Madame Houllet, pink spots towards the center, with white spots on the margin.

C. Sedeni, clouded, green and rose.

C. Splendens, rich crimson, shaded to a green margin.

C. Verschaffeltii, green ground, with pink spots.

The oldest and best known variety is the Caladium Esculeatum, the leaves are of immense size, often two feet long and six inches broad. It will thrive when the other tender varieties fail.

Begonias.

This class are remarkable for the diversity of their markings, and their rich crimson stems and edgings. Some of the leaves are of an immense size, with broad silvery zones and snowy spots, which contrast perfectly with the rich crimson-tinted, emerald-hued leaves.

Begonia Rex was the first variety; from it have sprung many rare kinds. Begonia Hybrida Multiflora is valuable, especially for flowering during the winter months, blooming almost continually; has small ovate, glossy leaves, and a profusion of gracefully drooping racemes of rosy pink blossoms.

Cannas.

These are highly ornamental and effective; their broad, bright-hued leaves resemble those of the Banana; and their flowers are produced in racemes of scarlet, crimson, orange-red, and buff. They are tender, and must be removed to a dry cellar as soon as the frost comes. In spring start them in boxes, or in a warm climate, in the open border. They are grown from seed, as directed in this chapter; but one is not certain of procuring the best varieties. The bulbs can always be purchased at the florists at a small price.

Atropurpurea has fine dark leaves, with orange-scarlet flowers.

Insignis, leaves banded and rayed with purples; flowers reddish-orange. Premices de Nice, large foliage, bright yellow flowers, spotted with salmon.

Rubra Superbissima, stalks crimson, leaves red, with a metallic shade, flowers clear orange-red.

Nigricans, leaves green with a dark bronze shade, flowers bright vermillion.

Ne plus ultra, leaves rich purple, flowers crimson-scarlet.
Musafolia, foliage large and handsome.

Silver Foliage Plants

Are very desirable to plant in rows with the brightly hued Coleus, Achyranthus, etc.

Artemisia Stelleriana is a pretty dwarf plant.

Cineraria Acanthifolia has velvety white leaves, and is the most desirable of its kind.

Centaurea Gymnocarpa, very elegant, silvery leaves, with narrow, pointed lobes.

Centaurea Candidissima has snowy white leaves, with a frosted appearance.

Centaurea Clementei surpasses all its family in the elegance of its foliage. Its young leaves are like velvet, and, when fully developed, retain a silvery effect.

Gnaphalium Lanatum is of a dwarf, creeping habit, very desirable as a bordering.

Gnaphalium Tomentosum has long, narrow, silvery foliage.

Glaucium Corniculatum has long, velvety leaves, of a silvery white hue; leaves deeply pinnated; flowers of bell shape, orange yellow. It is a novelty introduced last season, and is much admired.

Achyrocline Saundersonii is dwarf and densely branched, with pure white leaves.

Coprosma Baneriana Variegata, a fine dwarf plant, with green oval leaves, flecked and veined with yellow; is a novelty from New Zealand.

Sinclairea Discolor has large, oval leaves, bright green on the upper side, but lined with a downy, snowy whiteness, producing a fine effect. Wigandia Caraccasana is a stately, ornamental plant, whose large, bright green leaves are covered with hairy spines. Its flowers are of rich purple, borne on a large spike.

Fittonia Argyroneura is lovely for vases, hanging baskets, or ferneries. Its leaves are of bright green, netted with pearly white veins. Acorus Gramineus Variegata is also desirable for baskets, etc. Its narrow, grass-like leaves are margined with bright yellow.

Panicum Variegatum is also a grass, striped with white and rose; will grow two or three feet in a season; is very elegant.

Abutilon Thompsonii is a prettily variegated shrub, with leaves marbled with yellow.

Sedum Carneum Variegatum is of dwarf growth, with lance-shaped

green leaves, margined with white. Beautiful for rock work, but will not endure the winter of the Northern States.

I cannot close a chapter on Variegated Plants, without mention of the

Golden Bronze and the Silver Margined Geraniums.

This class form most beautiful groups or beds, very effective either on the lawn or in the garden.

Mrs. Pollock is one of the best known of these varieties, but Lady Cullum surpasses it in the beauty of its zone.

