Title: Meehan's Monthly, v. 10 Place of Publication: Phila. PA Copyright Date: 1900 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg110.4 FILMED WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A COPY BORROWED FROM: CORNELL UNIVERSITY » MEEHANS' MONTHLY. A Magazine of Horticulture, Botany and kindred subjects. CONDUCTED BY THOMAS MEEHAN, FORMERI.Y EDITOR OF THE "GARDENERS' M0NTHI.Y." AND AUTHOR OF THE " NATIVE FI.OWERS AND FERNS OF THE UNITED STATES." VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHII^ADEIvPHIA, BOTANIST TO THE PENNSYI^VANIA STATE BOARD OF AGRICUI,TURE, ETC. ASSISTED BY THOMAS B. MEEHAN, J. FRANKUN MEEHAN, S. MENDELSON MEEHAN. Volume X, 1900. ILLUSTRATED WITH COLORED LITHOGRAPHS, BY L. PRANQ & CO., AND NUMEROUS COPPER AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS. -yy COPYRIGHTED. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, GERMANTOWN, PHILA., PA. ^ 6 1 A1 ^ f ^> Id- I i- ^ 6 ^ od"^ INDEX TO VOLUME X. COLORED PLATES. PAGE Anoda lavateroides 129 Aster con color 161 Azalea viscosa gj Erigeron speciosus 97 Gaillardia aristata 177 Griudelia squarrosa 145 PAGB Habenaria ciliaris 17 Mammillaria Missouriensis 33 Nelumbium luteum 113 Polypteris Hookeriana ; 65 Sanguinaria Canadensis i Trillium cernuum 49 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Ailanthus glandulosa 152 Apios tuberosa 116 Apple, Ben Davis 13 Baldwin, Dr 126 Beech, English 153 Cacius, Indian fig 2Ji Cannon-ball tree 183 Cedrus Atlantica 186 Cemetery plan 168 Cemetery, water scene in Oakland 87 Cerasus Padus 150 Chimonanthus fragrans ; 25 Chrysanthemum frutescens 37 Coffee 175 Crimson Rambler Rose 102 Crimson Rambler, Standard 61 Cypripedium spectabile 85 Dickens and little Nell 191 Doronicum plantagineum excelsum 60 Elms, Weeping 154 Elwell, ground of Jas. M 118 Eremurus Himalayacus 139 Fungus, root 181 Hazel, branching catkin of American 4 Horticultural Building, Pan- Am. Exposition... 55 Hydrangea, a large 133 Ilex crenata 185 Labels, attaching 23 Larch, European 151 PAGE Lebbek tree, the 83 Magnolia grandiflora 38 Nelumbium luteum 164, 165 Nelumbiunis 137 Nitrate of Soda, experiments in 45 Oak, Turkey *. 167 Opuntia Rafinesquii 121 Pampas Grass, Golden-leaved 10 Park, scene in Paterson 72 Pavia macrostachya 104 Peach, Crawford's Early 156 Phipps' Conservatory, Palm House 6 Phlox glaberrima 141 Pin Oaks, Avenue of 135 Pine, Austrian 170 Plow, hand garden 62 Plum, Wickson Japanese 93 Poplar Galls 99 Rock work 70 Sanguinaria petals 35 Saxifraga crassifolia 74 Sign overgrown by wood 22 Spiraea Van Houttei 89 Street trees, ill-pruned 57 Subularia aquatica 67 Syringa villosa 120 Wichuraiana roses 42 Willow, Babylonian 106 POEMS. PAGE A Summer Outing 99 Autumn Fruits 149 Days well spent 190 P'ndless Beauty 3 Fleeting Beauty '. 19 Green Field Memories 48 Has Spring: Come Yet 35 Life's October 158 Morning in Scotland 86 Parental Care 63 Spring 51 Spring Time 67 Sweet Labor 5 Tales of the Woods 147 I The Apple Blossom 69 / The Book Lover 95 J The Brook's Song to Spring 38 ^^ The False Hero 30 PAGE The Fountain of Mount Helicon 133 The Frenchman's Flower 182 The Gardener's Hand 178 The Hermit Thrush 131 The Inspiration of Nature no The Little Garden.. 21 The Mignonette 117 The Mountain Peak 175 The Mountain Stream 179 The Origin of Flowers 15 The Rose Leaves of Memory loi The Spring Awakening 53 The Sun and Sky 166 The Tulip Tree 83 The Voice of Nature 163 The Walking Fern 115 The Wealth of Learning 142 Youthful Dreams 125 ••••••« !••••••< • ••••••• • ••••••< »••••••••••* >••••••• ► ••••••••••" »••••••••• 48 16 154 i*o 176 121 136 100 103 171 8 136 119 189, 192 Evergreens, hardy ^t> Evergreens, Rocky Mountain ^09 Expansion of trees ^ Experimental Farm, Ottawa 9" Fairmount Park Art Association I'l Figs at the North '7' Figs, Caprified '^^ Figs, fruiting of. ^^^ Figs, notes on Flies and theirhabits Flora of North Carolina, the '5 Florists' Manual, the 3J Flower culture, guide to 7<* Flowering shrubs, long-spray 9^ Flowers, new florist 9^ Flowers, notes on 35. '32. 1/5 Fly traps 4 Forcing plants, uncommon '5* Forest planting..... '4 Forest trees, replanting '^3 Forestry, American ^'^» '"9 Forestry in Iowa 3° Forestry, practical ^ Forests, American ^3 Frost, protection from *3 Frozen plants, treatment of 21 Fruit gardening, amateur '2 Fruit trees, notes on 94. 108, 139 PAGE i Fruits, notes on 44, 108, 109, 123, 124, 141, 173 Fruits, small 76, 77 Fuchsias, hardy 104, 117, 119 Fungus enemies 9 Fungus, root 180 Gaillardia studies in plant life 180 Galax I^eaves 153 Gardeners, Belgian 80 Gardeners, educated 170 Gardening, notes on 13.43. m. I43 Geraniums, notes on 40, 41, 72 Gingko tree 185, 190 Ginseng 30, 32, 72 Gladiolus 71 Gooseberry, Columbus 157 Grain, new varieties of 112 Grape, Campbell's Early 186 Grape, house culture of the foreign 189 Grapes, Concord no, 124 Grapes, notes on 44, 93, 94, iii, 155 Grass, Blue-eyed. 85 Grasses for lawns 135 Greenhouse system 59 Greenhouses, origin of. 112 Grindelia, medicinal value of 179 Grindelia squarrosa 145, 148 Ground-nut, the Indian 116 Growth, rhythmic 132 X A ci LidJ Qi In* «••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••■•* ••••••■••••••••X /y vjo XjLcI L/CUcirio ClllclllS*********** •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• X J X Jl clL/CQui 1 cL 11 Ul L/a 1 A Ccl*« •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••■•••.■•• «30 X Xctll IT Cvl IXlclD I HXC ••*•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ISv.^ Hazel nuts, twin 68 Hedges, windbreaks and shelters 47, 53 Herbaceous plants, hardy 137 12 79 160 7 9 74 64 112 118 115 »•••••« ■••••••••I !•••••••< !••••••••••••« Hibiscus, jelly from XX l\«l^9 I X 2>cldV« «»••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••■••••••••••••• X X ^^ct lV9 ••••••••••••••••••■•■•••••••••••••••••••••••#••••••*••••• Holly berries, a substitute for Holly, rapid growth of a Hollyhocks, propagating Home and school grounds Honey Honey Aphis Honey guides in the dark Honeysuckle, notes on 69, 100 XXOl nCl S D wSl 9»m • m ••• m 9 m ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• X X ^ f X^ ^ Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania 45 Horticultural books 30, 63 Horticultural building, new 64 Horticultural education 144 xxOiLidli bVli £11 xxCLli •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ^ ^ Hybrids, reversion of. 132 Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora 133 X 1 C ^ C r w Ocila •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1^ ^0 XOCllall CI VlilZailOO •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• «5 X vy X oisoiiiiIe^* ••••••••••••••••••••••••»•••• «•«••«••••••••• i^^ I d Liimc^c* %^oi 1 d ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 0 I UDCLlCl 1 I wS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• -^0/ Kale, Sea 77 Knowledge, dangerous 142 Kruger, President 95 170 96 22 117 168 118 15' 23 83 »••••••• I i«»««*«*««i Kudzu vine.... rvHoei, a mispiaccQ ....................... j-^aDeis, aiiacniug ......................... XvuC lid Til cmJclllS .«•.••.........•....■•.... .. Landscape gardening Landscape planting Larch, European Lawn-making Lebbek tree, the ••••••••••••■■•••< )••■••••< i*a*««»**««« >••«•••< ■ ••••••••••••••••< "9. I • • • • • I )•••••••••• >•••*••••< •••• ••••••< »••• ••••• Lespcdeza bicolor 121, 153 PAGE Lettuce, forcing 141 Liatris 52 Linaria cymbalaria 40 Linnaeus 78 Liquidambar styraciflua 21 Little Nell in gardening 190 Logan Berry 174 Lotus, the American 71, 163,179 Lotus, the Egyptian 16 Magnolia grandiflora 38 Mammillaria Missouriensis 33 Maple, rapid growth of Silver 17^ Menand, Louis I59 Meteorology and vegetation , 148 Missouri Botanical Garden 64 Mistletoe '. 5 Mistletoe on an Apricot 148 Moss, Spanish 19 Moth, the Gypsy 37 Mulgedium for fodder 24 Mushrooms, among the 192 Mushrooms, notes on 78, 112, 160 Nature, preserving I44 Nature's garden 95 Nectarine from the peach 156 Nelumbium luteum 113. 115 New varieties, originators of 32 Nitrate of Soda 45 UaK, tne largest................................. ........•• **' ijaic, tne AurKey. ....................... .....•..■•••.•.••• *■ i C_}aK, tne Wnite • •• ^y Oakwood Cemetery 80 Oleander fruit 68, 103 (jnion cu iture. .....•••••..•............ ■'^o Orange as a fruit, Osage I55 Orange, Buttercourt ^74 Orange orchards, protecting I74 Orange, the hardy m. 171 Oranges, double 99 Oranges, hardy 1^9 Oranges, seedless 94 Orchards, care and cultivation of. 75, 138 Orchid fibre • 120 Organography of plants '59 Osmunda regalis '^5 Paeonia Brownii "8 Pieonia tenuifoliafl.pl 25 Paeonies, improved ^54 Palms, decorative '20 Palms, historic Sago 48 Palms, minerals in 8 Pampas grass, golden-leaved 10 Pampas Plumes "O Pan-American Exposition 55 Park monuments 89 Park planting "4 Park, Westside 72 Parks, public '". 21. I43 Parsnip culture 29 Pavia macrostachya '^4 Paving materials 24 Peach, Mountain Rose '57 Peaches, notes on 29,44. 123, 155, I74 Peaches, the Crawford 123, 150 Pears, abnormal Seckcl '74. '88 Pears, Bartlett 44 Peas, notes on ; 92 Penetrating powers of the lower organisms 20 Persimmon, Japanese '24 Persimmons, dried '4^ Phipps' conservatories ^» 57 Phlox glaberrima '3° Photography, plant ^^^» '58 /*f PAGE Pine, Austrian ^^9 Pine leaves no, 127 no, 127, 142 134 142 no 23 119 Pinksterbloem, the Pin Oaks, Avenue of. Pinxter flower, the Plant Mythology • Planting around manufactories Plants, Alpine •••; ;• ^ Plants and animals, modifications in no Plants, drug ^34 Plants, half-hardy ^40 Plants, new • 59 Plants, notes on 79, 103, ns, 14B, i49, 163, 170, 17b Playgrounds, children's ^^ Plum, leaf blight in the ••• 77 Plum, Myrobolan 9^* ^^7 Plums, Japanese 93» 122, 173 Poinsettias for decoration ^53 Polypteris Hookeriana ^5 Poplar Galls 99 Potatoes, notes on ^2, 92 Prang, Louis ^5 Preserves and Marmalades II 170 94 II 62 95 153 141 90 36 112 105 128 24 88 132 Pruning ^33 Pruning, notes on ^^2, 103 Prunus Americana Pumpkins, making l^ Pyrus baccata "^ Ragged Robin Ranunculus repens fl. pi. Raspberries, Australian... Raspberry culture, native , Reason and judgment in the lower animals 4, 30 Red Sea, name of the •••• Red Spider, the 8^' Reformatories, juvenile , Reinwardtia tryginum Rhododendron maximum Rhododendron punctatum Rhododendrons, forced ^02 Rhododendrons, transplanting 21 Rhubarb, notes on ^^4 Rhus, poisonous ^32 Rock work 7^ Rose, Climbing Bridesmaid 42 Rose, Crimson Rambler 102, 117, Rose Mildew, the Roses, hardy •• Roses, notes on 26, 30, 74 Rudbeckia ^9 Salisburia adiantifolia ^^b Salsify Salvia splendens Sanguinaria Canadensis Sap in spring Sassafras as an ornamental tree •••• Saunders, William ioo> Saxifraga crassifolia Scale-eater, the School gardens 150. ^oi Schools, vacation Seed sowing off 128 137 42 171 1.3 123 42 35 131 7 158 74 80 , II 144 123 151 Seedlings damping off *o^ Seedlings, variation in ^ Seeds, vitality of. -• ^^7 Shamrock, the ^^i 79 Shellbarks ^^ Shelter belts and wind breaks 47. 53 PAGB Shepherd's garden, Mrs ••••••• ^^ Shrubs, hardy " ^^ Shrubs, notes on......... ••* j-j Skunk-Cabbage, fruit of ^ Smith , Charles Eastwick .*.**.*.**.**.*.'.'. 112 Snowberry 16 Soil of Berlin je Spice-bush, Chinese. g Spiraea Van Houttei...... ^^ Spiraeas, watering forced ^^^ Spiranthes simplex "'" ^^ Spraying hints •"g^^ g^ Spring flowers ..-..•• ^^ 165 Squirrels and gf^n fruit ••:--7;Vo8;'i24. 156 Strawberries, notes on 75. 77. ^^ » 't ^^^ Strawberry, Lady Elgin Strawberry Manual, the Strawberry-blackberry ••• g^ Streets, city ' g Street trees ' 9 Stuartia ••: -3 Stuartia pseudo-camellia ' Subularia aquatica ,,...... 175 Succotash j^ Sugar, Sap ;*;' ,gi Sumac, barren j_- Sumachs, poison ^ Sun-Flower * "■ ' jj^ Symbiosis....; * j^- Syringa oblata **" j^j Syringa villosa • .0 Teake, briar pipes and mistletoe 4^ Texas botany .• *" . Tomato, notes on the... ' r' y^ Transplanting, late spring ^ Tree of California, Giant ^ Trees, dwarfing Trees in New Zealand Trees, Memorial *:« ' cV* Vc * 7o*'i2a' Trees, notes on 38. 54. 55. 7o. "4. Trees of R. I., native Trees, ornamental Trees, Paris street Trillium cernuum Tritomas, winter protection for ^5* Turtles and Toads \c"\.l"i-^"n^ iSo Vegetables, notes on 46. 47. 62, 92, 189 Vital energy ^ Wall flower ^ Walnuts, English "* Walnuts, gathering , Walnuts in California Water-cress, box culture of Water Lilies and bog plants Watermelon, Cuban Queen... Weeds and insects, laws against 120 Weeds, killing ^5i Wheel-hoes ; •; Wild-flowers, legal protection of. ^.. Wild-flowers, notes on i-«. Willow, shiny .* Willow, weeping 100. Windflower and violet, the Wistaria Wood, John Yew, an aged Zoe 103 143 31 166 in 105 119 49 140 144 75 90 109 51 181 23 in 51 31 15 80 158 4 \nl \ PLAlb 1 0 ^ '^ ^\\K li ^^■'ADKXSih SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. AMERICAN BLOOD-ROOT. NATURAL ORDER, PAPAVERACE^ SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS, Linoaeus.—Rootstock horizontal, fleshy and tuberous, crimson-red, surcharged— as also the glabrous, partly glaucous herbage— with orange-red, acrid juice, sending up, in early spring, from terminal, 3-3. valved buds, a long petioled leaf and a one-flowered scape ; leaves reniform, palmately and obtusely 3-5-lobed, reticu- lated ; lobes repand-dentafe, or 3-lobed ; scape a span high, naked (has been found with a pair of opposite bracts and three flowers); petals inch cr less long, white, sometimes tinged with rose ; capsule two inches long. Gray's Synop- tical Flora of North America, Robinson's Edition. See also Gray's Manual 0/ the Botany of the l^ or them United States. Chapman's Flora of the Southern I'nited States, Wood's Class-Book of Botany, and Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada, and the Bt itish Possessions. Throughout the whole Atlantic sea-board, from Northern Canada west to Manitoba, and southwardl}' to Florida, the American Blood- root receives a popular welcome among the earl}' floral harbingers of spring. It is not gathered by the handfuls, and employed to decorate window-sills and parlor-tables, as is the case with the violet and other spring- flowers. Its petals fall so early, and the orange-colored juice, staining the hand of the wild-flower gatherer, prevent it from enjoying this distinction. But to go to the woods to see the Blood-roots in flower, is one of childhood's most appreciated pleasures, when winter is fading away. It is not unusual to find Blood- roots in bloom, in some warm corner, before the snow-drifts in shady places have wholly disappeared. April and May is given in most modern manuals as the time for its blooming ; but earlier authors say March and April. In Eastern Pennsylvania, the vanguard appears about the last week in March. They have usu- ally all passed away before April etids. Our early botanist, Clayton, who furnished the material and notes for Gronovius' Flora Vir- ginica, published at I^eyden in 1743, says it is the first spring-flower, — and that it was called Puccoon by the Indians of Virginia, because of the orange-colored sap that oozed from the roots when broken. To watch the appearance and the develop- ment of the flowers, is, indeed, one of the pleasures of the lover of wild-flowers. In many cases, stipules or the dilated bases of the leaf-stalk are reduced to bud-scales for protec- tive purposes. But in the American Blood- root, the leaf-blade itself performs that office. They enfold the bud, and resign the protector- ate at once, and enter on the usual duty of a leaf-blade after a few warm admonitives from the springtide's sun. Many happy thoughts might inspire our poets by a closer acquaintance with our wild- flowers. Their comparative neglect is in a great measure due to our early studies in Eng- lish literature. Names, that w^e are accustomed to in early life, naturally occur to us when we want a word. The wind-flower, Anemofie nem- orosa, by reason of this association, thrusts it- self forward in many cases, when its compan- ion flower, the Blood-root, might serve the poet's purpose just as well. In Bryant's beautiful poem, " The Death of the Flowers," he sings : — ' ' The wind-flow^er and the violet, they perished long ago. And the wild rose and the orchis died amid the summer glow ; But on the hill the golden-rod, and the aster in the wood, And the yellow sun-flower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood. Till fell the frost from the clear cold heaven, as falls the plague on men, And the brightness of their smile was gone from upland glade and glen." The Blood- root could have well replaced the violet here. When we get into poetry inspired by Indian legends, with the Indian name Puc- coon before us, we hope to see it in place there. (I) i 5 ll 4 i 4 .% SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. AMERICAN BLOOD-ROOT. NATURAL ORDER, PAPAVRRACE.?^: SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS, LintKcus.— Rootstock horizontal, fleshy aud tuberous, crimson-red, surcharged— as also the glabrous, partly glaucous herbage— with orange-red, acrid juice, sending up, in early spring, from terminal, 2-3. valved buds, a long pelioled leaf and a one-flowered scape ; leaves reniform, palmately and obtusely 3-5-lobed, reticu- lated : lobes repand-dentate. or 3-lobed ; scape a span high, naked (has been found with a pair of opposite bracts and three flowers); petals inch cr less long, white, sometimes tinged with rose ; capsule two inches long. Gray's Synop- tical Flat a of North Ameiiai, Robinson's Edition. See also Gray's Manual 0/ the Hotanx of the t^ or them United States. Chapman's Flora of the Southern I'nited States, Wood's Class-Hook of Botany, and Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora of the Not them I'nited States, Canada, and the Bt/tish Possessions. Throuo^hout the whole Atlantic sea-board, from Northern Canada west to Manitoba, and sonthwardly to Morida, the American Blood- root receives a po})nlar welcome amon^:^ the early floral harbingers of spring. It is not gathered by the handfiils, and employed to decorate window-sills and i)arlor-tables, as is the case with the violet and other spring- flowers. Its petals fall so early, and the orange-colored juice, staining the hand of the wild-flower gatherer, prevent it from enjoying this distinction. Hut to go to the woods to see the lUood-roots in flower, is one of childhood's mo.st a])preciated pleasures, when winter is fading awa}'. It is not unusual to find Blood- roots in bloom, in some warm corner, before the snow-drifts in shady places have wholly disai)i)eared. April and May is given in most modern manuals as the time for its blooming ; but earlier authors say March and April. In ICastern Pennsylvania, the vanguard appears about the last week in March. They have usu- ally all ])assed away before April ends. Our early botanist, Clayton, who furnished the material and notes for Cironovius' F/ora Vir- gifiii'ii, jmblished at Leyden in 1743, sa3's it is the first spring-flower, — and that it was called Puccoon b}"^ the Indians of Virginia, because of the orange-colored sap that oozed from the roots when broken. To watcli the appearance and the develop- ment of the flowers, is, indeed, one of the pleasures of the lover of wild-flowers. In many cases, stipules or the dilated bases of the leaf-stalk are reduced to bud-scales for protec- tive jnirposes. But in the American Blood- root, the leaf-blade itself performs that office. The}- enfold the bud, and resign the protector- ate at once, and enter on the usual duty of a leaf-blade after a few warm admonitives from the springtide's sun. Man}' happy thoughts might inspire our poets by a closer acquaintance with our wild- flowers. Their comparative neglect is in a great measure due to our early studies in Kng- lish literature. Names, that we are accustomed to in early life, naturally occur to us when we want a word. The wind-flower. Anemone nem- orosa, b}' reason of this association, thrusts it- self forward in many cases, when its compan- ion flower, the Blood-root, might serve the poet's purpose just as well. In Br3'ant's beautiful poem, " The Death of the Mowers," he sings : — "The wind-flower and the violet, they perished long ago, And the wild rose and the orchis died amid the summer glow ; But on the hill the golden -rod, and the aster in the wood. And the yellow sun-flower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood, Till fell the frost from the clear cold heaven, as falls the plague on men. And the brightness of their smile was gone from upland glade and glen." The Blood- root could have well replaced the violet here. When we get into poetr}^ inspired by Indian legends, with the Indian name Puc- coon before us, we hope to see it in place there. (0 OLORPLA N TXTT'CXTT'T/^XT A T MEEHANS' MONTHLY— SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. [Jan In Gordon's Winona, we may surely hope to find it. '' The long winter wanes. On the wings of, the spring came the geese and the mal- lards * On the bare oak the red robin sings, and the crocuses peep on the prairie, And the bobolink pipes, but he brings, ot the blue-eyed, brave White Chief, no tid- With the waning of winter, alas, waned the life of the great Tatepsin ; Ere the blue pansies peeped from the grass, to the land of the spirits he journeyed ; Like a babe in its slumber he passed , or the snow from the hill-tops in April ; And the dark-eyed Winona, at last, stood alone by the graves of her kindred." Our Puccoon might have found a place in these vivid lines. The Indian name Puccoon was employed by the Indians, as Clayton notes ; but its deriva- tive is not known. The juice is said to have been in use, by these early inhabitants of our country, to paint ornaments on their bodies, in common with the juices of other plants, to which they gave the same appellation. Mr. H. R. Noll, in his •' Flora of Pennsyl- vania," says that the Blood-root has been em- ployed in emblematic floral language to repre- sent ' ' flattery's smile. ' ' The appropriateness of the association is manifest to all familiar with the short duration of the flowers. In a ver\^ little while after the expansion of the blossom, the petals fall, just as the early withering of flattery's smile is reputed to do. Brief life is, however, characteristic of the whole order of Papavcracece, or the poppy family, to which the Blood-root belongs. An- other characteristic of the family, in which the blood-root literally shares, is a milky juice which usually turns to a dark brown or reddish color when in contact with the atmosphere. This juice is frequently narcotic, of which the opium of commerce is a familiar example. Opium is derived from Papaver somnifertim, or the sleep-bearing poppy. The juice of the Sanguinaria is so dark, that one of its common names is red-root, and the botanical name is derived from this blood-like color. " This genus was named from its bloody root," says Rafinesque, in his " Medi- cal Flora." The same author says, '' it is one of the most valuable medical articles of our country. It is an acrid narcotic, emetic, deob- struent, diaphoretic, expectorant, vermifuge, escharotic, and at the same time stimulant tonic." It is dangerous in large doses. He gives a long list of diseases and disorders in which it has been found useful, and, he says, " It is the base of some patent medicines popu- lar lor jaundice." In the Old World, it was sought for in the early intercourse with the botanists of our country, on account of its medical fame. The famous Peter Collinson had it in his garden, and wrote to John Bar- tram, in 1767, that ''The Puccoon was in flower on April the 5th." ; A year later. Dr. Benjamin Gale, of Killingworth, wrote to John Bartram, * ' I want to know the botanical name of the American Blood-root. Its virtues are great and many ; particularly I look upon it as a specific in nervous headache, or sick -headache, as it is commonly called. ' ' To those, however, who desire a knowledge of the real value of the plant in medicine, the writings of (George Gibbs and Robert Bentley, in the Journal of Pharmacy for '1860 and 1862, will be instruc- tive. The botanical student will find the Sanguin- aria especially instructive. The leaves ami flowers are illustrative of a remarkably wide variation. In the early history of botany, when the idea of a species was much more definite than at the present time, some of these variations were regarded as constituting dis- tinct species, and they were awarded specific names accordingly. These are now all included under the general term Sangubiaria Canadensis. The petals vary from almost round, in extreme cases, to so long and narrow that the latter was once known as Sanguinaria stenopetala. In number, too, the petals are very irregular. As many as twenty may be occasionally counted. Usually white, they are often of a pinkish or even of a bluish tinge. Pursh observes that a skilful florist might readily obtain a perfectly double form by judicious selection. The leaves vary remarkably. At times, they are so deep- ly lobed, that they might be almost termed digitate or palmate,- at other times one may find plants with leaves almost reniform, with the barest suggestion of a lobe at the apex This variation is found in plants growing side by side. «|» k » u «• ^ WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. ENDLESS BEAUTY Oh, there is not lost One of earth's charms : Upon her bosom yet, After the flight of untold centuries. The freshness of her far beginning lies. And yet shall lie. Bryant. Cypripedium acaule. — I have found Cypri- pedium acaule beneath the trees of dense pine woods, where the ground was three or four inches deep with pine needles, and its compan- ion plants were Chimaphila nmbellata and C. maculata, in the State of Maryland, a county near and bordering on Black Walnut Creek. Of course, the land must have been dry when the pine trees, growing very near together, sucked up all the moisture ; and the shade was dense, the sunlight never reaching the ground. Festus, Mo. F. K. Steele. A point of leading interest in this matter is the modem belief that species came into exis- tence with a change of conditions, — that is to say, plants change from one species and be- come another when their surroundings change. In this case, we have a plant which is at home in the dry, shady pine woods of Maryland, equally at home in the open, sunlighted swamps of Michigan. On the basis of another hypothesis, that all plants have wandered from a central home, the change from one to the other condition had no influence in changing the specific characters of the plant. Explanation of the Plate —riant, with seed-vessels, from Eastern Pennsylvania. Cranberries in NorthwEvSTEkn Penn- sylvania.— In reply to Mrs. Eby's query, in August issue, permit me to say that cranber- ries have been found, for many years, in at least two swamps in Crawford County. In the southwestern part of this county, and extending westward to the Ohio line, is a swamp several miles long, ^^^r terra finna, the larger growth is mainly of alder, with poison sumach, bayberry and huckleberry in- terspersed. Farther in, tamaracks predom- inate. And in the center is an open " prairie." I have often heard my father relate how tli people, for miles around, congregated about this swamp, in cranberry season, removing their foot-gear and wading knee-deep into the bog to gain its treasures by the bushel. Though less plentiful than of old, they are still found in this swamp, — a bountiful supply some seasons. The writer has gathered the vines and immature fruit for botanical speci- mens ; but has never been in the swamp at the season to secure ripe fruit. The other station is in the same county, a few miles farther northeast, and about a mile and a half north of Conneaut Lake, the largest inland lake of Pennsylvania. This swamp is comparatively small, comprising considerably less than two hundred acres, and a portion of it contains fine marl beds. Some of the oldest Indians here, at the time of the settlement of the country by the whites, claimed that they could remember when it was an open lake. Harmonsburg, Pa. BESSIE L. PUTNAM. Sanguinaria Canadensis. — The Blood-root was at one time known as a Ranunculus^ and is described in an old work, by Parkinson, as Ranunculus llrginiensis albus, and it is in- deed not easy, at times, to distinguish the two orders, except by the colored juice. It has also been referred to Chelidoniu?n. Morison notes that it was cultivated in England in 1680^ from seeds either from Canada or Virginia, and was called Jacobc, from a merchant named Jacob. A Branching Catkin. — What were once termed monstrosities, and passed over as the work of some malignant power opposed to the regular order of Providence, are now wel- comed, by the student of the life-history of plants, as opportunities for learning what the regular order of nature really is. In the pres^ ent case, we have a sketch of a branching anient or catkin from the American Hazel -nut » Corylus Americana, the specimens kindly sent (3) n MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Jan. by our observing correspondent, IVIr. C. F. Saunders. The specimen selected is the one most profusely branched, and, indeed, assumes, somewhat, the character known to botanists and florists as crested. Some of the less divided specimens show the purely branching character better than this one does. There is, however, no reason why a catkin should not branch, as it is, itself, but a modified branch,— and the surprise might be that we do not meet with cases often. Every little scale in a catkin is but an arrested leaf, and the stamens at the veloped to that extent ; but we see that nature really prepared the model for this extraordin- ary growth, though she might be unable to accomplish it. BRANCHING CATKIN OF AMERICAN HAZEL (TWICE CNLARGtD) base of the catkin are modifications of an ax- illary bud. Just as in the case of a rose branch sometimes appearing from the centre of a rose flower, we might look for a real branch, instead of a modified one, appearing from the axis of a vScale. People seldom stop to consider that the transformation of a branch into a catkin, such as those of the hazel, is among the most wonderful of natural phenomena. On a good, healthy hazel catkin, these will be, at a moderate computation, 500 scales. If these had been developed to a true stem with leaves, the branch would be, with the leaves two inches apart, over 80 feet long ! We know, of course, that life-energy would be ex- hausted long: before a branch could be de- ReAvSon AND Judgment in the Lower Orders.— One day, in the middle of October, the writer tested an apple, partly rotten, and threw the remains into a waste paper box under the desk. It was soon covered by paper waste. The windows were half open, for it was an unusually warm October day. Bees and honey-loving insects had long been to rest. A solitary ''yellow-jacket" entered the open win- dow, and steadily searched every cranny of the room. At length his search among the waste paper indicated what he was looking for. He soon made up his mind, however, that the apple remains were too deeply buried in the box for him, and gave it up. Satisfied of this, he did not hunt around for other things, but slow- ly, and in a manner dignified, went to the win- dow for his departure. He went too low, against the glass, and not to the opening above. But here he imitated human nature. Seeing nothing, for the glass was very clear, he must have taken his sudden stoppage as the work of a ghost. He tried and tried again at other windows, with a like failure. At length he halted, and seemed to turn philosopher, and was evidently reasoning on the situation. His next flight was across the room, but towards the real opening, by which he again emerged to the outer world. A correspondent recently suggested that insects and other creatures may have keener scent than they get credit for, and do not need color to guide them to honeyed secretions to near the extent sensational writ- ers would have us believe. This incident proves this. The solitary wasp must have scented this rotten apple from a long distance. It was guided to the spot by good judgment, — and by good judgment gave up the pursuit when it reasoned that the prize was hopeless. It did not get confused at its first rebuff" against the glass, but knew that if there was a place to get in, there must be a place to get out. It went cooly to work on that line, to final success. And all this, according to old authors, is blind in- stinct. To our mind, if it be not reasoning from facts, and subsequent judgment on them, there is no such thing as reason and judgment in the world. %^ B' ^ GENERAL GARDENING. SWEET LABOR. I love my garden well And find employment there ; Emploj'^ment sweet, for many an hour, In tending every shrub and flower With still unwearied care. Mrs. Southey. Street Trees. — In most city improvements, matters are so arranged that the cost is equally divided between the owner of the pro- perty benefitted, and the general tax-payer. In relation to street trees, the cost, care, and, indeed, the whole question, is at the sole dis- cretion of the owner of the street front. It would seem that, as the general citizen profits both in health and general pleasure by the street tree, it should be a matter of municipal interest equal to any other ; but it is doubtful whether the property owner would care, in the long run, to lose absolute control of the side- walk tree. A variety that the city might choose for him might be objectionable in many ways, — and there might, at times, be very good reason for taking it away entirely. This is especially true of a street which has changed its character from one of residence to that of business. The architecture and the business sign must be seen by all the world, — and the tree has to go. However, the matter is one for fair discussion. Prof. Sterns, of the State University of Athens, Oa., before the (Georgia State Horticulture Society, told what it might cost from the municipal standpoint he advo- cated : — • ' No such gruesome apparition as great cost, that usually frightens the legislator, how- ever, is injected into the suggestion of street shading. The cost is so slight — particularly when the owners of the frontage to be im- proved share the expense, as is customary with other street improvements — that neither cor- porations nor individuals are seriously incon- venienced thereby. Careful investigation and figuring disclose the fact that the cost of street- shading will average about one cent per linear foot of frontage for the purchase and planting of the trees. Thus, the cost to a 50-foot front- age would average, if the owner bore half the expense and the city the other half, some 25 cents. As a matter of fact, it would be, for a frontage of 50 feet, either 20 or 30 cents, ac- cording to the number of trees (20 feet apart) chargeable to same. ' ' Mistletoe. — In response to R. H. W., in Meehans' Monthly, for November, the arti- cle reminds me of having read, sometime since, that the guibel or mistletoe grows on apple trees in England, and is propagated upon them purposely. Before reading it, I suppOvSed the parasite not desirable, — at least upon fruit trees. Chamber's Encyclopaedia says the mis- tletoe is a native of the greater part of Europe, growing on the apple, pear and hawthorn; also on poplars, firs, and other trees, but seldom on the oak." It is plentiful in some parts of the South of England, its evergreen leaves giving a peculiar appearance to the orchards in winter, when the bushes of mistletoe are very conspic- uous among the naked branches of the trees ; but it is very local. It is not a native of Scot- land,^ though found naturalized in various places. ^ * The berries are full of a viscid juice, which serve to attach the seeds to bran- ches, where they take root when they germin- ate, the radicle always turning towards the branch, whether on its upper or underside." When on Cayamaca Mountain, I observed a mistletoe upon the cedar trees and a different kind upon the oak and still another upon the pine, though the characteristics of the three were much as described in Gray's Botany, that sa3^s "the American mistletoe grows from New Jersey to Illinois and southward, prefer- ring elms and hickories. ' ' The mistletoe has an interesting history and many attractive things might be said about it besides the above brief quotations. And the pitcher-plant, the mere slight allusion to it, calls up so many pleasant memories ; also the Hibiscus, espec- ally a reminder of the little African Hibiscus, (5) -«M. MKEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. familiarly called the flower of an hour/is very sug-ffestive of the brief, beautiful and lamented life, of many a human flower. San Diego. C«l. MrS. E. E. OrCUTT. Palm House, Phipps' Conservatory. — Geologists tell us that the early viegetation of the earth was devoid of beauty, — that hand- some flowers appeared only with the incoming in Schenley Park, which, by the kindness of The Lord & Burnham Co. , we are enabled to place before our readers. In the foreground, passing over the dwarfer vegetation, we have a specimen of the Norfolk Island Pine, close relatives of which are found in a fossil state. Bamboos, palms, bananas, and ferns make up the chief part of the rest of the inhabitants of the conservatory. It furnishes a valuable VI EW IN PALM HOUSE. PHIPPS* CONSERVATORY, SCHENLEY PARK, PA. of man. But there was at least a grandeur in the aspect of vegetable nature that would have excited his admiration, as the horticultural structures known as Palm Houses well show, when filled with samples of the plants that are the allies of those that monopolized the earth in its early days. What this early world was like, is well illus- trated by a view in the Phipps' Conservatory, object lesson as to the appearance of our ancient world. Hardy Azaleas. — During the month of May, nearly all, of what are called hardy azaleas, bloom, having in mind the Northern States, principally. Beautiful as the flowers are, they are often not as satisfactory as they might be, because of being planted in unsuitable places. \} •'» ■• ! W It ^ Azaleas are naturally shade-loving plants, and besides this the flowers are far more lasting when in partial shade than when in the full sun, yet rarely are they seen in other than a situation entirely exposed to the sun. Quite recently, it grieved me to see a lovely collection, consisting of Mollis, Ghent and other hybrid sorts, so exposed, and the flowers droop- ing, though not an over-hot day. It is not meant that they should be planted directly under trees, but in situations where large trees will partially shade them, or where buildings or like objects will effect the same object. It is generally understood that azaleas love light soil, but this must not be thought to mean a poor one. It has to be light and fine, because of the thread-like roots these plants have, which cannot endure a heavj' soil. Hardy azaleas, as mostly seen in collections ef to-daj', consist of the native calaidulacea and nudiflora ; the Chinese, mollis : the hybrids known as Ghents ; and, in the vicinity of Phila- delphia, Indica alba is included. The little evergreen one, amcrna, flowers earlier and is not often used in connection with the others, but in beds by itself. Vaseyi is a beautiful native sort coming into general cultivation ; and the summer flowering one, viscosa, a native of low woods in many of our States, is better known than it was. I have kept the name azalea, as it is the commoner one, though Index Kewensis makes rhododendrons of them all. Joseph Meehan. A Substitute for Holly Berries. — Whenever we illustrate, speak or think of the holly, the bright scarlet berries are almost in- variably associated with the leaves. They are the enlivening parts of the tree, the leaves, aside from their rich green color, being attrac- tive largely by their oddity. Unfortunately, the berries are usually fewer in proportion to leaves than man would like, as they have their time-honored uses at Christ- mas in decorations of various character. Some trees are deficient in the sexual organs of their flowers, and, therefore, entirely barren. The gatherer of Christmas greens for market is very often obliged to substitute the more abun- dant berries of the Deciduous Holly, Ilex (or Prinos) verlicillata: while the unsuspecting public recognizes the leaves and fruit simply as holly. It can hardly be said they are vic- tims of misrepresentation, for the substitution is to the eye hardly noticeable, and the family relationship is certainly ver>' close. The chief objection to the substitution is that the scarlet berries lack lustre, and are inclined towards an orange- red at times. In the far northern States and Canada, where the evergeen holly is not indigenous, the Deciduous Holly offers excellent opportunities for decorative purposes, — not necessarily in connection with the real evergreen leaves, but in other combinations, which the artistic eye can always devise. If desired, the evergreen branches might easily be obtained from farther south, while the natural berries would not so readily stand shipping. The natural haunts of either holly, but most particulary th^ deciduous species, are in low, moist situations, although in cultivation they maj' be brought to higher grounds satisfactor- ily. When abundantly furnished with their bright berries, the effect is very pleasing. Cypripedium insigne — A House Orchid. — One of the most popular orchids grown for cut- flower purposes is Cypripedium insigne ; and it is also valuable as a house-plant, though pos- sibl3^ seldom so grown. Its spikes of solitary flowers on stiff" stems make it the most conven- ient orchid to have about a house ; and the lasting quality of the flowers — from four to six weeks each — makes the plant equal to many that produce more flowers, but individually last but a short time. The quaint " Ladies' - slipper" flowers open a brownish yellow in color, turning quite yellow with age. When growing and blooming, an abundance of water is welcomed, provided the drainage be perfect. They are usually grown in pots, packed with moss or peat. During the summer, they may be kept barely moist and partly shaded. The SAvSSafras as an Ornamental Tree. — Mrs. Seliger has the following note on a tree well worthy of the praise she offers: — *' We do not honor enough the sassafras. It should be planted more for decorative purposes, whether as shrub or small tree. Its dark scar- let foliage in late autumn is exceedingly hand- some, and at all other times it is one of the best native things we have. The early blos- soms, when the bush is not 3'et in leaf, the tj MKKHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. LJan I ^joo] MKKHAXS' MONTHLY — GKXERAL GARDENING. familiarly called the flower of an hour, is very suggestive of the brief, beautiful and lamented life, of many a human flower. San Diego. Cal. MrS. K. K. OrCUTT. Palm House, Phipi\s' Conservatory.— Geologists tell us that the early vegetation of the earth was devoid of beauty, — that hand- some flowers appeared only with the incoming in Schenley Park, which, by the kindness of The Lord & Burnham Co. , we are enabled to place before our readers. In the foreground, passing over the dwarfer vegetation, we have a specimen of the Norfolk Island Pine, close relatives of which are found in a fossil state. Bamboos, palms, bananas, and ferns make up the chief part of the rest of the inhabitants of the conservatory. It furnishes a valuable \ V VIEW IN PALM HOUSE. PHIPPS' CONSERVATORY. SCHENLEY PARK, PA. of man. But there was at least a grandeur in the aspect of vegetable nature that would have excited his admiration, as the horticultural structures known as Palm Iloiuses well show, when filled with samples of the i)lants that are the allies of those that monopolized the earth in its early days. What this early world was like, is well illus- trated ])y a view in the lMiii)ps' Conservatory, object lesson as to the appearance of our ancient world. §ik Hardy A/aij:as. — During the month of May, nearly all. of what are called hardy azaleas, bloom, having in mind the Northern vStates, principally. Beautiful as the flowers are, they are often not as satisfactory as they might be, because of being jilanted in unsuitable places. ^ Azaleas are naturally shade-loving plants, and besides this the flowers are far more lasting when in partial shade than when in the full sun, yet rarel}' are they seen in other than a vsituation entirely exposed to the sun. Quite recently, it grieved me to see a lovely collection, consisting of Mollis, (ihent and other hybrid vsorts, so exposed, and the flowers droop- ing, though not an over-hot day. It is not meant that they should be planted directly under trees, but in situations where large trees will i)artially shade them, or where buildings or like objects will effect the same object. It is generally understood that azaleas love light soil, but this must not be thought to mean a poor one. It has to be light and fine, because of the thread-like roots these ])lants have, which cannot endure a heavy soil. Hardy azaleas, as mosth' vSeen in collections of to-day, consist of the native caloniulacca and midijlora ; the Chinese, mollis : the hybrids known as Crhents ; and, in the vicinity of Phila- delphia, hidica nihil is included. The little evergreen one, anitrfia, flowers earlier and is not often used in connection with the others, but in beds by itself. Wutyi is a beautiful native .sort coming into general cultivation; and the summer flowering (me, ^'isiosa, a native of \{)\\ woods in many of our vStates, is better known than it was. I have kept the name azalea, as it is the commoner one, though Index Kewensis makes rhododendrons of them all. Josicrii Mi:eil\n. .\ vSrnsTiTrTi-: i-ok Holly B i-: k r i ic s . — Whenever we illustrate, speak or think of the holly, the bright scarlet berries are almost in- variably associated with the leaves. They are the enlivening parts of the tree, the leaves, aside from their rich green color, being attrac- tive largely by their oddity. I'lifortunately, the berries are usually fewer ill i)roi)ortion to leaves than man would like, as tliev have their time-honored uses at Christ- mas in decorations of various character. vSome trees are deficient in the sexual organs of their flowers, and, therefore, entirely barren. The gatherer of Christmas greens for market is very often obliged to substitute the more abun- dant berries of the Deciduous Holly, fle.v (or Prinos) voiicillata : while the unsuspecting public recognizes the leaves and fruit simply as holly. It can hardly be said they are vic- tims of misrepresentation, for the substitution is to the eye hardly noticeable, and the family relationship is certainly very close. The chief objection to the substitution is that the scarlet berries lack lustre, and are inclined towards an orange-red at times. In the far northern States and Canada, w^here the evergeen holly is not indigenous, the Deciduous Holly offers excellent opportunities for decorative purposes, — not necessarily in connection with the real evergreen leaves, but in other combinations, which the artistic ej^e can always devise. If desired, the evergreen branches might easily be obtained from farther south, while the natural berries would not so readily stand shipping. The natural haunts of either holl3^ but most particulary th^ deciduous species, are in low% moist situations, although in cultivation they may be brought to higher grounds satisfactor- ily. When abundantly furnished with their bright berries, the effect is very pleasing. Cyprii'Edium insigne — A HorsE Orchid.— One of the most popular orchids grown for cut- flower purposes is Cypripedittm insigne ; and it is abso valuable as a house-plant, though pos- sibly vseldom so grown. Its spikes of solitary flowers on stiff' stems make it the most conven- ient orchid to have about a house ; and the lasting quality of the flowers — from four to six weeks each — makes the i)lant ecjual to many that produce more flowers, but individually la.st but a short time. The (quaint '• Ladies' - slipper" flowers open a brownish yellow in color, turning ([uite yellow with age. When growing and blooming, an abundance of water is \yelcomed, provided the drainage be perfect. They are usually grown in pots, packed with moss or peat. During the summer, they may be ke])t barely moist and jmrtly shaded. The vSassai'Ras as an Ornamental Tree. — Mrs. vSeliger has the following note on a tree well worthy of the praise she offers: — *' We do not honor enough the sassafras. It should be planted more for decorative purposes, whether as shrul) or small tree. Its dark scar- let foliage in late autumn is exceedingly hand- some, and at all other times it is one of the best native things we have. The early blos- soms, when the bush is not yet in leaf, the III INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOiSURE 8 MEEHAXS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. li diverse shaped, thick leaves and later the blue drupes held in a scarlet, waxen cup when ripe, are attractive." Miner ALvS in Plants. — Mr. Charles Henry Baker, Grasmere, Orange County, Florida, is struck by the great luxuriance of vegetation in that section of the country, Legnviinosce in par- ticular, of many genera and species, being especially exuberant, and 3'et the soil from the chemical standpoint should be among the poor- est of the poor. He furnishes the following table of analyses : — Composition of Florida Pine-land Surface Soils. Coarse material, . 8.10 p.c. Fine, 91.90 p.c. Humus, .... 0.4100 p.c. Nitrogen, . . . 0.0412 p.c. Moisture ai ioo°c, 0.3187 p.c. Insoluble residue (silicate), 97. 13 18 p.c. Potash, 0057 p.c. Soda, 0411 p.c. Ume, 0225 p.c. Magnesia, 0213 p.c. Ferric Oxide and Alumina, . .7772 p.c. Chlorine, truce Phosphoric Acid, 0898 p.c. Sulphuric Acid, 0067 p.c. Carbonic Acid, 0047 p.c. Water and Organic Matter, . 1.8088 p.c. 99.9096 In this it will be noted that the proportion of the alkalies is ridiculously small, potash especially so. He remarks on this : — • ' One would think that this would be soon exhausted and in many places be entirely un- restored. Some few of these Leguminosae, like Erythrina, have fusiform, deep-seated roots ; but then the subsoil is even poorer than the surface. In the uppermost foot, or less, of the surface, all our culture is done, for we usu- ally turn over from 6 to 9 inches. Deeper plow- ing, for any reason, will throw us off for some seasons." Similar problems have occurred to others, but have had no satisfactory solution. It has been stated that a very large amount of oxalate of lime is found in cactuses that may be grow- ing in soil that has little appreciative lime in its composition, — and mineral matters not sup- . posed to be to any material extent in the atmosphere are found in quantity in the ash of air plants, the vSpanish Moss, Tillandsia usnc- oides, being particularly alluded to. The exact references are not at hand,— but it has been re- peated so often as to be accepted as fact. It cannot be assumed that something, not even an element in chemistry, can come from nothing,— but there is a bare possibility that even the element of the chemist may be a com- pound, and that the mysterious force, we call life, may have a power of combination that the human intellect has not yet unfolded to us. Variation in Seedlings. — The law of var- iation operates in everything. In no one par- ticular respect do individuals resemble abso- lutely their parents. Even in the time of flowering there is a variation. Some individ- uals will bloom earlier and some later than others. This has been more particularly marked in the more showy-flowered of our orna- mental trees. In the Koelreuteria, this partic- ular variation is striking. In one hundred trees, all raised from the same package of seeds, there w411 be as much as three w^eeks of differ- ence in the time of flowering. Possibly the sexual variation may have something to do with the difference in the flowering time, as certainly it has to do with the showiness of the blossoms. As it is the case with so many American and Japanese trees, there is a great tendency to a division of sexes. Some Koelreu- teria trees are wholly barren, while others are abundantly productive. The barren trees have rather larger flowers, and are more showy in every respect, and, so far as our somewhat lim- ited experience in this respect goes, are among the first to flower. This little difference in this respect has not been noticed by cultivators as it deserves to be. Uses of Everc»reen Branches. — The num- ber of uses to which the evergreen bough or smaller branches can be put is never wholly appreciated. For winter protection of Rhodo- dendrons and other broad-leaved evergreens, they are unsurpassed. In place of the unsight- ly board structure or corn-stalks frequently arranged around the plants, drive four or five stakes, or as many more as deemed necessary, around the bed or group, as close to the plants as practicable ; string wires to each ; and stack and fasten the cut branches around and partly over them. After completion, from a distant point, the group simply represents a mass of • '9 ^ k r V 1. ■ evergreens quite appreciable in winter. Hem- lock branches are most adaptable, being neat and graceful, and will last well through the winter. They may be used to great advantage in the cemetery for covering freshly-made graves, where it is impossible to sod or cover with vines before spring or early summer. Neatly arranged, the effect is very grateful. The cus- tom of " lining" graves with evergreens, fast- ened in a wide-meshed wire cloth, is getting quite common, and is, indeed, a pleasing thing. Besides Hemlock Spruce, the arbor-vitae is found desirable, and particularly adapted because of the flatness of the twigs. Larger boughs are used to weigh down leaves, where used as a mulch, preventing their dis- placement by the winds. Rapid (Growth of a Holly. — Ilex opaca is justly considered of slow growth, among the most tardy. Three of my plants, bought about four years ago, planted on my grounds^" show this year a great. exception. One three feet six inches high, last spring, has sent up a leading shoot, four feet six inches long ; and two other plants hav^ each double shoots of four feet length — and all are stout in proper proportion. . T. Wist a r Brown. Philadelphia. Street Trees. — The city gardener of Spring- field, Mass., recommends that side- walk trees should be , planted on the lawn sides, and not on the curb sides of the avenue, in c^ses where the houses are set back, so as to allow of a small olot in front to the side-walk line. This h^s some advantages. On the other hand, with tree-trunks so near to the lawn, the roots would make the lawn so dry, that not even grass would thrive during hot summer weather. It will depend on circumstances which method is best. The Wall-flower and Queen Victoria's Gardening. — Queen Victoria's healthful lon- gevity is attributed in great measure to her out- door pleasures, of which her love of garden- ing is one of the strongest traits. She is said to be so well informed on gardening topics as to be able to recognize the merits of a good gard- ener over a mere pretender. Her friends were in the habit of getting her to select gardeners for them. The great eminence of the gardens at Laeken, near Brussels, owned by the King of the Belgians, was the work of an English gardener named Henry Knight, whom the Queen recommended. She has a great fondness for old-fashioned flowers, the old wall-flower being an especial favorite. Large quantities are raised in her private garden at Osborne, and the cut-flowers shipped regularly to London. There are few odors more grateful than that presented to us by this wall-flower, and it is re- markable that more of our enterprising florists have not taken it up, for it is rarely seen, now- a-days. Possibly the ease with which it is grown would soon cause the market to be over-stocked, and it w^ould not yield paying prices. But it should find favor with ama- teurs. Fungus Enemies. — A foreign paper states that America is a famous country for fungus, as well as being famous for many things ; but it is remarkable that nearly all the western plagues of this character are imported varieties from the Old World. Americans are famous for hunting up and discovering the nature of these small organisms. Possibly a closer study is made of them in America, than in any other part of the world ; but very much more is known about them and about their destructive habits. More than that, we know better how to keep them than cultivators know. Stuartia. — The family of plants, to which the tea plant and the camellia belong, is known as 7ernstroemiacece, from a very large genus, Jernstroemia, which abounds in Asia and South America. In North America, the only representatives are the very rare Gordonia, or Franklin Tree, and two species of Stuartia, also comparatively rare. They are rare in Ameri- can gardens, because the seed is difficult to procure, and their artificial propagation is slow. The following notes, on other hardy species from Miiller's Garten-Zeitiuig, will be interest- ing in this connection : — Stuartia Pseudo-Camellia, Maximozvicz. A beautiful, ornamental and hardy shrub, dis- tinguished by its very large, white flowers, is lO MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. 1900] MEEHANS MONTHLY -GENERAL GARDENING. II indigenous to Japan and belongs to the family of TernstroemiacecP'-mor^ lately termed l^hea- cecB. Unfortunately, it is of slow growth and will not bear flowers until it has arrived at a certain height ; but then it will be covered with abundance of the large, white flowers, 5 cm. in diameter. The beauty of them is en- hanced by anthers of bright orange-yellow color and in connection with the shining, green foliage, it furnishes one of our most at- tractive flowering shrubs. Stuartia Pseudo-Camellia Maxim. Syn : Stu- artia grandiflora Sieboldi, reaches, in its home. cessful cultivation requires a rich, deep soil and a sunny situation. Propagation is accom- plished either by seed or slip ; the latter re- quiring considerable time for rooting. Translated by H Cramer. A. RhEDER. *r r GOLDEN-LEAVED PAMPAS GRASS.— Among many interesting novelties on the grounds of Professor Emory E. Smith, of Palo Alto, Cali- fornia, is a variety of Pampas Grass that has a deep stripe of gold down the centre of the nar- row, grassy leaves. The plume-stalks are also very long, rising chiefly ten feet from the QOLDCN-LCAVCO PAMPAS GRASS. a height of 15 m., forming, under culture, a dense, bushy shrub with elliptic-lanceolate leaves, 5 to 8 cm. long and from 2 to 3 cm. broad, slightly serrated, smooth on the upper and sparsely silken-haired on the under sur- face. The flowers grow in the axils of the leaves, are disk-shaped, 5 cm. in diameter and appear in July ; the five almost round, in- cised petals are covered with silky hair on the outside. The plant is little known outside of Japan. Thirty years ago, it was introduced into the United vStates, and it is likely that it found its way into Germany from here. Sue- ground ; and the plumes are fully formed quite two weeks earlier than the common variety. The plant illustrated is three years old, and the mass of leaves is about four feet above the ground. TIHE Mtf^Rl^T FLOWER ^i^HIDjEIN. Hardy Border Plants.— One of the most useful and satisfactory adjuncts to any garden, whether it is a part of a large, well-kept gar- den, or the more humble cottage of the arti- san, is a border of the ordinary old garden • '9 T favorites. Thej^ are so easy of cultivation, re- quiring absolutely no care. The^' do much more satisfactorily if any little attention is given them ; yet they will bloom profusely with very indifferent treatment. Many are at the present writing one mass of bloom, being ver}' attractive in the garden as well as useful for cut-flower purposes. We have, here, such a border, which has received no manner of at- tention, 3'et the Antirrhinums, mostly white, are superb. The columbines, of which we have several pretty varieties, are extremeU' hand- some. The old-fashioned Canterbury' Bells survived the winter and are now one mass of prett3% bell -shaped flowers. The little formal, sedate Dianthus^ which grows so compactly, literally covered with flowers. This evening 1 counted upwards of 128 blossoms on a small clump. The flowers are of many colors and shapes, and exceedingly showj' in the garden. Heiichera sanguinea is a grand little plant, deserving a place in eveiy garden. The flowers are on long stems, of a pretty, scarlet color. For filling any space in the back-ground of the border, there is nothing better than the annual corn flower {cydnea). We have now quite a number of self-sown plants, in full flower. They are deservedl}' popular for cut-flower pur- poses. The foliage is verj- graceful. For the front edge of a border there is nothing will present a neater appearance than the little Arvierin. It flowers in Ma}' and June, is ver}^ compact, and for edging purposes it is very appropriate. I would like to see this class of plants more largely planted. The3^are not subject to any insect attacks, and are at all times a source of interest and pleasure to all. Cloverlev. FRMITS ffi VE^ETiflPLES. MakinCt Pumpkins. — The average news- paper reporter often shows ingenuity in the manufacture of *' fakes." The following, from the Portland Orcgonian , is worthy of a place in the '* Arabian Nights." Unfortunatel}*, they too often become "truths of history" to smart magazine writers : — **Will you believe me when I tell 3'ou that I found a man out in Prineville who had estab- lished an industry of furnishing pumpkins of a given weight to ambitious farmers who desire to take prizes at the count}' fairs ? How does he grow them ? Simple enough, when j'ou know how. This pumpkin manufacturer feeds the pumpkins milk, — just good, rich milk, and when the pumpkin has grown to the weight called for in his order from the ambitious far- mer, he cuts it from the vine and turns it over to the one ordering it." ** This is the manner in which he does it : Every daj^ he fills a quart vessel with milk, places it on the ground, and connects it with a slit in the pumpkin vine with a rubber tube. The vine draws in the milk by capillar^' or some other attraction, and the vine thrives and it grows to enormous proportions." **It was extremel}^ interesting to go out in the evening to the pumpkin factor}' and see the owner feed the pumpkins. The vines had become so used to it and appeared to like the milk so well that they actually rustled as the man with the milk approached, and the big broad leaves waved in a transport of delight ; and when the milk had been consumed the vines settled down for the night, as contented- ly as a band of cows chewing their cuds." School Gardens. — In the public schools ol man}' towns and cities, the pupils sow seeds and watch their development, even in those schools where the window-sills alone constitute the garden ground. A ver}' good idea is worked out in Landreth's Seed Catalogue, by selections of seeds that grow easil}' under these conditions, with instructions for manag- ing them. Preserves and Marm.vlades. — A sample of marmalade sent by Mrs. A Millard, of Plattsburg, New York, made from the pods the Chinese Mandarin Rose, was of such unusual excellence that, at our request, she has kindl}' sent us the following recipes : — Preserves of Rose pods Marmalade. ' ' The fruit of Rosa 7'ugosa is the most suit- able for preserving as the pods are large, flesh}' and of high color. To make marma- lade, the pods want to be picked fully ripe, yet before the frost touches them. Wash, trim and seed the pods, cover with water, steam until tender, and vStrain. Mash through a colander with a wooden spoon, and add to I pint of the pulp ^ -pounds of granu- %\ t J ii lO MKKHANS' MONTHIA'—GENHRAL GARnKNINCx. [Jan. 1900] lUKKHANS' MONTH lA' — GEXHKAL (VAK DKNIXG. II indigenous to Japan and belongs to the family of 'roNstroemiacecc—morQ lately termed Thea- cccp. Unfortunately, it is of slow growth and will not bear flowers until it has arrived at a certain height ; but then it will be covered with abundance of the large, white flowers, 5 cm. in diameter. The beauty of them is en- hanced by anthers of bright orange-yellow color and in connection with the vshining, green foliage, it furnishes one of our most at- tractive flowering shrubs. Stitartia Pscudo-Camcllia ^faxim. Sy// : StN- artia onnidijiora Sicboldi, reaches, in its home. cessful cultivation requires a rich, deep soil and a sunny situation. Propagation is accom- plished either by seed or slip ; the latter re- quiring considerable time for rooting. Translated by H Cramer. A. RHKDKR. ^^' CrOLDKN-LKAVED PAM1>.\S GkASS.— Auiong many interesting novelties on the grounds of Professor Emory K. vSmith, of Palo Alto, Cali- fornia, is a variety of Pampas Cirass that has a deep stripe of gold down the centre of the nar- row, grassy leaves. The plume-stalks are also very long' rising chiefly ten feet from the GOLDEN-LCAVEO PAMPAS GRASS a height of 15 m., forming, under culture, a dense, bushy shrub with elliptic-lanceolate leaves, 5 to S cm. long and from 2 to 3 cm. broad, slightly serrated, smooth on the upper and sparsely silken-haired on the under sur- face. The flowers grow in the axils of the leaves, are disk-shai)ed, 5 cm. in diameter and appear in July ; the five almost round, in- cised petals are covered with silky hair on the outside. The plant is little known outside of Japan. Thirty years ago, it was introduced into the United vStates, and it is likely that it fcmnd its wav into Cermany fnmi here. Sue- ground ; and the i)lumes are fully formed cpiite two weeks earlier than the common variety. The plant illustrated is three years old, and the mass of leaves is about four feet above the ground. • THE mi/^I^l^Y FL©WE1 ^i^lllD)!^. IlAHDV POKDKK PLANTS.— OUC of the moSt u.seful and satisfactory adjuncts to any garden, whether it is a part of a large, well-kei)t gar- den, or the more humble cottage of the arti- san, is a border of the ordinary old garden m. ' ^ ^'^ favorites. They are so easy of cultivation, re- (juiring absoluteh' no care. They do much more .satisfactorily- if any little attention is given them ; yet they will bloom profuseh- with very indifierent treatment. INIany are at the present writing one mass of bloom, being \ery attractive in the garden as well as u.seful for cut-flower purposes. We have, here, such a border, which has received no manner of at- tention, yet the Antirrhinums, mostly white, are superb. The columbines, of which we have several pretty varieties, are extremely hand- some. The old-fashioned Canterbury Bells survived the winter and are now one mass of pretty, bell -shaped flowers. The little formal, sedate Diafi tints, which grows so compactlx', literally covered with flowers. This evening I counted upwards of 12S ])lossonis on a small clump. The flowers are of many colors and shapes, and exceedingly .showy in the garden. HeiiiJicra sanoKJHca is a grand little ])lant, deserving a j)lace in every garden. The flowers are on long stems, of a i)retty. .scarlet color. lM)r filling any space in the back-ground of the border, there is nothing better than the annual corn flower {iyanca). We have now (piite a number of .self-.sown plants, in full flower. They are deservedly ])()i)ular for cut-flower ])ur- jMj.ses. The foliage is very graceful. I-'or the front edge of a border there is nothing will l)re.sent a neater a])])earance than the little . hnnrin. It flowers in Ma>- and June, is very compact, and for edging ])uri)o.ses it is very a}>pro])riate. I would like to see this class of ])lants more largely planted. They are not subject to any insect attacks, and are at all times a source of interest and i)leasure to all. Ci.nvi:Kij;v. MakiN(, PiMi'KiNS. — The average news- pa]>er re])orter often shows ingenuit\ in the manufacture of " fakes." The following, from the Portland (>rixofN\ni, is wortliN of a place ill the '* Arabian Nights." rnfortunatel\', llie\' too often become "truths of history" to snu.rt magazine writers : — "Will you believe me when I tell xou that I found a man (mt in Prineville who had estab- lished an industr\- of furnishing pumpkins of a given weight to ambitious farmers who desire to take ])ri'/es at the count\' fairs? How does he grow them ? vSimple enough, when you know how. This pumpkin manufacturer feeds the pumpkins milk, — just good, rich milk, and when the pumpkin has grown to the weight called for in his order from the ambitious far- mer, he cuts it from the vine and turns it over to the one ordering it." ''This is the manner in which he does it : Kver\' day he Alls a quart vessel with milk, places it on the ground, and connects it with a slit in the pumpkin vine with a rubber tube. The vine draws in the milk by capillary or some other attraction, and the vine thrives and it grows to enormous proportions." " It was extremely interesting to go out in the evening to the pumpkin factory and see the owner feed the ])umpkins. The vines had become so u.sed to it and appeared to like the milk so well that they actually rustled as the man with the milk ap])roached, and the big broad leaves waved in a transport of delight ; and when the milk had been consumed the vines settled down for the night, as contented- 1\' as a band of cows chewing their cuds." vSciiooi. (lAKDKNS. — In the ])ul)lic schools ol many towns and cities, the ]>upils .sow .seeds and watch their development, even in those .schools \\here the window-sills alone constitute the garden ground. A very good idea is worked out in Landreth's vSeed Catalogue, by selections of seeds that grow easily under tlie.se conditions, with instructions for nianag- ing them. Pri;si;kvi:s and Mar.mal adks. — A sample of marmalade sent by Mrs. A Millard, of Platt.sburg. New York, made from the pods the Chinese Mandarin Rose, was of such unusual excellence that, at our recpie.st, she has kindly sent us the following recipes : — /^ri'St'rzrs of k'osrpods Marmalade. " The fruit of Rosa inoosa is the most suit- able for ])re.serving as the pods are large, fleshy and of high color. To make marma- lade, the pods want to be picked fully ripe, yet before the frost touches them. Wash, trim and seed the ])ods, cover with water, steam until tender, and strain. Mash through a colander with a wooden spoon, and add to 1 i)int of the pul]) ^4 -pounds of granu- h ENTIO iu.. OND EXPOSURE t 12 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. lated sugar. Put on to boil and constantly stir for twenty minutes or more, then fill in jars or jelly glasses." Rose pod Preserves. "Wash, trim and seed the pods, cover with water and boil for five minutes then strain. Boil to a syrup 3 pounds of granulated sugar, >^-cup of vinegar, >2 -cup of water, skim until clear. To this add about 4 pounds of the par- boiled rose pods to boil on a moderate fire for one-half to one hour. Neither preserve calls for any spices, as it would take away the fine flavor of the fruit itself. Yet, if spices are desired, they ought to be added whole, a /////^ of ginger- root, cloves and stick-cinnamon, which must be taken out afterwards." New Washington W^\kefield Cabbac^e. — For many years the Jersey Wakefield Cabbage has been the most prominent early sort with market gardeners, and many attempts have been made to improve on it, with but limited success. The Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa, announce a new variety under the name of Washington Wakefield, which they claim superior as an early variety. They claim for it larger, solid and more uniform heads. Valuable for either market or family garden. Potato Eyes by Mail. — A convenience that will commend itself to persons interested in testing new varieties of potatoes is the practice adopted by John A. Salzer vSeed Co., of sending small quantities of eyes by mail packed in moss. Jelly from the Hibiscus. — Those who understand the great value of the okra, in high class cookery, will not be surprised to learn that another member of the family. Hibiscus Sabdariffa, is proving to be a jelly-maker equal to the red currant. The article is selling under the name of " Roselle. " Amateur Fruit Gardening. — Travelers from the Old World tell us, that though peaches aie abundant in our markets, yet, in size and quality, they do not equal the best specimens of English gardening. But this is not surprising, as the educated intelli- gent gardener can beat nature, easily, when he tries. In peach-growing, the gardener who grows them under glass is able to protect the trees from insects and microscopic funguses much more readily than can the orchard grower,— he can prune the trees so as to ensure the best results from the branches left to bear,— he can thin the fruit in an early stage, and give water or withhold it just as the trees need. The peach needs no artificial heat but that which the glass enclosure affords. The London Journal of Horticulture t^Ws of an orchard house— as these glass structures are termed -covering only a space of 150 x 30, that has had large crops annually for twenty-four years. The 'correspondent visited the house last July, and found these few trees carrying 3,000 peaches, running from 12 to 16 ounces in weight, and all in the rudest health. Of course, the intelligence of the person in charge counts for much. It is not always that the right person gets into the right place. The writer of this paragraph knew of an amateur who thought to carry out, in America, a peach house on the style he had seen in England. But in a few years, the peach trees were wholly destitute of branches near the ground, and the only foliage was on strong shoots up against the glass, and these were covered with insects to such a nauseous extent, that the owner, in disgust, had to tear the house down. The conclusion was, that orchard houses would not do in America. Wiser ones could give a different answer. This difficulty is not confined to America, for it is a constant complaint, that sound, practical skill is becoming rare in the Old World as well. The case of superior skill, referred to by our London contemporary', is in the Isle of Wight, at Brook House, the good gardener's name William Tribbick. HUBBARDSTON NONSUCH APPLE. — It is not an easy matter to recommend certain varieties of fruits. What one person likes, another may care little for ; and one kind that does well in one locality, may be poor not far away. An apple that seems to appeal to the taste of many, is Hubbardston Nonsuch, a large red apple, somewhat striped, ripening in early winter. There is a flavor about its yellowish flesh that is very rich. It may be called sweet, though sub-acid, and proves good for cooking as well as for dessert. A native of Hubbardston, Mas«., it gives most satisfaction 1900] o' MEEHANS MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. U I il • 4 » 4 • '* in the North, though it is also reported well in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. The fine flavor is impaired b}' keeping. Apple, Ben Davis.