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NEW YORK, JULY, 1879. 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE MONTH. 
On page 11 is a splendid illustration of scenery 
on the Union Pacific Railroad. This view is of the 
immense rock at the opening to Echo Canon, and 
is called Bromley’s Cathedral. The railroad track 
winds immediately under it, and passes eastward 
through a canon whose wall of rock rises from 500 
to 800 feet high, of immense size and perpendicular 
form. It is the most noted point' of scenery along 
the route. 
Upon page 9 is a pretty little sketch of the 
Deutsia crenata flare pleno. Most of our readers 
are familiar with its name, but few possess it in their 
gardens. It should be everywhere in the yards of 
every country home. It flowers early in the spring 
most profusely, and is an ornament of great beauty. 
Upon this page is also a sketch of an English 
flower-garden, where a mound has been selected of 
immense size to display bedding plants and those ol 
beautiful foliage. 
Upon page 12 are designs to use in Java Canvas 
Work —borders, corners, etc. 
Upon page 13 are sketches of scenery in St. 
Augustine, Florida; the upper view being a scene 
along the beach, the centre is a tropical garden, and 
the lower scene one of the gates of entrance to the 
city. 
ORANG-E FLOWERS. 
Tins beautiful evergreen is found in every civiliz¬ 
ed country where the climate is favorable, and in 
colder countries it is the cherished ornament of the 
hot-liouse. It flourishes in the most southern limits 
of the United States, largely in Florida, and to a 
considerable extent in Mississippi and Louisiana, 
south of the lakes. In Mississippi and Louisiana 
they are favored by the lakes tempering the cold 
north winds. There seems but little difference be¬ 
tween these States in their favorable localities. 
However, the tree requires delicate cultivation and 
studied treatment. About the year 1816 oranges 
were introduced as ornaments to the States by the 
French. In 1830 an orange-tree in a box, in bloom, 
brought 400 francs, and about this time some atten¬ 
tion was paid by horticulturists, and blooming trees 
in boxes were sold at from 50 to 100 francs in New 
Orleans. 
The time of flowering is from the beginning of 
February until April 10, in healthy trees; unhealthy 
ones are found in bloom sooner or later. The last 
week of February finds most of the trees blooming. 
The petals remain on the flowers for about two 
weeks. Unfavorable conditions shorten the time. 
The humidity of the atmosphere materially affects 
the flowers—when too wet the pollen heads are in¬ 
jured and the secretions are imperfect. Dryness has 
a similar effect on the pollen and nectar, but does 
not affect the secretion of oil. When the tempera¬ 
ture is too low but few flowers are fructified, the oil- 
cells are limpid and no nectar is secreted. The most 
favorable temperature is about 68 deg. to 76 deg. F. 
Under 60 deg. F. flowers are blighted. When the 
busy bee is found collecting the nectar the condi¬ 
tions are favorable for the development of flowers 
and fruit, and then the flowers contain their most 
agreeable odor. 
An ordinary tree will yield from two to ten pounds 
of flowers, ordinarily about seven. As soon as the 
petals begin to fall a canvas is spread under the tree 
and by brisk shaking the petals will fall, with some 
leaves, which are easily separated. The time when 
flowers are most fragrant is early in the morning, 
and late in the day the odor is greatly diminished. 
Prior to the late conflict negroes collected and sold 
orange petals in New Orleans. A tea-saucer full 
(about 2 ozs.) was measured out, put upon a china 
plate and set in the room, for which the negro re¬ 
ceived about 50 cents. From two to three plates 
would perfume a room for a week. Orange flowers 
produced in the extreme southern borders are be¬ 
lieved to possess a stronger odor and more oil. The 
difference is accounted for in this manner: In the 
tropics and semi-tropics the trees do not begin to 
bear very much until about twenty years old, while 
in this country they begin at about seven. The de¬ 
velopment is more rapid, the tree more vigorous, 
and it is reasonable to suppose a better development 
of odor in the flower. The writer was informed by a,n 
orange-grower who had made extensive observations 
in different countries and fully confirmed this suppo¬ 
sition. The flowers are more fragrant and the fruit 
more juicy, but not so sweet as in some other coun¬ 
tries. 
The writer made several experiments with orange 
flowers. When placed in the direct sunlight, in the 
course of two days they lose all their odor. In dif¬ 
fused daylight they retain it for at least three days, 
and in a; dark, lmmid atmosphere the odor is quite dis¬ 
tinct after one week. When bruised, they lose their 
odor in half of the time stated. The writer has no 
means for experimenting as to amount of volatile 
oil, but he believes that the better plan for the phar¬ 
macist is to have the petals hermetically sealed and 
to make his preparations direct. 
Orange-flower water is one of the most agreeable 
vehicles for nauseous medicines that we have, and 
when the pharmacist can make fresh preparations 
they will be fully appreciated and the expense will 
not be greater. The syrup of either flower or fruit 
has no superior, especially the syrup of the fruit. 
A honey collected from orange flowers is very fra¬ 
grant with the orange odor. The flowers, placed in 
tin cans and sealed up, are known to have retained 
their odor unimpaired for nine months. As a per- 
fume they have no equal. To sit under a tree when 
in full bloom is delightful, the fragrance intoxicating. 
If any one has made the syrup of orange from the 
fresh juice of the fruit and used it, he will not want 
to use any more which is made from simple syrup 
and a few drops of the oil of the rind.— Villa Gar¬ 
dener. 
PRUNING THE OLEANDER. 
The oleander is certainly one of the best 
hard-wooded plants we have got for bearing trim¬ 
ming. If the points of the shoots are injured 
with the frost, cut them back to healthy wood, even 
if it be to the old wood of the plant, as from it fresh 
shoots will start in abundance. I often see large, 
straggling-growing plants of oleander, set out in con¬ 
spicuous positions, that look anything but attractive. 
If they were compact they would be very beautiful. 
By a judicious use of the knife there is no need of 
poor-shaped plants, as they will bear with impunity 
cutting into shape, if it is done before the plants 
start into growth in the spring. When the growths 
have started, some one or two may probably start 
stronger than the others, taking the lead. These 
should be pinched and kept in check, so that more 
strength may be concentrated in the others, and a 
better form given to the plant. 
As is well known, the successful flowering of 
this plant depends upon thoroughly ripening of the 
young wood; therefore this should be well attended 
to. Our climate is well adapted for the successful 
flowering of this plant. When it is kept out-of-doors 
during the summer, the young wood gets well ripen¬ 
ed before the time for housing it. When it is wanted 
to flower during the summer months, the cellar of the 
cool-house is the best place for it; but it requires, 
when in a cool temperature, to be kept rather dry at 
the roots, or else the shoots may damp and the foli¬ 
age get soft. Bring the plants gradually to the light 
in the spring; if brought from the dark and placed 
at once where the sun may strike hard upon them, 
the leaves are apt to get browned and drop off, which 
should be guarded against, as evergreens of any kind 
denuded of their leaves are left in a very weakened 
condition. M. Milton. 
To keep a Lawn Fresh and Green. —Put on 
frequently a slight sprinkling of salt or bone-dust, or 
superphosphate, or any good fertilizer. When the 
soil is soft, run the roller over it; it helps the ap¬ 
pearance greatly. The application of a little ground 
gypsum will also freshen up the grass. 
