such splendid varieties. Again, see to what perfection the Cineraria has been brought, also the Verbena Gladiolus and Geranium, and many other beautiful flowering plants. These improvements have created much excitement in the minds of the florist, which makes it difficult to tell when the limit of his desire for hybridizing will be checked.

There are many hybrid plants brought into existence that will not seed, consequently must be increased by cuttings or divisions of the roots, and many that do seed carry a tendency towards the parent plant that in time will return altogether and be lost as a hybrid. The settled constitution of such plants is not to be relied on, for it possesses a weakness, and as its flowers tend to the original parent its strength increases, so that hybrids that cross naturally are of short duration. This may appear strange, but so it is. If we take the pollen of one flower and fertilize another of a different quality, the produce arising from such an experiment would probably bear no resemblance to any raised before, this would be devoid of seed to perpetuate its kind the following season.

It is the practice of a florist when he intends to cross a flower, to cut the anthers out of the blossom early in the morning when the pollen is moist and does not so readily escape, which insures more effectually the performance. Therefore it is necessary for those who wish to succeed in hybridizing, to commence early in the morning. When a plant does not seed well there would be much time lost in the attempt, for instance the Carnation, Chrysanthemum, and many other perennials that seldom seed in this country.

When experiments by crossing are to be performed, the pollen should be taken from the plant early in the morning

with a camel's hair pencil, and placed on the pistil of the other, having previously extracted the anthers, and if effected the petals will fade and drop off sooner than otherwise, but if the experiment is a failure the petals are longer falling, and seldom fall clear, showing the difference in the two flowers. Sometimes the Carnation will seed if the season be propitious, and if crossed the petals will fade before night otherwise will take ten or twelve days before they fall, thus giving a fair chance for the operator to renew his experiments the following day. When the Carnation seeds without crossing, the seedlings will produce flowers of the original stock a flesh color.

Experiments have been tried on Lilies when the hybrid resembled the mother plant in the leaf and stem, and the flowers of the father, so it is with mule Pinks. Many persons are of opinion that soil will affect the color in plants; not so, in some measure the brilliancy of colors may be affected. It is a well known fact that Carnation growers in England, when going to exhibit their flowers for premiums will make the soil rich, with a view to produce fine colors, which often makes them run, that is, instead of having a rich stripe become selfs and worthless; so it is with Tulips and many other florist flowers.

In hybridizing there is something interesting in the system, still it is all chance work, mere speculation; but the mind of man is ever prone to projects, and will be while he finds a solace in anticipation of any nature. The hybridizing of Roses is certainly brought to the ne plus ultra of perfection with most of that beautiful variety of flowers.

There can be much effected with other plants, therefore the zealous will find his industry rewarded according to the assiduity he bestows on the system.

AMERICAN COWSLIP

(DEDOCATHEON MEDIA.)

"They shall own thee the sweetest and fairest of flowers,
That smile in the woodlands, or blush in our bowers'
They shall own thee a lovelier gem of delight

Than they that illumine the veil of midnight!"

This very interesting and delightful hardy perennial flowering plant is a native of this country. The leaves are oblong, elliptic, in a cluster nearly flat on the ground, of a light green color, throwing up a scape at the top of which is an umbel of drooping flowers, of a light purple, with the segment reflexed from near the base, beautifully variegated, making it one of the most agreeable border flowers that could be selected, flowering in May. This was named "Dedocatheon" (by Linnæus), or the twelve divines; it is generally supposed he selected that name from the number of flowers on the scape; if such was the case we need not wonder at the abortiveness of the name, as the umbels will put forth sometimes as many as twenty flowers. The plant was first discovered by Micheauz, a French botanist, but the late Mr. Drummond was the first to collect the seeds during his researches on the Rocky Mountains, and transmitted them to the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, where the merit

of this (our) native flower is properly appreciated. The American Cowslip is quite common in the western country, more especially on the prairies, where its splendor is most enchanting.

To cultivate this beautiful plant the roots should be divided after their flowering and the leaves die down; if divided in the spring, a plan frequently done, will often prevent them flowering that season. The seed should be sown as soon as ripe, or may be kept until spring; a shady place and moist soil being most desirable, it must be a rich loam. Seedlings should not be transplanted until the second season, and will flower the third.

1

AMARANTHUS.

"With solemn adoration down the East,

Their crowns, inwove with amaranth and gold,
Immortal amaranth, a flower which once

In Paradise, first by the tree of life

Began to bloom."

This is a very numerous family of ornamental flowering plants, which gives to the flower garden a lively appearance from the month of July to September. The racemes of these annuals are superb, some more so than others. A. melancholicus grows about four feet high, flowering all the summer; this plant is better calculated for a large garden, consequently not much cultivated in this country as in some parts of Europe. The color is a rich crimson purple. This

plant, like A. tricolor, is not well adapted for a bouqeut, its chief culture being intended for their ornamental appcarance and their singularity; the latter is very showy in a large garden, the gorgeous appearance of the leaves are very strikingly showy to the eye. The leaves of this plant being variegated is the origin of its name tricolor, and when in perfection and the sun shining on them, are extremely dazzling. Round the stem are tufts adhering containing the seed. These and most of the species are natives of the Indies. To grow them well the soil should be light and rich; if raised in the hot-bed great care should be taken to protect them from early frost, as all those varieties are tender. A. globos is another beautiful variety, extremely ornamental and more cultivated than the above named variety, and is well known as the "Bachelor's Buttons." If these flowers are gathered before ripe, or the frost nips them, they retain their primitive color all the winter. Of the Globe we have two varieties, white and purple, the latter more showy. There are others, also, considered ornamen tal, but it would be useless to go into particulars of their description as the family are numerous; they generally flower until killed by the frost. The Amaranthus is one of the oldest flowers in cultivation, as we find them in much esteem by the ancients. The Thessalians decorated their heads with crowns made of the Amaranthus at the obsequies of Achilles. Milton has been lavishing in praise of their beauty in his description of heaven. Pope, and many other poets also sung in praise of the richness appertaining to their beauty.