Sir Robert Napier is said to possess the handsomest coloring of all. Its zone is deeply indented with brilliant scarlet; flowers flesh colored. Sophie Dumaresque has a dark crimson zone, with broad yellow margin.

Black Prince, dark bronze zone, on a yellow ground.

Beauty of Oulton, broad yellow leaf, with a wide bronze zone.

Bronze Queen, yellowish bronze, with a dark chocolate zone; contrasts perfectly with the silver-edged varieties.

Southern Belle, golden yellow ground, brilliant crimson zone.

E. G. Henderson, light yellow ground, fine dark bronzy zone.

Beauty of Calderdale, reddish brown zone on a golden green ground. Crystal Palace Gem, golden margin, green center.

Perilla, broad dark zone.

Queen Victoria, rich maroon zone, golden yellow margin.

Silver Margined Geraniums.

Cherub, silver margined, carmine zone, dwarf.

Burning Bush, sulphur white, with bronze zone of rosy crimson tint. Beauty of Guestwick, zone bronze and rosy carmine, creamy white margin.

Castlemilk, pea-green center, well defined white edge, the whitest of its class.

Countess of Warwick, broad white margin, zone dark bronze, banded with pink.

May Queen, fine broad silver edge.

Kenilworth, white margin, rich crimson zone.

Mt. of Snow, pure white, broad edge.

Rainbow, silvery white margin, red zone.

Snow Storm. fine white edge.

Italia Unita, silver edge, dark zone shaded to carmine.

Little Pet. pink zone, silver edge.

Snow Drop, fine silvery white edge.

Perfection, broad white margin, fine.

Variegated Ivy-Leaved Geraniums.

These flowers are very lovely, from their drooping growth, for vases, rustic baskets and rock work. They grow readily from slips, are quite tender, and must be housed during the winter months.

L'Elegante has deep pea-green leaves, with a clear white margin running into pink. Its flowers are pure white, borne in large clusters. It is unsurpassed for ornamental purposes, where vines are required.

Duke of Edinburgh is beautifully variegated, and of very vigorous growth.

Holly Wreath has leaves of deep green, with a creamy margin, white flowers.

Peltatum Floribunda, leaves bright glossy green, flowers of a rosy pink.

Fairy Bells, rich green leaves, flowers a light blush.

Elegans, bright rich foliage, mauve colored flowers.

All these Variegated Geraniums grow readily from cuttings, and will bloom in almost any common garden soil. They show their bright markings at better advantage if located so that they are shaded from the heat of the noonday sun. Planted together, en masse, they produce a gorgeous effect. All of them have brilliant colored flowers, but they are not as large and handsome as those of the Zonale tribe. If planted on a graduated mound, with a tall Zonale or Double Geranium for the apex, they show in perfect contrast. They require watering at night, if the season is hot and dry. They can be wintered in a warm window, or placed in sandy soil, in boxes, and kept in a frost-proof cellar.

Of course the leaves will fall, but the roots will remain alive, and will not require water more than once or twice all winter, unless they are kept in a warm place near the furnace fire; but this is not a good location for them; far better to keep them in a cool, dark cellar, where vegetation can sleep quietly.

CHAPTER XV.

SPRING FLOWERING BULBS.

"Odors of spring, my senses ye charm!
Methinks with purpose soft ye come,
To tell of brighter hours;

Of May's blue skies, abundant bloom,
And sunny gales and showers."

In October and November we must plant the Spring Flowering Bulbs, which are the first flowers in the spring that gladden our eyes. As soon as the sun's rays have strength enough to pierce the stony ground, they send up their leaves closely sheathed together to withstand the icy touch of the north wind. With the first sweet whistle of the robin, and the clear treble notes of the blue bird, they stand ready to burst forth into gorgeous splendor. The pearly white Snowdrop, white as the snow-drift which has nourished her buds, is the pale leader of the gloriously clad procession which follows the spring's footsteps.

Clusters of these roots can be planted among the grass nearest the house, and early in March and April they will appear in full bloom. They will grow in any soil; but will run out if new homes are not provided for them every three or four years. They multiply rapidly. The great Snowdrop is double the size of the common kind, but does not blossom so early. The small sorts can be planted an inch apart and two inches deep, but the larger kinds should be planted five inches asunder, and four inches in depth.

The Crocus

Comes next in order, clothed in purple, yellow and white, lilac and blue; striped and plain; cloth of gold and cloth of silver. They are of easy