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SMILAX. 
I notice in the Cabinet frequent inquiries concerning 
the treatment for Smilax. Although answers are 
given, yet each new inquirer seems quite as much at a 
loss as the first. Since no answer already given de¬ 
scribes my experience, it is possible my way may lead 
others to success in the cultivation of this delicate 
climber. 
I commenced with the purchase of a four-inch pot, 
containing a thrifty plant. It had started out three 
vines, each about six inches in length. I immediately 
transplanted it- into the border, where, after a time, it 
made a slow growth, and was twisted back and forth 
around three slender sticks, two or three feet high. By 
fall the sticks tvere all covered, and formed an upright 
mass of green. 
It was taken up and moved, sticks and all, into a 
seven-inch pot, stood around in the shade a few days, 
and then placed on the flower-stand. 
My winter-plants are always kept in a small room 
at the head of the stairway: as the room has a 
southern exposure, and the house is heated by a fur¬ 
nace, I find the temperature (50 to 70 degrees) excel¬ 
lent for the purpose. 
Fastening strings to the several sticks, I carried 
them to each side and the top of the room, and started 
the different vines, which, by this time, had branched 
into seven or eight. They grew rapidly; some to a 
dozen feet, or more. I kept the earth quite moist, for 
such rapid growth, I thought, required it. By Feb¬ 
ruary nearly every vine was covered the whole length 
with buds. They continued in bloom a very long 
time; and oven when some of the branches were hung 
with bright-red berries, others were still blooming. I 
was careful not to let the roots get dry, and when 1 
finally carried out the pot, in June, not more than 
half the leaves were dried up. 
I cut off the whole, and set the pot under the shade 
of a trellis near the piazza. In the multitude of cares 
it was forgotten, and, as I had saved a large supply of 
seeds, I felt careless about the matter when I did re* 
member it. 
Sometime in August I chanced to notice it, and dis¬ 
covered one vine had started from the root, and was 
already some way up the trellis, while others were 
showing in different places. I then began to give it a 
little water; before that it had been left to the dew and 
rains for nourishment. 
In October the plant was brought in to its former 
place on the flower-stand, and guided by twines as 
before. 
It gave me yards of trimming, with a most charming 
and continual bloom all winter. The chambers and 
hall were full of the sweet perfume. 
A weekly watering of “coffee” from the hen-house 
and stable was given it, as well as to all my plants. 
Next spring I wished to divide the root, for the bulbs 
were crowding out at the top; so I gave it into the 
care of the gardener, first cutting off the tops as before. 
He divided it in halves, and set it out in a large 
garden-vase, where I think it was crowded too much 
by other plants, and given too much water. In the 
fall, one-half had made a growth of nearly a yard; the 
other had not started. 
When brought in to me, after being ready for the 
house, I found them each in a five-inch pot. The re¬ 
sult was, one grew no more, but immediately budded 
and bloomed, then threw out another shoot, which 
went galloping over the room, without a sign of bud 
upon it all winter. I cut it down in June to put out 
lorai Bbifiiaet unil Pictorial S 
doors, and it was yards and yards of lovely green, and 
thinly sprinkled with buds. 
The other pot grew some, but made no attempt to 
bloom. This last summer I left both pots under the 
trellis; now, I have transferred one to a seven-inch 
pot; the other I shall keep unchanged. Each root has 
thrown out a short vine. 
From my three years’ experience I think that rest in 
summer, and a liberal supply of moisture in winter, is 
quite essential. Certainly, they are not easily root- 
bound; for the year before my plant was divided I 
had the best growth and bloom. But I think a large 
pot is much to be preferred, as there is less proportion 
of the bulb exposed to the evaporation of the sides; 
then, too, it does not require such frequent watering. 
My idea may be wrong, but I think plants which re¬ 
quire much water do better to have a great deal at 
once than they do with constant dribbling. My friends 
who grow Smilax as a stand-plant, and also in 
hanging-pots—all have fine, thrifty vines—use it 
quite freely, like myself, for trimming, and yet allow 
numerous vines to run their full length; but they all 
say mine is the only house where they ever saw it in 
blossom. I have frequently purchased sprays which 
were in bud, and was not aware, till after I commenced 
to cultivate it, that it was a rarity to have them bloom. 
1 supposed close cutting was the only preventive. 
I have never planted any seeds, but as it seeds very 
liberally, I judge it is an easy matter to do. 
Massachusetts. J. Victor. 
them a strong dose of ammonia, and not a worm lived 
to tell the tale. I use street dirt for manure, for liquid 
manure, guano water; for Begonias, street dirt and 
sand, and they thrive on it wouderfull v. I have one 
that has bloomed constantly since, last June. In my 
collection, 1 have Geraniums, Mrs. Spenser, United 
italy, Rival, Julius Cmsar; (Perpetual Pinks, La 
Purite Carnation, Pelargoniums, Ice Plant (at this 
time growing rapidly, seed started last June), beside 
a good many ol a more common sort. 
Washington, D. C. Marie. 
