AMERICAN 
garden. 
the oPEirraa teae. 
When wintor ■winds are pierclnR cMU, 
And througli the Hawthorn blows the gale, 
■With solemn feet I tread the hill 
That overbrows the lonely vale. 
O’er the bare upland, and away 
Through the long reach of desert woods, 
The embraolng sunbeams chastely’ play, 
; And gladden those deep soUtudes. 
Where, twisted roimd the barren Oak, 
The summer vine in beauty clung 
And siunmer ■winds the stillness broke. 
The crystal icicle was hung. 
Where, from their frozen urns, mute siirings 
Pour out the river’s gradual tide, 
ShriUy the skater’s iron rings. 
And voices fill the woodland side. 
Alas! how changed from the fair scene, 
When birds sang out their mellow lay. 
And winds were soft, and woods were green. 
An il the song ceased not with the day. 
Blit still, wild music is abroad. 
Pale, desert woods! within yoiu- crowd; 
And gathering winds, in hoarse accord. 
Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud. 
Chid airs and wintry winds! my’ ear 
Has grown famdiar ■with y'our song; 
I hear it In the opening yeai’,— 
I Usten, and it cheers me long. 
Longfellow. 
SEASONABLE HINTS. 
Tlie Study of Catalogues is a most appro¬ 
priate and seasonable occupation of the 
present mouth, and to the real lovers of 
flowers it afliords as much pleasure, almost, 
as gardening in the ground itself. Seeds¬ 
men’s catalogues of the present day are not 
price-lists merely, but some of them are 
prepared w’ith a great deal of care and skill, 
and contain more useful and practical in¬ 
formation about the cultivation of flowers 
and garden management in general than is 
often found in far more pretentious works. 
The Selection of Varieties among the thou¬ 
sands named in these catalogues is not always 
an easy matter to the e.vperienced gardener 
even,andoften one of considerable em barrass- 
mentto the novice, e.specially if he has afancy 
for “ novelties.” To those to whom it is im¬ 
material whether they spend a few dollars, 
more or less, for their garden, we would 
say: By all means give a trial to the most 
“promising novelties.” Although it is not 
likely that all will come up to expectations, 
some of them will in all probability prove 
valuable acquisitions, which will pay fully 
for all expense and watchful care and labor 
bestowed on them. 
Mixed Varieties of the leading species are 
especially to be recommended to beginners 
and to those who can devote but a small 
amount of money for their flowers. As a 
genei’al rule, these mixed packets contain a 
few seeds, at least, of all the best varieties 
of the species, and do rarely fail to give 
satisfaction. 
Stdbs stored in cellars should be examined 
occasionally, and decayed ones removed. 
Tuberoses can hardly be injured by being 
kept too warm, but they should never be ex¬ 
posed to a temperature below 40 degrees. 
Tigridias require similar treatment. Great 
care must bo taken to protect them against 
mice, who prefer them to any other.food. 
oaladitjms and COLOOASIAS. 
Ai’ums, to wMch family they m belo g 
Tnd ai-; separatedfromArum only byboten^ 
ical differences which are of bttl te 
to the cultivator. Both are tropical plaints 
growing in moist situations, developing la ge 
foliage in the season of growth, and rest ng 
dining a portion of the year. It isfoi the 
foliage that these plants are grown, th 
flowers not being especially attractive. 
The garden treatment of both is the same. 
The tubers should be planted in the ground 
or turned out from pots, in which they have 
been started in a fi-ame or greenhouse, about 
the last of May, in a rich, deep soil and in a 
warm exposure. If the season is dry, as they 
are naturally marsh iilants, they should have 
liberal waterings. Under this treatment the 
Colocasias will develop enormous leaves 
and be conspicuous objects in the garden 
until killed by the frost. The tubers should 
then be taken up and stored in a frost-proof 
cellar until spring. 
