168 
September, 1890. 
/ ORCH RR P /rnp \ G PlR DEN \ 
formerly did. our main reliance now being 
on plants raised in hot beds or greenhouses 
in winter. But as it is always wise to take 
all the chances, we sow a few seeds yet in 
September and October. In this latitude 
cabbages are almost altogether a winter and 
spring crop our climate forbidding the suc- 
cessful growth of the autumn crop. To 
drive off the green caterpillars I have found 
dusting with ordinary road dust as effective 
as anything I have ever tried. — W. F. Mas- 
sey. Raleigh. N. C. 
Rattlesnake Watermelon. 
I was somewhat amused by Mr. Miller’s 
account of the Rattlesnake melon. Those 
who know this melon will feel sure that 
Mr. M. has not seen it true. The Rattle- 
snake has been largely set aside for ship- 
ment because of its brittle rind and sorts 
like Kolb's Gem that can stand rough hand- 
ling have superseded it. The true Georgia 
Rattlesnake is to my mind the best of all 
melons. Perhaps Mr. Miller struck the 
Cuban Queen when he found the rind thick. 
Cuban Queen has a very thick rind. — 
W. F. M. 
jJtciK -rr 
flower; 
GARDEN 
VTTTJr 
Culture of Freesias. 
The culture of Freesias is not nearly so 
difficult as many people imagine. Plant 
the bulbs in September, or later, in the pots 
in which they are to bloom. Have a light 
rich loam, and set the bulbs about two 
inches apart each way, covering the tips 
with earth. Then water them once and 
place in a cool place where it is somewhat 
light, and they will start into growth, but 
they must be allowed to take their time 
about it. They do not want a warm atmos- 
phere — 50 to 55° will about suit them. After 
the flowers appear they will stand a higher 
temperature. Keep the plants near the 
glass, and give plenty of air when the 
weather is favorable, water as they require 
it. After they are through blooming keep 
them in a light, cool place, and diminish 
water gradually, so bringing to a state of 
rest. Keep them in the pots in a dry cool 
place. When the next planting time comes 
repot them in fresh soil. They may be 
started for succession from September to 
December, at intervals of from two to three 
weeks.— Joyce Ray. 
Floral Notes. 
The usual routine is now in order, such 
as planting bulbs, repotting and preparing 
plants for indoor blooming, putting in cut- 
tings, sowing some kinds of seeds, freeing 
plants from insects, providing soil for win- 
ter use, tying up, and cleaning up generally. 
apt to make wood at the expense of the 
flowers. A sufficient growth can be kept 
up during the winter by the occasional use 
of liquid manure. These remarks will ap- 
ply about equally well to Fuchsias and sim- 
ilar hard-wooded plants. When large pots 
become necessary use plenty of drainage, 
and preferably bits of broken charcoal. 
Lachenalias grown is pots last winter 
should be repotted early. Three good sized 
bulbs in a five inch pot will produce a better 
effect than one bulb in a small pot. A sandy 
soil is best for these pretty flowers. 
Bulbs generally that were grown last year 
in pots will now need overhauling. Some 
will need attention more than others, as 
they start earlier. The Freesias are among 
the first to grow. The large bulbs should 
be separated from the small ones, and pot- 
ted by themselves, placing from five to ten 
in a pot, according to its size. 
There can be no doubt that much time is 
lost by not planting the Bermuda Lily early. 
We have invariably had the strongest plants 
and best bloom from the earliest planted 
bulbs. Early planting insures a strong root 
growth before the top starts, and the stalk 
and the bloom are stronger in consequence. 
Get your bulbs, therefore, as early as possi- 
ble. and pot them as soon as received. A 
little leaf mould added to the soil will be 
beneficial. 
The wet, cool spring was very favorable 
to the growth of the Pansy. The plants 
bloomed freely till the early part of August, 
and such an abundance of large and beau- 
tiful flowers are not often seen on garden 
grown Pansies. It is not too late to sow the 
seed in a somewhat sheltered spot in the 
border. Those who have a cold frame can 
raise them freely, to be transplanted early 
in the spring. 
