The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-04-26

through them, they are considered prefer
able TO the wire and rustic baskets &c
much in vogue g. few years ago. 1t IL
thought that they will almost entirely
supeTsede the latter during the present
year. In regard to outdoor or garden
flowers 1t is almost impossible TO give
more than a general idea OF what Will be
most In fashion. The variety is so large,
and the com bina.ions both of color and
design are so numerous. that what will be
done in the gardens will greatly depend
upon the taste and fancy of the owners.
A prominent florist in the upper part OF
the city told Times reporter that be In
tended to try the effect of large masses OF
the common sweet potato vine to form q
background of foliage over trellis work.
He said that in a sunny exposure be could
produce handsome masses OF foliage in al
most any shape The Chinese variety Of
the sweet pCta.o ne said he also intended
to try. The leaves of this vine are bssut-
fully marked with black stripes and stains.
For the decoration OF walls of houses the
Wistaria will still be the most popular.
IL Is perfectly clean, and no In sect will at
tack il. 1t can be trained to grow in any
direction with little trouble or expense,
and in q good exposure, where it has an
abundance of sun ana warmth, nothing
will grow more beautifully. IL will not
make much show, however, until after the
second year, when it becomes well estab-
lished, snd will grow from twelve to tif-
teen feet in a season. Honeysuckles,
climbing roses, and the Madeira or mignon-
cite vine will also continue in favor.
Among the new varieties OF flowers that
will be much affected, the new Japanese
hollyhock will take foremost place. 1t
differs from the ordinary hollyhock in its
pyramidal form and dwarf growth, reach
ing height OF about two feet only. The
flowers are semi-dou BILE, OF bright scarlet
crimson, and It blooms during the sum-
mer months. The Eulalia Japonica var, q
new and ornamental grass of easy culture
and perfectly hardy, will also take prom
inent position. 1t has long, narrow leaves,
striped white and green, and throws up
stalks from four to six feet in height, ter
minated with a cluster of flower spikes on
which the individual flowers are arranged;
the flowers are surrounded by long silky
threads, which, when fully ripe, or when
placed in q warm loom, expand, giving
the whole head most graceful aud beauti-
ful appearance, not unlike that of an os-
trich feather when curled.
THE DRY FLOWERS
will be valuable as parlor ornamsnts, as
they retain their beauty for long time.
Besides these, the catalogues OF the florists
offer an almost endless variety of plants
many of which sre new and exceedingly
beautiful, and judicious selection from
them can net fail to give pleasing result.
What are known as ribbon borders
will be much more widely adopted this
season than ever before. In long walks
they produce very pless sing and str king
effect, and are also very beautiful wnen
placed along garden wall or around large
beds Of flowers. A pretty combination for
a border for long walk Is, first, strip OF
sodding from twelve to eighteen inches
wide; second, a row of golden pyrethrum
OF six inches; third, row of cuphes dark
greeD) of ten inches; fourth, row of
achyrsnthus (red) OF twelve inches; fifth,
row of centaurea (white) of we've inches.
If planted along wall background OF
Gamma Indica, or Indian shot, with green
leaves and yellow and scarlet flowers, may
be added. The above must all be Oh
tanned from the florists as settings, as they
will not grow from the seed. As each row
OF plants in the order named Will grow a
little higher than the one Immediately be-
fore IL, an elegant effect Is obtained. A
beautiful border may be obtained from the
seed, planted in the following order:
First, row of por .ulacca, of variegsted
colors of twelve inches; second, a line OF
about twelve inches; third, line OF dwarf
asters, of from twelve to fifteen inches,
in mixed colors, which Will form a COM
plete bouquet when in bloom; fourth, a
line of double varieeated balssm; fifth,
a row of gladiolI, bulbs, which will attain
a height of about three feet. As all these
plants will bloom about the same time, il
may be imagined that beautiful effect
Will bs produced. Besides the ribbon bor-
ders, another beautiful feature will be the
of beds of symmetrical
shapes, of solid colors, with strongly con-
tire sting stripes running across. When
tall, snowy plants for centers are needed,
some of the amsrantbs will be found to be
very satisfactory and ornamental. The
amsrsnthus atropurpureus, which grows
six feet high and has bright red flower
spikes, is very handsome, and the salici-
folius, or fountain plant, is a very besuti-
full variety of the same class. 1t attains
height of from four to six feet, with grace
fully dropping willow-shsped leaves,
which In the latter stage of their growth
are brilliantly banded and tipped with
orange, carmine and broDzo. Planting in
the gardens will be commenced between
May l and 10, and about June l they
will begin to present pretty appear
snce.
There have been some radical changes in
the last century. A hundred years ago