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ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of Frank J. Scott,

Acer polymorphum atropurpureum,

Adiantum cuneatum deflexum,

Adiantum rhodophyllum,

Amasonia punicea,

Amaryllis, ....

Anthurium splendidum.

Azalea nudiflora.

Carpet Bedding
Cypripedium grande,
Cypripedium asnanthum superbum,

Davallia Fijiensis plumosa,
Davallia tenuifolia Veitchiana,
Dieffenbachia Jenmanii,
Dieffenbachia regina, .
Dieffenbachia rex,
Double White Mignonette, " Snowball,"

Elberta Peach and Stone, 2 cuts, .
Erricson's Caloric Engine,

Flow Pipes in Hot Water Boilers, 2 cuts,
Fringed Cyclamen,

Globe Peach, Section of,

Jewell Strawberry,

Kaempferia Gilbertii,

Medinilla Curtisii,
Myostis Eliza Ganrobert,

Panax Victorise,
Platycerium grande.
Plum Bladders,

Selaginella involvens variegata,

Wootton, Country Seat of Geo. W. Childs,

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GARDENERS' MONTHLY

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE, ARBOR/CULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XXVII.

JANUARY, 1885.

Number 313.

Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

One of our nurserymen recently complained to
the writer, of those people who continually wrote

to his firtii for advice. " Please send me , and

at the same time tell me how to treat them," is a
sample of numerous requests. The profit on the
whole transaction might be but a dollar or two.
Only for the request, the order would be turned
over to the proper clerk, and the proprietor could
turn his attention to profitable work. But a clerk
cannot answer such a letter. The proprietor must
do it himself if it is done at all. He is a little
nettled at the demand on his time which really ]
renders the order valueless ; but he remembers the
business maxim that civility always pays in the
end, and with the mental wish that the old fellow
had sent his query to the Editor of the G.a.rdeners'
Monthly instead of imposing on him, he sits down
to his half-hour task, and as the letter goes into ;
the post box, blandly smiles as he thinks ofj
the many golden pieces his sacrifice of all profit
will next year bring.

Next spring the well remembered handwriting j
comes. Eagerly the envelope is torn apart, but '

in dismay he reads : " Not one of those came !

to anything. As I followed exactly your instruc-
tions it proves the were good for nothing, so

I shall expect you to make them good to me with-
out cost." He was at a loss to know whether he

lost more by civility than he would by letting the
customer go on the just-as-he-like plan. We can.
not tell him ; but this we do know, from experience
in these chapters, that it is almost useless to teach
a man gardening by rule or note, when he has
not common sense to go along with the instruction.
Not long since a gentleman wrote, " my gardener,
to whom I showed your 'Seasonable Hints,' says
what you say about planting trees has been the
cause of his great failure last year. He had not
the year before been very successful in the trees
I purchased. He pressed the earth in very care-
fully about the roots, but fully one-third died. I
bought a hundred extra-fine evergreens of a
nurseryman, and paid an extra price for some that
had been several times transplanted. They had
roots like moss. I never saw such a mass of fibres.
I gave him your magazine and showed him where
you said, hammer the earth in as tightly about the
roots as you would a post ; unless the earth is
packed in tightly so that every root can touch the
soil, the root might as well not be there. He replied
that it was, in his expression, ' tarnal nonsense,guess
he knowed how to plant a tree.' But remembering
his failure the year before, I insisted ; but sure
enough, over half died, and the balance lived but
a sickly life through the whole summer." It so
happened in the course of his travels the writer of
this happened near to the residence of the writer of
the letter, and had one of the trees taken carefully

78875

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\

T O

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

out. l^ure enough the earth had been rammed in
liSrd-^nouglf Dv.er the roots. But it was over the
roots and that was all. There was none in and
about the roots. The very matted condition of the
roots was against the earth getting in and about
them. The pounded earth had formed an arch
over the mass of roots and not a particle of earth
was through them. Not one in a hundred of the
fibres were in conJact with the earth, and of course
they all dried up. If the trees had a few prong-like
roots the mere pounding would have been enough
to get the earth tightly about them ; but when a
tree has a mass of fibres, the man with a little sense
lifts the tree gently up and down, so that the loose
light earth may fall into every crevice, even assist-
ing it with his fingers or a fine stick ; and then,
after he has the earth surely in and around every
root, he pounds it down as firmly as possible, in
order that the earth may be tightly about the
roots. The fact is, the advice we gave was not
followed, and it is generally so in the cases to
which we have referred. We do not know that
we can give a more seasonable hint than this in
planting trees : The first and essential point is, to
get plenty of roots, and then to see that the earth
is not only put into every crevice among the mass
but that it be pressed and hammered in as tightly
as possible.

Wherever any part of a tree does not grow
freely, pruning of such weak growth, at this sea-
son, will induce it to push more freely next year.
All scars made by pruning off large branches,
should be painted or tarred over, to keep out the
rain. Many fine trees become hollow, or fall
into premature decay, from the rain penetrating
through old saw cuts made in pruning. Also the
branches should be cut close to the trunk, so
that no dead stumps shall be produced on the
tree, and bark will readily grow over. Many
persons cut off branches of trees in midsummer,
in order that the returning sap may speedily
clothe the wound with new bark ; but the loss of
much foliage in summer injures the tree, and
besides, painting the scar removes all danger of
rotting at the wound.

Some judgment is required in pruning flowering
shrubs, roses, etc., although it is usual to act as if
it were one of the most common-place operations.
One of the most clumsy of the hands is commonly
set to work with a pair oi shears, and he goes through
the whole place, clipping off everything indiscrim-
inately. Distinction should be made between
those flowering shrubs that make a vigorous
growth, and those which grow weakly ; and be-

tween, those which flower on the old wood of last
year, and those which flower on the new growth
of next season, as the effect of pruning is to force
a strong and vigorous growth. Those specimens
that already grow too strong to flower well, should
be only lightly pruned ; and, in the same individual,
the weakest shoots should be cut in more severely
than the stronger ones. Some things like the
Mock Oranges, Lilacs and others, flower on the
wood of last year — to prune these much now,
therefore, destroys the flowering ; while such as
Altheas, which flower on the young wood, cannot
be too severely cut in, looking to that object alone.

COMMUNICATIONS.

SHADE TREES FOR FLORIDA.

BY A CONNECTICUT SUBSCRIBER.

In a recent number of the Monthly some one
asked about street shade trees for Florida. No
one who has seen the great variety that make
their home in her forests ought to be troubled
about a choice. I say at once, plant the trees in-
digenous to her soil. As to the China and Tulip
trees which you name, the first is insignificant in
size and has no special grace or dignity. Aside
from fragrant flowers and a good summer shade,
it does not fill the bill of a fine street or lawn tree
for Florida. The Tulip tree I do not believe will
flourish there. I never saw it growing in the State.

For her broad avenues or parks no trees can
rival the grand ship-timber Live Oak, or the
stately evergreen Magnolia. For narrow streets
and areas the smaller evergreen oaks of Florida
and her flowering maples have a fitness and
beauty unsurpassed. The fact is, that throughout
the Gulf States, and in South Carolina and Geor-
gia, no one need go outside their forests to know
what trees to plant.

The smaller evergreen oaks have a special duty
in a climate where there are many hot days when
frosts and the wintry blasts possess the North.
.My first entry into Florida was on a very sultry
day, about the last of February, 1864. The ever-
green oaks of Jacksonville were gladly welcomed
by the soldiers, who tramped along her streets
from transports. Their full robe of foliage and
the broiling sun cheated the imagination with a
semblance of summer. There are many such
sultry days all through Florida's delicious southern
winter. On the 23d and 24th of December, 1864,
the weather was warm enough to make a full
summer garb delightful.

As to the evergreen Timber Oak and Magnolia

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

grandiflora, no trees excel them in grace and dig-
nity. A Live Oak tree, draped with breeze stream-
ing moss, rivals the queenly New England Elm.

ORNAMENTING GROUNDS.
BY A. G. LEWIS.

The great pleasure I enjoyed with my flowers and
plants, in the summer just over, has induced me,
as usual, to care for them in the winter. Having
no greenhouse, I tied carefully my century plants,
twelve of them, each one separately, so as to gel
them in through the doors ; and tieing them ena-
bles me to store them away very compactly. My
Yuccas (aloefolia) take up very little room, al-
though one is eight feet high. I have had it many
years: they need scarcely any attention in winter.
Without the above two varieties of plants I would
be unable to change so many times the appear-
ance of my place as I do. I grow them in pots
and boxes. At times 1 take them near the front,
then near the hall door. My front yard is 25x75.
My lot runs 1 50 feet back. My back yard is all
in flowers. If a part of it goes out of bloom, or
falls short for a time, I form some, design there,
using my Agaves, Yuccas and other curious
plants. On days in which citizens jubilate my
. care plgjits are brought out in some conspicuous
way. I at least am satisfied. It pays me to grow
Century plants, Yuccas, Aloes, Jerusalem Cherries,
Cannas and Caladiums. The latter I place in a
box as if they were onions, and put them in a
warm place in the cellar — no water in winter. My
Gladiolus', Tigridias, and such bulbs, I hang up
until needed to plant out. I have too many varie- 1
ties of hardy plants, roots and bulbs to describe '
here ; but I must say all act their part well in
keeping up a grand sight, from the first appear-
ance of the little Snow-drop and Crocus until No-
vember, when the Pansy and Chrysanthemum
seem to dare frost and snow. I am very partial
to hardy flowers, on account of the perpetual satis-
faction they give. But house plants, or tender
plants, are indispensable to mix for good results ;
also annuals and biennials ; and, for those lovely
vines that grow and bloom from seed annually,
God be praised. Youngstown, O.

A LAWN GRASS FOR THE SOUTH.

BY H. W. RAVENEL.

In December number of Gardeners' Monthly,
a correspondent from Charleston inquires about
the planting out of Bermuda grass. The usual

mode is by chopping the root stems into small
pieces, so that they have one or two buds to each
piece. A feed chopper would answer the purpose
very well, if pieces are not cut too small.

As a lawn grass Bermuda has the objection of
being top-killed in winter. When well set, it
forms a beautiful green carpet all summer, but at
the time when it is most wanted to relieve the
dreariness of the winter aspect, it is only a surface
of dead, dry leaves. A good lawn grass has long
been a desideratum to the Southern country ;
something that will stand our hot and dry sum-
mers, and retain its green foliage in winter. It is
believed that the question has now been solved,
at least for the sea-coast region, in the use of one
of our native grasses, Stenotaphrum Americanum
(Rottbosllia dimidiata of the old botanists). This
grass grows all along our coast region, forms
running root stems like Bermuda and strikes root
at every joint, with a broad flat-lying leaf, of a
rich green color, and spreads rapidly on good
soil. It has a more prostrate habit than Bermuda,
and forms a really beautiful sward.

The large Marion square in Charleston, cover-
ing several acres, is set in the grass, and there are
numerous other smaller lawns of it about the city.
So far it seems to meet all the requirements of a
superior lawn grass in that region. The question
now is, how far in the interior will it flourish.
Will it bear successful removal from the damp
saline atmosphere of the sea-coast ?

We are giving it a trial here in Aiken, 120 miles
inland. The growth of our trial patches during
the past summer, (with a very dry autumn) is all
that could be desired. If it stands over our winter
weather — a few degrees colder than the same
latitude on the coast — we will be encouraged in
the belief that we have, at last, a superior lawn
grass for the South. Aiken, S. C.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rosa microphylla. — In 1862 Dr. Maximowicz
discovered near Lake Hakone, in Central Japan,
the original type of the Microphylla rose in a
spontaneous condition — the species being only
known before from the cultivated forms intro-
duced from Chinese gardens. It had solitary
flowers with yellowish petals, and is marked in the
herbarium of the Botanical Society of St. Peters-
burg, Rosa chlorocarpa. The fruit is spinescent,
and gives the appearance of a small chestnut;
large, pulpy and eatable, the flavor by no means

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

disagreeable. In France, what we have for Red

Microphylla, is often called the old purple, as we
judge from a note in the Jou7-nal des Roses, from
which we condense these remarks.

They have now started the improvement of this
class, and have already Triomphe de la Guillotiere,
raised by Guillot in 1864; Premier Essai, by Ge-
schwind in 1866; Imbricata, by Ducher in 1869;
and Ma Surprise, by J. B. Guillot in 1872.

Retinospora Fulleri — is a sport from R.
aurea plumosa, but instead of the golden tint of
the parent, is of a delicate pale green. The
branches and foliage are also slenderer. The
original plant on the grounds of Mr. A. S. Fuller,
of Ridgewood, N. J., is about six feet high. Mr.
Fuller is fortunate in observing and perpetuating
these pretty sports. George Peabody is one of his
discoveries.

Double Evergreen Candy Tuft. — The single
is well known in American gardens as a very
pretty early-flowering plant. A double one has
been introduced by Messrs. Schmidt, of Erfurt.

The Upright Elder. ^ — Sambucus pyrimidata
(S. columnaris of some catalogues) is the " newest
novelty " in French gardens.

Staphylea Colchica..— This is a species of
Bladder-nut from the South of Russia. It is very
much like S. Bumalda from Japan, already in
cultivation in American gardens, but it flowers
later, and has larger bunches of flowers. There
are besides these two, two others, S. trifolia, the
American, and S. pinnata, an English species,
not often seen in gardens nor particularly orna-
mental. The American is not showy but sweet-
scented. Even the orchard Oriole, an insectivor-
ous bird, has been caught tapping its sweets.

SpiRjEA Aruncus. — A grand plant, not by any
means so abundant as it should be in our gardens,
owing to its very distinct and effective appearance.
Of course there are positions in the garden where it
would be out of place, but there are many others to
which it would give additional beauty. We have yet
much to learn or appreciate in the arrangement of
hardy plants. Here is a plant which may be fittingly
arranged in the shrubberies, by the margins of
lakes, surrounded (taste would suggest) by dark
foliaged subjects, such as the copper beeches or
nuts, when the white feathery plumes would be seen
to much greaterad vantage than otherwise disposed.
I may say, for the benefit of those unacquainted
with the plant, that it grows from 3 to 4 feet high,
with large divided foliage, and immense plumes of
white flowers, forming when established most con-

spicuous objects. I lately saw several masses 3 and
4 feet in diameter, and as much high, and nothing
could surpass their unique beauty. — T., in Gard-
eners' Chronicle.

Spruce and Pine Hedges. — A correspondent
of the Gardeners' Chronicle was surprised to see
a hedge of the Norway Spruce in Russia "clipped
as a Hawthorn hedge." We believe these hedges
are not known in England. In America, Norway
Spruce, Hemlock Spruce, and even Scotch and
other Pines are in common use, and are found
when trimmed to a conical form to make as dura-
ble and effective hedges for ornamental purposes
as any one could desire.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Handsome ConifeRjE of the Rocky Moun-
tains. — A rare lover of Coniferse says of species
he saw in the lower ranges of the Rocky Moun-
tains : " Of all the Western pines P. flexilis pleased
me most; next to this I would place P. Murrayana,
both for ornamental purposes. The first is superior
to P. cembra. although similar in general appear-
ance. If I were a nurseryman and twenty years
younger I would get up a good stock of these two
species of pine, because 1 believe they will become
very popular when known."

Bermuda Grass, — Mr. E. S. Carman says : " I
can tell ' R. L. L. ' of Charleston, S. C, that his
plan of cutting up Bermuda grass and sowing the
cuttings will be entirely successful if he don't allow
them to dry out too much. It may interest him
and others of your readers to know that seed of the
true Bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon) has been
offered (or sale of late years. "

Destroying Lichens on the Trunks of
Trees. — A subscriber of Newport, R. I. says:
" Will you oblige me by giving your opinion as
to the best application (wash) for removing or
preventing the growth of lichen on the bark of
certain trees. I have heard recommended a solu-
tion of potash— common whitewash and kerosene
oil. In this damp climate, the growth of many
trees is much retarded (and in some cases young
trees are killed) by this fungous (?) growth. The
Elms and Pear trees suffer most, while the Horse
Chestnut, the Sugar Maple and Birches seem to
enjoy an immunity. An answer in the columns of
your Monthly will greatly oblige."

[Trees which have smooth bark, or trees which
have rough bark only after a number of years, are
not very liable to be disfigured. The lichen grows

1885.J

AND HORTICULTURIST.

5

only on decaying bark. If the tree grows so
rapidly as to throw off the decaying bark lichens
will not trouble them much; hence manure or
rich soil is a great help to keep down this nuisance.

Where the lichen has gained a foothold, such
washes as suggested will be effective, and without
injury to the tree. Indeed the trees will be bene-
fitted by the apphcation. — Ed. G. M.]

The Victoria Lily at New Orleans.— Dr.
Richardson says : "The statement in the last Gar-
dener's Monthly that Victoria regia was suc-
cessfully grown last season in my garden pond,
without artificial heat, is strictly true; but the flow-

ers were twice as large as mentioned, the largest
having measured twelve inches in diameter. The
plant was transferred from the stove early in
June. The largest leaves were nearly six feet in
diameter. I may add, that no agitation of the
water was employed except that produced every
day or two by the current from the hydrant. I
am convinced, however, that the plant would have
done better if the water had been kept at one even
temperature by stirring it frequently from the bot-
tom where it was always several degrees cooler
than at the surface. I am indebted to Mr. Sturte-
vant, of Bordentown, New Jersey, for the seed."

Greenhouse and House Gardening^

COMMUNICATIONS.

VANDA CCERULEA.

BY J. MURCHIE.

This fine plant has been in flower with me since
the last week in September until now (Nov. 12th),
and as I see some of your correspondents are in-
terested in Orchids, I send you a few notes on its
culture. The plant is very beautiful of itself. It
is evergreen, with graceful pendant dark green
leaves, lighter beneath, and from eight to ten
inches long. The flowers are large, four inches
across ; pale blue in the sepals and petals ; the lip
small and much deeper in color. The flower stem
is either erect or slightly pendant, and bears gene-
rally from eight to twelve flowers. This plant,
like many others, is best cultivated in baskets,
especially by those just beginning the cultivation
of Orchids. It makes a splendid pot plant, but in
this case requires more care and is much more
liable to injury from over-watering. In filling the
baskets the material recommended for nearly all
other Orchids is used — Sphagnum moss, broken
charcoal or crocks, with a few pieces of turfy
peat, if obtainable, added. When grown in pots
care is necessary to have the drainage perfect.
The same material should be used in potting, but
should not be packed nearly so firm in the pots
as in the baskets, so that water will pass right
through, no matter how much is given. It should
be kept moist at all times of the year, but requires

much less water in the winter season ; only enough
to prevent anything like shriveling should be
given from November to March. When it begins
to grow water should be increased. In June, July
and August it should have a good syringe every
day, or even twice a day. Success in growing
Orchids depends more on moisture and tempera-
ture than on the material in which they are grow-
mg. Sudden changes of temperature have more
to do with failure in their cultivation than any-
thing else, and therefore should be carefully
avoided. V. coerulea will winter well in a night
temperature of 50° to 55°. This is the season of
rest, and when water is given it should only be
applied to the roots. When unduly excited by
moisture and heat, it will grow all winter. This
should be avoided, if possible, especially where
the plants are grown as mine are, with a mixed
collection of other plants. The flower stem makes
its appearance after growth is completed. When
the flowers begin to fade is the time to begin the
resting season, by withholding water. It produces
its flowers very freely, and amply repays good
care. It is a native of Northern India.

Sharon, Pa.

BEGONIA METALLICA.

BY MANSFIELD MILTON.

The large bronze colored leaves of this com-
paratively new Begonia are quite distinct from any
other variety. The habit of the plant is robust.

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

symmetrical, and well-branched from the base.
The leaves rising on long petioles give it a free
and graceful appearance, showing off the bright
red veins on the under side of them. The flower
is similar in color to what is produced on the Rex
section, only forms larger trusses and on long 1
stalks from the axils of the leaves. It can be '
easily grown to most any size if the same treat- ■
ment be given it as required by the Weltoniensis |
section of Begonias. Propagation is effected by
cutting the stalks to single eyes and by leaves, the
same as adopted with the Rex section.

Youngstown, 0. 1

NOTES ON ORCHIDS AND THE VICTORIA
REGIA.

BY J. H. LESTER.

Your very interesting number for November
reminds me to say, with regard to Orchids, that
my experience coincides in many respects with
that of your correspondent " Epiphyte." Orchids
here, however, seem to come into bloom earlier
than they do in more northern places.

Phalaenopsis Esmeralda has been in bloom with
me since June, and promises to remain so all
winter. P. Schilleriana comes in February and
remains in bloom until May. P. amabilis and
roseum will bloom all the time, if I let them ; but
it weakens a plant too much, as it must be very
strong to make leaves and bloom at the same time.
I have had L?elia albida on crockery blocks for
two years, without any sphagnum or anything
else, with five and six breaks, and they have been
in the open air, partially shaded, from May to
October. I have been told often during summer
that I would lose them, but I have a way of my
own of doing some things. They make a better
show than anything I grow from December to
February, blooming with Chysis bractescens and
C. laevis and Coryanthes macrantha. Ninety
days of 90'^ is a little too much for Cattleyas, but
we get some flowers once in awhile. The same
will apply to Odontoglossums and Epidendrums.
With Oncidiums, Saccolabiums and Vandas we do
much better.

But the crowning glory of all the flowers on this
place the past season was the Victoria regia. The
seed was procured from Mr. Sturtevant, at Bor-
dentown, N. J. I started the seed on March i6th,
and the plant was fit to set out about June 1st;
but the season was cold here and I did not think
the water warm enough until the last week in
June. On October ist the largest leaf measured

5 feet 7;^ inches — inside the ring — in diameter,
but the plant did not have half a show. The pond
is only about 30 feet in diameter, and contained
also two plants of Nymphsea Devoniensis, one
each of N. dentata, scutifolia and coerulea, besides
an Egyptian Lotus — Nelumbium speciosum — as
well as Trapa nutans, Lininocharis Humboldtii,
Pontederia crassipes, and some other things.
The first flower opened October 4th, and it per-
fumed the atmosphere around the whole block ;
and if one may be allowed to judge from appear-
ances and the expressions of pleasure, between
two and three hundred people were very much
delighted thereby. The second flower came five
days afterwards. At the suggestion of a gentle-
man it was measured, and was found to be ex-
actly 12 inches in diameter. It is sometimes diffi-
cult to get a good measurement, as the petals
often reflex as fast as they open.

By the way, there is something about this flower
that I have never seen mentioned in print, al-
though I have read many descriptions of it. The
flower is a diflferent thing altogether the second
night from what it is the first. The first night
three rows of snowy petals open and one row re-
mains closed. These latter open the second night,
are streaked with red and expose the crown, which
is not visible the first night. I may add, that after
the plant was put into the pond it had no artificial
heat whatever.

One writing from here is supposed to have some-
thing to say about the Exposition. Well, to make
it short, it is going to be the biggest thing I ever
saw — and I saw the Centennial. The department
that will have most interest for us is, to all appear-
ances, in good hands; and I hope to see all my
friends here this winter.
Gardener to Prof. Richardson, New Orleans, La.

THE RICHARDIA iETHIOPICA FROM SEED.
BY ERNEST WALKER.

A note I observe on page 299 of October Gar-
deners' Monthly, says: "The common Calla
rarely produces seeds." This, I presume, means
naturally ; as with a little care it produces seeds
quite readily. I have on several occasions fruited
it, and this summer grew a number of plants of
the Calla from seed of a plant fruited last spring.
The trouble I observe to be the tendency of the
spadix to decay at the base, in a moist atmosphere
and during the cloudy weather of winter. During
fertilization the flower-stalk and flower stand up-
right, and the moisture suspended in the green-

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

house atmosphere settling down collects in the
throat of the spathe ; then the abundant quantity
of pollen secreted falls down and collects, and ab-
sorbing moisture soon begins to decompose, speed-
ily communicating decay to the base of the spadix
and to the ovaries.

In the open air and sunshine evaporation
would prevent this evil, but during cloudy winter
and in the moist atmosphere of the greenhouse,
we found we must depend on other means. All
know that moisture settles and that dry or heated
air rises. Acting on the suggestion of this princi-
ple, we tried bending the flower-stalk over (not
breaking it), thus inverting the flower, to accom-
plish the double object of allowing the superfluous
pollen to fall out after the flower is fertilized, and
to prevent moisture from settling inside the spathe.
The inverted flower also sheds off water when
watering the plants. In this way I have expe-
rienced very little difficulty in fruiting the Calla.

However, spring or after the middle of March is
the best season for fruiting the Calla, and it is de-
sirable to let the developing fruit hang over the
side of the bench, or ,where it will get what light
and sunlight there is.

A flower fertilized about the middle of March
requires about six weeks to ripen fruit, which re-
sembles that of the Richardia maculata, and be-
comes bright golden yellow as it matures. The
berries, crowded together on the short axis, con-
tain from two to six seeds each, which are smaller
than those of the Richardia maculata, and require
a longer time to germinate. New Albany, Ind.

touch of color, I have no doubt, would have been
greatly intensified in the open ground, as is shown
by other varieties of Begonias ; but there is nothing
about these plants to suggest B. semperflorens as
an element in their parentage. This variety is at
least desirable as a pot plant.

Can any one give different results, and its value
as a bedder in our climate ? State College, Pa.

PROPAGATION OF DOUBLE BOUVARDIAS.
BY MANSFIELD MILTON.

There is a general belief among a good many
florists that to propagate Alfred Xeuner and Gen.
Garfield Bouvardias, top cuttings have to be
used in order to preserve their double qualities.
That when propagated by root cuttings, they re-
vert to the original single varieties, being what is
termed "bud sports." This is incorrect. They
can be propagated by root cuttings the same as
any of the single kinds, and the flowers be just as
double as when propagated by cuttings made
from the shoots. Grown with plenty of light and
heat, the double kinds are grand acquisitions, but
in a cool, moist temperature, they are apt to get
decayed in the centre of the flower before the truss
is nearly open. Youngstown, O.

BEGONIA FLORIDA INCOMPARABILIS.
BY GEO. C. BUTZ.

This was sent out last spring by Haage cS:
Schmidt, of Erfurt, who describe it as a hybrid
between B. semperflorens and B. Schmidti, with
leaves much like the latter and the blooming qual-
ities of the former ; the color of the flowers being
a soft pink, its principal recommendation being,
however, its value as an out-door bedder.

Of a small paper of the precious seeds three
plants were obtained, which grew vigorously and
bloomed profusely in the greenhouse all summer ;
but the plants do not answer the above description
fully. The plant and flowers in all respects
looked not much unlike the common B. odorata,
except that the habit was much more dwarf and
compact, and the flowers, always in abundance
(as the name imphes), had a slight tinge of pink,
instead of pure white as in B. odorata. This

LINUM TRIGYNUM.
BY CHARLES E. PARNELL.

Linum irigynum, one of our oldest stove or warm

I greenhouse plants, is one that is rarely seen in

I cultivation at the present time ; but as it is to be

found enumerated in a few of the catalogues of

oar florists, I am induced to call the attention of

I our amateur cultivators to it as, when well grown,

a verv attractive plant, and besides, the color of its

flowers (bright yellow) is wanting in so many of

the plants in cultivation at the present time.

Properly managed this Linum is an attractive
warm g-eenhouse plant, growing from 2 to 3 feet
in height by as much in breadth, having erect,
smooth stems and oblong, acute, smooth alternate
leaves ; producing its bright yellow flowers from
the axils of the leaves in the greatest profusion
during the winter months, the time of blooming
depending in a great manner upon the tempera-
ture in which the plants have been grown.

This Linum is a native of the East Indies, from
whence it was introduced in 1799, and although it
has been in cultivation for so many years it is a
plant rarely met with. It is a plant easily culti-
vated, growing freely in a compost of two-thirds

8

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

well decayed sods, one-third well decomposed
manure, with the addition of a little sand. Mix
thoroughly and use the compost rough. The
plants should not be over-potted, and care should
be taken to drain the pots well, for as the roots
are small they cannot endure an»immoderate sup-
ply of water. During the summer season the
plants can be planted out in a well enriched deep
border, and liberally supplied with water during .
seasons of drought. Early in September the
plants should be taken up and potted, and on the
approach of cool weather brought inside, where
they should be given a light sunny situation, and
an average temperature of 55O. Water must be
carefully given at all times, a liberal supply both
overhead and at the roots during their season of
growth, and afterwards more moderately. Un-
fortunately it is very subject to the red spider, and
or this account it must be freely syringed at all
times, and every available means employed to
keep these destructive pests in check.

Propagation is effected by cuttings of the half
ripened wood, placed in sand in a gentle bottom
heat, and if the young plants are liberally treated
and shifted as often as necessary, nice specimens
will soon be obtained. Unfortunately it is of no
value for cut flower purposes, the individual flow-
ers lasting for a few days only ; but as a decora-
tive specimen plant for a warm greenhouse, it is
well deserving of attention. The beautiful bright
yellow flowers and the profusion with which they
are produced for a considerable length of time are
all desirable points in its favor. And as it is an
easily managed plant nice flowering specimens
can be obtained in a short time. I think it de-
serving of a place in all amateur collections of
rare and beautiful plants. And in order to avoid
answering numerous queries as to where plants
can be obtained, I may be permitted to state here
that I have no plants or cuttings to spare, nor do
I know where they can be obtained.

Queens, N. Y.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Specimen Fuchsias. — No subject is of greater
interest to the soft-wooded plant growers than the
history and cultivation of the Fuchsia. To the
present race of young gardeners the giant speci-
mens of a dozen or more years are all but un-
known, and the varieties — most of them at any
rate— that are now cultivated are not particularly
well adapted for growing into specimens. Raisers
of new varieties of Fuchsias have conferred great

benefits upon a certain class of people, and a very
large class it must be admitted ; but upon the
other hand, if we have gained in size of flower,
as we undoubtedly have, we have lost something
in habit for certain purposes. This is where va-
riety comes in useful. For instance, many of the
old free-growing kinds would cut a sorry figure by
comparison with some of the new ones, if size of
flower were the only consideration. But there are
large conservatories to be filled where the finest
variety in cultivation, of dwarf habit, would look a
mere pigmy. For this reason, if for no other, it is
desirable not to lose sight of the free-growing
kinds, at all events until we are furnished with
something of equally good habit producing better
flowers. Of late years the absence of large
Fuchsias from such structures as we have indica-
ted has been most striking to those who remem-
ber what the said structures used to be in former
days. Plants that may be grown from 6 to 9 feet
high in a season are useful, more especially when
they are old favorites and beautiful as well. Now
is the time to propagate plants for growing into
speciinens nevt season. Struck in a gentle
warmth, and potted off singly into small pots a
week or two hence, they will be ready for starting
into growth early in February, a long way in ad-
vance of spring struck cuttings. They should be
wintered on a shelf near the glass, and kept par-
tially dry at their roots, but not to an extent that
would cause the plants to shrivel or to lose their
leaves. In the spring, when they commence to
grow, give them a shift into a larger pot, and
plunge them in a gentle bottom heat, and they
will make rapid progress. It is a singular fact
that when the days begin to get long, and the sun
attains its full power, Fuchsias refuse to grow as
ihey do in the early part of the year. Hence the
importance of having rooted cuttings to begin
with in the spring, instead of waiting until the old
plants are started into growth and cuttings can be
obtained from them. A few of the good old sorts
are Fairest of the Fair, Sir Colin Campbell, Rod-
erick Dhu, Madame Cornellisen, Rose of Castile,
and Guiding Star. — Gardener's Magazine.

DiKFFENUAciiiA Jenmanii.— .'\ new species from
British Guiana, sent to Messrs Veitch by its discover-
er, Mr. G. S.Jenman. Superintendent of the Botanic
Garden at Georgetown, to whom we have much
pleasure in dedicating it. It is a plant of free
growth, sending up several stems from its stout
root stock, which also branch as they ascend. The
foliage is bold and spreading ; the leaves, which are

1885.]

ANU HORTICULTURIST.

of oblong-acuminate form, are from lo toiz inches green, is relieved by a milk-white band at every
long and from 3 to 4 inches wide, with a promi- , lateral nerve and by a few white spots interspersed

nent broad midrib, from which the lateral nerves
branch obliquely and symmetrically on each s;de.
The ground color of the leaves, a rich bright glossy

between the bands. The bands and spots are
semi-transparent, so that the foliage has the same
variegated appearance when viewed from beneath

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

as from above. The stately aspect of the plant
together with the striking variegation, renders it
one of the handsomest of stove variegated plants.

Dinner Table Decorations.— A correspon-
dent of the London yournal of Horticulture s^Lys:
•• Above all avoid overcrowding. In general few
plants are wanted at the dinner table ; at one for
four persons, I should put two Crotons, Chelsoni
or interruptus aureus, one on each side of the cen-
trepiece, or two Asparagus plumosus canus, and
two Rivina laevis, one at each end to correspond.
Their red fruits show up well, but do not let them
stop in more than one night, or their berries may
fall. The plants near the centrepiece should be 6
inches lower than the centrepiece, the end plants
to be half the height of the centrepiece. As many
small glasses as there are guests should be ar-
ranged, each with a buttonhole."

The Taste of an African Prince. — It is said
that Cetewayo, the great African chief who was
taken prisoner and carried to England, thought
no flower of the many thousands cultivated in
English gardens, exceeded in beauty the Salvia
patens. It is undoubtedly one of the most beauti-
ful flowers known. The roots are tuberous like
the Dahlia and it is easily preserved through the
winter, and yet its handsome blue flowers are sel-
dom seen in these days of cut flowers ; the fact that
it drops from its cup almost as soon as gathered
is perhaps against its popularity.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Steam Heating. — "Gardener," Chicago, Ills.,
asks : " Why is it, if steam is so superior to hot
water heating, that none of the old gardeners
knew of it. They seem to have run on hot water
and never thought of steam ?"

Our correspondent is mistaken. Steam heating
was used in Great Britain before hot water was
thought of; and this was introduced as an im-
provement on steam. We believe the first hot
water apparatus was put up by a Mr. Bacon, of
Aberamen in Glamorganshire, in 1822. A Mr.
Wm. Atkinson was the inventor. Steam had been
used before.

Tar on Hot Water Pipes. ^The following
letter and reply have been kindly handed to us by
Mr. Peter Henderson :

POTTSVIM K, Dcccmboi 5:li, 1SS4.

" Dear Sir ; I built four greenhouses last sum-
mer and put 2000 ft. of pipe in for heating, that
was dipped in gas or coal tar. It is injuring my

roses and I would like to have your idea as to how
to remedy it without taking out pipe. I am at
present changing the water in the pipes which has
been in since September. There is a great deal of
gas-poison passing out with the water. An early
answer will very much oblige,

Yours truly, J. M. M."

"J. M. M.," you have been unfortunate in
making the same blunder that is made by some
florists, again and again each year, in the face of
repeated warnings that have been given in the
Gardeners' Monthly and other magazines,
about the dangers of using coal or gas tar on the
iron pipes used for hot water or steam in green-
houses. The changing of the water as you pro-
pose will not abate the mischief; nothing whatever
will do any good except to take down the pipes
and burn every part of them where the gas tar is.
They must be heated nearly to a red heat so as to
expel the gas, as the tar penetrates right through
the grain of the cast iron. If you do not take out
the pipes and burn them you will find that your
roses will remain leafless as long as you continue
to fire — do it at once or you will throw your coal
and labor away the entire winter. I receive two or
three such letters as yours every year — some of
them have tried scraping the iron and have used
chemicals with the hope of neutralizing the gas,
but all without effect — nothing will expel it but
heat. Peter Henderson.

Diseases in Roses. — "J. G. H." New York,
writes: " I would like to have you inform me
' through the MoNTHLy what kind of a disease it is
that has got into the roots of my plants. The rest
of the roots are the same as the piece I send you.
Will you please inform me how I can prevent it? I
am losing all my plants with this disease. And
can you tell me what kind of disease this is that
has got into my roses? The leaves at first have
from one to four black spots on them, then they
turn yellow and drop off; the roots seem to be all
healthy enough. You can see by the leaves I send
you how they look. Will you please tell me how
I can prevent this disease from going any farther.
It started first in the La France and is going
through the whole house."

[The roses are infested by a root aphis, and also
by the larvae of some small insect which bore into
and make their home in the roots in much the
same manner as their larger fellow creatures do in
the stems of apples and quinces. After they have
become so abundant as they evidently are on
these, we know of no remedy but to take out the
whole lot, liave entirely new earth, and begin

i885.|

AND HORTICULTURIST.

II

anew, and it should be an especial care that the
new plants should be wholly free from the insect.
Their presence can be readily detected by a strong
pocket lens, which should be always present in a
gardener's pocket, as well as a pocket knife or a
pencil. The presence of the insect can then be
readily detected on the main roots by a granular
smutty surface which is really the excrement of
the minute insect, or the decaying tissue caused
by the insect work — or there may be small galls,
too minute to be seen by the naked eye on the
annual fibres. It is the great fault of cultivators.

that the roots of theirplants are seldom examined ;
indeed the majority of plant cultivators are wholly
ignorant of roots, their nature and requirements.
The discolored leaves come from a fungus
which works beneath the surface of the leaves,
and cannot be reached by any external application.
In our opinion it is not one of those which attack
healthy vegetation, but only those, the vitality of
which have been already somewhat impaired.
Quite likely the leaves are from the plants which
have been already weakened by the root fungus
above alluded to. — Ed. G. M.l

Fruit and Vegetable Gardening.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

The writer of this was invited recently to look at
agarden where, in the proprietor's language, " bad
luck" prevailed. His ornamental trees, that had
been "pounded in" when planted, died for all,
and his fruit trees, both of "large" and " small "
fruits, were a general failure. The gardener was
a remarkably industrious man ; and he had the
happy faculty of knowing how to keep everything
clean and neat around him, and he was a great
favorite with his employer, as he deserved to be.
But the best of us have a weakness, and his was,
that as he had " served his time " in the famous
gardens of Sir Bountiful Buncombe, of Buncombe
Hall, he thought he " knew his business," and, to
use a favorite expression of his, it was "'tarnal non-
sense" to suggest that there was anything to learn
from a book or a magazine.

Walking with the proprietor through his remark-
ably neat and well-kept garden and orchard, the
first complaint was, that the standard pears all lost
their leaves early in the summer, and on the leaf-
less trees the fruit did not ripen, notwithstanding
the good culture given by the gardener. The trees
were dug under carefully and manure applied, but
the conclusion came to was that the wrong sorts had
been chosen. We ventured to point to a few large
and healthy trees in a neighbor's fence corner,
but had only for reply that the owner of that place
was wholly ignorant of good gardening. The
next trouble was with the dwarf pears ; they grew
amazingly, and flowered every spring profusely —

white as a snow bank with blossoms — but " a late
frost or something " always destroyed them. The
trees were carefully summer pruned, and growing
shoots were cut back like osier blocks to the
stumps from which they sprung. We started to
say something about the influence of pruning on
j the vital forces, and the connection of the vital
i forces in starting the young fruit ; but were cut
short by the information that in Sir Bountiful's
garden the great effort was to ge^ all the spurs
possible on a pear tree, and we could not have
spurs without frequent prunings. The apple or-
chard had been planted little more than fifteen
years, but were commencing to die from some
unaccountable reason. They had been remark-
ably well cultivated, and cared for; had grown
well, fine leaves, borne remarkably good crops of
fine fruit ; but the trouble now was that the fruit
easily rotted, the leaves in summer were golden
and had powder all over them, and. the short
branches died back to the main wood. It was
thought that the manure used was "too rank" and
induced late growth. Sure enough there was an
apple tree of much older growth in his stable
yard, right in the midst of the rank manure, to
which we called attention, but that was merely
"some hardy kind that would stand any bad treat-
ment." The grapes rotted, mildewed, and we
don't know what, all for want of "proper selection
of kinds adapted to the locality ;" but again a
grand vine with a stem as thick as one's arm, and
also growing out at the end of the manure pile
and covering hundreds of square feet of wall,

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

was referred to, but that was only " a common
Concord that would stand anything."

The worst complaints, however, were in regard
to blackberries and raspberries. New kinds were
continually being bought, to do well for a year
or two, but finally to degenerate. One of his rasp-
berry plantations of Cuthbert had been carefully
tied to a cross rail about two feet from the ground.
The space between the rows was carefully dug
and kept clear the whole summer. This year the
growth was not much more than a pipe-stem in
thickness, and did not actually reach in many in-
stances the cross-rail. The reason for the failure
was, that Sir Andrew Somebody had shown nearly
a hundred years ago, that varieties would surely
wear out. It so happened that at the end of the
raspberry rows was a place where grass from the
lawn, weeds, and so forth, were thrown into a
heap. Some of the raspberry suckers had
reached to the boundary of this heap, and had
canes four or five feet long, as thick as one's little
finger, at ground, and large, healthy grassy-green
leaves from the ground to the apex. Beyond the
remark that it was " queer," no further thought
seemed to be given to our reference to them.

Well, our readers know that to have fruit trees
healthy and vigorous, in our hot and dry climate,
the feeding roots must be encouraged to keep al-
ways at the surface, — but that we must take pains
to keep that surface dark and cool. When they
get this no ordinary manure will ever be too rank.
The vital power will seldom meet with any un-
bearable strain, and we shall find under such
practices that though the teaching at Sir Bountiful
Buncombe's was e.\cellent as far as it went, the
experiences of an American climate may be added
to the lessons of Buncombe Hall with great ad-
vantage.

COMMUNICATIONS.

NEW FRUITS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
liV JA.MES M. HAYES.

The season of 1884 cannot be classed as a suc-
cessful one for the small fruit grower and orchard-
ist. The spring was unusually backward, and
hard frosts continued until nearly June ; that of
May 30th being the most severe ever known at
that season of the year. The early strawberries
were in full bloom and those of the older varieties
that withstood the freezing best with us were the
Crescent. Of the new varieties the Manchester
came out best and bore a handsome crop of

smooth fine berries, and of the tested varieties
this promises to become a leading berry in the
market. The Old Ironclad and Piper seemed to
be much injured by the frost. We planted our
first Atlantic and James Vick in the spring of 1884,
both varieties run well and have the appearance
of being hardy and vigorous. Of the newer
raspberries the Cuthbert is far the most vigorous
and is everywhere giving satisfaction. The Han-
sell does not seem to be so vigorous, but it ripens
early and the fruit is so good that it must become
a favorite with fruit growers. Of the cap varieties
the Louhegan is much esteemed and promises to
be one of the best. The Early Harvest black-
berry was killed to the ground last winter. It
has made a fair growth the past season, and if it
winters without killing may prove of value. The
Snyder has thus far proved the best blackberry
for the North and is growing in favor from year
to year. We saw the first New Hampshire grown
Keiffer's Hybrid pears the past autumn exhibited
at one of our local fairs, but as they were not
matured we cannot give an estimate of their
worth. Tree agents have been selling large num-
bers of the Russian mulberry, representing it as of
great value as an orchard fruit and the tree as fine
for shade and timber. We have two small trees,
sent us from Minnesota. They do not show re-
markable vigor and at their present rate of growth
■will be long in making timber trees. At one dol-
lar and fifty cents each (the price asked by tree
agents), we should not invest largely. Fruit
growing is progressing slowly at the North ; an
indication of this advancement is the better culture
that growers are giving their orchards.

Dover, N. H.

THE SHAFFER RASPBERRY.
RV MANSFIELD MILTON.

A good many fruit growers object to the color
of tliis raspberry, asserting this fault will tell
against it on market. I think this peculiar color
will be a benefit to its sale when it becomes better
known. It is one of the best flavored black caps
we have got ; and as soon as it has been generally
tested along side the other varieties for quality,
hardiness and productiveness, it will be much
sought after. Its color will be to its advantage
by distinguishing it from the many other kinds
which are similar in color but different in flavor.
For a family berry I do not know of a better
among the caps. It not only produces a full crop
of fruit as a main crop, but continues to fruit more

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

>3

or less until frost. Being a strong grower it re-
quires to be planted not less than seven feet be-
tween the rows and four feet between the plants.

Youngstown, O.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Immediate Effect of Crossing on Fruits.
^The New York Independent says of the meet-
ing of the American Association for the Advance- 1
ment of Science, recently held in Philadelphia :

" In the regular sessions three of the most eag-
erly anticipated papers, on the identification of the
plants and animals of the Greek authors, the in-
fluence of isolation on vegetation, and the imme-
diate effects of cross fertilization on the strawberry,
were not read at all. The last was to be by Pro-
fessor Lazenby, who, it was understood, had pro-
duced the fruit of Sharpless strawberries on some
pistillate form, by the direct influence of the pollen
of the former variety. The inference would be,
that a pistillate variety of strawberry has really
no fruit of its own, the fruit being, in all essential
points, that of whatever it may have had pollen
from. It was very much regretted by many that
such a very important physiological paper should
not have been reached, in order to follow closely
the professor's experiments. If they should be
deemed conclusive it would be very strange that,
in the past, when it was the custom to grow only
pistillate varieties of strawberries, with any good
staminate kind as a fertilizer, there never seemed
any doubt anywhere, of the identity of the pistil-
late variety. Hovey's Seedling, for instance, was
always readily identified anywhere, no matter
what variety may have been used as the pollen
bearing parent. Still, as it is well known there is
an immediate effect on Indian corn by crossing,
no one can say how far this immediate influence
may extend, and hence the desire to hear Pro-
fessor Lazenby 's paper."

To which we may add that it would be well
worth while to go over the matter again with some
kinds so very distinct that the eye as well as the
taste could distinguish the difference. For in-
stance, instead of such closely related kinds as
Sharpless and IVIanchester, take Lennig's White
and Manchester, — or take a long berry like the
old Lady's Finger, with a regularly formed round
berry, — or even a kind that almost always has a
coxcomb form, to be used as a fertilizer, for one of
regularly uniform outline. For ourselves, we know
of scores of instances where certainly no immed-
iate influence has resulted, while, with the excep-
tion of corn, there are few unchallenged facts on
the other side.

Forced Fruits in England. — In the old
world some of the best skill was employed in
forcing fruits, but the introduction of steam is

changing all this. Fruits from the tropics can be
now transported toward the arctics nearly as good
and at far less cost than the skilled gardener can
raise them, and one of his most fascinating occu-
pations is going, if not gone. In England the cul-
ture of the pine-apple still engages considerable
attention, but last year the West Indies poured
into the laps of the Londoner first-class fruit for
twenty-five cents apiece. Some of the second-
class quality were sold freely at eight cents each.
In the United States the steamboats and railways
have long since almost destroyed the garden cul-
ture of the pine-apple.

Number of Fruits in the Old World. —
The Jou7-nal of Horticulture says that in a con-
temporary of recent date some enthusiast has put
himself to the trouble of ascertaining how many
varieties of fruits are known at the present time,
with the following result : — Cherries, 209 ; Apri-
cots, 60; Peaches, 239; Pears, 1087 ; Plums, 297.
Apples have not been taken into consideration.

In America we believe the number of apples
known exceeds two thousand.

Culture of the Banana. — The banana is an
annual, the fruit coming to maturity about a year
from the time that the shoot is planted, the stem
of the plant then attaining a height of eight or ten
feet and perhaps thirty-six inches in girth. There
are a good many Plantian walks in the island of Ja-
maica, varying in size from 25,000 to 200,000 trees ;
but they are for the most part cultivated by the
small settlers in the different parishes, and prove
a source of great profit to them. The method of
cultivation is simple. The land is cleared by the
aid of a primitive and ponderous hoe, a hole is
dug in which is placed a " sucker," and Nature is
left to do the rest. Unless the season be one of
exceeding drought the plant is certain to grow
and to bring forth its fruit in from nine to twelve
months. In well ordered plantations the trees are
usually planted from 12 to 15 feet apart in the
form of squares. The bananas are taken to
market, not unfrequently a distance of 20 miles,
by means of clumsy, springless drays and carts,
upon which thirty or forty bunches are indiscrim-
inately placed with some attempt at wrapping them
in the dried leaves of the plant, and are chafed
and scarred by the wheels of the vehicle, and the
weight of the driver, who generally makes a com-
fortable perch for himself on the top of the whole.
The defects do not present themselves until the
fruit has been in the ship's hold some days, when
they result in unsightly dark patches.

14

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

The total value of the green fruit imported into

New York in 1882 was given as follows in the

Custom House returns, in dollars:

Oranges and Lemons $ TTO.fpOl

Grapes 77,278

I*ine apples 20.522

Bananas 82,323

Miscellaneous 12,1 00

Cocoa-nuts 353,502

1.316,22r>
— Gardener s Chrojiicle.

American Peaches in France M. Catros-

Gerand, in the Revue Horticole, calls attention to
the American peaches, Amsden, Cumberland,
Downing, Alexander and Beatrice — the last, how-
ever, being English and not American. He
praises them as valuable additions to French
pomology, and regards them as a type of a new
race of peaches hitherto unknown in the old
world, and brought about by some new conditions
in connection with the new world;

The Editor states he cannot endorse his corres-
pondent's views.

Grapes on Trees. — It has long ago been noted
that a grape vine will grow faster when growing
over a tree than when trained in any other way.
Some observers have from this fact tried to grow
grapes successfully on trees, but have always
failed. But the observation is of value. We have
to try to find out why the grape grows well over
trees, and then imitate in our usual practice,
so far as we can, the conditions which contribute
so much to the growth of the vine in other instan-
ces. Mr. Meehan pointed out many years ago,
in a paper before a scientific association, what
those conditions were. Mr. Crawford, of Cuyahoga
Falls, O., has recently called attention to the value
of these facts, and it will be be very useful to re-
peat here what Mr. Crawford says :

"The grape rarely falls when allowed to climb
over trees. It matters not what kind of trees, or,
whether they be living or dead, if they only have
branches that the tendrils can take hold of. As-
tonishing crops are produced in this way, even on
vines that receive no care. The most successful
cultivators in the world plant trees and vines to-
gether so that the latter may have a suitable sup-
port. Many unskilled farmers have blundered
into the same method and have had abundant suc-
cess. A vine will make twice the growth in a
tree that it will in a trellis, and where an effort is
made to have it occupy both, it is always found
that its main energies arc expended in the tree.
A newly planted vine should have brush instead
of a stake, as it has no means of clinging to the
latter. If the tendrils can find nothing to take hold
of, they continue in motion for a time, reaching in
all directions, and this is exhausting to the vine.
For this reason skilled gardeners often cut off the

tendrils. When growing vines on stakes I have
oftrn driven lath nails in convenient places for the
aci ommof'ation of the tendrils.

"Although grapes do so well on trees without
miicli care, let no one suppose that he can accom-
plish anything by planting vines at the roots of es-
tablished trees. The soil being preoccupied, the
vine will not have a fair chance. Plant it at a dis-
tance from the tree to be covered, and after it has
made some growth it may be brought to the
branches, where it will take care of itself. On
nearly every farm there are worthless trees that
might be made to carry bushels of grapes."

Japan Persimmon. — Mr. Conner, says the
Florida Dispatch, has raised a persimmon weigh-
ing one pound and one ounce. We are waiting
for some one to send us figures that will beat this.
What have the Norfolk growers to say? Mr. Lip-
sey, of Archer, Florida, has a tree four feet high
that matured one hundred fruit. Here again is a
defiance to Virginia to rise up and beat it if she
can.

Sharpless Strawberry. — Mr. F. Burvenich
says in a French publication that this name with-
out doubt was given to this variety in allusion to
the fact that it is particularly sweet and highly
perfumed, and that it must not be confounded with
Sharpless Seedling, a very distinct variety. But
the colored plate looks marvelously like our
Sharpless " Seedlings. "

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Profits of Oranges. — A correspondent from
Florida writes, that "orange culture is one of the
most profitable enterprises any one coming to that
State can engage in, especially if one can manage
to sell out his orchard."

PiTSON Pear.— From Stone and Wellington,
Fonthill, Ontario. This is a handsome pear ;
brown, inclining to russet, regularly pyriform,
medium-sized, and indicated a fruit of high qual-
ity ; but the specimen coming so long a distance
by mail, had commenced slightly to decay, and
hence had not the high flavor we suppose it might
have under better conditions.

The Evergreen Blackberry of the Sand-
wich Islands. — A lady residing in Washington
Territory sends a leaf, confirming Mr. Carman's
statement that it is but the cut-leaved English
Blackberry : " I enclose a small leaf of the • Ever-
green Blackberry' mentioned in November num-
ber. It is quite common here, very hardy, free
grower, and prolific bearer ; indeed, is sometimes

1885.1

AND HORTICULTURIST.

15

called 'ever-bearing,' for it begins to ripen with
the Lawton, and I have known well-ripened, but
of course not very sweet berries, picked on Christ-
mas day. When well ripened the quality and size
compare favorably with the Lawton. It is very
handsome also, but oh, so thorny, and does best
trained on a trellis."

[It is a surprise to learn that this kind comes
near the Lawton in size. Here in the East they
do not reach half that. This, and the double-
flowered as well as this, retain the leaves till quite
late in the season, — indeed, when a trailing branch
gets covered by snow, the leaves remain green
till spring. The botanical name is Rubus frutico-
sus, an English, and not a "Sandwich Island"

species, and is the most common form in English
hedge-rows. It has the remarkable peculiarity in
a blackberry of having very often perennial
stems, as in its neighbor, the rose. The writer has
seen stems many years old, and among his earliest
literary contributions was a paper to the Phytolo-
gist, describing an unusually old and large speci-
men. The species probably obtained the name of
fruticosus from this fruticose or shrubby charac-
ter. The leaves are very white beneath and very
green above, and suggested to some other botanist
the name of Rubus discolor.

It is really a good fruit in the form of the cut-
leaved variety, as well as a very ornamental plant
to grow. — Ed. G. M.]

Forestry.

COMMUNICATIONS.

FORESTRY ON THE PLAINS.

BY T. BENNETT.

