W~£k§Jn 
VOI,. XXXVII. No. 12.) 
WHOLE No. I 
'_ NEW Y ORK CITY, MARCH 23 , 1878 . 
[Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, by the Rural Pnbltehtog Company. In the office of the Librarian of Congress at WaaiitiiytovT 
f PRICE SIX CENTS. 
I $2:50 PER YEAR. 
EULALIA JAPONICA VAR. ZEBRINA. 
We are glad to place beforo our readers at 
this time a fine picture of the Zebra-striped 
Eulalia, to which we have 
several times referred, dur¬ 
ing the past year, in 
commendatory terms. The 
inflorescence is set in a 
black background in order 
to show by contrast its 
feathery plumes, but oth¬ 
erwise the figure does not 
exaggerate the beauty of 
this Grass. Our own speci¬ 
men did not bloom last 
year, but though the plant 
was very small when set 
out in the spring, it made a 
growth of three or four 
feet, presenting, in every 
leaf, a creamy-white and I 
green variegation correctly 
expressed in our illustra¬ 
tion. 
There is a longitudinal 
striped Eulalia that has 
been known among us for 
eight or ton years, intro¬ 
duced by Mr. Hogg. The 
present variety, also intro¬ 
duced by Mr. Hogg from 
Japan, has been offered by 
florists and nurserymen only 
during the past year, and 
is far from being generally 
known. 
There is scarcely any 
doubt that it is hardy in ; 
this climate, and perhaps 
it will Htaud a severer one, 
though the mildness of this 
mnter has not enabled us 
to speak positively from 
our own experience. This 
point settled, however, we 
should prefer the Zebra- 
striped Enlalia to any oth¬ 
er large-growing Grass 
with which we are ac¬ 
quainted, and we suggest 
to our readers that they 
include a specimen in their 
spring orders. Our illus¬ 
tration iB taken from one 
in the Gardeners’ Chronicle 
of London, which was 
drawn from a specimen 
plant furnished by Mr. 
Wir. Boll of that city. 
-- 4 -*-*-. 
SHELL FLOWER. 
We wrote to Mr. Robin¬ 
son, editor of the London 
Garden, to learn if Molu- 
cella lie vis (Shell Flower) 
was known in England, and 
H so, why it. was not culti¬ 
vated. The following reply 
explains itself. The plant 
needs a hot sun and dry 
weather to do well, for 
which reason we think it 
may be more desirable 
Here than there: 
‘‘In Mr. Robinson’s ab¬ 
sence I beg to acknowledge 
receipt of yours of the 
lath ult., and to state 
that I have known Molu- 
ceUa 1 sevis for some eight¬ 
een yoars at Kew, where I was about I860, 
at which time Dr. Hooker made a trip to Syria 
and Asia Minor, and brought home seeds of the 
Molucella, which we raised. We continned to 
grow the plants, but I failed to notice any beauty 
in thorn — being more curious than beauti¬ 
ful. Yours, truly, T. Spanswiok, 
“ Publisher ‘ The Garden.’ ” 
<Df dkrimt. 
ASPARAGUS BEDS. 
Mix a goodly quantity of old manure with the 
soil of the bed to the depth of eighteen inches. 
mm 
Mm 
EULAE.IA JAPONICA VAR. ZEBRINA. 
The quantity of manure to be used need be 
measered only by the quantity that can be spared 
—for there is no danger of making the soil too 
rich. Bone, wood-ashes, salt, lime, &c., are all 
good. Then open trenches six inches deep and, 
spreading out the roots, place the plants at least 
a foot apart. The crowns will then be about 
three inches below the surface. The old prac¬ 
tice of planting very deep 
in order to prooure white 
shoots is now abandoned, 
though it reqnired a long 
time to ascertain that such 
shoots possessed little of 
the rich, marrowy flavor 
of those exposed to the 
light. Make the trenches 
(that is for the garden,) 
from oue foot to eighteen 
inches apart. Bed may be 
laid out live or six feet 
wide with paths between, 
so as to prevent tramping 
upon the soil which should 
always be mellow. When 
it is desired to raise Aspar¬ 
agus in large quantities 
for market, the rows must 
be made four feet apart 
that the plow may be used. 
1 i The productiveness of 
I Asparagus is much impair 
I ed by cuttiDg for too long 
a time. A bed made as 
Jf above described, will last 
for many years, needing 
r only a light spring dressing 
of salt, which however, as 
with the manure at first 
used, may he applied with¬ 
out fear of injury and 
will at least serve to keep 
weeds down. Seed may be 
sown as soon as the soil 
can be worked. Rake the 
seed bed smooth and sow 
the seed in drills, a foot 
apart. Oue onnee of seed 
will suffice for five drills 
ten feet in length. 
Thin the plants, when 
well up, to three inches 
apart. Keep free from 
weeds during the summer 
and dress with manure in 
the fall. Such plants may 
be transplanted to a per¬ 
manent bed or left in the 
seed-bed a second year. If 
strong plants only be trans¬ 
planted, the permanent bed 
may be cut from the second 
year thereafter. 
Asparagus beds prepared 
as we have directed need a 
large quantity of manure— 
but they will last for a life¬ 
time. They may be pre¬ 
pared with very little ma¬ 
nure so that the soil is 
light and well drained and 
the exposure sunny. Then 
in the fall, cover with ma¬ 
nure,aud rake off the littery 
part in the spring. 
-♦♦♦-• 
Asparagus Roots and 
Seeds.—T he best variety 
of Asparagus is that known 
as Conover’s Colossal. It 
is sold by all good seeds¬ 
men — the seeds for ten 
cents per ounce or fifty t 
sixty cents per pound, th 
roots for one dollar per one 
handred. 