— Those who minister to the wants or pleasures of mankind are often comparatively unknown. The Ben Davis apple, in many waj^s, has given pleasure to thousands, and brought dollars to hundreds ; but no one knows who Ben Davis was, or BEN DAVIS APPLE. where he lived or died. All that is known of its history is that it came into favor with orchard planters, in the southwest, and the name travelled with the tree. In the markets of Philadelphia, there are probably more of this variety offered for sale during December and January than any other. Its ruddy cheeks on a pale yellow ground are tempting, and its eating qualities are by no means poor ; yet it could not be classed as specially fine, but as an all-round good variety, it has popular points. And then it is a good tree for the market- man, in this, that it does not take as manv 3xars to come into bearing as some kinds, like the Northern Spy, for instance, and is a regu- lar, yearly bearer, — not requiring the resting iJpells that some demand, — and seems to be no favorite with apple diseases that feast on other kinds. Altogether it is a .safe variety to plant. Currants. — Currants, as stoneless grapes are termed, are well-known over the whole world as an article of commerce. The Black Corinth is the popular variet}' of grape giving us the currants of the Old World, — a grizzly variet}', the Sultana, is the kind popular for currant culture in California. The Alta Advo- cate, of Tulare Count3% gives the following ac- count of the manner of their preparation : — ' ' The wagons line up to the dump, where the boxes of grapes are emptied into the scalding hot liquor made of steam, water, caustic soda, olive oil, Thorsing, and many other things. From the dip, a galvanized draper dumps the grapes into the rinse of clear water, and from there another draper drops them on to the trays, which are the large prune trays ; there a couple of boys spread them and the tra3^s are passed on to a couple of men who load them on fruit cars, which carry the fruit to the sul- phur houses, of which there are twenty, and are in charge of Prof. C. E. Horsman. The grapes remain in the sulphur house about three hours, when they are again picked up by the cars and run out to the dry yard. Three or four days are required to properly dry the fruit for the boxes. ' ' Careful Gardening. — It is often said against amateur gardening, that flowers, fruits and vegetables can be bought in market cheaper than they can be raised. In some respects this is true ; but usualh' the amateur is a long way ahead in the superiority of the articles. This is strongly in evidence by articles found in Eng- lish markets. Though steam and electricity are pouring the best of their products from favored orchards into England, the\' are tame compared with that artificially raised by the best P:nglish gardeners. In the early part of July, peaches that would ordinarily be pro- nounced first-class, from Italy and other nature- favored places, brought one shilling and six- pence a dozen. The products of the amateur garden were eagerly sought for at twelve shil- lings. Protection from Frost.— Though it has been long known, to educated gardeners, that sun on frozen plants had more to do with the destruction of vegetable life than the degree of frost, there has been no attempt to turn this fact to commercial profit. The good gardener, 1 1] ti* 14 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— (GENERAL OARDENIN(;. [Jan. ! who finds his greenhouse plants unexpectedly frozen, shades the glass, and syringes with cold water. He knows that it is evaporation that does the injury, and that sunlight aids evap- oration. At length, California orange growers have appreciated the fact. The California Fruit- grower tells us that an orange orchard of 1 7 acres, belonging to the Everest Rancho Co., at Riverside, has been completely covered with lath shading ; and though there are only four or five degrees of difference in the temperature between the external atmosphere and that under the lath, the glass has indicated 26° under the shading, without the slightest in- jury to the orange trees. Another discovery, of great practical importance revealed by this ex- periment is, that only one-half the water is re- quired during the season. In countries depend- ent on irrigation, water has to be paid for as in other countries where the cultivator has to pay for manure. Here, the shade during the hot season protects from evaporation. The follow- ing is the Fruit-growers'' account of the meihod : — " The posts are of 3x4 redwood, 18 feet long. The trees are so planted that the posts are placed 21 feet 3 inches apart each way, setting them 3 feet in the ground, thus allowing about 15 feet in the clear for height of the tree, which is sufficient for most Navel trees. These posts are connected by pieces of 1 x 4 pine suitably braced, on top of which another strip of 1x4 has been securely nailed to prevent the whole from swaying sideways with the weight of the cover. This when placed in position is braced horizontally with braces i x 3 pine, 7 feet long. Thus is secured a framework that is quite rigid and on which a man may walk freely, provid- ing he has a clear enough head to walk a 4- inch strip. Over this were stretched galvanized iron wires, diagonally, of No. 1 1 wire, which are securely stapled on top of each post and to the horizontal braces. These diagonal wires are stretched very tight with iron stretchers and throw a portion of weight of the cover on to the posts directly that would otherwise in- crease weights on the bents of i x 4 pine, 21 feet 3 inches long. These diagonal wires are supplemented by wires running across the framework, at right angles to the direction in which the cover is laid. These four wires- two diagonal and two cross wires— steady the whole construction and distribute the weight more evenly. Thus is the framework completed. For the cover, they used Arizona lath, being the lightest and best for the purpose, and weaved them on a lath machine into common chicken fencing, placing the lath i inch apart and weaving with six wires— three double strands. This is made in sections 21 feet 3 inches long and rolled up preparatorv to being taken to cover. In cover- ing the framework, they use four rolls of this lath made of 4-foot lath and one roll of 5-foot lath, thus filling out the space over each tree of 21 feet 3 inches as nearly as necessary. It takes 100 lath to each roll, or 500 to each tree ; and as the trees are planted 100 to the acre, 50,000 lath are used to the acre. This Arizona lath is cheaper than ordinary pine in that part of the vState. ' ' English Walnut^.— English Walnuts— so- called— are now being extensively raised in America. It is understood that half those con- sumed are American grown. vShellbarks.— One of the popular nuts in our country, is the Shellbark. This is one of the large number of species of hickory, known botanically as Carya. They were formerly noted with the walnuts, or Juglans, but were divided from the walnuts under the name as above given by ' 'Nuttall " . The chief distinc- tion between the hickory and the walnut, is, that they open their outer nuts or hulls when ripening, while the walnut always maintains the hulls around the nuts until the hulls rot away. There are only two of the hickory that are used as edible. The well known Pecan, which is the olive-shaped nut, and has, there- fore,been called Carya oliva!formis,2ir\d the other, the Carya sulcata, which is not so often seen in the markets. It is a very much larger nut than the ordinary vShellbark, but unfortunately has a very hard shell, which makes it inconvenient to use. Occasionally some trees are found with comparatively thin shells, and it might l3e well for those who are on the look-out for improved nuts to place on the market, to watch for some particularly thin varieties of this species to propagate from. But then, one is confronted by difficulties in propagation. • ^ ♦ y BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURH. THE ORIOIN OF FLOWERS. There were no ro^es till the first child died. No violets, no balmy-breath heartsease. No heliotrope, nor buds so dear to bees, The honey-hearted woodbine, no gold-eyed And white-lasht daisy-flower, nor, stretching wide, Clover and cowslip-cups, like rival vSeas, Meeting and parting, as the young spring breeze Runs giddy races playing seek and hide ; For all flowers died when Eve left Paradise, And all the world was powerless awhile. Until a little child was laid in earth. Then from its grave grew violets for its eyes, And from ils lips rose-petals for its smile. And so all flowers from that child's death took birth. Maurice Francis Egan, • ' Songs and vSonnets. ' ' The Flora of North Carolina. — In modern times, geographical botany is one of the most interesting departments of the ami- able science, — and local floras have a value un- appreciated a generation or so ago. A valuable contribution is before us in the shape of Bulle- tin No. 164, of the North Carolina Experiment Station, giving a list of the Flora of that State, — a State that is a portion of Paradise, so far as wild flowers enter into the idea. It has been compiled by Mr. C. W. Hj-ams, and can no doubt be obtained by writing to Mr. W. F. MaSvSey, Horticulturist and Botanist of the Station, at Raleigh. Dr. Curtis, years ago, published a list, but so many additional have been discovered since, that the list is consider- ably increased. The number of species, from Ranunculus to ferns, is now 2,685. A commendable feature of the task is that the plant names employed are those in common use. It will take considerable time, and a great issue of popular works, to make the pub- lic familiar with the new nomenclature. Com- paratively few have the learned treatises at hand, which show the propriety of priority, and a catalogue like this, intended for the masses, covered up under new names, would be ♦♦ Greek" to them. John Wood. — Though not known to Amer- ican horticulturists generally, the name of Mr. John Wood, of Leeds, England, deserves an honored place. He retired from business after a successful career of twenty-two years, and devoted himself to the culture of flowers, alpine plants being special favorites. He con- tributed freely of his knowledge to horticul- tural papers, and the Garden, especially, had frequent papers from his pen. He died on the 24th of September, in his 57th year. Louis Prang. — The Boston papers, while, noting the closing-out sale of Mr. Prang's pic- tures by the great masters, from w^hich he has made the wonderful lithographic copies that have made his name a household word, all over the world where true art and love of beauty is appreciated, are suggesting high honors for one who has done so much for the pleasure of mankind, and the artistic fame of his adopted country. Our readers can feel the full force of this in the monthly visit of Meehans' Monthly, with its Prang colored plate, which is not a mere copy of some great master, merely, but an original picture of nature as well as a faithful reproduction of the picture. If anything equal to these has been given to the world for the price, the publishers are not aware of it. It would not have been possible but for Mr. Prang's work in lithography. His name de- serves the honors usually reserved for great warriors or theatrical stars. The vStravvberrv Manual,— by Laxton's, Bedford, England. A small bound volume, of 138 pages, replete with information for the lover of strawberries, and the strawberry grower. In the history of strawberry culture, it is interesting to note that the distinction between staminate and pistillate strawberries, and the value of having a few staminates to fertilize the more productive pistillates, did not originate in Cincinnati, as American straw- berry history relates, but long before, by Keens, (15) 1 6 MEEHAXS' MONTHLY — GENERAL NOTES. [Jan. the raiser of the famous English variety, Keens' Seedling. The claim of the American grower, that strawberry culture is carried on to a greater extent in America than in England, is disputed in these pages. One grower, at Orpington, has 650 acres, all strawberries ; while another, near Swanley, has 2,000 acres, "a large proportion" being strawberry. It is a very interesting book, and costs only one shilling. ^ENEI^/^L IM®TES. IXTELLICiENT CarE OF SmALL CiTV PaRKS. — At the last meeting of the Council of the Park and Out-door Art Association, Mr. Bryan Lathrop said that he had been greatly im- pressed, at a recent visit to Washington, with the great injury that was being done to small parks by the removal of all shrubbery on the ground, that it was likely to prove a shelter to evil-disposed persons, this being the idea of the present man in charge of the grounds, who appears to have the power to do this work without restraint. He thought public atten- tion should be called to this, and some provis- ion made for the protection of public parks. He said that many of these parks were de- signed by ]\Ir. Downing, and his work was, in many cases, just approaching its full beauty and maturity. This made the destruction seem all the more serious. The Egyptian Lotus.— The beautiful Nelumbium speciosum is usually distributed by florists as the Sacred Lotus of the Egyptians. But this is a mistake. This is the Chinese Lotus. The Sacred Ivotus of the Egyptians was a relative of our Sweet Water Lily, a Avmphcrih—Aympha'a Lotus. It was held sacred as being the representative of Isis in the annual festival. Flies and Their Hahits.— Flies do not re- quire stable manure to deposit their eggs in. Their nesting places are numerous — at the woodpile, amongst the chips, is a favorite re- sort. This shows one of the advantages of keeping the backyard and the woodpile cleaned up. Any rich, loose, friable soil suits Mrs. Fly in which to deposit her eggs. The best way to keep clear of the flies, in fly-time, is to have wire screens in the windows and doors, and in this way you can keep shut of them, and be happy. Every dwelling house in this countr>^ uses wire cloth, for screens, to keep both mos- quitos and flies out of doors, where they belong. Festus, Jeff. Co., Missouri. F. K. Steele. Madagascar Ebony Wood Trade. — " The trade of ebony wood is quite new in Majunka, ' ' says V Echo de Vilevage, "because the mal- gache law prohibited the exportation of wood under the hova name. The first shipment was made in 1894, and it is assured that this rare and precious wood will soon become an extensive traffic. At the present time it is more particularly carried on in Hamburg. In France, there is little demand for it. The monthly shipment from Majunka is in the neighborhood of twelve tons, at the price of 230 francs per ton ; as yet, violet ebony and rose wood, which abounds in that country, is not exported. A commerce of sandal wood and mangrove is carried on by the Indians. — From La Semaitie Horticoie, translated by S. D. Lanning. The Largest Oak. — An P:nglish paper, the Lead's Mercury, says: — "Two young oak trees were, on Tuesday last, the nth inst., planted at Cowthorpe, near Wetherby, to commemorate the celebrated tree, which stands there still, but is greatly decayed, and may not endure much longer. The old tree, as every one knows, girths more than fifty feet, and is in that respect probably the largest oak in the world. The young oaks have been raised from acorns taken from the old tree by Mr. John Clayton, of Bradford, in 1893. The late Mr. Montagu, of Ingmanthorpe, approved of this method of perpetuating the memory of the wonderful tree, and kindly agreed to it before his death. At the ceremony of planting the trees there were present, Mr. Clayton, Messrs. Farrah and Millward, of Harrogate, Mr. Cass, of Cowthorpe, and others. Soil ok Berlin.— According to Mrs. Seliger, the city of Berlin is built on a sandy plain, where not even the heather may grow, so poor naturally is it. In fact, the whole province of the Mark Brandenburg is clear sand, but cul- ture has made it one of the most fertile spots. It has a Botanical ( harden of about 25.000 species. i 1 ;] as large quantities of seedlings are coming up wherever the old trees grew. Geo. Thomas. New Orleans. There is a species indigenous in the Southern States, 5*. syl- vatica, commonly called Queen's Root. But it is simply a peren- nial herb, the root of which, it is said, furnishes a lotion soothing to certain skin diseases. Stillingias are members of the Spurge family, Euphorbiacece. THE MtfR^T TLOWEK Qrfll^EN. P^ONiA TENUiFOLiA FL. PL. — Unless familiar with it, most persons would pass the Fennel- leaved Paeony, P. tenuifolia, without classing it among paeonies, so distinct in appearance is the finely-divided foliage. Then, too, being of dwarf growth, its habit is not quite the same. There are no branches to speak of, the medium size flowers terminating each stem which arises direct from the ground. It is the earliest paeony to bloom, and the bright scarlet flowers \ I 26 MEEHANS' MONTHLY—GENERAL GARDENING. [Feb. show to great advantage against the green, fringe-like foliage. Contrary to the habit of the other pseonies, this one never makes a very large clump, and, therefore, does not occupy much space. Plants dotted around here and there in the fore-ground of shrubbery beds and herbaceous borders liven them up wonderfully. The illustration accompanying gives an idea of the very fine foliage ; but the plant in flower should be seen to be fully appreciated. It makes a very suitable plant for forcing. Pruning Roses.— The London Gardening Illustrated gives excellent advice for pruning roses, that is as applicable to the New World as found useful in the Old. "The Polyantha Roses, where employed for edging, should be pruned hard. They may be cut down nearly to the ground. If wanted as bushes, then treat them similar to the Teas, pruning the weakly growers severely, and the more vigor- ous slightly. Rugosa or Japanese Roses merely require the extreme ends of the shoots tiimmed . off, but the centres should be well thinned. Moss and Cabbage Roses, Damask, and Maiden's Blush tribe, Gallicas, and Hybrid Chinese should be very sparsely pruned if large bushes are desired. As these are the least excitable tribes they should be the first to be operated upon. Here, again, I would advise the reduction of the number of shoots, but the strong young growths retained leave from six inches to nine inches long, according to the vigor of the variety. When large bushes are wanted, the first year leave the growths long —say, from three feet to four feet— then they may be subsequently pruned as directed. I have seen Moss-bushes about seven feet high, and their branches indicate that they were orig- inally left about four feet long. These branches are now thick stems, the new growths arising from the shoots above them. The old spent- out wood must be removed in order to keep up . the rejuvenating process of new shoots, but so long as this old wood remains healthy it will be as well to retain it, if size of plant is sought after. Many of these roses make fine pillars, and their treatment would then vary from that advocated here, but I shall notice this later on. The Penzance Briers, together with the many lovely single roses, require to be left practi- cally unpruned, not even removing the ex- treme ends. Their natural, graceful habit is then maintained ; indeed, here we may derive a lesson from the wildings of Nature, and en- deavor to preserve those elegant arch-like shoots that are so beautiful when wreathed in blossom. Such rambling roses as the Ayrshire and Sempervirens, the Crimson Rambler, etc., require merely the removal of old growths as they show signs of debility. Of course, when very crowd- ed, even if healthy, remove some growths entirely if Space be not available to spread them out. The Austrian Briers, which include the lovely R. punicea or Austrian Copper, should have the merest tipping of the shoots ; but to preserve vigor in these kinds have a double set of plants, so that they may be cut down in alternate years. Scotch Roses should not be pruned at all, beyond re- moving dead w^ood. If they outgrow their boundary they may be cut back hard now and then. Climbing Teas and Noisettes on walls should have some of the old growths that have flow- ered cut out in July. Then in the spring all that is needful is to lay in the young ripened shoots and cut back the laterals upon the ripened growths retained, removing entirely any soft, sappy wood. It is always advisable, where possible, to somewhat spread out the new growths when laying them in. This gives a check to the sap and acts in a similar manner to the pegging-down of the Hybrid Perpetuals. Some even go so far as to lay these young shoots down until buds have started, then blooms may be had from nearly every eye. Climbing Roses planted last autumn should be cut back quite one-half their length this spring. Indeed, in many cases it is best to cut down PiCONIA TENUIFOLIA FL. PL. 1® f • & 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 27 the shoots to two or three eyes, the result being long growths that should flower abund- antly the following summer. In well-sheltered districts where Mar^chal Niel is grown upon south walls outdoors, the shoots that yield blossoms should be cut away in July. If the season be a good one, some fine young canes are produced that provide glorious blossoms the next year. When this rose is grown as a standard, it is best trained as a weeper upon an umbrella-shaped frame of wire. The bend- ing down induces the growths to flower, and such trees increase in beauty each succeeding year if kept in a healthy state by training in plenty of new wood and cutting away the old growths. Gloire de Dijon, Mme. Berard, and other Tea Roses grown as standards make glor- ious hfeads, and should be very moderately prune^, always keeping in mind the desirabil- ity of taving hard, sound wood, and removing that solft and worn put. Many amateurs unac- quainted with roses often find that they have planted what is known a^ a climbing rose amongfet their dwarf plants. Supposing such plants 'cannot be pegged down, do not cut away tbe long growths, but train them around three slakes placed at a suitable distance apart and thfe points brought together at the top. Such gtowths will flower from nearly every eye if thus 'trained. This is a capital way of grow- ing m^ny of the superb yellow climbing roses where |wall space is limited. Directly flowers have fallen remove the old growths and let the young 'shoots grow as they like, until the next t. • "^^ season4 , t Blackberries in Australia.— In parts of New South Wales, the blackberry is so prolific that the fruit is gathered by the ton, in place of the bushel or hundredweight with which English blackberry gatherers are familiari The blackberry is finest and most abundant on the coast a few miles south of Sydney ; and BuUi, one of the leading coastal townships, in- habited chiefly by miners employed in the neighboring collieries, is rapidly becoming a centre for the annual export of many tons of the delicious fruit. Rising gradually from the coast are the extensive Illawarra Mountain ranges, and in not a few places on the slopes of these, on the lofty summits, and in clear- ings, the blackberry bushes occupy many acres of ground. Paddocks which have been cleared and fenced, for cultivation or pasturage, offer no bar to the advance of the brambles. In more than one instance, owners of land have long since ceased to fight the growth, which even bush fires but temporarily retard, so find it more congenial to lease their holdings for a small rental to the pickers, who, as a rule, have anything but an easy time of it. The bushes grow in a most irregular way, present- ing in most cases a compact mass of thorn and briar many yards deep and several feet high. To reach everj^ part of this mass of entangle- ment is the blackberry picker's aim. Yet he succeeds in doing so, and may spend a day in one spot, forcing his way through the bushes as best he can. Generally, he will cut a nar- row track to the heart of the bushes, and, establishing a centre at that point, "work" the bushes cleanly and systematically. Billies, buckets, and tins receive the fruit, which may then have to be carried some distance, perhaps right into the township, before being disposed of Most of the blackberry- pickers are coal- miners, and they have the assistance of their wives and families.— London Journal of Hor- ticulture. Indian Fig Cacttjs.—A large-fruited species of Opuntia has long been known as Indian Fig, on account of the edible character of its fruits. It was described by Miller as Opuntia Ficus-Indica, as a distinct species, though now regarded as a form of Optmtia Tuna, supposed by the same author to be a distinct species. Like other kinds of plants, variations may be selected with superior characters,— and a very large fruited and productive variety has been raised in northern Africa, and introduced into California, by Prof Emory E. Smith, of Leland Stanford University. A sketch of a group, with Professor Smith standing among them to show the height of the plants, is herewith given. They are called Nopaleas by the Alger- ians, and this name is adopted by Prof Smith. The fruit is of the size of a very large fig, and the flavor should be that of a well ripened goose- berry, a family to which the gooseberry is closely allied. Mr. Smith says of it : — ** Several years ago, while traveling in Southern Europe and Northern Africa, my at- 28 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAIv GARPENING. [Feb. tention was attracted by the very large and delicious cactus fruits which abounded on the fruit stands and were peddled on the streets of the towns. Conceiving that this might prove a valuable addition to California's already long list of fruits, I collected some of the best var- ieties obtainable. These were forwarded to the gardens of Timothy Hopkins, at Menlo Park, where they were cared for until ready for set- ting out. The plants have grown equally well in the several parts of the State to which they were sent. lyast year they fruited lightly, but the The Spaniard, Sicilian or Arab, who, from necessity or taste, makes a habit of dining on cactus fruit, carries a small piece of leather with a strap over the back, under which his fingers can be slipped. With this leather he grasps the fruit, the ends are slashed off with a sharp knife and a pronged stick or fork securely stuck into the side. The fruit is now held erect, a lengthwise cut made in the skin, which is turned back both ways, exposing the ruby or golden heart, as the case may be. In a twinkling this disappears down his throat in much the same fashion as a raw oyster is swal- INDIAN FIG CACTUS. present season some of them have borne such immense crops that the branches have been broken under the weight. The fruits vary in color from bright carmine to yellowish orange; they are pear-shaped, oblong or nearly round according to variety. Some of them measure five inches in length, eight inches in circum- ference and weigh full eight ounces. They should always be allowed to ripen thoroughly, picked in the early morning and kept in the shade, as they are slightly insipid when warm. The fruits of the red varieties are most gor- geously coloied when peeled. lowed. This deft operation is repeated eight or ten times, when the curbstone diner saun- ters off with a Chesterfieldian air, ' nothing can harm me now,' and all for two cents. An ardent devotee of the new fruit has im- proved on the Spanish method. He jabs a pointed stick firmly into the blossom end of the fruit, slices the peel from the stem in four sections, and turns these back in orange fash- ion. The trick of it all is to prevent getting any of the little irritating fuzzy spines, which cluster on the peel, in your fingers or mouth. The spines are not near so numerous as they •*• «. fc £900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 29 are on the common prickly pear, and for the most part can be easily removed by gently brushing the fruit before or after it is picked. In addition to being delicious eating, a palat- able drink, excellent jelly and other delicacies are made from the pulp. The juice, which is of a brilliant hue, is sometimes used as a water color and as a harmless coloring for desserts, candies, etc." PaRvSnip Culture. — Few vegetables change their edible quality, according to the soil they may be growing in, as the parsnip. To have the best results, they should be sown verj' early, in very rich soil where they may develop rapidly. In poor garden ground, they have a slightly bitterish flavor when wild, and the roots poor and stringy ; they are poisonous when raw, at times. There are well authenti- cated instances of death, by children eating raw parsnip roots, that have grown in waste places. Heat destroys the poison. There are few more delicious and healthful vegetables than a properly-cooked, well-grown parsnip. Ben Davis Apple. — In mid- winter, the Ben Davis Apple is the chi^f kind in the markets of the East, among those that come from the westerly States, — as the Baldwin is from the East. It is not of the highest flavor, but is popular from the balance of good qualities. Late Spring Transplanting of Fruits. — A correspondent asks how late in the spring the transplanting of cherries, peaches, plums and apples, may be safely deferred. That is a question that cannot be answered positively, of course. It would be much safer to say that it should be done as early as possible after the frost leaves the soil. The earlier it can be done, the longer is the time allowed for the earth to become settled around the roots, and the trees to recover the general shock of trans- planting before they are called upon to active- ly engage in food-storing and the support of their leaves. Good care in handling and planting figure largely in the results. A good pounding of the earth around the roots corresponds with the settling which time may bring ; and a little water, given when trees are in leaf or pushing at time of transplanting, is sustaining until the roots can better look around for their own sup- ply of moisture. But ''good care" is often mistaken injury. The pounding of the soil is not done as it is being filled in, but after the hole is entirely filled, making a hard surface through which the needed air and water can- not readily penetrate. The surface never should be made hard — quite the contrary. Then again, instead of a moderate application of water, the trees are sometimes soaked every day all summer long, regardless of need and condition of soil. In heavy soil, it is best to refrain entirely from watering, as trees do not like to stand in water. Cherries and plums object, as a rule, to being moved after commencing to leaf; pears and apples are less particular. Peach and Plum Rot. — Curculio has been looked upon as the greatest enemy of the plum, but, fortunately, that has been overcome — per- haps only temporarily — with the introduction of the Japanese type, on which the puncture of the curculio seems to have no effect. But there is also a fungus to contend with, which has the effect of decaying the fruit just before ripening. It comes very quickly, being little behind Fire Blight in the branches, in this respect. Some varieties are reported more sus- ceptible to this rot than others. In the case of the peach, it separates the stone as the fruit is broken open. The Morris White Peach is especially susceptible. Other varieties are attacked. The seat of the mischief is not generally known — whether the spores of the disease enter into the twigs, carrying the infection later to the fruit, or attack directly the fruit itself. In the former case, a cutting back of the bran- ches would be advisable ; otherwise, simple spraying at regular intervals, using Bordeaux mixture, is the remedy. The latter is gener- ally considered sufficient. Overcrowded fruit is harmful. California Fruit Resources. — Though most persons know that California, as a fruit- growing State, is the wonder of the world, it is questionable whether the full extent of these resources are well understood. One great branch, now, is the preparing of stoneless raisins. A California paper said that over a thousand carloads of these would be shipped from Fresno alone, before the ist of January. m hi 28 MKEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [Feb, tention was attracted by the very large and delicious cactus fruits which abounded on the fruit stands and were peddled on the streets of the towns. Conceiving that this might prove a valuable addition to California's already long list of fruits, I collected some of the best var- ieties obtainable. These were forwarded to the gardens of Timothy Hopkins, at ]\Ienlo Park, where they were cared for until ready for set- ting out. The plants have grown equally well in the several parts of the State to which they were sent. Last year they fruited lightly, but the The Spaniard, Sicilian or Arab, who, from necessity or taste, makes a habit of dining on cactus fruit, carries a small piece of leather with a strap over the back, under which his lingers can be slipped. With this leather he grasps the fruit, the ends are slashed off with a sharp knife and a pronged stick or fork securely stuck into the side. The fruit is now held erect, a lengthwise cut made in the skin, which is turned back both ways, exposing the ruby or golden heart, as the case may be. In a twinkling this disappears down his throat in much the same fashion as a raw oyster is swal- INDIAN FIG CACTUS. present season some of them have borne such immense crops that the branches have been broken under the weight. The fruits vary in color from bright carmine to yellowish orange; they are pear-shaped, oblong or nearly round according to variety. vSonie of them measure five inches in length, eight inches in circum- ference and weigh full eight ounces. They should always be allowed to ripen thoroughly, picked in the early morning and kept in the shade, as they are slightly insipid when warm. The fruits of the red varieties are most gor- geously colored when peeled. lowed. This deft operation is repeated eight or ten times, when the curbstone diner saun- ters off with a Chesterfieldian air, ' nothing can harm me now,' and all for two cents. An ardent devotee of the new fruit has im- proved on the vSpanish method. He jabs a pointed stick firmly into the blos.som end of the fruit, slices the peel from the vSteni in four sections, and turns these back in orange fash- ion. The trick of it all is to prevent getting any of the little irritating fuzzy spines, which clu.ster on the peel, in your fingers or numth. The spines are not near vSo numerous as they £900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 29 i»*© it \ ^ ^ % W are on the common prickl}^ pear, and for the most part can be easily removed b}- gently l)rUvShing the fruit before or after it is picked. In addition to being delicious eating, a palat- able drink, excellent jelly and other delicacies are made from the pulp. The juice, which is of a brilliant hue, is sometimes used as a water color and as a harmlevSs coloring for desserts, candies, etc." Parsnip Cilturic. — I'ew vegetables change their edible qualit}', according to the soil they may be growing in, as the parsnip. To have the best results, they should be sown ver}^ earh-, in very rich soil where they may develop rapidly. In poor garden ground, they have a slightly bitterish flavor when wild, and the roots poor and stringy ; they are i)oisonous when raw, at times. There are well authenti- cated instances of death, In' children eating raw parsnip roots, that have grown in waste 1)1 aces. Heat destroys the poison. There are few more delicious and healthful vegetables than a i)roperly-cooked, well-grown i)arsnip. Ben D.vvis Apple. — In mid- winter, the Ben Davis Apple is the chief kind in the markets of the East, among those that come from the westerly States, — as the Baldwin is from the Kast. It is not of the highest flavor, but is popular from the balance of good qualities. L.VTE Spring Transplanting ok Fruits. ~ A correspondent asks how late in the spring the transplanting of cherries, peaches, plums and apples, may be safelj' deferred. That is a (piestion that cannot be answered positively, of course. It would be much safer to sa}' that it should be done as early as possible after the frost leaves the soil. The earlier it can be done, the longer is the time allowed for the earth to become settled around the roots, and the trees to recover the general shock of trans- i:)lanting before they are called upon to active- ly' engage in food-storing and the support of their leaves. Good care in handling and planting figure largely in the results. A good pounding of the earth around the roots corresponds with the settling which time may bring ; and a little water, given iC//ie?i frees are in leaf or pushing at time of transplanting, is sustaining until the roots can better look around for their own sup- ply of moisture. But "good care" is often mistaken injury. The pounding of the soil is not done as it is being filled in, but after the hole is entirely filled, making a hard surface through which the needed air and water can- not readily penetrate. The surface never should be made hard — quite the contrar}-. Then again, instead of a moderate application of water, the trees are sometimes soaked every da}' all summer long, regardless of need and condition of soil. In heav}' soil, it is best to refrain entirely from watering, as trees do not like to stand in water. Cherries and plums object, as a rule, to being moved after commencing to leaf; pears and apples are less particular. Peach and Plum Rot. — Curculio has been looked upon as the greatest enemy of the plum, but, fortunatel}', that has been overcome — per- haps only temporaril}' — with the introduction of the Japanese type, on which the puncture of the curculio vSeems to have no effect. But there is also a fungus to contend with, which has the effect of decaying the fruit just before ripening. It conies ver}' quickly, being little behind Fire Blight in the branches, in this respect. Some varieties are reported more sus- ceptible to this rot than others. In the case of the peach, it separates the stone as the fruit is broken open. The IMorris White Peach is especially susceptible. Other varieties are attacked. The seat of the mischief is not generally known — whether the spores of the disease enter into the twigs, carrying the infection later to the fruit, or attack directl}^ the fruit itself. In the former case, a cutting back of the bran- ches would be advisable ; otherwise, simple spraying at regular intervals, using Bordeaux mixture, is the remedy. The latter is gener- alU' considered sufficient. Overcrowded fruit is harmful. California Fruit Resources. — Though most persons know that California, as a fruit- growing vState, is the wonder of the world, it is questionable whether the full extent of these resources are well understood. One great branch, now, is the pre})aring of stoneless raisins. A California paper said that over a thousand carloads of these would be shipped from P'resno alone, before the ist of January. INTENnONAL SECOND BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. ( ( THE FALSE HERO. And though the laurel on his brow Seem green to those who worship him, He feels the wreath, he knows not how, Is withered, and its lustre dim. None shall escape the ghostly hand Of the avenging deity, — Elude her wheel upon the land, — Her rudder following in the .sea. ' ' Howard Worcester Gilbert. Species of Roses. — Usually, the number of varieties recognized by florists is far, very far, in excess of the species of a genus ; but in the genus Rosa, it is questionable whether the num- ber of species, recognized by botanists as good species, is not far ahead of any list of garden varieties ever known. Professor Michel Gan- dover, in his Essai sur une nonvelle classifica- tion des Roses de V Europe, de V orient, et du bassin Meditterran^e?i, classifies 798 described by various authors, and two years afterwards added 95 of his own new species that he believed he had found in southeast France alone. What the result would be if he took the whole world into his monograph could only be expressed by Dominie Samson as " prodigious." Forestry in Dubuque County, Iowa. — Professor Thomas H. McBride has prepared a report on the woody plants of Dubuque County, Iowa, for the use of those interested in the forests of that section. He names and de- scribes 79 species, and notes the uses that each may be put to. It is published in advance of vol. X. of the Iowa Geological Survey. Botanizing.— By William Whitman Bailey. — An admirable little guide book to start the young botanist on the pleasant journey through life, — and for the mature botanist who desires to improve his methods by taking leaves from another person's book. Mr. Whitman Bailey, who is now Professor of Botany in Brown Uni- versity, is one of the pioneers in botanical ex- (30) ploration in our country. He w^as associated with the late Sereno Watson, in the survey of the 40th parallel, and has been honored by Dr. Torrey in the genus Baileya, a pretty genus of Californian compositae. No one is better fitted to prepare a collector's hand-book, — and few could tell the story so pleasantly and so well. It is published by Preston and Rounds, Provi- dence, R. I. Horticultural Books for Amateurs. — Where a comprehensive book on general gard- ening is desired, — one that will instruct the amateur in plain language, giving the princi- ples of pruning, spraying, and landscape gard- ening as related to the home grounds, — May- nard's ** Landscape Gardening as applied to Home Decorations " will be found among the most valuable. Of course, one cannot expect to go very far into details, where a great varie- ty of information is attempted. Bailey's '•Pruning Book" and Ivodeman's "Spraying of Plants ' ' are complete in their specialties. Bailey's "Garden-making" is on the order of Maynard's work. Memorial Trees. — The planting of trees in memory of some person is not uncommon. What is apparently an original idea, difliering somewhat from memorial trees, yet commem- orating a great event, is the arrangement of the oak and cedar trees in Blenheim Park, the seat of the Duke of Marlboro. According to an account by the London Mail, the trees are grouped in separate bodies, so as to indi- cate the position of the Dutch and English troops at the battle of Blenheim. Ginseng. — Considerable attention is being given to the culture of this profitable root, and inquiries at this quarter are not infrequent. To these and others, it may be serviceable to state that Mr. Harlan P. Kelsey, of 1106 Tre- mont Building, Boston, has issued an illus- trated circular on the subject, which is sent free to applicants. • e « i; 1900] meehans* monthly — general notes. 31 The Florists' Manual, by William Scott, Florists' Publishing Co., Chicago. A reference book for commercial florists. The author's first aim in preparing this work was to fill a felt want among florists — a book describing the best plants commercially with cultural advice founded on experience. Viewed in this light, it is a valuable and instructive work, very complete in its details. But it need not be confined to circulation among florists and others commercially connected, although gardeners and amateurs need not expect in it a work exactly fitting their requirements. Rather, judge it through the author's own words, i.e.: "If those who favoi us with a perusal of its pages glean only one hint which may help them * * they will have received value for their money." A work resulting from Mr. Scott's long and varied experience, ** from selling a bunch of violets over the counter to planting a tree or seeding a lawn or building a greenhouse," cannot but throw out many hints of value to any one interested in any line of horticulture or flower gardening. The comparatively small index confronting the reviewer at first is far from encouraging, but as the purpose of the author is more clearly brought to light, it is better appreciated. It shows the intention to treat of the most desir- able and profitable things to handle — a conden- sation which many will enjoy. Many interest- ing subjects are brought to headings such as '♦ Easter Plants, " ** W^atering, " ♦' Decora- tions, " •* Potting," "Bedding Plants," etc. Not the least of value to the possessor of this book, are the beautiful half-tone illustrations, numbering more than one 100, and thoroughly illustrating the subjects treated. Critical per- sons may object to the interspersing of adver- tisements with the reading matter, though it is not made very abtrusive ; yet it must be remembered that the work is designed for commercial purposes, and not strictly as a library book. Heard's Island Cabbage. — It is well known that Kerguelen's Eand produces a very interesting species of wild cabbage, Pringlea antiscorbutica. I found a newspaper paragraph which speaks of a Heard's Island cabbage. Are the two identical ? Heard's Island is an even more remote and far-away place than Kerguelen Land. C. W. G. ^ENEK/^L MOTES. Wistaria — Krauhnia. — It would be almost laughable, if the endless confusion were not so trying, when one hunts around, to find what some unheard of name belongs to, and finds some old familiar plant with a new name. If a plant of Krauhnia were offered a person, it might be rejected as probably being some deli- cate house plant, too troublesome to have around, or possibly a noxious weed. But as Wistaria, the whole being changes-— it becomes a welcome article. Whatever botanists may try to do to restore long-forgotten names, it is out of the power of horticulturists to change them. The name of Wistaria is so generally diffused, that not even the famous seven-leagued boots could bring Krauhnia up to displace it. American Park and Outdoor Art Asso- ciation.— The avowed purposes of the Amer- ican Park and Outdoor Art Association are, * * To promote the conservation of natural scen- ery, the acquirement and improvement of land for public parks and reservations, and the advancement of all ' outdoor art' having to do with the designing and fitting of grounds for public and private use and enjoyment." During the three years of its existence, this Association has shown an earnest desire to further work in the lines laid down ; and con- siderable success in bringing together the fore- most men in professions allied to such work. It is safe to prophecy a brilliant future for this organization, which is worthy of all the co- operation the American public can lend. At the last annual meeting, held in Detroit, Mich. , June, 1899, papers with the following titles were read and discussed : — " Boston Com- mon," "Relation of Reservoirs to Parks," " The Parks and the People," " Finger Boards and View Points, " " Outdoor Art in School and College Grounds, " " The Development in Chil- dren of Interest in Outdoor Art," " Park Nomenclature and Accounts," "The Care of Walks and Drives," "The Improvement of Factory and Home Grounds," "Park Land- scapes. ' ' The membership numbers about 300. Annu- al fees for active members $5.00 ; associate $2.00. The Secretary is Mr. Warren H. Man- ning, Boston, Mass. The annual meeting for 1900 will be held at Chicago. ' ! M V i» i I I 32 MEEHANS' MONTHIvY— GENERAL NOTES. Feb. Ginseng.— The U. S. Department of Agri- culture has issued a Bulletin, No. 16, on American Ginseng, prepared by George V. Nash. The roots have increased in value from 52 cents a pound, in 1858, to more than $3.00 per pound, in 1893. In the ten years preceding 1893, the value of the export (principally to China) ranged from $600,000 to $1,000,000 per annum. It is getting scarce in a wild state, and as much as $4.75 per pound has been recently paid. It is now being profitably cultivated. It is believed to have no real medicinal value, though in all cases of medical craze, numbers of Chinese will testify to its wonder- ful virtue. Some of the roots are divided so as to form a rough outline of the human form, as sometimes the mandrake does, — and, it is believed, the faith in the virtues arose from this resemblance in both instances. The State laws have been iron-clad for the preservation of Ginseng in the southern forests, which have been just as successful as laws in other States against the spread of weeds, in- sects, forest fires, and fungus diseases. Laws against the appearance of comets, or the shocks of earthquakes are in order, — but if it can be shown that watchers may be appointed, and money appropriated for the purpose, these useful regulations may yet appear on our statute books. prices have been given to the originator ; but in these cases, it is pretty well forseen by those who purchase the stock that judicious adver- tising would bring an abundant reward. It is not often that this can be foreseen, as the pub- lic taste is very variable. Originators of New Varieties. — So far as we know, the only person in America who has made a specialty of raising new varieties of flowers and fruits, with the view of profit, is Mr. Luther Burbank, of California. In the Old World, this is made a special branch of business. The party or parties give the whole of their time to hybridizing and selecting, and, when they have a good thing, find no difficulty in getting a handsome price from some nurs- eryman or seedsman for the whole stock. Pos- sibly one reason why this branch of the profes- sion has not made for itself a foot-hold in America, is from the difficuly of finding per- sons in the trade who are willing to give the price for the whole stock of a given variety commensurate with its real value. As a gen- eral rule it costs enormously to advertise pro- perly a new variety so as to get it well in the market, and a fair price can therefore seldom be offered to the originator. In the case of some varieties of grape or other fruits, good Indian Civilization.— Canada seems to be doing better in Indian civilization than the United States. Instead of moving them to new locations to teach them gardening and farm- ing, whpre all is absolutely new, they are en- couraged by a system of progressive develop- ment to improve on the spot with which they are already acquainted. Dr. Wm. Saunders, the Director of the Dominion experiment stations, has been making his annual tour among the Indians of western Canada, and gives the most encouraging accounts of their progress. He notes this especially of the Doukhobors. They have taken to cultivating their land with remarkable industry, and are increasing their villages rapidly. Fruits, veg- etables and fish, are their chief food, and they seem to have abandoned the chase. They also avoid the use of intoxicating liquors or tobacco. They are raising chickens, and have butter, cheese, milk and eggs. They are making bread from a low grade of flour from their own growth of grain, — and are very fond of vege- tables like beets, cabbage, onions and potatoes. They still retain the custom of the north- west Indians, in having one large house of poles and logs for a whole family, but have pro- gressed so as to divide the sleeping apartments one from another. In a few instances they have introduced a white man's comfort — a feather bed. It is not unusual to have from 25 • to 40 individuals in a single house. In a double tier of beds, the upper ones are reached by a ladder. They have got so far as to find a use for steam. They heat stones red hot and pour them in water, and then, in their " bath house," rub themselves in the steamed atmos- phere with the dried branches and leaves of the Mossy -cup Oak, Quercus macrocarpa. They even cook part of their food by steam thus generated. They are fond of labor, and readi- ly hire themselves out for the railroads that are constructing branches through their terri- tory, and prove to be remarkably good laborers. They are hardly self-sustaining, and get some assistance from the Canadian Government. 0 f f. ^^ u :' ' I e f m^ri:^^''***^ \ , OL. X. Plate N'-^ 5. ) \ I, lit t '^ •^ it MAMMILLARIA MISSOURIENSIS. NUTTALL'S MAMMILLARIA. NATURAL ORDER, CACTEv55 Mamili-aria MISSOURIENSIS, Sweet. — A smaller species than Mammillaria rz/Vi^ara, globose, simple, with fewer (loorao) ash colored spines ; flowers yellow ; berries scarlet, sub-globose ; seeds globose, pitted. — See Coitltcr's Manual of Rocky Mountain Bofanv awd Gray's Manual o/ l/ir Botany of the Isorthern United States. This will probably be regarded as one of the most interesting of all the cactus family. Few have holly-like berries in their best condition during the flowering season, or have the flowering spread over a continuous season of several months, as is the case with this species. Its beaut}^ is not, however, fully realized, even by iVIr. Lunzer's faithful drawing, for at noon on sunshiny days, the flower is so fully ex- panded as to have a vase-like form, exposing the stamens and pistils to full view, and which add very much to the interest the lovers of cactuses take in them. The ])lant here figured came originally from Dr. C. C. Parry, and was collected in Wyoming. ( .rowing in a warm, sunny ])lace, the first flowers appeared the first week in May ; but it was not until the first of June that the flowers ai)peared in numbers, and it was earl\' in July before the flowering stage was wholly over. It is difllcult to note the behavior of cactuses when in their flower- ing condition in a wild state, from the fact that the collector is moving from ])lace to place. lie collects the specimen when he comes to it, and then passes on in search of other treasures. And yet much of the interest presented by these ])lants is derived from their flowers, and their behavior while in flower. In a garden, these matters can be watched more closely. On June ist, a point was made to watch closely the opening and closing of the flowers, and thus to note facts that would not be observed by the general botanical collector. In plants of many species outside of the cactus family, some will flower in the spring from buds in some measure perfected during the previous growth-season. Others will make flower buds and develop flowers on the wood of the same season, as growth develops. This law alvSo prevails among cactuses. vSome will send out flowers from the mature growth of the past or even of some more remote year, — others bloom from the new growth of the plant, and as that growth progresses the flowering pro- ceeds. Mammillaria Missouriensis is of the latter class. The new tubercles may be seen rising with the clear and bright spines from the apex of the plant, and from between these at the base of some one tubercle the flower buds are seen to rise. On June ist, as above noted, our plant presented, at 9 a. ui., the appearance represented in the picture. The flower was about two inches long, tapering to a narrow tube at the base. The sepals and petals were linear-lanceolate, tapering towards the apex into a .sharp, awl-shaped point. The sepals are strongly ciliate. The pistil at this time was within a half-inch as long as the peta's, and fi)ur-cleft, the divisions some- what more erect than horizontal, and bright yellow. The style was about half an inch longer than the stamens, and rather slender for a cactus. The numerous anthers were bright yellow. The filaments were twisted horizontally into a tight ball, the yellow points of the anthers only being scarcely visible above the mass. Spines 12-15, *'ibout half an inch long, almost equal in size, slender, with brownish tips, — the central one usually turned upwards. Tubercles or mammie half an inch long by quarter-inch wide, cylindrical, obtuse at the apex, deeply grooved above. Berries scarlet, two-thirds the length of the tubercles, ovate, somewhat compressed. At this date, the berries are beginning to shrivel. Petals yellowish -brown, with a dark brown centre. This extract from the note-book is instructive, as showing the points requiring examination in distinguishing one species from another. On the 14th of June, another observation was (33) OLOR P TXT'T'T7XT'X»Tr\XT A T I f i -II ^|i- ii^ 34 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — MAMMIIXARIA MISSOURIENSIS. [March taken, and without reference to the previous note, so that any variation may subsequently have special attention. This was taken at mid- day and reads : — "Flower now broadly expand- ed, about two inches wide, though the petals themselves are about an inch and a half long, the flower being somewhat salver-shaped. These petals are greenish yellow with a brown mark, one or two lines wide, running down the centre, but tapering graduallj- along their whole length. Filaments deep brown, — anthers golden yellow; style a little longer than the stamens ; stigmas 4 to 5 lines wide, narrowing towards the apex, and presenting a somewhat stellate appearance. ' ' Passing now to the fruit, it will be noted that though the flow^ers come out from the new growth at the apex, the red berries are lower down and among the tubercles of last year. This arises from a remarkable fact first noticed and placed on record by the author of this paper, that some species of Mammillaria have their ovariums remain absolutely at rest for a year after the flowers wither. This behavior is well known to occur among oaks and other species of plants, but had not heretofore been noted among cactuses. Just as the new growth of the season commences its development, these seed vessels of last year also make their renewed growth. Their growth must be very rapid. The author has never seen it in pro- gress. A plant with no sign of fruit on a cer- tain day will be covered with the full-sized berries a day or two after. It has been often noted by botanists versed in matters connected with classification, that it is not easy to define the line drawn by nature between a cactus and a gooseberry. The tend- ency in the gooseberr^^ and in the cactus to be alike spiney will occur to every one, — and, as the fleshy fruit given in the plate shows, the gooseberry character is w^ell simulated. More- over, in studying the morphology of cactuses, the student derives many good hints from a previous examination of the gooseberry. Aside from the succulent character, there is indeed little more than the tendency in the cactus to produce a greater number of stamens and petals in the flower, to distinguish the order from the gooseberries. The species was among the first of the Mam- millaria to be discovered in our country. Nut- tall, in his " Genera," published in 1813, notices it, but supposed it was the same as Cactus Mamillaris of Linnaeus, a sub-tropi- cal species, though he remarks on the smaller size of the American plant ; and he expresses surprise that a tropical species should be found able to endure the severe winters of the " high hills of the Missouri." It was ulti- mately discovered not to be that species, and Engelmann described it as Mamillaria Nut- talliana, under which name the best part of its history is to be found. Sweet, however, had named it in the '' Hortus Britannicus,'' pub- lished in 1826, .Mamillaria Missouriensis, and this seems to be the name that will gener- ally prevail. In* the United States, it is probably more widely distributed over what is known as the cactus belt than any other species, and, as is usual with many plants under such conditions, has some geographical variations, which have been regarded as good species by some botan- ists, varietal forms by others, and by others again as only such variations which ought to be gathered in under the one specific descrip- tion. That is to say, instead of giving new names to the slight variations, the description of the species should be broad enough to cover them all. On the whole, the members of the cactus family of which our Mamynillaria is a member, afford good material for the study of the hypothe- sis, popular at the present time, that new spe- cies have been developed from older ones chief- ly by changes in their surroundings. This is known as the doctrine of environment, and the whole subject is known as ecology. For instance, cactuses have a hard epidermis, not permitting the escape of moisture, and thus permitting them to thrive on arid plains where little rain falls. So far the hypothesis approaches the condition of a sound theory. We see that they are perfectl}^ at home in these environs. But when removed again to situa- tions that are acceptable to other plants that transpire freely, they seem to show no disposi- tion to go back to their original condition. Our species has wandered from its arid home, to the companionship of ordinary vegetation, retaining all its arid habits, even under moun- tain snow. Explanation ok the Plate — i. Mature plant of several years growth, from Wyoming. 2. Tubercle with its crown of horizontal spines. 3. Berry of natural size. Seed magni- fied,—showing the dotted surface, and the attached placenta. 0 c !i WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. HAS SPRING COME YKT ? Tell me, for I long to hear, Tidings of our English year. Was the cuckoo soon or late ? Have the apple blossoms burst ? Is the oak or ash the first ? Are the snowballs on the guelder ? Can you scent as yet the elder ^. On the bank-side that we know Is the golden gorse ablow ? An Englishman's letter to home. Alfred Austin, H ABENAKI A KiMBRiATA. — A Specimen sent the conductors for identification proves to be the Purple-fringed Orchis, Habenaria fijnbri- ata. Besides its color, it differs from the species illustrated in the February- issue of the Monthly, in having ver>' large size flowers. This specimen was collected at Sugar Mill, N. H., which is within the known habitat of this species. The flower stalk is about two feet in height, six inches of it being occupied by the flowers. They have no odor, but make a beautiful cut-flower, lasting for a long time, like other members of the orchid family to which this belongs. Sanguinaria Canadensis. — The fugacious character of the petals of the American Blood- root, alluded to in the January issue of the Monthly, as preventing this beautiful spring flow^er from being much gathered for indoor decoration, can be to some extent circumvented by plucking not full blown flowers but buds. The latter, taken with as long stalks as pos- sible, and placed in water indoors,' will open quickl}' and remain in flower for a couple of days or more, charming all that heboid them. Last spring we were interested in observing the petals of flowers on such stalks, which we had set in a tumbler of water, increase per- ceptibly in length after the first expanding. The use of a measure showed that flowers, which on the first da}- of opening had a diam- eter of one and one-quarter inches, had in- creased it on the second da}' to one-and-one- half inches. Another fact we noted w^as that the mature blossoms, instead of being circular in outline, were in reality rectangular or square. The ground work was a cross of four broad petals, like the plan of a crucifer, and on these was superimposed a set of eight nar- row petals in pairs, each of which filled a space between two of the wide petals, thus : SANGUINARIA PETALS. To what extent our flowers were typical or exceptional, due to imperfect development in water, I have not since had an opportunity- to observe. C. F. Saunders. Philadelphia. The Earliest Flower.— Last Thursday, it snowed four inches deep ; Friday, towards evening, the weather moderated. Some time in the night, it began to rain. It rained all day Saturday and cleared away by Sunday morning. Then it bio wed — a howling north- wester all day Sunday, growing colder all day, and in the afternoon I walked out to hunt up a warm spot in the woods. As I walked, I noted the snow-drifts from a few inches deep to over two feet, scattered here and there. The snow on the level had been washed and diluted by the copious Saturday's rain, and was gone. The snow in the drifts was very much in evid- ence. The wdnd was cold and biting, and as I walked amongst the rocks, examining the plants, I saw a tiny flow^er, pink -purple, look- ing up into ni}^ face. I have often seen these flowers before, but never have met with them under the pre.sent circumstances — snow one day (35) \ I ! 1 36 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [March \ il »l I ^' I |i and the day following the plant in bloom! The flower, expanded, measured X of an inch. The plant, as it stood in the ground, measured one inch in height. It had also, on its side branches, several buds all ready for blooming. These plants have terminal flowers, a single blossom on a long peduncle, which vary from white to pink up to dark purple. This little plant was loaded up to distinguish itself— and it did. It belongs to the CrucifercE family. I have not been able to find its specific name, but hope to when they become more plentiful. The spring beauties, Claytonia, have had buds on them sometime before Christmas,— those which are rooted on the rocks with southern exposures. They have waited a long time, but we are going to have spring soon and then they will blossom forth and be happy. The Early Crowfoot, fasciculariSy is not in it this year. I have not been able to find a single ' bud on any of them ; but another day like to- day may bring them out, although the ground now is frozen solid ; yet the sun is out and the days are legthening and the ice is bound to melt. The sweet harbinger of spring, that I found yesterday, tells me in my heart that spring is near— is very near. F. K. Steele. Festus, Jeff. Co., Mo., February 27, 1899. That solitary yellow-jacket, last October, did just as instinct prompted it to do— go to- wards the light and look for something to eat. Peekskill. N. Y. S. DiCK FERRIS. Reason and Judgment in the IvOWER Ani- MAivS.— Under the above heading, the reasoning power of a yellow-jacket- wasp was recently given at length in Meehans' Monthly. If that insect had scented the partly rotten apple, why did it search every cranny in the room before it found it ? " The solitary wasp must have scented the rotten apple from a long distance," and after a long search gave it up. Why did he not scent another apple, and " make a bee line for it," out of the window again ? I have seen yellow-jackets, bees, flies, and other insects get into corkless bottles placed up-side-down, and die in there— just a little reasoning would have meant liberty to them. Birds sometimes get into rooms and injure themselves by flying against glass in trying to get out. The animal instinct leads insects and birds towards the light, and many are killed by fly- ing against windows, gas and electric lights and light-houses. Turtles and Toads.— Cautiously, the turtle stretches out her head to survey the territory and see if it is free of danger, before she ven- tures across the path, while the toads are still in hiding, buried under the loose earth, which their sensitive nature prefers for a covering against the wet and cold above ground. We have learned now ' generally to recognize these useful creatures as valuable helpers in destroy- ing noxious insects of the garden. Two hun- dred years ago, one, Rev. George Burroughs, a graduate of Harvard College, was in the witch- craft delusion of Salem, and unmercifully hanged on the gallows. One of his accusers testified as proof of his compact with the devil that he kept toads in his house and cellar. Mrs. S., in Hartford Times. Vital Energy.— Live plants are plants with their particles in motion building up the plant's structure. This motion is known as vital energy. Physical energy results in decompo- sition. The material out of which plant struc- ture is formed is known as protoplasm. The forms of flowers result from varying degrees and directions of vital energy, — but what starts the motion in protoplasm, and so directs the energy that a little cell may develop in one in- stance to an oak, or in another to a buttercup, has not been demonstrated. We speak of vital force, or life-energy, as a fact, but no one has ^'^et discovered what starts the movement. Cypripedium acaule. — Cypripediuyn acaule has received considerable notice through your columns during the past year. Some of the writers mention having found it in oak barrens, and others in pine woods. In this locality, we have taken it in hemlock woods, huckle- berry' swamps which are submerged in spring but dry in summer, wet mucky swamps and in always-wet moss. North of the Georgian Bay, we have commonly seen it in small patches of moss on otherwise bare and dry rocks. J. W. Tyrell, C. E., of this city, has found it grow- ing on dry hillocks of sand and boulders in lat. 57° 30^ long. 107° ; and Gray gives its southern limits as North Carolina. 1900] meehans' monthly— wild flowers and nature. 37 c Now I would like to know why a plant, which grows naturally under such a variety of conditions in regard to climate, soil and water supply, is so hard to cultivate. Perhaps it is not difficult to manage, but we have not suc- ceeded, and would like to be informed as to some fairly successful method of outdoor cul- tivation. There is no trouble in forcing it once in damp sphagnum moss, and we expect to see some in bloom in a couple of weeks. While in the swamps, I would also ask if any of yout correspond- ents have noticed the large number of intoxicated bees upon the flowers of Ledum la t if 0 Hum. J. M. Dickson. numbers— a not unusual thing. The large leaves make the flower panicles more con- spicuous, but are quite a coarse, ordinary type, and do not help the amateur much in identify- ing the plant— the flowers, appearing in August and September, will. It extends through the Eastern States from Canada to Florida and west to Wisconsin, in woods. Swarming o k Butter FLi«;s. — A correspondent from Yadkin Val- ley, South Caro- lina, says : ' ' Did you ever see a swarm of butter- flies, two or three hundred in a mass, alight at the same time and place? I did, last September. For two or three even- ings, the ends of the branches of a large hickory seemed to turn brown, and then silver, as the but- terflies {Danais Archippus) fanned themselves to sleep. It was a strange and v^ry pretty sight." CoLLiNSONiA Canadensis. — A somewhat in- teresting wild-flower is the Horse-balm, Col- linsonia Canadensis. The yellow flowers are not as showy as some others, but are produced in large terminal panicles which] look well when the plants are growing together in great CHRYSANTHEMUM FRUTE8CEN8.--PARIS DAISY AT HOME. The Paris Daisy at Home.— In these days, those who grow cut flowers for win ter-blooming would hardly know what to do without the Paris • Daisy,— a glau- cous, cut-leaved, somewhat shrub- by plant, with white, daisy-like flowers, continu- ally in bloom at that season. It is always a pleas- ure to know the history of our friends. This one is a native of the south of Europe. Gardening Illus- trated reproduces a scene from the shores of the Med- iterranean, which not only gives us an idea of the manner in which it contributes to the floral adorn- ment of that re- gion, but gives us a glance, at the same time, of the character of that famous sea. The Gypsy Moth. — According to the Bos- ton Transcript, the experts of the Gypsy Moth Commission are trying experiments looking to the destruction of the insect, by dusting the trees with some substance that will kill the insect by dyspepsia. This is a happy thought, and might be extended to cover man}' other pests. 1 ^»M^ 36 MKKHANS' MONTHIvY— WILD FLOWKRS AN') NATURK. [^larch r 1900] MKKHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWKRS AND NATURE. 