Will you allow me to make a few remarks on a
subject of no small importance to the nation ? The
lack of trees on our vast and cheerless prairies has
come to be felt as a great national want. Forest-
ry is now a leading topic, and rightly so, for as
the population increases wood and timber will be
more and more in demand. Are we not losing
time inquiring what trees to plant and then draw-
ing out a lengthy argument about them ?

The government has given encouragement, and
this ought to be a stimulus for great exertion.
We will not talk now of improving the landscape,
nor of drawing water from the clouds, nor of mak-
ing the air more pure by the free distribution of
healthy gases and exhalations. The absorption
of noxious carbonic gases which trees inhale, the
domestic uses of wood, and the enhancing of the
value of every farm — even in a national point of
view— to have five, ten or twenty acres of good
woodland on it, can also be passed by now ; but
it is apparent, millions of trees can be planted
and grown by the people themselves, cheaply
and quickly, compared with the present move-
ment, and which will make future generations
bless the present one if it only acts on the hint
given in these suggestions.

Seeds, of the kinds found most suitable, except
a mere few. can be collected in the Eastern and
IMiddle States— they are cheap and plenty and
made up in one two, four or five dollar packages
by seedsmen and nurserymen, with a printed
paper around each package giving full directions
for sowing and management in the seed bed.
The Western farmer who can not afford to buy a
large quantity of nursery stock, will very quickly
see the point, write for, and order those packages,
and will cheerfully sow and care for the seeds.

This appears to me to be the cheapest and best,
I might say almost the only way the desolate
looking prairie can be made to " bloom " and look
like an extended forest country.

Ckambersburg, Trenton, N. J.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Value of Timber. — It is now a fact beyond all
question that figures in relation to the value of any
given tree for forestry purposes, are of no value
whatever for a guide for forestry planting, so
much of the value of timber depending on the suit-
ability of the soil and climate to the perfect health
and vigor of the tree. Hence, what we learn of
forestry in Scotland or England is of no use what-
ever in the Atlantic portion of the United States,
because the conditions are rarely favorable to the
same tree alike in both localities. The Scotch

i6

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

pine, the Larch, and the Norway spruce make ei-
ceDent rimber in Scotland. They are trees which
love a comparatively moist atmosphere and cool
climate ; they have vigorous health, and with vig-
orous health they have sound durable timber.
These trees grow in the dryer regions of the world
but are not long lived ; and with this extra strain
on the vital |)owers an inferior quality of timber
follows. This is the reason why the enthusiasm for
Larch on the western plains has died out. !t was
an enthuaasm based on Scotch experiences.
What we want for successful American fores-
try is an adaptation of trees to climate. This
can only be determined by actual experi-
ment. In many cases native trees will be
&r better than any imported species. On the
other hand there are no doubt a number of exotie
species that would on trial prove at least equal to
indigenous kinds. There mtist be in many gar-
dens bv this time large specimens of many kinds
of foreign trees, and whenever these have to be cut
down we should be glad of notes of their growth
or probable qualities.

The Docglas Sprvce. — This from the moist
climate of Northern California. Oregon, and Wash-
ton territory, is just suited to the very similiar cli-
mate of England and other countries bordering
the eastern side of the Gulf Stream. It is said to
be bv all odds much the best of all their foreign
trees. In the eastern portion ot the L'nited States
it wiU scarcely live, and is of no value for forestry
purposes. The variety that comes from the Rocky
Mountains is perfectly hardy, but has not the lofty,
rapid growing character of its Pacific coast
brother ; and though an admirable ornament for
an Eastern garden, is believed to be of no value
for forestry purposes where other much more
ra|Hd growing trees take its place. The Hemlock
is the great spruce lumber tree of the Eastern .At-
lantic, and posrlbly no tree can well take its place.
On the other hand the Hemlock has been found of
no value for forestry purposes anywhere in the old
vorid that we know of.

FoRESTRT IS CHrs"-\^. — .\ correspondent of the
London Gardener's Chronicle %z.s%: "I noticed that
nearly every garden contained a few specimens of
the Chusan Palm, Chamsrops Forttmei, which
the natives cultivate for the purpose of supplying
themselves with fibre obtained from the sheaths of
the leaves, to fabricate waterproof capes. Paul-
ownia imperialis, with its very large leaves, was a
conspicuous object in one locality, although it did
not attain to more than about 1 5 feet in height.

With the exception of some healthy young planta-
tions of Cunninghamia sinensis, the Conifer which
supplies China Fir for building purposes, I noticed
scarcely any tree planting operations. This is
different to the case in the West River districts,
where the people devote considerable care to the
rearing of Pinus sinensis. The neglect of tree
planting in one place, and the fostering of it in
the other, is probably accounted for by the facil-
ities of getting the wood to market, whicJi is
afforded by the splendid West River in the latter
case, while in the former there is no river nearer
than S or 9 miles to the nearest part of the moun-
tains."

The Carob Tree. — This singular tree has been
successfully introduced and fruited in Califom'a,
and as it promises to be one of the most useful
trees in the drjer and temperate regions of our
country-, the following full account from the Gar-
dener's CftronicU will have an interest for our
forestry readers. The timber is as valuable as the
beans :

"The sacchsirine pods of the Ceratonia siliqua
have become an article of considerable import-
ance ais a food for domestic cattle, and the export
is now large from many of the Mediterranean
countries. From Candia or Crete the shipments
have been said to reach I So, 000 tons annually,
from Cyprus 10.000 tons are exported, amd from
the district of Tarragona in Spain as much.

" In several of the countries where the tree is
largely grown, horses and stable cattle are almost
exclusively fed upon the pods. About six pounds
a day are given of the crushed pods, raw or boiled,
with or without chaff. The meat of sheep and
pigs is also greatly improved in flavor by this pod,
the fattening properties being twice that of oil-
cake ; hence Carob beans form a chief ingredient
in most of the artificially prepared cattle foods.
They contain about 66 per cent, of sugar and
gum. The tree is grown in Italy, Portugal, and
Spain, the south of France, and most of the
islands of the Mediterranean. It has been also
carried to South .America and India. The pro-
duce is annually increasing in Cyprus. The tree
grows readily in most soils, and not requiring
much moisture or care, its cultivation gives little
trouble ; however, although the tree grows and
thrives without much moisture, the yield of fruit
is affected during dry seasons, the quantity being
less, and the quality inferior.

'■ In Crete the trees in the eastern part of the
island produce a much finer pod than elsewhere,
which realize is. a cwt. more than those in the
centre of the island. The produce always finds
a ready market at Constantinople and the ports of
the Black Sea. These pods, in some of the coun-
tries where it is abundant, are a great resource to
the poorer c' ;^ "3 eat them in large quanti-
ties, partici :. Contairing a gocil pro-
portion of ;__ •- L.icy are very nourishing and

1885-]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

17

satisfying when fresh, besides being cheap, and
having the \-irtue of keeping weU. As met with
here, however, they are hard and leathery, and
not very attractive.

•'As an economic plant already, it is strange that
no attempts have been made by improved culture
to transform the pod into a savory edible fruit.

" In Portugal the pods are known under the
name .A.lgarobas, and in Austria as Johannes'
Bread. It has the reputation of being the food on
which St John fed in the wilderness ; but this is
questionable, as it was most probably the insect
locusts, which are parched and eaten to this day
in parts of Africa. In Vienna Carob beans are
sold at all the fruit stalls in the streets ; and they
are even sold in many sweet shops in London and
elsewhere, being purchased by children. In Sicily
a spirit and a syrup are made from the sweet pods;
it has a flavor not disagreeable, and resembling in
taste the fruit. .Aromatised liquors have also been
made from it. In Egypt a mucilaginous refresh-
ing beverage is made from the pods, and they
steep in it the fruits of the Balanites .-Egyptica."

KiTOOL Fibre. — ^The Palm, Caryota urens,
Linn., is a native of Ceylon, Malabar, Bengal,
Assam, and various parts of India. Amongst
natives of Ceylon it is known as Kitool ; in India
it is called Bastard Sago, Coonda pauna (Tamil) ;
Erimpana, or Schundra-pana (Mai.).

It is a beautiful and lofty palm, with a trunk
more than a foot in diameter, and 40 feet high-
The large bipinnatisect leaves measure 18 feet to
20 feet in length, and 10 to 12 feet across. The
fruit is of the size of a plum, with a thin yellow
rind, and is very burning and acrid in taste. From
the flower-stem an enormous amount of sweet
juice can be obtained ; as much as 100 pints in
twenty-four hours. From this juice Jaggery sugar
well known in our markets, is prepared, although
it is not the only source, other palm trees yielding
it in commercial quantities. The caste who prepare
this sugar in Ceylon are known as laggeros.
The juice is also pleasant to drink when fresh, and
an intoxicating spirit, known variously as toddy,
arrack, pauna, or pawnee, is obtained by fermen-
tation, and largely used.

The pith of the stem contains a large amount of
farinaceous matter, equal to Sago in quality. The
natives use this largely for food in the shape of
gruel, or a kind of bread. Dke its relative, the
Cocoanut, Kitool Palm is a source of food and
profit to its owner. Elephants make of the leaves
their favorite food, and the " heart," or expanded
leaves, can be made into a capital cabbage, or
pickled, or candied. The wooUy substance at the
base of the leaves is used in caulking ships.

The fibres or veins of the leaves fiimish the
Kitool fibre, and it is largely used by the natives

for the making of ropes, fishing-lines, bow-strings,
brushes, brooms, baskets, caps, &c. Its great
strength has earned for it the name of Elephant
fibre, and ropes made of Kitool are used to tether
and secure wild elephants.

The fibre has long been known in this country,
and under the name of Indian gut has long been
used for fishing-lines. WTien made into brushes
it is found to be most durable, and some firms will
not use brushes made of any other material. It
seems to be the best substitute for bristles, as the
fibre is strong, tough, and impervious to water.
It is, however, rather brinle, and a sudden knock
may break it. It can be woven together with cot-
ton for petticoat stuffs, and forms a cheap and
flexible fabric for dress-improvers, &c Steamed
and curled, it can be used for stuffing purposes in
upholstery, and the refuse may be used instead of
hair to mix with mortar for buUding purposes.
^\^len dipi)ed in oil it turns from a dull brown to
a beautiful black color, and the oiliness may be
removed. — Journal of the Society of Arts.

Pisos SIXEKSIS. — The Gardener's Chronicle

tells us that the trees of Pinus sinensis adjacent
to the Wong Lung Kun Monastery, 50 miles from
Canton, are very fine indeed ; but they are ex-
ceeded in magnificence by those of the So Lia
Kun Monastery, secluded at an altitude of about
800 feet, where ax of them, within a radius of
about 50 yards, in a dense mixed forest of luxur-
iant trees, averaged 1 1 feet 7 inches in girth at 6
feet from the ground, and about 150 feet in
height. The largest of them was 1 5 feet 4 inches
in circumference. A pine tree which had been
blown down and was being cut up I measured,
and found its height to have been 102 feet, circum-
ference at 10 feet from the ground 7 feet 10 inches,
anti it had seventy-five annnal rings.

Black Wai.ntt Cui-tcre. — Mr. Graves, of
Texas, ten years ago planted ten acres to walnut
trees, by hand, two hundred to the acre, in aH
two thousand trees. The trees are now nine
inches through, and grow at the rate of an inch a
year, and when twenty years old they will be
worth <2 5 a tree, making the forest worth at that
time 550.000. But this is not aU. Last year the
trees bore 400 bushels of walnuts, which brought
^2.50 per bushel, making Ji.ooo for the ten acres
of land — ^good interest for land worth f 15 per
acre. If at the age of twenty years, half of the
trees are cut and sold for $25 a tree, or *2;,cioo,
the nuts per year from the remaining 1,000 trees
will be worth $2,500 a year.

i8

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

Natural History and Science.

COMMUNICATIONS.

ON IRREGULARITY IN FLOWERS.

BY DAVID F. DAY.

In your article on Euadenia eminens, published
in Dec. No. of the Gardeners' IVIonthly, I find
some observations respecting the regularity and
irregularity of flowers, in relation to their attitudes
(or positions), which to me are very interesting.
Never before had I seen in print any allusion to
the subject; but, nevertheless, I can say that it
was not to me a new one. In fact I had made it
the subject of a paper which I had read last win-
ter before the Society of Natural Sciences of this
city and of which a portion will appear in the next
Bulletin of the Society, now in the printer's hands.
I then took occasion to say that I believed that it
was the first lime that any portion of the scientific
world had had its attention called to the matter
which I was about to present to their attention, and
that, I believed my conclusions as well as the ob-
servations from which they were drawn were abso-
lutely original. This I said because I had given a
very considerable time to the inquiry, whether in
the discovery which I had to announce respecting
the correlation of the forms and position of flowers,
I had trod, unconsciously, in the footsteps of
others.

The result of my research had been an utter
failure to find, in text book or treatise, any refer-
ence whatever to a fact which I regarded as of high
importance in the science of botany. Your article
confirms me in the opinion that I had in fact not
been anticipated. I would gladly send you a
copy of my paper, at once, but for the fact that in
a few we^ks, at farthest, my observations will find
their way to the public through what seems to me
their proper channel. I will then send you a copy.

I cannot, without greatly exceeding the limits of
a letter, present you with all my conclusions. The
leading ones may, however, be summarized in two
propositions :

I. A flower, completely regular, is, normally,
either erect or pendulous, in position.

2. A flower, which is irregular, is, normally
always lateral in position.

These propositions seem to be in harmony with
the suggestions of your article. In all the instances
in which they seem to be antagonized by the fact,
I found but little or no difficulty in reconciling the
seeming exception to the rule.

What I have meant by these two propositions
would be made clearer by the citation of exam-
ples, which might be indefinitely extended. It will
suffice, however, to call attention to the Ranuncu-
lacese alone. The flowers of Aquilegia, for instance
(always regular), are in some species erect, and
in others pendulous; whilst Delphinium and Aconi-
tum (allied genera), bear their irregular blossoms
invariably in a lateral position. Of course I do not
ignore the fact that many flowers, with corollas
nearly or quite regular, open vertically, as some
species of Lilium and Amaryllis; but in these in-
stances it will, I think, be invariably found that
the stamens are declined.

I have noted, also, this suggestive fact. Where
the flower is erect in its attitude, the stamens ex-
ceed the pistils, more or less in length, e. g., Aqui-
legia chrysantha. And when the flower is pendu-
lous, the pistils exceed the stamens in length, e. g.,
Aquilegia Canadensis. In either case the stamens
being above the pistils. So far, also, as my obser-
vation has extended, where in the Monopetalae,
the blossoms are declined or pendent, the pistils
exceed the stamens in length. Of course, these pe-
culiarities of organization mean always self-ferti-
lization and nothing else. Cross-fertilization, in
such instances, can happen only by accident.
Every wind, sufficient to shake the ripened pollen
from the anther-cells, causes it to fall upon the
stigmas beneath.

The very interesting cases, which you cite, re-
specting the behavior of some Gloxinias and
Gcsncrias, were entirely new to me ; but they tend
in a remarkable degree, to confirm the truth of
my two propositions. But can you tell me wheth-
er the change of form, in the flowers of Gloxinia
and Gcsneria, from regular to irregular, or rather
from irregular to regular, is accompanied by the

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

19

change in the relative length of stamens and
pistils, which I have here pointed out ? I think
that such will prove to be the fact. [The Editor
does not remember, nor has he the opportunity at
hand to examine.]

At the close of my paper, I requested the co-op-
eration of all the botanists of the society in an effort
to detect and report such examples of flowers_
whether of the garden or the wilds, as really or
apparently, militated against the propositions pre-
sented in my paper. The result has been, I think,
that all or nearly all of them are satisfied that the
propositions are true. Buffalo, N. V., Dec. 6.

ON RAPID CHANGES IN THE HISTORY OF
SPECIES.

BY THOMAS MEEHAN.

At a recent meeting of the Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, Mr. Meehan exhibited
flowers of a remarkable Halesia, and remarked on
the wide divergence reached without any inter-
vening modifications from the original, and ob-
served that it was another illustration of what he
thought must now be generally accepted, that the
maxim of Ray, natura nonfacit saltiim, itself need-
ed modification. He had called attention to this
particular departure among others in a paper be-
fore the " American Association for the ad-
vancementof Science " in 1874.* What he de-
sired to do now was to emphasize a few
of the points brought out prominently in that
paper, that " variations in species as in morphologi-
cal changes in individuals, are by no means by
gradual modifications,— that suddenly formed and
marked variations perpetuate themselves from
seed and behave in all respects as acknowledged
species, and that variations of similar character
would appear at times in widely separated locali-
ties."

In addition to the illustrations given in that
paper, a remarkable one was afforded by the Rich-
ardia /Ethiopica, the common Calla of gardens
the present season. Some four inches below the
perfect flower a mere spathe was developed, par-
tially green, but mostly white as usual ; but in this
case we do not call it a spathe, but a huge bract.
In other words the usually naked flower scape of
the Richardia, had borne a bract. Flowers with
a pair of more or less imperfect spathes were not
uncommon in some seasons. The peculiarity of
the present season was the interval of several in-

*See Proc. Am. Ass. Ad. Science, vol, 2-3, B. 9.

ches on the stem, which justified the term of bract
to the lower spathe. From the vicinity of Phila-
delphia, numbers had been brought to him, and
others had been sent from Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, — some hundreds of miles apart. What
was the peculiarity in this season over others
which induced the production of this bract.'
was one question. Whatever it may have been
it operated in bringing about a change of char-
acter without the intervention of seed, directly
on the plant, and in many widely separated
places at the same time. What is to prevent a
law which operates exceptionally in one season
operating again and in a regular and continuous
way ? So far as we can understand there can
be no reason, and, if it should, we have a new
species, not springing from seed, or one individual
plant, constituting one geographical centre of crea-
tion, from which all subsequent descendants emi-
grated and spread themselves, but a whole brood
of new individuals already widely distributed over
the earth's surface, and entirely freed from the
struggle for existence which the development of
a species from a solitary individual pre-supposes.

Aside from the great value of this illustration
of how the whole character of a species might be
modified simultaneously over a wide extent of
country, it afforded a lesson in environment. Ex-
ternal circumstances may influence modification,
but only in a line already prepared for modifica-
tion. This must necessarily be so, or change
would be but blind accident, whereas paleontol-
ogy teaches us that change has always been in
regular lines and in co-ordinate directions, which
no accident has been able to permanently turn
aside. Just as in the birth of animals we find that
however powerful may be some external law of
nutrition, which, acting on the primary cell of the
individual, decides the sex, — yet we see that no
accident has been able to disturb the proportion
of the sexes born, which has always been, so far
as we know, nearly equal. So in the birth of
species, making all allowance for the operation of
environment, the primary plan has been in no
serious way disturbed. We have to grant some-
thing to environment in the production of new
forms, but only as it may aid an innate power of
change ready to expend itself on action as soon
as the circumstances favor such development, — cir-
cumstances which, after all, have very little ability
to determine what direction such change shall
take.

We know that distinct forms do spring through
single individuals from seed, and that after bat-

20

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

tling successfully with all the vicissitudes of its
surroundings, a new form may succeed in spread-
ing through the lapse of years or ages, over a con-
siderable district of country. But the idea that
always, and in all cases, species have originated
in this manner, presents occasionally difficulties
which seem insurmountable. In the case of the
similarity between the flora of Japan, and that of
the eastern portion of the United States, we have
to assume the existence of a much closer con-
nection between the land over what is now the
Pacific Ocean, in comparatively modern times, in
order to get a satisfactory idea of the departure of
the species from one central spot, and to demand
a great number of years for some plants to travel
from one central birth place, before the land sub-
sided, carrymg back species in geological time
further perhaps than mere geological facts would
be willing to allow. But if we can see our way
to a belief that plants may change in a wide dis-
trict of country similtaneously in one direction, and
that these changes once introduced be able to
perpetuate themselves till a new birth time should
arrive, we have a great advance towards simpli-
fying things.

OF THE SEXES IN CHESTNUT TREES.
BY THOMAS T. NEWBY.

The past season, when my chestnut tree was in
full bloom, I got branches with the early male
flowers, from other bearing trees, a mile or more
away, and hung them up all over my tree. There
was a fine show of burrs, and I got two nice
chestnuts ; and I think one or two others dropped
that I did not get. The rest of the burrs had no
fruit in them, and mostly fell off before the time
of fruit ripening. I now, however, have much
doubt about the theory of the chestnut not perfect-
ing fruit unless fertilized with pollen from another
tree ; though my experience so far points that
way. But on the contrary, I have learned of a
tree in Knightstown, Indiana, six miles from my
place, which has borne fruit for several years,
being an older and larger tree than mine. And
there is no other chestnut tree nearer than half a
mile, at least large enough to flower. One year
the owner got one gallon of nuts ; this year, not
so many. I propose to leave mine alone next
season, and note the result. Carthage, Ind.

[Where there are individual trees, at long dis-
tances from each other, observers have excellent
opportunities of settling these disputed questions.
The belief of the editor is that fertilization in the

chestnut is effected by the second crop of male
flowers which come out at the end of the raceme
that bears the " burrs." He regards the first crop
of male flowers as an utter waste, so far as any
good to any chestnut tree is concerned, though of
great value in the general economy of nature;
and it was in objection to his view that some one
raised the question that the use of the first crop of
male flowers " might be " to fertilize the flowers of
other trees. In other words, it was " an arrange-
ment for cross-fertilization."' — Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

K.EMPFERIA GiLiiERTii. — We have here a
sketch of a pretty plant belonging to the ginger
family or Zingiberaceas, sent us by Mr. Wm.
Bull. A fleshy-rooted perennial, with attractively
variegated foliage, introduced from the East In.
dies. From the succulent roots are annually pro-
duced a tuft of oblong-lanceolate deep green
leaves, which are slightly undulated at the margin,
and bordered by a broad and very conspicuous
band of white. The purple and white flowers are
peculiar in form, as often occurs in the Zingibera-
ceous order.

Besides its great beauty as a plant for culture,
it suggests some thoughts on the origin and nature
of variegation — matters which have never been
explained to our satisfaction. It has been said
that the great object of color in flowers is to attract
insects ; but those of us who live among flowers
know that insects visit flowers just as freely when
there is neither color nor fragrance as when there
is. The insignificant flower of Ampelopsis, with-
out cither of these attractions, is so great a favorite
with bees that they almost crowd each other out
to get at the sweets, while the particularly sweet
flowers of the grape seem to have no more attrac-
tion than any ordinary flower. The pretty red
and sweet flowers of the Rubus odoratus get a few
visitors evidently for the pollen's sake, while the
Black cap raspberries with hardly any perceptible
smell, and greenish white flowers that scarcely look
like blossoms at all, draw the whole strength of
the hive to the feast spread for them.

And then we have color in leaves as well as
in flowers. Color in bracts often long before the
flowers are expanded, and they surely can have
no special attraction for insects. The white in
leaves is frequently merely the absence of green.
It is really the absence of all color. In these

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

21

cases we find a marked decrease in the health and ' will appear wholly green, and then we have
vigor of the plant. In garden shrubs this is par- ! branches and flowers of the ordinary size.

ticularly apparent. The variegated Corchorus is
not half the size of the common Corchorus, nor

But when it comes to actual color, green usually
prevailing, we find an increase of growth and vig-

are the flowers as large, — but very often a branch or in many cases. Purple especially seems re

22

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

markably favorable to vegetative vigor. The Pur-
ple Beech, Purple Peach, Purple Hazel and similar
plants, have larger leaves and a stronger growth
than their green leaved parents, — and this is true
of Dracaenas, and many other plants that we know
as ornamental foliage plants.

Just the why of all this we don't know; yet we
feel that the why is not beyond human persever-
ance. Every day we meet with problems like
these, which if solved would be of vast practical
benefit. We of the sere and yellow leaf of life, —
full of zeal in behalf of problems we have already
taken up, anxious that the fruit may ripen before
our foliage falls, — can not undertake these things.
But it may be a help to the young to point out how
much there is to learn.

Podophyllum in China. — One of the most in-
teresting facts in botanical geography is the cor-
respondence between the flora of the Eastern
United States and that of China and Japan. New
illustrations of this are being continually furnished.
Every one knows the " May Apple," " Mandrake,"
or Podophyllum of our woods. One species, P.
Emodi, has been discovered in Asia, and we have
the further account from a correspondent of the
Gardener's Chronicle ;

"In the higher regions of the mountains a plant
of great interest is found. This is a new species
of Podophyllum, a plant of the same genus as that
from which podophyllin, the principle of the cele-
brated podophyllin pills, is obtained. The natives
attach great medicinal value to the plant, and
probably with more reason than the value which
is often ascribed by them to innumerable plants
which they -so freely use for all manner of com-
plaints. Podophyllum peltatum, the source of
podophyllin, is an American plant. A few years
ago, Mr. Watters, H. M. Consul at Tamsui, in
Formosa, discovered one, which Dr. Hance named

P. pleianthum. The Lo-fau species is the second
Asiatic one. Both of them are in cultivation here,
now ; two plants of the latter have just flowered
for the first time in our Garden, where they have
been growing for about two years. The larger
one of the two has leaves two feet in diameter, and
it is a striking and ornamental plant."

Cracking of Fruits. — One of the most valu-
able exercises that the devotees of gardening can
indulge in, is to look closely into the causes of
every occurrence within their experience. On our
table some one placed a specimen of the common
Cydonia, or Pyrus Japonica. A couple of weeks in
a warm room caused it to shrink and become
wrinkled. A week afterwards there were two
cracks in it, just as in a fruit "cracked" as we
often see them, when in, as we all suppose, a
diseased state. Two bright youths came in and
had a discussion why that pear cracked.

" Because it has shrunk," said the other.

This was disputed by the party of the first part
"because the whole fruit has shrunk, and in the
shrinking the fruit has split."

The answer to this was, " If the whole fruit has
shrunk, how could it crack ? If the fruit swelled
instead of shrinking, cracking could be under
stood."

The reply seemed to stagger the other for a few
moments, but he came again to the attack : " Be-
cause the skin has shrunk more rapidly than the
pulp," and he evidently had the debate in his favor.
And we may apply this to the ordinary cracking
of fruits. They probably crack because the skin
contracts when the pulp does not. It is not a full
explanation, because we do not know why the skin
contracts, but the point gained brings us nearer
to the answer.

Literature, Travels and Personal Notes.

COMMUNICATIONS.

ERICACEOUS BEAUTY AT HOME AND
ABROAD.

BY WM. T. HARDING.

feels the sand under his feet, as he steps on shore
in some distant land, his searching eyes will be

met with many novel sights, strange to his former
vision. And should he be a lover of nature, and
pause to gaze at the wonderful vegetation of South
When, after a long voyage, the adventurous .Africa, in the vicinity of Table Mountain, and be-
traveler, on leaving the deck of his vessel, first yond, he will be bewildered at the sight of so

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

23]

much unusual beauty. And if he arrive when
the many lovely species of bulbous-rooted plants
are blooming, some of which kinds he may have
nursed with tender care at home ; or watched
with curious expectation the many grotesque ex-
amples of succulent plants, which everywhere, i
with their odd-shaped and abnormal forms, attract
his attention ; especially the singular genus of
mesembryanthemum, of which there are between
four and five hundred species flowering around
him, he will be much amazed. Nor will his sur-
prise be less, when he beholds so many kinds of
pelargoniums, some of which sorts he remembers
as having seen long ago. And how plain before
the mind's eye will appear the unforgotten green-
house at home, where, when a boy, he first beheld
these odorous and pretty favorites of the olden
time. And among these, upwards of two hundred
dissimilar species, many of which, both foliage
and flowers, are fragrant ; with curiously blotched
and beautifully pencilled petals, in every shade of
coloring, from pure white, to brilliant scarlet, and
crimson ; he will find much to admire.

Of what Diaz, the Portuguese navigator, thought
of "The Dark Continent," when first he landed
there, differing so much as it does from the physi-
cal configuration of his native land, history re-
mains silent. Yet, we can hardly suppose that at
the sight of the fine, portly green trees, handsome
shrubs, and pretty flowers, he could remain in-
different, after being so long tempest-tossed, about
what he aptly termed the " Cape of Storms." But
dismissing for the present the notice of many in-
teresiing plants which flourish there, I will en-
deavor to confine my remarks to the genus Erica,
and of that particular section known as Cape
Heaths.

On leaving the quaint looking old city and en-
virons of Cape Town, formerly settled by the
Dutch in 1652, the enthusiastic traveler soon be-
gins to meet here and there, a variety of the small,
handsome evergreen Ericas, as a foretaste of what
is in reserve for him, as he journeys upwards and
onwards. And presuming he is one of those in-
quisitive persons, who let nothing escape their
keen observation, his progress will be slow indeed.
On all sides, and especially while passing over the
long stretches of undulating country, his attention
will continually be drawn towards the increasing
numbers, in many varieties, of these elegant mini-
ature flowering shrubs. And, if he fortunately
knows their botanical names, he will be much
pleased with the winsome features he joyfully re-
cognizes, like the meeting of old companions after

many years. And numbers of free growing kinds,
such as Erica cerinthoides major, from three to
five feet high ; E. dichromata, from lour to six
feet ; E. vernalis, six to seven feet ; E. Masson-
iana, eight or nine feet, and E. euriolaris, twelve
to fifteen feet; he will occasionally meet, overtop-
ping those of a more dwarfed and compact habit ;
such as E. comosa, E. nigrita, E. blanda, E. petio-
lata, E. minima, E. elegans, and E. carnea. To
specify individual kinds by name, from upwards
of five hundred indigenous varieties, would give
the reader but a faint idea of what they are like,
unless well versed in botanical nomenclature.
And as he approaches the rising ground, along
the well beaten path which winds up the moun-
tain sides, further on, these ligneous gems assume
a more symmetrical and sturdy habit, and if possi-
ble, become more beautiful, until the summit of
Table Mountain is reached.

After hard and persistent strugghng up and
along the tortuous and rugged footpath, which fre-
quently doubles and zigzags among immense
masses of detached rocks ; through deep defiles
and apparently impassable chasms, along which
the purest spring water comes splashing over pre-
cipitous cascades, from near the apex, the tired
pedestrian will find an inviting resting place in a
natural alcove. To his great surprise, he will then
see what may seem incredible to old heath grow-
ers, who have only seen them in pots under glass ;
namely, low bushes of E. vestita elegans, and E' .
princeps, flourishing with all the freedom of bog
plants, in soil apparently never dry. While, per
contra, E. pumila, E. densiflora, E. incana, and
E. penicillata, seemed equally healthy, growing in
small cracks or crevices, in the fissured rocks,
where it was high and dry, with only a few grains
of sand to root in.

The writer was completely nonplussed at the
sight of healthy blooming heaths, growing upon
the face of precipitous rocks, upon the sunny
sides of which, it was unpleasantly hot to the
touch ; conditions, fatal to them under cultivation.
It is well understood by those who are vei'sed in
vegetable physiology, that climatic and atmos-
pheric influences are powerful factors conducive
to the health and vigor of plant life. And thus,
much which is apt to perplex us, from seeming so
ultra-abnormal, at first sight, may often be ac-
counted for; especially when we consider the
external circumstances, which make so much dif-
ference to the welfare of indigenous plants, in
their native habitats, to those unacclimated, from
other lands.

34

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

Returning again to (he subject, and following
the ascending path, which to his intense delight,
will be found closely margined on each side with
handsome heaths ; which absolutely cover every
inch of soil possible to root in, with masses of
highly prized species, the sight cannot fail to
remind him of those he may have often ad-
mired at home. True, there are no legends of
the past wound around them, as there are about
the heath, or heather of other lands ; of which,
the poet has often sung. Savage Hottentots and
Caffres, who for ages have ignorantly wandered
among them, keep no historical records ; and al-
though no charm of romance invests them with
anything prosy or poetical, they are, nevertheless,
most intensely interesting to those who admire
frutescent beauty. And whoever has enjoyed a
ramble among them will not be likely to ever for-
get the peculiar, refreshing odor, arising from the
myriads of pretty blossoms.

And while still ascending, at every onward step
brilliant colors and fresh forms of heath beauty will
delight the eye with pleasant changes, until, when
near the summit, the novel sensation of passing
above the fleecy clouds, which eternally drape the
top of Table Mountain, will be experienced. Even
when in cloudland, the somewhat stunted, though
symmetrical, heaths will still be there. And with
every possible tinge, or shade of green tiny leafage,
these compact little plants seem to vie with each
other, for the palm of grace and beauty. All of
this large and interesting family are exquisitely be-
decked with a profusion of delicate, lovely, wax-
like flowers, from pure white, to flesh and cream
color ; yellow, dark green, light green, orange,
and purple ; red, pale red, red and green, red and
yellow, red and orange, orange and purple, white
and scarlet, to brilliant scarlet, crimson, flame
color, etc.

Preferring to give form and color of flower, to
mere technical terms, which I trust will give the
reader a better idea of what they are like, I will as
concisely as possible say, the styles or shapes of
flowers, are tubular, or cylindrical, with some
kinds long, while others again are short. Some
species have inflated flowers, of fair size, while
another division has small globcd-shaped ones.
Narrow necked, with wide spreading borders, form
another type. Small oval shaped kinds, consti-
tute another group ; which is followed by one
which has lovely flowers enclosed in inflated
calixes; while another section has curious, though
extremely pretty double flowers.

While "up above the world so high," the ad-

mirer of nature will get extensive views of land and
sea. The magnificent panorama spread before
him, will be scanned with intense interest, com-
bining as it does, a matchless landscape, emerging
into a marine picture, which fades in the dim dis-
tance of the deep blue sea.

•' In prospects thus, some objeets please our eyes,

Tlio shapeless rock or liaiisinK preeipioc.
Which out of nature's common order rise."

As this imperfect notice is getting longer than I
intended, I will meet the lover of floriculture nearer
home. With every opportunity of seeing heaths,
or ericas, both in a wild or cultivated state, 1 unhes-
itatingly pronounce them to be as interesting and
beautiful plants as ever graced a greenhouse.
And my long cherished hope of seeing them culti-
vated in this country, I trust will yet be realized.

Although the climate may be fickle and uncer-
tain, yet, there is among the profession of horti-
culture, if properly qualified men are employed,
and the opportunity given to exercise it, sufficient
skill to grow and flower these matchless strangers,
on this side the sea. In other words, no mere pre-
tender must meddle with them, or disappointment
will as cert.iinly follow, as light comes with day.
Of all plants with which I am acquainted, I know
of none which require more practical skill in their
management, than Cape Heaths. Presuming the
above remarks may create a desire to possess a
collection of these elegant plants, it is possible the
reader may feel disappointed with the silence of
the writer, for not fully stating how success may
be achieved by those who are wiUing to try. But
it would be a futile task, to attempt to convey the
requisite knowledge, which can only be acquired
by actual experience. Instead, I advise employing
a competent man.

Of Ericas, a noted grower says : " No ligneous
shrubs are better deserving of cultivation than the
heaths. For of what other genus can it be said
that every species, without exception, is beautiful
throughout the year, and at every period of its
growth ; in flower or out of flower, and of every
size and age ; perpetually green, and perpetually
in flower, and these flowers of various colors and
sizes, and of many shapes ? " Another, equally
wise on the subject, savs : " The two splendid na-
tural orders, Ericaca;, and Epacridace:e, (of which
I made mention in a recent number of the Month-
ly,) perhaps contain a greater number of really
beautiful plants, than are to be found in all the
other orders put together." All of which your cor-
respondent fully endorses. Supposing some of the
readers desire to grow heaths, — are of such a nature
that they must have some, — I will give a list of a

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

25

few beautiful kinds, which with ordinary care, they
may manage to grow — namely : Erica Caffra alba,
E. Caffra rubra, E. rubida, E. Wilmoreana, E. um-
bellata, E. sicula, E. arborea squarosa, E. Bowie-
ana, E. mutabilis, E. cruenta superba, E. interme-
•dia, and E. colorans. Mount Holly, N. J.

THE LOTUS OF THE ANCIENTS.
BV DR. \V. R. GERARD.

" Inquirer" (p. 350 of Gardeners' Monthly),

probably wants information in regard to the

famed Lotus, the food of the Lotophagi, which

Homer says was so delicious as to make those who

ate it forget their native country.

'* They went, and found an hospitable race ;
Not prone to ill. not stranee to foreign guest :
They eat, they drink, and Nature t:ives the feast ;
The trees around them all their food produce,
I/otusthe narae — divine, nectareous juice I
(Jheiice called Lotophagi) which whoso tastes,
Insatiate riots in the sweet repasts ;
Nor other home, nor other care intends.
But quits his house, his country, and his friends."
— Odyssey. 9 ; Pope's irari.sl.ition.

This enchanting fruit of the ancients is said to

have been the product of an African species of

Zizyphus — Z. Lotus, Willd. Celtis Australis has

also had the credit of being the plant that yielded

the fruit under consideration; hence its popular

name Lote-tree. The Greek name '/u-m- (lotos),

included the above-named shrub, a species of

melilotus, a few trees, and several aquatic plants.

New York City, Nov. 18, 1SS4.

RECOLLECTIONS OF BY-GONE SCENES.
BY JAMES MORTON.

In reading the interesting article of Wm. T.
Harding in the November Monthly, and follow-
ing him in vivid imagination in his rambles
through Needwood forest, I cannot but share with
him in surprise and regret at the breaking up of
the bright and fertile retreat of Rangemore. (See
correction of this.— Ed. G. M.)

I have read with avidity and delight the pleasing
word pictures of Mr. Harding in many of his
flowery descriptions of things and places in the
English midlands ; but when he touches on
Rangemore I can no longer refrain from joining
with him in a few less elegant words than his on
the beauties of thes* Elysian glades. My words
may not be of a general interest to the readers of
this journal, but it certainly gives me relief to vent
my feelings and say a few things in favor of the
abodes surrounding Burton and along the banks
of the winding Trent. I was an admirer of things
at Rangemore ; its undulating vegetable garden.

fruit trees, lawns, its fine growing graperies, and
unique collection of plants I have frequently

I trudged about seven miles to see. The scenes that

I Mr. Harding describes are all familiar to me, and
their recollections beget pleasant memories of
" bygone happy days." In this metaphorical
ramble we cannot but visit Rolleston Hall, the seat
of Sir Tonman Mosely, replete with all to be found
in horticultural interest, and smiling under the
charge of the genial Mr. Buck. What fine speci-
mens of Cyathea dealbata and Dicksonia antarctica
flourished in the conservatory there. I have
tramped it every inch from Rolleston to Dunstall,
and retain pleasing thoughts of Mr. Simpson
and his indefatigable foreman, Mr. Bradbury, the
ridge and furrow roofed conservatory, with many
things of interest that escape my memory now.
Crossing the Trent at Barton and Walton into
the sun-blessed radiance of the Derbyshire hills,
and soon to the sylvan shades of the towering
elms in Drakelowe Park, where I have sauntered
through its leafy bowers, and took the divergent
leafy pathways of the fallow-deer. The gardens
at Drakelowe contain many admirable things in
the plant and fruit line, especially so since the
acquisition of the Colon Hall plants, by Mr. John
Gretton. Mr. Arnold was then in charge and the
stately mansion of Drakelowe nestled in bright
tranquility on the verge of the rippling Trent.
Bladon House, still higher up on the Derbyshire
slope, the residence of Fred. Gretton, Esq., is
where for some years I whiled my time away.
Our " bothy" was close to the river and often when
"on duty" I stole to bathe in that beer making
stream. Mr. Prince, a graduate of Chatsworth,
was gardener at Bladon at that time; under his
tuition I gained much information that has since
proved valuable to me, not all in matters horti-
cultur.il — for his life was a model for gardeners to

I emulate. There I saw the finest lot of fancy Pelar-
goniums it was ever my privilege to behold.
Staged at the June show of Burton-on-Trent, they
were as sure of the awards as were the orchids
froin Rangemore or the pines from Rolleston.
.Mr. Prince was the instigator of many improve-
ments in the gardens at Bladon House, and under
his guidance they lacked none of the thrift to be
found in their rivals beyond the Trent, or in that
salubrious location where the morning breeze is
mingled with the vapors of distilling malt, and the
cold air of Winter mellowed with the perfume of

) the hops.

I would like to take your interesting correspon-
dent by the hand and travel again those verdant

26

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

glades, whether through the intricate hedgerows of
Elvaston, the model village of Endsor, or the Derby
Arboretum ; providing it was anniversary day,
when the green sward is studded with the grave and
gay from all surroundings to take part in the hilar-
ity of the occasion. Sherwood forest also abounds
with places of much interest. Along the Ime of the
Nottingham and Mansfield railroad, the neat and
interesting gardening spots of Beeston, Papple-
wick, and Annesley loom up serenely from the ro-
mantic grounds of -'Bold Robin Hood and his
merry men." At Annesley Hall I first became ac-
quainted with "bothy " life and partook of its
pleasures and adversities as the varying circum-
stances would permit. There beside that vine
covered mansion, the ancestral home of the Mus-
ters family, lies the green sward on which the im-
mortal Byron was wont to play. An old doorway
that stands beneath an ivy clad terrace that leads
to a cavern underneath is closely perforated with
bullet holes, shot by the hands of the poet. A solid
oaken door was made by Mr. Young, the gardener
there, and the older one that served as a target for
authorof "Don Juan" was carefully bolted on as
a means of preserving so interestiug a relic. It
was there beneath the shady elms, in the calm se-
clusion of that picturesque habitation, the poet
wooed Mary Chaworth Musters, and Annesley
then had untold charms for him. Sharing, how-
ever, in thechangeful nature of less prominent mor-
tals, after the marriage of Mary whom he wooed so
vainly, he wrote:

"Hills of Annesley. bleak .and barren,
Where my thoughtless childhood strayed,

How the northern tempests warring,
Howl above thy tufted shade .'

*' Now no more the hours beguiling,

Former favorite haunts I see.
Now no more my Mary smiling,

Make ye seem a heaven to me.'*

The neighborhood around there is rich in historic
and classic interest. Newstead Abbey, where the poet
lived, lies in close propinquity ; of which he writes:

"Through thy battlements, Newstead, the hollow winds
wliistle.

Thou, the halls of my fathers, are gone to decay,
In thy once smiling garden, the hemlock and thistle.

Have choked up the rose wliicrh late bloomed in the way."

A few miles south of there, in the Hucknal Fork-
ard churchyard, the poet's remains lie beneath a
monument that bears the inscription of " Byron "in
that enclosure of the dead.

It would bedifficult to find anywhere a district in
which so much enthusiasm is manifested in horti-
cultural pursuits by amateurs as in that region.
Every man is a florist no matter whether he works
in the coal pit or at the stocking-frame. Roses.

pansies, dahlias, and hollyhocks they grow with
much success. With what pride they cherish a few
pansy seeds or a dahlia cutting, if told it surpassed
anything their neighbors had got, and would bring
them to perfection with wonderful precision for
most of the surrounding shows. I have known men
that worked in the coal mine all day to spend their
mornings and evenings in attending to their particu-
lar "'hobby " of gardening. In such work they live
and die and find pleasure in each recurring season.
The mining districts may suggest the idea of un-
couth scenes to many, but there are bright and hap-
py homesteads that are attended to by the miners
with such jealous care as to make them sweet
with the perfume of lilies, and gay with the sheen
of the rose. Torrington, Conn.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Old Botanic Garden of Bartram. —
About fifty of the descendants of John Bartram,
the botanist, assembled in the ancient Friends'
meeting-house in Darby recently, for the purpose
of arranging a family organization. The extreme
inclemency of the weather prevented a larger at-
tendance. Amos King, of Moorestown, N. J.,
presided, and William D. Kelley, Jr., acted as
secretary. Mr. King stated to the meeting what
it is desired to accomplish. It is first proposed to
establish communication with all branches of the
Bartram family in various portions of the United
States. This being accomplished, the next move
will be to purchase, if possible, John Bartram's
homestead and gardens in West Philadelphia.
A grand family reunion and Bartram Centennial
will then be held.

A few years ago some liberal gentlemen made
an offer to the estate owning the Gardens to buy
and present to the city, but the owners refused to
sell for this purpose; believing they could make
more by destroying its botanical associations, and
turning the whole into building lots. There was
no ground for such belief, as the citizens were
willing to give the full value of the ground. Since
then, Councilman Meehan's ordinance, passed by
the city last year under an act of the Assembly,
gives the city a right to take g«ound that may be
desired for public squares, and the value thereof
to be paid after assessment by a jury of award.
If therefore the Bartram heirs, or other Philadel-
phians interested in preserving this wonderful
memento of a grand old botanist, can collect a
sufficient fund, the heirs would in all probability

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

27

see better now than they did on the former occa-
sion, that it would be to their best interests to sell
at their own figures, than to trust to the uncer-
tainty of a jury of award.

The Quassia Tree.— Dr. Baillon has just pre-
sented the Horticultural Society of Paris with a
specimen of Quassia excelsa, a very rare tree, and
at present, perhaps, the only one in Europe. The
history of this solitary individual is curious ; it
was reared from seed in 1868 by the late Dr.
BarilletDeschamps, who gave it to the garden of
the Faculty of Medicine ; and it is highly proba-
ble that the seeds came from Martinique under
the name of Bittera febrifuga. Hence it was not
easy to determine the real nature of the young
plant, its only characteristic being the extreme
bitterness of all its parts, the leaves especially.
As it was supposed to require great warmth, it
was kept in a hot-house, where it got on very
poorly, until a Prussian shell fell into the place
(January 20th, 1871). The following night being
excessively cold (it may be remembered that the
winter of that year was one of the severest on
record), all the plants cultivated there perished
except this. Its terminal bud having been lopped
off by one of the splinters of the projectile, it was
picked up and examined, when it was found to
contain a flower presenting all the characteristics
of the family of Rutaceae. The plant was now
transferred to an Orangery, where it recovered and
throve well; it put forth a quantity of leaves in
the following spring, and since then it has been
growing and producing female flowers every year,
so that, to propagate it, a male specimen has to be
found. It is a common tree in Jamaica, where it
attains a height of 60 feet, and goes there by the
name of "Bitter Ash." It is exported in logs
known in trade as "yellow quassia;" they are
made into goblets on the turning-lathe, and these
are sold under the well-known name of "bitter
cup." The shavings are also much in demand for
infusions exceedingly beneficial to weak stomachs.
They are used in the manufacture of beer ; and,
as for the wood itself, it is also made into boxes
for preserving furs from moths, which shun such
receptacles on account of their bitterness. — The
Garden.

Mortgages on Farmlands. — A Georgia paper
thus describes the peculiar operations of a mort-
gage company : "The Freehold Land and Mort-
gage Company, of London, sues Walter A. Base-
ley, Jr., of Greene Co., for $2700. This indebted-
ness was created in June, 1882, at which time the

defendant borrowed $2500 and gave his notes for
the principal and interest. This money was pay-
able at the Corbin Bank of New York, and by the
terms of the agreement the notes were to be de-
clared due at the pleasure of the holder in case the
interest was not paid within thirty days after it was
due. The notes have interest coupons attached,
like the coupons on bonds. It seems that in this
particular case the $200 of interest became due
November 15, 1883, and was not paid. The debt
to the company is secured by a mortgage on 520
acres of land in Greene county. As the company
is a foreign corporation, it has the privilege of
bringing the suit in the United States courts, which
it has done. The above suits make the beginning
of an era of untold misery for the people of the
State. About three years ago these companies
set up business in Georgia, advertising most ex-
travagant inducements to make farmers borrow
money. Thus, on $3000 worth of property per-
haps Jiooo could be borrowed. From this $1000
would be deducted $200 by the agents for commis-
sions, etc., and upon the nominal $1000 8 per cent
interest had to be paid, and the money had to
bring in five years' interest, no matter whether the
borrower wanted it that long or not. The real in-
terest paid is 14 per cent. Having got the money
and lost it, the borrowers now find themselves in
the hands of sharks, who will mercilessly push
them to the wall in the Federal courts, to attend
which many of the victims will have to travel 100
miles. Thus within another few years there will
be witnessed a wholesale eviction of farmers, with
scenes rivalling some of the stories coming from
Ireland."

A Native of North America.— This is the
description of Helenium pumilum in an excellent
English serial. This is about on a par with saying
that a fern which is found growing only by Lake
of Killarney, is "a native of the Northern part of
the Eastern Hemisphere." We often wonder at the
hmited notions of North America which prevail in
otherwise intelligent English circles.

Why Magazines Live or Die.— The Boston
Herald has an article on the death of The Conti-
nent. The why and the wherefore puzzles it and
other people. Its editor thought its struggle was
because it was published in Philadelphia, and so
the publication office was moved to New York ;
but even this salt did not save it. To us the life
or death of a magazine is a simple problem. If
you offer people what they want, and what they
■ can get in no other way so well, the magazine will

28

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

be a success ; if not, it will die, and it should
do so.

The Fox Grape. — A foxy grape in the old
world, is one which has a brown instead of a black
<:olor as it should have — in short, a black grape
hardly colored. It is more than probable, that the
term " fox grape " was given to the American grape
of that name, from its " foxy " color. Now we speak
of the " foxy odor " of a fox grape, as if the fox
had anything of a smell like that. The fox has no
such smell. And then we have a " foxy taste."
It is interesting to note how words are led to have
meanings quite different from original intent.

Gardening for Women. — Miss Gertrude Sack-
ett, in an admirable address before the Summit
County Horticultural Society, at its recent meeting
at Springfield, Ohio, remarked: "One thing should
here be spoken of — a woman may be a good dress-
maker, but not all are. I think the old saying,
' Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well,'
finds illustration here. A dressmaker in order to
be successful must learn the trade. The average
American woman has a good figure, when it is not
distorted by a wretchedly fitting dress.

"To take a different view of the subject, let us
mention a few ways in which women may earn
money, if that is what they are seeking.

"Gardening may be carried on to a limited ex-
tent, and the cultivation of flowers may be made
a specialty. Lima beans are quite easily raised,
and sell for a good price in the fall. Sweet corn
may likewise be raised with some profit, even if
some of the gain is lost in defraying the expense
of hiring the harder part of the labor. Gardening,
too, has the great advantage of being a decidedly
healthy occupation.

" A few years ago, a young girl who, from all
appearances, was fatally ill with consumption,
went to a country home and amused herself in
the garden when she felt strong enough. She
found the health-giving properties of the soil and
recovered. She declared that the spade was her
doctor."

ViciA Denniesiana. — In the herbaceous de-
partment at Kew this strange and curious plant is
now in flower. It was received at Kew from the
garden of the late H. C. Watson, Esq., of Thames
Ditton. That gentleman described the plant and
gave its history in Godman's Natural History of
the Azores, published thirteen years ago, and from
that work the following particulars are abstracted:
— "This is a remarkable plant in itself, and in its
history as far as hitherto known ; for chance only

appears to have saved it from becoming an ex-
tinct species almost immediately after it became
known at all. It was found by Mr. Hunt on the
mountains at the east end of the island (San
Miguel), growing on damp earthy precipices ; but
in one spot only, from which it has since disap-
appeared through a landslip. Mr. Hunt unsuc-
cessfully sought for the plant elsewhere in the
same neighborhood, and no other collector found
it in any of the isles. In general appearance its
nearest analogue is V. villosa, although at first
glance it is distinct from that and every other
Vicia known to me." The changes in the color of
the flowers are remarkable. In the early bud they
are of a fine purple ; and being one inch long,
and numerous in the racemes, they lead to the ex-
pectation of a handsome appearance. But as
they expand, or even earlier, the color changes to
a dull slate, and finally to a dingy fawn. In order
to prevent V. Denniesiana from being lost, it is
better and safer to winter a plant in a cold frame
and plant out in May ; of course seeds, when
ripened, afford a ready means of increasing so rare
and curious a species. — Gardener's Chronicle.

Mr. John Gardner. — This well known horti-
culturist, gardener and general estate manager to
Pierre Lorillard, met with a severe gunning acci-
dent recently at the hands of a friend, who did
not know he was near. One shot went through
the nose, and another destroyed the left eye.

Elbert S. Carm.\n, the very successful editor
of the Rural New- Yorker, we learn from the
Farm Journal, was born in Hempstead, Long
Island, in 1837, and educated partly in Brown
University. He became editor and proprietor of
the paper in 1877. He has always had a fondness
for agriculture and botany, and his experimental
grounds at Rockaway furnish many of the facts
which render his paper so popular.

History of the Pineapple. — For this, the
material is not abundant, or, I should rather say,
good material. For the most voluminous writers
upon this subject have evidently regarded their
imagination as a fountain of facts. There are
however, a few well authenticated facts in regard
to its history :

First, Columbus found it growing wild on the
Island of Guadaloupe in 1493.

Second, Baron Von Humboldt lound it in the
valley of the Orinoco, and elsewhere, in the unin-
habited wilds of South America.

Third, At an early period it was louiul natural-
ized in Africa, Asia and the East Indies. This

i88s.

AND HORTICULTURIST.

29

has led some to question its American origin. But
the first fact named settles that beyond dispute,
for whatever may be said of the passage of the an-
cestors of our aboriginal tribes across Behring
Straits, or the Icelandic discoveries upon north-
eastern borders, it is very certain that no voyager
from any country where the pineapple could be
grown, ever set foot upon the shores of either
the American Continent or Islands previous to the
days of Columbus. It is equally certain that it
has been widely distributed by the hand of man,
and that, too, at an early period. It is said to have
been found naturalized in Java as early as 1599.
It was carried to Europe soon after its discovery
in America by Columbus, and thence to regions
beyond. But it is probable that it was carried to
China from Peru by way of the Pacific, and thence
distributed to surrounding regions. It is also
probable that India derived its first supply from
the European stock through Portuguese soon after
its introduction into Europe, and thence extended
to adjacent countries. Wherever introduced, it at
once was conceded a high rank among the fruits
of earth, because of its large size, its delightful
aroma, and the abundance of its juice of a most
exquisite flavor. — Rev. yas. H. White, in Florida
Dispatch.

Tr.\nsactions of the Illinois Horticul-
tural Society, 18S3. — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw,
Secretary.