Window Gardening.—There are so many con¬ 
flicting directions in regard to the culture of window 
plants, that I am guided alone by our good editor and 
common sense. To begin with, T have made a com- 
promise in regard to Hyacinth culture. As it ruins 
bulbs for.the house to bloom them in water, and in pots 
you cannot see their beautiful fibrous roots; I took 
large jelly glasses, and with bits of charcoal for drain¬ 
age, and good, rich soil, I thus have a full view of 
their beautiful fibres, and they the benefit of good soil. 
In this way I have better flowers, and save my bulbs, 
two very important items. Tulips, Crocuses, Nar¬ 
cissus, etc., may be grown the same way. I keep 
Narcissus outside, on the window-sill until danger of 
hard freezing. I keep all bulbs in a north window 
until well sprouted; then gradually bring iuto light 
and sunshine, but not much heat. I winter all my 
house plants in a south window in the hall. I have 
about thirty pots, besides bulbs and slip boxes, which, 
by the way, are nothing but cigar boxes, filled with 
sand and mold, half and half. I have very good suc¬ 
cess in raising slips, hardly ever losing one; and the 
most beautiful Lemon Geranium (Crispum) I have, 
I raised from a single leaf. I have a hanging basket 
of German Ivy, all budded; I give it plenty of water 
and sunshine, but it has no other heat. I use char¬ 
coal on my plants with good effect: it keeps the soil 
pure and free from worm® and has spotted an Ama- 
ranthus with beautiful, dark crimson spots. My bath¬ 
room is close to my south window; and the other day, 
when I discovered the red spider on some fine Gera¬ 
niums, into the bath-tub they went, and for about 
two hours the room was given up to tobacco smoke, 
followed by a thorough sprinkling of soap-suds, and 
rinsing in clear, blood-warm water. I shower them 
every few days, occasionally fill the saucers with hot 
water and use aqua ammonia very freely. I draw a 
basin full of quite warm water, make a good lather, 
and then give them all a good ducking, and rinsing, 
and they are as happy as they can be. I discovered the 
pot of a Cape Jessamine full of worms, but I gave 
Calla Lily.—1 have a beautiful Calla, with one 
large white flower, and a yellow stem in the centre, 
and my boy Solomon, about fourteen years old, who 
thinks he knows everything, says that the white flower 
is no flower at all. Now what is the truth of the 
matter f Mrs. J. E. B. 
Answer , — Solomon is correct. A flower consists 
generally of a calyx (the outer circle of leaves, each 
of which is called a sepal); next, the inner circle of 
petals, or leaves together, forming the corolla; then a set 
of stamens; and lastly, in the centre one or more pistils. 
In a large flower like the Tiger Lily the pistil and 
stamens are very distinctly seen. These two, the 
pistil and stamens, are the essential organs of the 
flower; and in the Calla many sets of them will be 
found clustered upon the central stem, or as described 
by high authority, “ its large spathe is pure white, 
surrounding a spadix which is colored deeply yellow 
by its antheriferous flowers.” 
Amaryllis—Calla Lily.— Please let me know 
through your paper what the price is of an Amaryllis, 
old enough to bloom ? Also will the Calla Lilies grow 
in a vase of water ? Inez e. Stout. 
Anstver. —Good flowering bulbs of Amaryllis are 
worth from $1 each upwards, according to the rarity 
of the variety. The Calla Lily will grow in a vase 
of water, but it requires some soil to start in. 
A Cheap Flower Garden.—I am just nine years 
old, mother is poor, father is dead, and we have no 
flowers, no not one. I went to New York, to see my 
aunt, and read your paper; I like it, 1 like flowers; 
I made three dollars, picking berries—mother says 1 
can do what I like with it. I told her I would spend 
fifty cents for flowers. Now I want you to tell me 
what seeds to get, some that will be sure to flower all 
summer. Now won’t you ? Bessie. 
Answer. —Certainly we will, and very gladly. As 
you say you have none, we will tell you how to lay 
out your money well. You must get some Morning 
Glories, some Sweet Peas, and some Hyacinth Beans 
■—these and the Morning Glories will climb twenty 
feet, and make a nice shade; the Sweet Peas will 
climb foi»r or five feet. Then Sweet Alyssum, Bal¬ 
sams, Candytuft, French Marigolds, Mignionette, 
Phlox Drummondii, and Portulaea, all of them mixed. 
These you can get for five cents a paper, except one 
or two which are ten cents; some day this winter we 
will tell you when and how to sow and take care of 
them. 
Fuchsias.—I have grown fine slips both from the 
single and double white Fuchsias. The single one, 
in blossoming, proved to be a white tube aud scarlet 
corolla; the double one is in flower now, a fine plant, 
eight inches high, with large flowers, of a bright jdnk 
tube and scarlet corolla. Can any of your correspond¬ 
ents [beat, that ? I did not know a Fuchsia could 
behave so improperly I have seven different kinds, 
have taken slips from them all, and they always prove 
true. Can you tell me what makes the difference ? 
C. A. S. 
