i^adies’ ^Floral iisaikiiet oji 31 SHciarml 3HEome H ampeuiioii. 
133 
mtf 
EUEAL HINTS. 
Two Neglected Annuals.—We noticed a gar¬ 
den where a good display had been obtained this 
season at little expense The flowers 
grown last year grew np again from 
self-sown seeds, as they often will in this 
climate, and the owners merely cut out 
the surplus, leaving clumps at convenient 
spaces to increase and bloom. There 
were many gorgeous masses of Snap¬ 
dragons (Antirrhinums), Phloxes, Pe¬ 
tunias, and other flowers. We noticed 
Phacelia congesta, which is one of our 
common wild flowers in the bay counties, 
and which in masses produces a good 
effect with its lilac and hairy clusters, 
which uncoil as they bloom. We also 
saw the so-called shell-flower, a native 
of the Molucca Islands, each brown 
flower being set in the middle of a shield¬ 
like cup of veined green, which giv.es the 
plant its name. This was, if we remem¬ 
ber rightly, distributed by the J Rural New 
Yorker as a premium some years ago. 
Its culture is extremely easy. 
rest. This treatment will not only keep it in good 
shape, but increase the abundance of its snow-white 
flowers. At other times of the year, when not in 
bloom, it will still present a neat appearance. 
A Brilliant Rhododendron.—The Irish Gar¬ 
deners'' Record describes a plant of li. altaclerense 
Sweet Williams.—A writer to Mr. 
Vick says that his favorite flower is the 
Sweet William. “No one who has not 
tried it knows the perfection to which the Sweet 
William can be grown. I have had heads of flowers 
this season more than seven inches across —perfect 
masses of almost perfectly globular 
flowers. I sow the seeds as soon as 
they become ripe, selecting only a 
few from the very choicest flowers. 
As these seeds must be sown late, it 
is necessary to shade and water them 
until the plants appear above ground 
and, in fact, get strong. Then I 
transplant them into the bed and 
furnish a little protection during the 
winter, a little straw or cedar boughs. 
I have some fine double kinds, but 
like the single best, because the 
markings are so beautiful, while 
those contrasts of color are lost in 
the double kinds.” 
Moss in Lawns.—The best and most economi¬ 
cal method to get rid of moss in lawns is to rake 
whenever the ground is bare in winter. Even 
when the ground is frozen the moss is readily torn 
up. After the moss is removed give a topdress¬ 
ing of finely-rotted barnyard manure, and early in 
spring sow on a liberal quantity of blue-grass 
seed and a little white clover. Then roll 
with a heavy roller and not mow in 
spring until the young grass has become 
well established. One drop of sulphuric 
acid in the heart of a plantain or other 
weed will destroy it completely. Care 
must be exercised in its use. 
A Pretty Garden.—A lady in Co¬ 
lumbus, Ohio, has a garden this summer 
with over four thousand plants in bloom. 
Last year she received seventy-two dol¬ 
lars in premiums for her flowers, all 
grown from seed. Among her successes 
are the following: Balsam Plants two 
inches in diameter near the ground, and 
nearly three feet high, one mass of 
bloom; Hollyhocks, every plant double 
flowers, the largest and most double ever 
seen, all white, and “ perfect beauties.” 
Zinnias as large as Dahlias. 
Design fob Suburban Villa. 
twenty feet high, and the mass twenty-five feet in 
diameter at the base where the branches rest on the 
grass, and larger above. It was stated to be “ a mass 
Deutzia Gracilis.—This beau¬ 
tiful little shrub, says the Country 
Gentleman , has now become widely 
cultivated, but there is one use to 
which it may be applied where it 
will produce a fine effect, namely, 
as an edging for large beds of low 
shrubbery. Plant the Deutzia in a 
compact line, and when well es¬ 
tablished cut it back to within six or eight inches 
of the ground, so that it may present an even sur¬ 
face at the top, and after it has made some growth 
pinch off the tips of any shoots pushing above the 
Androstephium Violaceum. — 
When preparing the chapter to accom¬ 
pany the plate of this rare species for 
“ The Flowers and Ferns of the United 
States ” it was supposed this beautiful South west ern 
bulb was not yet under culture. It may not be to 
a uy great extent; but we see it offered among others 
in the spring bulb catalogue of 
Messrs. J. M. Thorburn & Co. It 
is pleasant to note that it is no longer 
necessary for those who desire to 
get American plants to have to go 
to Europe for them. 
Tuberoses.—“ This is a good 
way to start tuberoses. I plant 
them,” says a correspondent of 
Vick's Floral Guide, “in old to¬ 
mato-cans, without punching any 
holes for drainage, set them on the 
mantel over the kitchen range, and 
keep warm and wet. When well 
started I move them to a cooler 
place, and, at the proper time, set 
them out in the garden. In this 
way I have raised during the past 
two years vigorous plants, yielding 
liom twenty to thirty-five blossoms 
each.” 
Design fob Stone Mansion. 
of flowers from bottom to top on all sides.” Another, 1 
standing near it, about two-thirds its size, appeared 
at a short distance to be an unbroken mass of crim¬ 
son, and bore at least one thousand trusses of bloom. 
To Kill Burdocks and othe 
Weeds. — Pour kerosene or coal-oi 
upon them. First cut off the top 
close to the ground, and then pour a few drop 
of the coal-oil immediately on the crown. Do s 
to every weed in your lawn and you will be surprise 
at the success of your new weed remedy. 