Transactions of the Mississippi Valley
Horticultural Society, 1884. — From W. H.
Ragan, Greencastle, Indiana, Secretary.

Ontario School of Agriculture, Ninth
Annual Report, 1883. — From James Mills, Pres-
ident of Ontario Agricultural College.

What a grand work for the horticulture and nat-
ural history of our country, some one might do
who would undertake to make a general index of
all the good things that have appeared during the
past quarter of a century in works like these, — no
individual could afford to do it, but some society
possessing complete sets, and having the means at
command, could not put the money to better uses.
One of the best pieces of work General Le Due did
when Commissioner of Agriculture was to make
an index of all the volumes of that department up
to his time. Would it be out of order for the same
department to make an index of all State reports ?
What a very useful work it would be ! These before
us contain very valuable essays ; but just when one
wants to refer to them he will forget where to look.
A few days ago we wanted to look over all that had

been written on actual experiments or observa-
tions on the intercrossing of Indian corn, and
after an hour's search found nothing, yet surely
there must be much on record somewhere.

Orchids, the Royal Family of Plants. —
By Harriet Stewart Miner. Boston: Published by
Lee and Sheppard, and in New York, by Charles
T.Dillingham. Price, |l 5.00.

The most magnificent work of its class ever is-
sued in our country, and will do more perhaps
than any thing that has appeared to make orchid
culture widely popular. There are seven great
families of orchideae, and in the twenty-four plates
given selections are made from all these, and thus
is given a general idea of all the family. The
species illustrated arc, Dendrobium Devonianum,
D. Ainsworthia, D. nobile, Masdevallia Veitchii,
CattleyaTrianse, C. Choccensis, C. Mossse, C. Lod-
digesii, Laelia autumnalis, L. Dayeana, Phalse-
nopsis Stuartiana, Oncidium Barkeri, Calanthe
Veitchii, Aerides quinquevulnerum, Odontoglos-
sum Roezlii album, O. triumphans, O. Alexan-
dra;, Lycaste aromatica, Vanda suavis, Cymbid-
ium Hookerianum, C. niveum, C. Haynaldium,
and C. Spicerianum. The colored lithographic
plates are all drawn by the authoress and are given
here in quarto size. The lithography is very well
done. Practical facts, philosophical speculations,
classical allusions, poetical references, and various
thoughts suggested by the subjects form the text,
which is beautifully printed on heavily calendered,
gilt edged paper. Possibly critics in the various
departments of literature might want to qualify or
add to what has been said by the authoress, but
all will say that her attempt to offer a very beau-
tiful and interesting work has been a signal suc-
cess.

For weddings or birthday presents, Easter gifts
or memorial gifts of any kind, nothing we are sure
would be more appreciated than a copy of this
book; while those who have a collection of orchids,
or desire to have one, will surely want this beauti-
ful book in their libraries.

How THE Farm Pay's. — By William Crozier
and Peter Henderson. New York : Peter Hen-
derson & Co.

This is a large octavo of 379 pages, handsomely
printed and profusely illustrated, giving the ex-
perience of two of the most successful men in
market gardening and farming our country has
produced. What two such men have to say about
profitable work of this kind must of necessity
have great weight. Mr. Henderson's works of a

30

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

similar character have had an immense sale, and
hundreds have derived profit from them. It will
be no less the case with this. A capital thing, not
often done as well, is the Index.

Ornamental Gardening for Americans. —
By Elias A. Long. Orange Judd Co., New York.

No work issued for many years in our country
has come before us that we can more cordially
welcome than this. Books on fruits, flowers, and
vegetables, are common enough ; but on orna-
mental gardening generally, we have had nothing
that was worthy of intelligent attention and at the
same time just suited to the wants of every-day
life. Scott's "Suburban Home Grounds" is a
magnificent work. To our mind, not even Europe
■with all its wealth of garden taste and wealth of
means, has issued its superior ; but it is a work
suited to the best specimens o! gardening — to the
wants of those already somewhat advanced in rural
taste ; or to the desires of those who want to make
perfection in the art a special study. No good
garden library is perfect without a copy of " Scott's
Suburban Home Grounds." But there are thou-
sands in our country who know but little ot orna-
mental gardening, who desire to know more, and
who have to be taught gardening almost as we
teach the alphabet to children. There have been
attempts of this kind before, but their misfortunes
were, they as a general rule mistook a want of
knowledge for stupidity, and they left the reader
with little desire to know more than what they
taught. This is not one of that class. Assuming
the reader to know little, he is not burdened, but
led on intelligently, till by the time he is through,
he will be an accomplished landscape gardener.
We really think that every home in the country
will profit by having this book in the library ; and
gardeners especially should get and study it. A
general diffusion of this book among those who
" lay out places," and do garden work, would be
a great blessing to gardening in America.

The American Garden.— Messrs. B. K. Bliss
& Sons have disposed of their interest in the
American Garden to E. H. Libby, who will con-
tinue its publication. The magazine has been
ably edited by Dr. Hexamer, who we are glad to
note will continue in charge. It has been a valua-
ble coadjutor in the cause of horticultural prog-
ress, and we wish it a long-continued success.

The Caterer.— E. C. Whitton, Phila. It is no
use to raise nice fruits or vegetables unless some
one knows how to cook them well. This is an ex-
cellent monthly magazine devoted to the kitchen.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Pronunciation of Veronica. — " Kate R."
writes; "You did not tell us which of the two
forms of pronunciation of Veronica we should use,
presuming there is but one correct way."

[Our original correspondent who inquired about
Veronica has raised a storm around us — and yet
it shows how large is the number of people who
take an interest in the intellectual matters inci-
dental to horticulture. It so happens that for a
hundred years or more the same question has
been asked that " Kate " asks now. We can only
say that the correct pronunciation will depend on
the question of derivation. Those who believe
that the name is in any way connected with the
legend of the handkerchief will say Ve-roni'-ca;
those who regard it as derived from Betonica will
say Ve-ron'-i-ca. Horticulturists and botanists al-
ways use the latter pronunciation, and we note
that Professor Gray, in his " Manual of Botany,"
adopts this pronunciation, though evidently lean-
ing, as Dr. Darlington did, to the ecclesiastical
theory of the name.

To our mind the fact that this plant has been
named, and the pronunciation the same as Be-
tonica, in all probability ages before the legend of
the handkerchief became connected with it, is an
additional reason for the origin of the name as we
have suggested — merely a corruption of Betonica,
a family with which it was originally classed. —
Ed. G. M.]

George Sterling. — " The subject of this notice
died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 29th of last
May, aged seventy-nine years. His name as a
gardener, and particularly as a botanist, was known
throughout Britain. Uneducated and selftaught
botanist that he was, few men surpassed him as an
authority on the general nomenclature of plants.
The writer of this was an apprentice under him
while gardener at Melville Castle, near Edinburgh,
in 1842, and at that time the collection of hardy
herbaceous plants under the charge of Mr. Sterling
numbered over fifteen thousand species, and the
collection of Cape Heaths and New Holland plants
was probably unsurpassed by any private collection
in the vicinity, (jeorge Sterling was a stern disci-
plinarian though one of the kindest of men, and
the position of his workmen and apprentices was
no sinecure. Nearly every plant of his large col-
lection was distinctly labeled, and all too by his
apprentices and workmen at night on their own
time, often burning the midnight oil, for our own

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

31

benefit, he said. A list was given to each man
weekly and a set task exacted from each.

"At that time, for a man in his station, Mr. Sterling
received flattery enough to turn his head. Rarely
a week passed but his interesting collection of
plants was examined by amateur and professional
botanists, and such men as Dr. Niel of Edinburgh,
McNab of the Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, and
Turnbull of Glasgow consulted and deferred to
his opinion. Mr. Sterling was a candidate for
Curator of the Cambridge Botanic Gardens, Eng-
land, in 186/], and received scores of testimonials
from the highest sources in Britain vouching for
his peculiar ability for the position.

"The writer visited him in Edinburgh in 1872.
He had then retired from active work, and though
sixty- five years of age was as bright mentally and
physically as a man of fifty. He still kept a col-
lection of over six thousand species of plants,
mostly Alpines, and amused himself by making
exchanges with the different Botanical Gardens
throughout Europe.

" Mr. Sterling had but one son, who I understand
has inherited the botanical tastes of his father and
who has been for some time in the United States,
and is now of the firm of Gould & Sterling, nur-
serymen, Jacksonville, Fla. P. H."

Diseases of Plants. — A. W. Smith says:
"The diseases of plants we plant growers have to
contend with would be an interesting subject of
value to the general reader of the Gardeners'
Monthly."

[As our correspondent well says, this is one of
the most interesting subjects that can employ the
thoughts of the practical man, and we are much
obliged to him for the suggestion. It will be a
great pleasure to us to receive from correspond-
ents accounts of their troubles and trials, and ex-
periments and observations, that will enable the
Editor to aid and assist them. In a magazine of
this kind the Editor has to fall in with the wants
and wishes of his subscribers. To-day it may be
in the line of the practical value of steam over hot
water; to-morrow the thoughts of the mass of
readers may turn in the direction of the greatest
amount of money to be had from an orchard that
is in grass, or in an orchard kept in a clear sur-
face. At one time the great mass of the readers
seem to run into a desire to discuss facts and
problems in natural history that may have a rela-
tion to gardening — and then again the Editor is
overwhelmed with correspondence about the enor-
mous value of the wine crop to the people of the
United States, and the necessity of publishing
everything possible that may tend to keep down
the ravages of the Phylloxera. In short, the Gar-
deners' Monthly has to take those subjects into
the most earnest consideration in which the cor-
respondents themselves seem to take the greatest
interest. In this case we second the suggestion of
our correspondent that the diseases of plants is
one of great practical importance ; and it will be a
pleasure to the Editor to aid any correspondent
during the coming season who may desire infor-
mation.— Ed. G. M.]

Horticultural Societies.

COMMUNICATIONS.

HAARLEM EXHIBITION OF FLOWERING

BULBS, MARCH, 1885.

BY J. H. KRELAGE.

In 1885 the General Society for improving Hor-
ticulture at Haarlem will celebrate the fourth cen-
tury of its existence, and on that occasion an ex-
hibition will be opened at Haarlem on a large scale,
being one of the quinquennial shows of the socie-

ty. Such grand exhibitions have already been
held in 1875 and 1880. The one'now announced,
however, will surpass all those held before, and if
it become what it promises, it may be the best
show of flowering bulbs and tuberous rooted plants
ever held. The show will be opened from 20-24
March in the largest hall at Haarlem with its an-
nexes.

The schedule of prizes has 140 entries for which
381 medals are offered, (golden, gilt, silver and
bronze — some of them, with a surplus of money

32

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[January,

value.) The value of all the prizes together is
more than ^^500, Sterling. There are 87 medals
for Hyacinths, 60 for Tulips, 17 for Narcis-
sus, and smaller numbers for Crocus, Fritillaria,
Galanthus, Leucojum, Scilla, Chionodoxa, Mus-
cari, Erythronium, Anemones, Ranunculas, Lilium,
Gladiolus, Iris, Helleborus, Hepatica, Trillium,
Convallaria, Hotea, Spirea, Dicentra, Terrestrial
Orchids, Pffionia, Amaryllis, Imanthophyllum, Eu-
charis, Orchids, Gesneriaceae, Begonia, Anthuri-
um, Caladium, Calla, Cyclamen, Tropaeolum,
Lachenalia, Sparaxis, Phormium and Yucca, as
well as for miscellaneous, rare or new bulbous and
tuberous-rooted plants.

A large number of medals are besides offered
for table decorations, bouquets, arrangements of
flowers, baskets, etc., with flowers or plants with
this peculiar condition, that all the flowers, which
are put in these arrangements ought to be those
of bulbous or tuberous-rooted plants.

This show will doubtless be a great attraction to
all those who take an interest in bulb-growing. It
will give a better idea of the collection of spring
bulbs grown in the neighborhood of Haarlem than
any show did before, and will be well worth com-
ing over for a few days to Holland to see.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

American Pomological Society. — Prepara-
tions are being made by the Michigan Pomologists
to make the next meeting of this society, which
is to be held in their State, one of the most suc-
cessful on record.

The Pennsylvania State Horticultural
Society.— This body meets this year in Lancaster
on January 2 1 St and 22d. The usual arrange-
ments for excursion tickets will be made, appli-
cation for which must be made to E. B. Engle,
Secretary, Chambcrsburg, Pa.

We have no details of any special business,
except that Mr. Meehan has been asked to make
a verbal address on "The connection of Fruits and
Flowers with the Progress of Civilization," which
he has accepted, with the proviso that other duties
shall permit him to attend as he hopes to do.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. — Mr.
J. E. Mitchell, a leading merchant of Phila-
delphia, who has long and faithfully served the
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society as Vice
President, has been elected to the Presidency of
the Society, in the place of the late W. L. Schaffer,
Esq., whose death we recorded some time since.

Chrysanthemums at the New York Show. —
Mr. Gerald Howatt gives the Country Geriileman
some account of the Chrysanthemum Show at
the recent Fair of the American Institute, from
which we take the following, as giving some
points in comparison with the plants exhibited in
Philadelphia, of which we gave some account in
our last. Following are some of the most prom-
inent standards, grown in 10 and 12-inch pots,
height of stem measured from surface of pot :

"Empress of Modii — White ; stock, 2 ft. 9 in. ;
head of flowers, 2 ft. 9 in. diameter. Hermoine —
Yellow ; stock, 2 ft. 10 in. ; head 2 ft. diameter.
Duchess of Edinburgh — Stock, 2 ft. 10 in. ; head,

2 It. ; flesh color. Mrs. Prindell — White ; stock,

3 ft. 6 in. ; head 2 ft. diameter. Beauty — Flesh ;
stock, 3 ft. 6 in. ; head, 2 ft. Venica — Flesh ;
stock, 3 ft. 6 in. ; head, 2 ft. 4 in. diameter. Ful-
gore — Crimson ; stock, 4 ft. 6 in. ; head 2 ft. 4 in.
diameter. Orange Beauty — Orange ; stock, 2 ft.
6 in. ; head, 2 ft. 6 in. diameter. Sir B. Seymour —
Orange; stock, 2 ft. 10 in.; head, 2 ft. 6 in.
diameter. Mrs. C. L. A/ien-Vink; stock, 3 ft. ;
head, 3 ft. diameter. Grandifloruin — Yellow ;
stock, 2 ft. 6 in. ; head, 3 ft. diameter. President
Parkman — Pink; stock, 3 ft.; head, 3ft. diameter.
California — Yellow ; stock, 2 ft. ; head, 3 ft. di-
ameter. Venus — Pink; stock, 3 ft,; head, 3 ft.
diameter."

Massachusetts Horticultural Society.—
The meeting on December 14th, though including
the usual wide range of exhibits, was emphatic-
ally the Chrysanthemum Show. A correspondent
kindly furnishes us with a list of the persons who
obtained the premiums, but unfortunately there
are few details that are likely to be of more gene-
ra! interest. In Dr. Walcott's collection there ap-
pears to have been seventy-five distinct varieties;
in E. A. Wood's, sixty-nine ; in Col. Wilder's,
fifty four ; from which it would appear that a great
number of varieties are grown in collections about
Boston. La Charmeuse is given as the name of
the variety that obtained the premium as the best
single specimen of a Japanese variety.

The only description of the e.\hibits as furnished
to us is, that the plants were " remarkably fine,"
"most excellent," and "more magnificent than
ever before." The foreign grapes exhibited were
"fine," and the pears were "fine," while some
Northern Spy and Tompkins County King apples
were "excellent." The celery had "fine roots,"
while the large potatoes on exhibition came from
the use of somebody's "patent fertilizer." Unfor-
tunately for our readers we fear these terms will
have no very precise meaning, and we have to
regret, that it is all we can give of what appears to
have been a grand and very useful exhibition.

THE

"^ CI B. ,

A/ 5;

W V^'

Gardeners' Monthly

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XXVII.

FEBRUARY, 1885.

Number 314.

Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

There is much written about planting in fall or
planting in spring ; about planting large trees or
small trees ; about pruning, grafting, or the gen-
eral management of trees above ground ; but
about the tree beneath the ground few people
know much. We are taught about the tree ; but
about the earth which is to sustain the tree, how
little do we know ? So much however depends
on soil culture, that a few seasonable hints on this
topic will not be thrown away.

We read of the wonderful success of the English
gardeners with Rhododendrons, and other "Ameri-
can plants," in which are included a large number
of the Ericaceae or Heath family, and we are apt
to attribute it to the moisture of their climate,
which is undoubtedly favorable to the success of
evergreens of all kinds ; but when we remember
that these plants are all natives of our country,
the suspicion naturally arises, that it cannot be
wholly to the atmospheric conditions that their
success is due, — nor is it, — but it is rather to
the great attention which is there paid to the
proper culture of the soil. All plants require air
and moisture for their roots, and when these roots
are of a delicate, hair-like nature, extra care has
to be expended in order to supply these conditions.
If the water remains long in the soil, there will be

no air there. The earth must be porous for the
water to run rapidly away. On the other hand
the earth must be of such a character that, though
j the air is permitted to pass through, moisture will
be retained. A soil that is perfect for these hair-
rooted plants, may be called a spongy soil, and
yet of such a character that water can scarcely be
pressed out of it. Now those who grow Rhodo-
dendrons and Azaleas in the old world, would
never think of planting in stiff soil, but they go to
great pains to get the soil just as they need it for
the success of the plants. It is no uncommon
thing for the earth for the American bed to be
brought fifty or even a hundred miles. The writer
has seen peat soil for the Rhododendron beds
brought in vessels and unloaded at the docks like
loads of coal. If the grower wanted these plants
he would not say : My soil is limestone and Rho-
dodendrons will not grow in that ; but he digs out
the limestony earth to a depth of two feet, and
supplies its place with the peat, and thus he over-
comes the natural antipathy of the earth. Peat is
very good, it is so full of air and spongy, but it is
by no means essential. Anything that will give
an open, porous, spongy soil answers the same
purpose. The writer has seen the Rhododendron
growing as well in a pile of quarry refuse— the
broken, useless stone, — after some manure has been
placed in it, as he has ever seen in a bed of peat

34

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

In fact where peaty soil cannot be had, broken
stone or gravel, or anything that will keep the soil
aerated and moist, will do nearly as well.

And the lesson is good for all trees, as well as
for Heaths, Andromedas, Kalmias, Rhododendrons,
and such like trees and shrubs. Nothing likes to I
have water about its feeding roots, but insists on
having air. Take a tree which grows in or nearly
in water, in a state of nature, as a Cypress, an
Alder, or Gum tree, and plant it in a swamp, it
will not grow, or do very poorly, if at all. Natur-
ally, it is only the few larger members of the tap
root class that go straight down into the swamp.
The feeding roots keep at the surface, through the
moss or in the spaces that are moist always but
never wet. But in planting we bury the roots of
all kinds beneath the water where the air is not.
So, if we want to plant a tree in a swamp we bring
earth, or throw it up in a hillock, and plant the tree
above the level of the swampy surface, and let
it send its roots down of its own sweet will. The
writer profited by this knowledge in his attempts
to cultivate the Mammoth tree of California. When
in California himself, he saw that these giants of
the forest were originally swamp trees, though
through the course of ages the localities had dried
somewhat. Hitherto the trees in the East had
been planted on ordinary garden ground, except
a few in a moist ravine on the grounds of EUwanger
& Barry, at Rochester, New York. On the writer's
return from California, trees were planted in a
swamp so soft that a horse that once wandered
into it could be barely got out alive. But the
manner of planting was by getting a barrel, taking
out the bottom, planting it in the swamp so that
a foot or two was above the level, and earth filled
in. On these elevations the Mammoth trees were
planted, and they have grown like willows. By
the time the barrels- rot away, the surface roots
will themselves find a way to creep over the sur-
face soil. Many good gardeners who have wanted
to plant trees on wet ground often ridge the earth,
or throw it up into mounds and plant on them —
on the ground in some sense, instead of beneath
it — and then have surprising success.

Not only for trees and shrubs, but for flowers
and plants of every kind, the first essential of
success is an aerated spongy soil. This is often
naturally the case ; but when not so, nothing is
usually more easy than to make it so. Even piles
of corn stalks, brushwood, or similar material,
buried deep in the soil, will often help to keep a
flower bed or bed of shrubbery open and porous
when nothing better is at hand.

COMMUNICATIONS.

LOPHOSPERMUM SCANDENS.
BY CHARLES E. PARNELL.

The climbing or ^candent Lophospermum,
Lophospermum scandens, is a very interesting half-
hardy perennial climbing plant belonging to the
natural order Scrophulariaceas. It is a plant of
vigorous growth, attaining a height of from twelve
to sixteen feet, having cordate ovate pointed
leaves which are clothed with soft spreading vis-
cid hairs, and the beautiful rosy purple foxglove-
like flowers are produced in the greatest profusion
during the plant's season of growth. This variety
is considered by all to be the best of the Lophos-
permums, and as its roots are thick and fleshy it
can on this account be easily kept over during
the winter season. It is a native of Mexico from
whence it was introduced in 1835, having been
raised from seed by Mr. Shepard, of the Liverpool
Botanical Gardens.

This Lophospermum is a plant easily cultivated.
In the flower border it delights in an airy sunny
situation, a deep, well enriched soil, and an occa-
sional watering during seasons of drought. Sup-
port should be given the plants before they com-
mence to run, and care must be taken as to train-
ing the young and tender shoots. If all is well,
and the plants were strong and healthy when
planted out, they will commence to flower about
the first of July and continue until frost. In the
flower garden it will be found to be of great
value for training up trellises, lattice work, etc.,
and it is equally as valuable for greenhouse culti-
vation.

When grown as a greenhouse or window gar-
den plant, young plants should be obtained about
the middle of June and potted into three-inch pots,
using ordinary potting soil. As soon as the pots
become well filled with roots shift into five-inch
pots; at the same time pinch back all the leading
shoots and continue this re-potting and pinching
back until the first of September, when the plants
should be brought inside and placed in their res-
pective positions. By this time one will have
nice, compact, well rooted specimens, which if
given a light sunny situation and an average tem-
perature of 55°, with an occasional application of
liquid manure water, will reward us with bloom
in profusion. Inside, the plants should be syringed
occasionally, at the same time slightly fumigated
with tobacco in order to destroy the green fly, to
which pest the plant is unfortunately very subject.

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

35

The next season the plants can be well cut in and
planted out in the flower border and given the
treatment advised for young plants. It seems al-
most superfluous to remark that young plants
, must be prepared for another winter's bloom.
Propagation can be easily effected by cuttings of
the half-ripened wood at any time ; also by seeds
which are best sown early in March. Sow thinly
and cover slightly in a well drained pot or pan of
light loamy soil, and place it in any warm moist
situation as near the glass as possible. As soon
as the young plants are strong enough to handle
pot them off" into three-inch pots, keeping them
close and moist until well established, then grad-
ually expose to the open air and plant out when
all danger of frost is over.

When grown as a pot plant ordinary potting
soil will answer very well, but it is essential that
the pot be well drained.

The generic name is derived from " lophos,"
crest, and " sperma" seed, in allusion to the fact
of the seeds being furnished with a crested wing ;
and the specific name alludes to the climbing or
scandent habit or growth of the plant.

Queens, N. Y.

PLANTING LARGE TREES.

BY FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED.

of

Ten years ago more than a hundred trees
considerable size (from 20 to 50 inches in girth, or
about I foot in diameter on an average), were
transplanted on the Capitol grounds. They were
not in a thrifty condition, and to adapt them to
removal their roots were all cut off at a distance
not greater in any case than ji'A feet from the
trunk. Their branches were also closely short-
ened-in, reducing their heads to from one to two-
thirds their original size. It was considered a
question whether the trees would retain enough of
vital energy to survive, and the operation was
often referred to for some years afterwards as an
injudicious and disastrous one. It is therefore
desirable that attention should be called to the
results as now to be observed.

The condition of two of the trees was regarded
at the time as especially hazardous, and these were
placed where in case of failure their absence would
not be important.

After three years they were still living, and
promising to live, but not to flourish; they there-
fore were felled.

Of the remainder no tree has died as the result
of the removal, and those that have escaped serious

injury from causes not connected with the removal
are all now living and in a thriving condition. In
general, their heads are much larger as well as
much denser than they had been before they were
shortened-in, and they are growing more rapidly
than before their removal. Their rate of growth
is also more rapid than that of trees on the ground
of corresponding species and age, that have not
been removed ; the reason being that the soil of the
latter could not be thoroughly improved without lift-
ing them.

To more distinctly present the degree in which
the operation has been successful, twenty of these
transplanted trees have been measured, selecting
those which, because of their size or other circum-
stances, presented the greater difficulties. The
measurements are given below, and supply indices
of the present thrift of the trees. Similar measure-
ments are also given of trees of numerous sorts
obtained from commercial nurseries, or from the
indigenous woods near. Washington ; these when
removed having been generally small saplings.

Trees of the list A (below) were moved by
machine in the fall and spring of l875-'76 and
(except a few of the smaller, taken from the
Botanic Garden) from a thin soil on a stiff clay
subsoil to a prepared soil and subsoil (described
page 1 5 of the Report of the Architect of the Capi-
tol for 1882). Those from the Botanic Garden were
from better soil and more sheltered positions.

The machine used is described and pictured in
the Report on Forestry, prepared under the direc-
tion of the Commissioner of Agriculture, pursuant
to an act of Congress, approved August 15, 1876,
pages 84, 85. The roots of all were cut to "balls"
(not frozen), generally of a diameter of 8 feet, none
larger. Their heads were shortened-in fully one-
third, in some cases two-thirds. Since transplant-
ing they have been several times lightly top-
dressed and, in periods of severe drought, have
been watered. They have had fully the usual
struggle with vermin, and most of the elms have
this year been denuded of foliage.

Trees of the list B, except as stated, were planted
1876-77. They had been obtained from commer-
cial nurseries, largely of Washington and Balti-
more, and when planted were saplings from half
an inch to an inch and a half in thickness of stem
and 3 to 6 feet in height. Those noted as " wild "
were obtained from woods near Washington, and
several of these being injured or stunted were, the
second year, cut to the stumps, and the present
growth is from the ground since planting.

In the column "girth " the circumference of the

36

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

tree is given at 2 feet from the ground ; in that of most twigs of the tree ; in that 01 " sweep," distance
" height," distance from the ground of the upper- between opposite outer twigs ; in that of " shoots "

Common Name.

White Kim

English "

Wahoo "

White Oak

Willow "

Pin •'

Royal "

Sugar Maple

Norway "

tcarlet "
ilver •'

Box Elder

American Beech

Plane

Linden

White Ash

Madeira Nut

American Holly. ,
Horse Chestnut..

f

a

1

a

/ //

w

-

Ss

X

1

//

1 n

5 10

.'".I

6

47

3 1

5 11

OH

«

42

1 3

6 .5

til

3.5

1 11

6 9

fiO

42

u

2 5

4 2

42

4.S

(1

2 9

4 7

Til

27

1 3

3 4

40

2fi

1 8

3 7

;«

(1

30

1 3

3 9

28

3fi

2 6

2 7

38

32

10

3 2

35

27

1

3 1

31

33

11

3 1

34

30

(1

1 4

4 3

4S

•0

39

2 6

3 U

K

II

42

2 5

2 3

30

24

1 8

3 10

40

3,S

3 2

4 4

42

42

1 1

4 9

4S

32

1 9

4 1

.32

3:1

1 7

2 4

17

«

1.S

8

5.2

36

.30

u

7

Observations.

Ulmus Aiuericanus. Upright, 5 feet ; lateral, 8 feet.
Upright, 8 feet ; lateral, 12 feet.
" Upright, 10 feet; lateral. 14 feet.

" campestris. Upright, 8 feet ; lateral, 12 feet.
" alata. B. G. Upright, 15 feet; lateral, 13 feet.
Q,uercus alba. Upright, 9 feet; lateral. 10 feet.

" Phellos, trimmed to a pole. Upright, 18 ft.; lateral, 16.
" palustris. B. G. Upright, 10 feet; lateral, 10 feet.
" robur. B. G. Lateral, 14 feet.
Acer saccharinura. Upright, feet ; lateral, 7 feet 6 inches.
" " Upright, 13 feet ; lateral, 8 feet.

" platanoides. Upright, 12 feet ; lateral, 10 feet,
'' rubrum.

"' dasycarpum. Upright, 18 feet ; lateral, 19 feet.
Negundo aceroides. B. G. Upright, ly feet; lateral, 13 feet.
Fagus ferruginoa. Upright, 16 feet; lateral, 6 feet.
Platanus orientalis. B. G. Upright, 18 feet; lateral, 14 feet.
Tilia Europaea. Upright, 5 feet ; lateral, 7 feet.
Fraxinus Americana.

Juglans regia. B. G. Upright, 6 feet ; lateral, 6 feet.
Ilex opaca. Heavily fruiting.

.^sculus Hypocastaneum. This was one of two Horse Chest-
nuts near together. That originally the larger was not moved,
and is now the smaller in girth, height and breadth.

B

Common Name.

American Elm

Cork Elm ".'.'.'.'.'.'.

Planera

Over-cup O.ak

Chestnut '*

Spanish *'

Willow "

Royal "

Scarlet Maple

Field "

14 4(

White Ash...!'.'/.!!!!

Coffee Tree!!!!!!!!!!!
Oriental Plane

Tulip

Yellow wood

American Chestnut..

Shingle Oak

Norway Maple

Sycamore "

Sugar "

Buckeye

Turkey Oak

American Hornbeam

Persimmon

Oleaster

Angelica

Christ's Thorn

Cucumber

Yellow Cucumber

Great-leaved "

Sassafras

Osage Orange

Catalpa

Golden Cat ilpa ,

Japan ■*

Cedrela ,

Dogwood ,

Redbuil

Swcft Gum

Lime

Scotch Birch

+3

7S

tx

<i;

^

O

1

n

05

/ //

1 II

3 4

.3fi

24

2 10

24

30

2 9

29

fi

26

2 1

22

24

1 8

ftT

15

1 4

20

21

2

27

15

3 1

30

36

2 5

27

25

3 4

28

36

2 5

28

27

2 1

27

24

2 7

19

18

3 10

24

24

2 8

24

IS

1 11

23

21

1 5

2i

24

3 5

43

41

3 3

42

40

2 1

20

21

1

20

24

1 8

21

17 5

2 5

17

fi

13

3 7

42

.33

2 11

;«

27

3 7

3fi

41

4 10

44

.33

1 9

18

14

1 6

20

14

1 2

17

2 9

22

24

SK

10

6

1 3

13

15

1 2

l.i

10

1 7

10

15

10

13

7

1 6

17

15

1 h

20

n

30

2

19

24

2 8

23

24

2 4

29

22

1 7

27

fi

6

1 6

12

15

2 2

14

24

1 9

23

17

2 2

22

21

1 7

•m

18

2 10
1 7

8

1 8
1 1
1 6

1 6

2
1 3
1 10

2 3
2 3

1 7

2
1 10
8 6
1

10

1 11

1 4

2 9
2
4

2 3

1 5

1 5

1 5

1 8

o'io

2

3

Observations.

1 8

Ulmus Americanus.

" campestris.

" suberosa.

Planera aquatica. Upright growth, 15 feet.

Quercus macrocarpa.

" Prinos,

" falcata.

" Phellos.

" robur.

Acer rubrum.
" campestre.

Fraxinus Americana,

Gymnocladus Canadensis.

Platanus orientalis. Pennsylvania circle ; imported, 1877.

Upright ; 30 feet,
l.iriodcndrnn tulipifcra.
Cladraslis tinctoria.

(^ijstaiica vi'sca. Upright ; 10 feet ; wild.
Ciuercii^ iiiil>rii-:tria. Damaged plant; recovering.
Acer |p|at;uioi.lr^. Upright, S Icel ; latcr.al, 4 feet ; 1876.
" rsciidu|ilat:uuis. U|iriglit, 6 feet ; lateral, 4 feet ; 1876.
" Maccharinuni. Upriglit, 6 feet ; later.il, 6 feet 6 inches,
.^^sculus glabra. Upright, 4 feet ; lateral, 6 feet ; 1876.
Q,ucrcus C'crris.
Carpinvis Betulns.

Dyospyru.s V^irginiana. Stump; wild growth from ground.
Eljcagnus hortiaisis. ^

Aralia spinosa.

Zizyphus vulgaris. Loaded with fruit.
Magnolia acuminata. Planting height, 4 feet.

" cordata. P];inting heiglit, 3 feet.

" macrophylla.

Sassafras officinalis. Wild.
Maclur.a :inranti.'vca.
Catali)a bignonoidcs.

" " Var. aurca.

*' Kaiinpieri.
Cedrehi sinensis. Lower laterals rcmovc<l.
('ornns florida. Stiunp; wild.
Orcis Canadensis. 1870.

Lii^uidandiar styracillua. Wild; upright, 19 feet ; 1870.
Tilui Kuropa^a.
Betula alba. Upright, 21 feet ; 1878.

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

37

measurement of shoots of this year's growth at ends
of lateral branches (usually the trees are well-bal-
anced and, except elms, symmetrical). The entire
upright growth and "lateral" growth on one
side in ten years after planting from limbs then
stumped is given where observed. In the last
column " B. G." means from the Botanic Gar-
den. The measurements given were made 14th
15th and i6th of September, 1884. Measure-
ments are in feet, or in feet and inches.

[We give the above from a recent report of the
Architect of the Capitol at Washington, as an ex-
tremely interesting commentary on the prevalent
opinion, industriously fostered in some quarters,
that there is any serious difficulty in getting large
trees to grow. In this part of the world an exper-
ience of thirty years has shown that it is not neces-
sary for even the expense of the " ball of earth "
cared for in the Washington experiments. The
transplanter commences four or five feet from the
trunk, gets all the roots he can, and carries as little
earth as possible. A cart is placed up against the
tree, the shafts lashed to the trunk, a rope attached
to the top of the tree, and the axle serving as a
prop for the lever, a ton or two of tree is easily
lifted. A horse is attached to the tail end of the
cart, and, root foremost, the tree is hauled and
dropped into the hole prepared for it. A tree, by
this plan, 25 or 30 feet high, and with a trunk three
or four feet in circumference, can be dug, taken a
mile and replanted for about $25, and more safely,
we think here, than by the ball method. — Ed.G. M.]

Myosotis Eliza Ganrobert. — Mr. F. E. Mc-
Allister, of New York, calls our attention to this
remarkable variety of P"orget-me-not. The flowers
are in a certain sense double, having double the
number of lobes to the corolla that is usual in this
family. The flower is from a quarter of an inch to
a half inch across. From the description we

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Worms in a Rose-bed. — A reader. New Jer-
sey, says : " I send enclosed in this a sample of
worm that is very troublesome to me in the green-
house, on the benches covered with soil. It de-
stroys the roots of plants in pots, particularly
geraniums. Thinking that you might possibly
know of a remedy I address you. I have been an
interested reader of your Monthly for over two
years, and have in that time been repaid, ten times
over, the price paid for it, and would not now do
without it if it were to be obtained at any price
within reach of a gardener."

[The creatures were small centipedes, and are
not known to be specially injurious to vegetation.
They make trouble sometimes by keeping soil dis-
turbed. Watering with clear lime-water will get
rid of them, and be no injury to the plants. —
Ed. G. M.l

Myosotis Eliza Ganrobert.

should judge it would be a very desirable addi-
tion to our garden flowers, and be a particular
favorite with those who desire to grow flowers for
cutting purposes. Like almost all of the Forget-
me-nots, it is of a beautiful blue. In foreign
catalogues it appears under the formidable name
of Myosotis alpestris, grandiflora, robusta, &c.

Japan Irises. — A correspondent says; " I like
the Japan Irises. 1 have some seedlings of im-
mense size, and with almost full double flowers,
nearly 8 inches in diameter. They please me
much. But you have no doubt the new named
varieties, if not choice seedlings of your own. The
first ones that 1 tried did not strike me as anything
very great, but in the past two or three years I
have changed my mind in regard to this class of
Iris."

Prop.\gating Roses. — "Carrie B.," Pittsburgh,

38

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

Pa., asks : ■' Gan you tell me how to raise plants
of a rose we value very much ? We know noth-
ing of grafting or budding, but suppose the plant
can be raised from slips, though some put in last
year did not grow."

[Sometimes cuttings of wood taken before the
leaves push, planted in a shady place, but not a
dry place, will grow, but more certainly if planted
in fall and kept from severe frost. Most lady
gardeners, who have no greenhouse, would put

these pots of autumn planted rose cuttings in a
room window, and get them to do very well.
Some amateurs have excellent success by taking
the young growth when half mature, and placing
them in saucers of mushy sand, and setting them
in the full sun. Half ripened wood is generally
relied on by florists for rose propagation. If the
plants have been grown under glass, cuttings
from them seem to root more easily than when
grown wholly in the open air. — Ed. G. M.]

Greenhouse and House Gardening.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

Plant culture, as an art, has scarcely kept pace
with other departments of gardening. A fine, and
really well grown specimen plant, is too frequently
the work of time or circumstances, rather than the
plant-grower's skill. Very few persons, indeed,
start out deliberately to grow a good specimen
plant ; and, indeed, the knowledge of the great
pleasure there is in good plant growing, has been
nearly lost to mankind. The plant growers of
the last generation had much more of these horti-
cultural pleasures than we. Perhaps they overdid
the thing, and the lampooners got alter them and
destroyed the whole thing. It was, indeed, a rare
old sight to see the old plant grower's potting shed.
There were as many compartments for all sorts of
special soils and manures as drawers and boxes
in an apothecary's shop, and the prescriptions for
successful plant growing were no less curiosities —
an eighth of this, a sixteenth of the other, a thirty-
second of something else, with perhaps a pinch of
some soil condiment and a shake of another, like
salt and pepper in the old cook books, set forth
the essential conditions of success. It was all too
good to be true, to the more careless moderns.
Now, they get any sort of earth, put a little manure
and sand to lighten it ; and this is potting soil. If
any plant likes it, well and good; if not, in the
classical language of the school-yard, they may
"lump if," and this is the end of all. But there is
no doubt that all plants have peculiar tastes,
which we may pander to if we will that they
should do their best. Some have a sweet tooth
for goodies, and others prefer what a good set of

molars could prepare. Some call for cafe /ait,
others for ca/i noir ; here one expects a puree of
something or another, while the other can be put
off with corn beef and potatoes without a sigh. Of
course you can grow a plant in "any good soil"
as the flower books tell us, but the plant grower
will find what it pays in pleasure to remember, that
they have odd whims a"nd queer fancies as well as
other living things ; and as with other living
things, we get the most out of them when we
humor them.

In the potting of plants there is much to study
as well as in the soil. Plants like it fresh — that is,
fresh soil. To grow a plant well we must pot it
often. If we put a small plant into a large pot,
ten to one the leaves will get yellow after awhile,
unless the plant be some rank growing, weedy
thing. The roots rot — that is, the feeding roots
rot — gardeners say, the soil sours. To guard
against this, as soon as the little pot is full of roots,
it is put into a larger one — one but just large
enough to get a little more earth between the old
ball and the new pot. In a few weeks we go at
it again, and so we continue every few weeks, so
that before the season is over a plant that started
in a 3-inch pot finds itself in a six or more, and
when it is so grown manure water does not hurt
the plant; it rather enjoys and laughs over it. We
cannot do this with the little plant in the large pot;
manure water then makes the sour soil still sourer,
and the end soon comes. Oh ! how glorious used
to be the old-fashioned Pelargoniums— Martha
Washington we believe is the American name —
grown on some such plan as we have dotted out.
Plants in six months two feet high and two feet

1885.1

AND HORTICULTURIST.

39

thick, with leaves as large as saucers, dark and
glossy, and the earliest one keeping green till the
last flowers had blown — hundreds of flowers on
each single plant. Shall we never see these times
again ? We think we shall see these famous times
again. Gardening, as an art, is inseparable from
the best advances of man. The love of beauty —
the love of flowers, is one thing — but mere cold,
passive, receptive love, is but half the pleasure of
life. To create and shape the beauty we admire,
is the full measure of earthly happiness. Pygma-
lion of ancient story had possibly more pleasure
in the statue he made, and to which Venus gave
life in order to please his enthusiasm, than any of
us ever took in the grandest picture gallery in
the world.

COMMUNICATIONS.

CULTIVATION OF THE CYCLAMEN.
BY MARTIN J. EDMONDS.

Cyclamen Persicum and its varieties can be
raised from seed with the greatest ease by sowing
them early. Latter part of January or February
1 think is about the best time to sow. Purchase
a packet or two of seed from a reliable seedsman,
of a good strain, and you will have all sorts of
different shades of color, from a pure white to the
deepest red, and spotted. The soil 1 use for seed-
lings is good loam, mixed with a fair share of
sharp sand. Sow in a seed pan, well drained, and
cover about a quarter of an inch deep; water
them and stand them in a gentle heat. Where
they stand must be clear from slugs. The best
way to guard against these is to take a seed pan
of a larger size, make it water tight, fill it with
water, invert a flower pot in the center, the bottom
just above the water, and stand your seed pan on
it ; then perhaps you will have good seed and not
bad. It often happens that the small leaf which
appears at night has disappeared in the morning
— not damped off, but devoured by slugs. As
soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle,
pot them in small pots, and cover them about half
an inch deep. Water them as often as they need
it, and shift into a larger pot when required. A
four-inch pot is large enough to bloom them in.
If they are well taken care of they will bloom in
about ten to fifteen months. If large strong corms
are desired for future blooming, pinch off the seed
pods as soon as the flower drops. After they have
done blooming, water them more sparingly till
they go to rest naturally, and then stow them

away in some cool and airy place free from sun
and rain, until the time comes to re-pot and start
them again. I pot all I have the latter end of
August or the beginning of September. Shake
all the earth from them, and pot according to the
size of the corm. A five-inch pot is large enough
for the largest corm, so long as there is room
enough to pass your finger between corm and pot.
Old corms 1 do not care to cover, especially where
the crown is the shape of a hollow crowned pars-
nip. Stand them on a board outside in the shade
till they begin to grow, or till there is danger of
frost, and then remove them to a shelf in the
greenhouse, near the glass where they will get
plenty of air. As soon as they begin to show
their flowers give them some liquid manure, every
other watering, and then you will have more
flowers than leaves. If they are wanted to bloom
earlier than January, place them in stronger heat,
but 45° at night and 50° by day is hot enough till
they show their flower buds. The above is my
treatment, but it may not suit every one. The se-
cret 1 believe, if there is any, is the drying off and
the rest they receive. If any manure is used, use
it sparingly, and make up for the deficiency with
manure water. Where they are grown by the
thousand, and a house is devoted to them, they
are very easily grown. There has been much
improvement, both in size and number of flowers,
made in late years by hybridizers. A plant a few
years ago with two or three dozen blooms upon it
was considered good, now they are commonly
seen with a hundred. Card, to J. McCreery, Esq.,
Inwood-on-the-Hudson, N. Y.
[Read before the N. Y. Horticultural Society.]

A REMEDY FOR ROSE MILDEW IN
GREENHOUSES.

BY A. VEITCH.

Perhaps the florist has few more subtile enemies
to contend against than mildew, and for this reason
much has been written upon the subject, both as
regards its prevention and its cure. But as it is
one of those visitants which " walketh in darkness"
and makes no sign where the next point of attack
shall be, even the most viratchful frequently suffers
much loss before remedial measures can be applied ;
and even these, when applied, do not always prove
an unmixed good.

For years past I have been familiar with a num-
ber of remedies for this disease and believe that
several of them may be advantageously applied,
but it is only recently that a cure that is safe.

40

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

simple and efficacious, has come to my knowledge.
Sulphur, as is well known, kills mildew, but its
application is not infrequently attended with dis-
astrous results; and just how to prevent this lies
the merit of the remedy we recommend. It con-
sists of sulphur and linseed oil mixed to the con-
sistency of paint and brushed on the flues or hot
water pipes. In this state it can be freely used
without hurt to the most delicate foliage ; but how
the oil neutralizes the scorching quality of the
sulphur without weakening its power to kill the
parasite is more than I can explain, but I do
know that it has this effect, and therefore may be
relied upon as a safe remedy for this troublesome
pest. New Haven, Conn., Dec. 31st, 1884.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

CYCLAMEN FLOWERS.

BY GEO. C. BUTZ.

Cyclamens will soon throw up their pleasant
flowers that droop their heads in modesty and
blush to the tips of their lengthened ears, as if
conscious of their own admired beauty. It may
not be amiss to call attention, at this time, to a
well-known fact in the physiology of flowers, which
I found to be quite marked in the case of Cycla-
mens. That is, if flowers are fertilized, either
naturally or artificially, the strength going to the
flower is entirely utilized in developing the ovary
and ovules ; and consequently the minor parts,
generally those possessing beauty, wither or fall
away in a very short time after such fertilization.

On the 5th of February last I selected a number
of good flowers of Cyclamen Persicum, all of which
had opened the previous day, labeling them in three
divisions. Of the first division the flowers were all
carefully fertilized ; those of the second I immedi-
ately deprived of stamens and stigmas, to make fer-
tilization impossible ; those of the third were left
undisturbed. On February iSththe corollas of the
flowers in the first division had all fallen ; those of
the third were gone by the 20th inst. ; while those
of the second division did not begin to fade until
March loth. Because of the favorable position of
stigma and stamens every flower is more or less
fertilized, although not always maturing seed. As
a matter of fact, the pods of the first division above
matured an average of sixteen seeds, while those of
the third division, only five.

It is no trouble, considering the great economy
in beauty, to take a pin and break away the
anthers as soon as the flowers open. Thus, we can
prolong the life of the individual flowers to twice
the length of their natural existence.

Painting Hot-water Pipes with Gas Tar. —
No one who reads the Gardeners' Monthly
paints the pipes with gas tar; but there are some
who have not this good fortune, and they, after
getting into trouble, worry our readers to help
them out. Hitherto no successful remedy has
been known, but to take down the pipes and burn
out the enemy. This will scarcely do on a cold
night. As well leave the creosotic fumes to do the
work as Jack Frost. But in the Old World they
have unlucky people who cannot subscribe to hor-
ticultural periodicals — as well as here. One of
them got into trouble, and this is what a corres-
pondent of the Gardeners' Chronicle advises in
regard thereto : " I think Mr. Bishop will be able
to remove the tar from his hot-water pipes by first
coating them with muriatic acid, or with vitriol
diluted in water, and then afterwards washing
them with water. It would be the best plan to
wash them with a brush, as great care must be
taken that none of the mixture touches the hands."

A Chicago Orchid Grower. — The Eastern
States are not alone in the love of these curious
flowers. Mr. Chadwick of the Board of Brokers
of Chicago has a very fine collection, which forms
the pastime of his leisure hours.

Panax Victoria. — When our English cousins
find a new plant in the general order of things,
they name it in honor of collector, the owner, or
some well-known cultivator, botanist, or patron of
gardening. When there is some more especial
feature of admiration they look around for some
military hero, like Wellington, or some member
of a royal house, to give more honor, as they
think, to the fortunate find. When the great
water lily of the Amazon was discovered, only the
name of Victoria could distinguish it ; and Vic-
torise has been the specific name of a number of
things supposed to be several degrees above their
fellows. In introducing this plant Mr. Bull has
again taken a liberty with the name of his sover-
eign, and given us the plant we now illustrate as
Panax Victoriae. How he feels justified in this
appellation we may gather from his own descrip-
tion, which wc here append :

"This is a distinct and very graceful stove
plant, thickly furnished with leaves of a remarka-
bly elegant character, forming a dense plumy
gracefully recurving mass of pleasingly variegated
foliage. The leaf-blade is ternate or almost pin-

I885.J

AND HORTICULTURIST.

41

na te, the late ral leaflets forked or trifid, the upper 1 one of the most lovely and elegant variegated

and terminal one larger, simpleTiovate, the edge plants of modern introduction."

lobed'andlpi nosel y toothed, and having the border We may add that Panax belongs to the same

prettily margined with white, which gives the
plant a remarkably hvely and pictorial character.
It is a native of the South Pacific Islands, and is

family as the Aralia of our woods, of which the
.'\ngelica tree. Ginseng, and other plants, are mem-
bers, all of which have very ornamental foliage,

42

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

and are popular in some of the better specimens
of landscape gardening. Where the winters are
severe it will no doubt be classed as a cool green-
house plant, but will be excellently well adapted
for what is known as sub-tropical summer garden-
ing.

The Chrysanthemum Disease. — Of late years
a disease has attacked Chrysanthemums, which
seriously detracts from the pleasure of their cul-
ture. The leaves are attacked by a fungus in
early summer, and by autumn there are but few
leaves left on the lower portions of the plants, the
flower stems are weak, and proportionately small.
Mr. Worthington G. Smith finds the fungus to be
one closely allied to the famous grape mildew,
and that it is the Oidium Chrysanthemi of Raben-
horst. As figured in the Gardeners' Chronicle,
magnified four hundred times, the plant is up-
right, in three or five segments, representing a
link of sausages, the topmost one of which is
shorter and thicker than the one next to and at-
tached to the Chrysanthemum. As sulphur was
found to be of so much value in the grape mil-
dew, it may be of equal service here.

On the Cultivation of Chrysanthemums.
— Like the greater part of herbaceous plants of
this class they are tenacious of life, and easily
grown ; but if they are to be cultivated well, a
regular system of management is necessary.
After the flowering season is past, and the old
stems cut down, the plants should be removed
from the greenhouse or conservatory and placed
in a cold frame, when thev are merely protected
from severe frost. Here they should have plenty
of air, and on fine days the lights should be drawn
quite off and the plants fully exposed. When the
winter is mild they will stand very well unpro-
tected, but owing to their having been grown and
excited in the greenhouse they are more apt to
suffer from severe weather afterwards than if they
had been planted out in the open air; foi; this rea-
son it is always better to have the means of giving
them some slight protection.

We saw some magnificent plants in the present
season which had produced flowers last year; the
stems had been cut down and the old plants
treated as described above. They were taken
into the greenhouse this autumn, just as they had
been left at the end of the previous season, with-
out any repotting, and then manured once a week
with manure water, made by dissolving a tea-
spoonful of sulphate ammonia in a gallon of rain
water. The plants were strong, ])roduced beau-

tiful bright green foliage and splendid blooms,
equal to any that had been raised from newly
planted cuttings taken in June this year. Chrys-
anthemums are very gross feeding plants, but
they will not stand much surface-manuring until
the pots are well filled with roots, when they may
be watered with liquid manure twice or thrice a
week, according to circumstances.

Where exposed fully to the sun's rays they re-
quire a very abundant supply of water, which
ought never to be neglected, otherwise the under-
leaves fall off, and the plants become unsightly.
Liquid drainings from cattle sheds (diluted with
water), sheep droppings dissolved in rain water, a
teaspoonful of guano, sulphate ammonia, or ni-
trate of soda dissolved in a gallon of rain water,
or a handful of soot to a gallon of water — any of
these will be found of great service for surface
watering of chrysanthemums. The soil employed
for the growth of these plants can scarcely be too
rich ; about equal parts of loam, stable-dung, leaf-
mould, and sand, make an excellent material for
their culture. — Gardeners' Chronicle.

Hot-water Pipes. — Having for a number of
years studied the question of economically heating
incubators and chambers for hatching germs, I
have Deen obliged to give a great deal of attention
to the subject of boilers and hot-water pipes. The
experience gained was always in favor of a reduc-
tion of the quantity of water and an increase of
heating surface. Working on in this direction I
arrived at the result of a half annular pipe instead
of the usual system of annular piping. These

Half-annular.

Annular.

A

half annular or " crescent " pipes, as 1 have called
them, are somewhat on the principle of a saddle
boiler, and the small heating apparatus which 1
have as yet constructed on this principle have ful-
filled my most sanguine expectations. A 7-feet
length of ordinary 6inch annular piping contains
8 I, gallons of water, whereas my crescent pipes,
same length and same heating surface, contain
only 5 pints of water. The obvious economy of
heating power is a great gain, as it enables me to
make heating apparatus sufficiently powerful for
any small-sized greenhouse ; this can be worked
by an oil lamp, costing from gd. to is. 6d. per
week, according to number and length of pipes.
So many amateur gardeners object to the trouble
attendant upon coke or coal furnaces that 1 get
constantly asked for such a heating apparatus.
Again, the action of the heat is so rapid that no

i88s.

AND HORtlCULTURIST.

«

time is lost, and the quantity of water required to
be heated is, as before described, very small in
proportion compared to that necessary for heating
an annular pipe. Another advantage to be gained
by these pipes is, that at the unions the pipes can
be reversed, and they form excellent evaporating
tanks for water where moisture is required. 1 may
say that it is the opinion of manufacturers experi-
enced in hot-water piping that this form is very
likely to become general, in hothouses at any rate.
Lengths of these can easily be inserted with the
ordinary circular pipes. — Thomas Christy, in Gar-
deners' Chronicle.

Cultivating the Dove Orchid. — A correspon-
dent of the Garden tells us that in a collection in
England this contains a fine plant, which has
again flowered with great freedom. It has pro-
duced six flower-spikes, which have grown to a
height of 4 feet. It will therefore be seen that the
specimen here is a fine one, and it occupies a
rather large pot. It receives a liberal supply of
heat and moisture, which evidently suit it, for the
bulbs are unusually large and as green and plump
as it is possible for them to be. It is always giv-
en a rest in a cooler and dryer house than the
stove when it has completed its growth, but water
at the roots is not withheld so long as to cause the
bulbs to shrivel.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

OxALls LUTEA PLENA. — A Correspondent asks:
" Can you or any of your readers give me any
information concerning Oxalis lutea plena? It is
described as having large, double, yellow flowers,
resembling dandelions. I should like some infor-
mation as to its origin."