37 and the day following the plant in bloom! The flower, expanded, measured % of an inch. The plant, as it stood in the ground, measured one inch in height. It had also, on its side branches, several buds all ready for blooming. These plants have terminal flowers, a single blossom on a long peduncle, which vary from white to pink up to dark purple. This little plant was loaded up to distinguish itself— and it did. It belongs to the Criicifercr family. I have not been able to find its specific name, but hope to when they become more plentiful. The spring beauties, Ciaytojiia, have had buds on them sometime before Christmas, — those which are rooted on the rocks with southern exposures. They have waited a long time, but we are going to have spring soon and then they will blossom forth and be happy. The Early Crowfoot, fascicularis, is not in it this year. I have not been able to find a single bud on any of them ; but another day like to- day may bring them out, although the ground now is frozen solid ; yet the sun is out and the days are legthening and the ice is bound to melt. The sweet harbinger of spring, that 1 found yesterday, tells me in my heart that spring is near— is very near. K. K. vStkklk. Festus, JeflT. Co., Mo., February 27, 1S99. Reason and JuixiMENT in the Lower Ani- mate.—Under the above heading, the reasoning power of a yellow-jacket- wasp was recently given at length in :Meehans' Monthly. If that insect had scented the partly rotten apple, why did it search every cranny in the room before it found it ? " The vSolitary wasp must have scented the rotten apple from a long distance," and after a long search gave it up. Why did he not scent another apple, and " make a bee line for it," out of the window again ? I have seen yellow-jackets, bees, flies, and other insects get into corkless bottles placed up-side-down, and die in there— just a little reasoning would have meant liberty to theuL Birds sometimes get into rooms and injure themselves by flying against glass in trying to get out. The animal instinct leads insects and birds towards the light, and many are killed by fly- ing against windows, gas and electric lights and light-houses. That solitary yellow-jacket, last October, did just as instinct prompted it to do— go to- wards the light and look for something to eat. Peekskill, N. V. S. DiCK FERRIS. Turtles AND Toads.— Cautiously, the turtle stretches out her head to survey the territory and see if it is free of danger, before she ven- tures across the path, while the toads are still in hiding, buried under the loose earth, which their sensitive nature prefers for a covering against the wet and cold above ground. We have learned now generally to recognize these useful creatures as valuable helpers in destroy- ing noxious insects of the garden. Two hun- dred years ago, one, Rev. (George Burroughs, a graduate of Harvard College, was in the witch- craft delusion of Salem, and unmercifully hanged on the gallows. One of his accusers testified as proof of his compact with the devil that he kept toads in his house and cellar. . Mrs. vS., in Hartford Times. Vital Knerc.y. — Live plants are i)lants with their particles in motion building up the plant's structure. This motion is known as vital energy. Physical energy results in decompo- sition. The material out of which i)lant struc- ture is formed is known as protoi)lasm. The fornus of flowers result from varying degrees and directions of vital energy, — but what starts the motion in i)rotoi)lasm, and so directs the energy that a little cell may develop in one in- stance to an oak, or in another to a buttercup, has not been demonstrated. We speak of vital force, or life-energy, as a fact, but no one has yet discovered what starts the movement. Cyprifedium acaule. — Cypripedium acaule has received considerable notice through your columns during the past year. Some of the writers mention having found it in oak l^arrens, and others in pine woods. In this locality, we have taken it in hemlock woods, huckle- berry swamps which are submerged in spring but dry in summer, wet mucky swamps and in always-wet moss. North of the (Georgian Bay, we have commonly seen it in small patches of moss on otherwise bare and dry rocks. J. W. Tyrell, C. Iv, of this city, has found it grow- ing on dry hillocks of sand and boulders in l^t. 57° 30^ long. 107° ; and Oray gives its southern limits as North Carolina. 1'# % \ lit ^ 1 Now I would like to know why a plant, which grows naturally under such a variety of conditions in regard to climate, soil and water supply, is so hard to cultivate. Perhaps it is not difficult to manage, but we have not suc- ceeded, and would like to be informed as to some fairly successful method of outdoor cul- tivation. There is no trouble in forcing it once in damp sphagnum moss, and we expect to see some in bloom in a couple of weeks. While in the swamps, I would also ask if any of youi correspond- ents have noticed the large number of intoxicated bees u p o n the flowers of Ledum latifolium, J. M. Dickson. numbers— a not unusual thing. The large leaves make the flower panicles more con- spicuous, but are quite a coarse, ordinary type, and do not help the amateur much in identify- ing the plant— the flowers, appearing in August and vSeptember, will. It extends through the p:astern States from Canada to Plorida and west to Wisconsin, in woods. vSwARMiNcv of Butter FLi'h^s. — A correspondent from Yadkin \'al- ley, vSoutli Caro- lina, says : "Did you ever see a swarm of butter- flies, two or three hundred in a mass, alight at the same time and place? I did, last September. P'or two or three even- ings, the ends of the branches of a large hickory seemed to turn brown, and then silver, as the but- terflies {Danais Archippiis) fanned themselves to sleep. It was a strange and very pretty sight." CoLLiNSONiA Canadensis.— A somewhat in- teresting wild-flower is the Ilorse-balm, Col- linsonia Canadensis. The yellow flowers are not as showy as some others, but are produced in large terminal panicles which] look well when the plants are growing together in great CHRYSANTHEMUM FRUTESCENS. - - PA R IS DAISY AT HOME. The Paris Daisy at Home.— In these days, those who grow cut flowers for winter-blooming would hardly know what to do without the Paris Daisy,— a glau- cous, cut-leaved, somewhat shrub- by plant, with white, daisy-like flowers, continu- ally in bloom at that season. It is always a pleas- ure to know the history of our friends. This one is a native of the south of luirope. Gardening Illus- trated reproduces a scene from the shores of the Med- iterranean, which not only gives us an idea of the manner in which it contributes to the floral adorn- ment of that re- gion, but gives us a glance, at the same time, of the character of that famous sea. The CtYfsy Moth. — According to the Bos- ton Transcript, the experts of the Gypsy Moth Commission are trying experiments looking to the destruction of the insect, by dusting the trees with some substance that will kill the insect by dyspepsia. This is a happy thought, and might be extended to cover many other pests. intentional second exposure i ir GENERAL GARDENING. THE BROOK'S SONG TO SPRING. O beauty — vision of forgotten gladness ! Promise of all the years, that ne'er betrays ! 0 miracle of hope and balm of sadness ! Creative ecstasy and fount of praise ! • • • • • 1 lay upon the ground and gave no token, I hid my face midst sodden leaves and sere, My languid pulses chill, my spirit broken, — I dreamed not, O divine one ! 3^ou were near. The snows and frosts of winter, long departed. Seemed leaden on my breast and weighed me down. And I forgot, forlorn and heavy-hearted. Your goodness, goddess of the violet crown ! Then, soft as music in remembrance sighing. You fanned me with your wooing breath, and I, Who shed no tears when lone I lay and dying. Wept at your touch, and knew I should not die! • • • • » Along my banks are tender blossoms blowing ; They gently nod their heads, and smile at me, — But, ah ! I hasten to the river, knowing The river will lead onward to the sea ! High over me the budding branches quiver With songs that swell in happy harmony, But sweeter seems the murmur of the river, — The river that leads onw^ard to the sea ! Florence Earle Coates, in Outing. Magnolia grandiflora. — The greatly re- duced figure of the Magnolia grandiflora, from a photograph sent by Anderson and Price, Ormond, Fla., gives an idea, though faint, of the form and beauty of this noble denizen of our southern forests. It is almost intoxicating to walk through a group of them when in blossom in early spring. The odor can surely not be exceeded by the groves of the famous ♦' Araby the blest" of the poets. And then the broad, shining, evergreen leaves, give such a marked character to the trees, that one can scarcely believe he is in an ordinary American forest. As in most cases of plant species, there (38) are great and striking variations in the individ- uals. Some have very narrow leaves, — indeed, a botanist would term them linear-lanceolate; other trees will have the leaves nearly round. In these cases the petals follow^ the leaves and are narrow. In the round-leaved cases, the petals are round. The illustration is of a round-leaved tree. A great difference is MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA. (GREATLY RCDUCCO. ) also to be found in the tint of the under sur- face. At times we see the under and upper surfaces are of nearly the same shade, — in other cases the leaves beneath are of brilliant brown, almost, indeed, of a golden hue in ex- ceptional cases. They often reach 75 feet high, and eight or nine feet in circumference. The Magnolia grandiflora will stand a good deal of frost if sheltered from cold winds. Under such conditions it is hard}^ as far north as Philadelphia. Some Trees and Shrubs ok Extreme Hardiness. — In speaking of hardy plants, it should always be borne in mind that cold alone is not the only condition affecting them. The results may be varied by a dry or moist atmos- phere ; by certain degrees of light ; by ex- posure to winds ; or by location — whether in moist or dry soil. Or the nature of the sum- mer preceding a winter's test may affect the vitality or state of the tree, and subject it to injury. \ \ 1900] meehans' monthly — general gardening. 39 It is the purpose of this chapter to record those plants which have proved capable of standing extreme cold. As to what localities they will be suited, as regards general condi- tions, this must be demonstrated by trial. The list is largely based on the report of Dr. Wm. Saunders and Prof. Macoun, of the Central Experimental Farms, Ottawa, Canada. Mr. Macoun well says : — " It is interesting to note the greater degree of hardiness of individual specimens of some trees and shrubs which, when first planted, killed back one-half or more each year and which appear to be getting hardier every year. Illustrations of this are the Smoke tree {Rhus Cotinus), Plowering Dogwood {Cornus florida), English Hawthorn {Crativgus Oxyacantha), a few individuals appearing to get hardier each year. ' ' Acer Japonicum. ATnelanchier alnifolia. Berberis Fremonti. Bcrberis Thunbcrgi. Berberis vulgaris. Berberis viilj^aris foliis pur- pureis. Betula alba. Catalpa Bungei. Catalpa Ksempferi. Cephalauthu.s occidentalis. CcrciciiphjUuin Japonicum. Clematis crispa. Clematis Virginiana. Clematis Vitalba. Cornus alba. Cornus alba Sibirica varie- gala. Crataegus coccinea. Crataegus cordata. Cratiegus Crus galli. Crataegus Oxyacantha. Daphne Cneorum. Diervilla sessilifolia, Euonymus alatus. Euonymus atropurpureus. Euonymus Europseus. Euonymus nanus. Fagus ferruginea. Fontanesia phillirseoides. Forsythia intermedia. Praxinus Americana. Fraxinus Americana acubic- folia. Fraxinus excelsior. Fraxinus excelsior aurea pendula. Fraxinus excelsior pendula. Genista sinensis. Gymnocladus Canadensis. Halesia tetraptera. Hydrangea paniculata hor- tensis. Ilex glabra. Ilex (Prinos) verticillata. Juglans cinerea. Juglans nigra. Juglans Sieboldiana. Kalmia angustifolia. Ligustrum Ibota. Lonicera be 11a. Lonicera bella Candida. lyonicera Morvowi. Lonicera Phylomelae. Lonicera scmpervirens. Lonicera Tatarica. Lonicera Tatarica alba gran- diflora. Lonicera Xylosteum. Morns alba. Morus alba Tatarica. Morusaiba, Tea's Weeping. Myrica asplenifolia. Ostrya Virginica. Oxydeudrou (Andromeda) arboreum. Pachysandra terniitialis. Philadelphus corouarius. Philadelphus coronarius foliis aureis. Philadelphu.s Gordonianus. Philadelphus grandiflorus. Platanus occidentalis. Populus alba pyramidalis (Bolleana.) Populus balsaraifera. Populus laurifolia. Populus nigra pyramidalis (Lombardy.) Potcntilla fruticosa. Prunus Davidiana. Prunus (Amygdalus) nana flore albo. Prunus (Cerasus) Pennsyl- vanica. Prunus (Cerasus) Padus. Prunus (Cerasus) ranuncu- laefolia. Prunus (Cerasu«> serotina. Prunus (Cerasus) Virginiana. Ptelea trifoliata. Ptelea trifoliata aurea. Pyrus baccata. Pyrus coronaria. Pyrus Malus flexilis. Pyrus spectabilis flore pleno. Pyrus loringo. Pyrus Aucuparia. Pyrus arbutifolia. Quercus alba. Quercus bicolor. Quercus dentata. Quercus imbricaria. Quercus macrocarpa. Quercus nig'-a. Quercus pedunculata (robur). Quercus pedunculata (robur) Concordia (Gol- den). Quercus Prinus. Quercus rubra. Rhamnus cathartica. Rhododendron I n d i c u m Kaempferi. Rhododendron (Azalea) nu- diflorum Rhododendron (Azalea) vis- cosum. Rhododendron maximum. Rhus aromatica. Rhus glabra. Rhus typhina. Acer Japonic u?n and A. polymorphum, Japan- ese Maples, will be welcomed with delight as hardy plants. The Blood-leaved variety is, of course, the most popular, and it has been proven hardy not only in Canada, but in north- eastern New York and Wisconsin. It seems to do best in good, rich soil well-drained. A, Japonicum aureuni, A. polymorphum reticula- turn and cristatum while hardy are not consti- tutionally strong. Bcrberis Fremonti is a beautiful, rare species with glaucous foliage shaped not unlike small holly leaves. It has not yet received the at- tention it deserves. Berberis Thunbergii as a dwarf bush or low hedge plant is unsurpassed. Its foliage and bright red berries are so ornamental, the absence of showy flowers is not noticed. Berberis vulgaris and \?iv'\^ty purpureis are both suitable for hedges. Birches thrive splendidly in the coldest cli- mates in rocky, well-drained soils. Catalpa Bungei is very dwarf — simply a shrub, unless grafted on stems, which is most frequently done. But it might be used to advantage oftener in bush form. Clematis crispa has very unique . flowers, quite unlike the large- flowered and paniculata types. They are bell-shaped, the petals re- maining closed except as tow^ards the ends they reflex. Cormis alba has bright red stems in winter, thrives in low situations. Cratcpgus cocci?iea is beautifully clothed in its bunches of large red fruit, about the size of a small crab-apple. CratcEgus cordata grows more shapely than C Oxyacantha, and bears pretty bunches of red berries, which with the true hawthorn leaves almost give the impression, from a short distance, of a holly in fruit. Cratcpgus Crus-galli, with its heavy thorns, makes a defensive hedge. Fraxinus Americana is a superb, rapid- growing tree for sidewalk planting. Gymnocladus Canadensis, though it does not make a very uniform growth while young, develops into a very satisfactory tree, — and it does especially well along the sea-coast. It bears very thick, black pods which remain on the tree all winter. Halesia tetraptera, scarcely a medium-sized tree, is remarkably beautiful when covered r M 40 o» MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [March with its clear white, bell-shaped flowers in earliest spring. Hydra7igea paniculata grandiflora is some- thing everyone likes, and is especially valu- able on account of late blooming. It does well in drained soil. Jiiglans Sieboldiana produces clusters of pointed nuts, a trifle smaller than those of the Black Walnut. The quality of the nuts has not yet been generally criticised. Kalmia angustifolia appears a trifle hardier than the well-known K. latifolia. Its flowers are pretty, but smaller and more numerous. The leaves, too, are small and narrow. Ligustrum Ibota may take the place of L. ovalifolium in the colder climates. Lonicera Tatarica grandiflora has flowers much showier than the type. Morus " Tea's Weeping" makes a fine speci- men bush, especially when grafted on very tall stems. The branches invariably reach the ground. Oxyde7idron arboreu7n, usually termed ^«^r^- meda arbor ea by nurserymen, makes a small tree having long, narrow, glossy green leaves, the latter turning brilliantly in colors in autumn. PacH^sandra termifialis is commonly classed with herbaceous plants, by reason of its low- growing, spreading character, making it use- ful for ground-covering. It is evergreen, grow- ing three or four inches in height, and pro- ducing whitish flowers in spring, around which honey-loving insects swarm in great numbers. Prunus Davidiana is doubtless the first of all plums to flower, which it does profusely. Prunus Padus makes a handsome specimen in growth, flower and strings of black fruit. Pyrus coronaria has a leaf quite distinct, somewhat palmately formed, which takes on beautiful autumn coloring. Pyrus Aucuparia, the well-known Mountain Ash, does well on drained soil, provided the borers leave it alone. The showy, orange-red berries, borne in liberal bunches, make it well worth a trial. Rhammis cathartica is a common hedge- P^^"^' (concluded in April.) lyiNARiA CvMBALARiA. — I was much sur- prised, a few days ago, to find that Cymbalaria Cymbalaria {Linaria Cymbalaria) had '* intro- duced" itself on a little strip of the lawn, and was growing vigorously and blooming quite freely. It is now past the middle of November, and the dainty little plant, though so delicate and tender looking, has resisted the frosts which stripped the leaves from the Ampelopsis quin- quefolia some six weeks ago. Three or four years ago, some hanging bask- ets were filled with this vine, branches or seeds of which must have given rise to this little colony, which now seems so thrifty and so at home. ' The locality is close along the base of the lattice of the front porch, facing the north. The close proximity to the lattice protected it from destruction by the lawn mower, (together with a little carelessness in trimming). I found, in digging up enough of the vine for a nice jardiniere through the winter, that some of the vines had wound in and out along the lattice to a length of three feet or more. Columbus, Ohio. MrS. W. A. KELLERMAN. A Few Good Bedding Geraniums.— At this season of the year, when almost any flower is welcome, few, if any, are more attractive than the new hybrids of which such an almost end- less variety exists. One hundred and twenty-three named vari- eties were grown here for trial this year. Out of this number, one hundred and fourteen sur- vived the summer. The plants that were lost were of the Eng- lish, round-flowering type, chiefly, thus demon- strating their uselessness for our arid summer heat. Duplicates of all were in stock, however, and those that were useless for outside work proved to be the best for indoor culture. Some vari- eties require a light shade, — others full sun ; and one has to experiment a little to ascertain their requirements. In an article of this kind, only a few can be described, and the following ten varieties, all of which are single, are superb, leaving nothing whatever to be desired as to robustness of growth, freedom of bloom- ing, and beauty of color ; and any reader eager to obtain good varieties cannot do better than include them in their list. To-day, January 24th, all are in flower and. promise to continue so for a long time to come. Ian McLaren. — Splendid salmon. Gen. Dodds. — Intense scarlet, fine. 1: k i £900] meehans' monthly — general gardening. 41 Mark Twain. — Superb, white, veined sal- mon ; good truss and florets two inches across. A gem. Pierre Lebruin. — White ; intense solferino edges. Excellent ; a good grower. Torrain. — Beautiful pink splashed with pur- ple. Extra good habit, truss and grower. Phyllis.— This is the queen of all. A lovely salmon rose ; fine flowers, trusses ten inches across. A gem. Lucreece. — A fine pink. Wintie. — Bright, rosy scarlet. M. deJa Roix. — Splendid salmon. Mrs. E. Rawso7i.—\xsX,^ns^ scarlet. This variety ought to be in every collection . It is a beauty. Its flowers possess that beauti- ful velvety appearance so much desired in ger- aniums. In another article, I shall name and describe a dozen best doubles, some of w^hich are superb. Rahway, N. J. A. ". HEW ©t l^KE FLINTS, New Geraniums for Conservatory Decor- ation.— Henry A. Dreer review^s the newer geraniums as follows: — "While undoubtedly the most popular of bedding plants, Geran- iums, deserve to be used more extensively for window and conservator^' decoration, no other plants excelling or even approaching them for brilliancy and richness of color. Unfortunately, the value of the many fine varieties annually imported has been determ- ined by their ability to withstand our severe climatic conditions when bedded out, and as few have stood this test, many of the very choicest sorts for indoor culture have been lost sight of. In the following lists, the aim is to make the selection combine in the highest degree per- fection of form and size of the individual florets, size of truss, purity of color, habit of plant and general excellence, and especially recommend them for the embellishment of the conservatory and window garden. Double Geraniums. /. B. Varrone. — Fier>' carmine, with large white centre, shaded with rosy lilac ; semi- double. Richelieu. — Deep scarlet, shaded with fiery orange, with maroon veiling ; semi-double. Mme. Carnal. — Purest snowy white. Pasleur.—The brightest and purest scarlet of all. M. Cafiovas. —Bri\\\?int fiery scarlet, veined with maroon. Jean Remeau. — Snow-white, veined with rosy violet, petals bordered with bright crim- son ; semi-double. Single Geraniums. Chateaubriand. — Brilliant scarlet, with ma- roon shading and delicate black veins on the upper petals. Daumier. — Soft rosy-lilac, with small white blotch on the upper petals ; the centre of the flower heavily spotted with rosy anilene ; one of the choicest of the Picotee section. Lord Kitchener.— Thr^e: lower petals soft scarlet ; two upper clear cherry red. Mary Pelton. — Very delicate pale salmon ; a beautiful shade. Oliver. — Centre of flower snow white, suf- fused with a rich magenta shade, bordered with glowing scarlet around the margin of the petals. Ponschki7ie.—^r\\X\2A\\, anilene violet, two upper petals blotched with pure white, the cen- tres of the lower petals shading into rosy white. IVY-LEAVED GERANIUMS. Achievement.— K distinct shade of soft sal- mon pink ; semi-double. Leopard.— LdiXgQ semi-double flowers of re- markable coloring, the ground color being clear lilac-pink with heavy carmine blotches over the upper petals ; absolutely distinct from any previous introduction, and may be aptly described as a Lady Washington Ivy-leaf. Un- questionably the greatest break in this section ever obtained. The Bride,— l>o\\h\^ pure white ; creeping habit."' A warning should accompany recommenda- tions of geraniums for window-culture. Quite frequently, an attempt is made to flower them out-of-doors all summer and then pot them in the fall expecting an abundance of bloom in the winter as well. The plants are weakened by blooming and potting, and do not respond to the care given. Plants intended for winter blooming should not be permitted to flower during the summer at will, but encouraged to make healthy, vigorous, compact plants. Pot them up in ample time for the roots to become active again before transferring to the house. r[ ! ' '1 i\ I 42 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [March Climbing Bridesmaid Rose. — Among tea roses, perhaps no other is so popular as Brides- maid,— at least of similar color, a clear dark pink, none is more beautiful. A sport has been obtained from it of climbing character, in all other respects being identical with its parent, and like it blossoms freely and contin- uously. Where the climate will permit, it will prove most valuable as an out-door plant. T&ilE Mi^I^l^T f LOWEl ^i^^l^EM. The Five Best Hardy Roses. — Excluding the ordinary Hybrid Perpetual roses from con- sideration, the following may be said to be the best selection of five types : Crimson Rambler, rugosa, WicJmraiana, setigera and Harrison's Yellow. The latter is included because of the striking, clear yellow of its flowers, the growth WICHURAIANA ROSES TRAILING OVER A WALL. New Salvia Splendens, "Silver Spot." — Messrs. J. M. Thorburn & Co., are introduc- ing a new variety of the well-know^n and popular Salvia splendens, the leaves of which are spotted with light yellow. The colored lithograph they are distributing reminds one of the Aucuba Japonica, a pretty evergreen shrub from Japan. Equally good effects could be had from this novel variety of the Salvia. being very ordinary and occasionally unkempt if not pruned and trained judiciously. It is the only fine yellow hardy rose in general cul- tivation, and it ought to be in every collection. But it is not propagated very largely. The Crimson Rambler is one of those novel- ties of great merit which has won its way with marvellous rapidity to the hearts of every flower lover, Ever>' one, nearly, know^s of it> «o 1900] meehans' monthly— general gardening. 43 and it is one of the first of that class of plants to be chosen. It is as hardy as can be, and is adaptable to many uses : First as a porch or pillar vine ; then as a forcing plant ; or it can be grown as a large bush or clump ; trained to a single stout stem and allowed to head — tree- form ; or it may be used as a hedge plant. In any way it is highly satisfactory— except weakly grown. It must have strong canes to perfect fine blooms. That is its nature, and it is only lack of care or improper pruning that makes it otherwise. When in bloom, from a distance the bunched flowers look like some one large red flower, and are very conspicuous. The Japanese Rose, rugosa, is not as well known as the Crimson Rambler, though known for a much longer time ; yet it gives even more general satisfaction, in that it takes care of it- self,— requires almost no pruning, and is not troubled by insects — the greatest pest of the grower of hardy roses. Its large single flowers, pink and white, bloom off and on all summer; and the large red hips or seed-pods make the ornamentation of the plant continuous. The foliage is coarse, but neat and attractive, last- ing well throughout the summer. There are two double or semi-double varieties of this rose which are practically unknown, though they are not new, and are undoubtedly improve- ments over the singles. These are Madame (reorges Bruant and Comte d'Epremesnil ; the former is white and the latter red. They seem to bloom even more profusely than the type, large bushes being rarely without flowers all summer long. The rugosa also makes a good hedge. The Wichuraiana rose is very different from any of the others in this selection, being dis- tinctly a trailing rose ; but it may be trained on a trellis like any other "climbing" rose. Its greatest use is for covering banks, low walls, (see illustration), etc., and for this purpose it is unsurpassed. It grows very rapidly, and will throw out wonderfully long shoots in a season, running right along the ground. As the quantities of single white flowers appear on the bed of shining green foliage, the natural beauty o^ the plant is intensified, and it pro- vokes admiration from every beholder. With- in quite recent years there have been improve- ments along this line of roses, and there are now '• Wichuraiana hybrids" which are really valuable acquisitions. The following briefly describes them : Manda's Triumph.— Perfectly formed double white flowers nearly two inches in diameter, beautifully imbricated. They are in clusters of from 12 to 18 on even small side shoots, literally covering the plant. Universal Favorite. — Soft light pink double flowers, large size and sweet-scented. South Orange Perfection. — Free bloomer, but with smaller, double flowers, white, the tips of the petals soft blush pink, changing to white. Pink Roamer. — Bright, rich pink — a fine color. Flowers single, but produced in large clusters, the in- dividuals being about two inches in diameter. Possibly the showiest of the group. Where a number are used an assortment looks well, or one kind alone may be used. The Wichuraiana can also be trained to standard form like the Crimson Rambler, but is too weak to support itself without a stake. The beauty of plants trained in this manner, the long, slender shoots trailing to the ground, and the flowers show- ing off to excellent advantage, can be well im- agined. The foliage remains persistently green through a great portion of the winter, which, with the abundant little red seed pods, make it attractive for a long period. A more recent race of hardy roses termed evergreen has been developed from the Wichuraiana crossed with other hybrids. These are Evergreen Gem, Jerse}' Beauty and Oardenia. It is quite pos- sible that these may prove even more valuable than are the others, which is saying much. Rosa setigera, the Prairie Rose, appeals very strongly to the writer as one of the most beau- tiful flowering roses to be seen. The readers of the Monthly may remember a colored plate which appeared in its pages some time ago. It is of semi-running habit, making it adaptable for growing singly or as a hedge. A hedge in full bloom is a picture. The older flowers shade off from the natural deep rich color, not in a manner to disfigure the whole, but so as to form a beautiful combination of color. The foliage is not particularly attractive, yet by no means objectionable. This rose is fast winning its way to great popularity, and will doubtless be found generally worthy. PRqiTS Sffi VE^ETilPLCS. The Profits ok Market Gardening. — Numbers of inquiries come, to the editors of horticultural and agricultural newspapers, of ) <' \\ r ' '% \ I I ^l' I % 1900] o' meehans monthly— general gardening. 43 and it is one of the first of that class of plants to be chosen. It is as hardy as can be, and is adaptable to many uses : First as a porch or pillar vine ; then as a forcing plant ; or it can be growm as a large bush or clump ; trained to a single stout stem and allowed to head — tree- form ; or it may be used as a hedge plant. In an}^ way it is highU' .satisfactory— except weakly grown. It must have strong canes to ])erfect fine blooms. That is its nature, and it is only lack of care or improper pruning that makes it otherwise. When in bloom, from a distance the bunched flowers look like some one large red flower, and are very conspicuous. The Ja])ancse Rose, n/^osa, is not as well known as theCrimson Rambler, tlumgli known for a much longer time ; yet it gives even more general satisfaction, in that it takes care of it- vSelf, — requires almost no pruning, and is not troubled by insects — the greatest ])est of the grower of hardy roses. Its large single flowers, ])ink and white, bloom oft' and on all summer: and the large red hii)S or seed-])ods make the ornamentation of the plant continuous. The foliage is coarse, but neat and attractive, last- ing well throughout the summer. There are two double or semi-double varieties of this rose which are practically unknown, though they are not new, and are undoubtedly imi)rove- ments over the singles. These are Madame (leorges liruant and Comte d'h'premesnil ; the former is white and the latter red. They seem to bloom even more ])rofusely than the type, large bushes being rarely without flowers all summer long. The rui^osa akso makes a good hedge. The Wiiliin aiatia rose is very different from an}' of the others in this selection, being dis- tinctly a trailing rose ; but it may be trained on a trellis like any other "climbing" rOvSe. Its greatest use is for covering banks, low walls, (see illustration), etc., and for this ])urpose it is unsur|)assed. It grows very rapidly, and will throw out wonderfully long shoots in a season, running right along the ground. As the quantities of single white flowers appear on the bed of .shining green foliage, the natural beauty o^ the i)lant is intensified, and it pro- vokes admiration from every beholder. With- in quite recent years there have been improve- ments along this line of roses, and there are now " W^ichuraiana hybrids" which are really valuable acquisitions. The following briefly describes them : Manda's Triumph. — Perfectly formed double white flowers nearly two inches in diameter, beautifully imbricated. They are in clu.sters of from 12 to 18 on even small side shoots, literally covering the plant. Universal Favorite. — Soft light pink double flowers, large size and sweet-scented. South Orange Perfection. — P'ree bloomer, but with smaller, double flowers, white, the tips of the petals soft blush ])ink, changing to white. Pink Roamer. — Bright, rich pink — a fine color. Plowers single, but produced in large clusters, the in- dividuals being about two inches in diameter. Possibly the showiest of the group. Where a number are u.sed an assortment looks well, or one kind alone maybe used. The Wichuraiana can al.so be trained to standard form like the Crimson Rambler, but is too weak to support it.self without a .stake. The beauty of plants trained in this manner, the long, slender .shoots trailing to the ground, and the flowers .show- ing off to excellent advantage, can be well im- agined. The foliage remains persi.stentl}' green through a great ]K)rtion of the winter, which, with the abundant little red .seed pods, make it attractive for a long })eriod. A more recent race of hardy roses termed evergreen has been developed from the Wichuraiana crossed with other hybrids. Tlie.se are ICvergreen (lem, Jer.sey Beauty and (lardenia. It is quite pos- sible that these nuiy prove even more valuable than are the others, which is saying much. Rosa set i^ era, the Prairie Rose, appeals very strongly to the writer as one of the most beau- tiful flowering roses to be seen. The readers of the Monthly may remember a colored plate which appeared in its pages .some time ago. It is of .semi-running habit, making it adaptable for growing singly or as a hedge. A hedge in full bloom is a picture. The older flowers shade off from the natural deep rich color, not in a manner to disfigure the whole, but .so as to form a beautiful combination of color. The foliage is not particularly attractive, yet by no means objectionable. This rose is fast winning its way to great popularity, and will doubtless be found generally worth3\ I^qilTS ANb ¥E^ETi^PLES. The Proeits of Market (Gardening. — Numbers of inquiries come, to the editors of horticultural and agricultural newspapers, of NTIONAL SECONPBXPO aiJN 44 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [March gardening profits that may be made out of growing fruits and vegetables for market. Much attention is paid to the character of the soil, the climate and the adaptability of varie- ties to these conditions ; but one essential is over all, and that is the marketing of fruits and vegetables after they have been raised. Even when there are markets convenient, a person may be wholly ignorant of the methods of marketing. It takes nearly as much art to know how to sell as it does to know how to raise the article in the first place. In brief, the success of any proposed market garden plan depends as much on the man himself as on the natural conditions of soil and climate. Bartlett Pears. — Eastern markets were abundantly supplied with Bartlett Pears, from California, last season, in advance of the crops in the Atlantic States, and brought very good prices. They were of very good quality. Peach-growing in the South.— Mr. J. Van Smilley tells the Southern Farm Maga- zine \h2X\ — "The leading family and market peaches originated in the South, and were in- troduced by Southern nurserymen. The Sneed peach, the earliest of all, ripening ten days ahead of the old Alexander, originated near Memphis, Tenn. The Greensboro peach, an extra large early variety, ripening with Alex- ander, originated at Greensboro, N. C. The Triumph, the earliest yell w peach ever known, ripening only one week after Alexander, orig- inated in Georgia, as did the Elberta. One of the finest table and market peaches, the Lady Ingold, which has attained a national reputa- tion, originated in Guilford County, North Carolina, and was introduced by the writer. The Connetts Early originated in this county, and is fast attaining a national reputation. The introduction of these varieties has caused the South to become one of the leading peach- producing sections for market in the Union." Seedless Grapes. — Grapes often produce berries without seeds in them. Once in a while, an individual will produce all the bunch with every berry seedless. Propagated by cut- tings, it is then distributed as a distinct vari- ety. The variety, known as Black Corinth, gives us the currant of European commerce. The Sultana is a variety that gives us the cur- rant of California. Another has been raised in California, known as Thompson's Seedless. It is becoming very popular there. Choice Home Fruit.—I want to refer to a fruit which every citizen may cultivate, for it will climb a fence or an alley wall. I mean the grape, and one of the most wholesome of fruits, and the vine is so cheap and will so early yield fruit, that even the tenant may well plant it in his tjack garden. A vine each of the following would give a succession of delicious grapes for the table from September ist until Christmas, or even longer. I name them in the order of ripening : Moore's Early, Lady, Lindley, Wilder, Delaware, Diamond, Salem and Vergennes. The last two varieties might be kept well into the winter for table use. There is no secret about keeping them in good condition, except a moderately low tempera- ture and in moderately humid air, or wrapped in oiled paper. If the cellar is warm and dry they will shrivel up. The cherry is well adapted to the city fruit garden. • The tree is ornamental in habit and in bloom, and the fruit both attractive and marketable. The fruit cannot always be pur- chased in the market at its best ; like the peach and the plum it is most luscious when gathered from the tree at the nick of time, when it is just at its best. The market gardener picks his cherries on the green side, and they do not improve after gathering, so you seldom get them at their best from the green-grocer. The cherry must have sandy soil for the best success, but whatever soil, it must be dry. If not too close in texture, it will not need much cultivation, so you can plant the cherry along the border, if you choose, but, if the ground is hard, you must either dig about the trees or mulch them well. For a succession I would plant Governor Wood, Black Tartarian, Napo- leon, Early Richmond, May Duke, Montmo- rency, Elkhorn, Windsor and English Morello. The cherry does not need much pruning. Indeed, if you cut it very much, you will injure its vitality. There is no fruit more profitable, and a small garden planted with cherries will give you good returns. Strawberries you want fresh from your own vines to have them at their best, and you can- not always depend upon your fruiterer for them. They will repay the highest cultiva- iv 1900] MEEHANS' monthly — GENERAL GARDENING. 45 tion, and give wonderful yields of fruit. Try Clyde, Bubach, Saunders and Haverland, or some of the other highly recommended vari- eties, and see how well you will be repaid. L. WOOLVERTON, Before Hamilton (Ont.) Horticultural Society. likes to various localities. Reports from parts of Nevada indicate that the Rome Beauty con- siders itself comfortably at home there, and is popular with orchardists. Nitrate of Soda. — A correspondent re- cently inquired about the use of Nitrate of Soda in the culture of lettuce under glass. There seemed to be no American experiments at hand. The horticultural journal. La Se- maine Horticole, is giving a series of papers on the subject, detailing experiments on various kinds of garden vegetables, made at Darm- EXPERIMENT8 IN THE USE OF NITRATE OF SODA. stadt, by Professor Paul Wagner, by which it appears that when in connection with other materials, it is of great advantage. Annexed is an illustration of carrots, grown under these experiments, given in that magazine. The results are truly surprising. For a little less than 100 feet, 2% lbs. of Nitrate of Soda was applied at the commence- ment of the growing season, and 2^ a month afterwards. About 14 lbs. of super-phosphate, and the same of potash, was applied with the first dose of the nitrate. Apple, Rome Beauty. — Apples, as fruit growers know, have their special likes and dis- State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania. — The Forty-first Annual meet- ing of the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania was held at Pittsburg, January 1 6th and 17th. That it was a most interesting, instructive and well attended meeting, was unanimously agreed by those in attendance. Strange to say, through the long period of its existence this occasion marks the first visit to any city west of the Allegheny Mountains, and partly ac- counts for its ex- istence being comparatively lit tie known among the vast number of Pennsylvania horticulturists. Prof. John Hamil- ton, Secretary to the State Board of Agriculture, states that the Department has a list of 30,000 Pennsylv a n i a n s interested in fruit growing ! Add to this those inter- ested in farming alone, (possibly only one per cent, of the fruit-grow- ers do not farm also), those interested in floriculture, gardening and the various allied lines, and we have a multitude of men who might be benefited through membership in this organization. The friendly intercourse of its members is perfect ; they gather together for the advancement of horticulture, which means not the hoarding of secret information but the free interchange of thought and advice — the best that the most practical experience can give. Fruit-growing is the most popular topic at these meetings, for, naturally, the majority of its members are fruit-growers ; yet other things are not neglected. One would suppose that forty years' difFus- \ tt: I it ; I ' t/^ 46 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [March 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 47 *1 sion of such practical information, as comes before these meetings, would ere this have put Pennsylvanian fruits at least in the front ranks among the best fruit-growing States ; yet it is shown to be little beyond its infancy, though fruit of finest flavor can be produced there. Many persons fail to realize this fact, that location has considerable to do with the quality of fruit, — and in this respect Pennsylvania is favored. Great need is shown for thorough- ness in orcharding from first to last. Lacking this, the trees are unproductive, and have not the vitality and energy to make long-lived orchards ; the fruit is frequently undersized, worm-eaten, scabby and devoid of natural color ; and, lastly, the products are marketed in a slip-shod, unattractive manner. It would require many pages to detail the proper care of orchards, but there are some points of chief value that should always be kept to the fore, and they can be as profitably adopted by the owner of a few door-yard trees as by the pro- prietor of a 300-acre orchard, — a fruit tree is a source of desirable production in either case ; let us have the best it can yield. Taking the larger fruit trees for illustration of needed attention, such as the apple, pear, peach and plum, the soil should be well prepared to re- ceive the trees — the sub-soil broken up (not turned up) ; healthy, vigorous trees should be planted, and planted carefully by bringing the soil into perfect contact with the roots, as often related in these pages ; the trees must have plenty of room for future development — they wont give good satisfaction for all time without light and air among the branches, for which reason a careful guidance, by aid of the pruning-knife, is also necessary- ; the mainten- ance of food in the soil must be regularly pro- vided for, and this means those fertilizers sup- plying nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash at least. These fertilizers become soluble in water, therefore a supply of moisture must be main- tained— not necessarily nor preferably by rain or artificial means, but rather by conservation through constant cultivation, dating from the time the plants are set out. Among other interesting matters presented at this meeting may be mentioned a review of floriculture in Allegheny County, showing its advancement the past forty years, by Mr. P. S. Randolph, a successful florist of Pitts- burg. Mr. Randolph's capable discourse took his hearers thoroughly along the course from the time when there were but two green- houses in the whole country, and camellias were almost the sum and substance of the florist trade, and the capacity of a florist's business was reckoned by the number of camellias he possessed, through the periods of changes in plants and flowers, and methods of heating. The Hon. Alva Agee, of Ohio, had an ap- preciative audience for his practical talk on potato culture, on which he is an acknowleged authority. Two important recommendations he made were the use of true second crop seed potatoes, small perhaps, but produced in strength, and deep planting with shallow covering, the soil being added as the sprouts grow. The benefit to the potato plants by the latter method, in having the roots near the light and air as long as possible, is evident to every reasoning person ; but it is not every one to whom it would occur. The chief speaker for *' Ornamental Horti- culture " was Mr. Wm. H. Moon, the well- known nurseryman, and ex-president of the association. The next annual meeting is to be held at Harrisburg. Annual membership fee $1.00; life-membership, $10,00. Amount of Seed Required for Vegetable Plants. — The following useful table is taken from the valuable catalogue of Mr. Alfred Bridgeman, and will be a guide to those who do not know just what quantities are required in ordering : — Cabbage, I oz. 3,000 plants. Cauliflower, I " 3.000 •' Celery, 1 " 4.000 " Eggplant, I •• 2,000 *• Endive, I •• 3.000 •• . Lettuce, 1 " 4.000 •• Pepper, I " 2,000 •• Tomato, I •• 2,000 •• Pole Beans, I qt. to 150 hills. Corn I •* 200 '• Cucumber, I oz. to 50 " Watermelon, I " 30 • Muskmelon, I " 60 •• Pumpkin, I ;• 40 •; Early Squash, . ' ,\ 50 Marrow Squash, 1 •• 30 •• Asparagus, I " 60 ft. drill Beet, 1 " 50 " Carrot, 1 •• 150 •• Okra, I •• 40 " Onion, I •• 100 " Onion Sets, Small 1 qt. to 50 " Parsley, 1 oz. to 150 " Parsnip, I •• 200 " Radish, I 100 Salsify, • ' ;* 70 •; Spinach, I " 100 " Turnip, I •• 150 •• Peas, I qt. to 100 •• Dwarf Beans I " 100 " m ^ «V) Mr. Bridgeman has taken pains to make his catalogue as useful as possible to the amateur, and among other hints, designates those vari- eties which are recognized superior to others. A Selection of Vegetables for a Given Space. — In response to the inquiry of a Ken- tucky correspondent, Messrs. D. Landreth & Sons give the following list of seeds desirable and in sufficient quantities for a strip of ground 40 X 30 yards : — Beans. — Stringless Green Pods, . i quart. Landreths' Scarlet, . . i quart. Kentucky Winter Pole, . i pint. Corn, Sugar.— Country Gentleman, i pint. Landreths', . . . i pint. Cucumbers.— Emerald 2 ounces. Beets. — Columbia, 4 ounces. Cabbage. — Wakefield, . . . . % ounce. Redland Early Drumhead, . % ounce. Carrot. — Ox-Heart, i ounce. St. Valery, . . . . i ounce. Celery.— White Plume, . . . . i ounce. Lettuce.— Landreths' Forcing, Ji ounce. Bloomsdale Reliable, H ounce. Landreths' Early Summer, % ounce. Landreths' Largest of All, ^ ounce. Ego Plant.— Landreths', . . . 14 ounce. Melons, Water. — Arkansas Traveler, i ounce. Bradford, i ounce. Melons, Cantaloupe.— Early Bristol, % ounce. Anne Arundel, }i ounce. Missouri, y^ ounce. Black Paris, ^ ounce. Okra.— Landreths' Long Green Pod, i ounce. Onions. — Bloomsdale Pearl, . . . i ounce. Bermuda White Wax, i ounce. Onion Sets.— Silver Skin, 3 quarts. Parsley.— Emerald . . . . i ounce. Peas.— Landreths' Extra Early, . 2 quarts. Bloomsdale, . . . . i quart. Duke of Albany, . . . i quart. Phonograph, . . . . i quart. Radish.— Scarlet Prussian Globe, . i ounce. Wonderful Half long Scarlet, i ounce. Long White Lady-finger, i ounce. Tomato.— Ten Ton i ounce. Beverly, i ounce. Stone I ounce. Shelter-Belts and Wind-Breaks. — In certain localities where winter winds are extremely severe, and snow-falls heavy, it be- comes necessary- to protect trees of some kinds from damage. Prof. C. B. Waldron, of the North Dakota Kx peri men t vStation, has the fol- lowing to say regarding the use of willows for this purpose : "The subject of snow is a serious one in connection with tree planting, and the destruc- tion wrought by it has quite discouraged some who had beautiful and thrifty groves. This is because their trees were not arranged properl}'. In years of very heavy snows of course some damage will be done, but if a single row of willows be planted parallel with the north side of the grove and about ten rods from it, the drift will lie between the willows and the grove, and the trees escape serious injury. The trees at this station are protected in that manner, and in the winter of '95 and '96 our only injury was to some low, bushy plum trees, while other groves were nearly destroyed. The intervening space, when trees are planted in this way, may be utilized for small fruits and general gardening. For these operations it is very desirable to have protection from the south winds in the summer, and a good cover- ing of snow in the winter. The belt of trees itself should be of good width, if we are to get the conditions found in the forest. The minimum width should be four rods, while a strip twice as wide is better. Around the outside of this belt another row of willows should be planted. The White Willow is generally used and found satisfactory, but with us the Golden Russian Willow grows faster and is more ornamental. The Laurel- leaved Willow is scarcely inferior to this, and has a beautiful foliage. Within the tree belt come the permanent trees, such as are to give lasting charm and protection to your abode and vour children." Besides the willow. Prof. Waldron recom- mends the Cottonwood (poplar) in single rows, the box -elder {Negundo), Soft Maple (Acer dasycarpum) where soil is not too dry and the practice of cultivation is followed. Belts three rows deep are planted, — say two of box-elder with some larger growing, permanent tree for the center row. For the latter, WTiite Ash is recommended where not troubled by the bark beetle ; American Elm ; Quercus niacrocarpa (Bur Oak) ; hackberry {Celtis) ; bass wood (linden) ; and Rock Elm. " As we reach the opposite side of our tim- ber belt, smaller and more graceful trees with rich, heavy foliage should be used to give the proper ornamental effect. The grove should not break off grim and harsh exposing the bare trunks of the trees, but should blend itself into the landscape through the eas}' stages of birch and choke-cherry {Cerasus Virg inland), with still smaller shrubs at the last. These give a much better effect on the margin if not confined to straight rows." It will be seen by the closing of the pre- ceding paragraph that Prof. Waldron is an advocate of beautiful natural surroundings, even when it conies to making shelter belts, — and in this he is perfectly right. It takes but little more effort and expenditure of money to make a place attractive and a home in every 1 I I[ ^8 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL NOTES. [March sense. The question of *' How shall we keep the boys on the farm ?" would seldom need to arise if the farm were less bare and attractive in its outward surroundings as well as in- doors. ©^R/^FHT AHh LITEE^T^RE. GREEN FIELD MEMORIES, music such as yields Feelings of old brooks and fields, And, around this pent-up room. Sheds a woodland, free perfume, — O, thus forever sings to me ! O, thus for ever ! The green, bright grass of childhood brings to me, Flowing like an emerald river, And the bright-blue skies above ! Lowell. vegetarians, socialistic and opposed to war — whom persecution at home has driven to more congenial surroundings. They began to arrive in the Canadian Northwest about a year ago, — having been enabled to get away from Russia through the eftorts of members of the Society of Friends, both in England and America. C. F. Saunders. Mr. S. will accept thanks for the correction. The paragraph was made up from a long re- port of a Canadian department, and the con- denser evidently supposed it referred to an In- dian tribe, as the habits described were, in so many respects, like those of some of the North- western Indians. The Shamrock. — The plant {Trifoliuvi minus) is the generally accepted Shamrock of Ireland, but old authorities believe that the original Shamrock is the Wood Sorrel {Oxalis Acetoselld). An early writer (Sir Henry Piers) says : " Between May Day and harvest, butter, new cheese, curds and Shamrocks, are the food of the meaner sorts." Now Wood Sorrel is an agreeable salad herb, whereas Clover or Trefoil, which is usually considered as the Shamrock, is anything but palatable. Then Fynes Mor- rison writes of his countrymen : ' ' They willingly eate the herbe Shamrocke, being of a sharpe taste,"— a description applicable to the Wood Sorrel, but not to any species of Tri- folium. Moreover, the Clovers never grow in woods, whereas the Wood Sorrel has there its native place, and coincident with this the •• Irish Hudibras " states : "Within a wood, near to this place, There grows a bunch of three-leaved grass, Called by the boglanders Shamrogues, A present from the Queen of Shoges (spirits). ' ' These authorities, we think, justify the con- clusion that originally the Wood Sorrel was the Shamrock of ancient Wmes.— Journal of Horticulture. DoUKHOBORS. — Maj' I call your attention to a mistake on page 32 of the February Monthly ? The writer of the paragraph "Indian Civiliza- tion" speaks of the Doukhobors as if they were North American Indians. As a matter of fact, they are a sect of Russian Christians,— u iJ ^ENEK/^L IM6TES. Teak, Briar Pipes, and Mistletoe.— Dr. C. W. Greene notes. — Mistletoe (p. 168). — • ♦ Directions for the artificial propagation of the Mistletoe are given in Henderson's Handbook of Plants. Press a berry on a crack in the bark, and tie oiled paper over it. Briar Pipes. — Your correspondent states (p. 165), that briar pipes are from smilax roots. But the briar pipes of commerce are from Erica arborea of Europe. Teak.—\t is stated that some of the Philip- pine Islands abound in forests of that noble and interesting tree, Tectona grandis. It is, therefore, probable that before many years we shall all become familiar with its wood. Historic Sago Palms. Transfer of Histori- cal Plants. — By the death of the late Mrs. C. Van Rensselaer Thayer, of Lancaster, Mass., three large plants, that have long been in her greenhouse here, have lately been trans- ferred to the New York Botanical Gardens, under the supervision of Mr. S. Henshaw. One, a Cycas revoluta, is known to have been in the Van Rensselaer family for over a cen- tury, being brought from their homestead, near Albany, when it was demolished. It is a superb specimen, and will have an historic interest to the Botanic Gardens of the State of New York. Two large Agave Americana were also sent with the Cycas. They are huge plants, larger than some that have reached maturity and flowered. These also have a similar history to the Cycas above noted. E. O. OrpET. V Plate 4. i n i TRILLIUM CERNUUM. AMERICAN HERB-PARIS. NATURAL ORDER, LIUACEi^. Trillium cernuum, Lin nse us. —Leaves broadly rhomboid, acuminate, subsessile ; flowers pedunculate, pendulous, white. Stem nine to fifteen inches high. Leaves three to five inches long, and two to four inches wide. Peduncle half an inch to an inch in length. Berry half an inch to near an inch in diameter, fleshy, dark purple when mature. Dar- lington's Flora Cfstrica as Trillium pendulum, Muhl. See also Wood's Class-book of Botany, Gray's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, Chapman's Flora of the Southern United States, and Britton & Brown's Illus- trated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. This pretty and interesting wild flower brings us, as Herb-paris, into close relation with classical floral literature of the Old World. The original Herb-paris of Europe is, botanically, Paris quadrifolia . There is very little difference between Trillium and Paris. The former, as the name implies, has its vari- ous parts arranged in threes,— while the latter, as again exemplified by its name, has them in pairs. But these differences arise only from the abortion of parts primordially the same. Specimens of Trillium are occasionally found with more than three leaves, sepals, petals, and the usual six stamens, — while Paris, with its tw^o-pair (four) leaves has been found with but three, as in Trillium. Some modern American botanists have adopted the common name of "Wake-robin" for the American plants, — notably Britton & Brown. This is unfortunate, as it not only disturbs the popu- lar relationship of our plant with the historical associations connected with Paris, but confuses distinct things. Wake-robin is the common name in England for the Arum maculaium, a very different plant. One of the common names in the Old World is Herb-true-love, — and it is around this name that the poetical associations of Paris cling. The two pairs of leaves are set cross-wise, and make a verticil of four, resembling a Saint Andrew's cross, or "true-lover's knot." The association with love stories and love affairs may not have wholly originated by the ar- rangement of the leaves, — the erroneous em- ployment of the capital P in paris gave a tinge of personality to the whole idea. It is in actual use as emblematic floral language in Germany. Our plant, the Trillium, with its verticil of three instead of four leaves, might well stand as an emblem of love, wit and valor, in which Moore has enshrined the Shamrock, — especially as there is so much dispute as to what plant was the Shamrock's original. Says Valor, ' ' See They spring for me. These lovely gems of morning." Says Love, * ' No, no, For me they grow, My fragrant path adorning." But Wit perceives The triple leaves, And cries, " Oh ! do not sever A type that blends Three God-like friends, Love, Valor, Wit for ever." Rafinesque, indeed, tells us that in some parts of our country, one of the common names of the Trillium is Indian Shamrock. Botanical writers, in selecting popular names to go with, the botanical ones, seem to follow no rule, and the name of American Nightshade frequently follows Trillium. This has the merit of carry- ing us back to the early botanical history of the family, for the early botanists, Gesner and Lobel, supposed it to belong to the Nightshade family, and named it Solarium tetraphyllum. It was, however, Herb-paris so far back as Gerarde's time. In his Herbal, published in 1636, he tells us that "the Herba-paris flowreth in Aprill, and the berry is ripe the end of May ;" and he says " Herbe Paris is exceeding: cold ; whereby it represseth the rage and force of poyson. The same is ministred with great successe unto surh as are become peevish, or without understanding." (49) h K' w • TRILLIUM CERNUUM. « AMERICAN HERB-PARIS. NATURAL ORDER, LIUACE^. Trillium cernuum, Unnieus— Leaves broadly rhomboid, acuminate, subsessile ; flowers pedunculate, pendulous, white. Stem nine to fifteen inches high. Leaves three to five inches longr, and two to four inches wide. Peduncle half au inch to an inch in length. Herry h.-ilf an inch to near an inch in diameter, fleshy, dark purple when mature. Dar- lington's Flora Cestrica as r>illium pendulum, Muhl. See also Wood's Class-book of Botany, Gray's Mamial of the Botany of the Northern United States, Chapman's Flora of the Southern Untied Stales, and Britton & Brown's /llus- trated Flora of the Northet n United States, Canada and the B> itish Possessions. A ^ This pretty and interesting wild flower brings ns, as Ilerb-paris, into close relation with classical floral literatnre of the Old World. The original IIerb-i)aris of luirope is, botanically, Pan's quadrifolia. There is very little diflerence between Irillium and Paris. The former, as the name im])lies, has its vari- ons i)arts arranged in threes,— while the latter, as airaiii exempli lied bv its name, has them in pairs. But these differences arise only from the abortion of jxirts primordially the same. Specimens of rriUium are occasionally found with more than three leaves, vSepals, petals, and the usual six stamens,— while Paris, with its two-pair (four) leaves has been found with but three, as in Trillium. vSome modern American botanists have adopted the common name of "Wake-robin" for the American pljints,— notably P.ritton cS: Hrown. This is unfortunate, as it not only disturbs the poini- lar relationship of our i)lant with the historical associations connected with Paris, l)ut confuses distinct things. Wake-robin is the comnum name in ICngland for the Arum macitlatiim, a very difterent i)lant. One of the common names in the Old World is Herb-true-love, — and it is around this name that the poetical associations of Paris cling. The two i)airs of leaves are vSet cross- wise, and make a verticil of four, resembling a vSaint Andrew's cross, or •'true-lover's knot." The association with love stories and love afl'airs may not have wholly originated by the ar- rangement of the leaves, — the erroneous em- ployment of the capital P in paris gave a tinge of personality to the whole idea. It is in actual use as emblematic floral language in Germany. Our plant, the 7rilliiini, with its verticil of three instead of four leaves, might well stand as an emblem of love, wit and valor, in which Moore has enshrined the Shamrock, — especially as there is so much dispute as to what plant was the Shamrock's original. vSays Valor, " See They spring for me. These lovely gems of morning." vSays Love, "No, no, h'or me they grow, My fragrant path adorning." Hut Wit i)erceives The triple leaves. And cries, " Oh ! do not sever A tyi)e that blends Three Ood-like friends, Love, Valor, Wit forever." Rafinesque, indeed, tells us that in some parts of our country, one of the common names of the Trillium is Indian vShamrock. Botanical writers, in selecting pojiular names to go with the botanical ones, seem to follow no rule, and the name of American Nightshade frequently follows Trillium. This has the merit of carry- in"- us back to the earlv botanical history of the family, for the early botanists, (iesner and Lobel, supposed it to belong to the Nightshade family, and named it Solan um tctraphyllum. It was, however, Herb-paris so far back as Oerarde's time. In his Herbal, published in 1636, he tells us that "the Herba-i)aris flowreth in Aprill, and the berry is rii)e the end of May ;" and he says " Herbe Paris is exceeding cold ; whereby it represseth the rage and force of poyvSon. The same is ministred with great successe unto such as are become peevish, or without understanding." (49) PLAT TNTF.NTTON Al. SECOND EXPOSURE r 1. Ik m 50 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — TRILLIUM CERNUUM. [April Coming to the botanical history of our spe- cies, Trillium cernmim, it may be noted that considerable confusion exists as to the limits of the species. They vary very much among themselves, and it is often difficult to deter- mine to which species a given form belongs. Rafinesque tried to solve the difficulty by making species of the various forms. In this way he names thirty-four that he thought worthy of specific rank, many of them estab- lished by himself. The one which is here illustrated, and which is the common form in Eastern Pennsylvania, he describes as Trilliu7n glaucum, referring to the figure No. 40, in Bar- ton's ''Flora of North America," as his type. He contends that it is not T. cernuum of Lin- nseus. Darlington, from whose work the main description is taken, is of the same opinion, but refers it to the Trillium pendulum of Muhl- enberg. The 7. cernuum of modern botanists, he would have as Trillium medium^ Rafinesque. These distinctions are not recognized now, and the latest work, Britton & Brown's "Illus- trated Flora," issued in 1896, still has Trillium cernuum, L., under which name our plant will have to be sought in that work. ' With all allowance for the known variations in the species of this genus, it may come that this plant will be found distinct from T. cer- nuum, and Muhlenberg's name of T. penduliun be adopted. The long, narrow and recurving petals, and the broad, five-veined glaucous leaves — points well brought out by Rafinesque — are uniform in the plants of the whole terri- tory, and well characterize the plant at a glance. A comparison of our plate with the drawing in Britton & Brown's work shows a striking diflerence in the root-system. In making drawings for our work, it was the practice not to refer to the drawings of the same plant already published by others, so that the artist might not be diverted from fol- lowing nature just as presented in the speci- men before him. It was pleasant to note, on a subsequent comparison with Barton's figure, already referred to, that they agreed in every particular. Our specimen includes the root, which Barton's did not. As it is the scope of this work to illustrate the works of the stand- ard authors on American botany quoted at the head of the chapter, the designation of our plant as Trillium cernuum has been followed, though the author feels that it should occupy a place in systematic botany, as Trillium pen- dulum, Muhlenberg. The botanical student, who may have come to the conclusion that Science is a statement of exact and well-ascertained facts, can well be excused for standing aghast at the differing statements in regard to what is or is not a species in the genus Trillium, — and to the dis- agreements as to what are the proper names by which to distinguish them. It is said that what is or is not a species, is simply the opinion of an expert, — and that there really is no such a thing as species in nature. But this would remove botany from its posi- tion as one of the sciences. There must be something of the character of species in nature, or there could be no classification. It would never do to believe that a science could not exist, but fortunate entrance into the world of a few individuals. It is better to conceive that the definition of species needs a reorganization. As to the opinion of experts their views of the limits of species in Trillium, and what name should be adopted take a wide range. One would surely regard the opinions of the Kew authorities as the opinion of experts, consider- ing their immense Herbarium. Again, Britton & Brow^n would be regarded as experts of the highest order in America. Yet the latter con- tend that Trillium erythrocarpum should be dropped, — while the former insist that it should be retained ! Trilliiim cernuum has a wide range. Britton & Brown say that it is found in rich woods, Nova Scotia to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Georgia and Missouri. The form, herewith illustrated, grows abundantly in the more shaded parts of rocky woods along the Wissa- hickon, and is common in similar situations throughout Eastern and Southern Pennsyl- vania, Maryland and Virginia. It is more at home among broken rocks, where leaves of trees can be collected and decay. One of its favorite companion plants in these situations is the May Apple, Podophyllum peltalum. The habits of these plants are indeed similar, though their botanical affinities seem remote. There are about fifteen good species of Tril- lium. They are spread over the whole of the temperate portions of North America and Asia, including Japan. Explanation of thb Plate — A full-sized specimen, from the Wissahickou, near Philadelphia. li u WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. SPRING. The silent quickening of the pulse of life, The sweet awakening from the long, cold sleep. The gentle soothing of wild winter's strife, And the dripping music of the water's leap. A tender green, transforming barren trees, A thrill of love that warming sun rays bring, A joyous bird-note borne along the breeze. And, lo ! the glorious advent of the spring. A constant quickening of the pulse of hope, A sleepless trust and strength to do life's best, A power of sympathy and love to cope With all that tends to make life seem unblest. Such earnest souls that know no faltering. But light with cheer the darkest pathway trod. Awake each day in Love's perennial spring, And live immortal in the life of God. Bertha Morton Rowland, in Christian Register. Angelica hirsuta and Yellow Birch. — Mr. Harlan P. Kelsey says in reference to the note on Angelica hirsuta, on page 20, of Mee- HANS'. Monthly, that few who have seen the two plants growing would agree with Dr. Gray's opinion that there is little difference between them. He also notes that the Yellow Birch is found for at least two hundred miles south of Blowing Rock. Legal Protection to Wild Flowers. — A daily paper says : " The Connecticut Legisla- ture, some time ago, passed a law protecting the trailing arbutus, said to be the first law ever passed in any State of the Union for the protection of a wild flower. The law in ques- tion is said to, be largely due to an article in the New York Tribune, calling attention to the need of a law to protect the arbutus." This is, maybe, a law really intended to protect the Epigcea ; but it may be in the line of the pro- tection the same legislature gave to the "Hart- ford" Fern, Lygodium palmatum, which proved to be a law to enable owners of waste land to root out the plant for their own personal profit, than to permit the wild flower lovers to enjoy what generous Nature offered them. The Windflower and the Violet. — Among the pleasantest recollections of rare findings in my botanical experience is that of my collection of the Windflower {Anemone 7ie7norosa, L.), with perfectly double, pure white flowers, quite a little ''daisy'' of a blos- som, or perhaps more nearly resembling the diminutive Polyantha Rose, "Little Pet," though rather smaller. These flowers were apparently perfectly full, exhibiting no imper- fect centre. The height of the plants was about four inches ; and the leaves were very much smaller and more refined than those of the ordinary specimens with single flowers. Its habit was tufted and so different in aspect throughout that I was quite puzzled at first what to think of it ; but after careful examina- tion, I was convinced (a little against my will, too) that it was a modified, exquisitely per- fected Anemone nemorosa. It is no common experience of a botanist to find a double wild flower, and I can assure you there was a very pleasant * ' humming in the tissues" on this occasion. The plants grew (I think there were three of them close to- gether) among numerous individuals of their kindred, with ordinary flowers and leaves, in an open grove on the slope of the bluff" at Fort Madison, Iowa. As though this rare treasure-trove was in- sufficient, I later on found, higher up on a sunny slope facing the south, what seemed a veritable garden of the fairies. Among the tufts of short grass grew fifty— perhaps a hun- dred—plants of the beautiful Viola pedata var. bicolor. Certainly, the Bird's-foot Violet, in its ordinary garb of turquoise blue, with hand- some, divided leaves, is a very charming thing ; but in what fitting terms could one describe that elegant variety bicolor, v/hen seen for the first time, and, as it were, planted by invisible hands in a circumscribed sort of oasis on such a hill slope ! It certainly was a great surprise for me again. These royal members of the species, clothed in deep violet above, contrasting so (51) ll V r I! I.I.. MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [April finely with the beautiful light forget-me-not blue of the lower petals, were well surrounded by an assemblage of courtiers of the ordinary type. I shall never forget that pretty sight. And this pansy-like violet, so remarkably varied from the type, was simply a wild flower^ unmodified by the florist's art. It seemed almost impossible. The variety bicolor of Viola pedal a is men- tioned in Gray as sparingly present in Massa- chusetts, Maryland, etc.; but I have not seen it credited to Iowa, and I never happened to meet it elsewhere in the West. Enough now, perhaps more anon. H. A. W. Cypress Kne^s. — " Mr. H. J. Webber, in the U. S. 