Mole Tree 
RICINUS is often called "Mole Tree" because it 
is thought to drive moles from the garden in 
which it is grown. R. Arboreus will grow 15 ft. 
high. All the varieties have handsome semi- 
tropical leaves, and make a fine display when 
judiciously grouped together. In Florida the 
plants are perennial, and will often attain the 
height of 20 ft., growing in dry, sandy soil. 
The seeds are large, bean-like, and are curi¬ 
ous, being beetle-like in form and markings. 
They are readily grown in the garden. 
THE EVERLASTING FLOWERS are so called be¬ 
cause of the straw-like character of the petals, 
which promotes the lasting shape and color of 
the flowers when dried. They are thus useful 
for the formation of winter bouquets, to be 
used in house decoration at a time when gar¬ 
den flowers cannot be obtained. The most 
beautiful and easily grown kinds are single 
and double-flowered Acrocliniums, Ammobiums, 
Edelweis, Gomphrena, Gypsophila, Helipterum, 
Helichrysum, Rhodanthe, Statice and Xeranthe- 
mum. Most of these show a number of fine 
species and varieties, differing often in shape 
as well as in size and color. If some of the 
annual grasses as Agrostis, Briza, Lagurus and 
Fennisetum are raised and dried, they will be 
found very useful to make up with the dried 
flowers. All, both flowers and grasses, are 
easily started from seeds and easily grown, 
and the seedling plants will develop and ma¬ 
ture the first season, if started early. The 
flowers should be cut mostly when in bud, to 
prevent the discoloration of the center. Blooms 
of Gomphrena and Xeranthemum, however, 
should remain upon the plants until well de¬ 
veloped. The grasses should be cut when in 
bloom. All should be dried in the shade, a 
dark, rather warm room or closet being the 
most suitable place for drying so as to retain 
the natural colors as well as forms. When well 
dried, they may be dipped or brushed with a 
poisonous liquid to prevent the ravages of 
certain insects which are troublesome upon 
dried specimens in some sections. 
SAPONARIA OCYMOIDES. 
Most of those who read 
the Floral Magazine know 
the hardy old - fashioned 
flower commonly called 
"Bouncing Bet", a hardy 
perennial found in many 
places by the roadside. 
That is Saponaria Offici¬ 
nalis, the tops of which, 
when beaten, will form a 
lather and can be used 
instead of soap for cleans- 
__ _ ing purposes. It bears 
Saponaria Ocymoides clusters of light pink 
■p- 
flowers throughout the season, and is useful 
for planting along embankments or streams to 
prevent damage in- time of floods. A very 
much more handsome and desirable perennial, 
however, is Saponaria Ocymoides. Like its 
more common relative, it is perfectly hardy and 
of the easiest culture. Like it, too, the young 
plants are easily started from seeds sown 
during the Spring or Summer, and will bloom 
freely the following season. This beautiful 
Saponaria is of trailing habit, and well adapt¬ 
ed for planting upon old walls or for decorating 
rocks and barren places, as it will grow in 
poor, dry soil and endure hardships that would 
kill many other plants. For the cemetery, it is 
very desirable, the delicate pink clusters ap- 
f earing in glorious masses during May and 
une and usually at their best about Decoration 
Day. As a border plant, and for massing in 
neglected places, there is certainly no flower 
more desirable. Once started, the plants will 
take care of themselves and reveal their 
charming beauty regularly every season. This 
Saponaria is an alpine plant from the moun¬ 
tains of Italy and Switzerland. It should be an 
indispensable flower in every perennial collec¬ 
tion. 
LUNARIA BIEN- 
NIS is a very 
desirable hardy 
biennial, readi¬ 
ly propagated 
from seeds and 
easily cultivat¬ 
ed. It grows 
from a foot to 
two feet in 
height, and 
bears in the 
Spring large 
clusters of 
showy flowers 
not unlike 
Sweet Rocket in 
general appear¬ 
ance and emit¬ 
ting a delicious 
odor. Started in early Spring, the seedlings 
will bloom in the Autumn, but the better time 
to sow is in July or August. The young plants 
will then endure the Winter and bloom freely 
the following season. The flowers are suc¬ 
ceeded by the large silvery seed pods which 
are as showy and as much admired as the 
flowers, and when cut are fine for Winter 
ornaments. On account of these curious seed 
vessels, the plant is often called "Silver Leaf.'' 
Its more common name, however, is "Honesty." 
FOR A DENSELY-SHADED PLACE, get the beau¬ 
tiful Allegany Fringe Vine, Adlumia Cirrhosa. 
Its foliage is as delicate as a Maidenhair Fern, 
and is exceedingly graceful, while the numer¬ 
ous branching stems are thickly set with clus¬ 
ters of waxy pink bloom. No place is too 
densely shaded for this exquisite vine, and no 
vine will excite more admiration. It deserves 
to be generally cultivated. Easily grown from 
seeds, which germinate tardily. Sown in fall, 
they will germinate the following Spring or 
Summer. It is a true biennial, blooming the 
second season and then dying. 
ARABIS ALPINA is a hardy perennial of rare 
beauty, blooming early in spring. The flowers 
are white or rose, in clusters, and remain in 
bloom for several weeks. The plants are easily 
grown from seeds, and are especially desirable 
for growing in crevices of rocks upon the north 
side where they are not liable to be injured 
from the hot sun. In a well-drained garden 
bed, however, they thrive and make a fine dis¬ 
play., appearing as a sheet of bloom shortly 
after the snow has disappeared. The plants 
are not particular as to soil, growing either in 
a sandy situation or in loam or clay. A good, 
porous soil, however, is preferable, and they 
should stand from 6 to 8 inches apart in a bed. 
They improve with age under favorable condi¬ 
tions, and each plant will become a handsome 
strong clump of pretty foliage which is much 
admired throughout the Summer and Autumn, 
after the flowers have faded. It is a perennial 
that should be found in every garden. _ 
A Handsome Biennial 
11 
