180 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
freshness in a 
The Strclitzia reginae. 
A fine specimen of this old hut little known 
plant, from E. Janes, Esq., of East Morrisania, 
N. Y., has been on exhibition for some weeks 
at the office of the Agriculturist , where its tropical 
looking foliage and very curious flowers have 
been admired by a throng of visitors. The 
plant is about 3 feet high and has four strong 
shoots, one of which has been figured by our 
artist. The Strelitzia was first introduced into 
England from the Cape of Good Hopo nearly a 
hundred years ago. Its name was given to it 
in honor of the wife of George III., who be¬ 
longed to the house of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz. 
The plant belongs to the same family as the 
Banana, and its leaves resemble those of that 
plant, though they are much smaller. The 
manner of flowering is very singular ; a long 
green sheath is borne at the end of the flower 
stem, this bends to a horizontal position, and 
from a slit in its upper side the flowers rise one 
after another. From their gay color and pecu¬ 
liar shape, the plant is called by some thfi “ Bird 
of Paradise.”—The three under portions of the 
flower are of a golden yellow, and the narrow 
or central part is purplish blue. Each flower 
continues for several days, and is succeeded by 
another which rises out of the sheath. 
For a long time it was cultivated as a hot¬ 
house or stove plant, but it is now found it will 
grow well in the green-house or as a house 
plant, as it will live in any room, where it is 
protected from frost. The objection to its gene¬ 
ral introduction as a house plant is the slow 
ness with which it is propagated. It is multi¬ 
plied by suckers which it throws up very spar¬ 
ingly, and by seeds which are 
only formed by artificial im¬ 
pregnation of the pistil. It 
will grow in any good soil and 
should have a period of dry¬ 
ness and rest after flowering. 
Arranging Bouquets. 
We have letters from sever¬ 
al correspondents asking us 
to give directions for the ar¬ 
rangement of flowers in bou¬ 
quets. As this is a matter 
that depends so much upon 
individual tastes, it is difficult 
to give any precise directions, 
though there are a few gene¬ 
ral rules which may be fol¬ 
lowed. The beauty of a bou¬ 
quet depends upon its form 
and color. The regular bou¬ 
quet makers seldom use flow¬ 
ers upon their own stems; 
the separate flowers are each 
fastened to a splinter of 
broom corn by means of a 
bit of fine wire. Thus fur¬ 
nished with a strong and 
clastic stem, the flowers can 
be made up with greater ease 
than when upon their own 
stems. Bouquets made in this 
way are of course not bene¬ 
fited by placing them in wa¬ 
ter, but they retain their 
remarkable manner if 
occasionally sprinkled. A light and grace¬ 
ful appearance should be given by means of 
little sprigs of small flowers which should project 
beyond the general surface. A general fault in 
bouquets, is a deficiency of green; all flowers ap¬ 
pear better in contrast with foliage. The Ground 
Pine ( Lycopodium dendroideum ), is one of the 
greens most used by the bouquet makers. Sprigs 
of asparagus are used with very good effect; 
any good green that does not readily wilt may 
be used. In regard to colors, the laws of 
contrast must be observed. A bouquet 
made entirely of yellow, red, and 
orange colored flowers would not 
be pleasing, for these are all 
harmonious colors. White flow¬ 
ers are very useful as they contrast 
with every other color. Red and 
blue do well together, while the 
effect of purple is weakened by 
either of them. Yellow and blue 
should be contrasted with white 
rather than with strong green. 
Neither red nor yellow should be 
put near orange. A little practice 
will enable one to combine the co¬ 
lors in the most effective way. 
Vines in the Flower Garden. 
The introduction of vines and 
climbing plants into a garden gives 
it a gracefulness and variety which 
can come from no other method. By 
this plan, we not only have the 
ground covered with verdure and 
bloom, but the air also is filled with 
them. It is surprising to note what 
pleasing effect may be produced by simply setting 
up a few cedar poles, G or 8 feet high, and cov-. 
cring them with some common vines, like the 
Morning Glory, of different colors. Set two or 
three within a few feet of each other, and extend 
stout cords from the top of one to the other. 
The vines will cover these cords and hang down 
in graceful festoons. Instead of poles, one may 
make ornamental frames or arbors, and cover 
them with a great variety of vines. The result 
will be every way satisfactory, and the whole 
need cost little time or money. 
--» ---HOW-► — 
Plants with Variegated Foliage. 
For a long time the striped or ribbon-grass of 
our grandmothers’ gardens was the only varie¬ 
gated leaved plant in common cultivation, but 
now we have, under the rather absurd name of 
“ foliage plants,” a great variety, some of which 
are very beautiful. Many of the rarest orna¬ 
ments of the green house are prized for their 
foliage rather than their flowers and we have 
annuals, perennials, and shrubs, and even trees 
the leaves of which are either wholly or in part 
of some other color than green. Japan seems 
to be very prolific in plants of this kind, and 
we have from there recently a Honeysuckle, an 
Arbor Vitae, and a Gingko with variegated 
leaves. Among the bedding plants of this cha¬ 
racter, Coleus Verschaffeltii takes a very high rank. 
We give below an engraving of a young plant, 
but it is impossible to properly represent its 
beauty without the use of colors. The leaves 
are pleasingly variegated, the lighter portions 
being of a tender green, while the markings are 
of a rich maroon or brownish purple color. 
This most desirable ornament to the flower 
border is to be had at the large horticultural 
establishments, but as yet bears a high price. 
From the ease with which it grows from cuttings 
it will doubtless before long be very abundant 
and cheap. Among annuals, the Amarantlius 
tricolor and Perilla Nankinensis are well known. 
Amarantlius melancholicus ruber , a new blood red 
COLEUS VERSCHAFFELTII. 
annual from Japan is highly recommended. A 
bed of these presents a striking appearance 
when viewed from a little distance. 