'Year-book of Department of Agricul- ture,' 1896, states that, when grown in a dry soil, the Bald Cypress forms no knees. But there stands, in Lynwood Park, Camden, N. J., a Bald Cypress, in an open situation, and in a comparatively dry spot, not very near any wa-' ter. The ground near it is covered with minia- ture knees. It is well worth a visit." G. Many instances of the Deciduous Cypress throwing up its curious bee-hive-like "knees," when growing in ordinary ground, have been recorded in horticultural journals,— a source of information not as often resorted to as it might be. LiATRis. — Few flowers, wild or cultivated, are more attractive than those of several spe- cies oi Liatris, or " Blazing-stars," as they are very generally known, and we may look upon them with increased interest, because of their adaptability to cultivation. It is not the color which is so pleasing, for many persons tire of purple or lavender shades ; but the bold spikes of flowers, and the long blooming period, make them conspicuous and attractive. Perhaps it is not right to bring up the color question, as in this case it is seldom objectionable, — in fact, there is frequently a generous shading off* to nearly white, making a pretty combination. The principal species are pycnostachya, spi- cala, scariosa and punctata. The latter is pos- sibly the least familiar of this group, but being a pretty little thing should not be neglected. It has quite narrow leaves, very unlike the preceding, and is of lighter growth in every way, attaining a height from six inches to two feet. While traces of punctation (tiny dots, as if perforated) are found in most of the species, this is markedly punctate, sufficient to give it the name punctata. L. acidota very closely resembles the former, but is much less punc- tate and comparatively glabrous throughout. This species, however, is almost confined to Texas, while punctata may be found as far north as Minnesota. The composite flower- heads of both contain from three to six flowers only, adding to the slender appearance, and correspond in numbers to pycnostachya. By meatus of a pocket magnifier, the pappus (thread-like attachments to the flowers) will be seen to be beautifully feathered, while the others are but slightly barbed. The flower- heads are crowded, sessile and tubular, inter- spersed with a few shortened leaves. Pycnostachya, to some extent, is not unlike the foregoing ; but it is of much bolder growth, frequently reaching five feet in height. Spikes are dense, thick and slightly bracted ; heads numerous, sessile and cylindrical. But it can always be distinguished from them by the barbed pappus and broader lower leaves. It runs through the same region. , In turn, pycnostachya approaches 5/>/r^/« / yet there are several distinctive features. The latter has more flowers— seven to fifteen — in each head ; the scales at the base of the heads are very blunt or obtuse; and the heads are broader and inclined to be globular. The spikes are long and without leaves ; the heads sessile, giving a stout appearance. It grows on prairies and in moist soils, throughout the Atlantic Coast States, extending to the species in the central States. Comparing scariosa with the smaller species first described, they are totally different, and it is therefore wisest to show its distinction from spicata. The large flower-heads with stems, or peduncles, are marked. The num- ber of heads in the raceme varies greatly from five to twenty, and the flowers in a head from twenty to fo^ty. It will be seen from this that a specimen well furnivshed with flowers and heads would present a very attractive appear- ance. The scales are somewhat obtuse. It has a wide range, from Canada to Florida to Texas and Western Ontario, growing in dry woods and sandy plains. For planting singly or e?i masse in herba- ceous borders and shrubbery beds, these plants will be found invaluable and easy of cultivation. i» I GENERAL GARDENING. THE SPRING AWAKENING. "Dost thou not rejoice When the spring sends forth an awakening voice Through the young woods ? Th'»u dost ! And in that birth Of early leaves and flowers, and songs of mirth. Thousands, like thee, find gladness !" Mrs. Southey. Wind-breaks and Shelter-belts. — Be- sides the damage to trees in heavy falls of snow, and accumulation of ice, as spoken of in the March issue, there is even greater damage done to trees generally by the strong winds. The air always sucks up all the moisture it can from everything until it contains equally as much as the article from which it is drawn. The drying of clothes on a line is an example. The air takes up the moisture from them ; and the stronger the wind, the more quickly they drJ^ Trees are drawn on in the same manner, evaporation, as we know it, taking place from the leaves as well as the wood in summer. As a rule, the most severe tax on the trees is in the winter, when the roots are not actively engaged in replenishing the supply of mois- ture, and when winds are usually most severe. It is then that the trees most exposed to these winds are frequently killed. Of course, many trees are also lost during a hot and dry sum- mer, for heat takes up moisture wherever it can be had, even more rapidly than wind, — all on the same principle ; but, as stated, the trees then have a support in the active roots. Naturally, most evergreens are less respon- sive to the demands of the heat and winds, by reason of their resinous character and the closer texture of the bark, hence they are fre- quently found most suitable for very bleak situations. They make admirable wind-breaks and shelter-belts, with careful selection as to kind. On the grounds of Mr. Josiah Hoopes, West Chester, Pa. , there is a magnificent belt of Norway Spruce, probably not less than forty feet in height, which affords great protection to a number of trees thus partly enclosed. These spruce are thick and well-branched right to the ground, making a practically im- penetrable wall. But Norway Spruce will not stand the most severe locations. Mr. C. S. Harrison, York, Neb., recommends Red Cedar, Ponderosa Pine, Platte Cedar and Colorado Blue Spruce. The latter would be an expen- sive thing for the purpose, but a beautiful one, — and why not combine beauty and utility ! The Platte Cedar is Mr. Harrison's favorite, and he says of it : * * It will endure any cli- matic change, and for ages has borne the ex- tremes of drought and flood, hot winds in summer, and winter blizzards. Properly grown, it will transplant as easy as an Elm or Box Elder, and will grow nearly as rapidly. For a ten-acre lot, I would put out two rows, eight feet apart ; put the trees eight feet distant in the rows and break joints. One row of Cedar and one of Ponderosa would make a fine shelter-belt. ' ' The idea of shelter-barns for cattle in the open fields, formed by planting evergreens, is an excellent one, both for summer and winter protection — for in many places cattle are obliged to winter outdoors as well, where infre- quency of wet storms makes it possible. They can be made at reasonable cost, and it would be a more certainly humane treatment of the animals. Mr. Harrison thus describes the method of planting for this purpose : *• Plant three rows of Platte Cedar eight feet apart each way. As the trees get size, trim off" the lower limbs, save on the two rows outside, so the cattle can go under them. Cultivate well for five years, and you can turn in your cattle." He says the cattle should not be allowed in the shelter-yard in summer, and in this he is prob- ably right, as the constant tramping of the soil would harden the surface to the injury of the trees. The manure should be hauled out and the ground plowed. Another shelter might be started to be used in alternate years, which would make them more lasting. "An ever- green barn can be made exceedingly beautiful. The outside row can be of Silver Cedar from (53) I A B ;^:i 1 I ■In I 54 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y— GENERAI, GARDENING. [April the Rockies, which is as hardy as the Platte Cedar. Outside of this, if you wish, you can put a row of Picea pungens, or Blue Spruce, which is the most beautiful tree on earth. One hundred dollars will make a fine evergreen barn, which will be of great use as well as an ornament. ' ' Some Trees and Shrubs of Extreme Hardiness. — (Continued from March issue.) Robinia hispida. Robiuia Pseudacacia. Robinia viscosa. Rosa Carolina. Rosa cinnamomea. Rosa lucida. Rosa microphylla. Rosa multiQora Japonica. Rosa rubiginosa major. Rosa rugosa. Rosa rugosa alba. Rosa rugosa flore plena. Rosa splnosissima picta. Rubus odoratus. 6alix alba Britzetisis. Salix alba vitellina. Salix Babylouica. Salix lucida. Salix pentandra. Salix purpurea. Salix viminalis. Sophora platycarpa. Spiraea arguta. Spiraea sorbi folia. Spiraea Thunbergi. Spiraea toraentosa. Spiraea Van Houttei. Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (vulgaris). Syriuga Amurensis. Abies (Picea) balsamea. Abies (Piced) concolor. Abies (Picea) concolor viola- cca. Abies (Picea) nobilis. Abies (Picea) nobilis glauca. Abies (Picea) Nordmanniana Abies (Picea) pectinata. Cupressus Nootkatensis. Gingko biloba (Salisburia adiantifoliai. Juniperus Chinensis. Juniperus communis. . Juniperus Sabina. Juniperus Virginiana. Juniperus Virginiana glauca Larix Europaea. Picea (Abies) alba. Picea (Abies) Engelmanni. Picea (Abies) excelsa Picea (Abies) excelsa inverta Picea (Abies) excelsa pyra- midalis. Picea (Abies) nigra Doumetti Picea (Abies) orientalis. Picea (Abies) polita. Picea (Abies) pungens. Pinus cembra. Finus contorta. Pinus densiflora. Syringa Chinensis. Syringa Emodi. Syringa Japonica. Syringa Josikaea. Syringa oblata. Syringe Persica. Syringa villosa. Syringa vulgaris. Syringa vulgaris alba. Syriuga vulgaris alba grand- iflora. Syringa vulgaris Charles X. Syringa vulgaris lyudwig Spath. Syringa vulgaris Marie lyC- graye. Tilia Americana. Tilia argentea novae. Tilia dasystyla. Tilia platyphyllos. Ulmus Americana. Ulmus campestris. Vaccinium corymbosum. Viburnum deutatum. Viburnum Opulus. Viburnum Opulus nanum. Viburnum prunifolium. Viburnum Sieboldi. |folia. Vitis (Ampelopsis) quinque- Yucca filamentosa. Pinus excelsa. Pinus montana Mughus. Pinus s'trobus. Pinus strobus densa. Pinus sylvestris. Pinus Thunbergi. Taxus baccata aurea. Taxus Canadensis. Taxus cuspidata. Thuya occidentalis. Thuya occidentalis alba Vic- toria. Thuya occidentalis aurea. Thuya occidentalis Douglas' Golden. Thuya occidentalis globosa. Thuya occidentalis Hoveyi. Thuya occidentalis L,ittle Gem. Thuya occidentalis Meehani Thuya occidentalis pyra- midalis. Thuya occidentalis spiralis Thuya occidentalis Tom Thumb. Thuya orientalis aurea pyra- midalis compacta. Tsuga (Abies) Canadensis. Tsuga (Abies) Canadensis Sargentii pendula. Robinia hispida and Pseudacacia (Rose Acacia and Yellow Locust) are frequently terribly rav- aged by borers. But this fact should not deter anyone from planting them moderately, as they are both very desirable. The latter is a mere shrub, the hairy stems and bunches of pea- shaped flowers rendering unusually attractive. Rosa Carolina^ R. cinnamomea and lucida are all specimens of "wild rose," as these large, single-flowered flowers are popularly termed. Rosa microphylla has dark, shining green, spiney leaves, which are alone pretty. Rosa multiflora Jap07iica should be distin- guished from the multiflora used as stock on which to bud hybrid roses. This is of the Polyantha type, bearing small white flowers in bunches in gieat profusion. Salix alba Britzensis and var. vitellijia are particularly valuable for their colored bark in winter. In their way they are just as effective as the white birches in summer. Salix pentandra has large, shining green leaves, even finer than the laurel, the resem- blance to which gives it the common name of Laurel-leaved Willow. It can be grown with low branches, in bush form, and is particularly desirable for planting along the sea-coast. Spircpa sorbifolia has curiously divided foli- age, which does not in the slightest degree resemble the ordinary species. Lindleyana is much like it. One of the earliest plants to leaf out in spring. The little round leaves of the Symphori- carpos vulgaris and its dark red berries in winter, make it valuable for massing in the foreground of shrubberies. Tilia platyphyllos, the Broad-leaved European Linden, is a tree deserving greater popularity. It is of stronger growth than 7. Europcea, but more compact than the American. It makes a handsome specimen tree. The black fruit of Viburnum prunifolium is very ornamental, and the whole character of the tree or large bush — it can hardly be termed a tree — is very desirable. Vitis quinquefolia or Ampelopsis Virginiana is the well-known Virginian Creeper, a vine that could not be done without. Abies nobilis glauca makes but a slow, dwarf growth in the East. As it develops, it be- comes very attractive, though never with the uniform growth of some evergreens. Its foli- age is of a glaucous green color. Abies Nordmanniana is one of the most sat- isfactory evergreens that may be had. It has very dark green foliage all the year round. It does not get the brownish hues in winter like many evergreens do, besides growing very regularly. Gingko biloba or Salisburia is a conifer, al- though deciduous, hence its presence in the w 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 55 list of evergreens. This tree is becoming more popular and generally useful every day. Of unusual growth, it lends itself readily to the purpose required of it, especially for street planting. Larix Europcea is also a deciduous conifer, — the well-known larch. Picea Engelmanni is a rare evergreen, form- ing a compact specimen of fine form. It has a slightly glaucous color, and is considered very choice. Picea orientalis is a decided improvement on the Norway Spruce. The leaves are very short and dark green. The entire habit is daintier and develops into a fine specimen. The vStone Pine, Pinus cembra, grows erect like a Deciduous Cypress. is intended for the Pan-American Exposition — everything American— that is to be held in Buffalo, N. Y., from May ist to November ist, 1901. It represents the Horticultural Build- ing in the centre, with the Graphic Arts and Forestry on either side. Peabody & Stearns are the architects. Feeding Roots oe Trees. — Referring to F. K. Steele's article on "Feeding Roots of Trees," my observation led me to think that the greatest object of the trees in sending their roots to extraordinary depths was to obtain water. The mass of roots found at the bottom of quite deep wells, and the fact that trees send their roots into^ wells and dry up those that had never before failed to furnish water i^mmM COPYRIGHT. 1899, BY PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION CO. HORTICULTURAL BUILDING, PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION The long, graceful, greyish needles of the Himalayan Pine, Pinus excelsa, and the more moderate height which it ultimately attains, make this one of the choicest pines for orna- ment. Horticultural Building at the Buffalo Exhibition. — To our mind, most of the hor- ticultural buildings at the various exhibitions in the past light have claims to eminence as superior specimens of art. They would not be handed down as models as are the works of great masters. Possibly the temporary char- acter of the buildings themselves have had something to do with this. Little fame can follow work that is soon to be swept away. The design annexed seems to have unusually good points, and does the architects credit. It throughout the dryest seasons, and the great depths to which roots extend in dry ground, seem to confirm this idea. So far as my ob- servations extend, trees send their roots to much greater depths in dry ground than in moist lands. I think trees and all other land plants are, generally speaking, "cannibals;" that is, the best fertilizer for any plant is the earth or humus which that plant produces by its decay. The most thrifty bushes, the most vigorous and productive uncultivated rasp- berries, the finest and most productive apple tree (said to have produced one hundred bushels in a year), and the largest elm I ever knew of its age, all grew where much wood had decayed. Sugar maples set, by me, on very dry, poor land, grew finely when fed by old, well-rotted saw-dust, and rapidly outgrew those nearby not ii ^« 54 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y— GENERAI^ GARDENING. [April the Rockies, which is as hardy as the Platte Cedar. Outside of this, if you wish, you can put a row of Picea piingens, or Blue Spruce, which is the most beautiful tree on earth. One hundred dollars will make a fine evergreen barn, which will be of great use as well as an ornament. ' ' Some Trees and Shrubs of Extreme Hardiness. — (Continued from March issue.) Robinia hispida. Robinia Pseiulacacia. Robinia viscosa. ROvSa Carolina. Rosa cinuamomea. Rosa lucida. Rosa microphylla. Rosa multiflora Japonica. Rosa riibiginosa major. Rosa rugosa. Rosa rugosa alba. Rosa rugosa flore plena. Rosa splnosissiraa picta. Rubus odoratus. 6alix alba Britzensis. Salix alba vitellina. Salix Babylouica. Salix lucida. Salix peutandra. Salix purpurea. Salix viniinalis. Sophora platjxarpa. Spiraea arguta. Spircea sorl)ifolia. Spircea Thunbergi. Spiraea tonientosa. Spiraea Van Houttei. Synipboricarpos orbiculatus (vulgaris). Syringa Amurcnsis. Abies (Picea) balsamea. Abies (Pice.i) concolor. Abies (Picea) concolor viola- cea. Abies (Picea) nobilis. Abies (Picea » nobilis glauca. Abies (Picea) Nordmanuiana Abies (Picea) pectinata. Cupressus Nootkatensis. Gingko biloba (Salisburia adiantifolia i. Juniperus Chinensis. Juniperus communis. ■ Juniperus Sabina. Juniperus Virginiana. Juniperus Virginiana glauca Ivarix Europa^a. Picea (Abies) alba. Picea (Abies) Engelmanni. Picea (Abies) excelsa Picea (Abies) excelsa inverta Picea (Abies) excelsa pyra- midal is. Picea (Abies) nigra Doumetti Picea (Abies) orientalis. Picea (Abies) polita. Picea (Abies) pungens, Pinus cembra. Pinus contorta. Pinus densiflora. Syringa Chinensis. Syringa Emodi. Syringa Japonica. Syringa Josikaea. Syringa oblata. Syringji Persica. Syringa villosa. Syringa vulgaris. Syringa vulgaris alba. Syringa vulgaris alba grand- iflora. Syringa vulgaris Charles X. Syringa vulgaris Ludwig Spath. Syringa vulgaris Marie Le- graye. Tilia Americana. Tilia argentea novae. Tilia dasystyla. Tilia platyphyllos. Ulmus Americana. Ulmus campestris. Vaccinium corymbosum. Viburnum dentatum. Viburnum Opulus. Viburnum Opulus nanum. Viburnum prunifolium. Viburnum Sieboldi. | folia. Vitis (Ampelopsis) quinque- Yucca filamentosa. Pinus excelsa. Pinus niontana Mughus. Pinus s'tiobus. Pinus strobus densa. Pinus sylvestris. Pinus Thunbergi. Taxus baccata aurea. Taxus Canadensis. Taxus cuspidata. Thuya occidentalis. Thuya occidentalis alba Vic- toria. Thuya occidentalis aurea. Thuya occidentalis Douglas' (.olden. Thuya occidentalis globosa. Thuya occidentalis Hoveyi. Thuya occidentalis Little Gem. Thuya occidentalis Meehani Thuya occidentalis pyra- midal is. Thuya occidentalis spiralis Thuva occidentalis Tom Tliurah. Thuya orientalis aurea pyra- midalis com])acta. Tsuga (Abies) Canadensis. Tsuga (Abies) Canadensis Sargentii pendula. Robinia hispida and Pseiidacacia (Rose Acacia and Yellow Ivocust) are frequently terribly rav- aged by borers. But this fact should not deter anyone from planting them moderately, as they are both very desirable. The latter is a mere shrub, the hairy stems and bunches of pea- shaped flowers rendering unusually attractive. Rosa Carolina, R. cinnamo7nea and lucida are all specimens of ''wild rose," as these large, single-flowered flowers are popularly termed. Rosa microphylla has dark, shining green, spiney leaves, which are alone pretty. Rosa multiflora Japonica should be distin- guished from the rnultiflora used as stock on which to bud hybrid roses. This is of the Polyantha type, bearing small white flowers in bunches in gieat profusion. Salix alba Britzensis and var. vitellina are particularly valuable for their colored bark in winter. In their way they are just as effective as the white birches in summer. Salix peutandra has large, shining green leaves, even finer than the laurel, the resem- blance to which gives it the common name of Laurel-leaved Willow. It can be grown with low branches, in bush form, and is particularly desirable for planting along the sea-coast. Spircra sorbifolia has curiously divided foli- age, which does not in the slightest degree resemble the ordinary species. Lindleyana is much like it. One of the earliest plants to leaf out in spring. The little round leaves of the Sy?nphori- carpos vulgaris and its dark red berries in winter, make it valuable for massing in the foreground of shrubberies. 7ilia platyphyllos, the Broad-leaved European Linden, is a tree dCvServing greater popularity. It is of stronger growth than 7. Eur opera, but more compact than the American. It makes a handsome specimen tree. The black fruit of Viburnum prunifolium is ver}' ornamental, and the whole character of the tree or large bush — it can hardly be termed a tree — is very desirable. Vitis quinquefolia or Ampelopsis Virginiana is the well-known Virginian Creeper, a vine that could not be done without. Abies nobilis glauca makes but a slow, dwarf growth in the Hast. As it develops, it be- comes very attractive, though never with the uniform growth of some evergreens. Its foli- age is of a glaucous green color. Abies Nordmanuiana is one of the most sat- isfactory evergreens that may be had. It has very dark green foliage all the year round. It does not get the brownish hues in winter like many evergreens do, besides growing very regularly. Gingko biloba or Salisburia is a conifer, al- though deciduous, hence its presence in the » \\ 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 55 list of evergreens. This tree is becoming more popular and generally useful every day. Of unusual growth, it lends itself readily to the purpose required of it, especially for street planting. Larix Europcca is also a deciduous conifer, — the well-known larch. Picea Engelmanni is a rare evergreen, form- ing a compact specimen of fine form. It has a slightly glaucous color, and is considered very choice. Picea orientalis is a decided improvement on the Norway Spruce. The leaves are very short and dark green. The entire habit is daintier and develops into a fine si)ecinien. The vStone Pine, Pinus cembra, grows erect like a Deciduous Cypress. is intended for the Pan-American Exposition — everything American— that is to be held in Buffalo, N. Y., from IVIay ist to November ist, 1901. It represents the Horticultural Build- ing in the centre, with the Graphic Arts and Forestry on either side. Peabody & Stearns are the architects. Feeding Roots oi* Treks. — Referring to F. K. Steele's article on *' Feeding Roots of Trees," my observation led me to think that the greatest object of the trees in sending their roots to extraordinary depths was to obtain water. The mass of roots found at the bottom of (juite deep wells, and the fact that trees send their roots into wells and dry up those that had never before failed to furnish water Copyright. 1899. by Pan-American Exposition Co. HORTICULTURAL BUILDING, PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION. The long, graceful, greyish needles of the Himalayan Tine, Piuus excelsa, and the more moderate height which it ultimately attains, make this one of the choicest pines for orna- ment. HORTICUI/rrRAL BUILDINc; .\T THE BrEEALO KxiiiHiTioN. — To our mind, most of the hor- ticultural buildings at the various exhibitions in the past light have claims to eminence as superior specimens of art. They would not be handed down as models as are the works of great masters. Possibly the temporary char- acter of the buildings themselves have had something to do with this. Little fame can follow work that is soon to be swept away. The design annexed seems to have unusually good points, and does the architects credit. It throughout the dryest seasons, and the great depths to which roots extend in dry ground, seem to confirm this idea. So far as my ob- servations extend, trees send their roots to much greater depths in dry ground than in moist lands. I think trees and all other land plants are, generally speaking, •* cannibals ;" that is, the best fertilizer for any plant is the earth or humus which that plant i)rodnces by its decay. The most thrifty bushes, the most vigorous and productive uncultivated rasp- berries, the finest and most productive apple tree (said to have produced one hundred bushels in a year), and the largest elm I ever knew of its age, all grew where much wood had decayed. Sugar maples set, by me, on very dry, poor land, grew finely when fed by old, well-rotted saw-dust, and rapidly outgrew those nearby not Pi| INTENTID ^MHHKJKK ND EXPOSURE If f f 56 MEEHANS' MONTHIvY — GENERAL GARDENING. [April thus fed. In dry, compact gravel, I buried, pretty deeply, wood from old apple trees, and set young apple trees over it, and they grew well. This one experiment does not demon- strate that the burial of wood under young trees would be a good practice. Many experi- ments may be required to establish great laws of nature. J. D. Lyman. Exeter, N. H. Jamaica Sorrel. — The plant known among us as Jamaica Sorrel, or simply the ** jelly plant, " is a Hibiscus. The Hibiscus is a genus of the Mallow tribe, Malvacece, which contains a thousand species (grouped into forty or more genera), several of them highly esteemed in medicine, their uniform character being to abound in mucilage, and to be totally destitute of unwholesome qualities. The wood is light and of little value, though the light, straight stems of some of the kinds are used for rocket-* sticks. Some sorts afford food, as the Okra and the Ramturai of India ; others furnish valuable fibre, of which "Cotton is King;" while in various other species the coarser fibre of the bark is used for making cordage ; and that of Hibiscus arboreum of the West Indies for whip-lashes. Many of the genera are splendidly or curi- ously beautiful, as the Hollyhock in all its varieties ; the Abutilon, Indian Mallow or Fairy Bell ; the Achatiia Malvaviscus, common in our gardens, almost everblooming, with scarlet, unopening flowers ; and most showy and most various, the Hibiscus. Of this genus, our native sorts are as fine as the foreign ones, and as variously colored, being purple, car- mine, rose-colored, or a delicate yellow, all having a large spot of deep, rich color at the base of the corolla. Of the garden varieties, that one with the large, single, soft rose-col- ored flowers was, I think, the first exotic spe- cies introduced (except the old-fashioned Rose of Sharon, //. Syriacus) which, coming from China, was called Rosa sinensis, which name is now extended to all its hybrids, with an added epithet to denote the variety. There is a beautiful and interesting species, Mexican, I believe, that was formerly to be seen in every door-j^ard on the country roads about us [in Florida], and there is still here and there a bush that has escaped the freezes. The blossom is large and very double ; when first it opens, it is pure white ; gradually it takes on a faint flush of rose that slowly deep- ens and suffuses the whole flower. The next day the rosy hue has deepened to crimson, and after some hours it ''withers in its pride," but cannot be said to fade. This is Hibiscus muta- bilis, commonly called, from the shape and color of its leaves, the Cotton Rose. There is another remarkable species, a some- what rare greenhouse shrub, the blossom of which is one of the most exquisitely graceful and beautiful flowers I have ever seen. It is pendent on a slender stem five inches long. The petals, two inches long, are curved back ; the edge compoundly divided, almost fringed, to within a fifth of an inch of the midrib, which peculiarity gives it the name H. schizopetalus ; the color is a crimson scarlet, deeper at the base, and marked with short stripes above. The slender column of pistils and stamens projects three inches from the throat ; the lower two inches naked, then a half inch of encircling stamens with brown anthers bear- ing abundant bright yellow pollen ; then the five styles, half an inch long, tipped with globular crimson stigmas. Of course the word lower, in this attempted description, means, technically, nearest the attachment of the flower to the stem ; but in the pendent blossom the position is, to the eye, reversed. The third curiosity in the genus is the Ja- maica Sorrel, the H. Sabdariffa, which resem- bles the garden varieties in being a large, branching bush, but taller than they usually are, some now in Winter Park being nine or ten feet high. The stems are a reddish-brown, the leaves a deep rich green, variously shaped, some with five lobes, some with three, and others smaller and entire. It produces a mar- vellous profusion of flowers all summer long, two and a half inches across, a light yellow color with a crimson centre. Now, the garden Hibiscus has a conspicuous green corolla of five sepals united at the base, to which are attached several small leaves, or bracts. But in the Jamaica plant the green of the calyx is changed to the crimson at the base of the flower, and the red wine has run down into the ten little bracts below. After the flower falls, the calyx continues to grow, some of them to an inch and a half long, enclosing the seed-pod, in its size and shape somewhat resembling the Sweet-scented Shrub, Calycanthus. This calyx i> 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 57 is distinctly acid, and is used to make a beau- tiful jelly or jam, which is hardly distinguisha- ble in color or taste from that made of cranber- ries. For jam they must be gathered when quite tender, before the seed-pod begins to harden ; for jelly they need not be quite so young. A rich syrup may be made from them, which will keep indefinitely in sealed bottles, and serves for coloring and flavoring sherbets, etc. In its native home, Jamaica, a light beer is made from the seed-pods ; effervescent and non-intoxi- cant (a sort of home-made pink champagne, only less alcoholic), which is an essential ac- companiment of the winter festivities. The pods, with pieces of fresh ginger- root, are thrown into a tub, warm water is poured over the mixture, the tub covered and left over night or longer, the liquid then separated by straining, sweetened and bottled. [A paper read at a recent meeting of the Winter Park, Fla., Horticultural Society, by Miss M. E. Brown.] Caryopteris Seedlings. — In one of the numbers of Meehans' Monthly, about two years ago, you had reference to the new plant, Caryopteris Mastacanthus. I remember you stated you had been growing it for some time, but it never matured seed ; you thought the season was too short. I want to inform you that it has seeded here with me. This year and last year I had hundreds of seedlings come up about the bed near the old plants. All our plants outside were killed outright last winter. It is not hardy enough to stand our winters without good protection. New Haven, Conn. Wm. J. ROWE. Since the former article appeared, quantities of seedlings were raised in the Meehan nurseries. Notwith- standing the fact of its being tender north, it may still be used where trouble is taken to propagate a few each year. They are easily struck from cuttings, and make nice bushy plants the first year. An Eye-sore on City Streets. — The accompanying kodak illustra- tion depicts a bit of vandalism only too common in city streets. The trees in the foreground — growing in one of the pleasantest thoroughfares of Philadelphia — are so-called Caro- lina Poplars, which have been pruned closely for years to make bunchy tops, and as a result are a perfect eye-sore to passers-by from Octo- ber till May. Unsightly stumps of butchered limbs cry to heaven all winter long, in place of the graceful spray with which nature intended the trees to be adorned, and which in most of our trees make of them in winter things of beauty as charming as they are in summer, when in the fulness of leaf. Philadelphia. C. F. SAUNDERS. Cultivation of Cypripedium acaule. — In answer to the inquiry of a correspondent in the March issue, Mr. F. H. Horsford, Char- lotte, Vt. , who is experienced in the cultiva- tion of native orchids, says that good success in establishing Cypripedium acaule is very rare. Starting with good young plants, there is no difficulty in having nice flowers the first year ; but the second year is discouraging. He has come to regard this orchid as one that should be collected each year. Occasional reports come of success by taking up good strong clumps in sods with plenty of soil,— but this IS rare. Phipps' Conservatories, Schenley Park, Pittsburg, Pa. — If we find a rare gem, hear or read of something intensely interesting, or come across a beautiful scene in Nature, the natural impulse is to tell of it, and divide with others some of the pleasures of our experience. Doubtless, frequently the motive for telling is largely because of a feeling of exultation in the fact that we have been more or less favored. ^*i ji ILL-PRUNED STREET TREES. 56 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [April thus fed. In dry, compact gravel, I buried, pretty deeply, wood from old apple trees, and set young- apple trees over it, and they grew w^ell. This one experiment does not demon- strate that the burial of w^ood under young trees would be a good practice. IVIany experi- ments may be required to establish great laws of nature. J. D. Lyman. Exeter, N. H. Jamaica Sorrel. — The plant known among vis as Jamaica Sorrel, or simply the *' jelly plant, " is a Hibiscus. The Hibiscus is a genus of the Mallow tribe, Malvacccc, which contains a thousand species (grouped into forty or more genera), several of them highly esteemed in medicine, their uniform character being to abound in mucilage, and to be totally destitute of unwholesome qualities. The wooi is light and of little value, though the light, straight stems of some of the kinds are used for rocket-- sticks. Some sorts aflbrd food, as the Okra and the Ramturai of India ; others furnish valuable fibre, of which "Cotton is King;" while in various other species the coarser fibre of the bark is used for making cordage ; and that of Hibiscus arborcum of the West Indies for whip-lashes. Man\' of the genera are splendidl}^ or curi- ousl}' beautiful, as the Iloll^'hock in all its varieties ; the Abutilon, Indian Mallow or Fairy Bell ; the .Ichania Malvaviscus, common in our gardens, almost everblooming, with scarlet, un opening flowers ; and most show\' and most various, the Hibiscus. Of this genus, our native sorts are as fine as the foreign ones, and as variously colored, being pur])le, car- mine, rose-colored, or a delicate yellow, all having a large spot of deep, rich color at the base of the corolla. Of the garden varieties, that one with the large, single, vSoft rose-col- ored flowers was, I think, the fmst exotic spe- cies introduced (except the old-fashioned Rose of Sharon, //. Syriacus) which, coming from China, was called Rosa siucusis, which name is now extended to all its hvbrids, with an added epithet to denote the variety. There is a beautiful and interesting species, Mexican, I believe, that was formerl}- to be seen in every door-yard on the country' roads about us [in JHorida], and there is still here and there a bush that has escaped the freezes. The blossom is large and very double ; when first it opens, it is pure white ; gradually it takes on a faint flush of rose that slowly deep- ens and suffiises the whole flower. The next day the rosy hue has deepened to crimson, and after some hours it " withers in its pride," but cannot be said to fade. This is Hibiscus muta- bilis, commonl}^ called, from the shape and color of its leaves, the Cotton Rose. There is another remarkable species, a some- what rare greenhouse shrub, the blossom of which is one of the most exquisitely graceful and beautiful flowers I have ever seen. It is peudcut on a slender stem five inches long. The petals, two inches long, are curved back ; the edge compoundly divided, almost fringed, to within a fifth of an inch of the midrib, which peculiarity gives it the name //. schizopctalus ; the color is a crimson scarlet, deeper at the base, and marked with short stripes above. The slender column of pistils and stamens projects three inches from the throat ; the lower two inches naked, then a half inch of encircling stamens with brown anthers bear- ing abundant bright yellow pollen ; then the five styles, half an inch long, tipi)ed with globular crimson stigmas. Of course the word Icncer, in this attemjHed dCvScription, means, technically, nearest the attachment of the flower to the stem ; but in the pendent blossom the ])osition is, to the eye, reversed. The third curiosit\' in the genus is the Ja- maica vSorrel, the //. SabdariJ/h, which resem- bles the garderr varieties in being a large, branching bush, but taller than they usually are, some now iir Winter Park being rrirre or terr feet high. The stems are a reddish-brown, the leaves a dee]) rich green, variousU' shaped, some with five lobes, some with three, and others smaller and entire. It produces a mar- vellous profusion of flowers all summer long, two and a half inches across, a light yellow color with a crimson centre. Now, the garden Hibiscus has a conspicuous green corolla of five sepals united at the base, to which are attached several small leaves, or bracts. But in the Jamaica plant the green of the calyx is changed to the cririLson at the base of the flower, and the red wine has run down into the ten little bracts below. After the flower falls, the calyx continues to grow, some of them to an inch and a half long, enclosing the seed-j)od, in its size and shape vSomewhat resembling the Sweet-scented Shrub, Calycauthus. This calyx II i 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 57 is distinctly acid, and is used to make a beau- tiful jelly or jam, which is hardly distinguisha- ble in color or taste from that made of cranber- ries. For jam they must be gathered when cpiite tender, before the seed-pod begins to harden ; for jelly they need not be quite so young. A rich syrup may be made from them, which will keep indefinitely in sealed bottles, and serves for coloring arrd flavoring sherbets, etc. In its native home, Jamaica, a light beer is made from the seed-pods ; efl'ervescent and rron-iirtoxi- cant (a vSort of home-made pink champagne, only less alcoholic), which is an essential ac- companiment of the winter festivities. The pods, with pieces of fresh ginger-root, are thrown into a tub, warm water is poured over the mixture, the tub covered and left over night or longer, the liquid then separated by straining, sweeterred and bottled. [A paper read at a recent mteting of the Winter Park. I'la., Horticultural Society, by Miss M. E- Brown.] C.VRVOPTivRis SeivDLINGS. — In one of the numbers of Meehans' Monthly, about two years ago, you had reference to the new i)lant, Caryoptcris Mastacauthus. I remember you stated 3'ou had been growiirg it for some time, but it never matured seed ; you thought the season was too short. I want to inform }ou that it has seeded here with me. This year and last year I had hundreds of seedlings come up about the bed near the old plants. All our ])lants outside were killed outright last winter. It is not hardy enough to stand our winters without good protection. New Haven, Conn. \Vm. J. ROWIC. vSince the former article appeared, quantities of seedlings were raised in the Meehan nurseries. Notwith- standing the fact of its being tender north, it may still be used where trouble is taken to propagate a few each year. They are easily struck from cuttings, and make nice bushy plants the first year. An Kve-sore on City vStreets. — The accompanying kodak illustra- tion depicts a bit of vandalism only too common in city streets. The trees in the foregrourrd — growing in one of the pleasantest thoroughfares of Philadelphia — are so-called Caro- lina Poplars, which have been pruned closely for years to make bunchy tops, and as a result are a perfect eye-sore to passers-by from Octo- ber till May. Unsightly stumps of butchered limbs cry to heaven all winter long, in place of the graceful spray with which nature intended the trees to be adorned, and which in most of our trees make of them in winter things of beauty as charming as they are in summer, when in the fulness of leaf. Philadelphia. C. F. SAUNDERS. Cultivation of Cypripedium acaule. — In answer to the inquiry of a correspondent in the INIarch issue, Mr. F. II. Horsford, Char- lotte, Vt., who is experienced in the cultiva- tion of native orchids, says that good success in establishing Cypripedium acaule is very rare. vStarting with good young plants, there is no difliculty in having nice flowers the first year ; but the second year is discouraging. He has come to regard this orchid as one that should be collected each year. Occasional reports come of success by taking up good strong clumps in vSods with plenty of soil,— but this IS rare. Phipps' Conservatories, Schenley Park, PiTTSHURc;, Pa.— If we find a rare gem, hear or read of something intensely interesting, or come across a beautiful scene in Nature, the natural impulse is to tell of it, and divide with others some of the i)leasures of our experience. Doubtless, frequently the motive for telling is largely because of a feeling of exultation in the fact that we have been more or less favored. \ Mji, A ^^^L> ^ t \ 1 1 1 ^ mm^'* : '•m!^% v^aia' ILL-PRUNED STREET TREES. 1 intentional second exposure i: I 58 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [April Nevertheless, the results as related are gratify- ing to some extent to those who have not had the greater privilege, and some good has been done. The writer is inspired with some such feelings, for it may indeed be felt a privilege to have seen through the Phipps' Conservatories, at Pittsburg, Pa. Fortunately, here is a per- manent institution, under good management, and free to all who can journey to Pittsburg, or who are already there, and the pleasure is divisible into numerous portions. It is no easy matter to do sufficient credit to the subject from such a cursory examination of the conservatories as the writer's limited time made necessary, for the huge collection of plants of every description affords opportunity for endless enjoyment and study. Then, too. Superintendent Falconer is always studying how he can create more interesting arrange- ments of the plants and flowers, and introduce new and rare plants. The buildings and many of the plants were the gift of Mr. Phipps, one of Pittsburg's philanthropic residents, who wanted the masses should have and recognize the pleasure and beauty and healthy instruc- tion to be found among plants, — and Mr. Fal- coner's efforts are always pointing towards this end. There is alw^ays some particular display to interest even the ones generally ignorant of plant individuals, and almost any one of the displays is perhaps larger than any other of the same plants before the public in any city. Twenty-seven thousand visitors have been counted in one day— Easter Sunday — and prob- ably forty to fifty thousand during a week, about Easter or chrysanthemum time. In their respective seasons may be seen great shows of cinerarias, hydrangeas, roses, chrys- anthemums, interspersed with other flowers of all kinds appropriate to the arrangements. Perhaps no one is so particular as Mr. Falconer that the groupings and everything connected therewith shall be perfectly natural, and as harmonious as can be ; and no one could be more successful in their efforts. Many of the effects produced would do credit to Dame Na- ture herself, such, for instance, as the rock- work over which hangs a mammoth specimen of the Sword Fern, from beneath whose fronds issues a beautiful stream of water, which falls naturally and gracefully over the rocks. The surroundings are in perfect keeping, decked with ferns and other moisture-loving plants. making the whole a charming scene indeed. At the foot of this cascade, and receiving a continual wetting, was a plant that occasioned considerable surprise in that it was capable of standing so much water — Aspidistra lurida, a small plant with broad, evergreen leaves, which stands considerable neglect as a house or decorative plant. Another specimen of the above-mentioned fern is also brought to use with great effect, in the formation of a picture which must ever be in the memory of the writer ; it is' arranged to overhang a window between one of the office-rooms and the main conservatory, through which, from the room side, may be seen the palms and general tropi- cal plants. A marble figure is arranged before the window, just setting oft the whole scene in a most picturesque and artistic manner. One is impressed, on entering the conserva- tories, with the perfect order and cleanliness of everything. The pots are clean ; the growth of the plants healthy ; the arrangement or- derly, yet perfectly natural. Every plant is a specimen, — and they number many, many thousands. Nothing is overgrown, though growth with such favorable surroundings is almost rampant. Huge palms have made mar- velously rapid growth, one {Cocos plunwsus) reaching the top of the largest house, fifty-one feet in height, — and this (after allowing for its original height of fourteen feet), in the space of seven years. Many of the plants, like the Ficus, which are tempted to grow too rapidly to suit their quarters, are promptly rooted by the aerial-pot method, and beheaded. The collection of economic plants is by no means the least interesting. Superintendent Falconer personally visited Jamaica and other tropical countries in search of these plants, and succeeded in gathering a notable collec- tion, among which may be mentioned the fol- lowing : Para rubber, sugar, tea, chocolate, cocoa shrub, mango, bread-fruit, guava, loquat, croton oil, kola-nut, vanilla, ebony, teak, ginger, arrow-root, lignum-vitae, sycamore of Scripture, mahogany, cinnamon, camphor. New Zealand flax, sisal hemp, manilla hemp, olive, Peruvian bark, Carob tree, tamarind, allspice, cloves, tropical almond. The follow- ing were in fruit : Pine-apple, banana, orange, coffee, tree-tomato and fig. They are all care- fully labelled, and most frequently have a card attached noting their product. These are all I : (I l» ii 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 59 especially valuable as object lessons for the public school children, who visit the conserva- tories very frequently. There is a beautiful specimen of the Trav- ellers' Tree, Ravenala Madagascariensis, possi- bly twenty feet in height, and spreading out in its customary fan -shape form almost the same distance. Its popular name comes from the receptacles formed by the leaves which catch and hold water, and alleviate the thirst of many a weary traveller. Another curious tree, a palm, is one of the Calamus species, or Rattan Palm, which was briefly mentioned in the Monthly recently. It is of running habit, having long rope-like stems, which are quite useful in tying and cane- work. These willowy stems are supported in their upward growth by means of long runners covered with hooked thorns, which fasten themselves to whatever they touch. The Nepenthes, a genus of Pitcher- plant, is grown as Nature finds it— in a run- ning form. Grown in baskets, as customary, larger " pitchers " are formed, but the running habit is not permitted. A specimen plant, with a very striking flower, is Pitcairnia coral- Una, It had several pendulous spikes of bril- liant scarlet flowers. Several cocoanut seeds, which are "sown" with the husks on, were seen sprouting thriftily, the shoots issuing right from the sides of the thick husks. Neither space nor memory will admit of a deserving, lengthier article relating to these conservatories. The writer rather hopes that the readers of the Monthly, — many of them, at least,— may have the opportunity of visit- ing them in person. Systematical Cleanliness about the Greenhouse and Garden. — "Some men can do twice as much on an acre as another. It is order, system and cleanliness that enables him to do it. * Dirt is matter out of place. ' That is a true definition. I once found fault with a man, who was then a partner, that his rubbish pile contained everything from decent potting soil to broken glass, hoop iron and empty beer bottles. He rather peevishly replied that he had no time to spare and was glad to get rid of the stuft out of the greenhouses. That 'time' excuse is the worst of all, and the man who lets his wagon stand out in the sun till the hubs are cracked, has always the most time to Spin a yarn, or see how much old Bill Jones' cows bring at auction. If my friend had had a pile for stuff that was purely rubbish, and another for old soil and plants and vegetable matter that would come useful some day, it would have been much time saved in the end, and some money." The foregoing extract from "Scott's Flor- ists' Manual" is a strong piece of advice which every one might heed to advantage. The waste of time and material about many places — commercial, public and private — is appalling. New Plants. — The introducer of new plants is frequently lost sight of in their general dis- semination, and much deserving credit goes astray. The following have been brought to public attention by Mr. Harlan P. Kelsey, Kawana, N. C. , many of them having proved of exceedingly great value to cultivation : Tsuga Carolittiana (Carolina Hemlock), Aza- lea Vaseyi, Vaccinium hirsutum (Hairy Huckle- berry), Primus Alleghenensis, Vaccinium ery- throcarpon, Gaylussacia ursina (Buckberry), Diervilla sessilifolia (Yellow Mountain Honey- suckle), Robinia hispida rosea, Leiophyllum buxifolium var. prostratum (American Moun- tain Heath), Rhododendron ptmctatum var. album, Lilium Grayi, Shortia galacifolia, Poly- gonum cilinode (Buckwheat Vine), Trillium stylosum, Krigia Dandelion var. montana (Mountain Dandelion), Aconitum reclinatum, Liatris spicata var. montana, Car ex Fraseri, Houstonia purptirea \3X. tenuifolia, Viola pedata alba, and the delicate little mountain Saxi- fraga leucanthemi folia, and others more largely of economic interest ; while he has distributed many others which were formerly but rarely seen in cultivation. Shrubs Hardy in Minnesota. — The follow- ing are recorded as thoroughly hardy in Min- nesota : Syringa Japonica, Lonicera Morrowii^ Lofiicera Standishii, CratcBgus glandulosa, C pinnatifida, C. microcarpa and Ribes triste. A Dwarf Large-flowered Dogwood. — It is reputably reported that a dwarf form of Cornus florida has been secured and will be grown extensively for the market. * fp ii fl 'W hi \ i 60 MEEHANS' MONTHIvY — GENERAI^ GARDENING. [April TME MiflR^T fLOWE!^ ^/^Rg^EM. DORONICUM PLANT AGINEUM EXCELSUM. — The two illustrations accompanying this well illus- trate the beauty of Doronicum plantagineum DORONICUM PLANTAGINEUM EXCELSUM. CGRCATLY REDUCED.) excelsiim, although so greatly reduced in size. The very large yellow flowers, produced at first on short stems, in early spring, the stems elongating and new flowers appearing from time to time, are novel and very attractive. There are several other species, prominent among which is Doronicum Clusii. The latter is a trifle earlier to bloom, but more slender and with a smaller flower ; it is generally in- ferior to excelsum. '• Harper Crewe " is a syn- onym oi excels7im. A shady situation — not too dense — suits it as well, or even better, than full sunlight. Blood-root in Cultivation. — While heart- ily in sympathy with the movement for culti- vating wild flowers so far as possible without exterminating them from their native haunts, I think that no single one of them will be found, all things considered, finer than the blood-root. It appears almost with the crocus ; the flowers are handsome ; it increases rapidly in ordinary garden soil ; and the entire plant is so curious as to render it a constant source of enjoyment. The buds form in autumn, and I doubt not that it could be as easily forced in a cool room as a hyacinth ; though I have never seen the experiment tried. Bessie L. Putnam. RuDBECKiA "Autumn Glory" and ** Gold- en Glow." — A belated letter from Mr. W. C. Egan, Highland Park, Ills., comments on the article "Rudbeckia Golden Glow" in the Oc- tober issue, which contained an extract from the London Journal of Horticulture, inferring that "Golder^ Glow" was the same as ''Au- tumn Glory," which had been known in Eng- land for years. The writer in the journal stated he thought he had seen it quoted in Barrs' catalogue as " Golden Glow." Mr. Egan sends a flower of ' * Autumn Glory ' ' from a plant sent him under that name, and the dif- ference between the two is quite evident. The latter has a long cone or disk, while the disk of the other is rounded and comparatively flat. It is just as Mr. Egan says, "A plant that would increase with such rapidity, and is so attractive in its parts, if known in England twenty years ago, would have been known here long before this." That the previous FLOWER OF DORONICUM. (4 INCHES DIAMETER.) correspondent was undoubtedly misled, is also proven by Barrs' catalogue referred to, in which both varieties are quoted and described. Standard Crimson Rambler. — In the March issue mention was made of the effect- iveness of the Crimson Rambler Rose trained to a single stem and allowed to make a head. i> 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 61 With this is an illustration fully bearing up the statement. The form will be seen to re- semble the Kilmarnock Willow, but much less formal and with the charming addition of bril- liant flowers. fR'^llTS MS ¥E^ET/^PLES, ^^ Beauty in Common Things. — We find it very pleasant, every year, to grow something new in vine or plant. Last year we grew pea- nuts, and were very successful growing the Spanish variety. They were a curiosity to our friends. The plants are very beautiful with their clover-like foliage. We also sowed what we called "Italian peas," given us by an Italian friend, much used by the Italians i n this country, import- ing from Italy what they do not grow in their own small gardens. The plants form a beautiful border, growing in a dwarf, bushy manner. We did not care for them green, but they are nice dried, used in soup. For four years we have grown the Husk Strawberry, which makes such delicious preserves and jam. For two years past we have found ready market for all our surplus. An English lady, visiting us last season, expressed surprise that we only grew the Scar- let-runner for beauty of vine and flower. She said that in England they were considered the very best green bean as well as shelled. Also advised us to try the hips of our native thorn in making marmalade, which we did. Mem- bers of the family, who had visited England, said it was very much the same as the mar- STANDARD CRIMSON RAMBLER ROSE. malade furnished them at breakfast while in London. We think, perhaps, it were better to use the English Hawthorn, which we will try the coming season. Will you kindly inform me, through the columns of Meehans' Monthly, where I can procure the seeds of Hibiscus Sabdariffa^ as I wish to grow them the coming year ? Rochester, N.Y. . S. B. BOWERMAN. As our correspondent suggests, common things can often be used by way of ornament. In a park, the past season, under the charge of a first-class gardener, the common Curled Kale of the vegetable garden was used in the flower gar- den to great ad- vantage. Few suspected it was but a common vegetable. The Italian Pea is probably the Ja- pan Soy Bean, Soja hispida ; but what is the Husk Strawberry ? Pos- sibly one of the genus PhysaliSy or Ground Cher- ry. The Scarlet- runner of English gardens does not bear well in our climate, and with many gardeners it is difiicult to get poles. The Lima Bean, which the English can- not grow, requires all the poles that can be easily secured. The leading seedsmen usually keep all new articles as soon as they are on the market. If to be had at all, they can be obtained through some of those firms advertising in our last and present number. Labor-saving Wheel-hoes. — "Among the principal labor-saving tools in the hands of the market gardener must be considered Wheel- hoes. Nay, we may insist that it leads all others, for they are really indispensable, and [I I i ii j^ 6o MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAI. GARDENING. [April TME If1I/^I?[^Y FLOWEl 0!'>VT1-!'M.S 1 |Of)Ki;K!,\\j,\ POLYPTERIS HOOKERIANA. HOOKER'S MANY-FEATHER. NATURAL, ORDER, COMPOSITE. POLYPTERIS HOOKERIANA, Gray.— Stoutcf thau /*. Texana ; one to four feet high, above s^landular pubescent and some- what viscid ; leaves from narrowly to broadly lanceolate, mostly three-nerved below ; involucre many flowered, broad „ half an inch or more high, of twelve to sixteen lanceolate bracts in two series, the outer looser and often wholly herba- ceous, the inner with purplish tips ; ray flowers eij?ht to ten, the deeply three cleft rose-red rays half an inch long, but sometimes reduced or aboitive ; pappus in the ray a crown of six to eight short and obtuse, rather rigid spatulate paleae ; In the disk of narrowly-lanceolate, thin palese, traversed by an excurrent costa. attenuate at apex into a slen- der point or i>hort curve, nearly of the length of the akene. Gray's Synoptical Flora of I^orth America. The specimens from which the drawing is made were obtained from seed sent by a corres- pondent from Fort Worth, Texas, without further indications of the locality than that it grew in the upper regions of the Red River. Dr. Gray, however, notes that its home is on the dry plains of Nebraska and Texas. In several excursions in that region by the author, it was not met with ; but, judging from the specimen from which the branch was taken, it must prove an interesting element in the wild- flower scenery of the dry plains of those regions, for doubtless it is more or less abundant in the localities in which it has made for itself a home. That it is an imigrant from more southern latitudes originally, is more than likely from the fact the some half-dozen species of which the genus consists are rather com- mon in Mexico ; while this species has no rel- ative near it, though two are found in south- ern California. The first one of the genus was raised by the celebrated Cavanilles, at the Botanic Garden at Madrid, from seed received from New Spain, in Mexico. He could not distinguish it from an Ageratum, and named it Ageratum linear e. Later, in 1806, another Spanish botanist, Mariano Lagasca, saw good reasons for dividing it from Ageratum, and erected the new genus Palafoxia for it. Dr. Gray says the name is derived from Jos6 Pala- fox, the noted Spanish general. The author has not at command the work of Lagasca in which the plant was described, and which pos- sibly conveys the suggestion as to the person the name was to honor ; but General Palafox was not a noted general at that time, but a youthful hanger-on at court, being born in 1780, and apparently with nothing to warrant special botanical honors. He had bravery, and led his townsmen in the celebrated seige of Saragossa, in 1808. His honors as Duke of Saragossa, did not reach him till 1836. The original, Palafoxia linearis, still continues as Lagasca arranged it. But others, since found and classed with Palafoxia in the first instance, have since been separated, and the genus Polypteris founded for them by Nuttall, chiefly on account of the peculiar and pretty crown formed by the pap- pus, as seen in fig. 5, — Polypteris being from the Greek, signifying many wings or feathers. No common name has been given to it. Many- feather is here simply suggested for popular approval. Hooker's name is associated with it by Dr. Gray, evidently through Hooker having figured it in the Botanical magazine as Palafoxia Texana, already so named by DeCaudolle, from which, however, it was shown by Dr. Gray to be different. The plant has no popular history. It is a pretty wild flower, adorning the dry and barren plains for ages unseen by eyes that could appre- ciate its beauty, and only in recent years find- ing its way into gardens where its beauty has made it welcome. The plant, however, furnishes so many popu- lar lessons, that a more than usual number of dissections have been figured on the plate. The numerously-divided crown to the apex of the akene or seed, fig. 5, has already been adverted to, and is very beautiful when examined with a pocket lens. It was this which led Nuttall, in his "Genera of North American Plants,'* issued in 18 18, to establish the genus, — Polyp- (65) fl \')L. .\. Pl.A'1'i. .). '•'■■ • >» ».: M ¥1 POLVPTERIS HOOKHRIANA. HOOKER'S MANY-FEATHER. NATURAL ORDER, COMPOSURE. PoLVPTKRis HooKERiANA, Gray.— Stoutcr thaii P. Texana ; one to four feet high, above glandular pubescent and some- what viscid ; leaves from narrowly to broadly lanceolate, mostly three-nerved below ; involucre many flowered, broad, half an inch or more high, of twelve to sixteen lanceolate bracts in two series, the outer looser and often wholly herba- ceous, the inner with purplish tips ; ray flowers eight to ten, the deeply three cleft rose-red rays half an inch long, but sometimes reduced or aboitive ; pappus in the ray a crown of six to eight short and obtuse, rather rigid spatulate palese ; in the disk of narrowly-lanceolate, thin palece, traversed by an excurrent costa, attenuate at apex into a slen- der point or short curve, nearly of the length of the akene. Gray's Synoptical Flora of Aorth America. The specimens from which the drawing is made were obtained from seed sent by a corres- pondent from Fort Worth, Texas, without further indications of the locality than that it grew in the upper regions of the Red River. Dr. Gray, however, notes that its home is on the dry plains of Nebraska and Texas. In several excursions in that region by the author, it was not met with ; but, judging from the specimen from which the branch was taken, it must prove an interesting element in the wild- flower scenery of the dry plains of those regions, for doubtless it is more or less abundant in the localities in which it has made for itself a home. That it is an imigrant from more southern latitudes originally, is more than likely from the fact the some half-dozen species of which the genus consists are rather com- mon in Mexico ; while this species has no rel- ative near it, though two are found in south- ern California. The first one of the genus was raised by the celebrated Cavanilles, at the Botanic Garden at Madrid, from seed received from New Spain, in Mexico. He could not distinguish it from an Ageratiim, and named it Agerahivi linear e. Later, in 1806, another Spanish botanist, Mariano Lagasca, saw good reasons for dividing it from Ageratum, and erected the new genus Palafoxia for it. Dr. Gray says the name is derived from Jose Pala- fox, the noted Spanish general. The author has not at command the work of lyagasca in which the plant was described, and which pos- sibly conveys the suggestion as to the person the name was to honor ; but General Palafox was not a noted general at that time, but a youthful hanger-on at court, being born in 1780, and apparently with nothing to warrant special botanical honors. He had bravery, and led his townsmen in the celebrated seige of Saragossa, in 1808. His honors as Duke of Saragossa, did not reach him till 1836. The original, Palafoxia linearis, still continues as Lagasca arranged it. But others, since found and classed with Palafoxia in the first instance, have since been separated, and the genus Polypteris founded for them by Nuttall, chiefly on account of the peculiar and pretty crown formed by the pap- pus, as seen in fig. 5, — PolypUris being from the Greek, signifying many wings or feathers. No common name has been given to it. Many- feather is here simply suggested for popular approval. Hooker's name is associated with it by Dr. Gray, evidently through Hooker having figured it in the Botanical magazine as Palafoxia Texana, already so named by DeCandolle, from which, however, it was shown by Dr. Gray to be different. The plant has no popular history. It is a pretty wild flower, adorning the dry and barren plains for ages unseen by eyes that could appre- ciate its beauty, and only in recent years find- ing its way into gardens where its beauty has made it welcome. The plant, however, furnishes so many popu- lar lessons, that a more than usual number of dissections have been figured on the plate. The numerously-divided crown to the apex of the akene or seed, fig. 5, has already been adverted to, and is very beautiful when examined with a pocket lens. It was this which led Nuttall, in his "Genera of North American Plants,'* issued in 1818, to establish the genus, — Polyp- (65) l( sj^flyir^ii TMTTnMTTrMVT A T Ct7/-ii^XTT^ Tl"> lit 1^1 f 66 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — POIvYPTERIS HOOKERIANA. [May teris integrifolia being the species described. This was from a specimen collected in Georgia, by Dr. Baldwin, on the banks of the River Altamaha, and this is the most northern range yet found for it. It extends to Florida, usually found in dry sandy places. One of the florets of the disk is displayed in fig. 4. In this stage the feathery pappus is erect. It does not spread till the akene is maturing. The remark- ably slender tube projects beyond the pappus, and is terminated by a small, campanulate limb. This flower is taken at an early stage. When further advanced, the crown of anthers is carried up beyond the limb, by the pressure of the expanding lobes of the pistil. After the pollen has been exposed by the rupture of the anther cells, the cloven pistil wipes out most of the pollen, and proceeds still further. Freed from the growing force of the style, the empty anther cases fall back within the limb. In the figs. 8. 8, of the perfect head of flowers we may see the dark column of anthers being lifted by the style. In fig. 9, we see the di- vided stigmas alone with their supporting style, the column of stamens having become free, and retired back within the corolla. This behavior is especially instructive to those who take an interest in observing how flowers are fertilized. The slender tube is very unfavor- able to the labor of an insect in collecting sweets from its base, — while the dense mass of anthers, against the throat of the corolla, ren- ders such an effort on the part of a honey- gathering insect still more difficult. The flowers are visited freely by bees for the sake of the pollen, — and this seems to be all the sacrifice the plant is able to offer for the good of the outside world. It receives no benefit from the visits of insects, assuming that cross- fertilization may be of some service, — as, from the process already described, it is strictly self-pollinating. The ray-floret, fig. 3, now commands atten- tion. It is the same long, tubular structure as in the other case ; but the upper portion has become enlarged, and instead of being five- lobed and bell-shaped, it has split on one side, and formed a somewhat hand-shaped, but only three-divided blade. The two laterals are larger, each evidently being two of the original five-parted corolla, united together. With this change from bell-shaped to strap-shaped, is another singular fact in the suppression of the anthers, the ray-floret having a pistil only. The feathery pappus has also been almost sup- pressed. It has been noted in flowers of this character, that when this suppression of stamens occurs in flowers, where the disk- flowers remain hermaphrodite, and where by chance the tubular disk-flowers should become strap-shaped, the pistillate character follows the strap-shaped form. It would be called a double flower by florists. The flowers in this double condition, would be all wholly pistillate. The double Dahlia is a well-known illustration of this fact. Just why the strap-shaped condi- tion and pistillity should be co-related, remains yet a mystery which some happy biologist may in the future have the good fortune to explain . In fig. 2, we have a longitudinal section of the involucre, or outside cup that encloses all flowers of the order of CompositcB. If the stem had elongated, and formed a branchlet in- stead of a flower, each of the twelve or six- teen bracts, of which this involucre or cup is formed, would have been a leaf scattered along the stem instead of being all transformed and presented in this arrested state. The leaves furnish a point of interest in their strongly-three-nerved character. Nearly all the species have this so nerved in their lower leaves, but it is rare, even in the typical forms of our present one, to have the upper leaves so well characterized. It is a good lesson in variation for the student. Nature casts noth- ing in one uniform mould. Allowing that form results from internal energy operating from the earliest conception of the individual plant, and that the degree of energy must vary accord- ing to the power to assimilate nutrition, exact reproduction is impossible. And yet energy must expend itself ultimately. We learn from this that plants must vary in their own indi- vidual selves, as well as from each other, — but that there is a point in each individual case beyond which even variation cannot go. Evo- lution, as taught in modern schools, is prob- ably sound doctrine. But it cannot be proved by individual variation, as it is so often at- tempted to be. Explanation of the Plate — i. Branch of a plant from Texas. 2. lyongitudinal section of the involucral cup. 3. Ray-floret and akene. 4. Disk-floret, with akene and pap- pus. 5. Mature akene, with feathery pappus spreading. 6. Column of stamens elevated by the growing styles. 7. stamens drawn back within the floret, and style and stigmas free. \ ■'f .a WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. SPRING-TIME. The merry May has pleasant hours And dreamily they glide, As if they floated like the leaves Upon a silver tide. The trees are'full of crimson buds. And the woods are full of birds. And the waters flow to music, Like a tune with pleasant words. The verdure of the meadow-land Is creeping to the hills. The sweet, blue-bosom 'd violets Are blowing by the rills ; The lilacs have a load of balm For every wind that stirs. And the larch stands green and beautiful Amid the sombre firs. — N. P. WiLUS. 9 SuBULARiA AQUATIC A, L. — In the depths of the primaeval forest, under the high moun- tains of the Franconia Notch, New Hamp- shire, lies a centre of exotic civilization, in the shape of the Profile House, whither every summer a mountain-loving detachment of the society of our great cities transfers its doings. The Profile House stands on a water shed. To the south of the big hotel lies Profile Lake under the great stone face, flowing southward at length to become the Merrimac. A short distance north of the hotel lies Echo Lake, which flows by Welch Brook and the Am- monusuc north and the west into the Connect- icut. These lakes, which though small in area, are found by actual measurement to be some hun- dreds of feet deep, were the Mecca of two pil- grimages of mine while among the White Mountains in the summer of 1897. I explored Echo Lake with special interest, it being one of Gray's cited localities for the awl wort. My first trip on September ist, was hurried and only revealed some lily pods, and the gray globular heads of a pipe wort rising above the water, though I did not fail to notice and won- der at numerous little tufts of short, sharp. green leaves growing out of the white sand about a foot beneath the water. On my second visit on September 22nd, I was driving with some friends from Twin Mountain to the Profile, and asked their indulgence for a few moments that I might more thoroughly explore the margins of the lake ; and while they were listening to the famous echo for which the lake is named, I walked all about the margins catching sight of arbutus plants and mountain cranberry, and more pipewort and lily pods as I explored the water's edge. 8UBULARIA AQUATICA. At last, just as I was about to give up the search, my eye caught sight of a thread-like stem rising from one of the numerous tufts of subulate root-leaves, bearing a sparse crop of small, green, globose capsules, all easily seen growing against the white sand about a foot beneath the surface of the brilliantly clear cold water. I bared my arm and dragged the plant from its foot-hold, bringing up with it a clus- ter of shining white, nerve-like roots, and packed it carefully away in a small tin box I had brought for the very purpose of its capture. (67) ii ii ti li/i ## I 68 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [May It struck me then as strange that a flower of such high class as a crucifier should bloom and fruit successfully entirely under water. (See illustration.) Newlin Williams. The American P^onia, P. Brownii. — The paeony is one of those old garden flowers that have become scattered and mixed, and improved upon innumerable times until very few persons know one true species from another. Much less is it known that there is an American species, though this is not altogether surpris- ing in view of the difficulty accompanying any attempt at domesticating it. This plant, known as PcEonia Brownii, is to be found only along the Pacific Coast, and then very sparing- ly. In the description given in ' • Brewer and Watson's Geological Survey," it is said : "This plant endures a great range of station and cli- mate, from wet to very dry soils and from the hot plains of Southern California to near the confines of perpetual snow on the mountains." It is, never-the-less, delicately constructed, and attains a growth of only about a foot in height. The flower is quite unlike those we are more familiar with, being about 2% inches in diam- eter, the thick and leathery, dull, dark red petals barely equalling the green sepals in length. But it is attractive, and would please everyone fond of flowers for themselves and not so particularly for the show they make. The paeony is a member of the same family as the buttercup, and in this species one can see a closer resemblance in general appearance than with our garden kinds. Bird-life. — A correspondent states that, for many years, in boxes for martens, there have been four pairs and no more than these eight birds come to the four boxes prepared for them. He asks if martens are famous for long life ; or if a pair of young ones, or young brides and bridegrooms, take the places of the dead old ones? Habenaria and other Wild, New Jersey Flowers. — A much finer Habenaria than the one figured in the Monthly for February, is found near Tenafly, New Jersey, the stems 18 to 20 inches, the heads broad, made so by the large petals and long fringe. The lip is fully two inches long with fringe half-inch long on each side. When living in Tenafly, I sent hundreds to New York. In the same locality is found Cypripedium spectabile. Orchis specta- bilis, a large bed of Kalmia glauca, and some K. angustifolia, Osmunda cinnamomea , O. re- galis, and many other rare plants. W. L. The Fruit of the Oleander. — Nerium Oleander, Z., the Oleander of common house culture, belongs to the Dogbane family, and has for close relatives such plants as the Indian Hemp, and Periwinkle, the small evergreen vine often found in old gardens and cemeteries, erroneously called myrtle. The writer has never seen the periwinkle in fruit, but the long slender pods of the Indian Hemp, that burst open at maturity and allow the seed that are furnished with copious white down to scatter, are familiar to all. Yesterday the writer was called to the house of a friend to see the fruit of an Oleander. The pods are five to six inches long and about one-fourth of an inch in diameter and grow out from the end of the twig that bore the flowers ; they split open on two opposite sides and allow the seeds to fall out — or rather force them out, because the two ends of the pod draw toward each other, thus pressing the seed together did they not have a chance to escape. The seeds below the crown or tuft of down are three-sixteenths of an inch long by a third as thick ; they are in this portion covered with short, stiff", brown hairs, which suddenly become longer at the top of the seed and form a tuft of down about an inch in diameter of the same brown color as the hairs on the seed. By a little pull, the top part of the tuft comes out. The seeds are obscurely attached to the inside of the pod. The weight of 50 seeds was 22 grains. Hence there would be, in one grain, 22^ seeds, and in one ounce 6,422 seeds. E. E. Bogue. Stillwater, Okla Twin Hazel Nuts.