Tuberose

Of all the summer flowering, bulbous plants, we think the tuberose the most desirable. The flowers are waxy white, double, and so fragrant as to perfume the whole atmosphere for some distance around. They are useful for making button-hole bouquets, in large bouquets, or as single specimens. Each bulb flowers only once, but the smaller bulbs can be set out for future flowering when their growth is completed. A good way to grow tuberoses is to fill five-inch pots half full of cow manure, and the remainder with good, rich earth, mixed with sand. Plant the bulbs in this in April, water moderately, and hasten growth by putting in a warm, light place. When the weather has become warm, plunge the pots in the earth, out of doors. They will usually flower before cold weather in autumn; if they do not, the pots can be brought in, and they will bloom in the house.

Cyclamen

Well-known and universally admired bulbous-rooted plants, producing exceedingly handsome red and white flowers. The seed should be sown in spring, and by autumn will produce a bulb, which if potted and placed in a conservatory or green-house, will blossom the following spring. Propagated only from seed.

Cyclamen, persicum, mixed, green-house variety of great beauty, and many colors.

Madeira-Vine

Tuberous-rooted climber, with glossy green leaves and delightfully fragrant white blossoms, sometimes called, "Mignonette vine." It is of rapid growth, and from a few tubers, vines will be produced sufficient to cover one side of a cottage. The tubers are tender, and must be protected from frost during the winter.

Lily

The lily has been, with eminent propriety, styled the "Queen of Flowers," and truly no flower conveys so adequate an idea of queenly beauty, majestic grandeur, and faultless purity, as the Lily. Their culture is simple, and with a little care, failure is impossible. Select a deep, rich soil, enrich it well with thoroughly decomposed manure, and set the bulbs from three to six inches deep, according to size. In the autumn the bed should be protected by a liberal covering of leaves or litter, and care should be taken that the bulbs have proper drainage, no water being allowed to stand around the roots. The bulbs can be transplanted either in spring or autumn, but should be kept out of the ground the shortest possible time. Once firmly established, they should not be disturbed oftener than once in five years. Many of the varieties force well in the green-house, but are more suitable for parlor culture.

Bleeding Heart

This is a tuberous-rooted plant, blooming in the spring, and favorably known almost everywhere. It requires only the ordinary culture of border plants. Roots planted in autumn will flower freely in the spring. The roots should be divided every third year. The flowers are a delicate pink color, very graceful, produced continuously from May to July.

Dahlia

The dahlia has always been a favorite for autumn flowering. The flowers are so symmetrical and perfect, and the range of brilliant colors so wide and varied, that they will always be popular where display is wanted. The roots are tender, and easily injured by frost. They should be set out three feet apart, after all danger of frost is over, and placed in a cool cellar, and not be allowed to freeze during winter. The plants should be supported by tying to stakes.

Gladiolus

Magnificent plants, with sword-like leaves and long spikes of flowers of every conceivable color and shade. The varieties are now numbered almost by thousands, each year bringing forth new and choice selections which have been produced from seed, this being the only method of obtaining new varieties. The bulb, which is produced from seed, requires three years' growth before being of sufficient size to flower well. They should be taken up on approach of winter, and kept from freezing till warm weather in spring, and then planted out in groups and borders.

Calla

An old and very desirable plant, either as an aquatic, or for the ornamentation of the drawing-room and conservatory. Thrives in any light, rich soil when plentifully watered. The seeds, which should be sown in greenhouse in early spring, produce small bulbs in the fall, which should be repotted in rich soil. The production of large plants from seed takes some time, but the beautiful creamy-white flowers are an ample reward for the care and patience bestowed. Half-hardy perennial.