104 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
ber, the wood being of a brilliant black.” It has not 
yet been seen here. 
The essayist did not regal'd the Weigelas with special 
favor but the variety Candida is pure white, and a de¬ 
cided improvement on Hortensis nivea and a real acqui¬ 
sition. Spircea Tintnbcrgii deserves general cultivation 
because of its graceful habit and foliage, which is pretty 
enough for bouquets and table decorations. It bears a 
profusion of delicate white flowers, the first of the sea¬ 
son. Spircea aricej'olia is the most profuse flowering. 
The Golden Elder is the most effective plant of this color. 
The Purple Hazel is a strong contrast in dark color. The 
Cut-leaved Sumach (Hints laciniata ) has very beautiful, 
airy, fem-like foliage. The variegated Althasa is per- 
hajis the best plant with white foliage. It is very vigo¬ 
rous and striking. The light, breezy, snow-white Exo- 
chorda grandijlora and the Viburnump>Ucatuin have been 
frequently mentioned in our discussions, but not oftener 
than they deserve. The panicled species of Hydrangea 
is more upright in growth, and of better foliage than the 
variety grandijlora, and many will prefer the light 
trusses of bloom to the grosser masses of grandijlora. 
The dwarf Spruces, Arbor Yitres and other evergreen 
shrubs are of great value for lawn planting. A tropical, 
pabn-like effect may be produced by cutting the Aliantus 
to the ground and securing new shoots every year or 
two. The Purple Beech is fine in color when kept as a 
shrub by the use of the knife, and Schwedleir's and Rei- 
tenbaclvs Maples are even better. 
As to propagating shrubs the natural method is by the 
seed, and it is the cheapest and also the slowest, and can 
only be used when we have seed-bearing plants and can 
give the time. If we are in haste with a new kind, graft¬ 
ing upon strong, congenial stocks gives a great gain in 
time. The rarest evergreens are multiplied with great 
speed and facility by this process. It is only necessary to 
start the stocks in pots, and when the sap is fairly moving 
to side-graft the dormant scion, and then pack away in a 
shaded frame in the greenhouse, kept moist with sphag¬ 
num, and in a few weeks a skillful workman -will show 
a large per cent, of well-established plants. Deciduous 
shrubs are seldom grafted, but oftener propagated from 
cuttings of soft wood. The cuttings are taken in July 
or August, when the wood is in a half mature state, 
and put into boxes having two or three inches of soil at 
the bottom and an inch or two of fine sand at the top. 
In close, shaded frames, with a slight bottom heat, the 
cuttings will root freely and be strong enough to pack 
away during the winter. In spring they should be 
planted out, and will make stocky plants by autumn. 
A cheaper mode, and effectual for many shrubs, is to 
cut the hard wood into proper lengths in autumn ; then 
bury it in dry soil in open ground in bundles, bottom 
ends upward, sheltering with boards to keep from rain 
and severe freezing and thawing. In the early spring 
plant firmly in carefully prepared garden soil. A large 
per cent, of most varieties will make a vigorous growth. 
For those who cultivate plants in greenhouses the 
easiest method is to take cuttings of tiie soft wood in 
February, March or April. These root readily in ordi¬ 
nary propagating bed. and are ready to turn out into 
the open ground in May to make strong plants by fall. 
Those who raise Roses for winter-cut flowers find this 
method the most satisfactory. The essayist has been 
trying an experiment in feeding cuttings with a solu- 
tion.of cow manure just as the callus is forming, and 
is convinced that it induces the throwing out of strong, 
healthy roots, of more substance than we can get in 
pure sand. 
Mr. Strong concluded with a few words in favor of a 
more general use of shrubs for the adornment of subur¬ 
ban homes. They are peculiarly adapted to give the 
best effects at the least cost and with permanent results. 
There is no danger that they will grow up to shut out 
the sunlight and views from our dwellings. Many of 
the coarse growing kinds are not in keeping with highly 
cultivated estates, but may be used in less conspicuous 
positions and for wind-breakers. But there is left a 
long list of kinds suited to the most cultivated positions ; 
the difficulty will be in making judicious selections. 
However much we may prize the flowering quality of 
shrubs, we must remember that this is shown in most 
cases for only a week or ten days in the year, and we 
desire something more than this brief enjoyment. It is 
true we have some shrubs which flower at periods of 
scarcity, like the Clethra and Hydrangeas in August and 
the Althaeas in September, and which would therefore 
be indispensible for that quality alone. The Rose also 
is an example of such superlative beauty in bloom that 
it can well afford to stake its reputation upon this one 
point. Still, it remains true, as a rule, that we must 
seek for effect in form, and for grace and luxuriance in 
foliage, as giving more enjoyment in the aggregate 
than flowers in then- brief peiiod. We must study to 
harmonize and heighten the effect of color, form and 
size. We have a greatly increased range of color, from 
the white of the Comus and Althaeas, the golden of the 
Elder and Spiraea, and of evergreens the Retinospora, 
Arbor Vitae and Yew, the vivid green of theForsythia, to 
the dark shades of Barberry and Hazel. What combina¬ 
tions of light and shade may be made with these 
materials! Again, we have great variety in size and 
character of growth, from the most delicate evergreens 
to the rugose vigor of the Japan rose. What striking 
effects may be produced when these are used in har¬ 
mony with each other and with their surroundings! 
Judicious planting is a great art, but it is an art which 
insures a great and permanent reward. 
WHAT SEED SHALL WE SOW? 
A wonderful tiling is a seed, 
The one thing deathless forever 1 
The one thing changeless—utterly true, 
Forever old and forever new. 
And fickle and faithless never. 
Plant blessings, blessings will bloom; 
Plant hate, and hate will grow; 
You can sow to-day, to-morrow will bring 
The blossom that proves what sort of thing 
Is the seed, the seed that you sow. 
