1884.] 
THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 
213 
on the raf ers of greenhouses, tlu, ,oa «.,ider 
,s especra ly apt to infest tl.e plants, groatfy 
marnng the.r beauty. It gets on dur ,fg su.n^ 
jner by keeping them in the house, aLl un¬ 
less thoroughly syringed on both wood and 
fohage It IS diflumlt to eradicate when once 
a foot-hold IS guinod. 
Some of tho bostvarietios for general cult- 
ui’o avo : 
J'a,4nomalata.~'l'U leaves of this spe¬ 
cies are largo and glossy. The stem foui- 
aiigled, flowers dark crimson, rays crimson, 
purple, and green ; easily grown. 
;>. cd«h-s.-Perhaps one of tho commonest 
of the white and blue flowered kind; easily 
grown. I’he fruit is large, dark purple, and 
good for eating. It is a native of Brazil 
and comparatively hardy. ’ 
l\ cwriiiea. — This one grows easily; pur¬ 
ple flowers, leaves dark green, and will 
rapidly cover a large siiace during summer. 
P.priuceps.— 'rhe flowers of this flue spe¬ 
cies are bright scarlet, produced in long 
racemes. It makes a splendid specimen 
plant, especially when trained on a flat trellis. 
M. Milton. 
In my 
GOOD AND BAD SEED, 
early days of garden experience, 
mi mos leliablo excuse for non-success was 
bad seed.” At tho time I had most con- 
itloiico 111 the above dogma, I was just 
leaving tho ranks of the faithful who sow, 
year after year, greonhoiiso seeds in the 
open border, and facing toward the better 
results careful observation always gives. As 
oppprtuuity has occurred for tho jiast nino- 
teeu years I have subjected seeds to the 
damp flannel troatmoiit, and my conclusions 
live an follows: 
;l. Much less worthless seed is sold than 
IS generally imagined. I have found the 
larger proportion in packages sold on com- 
mission. 
2. In nineteen cases out of twenty, genni- 
nation is governed by conditions afler plant¬ 
ing. 
The knowledge of these facts does not 
insure my invariable success, but does make 
me charge the failiu'c to my own want of 
skill. Here, only last spring, I sowed Achi- 
menes and Gloxinia side by side. The 
Gloxinia came up like Mustard, and I be¬ 
GEOWING BULBS IN WATER. 
In cities, the procuring of soil 
and pots for plant culture presents 
frequently a great obstacle to those 
who would gladly have their rooms 
bright and fragrant with flowers 
dmflng the dreary winter days, if 
it could be easily accomplished. 
Wliilst, when soil and pots are con¬ 
venient, we do not advise the grow¬ 
ing of bulbs in water, to persons 
not so situated this mode recom¬ 
mends itself bj' its simplicity, ease, 
and pretty effect. The accompan}'- 
iiig illustrations show some of the 
many neat and iileasing forms of 
glasses used for this purpose. 
After the glasses have been filled 
with rain or soft brook water up to 
the neck, the bulbs are placed on 
the top, so that their base just 
touches the water. They are then 
put ui a dark and moderately warm 
place — a closet or cellar —for three 
or four weeks, or until the glasses 
are partly filled with roots, when they should 
be removed to the light, and gradually to full 
sunshine, where they will soon make rapid 
growth and develop their fragrant flowers. 
A GOOD WINDOW BOX. 
One of onr correspondents gives the follow¬ 
ing directions for making a cheap and dura¬ 
ble window box: 
Take rough boards one inch thick and nail 
them firmly together in the shape desired; 
six inches high and wide is a good propoi tioii. 
Nail molding on the eorners and bottom 
and let the top piece project into the box 
one-fourth of an inch, and cover the outside 
spaces or panels with some pretty-patterned 
oil-cloth. Then mix three parts of builders 
cement and one of sand together with watei, 
and plaster tho inside of the box ® 
rough boards, flush with the mh mg. 
This will dry hard without a crack, if mixed 
properly, and will be water-tight for one an 
sometimes two seasons, and. can easi X ® 
renewed, if necessary, after the box is emp y 
in the spring. 