[The true Oxalis lutea is but an old synonym of
Oxalis corniculata, the well-known " sour-grass "
of children, and a common weed. A double
variety would be very pretty ; but we should sup-
pose it would look like a very small dandelion

Ed. G. M.]

Disease in Carnations. — " W.," Sharon,. Pa.,
writes : " We make the forcing of Carnations a
specialty, and this fall when we lifted our plants,
we noticed a good many that looked yellow and
sickly, and unfit to plant on the benches. All
that showed signs of disease we rejected, and we
thought we had as fine a show for Carnations as
any one could wish, ttut they have been dying out
right along, and unless we can check the trouble,

I shall have to abandon that branch of our busi-

j ness. Will some reader of the Monthly who

makes a specialty of forcing Carnations, suggest

t a remedy ? One man told us to try saltpeter

ammonia, but we can't find any such article in our

drug stores.

"Another suggested syringing the plants with
ammonia water. In pinching back our young
plants during the summer, we hold the plant with
the left hand and pull the tops out, thus detaching
them at the joints ; and it is right at the joints that
the trouble seems to be, or just below the joints
rather, inside the stems; the pith seems to rot or
rust like, and we thought perhaps this way of
pinching them was what made them go as they
do. We have never had any trouble of this kind
until last winter, when we lost our entire crop of
two thousand plants. We would like to hear
from a number of Carnation growers as to their
experience in this line, also about kind of soil
used, how often it should be changed, tempera-
ture to force in, &c.

"Mr. John Murchie suggests that we quit strik-
ing our young plants from plants that have been
forced, which we consider good advice. Any
light that can be given through the Monthly
will be duly appreciated."

[This is the well-known Carnation root fungus,
and is one of the best illustrations known of the
modern discovery that some forms of parasitic
funguses will attack healthy vegetation. Its
presence in a bed of Carnations in the open
ground is detected by the practiced eye, by a
slightly paler tint on one plant. In a few weeks
a circle of a number of plants will show the pale
tint, the fungus having spread from the one it
originally fed on, to those around it. If examined
with a pocket lens the fungus will be seen like
small cobwebs over the growing fibres. The
affected plants are taken out as soon as seen, for
although the thread (mycelium) which propa-
gates the plant is in the ground, like all plants it
, gathers strength by what it feeds on, and does
i not spread so easily when it is kept from its food.
Pale plants are never taken into the house for
forcing. There is hardly any use in. attempting to
combat the enemy after it has found a lodg-
ment in the benches, as the injury has been
j mostly done before the plants are taken inside.
However, if any of our correspondents know bet-
ter, we should be glad of their experience. Usu-
ally when the fungus gets into a stock, it is car-
ried on by propagation, until it almost gets to be
permanent, and then we hear that that variety is

44

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

more subject than others. But it is only that
propagation has been continued from a stock that
that has caught the fungus. It is best to change
one's stock sometimes, and much better to get
new kinds from seed once in a while. These are
for a time free from these troubles. — Ed. G. M.]

Destroying Plant Lice. — " I. J. L."; " 1 had
a lot of Chrysanthemum plants last summer, in
the open ground, covered with Black Aphis. I
applied Paris green, but it had no effect whatever.
Are they poison-proof or what ?"

[The aphis' do not eat as potato beetles do,
but live by suction. They bore the plant struc-
ture and suck out the juices, hence poisonous ap-
plications are of no use as against them. Aphides,
which include the whole tribe of black and green
flies, can only be attacked through their breathing 1
organizations. Smoke, oils, and such like must
be employed. — Ed. G. M.]

Gas Tar on Hot-water Pipes. — Mr. Hen-
derson kindly sends us another wail, from " Dr.
W. H. H.," Frankfort, Ky., and remarks: "Here
is another victim. If you wish to benefit your
species, put up on every issue — Gas Tar ! ! Be-
ware ! ! — and even then though they would tumble
in."

But the fact is, this gentleman's name is not on
our subscription books. We insert, however, the
letter as a suggestion to our friends that if they
have any neighbors who love gardening, but do
not subscribe to the Gardeners' Monthly, it
might save them no end of vexation and cash, to
take the magazme. But here is the letter :

" Please tell me why many plants in my conser-
vatory look as if the leaves had been browned by
a hot sunshine. Even my young thrifty gerani-
ums have suffered severely. A large Niel in the
end of the house, putting out hundreds of young
thrifty shoots and leaves, has dropped every young
leaf. My conservatory is heated by a No. 4
Hitchings Conical boiler and the temperature is
very uniform, from 50° at night to 65° or 70° dur-
ing the day. I am at a total loss to account for it.
Can it be from the pipes? Now, the pipes the
plumber used are 4-inch pipes and are coated with
some black substance thatgives out astrong smell of
coal tar, when the water gets very hot. Several times
in the morning 1 have noticed this so strong as to
be very unpleasant, and look as if there was smoke
in the house. Do you think it can be this gas that
is doing the mischief .' I noticed this state of
things after two particularly cold nights, when the
firing had to be increased and the water in the

pipes got so hot as to melt the coating on the
p'pes. I would be glad to have your opinion on
this, for it troubles me very much."

Watering Plants with Warm Water. — " I.
C. W.," Fishkill, N. Y., writes: "Will you say
through the Monthly whether plants in general,
roses, carnations, violets, etc., in particular, would
be benefited by watering and syringing during the
winter season with warm or hot water instead of
cold ? If hot, how hot do you think would be ad-
visable ? Immersing plants in hot water, 130°, is
said to destroy insects without injury to the plants.
Would syringing with water at that temperature
have the same effect ? Do you think plants as
above would be forwarded, or their blooms be for-
warded, if always wet with quite warm water in-
stead of cold ?"

[The advantages of bottom heat, as it was called
—that is to say, heat applied to the roots of plants
— were always deemed very great by gardeners
of the old school, and though some special cases
have been cited to show that there was not much
advantage in these systems, we are induced to
think there is more value in it than modern culti-
vators are disposed to give it. The argument
against it is that it is atmospheric heat that makes
plants grow, and that, growth once started, the
roots will of necessity respond, even though the
roots be actually encased in frost. We all know
that a peach or apricot against a sunny wall will
push into flower in midwinter, though snow and
ice cover the ground above the roots, if a few
very warm midday suns shine on the wall or fence
against which the branches may be traced. Again,
in grape culture under glass it is among the com-
monest of experiences, where the vines are in out-
side borders and the tops only under glass, and in
a forcing house, that the tops will come out into
leaf and flower just as well, in just as short a time,
when the roots are encased in a solid frozen mass
of earth, as when the border has been protected
wholly from frost. It must be confessed that
these facts are very strong as against any value
from the application of heat, whether by means of
warm water or otherwise, to the roots of plants.

Yet we cannot believe that the great mass of
belief and practice of the old gardeners, who so
loved to provide means for bottom heat, were ab-
solutely baseless ; and we prefer to say that care-
ful experiments on tlie advantages of hot and cold
water in plant culture are yet among the very de-
sirable things.

In regard to syringing with hot water, instead

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

45

of dipping, we cannot say. We do know that
turning the plant in the pot upside down and im-
mersing it for an instant in water of a tempera-
ture of 130° will destroy any insect ; but it seems
such a waste of hot water to use it for syringing,
that we suppose no one ever thought to so employ
it. We know of no reason why, where hot water
is abundant, it should not be used ; only care-
ful experiment can decide this. Very soft and
tender leaves may be injured at a temperature of
130°; on the other hand, after passing through a
syringe the original temperature may have to be
increased in order that the insects may have the
full benefit of the fatal degree. — Ed. G. M.]

Mildew. — "Rose-grower," Brooklyn, N. Y.,
writes : " It seems to be granted now, that some
of the lower forms of plant life, of which mildew
is a type, will attack the healthiest vegetation,
though at one time it was supposed to be only
connected with disease. If this view is correct,
how can we prevent mildew and such attacks ?
What is the remedy ?"

[It may be taken for granted, we think, that
fungus, as a general rule, only attacks that which
is diseased. The cases where it attacks wholly
healthy vegetation, though such cases are un-

* doubted, are quite exceptional. Between these,

' however, are a large number of cases, where the
plants are supposed to be healthy, and are at-
tacked by fungus, which cannot be said to be
healthy in the fullest sense of this term. For in-

I stance, a lot of cuttings are put into a propagating
bench to root. They are perfectly healthy ; but
fungus appears in the bench, and may clear the
whole lot in a day or two. In a certain sense the
fungus has attacked healthy vegetation. But the
cutting is in unfavorable conditions of life. It

{ has no roots. Numbers die without any fungus
attack, simply because the unfavorable vital con-
ditions have conquered. We may say that low
vital conditions, as well as absolute disease, favor
the growth of mildew. In the case of mildew on

I roses, mildew on grapes, mildew on lilacs, oaks,
and other things, we know in many cases what
these conditions are. Our belief is, that where the
conditions of good health are tolerably perfect
mildew or fungus troubles of any kind seldom
bother the cultivator. In the case of the rose and
carnation, which are so often attacked by fungus

j in various forms during the winter, the unfavor-
able conditions of the roots are often very appar-
ent. -Ed. G. M.]

Fruit and Vegetable Gardening.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

We feel in our seasonable hints this month, like
making a full plea for better gardening all along
the line. As the Secretary of the Worcester Coun-
ty (Mass.) Horticultural Society somewhere says:
to take up many of our so-called horticultural
writmgs, a stranger would be apt to think that its
mission was fulfilled, when we had produced a
Thimbleberry ; or that the acme had been reached
when some pioneer along the Mississippi stumbled
on the Wild Goose Plum. Very few of our new
fruits are equal in value to the older ones they
have displaced. Something that is tough and
hardy and will grow without a thought and with-
out a care — a raspberry that is so full of seeds and
has so little pulp, that it will prove a " first-rate
carrying berry " — a strawberry that will ripen its
whole crop in a day or two, so that there can be

economy in gathering — a peach that will never
ripen, so that we may get it to market before it
rots— these be the favorites of the day. Now, all
this and more is very well. There should be a pay-
ing profitable side to fruit growing. Our maga-
zine does all it can to aid and advance it. But
surely this is not the be all, the end all of fruit cul-
ture ! If we have the time and the will to grow a
delicious plum, why should we forever have to be
satisfied with some compound of tannic acid and
mashed turnips, simply because it will not pay the
market man to fight the curculio in the only way it
can be fought? Why have nothing but a "good crop-
per " and one that is "locally adapted "to take care
of itself — because a much better thing costs some
time and trouble to care for .'"

But we sometimes think that even the market
man does not do himself justice in his race fornew
fruits.

46

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

I Februaiy,

In his efforts for the nimble penny, he forgets
that there is often much more substance in the
slower sixpence. In some departments where a
slower result is a necessity, really new and good
varieties, improvements on the old, are overlooked.

It must have been for some time apparent to
far-seeing orchardists, that our cultivators are not
keeping pace with progress, as they should do. It
is a notorious fact that a large number of our best
orchards do not yield as they once did ; varieties
once popular are popular no more ; and the emi-
nent place which American apples once held in
European markets is becoming filled by the ap-
ples of Canada, and especially of Nova Scotia.
Apple orchards give out much sooner than they
used to do — fruit does not keep as well as it did —
and the flavor of even popular kinds is not equal to
the past. There are exceptions, but the undoubted
tendency is in these directions. Apple growers
are, we think, slow to adopt new notions that may
advantage them. New varieties are certainly not
in their vein. There have been innumerable
good kinds introduced during the past quarter of a
century, some of which are better, and would cer-
tainly be more profitable if some good judgment
were to follow up and make good use of them. The
old stale kinds are yet the ones we find in our
markets, and the good new ones are comparatively
unknown.

Last season while looking at some apple trees
on the grounds of an amateur in North-eastern
Pennsylvajiia, and noting the wonderful beauty,
productiveness, and healthy vigor of some com-
paratively unknown kinds, we wondered whether
there would ever be any way to make them well-
known to the general cultivator ; and whether we
were to be forever dependent on the old thread-
bare kinds ? There were Huttensteins, York
Imperials, Prinz and Water apples, certainly
superior in manifold ways to many everybody
wants to grow, and yet few know of them.

We think the modern agency system has much
to do with the slow progress in improved knowl-
edge. In old times the planter would visit the
nursery himself, see the fruit in the specimen
orchard, and judge for himself. Not a quarter of
those who would once visit a nursery, go there
now. Numbers never go at all, and all they
know of fruits is what the glibtongued traveling
agent tells them. The agency plan has its good
features; some — hundreds— have fruit trees, who
never would enjoy this pleasure under the old
system. ISut it is not favorable to the progress
of improvement, and this we must all regret.

Large numbers of nurserymen now have no
specimen orchard at all, and those who have,
take far less interest in thsm than in former times,
because there are so few friends to enjoy the
pleasure with them. We strongly advise our
friends, at this planting season, to get a tree or
two each wherever they can, of some of the most
promising kinds, and try for themselves how they
will do. It may be that they will be glad to have
the material to top-graft a whole orchard with the
better kinds some day.

COMMUNICATIONS.

KALAMAZOO CELERY.

BY A CORRESPONDENT.

Midway between Detroit and Chicago lies the
beautiful city of Kalamazoo, sometimes appropri-
ately called Celeryville. Fifty tons of the esculent
are expressed from Kalamazoo daily now dur-
ing the height of the shipping season. Kalamazoo
celery is famed from ocean to ocean and is the
brand called for everywhere. Shipping begins
about July, increasing till the holidays, then
gradually decreasing until the crop is disposed of
in the spring. More growers are annually hold-
ing their crop until the firmer markets of spring.
Three thousand tons were shipped from this point
alone during 1883, and the shipment for 1884 is
estimated at 5,000 tons. From 1,500102,000 acres
are devoted to the industry in this vicinity, and
the production of a superior article has never ex-
ceeded the demand. Twenty thousand stalks are
easily raised during the season on an acre, and
the wholesale price ranges from fifteen to twenty-
five cents per dozen.

Marsh land has become the home of this luxury
and Hollanders are the main producers. Driving
north from Kalamazoo through the country, one
passes great looacre farms devoted to the sweet-
scented celery, reminding one of that Methodist
hymn : ■

"Sweet fields bcyontl * * *
Stand dressed in living green."

One would never forget a drive through the
celery gardens in any direction from Kalamazoo ;
the long rows keeping their bright green till No-
vember, as crop follows crop ; and the fields being
unmarred by fences or anything except the cozy
cottages of the thrifty Hollanders. The irrepressi-
ble Yankee has, of course, bought large tracts and
gone into its culture, but the mass of growers
cultivate from three to ten acres, raise the choicest

1885-]

ANU HORTICULTURIST.

47

article and make the most money. Too much ex-
pensive hand labor is required to justify going in-
to the business on a large scale.

The celery business is of more value to a town
than can be shown by figures. The drainage
necessary to celery growing is worth everything
to the health of towns. Celery can be raised on
any marsh properly drained, and it is not neces-
sary that the marsh lie along the mystic waters of
the Kalamazoo. Yet it is a recognized fact that
specialties hover together. Celery growers and
shippers have here an association to protect their
interests and disseminate information useful to the
industry.

Practical celery growers can teach most men
who write books on the subject their A B C's, and
the jolly Dutchman could wake up in the night
any time and laugh at some of the advice given.

Celery growing resembles farming wonderfully
about one thing. The campaign opens about
January I and, save an occasional holiday, it is
"hurrah, boys," till about December 31.

Celery growers are beginning to raise their own
seed, which heretofore has been a serious item of
expense. There are about fifty principal varieties :
most popular among them are the White Walnut
and Crawford.

The objective points for perfect celery are
soundness, brittleness and keeping qualities. The
seed is sown in narrow rows in hot-beds, and this
produces plants for the early crops. As soon as
the weather will permit, seed is sown outdoors in
beds of about a square rod of plants for a square
acre of land. Plants are set in May or as soon as
the size of the plants and the geniality of the cli-
mate will permit.

Some marshes may be plowed with a team by
using wooden shoes on the horses. These shoes
are made ot two-inch pine, cut round, and two
curved pieces of iron, moving freely in the shoe
and bolted together over the hoof. If this method
is reckoned unsafe a windlass may be placed on
the upland across the center of the marsh to be
plowed. A whisky barrel makes a good windlass.
A miniature marsh railroad is handy on land
where horses cannot be safely driven, to carry
manure, tools, plants, etc. It consists of a hght
car and as much track as is required in sections
of about one rod long each and movable, so they
can be laid to any part of the marsh.

Open ditches for draining are common, cutting
the land into quarter acre sections, but if tile drain
is used two rows of celery can be raised in the
space taken by the open ditch. The better marsh

is drained, the handsomer crops look in time of
drouth and the soil can be worked immediately
after a rain.

Two and three crops are raised off this soil in
one season. Table onions are put in for the early
market ; early celery is set in June and harvested
the last of August, and winter celery is set in Sep-
tember and secured in November. Each crop
must be fertilized, as the soil is so porous the ma-
nurial properties wash down out of reach of plant
roots. Celery is set six feet apart between the
rows and about a finger's length apart in the row.
Table onions or some early crop is raised between
the rows and harvested before the celery is ready
to hill. Hilling this celery crop leaves a trench
between the rows, along which manure is spread
and another row of celery plants set, and by the
time the first celery crop is marketed the latter
crop is grown and needs the soil for hilling. If
the season is favorable another row of plants is set
in place of the first celery crop harvested. Many
growers have quite a trade in celery plants, ship-
ping the plants for setting far and wide.

The first and last crops are bleached with soil
hilled closely to the leaves, but the intermediate
crop is bleached with boards held closely to the
plants by bent iron hooks. Boards bleach the
celery higher to the leaves and in quicker time.

Shippers have adopted a uniform box sawed
into proper lengths for different orders as twenty,
fifty or 100 dozens, the ends of the bo.xes being
inch stuff and the sides half inch. Celery is
trimmed, washed and tied into bunches of a dozen
stalks each. This work in summer is done in a
shed built over a stream, in winter in celery cellars.

These cellars are made by digging two feet be-
low the surface and boarding up two feet above ;
then on a center frame six feet high, twelve-foot
boards meet and slant to the ground with windows.
The cellar is then banked and covered with ma-
nure. They are built twenty-four feet wide and
fifty, 100 or 200 feet long according as they are re-
quired to hold 50,000, 100,000 or 200,000 dozen
celery. These are built on upland, as marsh is too
damp and cold. When the celery is first put into
the cellar it is green, but bleaches in a few weeks.
It is packed closely, standing boards every few feet
' to prevent heating. The object is to keep it grow-
ing. The roof boards of these cellars are used in
summer for bleaching the second crop.

Another method of storing and bleaching for
winter is in trenches two feet deep and wide, pack-
ing as closely as the crop will stand.

A hilling plow has been invented on which there

48

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[Februa'y,

is no patent. It resembles an ordinary shovel
plow, except that the sides of the steel plow are
straighter, to which sides are attached steel wings
hinged to the plow. On the top of each wing is
fastened an iron rod meeting on the center of the
beam of the plow, by which the cut may be regu-
ated to any desired width.

The first growers of celery in this place never
dreamed of using the meadow land, but sought
for soft, warm, sandy loam. It was some eighteen
years ago that a Hollander named Lendert de
Brayn, a gardener, made the experiment. He
owned a piece of hard land on South Burdeck
street, which ran down into the marsh. Owing to
the drouth he could not successfully raise celery,
so he ma^e the trial of the marsh land, draining it
well to begin with. Success crowned his efforts,
and a sure crop came with every season, no mat-
ter what the weather. So with onions. Others
watched him and followed his example. But, be-
yond supplying the home demand, there was no
sale for the toothsome esculent. In the early fall
of 1878 Messrs. Buckhout Bros., grocers and ship-
pers, were selling much of this plant at home,
when one day one of the firm, in talking with an
Omaha man, asked him if there would be a mar-
ket for celery. The reply was that small quanti-
ties were raised in Omaha, but it was high-priced
and not very good. He estimated that Omaha
would be a good market for Kalamazoo celery,
which was so superior, and gave the Buckhout
Bros, the card of Payker & Co. Shipments were
made in small quantities at first and rapidly in-
creased in size and frequency. Other points East
and West were also supplied and almost at once
a trade grew up. John Scaal, Ben Haften, Den
Adel, Vandimeder, de Brayn and others, furnished
all that was called for. Express messengers on
the various roads seeing so much celery going
from this village sharpened their trading pro-
clivities and sought markets where they could
themselves make a commission, and thus the sale
of the esculent was greatly spread. The Messrs.
Buckhouts' success, which they took no pains to
conceal, induced others here to take a hand, and
Mr. J. W. Taylor, of the American Express Com-
pany, soon became a large shipper and has ever
since remained in the business. So the business
grew, each season doubling upon the sales of the
former one, and even as the demand increased the
supply was equal to the call. Land which had
hitherto been valued only for marsh hay or cow
pastures, and a good deal not fit for that, was now
eagerly sought for and brought undreamed of

prices, till now there is not a piece of meadow
land in the city or vicinity but has been drained
and made into a garden spot, immensely enhanced
in price.

The principal firms engaged in producing and
shipping their own products here are J.W.Wilson,
Holtenhouse & Co., O. M. Allen & Son, Den Adel &
Sons, Van Haffen & Sons, Loughborough & Allen,
P. C. Davis, J. W. Taylor and others.

The number of those now engaged in the celery
trade is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000, and is an im-
mense bonanza to the express companies. On one
train alone a carload is shipped daily and some-
times two. The gathering of the celery daily from
the different shippers occupies much of the time of
the express companies.

[A correspondent sends us the above, which ap-
pears to have been taken from the Detroit Free
Press to which we gladly give the proper credit.
It is one of the most interesting papers on celery
culture that has come before us for some time, and
we have thought few of our readers will object
that we have to defer some other shorter pieces in
order to give it place. — Ed. G. M.]

IS THE ENGLISH GOOSEBERRY WORTH
GROWING?

BY T. BENNETT.

Please allow me to say a few words in favor
of the English gooseberry. It appears, from what
I have lately read, it came very near being ex-
cluded from the American Pomological Society's
hst of small fruits. To have rejected it would, I
think, be a great mistake. It is a most excellent
fruit. I only wish to add my experience to some
one or two others of your correspondents who not
long since spoke in its favor.

Those who in their youth have eaten plenty of
good English gooseberries, cannot easily forget
them.

We have several indigenous species growing
wild in the Northern and Middle States, which
proves, I think, the climate of these States at
least. Is not uncongenial to its growth.

There may be some difficulty in perfecting its
fruit, but we have few fruits there is not some
difficulty in growing. It flourishes best in a clay
soil, or heavy loam, but will grow in much lighter
soils under good management. It only needs
sufficient shading and good mulching, with at
least one good watering when going out of blos-
som, to yield and ripen its delicious fruit. It will
grow under shade better than any other fruit we

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

49

know, and will do well trained up to the north side
of a fence or building. Under proper treatment,
it will grow and bear many years.

It is increased by nearly all the known modes
of propagation, but the readiest and quickest is
by pieces of its own roots. Any old bushes, ap-
parently worthless, may be dug up in the spring,
their roots chopped in pieces three or four inches
in length, planted in a nursery row in good ground,
three or four inches deep, according as the soil is
light or heavy ; these will grow more in one year
than a cutting will in two or three ; besides, any
one can do this, even the most ine.xperienced in
the art of propagation.

Circumstances must dictate the mode of shading,
but I found bast matting to answer very well, and
had no more trouble with insects than if they had
been covered with mosquito netting.

The best way of mulching is to remove the top
soil down to the roots, in a circle of three or four
feet in diameter; they will be stripped of course,
but must be covered up again with about a quarter
of an inch of earth, so as not to let the manure
come in contact with the roots ; then four or
five inches of good rotten manure laid on and
well trodden down ; then replace the earth on
top, level or sloping inwards to catch the water,
when good luck sends if. Rake off nicely, and
the manure will scarcely be noticed.

The American sorts may be managed the same
way, but I prefer the English gooseberry, and
have always thought it amply paid for the labor
and trouble bestowed upon it.

Chambersburg, Trenton, N. J.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Columbia Grape. — This is a white variety
raised by J. T. Clark, of Washington, said to be
from the White Frontignac, a foreign grape,
crossed with the Catawba. It is said to have been
in successful out-door culture in the vicinity of
Washington for several years.

Eugenia Gr.^pe. — This is a red grape, said to
have been raised from seed of the same berry that
produced the Columbia.

Planting Peas. — There is a belief common
among gardeners that peas planted four inches
deep will do better than if set but two inches. But
it is probable that the cases where the deep planted
peas did better depended for success on some other
incident that was overlooked. We do not think that
the benefit of deep planting peas is beyond dispute.

Potato Sets. — Disputes continue as ever be-
fore about the relative advantages of large or
small potatoes for seed, or of whole or cut potatoes.
At the outset it is apparent that a very small
potato — the size of a pea for instance — would pro-
duce so weak a plant that it would take all sum-
mer to get strong enough to make a plant fit to
bear tubers. Therefore, the strength of the eye
that is to produce the plant must be a matter of
some consideration. The good, strong eye will
surely make the strongest plant in the shortest
space of time ; and one good sprout will as surely
be better than a dozen poor ones. All this is in
favor of a moderately large potato, or at least a
potato with strong eyes and cut sets. The soil,
manner of treatment and other conditions, how-
ever, have often much to do with success. A
weak sprout well treated will do better than a
strong one badly treated. But the sprout, not the
size of the potato, is certainly of some consequence.
As soon as it begins to grow the sprout sends out
roots of its own. The potato is not of much ac-
count. We know one who grows as fine potatoes
as any one needs, from sprouts alone.

Li.viA Beans without Poles.— It is not always
possible or convenient to get poles to have Lima
beans run on. Some have recommended that
they run over brushwood ; but even brushwood
is not always to hand. Again, some have pro-
posed that the runners be kept clipped, and the
plants then become bushes. But either the bean
does not like the treatment— the beans are incon-
venient to gather, or some other serious objection
occurs. No one seems to continue the make-
shift over a year or two, and the poles are again
sighed after or sought for. Last year we saw a
plan which, so far, seemed as good a substitute as
we have heard of. Posts were put at each side of
the garden plot, a wire stretched along the top
from each, and another near the ground, up and
down were strings. The beans on such a trellis
were planted only about eighteen inches apart,
and gave a magnificent crop. Of course, this is
for garden work. Where horse-culture to keep
down weeds and stir the soil is essential, the culti-
vator must work both ways, and then we do not
see how there can be any substitute for poles.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Big Fruits.— " Excelsior" desires to know
" what there is in the big pears or big apples, that
the Gardeners' Monthly loves to record their

so

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

weight so much. For my part I would sooner
have a small Seckel Pear, or a small Lady Apple,
than the largest turnipy thing that could be offered
me." So probably would anybody, — certainly so
would the Gardeners' Monthly. But that is
not the question. Would our correspondent select
in a basket of Seckel Pears, the smallest and
scrubbiest specimen, or one that is large, rosy-
cheeked, russetty and luscious? If offered his
chance, it would really be " Excelsior " with him.
In everything size will always be one of the cri-
terions of excellence, and it should always be.
The first principles of economy start here. There '
is not half the waste in peeling in a bushel of
large potatoes, that there is in a bushel of smal'
ones ; and there is double the waste in rind and
core in a bushel of Lady Apples over a bushel of
Baldwins. Of course, size should not be the only
consideration in the recommendation of an article,
and we do not know that it ever is regarded as
the only one. It is simply one great merit, and it
seems to us deservedly so.

FuMiGATORS FOR HoT-BEDS. — " E. H.," Clyde,
0., asks : " Can you or any of your subscribers in-
form us through the G.\rdeners' Monthly,

whether there is a fumigator made that can be
used in fumigating hot-beds from the outside, and
who has them for sale ?

[There are fumigators made by having a bellows
with a long nozzle, and, midway along the nozzle,
a tube to hold tobacco. The point of the nozzle
is inserted in a hole in the door, wall, or side of
any structure, and the smoke blown in. No
doubt an order to any large floral implement firm,
would bring you such an one Ed. G. M.]

Growing the Foreign Grape. — "Lover of
Good Fruit " desires to know how he can grow
the European grape. He has tried in the open
air, and, though the plant seems to do well for a
year or two, mildew generally attacks the plant
and the fruit, and they do no good. The Euro-
pean grape seems to require a moister atmosphere
than the native grape. Wherever they are grown
under glass they do well with a little knowledge
of cultural details. The glass covering gives them
the atmospheric moisture they desire. Those who
are fond of the foreign grape can grow them at
no great cost. It is not essential to have heat-
ing arrangements — the glass covering is all re-
quired.

Forestry.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Wild Cherry Timber. — We are glad to know
that Western tree planters are beginning to under-
stand that profitable timber planting is not to be
confined to Blaek Walnut or Catalpa. These are
useful enough in their way, but still their
field is limited. Robert Douglas tells the IVe^kly
Press that there is an increasing demand for Wild
Cherry. It is in good demand for furniture, and
should there happen to be an over stock for this
purpose, it is one of the best possible articles of
fire-wood. As there are many things known as
"Wild Cherry," it is as well to note that Cerasus
serotina is the tree intended.

A National Forestry Law.— Senator Miller,
of New York, has introduced a bill into the Na-
tional Legislature by which five men are to be ap-
pointed commissioners at a salary of five thousand
dollars a year each, to look after the timber lands
of the United States. These timber lands are not

to be sold hereafter except in blocks of 25,000
acres each, or at least " at any one sale." The
President of the United States is authorized to em-
ploy " the land and naval forces of the United
States to protect these forests." We suppose the
taking the list of the killed and wounded in the
fearful struggle for the preservation of the forests
will so fully occupy the time of the commissioners,
that even J5.000 a year will scarcely recompense
the self-sacrificing gentlemen who so unwillingly
respond to the voice of the people clamoring for
these officials.

Protection Against Forest Fires. — The
Forestry Congress has at length seen the force of
the arguments of the Gardeners' Monthly, that
those who leave dry brush about to burn are
equally culpable with those who by accident or
design start the fire. At the recent convention in
New York, Judge Higley and Mr. Eggleston main-
tained this point. Nothing further than these two
opinions were offered in the matter.

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

5'

Large Deciduous Cypress. — Some of the
States are trying to rival one another in regard to
the largest specimens of Taxodium distichum for
the World's Fair. Trunks eight feet long are set
up. North Carolina has one six feet through ; but
the specimen growing in the Bartram Gardens,
near Philadelphia, is larger than this. But we
learn that a Florida specimen has appeared that
is fourteen feet through ! Philadelphia must re-
sign the sceptre to this huge monarch of the South-
ern forest. One thing may be said, that no con-
tention for the world's admiration could induce
Philadelphia to part with its huge cypress. The
Quaker city, in the spirit of brotherly love, yielded
to the application from New Orleans to let the old
Independence Bell go to the Exposition, and felt
they were making their greatest sacrifice in letting
this precious relic go out of their safe keeping for
a short time. But in this cypress they have an-
other treasure which cannot be moved ; and this
may be some comfort to those who are mourning
for the temporary absence of the great bell which
first rang in the Independence of the colonies.

Rapidity of Forest Fires. — It has been ,
found by observations on some of the forest fires
the past season, that the rate of travel under a
fair wind is about twenty-five to thirty miles an
hour. It would take smart riding on a fast Indian
pony to keep ahead of a blaze like that.

Waste Land in England. — England is begin-
ning to believe that free trade is not good even
for England. The moment there is any manufac-
turing depression, the population leaves for coun-
tries that protect manufactures, instead of remain-
ing on their own land to improve it. Sir John Lub-
bock recently stated in the English House of Com-
mons that there were between five and si.x
millions of acres of land in England which had
not yet been brought into a productive condition.
Ireland and Scotland together also had about the
same quantity. Free trade helped the manufac-
turers so long as they were able to compete in the
open market of the world ; when they could do
this no longer, both agriculture and manufacture
suffered. He proposes to make forest land of
these twelve million acres.

Natural History and Science.

COMMUNICATIONS.

INTERESTING VEGETABLE FORMS.

BY REV. L. J. TEMPLIN.

To the thoughtful observer almost every vege-
table form has something of interest, but to the
masses they are generally only weeds or common
plants. Even those that have some striking pecu-
liarity soon lose their interest by familiarity. The
vegetable kingdom is full of unique forms, many of
which, to the common reader, are almost, if not
entirely unknown. Some of these, from their form,
habits, or productions, are quite curious and inter-
esting. A list of all such as would be strange
and curious to 80 per cent, of the people of this
country, would be quite a long one, and leave but
little room in an ordinary article for description.

A brief note of some little known vegetable
forms may not be without interest to some of the
younger readers of the Gardeners' Monthly.

The gourd tribe furnishes some interesting spe-

cies. One of these — the Cucurbita claviformis,
grows in the vicinity of Constantinople, and is be-
lieved, by the people of that country, to be the real
Jonah's gourd. It forms an almost impermeable
shade, under which the orientals delight to sit and
smoke.

The curious fruit hangs down in long, delicate
clubs, somewhat resembling large, overgrown can-
dles. This fruit is prepared for food by scooping
out the central portion and filling it with force
meat. It is then boiled, when it forms a very pal-
atable dish.

Another member of this family is the squirting
cucumber, Momordica Elaterium, which is remark-
able for the strange property it has when ripe of
throwing its seed contents to a considerable dis-
tance on being touched or shaken. As the fruit
approaches maturity there is an accumulation of
fluid in it till it can contain no more, when, on the
least touch or jar, the substance about the stem
gives way and the contents are thrown out with
force sufficient to carry them several yards, and a

5'

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

report, as of a popgun, that may be heard at a con-
siderable distance. Persons passing near them at
such times sometimes suddenly find themselves
bespattered from head to foot by the pulpy con-
tents of these vegetable popguns.

In the valley of the Chagres there grow whole
forests of the candle tree. From the stems and
branches of these depend the long, cylindrical
fruits, of a yellow wax color, that so much resem-
ble huge candles, as to have suggested the popu-
lar name. The fruit is from two to four feet long
and an inch in diameter. The tree grows to the
height of twenty-four feet, and blooms all the year
round, but most abundantly during the rainy sea-
son; but the principal harvest of the fruit is during
the long, dry season. The fruit serves as food for
cattle, which, when fed on it and some of the na-
tive plants, soon grow quite fat. The meat of cat-
tle fed on this fruit has a peculiar, though not dis-
agreeable, apple-like odor.

Ripening its fruit during the dry season, when
vegetation is principally dried up, it becomes a
very important production for tropical countries,
where great scarcity of stock provender is frequent-
ly experienced.

The fruit of another species of the same genus
to which this belongs, is used by the Mexicans for
human food, under the name of Quantiscilate. A
tree grows in Australia known as the Bottle tree,
from the resemblance of the trunk of the tree in
shape to that of a beer bottle.

This tree, Sterculia rupestris, furnishes a sweet,
mucilaginous substance, with which the natives re-
fresh themselves. They obtain it by cutting holes
in the trees, which cuts decay, forming a rotten
place in the tree. Afterwards by tapping them
two or three feet below the old cut it affords a
plentiful supply.

A tree known as the Rain tree, Pithecellobium
Saman, is found in the dryer parts of South
America. This tree grows to the height of sixty
feet, and its leaves have the peculiar property of
condensing the moisture from the atmosphere. So
copious is this condensation that a continual show-
er falls from the leaves and branches until the sur-
rounding soil is converted into a veritable marsh.
Places that would otherwise be barren desert are,
by this means, covered with the most luxuriant
forests. It is said the British government is intro-
ducing this tree into India to counteract the aridity
of portions of that country.

Queensland furnibhes a shrub that would cer-
tainly make a very unpleasant neighbor. It is the
stinging tree, a very luxurious, pleasing looking

shrub, Varying in height from two or three inches
to ten or fifteen feet. Though pleasing to the eye
it is dangerous to the touch, as the pain it produces
is maddening. No mark is left, but for months
afterwards the place is tender to the touch in rainy
weather, or when wet by washing, or other means.
It exhales a peculiar, disagreeable odor, that gives
notice of its proximity, and enables the experienced
and cautious to avoid contact with it. So excru-
ciating is the pain caused by contact with this
plant that a man of ordinary fortitude, when stung
will roll on the ground in uncontrollable agony.
A horse will, after passing through a grove ot these
trees, rush with open mouth at anyone who dares
approach him. A dog under such circumstances
will rush around, whining in a piteous manner, bit-
ing and tearing the flesh from the parts affected by
the sting.

A recent German publication contains a descrip-
tion of a new electric plant that has been christened
Phytolacca electrica, which possesses strongly
marked electro-magnetic properties. In breaking
a twig the hand receives a shock that resembles
the sensation produced by an induction coil. Ex-
periments made on this plant with a small compass
showed that the compass was affected by it at the
distance of about twenty feet. On a nearer ap-
proach the needle vibrated and finally began to
revolve quite rapidly. The phenomena was re-
peated in reverse order on receding from the
plant. The energy of the influence varied with the
time of day — being strongest at about 2 o'clock
p. m., and becoming almost nothing during the
night. It was also greatly increased in stormy
weather; and when it rains the plant seems to
wither. It is said that no birds or insects are ever
seen on or about this plant. The soil whereitgrew
contained no magnetic metal like iron, cobalt, or
nickel, and it is evident the plant itself possessed
this electrical property.

A bush, the fruit of which is called Soap berry,
is found in great abundance throughout Alaska.
The fruit, when ripe, is a small red berry of a
juicy and quinine taste, and is generally biennial.
If a quart of these berries be placed in a tub capa-
ble of holding a bushel, and well stirred, they will
form a suds or froth that will completely fill the
tub. The more it is stirred with the hand the
thicker it becomes, till it can be cut with a knife.
A whole family of the natives will gather around
the tub and eat this frothy substance with horn
or wooden spoons. The taste for it is doubtless
an acquired one, but the article is quite popular.
The red color of the berries gives a beautiful pink

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

53

color to the froth. The froth may be made from
the green berries, but it is not so highly flavored,
and is white in color. Foreigners mix some of
the froth with their wine, sweetening with sugar,
when it is claimed to be quite a luxury.

The Vallisneria spirahs, a plant that abounds in
the rivers of Southern Europe, deserves a men-
tion here on account of the strange action of the
flowers at the time of inflorescence. The pistillate
or female flower first appears at the surface of the
water in which it grows ; there it floats as if in ex-
pectation of a companion. Soon the staminate or
male flowers borne on long spiral stems begin to
rise from the bottom, gradually unrolling their
long flower stalks till they also reach the surface.
They and the female flowers now float towards
each other till they meet and touch ; this contact
results in the fertilization of the ovules, and im-
mediately they begin to sink again beneath the
water, there to perfect and ripen their seeds in
safety.

The Melon tree — Carica Papaya — a native of
South America, is of interest both for its manner
of growth and its usefulness to man. It is a rapidly
growing tree, attaining in its fourth year a height
of twenty feet ; it then enjoys a short maturity and
then dies. From its quick growth, broad, um-
brella-like shade and rapid decay some have seen
in this or some near relative the melon tree of the
Prophet Jonah. From the time it attains the
height of six feet it produces at all seasons flowers
and both green and ripe fruit. The fruit grows
around the base of the tree crown as do the nuts
of the cocoa palm. When mature it is of a yellow
color and has the appearance of befonging to the [
cucumber family. The fruit grows to a weight of
fifteen pounds, is shaped like a melon, and is
striped longitudinally like that fruit. Both the
green and ripe fruit are used for food ; the former
as pickles and the latter with salt and pepper or
sugar. The seeds have a strong flavor, and are
used as a spice. The leaves are used as a sub-
stitute for soap, for which it answers the purpose
well. They are also used to wrap around tough
and stringy meat, which it renders tender and
palatable in a short time. The tree is of easy cul-
ture, and is extensively raised in tropical parts of
both America and Africa. It requires but little
care, and produces ripe fruit before it is a year
old.

The Mahwa tree — Bassia latifoha — is a product
of the Manghyr district, India, and is much re-
sorted to as a source of food for both man and
beast. The part eaten is the succulent corolla of

the flowers. These fall from the trees in great
abundance during the early spring. This is a
season of general feasting among the lower ani-
mals as well as man. Birds, squirrels and other
small animals crowd to the feast during the day,
and near night jungle fowls and peacocks come
out and dispute their possession with the deer and
the bear. As a wholesome, nutritious food the
Mahwa flowers possess superior merit. As an ar-
ticle for feeding- stock this seems to excel in cheap-
ness; abundance, the supply being unlimited ; cer-
tain yield, the supply having never been known
to fail ; nourishing qualities ; and good keeping
qualities.

But the list of these interesting vegetable pro-
ductions grows, and we see no termination, so we
may as well take our leave of them at this point
and leave a long list to be noticed some other
time or — never.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Medinilla Curtisii. — Those who love beauti-
ful plants, and to watch them in their behaviour
through all their various forms, always have a
rich treat in the natural order, Melastomaceae, to
which this beautiful novelty belongs. They are
remarkable as being of little service to man,
although there are well on to a thousand species
known to and named and described by botan.
ists ; though perhaps this lack of utility comes
from their chief home being among people who
are satisfied to know little, and whose chief boast
is that they live in climates where about all they
have to do in order to live is to lie under palm
trees, and eat what falls around them. They want
little, hence have little inducement to discover
how these plants may minister to human wants of
which they know nothing. The plants are wholly
tropical or sub-tropical, less than a dozen pene-
trating the territory of the United States, of which
the very pretty Deer Grass, or Meadow Beauty,
Rhexia Virginica is a familiar example. Perhaps
there might be valuable dye-plants among them.
Some of them have succulent berrj'-Iike plants
among them, and one of them so stains the mouth
on eating, that the fact has given the name to the
genus from which the whole order has been
named — Melastoma; that is Greek for "black
mouth." But if, as the poet says, "Beauty is its
own excuse for being," these plants are abundantly
useful, for some of our most charming conserva-
tory plants are from among this order. They are

54

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

usually of regular habits of growth, profuse in
flowering, and with flowers that are gay and at-

leaf plants. The leaves of most of the family are
very interesting, from the three-nerved character.

tractive. Then the foliage of many is particularly i Very few orders have such leaves ananged op-
attractive, and gives us some of our most valuable i posite each other on the stem, though there are

1885.1

AND HORTICULTURIST.

55

others with three leaves arranged alternately ; and I
this character, taken together with peculiar stalked
and bent anthers, will almost always tell the young
botanist that he has a Melastomaceous plant.

This very pretty new species was introduced by
Messrs. Veitch & Son, who furnish us with the
following account thereof:

"A beautiful stove flowering shrub introduced
by us from Sumatra through Mr. Curtis. It is a
bushy plant of rather slender habit with erect
shoots and subpendulous branchlets, furnished ]
with ovate-oblong bright green leaves with reddish |
midribs. The flowers are produced in great num- '
bers in terminal and lateral panicled cymes on
flower stalks of a beautiful coral red. Each flower
is about half an inch in diameter and has an ivory
white, almost undivided calyx and a creamy white '
corolla of five roundish oblong petals which show '
to great advantage the central tuft of purple sta-
mens. The neat and compact habit of the plant,
the profusion with which its chaste flowers are
produced, and which continue in perfection for
many weeks in the autumn, render this Medinilla
one of the most valuable stove shrubs of recent
introduction."

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Sudden Developments in Species. — A dis-
tinguished Canadian botanist pleasantly writes ;
"The Gardeners' Monthly for January has
come to hand, and I have looked through it with
interest. You must do an immense amount of
periodical reading, and correspondence, to get
so much news into it. Your article on rapid
changes in species reminds me of a procumbent,
rooting, CEnothera, which I received from Edin-
burg in 1871. It has been propagated from the
root only (not by seed — Ed. G. M.), and is now
undistinguishable from QL. fruttcosa, which is
native with us, and which I planted in the same
border. I am sorry to see the announcement of
the death of my old friend Mr. George Sterling, in
whose collection, when I was a student in Edin-
burg, I often found rare Swiss and other Alpines
that could not be obtained elsewhere. So many
of my old friends, as Dr. Neill, Dr. Greville, Dr.
Balfour, Mr. McNab, of that time, have passed
away. We who are left are now entering on a
new year ; let us work hopefully, ready to com-
plete our time-circle, and prepared, as well as may
be, for the higher state."

Curious Fact About the Variegation of
Foliage. — Mr. Frank L. Bassett, Hammonton,

N. J., notes: "Some time ago I put in some cut-
tings of Tradescantia zebrina that had half of
each leaf green and the other half yellow. In
part of them the green was the uppermost color.
In the others the yellow was the upper color.
When they grew I was somewhat astonished to
find that the lateral shoots were not variegated at
all, but found that in every case the lateral shoot
was colored the same as the lower half of the leaf
it grew from. Can you tell me the why of this?"

Change in the Color of Flower of Victoria
regia. — A correspondent says: "The changes
which the Victoria regia flowers undergo, as in-
dicated by Dr. Richardson's gardener (p. 6) were
very well shown in magnificent colored plates
published in Moore's Gardeners' Magazine, about
1851."

[Also the changes were noted in the letter of
Mr. Robert Schumburgk, in the letter which at-
tracted so much attention in the Gardeners'
Chronicle in 1850; in Mr. Thomas Meehan's ac-
count in Xioviri\n^'s Horticulturist for 1852; and
in the noble work with colored drawings published
by John Fiske Allen, of Salem, Mass., in 1853. —
Ed. G. M.]

Injurious Insects. — "A Subscriber" says:
"After reading Mr. A. W. Smith's remarks on
diseases ot plants, I thought 1 would ask : Would
not an inquirj' into the losses and injuries incurred
by destructive insects be also an interesting sub-
ject of value to the readers of the Monthly."

[We need scarcely say that any such contribu-
tions will be equally valuable with any on the
other topic. In fact, losses to cultivators from
disease and from insects are often very closely
related to each other. — Ed. G. M.]

The Rel.-vtion of Color to Flavor in Fruits
and Vegetables. — Mr. Emmett S. Goff, con-
tributes a scientific paper to the American Natural-
ist, to show that there is a relation between color
and flavor in fruits and vegetables. Mildness and
sweetness accompany light colored flesh to a
greater extent than dark colored, he contends.
All who know how blanching celery removes bit-
terness must assent to this proposition, and the list
of examples he gives proves that the rule is the
same all through.

The TuBERoas Vines of Cochin China. — As
we suspected some time since, these tuberous
grapes are closely allied to our own tuberous Vitis
incisa, of Texas and the Indian Territory. They
are not truly grape vines, but form a section be-
tween Ampelopsis and the true grapes.

56

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

Literature, Travels and Personal Notes.

COMMUNICATIONS.

BITS OF REMINISCENCES.

BY WM. T. HARDING.

'■ And when the weary traveler gahis
Tlie height of some commanding hill,
His heart revives, if o'er tlie plains
He sees his home, though dist.ant still."

And thus, in the florid diction of the poet, is de-
scribed the power of imagination, combined with
happy memories, which fondly chng to the past,
and remain with us still. And in ideality the
writer again sees from " the height of some com-
manding hill" an antiquated garden, once famous
for the number of remarkable topiarian treasures
it contained, of holly, box and yew, which our in-
genious ancestors had trimmed into many peculiar
forms. And the lasting impressions they made
upon the plastic mind of the boy, who, as a favor,
was often admitted to see them, are as vivid now,
after so many long years, as though they were
actually still in view. While perhaps the most as-
tonishing examples of that ancient art were two
heroic sized topiarian marvels, adroitly shaped
into the exact resemblance of Mercury, the winged
messenger; and Atlas, with the globe poised on
his shoulders ; of which not a vestige now remains.
And in the rear of these curious living green
sculptured bushes, stood an old, heavy timbered
greenhouse, glazed with narrow panes of semi-
opaque glass, cut into every conceivable form —
except square. Apparently, most of the early
structures of this kind were glazed with waste
window-glass, cut from the rough and wavy out-
sides of the circular crystal tables, or sheets, as
the glass-blowers produced them in those days,
when windows were taxed. Growing within this
archaic plant-house, were the meagre types or
progenitors of some of our highly developed class
of flowering plants, so indispensable for summer
decoration in the beds and borders about our
pleasure grounds now. And, as through the men-
tal vision their comely features are seen again, one
feels amazed at the wonderful change which has
been gradually taking place since then. In reality,
they are floral links which bind the present to the
past. And yet, notwithstanding, no conjurer's
transformation tricks could ever be more astonish-

ing, or complete, when touched with the en-
chanter's wand, than Time, the subtle alchemist
has performed in the domain of horticulture,
within our recollection.

And there are many, whose brows are not yet
furrowed, neither are their heads crowned with
gray, who practice the " art which doth mend na-
ture ; change it rather " — who can remember the
poor little posies, which pleased them less than
fifty years ago. While old graybeards, whose
memories run still further back, will not have
forgotten the time when very meek little flowers
with even less pretensions, had their day, and were
considered "most beautiful things."

"Our rural ancestors with little blessed," possi-
bly experienced as much pleasure in their quaint
old gardens, while cultivating or " culling simples"
and flowers, long before the advent of the modern
grand displays were dreamt of, though happily
now so common to us in this our glorious age of
flowers.

When looking back at the very brief lists of bed-
i ding stuff, which comprised the stock of first-class
' places "in the days of auld lang syne," we natur-
ally wonder how they made out with so few things
for ornamentation, compared with what we now-
a-days have at our command. But if the gentle
readers will consult the horticultural pages of the
past, and examine the pictures which illustrated
some of the famous places of the period, they will
be equally surprised and delighted with the pleas-
ing, and oftentimes picturesque effects, the liberal
use of herbaceous plants gave to the scene. These
much neglected flowers, with the aid of old-fash-
ioned annuals, sown in clumps and patches among
them, never failed to make a goodly show, and
give delight to those who loved them.

To exemplify, without" amplifying examples,
three species of plants are selected as fair repre-
sentatives of what were then considered fully up to
the regulation standard of perfection ; to show
how they compare with similar species, in this our
year of grace, namely,— Cinerarias, Calceolarias,
and Petunias.

Calceolarias, of both shrubby and herbaceous

kinds, with mostly puny sulphur colored flowers,

! a few of which were irregularly spotted with brown

I885.J

AND HORTICULTURIST.

57

were looked upon as something superb, when but
slightly larger than a ripe white grape currant.
Since then, they seem to have been gradually in-
creasing in size, and with improved form and more
brilliant colors, from the semblance of little fairy
pockets — to those of watch fobs for giants. Insig-
nificant as they might appear now, they were
nevertheless much admired when they had noth-
ing better of their kind ; and then, they grew freely,
and flowered profusely.

And there are visions not yet effaced from mem-
ory of many an antiquated greenhouse, like the
one alluded to, in which used to grow Cinerarias,
and Petunias, more remarkable for the lack of that
which constitutes floral excellence, according to
our advanced ideas of floriculture, than for any-
thing else. And yet, the good folk who grew
them considered them elegant and useful green-
house plants ; and no doubt felt just as proud of
them as we at present do of the more splendid va-
rieties which have succeeded them.

Of the first named, the poorest kind of star wort
found growing in neglected fence corners, or strug-
gling for existence along the dusty country road-
sides, was on a par with most kinds of them, in
times gone by. But what of that ; they were the
best they had, and were prized accordingly. And
of Petunias, which were formerly regarded as choice
and lovely pot plants, very useful for the beautiful
show they made in the greenhouse during the winter
season ; the writer remembers when but five or six
varieties were all the kinds in cultivation. Were it
possible for the present enthusiastic admirers of
pretty flowers to get a glimpse of them at this
day, they would be apt to dub them " a shabby
lot." And yet, notwithstanding their want of
comeliness — as we judge them now — and as it was
with the other two mentioned, having no superiors
— as each novelty appeared, however poor it might
be, it was gladly accepted as something different,
if not an improvement, upon its predecessor. And
thus, with these acknowledged merits it obtained
public favor, and while remaining without a rival,
it had the distinguished advantage of being one of
the newest, if not the nicest things ever sent out.

They, the amateurs and professionals of that
time, good souls ! many of whom have not yet
gone to " the land o' the leal," could hardly have
believed it, though a prophet had predicted the
coming of better things, especially among Petu-
nias, that they would live to realize such extraordi-
nary improvements, as have come to pass in these
latter days among the flowers. They could not
possibly have had any conception of the size and

brilliant coloring, which renders them so conspicu-
ous in the greenhouse or garden. And flowers
variegated, rayed, blotched, penciled, mottled,
fringed, or striped, were then unknown. Neither
had the fine double rose, or camellia kinds, then
made their appearance : they were reserved for us
to admire later on. And with the greatest variety
of single, double,and semi-double kinds imaginable,
some of which are fragrant, almost every garden
in summer is gay with them throughout the land.
The few exceptions there may be to so commend-
able a practice, are much to be regretted ; as there
cannot be any sunshine in the heart that exhibits
no love for flowers.

Watching the progress of horticulture, as the
writer has for many years, and ever alert to ob-
serve improvements in floriculture, at the same
time, he was, notwithstanding his expectations to
see " something good," be itsaid, much surprised at
the sight of the remarkable development of one of
David Fergusson & Sons' seedling single blotched
Petunias, during the past summei, which measured
a little over four inches across the flower. And
when I inform the younger followers of the most
ancient of all earthly occupations, that he who
thus writes the chronicles of gardening, as it was,
in his youthful days, has a clear recollection of
the popular first-class kinds, with their dingy-
white, flabby little flowers, of less than an inch in
diameter, much more like small Nierembergias,
than modern Petunias, the reason will be obvious
why he should place upon record such a marvel
of evolution. Mount Holly, N. y.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Making Known the Gardeners' Monthly.
— It may do no harm to remind the many friends
of the Gardeners' Monthly, that it is issued at
the low subscription price, chiefly that the pub-
lisher may have a claim on the friends of the
Magazine, to do what they can to make it known
among those who are interested in its aims. A
purely Horticultural Magazine, unlike one de-
voted to Agriculture, cannot reach the scattered
votaries of the art, by any amount of advertising
usual in other businesses. It has to flourish solely
on the good will of its friends.

