168 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
small reddish-brown irregular dots ; the centre is white, 
with three small yellow ridges in the middle, and an un¬ 
dulated purplish apex, a slight tinge of this color also 
running up the lip as a margin to the white centre. It 
has a peculiarly rich and handsome appearance, and was 
greatly admired.” Your most obedient servant, 
George F. Wilson. 
Weybridge Heath , England. 
* 
* * 
Gladioli should not, like many other bulbs or seeds, be 
put into the ground simply to get them out of the way 
and to finish up spring work. Small bulbs and bulblets 
should have been planted early in May, and the larger ones 
might have been planted then, but it is far better to keep 
a portion of your large bulbs back until the middle of 
July, in order to have them in flower about the first of 
October. In localities where there are September frosts 
early plantings may be necessary, but in all cases by far 
the finer spikes of bloom will be secured by having them 
in time to escape the frost. For fine blooms, plant in an 
airy, exposed situation, and cultivate the ground as for a 
farm crop, deep and often. Plant the bulbs close to¬ 
gether ; then, if the weather is hot and dry, when they 
come into bloom, screen them with canvas or lattice. 
* 
* * 
Galtha ( Marsh Marigold). —This native plant, that 
“ shines like fire in swamps and hollows gray,” so com¬ 
mon in the swamps on Long Island and New Jersey, is 
now one of the popular flowers for corsage bouquets. 
During the early part of May the bouquet peddlers that 
infest all the popular thoroughfares of New York city, 
gave their almost undivided attention to this flower, and 
thousands of bouquets made exclusively of it were sold 
daily. It is a pleasing sign to see flowers that have not 
had the sanction of the “ committee ” so eagerly sought 
after and worn. * 
± s$c 
Lilies,—The question is often asked us by those who 
have neglected planting at the supposed proper time, if 
lilies can be safely taken up after they have started growth 
in the spring. We answer yes, most decidedly. The 
fact is, that lilies are growing nearly all the time, and that 
the only danger in planting is when the bulbs have been 
a long time out of ground and have had too much rest. 
We have taken lilies up at all seasons and under all cir¬ 
cumstances, and have never known one to be injured in 
the least by being taken up when in active, growing state. 
The first Lilium lancifolium we ever had was taken up 
when in bloom, and we never had one do better; its un¬ 
opened buds all fully developed, and the bulb made a 
good growth and a plentiful supply of offsets. The only 
danger may arise from getting the stem broken, but that 
will not injure the bulb for another season’s bloom. 
Moles in Gardens.—The following simple plan of 
exterminating moles we take from one of our foreign 
exchanges. Its simplicity would warrant giving it a trial; 
if successful, the discoverer may be classed with the long 
list of public benefactors : 
“ In previous years I have been much troubled with 
moles. Several I trapped, but a few “ cunning ” ones 
made their escape at the side or under the traps. Failing 
to catch these, I placed in the runs, where they came 
into the garden, a little deal sawdust, sprinkled with 
paraffin and tar. From that time—about nine months— 
not a mole has put in an appearance, although busy in 
the field adjoining. 
* 
* * 
“ The Little Scrubber ” is the name of a much-needed 
machine for washing flower-pots. If it will do one-half 
that is claimed for it—and we see no reason why it should 
not—it will be of great importance to the florist and a 
source of profit to its inventor, G. H. Burnham. 
Books, &c., Received. 
The A B C of Potato Culture. By T. B. Terry, Esq., 
Hudson, Ohio. Published by A. I. Root & Co., Medi¬ 
na, Ohio. Price, 40 cents. 
This publication of forty-two pages is just what it 
purports to be—a guide to potato culture, telling how to 
grow them in the largest quantity and of the finest qual¬ 
ity with the least expenditure of time and labor, carefully 
considering all the latest improvements in this branch of 
agriculture up to the present date. We have given this 
publication a careful reading and consider the information 
obtained from it of the greatest importance. 
Horticultural Directory of the United States . Vol. I. Flo¬ 
rists and Nurserymen. Philadelphia. Isaac D. Sailer. 
Price, $6. 
There has existed for several years “an aching void” 
in the directory world— i. e., an accurate directory of flo¬ 
rists and nurserymen doing business in the United States. 
Former attempts at furnishing the information have been 
very weak, and the trade will welcome this new candidate 
for honors and profit because it is nearer to accuracy and 
because it furnishes information in an attractive manner, 
free from advertising matter in the body of the book. 
The publisher frankly says in his preface that he does 
not claim perfection, but invites criticism and correction 
from every quarter. To aid individual purchasers of the 
directory in keeping their copy corrected, so far as omis¬ 
sions come to their knowledge, there are ruled interleaves. 
We bespeak for this work the favorable consideration of 
our readers, and their hearty co-operation in making 
future editions more complete. We can supply the book, 
post-free, on receipt of price. 
The Lawn, published by the Chadborn & Caldwell Manufac¬ 
turing Company, Newburg, N, Y. 
Nothing is more essential to the adornment of home 
grounds than a well-kept lawn, and this publication 
gives directions for the preparation and requirements 
necessary to keep the lawn in perfect order through the 
season. Lawn owners will find it especially adapted to 
their needs. 
The Report of the Missouri State Horticultural So¬ 
ciety contains an account of the transactions during the 
year 1884, together with a number of interesting essays 
and discussions, reported from their twenty-seventh annual 
meeting held at St. Joseph last December. The society 
is an active one, and, judging from its list of members 
and the topics discussed, there seems to be no difficulty 
