®le l^aSies’ 
Loral 
iafiinet a*i3 Pictorial BHEghib tSomjianioa. 
85 
from tlie other. The object of this article is to call 
the attention of amateurs to some varieties which are 
particularly line, and which differ enough from each 
other to give satisfaction. The old Peony, officinalis, 
is the parent of several varieties. Of these rubra is 
a bright crimson, and grandiflora rosea is of bright 
rose-color. These sorts are old and grand; but 
whoever discards them on account of their being old 
will make a sad mistake. P. officinalis temdfoliafl. 
2 ) 1 . is a floral treasure, though I do not believe that it 
is a variety of officinalis, as it has all the traits of a 
distinct species. It blooms early ; its flowers are 
double and of a bright scarlet-crimson color. Even 
without flowers it is a beauty, on account of its deli¬ 
cate, fern-like foliage. Though this variety is per¬ 
fectly hardy and easily grown, it does not seem to be 
very plenty. 
P. paradoxa. —The varieties in this division origi¬ 
nated in Europe. The best is Nemesis. The flow¬ 
ers are very numerous and full, but quite small and 
of a rich crimson color. All the varieties from P. 
paradoxa are crimson, of greater or less intensity. 
P. montan differs from all the others in having a 
shrubby top. There are no decided colors in this 
division, but a simple range of shades, from a dim 
white to a dim rose. Some of the flowers are very 
good; and, as they are borne on bushes or trees from 
three to eight feet in height, they are quite conspicu¬ 
ous. The best white is Bijou de Chusa, and the 
best colored is Gumpperii, a bright rosy pink. I 
say to the amateur : Don’t be in haste about getting 
Tree Peonies, for the best are not yet in market. 
For brilliancy, grace, and fragrance the varieties 
from P. Sinensis must have the first place, as they 
may be had in a, greater variety of shades and colors 
than those of any other class. 
Bicolor is a handsome variety; outside rose-color 
and the Centre of a very good yellow. Festiva is 
pure white and very full. 
P. fragrans, sometimes called the Rose Peony, 
is one of the best. It is of a rose-color and very 
sweet. P. Ilvmei resembles it in color, but blooms 
much later, and is the latest of all I have tried. 
Jules le Boon is a bright red. Mrs. Bagg is a very 
early variety, dwarf habit; flowers pure white, 
dotted with red. Perfect a,, outside petals a peculiar 
shade of pink, inside petals lively salmon—a beauty. 
P. purpurea superba is of a deep brilliant crim¬ 
son. The plant a tall grower and very showy. 
After getting more kinds than I have mentioned, 
the distinctions will begin to disappear between 
those you have and those you get. In making a se¬ 
lection I would especially caution the amateur, 
when he takes up a descriptive catalogue of Peonies, 
against making any great distinction between the 
colors which he finds mentioned as pink, rose, and 
lilac. Whoever considers these colors as differing 
much from each other will discover the true distinc¬ 
tion when he sees the plant in bloom. A very good 
way is to let some reliable grower make a selection 
for you, as such a person takes pains to propagate 
the best varieties largely, and it often happens that 
he has a surplus of the best. 
In raising Peonies from seed, the seed should be 
soaked in water for a day or two, as it is very hard. 
About the 1st of March it should be sown in a brisk 
heat, and when the weather becomes warm the seed¬ 
lings may be planted out, and will show their color 
the third year. They are usually increased by divid¬ 
ing the root; and, though this is commonly done in 
the autumn, there is nothing gained by it. March 
or April is a better time, as the new root will have a 
chance to get hold of the soil before it is called upon 
to endure our northern winter. The soil in which 
they are planted should be dry, rich, and deeply dug. 
The tubers should be planted six inches deep. 
P. moutan is propagated by grafting on the root 
of P. Sinensis, and by an amateur may be perform¬ 
ed as follows: In the spring take some good, strong 
single roots from the clumps of some Chinese variety 
and plant them by themselves in a rich place and 
grow them until September. Then cut a scion from 
P. moutan. It should be about three inches in 
length and contain a bud. Sharpen it and insert it 
firmly in the root which is used for the stock, and 
cover it with the earth that has been thrown out to 
make the experiment; and, if the work has been 
carefully done, the graft will take care of itself.—II. 
IIuftelen, Le Roy, N. Y. 
HINTS ON FLOWERS. 