The Landscape Gardener of Fairmount
Park. — Public life is anything but pleasant, from
the exposure to malice and the many insidious
attacks which it entails. Landscape Gardener
Miller, of Fairmount Park, has just been through

58

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[I'ebruary,

the ordeal, and knows what it is. Wm. A. Mau-
pay, the son of a well-known and, in his day, honor-
ed nurseryman, of Rising Sun, near Philadelphia,
was employed in the Park under Mr. Miller, but
for some reason or other was discharged. He
then brought charges against Mr. Miller, that he
had taken or sent plants from the Park, presuma-
bly in his own interest. The charges were re-
peated in every paper — petty and respectable— in
the city ; and by those who did not know Mau-
pay or Miller, Mr. Miller was thought to be in a
terrible plight. But on investigation it was found
that a system of exchanges, in vogue in every
public garden in the world, had long ago been
authorized here, and as all exchanges had been
faithfully recorded on books kept for that purpose,
as well as all receipts on account thereof, the
Landscape Gardener had simply to produce these
books. The whole transactions showed so much
in favor of the Park, that, instead of censure, the
result was the passage of a resolution unani-
mously by the Park Commissioners, thanking Mr.
Miller for his extremely good work in connection
with these exchanges. But thousands will have
read of the malicious charges, who will never see
the vindication ; but then it is worth remembering
that while malice makes enemies, it brings friends
also. Hundreds now know of Miller's good work
who before had no idea thereof.

Good for Insects. — A correspondent of an-
other paper is puzzled at the answer the Editor
gave to her inquiry : What was good for insects ?
that he could not tell her unless he knew what
disease the insects were suffering from ? She
should tell him that they had eaten more than
was good for them.

Col. M. p. Wilder. — It will, we are sure,
gratify the numerous friends of Col. Wilder, to
know that notwithstanding his advanced years,
he presided at the annual meeting of the New
England Geneological Society, and made one of
his usual brilliant addresses. This is we believe
the eighteenth consecutive term of his Presidency.

Charles Downing. — The death of this distin-
guished pomologist, which occurred on the 19th
of January, closes a remarkable era in the history
of American horticulture. It is well known to
students of social philosophy, that the courses of
large bodies in the community are unconsciously
directed by a few remarkable men, who come to
be in a certain sense leaders and directors of
thought without cither the leader or the led having
the least idea of the current drift of things. In

1 gardening we see this frequently illustrated. The
genius and influence of Thomas Andrew Knight,
ably seconded a few years later by Lindley, led to
the production of a race of thoughtful, practical
gardeners in England, the like of which the world
has probably never seen. On the continent of Eu-

; rope. Von Mons, Decaisne, Du Breuil, and others

j of that stamp, took a special interest in fruit cul-
ture ; and for many years the whole world had to
look to France and Belgium for most that was
worth learning in progressive fruit culture. Land-
scape gardening, flower culture, orchid collecting,
and many other lines of horticultural pleasures,

!all owe their waves of popularity to the unselfish
genius of a few enthusiasts. Gardening never
goes down. From early Paradise till. now the
love exists, and will exist while time endures ; but
the peculiar directions the tide take depend on a
very few.

The advent of the Downings — Andrew Jackson
and Charles — had this special influence here. A.
J. Downing was a rare lover of garden taste and
garden art, and he had the essential enthusiasm
that was catching to all who came into contact
with him. If he had lived no country would have
been more preeminent in landscape gardening than
America. But he died young ; and the young
plant with so brilliant a future faded when his
spirit fled. To-day, landscape gardening is al-
most a lost art among us, at least in comparison
to what it would have been had the great master
lived. The brother Charles' genius- tended more
to fruit culture. His love for trees and flowers
was not less than that of his brother, but fruit was
his chosen fancy, and to our mind it was the
genius of Charles Downing which led the way for

! tj;ie vast preeminence in fruit culture which Ameri-
I ca enjoys to-day. Of course he has been ably
seconded by Warder, Barry, Wilder, Hovey, and
many others, just as in other lines other leaders
j have been ably seconded in their day ; but the
stream that was stricken from the rock was chiefly
in response to the rod of Charles Downing.

Who will now tell us of what we want to know
of fruits ? Who will give the many hours in nam-
ing and identifying baskets of fruit from all parts of
the world to which he gave so many in the labor
of love ? Hours of time and piles of money, for
I that which was not of the slightest value to him,
except as might be the knowledge that he was
benefiting every one around him. Is there any-
thing in horticulture that makes a man unselfish ?
The lawyer, the physician, the clergyman even, has
a money value on time, and either in the shape of

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

59

a gratuity or stated fee expects to get cash for ser-
vices rendered. The merchant especially regards
the money value of time ; but men like Charles
Downing must work continually, day in and day
out, from January to December, seeking only the
good of others. This was especially the lot of
this good man, and not to work merely, but go
cheerfully and uncomplainingly along. Not always,
however, is this great sacrifice made without some
thought of its cost. It is only a few weeks ago
that we had a letter from our good friend on this
very topic, which it is yet too sacred with the mark
of privacy to use in full. We may say, however,
that it told of his early struggles to be useful in
the literature of pomology, and of the troubles
and disappointments of finding publishers to give
to the world his works. Even where he had been
successful in this, all that he had received from
his huge labors in many cases was a few copies of
his own work to give to his friends.

Possibly some one will arise who will follow
closely in his steps and continue in the good work
just as he would have pursued it ; but the experi-
ence of history is against the thought. There will
be but one Charles Downing ; and as we lay his
remains in the grave, the tears of American po-
mology everywhere drop over them as for its
greatest treasure gone beyond recall.

Ch.\rles Darwin. — Lives of this great man
will soon come from the Enghsh press. One has
recently appeared, of which a reviewer in an
English daily paper says :

" Darwin was a native of Shrewsbury, and it
was eminently fitting that a Shropshire man
should communicate a sketch of his life and
works to the county Archaeological Society, and
that the same should be given to the world. The,
'Proud Salopians' have indeed something to be
proud of in that their county town gave birth to
Darwin, and only less fortunate is Staffordshire,
for Darwin's grandfather was in a sense a Lich-
field man, and he and his family were very inti-
mately associated by marriage with the Wedg-
woods. Charles Darwin's father married a daugh-
ter of Josiah Wedgwood, the eminent potter;
Darwin himself married his cousin, a daughter of
the second Josiah Wedgwood ; and a sister of
Darwin also married into the same family. All
necessary facts relating to Darwin's family history
are clearly set forth in Mr. Woodall's monograph,
and we have some original information respecting
his schoolboy days, contributed by two of his
schoolfellows who survive him. Darwin, who
had little taste for the classics, used to say that
Euclid, done as an extra subject, was the only bit
of real education which he got at Shrewsbury
Grammar School. Under the famous Dr. Butler,
classics were everything at Shrewsbury, and there-

fore it was not surprising that Darwin won little
distinction there. The Rev. W. A. Leighton says
he was reserved and fond of long, solitary ram-
bles ; but another schoolfellow, the Rev. J. Yard-
ley, recollects him as a "cheerful, good-tempered,
and communicative" lad, qualities which, as Mr.
Woodall remarks, certainly distinguished him in
afterlife. He subsequently studied at Edinburgh
and Cambridge, and took the B.A. and M.A. de-
grees in the ordinary course."

Rev. James Sprunt. — We note by a brief para-
graph in a Baltimore paper that Dr. Sprunt died
recently at his home in Duplin county. North
Carolina. He was among the first of the corres-
pondents of the Editor of this magazine, and sent
to him for examination flowers of a rose that had
sported from Safrano ; and with the Editor's en-
couragement it was propagated, proved perma-
nent, and finally became the well-known "Isabella
Sprunt," which to this day holds its own as one of
the most popular tea roses. Mr. Sprunt was very
fond of gardening, and his home in Kenansville, to
judge from his enthusiastic correspondence, must
have been a very pleasant place. He was a
Scotchman by birth, but settled as a Presbyterian
clergyman, at Kenansville. On the breaking out
of the rebellion he became chaplain of the 20th
North Carolina Infantry. Since the end of the
war he was Register of Deeds for Duplin county.

The Agricultural Grasses of the United
States. — By Dr. George Vasey. Washington ;
published by the Department of Agriculture. To
the many good deeds of the Department one more
has been added in the shape of this book. Efforts
were made by a wide distribution of circulars to
find out what grasses were in any way identified
with agriculture throughout the length and breadth
of the land. We have 163 of them here described,
and 1 20 figured in lithographic plates, and all
that is known of them placed on record.

The People's Farm and Stock Cyclopedia.
— By Waldo F. Brown. Published by Jones Broth-
ers & Co., Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis.

The first impression in receiving a book of this
kind is that so much has already appeared of this
class, that there is no room for more ; but the truth
is that many " Farmers' Cyclopedias" are just the
kind to make a sensible, practical farmer become
disgusted with " book learning." Looking careful-
ly through this book, however, we are free to say
that it is not of the mere made-up kind — but is of a
thoughtful, discriminative and judicious character,
creditable in everyway to the high position to which
American agriculture is steadily advancing. The
editor and leading contributor tells us that though

6o

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

he has had many years of experience in farm
worlc, it is but ten years since he wrote his first ar-
ticle for pubhcation. To this, perhaps, may be
attributed the very clear, concise, and, yet
thoroughly grammatical style in which the work
is written. Though the book contains 1215 pages,
there is nothing repeated — nothing to tire one. A
series of capital indices afford a ready reference to
any item one wishes to consult. General farm
management is discussed in seventeen chapters,
and the live stock department in twenty-two ; while
in an appendix is given tables of figures relating
to farm work.

Looking through the chapters it is remarkable
how little one who has had experience in the
science and practice of agriculture, will find to
criticise unfavorably. When the author tells us
that "the first essential to successful fruitgrowing
is common sense," most of us, who have been
teachers, know how true this is. The man who
merely tries to imitate just what another has done,
and then expects success, is always to be pitied.
Another excellent piece of advice to would-be far-
mer-fruit growers is, first to grow for their own
family supplies, and from this judge what is best
adapted to their soil, or what to their own experi-
ence; and again, to look at the prospect of a con-
venient and growing market for what they know they
can successfully grow and profitably ship. An-
other capital piece of advice to those looking for a
location for a farm or garden is, to see who are to
be their neighbors. No matter how good the soil,
how cheap the land, how well favored in every way
by nature the situation may be, avoid it as the ser-
pent, if hide-bound ignorance and stupidity pre-
vail. Suggestions about getting into debt for
farms, gardens, and homes in general are just to
our mind. The advice of many agricultural papers
never to get into debt, always seemed absurd to us.
No man ."itarting into life without capital can get
well off by his labor without debt, till he is old and
grey, if at all. Industry alone does not always
bring its rich reward. Ijut in getting into debt, as
in getting into fruit growing. " the first essential is
common sense." The Cyclopedia helps very well
to cultivate this essential in the process.

One mistake, common to all works of this kind,
is to give long talks on the best varieties to culti-
vate. These are continually changing, and a book
which might by its solid contents be a text book
for generations, becomes out of date in a few years.
These should be placed in an appendix or left
wholly to nurserymen or seedsmen's catalogues.
The advice to never plant a fruit tree over one year

old, is also old-fashioned, except as it may refer to
the peach. This may do where trees are cheaply dug,
with most of the roots left in the nursery, but the
mortality in carefully spade-dug trees four, five or
six years old, need be no greater than among seed-
ling transplanted trees, and two or three years
saved in the time a tree comes into bearing, is a good
deal in the mere speck of life given to a human
being. The chapter on fencing is scarcely down
to date. The author does not like them, because
of the annual expense of trimming. But he has
the Osage orange in mind. He forgets that since
the introduction of barbed wire fences, we do not
need strong growing plants like Osage orange.
With two or three strands of barbed wire, placed so
that plants will grow through them and hold them
in place, mere shrubs like Privet, Silverthorn,
Berberry, or even plants without spines, and which
may never be more than a few feet high, a good
and cheap live fence may be had that will never
need pruning, unless one is very particular to have
things neat and nice at some labor and cost.

But the most unsatisfactory chapter is on Farm
Forestry. Only the black locust and soft maple are
referred to. The author deprecates many fences ;
but except for posts and stakes, of what earthly
use is the locust, after we get it, and, as for the soft
maple, even as firewood, it is not worth kindling,
against some other trees. But we must remember
that Forestry is as yet an unknown art in our coun-
try, notwithstanding the tons of government, state
and newspaper articles that have appeared about
it, and, hence, we must not expect too much from
a work like this.

We have only to repeat that it is a truly excel-
lent, practical work, and will be well worthy of a
place as a book of reference in every farmer's and
fruit grower's library.

Floral M.\gazines. — Though our Magazine
is conceded to cover a wider field than any simi-
lar publication in this country, we feel that much
of crur success is due to the excellent work done
by other contemporaries, in special departments
of that great occupation which we all love.

Among the particularly useful serials, we may
name VtcA's Monthly, the Floral Cabinet, and
the American Garden, which in their special lines
are doing good work — fully equal to our own. In
a more limited field, perhaps, we may mention
Park's Floral Gazette and Seed- Time and Harvest,
as equally meriting patronage and support.

They all have our best wishes and congratu-
lations, at the evidence they all exhibit of a
healthy and prolonged existence.

1885.J

AND HORTICULTURIST.

6i

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Landscape Gardening Work. — A correspon-
dent, writing from a town in Massachusetts,
wishes to know how to establish himself as a
landscape gardener, for which, from education
and e.\perience, he believes himself to be well
suited. He has advertised repeatedly and failed.

We have often stated that one of the greatest
wants of the day in all our large towns and cities
is good landscape gardeners. There are hundreds
of well-to-do people anxious to employ them, and,
for want of finding them, have to endure men who
scarcely know one tree from another. Hundreds
of thousands of dollars are spent annually by
mere graders and contractors for gentlemen de-
sirous of getting good work done, simply because
they do not know where to find the proper men
to do what they desire.

But there is an art which cannot be taught by
an Editor in a magazine, and that is, the art of
making one's self known to the community around
him. We will, however, tell a true story which
will illustrate what we mean, and in its applica-
tion perhaps some one may profit.

" I understand," said a rather needy-looking in-
dividual to the writer of this, many years ago,

"that your friend Mr. has made a fortune

and intends to build himself a fine house. Do
you know just where he proposes to locate it?"
" Just right over in the middle of that corn field,"
he was told. Further conversation disclosed that
the young man believed he had special talent for
an architect, but was wholly unknown in the
vicinity. Some months later when the owner of
that land was within reach, the poor young man
was on hand with a plan of a building just suited
as he thought to that location. The owner put
him off with the remark that he had his own ideas,
and did not want to look at any plan. But he
finally did look, and objected to this, that and the
other, to all of which the young man paid particu-
lar attention. He was finally told that he need
take no trouble in the matter, that the owner had
his own architectural friends, whom at the proper
time he proposed to consult, and who no doubt
would work out his ideas to his entire satisfaction.
But in less than a few days the young man again
appeared with another plan. The owner of the
land was at first reluctant to grant another inter-
view, but gave in finally, and was surprised to
find how nearly the stranger had caught up the
idea of his wants from the casual conversation.
Seeing that he had a person of real talent and

genius before him, he gave him an order to make
a plan. The end of it was that the young stranger
got his first job, a $50,000 house, and he finally
became one ol the most distinguished architects
of Philadelphia. This was the beginning of the
career of the late Samuel Sloan.

After all, is not this the way of all successful
business or professional men, even down to the
much abused tree pedlar ? They have all to let
people know in some way or another that they
have just what these people want, or they would
starve.

It is no use to write to an Editor to ask where
the particular individuals are who require good
landscape gardeners; all the Editor can say is
that he knows there are profitable engagements
for hundreds of them. To find them in each in-
dividual case is however an art which, though he
can and has in the past successfully practiced, he
is incompetent to teach.

Profits of Plant and Seed Collecting.

A lady in South Carolina sends us the follow-
ing letter. Though addressed to us in our public
capacity as Editor of a Magazine, it is not clear
that it was meant for publication ; but as a reply
may be of service to others as well as the writer,
we give it a place here, only suppressing the name
and address of the writer :

"Editor Gardeners' Monthly: I am em-
boldened in writing this to you, from an in-
tuitive feeling that it would result in a kindly
hearing from you ; and, I hope, a pecuniary help
to me. I am ' only a woman,' but one reared in
the lap of luxury, before and since the war, but
now feel it a duty to try to help my husband, if I
can, to educate and rear five children ; and one
arvenue which I had hoped would be a means to
this end, proves very unsatisfactory to me. I
will explain. Our beautiful Southern woods and
fields are filled with plants and bulbs, much
prized by the citizens of the Northern States ;
notably a bulb— advertised as Amaryllis Treatse
— but known here as Atamasco Lily. I saw it
extensively advertised in a great many catalogues
for from 8 cents to 15 cents per bulb, and gathered
for the last three seasons thousands of bulbs, and
can get no better price, wholesale, than i cent,
and not always that, per bulb ; and I write to ask
you if you think if I advertised it in your Gar-
deners' Monthly it would bring me in any more.
I am 'to fame unknown,' and after writing
hundreds of letters, 1 have not yet made the salt
that goes in my own bread, much less my child-
ren's. The bulbs I have sold, if retailed at cata-

62

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

logue prices, would have realized me $375.00,
whereas they really brought me in $54.00, giving
the florist a margin of $j2i.oo, as his part of the
profits. Of course I do not expect or wish to
reap all, but if I could have even got half 1
would have remained quiescent and still continued
to try to supply florists alone with them.

What I wish is this, to ascertain price to insert
an attractive advertisement for two, three, or four
months — whichever you advise — and see if I
cannot realize the profits myself. I have thous-
ands of Narcissus, which I see by my flori-
cultural papers is the future's favorite, to dispose
of. I am in correspondence with several florists
for them, but because the bulbs are larger and finer
than those they import, they mistrust the plant
altogether. One of the Narcissus, advertised un-
der various names— Daffodill, Hoop Petticoat, Sul-
phur Trumpet, and we here call them Butter-
cups, Candlesticks, Cups and Saucers, Shepherd's
Pipe &c. — I think is the Narcissus advertised as
Bulbocodium at 25 cents per bulb, but cannot be
certain until some sent me from the North bloom,
and I can compare them. You cannot realize that
here in the South we border our vegetable beds
with them, to keep them in shape ; and when once
planted they go on increasing until they encroach
to such an extent that we have to plough them up
as a nuisance. Of course then you will not won-
der at my having 10,000 bulbs to sell, and desir-
ing to realize a handsome profit on them and not
allow myself only a beggar's portion. Could you
kindly give me any idea of my best plan to throw
these on the market, and at what time ? I feel I
am almost inexcusable for thus transgressing your
time, but my excuse is above; knowing by the
reputation you have gained, that you are willing to
help the struggling, and those anxious to help
themselves."

It is a natural mistake by those unacquainted
with the nurseryman or seedsman's business, that
$221.00 represents the part of the profits in a
purchase of $375.00. If he were engaged in this
business wholly, and took with one hand $54.00
worth, and received directly $375.00 with the
other, it would not be correct; as he would proba-
bly have had to take a great deal of trouble and
cost to find the customers for the article. But the
receipts from the bulbs have to go into the gen-
eral fund, and against this fund a large number of
expenses have to be charged. We know one
large firm that spends in advertising, or has spent
in one year for advertising, $100,000. This of
course includes catalogues, cuts, label printing.

and such like. There are store rents, wages,
commissions to other dealers, bad debts, and
numerous other items which run into the expense
account, besides the firm's own many years of ex-
perience and time to be paid for ; and besides all
this, he deals in a perishable article, which if not
sold has to be thrown on the rubbish pile, though
bought and paid for. The writer of this well re-
members seeing a letter written by one friend to
another who had been always buying bulbs ; it
was in 1859: "We are not buying bulbs this
year, we want bullets ;" and over $1,000 of Dutch
bulbs were thrown on the manure heap, from
similar failures to sell that season. It is not al-
ways that war prevents sale, but some other acci-
dent is continually arising. We very much doubt
whether at the prices named by our correspondent
the buyer would make more than fifteen per cent.
on his purchase ; which is just about what our
correspondent made.

We do not think she would do any better, or
even so well, by advertising directly for retail
customers in the advertising columns of the Gar-
deners' Monthly. Advertising is a great art,
understood only by those well in business. The
hap-hazard advertiser seldom makes it pay.

The best course for our correspondent is to
continue in correspondence with leading firms,
who may possibly need what she can supply, and
she need only offer to supply those things which
she can get easily, and thus afford to sell at the
price that competitors for her products are willing
to pay. In this way she will find out those who
want them worst, and those who want them worst
will be willing to pay the most. This is the un-
derlying principle in all successful business.

Diseases of Plants. — Prof. J. C. Arthur, who
has made a specialty of the study of the diseases of
plants, and who has charge of the New York Ex-
perimental Station, at Geneva, New York, kindly
writes to say that if any correspondent o{ the Gar-
deners' Mo.NTHLY will send him specimens of
i diseased plants, he will respond with pleasure in
the Gardeners' Monthly so far as he may be
able to do so.

Mr. a. N. Curtis, of Sharon, Pa. : " Horti-
culture loses one of its most liberal and enthusias-
tic patrons, and Sharon, one of its best citizens, in
the death of Mr. Alfred Curtis, which occurred at
his home, in this city, on December 28th last.

" Sharon owes much to him for the prestige she
enjoyed, as being the leading town in Western
Pennsylvania in floriculture. Kind and generous

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

63

almost to a fault, he endeared himself to all with
whom he came in contact, by his many acts of
kindness and charity. Possessed of abundant
means, he was always on the lookout for new
things in the floral world, but his great delight was
in Orchids, of which he owned one of the most
complete and extensive private collections in the
United States. He will be greatly missed, not alone
for his many acts of kindness, but the people will
miss his merry face and genial smile with which
he greeted all. The greenhouses will be kept up
as usual under the very careful and efficient
management of Mr. Isaac O'Brien, who has had
charge of them the last seventeen years.

"Albert Willi.\.\is."
Book on Cultivated Plants.— A "subscrib-
er " writes : Would you please inform me in your
next issue if there is any work giving the names
(Botanical and Common) of all classes and varie-

ties of plants grown in this country ? If so, where,
and at what price I can get it ?"

[The " Hand Book of Plants," by Peter Hender-
son, will be what you desire. — Ed. G. M.]

Ladies' Traces or Ladies' Tresses.—" F. B.
H." writes: "Reading an English work recently,
I find it a matter of difference whether our pretty
autumn orchid, Spiranthes, should be known as
Ladies' traces or a Lady's tresses. As the Garden-
ers' Monthly takes an interest in these scholarly
questions, 1 thought it might interest you to be di-
rected to the subject. What are ladies' traces at
any rate ?"

[We have been over this in past times. Our opin-
ion is that "traces" is the original word. " Traces "
or " trusses " were cords used by old time ladies and
gentlemen about their dress, as " cords," or "laces "
would be now. A lady's trace, would be a silken
cord.— Ed. G. M.]

Horticultural Societies.

COMMUNICATIONS.

MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SO-
CIETY IN NOVEMBER.

BY W. A. MANDA.

The Boston Horticultural Hall was again in its
best on the occasion of the .A.nnual Chrysanthe-
mum show, which was pronounced by all the
veteran exhibitors as the finest of that kind ever
held in Boston, or .America. It was really a mag-
nificent sight to see over 630 specimens, some
being over 5 feet in diameter, besides 750 vases
filled with cut blooms ; a nice table of orchids
and choice plants ; also a collection of native
plants, bouquets of flowers, pansies, etc.

The Chrysanthemum contributors were the well-
known gentlemen. Dr. Walcott, Mr. E. W. Wood,
Hon. M. P. Wilder, Mr. C. M. Atkinson, Mr.
Hovey. Norton Bros., Mr. A. F. Fewkes.

Large specimens were shown by Dr. Walcott,
Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. Wood. Hon. M. P. Wil-
der had a collection of fifty dwarf and compact
plants which formed a pretty lot. Among the
new seedlings the most noticeable was one shown
by Dr. Walcott. The form is perfect, of pure
white color, and belongs to the large flowering
section and was awarded silver medal. Mr. A.

Fewkes had also some very good reedlings of
merit. After the show most of the plants were
sold at auction and a sum of about S650 was re-
ceived, of which one-fifth comes to the Society,
which sum will be added to prizes for the next
year's show.

The orchid table was interesting as ever with the
marvelous flowers. Mr. Gilmore made a fine dis-
play with Saccolabium Blumei majus, Odontoglos-
sum grande, O. Sanderii, Dendrobium formosum
giganteum, Lycaste Skinnerii, Calanthe Veitchii,
Oncidium Forbesi, O. varicosum, a fine specimen
of O. ornithorrhynchum and a very rare variety
of pure yellow O. Krameri. Mr. H. E. Hunne-
well, a number of plants comprising the beautiful
]' Dendrobium Goldei, Oncidium crispum, O. orni-
thorrhynchum, Cypripedium Spicerianum, Odon-
toglossum grande, Laslia anceps, L. albida var.
bella and the lovely Cattleya exoniensis, a hybrid
between Cattleya Mossiae and Laelia purpurata.
Mr. David Allan, grower to Mr. Pratt, exhibited
the rare Cypripedium Fairrieanum, a real gem
of its genus, although not so conspicuous as many,
yet the lovely color and odd shape compensate
for the size. Another noteworthy exhibit was a
spathe of Anthurium Andreanum, which measured
7,'< inches by c,% inches, which is not at all com-

64

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[February,

mon. The fruit show was a fair one comprising
pears, apples, grapes, etc.

Nearly six thousand persons visited the exhibi-
tion, a proof that the Boston public fully appreciate
the effort of the horticulturists.
Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 2S, '84.

[As will be seen by the date this should have
reached us in time for our last number, but seems
to have been delayed on the road somewhere. —
Ed. G. M.]

HINTS TO EXHIBITORS.

I enclose an extract from a private letter from
Boston, which may interest you. It is written by
a flower lover. Is there not a hint for exhibitors
therein ?

" I wish I could describe to you, so you could
realize how charming the flowers (Chrysanthe-
mums) are, the newspaper reports are so cold and
meagre. I'm so old fashioned, that I like best the
bonny little pompons. The sprawly Japanese
varieties, I do not love one bit — not to have and
to hold and pet. The Chinese are belter, some
are almost perfectly round, like a " Dizlia" — as
the Maine people say ; and one pink one with a
little pink perfume quite won me.

" But the orchids were a revelation to me — I
never saw such beauties, and do not generally care
much for them. They seem to be uncanny things
— like transformed fairy butterflies or moths. One
was evidently a tiger, which had been changed to
a moth, and then to a flower; but it had rather a
tiger uncertainty about it still, and I was a little
suspicious of it.

" And my heart ached for some lovely pansies
near the orchids. Can you imagine any human
being capable of putting about thirty pansy blooms
into a tall, narrow vase ! all squeezed together, so
that not one could show its liltle face happily, j
They did look so sorry and uncomfortable that 1 ,
made a desperate venture and begged of someone
in charge a flat dish of water, and put them to
float in it, and then the little faces smiled their
thanks."

EDITORIAL NOTES.

A Grand Chrysanthemum Show.— The Penn-
sylvania Horticultural Society has decided to
have a grand show in Philadelphia next Autumn,
which shall continue open four days.

Mass. Horticultural Society.— In the an-
nual report of this Society, the committee of ar- 1
rangemcnts, in reviewing the exhibitions of the ,
year now closing, pronounce them the most suc-
cessful, so far as the quality, beauty and extent of
exhibits are considered, which have taken place ,
for many years, and possibly exceeding any with-
in the society's history. The increase in paid ad-
missions was particularly gratifying, the total
being S281 5.05, a greater sum than the total for

the five years previous to 1881, when the Ameri-
can Pomological Society held its meeting in Bos-
ton. The receipts at the annual exhibition in
1884 were about equal to the total of all the large
exhibitions in 1883. While a part of this increase
may have been due to the extension of the time
during which the exhibitions were held, it also in-
dicates that the public is quick to appreciate the
efforts to add to the beauty and brilliancy of the
exhibitions.

The schedule of prizes for 1885 came up for
final action, and it was voted to add to the general
rules and regulations a rule that no premium shall
be awarded at any exhibition, except those
authorized by the society.

We do not feel sure that this is wise, while it is
undoubtedly true that a free discretion in the scat-
tering of money everywhere on special premiums,
would tend to ruin financially the strongest society
in time. There must necessarily be many
superior objects of Horticultural interest con-
tinually coming up, deserving of reward and
commendation, which no care or foresight in ar-
ranging a schedule, can provide for. It seems to
us that the rule adopted by the Germantown
Horticultural Society is a better one. This pro-
vides a specific sum each month for the dis-
cretionary use of the committee ; the unused
balance of which goes with the life subscriptions,
to the permanent fund.

At the meeting of January 2d, Mr. J. B. Moore,
the newly elected President, took the chair. His
inaugural address dwelt chiefly on the good work
the Society had done ; gave a just tribute to the
unselfish work of a number of his predecessors,
and detailed many of the advantages for future
usefulness which the Society now possessed. He
particularly spoke of the value of the library of
the Society as far greater than the whole cost of
membership, to all who love rural life and ad-
mire beautiful plants and flowers and noble trees.
The library is growing faster than ever before,
and the necessity of more room for the accom-
modation of the many rare and valuable books
which it contains was enforced.

Mr. Robert Manning was re-elected Librarian
and Secretary, and Mr. Geo. W. Fowle Treasurer.

The appropriations for prizes, viz., for flowers
$2,600, fruits 51,500, vegetables JSoo, and gardens
J200 : and the appropriations for the library com-
mittee, $400; committee on publication and discus-
sion S200 ; and committee of arrangements S300,
previously recommended by the executive commit-
tee, were voted by the society.

Charles H. B. Breck, William J. Underwood
and John C. Hovey were appointed a committee
to prepare a memorial of F. Lyman Winship.

Arthur Blake, of Brookline, was proposed by
Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, as a member of the
society. John L. Gardner and Miss Annie C. Put-
nam, Ijoth of Boston, were electetl members. A
motion to appropriate $20 (or the deficiency in the
subscription for vases for prizes at the rose show
was referred to the executive committee; and the
meeting adjourned to Saturday, January loth.

The prizes offered for forced vegetables brought
out a grand display.

rc^^»' ■

^

. C.V.UB. ^

THE

GARDENERS' MONTHLY

AND

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XXVII.

MARCH, 1885.

Number 315.

Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

This is the proper season to lay down box-
edgings. To make them properly, the soil along
the line of the edge should be first dug, and then
trod very hard and firm, so that it may sink evenly
together, or the line will present ugly-looking un-
dulations in time. Rooted plants should be em-
ployed ; cuttings are sometimes used, but frequently
die out in patches ; a good edge can rarely be
made from them. The plants should be set pretty
low down, leaving the plants, when set, one or two
inches above the soil, according to their stocki-
ness. Sometimes box edgings are laid around
beds formed in grass. When so, a few inches of
clear ground should be kept clean between the
grass and the box, or the weeds will be so inter-
mixed with the box, after awhile, as to render it a
nuisance.

Walks should now have their spring-dressing —
the verges cut, and a thin coating of new gravel
laid on. Before putting on the new, harrow up
the face of the old gravel with a strong iron-
toothed rake. Roll well after the new is laid on.

Ornamental hedges judiciously introduced into
a small place, add greatly to its interest. No
easier method offers whereby to make two acres
of garden out of one in the surveyor's draught.
The Arbor-vitas (Chinese and American), Hem-
lock, Holly, Beech, Hornbeam, Pyrus japonica.

Privet and Buckthorn may be applied to this pur
pose.

Shrubs are not nearly enough employed in plant-
ing small places. By a judicious selection a place
may be had in a blooming state all the year ; and
they besides, give it a greater interest by their
variety than is obtained by the too frequent error
of filling it up with but two or three forest trees of
gigantic growth. Plant thickly at first, to give the
place a finished appearance, and thin out as they
grow older. Masses of shrubs have a fine effect
on a small place. The center of such masses
should be filled with evergreen shrubs, to prevent
a naked appearance in the winter season.

Many things that appear frosted a little at the
tops should be severely cut down ; it will prevent
disappointment in the end. Shoots that are in-
jured in winter — especially in the case of the rose
— will often have just sufficient vigor left to enable
them to put forth leaves, and sometimes even go
so far as to attempt to flower, and then die off
suddenly under the first hot sun.

Pruning of roses and other flowering shrubs will
be the first operation in order. The " summer "
roses, or those which bloom only once in the sea-
son, the rule is to thin out the weak shoots and
leave the stronger ones, merely shortening their
tops. If pruned severely in the usual shortening
style, they will not bloom freely. The hybrid
perpetual roses, if wanted for early flowering,

VN

66

■y THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

■^.S

^nould also be served much in the same way ;
but as their chief value is as fall flowerers, a severe
pruning now produces a vigorous growth, bearing
large and luxurious blooms. The Tea, China,
Bourbon and Noisette roses which flower best on
young wood, should be well cut in.

PEeonias, Dicentras, and other hardy herbaceous
plants that have been two years in one situation,
should be taken up, divided and reset in new soil,
if the finest flowers are desired. There is a grow-
ing revival of the taste for beautiful herbaceous
plants, which the Frenchy fashion of growing a
few kinds in masses for mere gaudy display had
well nigh annihilated. Herbaceous plants take a
little more tying and fixing through the summer,
but make up for it by variety and peculiar interest.

Chrysanthemums are now indispensable for au-
tumn decoration of the flower garden. Now is
the time to procure a supply. They do well in any
rich garden soil that is not too dry. The LiUipu-
tian, or Pompone class is still popular for con-
servatory or pot culture, but the large-flowering
kinds still remain the gems of the open ground.

Whenever it is prudent to work in the half dried
ground, hardy annuals may also be sown ; the earlier
they can be started, the finer they flower. Some-
times, after sowing, cold wet weather ensues, when
the seed, if it is started at all, is liable to rot. It is
best to save a few seeds in each packet, and in
two or three weeks after sowing, go over and
scatter in the places where the other portion was
sown. Every place where seed is put in should
be marked, and with the kind ; when the border
plants are then set out the annuals will not be dis-
turbed. A change of soil, as we have often said,
is beneficial to the flower border. With some
kinds of flowers, the Verbena for instance, a new
soil is a great luxury, for which they will be very
grateful to you. The first two inches of the sur-
face soil of an old pasture, mixed with about a
third of the surface soil of an old wood, makes an
excellent medium to grow border plants in. Not
the mere rotten leaves from a wood, but the dark,
black humus in which the roots of the trees, and
other rank vegetable roots have already began to
run riot among.

COMMUNICATIONS.

A NEW DOUBLE BON SILENE.
BY N. B. STOVER.

Lovers of the rose are fully aware that for fra-
grance, beauty of color, neatness of bud, free flow-

ering and forcing qualities, the old Bon Silene re-
mains at the head of the many varieties of the Tea
rose ; but for out-door planting it never has
amounted to anything worth mentioning, simply
from the fact that a few minutes of sun heat would
develop and expand its beautiful buds into flimsy
and worthless flowers, resembling the wild rose
found on our hills and roadsides ; but with all this
great defect we never could entertain for a moment
the idea of announcing it as worthless, because its
good qualities overcome its one bad quality.

At last we are blessed with a great improve-
ment in the shape of a very double Bon Silene,
originated by a sport from the old Bon Silene over
a year ago in the greenhouse establishment of E.
Hippard, in the city of Youngstown, Ohio. He
says it retains its quality same as first produced.
The flower resembles in shape and thickness of
petals, the Sou. de Malmaison ; its color and beauty
of bud is the same as its parent, with a uniform
dark rose color to the center when fully expanded.

Youngstown, O.

CARPET BEDDING AT THE GOVERNMENT
GROUNDS, OTTAWA, CAN.

BY N. ROBERTSON.

I send you photos taken from my beds as they
appeared on the Government Grounds, Canada,
during the past year, which I hope you will find
interesting.

A description of them will be necessary, so as to
enable you to understand their meaning. In one
you will see the representation of a bee-hive and
two bees, with the words, Virtute non verbas,
around its margin. The first is a portion of the
crest of our Governor General ; and the words his
motto, the letters of which are made with Alter-
nantheras ; the bee-hive of Silver Thyme. The
figures are put in to break up the sameness of the
carpet which is of Sedum. The outer border is of
Salvia officinalis, a plant which makes a fine
contrast on grass and ought to be oftener seen
than it is, especially on dry soils, as it will bear
trimming without spoiling its appearance. It re-
quires particular treatment to make a nice edging.

In another bed you will sec the name, AbercOrn,
through the centre, the governor's wife being a
daughter of the Duke of Abercorn. Above and
under you will notice two acorns, their crest being
an Oak tree which I could not make and show
good results, so I put in the acorns as the nearest
representatives of it. The surroundings are, as

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

67

of the former, put in to break up and add to the
appearance of the bed.

Another has on the background the words
"Reign Victoria," which needs no explanation.
Below is the Prince's Feather, with his motto on l
each side, " Ich Uien." The space on the sides is
cut up so as to allow filling with different shades
of carpet material. Standing beside this is the
designer of those beds. Here you will notice
also, but too far off in the background to be very
distinctly seen, a bed of Cactus. To the right is
a border of flowering plants, and on the left rises
a bank about ten feet. Above the lower level, on
the upper margin of it, is a line of ornamental
plants of which only one is seen. This rise runs
over two hundred feet. Those plants have a very
fine effect as seen from below.

Now, I am not a lover of much of this carpet
bedding, but would be far from condemning it
altogether ; for, when you have many beds to fill,
it helps to diversify their appearance greatly, and
gives variety to them, which in all cases ought to
be a main point of consideration. I always aim
at having every bed distinct from the others. I
do not mean that I can do so without using the
same plants sometimes twice ; for where you have
forty beds to fill this is no easy matter to do, and
select them so that they will show well during the
whole summer. Our climate is so short as to not
admit of changes once or twice during the season.
Those beds are considered difficult to make, and
when well done surprise many that such work
can be done with plants in such uniformity.
For my part I consider it a much easier task than
to make one with flowering plants. The sole aim
of the planter seems to be to cover up the soil, the
effect never thought of. But this is the all-
important point. Yet some good ideas may some-
times be gathered from carpet beds. Uniform-
ity and order can be carried so far as to give
a stiff appearance ; but I think all who make
them should have some aim in view before they
proceed to plant.

In carpet bedding any one who can draw on pa-
per can just as easily put a design on a bed with his
compass and foot rule ; but it must be borne in
mind that this design will not do to be made on
paper without having the dimensions of the bed,
and drawing to a scale, so that when you lay
out the bed there be no cramping for room,
or an over-amount of it. And when your lines
are drawn there is little difficulty of following them
with your plants. Another thing is, if they should
not be just in conformity to the eye, the first trim-

ming will mostly remedy the defects, if not too bad.
In carrying out designs I never use a plant I can-
not trim. Such as Alternantheras require only
side trimming ; cutting much on the top of such
plants removes the color, and mars the effect of
the plant. This new one, Aurea nana, can hardly
be over-estimated for both its golden color and
neat compact habit of growth. No one should be
without it, as it far surpasses the old one in every
respect.

There are many plants recommended for this
kind of work that I never have been able to use
to any purpose, owing principally to their rough
untrainable habits. Such are always to be avoided.
If you really wish to show the purport of your de-
sign, the limited number of plants fit to be used
for this purpose properly are so few that it would
be my principal objection to this kind of work. So
1 say, let us have a little of every thing that can be
produced with plants. Never condemn any sys-
tem, though overdone as this certainly is. Give
us as much variation in beds or borders as you
possibly can. Nature has many subjects that can
be used in various ways, but, like every thing else,
the mode of presentation has much to do with
what may be produced by it.

Siipt. Gov't Grounds, Ottawa, Can.

[We quite agree with Mr. Robertson that the
crusade against carpet bedding is as extravagant
as the abuse of this method of gardening. There
is really no more reason why flowers or plants
should not be made to represent a carpet, than
that a carpet should have flowers worked thereon.
The answer might be that true taste requires use
as the basis of ornamentation. We are first to
get the useful and then make it ornamental. The
carpet is useful, and then we ornament it; we can-
not so use a flower bed. But it is the lawn and
the surroundings that are to be ornamented, and
if the carpet bed, by its contrast to the lawn, add
to the lawn's attractions, as it undoubtedly often
does, it is a legitimate portion of true art in gar-
dening. Even the imitation of letters, words and
armorial bearings, pleasant fantasies, undoubtedly
do give pleasure to thousands, and there must be
something natural and rational beneath a prac-
tice which so many human beings love to see. —
Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Tall Late-flowering Peonies. — With
Paeonies, as with Tulips, we have a taller and later
blooming race, having flowers of the most lovely

68

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

color imag^inable, bold round buds which open
out gradually into great semi-double flowers of a
rosy crimson color, or with broad guard petals of
a delicate salmon-rose tint around a mass of
creamy white or sulphur-tinted petals in the cen-
ter of the flower. That they are fragrant also is
another recommendation apart altogether from
their showiness. When cut in the bud stage and
brought indoors, the flowers of these late Pasonies
are most charming ; no Cattleya Mendeli could
be more pure or more delicate in color, and no
painting could well do them justice, albeit that M.
Fautin has a lovely group of these identical flow-
ers in the Academy exhibition. Although now
and then seen in old-fashioned gardens on warm
soils, they are not nearly so common as a sight of
their beauty would lead one to expect. Of what
species or ra'ce comes these tall, late Psonies ?
They are quite distinct from the early-blooming or
P. officinalis set, and even more beautiful. — The
Garden.

LiLiuM Leichtlini, Hook. fil. — A very lovely
species from Japan, admirably represented in Bot.
Mag., t. 5673. Stem ij^ — 3 feet high, brownish,
clothed with narrow lanceolate leaves, pointing
upwards — racemose at the top. Flowers from i — 6
in number ; perianth segments 3 — 4 inches long,
clear lemon, copiously spotted with claret-colored
well defined spots, sharply reflexed, the flower al-
most assuming a globular form. The slender
stems have a curious habit of running under the
surface of the soil, and if you place a bulb in the
center of a pot it is quite likely to appear near the
side. I find this species also dehghts in a mixture
of peat and leaf soil, my finest specimen being in
a damp bed planted in such a compost. It is
flowering very freely this season, and the individual
blooms are very fine. It is evidently very plenti-
ful in Japan, as it can be secured in quantity large
enough to make it much more plentiful than it is ;
of course the high figure which has up to the pre-
sent been asked for it has deterred many from se-
curing it. — Gardeners' Chronicle.

The Japanese, or Ram anas Rose. — Of all
single roses in flower, this is just now the best and
the sweetest. It is distinct and beautiful alike m
leafage and in blossom. Planted in good deep
rich soil, it spreads rapidly, throwing up strong
sucker shoots from its underground stems, and
these flower freely all the summer months, and
the flowers are succeeded by large oblate fruits or
hips, quite an inch in diameter, and of a bright
glossy lacquer-like red color wlien ripe. Its deep

green leaves, netted like those of Salix reticulata,
are much used by our lady friends to wear with
the half opened buds of China, Banksian, Tea and
other roses, or with the rich deep rosy buds of
this Japan rose itself. Cut in the bud state, its
flowers open out fresh and fair in water, and pos-
sess a singularly rich and piquant attar-like per-
fume. The snow-white variety is not quite so
common, but is, if possible, even more beautiful.
1 am sorry to hear that when the white variety is
obtained, it reverts to the red type sometimes ere
it blooms. — The Garden.

Iris juncea There is no Iris, except perhaps

the common I'seudacorus, that has such rich yel-
low flowers as this rare species, blossoms of which
have been sent to us by Mr. Edward Wallace,
' from the New Plant and Bulb Company's Nursery,
at Colchester. The flowers are about the same
size as those of the common Flag, but different in
form. It grows about the usual height of the
Spanish Iris, and the leaves, as the specific name
I implies, are Rush-like. When sent the flower-spike
I bore one expanded flower ; after this faded another
\ appeared from the spathe valves, and has lasted
three days in good condition in a cool room.
There are but few flowers in cultivation which
possess such a clear rich yellow as that of this
Iris. — The Garden.

Horticulture as an Element in Progress.
— Miss Viola Smith, Summit county, O., remarks :
" What can horticulture do towards making happy
homes for children ? Let us imagine a house
built on a plot of bare, plowed ground. Let noth-
ing be planted there, let nothing grow there, ex-
cept the weeds and briers which naturally spring
up. Let a family of children be reared in that
house and what will they be ? It is almost cer-
tain that they will develop one of two phases of
character. Either they will live in perpetual dis-
cord with their surroundings, hating their desolate
abiding-place and improving the first opportunity
to escape from it, or they will sink to the le%el of
their circumstances and be content in their degra-
dation. A child which could be patient with
such a situation in life, and yet refined in its na-
ture, would be one of those of whom wc say 'Not
long for this world.' There may have been a "few
such children, but they never need long graves.

" Now what can horticulture do for such a place?
First, it can make grass grow. It can change the
' rough clods, half-covered with dock and plantain,
to a well kept lawn, as green as emerald and al-
most as smooth as velvet. And who can estimate

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

69

the difference which that one improvement would
have made in the lives and destinies of the chil-
dren of that household ? It can not be estimated.
Such an improvement would have compelled
others, and they in turn others, and so the circle
would have gone on widening."

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Coning of Cedar of Lebanon. — Mr. Wm.
Fowler, Clifton Park, Baltimore, writes : " 1 send
you by mail two cones of Cedrus Libani. We
have two trees here which have borne seed for the
first time last year. Will you please inform me it
it is common for them to bear seed in this coun-
try ?"

[Cones have been produced by the trees in Lau-
rel Hill Cemetery, and other places in America,
but we have never seen such fine ones as these,
quite as large as any we have seen from the Old
Worid.

By the way, it is surprising that this famous and
beautiful cedar is so rare in collections. Like
most coniferas it loves protection from frosty

winds when young, but when a few years old will
take care of itself as well as most trees. — Ed.G.M.]

Grass for Sandy Ground A Merchantville,

N. J., correspondent says : " I am building a cot-
tage for summer use in Merchantville, N. J., — a
place where lawns do not seem to flourish. In
view of the poor soil, its very sandy nature, and
the fact that 1 will have considerable shade, would
you recommend me to plant seed of Bermuda
grass ? A writer in a recent number of your
worthy magazine extolled it highly. Where will I
be able to purchase seed ? Peter Henderson & Co.
have none for sale. I do not want to tax your
time too heavily ; a ' yes 'or ' no ' on the bottom
of this sheet will be greatly appreciated by your
correspondent."

[The Bermuda grass is but a poor substitute for
the lawn grass of the North. It is recommended
for the South, because they seem to have nothing
else. Bermuda grass would not be evergreen in
New Jersey. We publish our correspondent's
note in full, because we think one of the things
not yet known is a good lawn grass for sandy
ground in the North. — Ed. G. M.]

Greenhouse and House Gardening,

COMMUNICATIONS.

NOTES ON BEGONIAS.

BY JIRS. E. BONNER.

I have been a reader of the Gardeners'
Monthly for several years past. Have read with
much interest the history and introduction of new
plants, and especially of Begonias. We are, I
might say, enthusiastic plant lovers, and when the
bread and butter depend upon their successful
cultivation the enthusiasm naturally increases.
Our beginning was small, and for our own pleas-
ure, but grew in time to the dignity of " Maple
Grove greenhouses." The Begonias, sensible crea-
tures, were very soon attracted to me, and by their
winning ways have endeared themselves to me as
a class. Such being the case, we have brought
together a good collection, and our location seems
specially adapted to their growth and propagation.
I have experimented with all classes that we have,

as regards, seed, leaf and stem propagation, and
find that they are not very choice as to the man-
ner — they only ask for fair play. There have been
notices from time to time, in the Gardeners
Monthly, of new varieties of Begonias and other
plants, that I have watched for in the leading
catalogues, but have not been fortunate enough
to find them.

I have longed for an opportunity to know the
" whys and wherefores " of this, but was not quite
brave enough to "speak in meeting" until the
notice in the December number of Begonia florida
incomparabilis, by Geo. C. Butz.

Then I determined the world in general and the
Gardeners' Monthly in particular, should know
of my success in hybridizing that class of Begonias,
"Others have I," but will not inflict all at once. I
have not seen the Begonia referred to, but I have
some fine plants of my own growing, from seeds,
that are legitimate children, without doubt, of
Begonia Schmidtii and Begonia semper florens

7°

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

alba. The bloom is white and continuous, like
Schmidtii — a "wee bit" larger than Schmidtii^but
not quite so large as semperflorens. The leaves
are quite as large as those of semperflorens, and
more closely reined. The green leaf is modified
by both its parents. Plant, much more dense and
dwarf than semperflorens, and a better shape and
grower than Schmidtii.

They are plants worthy of a place in the bloom-
ing class of Begonias — but what can I do with them?
1 am "too remote " an individual to be the origin-
ator of new plants, and I doubt if I could persuade
Peter Henderson to give me a good round sum
for them, and adopt them as his grand-children.
It would be a proud day for me could I see them
placed beside his double Abutilon in the cata-
logues — they are in near proximity in our green-
houses.

I said I had not found any of the plants men-
tioned in the Monthly, but if it first noticed B.
Bruante and Goury, I take it back. I have those;
and as Mrs. R. B. Edson feelingly remarks in the
October number, in regard to Gynura aurantiaca,
"I feel it my solemn duty to give them a charac-
ter." Said character will be sufficiently portrayed
when I say that we have not had the conscience
to put them in our Novelty Catalogue. When
florists give such exhibitions of conscience as that,
there must be good cause for it.

The plants are alike in growth — long and strag-
gling, with now and then a forlorn-looking bloom
upon the tip ends of the stalks. One is described
as pink, but it is certainly a very faint tinge ; no
matter which has the pink bloom, but I really
think they alternate. 1 have not done the forlorn
side of their character justice — I am incapable of
it, but will take my leave of them for the pre-
sent.

I can sympathise with Mrs. R. li. Edson in re-
gard to Gynura aurantiaca. The glowing descrip-
tions given of it made me ready to overcome all
obstacles in the way of obtaining it. I grew it
one year, — and buried it with others of my dead
hopes.

I have several other experiences equally as har-
rowing. Some of my " dead " are still unburied,
and some still not quite ready to make " remains"
of ; among those was to have been a Blue Prim-
rose, of which you may hear more at some future
time. Xenia, Ohio.

[This chatty letter will be read with much in-
terest by many who love flowers. It is particu-
larly pleasant to know that Mrs. Bonner has been
so very successful in establishing herself in

business, and it aff"ords a useful lesson to many
ladies who are deciding on something to do.
But we fancy that all who read her remark,
that the enthusiasm in plant culture naturally
increases with one's pecuniary dependence
thereon, will not subscribe to that sentiment.
Facts show that the most successful plant growers
are among the amateur classes, who have no
further interest in the work than the mere love of
gardening, natural to everybody, but which they
have wisely cultivated.

Another point, in regard to the introduction oi
new varieties, and their dissemination through the
community, will attract attention. When new va-
rieties can be easily obtained they soon cease to
have any great commercial value. When there
is a probability that a striking novelty will con-
tinue to be novel and striking for several years,
the commercial man will take hold of it. It takes
at least two or three years to work up a good trade
for anything of this kind. Where new forms are
easily produced, and new and perhaps better
things may be introduced before one gets hardly
started with the other, the florist cannot afford to
take the risk.— Ed. G. M.]

WILLIAM FRANCIS BENNETT ROSE.

BY WALTER Vi . COLES.

Probably no rose was ever better known to the
public before it was sent out, than the new crimson
Tea, " William F. Bennett," known as the " Ben-
nett Rose." Having heard so much of it, and
being a rose grower myself, I made a visit to Mr.
Evans' place to see this celebrated novelty. I am
very favorably impressed with it, and I feel satis-
fied that it is all that is claimed for it. Mr. Evans
very kindly took me through the whole of his
houses ; which certainly constitute a very fine
range. The first one entered was the propagating
house, which was very complete ; and nothing is
propagated there but the new " Bennett Rose ; "
part of the house being filled with nice young
plants, in two and three-inch pots, ready to be
sent out March 15th. The next house was also
filled with healthy young stock in two and three-
inch pots. Another house which contained young
plants planted on benches last fall, showed re-
markably strong growth and freedom of bloom.
In the last house were the old plants received from
England ; they were very strong, and showed
thousands of buds. The plant is a very strong
grower, its foliage is large and bright ; and one of
these beautiful buds with a long stem is sure to

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

71

be appreciated by all. Its color is much like the
celebrated Jacqueminot, but its size and shape are
like a good Niphetos ; its fragrance is unsurpassed
by any other Tea rose ; in fact it far excels the beau-
tiful La France. This rose will certainly fill along
felt want, and will take the place of the Jacque-
minot. Clavmont, Del.

CANNA IRIDIFLORA EHEMANNI.

BY D. S. HEFFRON.

In the October number of the Gardeners'
Monthly, Mrs. R. B. Edson has an article under
the heading of " Summer Notes." The writer does
not find fault with the article, but especially com-
mends that portion of it referring to duplicate
names, to the careful attention of such as grow
plants for sale. There can be no justifiable apo-
logy for the frequent examples of such mistakes.( ?)
After I had flowered the really fine Canna Iridi-
ilora, Ehemanni, under the two parts of the name,
I wrote a firm of florists that I thought would be
likely to know, and inquired if the two were not
one and the same. By due course of mail the fol-
lowing answer was received, "Ehemanni is Iridi-
flora, or, correctly, Iridiflora is Ehemanni." The
writer seems to claim, without stating it, that Ehe-
manni was the original name. Now, recalling the
custom of many growers in Europe to follow the
name of the plant by their own, to designate that
they are the originators, I have ventured to
"guess" that the originator of this superb Canna
bears the name Ehemann, and that he named it
Iridiflora. When it was catalogued by the grower
or some one else, it was under the form of the
name that first appears in this card above. If my
supposed explanation of the two names for the
same Canna is not correct, will some one of the
readers of your valuable journal, who knows the
original name and by whom the plant was origin-
ated, set me right ? When I am in pursuit of in-
formation, I am quite willing to have the error
involved in a "guess" pointed out.

