AND 
A PBETTT GBEENBBI- 
In the endeavor to beautify om 
the material nearest at ban , an ^ 
within easy reach of every o“®> ^'^Yhich 
quently ignored. ’forlorn, 
after a short time look sicUy a 
are procured at considerah e exp 
trouL, while it is in the power of most 
readers of The American Garden, no J 
to transfer a hit of the loveliest par ® 
country into their drauung-rooms, hut to 
anticipate spring while winter is still ow ing 
about them. 
Every one knows of some nook, or retired 
grove, where the Blood-root or Sangtiimria 
cavadeiisis, by the middle of April, uill be 
spreading out a delicious carpet of its white 
flowers. An investigation of such a nook, 
early in March, will reveal the fact that very 
near the surface of the gi’oimd may be found 
the roots of the Sanguinaria, in great abun¬ 
dance. The upper ends of the roots will be 
plentifully supplied with brown, elongated 
buds not unlike a small cigar in appear¬ 
ance. By exercising a little care the entire 
roots may be taken up without breaking 
or injury, and so that some of the natural 
soil remains attached. 
It is also well to take some of the moss 
that is invariably found where the Blood- 
root abounds. With the addition of a little 
earth and some moss for protection, put in 
a box or basket, this itinerant garden may 
be safely transferred to any distance. 
For the planting of the garden, take a 
large meat dish, or platter—any flat; dish 
will do ; sprinkle a little of the earth on the 
bottom of the dish, then place the roots upon 
it, keeping the long brown buds on the upper 
side, crowd them quite closely together, 
sprinkle on the remaining earth, and cover 
very lightly with moss. Place the dish in a 
sunny window, sprinkle gently with luke- 
w^m water mornings and evenings, and you 
mil soon be rewarded with a bed of exquis¬ 
itely white flowers, which, after they have 
performed their mission of beauty will be 
succeeded by a mass of very large irregular 
shaped leaves at the top of rather long indi- 
wdual stems, giving the whole the appear¬ 
ance of a miniature grove. 
S. H. H. 
beautiful 
known. 
MABANTA, 
This genus comprises some of the most 
and ornamental foliage plants 
<• XT •''■opical zone 
of the New as well as tho Old World. Some 
of the species are cultivated in their native 
countries for their tubers, which eont„ 
considerable nutriment. ^ 
The ArrowToot of commerce 
pnncipally from 3 r. 
Tndica. Under cultivation in the i 
the plants require rich, peaty soil uST"" 
perature, and plenty of water while er • 
and protection from direct mm 
DIEFFENBAOHIA. 
is deri vod 
armulhiacca and M, 
nf the species contain a 
mental, and seine i^dige- 
docidedly require there- 
noustotrepioalAm _ successful 
be grown ni 
full 
light near tho glass. 
the JIYETLE. 
In i^oing about tho coiuitry if you come 
into r German settlement you will find, in 
DIEFFENDACHIA. 
will mi a window by itself 
'losien erdinarv .. . . 
and 
's Worth a 
'“''f 
i-lie room ' 
have 
Myrtle 
new 
over tliree !'(,„( I, i . . •■..m, n 
“”7'''.'“"I many Of , ■‘'"‘ -early 
'»"mtlfnu,,;i^,, ; "'‘"clumareHUrro l 
fore a wi,„i. ’ "owers. n, 
which 
for. I 
write a 
"'one, on ',7 ''o- 
’ u imdestal 
a wliirlow 
ri,. 
.. 
of i|,H 
in II, ^isiU 
"I the roeiiu 
is ulwaya 
MARANTA. 
almost every house, a Myrtle; and generally 
you will find a fine specimen of this plant, 
for our German friends seem to have the 
“ knack ” of growing it to perfection. I 
know of Myrtle trees ten and twelve years 
old, standing from five to six feet high, with 
branches reaching out two feet on each side 
of the straight central stem, forming a dense 
mass of shining foliage. One such plant 
healthy look about it. A ^oto, 
about them, after being kepr ^ 
living-room a little while. Nof ^ 
Myi-tle. If its leaves get dusty Lv th 
sink and shower it with water if 
from Its hath looking like a chihu? 
just had Its face washed, and '■as 
laugh all over with thankfulness t '» 
what you have done. It is an ever 
tho branches are always covered 
of a dark, rich green. The color of 
like those of the Ivy, and what th t 
among vines for tho house, the 
among plants of a shrubby character t- 
the Ivy, all it asks is to have plenty 'f 
soil to grow in, and to be kept clean 
these attentions it will ask no more' 
With a Myrtle, an Ivy, a Calla, andaGe« 
nium, you have a quartette of plants th i 
will afford you better satisfaction than a 
other four I can think of. They are the 
easily cared for, and are sure of doing wel 
in the dry air of our sitting-rooms if they 
are given an occasional shower-bath. Other 
plants will succeed tolerably well, but these 
will give you more pleasure,' because they 
will be more vigorous' and healthy, it 
will do well in a window with a northerly 
exposure. 
It likes fresh air, and once a day the sash 
ought to be lowered to let in a current over 
its head. The other plants in the room and 
the persons in it will he all the healthier for 
doing this. It does not form roots very 
rapidly, and therefore young plants do not 
require large pots; but, as it increases in 
size, it should he occasionally shifted to 
larger ones. It likes a rich soil, made up of 
one part well-rotted manure, one part ordi¬ 
nary garden-mold, one part leaf-mold, with 
enough sharp sand added to keep the soil 
open and light on the surface. But I do not 
put in any sand with the soil in the bottom 
of the pot. . I think it does better where the 
soil is compact about its roots. The sand 
added to the smTace-soil keeps it from bak¬ 
ing over, or hardening, from heavy water¬ 
ings —the Myrtle likes a good deal to drink 
— and admits air to the roots. 
It strikes readily from cuttings, if you can 
give them some bottom-heat, but without it 
I have seen them wait for weeks and weeks 
before putting out any roots, as if undecided 
about what to do. I generally strike them in 
oloaii sand. I fill a deep plate with it, add 
Avater until it is thoroughly saturated, andin- 
serttho cuttings I desire to root; then cover 
tho sand in tho plate with a glass which keeps 
in moisture, and place tho plate on au 
sliolC or braokot, where it will get the bene 
of tho Avavm air that rises. In this way 
seldom fail to got cuttings to start. 
Ebbn E. Bexford. 
. VALUE OF SAND. 
Sand is very ossontial in 
i"g, and it is well to have a box of J . 
i'l tho collar Avlioro a supply can ho o ■ 
when noodod. Warm it in tho oven, 
not to chill the plants, and wheno 
envfac.o soil seems heavy, or a hah' 
fwins, dig it into tho 
pin, a.iid inollow tho soil. A largo 
i« an oxoollont implo’n®”''”'/'®'!®® „ots so 
i"K, as it stirs up tho soil in o 