— Mr. H. G. Shelby, Bur- lington, Iowa sends specimens of Hazel nuts that appear as twins. They are formed by two flower buds being started on the branch instead of one, and so close together that they engraft in early infancy. This we occasionally see in the apple and other fruits. It is rare in the hazel nut. These are the first ones we have seen. GENERAL GARDENING. THE APPLE BLOSSOM. As now, on some delicious eve. We, in our sweet sequester' d orchard plot, Sit on the tree crook *d earthward ; whose old boughs, That hang above us in an arborous roof, Stirr'd by the faint gale of departing day. Send their loose blossoms slanting o'er our heads. —Coleridge. Watering Forced Spiraeas. — The beauti- ful white-flowered spiraeas forced for use about Easter-tide, must be kept plentifully supplied with water while in flower. In fact, contrary to general rule, a little water in the saucers beneath the pots, or in the jardinieres, as the case may be, will be found desirable, but only sufficient to last a short time. The plants will be found to drink it up very quickly, and by observation, it can easily be determined how much to give each time. Rocky Mountain Evergreens in Iowa. — The following extract from Gardening shows the value in which the Rocky Mountain Ever- greens are held in Iowa. It is particularly in- teresting to note that the Colorado Blue Spruce as usual heads the list. : — ' ' The first of importance is the Picea pun- gens, or Colorado Blue Spruce. This is un- doubtedly the king of spruces. We have not the command of language to express the ad- miration we have for this tree, which is one of the gems of the Rockies ; and while it is found in the deep gorges on very dry, but exposed points on the range, one would naturally sup- pose that it would not endure the great changes of transplanting to the genial soils we have here. Yet, the facts are that there is no tree that so adapts itself to the prairie conditions as this one does, and it is certainly designated to be the coming ornamental evergreen tree ; the person encouraging its planting will be rearing a living monument that will last for ages. Another tree the merits of which I am very fond of extolling is Abies concolor. This var- iety does not transplant quite as easily as the Silver Spruce but when once established is a revelation of beauty and symmetry. As I write this I look out upon a specimen that is fully twenty- five feet high, and if asked to describe it, the English language would fail me. The Douglas Spruce has been denominated by a western writer as the tree for the millipns, but with us it has the habit of starting so early in the spring that its growth is often killed back by late frosts, which is quite detri- mental to this variety, as the leader is killed and makes the tree unshapely. Specimens on our grounds which are twenty feet high are perfect models of beauty, but as grown in nurs- ery rows they are not so attractive and valu- able as other sorts. Still another Rocky Moun- tain Spruce is known as Engelmann's Spruce. This often approaches in beauty to the Silver Spruce. Oftentimes specimens of this spruce can easily be mistaken for Picea pungens so far as color and beauty of form are concerned, but one acquainted with these conifers can easily distinguish them as the Blue Spruce has sharp needles, like pines, while those of Engelmann's Spruce are much longer and flexible. M. J. Wragg." Honeysuckle Flowers for Cutting. — Try the flowers of the honeysuckle vine for bou- quets, vases and general decorations, and you will find a source of great gratification. The marvellous fragrance of the flowers will fill a room. Long sprays, well covered with foliage, will make graceful decorations. The Chinese form will prove a favorite on account of the reddish foliage and red and white flowers. AcoRUS Calamus.— G. N. C, Oberlin, O., remarks :—** The Acorus is quite a nuisance in my Lotus ponds, crowding them, difficult to exterminate, and dying when other aquatics are most luxuriant. As an aquatic, it does not begin to compare with the luxuriant Cat-tail, Typha latifoliay (69) ai lil 70 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [May Rock-work. — Few elements in ornamental gardening require more intelligent handling than rock-work. Well worked out, few depart- ments, give more pleasure, — while when the feature is successfully presented to us, it is an object of delight. The rule generally is that the rocks should be so placed as to appear the handiwork of nature. But the truth is this is rarely the case. It is doubtful whether any piece of rock -work was so arranged that the hand of art was hidden successfully. This been arranged by the hand of man, and that the plants and planting have been introduced in the same way. Yet the effect is pleasing, and would be enjoyed even by the most critical in the art of landscape gardening. Summer Treatment of Transplanted Trees. — In the earth in which vegetation is growing, we can find no water, in the popular sense of the term ; but the particles of earth hold moisture, which can be extracted, and >^* K- 4 iylp!^; rT>^ .■«:;■ r ■;'"■' i" . ••. ■ » "^14. • — • ^ • f «■ ^^. .-r f-.'^'ii ROCK-WORK GATC-P08T. GROUNDS OF F. R. CHANDLER, ESQ.. LAKE GENEVA. WIS. MCLCHIOR LUCTSCHQ, QARDCNCR being granted, it would seem wisdom to can- didly avow that it is a work of art, and to leave to it a self-avowal of the fact. Now, one of the first principles in landscape gardening art is that of harmony. A pile of rock arranged on a smooth, level piece of lawn would never be ad- mired. A rockery never looks well except ar- ranged where rocks ought to be. But this does not imply that art should be ignored. The annexed engraving illustrates the point very well. We all know that these rocks have condensed as liquid by the roots of plants. How this is done, no one knows exactly, but the wonderful fact remains that trees growing in ground comparatively dry, will fill their tissues with immense quantities of liquid, which is given off by the leaves to the atmos- phere daily, to be continually replenished from the moisture stoied in the earth-particles below. To take advantage of this store of moisture, the roots must be in actual contact with these particles. The great effort of the f £900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. successful tree planter is to pulverize the earth as finely as possible, for the reason that the finer the particles the greater the amount of moisture afforded; and because the finer the par- ticles the more closely packed it can be around the finer roots. Water, in itself, is an injury to plants. Plants suffocate if the water lie around the roots for a few days in the growing saeson. All that is needed is enough to satur- ate the particles of matter, without driving the air from spaces between the pulverized parti- cles. We can see from this, that watering newly transplanted trees may be an injury, as often it may be a benefit. If a tree trans- planted in the early part of the season, that has pushed into leaf, show signs of wilting in warm weather, when surrounding vegetation show no such wilting, the inference is that there is quite enough moisture in the soil, but that it is out of contact with the roots. It may have been wet weather, and the soil was too pasty to pulverize properly. In this case, a beating down with a heavy rammer, — a pav- ing rammer even, if can be had, is of more im- portance than watering would be. The water- ing does not bring the roots into closer con- nection with the earth. If, after this, the leaves still seem to suffer, and there is undoubt- edly a dry time as other vegetation shows, then the aid of water is acceptable to the trans- planted tree. A Shrub for Dry Weather. — Each year the value of Hydrangea paniculata becomes to us more and more apparent. And in the almost unprecedented drouth of the past season, when all other vegetation was parched, the immense panicles of this shrub were fresh as ever. These blossoms may be dried for winter bouquets, the petals retaining their form perfectly, and changing only in color. Bessie L. Putnam. Gladiolus. — The Gladiolus is the most attractive of all the summer flowering bulbs, and deserves a place in every garden, as it is sure to flower and do well with very little care. It has no insect enemies or disease. The flowers are of almost every desirable color. By cutting the spikes when two or three of the lower flowers are open, and placing them in water, the entire spike will open in the most beautiful manner. Set the bulbs from six to nine inches apart, and about four inches deep. Plant from middle of April to first of June. It is a good way to plant at two or three different times, ten days or two weeks apart. This will give a succession of blooms from July to Novem- ber. Storrs & Harrison Co. Painesvillc, Ohio. Open Air Begonias. — As a rule, the Beg07iia is not suited to out-door gardening, — but the everblooming species. Begonia semperflorenSy does well in partial shade, and keeps up a sup- ply of flowers all summer. Florists have turned their attention to selections of varieties, and there are now several of various shades between pure white and deep red. The American Lotus. — Nelumhiwn luteuft, is truly America's greatest floral giant. With its huge yellow blossoms ten inches and its bright green leaves, thirty inches in diameter, this noble aquatic easily out-measures the stateliest of its terrestrial cousin— the South- ern Magnolia. It is purely American. No yellow lotus has ever been found in any other part of the world ; nor has any other Nelum- bium been found in America. In all respects, except color, it is identical with the oriental Nelumbium. When the flower first opens, the petals are a bright lemon yellow, but grow paler each day until almost white. It ap- proaches the Egyptian Lotus in size and out- line, except that it is somewhat more globular. Under cultivation, it behaves like the Japanese Lotus, {Nelufnbium grandiflorum), becoming "dwarfed" and flowering more freely in limited quarters. It submits to more rough handling than any lotus ; and a smaller per cent, of the roots die when transplanted. Last spring, the writer put some surplus tubers in a cement tank in which there was no soil. They at once started growth and produced an abund- ance of foliage with considerable flowers while floating on the clear water. My experience with other lotus' tubers, when treated thus, is, they send out a few puny leaves and then decay. Yellow is the most desired color among water lilies ; and this, being the only yellow lotus, takes a place in the water garden that cannot be filled by a substitute. The American I^otus is indigenous to the south- central portion of the United States, though c was carried north and east by the early Indians, and traces of it are left as they migrated west- I 70 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [May Rock-work. — Few elements in ornamental gardening require more intelligent handling than rock-work. Well worked out, few depart- ments, give more pleasure, — while when the feature is successfully presented to us, it is an object of delight. The rule generally is that the rocks should be so placed as to appear the handiwork of nature. But the truth is this is rareh^ the case. It is doubtful whether any piece of rock-work was so arranged that the hand of art was hidden successfully. This been arranged by the hand of man, and that the plants and planting have been introduced in the same way. Vet the effect is pleasing, and would be enjoyed even by the most critical in the art of landscape gardening. Summer Treatment of Transplanted Trees. — In the earth in which vegetation is growing, we can find no water, in the popular sense of the term ; but the particles of earth hold moisture, which can be extracted, and ROCK-WORK GATE-POST. GROUNDS OF F. R. CHANDLER. Esq.. LAKE GENEVA. WIS. MELCHIOR LUETSCHG, GARDENER being granted, it would seem wisdom to can- didly avow that it is a work of art, and to leave to it a self-avowal of the fact. Now, one of the first principles in landscape gardening art is that of harmony. A pile of rock arranged on a smooth, level piece of lawn would never be ad- mired. A rockery never looks well except ar- ranged w^here rocks ought to be. But this does not imply that art should be ignored. The annexed engraving illustrates the point very well. We all know that these rocks have condensed as liquid by the roots of plants. How this is done, no one knows exactly, but the wonderful fact remains that trees growing in ground comparatively dry, will fill their tissues with immense quantities of liquid, which is given ofi' by the leaves to the atmos- phere daily, to be continually replenished from the moisture stoied in the earth-i)articles below. To take advantage of this store of moisture, the roots must be in actual contact with these particles. The great effort of the £900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. II successful tree planter is to pulverize the earth as finely as possible, for the reason that the finer the particles the greater the amount of moisture afforded; and because the finer the par- ticles the more closely packed it can be around the finer roots. Water, in itself, is an injury to plants. Plants suffocate if the water lie around the roots for a few days in the growing saeson. All that is needed is enough to satur- ate the particles of matter, w^ithout driving the air from spaces between the pulverized parti- cles. We can see from this, that watering newly transplanted trees may be an injury, as often it may be a benefit. If a tree trans- planted in the early part of the season, that has pushed into leaf, show signs of wilting in warm weather, when surrounding vegetation show no such wilting, the inference is that there is quite enough moisture in the soil, but that it is out of contact with the roots. It may have been wet weather, and the soil was too pasty to pulverize properly. In this case, a beating down with a heavy rammer, — a pav- ing rammer even, if can be had, is of more im- portance than watering would be. The water- ing does not bring the roots into closer con- nection with the earth. If, after this, the leaves still seem to suffer, and there is undoubt- edly a dry time as other vegetation shows, then the aid of water is accei)table to the trans- planted tree. A vShruh FOR Dry Weather. — Each year the value of Hydrafi^ea paniculata becomes to us more and more apparent. And in the almost unprecedented drouth of the past season, when all other vegetation was parched, the immense panicles of this shrub were fresh as ever. These blossoms may be dried for winter bouquets, the ])etals retaining their form perfectly, and changing only in color. Bessie L. Putnam. (iLADioLUS. — The (Uadiolus is the most attractive of all the summer flowering bulbs, and deserves a place in every garden, as it is sure to flower and do well with very little care. It has no insect enemies or disease. The flowers are of almost every desirable color. By cutting the spikes when two or three of the lower flowers are open, and placing them in water, the entire spike will open in the most beautiful manner. vSet the bulbs from six to nine inches apart, and about four inches deep. Plant from middle of April to first of June. It is a good way to plant at two or three different times, ten days or two weeks apart. This will give a succession of blooms from July to Novem- ber. vStorrs & Harrison Co. Painesville, Ohio. Open Air Bec^onias. — As a rule, the Begonia is not suited to out-door gardening, — but the everblooming species, Bego?iia sempcrji ovens, does well in partial shade, and keeps up a sup- ply of flowers all summer. Plorists have turned their attention to selections of varieties, and there are now several of various shades between pure white and deep red. The American Lotus. — Nclumhiuin lutcuit. is truly America's greatest floral giant. With its huge yellow blossoms ten inches and its bright green leaves, thirty inches in diameter, this noble aquatic easily out-measures the stateliest of its terrestrial cousin— the South- ern Magnolia. It is purely American. No yellow lotus has ever been found in any other part of the world ; nor has any other Xelum- bmm been found in America. In all respects, except color, it is identical with the oriental Nelumbium. When the flower first opens, the petals are a bright lemon yellow, but grow paler each day until almost white. It ap- proaches the Ivgyptian Lotus in size and out- line, except that it is somewhat more globular. Under cultivation, it behaves like the Japanese Lotus, {Nelumbium graudijlorum), becoming "dwarfed" and flowering more freely in limited (piarters. It submits to more rough handling than any lotus ; and a smaller per cent, of the roots die when transplanted. Last spring, the writer put some surplus tubers in a cement tank in which there was no soil. The}^ at once started growth and produced an abund- ance of foliage with considerable flowers while floating on the clear water. My experience with other lotus' tubers, when treated thus, is, they send out a few puny leaves and then decay. Yellow is the most desired color among water lilies ; and this, being the only yellow lotus, takes a place in the water garden that cannot be filled by a substitute. The American Lotus is indigenous to the south- central portion of the United vStates, though c was carried north and east by the early Indians, and traces of it are left as they migrated west- INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 72 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — GKNERAI. GARDENING. [May ^ \ ward. It was a favorite with some tribes of the Indians, and was said to be the oldest child of the great ' ' Father of Waters. ' ' The seeds were called * ' 70-year Acorns, ' ' because it was supposed it took seventy years for them to germ- inate. They were extensively used as beads, and also as an article of food under the name ** Yonker-pins." It is believed by some that the root, also, was utilized for food, — used as a substitute for the potato. Large fields of this plant were under cultivation on the middle waters of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers at the time of the settlement by the whites. In illustration, a beautiful picture accompanies thi^, of a scene in Westside Park, Paterson, New Jersey, which by kind permission of Sec- retary Amiraux, is taken from the 9th annual report of the Park Commissioners of that city. Ginseng. — Much is written about the culti- vation of Ginseng for the Chinese market. Has the growing of Korean, Japanese or Man- churian Ginseng been tried here ? It is said to fetch a much higher price than the American article. C. W. G. Mcrchantville. N. J. I |)llM»ff.iWjil'i^|i»Wi^fcf^!t^l ♦f^ •*ir^ "TT^fJ V>. - 4-1^. /-W^ A 8CKNC IN PATERSON PARK. NEW JERSEY m Old citizens now living in those sections can remember when the routed Indians would re- turn and gather all the seeds they could carry away. So while the pink lotus of the sacred Nile and the while lotus of the sacred Ganges, have had their worshippers, the yellow lotus of the sacred Mississippi has had, at least, its admirers. Stuartia pseudo-camelua. — In looking over your interesting Monthly for January, I notice an error has crept in someway, in the translation on Sluarlia, page 10, where the height oi S. PseudO'Camellia is given as 15m. — about 50 feet — which would be quite a tree. I find that good authorities give the height 01 this shrub as 4m. — that is 12 or 13 feet. Rochester. N. Y. E. W. SEELYE. 1 ■ f Westside Park, Paterson, N. J. — Land- scape gardeners tell us that it takes a combi- nation of earth, sky, land and water, to form a perfect picture of the landscape gardeners' art. A Dozen Good Double Geraniums. — Re- cently I gave names and descriptions of twelve best single geraniums ; now I enumerate twelve i I 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 73 — or rather fourteen — double varieties. Double garaniums, as a rule, almost invariably last longer when cut — in fact, that is my exper- ience. They lack, however, that beauty of simplicity so noticeable in single varieties. The varieties enumerated are all superb and leave nothing to be desired as to habit of growth, freedom of bloom and robustness of constitution. NAME. Modesty. Marvel. Henri de Plarville COLOR. Beautiful Shell Pink. Crimson-Scarlet. Bright Magenta with distinct white eye. Gen. Des. Boisdeffre. Salmon-striped Scarlet and veined with white. Salmon Pink. Doubtless the purest double White to date. Semi-double Scarlet. Semi-double Salmon, a gem. Scarlet, very strong grower and a free bloomer. Lilac-rose, free flowerer, and good dwarf habit. Beautiful soft Salmon, a fine acquisi- tion. Intense Crimson Marone. First-class in every way. Scarlet. First -class. Bright Pink with white-eye; vine. Dr. yerucuil. Madame Rozain. /. J. Harrison. Mme. Charotte. IV. P. Simmonds. Mme. M. Hue. Republique. Pride of Ryecrojt. Raspail Improved. Paul Barre. Anyone growing say half-a-dozen of the several varieties above mentioned together with half-a-dozen each of the singles enumerated previously, can have geraniums, and plenty of them, all winter long.^ We have gathered a few trusses almost every other day all winter long and to-day, March 8th, there are lots left. Give them a good watering of liquid manure once a week, and dont be afraid to stop them (if they are inclined at all to become long) thereby inducing a strong, short, bushy speci- men, which is the most desirable plant. Rahway, N. J. A. P. NEW 0^ ^AWL FLdNT3. New Giant Cactus Dahlia. — Mrs. Theo- dosia B. Shepherd, Ventura, Calf, who has already come into prominence by her improve- ments in the flowers of the Cosmos ^ is deserv- ing of further recognition for the production of certain new Dahlias. One of the latest named " Monarch of Dahlias," is thus described : — ' ' Intermediate between the double and Cactus varieties. The flowers are large, loose, very aesthetic in form and measure six or more inches across ; the petals are very broad ; color deep, rich, dark red, having a beautiful bloom like velvet ; flowers are borne on long stems, and are fine for cutting." Dahlia trifurca. — The Dahlia trifurca, with eccentric ligules (straps), — you know the ligules are the petals composing the radius, — presented by M. Ch. Molin to the Horticultural Department of the Lyon's Association, is very singular. Those three pitchforks are not use- less ; — did I say three pitchforks ? There are six, seven, — in fact, as pitchforks, they are numberless. But are these all well formed pitchforks ? There is one which looks like a trident ; another is not unlike the halbert of the Swiss of Saint Pothin ; indeed, it seems to me the cruel Archer might have been able to find some bits of his flesh in the cup. Trifurca ! It is sonorous, but as for its name that scents strongly of Latin, — and Latin which is need- less. But if it must be so, it could just as well be Iridentala, Irifida, haslala (halbert), or sagil- tala (arrow). Since Latin is not necessary for describing horticulturally, the varieties of plants, the dahlia in question has been baptized as Nep- tune's Trident. This baptismal name might have been longer, it is true, but it has the merit of teaching mythology to children in calling their attention to the name of a fabu- lous personage. But let us proceed. The Dahlia trifurca — or trifida — is really a Dahlia with a curious form, whimsical and singular ; one of the kind of which M. Hoste might have said, " You know it is necessarj' that some should be like that, but there is no need of so many ! " M. Hoste was a man of excellent taste of whom one could be proud to have judge of the horticultural merits of a variety. Its color is not "golden and red," as one sings in GalalhSe, but an amaranth-red on the inside, with an edge of velvety purple ; on the outside it is of a carmine-pink. Its disk flow- ers are of a golden yellow. While speaking of Dahlias, I wish to men- tion a very remarkable variety of which there is a sketch in the present number of this re- view, and for which we are indebted to M. Molin. He describes it under the name of Pearl of Fire. This kind is distinguished from all others by its short stature, great precocity, ', I 1 ! 72 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAI. GARDENING. [May ward. It was a favorite with some tribes of the Indians, and was said to be the oldest child of the great * ' Father of Waters. ' ' The seeds were called " 70-year Acorns," because it was supposed it took seventy years for them to germ- inate. They were extensively used as beads, and also as an article of food under the name " Yonker-pins." It is believed by some that the root, also, was utilized for food, — used as a substitute for the potato. Large fields of this plant were under cultivation on the middle waters of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers at the time of the settlement bv the whites. In illustration, a beautiful picture accompanies thi3, of a scene in Westside Park, Paterson, New Jersey, which by kind permission of Sec- retary Amiraux, is taken from the 9th annual report of the Park Commissioners of that city. Ginseng. — Much is written about the culti- vation of Ginseng for the Chinese market. Has the growing of Korean, Japanese or Man- churian Ginseng been tried here ? It is said to fetch a much higher price than the American article. C. W. G. Merchantville. N. J. It A SCENE IN PATERSON PARK. NEW JERSEY Old citizens now living in those sections can remember when the routed Indians would re- turn and gather all the seeds they could carry away. So while the pink lotus of the sacred Nile and the ivhite lotus of the sacred Ganges, have had their worshippers, W\^ yellow lotus of the sacred Mississippi has had, at least, its admirers. Stuartia pseudo-camkllia. — In looking over your interesting Month ly for January, I notice an error has crept in someway, in the translation on Stuartia, page 10, where the height of .S*. Pseudo-camellia is given as 15m. — about 50 feet — which would be quite a tree. I find that good authorities give the height ot this shrub as 4m. — that is 12 or 13 feet. Rochester, N. Y. E. W. SEKIvYE. o WpCvSTSide Park, Paterson, N. J. — Land- scape gardeners tell us that it takes a combi- nation of earth, sky, land and water, to form a perfect picture of the landscape gardeners' art. A Doze:n Good Double Geraniums. — Re- cently I gave names and descriptions of twelve best single geraniums ; now I enumerate twelve 1900] MEEHANS' monthly — GENERAL GARDENING. 73 — or rather fourteen — double varieties. Double garaniums, as a rule, almost invariably last longer when cut — in fact, that is my exper- ience. They lack, however, that beauty of simplicity so noticeable in single varieties. The varieties enumerated are all superb and leave nothing to be desired as to habit of growth, freedom of bloom and robustness of constitution. NAME. Modesty. Marvel. Henri de Parville. COLOR. Beautiful Shell Piuk. Crimson-Scarlet. Bright Magenta with distinct white eye. Gen. Des. Boisdeffre. Salmon-striped Scarlet and veined with White. Salmon Pink. Doubtless the purest double White to date. Semi-double Scarlet. Semi-double Salmon, a gem. Scarlet, very strong grower and a free bloomer. Lilac-rose, free flowerer, and good dwarf habit. Beautiful soft Salmon, a fine acquisi- tion. Intense Crimson Marone. First-class in every way. Scarlet. First-class. Bright Pink with white-eye; vine. Dr. Veruciiil. Madame Rozain. /. J. Harrison. Mnie. Charotte. IV. P. Simmonds. Mme. M. Hue. Republique. Pride of Ryecrojt. Rasp ail Improved. Paul Bar re. Anyone growing say half-a-dozen of the several varieties above mentioned together with half-a-dozen each of the singles enumerated previously, can have geraniums, and plenty of them, all winter long.' We have gathered a few trusses almost every other day all winter long and to-day, March 8th, there are lots left. Give them a good watering of liquid manure once a week, and dont be afraid to stop them (if they are inclined at all to become long) thereby inducing a strong, short, bushy speci- men, which is the most desirable plant. Rahway, N. J. A. P. NEW 01 I^IE FL/^IMTS. New Giant Cactus Dahlia. — Mrs. Theo- dosia B. Shepherd, Ventura, Calf, who has already come into prominence by her improve- ments in the flowers of the Cos?nos, is deserv- ing of further recognition for the production of certain new Dahlias. One of the latest named " Monarch of Dahlias," is thus described : — * * Intermediate between the double and Cactus varieties. The flowers are large, loose, very aesthetic in form and measure six or more inches across ; the petals are very broad ; color deep, rich, dark red, having a beautiful bloom like velvet ; flowers are borne on long stems, and are fine for cutting." Dahlia trifurca. — The Dahlia trifurca, with eccentric ligules (straps), — you know the ligules are the petals composing the radius, — presented by M. Ch. Molin to the Horticultural Department of the Lyon's Association, is very singular. Those three pitchforks are not use- less ;-— did I say three pitchforks ? There are six, seven, — in fact, as pitchforks, they are numberless. But are these all well formed pitchforks ? There is one which looks like a trident ; another is not unlike the halbert of the Swiss of Saint Pothin ; indeed, it seems to me the cruel Archer might have been able to find some bits of his flesh in the cup. Trifiirca ! It is sonorous, but as for its name that scents strongly of Latin, — and Latin which is need- less. But if it must be so, it could just as well be tridental a, trifida, hast at a (halbert), or sagit- tal a (arrow). Since Latin is not necessary for describing horticulturally, the varieties of plants, the dahlia in question has been baptized as Nep- tune's Trident. This baptismal name might have been longer, it is true, but it has the merit of teaching mythology to children in calling their attention to the name of a fabu- lous personage. But let us proceed. The Dahlia trifurca — or trifida — is really a Dahlia with a curious form, whimsical and singular ; one of the kind of which M. Hoste might have said, '• You know it is necessar}' that some should be like that, but there is no need of so many ! " M. Hoste was a man of excellent taste of whom one could be proud to have judge of the horticultural merits of a variety. Its color is not "golden and red," as one sings in Galathee, but an amaranth-red on the inside, with an edge of velvety purple ; on the outside it is of a carmine-pink. Its disk flow- ers are of a golden yellow. While speaking of Dahlias, I wish to men- tion a very remarkable variety of which there is a sketch in the present number of this re- view, and for which we are indebted to M. Molin. He describes it under the name of Pearl of Fire. This kind is distinguished from all others by its short stature, great precocity. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOiSURE iii 1^^ m\ !l 74 MEEHANS' MONTHLY GENERAI. GARDENING. [May stocky or stubby growth ; the flowers expand in great numbers at a time, of a color which its name seeks to designate, but more espe- cially from the form of its flower, which seems to hide itself evasively in its chalice. It might be called a plant of " massiveness," according to the expression of M. Jules Christian. Its color is a purplish, bloody red, with a dull heavy red reflection. The contrast of these two shades is very pleasing. — From Lyon-Horticole. TME M/^RI^T TLOWEl ^/^^ID)EN. Saxifraga crassifoIvIA. — One ol our pret- tiest hardy herbaceous plants is Saxifraga crassifolia, of which the illustration annexed, from La Semaiyie Horticole^ gives an excellent idea. The flowers are of a pale rose color. Our contemporary announces that a selected 8AXIFRAQA CRAS8IFOLIA. variety has been put into the English trade, that has flowers of a reddish purple tint. It will appear in catalogues as Saxifraga crassi- folia , variety pu rpurea . Saxifraga cor di folia is a very common syn- onym of S. crassifolia. Propagating Choice Hollyhocks. — Directly the seedlings of the hollyhock appear above ground, the pots should be placed on a shelf, near the glass, and when they have emerged into the rough leaf they must be inured to coolor conditions. The choice va- rieties are mostly increased by cuttings, and to do this readily the stools should be afforded a temperature of 50° by night, and 60° by day. As soon as the shoots are long enough, that is, about 3 inches, remove them off" with a heel of older growth, and place each singly in a small pot in light sandy soil, with a pinch of sharp sand at the base;. Afford water, and after plunging the pots in a bottom-heat of 70*^, cover the cuttings with a hand-light or big bell-glass. Much care must be exercised in preventing damping, by removing condensed moisture from the glass, and water should be sparingly used. — Gardener' s Chronicle. To Destroy Rose-leaf Insects. — The small whitish insects which suck the life out of rose leaves are rose-hoppers which are fre- quently found on the lower side of the leaves. It is said that if attended to before they are fully developed they can be easily destroyed by dusting the infested plants with Slug Shot. When fully grown they are very persistent, and several applications have to be made in order to kill them, and even then absolute rid- dance is doubtful. Aphides propagate so quickly, and in numbers so marvelously great, it requires close attention to keep plants moderately free from them. The secret is to commence at first sight of them, or perhaps before they arrive, — for there are very few plants that are not attacked before the season advances very far. Fi^'yilTS SB VE^ETiflPLCS. Spraying Hints. — The following valuable hints are extracts from the catalogue of The Deming Co., and will be found worth remem- bering : — *' 7 he Aynoujit of Loss i?i Crops from injury by insects and fungi in the United States alone, is estimated by the highest scientific author- ities at $500,000,000. Seventy-five (75 per cent.) of the amount (or $375,000,000) can be saved by spraying. The Principal Fungicide is the Bordeaux Mixture. For the application of fungicides all the working parts of a pump must be made of (I 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 75 brass, since the corrosive action of these liquids is very injurious to iron. Before Using, a Spraying Outfit, the opera- tor should first examine the suction pipe and strainer, the discharge hose and connections, and the nozzle, to see that everything is in good working order. First try the pump with clear water to see that there are no leakages. After Using, the Spray Pump, hose and noz- zle should be made perfectly clean by pumping clear water, and by washing the outside as well, if the mixture has discolored them. Never take a spray pump apart unless it is necessary, and when apart, care should be exercised in putting it together. An Efficient Agitator for orchard work is absolutely necessary. Without this not only do the valves and nozzle soon become clogged, but the liquid settles to the bottom of the bar- rel. This latter causes an uneven application of the liquid, it being too strong at the begin- ning and not strong enough at the close of the spraying. Using an application of too great a strength will be apt to damage the foliage, while using too weak an application will ac- complish but little or no benefit. Kfiapsack Sprayers. From a theoretical standpoint it is generally taken for granted that the Knapsack Sprayers do not need an agitator, as the motion of the body w411 tend to keep the liquid stirred. This is a great error, as all know who have had much experi- ence in the use of a Knapsack Sprayer. The Nozzle is the Essential Feature of any Spraying outfit. However well made the pump may be, if the nozzle does not throw a fine mist-like spray, the outfit will not give satis- faction.*' The above mentioned firm are distributing Weed's " Spraying for Porfit" at ten cents per copy. It is a little pamphlet of seventy-two pages, suitable for carrying about in one's pocket. The condensity of the work, which aims to cover simply the more important facts, makes it valuable to the sprayer. Proper Cultivation of Orchards. — The annual address of President S. B. Heiges, before the Pennsylvania State Horticultural Association, at the Pittsburg meeting last Jan- uary, abounded in important facts for the fruit grower, tersely put and directly to the point. He urged the desirability of cultivating or- chards from the beginning, prohibiting sod. Roots are marvellous travelers in their search for food, and will almost always run towards the surface in sod. While moisture is plenti- ful, this may not be harmful ; but in times of drought, the results are serious "to these sur- face roots. Cultivation wont make wood- growth ; it simply paves the way, making food more accessible. Ammonia (nitrogen) is the wood-producer, and is best in the shape of good stable manure. Don't pile it around the trunks of the trees ; the feeding roots are young ones, far out from the trunk. Roots usually run out at least as far as the branches spread, which will be a good guide, showing the more important portions to fertilize. Pot- ash and phosphoric acid are food for fruit, and may be obtained in bone meal or wood ashes. Observe your trees and take note of their appar- ent needs, applying fertilizers judiciously. Strawberry Culture. —J. W. Allison, Mercer, Pa., says that the strawberry's greatest need is moisture, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. To produce the nitrogen, he recom- mends growing Crimson clover first where the plants are to stand, plowing it under. The deep roots of the clover thoroughly supply the soil with humus. His plants are set i >^ to 2 feet apart in rows, 3 to 4 feet between the rows; but they are permitted to run freely on the matted-row system, — of course, not permitting them to crowd each other. Each year, as needed, the plants are thinned until in a few years the entire bed is turned under, with a new one under way. Thorough cultivation, to conserve moisture, is recommended, with a good mulching of straw in winter. Box-culture of Water-cress. — People often sigh for good, fresh water-cress, not knowing it to be easily cultivated with or with- out a stream. Of course, it is more at home in a stream, and will grow more regularly, and luxuriantly, without any care. But, suppos- ing the stream is not at hand, take a box or flat about four inches deep, and any convenient width and length. Fill with rich, light loam ; soak it with water and sow the seed right on the surface. It may be covered very thinly with fine soil ; but as the seed is small, there is danger of getting too much on, in which event, none would be better. Place the box in ii 1^ MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GKNERAI. GARDENING. [May partial shade to prevent drying out, and keep watered every day, or as found necessary to have it always moist. The writer recently raised two boxes this way. The plants in one were left to mature in the box ; those raised in the other were trans- planted to a clear, swift-running, narrow brook, about the time they made their second pair of leaves. They were dibbled in where the water was about an inch deep. Grass overshadows this little stream from a spring, and the plants quickly grew and are spreading. Water-cress is a perennial, and in picking it, it should be pinched off and not pulled. Some young neighbors of the writer's quickly deplet- ed a fine supply several years ago. Apples for Sauce - making. — Maiden's Blush and Fall Pippin apples are most excel- lent varieties for sauces. The last named has a remarkably fine grain, cooks up quickly, making a soft, juicy sauce. Small Fruits in Minnesota. — Prof S. B. Greene, of the Minnesota State Experiment Station, has the following to say regarding trials of raspberries in that State : — • • We regard the Loudon as our best red rasp- berry. Marlborough has never been productive on our land, although on heavier and better soils it does remarkably well. The Cuthbert has some years done remark- ably well here. King is an early red raspberry which makes a strong growth and produces a large amount of fruit early in the season, but we do not re- gard it superior to Loudon. Turner is the best for general planting of the older varieties, and is very hardy. And although the fruit is somewhat soft, yet it is still a very desirable variety for planting in the home garden. Columbian is a wonderfully strong grower and very productive and bears large, purplish red fruit. It seems to have great vitality and the power of producing a large number of fruit- ing laterals from near the surface of the ground in case the top of the plant is injured, — a qual- ity which is very desirable. It is well adapted for home use. Nemaha is our best black cap raspberry. It is difiicult to distinguish it from the Gregg, but I am disposed to regard it as being hardier, although there is very little difference between the two. Progress is a very good early black rasp- berry." Blackberries and Dewberries, * * As yet we have found nothing that combines as many good qualities as the Ancient Briton, and this variety is very superior on our land to any other that we have tried. The fruit on the Snyder ripens earlier, but the plants do not produce more than a third as much as the Briton. Stone's Hardy has been so very un- satisfactory on our land that we have taken up and thrown away all the plants of it that we had formerly growing here." * ' We have never succeeded in fruiting the dewberry except in but one season, when it yielded far better than any of our blackberries. All the varieties tried would flower well in the spring, but they failed to set fruit. At one time it was recommended to set them near to the blackberries, looking to aid by cross- fertiliza- tion, but our experiments have not resulted in any material gain." Gooseberries. Houghton, Downing and Pearl gooseberries give best results. All large fruit- ing kinds except Columbus are practically dis- carded as not doing well. Currants. The following have proven the most valuable : — Red Dutch, Stewart's Seed- ling, Victoria and White Grape. Cherry Currant and Yellow Spanish Cherry. — Mr. L. Woolverton, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, is an authority on Canadian fruits, and has the following to say regarding two well-tried kinds : — ' ' Yellow Spanish Cherry. Of all the Bigar- reau cherries this is one of the finest, both on account of its great size and its delicious flavor. The tree grows to a very large size, surpassing in this respect all other cultivated varieties with which we are acquainted. It does not average very productive, because the fruit often blasts and drops, or is destroyed by Mon- ilia. When, however, it does mature a good crop, the yield is enormous. Cherry Currant. The principal red currant grown in Southern Ontario for commercial pur- poses. Its large size, fine color and earliness, combine to make it the most satisfactory of all varieties for market. When well cultivated X' II • 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 77 and well pruned back, a plantation of cherry currants will continue very productive for at least twelve or fifteen years." To Prevent Apple Trees from Bearing. — It is a common occurrence to receive inquir- ies on the subject of bringing fruit trees into bearing ; but very few want to know of a pre- ventative. A correspondent has a tree pro- ducing a sweet apple which is undesirable for fruit, but very much thought of for its shade. In such a case, only suggestions can be made, with no surety that a '*cure" will result. It is often noticeable that trees growing very rapidly do not bear very much— perhaps not at all ; great vigor and fruiting do not generally go together. Therefore, a liberal supply of stable manure would encourage stronger growth and possibly affect the fruiting. Cultivation of the White Strawberry. — A correspondent inquires if there has ever been an effort to domesticate the Wild White Straw- berry. The wild strawberry of the Pacific Coast, Fragaria Chiloensis, is white, and has long been under cultivation ; but, not bearing as freely as the Scarlet or Eastern Wild Straw- berry, it is not much planted. Occasionally, a plant of the scarlet strawberry is found bearing white fruit. There can surely be nothing against its successful cultivation if desired. Sea Kale. — When properly blanched, this is a delicious vegetable. Though taking labor to properly secure it, it is worth the trouble in high class amateur gardens. Seeds sown in very rich ground early in spring, will make strong roots by fall. These, carefully dug and set closely in boxes of earth, can be placed in a cellar, or any dark and somewhat warm place, and will make good material for cutting during the winter season. Small Fruits in Young Orchards.— The careful gardener makes all the use possible out of the land at his command, and the young orchard gives an opportunity for the exercise of economy and judgment to make it yield something while the trees are coming to the bearing period. Cultivation is the watchword for an orchardist, and the growing of crops that need cultivation, between the rows makes cultivation more of a necessity. Mr. W. B. K. Johnson, AUentown, Pa., practices this to a considerable extent, strawberries and raspber- ries being of his principal crops. He finds it profitable not only in the way of culti- vation to his orchards, but in the. value of the additional fruits thus obtained. He finds that even where the plants run quite close to the trees, the yield is good, though there is, of course, some difference. Early bearing fruits, such as peaches, plums and dwarf pears, may also be grown between the main rows of trees, to be taken out as the others make it desir- able. Leaf Blight in the Plum. — There is no part of the world free from ' • the thorns and thistles," which make the " sweat of the brow" necessary for successive fruit culture. When new localities are established, it takes time for enemies of the insect and fungus char- acter to find them out. But the discovery is made eventually, and the " fungus-proof" and " insect-proof varieties finally succumb. The heretofore favored land of California, is being rapidly invaded. The leaf-blight on the plum, one of the worst foes of the fungus character to the plum grower of the eastern portion of the United States, has invaded the west. In Butte County, a Californian paper tells us, the leaves of whole prune orchards had mostly been destroyed by the ist of July. Tomatoes as Medicinal Plants. — It ap- pears that a Scotchman, after an experience of several years, is convinced that the daily use of tomatoes is an excellent remedy for liver troubles. In America, also, the use of the tomato is considered as a remedy, and prized very highly as a strengthener, and for purifying the blood. — La Semaine Horticole. Leaf Blight in the Strawberry. — The last generation found benefit in mowing and burning strawberry leaves after the fruit gath- ering. Science objected that it could not be good practice because leaves were essential. It is now known that strawberry plants suffer from a fungus known as the "spot." Burning the leaves before the spores matured was a good point science did not see. The fungus did more injury than the old leaves did good. Copper solutions now dispense with mowing. H n hv HI f n. I' \\ m BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. THE GARDENER'S HAND. It is not much that to the fragrant blossom The ragged brier should charge, the bitter fir, Distil Arabian myrrh ! Nor that upon the wintry desert's bosom, The harvest should rise plenteous, and the swain. Bear home the abundant grain. But come and see the bleak and barren moun- tains, Thick to their tops with roses ; come and see, Iveaves on the dry, dead tree : The perished plant, set out by living fountains. Grows fruitful, and its beauteous branches rise. Forever, towards the skies. Bryant. Mushroom Culture. — An instructive little pamphlet, entitled, '* Mushrooms for the Mil- lion," a reprint of a paper recently read by Mr. George C. Watson, Philadelphia, before the Southampton Farmers' Club, Somerton, Pa. , is being distributed by the author. In a most interesting manner, it explains the nature and growth of mushrooms, and in brief form, the essential points regarding their cul- ture,— not particularly to benefit the commer- cial grower, but rather the one who grows to supply his own table. Vest-pocket Guide to Culture of Flowers. — A remarkably handy little booklet under the above title has been issued by Messrs. W. Atlee, Burpee & Co., Philadelphia, which gives, in condensed form, the most valu- able points to be considered in preparing flower- beds and sowing seeds. Texas Botany. — We all know what hap- pened to the birds that rose early. Botanical explorations have not profited much by this old proverb. The mass of plants in little known regions are in full flower or fruit before the collector starts in search of them. But (78) some botanists are acquiring wisdom. On the 13th of March, Sargent, Canby and Trelease, set out for a collecting trip to Texas. They will return^ with volumes of information former botanists were too late to get. IviNN^us. — Botanists will be glad to learn that a full length portrait of the father of modern botany has been presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, through the generosity of Mr. Charles E. Smith, an eminent amateur botanist of the same city. It is well known that an original portrait of Linnaeus was somewhere in exist- ence, but no one knew where. Mr. Smith had an active search made, and the picture was dis- covered to be in the possession of Baron Vers- chuer, and in his country home at Verschuer, near Haarlem, twenty-three miles from La Hague. By the generous consent of the Baron, an artist of eminence was engaged to take a copy of it, — and it is this copy which is now among the most valued of the treasures of the famous Philadelphia Academy. In presenting the gift to the Academy, Mr. Smith remarked : — " There are two remarkable blunders in the picture. The second scientific trip of Linnaeus' life was to Lapland. On it he discovered Ltn- 7icBa borealis, described and named after him by Gronovius, the common name of which is twin flower, because each stem bears two flowers. Linnaeus loved this plant very much. When he was ennobled by the King of Sweden, he chose Linnaa for his crest. Stockholm stands on a number of rocky islands, some of them quite small. One of them is called Ritterholm, the Knights' Island. When I was there in 1850, there was but one building on it, called the Ritterholm Kirk— the Swedish Walhalla. It contains statues of all the great men of Sweden, among them Lin- naeus. It is of white marble. He stands with an open book in his hand, on its page is an outline of Linnaa. > (I 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. 79 This picture represents him holding in his right hand two specimens of Linncea^ a tall one and a short one. The tall one has three flowers and the short one only one, so that neither of them is a twin flower. The leaves of LmncBa are orbicular-spatulate, verj^ obtuse and coarsely toothed. In the picture they are ovate-cordate, acute and entire. That the artist should have thought that one weed looked just like another is natural enough, but that Lin- naeus should have overlooked these errors in his favorite plant is very strange. ' ' Isaac Hicks. — In his eighty-fifth year, passed away Isaac Hicks, of Westbury, Long Island, who was not only the founder of the Westbury Nurseries, in 1853, but had consider- able reputation as an artist and in general science, in which his love for botany was very conspicuous. He was for many years a mem- ber of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, and was always wel- comed at the meetings by his fellow-members. E. S. Carman. — On the 28th of February, passed away Mr. Elbert S. Carman, the editor and proprietor of the Rural New Yorker, He was born in Long Island, and came into posses- sion of the Rural New Yorker, twenty-four years ago. Besides being a leading authority on agricultural affairs, he was eminent for his love of flowers and gardening. His death brings with it sincere regret over a wide circle of friends. The Physiology of Plants, a Treatise UPON THE Metabolism and Sources of Ener- gy IN Plants.— By Dr. Wm. Pfeffer, Professor of Botany in the University of Leipzig, second revised edition, translated into English by Alfred J. Ewart, from the Clarendon Press, Oxford. This is a beautifully illustrated work of some six hundred pages. Dr. Pfeffer, the German author, is among the leaders in vegetable biol- ogy. The publication of this work marks an era in the history of botany. It does not cover the ground occupied by Sach's Text-book, — but is far more exhaustive of the special bran- ches of which it treats. It will be an essential volume in all of our higher schools and col- leges,— and the individual student of vegetable life will need it for his reference library. A rare merit — verj- rare in works of this character — is the absence of abstruse technical terms that so many learned writers love to indulge in. Where necessary, they are in use, as they should be ; but there is no redundancy ; and an especial feature is the pleasing system of apt illustra- tion employed by the author, and the trans- lator must share in this praise for the admir- able manner in which he has preserved this lucid style. The Shamrock. — Referring to the note on the Samrock, page 48, a correspondent says : — " Bentham's British flora, under Trifoliuni repens say Sy * In Ireland, believed to be of compar- atively recent introduction, although it is now taken as the national emblem, in substitution of the wood sorrel, Oxalis, which was the orig- inal shamrock.' " The botanical name was seen to be doubtful, but was retained because the paragraph was a quotation for which the original publication was responsible. It should have been T, repens. After all, it is probable that the whole story of St. Patrick having converted an Irish king to a belief in the doctrine of the Trinity by the use of a three-leaved plant, is to be classed with the story of his punching a snake with his staff", and that the whole race of serpents died out in consequence. There is little known of St. Patrick, except, what he wrote of him- self. The value of a man's life, is not often fully understood till long after he has passed away. It is success that succeeds. It was many years after St. Patrick's death before his work was fully appreciated. Even the place of his burial was unknown and unsought for nearly six hundred years, when it was acci- dently discovered, and the remains honored. Writers have mostly been dependent on the traditions of many generations in preparing his life. The facts seem to be that the only plant that could have been used in Ireland, in the fourth century, for such an illustration, must have been the Oxalis. On the other hand, so far as we know, the only plant that has ever been used in the national celebrations of St. Patrick's Day, is the clover, and clover it will ever be. ill GENERAL NOTES. Gardener to the King of the Belgians. — The famous gardens at Lacken, near Brus- sels, owned by the King of the Belgians, and laid out by an English gardener, Henry Knight, was recommended by the Editor of the Gardener' s Chronicle, and not by Queen Victoria, as stated in our January issue, — so a well informed correspondent writes. Pine Leaves or "Needles." — The Cali- fornia Fruit Grower tells us that pine needles are being utilized in South Oregon. The need- les are boiled and then run through horizontal wooden rollers which extract the juice. This is called pine needle oil which is supposed to possess medical properties. The pulp is used as a medicated material for upholstering, and is also said to be a good substitute for horse- hair. It is said that insect pests will not live in furniture that has been upholstered with pine needles. An Aged Yew. — " Beside the weather- beaten church -tower (Selborne, England,) stands the venerable tenant of the cemetery, a yew-tree so old that it is respectfully men- tioned in the Domesday Book. Tradition gives it twelve hundred years ; and amazingly young and vigorous it looks, and its mighty branches make a grateful shade on a summer's day." Mrs. John Lane, in LippincotVs. Pampas Plumes for Parlor Decoration. — No prettier decoration for the parlor can be found than a large vase of pure white Pampas plumes. Plumes with long stems should always be secured, as this permits them to spread apart more in the bunch and fluff out to their full beauty ; they should be from two to two-and-a-half feet long. Some decorators, with perhaps a mistaken idea of beauty, at- tempt to color the plumes by dipping them in various colored dyes ; but to the writer they (80) cannot begin to compare with the soft white color which nature gives. The Pampas should not be confused with Eulalia, though it is not infrequently. The plumes of the latter are a dull brown, and very much smaller. One ot the great points of satisfaction lies in the fact that no water is required in the vases if the plumes be thoroughly dried or cured before taking into a warm room. Beet Sugar in the United States.— After years and years of prompting by serials similar to Meehans' Monthly, The Beet Sugar Indus- try is becoming one of the staple institutions of the United States. If sugar be admitted duty free from the Sandwich Islands, it is doubtful whether the Beet Sugar investments in our country would be profitable. The Scale-eater.— The insect Vedalia car- dijialis, introduced to California to feed on scale insects, has succeeded so well in its work that there is nothing left for food, — and they are now in danger of disappearing through starva- tion. Bacteria. — A magazine devoted to scientific topics, sagely remarks that the bacterium has something else to do in the economy of nature than in originating maladies. It continues the topic by noting a paper in a French maga- zine by M. Matruchot, on the agency of bac- teria in forming the colors of flowers. It is something to check the microbean craze of the popular press in regard to the supposed vicious- ness of these humble vegetable organisms. It is true that they are operating in innumerable directions, — but the number that are associated with disease are very few, — and even these few, if the animal be healthy, are digested by the gastric juice as easily as would be an oyster. 'The majority, indeed, are essential to our health and happiness. I % i \bL.X Plate (). Slii \i i« * \ij:\ msco-sa AZALEA VISCOSA. SWAMP HONEYSUCKLE. NATURAL ORDER, ERICACE^. Azalea viscosa. Linnaeus.- A shrub four to eight feet high, usually much branched, the twigs hairy. Leaves obovate- oblong to oblanceolate, two to four inches long, very short-petioled, obtuse and raucronulate or acute at the apex, nar- rowed at the base, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs above, more or less bristly-hairy on the veins beneath, cilio- late, greon on both sides ; flowers white, fragrant, later than the leaves ; pedicels glandular ; corolla one and a half to twoinches long, the limb one to two inches broad, more or less two-lipped, much shorter than the slender, very viscid, deusely-glandular tube ; capsule five to seven lines high, glandular-bristly Brittou and Brown's Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. See also Gray's Synoptical Flora, Chapman's Flora of the Southern United States and Canada ; Wood's ClassrBook of Botany. Starting with Maine and gradually reaching Ohio, this interesting wild flower passes down through all our Atlantic seaboard States to Florida and Texas. Its sweet-scented, white flowers make it a familiar favorite throughout the whole territory in which it is found. It seems to have been the first of our azaleas to become known to the botanists of the Old World, having been introduced there by David Banister. A very good wood cut, from Ban- ister's specimens, appears in a book of illus- trations by Leonard Plukenet, issued in 169 1. Plukenet supposed it to be a species of Cistus, and he figures with it the Kalmia latifolia as another species of the same genus. The Kal- mia he makes Cistus sempervirens, while our Azalea stands as Cistus Virginia?ia. Plukenet notes, from Banister, that the form of the flower and its odor remind one of the English Woodbine, or Honeysuckle. We see, here, how the American common name of Honey- suckle was derived. In the reorganization of botany, Linnaeus founded the genus Azalea, and designated this species as Azalea viscosa. His knowledge of the plant was mainly deiived from the collection and reports of his pupil, Kalm, to whom he dedicated the allied genus Kalmia. In earlier times, flowers served the purposes of our modern almanacs, as the poet expresses it :— In every copse and sheltered dell, Unveiled to the observant eye, Are faithful monitors which tell, How pass the hours and seasons by. The green -robed children of the spring, Will mark the periods as they pass. Mingle with leaves Time's feathered wing. And bind with flowers liis silent glass. Our Swamp Honeysuckle served this useful purpose with the early Hollander settlers in New York. Governor Golden tells us that this was Pinxter-bloom with them,— Pinxter being their pentecostal festival, our Whitsunday. The Swamp Azalea served a double purpose in this emblamatic language. Whitsunday was the great baptismal day in the .Christian churches, and the postulants were dressed for the ceremony in long, flowing, white robes. The name Whitsunday is derived from the white vestments so common on that da}' in the baptismal ceremony. Whitsunday being the seventh Sunday after Easter, brings that festi- val frequently in the early part of June, which is the time for the first appearance of these flowers in the State of New York. The pure white flowers were timely and suggestive, — and, possibly, may have been used in the floral decorations provided for the ceremony. It is to be regretted that more attention is not given to as much accuracy in the history of common names as in the case of botanical ones. They often give instruction to be afford- ed in no other way. Modern authors, notably Britton and Brown, from whose work the ad- mirable description of the plant is taken, give to Azalea nudiflora^iho^ early flowering or Wood Honeysuckle, the common name of Pinkster- flower. It is out of bloom by Whitsunday, and a little thought would suggest that it could have no claim to the name But the statement of Golden, the Governor-botanist of New York, positively decides the case. (81) |i Ki 1 •■■..liA A I \' i-^l,A'['K ( ) t# \ r I. i C AZALEA VISCOSA. SWAMP HONEYSUCKLE. NATURAL ORDER. ERICACE^. Azalea viscosa. LinniEUS.— A shrub four to eight feet high, usually much branched, the twigs hairy. Leaves obovate- oblong to oblanceolate, two to four inches long, very short-petioled, obtuse and mucronulate or acute at the apex, nar- rowed at the base, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs above, more or less bristly-hairy on the veins beneath, cilio- late, greeu on both sides ; flowers white, fragrant, later than the leaves ; pedicels glandular ; corolla one and a half to two'incheslong, the limb one to two inches broad, more or less two-lipped, much shorter than the slender, very viscid, densely-glandular tube ; capsule five to seven lines high, glandular-bristly Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the Btitish Possessions. See also Gray's Synoptical Flora, Chapman's Flo>a of the Southern United States and Canada ; Wood's Class-Book of Botany. Starting with Maine and gradually reaching Ohio, this interesting wild flower passes down through all our Atlantic seaboard vStates to Florida and Texas. Its sweet scented, white flowers make it a familiar favorite throughout the whole territory in which it is found. It seems to have been the first of our azaleas to become known to the botanists of the Old World, having been introduced there by David Banister. A very good wood cut, from Ban- ister's specimens, appears in a book of illus- traticms by Leonard Plukenet. issued in 1691. IMukcnet supposed it to l)e a species of Cistiis, and he figures with it the Kalmia la t [folia as another species of the same genus. The Kal- mia he makes Cistiis scmpervirefis, while our Azalea stands as Cistns Viroiniaiia. Tlukenet notes, from lianister, that the form of the flower and its odor remind one of the ICnglish Woodbine, or Honeysuckle. We see, here, how the American common name of Honey- suckle was derived. In the reorganization of botan\-, Linmuus founded the genus Azalea, and designated this species as .Izalea viscosa. His knowledge of the plant was mainly del ived from the collection and reports of his pupil, Kalm, to whom he dedicated the allied genus Kalmia. In earlier times, flowers served the i)urposes of our modern almanacs, as the poet expresses it:-- In every copse and sheltered dell, Unveiled to the observant eye, Are faithful monitors which tell, How pass the hours and seasons by. The green-robed children of the spring, WHU mark the periods as they pass, Mingle with leaves Time's feathered wing. And bind with flowers liis silent glass. Our Swamp Honeysuckle served this useful purpose with the early Hollander settlers in New York, (iovernor Golden tells us that this was Pinxter-bloom with them, — Pinxter being their pentecostal festival, our Whitsunday. The Swamp Azalea served a double purpose in this emblamatic language. Whitsunday was the great baptismal day in the Christian churches, and the postulants were dressed for the ceremony in long, flowing, white robes. The name Whitsunday is derived from the white vestments so common on that day in the baptismal ceremony. Whitsunday l)eing the seventh Sunday after Kaster, brings that festi- val frequently in the early part of June, which is the time for the first api)earance of these flowers in the State of New York. The pure white flowers were timely and suggestive, — and, possibly, may have been used in the floral decorations provided for the ceremony. It is to be regretted that more attention is not given to as much accuracy in the history of common names as in the case of botanical ones. They often give instruction to be afibrd- ed in no other way. INIodern authors, notably Britton and Brown, from whose work the ad- mirable description of the plant is taken, give to Azalea nndiJloya,W\^ early flowering or Wood Honeysuckle, the common name of Pinkster- flower. It is out of bloom by Whitsunday, and a little thought would suggest that it could have no claim to the name But the statement of Golden, the Governor-botanist of New York, positively decides the case. (81) um^^ TMTPMTTOKr A T u ' i m\ 82 MEEHANS' MONTHI^Y — AZALEA VISCOSA. [June I It is worth noting that there are numerous varieties of Azalea viscosa, some of them so dis- tinct that special botanical names have been given to them. Thus we have Azalea viscosa odorata, A. v. villosa, A. v. fissa, A. v. floribunda, A. v. glauca, and many others. These not only vary in the habit, foliage and flowers, but also in the time of flowering. Aiton, in the Hortus Kewensis, notes, from observations made on plants growing in the Royal Gardens, that it was the varieties y7(?r^ bunda 2in6. glauca that flowered in June,— the others reserved their attractions for July and August. Numerous authors, treating of the Azalea, seem doubtful whether Azalea viscosa may not be divided into several species ; but seem to confine themselves to giving the forms dis- tinctive names as marked varieties. Dr. Asa Gray, in the ' ' Synoptical Flora, ' ' retains the viscosa glauca of Aiton, and adds viscosa nitida, to which he refers the Azalea nitida of Pursh. Britton and Brown have one variety, viscosa hispida, to which they refer Azalea hispida of Pursh,— while Dr. Gray refers this very his- pida, of Pursh, to Alton's viscosa glauca. The student will observe from this that what is to be regarded as a species, and what but a mere variety, has no stable basis. It is but the opinion of an expert, — an opinion varying, as in the case of experts generally, with the char- acter of each one's personal experiences. It is not possible, therefore, to have the nomencla- ture of plants absolutely unchangeable. The stable nomenclature so, much desired is imprac- ticable. This difficulty has been found in the generic name as well as in the specific names. Cistus would never do. Linnaeus founded the family Rhododendron, with flowers campanulate, and ten stamens, — d.n^ Azalea with somewhat tubu- lar flowers and ^\^ stamens. Later botanists, noting these characters to vary somewhat, drop Azalea altogether as a generic term, and make all Rhododendrons. Dr. Torrey promin- ently started this combination. Dr. Gray seems to have been reluctant to follow his early master. His " Manuals" kept up Azalea as a distinct denomination, and only when prepar- ing his "Synoptical Flora," did he follow. Britton and Brown still retain it, as seen at the head of t.his chapter. This latter decision seems the most judicious. If the characters of the species overlap, so that one can scarcely distinguish one from another, we may expect the same phenomena in the generic characters. It would not be philosophic to say there are no good species because the lines of demarca- tion are not clear, — and no more so when the same difficulty is found in the generic ground. Azaleas and Rhododendrons will always be distinct in popular estimation, however they may be united in strictly scientific treatment. It is more than probable that the living plants introduced into British gardens were through the instrumentality of the famous John Bartram, who was the collector for Peter Collin son, who is credited in garden history as the first to cultivate it in the Old World. It is a remarkable fact, observ^ed not only in the case of this Azalea, but of other plants that in nature seem to be swamp-lovers, — that they thrive to better advantage when transferred to cultivation than when growing in a wild state. The explanation given is that the seeds require moisture — or rather a damp, cool situation before they will germinate, — and, of course, the plants have to remain in the spot on which the seed sprouted. Those who take a broad view of harmony in nature look on this fact as a wise provision for insuring to swamps a due proportion of the vegetable kingdom. The viscidity of the flowers has attracted the study of the teleologist. One of the most valu- able of the discoveries of Darwin, was that the viscid glands of the Drosera or sundew secret- ed a digestive fluid. Further, it is the basis of the doctrine of natural selection elaborated by this great man, that the functions of plants were exercised solely for their own good. It would be legitimate to construct from this the broad theorem that all viscid glands in plants aided nutrition by absorbing and digesting nitrogenous compounds. The sticky flowers of Azalea viscosa certainly catch and retain small insects. The specimen selected for illustration shows markedly the tubular corolla, and strongly ex- serted stamens and styles so distinctive of Aza- lea as against Rhododendron,— 2in^ the whole character exhibited justified the early settlers in bringing to their minds the sweet Honey- suckles they left behind them in their early homes. Explanation of the Plate — Speciraeos of the flower- ing branches gathered in New Jersey in July. 9 • c WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. THE TUUP TREE. -The Tulip Tree high up. Opens, in airs of June, her multitude Of golden chalices, to humming birds. And silken wing'd insects of the sky. Bryant. The LebbekTree. — Poets have had so much to say about the beauties of Arabia, that one might almost believe it is Paradise itself. We have heard of the land of " Araby the blest," <*the glorious perfumes of Arabia," where '*the Acacia hangs her yellow hair," and no end of praise for '♦ Araby's green sunny high- lands," till it would seem our country was de- pauperate in comparison. Arabia, Egypt, and neighboring countries, have, indeed, but a tithe of the blessings nature has bestowed on us,— and it is but the poet's license that has made them great. These reflections are suggested by a beauti- ful picture of a grove of Lebbek trees taken from a scene near Cairo, in Egypt, and which, by the permission of the United States De- partment of Agri- culture, has been copied from Cir- cular No. 23, Di- vision of Botany. It is, botanically, Acacia Lebbek, 2XiA is the species that '♦waves its yellow hair" of Moore's beautiful poem ; and the tree that, from March to June, in that country, fills the air with the spicy odor, on which the poets have based Araby's fame. With the exception of poplars and wif- lows, and a few pines and cypresses on the mountain tops, it is about the only tree that can properly be so-called native to those regions, for dates and other palms can scarce- ly fill our idea of ornamental trees,— while figs and mulberries are cultivated fruits and not features of nature's own scenery. Even the Lebbek is not much of a tree, reaching but the height of an extra-grown denizen of an Ameri- can apple orchard. The flowers are globular, and appear in the axils of the leaves,— but a striking peculiarity is in the long stamens that, on the pendulous branches, render the expression "the acacia waves her yellow hair" very appropriate. Its delightful odor has made it welcome in gardens where the frost does not appear ; and it is now a favorite in all the sub-tropical regions of our globe. A spiny species. Acacia Farnesiana, a grower nearly as large as this, and also with THE LEBBCK TREE. ^83) |s,^i ii-l Hi 84 MEEHANS' MONTHLY-WILD FL9WERS AND NATURE. sweet flowers, growing in Florida and in the warmer parts of California, is also found wild and cultivated over most of the world's sub- tropical area,-though, strange to say, its native home has never been discovered. It has often been remarked that, though fragrance -and, indeed, odor in all its forms —IS given to flowers to attract insects ; in most families, but a few species are odoriferous,-to human senses, at any rate. Acacia is a re- markable example. Though some five hun- dred species are recognized by botanists, scarcely a dozen can lay claim to being sweet scented. I^aebek is the common name in Arabia,--and, as Ubbek, was adopted ty Willdenow as the specific name. [June Why the Arbutus Awakes. — April 8, 1900, was bright, clear and windy. Arbutus was noted in bloom, the first for the season. I had a thermometer with me in the woods, and took some temperatu|es. The instrument, resting on a mat of Arbutus, under partial shade, registered 77- ; at the foot of a tree, in partial shade, 76° ; at the foot of another tree, but on the north side, fully exposed to the wind, 64° when the wind was blowing hard and 65<> to 66° when the wind temporarily ceased to blow. Elsewhere in a sheltered place among the fallen leaves, in full, bright sun- shine. I obtained a reading of 114° ! At points about six feet above the ground, m sunlight, I found the temperatures to be 68° and 69° ; and on the north or shaded side of an oak tree, six feet from the ground, 64°. Comparing these several readings, it will be seen that the day's temperature was about 64°, and that this temperature was carried by the wind in one case to the surface of the ground ; but that in all other cases the soil was covered by a heat blanket, and that in one peculiarly favored spot a tropical heat was present. The Arbutus buds, dormant during the win- ter, quickly respond in the earliest spring to the influence of the sun. It is not strange that a warmth of 1 14° should cause the flowers to open quickly. S. Edward PAschall. Newfield, N. J. Early Spring Flowers in Northwestern Missouri.