To be successful in the cultivation of flowers one 
must bring to the work some little knowledge of the 
nature and requirements of plants, the peculiarities 
of their growth, and the different conditions of soil 
best adapted to each variety. Much may be learned 
from the floral catalogues and papers, which give in¬ 
formation on almost every subject connected with 
Floriculture; but experience is the best teacher, and 
the mistakes of one season will be guarded against 
the next. 
First in importance is a judicious selection of seeds. 
The amateur will be most successful with the hardy 
varieties of annuals, and these are comparatively 
easy of cultivation. 
At the beginning of the list I would place Phlox 
Drummondii; a package of mixed seeds will of itself 
be sufficient for almost a whole flower-garden. Next 
in importance are Petunias. Of these my favorites 
are the blotched and striped varieties ; these almost 
rival the Phlox in beauty and brilliancy, while for 
showiness they are unequalled. 
I must not forget the Asters. They blossom later 
than some other plants, but one is fully repaid for 
waiting by the beauty of their flowers. I have found 
the New Rose most satisfactory ; a single plant of 
mine had on it last fall at one time more than thirty 
perfect and half-opened flowers, besides numerous 
buds. These plants require a very rich soil; they must 
he staked, as the weight of flowers bends them 
down. 
The Balsam should be in every collection; but 
seed must be purchased of a reliable dealer, other¬ 
wise there will be a large percentage of single flowers. 
This variety of plants also requires a rich soil, the 
stronger the better, and they should be pruned to 
either a single stalk or to two or three branches ; the 
flowers oftentimes are as perfect as roses, and as 
double. 
The different varieties of Dianthus, especially D. 
Chinensis and D. Ileddewigii, are very desirable for 
garden cultivation, and are easily raised from seed 
to bloom the first year. 
Be sure and tuck a few Mignonette seeds in every 
spare nook in the garden, for this plant is indispensa¬ 
ble for its fragrance. 
These varieties I have mentioned are but few 
of the many; but for the showy part of a small 
garden I think they will be sufficient, and if the 
plants are well grown, must prove satisfactory to 
any one. 
If you have any unsightly fences or walls cover 
them with climbing vines ; after many trials of dif¬ 
ferent vines, I have found the good old-fashioned 
Morning-glory (Convolvulus major) the best for this 
purpose; its growth is rapid, its flowers pretty, but 
one must rise before the sun to see them. 
For a trellis in the centre of a flower-bed nothing 
can be prettier than Cypress vine, with its delicate 
foliage and star-like flowers. For this purpose 
Maurandia is also very desirable. I think this a 
very nice way to arrange a bed, to have some delicate 
vine in the centre. 
I remember once seeing a ribbon bed the effect of 
which was very fine. It was circular in form; in the 
centre was a clump of Pampas Grass, surrounded by 
Gannas; next was a row of dark-leaved Coleus, then 
a row of the golden-leaved ; following this Mountain 
of Snow Geranium trimmed low, and lastly a bor¬ 
der of blue Lobelia. Such beds, however, are im¬ 
practicable anywhere but on a smootlily-sliaven 
lawn. 
I have found June to be the best time to root cut¬ 
tings for winter flowering ; keep a box ot sand in a 
shady place, and in this plant the slips; in a week 
or two they can be transferred to little pots. Started 
so early they will make strong, healthy plants, and 
come into bloom sooner in winter. 
Loka Lee. 
AMARYLLIS AND ROSES. 
A notable specimen of the first is thus described 
by a correspondent of Laws of Life: Calling on a 
friend one day last winter she displayed with pride 
and pleasure, as well she might, an Amaryllis Jolm- 
sonii in remarkable bloom. The seven blossom 
bulbs — the product of one purchased some years be¬ 
fore—were in a pot of six-gallon size, and bore 
twelve tall flower-stalks, each having four or five, or 
even six, buds or blossoms. It had thirty-six fairly 
open, crimson-scarlet lilies, each petal having a lon¬ 
gitudinal stripe of white over the midrib. They were 
in a soil composed of black muck, garden mould, 
sand, and old barnyard compost in equal proportions. 
The repotting was soon after the spring bloom, and 
the pot was kept in a warm window and well water¬ 
ed until time to plunge in the ground in June. Just 
before frost it was put into a close and rather warm 
chamber,where it was left without much water, losing 
its foliage. When wanted for blooming it was brought 
to the window and flowers and leaves came up quick¬ 
ly together. It would have been better in a cool, 
light cellar. Tt is to grace the church on Easter 
Sunday, and I know of a superb calla wearing its 
crown of eight white spathas that is to stand opposite 
the crimson lilies. 
