GARDEN NOTES OF THE MONTH. 
Flax, is said to be an admirable plant for filling vases, and no doubt it would look much more graceful 
when properly grown than stiff and formal Aloes. Mr. Beaton has lately recommended the old 
Senecio cinerarias, or Cineraria maritima, the Sea Ragwort, a plant frequently seen in cottage windows, 
as admirably adapted for decorative purposes, having under strong artificial light the appearance of 
frosted silver, and, when mixed with scarlet Pelargoniums, either in zones or planted alternately, it 
forms an exceedingly rich group. Grown also as a single specimen for the drawing-room, more 
especially in the winter season, it is found exceedingly useful. We have often been surprised that 
variegated plants are not more used for decorative purposes, more especially for balls, routs, &c. Such 
things as variegated Pelargoniums, Croton pictum, and variegatum, Draccena terminalis, and many 
other plants are likely to be found very interesting. A group now standing before us, consisting of 
variegated plants, Primulas, Cinerarias, Hyacinths, Tulips, and Ferns, has a splendid effect, more 
especially by candle light. 
Among winter-blooming plants nothing is more useful than the Tropceolum Lobhianum , which with 
a temperature of fifty to sixty degrees, blooms magnificently through the whole winter, and for bouquets 
is almost equal to Scarlet Pelargoniums. It is, however, impatient of a moist atmosphere, but succeeds 
admirably in the plant stove. JEcheveria secuncla, a greenhouse plant, which merely requires protection 
from frost, and is of a succulent nature, blooms beautifully at this season, and five or six plants in a 
shallow pan forms a splendid group, and will continue to bloom for several months. Selago dista?is, 
which simulates white Mignonette, though not sweet, forms a beautiful specimen plant, and is also 
useful for winter cutting; and Jasminum nudijiorum , one of Mr. Fortune’s acquisitions from China, 
blooms throughout the winter in the open air. For growing in small pots for the greenhouse this will 
be found a very useful plant, and for a wall, though not sweet, it will take rank with the Chimonan- 
thus fragrans. 
As forcing plants, JVeigela rosea and Forsythia viridissima have long been favourably known; and 
now we suspect that JEscallonia macrantha, when properly prepared, and Mitraria coccinea , will be 
found equally useful at this season. Of more modern introductions, we find Deutzia gracilis blooming 
when only an inch or two in height, and Messrs. Veitch’s JBerberis Dancinii is now showing bloom in 
our propagating house in beautiful style, and no doubt will form an admirable plant. Though more 
humble, Cheiranthus Marshallii , for its delicious scent of violets, will be found worthy of a place in 
every greenhouse, and will force in gentle heat. 
The fumigating of plant-houses and frames is a troublesome matter, especially to amateurs, and 
hence the following plan, which we have practised lately, may prove interesting to some. Provide a 
strong solution of nitre in water, in which soak some sheets of strong brown paper, and afterwards dry 
it slowly, and cut into lengths of convenient size, the largest eighteen inches by twelve inches, then 
get some strong tobacco, and strew it thinly over the paper, and, with a coarse pepper-box, dredge in 
a good coat of common cayenne pepper; wrap the whole up rather loosely, like a “cigarette;” paste the 
end over, and when dry it is fit for use. Two or three of these suspended by a wire under a green¬ 
house stage, and lighted at each end, will quickly settle the accounts of the green fly and thrip, and 
that with comparatively little trouble. Indeed, if a quantity of these “cigarettes” are kept ready 
made, a few plants may be put into a pit or small room, and be cleaned, at least have their insect pests 
destroyed in a very short time. By using cayenne, much less tobacco is required, and the effect of 
the two combined is most deadly, for as the cigarettes will burn for a considerable time, say an hour 
or more, it is impossible for insects to live in an atmosphere so thoroughly impregnated with the 
elements of suffocation. Since writing the preceding, we have tried an experiment with “ cigarettes” 
against tobacco paper, and three houses, each about thirty feet long, have been effectually fumigated 
with eight ounces of tobacco, two ounces of cayenne, and about four sheets of brown paper, with a 
handful of damp hay to make a smoke. The expense was three shillings. The same houses hitherto 
have required seven pounds of tobacco paper, at an expense of ten shillings and sixpence ! 