Although under this treatment we have 
The indoor treatment is to pottk 
tubers, in March, in rich soil, give pleaj®® ; 
heat and moistui-e, shade somewhat to ^ 
vent burning, and, when the leaves hegi^x 
turn yellow, gradually withhold water ^ 
ripen the root. Turn the pots upon thej, 
side and withhold water until the plants aio 
again wanted. By successive pottings, plants 
may be had in perfection the whole year. 
As to species and varieties of Caladinmg 
the name is legion, and every year neiy 
hybrids are produced. Some have the foil, 
age pine white, others bright red, and there 
are varieties with every possible markings 
and marbliugs of red and white. Any florist’s 
catalogue will describe many, from which a 
selection can be made at very small cost. 
The Coloeasia generally grown is C. escu- 
lenta) the root is edible but is not good, 
tasting like a flavorless watery Potato. The 
foliage is dark green, very large, the leaves 
often being two feet in diameter on tall, stout 
footstalks. It is one of the most effective 
plants for sub-tropical gardening, and is 
especially adapted for the margin of ponds. 
It does well and soon attains a large size in 
any rich soil, but is impatient of drought. 
C. odorata is a rare species, gro^wing from 
three to six feet high, with large foliage 
and gi’eenish yellow, very fragrant flowers. 
It is an evergi’een, and must in winter he 
kept in a greenhouse; but it does well in 
summer, and produces a flne effect planted 
out in a warm, moist, sheltered situation. 
The tubers of C. esculenta can be bought 
for a small amount each, but plants of 
C. odorata are somewhat scarce. 
E. S. Band, Je. 
COLOCASIA ESCULENTA. 
occasionally seen Caladiums do passably 
well, yet they never attain in this country, 
out-of-doors, the be.auty which makes them 
so ornamental in the troiiics. Here the bright 
markings of the foliage are dull, the delicate 
white varieties burn, and the plants do not 
usually grow vigorously. The midday sun 
under the equator is not as hot as it is in 
New-Yorkin summer, and it never has that 
burning force which here burns, blights, and 
types of caladiums. 
parches plants with delicately marked foli¬ 
age. We have seen acres of the brightest 
C.aladiuras, and many of the white foliage 
varieties,^ m Brazil and never yet saw a leaf 
burned. It, however, one will shade his Ca¬ 
ladiums out-of-doors from direct sun, he may 
be successful; but it is in the greenhouse 
one must look for the best results with these 
brilliantly colored foliage plants. 
STEEPTOSOIEN JAWT.SONI. 
This is a native of Central America, and 
was introduced into Europe about forty 
years ago by Mr. William Lobb, who sent ; 
seeds of it to Messrs. Veitch, of London. 
But these plants seem to have been lost 
entirely, and others were recently re-intro¬ 
duced by M. Edouard Andrd. It is a small 
shrub, three to six feet high, growing ■wild 
on the mountains of Central America,- at an 
elevation of from three to six thousand feet. 
The leaves are of a dark, glossy green, one 
to two inches long. The flowers gro^win 
terminal panicles of thirty to forty blos¬ 
soms ; they are bright yellow, shading 
gradually into orange and scarlet; about 
half an inch across and nearly an inch long- 
It is a very abimdant bloomer, and is easily 
propagated by cuttings. 
The general character of the plant is simi¬ 
lar to the Euehsia. It is splendidly adaptsd 
for bedding out, and ivill make a handsoms 
and highly attractive house plant. 
Monpazikr, France. Jean Sisley. 
SIX OHOIOE GEEANIUMS. 
Our colored plate, which is mailed free to 
all subscribers for 1884, represents sixueW 
varieties of Geraniums, selected from alar^ 
number of seedlings for their excellent qn 
ities both for bedding out and house oultui®’ 
Miranda is of compact habit, with delio® ® 
pink flowers marked white in the 
petals. King Lear, flowers very large* p. ^ 
scarlet. Mcrcuilo, bronzy flesh salmon co e i 
very largo trusses. Shylock, rich pin® 
son with deep purple shades. OpboUdi 
white, liabit neat and compact, 
deep purple, with large flowers i 
