THE group of yuccas, of which the cut (page 661) shows a member, has afforded our household and friends a great deal of pleasure for very little pains. About four years ago I obtained from John Saul, of Washington, among other plants, a dozen yuccas, comprising Y.filamentosa and its variety flaccida (Y. flaccida), Y gloriosa var. recurvi-folia (Y. recurva), Y. gloriosa var. superba (Y. su-perba)) and Y. flexilis (Y. stenophylla). They were all planted together in front of a shrubbery composed of lilacs, spireas, viburnums, roses, altheas, Philadelphia, pyrus, Japanese weigelas, etc., the foliage of which makes a good back-ground for the spikes of cream-colored flowers of the yuccas. By planting out the off-shoots, we now have a large group, and the variety is interesting from the different characters of the foliage and the extension of the time of flowering. The greater number bloomed this year in April and May To-day (October 2d) there are two spikes of superba that will open their bells during the week. The specimen of recurva (Y. gloriosa var. re-curvifolid) that, by reason of its extra size and vigor, tempted me to secure a memento of its beauty by means of my camera, was at its best on August 26th. All prove hardy with me.

The leaves from lawn trees and shrubbery that drift among them to the depth of six or eight inches in fall are left till spring, when they and any decayed foliage are removed and a little rotted manure scattered among them. This, in addition to cutting out the flower-stalks when faded, and pulling up the few weeds that appear, comprises all the labor expended upon them. For these slight attentions we have a tropical-looking evergreen plant that attracts notice at all seasons. Its appearance on a light carpet of snow is very striking.

How far north the yuccas would survive under this treatment I do not know. Filamen-tosa is the hardiest, and very striking with its white threads. With an extra bed of leaves and some pine boughs, I fancy it would endure a severe winter with impunity. It is well suited to the farmer's lawn, as its pointed leaves effectually repress cats, dogs, and fowls from its domain. Single specimens are common, and near here there is a long straight line of them by a walk, but I think, good reader, that you would like them best in a large irregular clump. [Y. filamentosa is hardy in the northern states. - Ed].

Orange Co., Virginia. Arthur Davenport.

Fig. 10. Hybidwith rounded leaflets.