Note.— If my explanation is correct, or is shown
to be wrong, who will pay back to innocent buyers
what they have invested in duplicate plants ?

Washington Heights, III.

[Florists in good standing cannot be too parti-
cular about accuracy in the names of plants.
Nothing hurts the reputation more than mistakes
in this particular. With the best intentions, how-
ever, mistakes cannot always be helped, nor can
the injury be helped that is sure to follow to the
one who makes it. — Ed. G. M.l

NOTES ON NEW PLANTS.

BY M. H. LESTER.

Several years ago, when I first commenced to
take the Monthly, I never read the advertise-
ments ; now, they are the first part I look over, to
see if there be anything new. We get all novel-
ties, whether plants or seeds, likely to do well
here. I got seed of Impatiens Sultani when it
was first advertised in London. It is the best new
thing we have found in a long time. I have one
plant now that was out all summer, in a 7-
inch pot, covered with bloom. Tops taken ofif
about three weeks ago, are now in thumbs, with
four and five flowers on each. Tops of Ginura
aurantiaca, taken off in the fall, look real pretty
now in 3 and 4-inch pots, but it is coarse and
weedy looking planted out. The best three flow-
ering plants here, at this time, are, Centropogon
Lucianus, Delechampia Roesliana rosea, and
Meyenia erecta. In climbing plants we have
nothing comes near to Ipomoea Horsfallii.

Some one going through one of our houses a
day or so ago, asked me what " Solanum " some-
thing was ? Well, it was Luculia gratissima, and
the more I look at it, the more it does look like
some Solanum. 1 don't think I care so much
about Luculia gratissima as I did. [You will
when it flowers freely. — Ed. G. M.]

Jasmineum gracillimum does not come up to
my expectations. Along with some of the newer
varieties of Rex Begonias received last season
from London, I got two flowering varieties, name-
ly, Amabilis and Ascotensis, highly recommended
as winter bloomers. I have several good healthy
plants of each in 5-inch pots, but I don't think I
shall ever know, by them, when winter has ar-
rived over the water, for as yet, they don't look as
if they ever would bloom.

Parties often inquire of me the reason their
Dendrobiums never appear to grow so well as
when they put them to rest. I have not much
time for correspondence, and it might be as good
a time as any for your correspondent. Epiphyte,
if he could spare the time, or some one else that
can put it in words better than I, to explain this.
Circumstances don't admit of getting them just
right all the time myself. The time for rest is the
season we have most rain here ; consequently
more moisture in the atmosphere. And besides, I
have to rest them amongst growing plants. I
know some amateurs who get them to perfection,
and no one puts a hand to them but themselves.
Gardener to Prof. Richardson, New Orleans.

72

THE QARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

THE CARNATION DISEASE.

BY CHARLES HENDERSON.

I may be repeating something already said in
the Monthly about this matter, but it is of such
importance that I think most of your readers inte-
rested will excuse it. I think we have demonstrated
that the cause of the Carnation disease, and, in
fact, of most of the other diseases of plants is, first,
from lessened vigor in the variety, first caused by
treatment contrary to what the nature of the plant
demands. To begin with, the Carnation for the
past twenty-five years has been forced for winter
flowering in almost every section of the country,
and nearly in all cases by the same process of
keeping a temperature at night, averaging, from
November to April, at least 55"^, with perhaps 15O
more during the day. Cuttings are taken off from
the forced plants, put into a propagating house,
often at a high temperature, and when rooted are
grown along at the same temperature at which the
plants that are forced for flowers are grown, until
they are planted out in the open ground in May,
where the temperature outside is nearly as high as
that they have been enduring under glass. Now
when we consider that the Carnation is nearly a
hardy plant, demanding for its best growth a period
of rest in winter, the wonder is that it has not re-
belled long ago against such bad treatment ; but
the complaints are now so general that it is evident
that unless some means are used to avert the trou-
ble, it will soon be the exception to find a healthy
stock of Carnations in winter. Some kinds seem
to succumb sooner than others. La Purite was
one of the first to give out, but there is hardly now
a variety that has been grown for six years, but
in some locality or another is failing. There
are two ways in which the trouble may be pre-
vented, the first of which we have been practising
for a number of years with complete success with
every variety except La Purite, and even that has
much improved. Our plan is to take the cuttings
oft' during November and December. They get
rooted enough to fill two-inch pots by about
this date (February ist), when they are knocked
out of the pots and the balls packed close in shal-
low flats, holding one hundred or so, and they are
then put either into cold houses or the ordinary
cold frames, and covered up with straw mats so as
to keep them from being severely frozen. Kept
in this way, they can be planted out just as soon
as the ground is dry enough in the Spring, usually
about April ist. The other plan, which we tried
for the first time last winter, is to heel away our

stock plants in cold frames, and take the cuttings
from these any tirhe from January to March. The
object in both cases is the same ; to rest the plants,
as their nature demands. Mr. John Murchie
covers the whole ground, we think, when he says,
" Quit striking your plants from plants that have
been forced." Now, if it be true that the Carna-
tion disease is a consequence of uninterrupted
" forcing " from year to year, I think we need not
look further to find the reason of many of the other
ills that plant life is heir to. The "sickness"
among Violets is so general now, that it is rare to
find a healthy stock. They, too, like the Carna-
tion, have been forced for a generation, and though
at not quite' so high a temperature as the Carna-
tion, yet certainly at a higher temperature in
winter than they would be in their natural habitat.
If this is the cause, the remedy is obviously the
same as in the Carnation — give the stock from
which you propagate a rest in winter. That debi-
lity in vegetable life invites parasitical germs can-
not be doubted. All experienced propagators
know that excessive cutting of a new plant for
stock, not only renders the original plant itself
liable to parasitical attacks, but the weakness fol-
lows into the progeny for years.

We have several cases in point this season.
The new Heliotropes, Swanley Giant and King of
Night, are both affected with black rust, while in
over twenty other varieties in our stock not a sign
of it is present. " Black Rust," so termed, affects
many species of plants, but is best known as af-
fecting Verbenas and Heliotropes. When ex-
amined by a powerful microscope it is found to be
caused by a lobster-like insect, which rarely at-
tacks plants in health. In fact we have proved
again and again that when plants such as Ver-
benas and Heliotropes have become pot-bound
the insect attacks them, while those shifted at the
proper time and stood alongside of them have
been completely exempt from its ravages. But to
return to Carnations. You, Mr. Editor, are prob-
ably correct in saying that we can not combat
with the disease when its attacks are made in the
forcing benches. If, however, the debilitated
state invites fungus there may be a temporary
remedy in using lime water, made by using about
half a pound of lump lime to each gallon of
water and putting it on clear, when the soil is dry
enough to require water. The best Rose growers
in this vicinity use lime water in the same way
whenever there are indications by paleness of the
leaves that this insidious parasite may be sapping
the roots. .Another parasite of the Carnation that

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

73

attacks the shoots is what, for want of a better
name, has been called the " Carnation Twitter."
The indication of its presence is a twisting or curl-
ing of the leaves, and on examination of plants in
that state it can be seen with the naked eye. It is
a quick-moving insect, like the point of a cambric
needle, and about the 20th part of an inch in
length. In its different stages is green or black
in color. Whenever any of the Dianthus tribe is
attacked by this insect they rarely recover. So
far there seems to be no remedy for it, as it bur-
rows down in the heart of the shoots, getting out
of the reach of anything that might destroy it.
It however does not seem to be always invited by
debility of the plant. I remember several years
ago when we used to grow the hardy garden Car-
nations largely for summer flowers, that it once
struck into a batch of nearly 20,000 plants that
had stood unprotected in the open ground all
winter. Its action was peculiar. Beginning seem-
ingly with one plant it radiated sometimes to a di-
ameter of 20 feet in patches all over the bed,
rendering utterly useless all that it attacked. The
only consolation is that it seems to come only at
long intervals. Jersey City Heights, N. J.

GAS TAR.

BY N. ROBERTSON.

Comment is not necessary to show the bad re-
sults of using gas tar on heating pipes. So many
instances have been recorded in horticultural
works, of its injurious effects on plants, that no
reader will fall into the error of using it.

But I have experienced the ill effects of it in an-
other way which plainly demonstrates its detri-
mental properties. Three years ago I had a green-
house built ; and in a novel position. It was on
the top of a substantial shed ; but circumstances
were such that no other place was available. This
shed was on the lower level of eighteen feet from
where I had to put it ; its roof coming to the level
of my other houses, with which I wanted to con-
nect it. This roof was what is called a flat one,
covered with galvanized iron. On this it was
built. Knowing that it would be difficult to heat
with the space cold below, 1 had first a good coat-
ing of tar and sand put over the roof of the
shed, so as to make it perfectly close, and then
six inches of well-packed concrete. Knowing the
Ijad results arising from tar, I was extremely care-
ful that every portion should be close, but as soon
as the heating commenced its smell became strong,
doing considerable dMmage. 1 was in a dilemma,

as bad almost as if the pipes had been covered
with tar. To tear up the floor at that season of
the year, with the house full of plants, and no
other place to put them in, the other houses being
taxed already to the fullest extent, was out of the
the question. The floor seemed so close that one
would think no gas could escape. However, I
gave it another cover of cement, made as thin as
could be, so that it would run into any cracks that
might exist. This gave me partial relief, so that
the bad effects were much reduced, and in the end
disappeared entirely. I send you this statement
as a warning to all that may construct greenhouses,
never to use gas tar in any connection whatever
with them. Supt. Govt. Grounds, Ottawa, Can.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Improving Garden Flowers. — Few florists
know how much may be made by persistent and
intelligent attempts to improve garden flowers.
Mr. Rupp undertook the Chinese Primrose some
years ago. So successful has he been, that his
sales of seeds annually, at first but a few dollars,
now go into the many hundreds. Of course he
judiciously advertises as well as improves.

Cypripedium GRANDE.— Messrs. Veitch, Chel-
sea, London, continue in the good work of raising
hybrid orchids, and are lucky enough in produc-
ing some kinds that are quite as distinct and re-
markable as species discovered in their native
tropical homes. The one now figured is one of
the latest. They furnish us with the following ac-
count of it :

"A hybrid of exceptional merit raised by our
foreman, Mr. Seden, from C. Roezhi and C. cau-
datum, the latter being the pollen parent. It is
the most robust Cypripedium known ; its sword-
shaped leaves attain a length of from 24 to 30
inches, and are of a bright glossy green ; the
scape is robust in proportion, exceeding a yard in
height, and is many-flowered. The flowers are 6
inches across the sepals from tip to tip. The dor-
sal sepal is yellowish white traversed with yellow-
ish green veins ; the lower sepal is similar with
paler veins. The petals are ribbon-like, more than
a foot long, quite pendulous, pale crimson except
the broader basilar portion, which is yellowish
veined with green. The lip is large and promi-
nent, greenish yellow above, whitish beneath, the
infolded lobes whitish spotted with crimson around
the base ; the staminode is pale yellow slightly

74

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

flushed with crimson below, and with its upper plant, that ' there are few hybrids which have
edge fringed with blackish crimson hairs. I given me so much pleasure as this, since I expect

Cypripedium grande.

"Professor Reichenbach, in the Gardeners' \\. maiX develop by and by into an even more
Chronicle, vol. xv. (l88l), p. 462, remarks of this superb thing, justifying its name.' "

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

75

Heating and Glazing at Rcehrer Broth-
ers, Lancaster, Pa. — Those who love to study
progress in floriculture would find themselves well
repaid by a call on Roshrer Brothers, florists, Lan-
caster, Pennsylvania. They own twelve acres of
ground in the suburbs of this flourishing city,
which they secured a few years ago for §12,000.
It fronts on the old turnpike, which, before the
days of steam, was the grand highway for wagons
between Philadelphia and the West. They are
market growers, and the first block of houses were
built chiefly for advancing vegetables, and were
heated by flues. As the demand for flovvefs grew,
another block followed, heated by hot water; and
since the advent of the great taste for cut flowers,
another block has been erected which has been
heated by steam. They afford a good opportunity
to test the various systems. The steam-heated
buildings were working to entire satisfaction.
These cover 5,000 feet of ground surface, and are
heated by a boiler made by a Reading firm, atid
guaranteed by the makers to keep the houses
warm under a low e.xternal temperature, with no
care of the fires between 9 in the evening and 5 in
the morning. It hardly does this, however ; but then
we could hardly expect to leave even a hot-water
furnace, or one with the old-fashioned flues, with
so little attention in very severe weather. The
steam-heated houses have however a great advan-
tage in a system of glazing in use by the owners,
and tor which they have applied for a patent. In
this plan the glass is simply placed on the sash
bar, the panes edge to edge, and the whole held
in place by a thin metal slip, galvanized, which,
like a cap, completely covers the outer portion of
the sash bar, on which it is screwed down and
thus firmly holds the glass in place, while it wholly
excludes moisture and prevents the escape of the
warm internal air. Should a pane of glass get ac-
cidentally broken, the metal cap is unscrewed, the
whole column of glass pushed up from the bottom,
and another placed at the end. A screw or some
similar contrivance prevents the long column of
glass from slipping. Under the old systems of
putting the panes of glass edge to edge, and the
whole then puttied, breakage was the great objec-
tion. It was almost impossible to fit another in.
It is much easier to fit in a new pane under this
new plan than under any old method. But a
great advantage of this system is that it takes
away one of the great sources of broken glass —
the freezing of water between the laps. Under
the old system of lapping glass, especially if the
panes were wide or the glass of poor quality, the

breakage from this cause is usually heavy in most
establishments, especially if there is much jar from
wind or other causes while the temperature is low.
Another great advantage is that there is much
less escape of heat than under lapped glass. The
edges are not quite so close that one might not now
and then draw a hair through ; but it is very rare
that wider spaces and a much greater loss of heat
do not follow from the usual lapping plan. But
the greatest advantage of all is the superior light
which this system gives. Dust and slime soon
collects under the ordinary greenhouse lap, and
where this is the case there might as well be no
glass. A quarter of inch lap in every six inches
of sash is equal to three inches of blank surface —
say four per cent, of actual waste. Some may
think this of little account, but those who have
had experience in growing winter flowers in a
new house where the light was unobstructed will
know how important every ray is to success. In
some cases the roughness of edge in a closely fit-
ted pane might lead to a little drip sometimes ; but
if this should occur a little white lead in sliding up
the glasses would probably be effectual.

The question of glazing greenhouses will yet be
an important one. The steam heating subject has
overridden this so far, but is scarcely of more
consequence to complete success. The Horticul-
tural Hall at New Orleans has been glazed on the
Rendle Patent plan, which also provides for the
glass being placed edge to edge, instead of being
overlapped. Any suggestions in this direction
will be welcomed by our readers.

In these houses rose culture is a great success.
The plants are renewed every three years. Let-
tuce and radishes are grown between the roses,
but are drawn out before the roses get far into
growth. About January carnations and some
other things are taken completely out and their
places occupied by young bedding plants which
are sold off in market in spring.

Dinner-Table Decor.^tion. — What may be
called a golden rule in dinner-table decoration is,
always to have some distinct feature in each ar-
rangement. If a design is worked out in colored
leaves, let them be used in such quantities and in
such a way as to give color and efiect to the
whole. If cut flowers are used for filling glasses
or epergnes, let them form the prominent feature
of the arrangement, and sometimes let plants,
either large or small, supply color, grace, and
beauty. One of the most popular ways of dec-
orating a dinner table is, to use rather tall trumpet-

76

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

shaped glasses with projecting arms, which sup-
port smaller cups or trumpets around the central
one, and a rather wide dish-like base. The dish
should be arranged with the largest flowers, using
as much as possible those that show to the best
advantage when the eye looks down upon them.
AUamandas, Dipladenias, upright-growing Roses,
Chrysanthemums, and Camellias are all good for
the purpose, with a few sprays of some light
material to take off the stiffness; but it is not
necessary to make the base particularly light
when you have a tier of smaller glasses above.
The arrangement of these should always be ex-
tremely light and graceful ; nothing approaching
stiffness or heaviness is allowable. The flowers
used should be of the lightest description, such as
Bouvardias, Jasmines, Begonias, Plumbagos,
Ericas, and Epacrises, with a few grasses inter-
mixed, and a light fringe of Adiantum or Pteris
serrulata, to which might be added a few sprays
of Fuchsias, Begonia fuchsioides, or any other
small pendulous flowers. When the above plan
is well carried out there is nothing to surpass it
for elegance and beauty. It is also a style that
finds great favor with the judges at many of the
best exhibitions.

A very pretty effect c.\n also be obtained by
using small plants or I-erns placed in glass, silver,
or china ornaments, and dotted about at regular
intervals on the table, with one large plant and a
few smaller ones tastefully arranged in a bowl for
the centre. There are numbers of plants suitable
for the purpose. I will mention a few that I have
found particularly so : Pandanus Veitchii, P. utilis,
and P. elegantissimus, Dracaenas terminalis, ignea,
and congesta, Crotons angustifolius and Chelsonii,
Asparagus plumosus nanus, Cyperus alternifolius
and variegatus (struck from tops), Grevillea ro-
busta, and Caladium argyrites. Aralias Veitchii
and gracilis are often used on account of their
lightness, but one great objection to them is the
dull color of their leaves, which do not look well
by artificial light. The best Aralia I know for
the purpose is A. leptophylla, which has the same
style of growth as A. Veitchii, with leaves of a
fresh green color. — Journal of Horticulture.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Gas Tar in Greenhouses. — A correspondent
from Dundas, Ontario, writes : " I had a small
conservatory built last summer, 16x20, and heated
by a Hitchings boiler through coils of four-inch

cast pipes. I had a lot of fine monthly roses
heated through the summer for winter blooming,
and which was put in the conservatory early in
the fall along with an assortment of other flowers.
They all grew nicely until the heating with the
boiler was started, then every thing went back ;
the leaves withered on the roses, the buds on the
other flowers dropped off, and I got quite dis-
couraged until I read your article in the January
number of the Gardeners' Monthly and Horti-
culturist. I had coated the heating pipes with
gas tar. I am now in a quandary whether to let the
flowers freeze or creosote them, (which you say is
the only alternative,) until I can burn the tar off
the pipes in the summer. I have only taken your
magazine the past year ; had I taken it sooner I
might have saved myself the disappointment and
annoyance of trying to grow flowers in the
poisonous atmosphere of gas tar.

[It will do good service if anything effective
can be discovered which will destroy the creosote
element, without taking down the pipes. If any
one learn, we shall be glad to know. — Ed. G. M.]

Ravages of the Rose Bug. — A correspondent
writes, under date of January 13th: "Enclosed
please find two specimens of what we call rose
bugs and grub. We have lost a number of roses,
especially Niphetos, by this so-called grub which
is produced by the rose bug. Having thrown out all
our Niphetos which were entirely eaten, they have
now taken to a house of Perle des Jardins and we
fear that in a short time we will lose all of them.
We have been gathering the bugs every day for
the past month, but there are so many grubs in
the ground that it seems to be of no use. We
have now taken to overhauling all the ground, but
are bound to miss a great many. I have tried
Paris green, tobacco water, hellebore, lime, soap-
suds, and nothing seems to kill them except
boiling or burning them."

[We could not make out from the crushed
larvae sent, whether this was really the common
rose-bug of our gardens, or of the more danger-
ous Aranigus Fulleri. However, whatever will
destroy one, should be good against the other, and
we shall be glad to have notes from those who
have had success. — Ed. G. M.]

The Double Oxalis.— Mr. J. H. Slocombe,
New Haven, Conn., says: "Is it not Oxalis
cernua plena, instead of lutea plena, your corres-
pondent inquired about ? This variety is large and
very double. Was imported from Germany into
New Haven about eight years ago."

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

n

Fruit and Vegetable Gardening.

COMMUNICATIONS.

THE INSECT PROBLEM,

BY T. BENNETT.

I see by the last issue of the Monthly an in- 1
quiry on the subject of insect depredations. Allow
me a few words on this important subject. Is it
not time to take decisive steps in this matter and
form some systematic plan for insect destruction ?
I behave the time has come to effect this.

We have been long acquainted with the natural
history of most of the insects injurious to vegeta-
tion, but here the matter drops, and but little
practical has been achieved. This insect ques-
tion has become one of the most important to the
whole country, far more important than most
people are aware of. For many years insects have
increased at an alarming rate. At the present
ratio of increase, if there be not some means de-
vised to put a stop to their progress, the farmer,
gardener and nurseryman may well be apprehen-
sive for the future. Birds and parasites do a
great deal, but much more than this must be done
if we would successfully grapple with the enemy.

United States officials have told us ; "The ag-
gregate annual loss to the nation from insect de-
predations amounts to hundreds of millions, and
there is a loud call for relief." But they do not
tell us the way to relief. Now, therefore, let the
question be agitated, and we have reason to ex-
pect some valuable results.

I have been informed that the U. S. Congress
has in contemplation a bill calculated to give
every man a chance to try and find out a proper
remedy for totally subduing, or at least keeping
under control, the different species of destructive
insects, by awarding a suitable premium for the
most reliable plans. This appears to be a move
in the right direction, and will undoubtedly bring
•into the field all the skill and e.xperience of which
the country is capable ; it may save a great deal
of useless expenditure, for is it not apparent that
practice, the result of patient trials, many experi-
ments, and much research, is what we shall have
to depend upon ?

Botany, entomology and chemistry, though
most excellent sciences in themselves, do not

teach how to destroy insects. These however
may help very much, if the knowledge they can
impart be utilized properly for that purpose, but
without practical experience which leads to a sort
of intuitive knowledge of the subject, they are of
but little use. Geometry may help a good me-
chanic, but it will never make one.

It is apparent, if such a law be carried out fully,
it will give an impetus to renewed exertion — help
to set the wheels of invention in motion — and with
other wise and beneficent laws, tend to promote
the general welfare.

A paper, too, issued by the Department of Agri-
culture, a sort of bulletin, weekly or semi-monthly,
giving the new schemes and devices in the war-
fare against insects, and everything worthy of
note, would strengthen the relations that should
exist between the governing power and the people.
They would see that by such work by the govern-
ment, the real welfare of the whole community
was being practically as well as theoretically cared
for. Chambersburg, Trenton, N. J.

A HUNDRED BUSHELS OF APPLES FROM
ONE TREE.

BY N. S. PL.\TT.

In the Gardeners' Monthly for December
some one mentions the case of an apple tree bear-
ing forty-three bushels of apples in one year, and
asks for record of larger yield.

I would call to your notice a tree in this town
belonging to Mr. Delos Hotchkiss, which is be-
lieved to be the largest apple tree in New England.
In 1880 when I measured it it had eight large
branches, each of them as large as an ordinary
, full-grown apple tree. The spread of these
i branches is six rods ; five of them in one year have
borne eighty-five bushels of fruit, since Mr. Hotch-
kiss owned the place ; and his predecessor had
over one hundred bushels in one year from the
same five branches, which had a habit of bearing
one year and the other three the next.

Cheshire, Conn.

[Our correspondent has our best thanks for the

information. If we are not mistaken in the identity

of Mr. Hotchkiss, he is a descendant of a warm

friend of the unfortunate Louis of France, who dared

78

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

to accompany the king to the guillotine. His last
gift on earth was to this friend — -his watch, which
is still treasured as one of the richest possessions
of the family. It is a remarkable piece of mechan-
ism ; a small figure with a hammer in his hand
strikes the hour on a little bell, when it is desirable
to know the hour in the dark. It is an extremely
ingenious contrivance for a watch. Two such
treasures in members of one family ; the one a
natural wonder as in this apple tree, the other of
art as in this watch, is a fact of rare occurrence.
—Ed. G. M.]

GRAPE ROT.
BY MR. DEI*yS ZIRNGIEBEL.

In the October number of the Gardeners'
Monthly, inquiries are made about the cause of
grape rot, so prevalent in the Western States.
It is probably caused by planting on deep soils
and want of drainage, especially when grown on
level lands. At the time of ripening considerable
warmth at the roots is required to ripen the grapes,
which cannot be expected when the roots have
reached the cold sub-soil. The rot very seldom
makes its appearance the first few years after
planting, while the roots are near the surface. On
the thin soils of New England we are never
troubled with it.
V It was quite common once, in glass graperies,
under the name of " shanking," but experience has
taught gardeners the necessity of well drained
borders. The disease is not constant and will
vary with the seasons. On the whole, the success
of grape growing depends mostly on the location
of vineyards. Side hills and declivities, providing
for natural drainage, are more adapted to it than
level lands where drainage is difficult. In the latter
case, throwing up the land in ridges four to five
feet high and eight to ten feet apart, might obviate
the trouble somewhat. The growth would not be
so luxuriant, but the crop would be surer to raise
and be of better quality. Needham, Mass.

experience the best results were obtained by plant-
ing where the sun would shine upon the plants
until about ten in the morning, and then they re-
quired the shade of a fence, house, barn, or trees.
1 grew only smooth sorts.

Three years ago I received a new strain of the
English gooseberry, — at least new to me, — that
pleases me very much. It is large, oval, yellowish-
green when fully ripe, and of fine flavor. And what
is most commendable in it is, that it has neither
shown mildew on fruit nor foliage exposed to the
full rays of the sun, in Illinois, all day, without any
mulch. I cannot see why it is not as healthy and
hardy as the Downing, while the fruit is twice as
large.

The friend who sent it to me is a successful
amateur grower of fruits and flowers, but does not
know the origin of his English gooseberry ; but
says it may be a sport from some old English sort
that he used to grow, or a seedling that originated
in his grounds. He has fruited it for eight or ten
years without mildew, but I think he generally
mulches to keep the weeds down. It has fruited
with me two years, bearing perfect fruit, simply by
frequent hoeing. There are no plants for sale.

Washington Heights, III.

ENGLISH GOOSEBERRY.
BY H.
In the February number of your useful journal
I observed an article headed, " Is the English
Gooseberry worth growing ?" I used to grow this
fruit quite successfully in Central New York, but
could not do it without mulching and shading.
The plants would not always suffer exposed to
the full sun, but the fruit would scald and fre-
quently mildew and thus be worthless. In my

EMPIRE STATE GRAPE.

BY JOHN CHARLTON.

Like Mr. Geo. W. Campbell, 1 have my doubts
as to the ascribed parentage of this fine new,
white variety. I must confess, that 1 am at a loss
to understand how Hartford Prolific and Clinton
could produce such a remarkable result as is here
obtained. I have thought well of this variety, from
its first appearance. I told Mr. Ricketts at the
time he first exhibited it at the American Pomolog-
ical Society's meeting here in Rochester, that to
my mind it was a very likely candidate for public
favor ; and which now, after considerable further
experience and acquaintance with it, I am pre-
pared to say that I believe there is more commer-
cial value in it to the growers for market purposes
than there is in the whole of Mr. Ricketts' other
seedlings combined ; the awards of the committees
of the American Pomological Society to the con-
trary notwithstanding. Its merits are, as I have
observed them to be, as follows : The vine is a
free grower, witli dark colored healthy foliage,
producing firm, short-jointed wood, which does not
fail to ripen as thoroughly or better than the Con-
cord, and so far has not exhibited the slightest
tendency to mildew. It bears very handsome

i885-

AND HORTICULTURIST.

79

bunches, of a greenish-white color, covered with a
fine bloom. Berries round and very persistent,
medium in size, and of excellent refreshing quality.
Taking all things into consideration, 1 regard it
as the best white grape so far offered to the pub-
lic. Of much better quality than either Pockling-
ton or Niagara, with not the faintest trace of foxi-
ness in its composition. Its strong constitution,
fine showy delicate bunches, coupled with its good
quality, speak volumes for its success. Like Mr.
Campbell, I also regard it as a desirable new
variety of more than passing excellence.

Rochester, N. \.

ZINC LABELS.

BY J. R. S.

I send you specimens of a method of using zinc
labels for roses, herbaceous plants, &c. 1 have
used them (zinc labels) for more than twenty
years with great satisfaction on trees, and recently
have tried them for roses, &c. by inserting the
ends in the ground, but they are very liable to get
covered up or displaced when cultivating the
plants. This plan obviates that difficulty and
makes a cheap and permanent label. The rods
for support are of |4^-inch iron l8 inches long, so
tough that the loops can be turned cold. Having
a supply of that kind of rods on hand, I make
them myself and can complete fifty of them in an
afternoon ready to receive the labels, which are
obtained from the tinman at the cost of one dollar
per hundred. These are made 5 '^f mches long by
\Y% inches wide, giving room for the name of the
plant in large letters and leaving space for remarks
on the class, color, date of planting, &c.

The stoutest fence wire would probably do in-
stead of the X-inch rods I use. Rahway, N. J.

[The zinc labels are written on by' an ordinary
lead pencil. At first it is barely traced by the eye,
but gets blacker with age, and is indelible. In
orchard trees we have found the eye of the label
to wear out very easily when in contact with the
copper wire. If a brass eyelet could be punched
into the zinc eye-hole, it would be an additional
advantage we believe to the excellent hint of our
correspondent.^Ed. G. M.]

introduce into Alaska? It is noteworthy that
Heard's Island, which is even more remote and
bleak than Kerguelen or Desolation Island itself,
has a species of wild cabbage, valued by mariners
and seal-catchers as an article of food. Fuegia,
where the excellent bishop of the Falkland Islands
is conducting a successful and very interesting
missionary work, ought to be a good place for the
Pringlea to thrive in, and in no country is such a
plant more needed.

If I remember rightly, Mr. Darwin found in
Soutnern Patagonia a very palatable wild celery.
Now, since our cultivated celery is said to be the
offspring or development of a wild plant which is
scarcely palatable, why should not the wild Pata-
gonian plant be capable of a desirable improve-
ment in cultivation? Novelties in the market-
garden are always in order. ,

I lately had an interview with a gentleman who
has visited Patagonia. He states that no country
in the world promises better for cattle-ranching
than the northern two-thirds of that region. The
climate is good, the country grassy and well wa-
tered, with good harbors, and few wild animals,
except Indians. Merchaniville, N. J.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW VEGETABLES.
BY FILIX.

Why would not the Kerguelen-Land Cabbage
(Pringlea antiscorbutica) be a valuable plant to

American Apple Trade.— A correspondent of
the London Gardening World regrets that Eng-
land will have to spend ten million dollars in
American apples this winter, but finds some con-:
solation in the thought that the apples will be
brought to England in English vessels, and thus
this part of the money will remain in England,
and the profits also are included in these millions,
which the English will also retain. Just how
much of the ten miUions will come to the United
States is not stated.

Corner in Oranges.— Not a commercial " cor-
ner " exactly, but a safe corner in a cold room, is
the latest project in Florida. Now they have to
be sent to market when ready, and sold at any
price that can be got for them. It is proposed to
form a company and get an immense building,
kept cool, so that the oranges need not be mar-
keted till the several gluts are over.

Celery, Early Arlington.— This is spoken
well of by Boston people. It is a short, stocky
variety, of similar appearance to the well-known
Boston Market.

8o

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

The Cut-leaved English Blackberry. — A
Lansing, Leavenworth county, Kan., correspon-
dent writes : " I am a grower of small fruit and
vegetables for market. I obtained through a friend
(who has traveled extensively in the far West) a
blackberry plant from the Sierra Nevada moun-
tain slope in Nevada, in the autumn of 1871 ;
planted it and have tested it thoroughly, and find
it to be ' the hardiest ' 1 ever knew ; a very heavy
bearer, fruit large and luscious, inclined to a long
or thimble shape, ripening with me from July 10
to August 1 5, and a few berries up into Septem-
ber. We call it the Nevada blackberry."

[Here we have again our old friend the cut-
leaved English blackberry ; not, as we have said, a
native of this continent, but an introduction from

the Old World. There will be no excuse for nam-
ing it over again — Nevada blackberry or anything
else. The native blackberry of the Pacific coast
is Rubus ursinus, and of little account as a fruit.

It is however very interesting to know that this
old English variety is doing so well in the West-
ern portions of the new world. — Ed. G. M.]

Vine Culture in America. — A New England
correspondent says : " Born amongst the vine-
yards of the French part of Switzerland I have al-
ways taken an interest in vine culture. I did start
even here once with that view, but found soon
that, in the hard climate of New England, I could
not compete with the low prices of Western grape
growers, so had to give it up ; but have still kept
an interest in it, and have great hopes of its suc-
cess, especially in California, which has a great
future before it."

Forestry.

COMMUNICATIONS.

FACTS IN FORESTRY.

BY AVERY P. SLADE.

• Zebulon Pratt of Bridgewater, purchased twenty-
five acres of wornout land in North Middleborough
for $25 per acre, and in the spring of 1863 had it
set to white pines, at an expense of about ^200.
Tne plants were from six to eighteen inches high
and were set in rows ten feet apart each way. In
December, 1883, they were from twelve to sixteen
inches in diameter and in a thrifty condition, and
Mr. Pratt has been awarded premiums by the
Plymouth County Agricultural Society for the
best plantation of pines. The lot is now taxed for
$800, which is based on a two thirds valuation,
and, as towns are inclined to favor such experi-
ments, it is fair to presume that this is not too high
a valuation, and that the cash value of the lot is
S1200. The cost of the land (S225), setting the
trees ($195) and taxes for twenty years, aggregate
$540, which, in twenty years, at compound interest
at five per cent., amounts to ,5143', or 8:231 more
than its supposed value. But Mr. Pratt says he
did not embark in this enterprise for profit, but to

benefit the inhabitants of the village, and that he
might be remembered pleasantly by those coming
after him. Had he planted with a sole view to
profit he would have put the trees 10 feet by 6, in-
stead of 10 by 10, thus having 726 trees to the acre,

I instead of 425. It is pretty generally conceded that

I pines 6 feet by 10 will make a growth of more value
than at a greater distance apart.

At 10 feet by 10, there is a greater growth of
branches, which are of little value, and less
growth of body than when planted nearer. Now,
if 425 trees to the acre brings the value of the lot
up to $1200, 726 trees to the acre would be worth
the round sum of ,?2ooo, which is S272 more than
the whole outlay would have amounted to_at six
per cent, compound interest for twenty years.
This plantation, Mr. Slade reported from personal

i observation, covers a sterile ridge of sand and
gravelly loam. What surprised him most was the
number and extent of the branches; beginning

\ near the ground, each tree seemed to vie with its
neighbor in throwing them out horizontally in
every direction, from five to fifteen feet in length,
interlocking so as to form in many places an abso-
lutely impenetrable jungle. The conviction was
irresistible that had the trees been properly

1885.J

AND HORTICULTURIST.

8i

trimmed from time to time (and the wood would
have paid the expense), the present value would
have been at least one-third more. There were
said to be 10,775 trees, and could the whole
growth have been thrown mto the trunks, they
would at a moderate estimate have been worth 25
cents each, or a total of $2694, exclusive of the
land.

J. D. G. Williams of Raynham, set a piece of
pine in 1850, the value of the land being $10 per
acre and the cost of setting jf; per acre, and after
twenty-five years' growth the standing wood was
sold for $150 per acre, affording a very large pro-
fit, and leaving the land in good condition to set
again. Mr. Williams also set a piece of pine in
1841 on land of the same value, the cost of setting
being $6 per acre. This is, perhaps, one of the
earliest experiments of the" kind ever made in
Bristol county. The trees apparently came to
maturity in 1876, having made no perceptible
growth since that time. They were set in rows,
from six to nine feet apart and from four to six
feet in the rows. The lot has an eastern exposure
and the trees on the eastern side were evidently
set for a wind break, being not more than four
feet apart. They are large, with many strong
angular branches, resembling in shape an oak as
much as a pine, and contain as much timber as
those less exposed, but it is not so valuable. In
1876 an experienced lumberman estimated this
wood at seventy-five cords to the acre, two-thirds
being suitable for box boards, worth at the mill,
three miles distant, six dollars per cord. No
arithmetic is required to show this to have been a
profitable investment.

The late Richard Sampson, of Middleborough,
set pine trees on a piece of land too poor to culti-
vate, which are now thirty-one years old, and esti-
mated to be worth $150 per acre, and would prob-
ably bring a much higher figure. This piece con-
tains about ten acres, and is remarkably thrifty,
and its growth during the next ten years will
greatly increase its value.

The above instances of rapid growth and profit-
able results are not exceptional, but are selected
because their history could be given more in de-
tail than others. Plantations of pines from five to
thirty years old may be found in Norton, Mans-
field, Taunton, Raynham, Easton, Randolph, Mid-
dleborough and the Bridgewaters, all giving prom-
ise of remunerative results.

[We take this from an excellent paper on Fores-
try in New England, read before the Massachu-
setts Horticultural Society. — Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Root Fungus The note which we recently

gave detailing the work of the landscape gardener
of Fairmount Park in destroying root fungus on
shrubs and trees by the use of sulphur has had a
wide circulation since it appeared in our paper.
It appears that similar attention is being given to
these dangerous fungous parasites in the Old
World, and sulphur is used also as a remedy. The
chestnut trees in the neighborhood of Nantes ,
France, have suffered severely, many being wholly
destroyed. By laying bare the roots, and sprink-
ling with sulphur before refilling the earth, the
trouble has been arrested.

Professor of Forestry in Michigan. — Ann
Arbor University has established a chair of for-
estry in connection with its other branches of
education.

Profitable Timber Trees. — When people are
told to plant timber trees, they are seldom told
what kinds of trees are most profitable, yet this is
a most important part of forest culture. In our
own country few people know what kind of wood
is in demand and what therefore to plant with a
view to profit. They know that Black walnut is
valuable for coffins and cabinet-ware generally,
the locust for fence posts, the catalpa for posts and
railway carriage building ; but little more. The
Agricultural Department has undertaken a good
work at the New Orleans Exhibition by making a
national exhibit of wood-work, which will have a
great educational value. Philadelphia, is famous
for its wood-working industries, and has contribu-
ted freely to the government displays. So far as
our Forestry Congresses and Conventions are con-
cerned, we learn little but that, unless more trees
are planted the water courses will dry up, and the
country become a howling wilderness — the story
varied perhaps by the number of feet of lumber
left to cut, or the great advantages of free trade.
The practical information, that would enable one
to plant with a view to profit within a few years, is
seldom forthcoming.

In the 0I?1 World information of this character
is widely diffused by forestry associations. In a
paper issued in Scotland we learn of the forest
products of that region, that apple is used to make
imitation rosewood and walnut, and for clubs,
bowls, wainscotting. Ash — largely by wheel-
wrights and agricultural implement makers. Moun-
I tain ash — for light crates and machinery, es-
I pecially in potteries. Beech — chairs, tools, and for

82

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

spinning, weaving and similar machinery. Birch —
shoe-pegs, veneering and furniture. Cherry — same
purposes as apple. Elder — for imitation of bone,
box and ebony, and for printing blocks. Elm —
very great demand for railway carriage building,
and for almost anything where no paint is desira-
ble. Hazel— hoops for barrels. Holly — mathemat-
ical instrument makers. Hornbeam — millwrights,
especially for the cogs of wheels. Horse-chestnut —
packing boxes and mould patterns for castings.

Laburnum — fancy turnery. Larch — boat building,
mining, fencing, pumps, and such like. Linden —
railway carriages, carving, shoemakers' and sad-
dlers' work, packing boxes. Maple (Acer campes-
tre) — machinery, furniture, musical instruments —
high priced and profitable. Oak — ship building,
and for every purpose where extreme strength is
desirable. Scotch Fir — everything where our pine
wood would come into use. It is the "deal" of
their commercial trade.

Natural History and Science.

COMMUNICATIONS.

SOIL ANALYSIS.

BY RUSTICUS.

In this article I wish to speak of soil analysis as
helpful in determining what manures to apply to
land. It is a plain proposition. If by analysis we
can discover the constituents of soil, we can
equally as readily detect the absent elements.
Primary soil always contains potash, phosphorus,
soda, magnesia, lime, sulphur, chlorine, silica,
manganese, iron ; hence, tests indicate which are
not present, and the appropriate fertilizers can be
applied. Science must be brought to bear in
agriculture, or the highest success cannot be at-
tained. 1 desire to treat of soil analysis, to give it
the credit I think it merits. I by no means claim
for it that it answers every purpose, so far as the
ascertainment of the exact character of an ex- '
tended area of land is concerned, though an ap-
proximation may be arrived at. Ground varies so
in its composition, considered in its entirety. Says
Prof. Robert Peter, chemist of the State College of
Kentucky, " It has been found by experience, that
the direct chemical analysis of the soil and of the
fertilizer is the most economical method of ascer-
taining the deficiencies of the one and ilhe compo-
sition of the other ; and, as this is necessarily !
somewhat costly, but can be more economically
done by the community than by the individual,
many governments in Europe and States in our
own country have provided for this public want
by the establishment of so-called agricultural sta-
tions. The State of Kentucky, by providing for
an extensive chemical analysis of her soils, has

rendered great service to the future of her agricul-
ture." Soil analysis, though certainly showing all
the elements which are present, yet may prove
deficient in determining the fertility of the land,
from the soil elements being in insoluble combin-
ations. Says Morris Copeland, "Each man's
farming may be much improved by his clearly
comprehending the principles of analysis, and the
mutual relations between crops, manures and soils,
the general physical character of different fields.
He may then apply to each soil that kind of
manure which is richest in the elements in which
the soil in question is deficient ; he will not waste
it on a soil compounded in the same proportions
as itself."

Soil tillage, to be worth anything, necessitates
thorough familiarity with the constituents of land.
How can we proceed intelligently otherwise ?
Says Dr. Lawes, the world-noted agricultural ex-
perimenter, " It is quite true that all investigations
concerning the compositionof the soil are attended
with great difficulties, but when once the fact is
clearly recognized, that our advance in the path of
scientific agriculture lies in a more complete
knowledge of what is taking place in our soils,
some, at all events, will be found who will not be
deterred from such investigations because of the
difficulties to be encountered in their pursuit."
Dr. I. R. Nichols asserts, " Difficult and delicate
as is the labor of determining the fertilizing princi-
ples in soil, it is quite within the power of the
chemist to correctly determine their amount. If
chemistry had no more difficult service to per-
form, we would not complain." Here is a very
important feature in soil analysis. Suppose you
are trying to raise a particular crop on certain

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

83

land, and find it does not come well, though you
expend a great amount of care upon it. Perhaps
your neighbor is producing the same crop re-
muneratively, and on ground, to all appearances
similar to your own. You are greatly puzzled.
You apply various fertilizers, without any appreci- j
able effect. In your despair you resolve, as a
last resort, to send a sample of your soil to some
analyist. He detects just what is lacking, or what
is too abundant in your land for the special crop
you wish to raise. This is no fancy picture of mine.
I can give exactly such cases. On Brae's Island,
South Carolina, and on much of the South Atlan-
tic coast there was a black soil that would not ad-
vantageously produce cotton. This was a serious
matter, for cotton was styled " King." A sample
was forwarded to the Agricultural Department at
Washington for analysis. A qualitative examina-
tion was made, revealing the presence of proto-
sulphate of iron, very probably sufficient cause
for the poor cotton returns. A complete quantita-
tive analysis was made. The preliminary gave
moisture, 4.75; organic matter, 14.24; inorganic
matter, 81.01. Specific gravity, 1.14. Aqueous
extract of soil had an acid reaction. A stratum of
soil I foot deep, extending over one acre, would
contain 3,100,055 lbs; remembering the specific
gravity, 1.14. a cubic foot of it therefore weighed
71.42 lbs. The 3,100,055 lbs. of the soil was
found capable of yielding materials immediately
available for plant food as follows : Silicia, 1,331
lbs.; peroxide iron, .651; phosphoric acid, .440;
potash, 2,077; magnesia, 1,305; lime, 1.023; or-
ganic matter, 6.201. "The presence of proto-
sulphate iron, and probably free sulphuric acid,"
rendered the soil unfit for cotton. The analysis
showed the necessity of removing the salt of iron
and of neutralizing the free sulphuric acid, which
could be effected by copious appUcations of hme.
It taught also the necessity for under-drainage.
I am thus minute, Mr. Editor, to show the keen ]
searchings of soil analysis. The sorghum plots at '
the Department of Agriculture, Washington, were
found lacking in something necessary for the per-
fect production of sorghum. The soil revealed,
on analysis, a very small content of lime, and an
almost entire absence of chlorine. Its need was
sulphate of lime (land plaster or gypsum). I ask,
was not this soil analysis valuable ? Was it not
the very best thing to be done? Here was a por-
tion of the Department experimental farm set
apart for the cultivation of sorghum. It was found
to be ill adapted for the purpose. Was it to be
given up for that purpose ? Science wisely said,

" No, not if tests can unfold the trouble." Again,
the dark, steel-gray limestone of New Jersey was
positively injurious to vegetation. What was to
be done ? Leave the ground vacant ? That would
have been folly. Something was radically at
fault. Science again steps to the front and solves
the problem. Analysis showed its deleterious ef-
fects were due to the high percentage of magnesia.
The remedy was found. The influence of the
magnesia was to be overcome. Prof. Hilgard af-
firms that the power of analysis is almost illimita-
ble ; it stops almost at nothing. Soil analysis be-
gan in this country about the year 1S60. W. H.
Farquhar reports a signal triumph in 1867. A
quantity of soil from an old sedge field, long
thrown out from cultivation, very sterile, was ana-
lyzed, with an equal quantity of very rich soil.
The usual constituents, clay, silex, etc., were pre-
sent in both, also lime. But the phosphates were
almost entirely wanting in the poor soil, while pre-
sent fully in the rich. The remedy was at once
known. Bone was applied, and for nearly twenty
years good crops of wheat, corn, clover and timo-
thy were produced. Says Farquhar, " It appears
to me a matter of positive certainty, whatever
chemistry may have done or failed to do for agri-
culture in the past, that a wide field is open for it
in the future. Great improvements are yet to be
effected by its agency ; but, in order to realize
them, the chemist must become a practical farmer,
and the farmer be an intelligent chemist." With
your permission, Mr. Editor, I will continue the
subject. Lexington, Ky.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Davallia Fijiensis plumosa. — We give here
an illustration of a class of ferns known as the
hare's-foot, or the rabbit's-foot fern, from the thick
creeping rhizomes, which push over the surface,
often hanging over the sides, and from which
spring the fronds, as the folial organs in ferns are
called. It is an interesting illustration of the close
relationship between parts often wholly beneath
the ground, and the stems of plants or the trunks
of trees. If these rhizomes were to become erect
we should have a tree fern; and really there is no
other difference between a tree fern and this
Davallia except the erect stems are bent and lie
on the surface of the ground. In many ferns the
stems grow wholly under the ground, and then
they are what are known as the creeping-rooted
ferns. We may see the analogy between the

84

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

rhizome and many other parts of plants although , is essentially the same, and even the flower stalk
with separate names. A potato has no great I of a strawberry is but the stolon or runner which
difference from a rhizome. It is shorter and j has become erect and floriferous, instead of lying

thicker, that is about all. We call it a tuber but i on the ground and making a new_ plant instead of

it is essentially a rhizome. The thread-like "root" , a crop of flowers at the apex.

of the couch-grass, or the stolon of a strawberry I Studies such as these give a" great deal of interest

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

85

to the cultivation of flowers, besides the mere
beauty involved. So far in this respect the beauti-
ful fern figured, introduced by Mr. Bull, has great
beauty. It is certainly one of the most charming
in the whole range of evergreen stove ferns — one
of the most lovely forms of a remarkably orna-
mental family. It has creeping whitey-brown
rhizomes, and from these spring up at intervals
the gracefully-drooping, feathery, plumose fronds,
which, grow on stalks a foot or more in length,
supporting a broad triangular lamina, which
curves over in the most elegant manner. It will
be a grand subject for all decorative purposes,
especially useful for cutting, and a noble fern for
exhibition specimens. As its name implies, it is a
native of the Fiji Islands. In speaking of the
best novelties, the Gardeners Chronicle (Jan. 7th,
1882, page 10), remarks: "The Davallia Fijiensis
plumosa is, perhaps, one of the most elegant of all
known ferns." It has received a first-class certifi-
cate from the Floral Committee of the Royal
Horticultural Society.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Can Plants Sleep for Centuries ? — A Cana-
dian botanist writes: " I read the very interesting
account of your Alaska trip. There are some facts
in it of which I shall take advantage as occasion
presents. I observe that you include in your
list Aconitum Napellus. I should much like to
know whether the plant you found is the one
usually cultivated in English gardens, (in which
case it will not be native on the Pacific cbast,) or
is it a form of the indigenous and polymorphous
A. delphinifolium ? The latter has been regarded
as a variety of Napellus by several botanists, but
it appears to me to be quite distinct, the racemes
much shorter and more or less corymbose, with
longer pedicels ; the flowers brighter and of more
delicate texture ; foliage less coriaceous, paler, and
of a brighter green, &c. Your remarks on the
suspension of growth in plants, under the influence
of cold, for protracted periods, are of special in-
terest, and, I may add, importance. The subject
attracted my attention some years ago, during a
brief visit to the Rocky Mountains of the South,
and from an entirely different point of view from
that suggested to you. I have now an experi-
ment in progress, started eighteen months ago, to
ascertain whether roots adapted for cattle feeding,
cannot be kept for an indefinite period in a fresh
succulent condition. In a cellar on my farm

here, the cellar built on a Colorado model, I have
Mangel Wurzel roots as solid and succulent now
as when they were taken out of the field in Oc-
tober 1883. They were kept all last summer with-
out ice or artificial cooling, except that afforded by
the cellar, and did not show any but the very
feeblest attempt to sprout, and that very late in
autumn, and only in some of the roots. The
result of the experiment so far is of great practical
importance, but I am desirous of ascertaining how
far it can be carried. Our farmers here have
hitherto had the greatest difficulty in keeping
their Mangels good over the first winter, or until
the advent of green grass in spring. I hope to be
able to show them that they can provide summer
as well as winter feed by growing roots, and thus
be independent, to a large extent, of bad or late,
or drouthy seasons."

[The above refers to a paper on the Flora of
Alaska, contributed to the " Proceedings of the
Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia," by
the Editor of this magazine. As the subject has a
practical value outside of its abstract scientific rela-
tion, we give below an extract referring to the above
suggestions of our correspondent. — Ed. G. M.]

'On our return from Chilcat (written Tchillcat
in some charts) down the Lynn Channel, we ran
up ley Straits into Glacier Bay, to the fifth or
^Iuir Great Glacier; and on our return, passed
in between the Beardslee Islands to the mainland
at a point opposite Cross or Icy Sound in about
lat. 58.30, called on our chart Bartlett Bay. This
is on a peninsula formed by the junction of Icy
Sound with the Lynn Channel, and nothing seems
to be known of this immense tract of land, except
what can be gathered from the not over-friendly
Indians who hve along the coast in the fishing
season. \x\ Indian trader, Mr. Richard Willough-
by, told the author that at a point about twenty-
five miles above this he had traveled northwest
across the peninsula for some forty miles to
Pyramid Harbor, near the mouth of the Chilcat,
as he was understood to say wholly on ice. It is
quite probable that at about a hundred miles north
from Bartlett Bay the country is a vast ice-sheet,
and there were circumstances which seemed
clearly to show that at no great distance of time
in the past the whole of the western portion of this
peninsula was covered by ice ; while on the eastern
shore, on Lynn Channel, the forest trees showed
the mixture of trees of various ages common to
old forests, the forests of the western slope were
all comparatively young, and none were evidently
over fifty years of age. The earth to fifty feet or
more in depth in many places was composed
wholly of glacial drift, and on this were the young
forest trees. Some remarks on these features
more in detail are given at page 187, 1883, of the
" Proceedings of the Academy." Since they were
published, .Mr. Dall has kindly informed the
author that there is historical evidence to show

86

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

that this part was covered by ice at about the end
of the past century. This being so, it becomes a
matter of considerable interest to ascertain how
so many plants have maintained an existence
here — whether they have appeared since the re-
cession of the ice, or whether they managed to re-
tain their hold during the whole continuance of
the ice-sheet.

At our landing place a small stream entered the
ocean, and this stream came through a swampy
valley a few hundred feet wide, extending into the
land for an unknown distance. The hills of drift
were on each side of this valley. All the plants
were collected within a quarter of a mile of the
mouth of this stream, and there is every reason to
believe that a larger number of species might
have been collected had there been time or oppor-
tunity for more inland research along its line. By
the margin of the swamp were rocks from five to
ten or twenty feet above its ground level, and not
covered by drift ; but on the more level rocks
often with a few feet of sand, which had evidently
blown in during the course of years. Yet with
every opportunity to do so had there been time for
the work, very few of the plants along the line of
the stream had extended to the drift deposits close
by. These plants were not brought there by the
drift. We may say almost with certainty that they
were there during the period when the land was ,
covered by ice. How did they manage to main-
tain themselves under these circumstances?
Were they wholly covered by the ice ; or were
there rifts and clefts in the ice-sheets deep enough
to allow plants a summer of recuperation ?

I think we need not regard the last consideration
as one of necessity. There is reason to believe
that under a low temperature plants will retain
vitalpower for an indefinite period. Mr. Douglas,
of Waukegan, Illinois, once sent to me young
trees of Catalpa speciosa. that had been placed in
sand in a cool cellar and forgotten a year, and '
that remained the whole twelve months dormant,
and grew the next year when planted out. Dr.
Maxwell T. Masters, of London, has called at- i
tention to the case of an orchid which, as I re-
member, remained under ground a whole season
without growing, and thiS' has been adduced as a
probable explanation of the non-appearance in
some seasons of plants which are plentiful in
others. If a plant will remain dormant one, two
or three years under unfavorable conditions for
growth, who shall say how much longer a period
they may not live, under conditions favorable to
dormancy only ? I have a strong suspicion that
just at or below the freezing-point, roots may live
for an unlimited number of years ; and that a
district might be covered by an ice-sheet for a
quarter of a century or more, and the plants be-
neath retain full vital powers.

