made about the same temperature as the room in which the plants grow; never use it fresh from the pump, either let it stand in a room all night, or take off the chill by a little warm water, otherwise the growth of the plants will be much checked.

"3. Extraneous matter collected on the leaves may either arise from insects or dust; the former may be speedily remedied, by placing the plants under a handglass, or anything that is convenient, and burning some tobacco until they become well enveloped in the smoke; and the latter may be removed by occasionally washing them on the head with pure water, either by means of a syringe, the nose of a watering pan, or with a sponge, when the dust still adheres.

Bulbs of most sorts flourish in rooms with less care than most other plants. Hyacinths should be planted in autumn. Fill the pots with light rich soil, and plant the bulbs so shallow that nearly half the bulb stands above the soil, place the pots in the open air, and cover them six or eight inches with rotten bark. During spring, take them out as they are wanted to bring into flower, and set them in the window of a warm room, where they will be exposed to the sun. When the leaves begin to decay after flowering, give them no water, when the leaves are dead, take them out of the soil, and lay them in an airy situation for planting.

"If grown in water-glasses, they require to be placed in a light airy situation, and the water must be changed every three or four days.

Ornamental Creepers for the open Air, selected from Paxton's Magazine of Botany.

THE two species of Cydonia well known by the names of Pyrus Japonica and Sinensis are very handsome. They require planting in a light rich soil, and are easily propagated by layers in spring of the previous year's wood, with an incision made on the upper side of the branch. They will also grow from cuttings of the young wood planted under a hand-glass. The hardy species and varieties of Passiflora are delightful plants to train in front of a house intermixed with the Glycine and China roses. They love a light rich soil, and may very readily be increased by cuttings. Just before the deciduous kinds commence growing in the spring, it is a good plan to cut them in a little.

The Maurandia Barclayana.—This beautiful climber has generally been grown as a hardy green-house plant, but it appears to be nearly if not altogether hardy. A very large one has stood this last winter out of doors, and seems to have received very little damage, it grows very luxuriantly in summer, and continues flowering until the frosts of winter. It is increased by seeds which should be sown early in the spring in a hot-bed, and afterward potted into a light rich soil. About the beginning of May, these plants may be turned out into the open borders, where they will begin to flower by the end of the month, and by the end of summer will grow so as to cover a space eight or ten feet high, and two or three feet broad.

Jasminum.-These species may be planted in equal parts of loam peat and leaf-mould. They are very easily propagated by cuttings of the young wood planted in sand and covered with a glass.

Clematis Florida.-This will grow in any light rich soil, and may be propagated by cuttings.

Columbia University

GARDENS, WREATHS, &c.

LEGENDS OF FLOWERS.

LUCY HOOPER.

The following lines refer to some of the old fanciful ideas attached to the opening of flowers. In the Romish church such events were carefully noted down, and every flower blossoming on a Saint's day was considered to bloom in honor of that saint.

OH gorgeous tales, in the days of old,
Were linked with the opening flowers,
As if in their fairy urns of gold,

Beat human hearts like ours.

The nuns in their cloister, sad and pale,
As they watched soft buds expand,
On their glowing petals traced a tale
Or legend of holy Land.

Brightly to them did thy snowy leaves,

For the sainted Mary shine,

As they twined for her forehead vestal wreaths

Of thy white buds, Cardamine !

The Crocus shone when the fields were bare,
With a gay rejoicing smile;

But the hearts that answered Love's tender prayer,

Grew brightened with joy the while.

Of the coming spring, and the summer's light,
To others that flower might say,

But the lover welcomed the herald bright,

Of the glad St. Valentine's day.

The Crocus was hailed as a happy flower,

And the holy Saint that day

Poured out on the Earth their golden shower,
To light his votaries' way.

On the day of St. George, the brave St. George,
To merry England dear,

By field and by fell, and by mountain gorge,
Shone Hyacinths blue and clear.

Lovely and prized was their purple light,
And 'twas said in ancient story,
That their fairy bells rung out at night,
A peal to old England's glory.

And sages read in the azure hue,

Of the flowers so widely known,

That by white sail spread over Ocean's blue,
Should the Empire's right be shown.

And thou, of faithful memory,

St. John, thou "shining light,"
Beams not a burning torch for thee,
The scarlet Lychnis bright:

While holy Mary at thy shrine,

Another pure flower blooms, Welcome to thee with news divine,*

The lily's faint perfume.
Proudly its stately head it rears,
Arrayed in virgin white,

So Truth, amid a world of tears,
Doth shine with vestal light.

And thou, whose opening buds were shown,
A Saviour's cross beside,
We hail thee, Passion Flower alone
Sacred to Christ who died.

No image of a mortal love,
May thy bright blossoms be
Linked with a passion far above,

A Saviour's agony.

All other flowers are pale and dim,
All other gifts are loss,

We twine thy matchless buds for him
Who died on holy Cross.

* The Lily blooms about Annunciation day.

2*