a striking resem- 
blance to the Cyclamen. It is called Ameri- 
can Cowslip by some and Shooting Star by 
others. It belongs to the Primrose family. 
It bears from ten to twenty flowers on a 
scape from fifteen to twenty inches high. 
The flowers are drooping, the petals reflex- 
ed, and the anthers collected in a point. Its 
unique appearance and bright colors would 
make it a great favorite if better known. A 
well-flowered plant is simply charming. 
W e accidently discovered that it forces very 
readily in winter in a moderate temperature. 
Cyclamens and Shooting Stars will be the 
Perkn.nial Phlox. Fig. 1.33. 
i exclusion of almost everything else, so that 
many of our oldfashioned favorites were in 
a fair way to be forgotten altogether. Her- 
baceous perennials possess'so many excel- 
lent points of merit that one may reasona- 
bly wonder why they are not more general- 
ly planted. Chiefly do we value them for 
their beauty and permanence; once planted 
they need little care other than a division 
of the clumps at periods of from three to 
five years, and they furnish a continuous 
supply of bloom from early spring until late 
in autumn. 
Among the herbaceous perennials there 
are very few, w r e are not sure but that we 
might truthfully say none, that haveunder- 
J gone more signal transformation and im- 
provement than the Perennial or Garden 
Plant Bulbs. 
The so-called Dutch bulbs may be planted 
this month or until the ground is frozen but 
many bulbs that are to be grown in pots 
will bloom better and stronger if planted 
earlier. October is the best month for the 
general planting of bulbs. There are few 
plants that may be grown for winter flow- 
ering in the house with as little care and 
trouble and give better results than such 
bulbs as the Hyacinth, Tulip, Freesia, Nar- 
cissus, etc. They should be potted in a 
light but moderately rich soil prepared by 
adding to a light loam about one quarter of 
leaf mould and old, well-rotted manure. 
Then put in a cool and dark place until the 
roots fill the pots when they may be brought 
out to the light for blooming. 