By referring again to my remarks on some i
geological features of this part of Alaska {page
183, Proc. Ac, as cited), it will be seen by a
sunken forest of apparently modern trees there is
reason to believe that in comparatively recent
times this peninsula was clothed with a rich vege- ;
tation— that it was of a sudden partially sub- i
merged and perhaps as suddenly elevated again a I

little — and that all these changes have been the
work of but a few hundred years. The plants in
question have probably survived through all these
changes, though perhaps wholly ice-covered at
times, and have not been brought here by modern
agencies ; and if these suggestions, which are
offered only as great probabilities, should get fuller
confirmation from any one in the future who may
have opportunities of going more fully into an in-
vestigation of the spot, it will give additional
interest to the study of botany in connection with
the great changes which have been going on over
the surface of our globe.

From other botanical evidences which south-
eastern Alasjca affords, I am inclined to believe
that geological changes in this section have not
required the long periods to effect which geolo-
gists usually demand. In the vicinity of the
Davidson Glacier, a little below Pyramid Harbor,
layers of ice may be seen covered by sand and
earth, and prevented from rapid thawing — only an
occasional spot showing the icy bed beneath — and
yet alder and other plants grow within a few
hundred yards. On the other hand, near the
Muir Glacier, at the point where the river-bed
beneath the ice diverges from the glacier's direct
course, the only sign of arborescent vegetation is
from a few score of willow-bushes, scattered on
the mountain-side. Beneath the drift, hundreds
of feet below, is a forest buried as it grew. Pines,
alders, and similar plants spread so readily in this
region, that these bare hill-sides would assuredly
be clothed thickly with a forest vegetation, thus
replacing the forests which have been swept away,
if there had been time enough for the purpose.
The immense area and great depth of these tree-
less drift formations would surely be regarded as
requiring perhaps many centuries for deposit, but
for the evidence which the botanical observations
afford that the whole change must have taken
place within very recent times."

Immediate Influence of Pollen on Fruit.
— A leading pomologist, himself of great exper-
ience in crossing and hybridizing, writes : " When
it can be shown that a long variety of a cu-
cumber can, by immediate crossing, be made to
produce a short one, or a crook-necked squash be
transformed into one of turban form, then I shall
have more confidence in the new theory. "

[Our correspondent makes a good point. So far
as squashes, pumpkins and melons are concerned,
there is not the slightest evidence that they have
been immediately changed by the pollen of an-
other variety. The " theory" is not exactly new.
Some gentleman communicated to the Royal
Horticultural Society of London, in the early part
of the century, a paper, showing that a netted
melon had produced smooth fruit as well on the
same plant. This was assumed without the sha-
dow of proof, to be from immediate action of pol-
len, — but we now know that changes in netting.

i88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

87

like the russet of apples, can and do often come
where there is certainly no chance for pollen in-
fluence. But from this paper appears to have
arisen the "theory" that melons are immediately
influenced. Livingstone's experience with bitter
and sweet melons is another illustration. We know
in these days how this saccharine principle is af-
fected. A Rhode Island Greening, sour in the
East, is sweet in California. Melons lose their
flavor or change their form — degenerate is the
word — just as often when wholly alone, as when
they are near pumpkins or cucumbers.

On the other hand, the Hon. Simon Brown,
of Concord, Mass., than whom New England pro-
duced no more intelligent or careful agriculturist,
in a paper in the Reports of the Department of
Agriculture — for 1863, if our memory serves us
truly — states that careful experiments in growing
all sorts of cucurbitaceous plants together, for the
purpose of testing this very question, failed to
show the slightest indication of change in any
one of them.

We have looked carefully into the literature of
the subject, and find no fact adduced in favor of
this theory that cannot be better explained in the
light of modern facts, except, possibly, Indian
corn Ed. G. M.]

Cedar Vine. — " L, " Salem Junction, N. C.
writes: " I send you, by mail, a vine called here
" Cedar vine, quite rare, seems hardy, and is quite
ornamental. What is its proper name ?"

[Botanically, Lycopodium complanatum. Near
Philadelphia it enters largely into Christmas
decorations, and is known as Ground Pine. — Ed.
G. M.]

How TO Hybridize. — "P. H.," Peterborough,
Ontario, Can., asks : " Is there a work from which
I could learn the art of hand-fertilizing the blos-
soms of fruits and melons, &c. ; the fertilizing the

female blossoms with the pollen of the male blos-
som, or, perhaps 'hybridizing' might express it?"
[Crossing, or hybridizing, is very simple. We
take the pollen dust from one flower and place it
on the apex of the pistil of another. To make it
sure that the flower you wish to raise the seed
from does not get its own pollen, it is best to open
the flower before it naturally expands, and cut oflf
its anthers before they have had a chance to burst
and throw out their own pollen. At the same time
! it is best to put the pollen of the male parent at
once on the stigma. The stigma is usually not
receptive — that is, has not the liquid exudation
necessary for the effective reception of the pollen
at this early stage, — but it remains on the stigma
ready for use when the stigma is ready to receive
it. These precautions are necessary in order that
we may be sure the flower receives only the pol-
len we desire it to receive. Some cover the flower,
after the anthers have been removed, until the
time for the use of pollen has arrived, with gauze,
to keep off insects that might bring other pollen,
— but this is scarcely necessary when done in the
way suggested. If any further information be de-
sired we shall be glad to respond. — Ed. G. M.]

Wax-berry Candles. — "G " says: "Cham-
bers' Cyclopsediasays: 'Myricacordifolia, of South
Africa, yields wax for candles." — Art. Candleberry.
W. Eraser Rae, in his 'Newfoundland to Mani-
toba,' p. 127, says, that 'on the river Tete a Gauche,
New Brunswick, bay-berry candles are commonly
used.' I had some such candles made some years
since ; they were poor things. In the army we
once had a supply of a cerate of myrica (wax).
Very good it seemed to be."

[We beheve it is a long time since any wax-ber-
ry candles were made in New Jersey. We should
be glad to have any notes about this from those
who know. — Ed. G. M.]

Literature, Travels and Personal Notes

COMMUNICATIONS.

TREES GROWING THROUGH A TOMB-
STONE.

BY JOHN WOODING.

I noticed in the December number of the
Monthly, page 369, a communication by Dr. C.

W. Greene, referring to a birch growing out of a
chestnut tree. A similar curious instance came
under my notice, in England, some fifteen years
ago. With a friend of mine, I visited a place
called Lucien, in Hertfordshire, about eighteen
miles from London, to see, as was said, "the
greatest curiosity ever heard tell of," situated in

88

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

1 March,

Lucien churchyard. There we saw seven ash and
three sycamore trees growing through a tombstone
out of a grave. The stone was about twelve feet
long, six inches thick, and eight feet wide. The
growth of the trees had spHt the stone in all direc-
tions. Some of the trees at that time were seven
inches through, and about fifteen feet high. The
grave lot was enclosed with an iron fence twelve feet
high, and the branches of the trees and some parts ;
of the trunk had grown into the fence in all ima-
ginable shapes and forms. Of course, there is a
"true story" connected with the circumstance, as
the people of Hertfordshire will strongly affirm.
The person buried in this grave was a lady of title.
Lady Anne Grimstone, who was buried there some-
where about a hundred years ago. She was an
unbeliever in a Supreme Being — in fact, an infidel
^and those who doubt it can buy a book, sold by
pedlars for six-pence, strongly confirming the
horrible story in detail. This lady asseverated
previous to her death that if there be a God or
devil, a heaven or hell, she hoped ash and syca-
more might grow through her body. No one
planted these trees there, and the people religiously
believe that to prove to the living the horrible
heresy of the dead, the trees came from her body,
and the more to attract attention, have grown up
through and broken the stone.

Pencoyd, Montgomery Co., Pa.

MY SECOND VISIT TO LORILLARD'S
GARDENS.

BY WM. T. HARDING.

In the year of our redemption '83, when flowers
which owe their birth to genial May were freely
blooming in their native habitats, I started from
Mount Holly, to see all I could of them, between
there and Jobstown. In her spring attire nature
se.emed gay and beautiful on every side, for look
where 1 would, while passing along through leafy
groves or open glades, her smiling vernal charms
graced the changing scene. Again, through other
approaches to that rural spot, in company with an
esteemed friend, I found myself in the middle of
cold January, in Mr. LoriUard's famous gardens.
But no sound of murmuring streams, rippling rill,
or the cheery voice of feathered songster salutes
the ear. No sight of living leaf or fragrant flower,
greets the eye, or olfactories, on this occasion.
Implacable, chilly old "winter in his roughest
mood," was blowing his icy breath in piercing
blast, to the great discomfort of man and beast
exposed to the frigid breeze that blew bitter and

chill. While the blustering wind howled and
whistled among the bare limbs of the fruit trees
near by, we hurriedly crossed the frost line by
stepping over the threshold of one of the inviting
glass structures before us, and in a moment felt
the pleasant warmth of a sunnier chme. Marvel-
lous indeed, seemed the sudden change of tem-
perature, from one side of the door to the other,
where large handsome red-ripe tomatoes, hung in
heavy clusters overhead and on all sides of the
first house we entered. And as the assistant
gardeners were in the act of gathering them, I
could say with Milton,

" I saw them under a green mantling vine,
Gathering ripe clusters from the tender shoots."

From two similar sized houses, each of fifty
feet in length, two hundred and ten pounds of
perfectly formed, well ripened tomatoes had been
picked during the previous fifteen days. And
from the vigorous appearance of the plants, even
a larger quantity might apparently be had in the
next fifteen days. And thus in succession until
those out of doors, later on, come into bearing, an
abundance will be produced to amply supply the
daily demand.

The next division door opens into a house of ripe
strawberries — the second crop of the season — from
which several hundred exhausted plantsofanearlier
forcing had been removed to admit an equal num-
ber of others to succeed them, and which bore evi-
dence of successful culture. A hive of busy bees
placed inside the hothouse to assist in the fecunda-
tion of the early blossoms, were enjoying a prema-
ture summer as they dihgently buzzed about from
flower to flower in search of nectar. A square of
glass had been removed from each partition to
allow the apiarian throng to pass in and out from
house to house in " the pursuit of life, health and
happiness."

Simple as it may appear at first sight, the parti-
cular instance alluded to, as did many others,
showed the wisdom and practical professional
knowledge of the courteous and intelligent mana-
ger, Mr. John Gardener, who deserves great credit
for the satisfactory results so pleasing to behold.
Then there were other houses of them in various
stages of growth, from the first indication that
vegetable action had commenced, to the blossom-
ing and fruit-forming period. These would be
subject to the same course of treatment the others
had previously gone through. Seth Boyden Mr.
Gardener considers the best kind (or early forcing ;
the blossoms of which stand well up above the
leaves, which renders them the less liable to damp

I8»5-

AND HORTICULTURIST.

89

off during the dull and unfavorable weather when
the bright face of old Sol is often obscured.

A goodly number of pots of thrifty-looking Sion
House bush or snap beans were bearing an ex-
cellent crop. The same might be said of the
American Wonder peas from which, like the
beans, fair quantities had been picked for a length
of time. On Christmas day Early Rose potatoes
of good quality were dug for use, which, together
with many other kinds of culinary vegetables,
were successfully forced for the festive occasion.

Fine tender looking asparagus, sufficient to sup-
ply, one would suppose, every family in the village,
had been freely cut every day since December.
Of Cauliflowers, Early Horn Carrots, Lettuce, Rad-
ishes, etc., immense quantities are produced under
glass, while Mushrooms and Sea Kale vegetate in
dark cellars specially constructed for them.

A promising house of gjape vines was show-
ing an abundance of incipient bunches, which
proper attention will fully develop into fine
ripe clusters in due season. Then three houses of
the same dimensions, namely fifty feet each, were
devoted to peaches and nectarines, the trees
skillfully pruned and trained to radiate in fan-
fashion to stout wire trellises near the sashes.
Several of these symmetrically formed trees were
profusely covered with pretty pink blossoms, than
which scarcely any known tree or shrub can
surpass in beauty. And it is doubtful if any
other fruit is more luscious than the choice
kinds of well ripened peaches and nectarines — the
latter, especially, when grown under glass. Every
body appreciates them who has enjoyed the privi-
lege of tasting them, and why this really delicious
fruit is so seldom seen in the forcing house, seems
incomprehensible to the writer. Early Rivers is
the first to ripen, and is followed by Early Louise,
while other approved kinds come on consecutively,
with the greatest regularity, as long as the season
lasts. Although the first named one is an excel-
lent variety for forcing, its character for keeping is
not the best, as, unfortunately, it soon begins to
decay after ripening. Another house in this long
range — upwards of five hundred feet — is, at the pro-
per time, to be planted with nectarines, the early
fruit of which the proprietor has a decided taste
for.

Continuing on from one compartment to another,
we enter one filled with the most popular kinds of
Tea roses, grown in pots, from which an immense
quantity of splendid flowers had been continuously
cut during the last three years, without once allow-
ing them to rest from their floriferous labors. To

be constantly in bloom seems the natural propen-
sity of many kinds of Tea roses ; and if the same
vigorous appearance can be maintained that they
had at the time of my visit, 1 should judge they will
never tire of well doing.

The glory had departed from the first lot of
Hybrid Perpetual roses, (very strong plants, in-
deed) which, had had their day earlier on. But
others were steadily advancing to replace them,
"in the good time coming." Mr. Gardener consi-
ders Magna Charta is one of the best varieties for
forcing, and for that purpose grows it largely.

Without specifying each particular species of
plant grown for bouquets and decorative uses,
which would occupy too much space in these col-
umns, 1 will briefly call attention to a few of the
principal kinds, most highly esteemed by Mr. Lor-
illard and his family. Conspicuous among them
are several hundred Gardenias, better known as
Cape Jasmines, and which in every respect are
worthy of first ' mention. A better-looking lot
of good-sized, clean, handsome, healthy plants, I
never saw in my long acquaintance with them.
This very popular evergreen shrub when covered
with a profusion of immaculate fragrant flowers is
absolutely an object of exquisite beauty. The gen-
eric name, Gardenia, was given to the first one
which arrived from China, in 1 754, in honor of Dr.
Alexander Garden, of Charleston, S. C, whose
botanical knowledge brought him into correspon-
dence with the celebrated Linnaeus. There are
some forty species in cultivation, most of which
are natives of China, Sierra Leone, or the East
Indies; and many of the pale yellow, or spotless
white flowers they produce are exceedingly fra-
grant, while all are decidedly beautiful.

Sweet Orchids, Hyacinths, Stephanotis, Carna-
tions, Richardias, Lily of the Valley, Hehotrope, etc.i
with Lilacs, Viburnums, Spiraea, Deutzia and other
useful things, too numerous to mention, were there.

Among so much floral grandeur and delightful
aroma, I feel constrained to notice in particular a
pretty, modest-looking, little Australian plant,
Boronia megastigma, which, if possible, is even
more delicately odoriferous than its lovely sister,
B. serrulata. In fact, two more interesting, or
charming greenhouse plants are seldom, if ever
seen, in any collection.

Among a splendid group of attractive Amaryllis,
I observed the imperious and beautiful Cleopatra,
splendid Perfecta marginata, unrivalled Unique,
brilliant Coccinea, handsome and grand Nobilis,
lovely Syrene, and sanguinary Macbeth, were
some of the most magnificent kinds.

9°

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

The patient and intelligent reader who knows
whereof I write, will perceive, from the few spe-
cies alluded to, what a rare combination of beau-
teous forms unite with the most subtile and exquis-
ite perfume imaginable, to gratify the most fastid-
ious and refined taste possible, kind Providence
has provided for our enjoyment. And while feel-
ing thankful for every blessing received, will frankly
admit that this fair and flowery world of ours is
not the dismal vale of tears the poor, unhappy
hypochondriac would fain make us believe.

Mount Holly, N. J.

LINES ON DR. WARDER.

BY J. N. M.

His was the gentle spirit of the woods.
The genius of the tongueless mysteries.
Eternally that dwell within the trees.

The flowers, the grasses, and the bursting buds;

A member of their secret brotherhoods,
He caught the everlasting sympathies
Of all the lute-lipped leaves; he held the ke>s

Of nature's variant moods and solitudes.
A Druid gray, his loving life-blood leapt

In transport tremulous, beneath the power
Of beauty and of symmetry that slept

Within the petals of the frailest flower ;
Noblest of all the songless bards, he kept

His great soul stainless in his Eden-bower.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE LIFE
OF A GARDENER.

BY N. ROBERTSON.

In looking over the last number of the Gar-
deners' Monthly, I notice that a correspondent
asks how to establish himself as a landscape
gardener, and your appropriate remarks thereon.
With you, I say that one of the greatest wants of
the day is, proper men at the head of our public
parks in cities and towns. This does not arise
because such men are not to be had, but, because,
when a position of this kind is open, influence has
so much to do with the filling of it. Capability is
only a secondary consideration, if thought of at
all. Examples are not rare of those who go
blundering along, leaving marks that show too
plainly that they have never studied the first re-
quisites of what constitute an effective landscape
gardener. Errors are easily made, and their re-
pair is costly. A builder can commence his work
and carry it into completion in a short time, but
a landscape gardener can only lay the foundation
of a work which nature has to complete for him
in the after years.

Your correspondent says he advertised re-

peatedly and failed. I will relate what my
advertisement was which placed me in the position
I now hold. I may first say that I was born a
gardener, for at a very early age my father saw
my inclination was in this direction, and had a
gardener come and clean a piece of waste land,
and lay out a garden for me to spend my leisure
hours in. This garden was my great delight. At
the age of fourteen I, as most boys do, thought I
had had enough of school, and I wanted to be-
come a gardener. My father and his family were
against it, not that they objected to the profession,
but there was plenty to do at home on the farm,
and there was no necessity for my leaving the
family circle. I had a cousin, a gardener, and to
him I went as an apprentice. As he was a bach-
elor, and considered crabbed, it was supposed I
would not s'ay long with him. I look back with
grateful feeling to him, for he spared no trouble to
advance me in the art. He being a man who was
constantly on the outlook for progressive matter,
my five years of apprenticeship were well spent.
The custom being to remove to some other place
for a change and a variation of experience, I
served one year as journeyman, and then was
promoted to the whole charge of the place. On
the expiration of that year I took it into my head
to try a newer country, greatly to the sorrow of
my employer, who wanted me to remain. I sailed
for Canada, and on my arrival was employed the
same day by an elderly lady, who had a large
market garden, and employed many hands.
There I spent a year and then I was put in charge
of the place. 1 can never forget the kindness of
this lady to me ; better she could not have been to
her dearest child. Another year passed and, am-
bitious to make progress faster, I left and tried
several places, but was not extra successful, being
ignorant of the practical working of them. This
period covered several years, during which I kept
myself posted in gardening by books &c. It was
at this time that my advertisement began. I had
bought myself a building lot, and had put up a
cottage on the one-half of it ; the rest I kept for a
garden, in which I could devote my leisure hours.
I was tlien running a store on my own account,
and the hours for my garden had to be, for the
most part, from four to eight in the morning.
Now this little garden was my advertisement, and,
in a large part, was the means of my getting my
present position. I had it so decorated with
flowers &c., that it was a matter of considerable
interest to the inhabitants of the city. If any
person asked me where I lived, I told them the

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

9'

street, and they would ask, " Is it where the pret-
ty garden is?" Sunday afternoons I used to be
much gratified by seeing the crowds of people that
came to look in at it. Among them there once
came two ministers of the Crown whom I was ac-
quainted with. In the course of conversation they
asked if I understood gardening. I said yes, and
related what I have told above of my former life.
Well, they said there was to be a good position
for a person of that calling at the grounds around
our Government Buildings, and asked if I would
care to take it, promising their aid if I would.
I said I would take it, and thought all was right,
but I was told I must get all the influence I could
to intercede for me. This was against me, for I
had but few to go to. However, I got my papers
ready, and here my little garden showed itself
again. No one knew me as a gardener, but every
one was satisfied I knew what I was about, and I
had no trouble whatever to get every name I
asked for, which made me renew my exertions.
There were many applicants for the position, most
of them being men of no knowledge, but who had
considerable influence to back them. After a
year's waiting in suspense, I got the appointment.
My trials broke out afresh as soon as I commenced
the work, which was a most difficult one, owing to
a large amount of excavation which had to be
made to suit a plan for part of it which had been
accepted as one fitted for it. It will give some idea
of the extent of the work the first summer, to say
that $60,000 were spent on excavation alone, and
large sums for three years more. The disappointed
applicants for the position attacked me at every
move, through the public print ; so that I got almost
ready to give up the place. I got so disgusted
that I went into the chief architect's office and
told him so. His answer was that as the Depart-
ment had found no fault, I should go on. He
counselled me to pay no attention to them, but to
go on as I was doing and I would come out right.
I did so, and the result proved the wisdom of his
words. The many eulogiums I now hear about
the work are very encouraging to me.

If your correspondent should ever be successful
in getting a situation as a landscape gardener, let
him pray that it be not a public one, for, if it is, he
will have to endure many such unpleasant things as
I have related, and, perhaps, a good many more.
I may add that my success here has given me
two chances to far more lucrative positions, which
were very tempting. But when I looked back on
the past, and saw the great pleasure I had had
since my first years, I said to myself, my cottage

and my little garden still remain, and, all things
considered, there are associations here that could
not be found easily. I have been frequently told
I was foolish to devote myself so closely to this
work, and that I would never get any thanks for
it. 1 have got thanks a thousand times, until the
cup runs over, well repaying me for my exertion.
1 am glad to see you make public Mr. Miller's
affair at Fairmount Park, for this system of ex-
changing plants is an old established one, and was
almost considered obligatory amongst gardeners
in Scotland in my day there, and it would be a
good thing if it were more practiced than it is. It
is a pleasure to find the charges against Mr. Miller
so utterly unfounded.

Supt. Gov t. Grounds, Ottawa, Can.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Should Horticulture be Taught in our Pub-
lic Schools ? — This question was ably handled
by Professor Wickersham, late Superintendent of
Public Instruction of the State of Pennsylvania,
at the late State Horticultural meeting. Ob-
jection was made that studies were now too nu-
merous for the six hours a day, and six or eight
months in the year of public schoohng, but the Pro-
fessor explained that he did not recommend the
introduction of this and similar studies in addition
to those already included, — but in the place of
some others. He contended that, as the re-
sult of a careful study of public education, that a
large proportion of time spent on geography, gram-
mar, examples, and so forth, was absolutely thrown
away, — that the aim of public education should
not be so much to educate as to place children on
the path to educate themselves. Public school
teaching should simply furnish children with the
tools by which they could cleave their own way
as circumstances should arise, and not to fit them
for any particular way. Children should be taught
to observe, to think, and to judge. He would
have a garden attached to every public school,
and take the hour spent on geography or grammar,
and, with the children in the garden, with the liv-
ing plants before them, and a teacher capable of
explaining things, do more good than the book
studies of a whole week. The remarks of the
Professor made a deep impression.

Duncan Rhind. — Mr. Rhind is not unknown to
our readers as a contributor of some excellent pa-
pers on garden topics. He is one of those accom-
plished gardeners who do credit to the profession,

92

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

and whose abihties and superior character for prob- equal value everywhere, and hence, there has been
ity and honor fit them for positions of great respon- a universal demand for it. It has been reprinted
sibility and trust. It is one of the misfortunes of in India, and translated into German for use in
our country that when this class of talent is open i the Old World. In no country perhaps is there
for engagements there are no first-class situations so much inquiry for economic plants as in the

open to receive them, and when they are it is not
always easy to find the man. Mr. R. is now dis-
engaged. His address is Jenkintown, Montgom-
ery Co., Pa.

Dr. Asa Gray. — Florida has charmed Dr. Gray
from Cambridge, and after touching at New Or-
leans, he will visit California, before returning to
his home.

Mr. Sereno Watson. — This diligent student
has well earned a short vacation from his steady
work at Cambridge. He was to leave on the 12th
of the month for Guatemala.

Lithography in the Nursery Business. — Of
late years lithography has been brought into use
as a very useful agent in advertising. Some of
our nurserymen seem particularly to appreciate its
advantages, as we judge from a large number of
beautiful pictures on our table from Mr. J. T.
Lovett, of Little Silver, N. J. Such enterprise de-
serves success.

George C. Briggs. — George C. Briggs was one
of the famous firm of Briggs Brothers, who were
the pioneers of fruit culture in California. Every
one has heard of the wonderful^wonderful for

United States ; and the enterprising Detroit pub-
lisher, who has now given it to our country, de-
serves national thanks.

The plants of this continent come into the list
in a work like this, as well as those of other por-
tions of the earth. As an illustration we take at
random the following : " Chlorogalum pomeri-
dianum (Kunth) California, frequent in the moun-
tains. This lily-like plant attains a height of 8
feet. The heavy bulb is covered with many coat-
ings, consisting of fibres, which are used for cush-
ions, mattresses, etc.; contracts are entered into
for the supply of this material on a very extensive
scale (Prof. Bolander). The inner part of the
bulb serves as a substitute for soap, and the possi-
bility of utilizing it for technological purposes like
the root of Saponaria might be tested, as it con-
tains saponin." "Fraxinussambucifolia (Lamarck),
Black or Water ash of North America. Attains a
height of 80 feet. Wood still more tough and
elastic than that of F. .A-mericana, the white ash,
but less durable when exposed ; easily split into
thin layers for basket work. Its wood is compara-
tively rich in potash, like most of its congeners ;
for oars and implements it is inferior to that of

that time— peach orchard near Marysville, and ofjtjig white ash (Simmonds)." Among Australian
the varieties of California peaches which bear his plants a number of the most useful Eucalypts are
name. Of late years he gave his chief atten- described, as for instance, " Eucalyptus punctata.

tion to the growing of grapes for raisins, and had
at the time of his death no less than 1,200 acres in
grapes, and was preparing to plant 6,000 more.
His death occurred the last week in January, in
the 6ist year of his age. Those who know how
much fruit culture in all new countries depends on
the results of early experiments ; how much has to be
lost in early trials, and the planter to suffer by
heart-burning disappointments before success is
assured, will have cause to feel deep regret for the
loss of such a man as this. Monuments have
been erected to commemorate the services of men
who have deserved far less of their country than
Mr. Briggs.

Select Extra-tropical Plants. — Readily
eligible for Industrial culture or Naturalization.
By Baron I'erd Von Mueller. Detroit; published
by Geo. S. Davis, 1884.

This was originally prepared for Australian
use, but the succinct information given of indus-
trial plants adapted to temperate climates, is of

The Leather-jacket, or Hickory Eucalypt of New
South Wales. A beautiful tree with a smooth
bark, attaining 100 feet or more, of rather quick
growth. The wood is of a light brown color, hard,
tough and very durable ; used for fence posts,
railway sleepers, wheelwright's work, also for ship
building (Woolls)." Then, again, among Euro-
peans such notes as these ; "Acer platanoides, the
Norway maple (Wild); south to Switzerland ; up
to 80 feet high. Found hardy in Norway up to
67O, 56' N. Attained in lat. 59O 46' a diameter of
2'/i feet (Schrebder). The pole wood much used
by cabinet makers. Tint of the autumn foliage
golden yellow. A tree of imposing appearance,
much recom^nended for ornamental gardening ;
it gires a denser shade than most of the other
maples."

In this concise manner almost all that is known
of the economic character of all plants in use is
given in a closely printed volume of 449 pages.

One of the most useful features of the work con-

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

93

sists in the numerous indices, tables, and lists of
cross references. Plants yielding herbage, plants
yielding culinary roots, cereals, pulse, esculent
fruits, avenue trees, dye-plants, hedge-plants, and
numerous others are all indexed by themselves.
Indices of common names, and botanical names,
and systematic indices of botanical names for
those who are so inclined.

As a work of reference, few intelligent cultiva-
tors can afford to be without it, while we suppose
as a matter of course it will find a place in every
American public library.

How TO Prop.\gate and Grow Fruit. — This
is a small and very useful pamphlet, issued by
Mr. Chas. A. Green, editor of the Fruit Grower.

State Board of Horticulture of California,
Annual Report for 1883. From A. H. Webb,
San Francisco, Secretary.

Although this body is incorporated as a Board
of Horticulture, we judge from the report that it
has nothing to do with horticulture in its accepted
sense, but aims at the development of commercial
fruit growing. This is rather a branch of agricul-
ture than of horticulture. Horticulture deals with
the garden — agriculture with the farm, and a fruit
farm is not a fruit garden. The fruit farm excludes
everything that we can properly understand by a
garden— /ior/ai — while horticulture takes the
garden in as its main idea, making fruit culture a
part only, though an important part of its opera-
tions. The confusion of terms does a great injury
to the cause of real horticulture.

In its proper field — Pomology — this report will
be found of great value to fruit growers on the
Pacific slope. Insects and diseases receive par-
ticular attention. We are especially interested in
noting how our brethren are battling with the
codhn moth, and it will be worth noting in the
future how far the heroic efforts to stamp out the
enemy are rewarded by permanent success. Mr.
De Long here tells about their trials. They nearly
exhausted the fruit crop one season in the effort to
destroy the insect. In one night they killed 1579
moths. During the season they killed 11,926
moths. Bands were placed around trees, and
thousands of the larvae destroyed, of which no ac-
count was kept. Somehow, all this destruction
made little difference to the injury done to the
crop. In 4018 boxes of apples only 1500 baskets
were got out good. In the language of the
report " it is found almost impossible to cope
with the insect." In an apple house, after apples
had been pretty well selected, moths would

continue to come out all the season. They were
killed by entering with a lamp each day, and the
number killed recorded. They commenced^to
kill on April 15; by May 15 they had 86 dead.
From this time there was an increase daily. For
instance. May 19, 32 ; May 25, 133 ; May 28, 194 ;
June 2, 275 ; June 4, 308 ; June 7, 517. From this
time out there is a decrease, though slowly, for on
June 15 there were 436, and on June 26, 425, and
on July 2, a sudden jump to 492, when the decrease
became very rapid ; July 8, fell below the hun-
dred, being but 57 ; August 3, only 7 are recorded,
and the last ones caught were on August 12, when
there were 3.

The continued efforts at destruction must, how-
ever, tell in the long run. Lamps set in tins filled
with water seems a good plan for orchard work ;
attracted by the light they tumble in the water
and drown.

The report is one of the most useful that has
come to our table for a long while.

Palmer's Monthly. — This is a new venture
from Kansas City, and is to be "devoted to the in-
terests of nurserymen and planters, and kindred
affairs." It is of similar style and character to
Green's Fruit Grower, of Rochester, and should
have a good field in the West.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Reminiscence of A. J. Downing. — Mr. T. S.
Gold, West Cornwall, Conn., notes : " Your re-
marks upon the work of A. J. Downing in the inte-
rests of landscape gardening, in the February
number, called out by the recent death of his
brother, Charles Downing, call to mind an occur-
rence many years ago. I spent the winter of 1 841-2
in Waterbury, and was confined to my room for a
few days by illness. Dr. Leavenworth called one
day just after dinner, and would not remove his "
overcoat, as he designed to stay but a short time.
He took up ' Downing's Landscape Gardening,'
then just published, and did not lay it down till the
shades of evening rendered it too dark to read.
There was a charm about this book that no lover
of rural life could resist. You truly say, ' he had
the essential enthusiasm that was catching, to all
who came into contact with him.' "

Honorable Names to Plants. — "J. H. S."
says : " In reading your remarks on Panax Vic-
toriae, and our English cousins naming new plants
in honor of their nobility or royalty, 1 thought in
this the English have a decided advantage over

94

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

Americans, who, for want of something new, take
old-named varieties of Pelargoniums, and re-
christen them, not in honor of royalty, but the
nearest approach they can make to it. For in-
stance. Lady Washington, Gen. Grant, Double
Gen. Grant, &c. In double Bouvardias they have
done precisely as the English."

[From the tenor of our correspondent's remarks,
it seems he understood us to ridicule the naming
of plants after distinguished personages. We have
read over again what we wrote about Panax Vic-
toria, and cannot imagine how he derived that
impression. Our intention, and, we think, our ex-
pression, was that when our English friends felt
they had something worthy of general regard, they
gave it a distinguished name, and we took it simply
as an additional warrant that the plant was worthy
when so named. We have no objection to distin-
guished names. — Ed. G. M.]

Origin of the name Persimmon. — " G." says :
" The European Diospyros Lotus, or date-plum, is
called Pishamin in Chambers' Cyclopoedia, Art.,
Date Plum. This word seems to be suspiciously
like Persimmon, but the books say the latter is an
Indian (American) word."

[European encyclopoedists are not as careful in
many cases as one should expect from the preten-
sions of such works, and we doubt whether " Pisha-
min" was ever applied to the Diospyros Lotus.
Some author, Parkinson, it runs in our mind, tells
that Captain John Smith brought some of our
kind, Diospyros Virginiana, to Queen Elizabeth,
and told her the Indians called them " Pashimin."
Persimmon seems to have been a modern im-
provement on the original word. At any rate it
fixes the origin of the name, whatever should be
its orthography, and Chambers must be wrong. —
Ed. G. M.]

Horticultural Societies.

COMMUNICATIONS.

SPECIAL PREMUIMS OF THE MASSACHU-
SETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

BY B.

In your magazine for February, commenting
on the Prize Schedule of the Massachusetts Horti-
cultural Society, you refer to the rule recently pass-
ed that no premium shall be awarded at any ex-
hibition except those authorized by the Society,
and question its wisdom. The rule is simply to
prevent the offering of prizes by tradesmen who
seek to advertise some especial novelty in this
way, and to put an obstacle in the way of having
the exhibitions used for advertising purposes.
The various awarding committees have the
authority to award gratuities at any exhibition to
any worthy exhibit which does not compete for a
stated prize named in the schedule, and this has
been the custom for years. Quite a large sum is
expended in this way each year, at the discretion
of the committees, so you will see that the Society
accomplishes just what you consider to be the
proper method. Naturally the Society has had
the benefit of long experience as to the best man-
ner of making awards, and its system is un-
questionably the wisest and most equitable of any
adopted by similar Societies in this country.

[This puts the matter in a very different light.
The Society is undoubtedly right in regard to
these "special" premiums. The misunderstand-
ing arose from the Society calling "gratuities"
what the Pennsylvania Society calls " special pre-
miums." What in Boston are called special pre-
miums are " trade premiums " here. — Ed. G. M.]

FLORAL NOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS
EXHIBITION. i

BY M. H. LESTER.

At Horticultural Hall the principal regret is
that Prof. Tracy was obliged to leave to attend to
other business ; not, however, without leaving an
indelible mark behind him. The success of the
Horticultural department is assured, whatever
may overtake any other portion of the Exposition.

The most conspicious object in the building is a
splendid Cocos nucifera, about 20 feet high, and
in fruit. Nearly opposite, on the other side of"
the fountain, is a Cereus giganteus, 20 feet high,
with several smaller Cocos, Oreodoxia regia
Musa sapienta, and some large Ficus and Cycas
revoluta ; and to crown all a beautiful specimen
of Phoenix dactylifera. I think it is the most
beautiful part of the whole concern.

The greenhouse department is all hung around
with Orchids, Mexican. Central American, and

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

95

British Honduras varieties. Several are in bloom,
such as Epidendrum, Odontoglossum, and
Oncidium in variety ; also, Lycaste, and Cat-
tleya Guatamaliensis. A local firm, Maitre &
Cook, exhibit over 30 varieties of Palms ; they
have also a general collection, in which may be
noticed a splendid specimen of Blechnum Brazi-
liensis, and another, of Astrapaea Wallichii, a 6;ood
thing ; also a collection of Rex Begonias, and
outside, roses and ornamental stuff.

Prof. Morriss, from Jamaica, has the most in-
teresting exhibit in the building, consisting of
over 50 varieties of Palms, and the nomenclature
is perfect. Such good things as Areca lutesens
and rubra, strong ; Elaeis guinaensis and others,
choice but small, in Bamboo pots ; a splendid lit-
tle case of Hymenophyllums and other rare
ferns ; over 40 varieties of su^ar cane ; a col-
lection of Cinchona, together with a collection of
all the fruits and nuts that have been acclimatised
or are peculiar to that Island.

The next largest exhibit of general interest is
from California. John Rock, of Santa Clara
county, is well to the front with fruit trees, roses,
conifers, evergreen and deciduous flowering and
other ornamental stuff; such Palms as Corypha
australis, Chamserops humilis and excelsa, Pritch-
ardia filifera and van robusta, and others ; all
well grown, handsome stuff.

A great many shining lights in the horticultural
world have been here lately, among them Prof.
Lemmon, from Cahfornia, and Mr. Hovey, of
Boston. A walk through the houses, is a pleasure
not often enjoyed in a hfetime, with a plantsman
of such taste and discrimination as Mr. Hovey.
Mr. McRoberts while here represented A. Brack-
enridge, the great orchid grower, near Baltimore.
Gardener to Prof. Richardson, New Orleans.

THE NEW YORK CHRYSANTHEMUM
SHOW.

BY GENERAL NOBLE.

This magnificent exhibit deserves a record in
your journal. It was held at Horticultural Hall,
28th street. New York, about the 8th of November
last. This hall is about 50 by 75 feet in area. No
other flowering plant was' shown.

1 confess that I was very green, till I saw this
show, about the wonderful variety of tint, and style
of flower and of culture which this plant can claim.
I think a good many of your readers will confess to
the same ignorance. 1 always loved the flower.
There was an instinctive cheer in its brilliant

masses, sheltered in some nook, or beneath the
southern windows of your home. My heart
warmed to them as the courageous rear guard of
retreating summer, against the grim advance of
wintry drear and frosts. But this New York show
revealed to me capacities of the plant for floral
loveliness and magnificence that filled me with de-
lighted wonder and surprise. I now sympathize
with the heathen Chinee and his neighbor of Japan,
who look upon the chrysanthemum as the rival of
that floral queen, the rose.

The area of the hall was girt with a brilliant
mass of gorgeous flowers. Around its sides, there
ranged a belt of potted plants, from 8 to 10 feet
wide. The grenadiers of the tribe stood against
the walls, crowned on single stems 7 to 9 feet high,
with flower heads 3 feet across. From these stal-
warts gradually descended blooms of lesser stature
and more bushy culture, till their flower heads
stood not more than two feet above the floor. Thus
that hall was girt with a terrace belt of rich and
brilliant tints, and lovely styles of blooms which
no pen can paint. Not only every shade of the
spectrum had place among these colors, but their
variety realized the wonderful range of tint in their
combinations.

Through this amphitheatre, so walled around by
floral loveliness, ranged four broad tables, solidly
mantled by the cut flowers of the chrysanthemum.
In variety of tint and style, and in size of flowers,
these tables rivalled the potted plants. Many
were doubtless new varieties of this plant, showing
the wonderful aptitude of the seedlings to take in
divers shade of colors and styles. Some flowers
were as regular and staid in their petals as a double
dahlia or an aster. Others sported a plumage as
loose and curly as a cupid's locks streaming in
the wind. Some were no bigger than a button,
while others stretched out from that size to six
inches across their petals.

To some of your readers, those rich and perfect
trusses of bloom, hfted on their tree stems 9 feet
above the floor, may be a familiar sight and habit
of the plant. I confess that to me, those tall and
slender trunks, stiffened by rods to uphold those
brilliant masses of color, were a wonder and a sur-
prise. I had never even dreamed of such a floral
possibility, except in the woody standard of the
rose tree.

One of the exhibitors kindly told me how the
feat was done. In the spring you choose a shoot,
stout and vigorous, and pinch, cut and keep down
all the rest. As that fixed on to make your stal-
wart gets stature and stoutness, pinch out all its side

96

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[March,

branches or stems, keeping the base leaves of the
pinched off shoots to give nourishment and girth
to the trunk of your tree chrysanthemum. Thus
go on till your flower head forms. From this, too,
pinch out all weak and crowding shoots, so that
your flower head has room to open with a glorious
mass of bloom.

More than 500 distinct varieties were shown.
The largest collection, and that to which the mass
of prizes were given, was that of Messrs. Hallock,
Son, and Thorp, of Queens, L. I. There were
other exhibitors who, I think, shared with that
house some of the highest prizes, but I do not
remember their names. Bridgeport, Conn.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

American Pomological Society. — We under-
stand that at the meeting this year, use is to be
made of the knowledge of the members present,
by introducing especially topics for discussion, on
which we have not yet arrived at final conclusions,
and by means of which discussions we may get
the advantage of the views of leading representa-
tives. A.mong other topics Dr. Hexamer will
introduce some one in connection with the
strawberry. Mr. Barry on nomenclature. The
influence of pollen on the growing fruit, will be a
prominent subject. Professor Lazenby would be a
good one to handle it. Special fruits for the
North, the South, the West, will have a share of
attention ; the gain to Pomology by the New
Orleans Exposition ; progress in American grape
culture ; diseases of the peach ; insect remedies;
the best latitudes for the most profitable culture of
the several fruits. These are samples of some of
the topics it is proposed to introduce intelligently,
and discuss freely. From all we can learn the
meeting promises to be one of the most practically
useful in the history of the Society.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Associ-
ation. — This body had a very successful meeting
at Lancaster. Judge Stitzel of Reading, who had
been re-elected President for several successive
terms, declined a re-election, from, as he express-
ed it, no lack of continued interest in' the welfare
of the Society, but from the pressure of advanc-
ing years and other public interests. Mr. Calvin
Cooper a highly intelligent and active gentleman
of Lancaster county, was elected to succeed him.
The Society does not intend to relax in the slight-
est degree, its interest in the successful and profi-
table culture of fruits, but recognizes its mission
as a promoter of intelligent Horticulture in all its

branches. Cyrus D. Fox of Reading, Edwin
Satterthwait of -Jenkintown, H. M. Engle of
Marietta, and other fruit growers gave great value
to the deliberations by freely communicating the
results of their successful experiences ; while
William Moon, Josiah Hoopes, and other well-
known lovers of general Horticulture, took care
of other departments. In the evening of the last
day some three hundred persons were in attend-
ance, largely of the ladies and gentlemen of
Lancaster, and the influence for good of the
whole meeting is no doubt widely spread.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society. —
Death of Mr. Downing. — At the meeting of
January 31st, Col. M. P. Wilder, in some feeling
and appreciative remarks, introduced the follow-
ing :

" Resolved, That the members of the Massachu-
setts Horticultural Society desire to express at the
earliest opportunity their sorrow at the removal
from earth of their late friend and corresponding
member, Charles Downing, of Newburgh, New
York.

" Resolved, That his life has been a blessing
to mankind, and his death is a loss not only to
our nation, but to the whole pomological world.

"Resolved, that while we thus speak, we would
acknowledge most gratefully the Divine goodness
which spared him to us so long, and that, although
his star has now set, it has left a golden record
which shall illumine the annals of pomology while
the earth shall bear a fruit or the love of Nature
shall have a place in the soul of man."

After remarks by Benjamin G. Smith, Robert
Manning, William C. Strong, Joseph H. Bourn
and the president, the resolutions were unani-
mously adopted.

Mr. Wilder then presented a beautiful painting
of fruits, which Mr. Downing had directed to be
sent to the society after his death. The thanks
of the society were voted to Mr. Downing"s exe-
cutor for his promptness in sending the painting.

Programme of Meeting for Discussion during
the Season of 1885. — Mar. 7. Propagation of
Trees from Seeds, by Jackson Dawson, Jamaica
Plain. Mar. 14. Nomenclature of Fruit, by Hon.
Marshall P. Wilder, Boston. Mar. 21. Heating
Greenhouses, by Joseph H. Woodford, Newton.
Mar. 28. A comparison of Manures for the Orch-
ard and Garden, by Prof. G. C. Caldwell, Ithaca,
N. Y.

The meetings will be held at Horticultural Hall,
Tremont Street, Boston, at 11 o'clock. All in-
terested are freely and cordially invited to attend.
O. B. Hadwen, Chairman Committee on Publi-
cation and Discussion.

<^

VORV^

THE

GARDENERS' MONTHLY

AND

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XXVII.

APRIL, 1885.

Number 316.

Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

In these seasonable hints we endeavor to pre-
sent such facts as may serve to jog the memory,
keeping that which is absolutely new for the body
of our work. In the South tree planting will be
about over, while in the bleaker North with its
remarkably persistent winter the work has but just
begun. The fall of the year is the best planting
season South ; April and May, in the North.
What we say now for the North will therefore soon
be seasonable South ; only a few months ahead of
time, and therefore not likely to be forgotten. In
regard to planting, we cannot do better than repeat
advice we have more than once given in our paper,
that to be successful, we should not let the roots
dry for an instant between taking up and planting,
everybody knows, but everybody don't do it ; in
fact, everybody deceives himself. We have seen
this distinguished individual leave the tops of trees
exposed to the sun, with a mat or straw thrown
over the roots, and think all was right — or heel in
for a day or two, by just throwing a httle dirt over
the roots. This is a little good; but everybody's
fault is, that although this may be ten minutes of
good, he expects to get ten hours, or even ten days'
value out of it ; and thus he suffers more than if he
had done nothing, because he forgets that the
branches evaporate moisture from the roots in a
dry wind, and the juices go from the roots through

the branches very nearly as well as directly to
the air from the roots themselves. So with heel-
ing in. The soil is thrown in lightly, or at most
just "kicked" down. "It is only temporary,"
very few of the roots come in contact with the
soil. They can draw in no moisture to supply the
waste of evaporation, and thus they stay day after
day — everybody satisfied because he sees the
roots covered ; really worse than if they had been
exposed. We have no doubt that more trees are
lost from imperfect heeling in than from any other
cause whatever. Of course, if the tops be cover-
ed as well as the roots, there is less waste of mois-
ture and more chance of success.

Where evergreens can be benefited by pruning,
April is a very good month to attempt it. If a
tree is thin in foliage at the base, the top of the
tree, leader and all, must be cut away. It makes
no difference what the kind is, all will make new
leaders after being cut back, if properly attended
to. We make this remark because there is a pre-
valent idea that pines will not stand this cutting.
Of course the trimming should be done in a coni-
cal manner, so as to conform to the conical
style of the evergreen tree. Sometimes an
evergreen, especially a pine, will rather turn up
some of the ends of its side branches than push
out another leader ; when this is the case, cut
these away, and a real leader will form the second
year.

98

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

lApril,

In regard to lawn management there has been
nothing much developed of late years. Of course
our readers know now, that much of the com-
plaint about small weeds getting ahead in the
grass, comes from cutting the grass too short with
the lawn mower. But the first cutting in spring
should be done as early as possible, and as short
as possible, or else when cut in summer it will
leave a brown appearance every time.

COMMUNICATIONS.

NEW GERANIUMS.

BY D. R. WOODS.

We do not believe that of any other plant is
there as much seed annually sown, in the hope of
producing better varieties, as of the geranium.
This is not strange as hybridizers have been'
eminently successful in their efforts to improve
this popular bedding plant. Of the many new
sorts sent out by the various raisers every year
the great majority are grown but a season or two
and are discarded to make room for later introduc-
tions. Last year a new type of geraniums was
introduced in Europe, which we believe will com-
pletely change the aspect of geranium beds ; we
refer to the dwarf Zonale geraniums, introduced
by Van Geert, of Ghent, Belgium, of which we
give a brief description ;

Archduke Rudolphe. — A magnificent flower of
a deep rich scarlet color ; very large and double.

Princess Stephanie. — A remarkable dwarf var-
iety, covered with enormous flowers of a beautiful
lilac pink color ; very double.

Triumph of Ghent. — An excellent novelty which
will be in great demand for borders and edges of
flower beds. It is very bushy. The leaves are
bordered with pure white, and the whole plant is
almost covered with lively lilac double flowers,
which glare brightly on the white background of
foliage.

None of these sorts grow to a height of more
than six inches, and for freedom of bloom are not
equalled by any sorts in cultivation. Their habit
of growth is strong and sturdy, very short jointed,
and consequently the appearance of the plant is
compact. They will be valuable for borders of
beds as well as for ribbon lines and will also be
valuable in fine bedding designs and mosaic work,
giving us additional colors for this class of work.
This will certainly be appreciated by those floral
artists who are ofttimes perplexed in trying to
harmonize colors and give pleasing contrasts out
of an exceedingly limited variety of plants. We

are advised that more varieties of these dwarf
geraniums, of new shades and colors, will be offered
for sale in France this spring. After obtaining them
and giving them a trial next summer, will report to
the readers of the Gardeners' Monthly.

New Brighton, Pa.

NEW DOUBLE W^HITE MIGNONETTE,
"SNOWBALL."

During the summer of "82 Mr. George Knoll, of
Bethlehem, began experimenting with the various
leading kinds of Mignonette with a view toward
its improvement. Of a large number of seedlings
obtained from a mixed bed of Parsons' White,
White Spiral and Ameliorata, the subject of our
sketch was the only distinct result. It was care-

fully kept through the winter of 1882-83, w^U
rewarding the care bestowed upon it, by a liberal
production of flowers of improved color, charming
appearance and fragrance.

Planted out during the summers of 1883-84,
it retained its distinct character through the hot
and dry months, attracting attention by its beauty
and novelty. The habit of the plant is compact,
pyramidal and floriferous, the trusses of bloom
being carried well above the foliage, which is a
deep glossy green. Planted out it grows 12 to 18

i885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

99

inches high, or if trained as a tree attains a height
of 2,yi to 4 feet, forming heads of surpassing love-
liness.

The "Snowball" has attained and will hold
for a long time to come, first place among num-
erous claimants for recognition. Unlike many of
the so-called " white " varieties, which have really
been of a dull gray color and having little frag-
rance, this sort is pure white, very full and
double and possessed of the true Mignonette odor.
Its habit of growth, freedom of flowering, charm-
ing color and fragrance, render it an admirable
pot plant either for house or dwelling.

[The above cut appeared in our advertising
columns last month ; but we reproduce it again
here, in order that it may go with the history of a I
variety which, by the samples sent to us, appear to
have more than ordinary merit. — Ed. G. M.]

THE CLASSES OF ROSES.

BY HENRY B. HAVENS.

China or Bengal. — A native of China brought to
Europe during the eighteenth century. They are of
moderate, branching growth, flowers of medium
size, and require a rich soil and close pruning.
They give a greater quantity of flowers during the
season than any other class.

Bourbon. — A. native of tht Isle of Bourbon.
The varieties vary greatly in growth, but most of
them are of vigorous habit, and dark lustrous foli-
age. The flowers are generally of light shades,
and found in clusters, and are especially valuable
in the autumn ; those of moderate growth require
close pruning, and are useful for low beds on the
lawn or for borders.

Climbing Teas. — This class contains three of
our finest climbing roses. Climbing Devoniensis,
Gloire de Dijon, and Reine Marie Henriette ; all
of vigorous growth when well established. When
protected from the wind, and in rich soil, the lat-
ter two will bloom continuously from spnng till
late in the autumn.

Hybrid Climbers. — Of modern origin and from
various sources, generally sports from Hybrid
Perpetuals. In growth not equal to the Climbing
Teas, but desirable for Trellis or Pillar roses.

Hybrid Noisette. — This is a modern group ob-
tained chiefly from crosses between Remontant,
Bourbon and Noisette roses. The flowers are
mostly white, of medium size, and generally of
good form. The varieties generally, though not
always, bloom in small clusters, and are freely
produced until late in the season.

Hybrid Perpetual or " Remontant." — A most
valuable class, and in England, standing at the
head of all roses. The first varieties sent out
were from crosses of Bourbons, upon Damask
Perpetuals and Hybrid Chinas; later crosses were
made with varieties of Provence, Damask and
French roses, upon Bourbons, Bengals and Teas,
and vice versa. Those that are of vigorous
growth as in other cases, need much less pruning
than those of dwarf habit, for if cut back too
severely, they run too much to wood. This class
thrives best in rich soil.

Hybrid Tea. — A new group produced by cross-
ing Teas with Hybrid Perpetuals. There are but
few varieties now in this class, but the number is
fast increasing. This class of roses, on account of
its novelty and promise of usefulness, is now look-
ed upon with more interest than any other, its best
representative being La France — which, with a
spicy perfume peculiar to itself, is the sweetest of
all roses, and equal to any in profusion of bloom.

Moss. — Believed to be a sport from the Prov-
ence rose, and was introduced from Holland
about the beginning of the seventeenth century.
They, are distinguished from other roses, by the
moss-like substance which surrounds the flower
buds and by the marked Provence scent, the
shoots are thickly covered with thorns ; as a class
they require close pruning, rich soil and high cul-
ture.

Noisette. — This is of American origin, and was
sent to France about the year 1817. This group
is naturally of vigorous growth and produces
large clusters of flowers. Through hybridization
with the Tea section the varieties have partially
lost the clustering tendency, but the flowers have
much more substance, and are far more beautiful ;
certainly nothing can surpass a wall covered with
Marechal Neil, or Cloth of Gold. One of the best
known is Lamarque, which produces an immense
quantity of flowers during the season ; and nearly
all the fine Tea Noisettes are traced back to this
variety. These roses must not be pruned except
when it is necessary to cut away shoots altogether.

Polyantha — Brought from Japan about the
year 1865. The foliage and flowers are both very
small. The finest variety of this group, Mdlle
Cecile Brunner was raised from a seedling of
Polyantha, crossed by a Tea ; as a class they are
ever-blooming, of slender growth, producing a
great quantity of exquisitely beautiful flowers ; as
an edging for a bed of Teas they are very effec-
tive.

Prairie. — The Prairie rose is indigenous to the

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April,

country, being found in Michigan and many of the
Western States. The most valuable of all the
non-remontant climbers. For rapidity of growth,
they are unexcelled. The flowers are produced
in large clusters during the summer. The Queen
of the Prairies seems to be the most useful of the
group.