Try a few Dodecatheons this winter in- 
doors. Pot early, and, where convenient, 
add a little leaf mould to the soil. Keep in 
a cool cellar or a frame outside till growth 
has commenced, when they may be taken 
to a room or the greenhouse. These Cowslips 
or Shooting Stars are singular as well as 
very beautiful flowers. The plants bloom 
best in a low temperature. They are hardy, 
and may also be planted in the garden. 
Cyclamens should be overhauled, and re- 
potted when needed. Break away as much 
of the old soil as can be removed without 
destroying the roots, and use a larger pot, 
if necessary. This supposes that the pots 
have not been dried off during the summer. 
Cyclamens are moisture-loving plants. A 
sandy soil, with plenty of leaf mould in it, is 
good for them. They are excellent room 
plants. 
Zonal Pelargoniums intended for the sit- 
ting room should be repotted (if needed,) 
but not overpotted. Too much pot room is 
The French or dwarf Cannas deserve all 
the praise they have received. They are in 
all respects very beautiful and useful plants. 
Their dwarf habit, ornamental foliage, pro- 
fuse and long-continued bloom, and brilliant 
colors are quite sure to make them univer- 
sal favorites. They will grow well in al- 
most any kind of soil, and may be easily 
raised from seed with the certainty of get- 
ting a fair proportion of handsome kinds, 
provided the seed be pure. They are very 
useful plants, and may be grown very effec- 
tively in the border or massed in a bed on the 
lawn. There are many spots about the house 
and grounds where single plants in eight or 
ten inch pots may be placed with good effect, 
and be a constant source of delight to the 
inmates as well as to the passers-by. Un- 
like some other novelties, it may be said of 
the Cannas that no lover of plants is so poor 
that he may not have a choice collection of 
them. The roots keep very well during the 
winter when packed in a box of sand and 
placed in a cool cellar free from frost. 
The roots should be taken up as soon as the 
frost has killed the foliage. 
Veronicas are not sufficiently known or 
grown. Now that the love of hardy herba- 
ceous plants is asserting itself again, these 
beautiful plants should be planted freely. 
The Veronicas produce shades of blue of 
unsurpassed loveliness. 
It is noteworthy that it was early bloom- 
ing trees and shrubs that suffered most from 
the phenomenal warm days in December 
and January, which opened the buds suf- 
ficiently to be killed by the subsequent cold 
weather. While Japan Quinces and other 
early bloomers showed few or no flowers, 
Weigelas, Dentzias, Enonymus, and other 
late bloomers produced their flowers with 
characteristic profusion. The same remarks 
will mostly hold good with regard to fruit 
trees. The outlook for fruit is rather gloomy ; 
but we need not despair for there is always 
hope in the future. 
Vallota purpurea, singularly enough, is 
more frequently seen in country door-yards 
than in the cities or their suburbs. It is one 
of the handsomest of the Amaryllids. The 
brilliant scarlet flowers are borne on scapes 
about a foot high, and there will sometimes 
be as many as a dozen scapes in a single pot 
of bulbs, each scape bearing five or six flow- 
ers. The effect can easily be imagined. 
This result is obtained by allowing the bulbs 
to multiply and become massed in the pots. 
The Vallota belongs to the evergreen class 
of bulbs, and should not, consequently, be 
dried off. The specific name is misleading, 
as the flower is not purple, but a vivid scar- 
let. — P. B. Mead. 
To obtain pansies early next spring the 
seeds should be sown early this month in a 
finely prepared soil. Sow in rows, two in- 
ches apart, dust fine soil over it and press 
down with a brick or board. It may be ne- 
cessary to shade the bed fora time. When 
seedlings are large enough transplant to 
three inches apart and cultivate; at the ap- 
proach of severe weather remove the plants 
to cold frames setting them six inches apart. 
