1874 . ] 
RUSTIC SUMMER-HOUSE. 
235 
Disa is met with occasionally in gardens, and is always most attractive, but the successful 
mode of cultivating it does not seem to be generally understood. It can never become “ every¬ 
body’s plant,” but in all probability it might bo more frequently seen, if its cultivation were 
attentively taken up. 
- ^HE Canada Pojdar (Populus canadensis) has been largely planted 
about Munich, and other places in Germany, in avenues and public promenades. 
This tree grows quickly, and in almost any kind of soil; its only defect, as a 
shading tree, is, that it sometimes, if left to itself, shoots up into too spiral a form to be of 
service in that way. This, however, is easily guarded against, by heading-down the young 
trees to the height of from 12 ft. to 15 ft., and paying some attention to tho pruning of the 
branches for some time, so as to secure the formation of handsome crowns. Treated in this ' 
w'ay tho trees are quite as effective, at some distance, as well-grown specimens of Horse 
Chestnuts. 
- 23unches of White Lily-jiowers are brought for sale to the French 
markets by the countrywomen, and a great number of these are purchased, not to 
make bouquets, but to preserve in brandy. The petals are pulled off one by one, 
and put into wide-mouthed pickle-bottles containing ordinary eau-de-vie, and are kept in 
this way from year to year. When any one receives a cut or wound, a brandied Lily-petal is 
produced, applied to the place, and fastened there with a bandage. Very powerful healing 
virtue is attributed; to this floral plaister; and so general is the belief, that many grocers’ 
shops keep in stock a glass jar of Lily-petals, which they retail at a sou a-piece. 
- ®HE commercial Insect Powder is very liable to failure, but a powder 
prepared as follows from the same plant (Pyrethrum roseum) is most effective 
against moths, fleas, bed-bugs, and poultry vermin, and when administered in 
a^weak infusion, is also a useful internal remedy against worms. Seeds of the Pyrethrum, 
which are obtainable from large seed-dealers, are to be sown in May, not too thickly, in a 
well-cultivated bed, and, if the weeds are kept down, will develop into strong plants by tho 
autumn, although they seldom bloom before the next May or June. The flowers are to be 
plucked as they become fully developed, and the yellow disc-flowers separated from the red 
ray-florets, thoroughly dried in the shade, and finely pulverized. Flowers can bo plucked 
even in the autumn, so that a few plants will produce a considerable quantity of the powder. As 
the plant is perennial, it can be propagated by division, and since it is indigenous to the Caucasus, 
it is not damaged by a low winter temperature. 
- 0ENISTA polygaloefolia^ a native of Spain, is a very pretty flowering- 
shrub, and during summer is a mass of bright yellow flowers. G. ovata^ a native 
of Hungary, is similar, 'but has smaller leaves, and is not such a free flowerer. 
Both are small shrubs, suitable for borders, and like the G. viryata^ mentioned 
at page 163, are not so well known as they should be. 
RUSTIC SUMMER-HOUSE. 
E gave at pp. 176-7, illustrations of two elegant forms of Rustic Summer¬ 
houses, introduced by Mr. J. 0. Fox, and which may be seen in the garden 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, at South Kensington. The examples 
we have previously given were constructed with ordinary wooden roofs. 
We now introduce a design equally meritorious with those already submitted, 
but in which the roof is thatched. This, whatever the material employed for 
thatching, whether straw, or reeds, or heath, will have the advantage of being 
cooler in summer and warmer in winter than any other form of roof. The design 
fonns an elegant retiring-house, alike adapted, by its warmth and coolness, for 
whiter and summer use respectively. When thatched with heath or reeds, the 
w 2 
