HANGING BASKETS.

There are few ways of arranging plants that give better satisfaction than in hanging baskets. If those made of wire are used, they should be lined with green moss, or sphagnum, from the swamp, and filled with a light, but rich soil. The glazed earthen pots are not porous, and the soil soon becomes sour, if the watering is not done very carefully; although less ornamental, the unglazed pots will be likely to give a better growth of plants. To hold the water, and prevent the baking of the surface, a thin layer of moss or sphagnum should be placed over it. From the fact that they are exposed at all times to drying influences, they need a copious supply of water. In case they dry out at any time, it will be well to dip them in a tub of water, as dry sphagnum takes up water very slowly. For the center of the basket, it is best to take some graceful, drooping plants, such as dracenas or cordylines, caladiums, begonias, ferns, small palms, pandanus, geraniums, and particularly ivy geraniums. Around these, if the basket is a large one, small upright or drooping plants, such as alyssums, lobelias, verbenas, anthericums, coleus, achyranthes, saxifrage, mikanias, mahernia, othonna, Isolepis gracilis, mimulus, nierembergia, mesembryanthemums, and other small plants may be used. In addition to the trailing plants mentioned, such others as Kenilworth (coliseum) ivy, moneywort and tradescantia, of various kinds. Tropæolums and variegated vincas will be desirable for hanging over the edge of the basket, while the German ivy, madeira vine, cypress vine, English ivy, and other climbers may be trained up the wires or chains, and festooned to some of the surrounding objects. While wire baskets or those made of earthenware, especially for this purpose, are best adapted, there is often about the house a variety of castoff utensils that can be used as hanging baskets.

AQUARIUMS.

As an adjunct to the other floral decorations of the living room, these extremely interesting ornaments should not be overlooked. They can be stocked with foliage and flowering plants, fish, snails, and other animals, and with very little attention will be found extremely attractive.

The aquarium itself should be of some simple, yet tasteful design, and its beauty will be enhanced if its sides are of glass; while the framework may be of wood, it is preferably made of iron, with a slate bottom. In filling it, clean fine sand should be placed in the bottom and covered with a layer of gravel, over which ornamental shells, stones, etc., should be strewn. In the center, arches should be constructed of slag, or coral rocks. Of plants, for purifying the water, the Sagittari natans and Anacharis Canadensis are highly esteemed, although cel grass and parrot feather (Myriophyllum asparagoides) are valuable. The stems of these can be imbedded in the sand, and they will readily take root. Other plants in pots, such as callas and cyperus, can also be used in large aquariums.

As soon

In addition to small minnows, gold fish, sticklebacks and other fish, various kinds of snails, and if desired, lizards, frogs, etc., can be added. as the plants have been arranged, the aquarium should. be supplied nearly full of pure fresh water, and the animals added. In locating an aquarium, while it is desirable that it be where it can have sun for a short time each day, very much of the direct sunlight should be avoided, as it is injurious to the fish, as the water will soon fill with a green scum.

Aquariums need but very little care, as, if the glass is wiped off every week or two, using a swab at the end of a stick, and the contents taken out and the tank thor

oughly cleaned once a year, little other attention need be given them.

The fish should be fed regularly once a day; while bread crumbs and similar food will answer, they will thrive best if fed upon earth worms, flies, or bits of raw meat. Care should be taken that no more is supplied than will readily be eaten by the fish, or other animals in the tanks. With the above attention, in a room at a temperature of from 60 to 70 degrees, there will be little trouble in keeping both animals and plants in a healthy condition, and much pleasure can be derived from them.

WARDIAN CASES.

When one desires to grow exotic ferns, and the more delicate plants, in the living rooms, some means must be employed to preserve an abundant, even supply of moisture, and to keep the dust from them. One of the simplest devices is known as a Wardian case. This consists of a shallow box, of any desired size, say 3 by 18 by 36 inches, lined with sheet lead or zinc, and covered either with a glass shade or a glass box of the same length and breadth as the base, and with a hight of perhaps eighteen inches. The framework for the glass can be of any light wood, fastened securely together. The cover itself should be removable, to provide for watering and ventilation. The bottom box can be made ornamental if one prefers, but the glass top will present the best appearance, if in some simple and neat style.

The soil for filling the box should contain a large amount of sand and leaf mold, and for some plants a generous supply of peat is advisable. If properly supplied with water when first filled, it will need but little more, as it condenses upon the glass and runs back to the soil. Among the best plants for a Wardian case are the more delicate of the tropical ferns and selaginellas, marantas, peperomias, dracænas, crotons and both foli

age and flowering begonias. They will require little or no care in addition to an occasional watering, except to raise the glass for a short time each morning, to afford them a supply of fresh air, and to pick out the decayed leaves and flowers.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE GROWING OF BEDDING PLANTS.

In every greenhouse, whether public or private, some attention is given to the growing of plants for lawn decoration. A few years ago, the plants used on the ordinary lawn consisted of a few common varieties, grown from seeds, or "slips" taken from the plants grown for winter flowering.

Not only has the number of varieties used for this purpose increased, but within the last twenty years the attention given to carpet bedding and other lawn planting has increased many fold. For convenience, the plants used for this purpose may be divided into foliage plants, flowering plants, bulbs and ornamental grasses.

FOLIAGE PLANTS.

At the present time, the number of species of plants of this class in use is comparatively small, and yet perhaps they are used more extensively than all others combined. They are very easily and cheaply grown, and, unlike many of the flowering plants, are ornamental throughout the entire season.

Among the best-known and most useful plants of this class are the coleus, achyranthes (or, more properly, iresine) and alternanthera. The first two greatly resemble each other, and as they require about the same

care, they may be considered together. The alternanthera, on the other hand, is a small, compact growing plant, seldom reaching a hight of more than six inches, while the others are from twelve to twenty.

These plants are grown from cuttings, those for the stock plants being made about the first of September. Sometimes the cuttings are not secured until the plants have been more or less cut back by frost, which will tend to weaken them considerably. The plants, as

grown in the beds, require more or less pinching and trimming, and the portions cut off can be used for cuttings and will thus be secured and out of the way before the rush of housing the plants begins. As soon as rooted, they should be potted into two-inch pots and placed in a house, where they will have an average night temperature of 60 degrees. Considerable space can be saved if three or even four of the alternanthera cuttings are placed in one pot, and grown in this way until February, when they can be separated and each placed in a pot by itself.

The soil required for these plants during the winter should not be very rich, as it is desirable to hold them back until after the first of January. If they show signs of spindling, the terminal bud should be pinched off. When many cuttings are desired, the plants should be repotted about January 1, and started into growth. By the liberal use of liquid manure, several crops of cuttings can be obtained from the stock plants. These should be given the same treatment as was recommended for the stock plants, and by the first of May, if large plants are desired for planting out, they should be given a final shift into three or three and onehalf-inch pots.

To harden them off for planting out, it is well to place the bedding plants in cold frames at this time, having it so that they can be covered in stormy weather