264 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
desirable ornament to rock-work. A closely re¬ 
lated species is the Fire Pink ( Silene Virginia), 
with fewer, and deep crimson flowers, found in 
Illinois and southward, and another is the Roy- 
TWO-LEAVED SOLOMON’S SEAL. 
covered no injury to the roots from using a 
pound of soap to six gallons of water. It may 
be necessary to apply this remedy earlier in the 1 
season at the South—say the middle of Jupe— 
then again in August, if the fly continues to 
deposit eggs until that time. I am confident 
that this remedy will prove completely effectual 
both for the peach and apple borers, and hence 
be of immense benefit to orcliardists and cul¬ 
tivators generally throughout the country.” 
The Arrow-head. 
Along the margins of ponds and in wet places, 
there is an aquatic plant which is noticeable for 
the arrow shape of its leaves, and its white flow¬ 
ers, which are produced all summer. We refer 
to the Arrow-head, or Sagittaria , one species of 
which is very common 
in swamps and along 
streams. The botanical 
name, Sagittaria , is sug¬ 
gested by the prevail¬ 
ing shape of the leaves, 
and our most com¬ 
mon species is proper¬ 
ly called variabilis , as 
the foliage varies great¬ 
ly. In some specimens 
the points of the arrow 
facing the lobes of the 
leaf are very broad and 
blunt, and in others, as 
shown in the engrav¬ 
ing, they will be long, 
narrow, and acute. In¬ 
deed,the foliage presents 
every possible gradation, 
from leaves with almost 
linear lobes to those in 
which the arrow form 
is quite lost. A plant 
with such a tendency 
to vary is puzzling to 
young botanists. The 
staminate and fertile 
flowers are sometimes 
upon the same plant, and 
often on different plants. 
The three white pet¬ 
als are quite conspicuous, and the plant is a de¬ 
sirable one to those who have a situation in 
"which they can grow aquatics. Plants with 
double flowers have occasionally been found 
growing wild, showing that the great tendency 
to vary is not confined to the leaves alone. 
The Wild Pink. —(Silene Pennsylvanica.) 
The Pink Family produces many very un¬ 
attractive plants, and a share of our trouble¬ 
some weeds, such as Chick-weed, Cockle, 
Carpet-weed, Bladder Campion, Soap- 
wort, etc., but it also furnishes 
a large number of ornament¬ 
al plants. Besides the Pink 
proper (Dianthus), in its many 
species and innumerable varie¬ 
ties, including the Carnations, 
we have in cultivation various 
species of Silene, Lychnis, 
Gypsophila, Cerastium, etc., 
many of which are favorites 
in the flower garden. We 
have wondered why one of our 
native species of Silene never 
became better known, as it 
is as showy as many of those 
now popular in cultivation. 
We refer to the Silene Penn¬ 
sylvanica, commonly known 
as Wild Pink, and in some lo¬ 
calities called Mountain Pink. 
It is not a rare ' plant, and 
is frequently found in great 
abundance in gravelly and 
rocky places, from New England south¬ 
ward. The plant is a dwarf perennial, 
not more than G or 8 inches high, and 
forms dense patches. The shape of the leaves 
as well as the general habit of the plant, are 
shown in the engraving. The flowers are pro¬ 
duced in clusters of six or eight, each about an 
inch across. The calyx is hairy and sticky, and 
the five notched petals are rose-purple, of a very 
lively tint, varying in intensity, and sometimes 
so pale as to be almost white. When the plant 
grows, as we have often seen it, in large masses, 
the effect is very pleasing—almost brilliant. 
The Wild Pink grows readily from seeds and 
cuttings, and there is no difficulty attending its 
cultivation. While our gardeners have quite 
neglected this plant, it lias been recently intro¬ 
duced into England, where it is found to be a 
al Catch-fly {Silene regia), which has very 
handsome deep scarlet flowers, and is found 
on the prairies of the West and South-west. 
The Two-leaved Solomon’s Seat 
In Majq in moist woods, especially in the 
Northern States, there is found an abundance 
of a little plant which somewhat resembles the 
Lily of the Valley—the 
Two-leaved Solomon’s 
Seal. It is only from 
three to five inches high, 
and each stem bears 
two, and often three, 
heart-shaped leaves. The 
minute white flowers are 
in erect spikes, an inch 
or more long. When 
the plant grows, as it 
frequently does in dense 
tufts or clumps, it makes 
an exceedingly neat 
and pretty appearance. 
The root-stock is slender 
and creeping. The plant 
is easily cultivated, and 
though it does better in 
a partially shaded place, 
it will flourish when ful¬ 
ly exposed. Care must 
be taken to keep the 
■weeds from encroach¬ 
ing upon it. In its 
season we frequently see 
the flowers of this Smila- 
ciua used in bouquets 
by the city florists, its 
delicate spikes project¬ 
ing above the coarser 
flowers, producing a 
graceful effect. There is a Three-leaved Solo¬ 
mon’s Seal, Smilacina trifolia, which is a little 
taller and more robust, and with longer leaves; 
it is less common than the one engraved. These 
plants belong to the Lily Family, and are 
closely related to the Lily of the Valley. 
ARROW-HEAD. 
wild pink.—( Silene Pennsylvanica.) 