— Newspaper botany is often amus- ing, but occasionally articles appear that would do credit to high-class publications. These re- flections occur from a communication in Kan- sas City Star of April 23rd, from the pen of Cameron Mann, on the Dog-tooth Violet of that region, Erythronium mesachorium, which until recently was regarded the same as the more eastern Erythronium Americanum, the yellow Dog-tooth Violet. Mr. Mann says it is the herald of spring in that region. He introduces it to the reader in this pleasant way : — "The first flpwer, in the sense that most people use the word, is one, whose grace and charm no one can miss. It does not require a scientific zeal to be interested in, nor a magni- fying glass to delight in, that lovely plant, so unfortunately named ''dog-tooth violet." Its bell-like blossom, whose petals finally recurve into a sort of rosette, white, with a faint azure or sometimes pinkish tinge ; its large golden anthers, its elegant shining leaf of green, mot- tled with dark purple after the fashion of some eggs, all conspire to make a plant which cannot be seen without joy. As I have said, it is our first satisfactory flower. In ordinary years it may be looked for at least as soon as the first week of March. This year it was belated. I incline to think that absolutely its first appearance was on a shaly bank by the railroad track near Dodson, and that April loth was the day whose sunshine unclasped the fastened bud of the earliest flower in Jackson County to greet the present spring." He apologizes that his description is not in ordinary herbarium language, and offers the following excuse : — "vStill, the scientific names of plants are of small account. They are merely conveniences, figures or labels. The poor plants in an her- barium might be numbered like convicts in a prison . ' ' To some extent, the remarks are sound. While some make herbariums for the proper purpose of studying plants, themselves, closely in the end, many act for little more reason than \i they were collecting buttons. He winds up the entertaining chapter by re- marking on the kinds to follow the "Midland March-lily" as he terms the Erythronium. •♦Since these first blossoms opened, things have come on apace. Thousands on thous- ands of their brothers and sisters are to be found in effulgence now, and groups of other • c m 1900] MEEHANS' monthly — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 85 flowers have appeared to keep them company. The 'Dutchman's breeches'— uncouth, though descriptive name for a plant most graceful and delicate in leaf and blossom — is out on rocky hillsides; the 'blood root,' with its intensely white petals, may be met in a few places ; corydalis and dentaria and bell wart are begin- ning to show. Here and there a shadbush gleams on the hills, and the crimson lines are running along the redbud limbs. I suspect there are some violets, but I have seen none yet, But the charming Claytonia, the ' spring beauty'— here is a flower fortunate in having a suitable name— is showing its delicate white and rosy petals in the glades. Yes, the procession has begun, with soft flute notes from the band. Soon we shall hear the blare of trumpets and the roll of drums." Cypripedium spectabile.— Venus' slippers or Cypripedium comprise one of our most in- teresting tribes of wild flowers, and are eager- ly sought for by the lovers of the curious as by the enthusiastic botanist. The one figured herewith, reproduced from a photograph kindly furnished by a reader, Cypripedium spectabile, is one of the showiest of the North American species, and is found in a wide territory in the northeast poition of the North American continent. The slipper- like lip is especially attractive, being very large and prominent. Near popu- lous districts, it is becoming rare, on account of its being torn out by so many admirers. It is a good illustration that beauty is often a dangerous possession. Blue-eyed OR\ss—{Sisyrinchium Ber- mudiana.)—See\r\g large patches of this very attractive little plant growing wild, last year, I was very much impressed with its beauty, so early in January, I made a journey to Us native habitat and trans- ferred some to the garden, planted as a double row bordering a large rose bed. It has well repaid me for the trouble. Even before it flowered, its little tufts of grass- like foliage were very neat, and, for the past month, from about nine in the morning until three in the evening, it is one mass of its exceedingly pretty little flowers of a very pleasing shade of blue, and it gives promise of con- tinuing for some time to come ; but it has one drawback, it closes so early in the evening ; and, on cool, cloudy days, it doesn't open at all. The flowers must also be enjoyed upon the plant, as, soon after being plucked they close up, even if placed in water, never to open again. George Thomas. New Orleans, La. Mr. Thomas does well to call attention to this very pretty member of the Iris family. Its habit of opening and closing at various periods of the day, and under varying conditions, gives it an additional interest in the eyes of those who love to note how plants behave. Another interesting member of the family is Sisyrinchium grandiflorum, a rose - colored flower, discovered by Douglas on the north- west coast a half century ago, but only recent- ly brought into cultivation. Spring Flowers. — Every locality has its own floral harbinger of spring. In the far South the Carolina Jasmine is believed to be the first born. A friend who was at Green Cove Springs, in Florida, at the latter end of the winter season, states that the earliest flower there is Bartonia verna. It is fully a week ahead of the Jasmine there. CYPRIPEDIUM 8PECTABILK--FLOWtW» PORFLC. I..IIIH., >i.'i.*.» Vm.iii1> u>- 1. 1' 84 MEEHANS' MONTHLY-WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. sweet flowers, growing: in Florida and in the warmer parts of California, is also found wild and cultivated over most of the world's sub- tropical area,-though, strange to say, its native home has never been discovered. It has often been remarked that, though fragrance- and, indeed, odor in all its forms -~is given to flowers to attract insects ; in most families, but a few species are odoriferous,— to human senses, at any rate. Acacia is a re- markable example. Though some five hun- dred species are recognized by botanists, scarcely a dozen can lay claim to being sweet scented. Laebek is the common name in Arabia,— and, as Ubbek, was adopted by Willdenow as the specific name. [June Why the Arhutus Awakes. — April 8, 1900, was bright, clear and windv. Arhutus was noted in bloom, the first for the season. I had a thermometer with me in the woods, and took some teniperatu|es. The instrument, resting on a mat of Arbutus, under partial shade, registered jy- ; at the foot of a tree, in partial shade, 76° ; at the foot of another tree but on the north side, fully exposed to the wind, 64° when the wind was blowing hard and 65° to 66° when the wind temporarily ceased to blow. F:isewliere in a sheltered place among the fallen leaves, in full, bright sun- shine, I obtained a reading of 114° ! At points about six feet above the ground, m sunlight, I found the temperatures to be 68° and 69° ; and on the north or shaded side of an oak tree, six feet from the ground, 64°. Comparing these several readings, it will be seen that the day's temperature was about 64°, and that this temperature was carried by the wind in one case to the surface of the ground ; but that in all other cases the soil was covered by a heat blanket, and that in one peculiarly favored spot a tropical heat was present. The Arbutus buds, dormant during the win- ter, quickly respond in the earliest spring to the influence of the sun. It is not strange that a warmth of 1 14° should cause the flowers to open quickly. S. Edward Paschall. Newfield, N. J. Early Spring Flowers in Northwestern Missouri.— Newspaper botany is often amus- ing, but occasionally articles appear that would do credit to high-class publications. These re- flections occur from a communication in Ka?i- sas City Star of April 23rd, from the pen of Cameron Mann, on the Bog-tooth Violet of that region, Erythroniian inesachorium , which until recently was regarded the same as the more eastern Erythronium Americanum, the yellow Dog-tooth Violet. Mr. Mann says it is the herald of spring in that region. He introduces it to the reader in this pleasant way : — "The first flower, in the sense that most people use the word, is one, whose grace and charm no one can miss. It does not require a scientific zeal to be interested in, nor a magni- fying glass to delight in, that lovely plant, so unfortunately named "dog-tooth violet."' Its bell-like blossom, whose petals finally recurve into a sort of rosette, white, with a faint azure or sometimes pinkish tinge ; its large golden anthers, its elegant shining leaf of green, mot- tled with dark i)urple after the fashion of some eggs, all conspire to make a plant which cannot be seen without joy. As I havesaid, it is our first satisfactory flower. In ordinary years it may be looked for at least as soon as the first week of March. This year it was belated. I incline to think that absolutely its first api)earance was on a shaly bank by the railroad track near Dodson, and that April 10th was the day whose sunshine unclasped the fastened bud of the earliest flower in Jackson County to greet the present spring." He apologizes that his description is not in ordinary herbarium language, and offers the following excuse : — "vStill, the scientific names of plants are of small account. They are merely conveniences, figures or labels. The poor plants in an her- barium might be numbered like convicts in a prison." To some extent, the remarks are sound. While some make herbariums for the proper purpose of studying plants, themselves, closely in the end, many act for little more reason than if they were collecting buttons. He winds uj) the entertaining chapter by re- marking on the kinds to follow the "Midland March-lily" as he terms the Erythroiiiuvi. "Since these first blossoms opened, things have come on apace. Thousands on thous- ands of their brothers and sisters are to be found in efi'ulgence now, and groups of other i ? ( » I \ • c 1900] MEEHANS' monthly — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 85 flowers have appeared to keep them company. The • Dutchman's breeches' — uncouth, though descriptive name for a plant most graceful and delicate in leaf and blossom — is out on rocky hillsides; the 'blood root,' with its intensely white petals, may be met in a few places ; corydalis and dentaria and bell wart are begin- ning to show. Here and there a shadbush gleams on the hills, and the crimson lines are running along the redbud limbs. I suspect there are vSome violets, but I have seen none yet, But the charming Claytonia, the • spring beauty' — here is a flower fortunate in having a suitable name— is showing its delicate white and rovsy petals in the glades. Yes, the procession has begun, with soft flute notes from the band. vSoon we shall hear the blare of trumpets and the roll of drums." Cypripedium spectahilE. — Venus' slippers or Cypripediinn comprise one of our most in- teresting tribes of wild flowers, and are eager- ly sought for by the lovers of the curious as by the enthusiastic botanist. The one figured herewith, reproduced from a photograph kindly furnished by a reader, Cypripedium spectabile, is one of the showiest of the North American species, and is found in a wide territory in the northeast poition of the North American continent. The slipper- like lip is especially attractive, being very large and prominent. Near popu- lous districts, it is becoming rare, on account of its being torn out by so many admirers. It is a good illustration that beauty is often a dangerous possession. Blu1':-eyed Grass— {Sisyrinchium Ber- w///rt'/V7//^.)—vSeeing large patches of this very attractive little plant growing wild, last year, I was very much impressed with its beauty, so early in January, I made a journey to its native habitat and trans- ferred some to the garden, planted as a double row bordering a large rose bed. It has well repaid me for the trouble. Even before it flowered, its little tufts of grass- like foliage were very neat. and. for the past month, from about nine in the morning until three in the evening, it is one mass of its exceedingly pretty little flowers of a very pleasing shade of blue, and it gives promise of con- tinuing for some time to come ; but it has one drawback, it closes so early in the evening ; and, on cool, cloudy days, it doesn't open at all. The flowers must also be enjoyed upon the plant, as, soon after being plucked they close up, even if placed in water, never to open again. George Thomas. New Orleans, La. Mr. Thomas does well to call attention to this very pretty member of the Iris family. Its habit of opening and closing at various periods of the day, and under varying conditions, gives it an additional interest in the eyes of those who love to note how plants behave. Another interesting member of the family is Sisyrinchium grandiflorum, a rOvSe - colored flower, discovered by Douglas on the north- west coast a half century ago, but only recent- ly brought into cultivation. Sprinc; Flowers. — Every locality has its own floral harbinger of spring. In the far vSouth the Carolina Jasmine is believed to be the first born. A friend who was at Crreen Cove vSprings, in Florida, at the latter end of the winter season, states that the earliest flower there is Bartouia verna. It is fully a week ahead of the Jasmine there. CYPRIPEDIUM SPECTABILC--FLOWCRS PORPUE. 1^ tentional second expos GENERAL GARDENING. MORNING IN SCOTLAND. At noon tke black-cockjtrims his jetty wing-, *Tis morning prompts the linnets blithest lay, All nature's children feel the matin spring Of life reviving, with reviving day. Sir Walter Scott. Childrens' P1.AY-GR0UNDS. — Mr. G. N. Carruthers, of Springdale Farm, Oberlin, Ohio, thus pleasantly refers to a recent para- grraph in Meehans' Monthly.—" As to parks and children's play-grounds: we grand-parents have one of the finest little parks within many miles around, for our numerous grand-children and many others whose parents will accom- pany them, including extensive lawn, water garden, lily ponds, windmill and water works." Practical Forestry.— One of the argu- ments against forest planting is, that one has to wait so long for returns. Meehans' Monthly has, however, always contended that companies couldibe formed and land planted, the stock of which company would be of in- creased market value from year to year as the trees reached a commercial age. The value of a plantation of this kind has been well shown by the sale of a ranch in California. Part of the property was unplanted ; this brought $50 an acre. Sixteen acres was in Alfalfa, the lucerne of other regions ; this brought $200 an acre. A plot of no acres in hardshell walnuts sold for $350 an acre,— and eighty-and-a-half * acres of softshell walnuts for $400 an acre. There is little doubt that forest planting, intel- ligently pursued, could be made profitable- forest fires being the only uncertain element in the operation. Injury from the Red Spider. — The Red Spider flourishes nearly as well in the open air, in many parts of this country, as it does in greenhouses. It is an especial lover of the spruce family. The past season they were so abundant, in many parts, that when noticed <86) the trees had the appearance of having been scorched by fire. This insect can be kept very easily in check by spraying with kerosene emulsion, and if they can be kept clear from young trees, they are seldom troublesome to larger ones. When suffered to remain undis- turbed from year to year, they increase rapidly, and this seems to be the trouble now. The fact is, that spraying with kerosene emulsion has got to be a part of garden work to be as regularly attended to as hoeing or pruning. Every garden should have its emulsion sprayer, and the trees should be carefully watched for the appearance of insects just as the regular garden crop is watched for the appearance of weeds. It is very little trouble to spray hun- dreds of trees in a short time with a good sprayer; and, generally speaking, when the insect is kept down in the younger trees it is not troublesome afterwards. Oak WOOD Cemetery, Chicago.— It is a re- markable fact, that sentiment has a greater in- fluence on human conduct than logic or reason in any form. In every relation of life, this proves to be the case. Cemetery superintend- ents tell us that, in selecting a lot for a grave or the grave of the family, the desire is strong to secure a pretty site, where there is a beauti- ful view, or some especially attractive point to be gained in the selection. Indeed, it was this strong sentiment that led to the popular cem- etery over the old-fashioned, dull and dreary church-yard. There are few who have no thought as to what is to become of their re- mains after death. If the great Egyptian King, Rameses, could have known that, thousands of years after his death, his dried and shrunken body would be held up as the leading feature in a six-penny show to attract the public gaze, it is doubtful whether he would not have much preferred to lie in one df our beautiful ceme- teries, had there been any in those days, than to have l>een months in preparation for his grand mummy-case. With this is presented a 1900] MEEHANS' monthly— GENERAL GARDENING. ^7 beautiful view in Oakwood Cemetery, Chicago. ment of beauty, to which we have referred rCo^ners, no doubt, could have had many rules that many would prefer to locate near it o m Z n 7i o o o o m S n a < I 1- n.ore lots to sell had the water-covered spot than to have no thought further than the cold, been converted to dry ground. But the senti- cold ground. Lllilkj Mr.-li.iiii> .-tnnltilv tl>' I. INaiV',^ ■'" GENERAL GARDENING. MORNING IN SCOTI^AND. At noon the black-cockj trims his jetty wing 'Tis morning prompts the linnets blithest lay, All nature's children feel the matin spring Of life reviving, with reviving day. Sir Wai^ter Scott. Childrkns' Play-grounds. — Mr. G. N. Carruthers, of Springdale Farm, Oberlin, Ohio, thus pleasantly refers to a recent para- graph in Meehans' Monthly.-—" As to parks and children's play-grounds: we grand-parents have one of the finest little parks within many miles around, for our numerous grand-children and many others whose parents will accom- pany them, including extensive lawn, water garden, lily ponds, windmill and water works. ' ' Practical Forestry.— One of the argu- ments against forest planting is, that one has to wait so long for returns. Meehans' Monthly has, however, always contended that companies couldf be formed and land planted, the stock of which company would be of in- creased market value from year to year as the trees reached a commercial age. The value of a plantation of this kind has been well shown by the sale of a ranch in California. Part of the property was unplanted ; this brought $50 an acre. Sixteen acres was in Alfalfa, the lucerne of other regions ; this brought $200 an acre. A plot of 1 10 acres in hardshell walnuts sold for $350 an acre,— and eighty-and-a-half acres of softshell walnuts for $400 an acre. There is little doubt that forest planting, intel- ligently pursued, could be made profitable,— forest fires being the only uncertain element in the operation. Injury from the Red Spider. -The Red Spider flourishes nearly as well in the open air, in many parts of this country, as it does in greenhouses. It is an especial lover of the spruce family. The past season they were so abundant, in many parts, that when noticed ,(86) the trees had the appearance of having been scorched by fire. This insect can be kept very easily in check by spraying with kerosene emulsion, and if they can be kept clear from young trees, they are seldom troublesome to larger ones. When suffered to remain undis- turbed from year to year, they increase rapidly, and this seems to be the trouble now. The fact is, that spraying v/ith kerosene emulsion has got to be a part of garden work to be as regularly attended to as hoeing or pruning. Every garden should have its emulsion sprayer, and the trees should be carefully watched for the appearance of insects just as the regular garden crop is watched for the appearance of weeds. It is very little trouble to spray hun- dreds of trees in a short time with a good sprayer; and, generally speaking, when the insect is kept down in the younger trees it is not troublesome afterwards. Oakwood Cemetery, Chicago.— It is a re- markable fact, that sentiment has a greater in- fluence on human conduct than logic or reason in any form. In every relation of life, this proves to be the case. Cemetery superintend- ents tell us that, in selecting a lot for a grave or the grave of the family, the desire is strong to secure a pretty site, where there is a beauti- ful view, or some especially attractive point to be gained in the selection. Indeed, it was this strong sentiment that led to the popular cem- etery over the old-fashioned, dull and dreary church-yard. There are few who have no thought as to what is to become of their re- mains after death. If the great Egyptian King. Rameses, could have known that, thousands of years after his death, his dried and shrunken body would be held up as the leading feature in a six-penny show to attract the public gaze, it is doubtful whether he would not have much preferred to lie in one of our beautiful ceme- teries, had there been any in those days, than to have been months in preparation for his grand mummy-case. With this is presented a 1900] meehans' monthly— general gardening. 87 beautiful view in Oakwood Cemetery, Chicago. ment of beauty, to which we ^-^ll^^^^^^^ The owners, no doubt, could have had many rules that many would prefer to locate near it (* n t I o > ( o o o o z n -I n a •< 1^ S I • C more lots to sell had the water-covered spot been converted to dry ground. But the senti- than to have no thought further than the cold, cold ground. ND EXPOSURE ■11 88 w Plant Glands in Nutrition.— in addition to the thought expressed in the main chapter It may be remarked that the author has occa- sionally seen flowers with large numbers caught in this way. If the glands absorb and digest nitrogen, it can make little difference whether it receives it from an insect or from the atmosphere. We need not believe that the glands were specialized especially for in- sect collecting purposes, as some contend but we may say that they serve the purpose of aiding in the sustenance of the plant. The Best Decorative Ferns. - Where native ferns are sought for temporary, in-door decorations, there are some which must be avoided on account of the delicate nature of their leaves. Naturally, the evergreen kinds will stand hanlling the best. The Christmas Fern, Aspidium acrostichoides and Aspidium marginale, are the most popular. Onoclea sensi- btlis has a broad, tempting frond ; but it wont last long after cutting. Nor will the Cinna- mon Fern, though it has a fairly stout appear- ance, and nice long fronds. meehans' mon- Hr,Y— general gardening. [June in baskets or some low arrangement, and nothing accompanies them better than maiden- hair fern. Instead of banks of palms, except when occa- sion demands such, the plant decorations are made by standing singly in every available spot a perfect specimen of palm or dracaena or croton. No such thing as a flower pot, however clean, should be exposed. There should be handsome jars in which the single specimens should stand. And in the groups if the pots are not hidden by the smaller plants' then small plants of the Boston Fern, or better still, Asparagus Sprengeri, must finish the bottom end of the bank. Nothing embellishes a flower like its own foliage. Roses should have nothing more, nor hly-of-the-valley, tulips or any bulbous plants or chrysanthemums. If the chrysanthemum foliage IS not good, cut some that is. Any- thing else would be ridiculous. But carna- tions are weak in foliage, and sprays oi Aspar- agus Sprengen will go well with them. —Scott's /lorists' Manual. Wedding Decorations. - At a wedding decoration there is often some particular color that IS to be followed, and while in details we must use our ta.ste and skill, i„ the general plan we must follow the wishes of those most interested. At a home wedding there is usu- ally an opportunity to show skill in arranging a fine bank of palms as a background to the happy pair. This should be high and broad and light and graceful, not thick and dense If the chandeliers and mirrors are ornamented with greenery, asparagus should always be used and no attempt be made to follow the outlines of the chandelier, but thrown on very loosely Instead ol clearing off all the beautiful and costly ornaments from the mantel piece as used to be done, and putting on a slab of flow- ers, they are now decorated with two or three vases of the finest long-stemmed flowers, such as roses, carnations or chrysanthemums All flowers are wanted on long stems, and all can be so supplied with one important exception, »'. e. , orchids. ' Orchids are so desirable when cut, and it being impossible to cut any stem with some of them, cattleyas particularly, that wherever there is an arrangement of them they are used Rhododendron maximum.— An object of great beauty at present, coming into bloom, is the native Rhododendron maximum, our hardy kinds. A specimen of largest size, about forty years old, in the garden of Mr. W. Wander on Forest Street, attracts universal admiration Though the street is noted for fine residences al clustered close together there as of sucli celebrities as Mark Twain, the late Mrs. Stowe Charles D. Warner. Dr. R. Burton and the many others of very rich people, none seem to hav this peerless white flower of our native woodlands, though it is by no means a com- mon plant, found only in exceptionally favored situations. We have also a "vacation school." whose Supenntendent, Miss. Alida B. Clark, has in- augurated a most successful experiment with keeping the children, of the closest settled sec- tion, part of the day from the street The school is started with a hundred children daily in attendance, and twice that number have been turned away for want of the necessary means to keep them. On a visit yesterday, I took along a few twigs of currant bushes full of fruit, and the teachers and I were astonished to find that from eighty-nine children up to twelve years' of age, only one knew what it I • c 1900] meehans' MONTHI^Y — GENERAL GARDENING. 89 was. Some named cherries, others mulberries, raspberries, and even water-lilies as the kind it was. Does this single attempt at our best re- puted school (for it is a branch of our most popu- lated, first school district) not show the utmost necessity of more practical instruction in the common natural sciences, to tit the children better for life's duties. It is indeed up-hill work to convince the public of many errors in the omission of such important measures. May electricity bring closer together also the minds, as it does the people at large, to solve the problem of a sound basis of education. Hartford, Conn. MrS. WiLHELMINE SELIOER. SPIRiEA VAN HOUTTEI. Spir.EA Van Houttei. — Our gardens would miss the numerous species and varieties of Spiraa that flower in early spring, for, though mostly white, the habits differ so greatly, that they give great variety. One of, the best known is the Bridal Wreath Spiraea, SpircBa Reevesiana of Lindley, though it was found subsequently to be identical with Spircpa Can- tonensis, long ago described by Lourier. Re- cently, a beautiful variation of this species, raised by M. Zabel, of the Royal Gardens at Miinden, in Hanover, and named by him in honor of the famous Belgian Van Houtte, SpircEa Vanhouttei has been introduced into our gardens, and promises to be popular. As the illustration shows, it has a pendulous habit, as against the stiflt form of the parent Reevesiana. — Indeed, it is the habit chiefly that renders the variety so specially attractive. As the Van Houtte Bridal- Wreath, it will be extensively planted. Park Monuments. — The enclosed clipping is from the Buffalo Enquirer, April 3, 1900, and while the strictures on your beautiful Fairmount Park may be undeserved, yet there may-be a substratum of truth in them, and afford food for reflection. The Buffalo parks, here alluded to, are beautiful and are the work of the late Wm. McMillan, an en- thusiast of the natural style of landscape garden- ing. Statuary and the geometric style of landscape gardening, have their appropriate uses in city lots and in proxim- ity to buildings where a striving after natural ef- fect would be equally incongru- ous. Formal flower beds and geomet- ric landscape gar- dening have their proper place in public squares and near dwellings, where an imitation of the irregular beauties of nature is out of question. There is room for both styles. They need not and should not conflict. Buffalo. N. Y. Wm. FiTZWILUAM. The clipping from the Buffalo Inquirer re- marks, with some justice : — '♦ Fairmount Park, at Philadelphia, has been spoiled by the statues which have been put in it. In a quarter of a mile drive one can see animal fights, Greek heroes, German musicians and American states- men. Philadelphia is a warning to be observed by Buffalo before it is too late." 88 MEEHANS' MON- HLY— GENERAL GARDENING. Plant Glands lx Xutrition.— in addition to the thought expressed in the main chapter It may be remarked that the author has occa- sionally seen flowers with large numbers caught in this way. If the glands absorb and digest nitrogen, it can make little difference whether it receives it from an insect or from the atmosphere. We need not believe that the glands were specialized especially for in- sect collecting purposes, as some contend but we may say that they serve the purpose of aiding in the sustenance of the plant The Best Decorative Ferns. — Where native ferns are sought for temporary, in-door decorations, there are some which must be avoided on account of the delicate nature of their leaves. Naturally, the evergreen kinds will stand han Iling the best. The Christmas I^ern, Aspidium acrostichoides and Aspidium margu.alc. are the most popular. Onoclea sensi- bihs has a broad, tempting frond ; but it wont last long after cutting. Xor will the Cinna- mon Fern, though it has a fairly stout appear- ance, and nice long fronds. Weddi.nc. Decorations. - At a wedding decoration there is often .some particular color that IS to be followed, and while in details we mu.st use our ta.ste and skill. i„ the general plan we must follow the wi.shes of those most interested. .Vt a home wedding there is usu- ally an opportunity to show skill in arrangin.r a fine bank of palms as a background to the happy pair. This should be high and broad and light and graceful, not thick and dense If the chandeliers and mirrors are ornamented with greenery, asparagus should always be used and no attempt be made to follow the outlines of the chandelier, but thrown on very loosely Instead ol clearing off all the beautiful and costly ornaments from the mantel piece, as used to be done, and putting on a slab of flow- ers, they are now decorated with two or three vases of the fine.st long-stemmed flowers, such as roses, carnations or chrysanthemums All flowers are wanted on long stems, and all can be so supplied with one important exception, i. e., orchids. Orchids are so desirable when cut, and it being impossible to cut any stem with some of them, cattleyas particularly, that wherever there is an arrangement of them they are used [June in baskets or some low arrangement, and nothing accompanies them better than maiden- hair fern. Instead of banks of palms, except when occa- sion demands such, the plant decorations are made by standing singly in every available spot a perfect specimen of palm or dracaena or croton. No such thing as a flower pot however clean, should be exposed. There should be handsome jars in which the single specimens should stand. And in the groups, if the pots are not hidden by the smaller plants then small plants of the Boston Fern, or better still. Asparagus Sprengeri, must finish the bottom end of the bank. Nothing embellishes a flower like its own foliage. Roses should have nothing more, nor hly-of-the-valley, tulips or anv bulbous plants or chrysanthemums. If the chrysanthemum foliage IS not good, cut some that is. Any- thing else would be ridiculous. But carna- tions are weak in foliage, and spravs of Aspar- agus Sprengeri will go well with them. —Srott's l-lorists' MaiiKa/. Rhododendron .MAxiMi;M._An object of great beauty at present, coming into bloom, is the natne RlwdodemUon maximum, our iiardy kinds. A specimen of largest size, about fort v years old, i„ the garden of Mr. W. Wander oil Forest Street, attracts universal admiration. 1 Iiough the street is noted for fine residences all clustered close together there as of sucli celebrities as Mark Twain, the late Mrs. Stowe Charles D. Warner, Dr. R. Burton and the many others of very rich people, none seen, to hav this i,eerless white flower of our native woodlands, though it is by no means a com- mon plant, found only in exceptionally favored situations. We have also a "vacation school," whose Supenntendent, Miss. Alida B. Clark, has in- augurated a most successful experiment with keeping the children, of the closest settled sec- tion, part of the day from the street The school is .started with a hundred children daily in attendance, and twice that number have been turned away for want of the necessary means to keep them. On a visit yesterday I took along a few twigs of currant bushes full of fruit, and the teachers and I were astonished to find that from eighty-nine children up to twelve years' of age, only one knew what it 1^ •*C 1900] MEKHANS' MONTHIvY — GENERAL GARDENING. 89 was. Some named cherries, others mulberries, raspberries, and even water-lilies as the kind it was. Does this single attempt at our best re- puted school (for it is a branch of our most popu- lated, first school district) not show the utmost necessity of more practical instruction in the common natural sciences, to tit the children better for life's duties. It is indeed up-hill work to convince the public of many errors in the omission of such important measures. May electricity bring closer together also the minds, as it does the people at large, to solve the problem of a sound basis of education. illustration shows, it has a pendulous habit, as against the stift form of the parent Reevesiayia. — Indeed, it is the habit chiefly that renders the variety so specially attractive. As the Van Houtte Bridal-Wreath, it will be extensively planted. Hartford, Conn. Mrs. Wilhklmink vSklkxKR. SPIRAEA VAN HOUTTEI. SriR.KA Van Houttki. — Our gardens would miss the numerous species and varieties of Spircea that flower in early spring, for, though mostly white, the habits differ so greatly, that they give great variety. One of the best known is the Bridal Wreath Spinea, Spircea Recvesiana of Lindley, though it was found subsequently to be identical with Spircca Ca?t- tonensis, long ago described by Lourier. Re- cently, a beautiful variation of this species, raised by M. Zabel, of the Royal Oardens at Miinden, in Hanover, and named by him in honor of the famous Belgian Van Houtte, Spircpa Vanhouttei has been introduced into our gardens, and promises to be popular. As the Park Monuments. — The enclosed clipping is from the Buffalo Eyiqidrer, April 3, 1900, and while the strictures on your beautiful Fairmount Park may be undeserved, yet there may-be a substratum of truth in them, and afford food for reflection. The Buffalo parks, here alluded to, are beautiful and are the work of the late Wm. Mc^VIillan, an en- thusiast of the natural style of landvScape garden- ing. Statuary and the geometric style of landscape gardening, have their appropriate uses in city lots and in proxim- ity to buildings where a striving after natural ef- fect would be equally incongru- ous. P'ormal flower beds and geomet- ric landscape gar- dening have their proper place in public squares and near dwellings, where an imitation of the irregular beauties of nature is out of question. There is room for both styles. They need not and should not conflict. Buffalo. N. Y. Wm. Fitzwilliam. The clipping from the Buffalo hiquirer re- marks, with some justice : — '• Fairmount Park, at Philadelphia, has been spoiled by the statues which have been put in it. In a quarter of a mile drive one can see animal fights, Greek heroes, German nmsirians and American states- men. Philadelphia is a warning to be observed bv Buffalo before it is too late." intentional second exposure ^ ^ fPlH mp if' s m I i 90 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GA*RDENING. [June TME HilRl^T TLOWEl <5/flI^iD)EN. Hardy Water Lilies and Bog Plants. — The list of good Hardy Water Lilies is not large, though improvers in that line are occa- sionally producing new varieties, all of which are welcome. The main ones in use are Nelum- bium luteum, Nelumbium speciosum, Nymphaea alba candidissima, Nymphaea odorata, Nym- phaea odorata rosea and Nymphaea flava. A pond and its surroundings may be made artifi- cial, or with taste it may be transformed into a beautiful and attractive spot, — a haunt where Nature seems to have full sway, yet in neat- ness and harmony. The following plants may be used to advantage in low moist situations : — Arundo donax, Eulalias, Laurel-leaved willow kept low and bushy, Sambucus Canadensis, Typha latifolia, Acorus Calamus and variegata, Japanese Iris, Iris Pseudacorus, Caltha palustris, and many similar swamp-loving plants might be mentioned. There are but few men at the present time well versed in the art of produc- ing fine effects on and around the water, and the field is open for a very interesting study. Where tender acquatics can be cared for, the -opportunities are largely increased, as there are many beautiful plants and flowers that can be utilized. The Red-flowered Currants.— The Ribes rubrum, or red-flowered currant of the Paci- fic coast, is a beautiful garden ornament in localities where the summers are not hot for a continuous period. Its near neighbor, Ribes viscosissima, is also a beautiful small shrub, but with the leaves and fruit covered with a viscous secretion, as its specific name implies. Presumably this is the ' 'Rose Currant, ' ' recent- ly introduced by Mr. S. L. Watkins, of Lotus, California, as a desirable fruit. He says of it : — **This variety of currant when ripe is very oily — that is the berries are covered with a sub- stance resembling oil or grease ; but the oil does not in any way injure the flavor of the fruit which is excellent. The Rose Currant is a beautiful red type of the black currant ; .flavor or aroma is similar to the black cur- rant. ' ' Long-spray Flowering Shrubs for Cut- ting.— There are many shrubs and herbaceous plants that will furnish flowers suitable for cut-flower purposes ; but those which will furnish long sprays of flowers, suitable for large decorations, are not plentiful. Among spring and early summer flowers the following are most suitable : — Flowering Peach and Almonds, Forsythia, Halesia, Neviusia, SpircBa pnmifolia, Japanese Snowball, and Weigela. The following bloom in mid-summer and fall. Des7nodium, Boltonia, Helianthus Maximili- a?ii and Rudbeckia '' Golden Glow." The flowers (j>f the last named are not exactly pro- duced in sprays ; but the long stems, well furn- ished with flowers on shorter stems, fill the requirements. A difficulty with most of these flowers is that they will not last long unless in water, and except, possibly, in the case of the Helianthus, which is well-adapted in every way. The weigelas have particularly long stems of flowers, and always look well. F^qiTS Sa VEQET4PLES. Native Raspberry Culture.— A Michigan fruit-grower, writing to the National Fruit Grower, gives some excellent advice concern- ing the culture of raspberries, which will largely benefit the growers of other States. After dwelling at length on the ill-effects from improper pruning, he says : — " Raspberries need pruning, but less than half as much as was formerly recommended. The plants must grow wood and leaves, and to check them severely with the expectation of fostering fruit-bearing is too much like cut- ting off" a man's arms to give his brain a better opportunity. The plan might work, but it is of doubtful utility. Nature demands something nearer equality. For garden culture we have found the same methods as are used for field culture are most satisfactory. We do not believe in the practice so often followed of setting a row of bushes along the fence. The plants are then where they are most certain to be neglected. Insects and disease easily get in and are hard to man- age in such cases. The ground cannot be cul- tivated as it should be, and the result is a struggle between the berries on the one side and grass and dry weather on the other, with the odds against the fruit. Rows of clean, well- kept canes are an ornament to any garden, but neglected bushes along the fence soon become a nuisance. «e 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 9i Experience has taught us that raspberries should not be crowded. On ordinary soil we would not set closer than four feet in the row and have the rows eight feet apart. This will seem to the novice like a long distance apart and it will take up considerable room. He may :set them closer, perhaps three feet by six, but the new varieties now being planted are so vigorous that it is doubtful if such close plant- ing is to be recommended, even in a garden. This would make quite a difference in the num- ber of hills, but the returns for the space occu- pied would probably be about as large. In regard to cutting back, no fixed rule should be given. Much depends upon the liabits of growth of the variety. Strong, vigor- ous canes, like the Gregg and Shaffer may well be three or four feet long. They are stiff" enough to stand up, and it is a great conven- ience to the picker to have the fruit where it may be reached without much bending over. This is a point that should receive more atten- tion than it does. A picker's back should be worth something. But there are other varieties which never get far above the earth. Some of these we find make the best canes when cut - back to a foot and a half or two feet high. If allowed to get higher they break down. The Nemaha is an example, if pruned low they stand up much better. There are other vari- eties which come in midway between these ex- tremes and they should be treated accordingly. At least two inches of the tip should be cut off" and more than this is better. It shouid also be kept in mind that a cane will increase 5ome in length after being clipped. We allow about four inches for this. The laterals we do not interfere with till spring, unless they get so long as to be in the way. Then leave them from one to two feet long, depending upon the ability of the cane to support them. About the only guide is the knowledge obtained from experience and obser- vation, which is usually easy to get in the raspberries. The old wood may be cut out during the last of August or at any later time in the fall. Formerly we were told to cut it out as soon as picked, but as the new growth draws some nourishment from these old canes it is better to leave them until they begin to dry. Some growers recommend leaving the dead canes till spring, so that they will assist in holding the snow about the hill, but we have not found them of much benefit in this way. The garden certainly looks better if all such rubbish is gathered and burned in the fall. One of the common mistakes is to leave more canes to a hill than there should be. Four or five stalks have done better for us than more. The fruit is larger and better and there is as much of it as when there are many canes. The varieties are numerous and continually being added to, but there are a few which have been found to succeed almost anywhere in lower Michigan and adjoining territory. Among the black caps are the Palmer, Con- rath, Kansas, also the Gregg on anything except moist soil. The Cumberland promises well and may in a few years be the leading berry. The Cuthbert is still in the lead among the reds, though the Loudon is growing in. favor. The Miller is recommended by some, but in some localities it lacks in flavor. Among the purples the Shaffer is being superseded by the Columbian, which is cer- tainly an excellent berry in every respect. The much advertised, ever-bearing Gladstone is found wanting. It yields berries from summer till winter, but not many at a time. There are many excellent varieties which are satisfactory when grown under the proper con- ditions. It is well worth the trouble to look them up if one is setting berries for home use. But we believe that those given will prove satisfactory in as great a variety of locations as any. Some of the European varieties are occasionally set, but they are too tender to do well without protection. The quality, how- ever, is superior to the American sorts." Salt for Asparagus.— In sandy or compar- atively dry soil, salt is an excellent article to apply to asparagus beds. It will not, however, take the place of strong manure. Its chief office seems to be to encourage a plentiful sup- ply of moisture. Hence, on soils already re- tentive, salt is of little use,-and, indeed, may, at times, be injurious. LOW-HEADED APPLE TREES.-The American Fruit and Vegetable Journal says :— *' The ex- perienced fruit-growers of the Mississippi Val- ley are coming more and more to see the value of low heads. The following excellent advan- ! f «li 92 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. tages for low heads for apple trees, as given by Jacob Faith, in the, JVes/ern Fruit Grower, are first-class and right to the point : * The crop can be picked at one-half cost ; fruit will not damage so much when it drops ; trees will come into bearing one to two years younger ; will stand more erect ; will endure more storni and sleet, sun scale and bark burst ; will live longer and bear more fruit. ' " [June Sticks for Peas and other Cumbers.— It is said that peas will make double the growth, and largely increase the product, when favored with sticks or twiggy branches for them to run over. And this seems true of all climbing plants. Who has not noted how happy a branch of a grape vine seems, when it can get a chance to run over a bush ? Philoso- phers give, as the reason, that a climbing plant IS always twisting and twining to find some- thing to cling to.—and thus wastes energy that should be applied to growth. Tomato Cultu r e.— Frequently tomato plants are severely thinned of leaves and branches, in order, it is said, to let in the sun to ripen the fruit. But ripening is a vital pro- cess. Good, healthy leaves and foliage are essential to this, and the fruit will ripen better under the shade of such foliage than when ex- posed to the sun without the leaves. Where the branches are so numerous, it is of advan- tage to thin out weaker ones to give more strength to the rest. Best Localities for Raising Vegetables, ETC.— It is very interesting to read the state- ment of Messrs. W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Seeds- men of Philadelphia, showing what they con- sider the best localities for seed production While -Fordhook Farm," Doylestown, Pa., produces many of the seeds used, both vege- table and flower, -all parts of the United States as well as many foreign countries are drawn upon to furnish special kinds of seed, which can be brought to a greater degree of perfec- tion in more favored localities. For instance, special growers furnish large quantities of peas and beans from the upper part of New York and adjoining regions ot Canada; from the dark, damp Florida soil come watermelon seeds ; musk melons and squashes do best in New Jersey and Nebraska; cucumbers in New York ; tomatoes come to their fullest degree of excellence in Pennsyl- vania and Ohio ; the bulk of the best radish seed comes from France, while many flower seeds and some of the larger varieties of onions come from Italy. The greater part ot the cabbage seed used in this country comes from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and from Ivong Island, while the best onions are pro- duced in Connecticut and California. We go all the way to Denmark for cauliflower seed, and to California for the best lettuce seed. Even such distant parts of the earth as Russia and China and Japan, are drawn upon for rare varieties of both flowers and vegetables." A visit to the extensive trial grounds at • • Fordhook, ' ' would interest anyone. Visitors are received on Wednesdays. In addition to the things horticultural, there are Thorough- bred Fancy Poultry and Scotch Collie dogs. The Potato Stalk-weevil.— The greatest enemy of the potato grower to-day is the stalk- weevil. Since copper solutions have aided us so materially in our fight with mildews and molds, and Paris Green has been so great a friend to us against the Colorado Beetle, we should have little trouble but for the stalk- borer. It would not be too much to say that it has probably lessened the potato crop of America one-half. The misfortune is that its work is unknown to the average cultivator. He sees his potato stalks wilt under the first warm sun, and rests satisfied with the thought that the " hot sun was too much for them." It was too much, simply because the weevil had bored the stems hollow. The beetle is closely related to the Plum- weevil on Curculio ; but it has scarcely taken on the beetle form before it commences to lay its eggs in the stem at the surface of the ground. The e%% soon hatches, and bores its way through the centre of the stem. The egg- laying commences about the end of April in this latitude,— and the boring is about com- plete, and the stem ready to die about the mid- dle of June. Some have thought that they preserve their potatoes by placing a small por- tion of Paris Green around the stems as soon as they appear above ground ; but as the beetle at this point and iti this stage simply inserts its ovipositor in the stem, it is not clear that tie 11900] meehans' monthly — general gardening. 93 good results can follow. If it were to feed on the leaves to any great extent, as the Colorado Beetle and its larvae do, it would certainly be useful. The larvae or pupae live over winter in the dry stems ; pulling up and burning these after they have fulfilled their mission of producing a crop of small potatoes, would therefore des- troy great numbers. The misfortune is that the creatures pay at- tention to the Jinison weed, and other members of the Solanum family ; so that after the cul- tivator has kept his own land clear of the pests, he is liable to an influx of a new breed from the grounds of less careful neighbors. mon with all animal nature, are governed, to a great extent, by experience. They have learned that the peach, apricot, cherry, and other fruits besides the ordinary plum, are faithful and secure depositaries for their young. The mark on the Japan plum, without the sub- sequent e%% deposit, might reasonably be at- tributed to the uncertainty as to its being the proper place. All this experience will correct. However, the race is popular at present, and improvers are at work on them. A recent Bul- letin of the Horticultural Department of Cor- nell University, figures a number of varieties. One of these is the Wickson, as much to show Japanese Plums. — The comparatively new race, known as Japanese Plums, is receiving considerable attention. The early author on the Botany of Japan, Thun- berg considered it as but a garden race of the ordinary plum of our gardens. Primus dottiest ica, — but after all the real origin of the garden plum has not been ascertained be- yond all controversy. More recent authors, however, consider the Japan a distinct species, and it goes in the bot- anies as Pruniis Japon- ica. Be that as it may, the race makes a nice addition to our gaiden fruits, though it would be a risk to say they were superior to a well-ripened specimen from a healthy tree of the old-fashioned garden kind. Some merit has been claimed for the new race on account of its freedom from injury from that destructive enemy, the Plum Curculio. It is said that even Curculio marks have been found, without rot resulting. But it must be remembered that it is not the mark that causes the rot, but the gall that is excreted when the e%% is deposited. There is nothing in the plum, itself, to prevent the e%% from devel- oping to a perfect insect. But insects, in com- WICK8ON JAPANESE PLUM. the general character of the whole race, as to illustrate the particular variety. As to that, however, the Bulletin regards it as promising to be a very prolific bearer. Grape Worms. — A correspondent finds worms in grapes. He never heard of such a thing, and inquires " What is to be done about it?" " A few know that a moth, that the learned have dubbed Lobesia botrana, lays an e^z in the grape berry, that in the end becomes a ' worm,' but the knowledge is not general. Those who do know, place paper bags over the bunch when the berries are nearly the size *i p j 92 MEHHANS' MONTHI.Y— GENERAL GARDENING. tages for low heads for apple trees, as given by Jacob Faith, in the JVes^ern Fruit Grower, are first-class and right to the point : * The crop can be picked at one-half cost ; fruit will not damage so much when it drops ; trees will come into bearing one to two years younger ; will stand more erect ; will endure more storm' and sleet, sun scale and bark burst ; will live longer and bear more fruit. ' " [June 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 93 Sticks for Peas and other Climbers.— It is said that peas will make double the growth, and largely increase the product, when favored with sticks or twiggy branches for them to run over. And this seems true of all climbing plants. Who has not noted how happy a branch of a grape vine seems, when it can get a chance to run over a bush ? Philoso- phers give, as the reason, that a climbing plant IS always twisting and twining to find some- thing to cling to,— and thus wastes energy that should be applied to growth. Tomato C ultu r e.— Frequently tomato plants are severely thinned of leaves and branches, in order, it is said, to let in the sun to ripen the fruit. But ripening is a vital pro- cess. Good, healthy leaves and foliage are essential to this, and the fruit will ripen better under the shade of such foliage than when ex- posed to the sun without the leaves. Where the branches are so numerous, it is of advan- tage to thin out weaker ones to give more strength to the rest. Best Localities for Raising Vegetables, etc.— It is very interesting to read the state- ment of Messrs. W. Atlee Burpee cS: Co., Seeds- men of Philadelphia, showing what they con- sider the best localities for seed production. While "Fordhook Farm," Doylestown, Pa., produces many of the seeds used, both vege^ table and flower, -all parts of the United States as well as many foreign countries are drawn upon to furnish special kinds of seed, which can be brought to a greater degree of perfec- tion in more favored localities. For instance, special growers furnish large quantities of peas and beans from the upper part of New York and adjoining regions of Canada; from the dark, damp Florida soil come watermelon seeds ; musk melons and squashes do best in New Jersey and Nebraska; cucumbers in New York ; tomatoes come to their fullest degree of excellence in Pennsyl- vania and Ohio ; the bulk of the best radish seed comes from France, while many flower seeds and some of the larger varieties of onions come from Italy. The greater part of the cabbage seed used in this country comes from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and from Long Island, while the best onions are pro- duced in Connecticut and California. We go all the way to Denmark for cauliflower seed, and to California for the best lettuce seed. F:ven such distant parts of the earth as Russia and China and Japan, are drawn upon for rare varieties of both flowers and vegetables." A visit to the extensive trial grounds at '• Fordhook," would interest anyone. Visitors are received on Wednesdays. In addition to the things horticultural, there are Thorough- bred Fancy Poultry and vScotch Collie dogs. The Potato Stalk-weevil.— The greatest enemy of the potato grower to-day is the stalk- weevil. Since copper solutions have aided us so materially in our fight with mildews and molds, and Paris (ireen has been so great a friend to us against the Colorado Beetle, we should have little trouble but for the stalk- borer. It would not be too much to say that it has probably lessened the potato crop of America one-half. The misfortune is that its work is unknown to the average cultivator. He sees his potato stalks wilt under the first warm sun, and rests satisfied with the thought that the ♦' hot sun was too much for them." It was too much, simply because the weevil had bored the steins hollow. The beetle is closely related to the Plum- weevil on Curculio ; but it has scarcely taken on the beetle form before it commences to lay its eggs in the stem at the surface of the ground. The e^^ soon hatches, and bores its way through the centre of the stem. The egg- laying commences about the end of April in this latitude,— and the boring is about com- plete, and the stem ready to die about the mid- dle of June. vSoine have thought that they preserve their potatoes by placing a small por- tion of Paris Cireen around the stems as soon as they appear above ground ; but as the beetle at this point and in this stage simply inserts its ovipositor in the stem, it is not clear that «« ♦ tc good results can follow. If it were to feed on the leaves to any great extent, as the Colorado Beetle and its larvae do, it would certainly be useful. The larvae or pupae live over winter in the dry stems ; pulling up and burning these after they have fulfilled their mission of producing a crop of small potatoes, would therefore des- troy great numbers. The misfortune is that the creatures pay at- tention to the Jimson weed, and other members of the Solanum family ; so that after the cul- tivator has kept his own land clear of the pests, he is liable to an influx of a new breed from the grounds of _ less careful neighbors. ^|| nion with all animal nature, are governed, to a great extent, by experience. They have learned that the peach, apricot, cherry, and other fruits besides the ordinary plum, are faithful and secure depositaries for their young. The mark on the Japan plum, without the sub- sequent e%% deposit, might reasonably be at- tributed to the uncertainty as to its being the proper place. All this experience will correct. However, the race is popular at present, and improvers are at work on them. A recent Bul- letin of the Horticultural Department of Cor- nell University, figures a number of varieties. One of these is the Wickson, as much to show '■■■n Japanese Plums. — The comparatively new race, known as Japanese Plums, is receiving considerable attention. The early author on the Botany of Japan, Thun- berg considered it as but a garden race of the ordinary plum of our gardens, Pruuus dome St tea, — but after all the real origin of the garden plum has not been ascertained be- yond all controversy. More recent authors, however, consider the Japan a distinct species, and it goes in the bot- anies as Pyunus Japou- ica. Be that as it may, the race makes a nice addition to our gaiden fruits, though it would be a risk to say they were superior to a well-ripened specimen from a healthy tree of the old-fashioned garden kind. Some merit has been claimed for the new race on account of its freedom from injury from that destructive enemy, the Plum Curculio. It is said that even Curculio marks have been found, without rot resulting. But it must be remembered that it is not the mark that causes the rot, but the gall that is excreted when the e%% is deposited. There is nothing in the plum, itself, to prevent the e%% from devel- oping to a perfect insect. But insects, in com- WICKSON JAPANESE PLUM. the general character of the whole race, as to illustrate the particular variety. As to that, however, the Bulletin regards it as promising to be a ver}^ prolific bearer. Grape Worms. — A correspondent finds worms in grapes. He never heard of such a thing, and inquires *' What is to be done about it?" ♦' A few know that a moth, that the learned have dubbed Lobesia botratia, lays an e%% in the grape berry, that in the end becomes a * worm,' but the knowledge is not general. Those who do know, place paper bags over the bunch when the berries are nearly the size ENnONAL SECOND EXPOS H M V f i W 94 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [June of peas. This not only keeps insects from troubling, but also the spores of mildew ^nd mold, — and the berries ripen just as well in the shade the bags give. ' * Burying the Trunks or Stems of Fruit Trees. — Ill-informed cultivators have but a faint idea of the reasons why trees should not be deeply planted. It is not because of any injury to the trunks, but because the feeding roots need the oxygen of the atmosphere in the preparation of the food, just as much as the leaves do. So far as the trunk is concerned, burying under the earth is a benefit rather than an injury. If it were possible to have the stems or trunks several feet beneath the sur- face, and the roots only a few inches, the vigor of the tree would be enhanced thereby. But, though this is impossible, earth on the surface can be heaped around the trunk to advantage, as long as we do not bury too great a root- feed- ing surface. This was well exemplified, nearly half a century ago, by a peach grower, near Cincinnati, named Bolmar. He had earth by the cart-load heaped around his peach trees. His orchard had the appearance of being cov- ered by miniature hay stacks. The growth and general health of the trees were so remark- able, that the owner was moved to secure a patent for the idea. The patent would not hold. No one could be restrained against earthing up a fruit tree any more than earth- ing up a row of celery. But it was a grand object lesson, — and he deserved some recom- pense. There can be no doubt, but that it would be to the advantage of orchardists, gen- erally, to have mounds of earth around the base of their fruit trees, and it is surprising that such good practice is so generally ignored. Prunus Americana as a Stock and for Fruit.— Prof Greene, of the Minn. State Ex- periment Station, finds that the Prunus Ameri- cana is a more satisfactory stock for plums than either Myrobalan or Mariana in that State, where extreme hardiness is essential. It is not inclined to sucker freely, and unites well with the scions of native plums. While a vigor- ous grower, it is liable to be outgrown by European varieties worked on it. As a fruit, the varieties produced from the Americana meet with general favor among fruit-growers, many of them preferring them to all other types, on account of their hardi- ness and productiveness, though averaging small size. The Grape-vine Root-aphis. — The root- aphis, or, as the learned love to call it until the next new name, Phylloxera vastatrix, like all breathing animals, can be killed by drowning. Malcolm Dunn, lately deceased, the famous gardener at the no less famous gardens of the Duke of Buccleugh in Scotland, so arranged the vine borders of his grape houses, that, when the vines were not growing and water at the roots would not hurt them, he could submerge the borders for a considerable time. He had no- trouble then with the Aphis. He was a remark- ably practical thinker and his death is regarded as a great loss to British gardening. The Strawberry-Blackberry. — A corres- pondent seeks information as to the Straw- berry-Blackberry. Judging from the descrip- tions in California papers, it is an improved variety of the wild Blackberry of the Pacific coast, Rubus ursinus, and has been called the "Strawberry" as being as good a name as any other to distinguish it by. Seedless Oranges. — A correspondent says: — "Bradstreets (of New York) has, in to-day's issue, April 7th, at pages 222, etc., a valuable article describing the * Seedless Orange,' — the ' Tibbetts Orange,' now largely grown in California for our eastern markets. It appears worthy of attention and we should be glad to have your opinion of it." Apples, pears, grapes and other fruits, pro- duce individuals at times that are coreless or seedless. As a general rule in these cases, the resultant fruit is smaller than in normal condi- tion. The value of these abnormal forms depend on the uses to which they may be put. No special value has resulted from the seedless apples or pears. In the grape, the seedless raisins and currants fill a useful place in culin- ary art. Possibly the "Navel" is meant, which is a seedless orange. It is not generally known that there are dis- tinct varieties of the Navel orange. As it does not produce seed, it seems diflScult, — unless the ordinary orange seedlings take occasion- ally to produce other ' ' Navels. * ' The first one came in that way. • c BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. " Oh or a booke and a shadie nook, Eyther in doore or out ; With the grene leaves whispering overhead, Or the streete cryes all about. Where I maie reade all at my ease, Both of the newe and old ; For a joUie goode booke whereon to looke, Is better to me than golde." Old English Song. Charles Eastwick Smith.— In the May issue of Meehans' Monthly, is an account of the presentation, to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, of an oil painting of Linnseus, by Mr. Chas. E. Smith. Since that time this excellent botanist has passed away. His death occurred in Philadelphia on April 15th, in his eightieth year. Few have greater claims to be regarded as a botanist of the high- est order, though, as an amateur he cultivated the science for the pleasure it afforded him. He had the intimate friendship of most of the leading botanists in many parts of the world. Dr. Englemann mm^^Juncus Smithii, and Dr. Gray Scirpus Smithii, in his honor. He leaves an estate estimated at about half a million of dollars, of which one-sixth, together with his herbarium and botanical library is willed to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Nature's Garden.— By Nettie Blanchan, New York, published by Doubleday, Page & Co. Botany, in its advanced stages, does not make botanists. Of the thousands annually taught botany in our higher schools, colleges, and universities, few care for the study after their school days are ended. In the old book- stores, near these large institutions, text books on botany are almost a drug, their owners glad to get rid of them before starting for home. Few would want to part with "Nature's Garden" in this summary way. It is given as an aid to knowledge of our wild flowers and their insect visitors, with many colored plates and other illustrations. It is a large book of some 400 pages, and describes over 500 of our wild flowers. Young and old will read it with untiring pleasure,— and it will find a perma- nent and welcome place in all family and school libraries. It maybe remarked, in this place, that much that goes as science in the study of flowers is but the speculation of enthusiastic devotees or eminent scientific men. But these specula- tions, when a little wild, are usually swept away as sound knowledge progresses, and popular works may well be forgiven if science and speculation sometimes get a little mixed. In fact, speculations rather aid than obstruct the advance of science, — and should not be criticised when they occasionally obtrude in beautiful works like this. Botanical Name of Ragged Robin. — A. correspondent complains of confusion in re- gards to the botanical name of the familiar Ragged Robin, which he has known as Cen- taurea Americafta. There is no rule for decid- ing the right of a plant to any particular name. Any one has a right to give any name of this kind to a plant. No doubt there are scores of plants called Ragged Robin. If prior- ity has a claim, as it has in technical botany,, we must go back to the time of Robin Hood — and his ragged rangers of Lincoln Green. In. this way, Ragged Robin came to be associated with Lychnis Flos-Cuculi. England is a small territory, and a name once started gets through the community easier than it does with us. This Lychnis is the only Ragged Robin of the English people. President Kruger's Gardening.