1884 .] 
THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 
167 
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circular bed of it, edged with pale vdlow 
the two colors harmoui^iod well, and were in 
strong contrast to each other. Both wore in 
bloom in May; and as both like shade to a 
considerable extent, they grow well together 
The Myosotis is useful for furnishing How- 
ers for bouquets, its clusters being homo on 
steins which can bo cut of any desirable 
length. Cutting does it good, for now 
branches are encouraged to grow, and tiieso 
soon produce flowers. 
A fine effect could bo produced by using 
the Myosotis as an edging to a bod of pink 
and white Phlox Dniiumondii. The three 
colors would harmouisie perfectly, and at tlio 
same time afford suflleient contrast to eacli 
other. E. B. Rexi^'ord. 
ceptiblo 18 It to tlio attacks of this pest, that 
tlio loaves soon turn yellow and fall off. I 
am greatly pleased with & a com¬ 
paratively new variety. Its flowers are of a 
pale lavender blue, a color rarely met with 
except in the Agapanthus, Plumbago Capen- 
sis, and some of the Ageratums. It is a pro- 
fuse bloomer, and the spider does not seem 
to like It as well as it docs ,S'. xplendeiw. It 
IS very nsofiil m bourpiots, as the color har- 
monir.es so deliglitfully with pink, yellow, or 
BALSAMS. 
I can remember away back years ago when 
my grandmother’s garden used to have a 
frame show every summer of Lady’s-slippers. 
THE SALVIA. 
One of the very best flowers we 
have for uso in the garden during 
the latter part of the season is the 
Salida. It is a strong growing 
plant, with bright, clean foliage, 
bearing long spikes of very brill¬ 
iant flowers. Salvia splendeiis, the 
old and well-known scarlet variety, 
is of a most mvid color. The only 
flower that can compare with it is 
the native Lobelia, or Cardinal 
Flower. Both are of a most intense 
color, .and the Salvia takes the place 
in the garden which the other 
occupies in the wild-wood. 
To grow it satisfactorily it must 
be started early, in the house, if 
possible; for if it does not come 
forward before cool weather sets 
in, it will not afford much pleasure, 
for it produces few flowers when 
small. At least such has been my 
experience with this flower. From 
plants set out in May, small plants, 
such as most florists send out, I 
have never had many flowers. The 
plants were generally full of buds 
when frost came. My plan has 
been to keep a plant over tlirough 
the winter, in the house, and start 
new plants in March. These I 
keep grmving as fast as consistent 
with health, until the weather be¬ 
comes really warm. Then I put 
them out in light and mellow soil. 
I find the Salvia likes a rich soil, 
and one made light by the addition 
of considerable sand. Strong 
plants, set out in such a soil, when 
the weather becomes warm enough 
to keep them growing, will give 
flowers in profusion before frost, 
out too soon, they will be likely to receive 
a cheek from cold weather. 
S. splendens is the most brilliant and daz¬ 
zling variety. S. patens is a most exquisite 
blue. S. marniorata nana is a variegated 
kind, scarlet striped with white, very unique 
and showy, but not as desirable as either of 
the others. 
The Salvia is a very desmable plant for use 
in the house during the winter. It blooms 
very profusely, and will afford the bo® o 
satisfaction, in a mixed collection if 
careful to sprinkle it well, both on upper auc 
auder side of the leaves, two or three imes 
a week, or oftener, to keep down ^ ® 
They like a deep, rich, mellow soil, with 
considerable sand in it. They like plenty of 
warmth, and should be given a sunny place 
in the garden. 
The foliage is apt to grow so thick along 
the stems as to hide the flowers considerably. 
This can easily and rapidly be clipped off by 
using shears, and then the flowers will have 
a chiince to display themselves to advantage. 
On well-gi'own specimens, the branches will 
bo so thickly set with flowers as to resemble 
wreaths put togetlier by hand. We have 
them in many colors, all very delicate and 
beautiful: some are striped like Carnations, 
some are spotted, and others are of distinct 
colors throughout. For bouquets they can only 
be used in shallow di.shes, in sand. They 
are most profuse bloomei’S, and make a beau¬ 
tiful bed. They are very easily 
grown, and any amateur can feel 
confident of success in cultivating 
them. R. B. 
mk 
If set. 
spider, which is its worst 
So sus- 
PSEUDO-NARCISSUS. 
N. POETICUS. N. INCOMPARABILIS. 
I used to like them then because they were 
flowers, and because grandmother liked them; 
but I have a greater fondness for om‘ Balsam 
of to-day, which has grown from the old 
Lady’s-slippers, by the patient skill of 
florists, who really seem to perform mhacles. 
The old Idnds were single and small; the 
new kinds are double as Roses, and almost 
as large, and are most beautiful in color an 4 
variegation. 
The Balsam is a tender plant, and the 
seeds should bo started in the house, early 
in the season, though good results can be 
expected if the seeds are not planted until 
the season becomes warm enough to warrant 
planting the seeds in the ground.' Balsams 
make very fine pot-plants for summer use. 
POTTIN& OHETSANTHEMUMS. 
If you wish to bloom your Chry¬ 
santhemums in pots lift them dur¬ 
ing this month, preserving to them 
all the roots possible; put them 
into pots just large enough only to 
contain their roots, and use very 
rich, mellow earth. They will soon 
fill their pots in a root-bound state ; 
then apply a surfacing of old rotted 
manure. Give them copious water¬ 
ing, two or three times a day, if 
they need it; never let them get 
diy. In lifting and potting Chry¬ 
santhemums or any other plants, it 
is weU to observe that the greatest 
number possible of roots should be 
seemed and saved. 
In heavy, moist land, you may 
be able to lift yom- plants with 
balls of earth to them that you can 
pare down just to fit the pots into 
which you are to put them, and 
still your plants will wilt badly 
and lose their lower leaves. And 
why ? Because in reducing the ball 
you out off the feeding I’oots. It is 
the roots and not the earth you 
want. If the roots extend a yard, 
lift the whole mass, shake the 
loose soil away from them till you 
are satisfied you liave reduced the 
mass enough to get it into the pot, 
thou work in some fine mellow' soil, 
and when finished, w'ater copiously 
at the root and overhead. For 
some days, till the plants have 
recovered themselves, place them 
in a sheltered, somewhat shaded 
place, not very close together, and show’er 
them ovei'head two or three times a day to 
keep them from wilting. 
QEOWIHG WATEE-LILIES. 
If any one w’ill put a half ban’el in the 
groimd, writes W. M. Bowi'on, and connect 
with the overflow of a rain-water barrel, and 
plant in six inches of rich soil a root of 
Nymplma odorata. and leave alone entirely, 
my experience is that a rich reward of blooms 
will be the result. In cold countries a few 
planks over the top during winter ivill be 
necessary. Conscience compelsmeto mention 
musquitos as the thorn to this aquatic Rose, 
but then it can be put away from the dwelling. 