^p!iA/jL£y.cc. sc.spao- ^ 
HYACINTHS GROWING IN WATER. 
lieve every seed in the package germinated, 
but only three or four of the Aehimenes 
came up. Here was a ease of bad seed at 
last; but, on comparing results with a lady 
who had a very small pinch from the pack¬ 
age in question, I found that hers had come 
up remarkably well. I must try it again. 
Wm. M. Bowkon. 
THE FUCHSIA. 
A well-gi'own Fuchsia is one of tho most 
graceful and handsome blooming plants in 
cultivation, and nothing can surpass the 
grace and beauty of a perfect specimen during 
its season of bloom. With tho exception of 
some two or three varieties it is not a winter¬ 
blooming plant. 
The Fuchsia is easily cultivated,' succeed¬ 
ing best in a compost consisting of two- 
thirds turfy loam, one-third well-deeayed 
manui'e, and to each bushel of this mixture 
add two pounds of bone dust. Mix the whole 
thoroughly, and use the compost rough, but 
pot the plants firm. Place the pots propor¬ 
tionate to the size of the plants, and see to it 
tliat tliey are well drained. Use porous or 
soft-baked pots by all moans. 
They do best when grown in a light situa¬ 
tion, and in a temperature of from .56° to 
00°. They love warmth and moisture, but 
cannot bear full exposure to the bright sun¬ 
shine, hot soil, or dry air. Tho secret of 
obtaining good specimens is never to pei-mit 
the jflants to eease gi'owing until they attain 
tho desired .size, ' Young plants obtained in 
the spring should be liberally cared for, and 
repotted .as often as necessary until they 
roach the desired size, and if we wish to pro¬ 
duce handsome specimens care must be taken 
about training them when young, pinching 
back tho shoots as often as they show a ten¬ 
dency to grow out of shape, and supporting 
the main shoots by neat stakes. When grow¬ 
ing, water freely and syringe gently every 
other evening, and when they commence 
to bloom give manure water twice a week, 
which produces large and well-colored flowers. 
They may also be planted out early in 
May, in a deep, well-eniiehed border, in an 3 ' 
situation where they can be sheltered from 
tho hot midday sun. Thus grown, thej' 
should be well supplied -with water 
at their roots, and gently syringed 
every other evening; they must 
also be supported -with neat stakes. 
On the approach of cold weather 
they should be cut back, taken up 
and potted, using as small pots 
as pos.sible; then they should be 
placed in a cold frame, or any other 
sheltered situation, until it is time 
to bring them inside. When first 
potted, water thoroughlj', afterward 
sparingly. 
The best way to ivinter Fuchsias 
is to place them in a dry, frost¬ 
proof cellar, or any cool, dry situa¬ 
tion, where they can be kept in a 
partiallj' dormant state untU the 
fii-st of April, when thej' should be 
started into growth by remo'ving 
them to a warm, moist place. Water 
carefully until growth commences, 
when they should be turned out of 
their pots; have about one-half of 
the soil removed from their roots, 
and repotted in as small pots as 
possible; trim into shape, and 
treat as advised for young plants. 
The winter-flowering varieties fF. spe- 
ciosa and Earl of Beaeonsfield) succeed 
best when planted out in the flower border, 
among the other gi-eenhoiise and border 
plants. Trim into shape when planting out, 
water if necessary, and take up and repot 
about the first of September. Give, if possi¬ 
ble, a light, sunny situation, an average 
temperatm'e of 55°, and plenty of water. 
Propagation is effected by cuttings of the 
half-ripened wood, and if tho young plants 
are liberally cared for, nice flowering plants 
will soon be obtained. 
For the benefit of amatem- cultivators 
I enumerate a dozen of the most desirable 
summer-blooming varieties: 
Single varieties .—Aurora superba, Ara¬ 
bella (Improved), Rose of Castile, Rose of 
Denmark, Striped Banner, Wave of Life. 
Dotible varieties .—Avalanche (Smith’s), Ava¬ 
lanche (Henderson’s), Depute Berlet, Jules 
Mongee, Mad. Van der Strass, Snow Fairy. 
For -winter blooming add Earl of Beaeons- 
fleld and Speciosa. 
Chas. Pabnell. 