— A cor- respondent of the London Gardeners' Chronicle, describes the President of the South African Republic, Paul Kruger, as an enthusiastic lover of gardening. He has a fine collection of daffodils in which he takes great pride. It is a common experience to find him in his garden, trowel in hand. He has a grand col- lection of Phloxes. He is especially fond of his pot-plants. (95) > I i 4\ ■1: GENERAL NOTES. i| CI The Experimental Farm at Ottawa.— It will be good news to those who know of the beautiful gardens and buildings of the Domin- ion at Ottawa, that it escaped serious injury from the recent disastrous fire around it. Under the direction of Prof W. Saunders, a large force of hands were employed as watch- ers and several hundred incipient fires put out before they got a fair start in any case. A Misplaced Label.— People who mark trees by sticking the label in the ground at the base of the trunk, run the risk of the in- formation they wish to convey, sometimes cur- iously miscarrying, as the following clipping from a Philadelphia newspaper seems to show. The writer is describing an April visit to the Botanic Garden of the University of Pennsyl- vania, and has evidently mistaken the scien- tific name of the Norway Maple for that of some spring flower in bloom about the tree's root : — " At the foot of a Norway Maple, and, indeed, in many other of the corners, and especially in the rocky fastnesses which range 'round, is an Acer plata7ioides. Its stems, laden with bright blue blossoms, look very attractive. ' ' Acer platanoides, ♦ • laden with bright blue blossoms, ' ' would certainly be worth quite a trip to see. C. F. Saunders. Philadelphia. The reporter evidently mistook the botanical name of the Maple, Acer platanoides, for the name of the pretty blue flowers (Grape Hyacinths ?) in the midst of the plot. Bacterial Troubles.— /^^/^tt/^r Science News, tells us that popular opinions in regard to microbes are being driven to the verge of absurdity. Quoting the ''Medical andScience," itasserts that those who know the most about the theory of diseases have still many things to learn. It even goes so far as to assert, " that the simple precaution of protecting the water supply from (96) contamination by human excreta may prove to be illusionary. " Not only this, but the ''hygie- nic precautions looking to the prevention of the contamination of water supplies which we have heretofore considered trustworthy, will now be found to be unreliable." It seems to intimate that the baccilli, of which we have heard so much, passed through individuals in hundreds of thousands of cases without doing the slight- est injury, and it is only when there is a low- ered resistive vitality in the individual that serious injury results. It is probable that the whole truth lies between both the extremes, and one class of scientific men assert that in all cases the presence of microbes is necessary to produce disease, while the other class insist that there must be either a tendency to disease ' and lowered vitality before injurious results are found. Certainly there seems evidence strongly in favor of both propositions. There are times when numbers of persons are swept off" by epidemics when there is no reason to believe that there has been any lowering of their vital powers of resistance, — and yet the same strong facts can be induced from the opposite theory. New Varieties of Florists' Flowers.— In our country, florists seldom have sympathy for even the best carnation for more than a few years. New and good carnations are always popular. In striking contrast is the practice with European carnation growers. The Sou- venir de Malmaison, that has been popular for nearly half a century, is still the chief depend- ence of an English carnation grower. Myrobalan Plum for Hedges.— The Myrobalan Plum is getting into great demand, in England, for hedges,— or, as we say, live fences. The plant does not seem to have been tried in America. It would probably be found too good a breeding ground for the plum-borer, and, if so, the country has enough encouragement for this pestiferous insect al- ready. m I ^ VOL..X Plate 7. u. t I'.IMi'.l'NnN >i'l':c|f),S!:.S l.illi.»rMp'»)»tls' Mti..liilv In i. l'n<'H '•'" ERIGERON SPECIOSUS. SHOWY ERIGERON. NATURAL ORDER, COMPOSITE. ERIGERON SPECIOSUS. De Candollc- Sparingly and looscly hirsute or with a few scattering hairs; ^^^^^^J^^^^^ ^^^ ["^ high, very leafy to the top ; leaves lanceolate, acute (three to eight lines wide) . sparsely ciliate ; lowest more or less . spatulate ; involucre hirsute-pubescent, or sometimes almost glabrous ; rays half-inch to almost an inch long, violet. Gray's Synoptical Flora of North America. Sec also Brewer and Watson's Geological Survey of California. Those familiar with the Flora of the Eastern United States, are well acquainted with the genus Erigeron, two of the species of which, Erigeron strigosus and Erigeroyi Cayiadensis , are so abundant in fields devoted to hay crops as to form the bulk of the material, in many cases, and present a perfect sea of white when in bloom. The former is known to farmers in Pennsj'lvania and other States as Daisy, and occasionally Fleabane, — and the latter as Horse- weed and Butterw^eed, the name Butter- weed being probably derived from the disk, the color of which is more conspicuous than in the daisy. Though this will give some general idea of the genus, it gives a poor idea of the beauty of many members of the family. The species here illustrated, Erigeron speciosus, is perhaps the handsomest of the genus. In the early days of July, 1883, during a botanical excursion in the vicinity of Port Townsend, in the then Washington Territory, it seemed to the author the most impressively beautiful of all the wild flowers of that region. It had possession of large areas in open, grassy places ; and the rich violet flowers, tempered by the pale yellow disk, were almost dazzling in effect. In this situation, massed together, they were not as rigid and stiff* as one might infer from the drawing, but had more of a go- alone character, much as we may see in a red clover plant. In Washington and Oregon, however, it is ' very commonly met with ; but varying greatly in its general character in different localities. Nuttall collected it on the shores of the Colum- bia River ; but his specimens have the leaves so long and narrow that they might almost be termed grass-like ; while specimens from the line of the Clearwater River, gathered by the Rev. Mr. Spalding, are short and broad, like the figure in the ' * Botanical Register, ' ' the plant from Douglas' seed. The form herewith figured is intermediate between these two ex- tremes. The picture was taken from speci- mens kindly supplied by Mr. Jackson Dawson, of the Arnold Aboretum ; but the exact local- ity of the original is not known except that it w^as somewhere from Washington Territory. A well established common name is often of value to those who study the history of plants. In this case, a number of species are known as fleabane, though, so far as known, they are not the bane of fleas or of other insects. This is the common name of species of Conyza, com- mon in the Old World, and which are very useful as indicated by the name in question. In looking up the history of Erigeron, it will be found to have been originally classed with Conyza. So recently as the time of Ray, a European species, Erigeron glutinosus, was known as Conyza viontana, — and our own Erigeron Cafiadensis is treated of, in the ante- binomial times, as Conyza amiua acris elatior linear (Efoliis. This species, therefore, would be the original fleabane among North American ones, should the rule of priority be extended to common names as they are to those botanical. Even the name Erigeron, itself, has an interest for philologists. It is the Greek representa- tive of Senecio. This senex means an old man, and was applied by the ancients to the Ground- sell, Senecio vulgaris, and suggested by the grey-haired heads of that plant when in fruit. The Greek geron stands for setiex ; and er the spring, is suggested by the spring flowering of the Groundsell,— literally, the old man in (97) M ."^' I I > Voi.X ! ^ 'P \('- ♦ I* ERIGERON SPECIOSUS. SHOWY ERIGERON. NATURAL ORDER, COMPOSITE. Erigfrov SPECIOSUS. DeCaudolle.-Sparingly and loosely hirsute or with a few scattering hairs; stems mostly two feet hieh very leafy to the top ; leaves lanceolate, acute (three to eight lines wide), sparsely ciliate ; lowest more or less spatv'ilate' involucre hirsute-pubescent, or sometimes almost glabrous; rays half-inch to almost an inch long, violet. Gray's Sy floptical Flora of North America. See also Brewer and Watson's Geological Survey of California. Those familiar with the Flora of the Ivastern United States, are well acquainted with the genus Eri^cron, two of the species of which, ErigcroH stri^osus and Erigcrou Canadoisis, are so abundant in fields devoted to hay crops as to form the bulk of the material, in many cases, and present a perfect sea of white when in bloom. The former is known to farmers in Pennsylvania and other States as Daisy, and occasionally Kleabane, — and the latter as Horse-weed and Butterweed, the name Butter- weed being probably derived from the disk, the color of which is more conspicuous than in the daisy. Though this will give some general idea of the genus, it gives a poor idea of the beauty of many members of the family. The species here illustrated, Erigenm spcciosus, is l>erhaps the handsomest of the genus. In the early days of July, 1883, during a botanical excursion in the vicinity of Port Townsend, in the then Washington Territory, it seemed to the author the most imi)ressively beautiful of all the wild flowers of that region. It had possession of large areas in open, grassy l)laces ; and the rich violet flowers, tempered by the pale yellow disk, were almost dazzling in efiect. In this situation, massed together, they were not as rigid and stiff as one might infer from the drawing, but had more of a go- alone character, much as we may see in a red clover plant. In Washington and Oregon, however, it is very commonly met with ; but varying greatly in its general character in different localities. Nuttall collected it on the shores of the Colum- bia River ; but his specimens have the leaves so long and narrow that they might almost be termed grass-like ; while specimens from the line of the Clearwater River, gathered by the Rev. Mr. Spalding, are short and broad, like the figure in the "Botanical Register," the plant from Douglas' seed. The form herewith figured is intermediate between these two ex- tremes. The picture was taken from speci- mens kindly supplied by IMr. Jackson Dawson, of the Arnold Aboretum ; but the exact local- ity of the original is not known except that it was somewhere from Washington Territory. A well established common name is often of value to those who study the history of plants. In this case, a number of species are known as fleabane, though, so far as known, they are not the bane of fleas or of other insects. This is the common name of species of Cofiyza, com- mon in the Old World, and which are very useful as indicated by the name in question. In looking up the history of Erigcron, it will be found to have been originally claSvSed with CoHxza. vSo recently as the time of Ray, a Ivuropean species, Erigcroii iilnthiosus, was known as Couyza inoNfana.—^n^ our own ErigeroH Cauadoisis is treated of, in the ante- binomial times, as Cofivza annua acris elatior linearccfoliis. This species, therefore, would be the original fleabane among North American ones, should the rule of priority be extended to common names as they are to those botanical. ICven the name Erigcron, itself, has an interest for philologists. It is the Greek representa- tive of Senccio. This senex means an old man, and was applied by the ancients to the Ut round- sell, Senccio vulgaris, and suggested by the grey-haired heads of that plant when in fruit. The Greek gcron stands for senex ; and er the spring, is suggested by the spring flowering of the Groundsell,— literally, the old man in (97) OEORP n 98 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — ERIGERON SPECIOSUS. [July spring. Since this was pointed out by Dr. Asa Gray, the old form of the name, in the neuter gender, has been changed to the masculine. Our plant, formerly Erigero7i speciosum, is now written Erigeroyi speciosus. In the genus Erigeron, there are over one hundred good species. A large number are American. Dr. Asa Gray, in the work from which our description is taken, adopts sixty as the number for North America. In all large genera, botanists endeavor to find some strong, dividing lines to establish other genera, and attempts have been made to do this service in Erigero?i. The plants we now have here at various times found themselves in some couple of dozen genera. Our plant w^as in the genus Stefiactis established by C. G. Nees. In the original Erigeron, there is some difference between the pappus of the ray and those of the disk florets, and Stenactis was founded mainly on this difference. But it is found this line is too indefinite to be accepted. It is, however, to be found under the title of Stenactis in the botanical works of the earlier part of the present century. In Garden literature, our plant usually appears as Stenactis speciosns. Nuttall supposed his grassy-leaved plant, found near the Falls of the Columbia River, might be a new species, and left his specimen without a name ; but Dr. Gray has written on Nuttall's label '• only a narrow-leaved form of Stenactis speciosus.'' The leaves are three inches long, and not more than half an inch wide at the clasping base. What is true of dividing the species is true of the genus itself It is extremely difficult to say how the genus should be defined as distinct from its neighbors. It is one of those cases where nature presents us with a genus with- out the assistance of the expert botanist. A plant is decided to be an Erigeron by what the French call a coup (Vceil. It can be seen to be an Erigeron, without knowing well the reason why. No one familiar with Aster would take an Erigeroyi to be of that genus. There is something distinctive in the general appearance, — especially in the very large num- ber of ray florets, which are also very narrow and in several rows. The involucral scales, of the common receptacle, are also numerous and narrow, and they are more uniform in size and character than in Aster, where they are in varying degrees of size and form in the same flower-head. In botanical descriptions, atten- tion is usually but little given to the characters of the florets. This is owing, in a great measure, to the necessity of describing from dried specimens. The student should take any occasion to examine fresh flowers with an ordinary pocket lens. Good distinguishing characters will often be found in the akenes, pappus, and the florets themselves. In arranging a large family like Erigeron for classification, it is the part of genius to so arrange the species that continuous repetitions of terms can be avoided. In the character adopted, in this chapter, from Gray's Symoptical flora, one could not well decide that our plant was Erigeron speciosns, from the brief description given. The leading points are given in sections, sub-sections, and divisions. We have to go back to a sub- division, in which the collection, as described by Dr. Gray, would be "less Aster-like ; lower rays more and narrow ; involucre closer ; pappus more or less double, but the exterior minute, setulose, or subulate - squamellate ; stems chiefly erect, tufted, generally leafy to the summit, and bearing few or several heads, leaves entire." But still further back we find this has to be included in another sub-division of ones '* comparatively tall and large, a foot or more high except in alpine or depauperate forms, leafy-stemmed, glabrous to soft-hirsute ; leaves rather ample, entire or occasionally few- toothed ; heads pretty large, with usually very numerous rays ; montane or alpestrine. " Still further, however, we must go back to another division in which the plants are '* true perennials from root stocks or a caudex, neither stoloniferous-surculose nor flagelliferous ; invo- lucre from hispid or villous to glabrous, but not lanate, in the first species loose and spread- ing ; all western or northern species." And all these again under one grand sub-division, named specifically Euerigerofi, in which the rays are elongated and conspicuous, or in a few species uniformly wanting, in one or two occasionally wanting ; no rayless female flowers between the proper ray or disk." It is by these careful sub-divisions that the student is enabled to work out his collections with nearly as much ease as in small genera. Explanation of the Plate— i. A nearly full-length specimen from Washington Territory. 2. A vertical section of a receptacle, with a single floret,— magnified. WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. r A SUMMER OUTING. Pleasant it was, when woods were green, And winds w^ere soft and low, To lie amid some sylvan scene. Where, the long drooping boughs between, Shadows dark and sunlight sheen Alternate come and go ; Or where the denser grove receives No sunlight from above, But the dark foliage interweaves In one unbroken roof of leaves, Underneath whose sloping eaves The shadows hardly move. Longfellow. Double Oranges. — With this mail I send you what to me is a curiosity. It may not be to you. To me it seems to be a little orange which was taken out of another orange, from the blow end, both apexes being one. If this is worthy of notice in your journal, I should be glad of the explanation. I wanted to cut it open, but, I thought if it might be new to you that you would like to see it whole. Moscow, Vermont. TiMOTHV WhEELER. The specimen sent was a little larger than a child's marble. It represents a class known as " navel oranges." There are a number of varieties, some with the secondary orange larger than this, some with smaller. As in other fruits, selections are made by the fruit improver, and these selections continued by grafting. These wanderings from what may be termed the normal type, are not uncommon in the vegetable world. One, the most frequently seen, is one rose growing out of the centre of another. The explanation is, that a flower or fruit is but a branch that has been arrested in its growth ; and that the petals of the flower and carpels of the fruit are what might have been leaves. In such cases as this of the orange, the arrestation of the branch has not been complete. It starts on again in a weak attempt to make another set of leaves, — or, as they really become, another depauperate flower and fruit. Poplar Galls. — Mr. W. C. Egan, Highland Park, Illinois, says: — " While ruminating in the woods, to-day, I came across quite a thicket of seedling poplars, from five to seven feet high. A great number had a large percentage of their leaf stems encircled, at the base of the leaf, by worm-galls. At first, on account of the regularity of position, I imagined a new method of seed ball attachment, but upon cut- ting the ball open I found a small green worm. The singular feature to me is that I could not find any balls except at the base of the leaf ' * POPLAR QALL8. Few things in natural history afford more pleasure to the student of nature, than the wonderful judgment displayed by insects in their life economy. At one time, when man was thought to be exceptional in the animal kingdom in being gifted with judgment, the lower orders merely following blind instinct^ little was thought of the remarkable adapta- tions to conditions everywhere seen about us. It is different, now, when knowledge has pro- gressed. In the present instance, the judg- ment displayed by the little fly in depositing its eggs is remarkable. At the base of the leaf-blade, in the poplars, are glands excret- (99) , ^ittBmA^^/tmmim lOO MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [July ing a honeyed-secretion, very grateful to ants and other creatures having ''a sweet tooth." This would also furnish excellent food for the larvae of the insect. The fly has found this out, and, with unerring judgment, the egg is deposited in the gland, and the gall— the homestead of the "worm"— is furnished with pantry and dining-room, as well as a parlor for the young in which to enjoy themselves. • Erigeron speciosus at Home.— Possibly the inspiring eflect, noted in the main chapter, was aided by the view being from a knoll that afibrded the opportunity of looking down on the masses of flowers below. It has long been cultivated in English gardens, where it is esteemed as a leading ornament, having been sent over, by the unfortunate Douglas, from California to the Royal Horticultural Society of London. It is on this account that it is accredited to California by Watson, though he remarks that it has not been found so far south as the line of that State since Douglas' time. Medicinal Value of the Honeysuckle and Morning Glory.— Along one of the side streets of Philadelphia, near the Reading Terminal, the passer-by may be attracted to a modest and well-worn show-case filled with samples of various wares of an ** Herb Doctor" that are calculated to cure about all the ills to which the human body may be subject. Judg- ing by the labels attached to the various mix- tures and by the cards soliciting their use, the ♦* Doctor's " illiteracy is about as strong as his medicine, and will be certain to cure anyone too ill to laugh. One of his most prominent prescriptions is Honeysuckle and Morning- glory, which is held as a sure cure for asthma and colds generally. Diatoms.— These plants have a peculiar method of vegetative multiplication which is unlike anything found elsewhere among the algae. The two halves of the ''box," which are called valves, begin to separate slightly from each other, and as the contents divide into two parts, there is formed within two new halves, one fitting into the larger half of the original cell, and the other forming a new box with the smaller half of the parent plant. These then separate, and thus there are formed two diatoms of exactly the same construction as the mother cell, although one is a trifle smaller than the other. In addition to this method of propagating the species, there are various ways by which the plant forms a single large resting spore and recently it has been dis- covered (chiefly through the work of Castra- cane and Murray) that it is probable that the whole contents of a diatom cell may break up into a number of small spores, each one of which develops into a new plant.— A merkan Journal of Pharmacy. Plant Photography.— The ranks of ama- teur photographers have, within the past few years, assumed wonderful proportions, and nearly all the details of production, heretofore known only to the professional, are being mastered as well by the amateur. The small cameras, or "kodaks," as they are all generally termed, have made possible the creation of great interest in this art, and subjects of many kinds are brought into use. But one subject has been very greatly neglected,— possibly because more difficulties are encountered and that the knowledge of the subjects as individuals is limited. The refer- ence is to the photography of plants. Some amateurs delight to make a special study of portraiture,— others of architectural works, marine or landscape effects ; many are entirely aimless in their efforts, other than to amass a collection of reproductions of fami- liar scenes. But very few, indeed, make plant life a chief study, which is to be regretted. The movements of foliage and flowers in the wind, and the lack of contrast between them and the surrounding vegetation are the great- est difficulties to be surmounted. But it is just here that an interesting study may be developed. Taking for example the wild flowers or trees as they may be seen in their natural haunts, good photographs will always be found interesting as well as instructive, and will awaken pleasant memories of some delightful summer stroll. Meehans' Monthly desires to encourage this phase of amateur photography, and will gladly reprint interesting notes on the subject, as space will permit, from the experiences of its readers ; and photographs, themselves, can be frequently reproduced with interest to the readers in general. \% GENERAL GARDENING. THE ROSE LEAVES OF MEMORY. No, the roses soon wither'd that hung o'er the wave. But some blossoms were gather' d while freshly they shone, And a dew was distill'd from their flowers that gave All the fragrance of summer, when summer was gone. Thus memory draws from delight, 'ere it dies. An essence that breathes of it many a year ; Thus bright to my soul, as 'twas then to my eyes, Is that bower on the banks of the calm Ben- demeer ! Moore. School Gardens. — Believing that the mere memorizing and reciting of text-book lessons was not the best way to a proper development of the young the writer, more than a quarter century ago, advocated and aided in testing a system of instruction in which one half- day was given to literary exercises in lectures and conversations with objects, pictorial and chart illustrations, and one half-day to manual work in printing and binding, wood engrav- ing, drawing and coloring charts, scroll sawing and turning. The system was called panto- graphic and the school the Philotechnic Insti- tute. The boys and girls are now grown, and are giving strong testimony of the excellent system by their better work and greater success in the different occupations. By hand work while the muscles are young and more flexible, they acquire a degree of skill which they could not acquire in later years, and, as all organs grow strong to the work they are used for, the pupils can do more and better work than those educated by the common system. As he did not succeed in persuading the directors of rural schools to adopt his system, he has rented a plat of ground near the Green- ville School, and pays the pupils five or seven cents per hour, for time when they are not engaged in the school room, to help work in the garden. The price is not fixed by size or age, but by the qua ity of the work done. They are paid in stock which represents ground rent, manure, labor and the cost of the crops. The stock is guaranteed at one dollar per share and a dividend if there is any profit to divide. This gives them a direct interest in the work and makes the school garden a part of the greatest educational institution — the business world. — At the commencement we found pupils who could solve problems in fractions and the square root, but did not know how to get right angles for a poultry house, or the degrees of obliquity of the sun's rays so as to get the best angle on the south sides of ridges and secure the most value from the rays for early crops. They did not understand how to lay the lines for scien- tific plowing to turn the good ground towards the centre and leave the ♦' dead" furrows next the fence for the weeds to grow in. With our work we propose to study the elementary prin- ciples of farming and natural sciences. As showing the value of some knowledge of botany, an English farmer had to pay a drover for renting pasture with Digitalis in. He plead ignorance of the poison character of the weeds, but the court did not excuse him. Educated gardeners receive more than twice the wages of common farm laborers. When our State Agricultural Experiments were start- ed, the board held a meeting in Camden, with a view of having a branch station there, and asked the writer to aid them in finding a per- son acquainted with plants and insects to place in charge ; but we could find no one suitable, and the effort was abandoned. Dr. Cook, the director, said when in Norway and Sweden, if he found a strange plant or insect he could get its name from any laborer in the field, and it was the one thing which made him ashamed of his own country. During the Centennial Exhibition, one of the English Commissioners, who made educational systems a study, said he was at first favorable to our public school system for its reduction oi (lOl) n ■)' J. U I02 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [July illiteracy ; but when he looked in our great industrial works he found the graduates em- ployed on book-keeping, and the higher places filled by foreigners. The greatest objection made to manual training is that it takes from the time of literary studies ; but from my ob- servation I believe one hour with the pupils at work or play, when they use their own lan- guage, is worth more for the improvement than the whole day with memorizing and re- citing the language of the text books on Eng- lish grammar, or the bad pronunciation of the names of continental Europe, Asia and Africa, in the geographies. In France, gardening is practically taught in twenty-eight thousand primary and elementary schools, each of which has a garden attached to it. In Sweden, in 1 871, twenty-two thous- and children received instruction in horticul- ture, and each of two thousand and sixteen schools had for cultivation from one to twelve acres. In Russia, many children are taught tree, vine, grain, garden, silk worm and bee culture. In ancient Greece, a law required the son to support the aged father ; but if the father had neglected to teach the son an occupation, the son was exempt from the obligation. Every primary, as well as all higher institutions of learning, should have a garden. Camden, N. J RODOLFUS BiNGAM. CRIMSON RAMBLER ROSE Rose, Crimson'Rambler.—A photograph of a comparatively young specimen of the Crim- son Rambler rose, growing by the porch of the residence of Mr. John G. Bullock, of German- town, Philadelphia, leads to the re- mark that we may always look for the greatest line of improvement by the introduction of wholly new species from their native wilds. When once improved, nature holds the lines more tightly, and but little more improvement can be made on that which has been al- ready improved. Here we have a grand improvement on the wild /^osa ynultiflora, of Japan, which has been known to botanists ever since the time of the great botanist Thunberg, — but as Rosa polyantha, it has but recently been introduced into gardens. The numerous white flowers of the latter, and subse- quent crimson fruit, is attractive. But when the colored plate of the improvement, in the form of "Crimson Rambler," was first widely distributed by Ellwanger & Barry, it was only the high stand- ing for accuracy which this great firm enjoys that secured full credit for it. It has the beautiful red flowers in large clusters, as their picture represented, — and that it is a good rambler or climbing rose, is evidenced by the three-year old plant given in our illustration. It is proving one of the most popular of the new introductions of late years. 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 103 Beech Tree Borers. — During recent sea- sons correspondents have called attention to the different dates of leafage on the branches of the same beech tree. It is a curious sight to note perhaps half the branches in full leaf, the others remaining dormant for many days afterwards. This season, the writer discovered that this was owing to the existence of a borer in the tardy branches. The branches, in many cases, are as hollow as a bamboo. It is well known, to experienced gardeners, that the most highly vitalized branches are the earliest to leaf In all trees, some individuals leaf earlier by several days than others. Under equally unfavorable conditions, as, for in- stance, transplanting, the earlier leaved are the last to succumb. These beech borers are of considerable size, and do not seem to be in great numbers on any one tree, — and j^et the tree will die in time from their attacks. It ought not to be difficult to destroy them by thrusting a wire into their holes. It does seem that not only to the weeds are we under obligations to get our living by the sweat of our brows. Insects and minute fun- guses may claim a portion of battle in their interest. It will soon be found as essential to good gardening to keep a force of men at in- sect-killing and fungus-destroying, as in a force to hoe weeds. The China Tree. — In speaking of the Cam- phor tree as a street tree in New Orleans, it reminds me of a street tree I saw in Vicksburg, while we were ' ' holding the fort, ' ' called the ** China tree." It was beautiful while in bloom, but round-headed, and not very grace- ful as a street tree. I never saw it growing elsewhere. Does the Editor of the Monthly know anything about its historj', etc. ? Obcrliu.Ohio. G. N. CaRRUTHERS. The so-called • ' China tree ' ' is indigenous to the Himalayan Mountains, and extends in Asia to Cochin-China. It is, botanically, Melia Azedarach, the genus being the type of the order Meliacecp, of which we have no repre- vSentative. It is often cultivated in the South- ern States, and has become wild in many instances. As our correspondent suggests, it is a coarse, ungainly tree, when leafless ; but its sweet lilac-colored flowers are a fair com- pensation. It must have been exceptionally cold in New Orleans to kill the Camphor tree, —or there may have been depressing condi- tions in connection with the frost, as it is surely capable of enduring 10° or 12° of cold without injury. Fruit of the Oleander. — In my note on the fruit of the Oleander, page 68, I said that the weight of fifty seeds was 22 gra7ns — not grains, as you have it. Please make the cor- rection. I may further add that some of the seeds were planted and the percentage of ger- minations was good. E. E- BoGUE. Stillwater, Okla. EuLALiA Grass for Indoor Decorations. — If promptly placed in water after being cut, the leaves and plumes of the Eulalia Jap07iica make a fine decorative effect. Take an entire clump or equal bulk of single stems, which place in a good, large umbrella stand filled with water. In the case of the plumes, to keep them from ' ' falling, ' ' they must be cut before they are thoroughly ripened, when they will last for years in a vase without water. For some reason — possibly because their height usually makes them more exposed to the winds — Eulalia Japonica (plain, green-leaved) and E. var. zebrifia fall very quickly, and must be cut earlier than the others. Dwarfing Trees. — Inquiries are often made as to how the Japanese dwarf trees. One of these people tells the Gardeners' Chronicle that they simply pinch out the new growth as fast as it appears, by the use of finger and thumb only. They re-pot once in two or three years, cutting out all the weak roots, but carefully saving the strong ones, carefully well-draining before returning the plant to the same pot. They manure with oil -cake, bone meal, or some such concentrated material, twice a month, except in the two hottest months of the year. Weeds and Ornamental Plants.— That what may be a valued ornamental plant in one part, may be regarded as a pernicious weed in another, is well exemplified in our pretty garden Lantana, Lafitana Camara. Few orna- mental plants are more highly prized in north- ern gardens. But in his recent ' ' Flora of the Sandwich Islands," Mr. A. A. Heller has this to say of it : " This species has become the ^ I02 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — GENERAL GARDENING. [July illiteracy ; but when he looked in our great industrial works he found the graduates em- ployed on book-keeping, and the higher places filled by foreigners. The greatest objection made to manual training is that it takes from the time of literary studies ; but from my ob- servation I believe one hour with the pupils at work or play, when they use their own lan- guage, is worth more for the improvement than the whole day with memorizing and re- citing the language of the text books on Eng- lish grammar, or the bad pronunciation of the names of continental Europe, Asia and Africa, in the geographies. In France, gardening is practically taught in twenty-eight thousand primary and elementary schools, each of which has a garden attached to it. In Sweden, in 1 871, twenty-two thous- and children received instruction in horticul- ture, and each of two thousand and sixteen schools had for cultivation from one to twelve acres. In Russia, many children are taught tree, vine, grain, garden, silk worm and bee culture. In ancient Greece, a law required the son to support the aged father ; but if the father had neglected to teach the son an occupation, the son was exempt from the obligation. Ivvery primary, as well as all higher institutions of learning, should have a garden. Camden, N. J RODOLFUS BiNGAM. CRIMSON RAMBLER ROSE Rose, Crimson*Rambler.— A photograph of a com])aratively young specimen of the Crim- son Rambler rose, growing by the porch of the residence of Mr. John G. Bullock, of German- town, Philadelphia, leads to the re- mark that we ma3' always look for the greatest line of improvement by the introduction of wholly new species from their native wilds. When once improved, nature holds the lines more tightly, and but little more improvement can be made on that which has been al- ready improved. Here we have a grand improvement on the wild Rosa vudtiflora, of Japan, which has been known to botanists ever since the time of the great botanist Thunberg, — but as Rosa polyaiitha, it has but recently' been introduced into gardens. The numerous white flowers of the latter, and subse- quent crimson fruit, is attractive. But when the colored plate of the improvement, in the form of "Crimson Rambler," was first widely distributed by Ellwanger & Barry, it was only the high stand- ing for accuracy which this great firm enjoys that secured full credit for it. It has the beautiful red flowers in large clusters, as their picture represented, — and that it is a good rambler or climbing rose, is evidenced by the three-year old plant given in our illustration. It is proving one of the most popular of the new introductions of late years. \} It I <» 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 103 Beech Tree Borers. — During recent sea- sons correspondents have called attention to the different dates of leafage on the branches of the same beech tree. It is a curious sight to note perhaps half the branches in full leaf, the others remaining dormant for many days afterwards. This season, the writer discovered that this was owing to the existence of a borer in the tardy branches. The branches, in many cases, are as hollow as a bamboo. It is well known, to experienced gardeners, that the most highly vitalized branches are the earliest to leaf In all trees, some individuals leaf earlier by several days than others. Under equalh' unfavorable conditions, as, for in- stance, transplanting, the earlier leaved are the last to succumb. These beech borers are of considerable size, and do not seem to be in great numbers on any one tree, — and yet the tree will die in time from their attacks. It ought not to be difiicult to destroy them by thrusting a wire into their holes. It does seem that not only to the weeds are we under obligations to get our living hy the sweat of our brows. Insects and minute fun- guses may claim a portion of battle in their interest. It will soon be found as essential to good gardening to keep a force of men at in- sect-killing and fungus-destroj'ing, as in a force to hoe weeds. The China Tree. — In speaking of the Cam- phor tree as a street tree in New Orleans, it reminds me of a street tree I saw in Vicksburg, while we were "holding the fort," called the "China tree." It was beautiful while in bloom, Ijut round-headed, and not very grace- ful as a street tree. I never saw it growing elsewhere. Does the Editor of the Monthly know anything about its histor}', etc. .^ Obeiliu.Ohio. G. N. CaRRUTHERS. The so-called "China tree" is indigenous to the Himalayan Mountains, and extends in Asia to Cochin-China. It is, botanically, Melia Azedarach, the genus being the type of the order MeliacccF, of which we have no repre- sentative. It is often cultivated in the South- ern vStates, and has become wild in many instances. As our correspondent suggests, it is a coarse, ungainly tree, when leafless ; but its sweet lilac-colored flowers are a fair com- pensation. It must have been exceptionall}^ cold in New Orleans to kill the Camphor tree, —or there mav have been depressing condi- tions in connection with the frost, as it is surely capable of enduring 10° or 12° of cold without injury. Fruit of the Oleander.— In my note on the fruit of the Oleander, page 68, I said that the weight of fifty seeds was 22 ^r^;//5— not grains, as you have it. Please make the cor- rection. I may further add that some of the seeds were planted and the percentage of ger- minations was good. E. E. BoGUE. Stillwater, Okla. EuLALiA Grass for Indoor Decorations. — If promptly placed in water after being cut, the leaves and plumes of the Eidalia JapoJiica make a fine decorative effect. Take an entire clump or equal bulk of single stems, which place in a good, large umbrella stand filled with water. In the case of the plumes, to keep them from "falling," they must be cut before they are thoroughly ripened, when they will last for years in a vase without water. For some reason — possibly because their height usually makes them more exposed to the winds — Eidalia Japonica (plain, green-leaved) and E. var. zebrina fall very quickly, and must be cut earlier than the others. Dwarfing Trees. — Inquiries are often made as to how the Japanese dwarf trees. One of these people tells the GardeJiers' Chronicle that they simply pinch out the new growth as fast as it appears, by the use of finger and thumb only. They re-pot once in two or three years, cutting out all the weak roots, but carefully saving the strong ones, carefully well-draining before returning the plant to the same pot. They manure with oil-cake, bone meal, or some such concentrated material, twice a month, except in the two hottest months of the year. Weeds and Ornamental Plants.— That what ma}^ be a valued ornamental plant in one part, may be regarded as a pernicious weed in another, is well exemplified in our pretty garden Lantana, Lantana Camara. P'ew orna- mental plants are more highly prized in north- ern gardens. But in his recent ' * Flora of the Sandwich Islands," Mr. A. A. Heller has this to say of it : " This species has become the ■t \ INTENnONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 104 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y— GENERAI. GARDENING. [July most noxious plant in the Islands. Intro- duced in 1858, it is now abundant, and has ruined hundred«5 of acres of valuable pasture land. It forms impenetrable thickets on the slopes and in gulches of the lowlands, and has even invaded the lower forests. Here it grows in thick clumps, the stems often becoming weak and vine-like, and intertwining in a very intricate manner. The flowers vary in color, some being almost white, others purplish, and some are orange." In our own country it has already invaded Florida ; but as it is not frost- proof, it will have to draw a line there to its desire for acquiring additional territory. to the mountains of Georgia. It is particu- larly useful for planting in partly-shaded places. Hardy Fuchsias.— The following letter, re- ceived by the Senior Conductor, will doubtless prove interesting to our readers : — "I read an interesting account in reference to you, in a recent issue of the Philadelphia Record, to which, jUo doubt, your friends have drawn your attention. If they have not, it is to the effect that a person (a lady, I believe) at a meeting of the Psychological Circle, stated that she liked you, although she has not had PAVIA MACR08TACHYA. Pavia macrostachya. — Under the common name of Dwarf Horse Chestnut, the beautiful shrub, here illustrated, has long been know^ in leading nurseries. It belongs, however, to the genus Pavia, the buckeye section, rather than to the y^sculus or Horse Chestnut class. The latter has broad, spreading petals and prickly fruit ; while the buckeyes have irregu- lar, stalked, erect petals, and smooth fruit. The large spikes of pinkish- white flowers, densely vSet on the rachis, in contrast with the somewhat drooping leaves, always attract ad- miration. It is a magnificent shrub, blooming in June, and thoroughly hardy, though native the pleasure of seeing you. She claims a bond of sympathy between you and herself, on ac- count of similar experiences you both have had, which is to the effect that you ' had cer- tain pet flowers, and your pet flowers always died in spite of every care and attention.' It would be interesting to know what are your pet flowers that always die. If such is really a fact, which I am inclined to doubt, the same reasons for death in your pets are not the same as are those of this member of the Psychologi- cal Circle. "A personal experience of my own, I think, will interest you. I was always fond of the <» 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — GENERAL GARDENING. 105 Fuchsia, and, twenty-five years or so ago, I took great interest in them, as they responded gratefully to generous and intelligent treat- ment, more so, I at that time thought, than any other plant. Two years ago I took a no- tion to renew my acquaintance with them, and secured a few varieties. After the experiment was over, and not having room in the green- houses for them, and not caring to throw them away, I planted them outdoors last September, along the northeast side of my residence. Forest leaves were plentifully used as a mulch, and now, although the tops of the plants are dead, quite a number of them are throwing healthy and hearty shoots from the base. Mr. Wm. K. Harris related to me that he had made a similar ^experiment with the same results. It is not generally known, I think, that Fuchsias may, with a little care in the fall, be made to live all winter. This may or may not be of some practical value, but in any case, I knew you would be interested, and that is my reason for writing to you on the subject." Wyndmoor, Mont. Co., Pa. EdvVIM LONSDALE. The lady's psychology has evidently gone astray. The T. M. who wrote in Lalla Rhook — '♦ 'Twas ever thus from childhood's hour I've seen my fondest hopes decay, — I never loved a tree or flower But 'twas the first to fade away " — is evidently her ••affinity," — and not the T. M. of the present time. His flowers rarely fade away when he cares to preserve them. The experience with the Fuchsia is valu- able. In the case of many things it is not so much the bursting of the tissues by expansion through frost, as it is the drying out of the sap by cold wind and bright light. If evaporation is guarded against, no injury results. Hence, figs, raspberries, roses, crape myrtles, and other plants, are bent to the ground and buried under the earth in the fall, the thermometer above them may fall far below zero without injury. It is possible to have a Fuchsia live out many seasons, and get many feet high, by being bent over and covered by earth. Thinning Ornamental Trees. — One of the difficulties landscape gardeners experience in laying out grounds for their patrons is in the planting arrangements. They have in mind the picture of the future when the trees and shrubs have grown. But the owner desires to enjoy the living present, and the grand results in the artist's brain have to be, in a measure, realized in some respects at once, or there is not full satisfaction. To effect this, trees and shrubs have to be planted thickly,— the artist explaining that the common things must be cut away from time to time as the trees grow. But this thinning rarely occurs. In a few years there is a mass of vegetation, pretty as a mass, but w4th the natural beauty of the in- dividual tree wholly lost. In our public parks and pleasure grounds, particularly, is the want of judicious thinning painfully evident, as a rule. The great public has been taught that to cut away a tree is a mortal sin never to be forgiven, and there are few managers courageous enough to brave this exaggerated condition of public opinion. It is the same with our street and boulevard trees. They have to be set closely to meet the demand for speedy shade. They soon meet, and unable to spread horizontally, struggle upwardly, until the • • tree-butcher ' ' becomes a public blessing in beheading them with hatchet and saw. In almost all newly-planted places, an intel- ligent landscape gardener should be called in to advise with after a period of about ten years, — and a second inspection should be ar- ranged for after another similar period. The ♦•joy for ever" that we read so much about would be an actuality whenever the beautiful trees and shrubs were looked upon. The Red Spider. — One of the greatest scourges in American gardens is the Red Spider. It is especially injurious to coniferous evergreens, especially arbor-vitses and spruces. The insect is so small that it is not noticed till the injury has far advanced. It can, however, be early detected by a change in the green tints to a more livid hue on some of the leaves. The iusect is, however, easily destroyed by kero- sene emulsions, by the use of a sprayer, an implement that is now as essential in garden- ing as a spade or a rake. Colored Leaves for Fall.— "We desire something for a mass of particularly brilliant fall foliage for a prominent place in a public garden. Either a strong-growing herbaceous plant or shrub would do. What would you advise?" Try a mass of poke-berry — Phyto- lacca decandra. :% w- ■ 104 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAI. GARDENING. [July most noxious plant in the Islands. Intro- duced in 1858, it is now abundant, and has ruined hundreds of acres of valuable pasture land. It forms impenetrable thickets on the slopes and in gulches of the lowlands, and has even invaded the lower forests. Here it grows in thick clumps, the stems often becoming weak and vine-like, and intertwining in a very intricate manner. The flowers vary in color, some being almost white, others purplish, and some are orange." In our own countr}^ it has already invaded Florida ; but as it is not frost- proof, it will have to draw a line there to its desire for acquiring additional territory. to the mountains of (Georgia. It is particu- larly useful for planting in partly-shaded places. Hardy Fuchsias.— The following letter, re- ceived by the Senior Conductor, will doubtless prove interesting to our readers : — ''I read an interesting account in reference to you, in a recent issue of the Philadelphia Record, to which, no doubt, your friends have drawn your attention. If they have not, it is to the effect that a person (a lady, I believe) at a meeting of the Psychological Circle, stated that she liked you, although she has not had PAVIA MACROSTACHYA Pavia MACROSTACHYA. — Under the common name of Dwarf Horse Chestnut, the beautiful shrub, here illustrated, has long been known in leading nurseries. It belongs, however, to the genus Pavia, the buckeye section, rather than to the yEsculus or Horse Chestnut class. The latter has broad, spreading petals and prickl}^ fruit ; while the buckeyes have irregu- lar, stalked, erect petals, and smooth fruit. The large spikes of pinkish-white flowers, densely set on the rachis, in contrast with the somewhat drooping leaves, always attract ad- miration. It is a magnificent shrub, blooming in June, and thoroughly hardy, though native the pleasure of seeing you. She claims a bond of sympathy between you and herself, on ac- count of similar experiences you both have had, which is to the effect that you ' had cer- tain pet flowers, and your pet flowers always died in spite of every care and attention.' It would be interesting to know what are your pet flowers that always die. If such is really a fact, which I am inclined to doubt, the same reasons for death in your pets are not the same as are those of this member of the Psychologi- cal Circle. "A personal experience of my own, I think, will interest you. I was always fond of the 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 105 « ' f Fuchsia, and, twenty-five years or so ago, I took great interest in them, as they responded gratefully to generous and intelligent treat- ment, more so, I at that time thought, than any other plant. Two years ago I took a no- tion to renew my acquaintance with them, and secured a few varieties. After the experiment was over, and not having room in the green- hoUvSes for them, and not caring to throw them awa}', I planted them outdoors last September, along the northeast side of my residence. Forest leaves were plentifully used as a mulch, and now, although the tops of the plants are dead, (piite a number of them are throwing healthy and hearty shoots from the base. Mr. \Vm. K. Harris related to me that he had made a similar -experiment with the vSame results. It is not generally known. I think, that Inichsias may, with a little care in the fall, be made to live all winter. This may or may not be of some practical value, but in any case, I knew you would be interested, and that is my reason for writing to you on the subject." Wyndinoor, Mont. Co., Pa. PjnVIV LONSDALE. The lady's psychology has evidenth' gone a.stra}'. The T. M. who wrote in Lalla Rhook — " 'Twas ever thus from childhood's hour I've vSeen my fondest hopes deca}-, — I never loved a tree or flower Put 'twas the first to fade away " — is evidently her " affinity," — and not the T. M. of the present time. His flowers rarely fade away when he cares to preserve them. The experience with the I'uchsia is valu- able. In the case of many things it is not so much the bursting of the tissues by expansion through frost, as it is the drying out of the sap by cold wind and bright light. If evaporation is guarded against, no injury results. Hence, figs, raspberries, roses, crape myrtles, and other plants, are bent to the ground and buried under the earth in the fall, the thermometer above them may fall far below zero without injury. It is possible to have a Fuchsia live out many seasons, and get many feet high, by being bent over r,nd covered by earth. Thinning Ornamicntal Trices. — One of the difficulties landscape gardeners experience in laying out grounds for their patrons is in the ])lanting arrangements. They have in mind the picture of the future when the trees and shrubs have grown. But the owner desires to enjoy the living present, and the grand results in the artist's brain have to be, in a measure, realized in some respects at once, or there is not full satisfaction. To effect this, trees and shrubs have to be planted thickly,— the artist explaining that the common things must be cut away from time to time as the trees grow. Rut this thinning rarely occurs. In a few years there is a mass of vegetation, pretty as a mass, but with the natural beauty of the in- dividual tree wholly lost. In our public parks and pleasure grounds, particularly, is the want of judicious thinning ])ainfully evident, as a rule. The great public has been taught that to cut away a tree is a mortal sin never to be forgiven, and there are few managers courageous enough to brave this exaggerated condition of public opinion. It is the same with our street and boulevard trees. They have to be set closely to meet the demand for speedy shade. They soon meet, and unable to spread horizontally, struggle upwardly, until the "tree-butcher" becomes a public blessing in beheading them with hatchet and saw. In almost all newly-planted places, an intel- ligent landscape gardener should be called in to advise with after a period of about ten years, — and a second inspection should be ar- ranged for after another similar period. The "joy for ever" that we read so much about would be an actuality whenever the beautiful trees and shrubs were looked upon. The Red Spider. — One of the greatest scourges in American gardens is the Red Spider. It is especially injurious to coniferous evergreens, especially arbor-vitres and spruces. The insect is so small that it is not noticed till the injury has far advanced. It can, however, be early detected by a change in the green tints to a more livid hue on some of the leaves. The insect is, however, easily destroyed by kero- sene emulsions, by the use of a sprayer, an implement that is now as essential in garden- ing as a spade or a rake. Colored Leaves for P\\ll. — "We desire something for a mass of particularly brilliant fall foliage for a prominent place in a public garden, luther a strong-growing herbaceous plant or shrub would do. What would you advise?" Try a mass of poke-berry — Phyto- lacca dccandra. XiiUf;. , '■■4I>X: intentional second exposure io6 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [July INIEW ©1 i/^llE FL/^MTS, The Babylonian Willow, — Thurlow's Weeping. — As now is generally known, the not endure the winter climate. All kinds of plants are liable to sport,— not only in the color of the flowers, and character of the leaves, but in habit and hardiness. Mr. T. C. (» BABYLONIAN Wl LLOW--TH U RLO«M'S WEEPING. so-called willow of Babylon is a Chinese plant, and, like most Chinese plants, is not haidy under verv severe conditions. In Massachu- setts and other localities in the North, it does Thurlow, of West Newbury, Mass., was for- tunate enough to find a sport among his stock of Babylonian willows, with a more erect habit than usual, and which proved of extra hardi- 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 107 ness. A photograph of the original tree is here reproduced. It was taken in 1895, and is said to be a model of beauty now. In the re- port of the Nebraska State Horticultural So- ciety for 1893, is the following account reported by one who had cuttings a few years before for the Experiment Station at Franklin, Neb. : — "While visiting my friend T. C. Thurlow, of West Newbury, Mass., I was much im- pressed with a graceful and beautiful weeping willow, and I asked him what it was ... It was one of the most stately and beautiful weepers that I ever saw. The question arose whether it would be hardy at the West. I se- cured some cuttings. The first \vinter they killed back a little, as most young trees will. Thej^ went through the next winter without the loss of a bud. One feature surprised me, and that was the rapidity of growth. * ' I have some eight or ten varieties of Pop- lar—supposed to be the thriftiest of trees, but this willow beat them all. I have had them make six and seven feet the first year. There is one striking peculiarity about them ; the bodies and twigs are of the deepest and richest green in winter, making a cheerful contrast with the dull gray of other trees. The general habit of the tree is something like the Cut- leaved Weeping Birch, though of a more thrifty growth, and of a more decided drooping habit. Some noted horticulturists visited the tree, but could not name it, and so we deemed that it must be a sport and we called it the Thurlow Weeper." Syringa OBLATA. — This new lilac, 5^^'^.^^ oblata, is a native of China, but has but re- cently been introduced into American nur- series. Its blossoms, and indeed its whole ap- pearance, including its fragrance, remind one of the common Siberian lilac of our old gar- dens. It is earlier in flower. Near Philadel- phia, the children always look forward to lilacs for May-day. They were disappointed this year. At this writing. May 4th, they are not open. Syringa oblata, or Chinese lilac, has been open for a week. TBIE Mi^l^I^T f LOWER '^/^RSilEN. Natural Bouquets. — There are some hardy flowers produced in large panicles, making in themselves a well-formed bouquet, one of the finest of which is the Helenium. The huge bunch of flowers produced on a single stem will occupy most ordinary size vases and make a handsome display. These stems may vary from 4 to 6 feet in length, and are very stifl", capable of bearing the head of flowers per- fectly. Their use for decorations is apparent. The flowers are long-lasting. Aster Tataricus also makes very large panicles on stout stems ; Aster NovcE-A7igticp is likewise useful, and the color perhaps better for that purpose. Some varieties of the tall perennial Phlox produce pretty large panicles. Among trees and shrubs there are few with extremely large panicles suitable for decorations. The Japanese Hy- drangea is perhaps the best of all, and to secure large heads there must be strong, vig- orous growth, encouraged by close pruning in the winter. Spotted Archangel. — In the old-fashioned gardens one of the most welcome of spring flowers was the Lamium maculatum, or the Spotted Archangel, as the old folks termed it. The leaves have a white spot down the centre of the leaf, w^hich gives it both the scientific name maculate and the common. It remains continuously in bloom from the first awaken- ing of the flowers till past midsummer, though the later flow^ers on the spike are not so attrac- tive as the earlier ones. It grows well in the herbaceous border, either in sun or shade, though rather preferring the latter in our country. Desmodium penduliflorum.— There seems to be some difference of opinion as to whether or not this plant and Lespedeza bicolor are one and the same, and for the benefit of many of your readers, I will give my experi- ence in regard to them. Three years ago, a plant oi Lespedeza bicolor was purchased, and on its blooming we found that one of our old friends of the garden had appeared under a new name as Desmodium penduliflorum. The plant in our collection was exactly similar in the minutest detail. The plant has been on this place for fifteen years, at least. I do not see the white variety offered, although we have both, and think the white very beautiful. It increases very rapidly, indeed, and is a very nice companion to the purple variety. It is hardy without any protection here, and, I have 11 |h ioamBSBSSi 1 06 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [July \EW ©1 R^RW, fLi^nrs. The Bahylonlan Willow, — Thur low's WEEPiNCi. — As now is generally known, the not endure the winter climate. All kinds of plants are liable to sport,— not only in the color of the flowers, and character of the leaves, but in habit and hardiness. Mr. T. C. ;.<1s<»T!W--»»iWm'/«S'-«r*a»«*" ■^Jl-? i^ Y JMft V •M/^ .^', ' > **■ '^::sx. •V^AV • »'. I Vi*. ' >t*;v r^M- fs*^'^ (» .-ifrS/!' BABYLONIAN Wl LLOW--TH U RLO W S WEEPING. so-called willow of Babylon is a Chinese plant, and, like most Chinese plants, is not haidy under very severe conditions. In Massachu- setts and other localities in the North, it does Thurlow, of West Newbury, Mass., was for- tunate enough to find a sport among his stock of Babylonian willows, with a more erect habit than usual, and which proved of extra hardi- 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 107 ness. A photograph of the original tree is here reproduced. It was taken in 1895, and is said to be a model of beauty now. In the re- port of the Nebraska State Horticultural So- ciety for 1893, is the following account reported by one who had cuttings a few 3'ears before for the Experiment Station at Franklin, Neb. : — "While visiting my friend T. C. Thurlow, of West Newbury, Mass., I was much im- pressed with a graceful and beautiful weeping willow, and I asked him what it was ... It was one of the most stately and beautiful weepers that I ever saw. The question arose whether it would be hardy at the West. I se- cured some cuttings. The first winter they killed back a little, as most young trees will. They went through the next winter without the loss of a bud. One feature surprised me, and that was the rapidity of growth. •' I have some eight or ten varieties of Pop- lar—supposed to be the thriftiest of trees, but this willow beat them all. I have had them make six and seven feet the first year. There is one striking peculiarit}' about them ; the bodies and twigs are of the deepest and richest green in winter, making a cheerful contrast with the dull gray of other trees. The general habit of the tree is something like the Cut- leaved Weeping Birch, though of a more thrifty growth, and of a more decided drooping habit. Some noted horticulturists visited the tree, but could not name it, and so we deemed that it must be a sport and we called it the Thurlow Weeper. ' ' Syringa ohlata. — This new lilac, Syrifiga oblata, is a native of China, but has but re- cently been introduced into American nur- series. Its blossoms, and indeed its whole ap- pearance, including its fragrance, remind one of the common Siberian lilac of our old gar- dens. It is earlier in flower. Near Philadel- phia, the children always look forward to lilacs for May-day. They were disappointed this year. At this writing. May 4th, the}- are not open. Syringa oblata, or Chinese lilac, has been open for a week. TffilE ttli^I^I^T FLOWER ^/^H^EI^, N.VTURAL Bouc^uETS. — There are souie hardy flowers produced in large panicles, making in themselves a well-formed bouquet, one of the finest of which is the Heleniuyn. The huge bunch of flowers produced on a single stem will occup}^ most ordinar}- size vases and make a handsome display. These stems may vary from 4 to 6 feet in length, and are very stifl", capable of bearing the head of flowers per- fectly. Their use for decorations is apparent. The flowers are long-lasting. Aster Tatariais also makes very large panicles on stout stems ; Aster Novcr-Aiiglice is likewise useful, and the color perhaps better for that purpose. Some varieties of the tall perennial Phlox produce prett}' large panicles. Among trees and shrubs there are few with extremely large panicles suitable for decorations. The Japanese Hy- drangea is perhaps the best of all, and to secure large heads there must be strong, vig- orous growth, encouraged by close pruning in the winter. Spotted Archangel. — In the old-fashioned gardens one of the most welcome of spring flowers was the Lamiiim viacidattun, or the Spotted Archangel, as the old folks termed it. The leaves have a white spot down the centre of the leaf, which gives it both the scientific name maculate and the common. It remains continuously in bloom from the first awaken- ing of the flowers till past midsummer, though the later flowers on the spike are not so attrac- tive as the earlier ones. It grows well in the herbaceous border, either in sun or shade, though rather preferring the latter in our country. Desmodium penduliflorum.— There seems to be some difference of opinion as to whether or not this plant and Lespedeza bicolor are one and the same, and for the benefit of many of your readers, I will give my experi- ence in regard to them. Three years ago, a plant oi Lespedeza bicolor was purchased, and on its blooming we found that one of our old friends of the garden had appeared under a new name as Desmodium pendiiliflornm. The plant in our collection was exactly similar in the minutest detail. The plant has been on this place for fifteen j^ears, at least. I do not see the white variety offered, although we have both, and think the white very beautiful. It increases very rapidl3% indeed, and is a very nice companion to the purple variety. It is hardy without any protection here, and, I have «< tentional second exposure io8 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [July no doubt, further north than this, provided it be given a light, well-drained soil. Planted in an open space and supported by rings of wire, it makes an elegant subject. It is cut to the ground every year by frost, as most perennials are, and is a little late starting to grow. To- day (May 24th) it is two feet high, and has twenty growths, which mean a thing of beauty in the early fall. All who possess the purple variety should, if possible, procure the white. The white, especially, is beautiful for cut- flowers. This proof of ours, by trial of both plants, ought to establish the fact that Lespe- deza bicolor and Desmodium pendulifloru^n are one and the same plant. I have since noticed, in Henderson's Hand- book, that, when introduced from Japan, it was first distributed as Desmodium penduliflorum. Rahway, N, J. A. z. This was a case of mistaken identity,— and is not to be classed w4th the changes of name, now so common, in order to do honor to some obscure botanist. The plant is a true Lespe- deza, and not a Desmodiinn, as the German botanists thought, who first got hold of it. It has been so widely distributed by nurserymen under the erroneous name that it has been found difficult to make the correction. TR'yilTS ^B ¥E^ETi^PLES. Profits from Strawberries.— It is said that a person with a small garden at Manhat- tan, Kansas, set out 1,025 strawberry plants, and sold the products, keeping an account of receipts and expenditures. These plants occu- pied one-sixth of an acre. On this it is official- ly announced that in Kansas, strawberry grow- ing will net the cultivator $796 an acre clear of everything. One might readily show, by taking a square yard instead of a larger tract, that very much more than that could be obtained " per acre," yet it is safe to say that no one ever has, or ever will realize a clear profit of $796 per acre from strawberries. A Ladder for Fruit-Picking.— Anyone who has done much picking of fruit from large trees, using an ordinary ladder, knows how in- convenient a thing it is to handle in moving it around to various portions of the tree. The long top round makes a breadth which, with the two projecting points— the ends of the side strips— makes an awkward thing to thrust in amongst the branches. The best style of lad- der is that which brings the top up into a decided point, which is easily placed anywhere amongst the branches, and quickly. But if in- stead of a finished point it simply runs to a short round,— say four inches long, — it will not be very awkward to handle, and will enable its being placed more securely against limbs running more or less perpendicular. Cranberry Growing.— Cranberry growing, in Nova Scotia, is said to be profitable when free from insect attacks ; but these, of late, have been so numerous and troublesome, that the profits of cranberry culture there are said to be precarious. Asparagus.— Among the simple facts of gardening, the most widely know is the one that healthy leaves are essential to the growth of plants. If a plant be deprived of its leaves as they push out during a whole growing season, that plant will surely die. This ques- tion often comes in when the proper manage- ment of an asparagus bed is considered. If w^e cut every sprout as fast as it appeared to the end of the year, there would be little growth the season following. The rule is to cut everything as it appears up to about mid- summer, or up to what one might term the end of the asparagus season, and then let the sprouts that follow go on and make foliage for the strengthening of the plant. Much, how- ever, will depend on the strength of the plants themselves. The younger and weaker the plants, the longer should be the later season in which they are to be allowed to enjoy the benefits of strengthening foliage. Scraping the Old Bark of Fruit Trees. — Trees have no more use for old bark than for old leaves. In every healthy tree, nature pro- vides means for getting rid of it, but these are not always as active as they should be. and art has to help where nature fails. Hide- bound trees, and scaly-barked trees, must be assisted by washes, and by scraping where the old bark is scaly and does not pass freely away. This is the plan for temporal y relief But a per- manent care is by liberal manuring. A tree in prime vigor will take care of its owm use- less bark. (I 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 109 Sweet Celery.