154 
September, 1891. 
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cuttings, or they may be bought of the 
florist. The soil should be light and rich. 
The plants look better trained on green 
strings, which should be supplied when the 
plants are only a few inches high, and not 
left, as is too frequently done, till they are 
two or three feet high. The string being 
small and green, it is cut off with the shoot, 
and there is no bother with untwining. 
The accompanying illustration (Fig. 1260) 
is presented here as a very fine portrait. 
Smilax is largely used in florists' work, 
and is much admired by every body. It is 
a handsome climber for the window garden 
in winter, provided it be kept free from red 
spider, which seems to have a special fond- 
ness for it when grown in the sitting-room 
window, perhaps to resent the neglect it too 
often receives there. This pest may be 
measurably subdued by frequent syringings 
or by the use of a solution of carbolic soap 
(the black “brand”) occasionally applied 
by an atomizer, or by taking down the 
plant, (attached to the strings,) and sub- 
merging it for about ten minutes in a small 
tub of only moderately strong soap suds. 
The common mistake is to let t lie spider 
spin his web and take entire possession of 
the plant before making the least attempt 
to destroy it. It must be noted that Smilax 
will not bear tobacco smoke. 
* * * 
It may be remembered that we were re- 
luctant to believe that Primula obconica 
was poisonous, We are now convinced 
that it is so to some ptople, even to an annoy- 
ing degree. The cases, however, are not 
common, and can not be said to be danger- 
ous. The fear of a slight poisoning should 
not deter any body from growing these 
beautiful little plants; for a pair of thin 
leather gloves will provide a sure protection. 
* * * 
Cuphea platycentra, a very pretty little 
evergreen shrub from Mexico, has long been 
a favorite, especially with the ladies. 
When C. eminens and one or two others 
were introduced there seemed to be some 
danger of the little favorite being pushed 
aside ; but it is fairly at the front again, and 
is likely to remain there. It is grown 
chiefly as a pot plant, but often finds a 
place in outside border in summer. The 
flowers are axillary and produced in great 
profusion. They are of a bright scarlet 
tipped with white, in which some fancy 
they see a resemblance to a lighted cigar, 
and hence the common name of “ Cigar 
Plant.” This Cuphea is an excellent room 
plant, and a pretty border plant for summer 
use. It is readily propagated from cuttings 
of the young wood, and also from seed. 
Cuttings may be put in now. Border plants 
may be lifted in September, cut back pretty 
close, and potted for winter blooming. The 
ends of the young shoots may be used for 
cuttings. Plants grown in pots during the 
summer will need pruning and repotting. 
They will do well in a light, moderately 
rich soil. In winter the black aphis is 
often very troublesome, especially in rooms. 
Persian Insect Powder (Buhacli) is the best 
remedy, and next to it a solution of carbolic 
soap applied with an atomizer. The black 
aphis, it must be remembered, is not so 
easily killed as the green aphis. 
* * * 
It may be added here that some druggists 
have done much to lessen the real value of 
Persian Insect Powder as an insecticide; 
and this is a principal reason why it fails to 
meet the expectations of some who use it. 
Adulteration is largely practiced, and this 
is wretchedly bad: but what we refer to 
now is the practice of spreading the powder 
over a large surface in the show window to 
attract public notice and get trade away 
from the “ other fellow,” who can not make 
so large a spread. The exposure and sun 
do their work, and purchasers suffer, hut 
insects have a picnic. Druggists generally 
know enough about some things to use a 
ground glass stopper or tight-fitting cork to 
prevent evaporation and deterioration; and 
we suggest that they extend this knowledge 
to some other things. Purchasers, too, 
have something to learn about the care and 
use of this truly valuable insecticide. It 
should always be kept in a tightly closed 
vessel, and no more put in the bellows or 
the atomizer than is to be used at the time. 
■* * * 
We agree with Dr. Hoskins that the in- 
discriminate use of “Paris Green” is not to 
be commended. It should always be with 
a caution. We hope to see its use entirely 
superseded by something less dangerous to 
human life. We say this because we have 
been personally cognizant of its dangerous 
results to men and animals in a number of 
cases, tliree of them proving fatal. Petro 
leum emulsions have not yet received the 
consideration as they deserve. — P. B. M. 
A Landscape Study. 
RTISTS are always look- 
ing about for a strik- 
ing bit of landscape, 
whether it be pretty, 
beautiful, picturesque 
or grand; or it may be 
a sunset, or a sunrise, 
or changing clouds. 
Whatever it may be, he will go miles to 
make a study of it. It is somewhat so with 
the landscapist (or landscape gardener.) 
When he hears of a fine example of land- 
scape, (whether natural or artificial,) effec- 
tive grouping, harmony, contrast, light and 
shade, individuality, trees and shrubs nota- 
ble for color or form, and many other things 
that have a special interest for him, he will 
visit them and make a study of them, if 
not with paint and brush, at least with pen- 
cil and paper, or in some way impress them 
upon his mind. He will be quite sure to 
find use for his study in some modified 
form. To save him atramp, however pleas- 
ant it might prove, we present him a very 
handsome bit of landscape in black and 
white, which he can study at home and at 
his leisure. 
Few places of any considerable size are so 
much alike as to admit of the same treat- 
ment in detail. Each one has to be studied 
not only in itself, but in connection with 
its surround ings, if landscape effect is sought 
to be produced. It is not so much a ques- 
tion of what trees and shrubs shall be plant- 
ed as what trees and shrubs the place will 
accept, and the disposition that shall be 
made of them. It will sometimes happen 
that one will have presented to him certain 
spots and surroundings (or environments, 
if you prefer that word) where similar gen- 
eral results or effects may be accomplished, 
and it becomes an interesting study to de- 
termine how this may be done where the 
conditions are not precisely the same. It 
will also happen that such instances some- 
times very nearly repeat themselves in a 
quite independent but very natural way be- 
cause the objects and surroundings are 
much the same. The accompanying picture 
is a very good illustration of this. It was 
sent to us by the Editor. When we first look- 
ed at it we said, “Why that is from Mr. J’s 
place,” so striking was the general resem- 
blance. A closer examination, however, 
showed that, though they resembled each 
other, they were not the same. The illustra- 
tion is from the Terrace Gardens, Rich mond, 
England, while Mr. J’s place is in New 
Jersey, and was planted more than thirty 
years ago. If the Terrace Gardens picture 
had been extended farther on the right the 
