This tender annual is well known forits clover-like heads of everlasting flowers. It will grow in any rich soil, but to produce really fine plants, much attention must be given to...
A very beautiful half-hardy biennial, but difficult tocultivate. Some gardeners steep the seed in hot water before sowing it; but the best way seems to be to sow it in July in 3-in...
The root of this plant is called Herbe du Diable in San Domingo; it is acrid in the highest degree, and is a most energetic blistering agent when fresh.
An evergreen greenhouse shrub. Place in equalparts of sand and loam, and propagate by cuttings, which should have plenty of room, as they are liable to damp off. July is its flower...
See "Blackberries."Rudbeckia (Cone Flower.)--Hardy annuals yielding yellow flowers in July. They are readily grown from seed sown early in spring, and will grow in any garden soil,...
Herbaceous plants, which thrive well in any light, richsoil, and are readily increased by dividing the roots. They flower in June. Height, 2 ft. Y
The Chinese date plum or persimmon. The fruits vary in size from that of a medium-sized apple to that of a large pear; they also vary much in their flavor and consistency, some bei...
This very choice Boragewort is a trailing hardybiennial. It produces lovely pale pendent flowers from June to August, will grow in almost any soil, and can be increased by seed or...
Hardy annuals of great value where there arebees, the flowers being very sweet. Sow in the open in spring. Height, 1 ft.
See "Mimosa."
This plant belongs to the family of _Apocynaceae_, which contains many poisonous species. It is often cultivated for the beauty of its flowers; the leaves are considered a valuable...
This tree yields the drug known as Simaruba bark, which is, strictly speaking, the rind of the root. It is a bitter tonic. It is known in the West Indies as the mountain damson.
This hardyherbaceous perennial is very useful for mixing with cut flowers. It will grow anywhere, but prefers a clayey soil and a boggy situation, and may be increased by dividing...
Perfectly hardy plants, bearing in June blue orwhite flowers the size of a shilling. The bulbs may be planted in spring in any garden soil; the plants are increased by off-sets. He...
See "Oenothera."
An Amazonian palm called Inaja. The spathes are so hard that, when filled with water, they will stand the fire, and are sometimes used by the Indians as cooking utensils. The India...
The astringent fruits of this tropical plant are employed for tanning and dyeing, and are sometimes met with in commerce under the name of myrobalans, and used by calico printers f...
Effective variegated shrubs which prove perfectly hardyin the south of England. They grow in any ordinary soil, and are increased by cuttings. Height, 10 ft.
A beautiful twining shrub belonging to the Passiflorafamily. It should be provided with a rich soil, and, as the flowers are produced upon the lateral shoots, it requires frequent...
Hardy perennials, requiring a light, rich soil, or loamand peat. They may be raised from seed, or increased by dividing the roots in spring. H. Multijugum bears rich purple flowers...
A plant of the nettle family, which yields the fiber known as Chinese grass. The beautiful fabric called grasscloth, which rivals the best French cambric in softness and fineness o...
This plant is interesting from the circumstance of its being held sacred in Nubia, where the inhabitants celebrate their religious festivals under it by moonlight, and poles made o...
The arenga palm, which is of great value to the Malays. The black horsehair like fiber surrounding its leaf-stalks is made into cordage; a large amount of toddy or palm wine is obt...
The orange, generally supposed to be a native of the north of India. It was introduced into Arabia during the ninth century. It was unknown in Europe in the eleventh century. Orang...
A sandy loam with brick rubbish and a little peat or rottenmanure suits them. Echinopsis is a good plant for cool houses or windows. During the summer it should be syringed over-he...
This hardy annual is commonly known as Hare's-TailGrass. It is distinctly ornamental, producing elegant egg-shaped tufts of a silvery-white hue, and is fine for ornamenting bouquet...
See "Honesty."
A good, deep, loamy soil, well drained, but which retains acertain amount of moisture, is the most suitable. The position should be sheltered, yet open and exposed to the sun. The...
This tree yields balsam of copaiba, used in medicine. The balsam is collected by making incisions in the stem, when the liquor is said to pour out copiously; as it exudes it is thi...
An interesting plant of the pea family, called the moving plant, on account of the rotatory motion of the leaflets. These move in all conceivable ways, either steadily or by jerks....