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HORTICULTURAL. -SCIENTIFIC AMUSEMENTS .
The prominent features of the various classes may be briefly ties have recently originated with our own florists, among stated as follows: which the George Peabody must not be overlooked . This THE TEAS.- These are particularly tender here, a few of is a rich crimson Bourbon of good form. them only withstanding our winter with partial protection : AMERICA AND CINDERELLA are beautiful Noisettes, not yet they are very delicate in color, and deliciously fragrant. extensively known, but we believe likely to be. BEDDING PLANTS.-We close with a brief reference to They require a rich open soil, dry and friable. In pot culture, to which they are well suited, they must be kept free "Bedding Plants." These are generally of easy cultivation, from an overdose of water, in a pure atmosphere and cool, and embrace a great variety. The properties desirable in a not much above the freezing point in winter. They are good bedding plant are the facility with which it may be among those called “perpetual bloomers !” if there be roses propagated, ability to withstand exposure in spring, free that will bloom perpetually, which we doubt- but, there { blooming properties, brilliancy and permanence of flowers can be no doubt of the fact, that they will bloom at any or and fragrance. All these are seldom secured in any one all seasons, under judicious treatment. Of the more select, plant, but most popular bedding plants possess one or more we may name Adam, Devoniensis, Saffrano, Gloire de Dijon, of these desirable properties. The Verbena, Scarlet Sage, Petunia, Feverfew, Mignionette, Heliotrope, Scarlet GeraBougere, Niphetos. BENGAL OR DAILY, also called " perpetual bloomers," or nium, and many others, are well known. We have also Daily roses; known also as monthlies, from their readiness Herbaceous or Border Plants, which are very desirable and to bloom at any time, according to treatment. This class easily managed, especially the Phlox, of which there is, a contains roses of bright color, and many of them are de- long list of sorts. Larkspurs, Dielytra, Campanula or Bell servedly popular, such as Agrippina, Sanguinea, Louis flower, many varieties. Peonys of various colors, showy and robust plants. Philippe, Arch Duke Charles, Cels, Pink Daily. BOURBON. This class embraces many of our most beautiful, and as the florist would say, our most " useful" roses. SCIENTIFIC AMUSEMENTS . Hardy and vigorous, free blooming, and with variety of color and habit not found combined in any other class, they BRILLIANT RED FIRE.-Weigh five ounces of dry nitrate of require no winter protection, and answer for pot culture, strontia, one ounce and a half of finely-powdered sulphur, as well as the more delicate Teas and Bengals. Any rich five drams of chlorate of potash, and four drams of sulfriable garden soil will suit them. They are also embraced phuret of antimony. Powder the chlorate of potash and among the " perpetual bloomers." Among the Bourbons the sulphuret of antimony separately in a mortar, and mix will be found the Hermosa, unsurpassed for symmetry of them on paper; after which, add them to the other ingreform or free blooming. Also the following :-Joseph Pax- dients, previously powdered and mixed. No other kind of ton, George Peabody, (Pentland,) Queen of Bourbon, Appo- { mixture than rubbing together on paper is required. For line, DuPetit Thouars, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Acidulie, use, mix with a portion of the powder a small quantity of Blanche Lafitte. spirit of wine, in a tin pan resembling a cheese-toaster, NOISETTE. These are partially running in their habit, light the mixture, and it will shed a rich crimson hue: and suit well for covering trellis work, or for walls. A few when the fire burns dim and badly, a very small quantity of the more choice are tender, until well established . of offinely-powdered charcoal or lamp-black will revive it. these we would name as desirable : Solfaterre, Caroline THE FIERY FOUNTAIN.-Put into a glass tumbler fifteen Marniesse, Chromatella, or Cloth of Gold, Jaune, Lamarque, grains of finely-granulated zinc, and six grains of phosPhaloe, Isabella Gray, Triomphe de la Duchesse, Madame phorus cut into very small pieces beneath water. Mix in another glass, gradually, a dram of sulphuric acid with Schultz, Madame Massot, Triomphe de Rennes. REMONTANT, (called Hybrid Perpetual.) The number of two drams of water. Remove both glasses into a dark varieties of this class is so great that we shall only name a room, and there pour the diluted acid over the zinc and few of the more recent additions. phosphorus in the glass : in a short time, beautiful jets of The " Hybrid Perpetuals" are esteemed by many as the bluish flame will dart from all parts of the surface of the very perfection of the Rose family. The name has a con- mixture; it will become quite luminous, and beautiful siderable part in establishing this estimate. Their true luminous smoke will rise in a column from the glass ; thus character is to produce blooms in June or July, then to representing a fountain of fire. cease blooming for several weeks till they recruit, when GREEN FIRE. A beautiful green fire may be thus made: they recommence producing their flowers up till frost. Care Take of flour of sulphur, thirteen parts ; nitrate of baryta, in cultivation and attention in pruning, aids much in the seventy-seven; oxymuriate of potassa, five ; metallic arsenic, production of a profuse bloom. In dry seasons a timely two ; and charcoal, three. Let the nitrate of baryta be well supply of liquid manure, with a covering of litter around dried and powdered ; then add to it the other ingredients, the plant, is found beneficial. The following are some all finely pulverized, and exceedingly well mixed and rubof the best varieties ; Lord Raglan, Ereque de Nimes, bed together. Place a portion of the composition in a small Triomphe de l'Exposition, Madame Masson, Madame Knorr, tin pan, having a polished reflector fitted to one side, and Cardinal Patrizzi, Gen. Simpson, Lord Palmerston, Gen. set light to it ; when a splendid green illumination will be Jacqueminot, Triomphe des Beaux Arts, Emperor Napo- the result. By adding a little calamine, it will burn more leon, Arthur de Sansal. slowly. Several of our old varieties are equal to many ofthe new, CAMPHOR SUBLIMED BY FLAME.-Set a metallic plate over but there is such a rage for novelties at a high price, the flame of a spirit lamp ; place upon it a small portion of and imported sorts," that the very accommodating rose camphor under a glass funnel; and the camphor will be growers get up varieties to order, and new ones are readily beautifully sublimed by the heat of the lamp, in an effloremanufactured out ofthe old, by accommodating florists, all scent crust on the sides of the funnel. of which is respectfully submitted. SILVER FIRE.- Place upon a piece of burning charcoal a Moss ROSES.-The old Blush and Salet are still favorites ; morsel of the dried crystals of nitrate of silver (not the the latter has a perpetual reputation, and every year adds lunar caustic), and it will immediately throw out the most to the list. We have now a dozen " Perpetual Mosses," beautiful sparks that can be imagined, whilst the surface none of which are worth recommending as such, except of the charcoal will be coated with silver. Salet. PURPLE FIRE.- Dissolve chloride of lithium in spirit of Of the other classes we cannot here speak. Several novel- wine ; and when lighted, it will burn with a purplish flame.
