Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-17
TIE FLOMERS.
Remarkable Transformation - The
Science of HOrficuIture.

Remarkable Transformation The
Science of Horticulture
Now as spring is lifting the winter
marks from the sweet faces of the flower
world, it behOoves our mother, wife, and
sister amateurs to be up and doing; to
hurry themselves about Frightening win
dow sill, verandah, walk and yard, with
these beautiful "color smiles of nature"
We have long known an old Swiss
gardener, whose strange powers over
flowers, shrubs, etc, has something almost
of enchantment in it, and who has, after
much importuning, consented to give us
few hints on the subject of horticultural
ondits, which we take pleasure in here lay
before our readers.
THE ROSE HOOP OR WREATH.
Take hardy shoot of any variety of the
rose, and trim the tip in the form of
slender wedge without bruising the bark.
Bring the end of a healthy root of
the same plant few inches above the
earth, notch it, aud insert therein
the wedge, as in grating. Bind up
the point carefully with damp mould,
and confne the hoop thus formed to stakes.
Within fifteen days the parts will become
united, and new shoots put forth, all point
ing toward the top of the wreath, which,
when in full bloom, especially if we'll
trimmed and potted, will present a most
beautiful and wonderful appearance.
THE LEAFLEss SHRUB.
Early in the spring, take stem of lilac,
having three or more supple branches, and
trim the tips as in the formation of therose
hoop, just above perfect buds. Bend
over the branches without straining them,
and carefully meet the points in cross Sits
in the back of the body of the plant, the
same as in budding fruit Bind up the
parts thus joined with strip of sponge,
which should be dampened every morn
ing for a week. Within twenty DAYS re-
move the sponge, and carefully cut away
the limbs which have not united. You
will then have a shrub which will not only
flourish and rapidly increase in size, but
put forth no new branches or leaves-only
heshy scales and knobs will be formed
along the under sides of the curved elbows
During the succeeding winter, however, the
tops of the elbows will rot away, when the
plant will go on as before.
THE DOUBLE TREE.
Pass over the top of any woody shrub,
to within six inches of the earth, a small
rubber cup having an aperture in the
bottom for the purpose. Fill the cup with
liquid mould, and just beneath the same,
pass a cord tightly around the body of the
plant. In few weeks you will find the
cup filled with long tendril-like roots,
which will gradually creep over its edges
as if seeking the earth. When these are
about the size of an ordinary knitting
needle, split and remove the cup, aud bury
some half dozen of the last formed ten
drills. Then secure the top of the plant to
stakes and cut away the useless roots as
well as the body of the tree where the
cord was tied.
You will then have two separate plants,
which will flourish without more attention.
and which, when in bloom, will present a
strangely complicated appearance.
TO CHANGE THE HUEs OF FLOWERS, FoLI-
AGE, ETC.
Powdered charcoal munched in among
the roots of any flourishing plant will
deepen the natural hues of its blossoms
several shades. Crushed garlick bulbs
added in the same manner, will give a
bright purple border to white flowers.
The leaves and blossoms of any plant
may be bleached to pale buff by burying
one of its main root in a viol Of weak alum
water. II, at the end of week, you add
a grain Of the sugar of lead to this solu-
ton, crimson stripes will make their APP
pearance along the tips of the leaves and
metals