Tea. — Several varieties of this group were in-
troduced from China in the early part of the
present century; among them were the Blush Tea
and Yellow Tea, two varieties from which most of
the sorts now in cultivation have descended. Most
of the varieties in this group are very sensitive to
neglect, and will show very quickly whether they
have met with good or ill treatment. The soil can
scarcely be made too rich, and should be well
drained. The varieties of moderate growth re-
quire rather close pruning. The flowers vary
greatly in size, as well as in fullness, and for deli-
cate beauty — refinement of color, and wonderful
fragrance — they are unequaled. It is principally
lor their beautiful buds that Teas are highly
prized. Oakland, Cal.

[We take this from the catalogue of a rose grow-
ing company, of which Mr Havens is the manager,
which gives a full and concise description of near-
ly every rose that is known in gardens to-day. So
many people who love roses do not know the
classification, that we are sure the condensed in-
formation will be very acceptable. — Ed. G. M.]

COMBINATION HEDGES.

BY J. R. S.

An arbor vitae hedge separating the vegetable
garden from the lawn, occupying more than six
feet in width of valuable ground and having be-
come somewhat dilapidated from its thirty years
of service, was removed and a galvanized buck-
thorn fence with eight strands or rails (it is not
wire) attached to planed and painted locust posts
five feet high, was put in its place. Climbing roses
of various kinds were set about eight feet apart
along the whole line ; after two seasons' growth
they cover the fence completely ; many of them
having been cut back four or five feet the past
summer.

The barbs on the buckthorn fencing, without
being so sharp as to make the training of the rose
shoots unpleasant, are yet sufficiently prominent to
prevent the shoots from slipping, so that no tying
is necessary if they are interlaced through the rails.

The corner or straining posts were mortised into
pieces of locust seven or eight feet long, and the

braces, also of locust, notched in at such height
that they are entirely under ground.

.\ rose hedge is thus quickly and cheaply made,
is a far better barrier, more ornamental, less ex-
pense for its yearly care than a hedge, and occu-
pies six inches instead of six feet in width of land.

Some of the stronger growing sorts of roses
would be better ten or twelve feet apart.

Rahway, Feb. i6th, 1885.

[The idea of combining barbed wire fences with
live plants opens up such a wide range of possi-
bilities that it is bound to grow, and we shall no
doubt see Osage orange and other plants that
require continual labor to keep them within bounds,
completely abandoned. Any bush strong enough
to hold a wire, will make a permanent fence, and
then we have hundreds of things to choose from.
—Ed. G. M.]

THE YORK AND LANCASTER ROSE.

BY MRS. J. S. R. THOMSON.

Several years since the rose growers had given
them (by Peter Henderson I believe) a new rose,
striped ; and therefore called American Banner.
It created quite a sensation and demand. I amongst
the rest bought it and must confess to a great dis-
appointment after seeing it flower. It does not
here interest us to discuss its merits, but I want to
call your attention to a rose now very scarce in
our southern gardens; but a few I saw last season
in such luxuriant bloom that several flower loving
people " talked it over " and came to the con-
clusion that in it the "American Banner" had
more than its compeer. Doubtless you know the
rose under its old-fashioned name of "York and
Lancaster." Named from England's war of the
roses, whose emblems were one a white, the other a
red rose, and afterwards commingled in one.
This rose is a deep glowing rose color, distinctly
striped with pale flesh, only semi-double, a pro-
fusion' of golden stamens in fine contrast to the
rose. Why cannot this rose be made known again
to the flower public ? If they raved over " Ameri-
can Banner," which is an extremely delicate Tea,
why not accept this York and Lancaster which is
is as hardy as a wild Cherokee rose, and make it
a prime favorite? I have secured a goodly num-
ber of them and intend propagating from it and
try to re-introduce it, on its merits alone.

Will you not write an article upon this rose ? I
would like to know more of it, its origin and
merits, than I do. I love flowers and their culture
with my whole ardent southern soul, and never

1885.1

AND HORTICULTURIST.

lOI

tire of reading, writing, worlcing or talking about
them.

[We are very glad to l^now this lovely rose is
still in existence. It is many years since we saw
a plant. We share our correspondent's warm
admiration for it. In regard to its striped char-
acter we may remark that all of this class come
self-colored at times, just as she found it with
the American Banner. — Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Love of Herbaceous Plants. — In an
admirable essay before the Massachusetts Horti-
cultural Society recently, Mr. E. L. Beard says:
" What is needed in the place of bedding plants is
diversity of form and color and artistic combina-
tions. Let us mark each season with its flowers
and enjoy them in their order, and the develop-
ment of our interest and pleasure will become
more full and gratifying with each successive
year. Our attention will be diverted to new pleas-
ures, before unknown or unappreciated, for the
realm of horticultural investigation has no limits.
A well-known writer, summing up the contrast be-
tween bedding and hardy plants, says there is
nothing whatever used in bedding to be compared
in any way — color, fragrance or bloom — to that
found in many families of hardy plants. There is
no beauty at all among bedding plants, compara-
ble with that of lilies, irises, paeonies, delphiniums,
narcissi, and a host of others. Are we to put aside
all this beauty or put it into a second place, for
the sake of the comparatively few things that
merely make beds and lines of colors for two or
three months, and from which you cannot cut a
nosegay ? Let those who like bedding plants en-
joy them ; but no one who knows what the plants
of the northern and temperate world are can ad-
mit that their place is a secondary one. We might
also argue from an sesthetic standpoint against the
artificialty of bedding out, and its violation of artis-
tic ideas, independent of its practical disadvan-
tages ; but as we have to deal with practice rather
than theory, it is better to attempt to show how
many beautiful, and to most people unfamiliar,
plants can be used to decorate our gardens and
grounds, many of which are barren wastes com-
pared with what a little knowledge and taste might
make them. The essayist therefore turned from
any arguments, for or against favorite plants, to
consider how our gardens may be made beautiful
by the culture of hardy plants."

D.^NGERS FROM WiRE FENCES. — Forestry says
that among the dangers which follow wire fences
in that part of the world is the death of cattle from
lightning strokes conducted by the fences.

C.\LLICARP.\ PURPUREA. — There seems to be
several species under this name in cultivation.
Certainly the one figured in the London Garden
of June i6th, last year, is not the one so known in
American gardens. The American is much pret-
tier as a shrub than that can be.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Copper Wire for Zinc Labels. — In reply to
an objection that the eyelet hole in a zinc label
soon wears away when it is suspended by copper
wire, "J. R. S." says: "The points of contact
are so minute between the wire and the label,
that I think enough moisture could not lodge .
thereto set up a galvanic action. Soft galvanized
wire or lead wire might be used."

Raising Chrysanthemums from Seed. —
•■Mrs. J.G. M.," Buffalo, N. Y., writes: "Could
you not give, for amateurs, in the next issue of the
Gardeners' Monthly, some directions about the
raising from seeds, and care through the summer,
of the Japanese Chrysanthemums ? I am about
to try some, inspired by the New York Horticul-
tural Show last fall, and am most anxious to suc-
ceed."

[Chrysanthemum seeds are generally sown by
the raisers as soon as ripe ; that is, early in winter,
and sown at once in a greenhouse. The plants
are quite forward by spring, and if set out in good
garden ground, will flower the following autumn.
Those who have no greenhouse could sow in the
open ground in early spring, but we do not know
whether such plants would bloom the same year.
The very double Chrysanthemums do not seed
well, for, though a double Chrysanthemum is not
double as in the case of Roses or Carnations,
through the stamens changing into petals, there is
a sexual change in Chrysanthemums, Dahlias
and many other flowers of the Aster-like or com-
posite class, with the change in the form of the
florets. In the single or " anemone-flowered "
Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and so forth, the cen-
tral florets are tubular, and each has a pistil and
stamens. A double flower of this class is simply
the changing of a tubular to the strap-shaped
character, which generally forms the outer row of
florets. This outer row is very often neuter, or

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April,

simply with pistils only. When the tubular florets
become strap-shaped they carry these sexual
characteristics with them, and hence, for want of
pollen, they rarely produce seeds. This is why
so few seeds are usually found in the very double
Chrysanthemums. Those not quite double are
the best to use for seed parents. — Ed. G. M.]

Umbrella Tree. — " D. R. W.," New Brighton,
Pa., writes : " I send you a seed received from a
correspondent in Texas, who calls it "Umbrella
Tree " or " Pride of India." If you know it will
you please give Botanical name, and state if in
your opinion it is desirable for cultivation ?"

[This is botanically Melia Azederach. It is an
excellent street tree for the South, but only with

difficulty stands the winter at Philadelphia. — Ed.
G. M.]

Wintering Roses in the North-west. — "W.
W.," Northfield, Minn., says: "In the December
number a correspondent who signs 'M. L. H.'
Minneapolis, Minn., says: 'I have no trouble
wintering roses here.' If you could get your cor-
respondent to communicate his method, it would
be a great blessing to a great many lovers of the
' queen of flowers,' in this bleak Northwestern
country."

[The method pursued by " M. L. H." for pre-
serving roses there, would no doubt be very ac-
ceptable to many readers as well as to the writer
of the above. — Ed. G. M.]

Greenhouse and House Gardening.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

We are pleased to note that the hints we recently
gave in this department for good potting as a
means for good plant growing have attracted wide
attention. We have not seen for a long time any-
thing in our pages that has been so widely copied
and commented on as that chapter. We would
now suggest, that next to getting good healthy roots
so that a plant can grow freely, training is an im-
portant element in getting good specimen plants.
We often see plants at exhibition of good form and
good size, but the result rather of age or accident
than of skill on the part of the grower. In exhibi-
tions of Chrysanthemums, as we have had occa-
sion to notice before, much of the interest in the
fine specimen is lost because of the bundles of
stakes and almost miles of twine that we see
everywhere about them. The art should be to so
give the plant a start that it will grow of itself the
way we want it to grow. " As the twig is bent the
tree's inclined " should never be lost sight of by
the plant grower. The shoots may be staked out
a little at the first start, so as to fill in a hollow
space if there be one ; and if there be not
shoots enough, a strong one may have its point
pinched out, so as to make it push some sec-
ondary side ones. But only the strong ones
must be pinched back, because pinching has
a somewhat weakening tendency, and we do

not wish to weaken a
shoot already weak.
The object is to
strengthen rather than
put back a shoot al-
ready weak, so that
all may have uniform
vigor. In this way
shoots at the base of
a plant that are al-
ways weaker than
those above, are
strengthened by hav-
ing the uppermost
pinched back as they
grow. We give here-
with a sketch of a
Fuchsia which we take
from the London Gar-
deners' Chronicle,
which plant was eight
feet high, and, as the
great number of flow-
ers and leaves in the small space indicates,
taken at a long view, illustrates what good culture
can do. There is of course pleasure in having
a Fuchsia plant, and in a few score of its beauti-
ful blossoms ; but how much more is the pleasure
enhanced when we can have a specimen like this.
It was grown by Mr. James Lye, a gardener near

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

103

Bath in England, whose greatest pride is that no
one has ever been able to beat him in growing a
Fuchsia. He has scores of plants as good as this.

COMMUNICATIONS.

CYCLAMENS.

BV M. J. EDMONDS.

I am glad to see an increasing interest in the
growing of cyclamens. A great many persons
have asked me what is the best sort to grow, and
in reply I would say the Persicum and its varieties
are my favorites. A good way to get an assort-
ment is to raise them from seed. Of course the
exact colors cannot be reproduced from seed ; a
packet of Persicum album will not produce all
whites, neither will roseum all rose color. As good
a plan as any is to get a packet of mixed seeds,
from which will be had a variety to suit every one.
With this I mail you a sample of blooms produced
from plants from a mixed packet of seeds. They
are mostly from young plants blooming for the
first time. No. i are from Persicum, No. 2 from
giganteum, and No. 3 from old plants. The young
plants were watered with manure water but once.
Just how long a plant will live I cannot say. In
my collection are some seven years old that look
good for as many more years. I write this as a
general answer to inquiries received respecting
this plant, and would have done it sooner, but was
waiting till I could send you blooms from my
young plants. Gardener to James McCreery,

Inwood-on the- Hudson, New York.

[The blooms were remarkably fine. Indeed we
have never seen such large and handsome flowers
before.— Ed. G. M.J

mens. Another with not half the variety had each
variety displayed in a champagne glass — those
funnel-shaped cut glass. Three of each — a bud,
half-opened bud, and a full blown rose — with just
foliage enough of its own to show its leaf charac-
teristics, growth, etc., and to add to the rose's at-
tractiveness. I made a table decoration for same
fair which carried off first prize. I had an oblong
tin trough, 3 inches high and broad, 18x22 inches
long. I placed this' on a large waiter, after ar-
ranging it full of beautiful flowers as far as the
outer edge of the trough extended ; in the trough,
water and then flowers of delicate structure, tiny
ferns, lycopodiums, partridge vine-bloom, lily of
the valley, etc. From the inner edge of trough was
a mirror which reflected the flowers and looked
like a miniature lake, and in center of mirror I
placed an exquisite three branching glass Epergne
with the cream of my flowers. It had universal
praise awarded it. That being six years ago, I
have seen the same idea carried out further, having
added small glass swans on the mirror as if swim-
ming in the water. This arrangement 1 keep and use
now whenever I entertain or have parties, and the
effect is quite pretty.

MILDEW IN ROSES.

OF TASTE IN FLORAL ARRANGEMENT.
BY A LADY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

I agree with "W." about the lack of taste in
exhibitors at floral fairs or exhibitions. I had the
pleasure six years since to be placed on a commit-
tee of three, to award premiums on pot plants and
cut flowers. P. J. Berckmans (justly celebrated
florist and horticulturist, and now in charge of Hor-
ticultural Hall in New Orleans Exposition) was
one of the three. One lady had eighty-five named
varieties of roses jammed and crowded on one
medium sized waiter, not a leaf or bit of green
— ^just the roses — so closely packed that it took a
truly appreciative person to take in the rarity of
her collection, for rare they were and fine speci-

BY JOHN TILLOTSON.

1 have read Mr. Veitch's article on mildew and
his remedy, and I wish to say that 1 have used
dry sulphur over twenty years and never saw any
bad effects from it. No one need be troubled
with mildew if he will sprinkle the flow pipes three
times a week for two weeks, when steady firing be-
gins in the fall, and once a week for red spider.
His roses ought then to be healthy all the winter.
Sulphur on hot-water pipes will not burn, and on
steam pipes will melt at fifteen pounds pressure
and run like water. Even that severe test will do
no harm in a rose house, neither did ithurtsmilax
in the same house, and it has been repeated
several times through the carelessness of the fire-
man. Fishkill Village, N. V.

THE HOT- WATER CURE.

BY H.

In the fall of 1883, I procured a set of about
two dozen new Chrysanthemums. They were
soon covered with a small, almost black aphis or
plant louse that I had never seen before. My
man smoked the house with little benefit ; only re-
ducing the number, but not exterminating the

I04

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April,

race. Three days later he thought he would give
them a " big smoke," that would "lay out" the
black pests. So, unknown to me, he used about
three times as much tobacco as usual, and when
I e.xamined the house next morning, I found that
most of the insects had been killed, and be-
sides, my bed of smila.\ that filled one side of the
house was ruined. It was growing rapidly, was
soft, and easily injured.

My next trouble was soori developed, when I
found the dark aphis had escaped into a long
bench of single violets. Then they must be put
down and kept down, or I sliould have no flowers.
Had tried tobacco and failed; did not like to resort
to petroleum lest iny plants should be killed.
Next we resorted to hot water. Had it drawn
from the boiler, and after adjusting the tempera-
ture to 130°, we thoroughly covered the violets
with it, using the syringe. Watered them in the
same manner, all the plants needed, for two or
three weeks. The result was, the insects were
killed, the plants started into healthy growth, and
flowered finely.

This experience of a novice has several lessons :
1st. Growing plants will not bear much smoke.
2d. Water at 130O will kill small insect enemies.
3d. Hot water applied to the roots of growing
plants is beneficial in cold winter weather.

Wizshington Heights, III.

PAINT FOR HOT-WATER PIPES.

BY READER.

Why do not the " victims " of gas tar use lamp-
black and linseed oil mixed to the consistency of
paint, for painting their hot-water pipes ? It will
prevent rust and improve the looks of the pipes
without injury to plant or foliage. Certainly gas
tar will not do more. After the preparation has
thoroughly dried, a going over once a fortnight of
the exposed portions of the pipes with cotton waste
saturated with oil will brighten them up like new.

Berwyn, Pa.

GHIESBREGHT'S SERICOGRAPHIS.
BY CHARLES E. PARNELL.

Sericographis Ghiesbreghtiana is a very pretty
and valuable winter flowering warm greenhouse
plant, belonging to the natural order Acanthacece.
It is a shrub of dwarf growth, attaining a height
of from one and a half to two feet, with smooth
stems and opposite oblong lanceolate undulated
dark green leaves, on short petioles producing its
bright scarlet colored flowers, in small, loose, one-

sided panicles, in the greatest profusion during
the months of January and February ; and on
this account is a very desirable addition to any
collection of stove* or greenhouse plants. The
individual flowers are from one and a half to
two inches in length. This Sericographis is a
plant that can be easily cultivated. It thrives best
in a compost of two-thirds well rotted sods, and
one-third well decayed manure; and as it is
a plant of robust growth, it should be given a
good share of pot room. Be careful to drain the
pot well, and during its season of growth give
liquid manure water freely. During the winter
season it should be given a light sunny situation,
and an average temperature of 55° with a liberal
supply of water ; but when it has ceased, a limit-
ed supply of water and a lower temperature will
be more suitable. In the summer season the
plants should be planted out in a well enriched,
deep border; care being taken as to watering dur-
ing dry weather, and at such times I have found a
mulch of coarse littery manure to be of the great-
est advantage, not only to this, but to many other
greenhouse plants. When grown under glass it is
very subject to the attacks of two very troub-
lesome insects, the mealy bug and red spider, so
that care is necessary to keep them in subjection.
On this account the plants should be freely and
frequently syringed. Propagation is effected by
cuttings ol the young wood placed in sand, and
given a gentle bottom heat. If the young plants
are liberally treated and shifted as often as nec-
essary, nice flowering specimens will soon be ob-
tained. Its native country is unknown, and noth-
ing is known with certainty of its history, except-
ing this, that in 1846 Messrs. RoUison, of Tooting,
England, received it from M. Mackoy, a Belgian
nurseryman, under the name of Aphelandra
Ghiesbrieghtiana. Queens, L. I , New York.

REMOVING GAS TAR FROM HOT-WATER
PIPES.

BY A NEW JERSEY CORRESPONDENT.

.Vlthough I have not been troubled with gas
tar on my pipes at any time, yet, from my knowl-
edge of gas tar in many experiments, I know
the cure. If a thick coat of whitewash of lime be
put on, after scraping ofT with a knife all it is pos-
sible to, then the lime absorbs all the rest, and if
one coat will not do it two or three surely will. It
may be found necessary to rub off each coat if
much blackened. The lime has a great affinity
for the tar and will absorb it all out, unless it (the

I88s.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

105

tar) is put on the inside; then this plan will not do.
There is no need whatever, in my opinion, to take
down the pipes if the gas tar is only on the out-
side.

THE CYCLAMEN.

UY W. C.

How seldom we find this plant, in the green-
houses of to-day, grown as it should be. I think
it one of the best plants for decorating a conser-
vatory or greenhouse, and for a window plant it
has no equal to my knowledge, also for cut flow-
ers. The soil best suited to the Cyclamen is a
compost of good turfy loam three parts, leaf-soil
and old rotten cow manure one part each, with
sand enough to keep the compost from becoming
sodden. For my part I prefer seedlings to old
bulbs. I sow the seed in February in well-drained
pans placed in a propagating bed, well shaded un-
til the plants are up, then remove the shade grad-
ually, and when the plants are hard enough place
them on a shelf close to the glass. When the
bulbs get as large as peas, pot into 3-inch pots,
place again in propagating bed with a sash
over them to keep close, also shade for a time un-
til established, then place again near the glass.
As soon as the weather will permit remove into a
cold frame to harden ready for planting out.
About June ist, or when all danger from frost is
gone, plant out about one foot apart in a border.
If the ground is naturally stiff, a little sand and
leaf soil will be a benefit (as they do not like a
stiff soil). Care should be taken to keep the sur-
face soil clear of weeds and well loosened up ;
also, should the weather be dry, a good watering
once or twice a week will be needed, the object
being to keep the plants growing all summer.
About September 15th lift the plants and pot into
well drained pots — six or seven-inch is the best
size ; place in a cold frame and shade for a few
days ; here they may remain until the nights be-
gin to get too cold for them, when they may be
removed into a light, airy greenhouse, keeping the
plants as near the glass as possible. The temper-
ature best suited is 50O to 55° by night, 60° to 75O
by day ; the latter temperature with bright sun and
considerable air. Bay View, Mass.

PROPAGATING PLANTS.
BY MRS. J. S. R. THOMSON.

I -with many other amateurs have felt the need
greatly of a r.ipid means of propagating what
plants we wish to increase; and the need has be-

come more urgent since we have established a
bureau of exchange. We by this means add so
easily to a small collection that, now we once know
and appreciate it, will not be easily induced to give
it up. 1 have a large cold pit to winter over my
plants in, with never the hope of having flowers
during the winter, as I have no means of heating
it, and (often as this, for instance, which has been
unprecedentedly cold with us) congratulate myself
on saving them alive to bloom during the summer
season. I am contemplating a change though in
said pit — to heat — and I am consulting with a
noted florist to see if my plan is feasible. But in
the meantime our season for propagating many
plants is almost upon us, and 1 have, 1 believe, hit
upon an idea that if it will work and become known,
I will be considered a public benefactor by my am-
ateur sisterhood. 1 give you my idea, and ask
in all simplicity, do you think it will work ? I
have an ordinary kerosene stove with attachments
thereto usual to them — a baker for one — which I
propose being one of my accessories to my propa-
gating apparatus, ist, I intend to fill an iron
baking pan, 3 inches deep 14x18 inches, with
clean white sand, and in this place closely my
slips or cuttings. 2d, light the fire, place my baker
in its usual place, and within that as deep a boiler
as it will accommodate, filled with water, closing
the door of the baker upon it ; then on top of this
baker I propose setting this pan of cuttings, and
I think the boiling water, generating steam, on
escaping around and under the pan will give me
just any temperature I may desire, by regulating
it with the little rachet wheels to turn up flame or
lower it, by putting in a thermometer in the sand
and keeping sand sopping wet. Why have I not
a means, of rapidly increasing all my plants —
those that require great heat and those that like
little ? I would feel exceedingly obliged if you
would give me your opinion of my plan. I have
not one practical scientific idea, but 1 believe this
will work. Spartanburg, S. C.

[This is a very good suggestion, and the appar-
atus will no doubt work very well.

There is, however, one thing which may be said
about this propagating subject, that the more ex-
perience one gets the simpler the art of propaga-
tion is found to be, till in time we find that we
; need scarcely any apparatus at all. Two or three
generations ago propagation was thought to be a
great mystery ; only a few had the hidden secrets
revealed to them. In some of the famous nur-
! series of the Old World the propagating depart-
ment was surrounded by a high wall like a prison.

io6

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April,

and only the propagator and his assistants ever
allowed to enter. These assistants had to pay a
round sum for initiation into the mysteries of this
sacred place, and of course it was not necessary
under these circumstances for the chief propaga-
tor to put his finger on his lip, or to wink his eye.
They were interested in keeping the secrets that
flourished only within the walls. With the era
of magazine literature, however, the wonderful
processes leaked out, and bell glasses, hand glasses,
various colored glasses, silver sand and other
wonderfully colored sands, hot-water pipes, hot-
water tanks, hot chambers, and no end of con-
trivances, were illustrated and described ; and we
often look back to even so recent a time as the
early volumes of our own magazine in amazement
at the many wonderful contrivances for success-
ful propagation. In these days nurserymen em-
ploy even the most thick-headed boys in grafting,
budding and cutting making. A backwoodsman
with a hatchet can graft a tree as well as an old
professional with a five-dollar grafting outfit.
Boxes of sandy mush set in the full sun, root soft
wooded cuttings as well as any old-time forcing
pit ; and when we look at our boxes of rooted
heath cuttings stuck in by a boy who hardly
knows how to read, and remember the time we
had with them when we hardly dared to speak of
them except as Ericas, we really think the world
moves.

As a practical hint in propagating, we may make
room for one leading principle here; Full light
is opposed to the rooting impulse of a plant. Roots
are formed under ground, in the darkness. Wood
formed in partial light will root easier than wood
formed in full light. For this reason those who
propose to strike cuttings grow their plants first in
partial light. A rose grown under glass will give
cuttings that strike easily ; cuttings from out-door
roses root with difficulty. We learn from all this
the kind of wood to be used for cuttings is of much
more importance than any method of heating or
of treating them. — Ed. G. M.]

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Insects on Roses and Carnations. — " Mrs.
G. R.," Pemberton, N. J., writes: " Your remarks
on page 31 of the January number of the (Gar-
deners' Monthly, give me courage to write you
on a subject in which I am much interested. 1
send you with this mail a tin box containingasmall
bunch of yellow cocoons, from which little black

flies are hatching. I inclose with it some of the
flies that have hatched, and I have reason to
think that some of them will be alive when it
reaches you, as a number of them have lived 405
days in my incubator, which is an mverted tum-
bler on the mantel, back of the stove. A friend
hasjust told me that she found in a work on en-
tomology, a description answering to this insect,
and it said the little black fly destroyed the cab-
bage worm. We found a great number of these
cocoons on the under side of the leaves of our
Carnation plants, when we took them in the green-
house last fall. I shall be under great obligations
to you if you will tell me what they are, and
whether they are friends or enemies ; and I would
like very much to know if they have any con-
nection with the common brown grub that does so
much damage in the spring. They cut off hundreds
of our Carnations and other plants last spring. At
that time I brought two of them in the house and
placed them in a pan of soil ; after they had been
there a number of days, one of them showed great
uneasiness, as if trying to escape from the pan ;
then I was called away for fifteen or twenty
minutes, and when I looked again the grub had
shrunk to one-third its former size, and close by
it lay a bunch of what looked like yellow silk
floss, and squirming all through it a great number
of tiny white grubs. Now I cannot say that the
flies gave birth to those little grubs and the floss
that enveloped them, as 1 did not see the action,
but it is the only way in which I can account for
their being there. The grub died in a short time ;
the other grub went into the chrysalis state and
j finally got destroyed. It seems improbable to me
i that there is any connection in the two or three
forms of insect life that I have mentioned. I give
you the facts as they have come under my ob-
servation, hoping you will give me some light on
I the subject, which 1 earnestly desire, and which is
j my only apology for writing you such a long let-
ter I have also fifteen katy-did eggs in my incu-
bator which have not hatched yet. 1 am very
curious to see what they will develop."

[There were no signs of black flies in the box.
The cocoons seem to belong to Apantcles, a
class of Microgasters, that are friends rather
than enemies. The grub that is often so de-
structive to the roots of flowers is generally
the larvai of the May Beetle, and we know of
no other that is so destructive. It is said
that a little earth taken away around each plant
and a little salt placed therein, will kill these
grubs; but salt in an overdose will kill the plants

1885.

AND HORTICULTURIST.

107

as well. Just how much salt to employ must be
a matter of careful experiment. Lime water de-
stroys some of these terrestrial creatures without
Injuring the plants, and it may be of service as
against this enemy. — Ed. G. M.]

Cause of Mildew on Roses and Other
Plants. — " Rose Grower " says : "I note in the
Gardeners' Monthly remedies for the cure of
mildew. Is anything known of its cause and pre-
vention ?"

[Under the name of mildew we are speaking of
small funguses. These, like the whole mushroom
family, only grow when there are combined
moisture and a degree of heat just suited to them.
They seem to require exact conditions for growth
to a fine point not required by a higher order of
vegetation. We may for instance expose a piece
of bread to the weather. If it get wet and the
temperature is but a few degrees above freezing
point, no fungus at once appears. If the tempera-
ture be above 50°, no fungus appears; at least not
the cob-webby form which is so destructive to
vegetation. But if the temperature be about the dew
point, the bread will be found as soon as the dew
is off completely covered with a fine silky organ-
ism. It was the exact temperature in connection
with the moisture that induced the rapid fungous
growth. Now in rose culture few are troubled by
mildew; when a temperature of 55° is steadily
maintained in connection with the humidity of
the atmosphere. If a draft of cool air be admitted
so as to suddenly alter the hygrometric conditions,
or the temperature in connection therewith, mil-
dew may follow. Sulphur applications may kill
it after it has started.

But the conditions of the plant may favor the
growth. There is no doubt now but mildews will
attack perfectly healthy vegetation, but it is also
true that they prefer that which is either dead or
with low vital power to that which is strong and
vigorous. The weakest leaves are the first at-
tacked. It is therefore wise in the rose grower to
study those laws of health related to roses or other
plants. A large number of rose growers have
plants that by bad treatment are under low vital
conditions, and these are unquestionably more
liable to mildew than perfectly healthy plants.
The average rose grower knows very little about
the laws of health as applied to the plants he
grows. — Ed. G. M.]

Greenhouse Flues. — " D. B. C," Dubois, Pa.,
writes: " 1 have built a new greenhouse which I
want to heat by flue. Would you be kind enough

to inform me what sized grate to use, and also
the size of drain pipe for a house 20x50 ? Is there
any way to clean those flues besides brushing
them out ? Is there any chemical process for
cleaning them ? The flue I have in use now is
only to heat a small house, and I find it very diffi-
cult to keep clean."

[Eighteen or twenty inch bars ought to be
enough for a grate for such a house. Ordinary
drain pipe is vitrified or glazed. We have not
found these as good as the unglazed ones, and we
find those made of fire clay superior. For your
house one with a six-inch bore would do but for
the soot from bituminous coal choking it so soon.
Eight inches would be better.

There is no chemical that we know of to clean
these flues. In our case we had a moveable col-
lar made for a number of sections. In this way a
section here and there can be wholly taken out,
and the rest easily cleaned. These collars must
have a piece of wire fastened around them, or
they will break when being filled with mortar,
clay, or whatever may be used to close the joints.
Wire should also be put around each piece of pipe
to guard against the escape of gas should any one
crack. The writer has had such pipes in a house
for twenty years without renewing a single section,
and working entirely to satisfaction. — Ed. G. M.]

Double O.xalis D. R. Woods, New Brighton,

Pa., writes : — " In reply to your correspondent on
p. 43, February number Gardeners' Monthly,
would say Oxalis lutea plena is a desirable bulb.
Its flowers are very double, but do not exceed
three-quarters of an inch in diameter. In regard
to lutea plena being the correct name we do not
know. The one to which we refer we firet saw
noted in the list of a Pennsylvania florist, and be-
lieving it was new we sent an order for all he had
of it. We have grown hundreds of it during the
past two years and are highly pleased with it, both
as a basket and pot plant. By referring to ' Rand's
Book of Bulbs,' pubhshed in 1866, we find a double
yellow Oxalis mentioned therein. This may or
may not be the same. The Editor is correct in
saying ' it would look like a very small dandelion,'
nevertheless when in full bloom it is very pretty."

NEW OR RARE PLANTS-.

New Varieties of Ferns. — It makes little
difference to a lover of plants whether the little
beauty he admires is what a botanist calls a species,
or only a variety. If they are distinct and lovely
it is all the same. The two we now illustrate are

io8

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April,

Maiden Hair Ferns, that have been raised bv have introduced them to the commercial world,
florists, but are as well worthy of admiration as furnish us with the following account of them:

'lOL-^

some of the undoubted species brought thousands , " Adiantum cuneatum ,leJlexu»i.—'X\\\% neat

of miles from foreign lands. ! little evergreen fern was raised by Mr. Bause, of

Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea, near London, who Morland N'urscrv, South Norwood, from whom we

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

109

have acquired the stock. The following is from
Mr. Moore's description published in the Garden-
ers' Chronicle for December 8th, 1883. 'This goes
far to support the ideas of those who believe in the
crossing of ferns, whether the process is truly des-
cribed by the term hybridization or not. It was
raised between A. cuneatum and A. Bausei, the
latter also a so-called hybrid fern. The charac-
teristics of the two sorts are unmistakeably blended
in the new form which has the densely fronded
stocky growth of A. cuneatum with its spreading
fronds and cuneate pinnules, with the singularly
deflexed pinnules of A. Bausei ; this hanging
position of the pinnules gives the plant a very
distinct appearance. The plants are dense and
compact in growth, on which account they are
well adapted for grouping in small baskets and
jardinettes. Their bright and cheerful green color
adds much to its value as a decorative fern.'

" Adtantum rhodophyllum. — A most distinct
and beautiful Maiden Hair Fern allied to Adiantum
scutum, also raised by Mr. Bause, from whom we

have acquired the entire stock. It is far superior
to A. scutum in its ornamental qualities. The
fronds are densely crowded and attain a height of
15 to 18 inches; the stipes are very slender and
erect ; the leafy portion of the frond is bipinnate,
deltoid in outline, and spreading. When first
developed the young pinnules are crimson ; they
gradually change with age to a rosy fulvous green
and finally to a soft pale green. In form the
pinnules are fan-shaped, truncate on the basal side,
very finely dentate and split on the outer margin ;
when mature they are an inch and a half across.
" The remarkable diversity of colors presented by
the pinnules at different stages of their growth,
and which are all to be seen on the plant at the
same time, renders this Adiantum one of the most
effective decorative ferns yet offered. To this
striking characteristic must also be added the
compact habit of the plant and the elegant contour
of its tufted fronds. First-class Certificate from
Royal Horticultural Society and Certificate of
Merit from the Royal Botanical Society."

YnjjiT AND Vegetable Gardening.

COMMUNICATIONS.

THE FRUIT OF THE JAPAN QUINCE.
BY. GEN. NOBLE.

We welcome the " utile cum duke," when if is
the honest boast of any plant of floral loveliness.
The mass of blooming plants yield us only their
fragrance and flowers. Of ornamental shrubs, I
think only the Berberry and Japan Quince, give
us a fruit that stores the promise of usefulness.

Only lately has the Japan Quince, beyond a
theory, seemed prophetic of fitness for the table
as a conserve. Its round, plump, and enduring
fruit, has for years wasted on the ground, or been
gathered into the rubbish pile. Yet all the while
there have been floating rumors of its deserving a
better fate. Years since, I reported to your jour-
nal a story of its tried excellence for jeUies and
jams. Among other rumors of its use in the
household, came one from friends of that princess
of housewives, Mrs. H. W. Beecher. It was said
that she had tried, and prized this quince, as a
great culinary acquisition.

I I am now able to say, from my own sight and
taste, that it makes a finer jelly, and as pleasant a
marmalade, as the Orange Quince. The jelly is
strongly acid, and of the most delicate tinge and
transparency. The marmalade from it is of much
lighter hue, and finer grain, than that of the com-
mon quince.

It requires only the simplest treatment. Any-
one who can jelly any fruit, can succeed with
this. Just so as to the marmalade. Although so
hard in substance, the fruit softens easily when
cooked. Besides these merits, the Japan Quince
has no worm-eaten fruits ; all are smooth and fair,
unblemished by the worm-favors so annoying in
the old cultivated kinds.

The variety of this shrub with cherry colored
blossoms, or that with pink and white blossoms,
yields the finest, largest, best flavored, and most
pulpy fruits.

A plantation of this quince, set as closely as it
will flourish, would yield a very profitable crop
for a canning concern. It is a sure crop, has no
windfalls, does not rot, does not shrivel, and
stands the colds and frosts well up to winter.

no

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April,

This quince grows about as large as the Guava
shrub ; its raw fruit is to the taste, full as pleasant
as the Guava. I hope to see it as largely used.

Bridgeport, Conn.

THE FOREIGN GOOSEBERRY.

BY BENJ. G. SMITH.

If cultivators knew how easily a crop of
Foreign Gooseberries can be produced, I think
they would be inclined to try them. 1 have culti-
vated English Gooseberries, the past eight or ten
years with uniform success, and have had no
more difficulty in securing abundant crops than
from American varieties. Have received first
prize from Massachusetts Horticultural Society,
the past eight years. English Gooseberries do not
like our mid-summer scorching sun. I therefore
secured a location where they received morning
sun until about ten, and afternoon three and a
half to sundown. Our soil, originally stiff clay, is
underdrained and subsoiled to depth of twenty-
four to thirty inches, with plenty of sand and cow
manure added. I am convinced the very best
fertilizer for the gooseberry is cow manure, sup-
plied liberally, as it is a gross feeder. My prac-
tice has been to prune severely, and thin out half
or two-thirds of the fruit. We give annually in
early autumn, a heavy dressing of cow manure.
As you know, Mr. Editor, the Foreign Gooseberry
in England will stand neglect, and produce satis-
factorily, but not so in New England. We must
here regard its requirements and give it necessary
attention, and 1 beheve success will be secured.

Cambridge, Mass'.

WIRE AS A PLANT SUPPORT.

BY T. BENNETT.

Your note on " Lima Beans Without Poles," in
the February number of the Monthly, has in-
duced me to make a few remarks on the various
uses to which wire may be applied for gardening
purposes, as a support to plants. Also to give
my own experience in the matter.

Wire in its various kinds and multifarious uses,
seems to have become not only a local, but a
national blessing ; and it seems might be much
more generally utilized for gardening purposes.
It might be more used for flowering vines and
ornamental work, as well as for grape vines.

I have grown Lima beans on upright threads
between two horizontal wires for several years,
and found it a very good plan, and can recom-
mend it where poles are scarce ; not only in gar-

dening, but for field culture also. Eight or nine
inches apart between the threads is better than
eighteen, and about si.K feet high to the top wire
is enough.

By topping the vines at the upper wire they
will bear to the ground, and under ordinary cir-
cumstances yield a most abundant crop. One
vine to each thread is enough. We cannot have
too many Lima beans. They are an excellent
vegetable, will keep the year round, and may be
had green in their pods all winter, by picking off
while yet a little green, and spread thinly on a
loft or attic, or laid on shelves ; this retains their
summer flavor.

I believe hops can be grown the same way ad-
vantageously by raising the top wire about three
feet more than for beans, or about nine feet high.
They should also be topped when the vine reach-
es the upper wire.

Peas grow well on two or three wires stretched
along the rows, fastened at intervals to short
stakes ; and even one wire is preferable to letting
them lie on the ground, and will greatly increase
and improve the crop.

Tomatoes are also very much improved by
some support of this kind, and in fact wire should
be more generally utilized for gardening purposes.
For the benefit of the readers of the Monthly,
I have visited the great wire establishment of
Cooper, Hewitt & Co., Trenton, N. J., to learn the
prices of the different sizes and grades of wire
adapted to these purposes ; and by the courtesy of
one of the firm, Mr. W. Hewitt, was shown over
that vast establishment. I saw many of the
numerous processes of wire making ; drawing and
reducing down to the size of a hair ; one pound
weight of which is capable of extending over a
distance of more than two miles. I learned also
from that gentleman, that two wires wrapped to-
gether, instead of one, are better for every kind of
trellis work where a strain is required, as the ex-
pansion and contraction from heat and cold, by
this means affects only the wrapping and not
the metal; thus preventing breakage by con-
traction ; and these two twisted wires may be had
for little more than the price of one single piece,
which is a double advantage. I also found these
gentlemen have invented and for sale, cheap wire
I trellises for peas, tomatoes, &c., as well as for
other kinds of ornamental fencing, each sort hav-
ing four or five double wires twisted around
laths and stakes, and which can be made and
formed to suit any purpose ; and the former can
be bought for about ly^ to 3 cents the running

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

Ill

foot, which is very cheap, and they look neat and
tidy. Can be rolled up and stowed away in win-
ter, and will last many years.

What they call double wire cable No. 14 costs
about seven cents a pound and will stretch about
twenty-nine feet, so that a person may calculate
beforehand what it will cost to wire his crop for
field or garden.

By getting galvanized wire it will last a long
time and save the trouble of painting. Indeed,
galvanized wire is the only kind to use for garden
purposes.

Now suppose we calculate the cost of an acre
of Lima beans, for the sake of comparison : A
square acre is about 69)^ yards on each side, and
with poles placed 3x4 Vi' feet apart will take 3.226 ;
and good cedar poles will cost at least 3 cents
each, which amounts to J96.78. Now two double
wires stretched over the same distance 4'^ feet
apart would take 661 lbs., and at 7 cents (the
highest figure) would cost S46.27. Or, suppose
we do not plant so close and place the poles 4x4
feet apart, this would take 2,723, and at the same
price, 3 cents, amount to $81.69. Two double
wires placed 5 feet apart would take 589 lbs., and
at 7 cents cost $41.23.

Posts, staples and thread will cost something,
but I consider the extra labor of putting down and
taking up the poles offsets that cost, and I think the
wire bears the most for the whole line is covered.

Accordingly, wire costs about one-half, or, as
in the first calculation, a little less than half the
price of poles, even supposing they could be pro-
cured easily and purchased cheaply.

Chambersburg, Trenton, N. J.

[Our readers will we are sure unite with us in
giving thanks to Mr. Bennett for this excellent
practical as well as suggestive communication.
There is no doubt but wire might be used with ex-
cellent economy in many cases now seldom thought
of. In field culture there will yet be one item in
favor of poles for hops and beans, wherever they
can be easily obtained, namely, the ease with
which a horse can work the hoe and harrow both
ways ; but this may be obviated by having hori-
zontal wires at the regular pole distances, and
strings from the wires to the ground when poles
are scarce. — Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Vegetation Under Orchard Trees. — At the
recent meeting of the New York Horticultural

Society, the everlasting topic of surface manage-
ment in orchards, was of course warmly discussed
— discussed warmly on both sides, says the re-
port.

.'^nd yet it is a very simple question in the light
of all that has been adduced during the last
quarter of a century. It is nothing more than
this : The feeding roots of trees are the small an-
nual fibres. These love to be as near the surface
as they can get, providing the temperature be not
too high, food and moisture be abundant, and an
absence of light. Sometimes these conditions will
be best secured by a clean surface ; sometimes by
keeping the surface shady by vegetation. We
have to penetrate into this question much deeper
than the grass that covers it. An orchard in grass
affords the comparative coolness required by the
roots, the shade which they love, and permits, by
the shade, the roots to get nearer the surface
than when growing in the fuU light which the
bare ground provides. But where food and mois-
ture are scarce, the advantages are counterbalanc-
ed. Food and moisture are the first essentials of
all good culture. A clear surface, or a surface de-
voted to other crops, is a secondary question.

Uniformity in Apple Barrels. — At the
meeting of the Western New York Horticultural
Society, a committee consisting of Julius Harris,
H. T. Brooks and C. M. Hooker appointed at the
last annual meeting to ascertain the dimensions of
a loo-quart apple barrel, then presented a report.
The committee recommended the use of a barrel
made of staves 28 '4 inches long, heads 17 inches
in diameter, with the bulge 64 inches in circum-
ference on the outside, holding 106 quarts of wheat
by actual measurement, and when shook down
III quarts; this being the size of the common
flour barrel now in use.

Prices of Fruit in Rochester in 1884.— Mr.
Charles M. Hooker, at a recent meeting of the
Western New York Horticultural Society stated
that the past season was one of very great abun-
dance in the production of nearly all varieties of
fruits in Monroe county, and we think never be-
fore were our markets so well supplied with fine
fruit of all kinds at such moderate prices. Dealers
in Rochester paid about as follows for good fruit :
Strawberries, 6 to 8 cents per quart ; black rasp-
berries, 6 to 8 cents ; red, 10 to 14 cents; black-
berries, 9 to 12 cents; currants, 4 to 6 cents per
pound; grapes, 3 to 5 cents per pound; peaches,
%\ to Si. 50 per basket ; plums — Lombard, Monroe
Egg and Common Blue sorts, 75 cents to $1 per

112

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April.

bushel; prunes, $2 to $2.50 per bushel; Renie
Claude de Bavay, S1.50; Bradshaw, {(1.50 to $2;
quinces, $2 to $4 per barrel ; pears — Bartlett, S4
to $6 ; Duchess and Seckel, $3 to S5 ; apples,
Si. 25 per barrel.

Product per Acre of Strawberries in
Western New York. — Mr. C. M. Hooker says
that in 1884 strawberries produced a wonderful
crop. Never before was so heavy a crop grown
here — 6,000 to 8,000 quarts per acre not being un-
common. The usual average in previous seasons
not being over 2,000 quarts per acre. This great
production arose doubtless from a very favorable
growth of the plants in the fall of 1883, the plants
coming through the past winter in good condition,
and frequent rains during the growth and ripening
of the fruit. Prices were very low.

Cure for Grape Vine Mildew. — Prof. Cald-
well told the recent meeting of the Western New
York Horticultural Society that it has been dis-
covered that mildew can be prevented by soaking
the stakes on which the vines twine in a solution
of blue vitriol. These stakes were mi.xed with
others not soaked, through the vineyard, and in
every case where not soaked all the leaves were
entirely ruined, while those on the soaked stakes
were healthy. A weaker solution of the vitriol
was not so effective. The effect of the soaking
gradually dies out, but will last from four to six
years.

The Japan Plum. — This is being largely planted
in California. This is a real plum. The Japan
plum of the Southern Atlantic portion of the
United States is a kind of Medlar, Mespilus Ja-
ponica.

Experience in Gardening. — After the Pil-
grims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, they
wrote home their experiences. The pea was pro-
nounced a total failure in the New World. They
planted of course in the time of year they had
been accustomed to plant. But in a few years
after they wrote to the old folks at home of their
wonderful success with many vegetables, and
then we find the pea in this wonderful list of suc-
cess.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Insect Injurious to the Tomato. — A Vine-
land correspondent says: "I have taken the
liberty to send you, by express (paid), a paper

package that contains a specimen of what may
perhaps be called the club-root in a greenhouse
tomato-plant ; the cause of which I would like to
ascertain, and I know of no one more likely to be
able to give information on such a subject or more
likely to be interested in its investigation than
yourself.

" We have raised winter tomatoes successfully
several years in our greenhouses, the only serious
difficulty we have had to contend with being mil-
dew. Last year there was some of the club-root
in the houses ; this year there is a great abundance
of it. Several queries have arisen in my mind in re-
lation to this disease, whether the excessive mil-
dew this year may have been the cause of the dis-
ease, or the disease the cause of the mildew ; or
. whether the disease may be owing to too much or
too little enriching, or to the kind of enriching ; or
whether the soil may not have been poisoned by
growing in it the same kind of plant several years
in succession ; or whether an insect may have had
something to do with it. The manure used has
been principally stable manure, but, perhaps, not
enough of it, or not sufficiently rotted. The soil
is naturally a sandy loam.

" We raise, in tlie same houses. Black Ham-
burgh grapes, the roots of which run below those
of the tomatoes.

" Any information as to the probable cause and
the possible remedy of the disease referred to will
be very thankfully received."

[The roots were knotted like strings of beads

about the size of peas. There is no relation to

club root, which is the work of a fungus. It is

the work of an insect, and they are indeed galls.

By cutting across the excresences, squeezing a

1 little, and examining with a pocket lens, a number

I of transparent eggs about the size of pin heads are

I seen to have emerged. These eggs have of course

to remain here till they hatch, become larvae and

enter the pupa stage. It ought not to be difficult

to destroy the whole race by taking out the roots

of the tomatoes carefully some time before the

' creatures leave them, and burn. It would also be

a benefit to remove as much earth as possible and

replace with fresh.

From this letter and a large number of others
I we have received during the past few years it is
surprising how many people try to get along with-
out a pocket lens. Gall insects that operate on
roots are very common, and in a large number of
cases sent to us, if people would only cut open
and examine, they would see the " cause " for
themselves.— Ed. G. M.l

1885.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

"3

Forestry.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Silk Culture in France. — For some reason
silk culture has fallen off considerably in France.
The most remarkable feature of the decreased pro-
duct is that prices have also fallen with decreased
production. It would seem to show either, that
there is not the same demand for silk as there once
was, or else that the competition from other coun-
tries has driven the French from the world's
market.

Mahaleb Cherry as a Timber Tree. — The
Bullettino della R. Sec. Toscana di Orticultura
says this tree grows spontaneously on the calcar-
eous hills near Vienna, and is extensively cultiva-
ted in Austria, Bohemia and Hungary. It is much
valued for its timber, which has not only a pleas-
ing tint of color, but gives out a delicate and
agreeable odor.

Canada and the Timber Duties. — A Cana-
dian essay on the decrease of the forests of the
United States, is fairly blotted with the tears of the
author, over the impending ruin to our country
when the timber is all cut away. He thinks it
would be much more to the interests of the United
States to save their own forests, let the timber come
freely from Canada, and let that country become
the "dieary waste" from which the United States
will be happily safe. All this great blessing will
follow by the United States taking off the timber
duties. He innocently adds, (this part being in-
tended probably to bring out the Canadian shekels
in favor of free trade documents,) " should the re-
duction of duty be made the Canadian government
will be a great gainer if an additional tax be plac-
ed on the right to cut timber from the Government
lands."

Forestry in the Old World. — We are very
apt to wonder why it is that so much is done ignor-
antly in our country, when the old world gets the
best skill — the right men for the right places. But
the truth is they do no better than we. Mr. Grigor,
a noted authority on Scotch arboriculture, gives a
deplorable account of the losses through ignorance
of employees, as well as of owners. It is not long,
he says, before the. 49,000 acres, recently planted
in the New Forest, will be a worthless barren heath.

Intending to plant Norway spruce, another large
owner found he had the comparatively worthless
White spruce ; and another planter, for Scotch pine,
set out some hundreds of acres of the Dwarf Moun-
tain pine, Pinus pumilio, and no doubt wondered
why they did not start and grow. Trees natural
to moist soils are set out on dry ones, and dry-
ground trees are set in swamps and morasses. It
cannot be much worse than this in America.

Rain-Fall in England. — England is a moist
country through the atmosphere carrying so much
vapor, but the rain-fall is not remarkable ; it is
very irregular but never large. A correspondent
of the Gardeners' Magazine, at Reigate, gives the
fall in 1883, from January 1st to December ist.
30.40 inches; 1884, in same time, 19.49. This is
less than Philadelphia, which in an average of ten
years is about 41.00.

Preserving Railroad Ties. — It is at length
found that it is profitable to creosote railroad ties
in Europe, and large estabhshments for the pur-
pose of so preserving them are getting common.
In our country where we burn thousands' of acres
of timber annually, ties are yet too cheap to lead
railroad men to think of it.

Encouraging Forestry in Pennsylvania. —
The Editor of this magazine,. as an honorary mem-
ber of the State Board of Agriculture of Pennsyl-
vania, has continually pressed on that body the
folly of any legislation looking to the " Preserva-
tion of the old forests." They are but receptacles
of dead brush, and the great cause of our ternfic
forest fires. Old trees are not of much use as tim-
ber after they are a hundred years old ; in most
cases they are on the decline. The sooner the
ground is cleared of them and planted with new
material the better. The true forestry question
lies in the encouragement of new forests.

At length it seems some one has thought there is
something in it, and, to encourage new planting,
a bill has been introduced, and at this writing has
passed the Senate, establishing two nurseries in
the State to raise forest seedlings, and give the ■
plants away to those who will plant them " near
streams or the head waters of our rivers."

It seems mortifying that a good idea should be
rendered ridiculous in this way. Any nurseryman

114

THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY

[April,

could raise forest tree seedlings ninety per cent,
cheaper than any government can do it by nur-
series. Contracts would be gladly entered into
that would furnish the State with all they wanted
to distribute for but a tithe of what this State nur-
sery plan will cost, with its chief, its assistant
chiefs, clerks, superintendents, packers, and so
forth. It might be said that the Editor of this be-
ing a nurseryman will naturally be opposed to
this free gift scheme. Nothing of this sort. No
such scheme ever hurt a nurseryman, for the man
who looks to get things for nothing would never
buy. On the contrary, it will rather help the nur-
seryman's business, as the intelligent nurseryman
would beat the ignorance of the State officials
every time, and the better class of free recipients
would be the nurseryman's friend at last.

Not then from any trade prejudice, but from
utter disgust at these scandalous wastes of public
money, we enter our protests against them. We
shall get no more forestry planting under this free
gift plan, than we got tea orchards from the thou-
sands distributed by the United States government
a quarter of a century ago.

SCRAPS AND QUERIES.

Rare Rocky Mountain Firs and Pines. —
An Illinois correspondent says : " How few peo-
ple know when they are well off. • A rare lover
o< coniferae ' on page 4, January number of the I
Monthly, says, ' If I were a nurseryman and I

twenty years younger, I would get up a good
stock of these two species of pine (P. flexilis and
P. Murryana), because 1 believe they will become
very popular when known.'

"It may be he would, but if he lives to be twenty
years older than he is now, his views would change
again. I invested in the first collections and was
doubly happy one day by the news of the capture
of Jefferson Davis and the first sight of my seed"
lings. Then I invested S60 more on the Rocky
Mountain seeds. It is now twenty years ago, and
I have not yet sold one tree of these species ; but
one of Pinus flexilis. Picea pungens, and P. Dou-
glassii are growing in public estimation."

CONIFER/E OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS " G.J.

B." writes : " I saw in the Monthly for January,
page 4, a few remarks in regard to the indigenous
evergreens of the Rocky Mountains. Being a
resident of Denver and greatly interested in the
cultivation of our Rocky Mountain coniferse, and
having fair success in transplanting them from
the mountains into the hot and dry atmosphere of
Denver, would feel obliged to ascertain from your
correspondent in what part of the Rockies he saw
those attractive pines."

[The coniferae within reach of our Denver cor-
respondent would be Pinus ponderosa, P. flexilis,
P. aristata, P. Banksiana, P. edulis, Abies Doug-
lasii, A. pungens, A. concolor, and the eastern
and western Red Cedars. Those named by our
correspondent had reference to the " Rocky Moun-
tains " several hundred miles south of Denver,
and would be best obtained through see