grounds but one year, we can only say it is quite promising, and we would not be surprised if it 
should prove successful, and in a few years be greatly in demand for bedding. We would advise 
our friends, however, to obtain only a few bulbs for trial. There is great pleasure in growing 
new things, if successful, but where money is an object it is not best to take too much risk of both 
loss and disappointment. 
BISMARCK LARKSPUR. 
Among the novelties last year we saw nothing more promising than the Bismarck Larkspur. 
I he habit of the plant is invariably good for the species, being round and compact, while the 
flower-stems, which are well furnished with flowers, making per¬ 
fect trusses, are erect, on the outside of the plant, well away from 
the foliage, giving it a most elegant appearance. Our little engrav¬ 
ing will give some idea of the habit of this variety. It is said 
to be a hybrid between the new Imperialis, and the beautiful 
Candelabrum, the flowering-stems partaking of the peculiar habit 
of the latter. It is an annual, as of course our readers would know 
from its origin. Seeds germinate freely and with us it was in 
bloom from the commencement of the season, in June, until 
autumn. There is nothing much more beautiful than a well- 
grown Rocket Larkspur, and a bed of .well arranged colors we 
have sometimes thought it would be difficult to excel even with 
the Hyacinth, which it most nearly resembles. The Rocket, how¬ 
ever, endures but a few days or weeks at most, as must be sup¬ 
posed from its habit. Like the Hyacinth it has but one spike to flower, and when that is past its 
beauty is over. The branching varieties continue during the season to form new branches and 
new flowers, and this habit is marked in the newer varieties. 
VEGETABLES. 
TWO NEW AND PROMISING CUCUMBERS. 
We received last spring two new cucumbers, very different in character. One was a little 
dwarf fellow, not much more than six inches in length, and the other half as many feet. The 
small one came from Russia, and proved the earliest cucum- 
on our grounds, and wonderfully productive. When young 
it appeared very much like the old Early Russian, which is a 
variety of very excellent flavor, and of a pale green color, but 
as this new Russian obtained age it began to cover itself 
with a rich brown netting, until when fit for seed it was of an 
exceedingly rich russet color and elegantly netted. Of course 
we are not able to judge of its productiveness by one trial, 
but we may mention that we ripened one hundred and eighty 
on a bed eight by twelve feet. It is called the Netted Russian. The other variety we obtained 
from Germany and it is named the Sivan-Nech, on account of its length, we suppose, and of the 
other fact that at the stem it is curved, like the neck of a swan near the head. It is of superior 
quality, but of its hardiness for out-door culture we are not prepared to speak, as our plants were 
started in a hot-bed. It is a White-Spine variety, rather light in color, and 
measures two and more feet in length. On a bed eight feet by sixteen we 
grew one hundred and five. It is certainly a grand variety for hot-house and 
hot-bed culture, and may answer for out-door work in this country. We have 
tried a great many new varieties lately, but the two described seem to us the most promising; and 
yet, with our Lo?ig Green, White Sfine, etc., we are pretty well provided with good varieties. 
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