— Mr. N. J. Johnson tells the South Minnesota Horticultural Society, that it is not so much the bleaching process that takes the bitterness out of celery, of which so many complain. What the celery plant re- quires, to have it nutty and crisp, is a rapid growth in autumn. To secure this, the plant must have an abundance of manure and plenty of moisture. With this, he has good crops from double rows, with the plants six inches apart, and side-boards instead of earth for blanching. To Get Rid of Tent Caterpillars. — Prof. Greene, of the Experiment Station, Minnesota, says : — " The Tent Caterpillar has occasionally been somewhat injurious in our orchards, but a little attention has prevented our having any serious trouble from this cause. Our best remed}' has been the destroying of the egg clusters, which may be easily seen in the branches in winter and early spring, and in gathering the worms in their tents as soon as they hatch out. It should be generally under- stood by our people that a dozen apple trees well planted and cared for will produce more fruit and be far more satisfactory than a large number of trees set out in the ordinary, neg- lectful way." Fruit-Packing from Several Standpoints. — Wha': makes it necessary that almost every house-keeper, in buying packages of fruit, should find it necessary to have a package tilted up for view of the contents towards its centre ? Simply to see that it corresponds with those on top, — an indication that the fruit-packer is inclined to deceptive methods. That a large majority of fruit packages are " topped" with specimens superior to what will be found further on, wall be generally acknowledged. It is not always the fault of the fruit-grower ; it may be done by the commission-man, the store-keeper or the huckster. Is it not deplor- able that honesty and fair-dealing cannot be extended to the handling of fruit as it is in other lines of trade ? Or is it that some do not consider it dishonest or unfair to display what is practically a sample of fruit and then deliver something more or less inferior ? Judg- ing by the remark of a commission merchant made before the » State Horticultural Associa- tion, where he advised fruit-growers to "top" their packages, evidently the gage of morality differs among people. In quite another tone, another speaker at the same gathering advo- cated the desirability of putting up fruit in the most attractive manner, but absolutely uniform as to quality and grade. It is that which makes Californian fruit saleable in Eastern markets, and by no means its quality. This careful method of handling is of no use unless the consignments from a grower be individual- ized by a seal or brand, through which the consumer may learn that fruit from that grower is to be relied upon. There would be waste in sorting out inferior fruit, — though, kept sepa- rate, some disposition could be made of it with a smaller monetary return ; while the higher graded fruit should bring more money. It is with the same idea of raising the standard of his fruit, and increasing its value, that the in- telligent grower of peaches and plums finds it advantageous to thin out the fruit on an over- loaded tree, rather than use props and get more but inferior fruit. Where a certain grow- er's fruit can be recognized and can be depend- ed on to be first-class throughout, or at least uniform from the top of the package to the bottom, the consumer should show his appre- ciation of a desire to give good service, by bestowing his patronage on that person. Improved Cuban Queen Watermelon. — The old Cuban Queen Watermelon has long been recognized as the leading shipping and com- mercial melon of the country. I have a sport of this melon that far supercedes the old Cuban Queen. The new melon is the w^onder and admiration of all who see it, as it is a third larger than the old variety ; and for sweetness and delicious flavor it stands unrivalled. In fact, melon growers of varied experience pro- nounce it the greatest watermelon ever grown. Single vines perfect from six to eight melons, averaging in weight from 75 to 120 pounds. The seeds of this melon are brown. The flesh is the most vivid crimson red, melting and sugary. These melons are the greatest shippers known, also marvelous keepers. The vines are rampant, vigorous growers, and very healthy. This is the melon for the millions, as it succeeds on all soils. I have tried all melons as fast as they origin- ated, and were disseminated ; but none equals this new melon. S. L. Watkins. I BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. THE INSPIRATION OF NATURE. " I drank sweet draughts from the perennial springs Where, by the sylvan Neckar's castled hills, The Muses with their melodies preside Over immortal fountains, — and entranced I floated down the ways of storied streams, — Mused 'mid the ruins of a bj^gone age." Howard Worcester GiIvBErt. The Concord Grape ; Memorial to its Originator. — In one of the early numbers of Meehans' Monthly, Dr. Lamborn suggested that the nation owed a debt of gratitude to the raiser of the Concord grape, and he was ready to aid if some one near-by would undertake it. Subsequently to this, in 1893, as we learn from the Country Gentlemayi, Mrs. Daniel Lothrop, a neighbor, bought the little homestead and the i2-acre plot surrounding, on which the grape from the wild seed was raised, for the purpose of keeping it for ever as a memorial. Mr. Ephraim W. Bull died there on the 26th of March, 1895. Mrs. Lothrop has now put the place in thorough repair, along all its original lines. In one of the rooms is a tablet with Mr. Bull's own account of the origin of the grape, and everything is done to preserve the house and the old grape-vine. Pleased as all will be that the memorial to the greatest event that has occurred in the history of American grape culture, has at length been secured, — one must not forget to honor the lady, Mrs. Lothrop, for the happy manner in which she has accomplished what was so widely desired. Plant Mythology. — The Greeks and Romans of ancient times are not the only people who have curious, mythological stories about the origin of flowers. Scandinavian literature abounds with these pretty tales. Even our Indians had their say, in like man- ner, about these things. Among some of the Canadian aborigines, pines and cedars origin- ated from strong men who were planted by their feet in the ground, and branches grew (no) out from their bodies, in response to wishes to live forever. It is singular that similar stories about the origin of evergreens have prevailed among ancient ^lan in many isolated points. The "tree of life" in Babylonian history was undoubtedly the Cedar of Lebanon,— and the Deodar Cedar, a close relation of the Lebanon Cedar, is the ''tree of life " of the ancient Hindoos. The Pinxter Flower.-— In the June Monthly, in connection with the Swamp Azalea, Azalea viscosa, you speak of it as the "Pinxter bloom" of the Hollanders about New York, on authority of Governor Colden, and that Britton and Brown are wrong in giving the name to the Azalea nudiflora. As a Hollander by descent, and knowing from my ancestors for a century back, I wish to say — I St. I have never known or heard oi Azalea viscosa being called " Pinxter bloom." 2d. I have always heard the name applied by the Dutch descendants to Azalea ymdiflora. 3d. The name it is called by now is gener- ally *♦ Pinxter blossom" or "flower," the '•bloom" being an anglicism of the Dutch word '•blunie;" meaning flower. I wish to add, also, the following : — I St. I do not know that the Dutch ever dress the "postulants" in "long flowing, white robes," when received in baptism. My an- cestors have for centuries been in the Dutch Church, and I am a clergyman in the church, and I never heard of it. The custom of wear- ing white, at least around here, is German — never Dutch. 2d. Easter is the first Sunday after first full moon, after the spring equinox, I believe. It may vary from about March 23d to April 24th. Pentecost is fifty days after, or from about May 12th to about June 13th. 3d. After many years collecting, I can say Azalea viscosa is on Long Island rarely in bloom before June 15th. The time for Azalea nudiflora is from about May ,15th to May 30th. Two years ago it was in fair shape on Decora- k (» 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. Ill tion Day. This year it was earlier. So viscosa is never in bloom for the latest Pinxter, and nudiflora comes about the midst of the season. Brooklyn. N. Y. GEO. D. HULST. The Hardy Orange.— Nurserymen find it impossible to follow botanists in their con- tinual changing of plant-names. When a plant has been extensively known under a certain designation that has been acquiesced in by botanists, to be told that botanists have heretofore blundered and the name must, there- fore, be changed, means a commercial loss to them. If the nurseryman adopts the new name, he has to advertise all over again to let his customers know that the new name is no new thing. But even then there is no assur- ance that the corrected name will not be again corrected. A recent illustration of this refers to the hardy orange. Linnaeus first thought it a genuine member of the orange family, and described it as Citrus trifoliata. De Candolle thought Linnaeus wTong, and removed it to another genus, ^gle, and describes it as ^Egle sepiaria. Index Kewensis does not sustain this view, and it appears there under the Linnaen name with that of De Candolle as a synonym. Now comes the Gardeners' Chronicle, of April 28th, with a note by Mr. Nicholson, the curator of Kew, in which the name of ^Egle sepiaria is again revived for our former hardy * 'orange. ' ' When tw^o high authorities, both in Kew Gar- dens, disagree as to the legitimate name, what is the unfortunate nurseryman to do ? Our Native Grapes. — Bulletin No. 56, Col- lege Agricultural Station, Brazos County, Tex., is devoted to an account of the experiments on the Munson Experiment Grounds, at Denison, Tex., and is a valuable contribution to the history of American grape culture. Travels of the Weeping Willow. — The following paragraph is floating through the great sea of the public press : — " It is stated that the first willow trees in Philadelphia (which grew on the sight of the Custom House) resulted from an accidental discovery on the part of Benjamin Franklin, who found a wicker basket, which had been thrown into a damp place, sprouting. . He felt much interested, and gave some of the cut- tings to Charles Morris, who planted them on his place. The stalks took root readily and thrived, and a number of willow trees resulted." It is stories like this that throw a shadow on all history. No ' ' wicker ' ' basket was ever made of the weeping willow. The twigs can be as easily broken as glass, and are wholly unfit for wicker work. The original weeping willow came to Hamp- ton Court, England, — but not in the shape of an old willow basket found on the Thames. Fairmount Park (Philadelphia) Art As- sociation : Twenty-eighth Annual Report. — This gives an account of what has been done for the beautifying of this great pleasure ground during the past year. The chief regret, while reading is, that landscape gardening, as one of the fine arts, seems wholly ignored, — and the beautiful objects the association has secured, are often placed in the most incongru- ous situations, until the park is fast taking on the aspect of a cemetery, in which architec- tural adornment is the chief consideration. Mrs. Martha Logan's Treatise on Gar- dening.— In Prof. Bailey's History of Ameri- can Gardening, he gives credit to Mrs. Martha Logan's fine grounds near Charleston, and a good treatise by the ladj' as among the earliest contributions to American gardening. Never having seen the work, the conductors made inquiry of several subscribers to the magazine in that quarter. One writes : * * There is no record of Mrs. Logan's book ever having been in the library. General Logan says it was only a pamphlet, and though it was thought highly of at the time of its publication, he does not know of a copy to be found now." Native Trees of Rhode Island. — A separate pamphlet from the annual report for 1899, of the Rhode Island State Board of Agri- culture, has been published, giving an account with illustrations of the native trees of Rhode Island, by Levi W. Russell, of Providence. The pictures show some oaks to be far more beautiful when they can get a chance to grow isolated. The Black Jack Oak, Quercus nigra , as here exhibited, and as we have sometimes seen them, makes as handsome a plant as the famous Southern Magnolia. ■ 11 GENERAL NOTES. Origin of Greenhouses. — Mr. Wm. Wat- son, of Kew, says that the first greenhouse erected in England, was in the Apothecaries' Garden, at Chelsea, in 1684. It merely had glass sides, and was heated by a kind of oven. In 17 1 7, a glass-roofed house was built by the Duke of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle, for foreign grapes, heated by furnaces placed under the floor of the house. Steam was first used in 1788 ; and hot water, soon afterwards, was applied to a small house in the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris. Mushrooms — The False Orange. —Mr. Joannes Chatin has presented to the Academy of Medicine, in the name of Dr. Dantec, mem- ber of the Bordeaux Faculty of the Navy, a very interesting work about the false orange, Amanita mustaria. It is known that of all mushrooms that have caused the most accidents in France, 90 per cent, are imputable to this species. Mr. Le Dantec has thoroughly taken up the study, analyzed the principal factor (;;/?/5r^r/w^) by a new process, ascertaining it to be a poison for the heart, and showing, by a long series of experiments, that atropine is the best antidote for opposing it. From Lyon- Horti cole. Name of the Red Sea. — The Red Sea is so-called from its color. This color is said to be owing to the presence, in immense quanti- ties, of a microscopic water weed, named Tri- chodesmium erythrcsum. Honey. — It is a notorious fact that pure white Clover Honey, is a scarce commodity in the market. Much honey that is sold as such is a preparation of glucose. It is pronounced to be as good as honey, and in this way the seared conscience is salved over. But the con- science is not seared by the thought that as much is asked for cheap glucose as the honest man receives for the genuine article. To sell glucose for honey, at honey prices, is fraud. There are abundant laws against such frauds ; (112) but there is no provision made for executing the law. In all large communities there should be established a department especi- ally charged with the execution of laws. At present, little is done unless some citizen or organization complains. It costs a fortune for any one person to get justice in most cases. New Varieties of Grain. — A cable dis- patch to the New York Sun, notes as some- thing wonderful that, on the experimental farm of the Earl of Winchilsea, new varieties of grain have been raised by crossing. Rais- ing new varieties in this way is not a novelty. But the Earl deserves credit for doing so much in the line as he has done. It is one of the surprises that more is not done in the way of raising new fruits, vegetables and grains by crossing varieties, than by the usual easy-go- easy course of watching for accidental sports. When we remember the wonderful results achieved by Rogers and Jacob ]Moore, nearly a generation ago, with the artificial crossing of the native and foreign grape, one might reason- ably hope for more laborers in this promising field. American Forestry.— The town of Bruns- wick, Maine, owns one thousand acres of land, which they will plant in white pine as a public investment. Snowberry. — A correspondent of the Lon- don Garde?iers' Chronicle would transfer the name of Snowberry to Chiogenes serpyllifolia , and says: — *'It has also been described by different botanists under the various names of Vaccinium, Arbutus, Gaultheria, and O xy coc- cus; it seems to have a much stronger and more valid claim to the English name at the head of this note than the shrub which now bears it, Symphoricarpus racemosus, as it flowers and fruits in its native country soon after the melting of the snow ; and its fruit is pure white. ' ' 11 ttfi III* \'4 m BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. THE INSPIRATION OF NATURE. " I drank sweet draughts from the perennial springs Where, by the sylvan Neckar's castled hills, The Muses with their melodies preside Over immortal fountains, — and entranced I floated down the ways of storied streams, — Mused 'mid the ruins of a bygone age." Howard Worcester Gilbert. The Concord Grape ; Memorial to its Originator. — In one of the early numbers of Meehans' Monthly, Dr. Lamborn suggested that the nation owed a debt of gratitude to the raiser of the Concord grape, and he was ready to aid if some one near-by would undertake it. Subsequently to this, in 1893, as we learn from the Country Gentleman, Mrs. Daniel Lothrop, a neighbor, bought the little homestead and the i2-acre plot surrounding, on which the grape from the wild seed was raised, for the purpose of keeping it for ever as a memorial. Mr. Ephraim W. Bull died there on the 26th of March, 1895. Mrs. IvOthrop has now put the place in thorough repair, along all its original lines. In one of the rooms is a tablet with Mr. Bull's own account of the origin of the grape, and everything is done to preserve the house and the old grape-vine. Pleased as all will be that the memorial to the greatest event that has occurred in the history of American grape culture, has at length been secured, — one must not forget to honor the lady, Mrs. I^othrop, for the happy manner in which she has accomplished what was so widely desired. Plant Mythology.— The Greeks and Romans of ancient times are not the only people who have curious, mythological stories about the origin of flowers. Scandinavian literature abounds with these pretty tales. Even our Indians had their say, in like man- ner, about these things. Among some of the Canadian aborigines, pines and cedars origin- ated from strong men who were planted by their feet in the ground, and branches grew (no) out from their bodies, in response to wishes to live forever. It is singular that similar stories about the origin of evergreens have prevailed among ancient man in many isolated points. The "tree of life" \n Babylonian history was undoubtedly the Cedar of Lebanon, — and the Deodar Cedar, a close relation of the Lebanon Cedar, is the "tree of life " of the ancient Hindoos. The Pinxter Flower. — In the June Monthly, in connection with the Swamp Azalea, Azalea viscosa, you speak of it as the •'Pinxter bloom" of the Hollanders about New York, on authority of Governor Colden, and that Britton and Brown are wrong in giving the name to the Azalea yiudiflora. As a Hollander by descent, and knowing from my ancestors for a century back, I wish to say — 1st. I have never known or heard oi Azalea viscosa being called " Pinxter bloom." 2d. I have always heard the name applied by the Dutch descendants to Azalea nudiflora. 3d. The name it is called by now is gener- ally "Pinxter blossom" or "flower," the "bloom" being an anglicism of the Dutch word "blume," meaning flower. I wish to add, also, the following : — I St. I do not know that the Dutch ever dress the "postulants" in "long flowing, white robes," when received in baptism. My an- cestors have for centuries been in the Dutch Church, and I am a clergyman in the church, and I never heard of it. The custom of wear- ing white, at least around here, is German — never Dutch. 2d. Easter is the first Sunday after first full moon, after the spring equinox, I believe. It may vary from about March 23d to April 24th. Pentecost is fifty days after, or from about May 1 2th to about June 13th. 3d. After many years collecting, I can say Azalea viscosa is on Long Island rarely in bloom before June 15th. The time for Azalea 7iudiflora is from about May ^ 5th to May 30th. Two years ago it was in fair shape on Decora- <» 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. Ill tion Day. This year it was earlier. So viscosa is never in bloom for the latest Pinxter, and nudiflora comes about the midst of the season. Brooklyn. N. Y. GeO. D. HuLST. The Hardy Orange.— Nurserymen find it impossible to follow botanists in their con- tinual changing of plant-names. When a plant has been extensively known under a certain designation that has been acquiesced in by botanists, to be told that botanists have heretofore blundered and the name must, there- fore, be changed, means a commercial loss to them. If the nurseryman adopts the new name, he has to advertise all over again to let his customers know that the new name is no new thing. But even then there is no assur- ance that the corrected name will not be again corrected. A recent illustration of this refers to the hardy orange. Linnaeus first thought it a genuine member of the orange family, and described it as Citrus trifoliata, De Candolle thought Linnaeus wrong, and removed it to another genus, ^gle, and describes it as ^Egle sepiaria. Index Kewensis does not sustain this view, and it appears there under the Linnsen name with that of De Candolle as a synonym. Now comes the Gardeners' Chro?iick\ of April 28th, with a note by Mr. Nicholson, the curator of Kew, in which the name of ^Egle sepiaria is again revived for our former hardy • 'orange. ' ' When two high authorities, both in Kew Gar- dens, disagree as to the legitimate name, what is the unfortunate nurseryman to do ? Our Native Grapes.— Bulletin No. 56, Col- lege Agricultural Station, Brazos County, Tex., is devoted to an account of the experiments on the Munson Experiment Grounds, at Denison, Tex., and is a valuable contribution to the history of American grape culture. Travels of the Weeping Willow. — The following paragraph is floating through the great sea of the public press : — "It is stated that the first willow trees in Philadelphia (which grew on the sight of the Custom House) resulted from an accidental discovery on the part of Benjamin Franklin, who found a wicker basket, which had been thrown into a damp place, sprouting. . He felt much interested, and gave some of the cut- tings to Charles Morris, who planted them on his place. The stalks took root readily and thrived, and a number of willow trees resulted." It is stories like this that throw a shadow on all history. No ''wicker" basket was ever made of the weeping willow. The twigs can be as easily broken as glass, and are wholly unfit for wicker work. The original weeping willow came to Hamp- ton Court, England,— but not in the shape of an old willow basket found on the Thames. Fairmount Park (Philadelphia) Art As- sociation : Twenty-eighth Annual Report. — This gives an account of what has been done for the beautifying of this great pleasure ground during the past year. The chief regret, while reading is, that landscape gardening, as one of the fine arts, seems wholly ignored, and the beautiful objects the association has secured, are often placed in the most incongru- ous situations, until the park is fast taking on the aspect of a cemetery, in which architec- tural adornment is the chief consideration. Mrs. Martha Logan's Treatise on Gar- DENiNG.—In Prof Bailey's History of Ameri- can Gardening, he gives credit to Mrs. Martha Logan's fine grounds near Charleston, and a good treatise by the ladj' as among the earliest contributions to American gardening. Never having seen the work, the conductors made inquiry of several subscribers to the magazine in that quarter. One writes: "There is no record of Mrs. Logan's book ever having been in the library. General Logan says it was only a pamphlet, and though it was thought highly of at the time of its publication, he does not know of a copy to be found now." Native Trees of Rhode Island.— A separate pamphlet from the annual report for 1899, of the Rhode Island State Board of Agri- culture, has been published, giving an account with illustrations of the native trees of Rhode Island, by Levi W. Russell, of Providence. The pictures show some oaks to be far more beautiful when they can get a chance to grow isolated. The Black Jack Oak, Quercus nigra, as here exhibited, and as we have sometimes seen them, makes as handsome a plant as the famous Southern Magnolia. i " GENERAL NOTES. Origin of Greenhouses. — Mr. Wm. Wat- son, of Kew, says that the first greenhouse erected in England, was in the Apothecaries' Garden, at Chelsea, in 1684. It merely had glass sides, and was heated by a kind of oven. In 17 17, a glass-roofed house was built by the Duke of Rutland, at Bel voir Castle, for foreign grapes, heated by furnaces placed under the floor of the house. Steam was first used in 1788 ; and hot water, soon aftenvards, was applied to a small house in the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris. Mushrooms — The False Orange. — Mr. Joannas Chatin has presented to the Academy of Medicine, in the name of Dr. Dantec, mem- ber of the Bordeaux Faculty of the Navy, a very interesting work about the false orange, Amanita rmistaria. It is known that of all mushrooms that have caused the most accidents in France, 90 per cent, are imputable to this species. Mr. Le Dantec has thoroughl}^ taken up the study, analyzed the principal factor (ww^r^r/w^) by a new process, ascertaining it to be a poison for the heart, and showing, by a long series of experiments, that atropine is the best antidote for opposing it. From Lyo7i'Horticole. Name of the Red Sea. — The Red Sea is so-called from its color. This color is said to be owing to the presence, in immense quanti- ties, of a microscopic water weed, named Tri- chodesm in m eryth vcbu yn . Honey. — It is a notorious fact that pure white Clover Honey, is a scarce commodity in the market. Much honey that is sold as such is a preparation of glucose. It is pronounced to be as good as honey, and in this way the seared conscience is salved over. But the con- science is not seared by the thought that as much is asked for cheap glucose as the honest man receives for the genuine article. To sell glucose for honey, at honey prices, is fraud. There are abundant laws against such frauds ; (112) but there is no provision made for executing the law. In all large communities there should be established a department especi- ally charged with the execution of laws. At present, little is done unless some citizen or organization complains. Jt costs a fortune for any one person to get justice in most cases. New Varieties of Grain. — A cable dis- patch to the New York Sun, notes as some- thing wonderful that, on the experimental farm of the Earl of Winchilsea, new varieties of grain have been raised by crossing. Rais- ing new varieties in this way is not a novelty. But the Earl deserves credit for doing so much in the line as he has done. It is one of the surprises that more is not done in the way of raising new fruits, vegetables and grains by crossing varieties, than hy the usual easy-go- easy course of watching for accidental sports. When we remember the wonderful results achieved by Rogers and Jacob Moore, nearly a generation ago, with the artificial crossing of the native and foreign grape, one might reason- ably hope for more laborers in this promising field. American ForEvSTrv.— The town of Bruns- wick, Maine, owns one thousand acres of land, which they will plant in white pine as a public investment. Snowberry. — A correspondent of the Lon- don Gardeners' Chronicle would transfer the name of Snowberry to Chiogenes serpyllifolia, and says: — "It has also been described by different botanists under the various names of Vacciniuni, Arbittus, Gaidtheria, and O xy coc- cus; it seems to have a much stronger and more valid claim to the English name at the head of this note than the shrub which now bears it, Symphoricarpus racemosus, as it flowers and fruits in its native country soon after the melting of the snow ; and its fruit is pure white. ' ' ; , Voi..X Platk 8 1 ^:^;f^' I %d^-'^3. ^;p\\ mj- 4 _.^ «• 'I -rj ^ Vv' X I A 'I .-.;^ M-ij MI'.MiM iJ-Ti'i'M NELUMBIUM LUTEUM. WATER CHINQUAPIN. NATURAL ORDER, NYMPHACE^. Nelumbidm LUTEUM, Willdcnow.- Corolla pale yellow,— anthers tipped with a slender hooked appendage. Leaves usually raised high out of the water, circular in outline, with the centre depressed or cupped, one to two feet in diameter. Flower five to ten inches broad. Tubers farinaceous and edible. Seeds also edible. Embryo like that of A^w^A^a on a large scale. Cotyledons thick and fleshy, enclosing a plumule of one or two well formed young leaves, enclosed in a delicate stipula-like sheath. Gray's Manual of the Botany of the Not thern United States. See also Chapman's Flora of the Southern United States ^ Wood's Class-book of Botany, and Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions, under the name of Nelumdo Nelumbo. The Sacred Lotus, Nelumbium speciosutn, has a famous place in history. In our times, flow- ers are prominent incidents in festivals, — in the long past, they seem to have been the essential features, especially in religious cere- monies. In this class appears the Nelumbium, or, as it is often called, the Lotus or Sacred Bean, especially among the Asiatic races. The American Nelumbium, herewith illustrated, is practically the same as the Asiatic species, the only difference is that in the American there is a small appendage at the apex of the stamen. In color, the American is yellow, rarely white, — the Asiatic is rose color, or occasionally white or bluish. So far as the American spe- cies is concerned, there seems to have been no special reverence in regard to it by the ab- origines. The roots very much resembling sweet potatoes, and the acorn-like seeds, being in request for food, — and the dried seed vessels serving as rattles for the papooses. The two allied species go very often under the style of the Sacred Bean or Lotus of the Nile, — but this is a mistake. The Nymphcea Lotus is the Lily of the Nile, though the Sacred Bean of India, the Nelumbium, appears to have been introduced to the famous river of Egypt, and to have been somewhat common in the days of Egypt's greatness, though it has seem- ingly disappeared in modern times. It must be confessed that the true Nelum- bium may have been indigenous to Egypt, if we rely on the histories of the manners and customs of the people as reported to us. We are told that the lotus was a favorite flower in making wreaths, and that at social gatherings a lotus was the favorite flower to present to guests, as a rose or carnation would be to-day. Further, we are told that necklaces of lotus flowers were marks of distinguished honor, — and that garlands or head-dresses of flowers were so arranged that a single lotus bud or full blown flower hung in the centre of the fore- head. Sir G. Williamson, regarded as an authority on Egyptology, says that vases filled with lotus blossoms were the special preroga- tive of the master of the house. Accepting these statements as correct, they must refer to the Nelumbium, as the transitory nature of NymphcEa flowers would unfit them for serving such purposes. The name Nelumbium is derived from the vernacular East Indian name, ''Nelumbo.** Indeed, the earlier botanists adopted the name for the genus ; but with the reorganization of botany, in the times of Linnaeus and Jussieu, it was thought desirable, as far as possible, to reduce to Latin form all generic names, and so the last-named distinguished botanist rendered Nelumbo, Nelumbiuyn. This was generally ac- cepted, and Willdenow, another famous author, describes our plant as Nelumbium luteum. In describing the genus, he remarks that Nelum- bium differs from Nymphcea — our common water-lily — in the numerous pistils, sitting with their fruit on the receptacle, showing in this some affinity with the strawberry. Aside from the size of the flowers, and gen- eral peculiarities, there is little of beauty to awaken enthusiasm in the lotus. Percival makes his Frenchman prefer a humbler com- petitor for human affection : — (113) PLAT vol..;" P':A:ri' 8 ^ K' <* % 1 •J % •v'W:.?V. :.|:| > y <> i t yy'^ r 1 |i NELUMBIUM LUTEUM. WATER CHINQUAPIN. NATURAL ORDER, NYMPHACE^. Nklumbium LUTEUM, Willdeiiow.- Corolla pale yellow,— anthers tipped with a slender hooked appendage. Leaves usually raised high out of the water, circular in outline, with the centre depressed or cupped, one to two feet in diameter. Flower five to ten inches broad. Tubers farinaceous and edible. Seeds also edible. Embryo like that of A^w/A^sz-a on a large scale. Cotyledons thick and fleshy, enclosing a plumule of one or two well formed young leaves, enclosed in a delicate stipula-like sheath. Gray's Mavua I of the Botany of the Northern United States. See also Chapman's Flora of the Southern United States, Wood's Class-book of Botany, and Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions, under the name oi Nelumbo Nelumbo. The Sacred Lotus, Nehimbium speciosum, has a famous place in history. In our times, flow- ers are prominent incidents in festivals, — in the long past, they seem to have been the essential features, especially in religious cere- monies. In this class appears the Nchimbiiim, or, as it is often called, the Lotus or Sacred Bean, especially among the Asiatic races. The American Nehunbium, herewith illustrated, is practically the same as the Asiatic species, the only difference is that in the American there is a small appendage at the apex of the stamen. In color, the American is yellow, rarely white, — the Asiatic is rose color, or occasionally white or bluish. So far as the American spe- cies is concerned, there seems to have been no special reverence in regard to it by the ab- origines. The roots very much resembling sweet potatoes, and the acorn-like seeds, being in request for food, — and the dried seed vessels serving as rattles for the papooses. The two allied species go very often under the style of the Sacred Bean or Lotus of the Nile, — but this is a mistake. The Nymphcra Lotus is the Lily of the Nile, though the Sacred Bean of India, the Nclumbiuni, appears to have been introduced to the famous river of Pygypt, and to have been somewhat common in the days of Egypt's greatness, though it has seem- ingly disappeared in modern times. It must be confessed that the true Nelian- bkun may have been indigenous to Egypt, if we rely on the histories of the manners and customs of the people as reported to us. We are told that the lotus was a favorite flower in making wreaths, and that at social gatherings a lotus was the favorite flower to present to guests, as a rose or carnation would be to-day. P'urther, we are told that necklaces of lotus flowers were marks of distinguished honor, — and that garlands or head-dresses of flowers were so arranged that a single lotus bud or full blown flower hung in the centre of the fore- head. Sir G. Williamson, regarded as an authority on Egyptology, says that vases filled with lotus blossoms were the special preroga- tive of the master of the house. Accepting these statements as correct, they must refer to the Nelnmbiuyn, as the transitory nature of Nyjnphcca flowers would unfit them for serving such purposes. The name Nehimbium is derived from the vernacular East Indian name, ''Nelumbo.''^ Indeed, the earlier botanists adopted the name for the genus ; but with the reorganization of botany, in the times of Linnaeus and Jussieu, it was thought desirable, as far as possible, to reduce to Latin form all generic names, and so the last-named distinguished botanist rendered Neluynbo, Nelumbiiwi. This was generally ac- cepted, and Willdenow, another famous author, describes our plant as Nelumbium lutetim. In describing the genus, he remarks that Nelum- bium differs from Nymphcea — our common water-lily — in the numerous pistils, sitting with their fruit on the receptacle, showing in this some affinity with the strawberry. Aside from the size of the flowers, and gen- eral peculiarities, there is little of beauty to awaken enthusiasm in the lotus. Percival makes his Frenchman prefer a humbler com- petitor for human affection : — (113) IMTPISITTOMAT CTJrTiKTr* CYDr»QTTDP 114 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — NEI.UMBIUM I.UTEUM. [Aug. ' ' I ask no deep-encrimsoned flower From India's never-fading bower ; No lotus, where it closely weaves The Ganges with its azure leaves ; I ask no pensive bud of woe, That gives the night its wreath of snow ; All these may have a charm, — but yet Thy charm is more, Sweet Mignonette." Even its life-history is almost a blank chapter. When Longfellow, in Evangeline, chants : — **Thus 'ere another noon, they emerged from the shades ; and before them Lay, in the golden sun, the lakes of the Atchafalaya. Water-lilies in myriads rocked on the slight undulations Made by the passing oars, and, resplendent in beauty, the lotus Lifted her golden crown above the heads of the boatmen." No one has been able to say with certainty that the lotus never lifts its crown so high. Prof. Porter, however, on a visit to a locality for the flower in Sussex County, N. J., in 1878, did venture the remark, from what he saw there, that Longfellow had committed a practi- cal exaggeration pardonable in a poet. And yet it has been before the lover of flowers longer than most of the natives of our coun- try. Leonard Plukenet, in his "Phyto- graphia," published in 1691, gives a good figure of it, and describes it as the nut-bearing NymphcBa of Virginia, with large flowers of a pale yellow, — this, no doubt, from some draw- ing furnished him. It is credited as being introduced to British gardens in 1810 ; but, up to 1824, Sir William Hooker had never seen it, as the author notes by an autograph letter addressed to Zaccheus Collins, Vice-President of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- delphia. Growing near Philadelphia, he asks Mr. Collins to send him some. So early as 1750, we find Peter Collinson reminding John Bartram that the ''Faba ^gyptica " had been found near Philadelphia by Peter Kalm, and asks Bartram to send him some. In 1760, he scolds Bartram. "This reminds me," he says, ** of the elegant species of water-lily that is in the Jerseys. Does it occupy such a depth of water that the roots can't be come at? Thou art ambitious of plants from us : but here is the most charming plant of Asia, including China and Egypt, in thy neighborhood ; and yet so little is thy curiosity, or industry, that thou canst not avail thyself of so great a curi- osity. Thou that hast springs in thy garden to make a pond for its reception, or a river close by, if more proper for its culture. Prithee, John, nevermore let me reproach thy want of taste or curiosity in this article. If I was in thy place, I should spare no pains or expense to be possessed of a curiosity that none in thy province could boast of besides thyself ; which thou art ambitious of in other plants in no comparison so charming when in flower." Until Kalm found it at Philadelphia, Collinson says, it was only known as from Carolina. During the latter part of the cen- tury just closed, botanical literature teems with notices of locations discovered in many parts of the seaboard States of the Union, and of Canada. In a letter to the author, dated August, 1878, in speaking of the discovery of the plant in Lake Calumet, Mrs. E. M. Brackett, of Chicago, graphically describes the seed-vessel as ' ' re- sembling the rose of a water- pot," and had been informed by one versed in Egyptian his- tory, that the Nelumbium was artificially culti- vated in the Nile, in the early ages, by putting a seed within a ball of clay, and dropping the ball in the river where a plant was desirable. In regard to culture, some interesting facts were contributed to the American Naturalist, ninth volume. In 1872, seeds were sown in an aquarium. Only one germinated that year, — the others did not grow till four years and a half later. The remarkable fact was that the seed came to the surface to sprout, then sank to the bottom, from which it sent up petioles and leaves, but no root down into the mud at that time. Something of this sort is recorded by Dr. W. C. P. Barton, in his Flora of America, in 1822. He describes the seeds as viviparous, sprouting in the receptacle, which he says breaks off" at the summit of the peduncle, and then floats away, and in this way the plants are widely distributed over the lakes or ponds where they grow. After sprout- ing, they drop in the mud. Explanation of the Plate. — i. Miniature sketch, taken by the artist, Mr. Alois Lunzer, at Woodstown, N. J., for Messrs. Prang, showing all conditions of the growing plant. 2. Full-sized bud ready for expansion. 3. Torus, from a flower about to fade, with the stigmas in receptive condition. 4. Stamen, showing the peculiar app>eudage at the summit of the anther, distinguishing the American from the Asiatic species. 5. Torus, nearly mature, showing by the ridges that it is composed of a number of consolidated carpels. K* WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. THE WALKING FERN. , " Down the rock comes the walking fern, There stands in the pool the listening hern, And even the gaudy butterfly Pauses awhile as she flaunteth by, And a lesson to all unconsciously gives. Through the useless and frivolous life she lives." Howard Worcester Gilbert. Identification of Osmunda regalis. — The fern sent the conductors, from Long Island, for identification, proves to be Osmunda regalis, the beautiful King Fern. It is a water-loving plant, and at home may be seen growing to a height of five feet. Though the fronds are delicate, it transplants readily. Nelumbium luteum.— Regarding Nelum- bium luteum, it may be further noted that a singular fact in the life-history of the plant is related by Charles F. Cox, in the American Monthly Microscopical Journal for 1880. Hairs are found in the hollow spaces of the petiole in the Nymphceas, but not in the Nelumbium. This may be owing to the man- ner in which the petiole is formed. A petiole, morphologically, is but the uncoiled leaf-blade. Whether it is incurved or recurved in the for- mation would tend to include or exclude the hair. In Vol. 7 of the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, Mr. H. H. Rusby notes that the leaves look like two long rolls before the expansion of the blade. It would appear from this that the condition was incurved. The seeds are about the size of the Chinqua- pin, and from this the plant has received the name of Water Chinquapin, in America. They, however, more nearly resemble the acorns of the Pin Oak. Wild ducks are very fond of them. Mr. L. B. Case, in the "Botanical Index," describes the sweet-potato-like roots as having a number of hollow spaces, running longitud- inally with the tuber, and that when cut across the tubers exude a large amount of milky juice. The farinaceous matter is very abundant. There are no buds on the tubers, — growth takes place from the junction of the tuber with the main stem, as in the dahlia,— and the failure of the plant to grow when removed is probably due to the oversight of this fact. Honey Guides in the Dark.— There is a hypothesis, though scarcely satisfactory to some thinkers, that certain color-spots or lines in flowers are provided as guides to the nectaries of honey-secreting flowers, in favor of insect visitors. But the arguments against this are often as weak as those in favor there- of. For instance, it has been asked how the night-flying insects make use of honey-lines in the dark ! But surely nocturnal insects are supposed to see as clearly by night, as the diurnals do by day. Cave Plants. — I remember reading, in Mrs. Ketchum's '* Botany," that certain translucent ferns are found growing in limestone caves in Florida. I cannot now recall the name of the species. G. Wanderings of Plants.— Plants, like ani- mals, are continually wandering to fresh fields and pastures new. Prof. Kellerman finds that of the present flora of Ohio, no less than 430 are immigrants. Almost all are from Europe. Symbiosis. — A recent inquiry, in regard to a root fungus being essential to the healthful growth of the heather, has attracted the atten- tion of our readers. The Journal oj the New York Botanic Garden states that mycorhiza — root fungi— are found in connection with all orchids. The fungus prepares the food for the orchid,— and the orchid returns to the fungus starch and sugar, on which its growth depends. Hornets' Nests.— Many years ago, the writer of this made a communication, to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, noting that, in the preparation of the paper for their nests, the hornets chewed up the bark (115) ii6 MEEHANS* MONTHIvY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Aug. 'If I Mil of the ash tree. Since that time, no other tree, in the same vicinity, seems to have been used for that purpose. There must be hornets in some places where there are no ash trees, — and it would be well to know what tree is used in these cases. There is a good chance here for watchful observation. The Indian Ground-nut. — Photography can be easily learned. Anyone can take a snap-shot of some object. But the true artist is rare among the camera fraternity. We have pleasure in presenting to the reader a repre- mal conditions are more numerous and capable of closer investigation. Yet there are frequent instances of remarkable variations from usual forms in the animal world. In German town, near Philadelphia, a Mr. Bichy, a druggist, had a fondness for raising tadpoles in an aquarium, and watching their development to frogs. One tadpole, a few years ago, did not shed its tail, as it usually does. Not having lost it at the usual period, it continued as a caudal append- age the whole of the creature's life — five years. It grew to the usual size of these creatures, — but, while the hind pair of legs developed as THE INDIAN QROU N D- N UT— API08 TUBCROSA. sentation of the Indian Ground-nut, taken from a photo by Mr. C. E. Pleas, of Chipley, Florida. The plant was selected from a group at St. Andrews Bay, Fla. No more accurate representation of the Apios tuberosa has ever appeared, — while as a picture, merely, it will commend itself to the lover of art, though he may not know a bean from a butterfly. The photograph was taken during a rain. Modifications in Plants and Animals. — Botany has an advantage over zoology in the discussion of matters connected with varia- tions, in this that aberrations from the nor- usual in frogs, no forelegs ever appeared. The head continued in tadpole form, except that the lower part became loose and fluffy, as in frog-life. A fact like this would indicate to some of the modern schools of philosophy an argument in favor of progressive development as to the origin of the various species of plants and animals. To another class it would seem that species might originate by a suppression of energy in some directions, and an enlarged effort in another, but affords no evidence of the origination of any new organ, such as many modern scientists understand by evolution. ft \% GENERAL GARDENING. THE MIGNONETTE. The rose may sparkle in the morn. And blush and brighten on its thorn ; The gaudy tulip proudly spread Its glories o'er the enamelled bed ; The iris imitate the bow, That sunbeams on a tempest throw ; All thcvse may shine around, — but yet I love my darling mignonette. Percival. Myrobalan Plum for Hedges. — Regarding your notes, in the June issue of the Monthly, on the Myrobalan Plum as a hedge plant, I would say that such a hedge fence has been tried here. It was planted in 1893, and has for the last four years been a beautiful hedge, pruned to a height of some 5 feet. It makes a splendid hedge fence, as no one— or even stock — will attempt to go through it. It re- sponds well to pruning, and, so far as the writer has seen, has never been troubled with the plum borer ; but alas, the San Jos6 Scale has proved a worse enemy to contend with here, and where there is any danger of the hedge being infested with this pest, I have no hesitation in saying that the Myrobalan Plum will prove a grand failure. Greenwich, Conn. JOHN W, DUNCAN. Camphor Tree and Hardy Fuchsia. — On page 103 I notice you speak (or your corres- pondent, G. N. Carruthers), of the cold having killed the Camphor tree at New Orleans. One year ago last February, I planted one at Veron, Onslow Co., N. C, and, visiting there last February, found it had not only grown, but had made a growth of more than 2 ft. 10 in. high. When set out, it had grown at least to a height of from 2 >^ to 3 ft. , freely branched, not a twig or leaf blighted or harmed, and of course in full leaf looks much like a young wild cherry. We had frosL of 12° below freez- ing for two or three days. The last two nights I covered it with thin muslin. The leaves looked frozen, hanging down, but did not seem in the least harmed two weeks afterwards. As you state, China Tree seems quite at home there. Hardy Fuchsias, on page 104 : — Some twenty years ago, I visited my mother's birth-place on Loch Awe, Argyleshire, Scotland. By a wall, on the old farm, facing east, was a plant growing along some 20 or 30 ft., 5 to 6 ft. tall, covered with small red buds, which attracted my attention. On examination, I found it to be a fuchsia with very small flowers. I after- wards found it was used as a hedge plant, occasionally, or screen. I have two lespedezas growing finely, con- sidering seashore and other conditions. West End. N. J. EWEN McInTYRE. Rose, Crimson Rambler. — The London Gardeners' Chronicle notes a plant of the Crim- son Rambler, at Bicton, that had about 700 clusters of flowers on it at one time. This was far surpassed by a Philadelphia specimen the past season, which had 9,600 flowers. LiELiA MAjALis. — That fine orchid, the most beautiful of all laelias, L. majalis, has just bloomed here, and indeed no words can over- praise its beauty. This plant is found very hard to flower in most collections, but I think probably, in many instances, the failure to flower it arises from the failure to procure a strong plant to start with. No trouble at all was experienced in the flowering of the plant in the collection here. Its main requisites are : First, perfectly clean potting material, which should be peat only. It may be top-dressed neatly with living sphagnum moss, which greatly improves its appearance. Secondly, plenty of light, but no sun ; water only enough in winter to keep bulbs plump and a night tem- perature of about 45° to 50° during winter, in- creasing to 55° during the early spring. Day temperature 10° to 15° higher. As growth ad- vances, increase water supply, and once in ten days give the plant liquid manure, as a strong growth is imperative to the production of a (117) ii6 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Aug. of the ash tree. Since that time, no other tree, in the same vicinity, seems to have been used for that purpose. There must be hornets in some places where there are no ash trees, — and it would be well to know what tree is used in these cases. There is a good chance here for watchful observation. The Indian Ground-nut. — Photography can be easily learned. Anyone can take a snap-shot of some object. But the true artist is rare among the camera fraternity. We have pleasure in presenting to the reader a repre- mal conditions are more numerous and capable of closer investigation. Yet there are frequent instances of remarkable variations from usual forms in the animal world. In German town, near Philadelphia, a Mr. Bichy, a druggist, had a fondness for raising tadpoles in an aquarium, and watching their development to frogs. One tadpole, a few years ago, did not shed its tail, as it usually does. Not having lost it at the usual period, it continued as a caudal append- age the whole of the creature's life — five years. It grew to the usual size of these creatures, — but, while the hind pair of legs developed as THE INDIAN GRO U N D- N UT— A Pi OS TUBCR08A. sentation of the Indian Ground-nut, taken from a photo by Mr. C. E. Pleas, of Chipley, Florida. The plant was selected from a group at St. Andrews Bay, Fla. No more accurate representation of the Apios hiberosa has ever appeared, — while as a picture, merely, it will commend itself to the lover of art, though he may not know a bean from a butterfly. The photograph was taken during a rain. Modifications in Plants and Animals. — Botany has an advantage over zoology in the discussion of matters connected with varia- tions, in this that aberrations from the nor- usual in frogs, no forelegs ever appeared. The head continued in tadpole form, except that the lower part became loose and fluffy, as in frog-life. A fact like this would indicate to some of the modern schools of philosophy an argument in favor of progressive development as to the origin of the various species of plants and animals. To another class it would seem that species might originate by a suppression of energy in some directions, and an enlarged effort in another, but affords no evidence of the origination of any new organ, such as many modern scientists understand by evolution. r ' k GENERAL GARDENING. THE MIGNONETTE. The rose may sparkle in the morn. And blush and brighten on its thorn ; The gaudy tulip proudly spread Its glories o'er the enamelled bed ; The iris imitate the bow, That sunbeams on a tempest throw ; All thCvSe may shine around, — but yet I love my darling mignonette. Percival. Myrobalan Plum for Hedges. — Regarding your notes, in the June issue of the Monthly, on the Myrobalan Plum as a hedge plant, I would sa}^ that such a hedge fence has been tried here. It was planted in 1893, and has for the last four years been a beautiful hedge, pruned to a height of some 5 feet. It makes a splendid hedge fence, as no one— or even stock — will attempt to go through it. It re- sponds well to pruning, and, so far as the writer has seen, has never been troubled with the plum borer ; but alas, the San Jose Scale has proved a worse enemy to contend with here, and where there is any danger of the hedge being infested with this pest, I have no hesitation in saying that the Myrobalan Plum will prove a grand failure. Greenwich, Conn. JOHN \V. DUNCAN. Camphor Tree and Hardy Fuchsia. — On page 103 I notice you speak (or your corres- pondent, G. N. Carruthers), of the cold having killed the Camphor tree at New Orleans. One year ago last February, I planted one at Veron, Onslow Co., N. C, and, visiting there last February, found it had not only grown, but had made a growth of more than 2 ft. 10 in. high. When set out, it had grown at least to a height of from 2j^ to 3 ft., freel}' branched, not a twig or leaf blighted or harmed, and of course in full leaf looks much like a young wild cherry. We had frosL of 12° below freez- ing for two or three days. The last two nights I covered it with thin muslin. The leaves looked frozen, hanging down, but did not seem in the least harmed two weeks afterwards. As you state, China Tree seems quite at home there. Hardy Fuchsias, on page 104 : — Some twenty years ago, I visited my mother's birth-place on Loch Awe, Argyleshire, Scotland. By a wall, on the old farm, facing east, was a plant growing along some 20 or 30 ft., 5 to 6 ft. tall, covered with small red buds, which attracted my attention. On examination, I found it to be a fuchsia with very small flowers. I after- wards found it was used as a hedge plant, occasionally, or screen. I have two lespedezas growing finely, con- sidering seashore and other conditions. West End, N. J EWEN McInTYRE. Rose, Crimson Rambler. — The London Gardeners' Chronicle notes a plant of the Crim- son Rambler, at Bicton, that had about 700 clusters of flowers on it at one time. This was far surpassed by a Philadelphia specimen the past season, which had 9,600 flowers. L^ELiA MAjALis. — That fine orchid, the most beautiful of all laelias, L. majalis, has just bloomed here, and indeed no words can over- praise its beauty. This plant is found very hard to flower in most collections, but I think probably, in many instances, the failure to flower it arises from the failure to procure a strong plant to start with. No trouble at all was experienced in the flowering of the plant in the collection here. Its main requisites are : First, perfectly clean potting material, which should be peat only. It may be top-dressed neatly with living sphagnum moss, which greatly improves its appearance. Secondly, plenty of light, but no sun ; water only enough in winter to keep bulbs plump and a night tem- perature of about 45° to 50*^ during winter, in- creasing to 55° during the early spring. Day temperature 10° to 15° higher. As growth ad- vances, increase water supply, and once in ten days give the plant liquid manure, as a strong growth is imperative to the production of a (117) ENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE ii8 li! ' MEEHANS* MONTHI.Y— GENERAL GARDENING. [Aug. flower. It flowers with the young growth ; and those who follow treatment given will be rewarded with a flower when once seen is not soon forgotten. Its beautiful lilac-rose petals and sepals, and its beautiful three-lobed lip, white inside, striped magenta-purple, will be a source of great pleasure to behold. The plant here was grown (as it always should be) in a basket suspended about a foot from the glass. Rahway, N. J. A. P. haps unwise to do so, even though possible, — but the method of planting on these grounds seems to throw that boundary farther away than it really is. It is a pleasure to commend these illustrations of landscape gardening as the fine art it should really be. lyANDSCAPE Planting.— One of the leading points in the skill of a landscape gardener, Birch Tree Borer.— A correspondent says that birch trees ajl over the country are dying, even trees fifty years old seem to die in a few weeks during summer. He sends a sample of the leaves that are turning yellow to note what is the matter. Nothing was found the matter i /^>.f.. '.X '.^•*^ ^-v»...v*- V-'^^^J^i^ ''W^. -t<^^^^ ^"4Wpi?^^^ GROUNDS OF JAMES M. CLWELL. BROOKLYN. N. Y. is to plant so that the area of the grounds will appear larger than it is. It is a rare art, for in many plots supposed to be well laid out, as the term is, the result is to contract rather than to enlarge the apparent space. An illus- tration of the correct idea of planting appears in a photograph before us, of a scene in the garden of Mr. James Ellwell, now deceased, of Brooklyn, N. Y. It is very difficult to apply this great principle in landscape gardening on a small suburban plot, or (we might almost say) a city yard. It would be impossible, in this case, to conceal the boundary fence, and per- with the leaves, but if the correspondent had thought to split the twigs he would have found them but shells, a boring maggot having cleaned out the whole centre. If the whole tree is perforated in that way, even fifty years of age could not save it. Honey Aphis.— The large honey aphis has been unusually abundant this year, and has afforded the newspaper reporters in Chicago, and other large cities, the opportunity of get- ting off" smart paragraphs about a ''new and wonderful bug." The honey aphis really is II 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 119 not so serious an enemy as its smaller rela- tives, as it sucks from the bark, and not from the veins of young leaves, — but they have a disgusting appearance on the branches of the trees. Hardy Evergreens. — When in search of evergreens particularly hardy and yet very choice, do not overlook the Colorado Blue Spruce. This native inhabitant of the Rocky Mountains endures the very coldest tempera- tures, and when well established will make one of the prettiest decorative evergreens, in color and form, that can be desired. It grows just rapidly enough to avoid an unnatural compactness, yet always maintains a regular, symmetrical growth that makes it prominent among other evergreens. Seedlings yield a great variation in color, from a light green to a bright steel-blue. Grafted specimens, secured from trees of the best color, are the best to obtain. The arbor- vitae is a commoner tree, though the many varieties offer ample room for choice of pretty and desirable kinds. But it is perfectly hardy and thrives almost any- where except in shade. Alpine Plants. — Plants have a great power of adaptation to circumstances and surround- ings ; and especially seem to make an effort to produce seeds. I have seen a morning- glory seed, planted late in the season, making haste to bloom while low on the ground ; and the same, in early spring, would make a luxu- rious growth of vines and leaves before a single blossom appeared. Dear Mrs. Howitt wrote : — " God might have made the earth bring forth Enough for great and small, The oak tree and the cedar tree. Without a flower at all." San Diego, Cal. MRS. E. E. OrCUTT. Fuchsia Culture. — The fuchsia is one of the most beautiful of pot plants for flowering all summer, but in most part of our territory it is only successful when the pots are placed in partial shade. Paris Street Trees. — Wide streets and handsome street trees help largely in the fame of beautiful Paris. But the success of the trees is due to intelligent oversight by the authori- ties. Even with this admirable protection, the average life of a Paris street tree is found to be but half that of those growing in the environs. Of varieties, the following have been found best suited to the conditions of Paris, prefer- ence being given in the order named : — Horse- chestnut (which is much the best), plane, ail- antus, locust, linden, and paulownia. Growth of Landscape Gardening. — Land- scape gardening in this country is yet largely in its infancy, and just as the human infant is taught to acquire its knowledge step by step, so must the people be taught, step by step, the fundamental principles of the question in- volved. To appreciate any profession and im- prove thereon, we must first learn the founda- tion on which it is built, for if familiarity with the foundation is lacking, the building of the necessary knowledge is at least faulty and laborious. Landscape gardening is an art — not neces- sarily a study only. It matters little how much a person may know about trees and flowers, their growth, foliage and habits, if he have not the appreciation for a purely natural piece of landscape, nor the feeling and instinct to construct similar effects, he can never hope to be successful in the higher art of landscape gardening. Do not infer by this that study and knowledge of the character of plants are not necessary, — far from it, — for without this knowledge the construction of a pretty land- scape would be impossible, as one of the most important things is that we must picture in our minds what the effect will be, — not this year, or the next, but when the trees shall have eventually come to maturity. This would of necessity be impossible without a thorough knowledge of every plant and tree used. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that landscape gardening is an art, and, like all other arts, a talent which must be exercised, — not buried, — to be brought to its highest state of perfection. What is the object of landscape gardening ? You may infer from what has been said that it may be practised only in the country, where unlimited space abounds, therefore, what can it mean to those who may be within the limits of a large city, or who simply own an acre or two ? In these days ot progression, man stops at nothing. He has caged the lightning of the clouds and brought it to our cities for light and ii8 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Aug. flower. It flowers with the young growth ; and those who follow treatment given will be rewarded with a flower when once seen is not soon forgotten. Its beautiful lilac-rose petals and sepals, and its beautiful three-lobed lip, white inside, striped magenta-purple, will be a source of great pleasure to behold. The plant here was grown (as it always should be) in a basket suspended about a foot from the glass. haps unwise to do so, even though possible, — but the method of planting on these grounds seems to throw that boundary farther away than it really is. It is a pleasure to commend these illustrations of landscape gardening as the fine art it should really be. Rahway, N. J. A. P. Landscape Planting.— One of the leading points in the skill of a landscape gardener, Birch Tree Borer. — A correspondent says that birch trees all over the country are dying, even trees fifty years old seem to die in a few wrecks during summer. He sends a sample of the leaves that are turning yellow to note what is the matter. Nothing was found the matter GROUNDS OF JAMES M. ELWELL, BROOKLYN, N. Y. is to plant so that the area of the grounds will appear larger than it is. It is a rare art, for in many plots supposed to be well laid out, as the term is, the result is to contract rather than to enlarge the apparent space. An illus- tration of the correct idea of planting appears in a photograph before us, of a scene in the garden of Mr. James Ellwell, now deceased, of Brooklyn, N. Y. It is very difficult to apply this great principle in landscape gardening on a small suburban plot, or (we might almost say) a city yard. It would be impossible, in this case, to conceal the boundary fence, and per- with the leaves, but if the correspondent had thought to split the twigs he would have found them but shells, a boring maggot having cleaned out the whole centre. If the whole tree is perforated in that way, even fifty years of age could not save it. Honey Aphis.— The large honey aphis has been unusually abundant this year, and has afforded the newspaper reporters in Chicago, and other large cities, the opportunity of get- ting off" smart paragraphs about a ''new and wonderful bug." The honey aphis really is 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 119 ' 1^ not so serious an enemy as its smaller rela- tives, as it sucks from the bark, and not from the veins of young leaves, — but they have a disgusting appearance on the branches of the trees. Hardy Evergreens. — When in search of evergreens particularly hardy and yet very choice, do not overlook the Colorado Blue Spruce. This native inhabitant of the Rocky Mountains endures the very coldest tempera- tures, and when \\e\\ established will make one of the prettiest decorative evergreens, in color and form, that can be desired. It grows just rapidly enough to avoid an unnatural compactness, yet always maintains a regular, symmetrical growth that makes it prominent among other evergreens. Seedlings yield a great variation in color, from a light green to a bright steel-blue. C7 rafted specimens, secured from trees of the best color, are the best to obtain. The arbor- vitie is a commoner tree, though the many varieties offer ample room for choice of pretty and desirable kinds. But it is perfectly hardy and thrives almost any- where except in shade. Alpine Plants. — Plants have a great power of adaptation to circumstances and surround- ings ; and especially seem to make an effort to produce seeds. I have seen a morning- glory seed, planted late in the season, making haste to bloom while low on the ground ; and the same, in early spring, would make a luxu- rious growth of vines and leaves before a single blossom appeared. Dear Mrs. Howitt wrote : — '* God might have made the earth bring forth P^nough for great and small, The oak tree and the cedar tree. Without a flower at all." San Diego. Cal. MrS. E. E. OrCUTT. Fuchsia Culture. — The fuchsia is one of the most beautiful of pot plants for flowering all summer, but in most part of our territory it is onl}' successful when the pots are placed in partial shade. Paris Street Trees. — Wide streets and handsome street trees help largely in the fame of beautiful Paris. But the success of the trees is due to intelligent oversight by the authori- ties. Even with this admirable protection, the average life of a Paris street tree is found to be but half that of those growing in the environs. Of varieties, the following have been found best suited to the conditions of Paris, prefer- ence being given in the order named : — Horse- chestnut (which is much the best), plane, ail- antus, locust, linden, and paulownia. Growth of Landscape Gardening. — Land- scape gardening in this country is yet largely in its infancy, and just as the human infant is taught to acquire its knowledge step by step, so must the people be taught, step by step, the fundamental principles of the question in- volved. To appreciate any profession and im- prove thereon, we must first learn the founda- tion on which it is built, for if familiarity with the foundation is lacking, the building of the necessary knowledge is at least faulty and laborious. Landscape gardening is an art — not neces- sarily a study only. It matters little how much a person may know about trees and flowers, their growth, foliage and habits, if he have not the appreciation for a purely natural piece of landscape, nor the feeling and instinct to construct similar effects, he can never hope to be successful in the higher art of landscape gardening. Do not infer by this that study and knowledge of the character of plants are not necessary,— far from it, — for without this knowledge the construction of a pretty land- scape would be impossible, as one of the most important things is that we must picture in our minds what the effect will be, — not this year, or the next, but when the trees shall have eventually come to maturity. This would of necessity be impossible without a thorough knowledge of every plant and tree used. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that landscape gardening is an art, and, like all other arts, a talent which must be exercised, — not buried, — to be brought to its highest state of perfection. What is the object of landscape gardening ? You may infer from what has been said that it may be practised only in the country, where unlimited space abounds, therefore, what can it mean to those w^ho may be within the limits of a large city, or who simply own an acre or two? In these days ol progression, man stops at nothing. He has caged the lightning of the clouds and brought it to our cities for light and TENTIONAITSECOND EXPOSU M 120 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — GENERAL. GARDENING. [Aug. transportation. Even the mighty Niagara has been bridled to men's wants. So in landscape work we must try to bring Nature's beauty right to our homes and cities. Of course, not in its entirety, any more than we could bring the waters of Niagara actually to our doors ; but we must bring its powers, its summer con- binations of color in foliage effect, and its ber- ried effects of fall, not forgetting the warm and bright winter appearance of the various colored barks of many trees and shrubs. Take these powers and use them to relieve the monotony of bricks and mortar. In other words, let time roads laid and paths made to interesting points, and thus were opened to thousands the opportunity for examining the beauties of Nature. We may say, therefore, that the practical way to gain appreciation of the beauties of Nature, is to open up the natural gems so that they may be approached with comfort and please the eye. J. F. M., Before the Penna. Hort. Soc'y. The Best Decorative Pai.ms.-— Of palms used for massing in decorations, none are SYRINQA VILL08A. cscc paoc lan landscape gardening mean the reproduction of Nature's work wherever possible. If we take a stroll along the lovely drives and walks of the famous Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, and especially by the Wissa- hickon, we can get no more forcible illustration of this thought. It is to be doubted very much if before the land for this park was taken, there were more than a few hundred persons in Philadelphia who really supposed there was at command such a wealth of Nature's most costly gifts. But the land was condemned, and in course of better, where tall ones are required, than the Areca and Kentia. They grow rapidly, and run up more slender than others, yet are quite graceful. Professional decorators admit this, and say further that the Phoenix rupicola is the most satisfactory where the plant is to be brought into frequent use. It stands handling much better. But it is not quite so pretty as the others. For single specimens, the Latania and Livistona rotundifolia are very desirable. Small plants of the graceful Cocos Weddeliana are always admired, and may be used in the foreground of a bank of palms. 1900] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 121 EW 01 li^lE FLINTS. Flowering of the Eremurus. — We have, in Hartford, a great many fine gardens, owned by friends of yours. One of the loveliest I have had the fortune to be in is that of Mr. N. F. Peck, at 31 Niles Street, where, this week, a grand flower was in bloom, such as has not been seen here, nor have I heard of other- wise, except in catalogues. It was the Ere- murus Himalaicus, a tall lily from Turkestan and the Himalaya Mountains of India. A shaft of at least six feet bore, at its terminal, closely set flowers the size of a silver half dollar, with long stamens and anthers, very unique in appearance. It must be a great pleasure to watch and note the gradual growth and bloom of such rare specimens by its owners, as we all know in a less degree of our own experience, from the interesting development of favorite new acquisitions in our gardens. Of other mag- nificent features seen in that garden, I must speak at some future time — such as the rare aquatics, the arbors and hedges of Crimson Rambler roses, and numerous other attractions. Hartford, Conn. MrS. WiLHEMINE SELIGER. SvRiNGA viLLOSA (see page 120). — Among hardy shrubs recently introduced to our gar- dens, one of the lilac family, Syringa villosa, commends itself by several meritorious feat- ures. The photograph is kindly presented by Mr. W. C. Egan, of Egandale, near Chicago. He well remarks "what a fine plant for a hedge where a space twelve feet wide could be devoted to it. " The common lilac was a favor- ite with our grandmothers for forming an orna- mental hedge,— -and much of the pleasures of young city folk is in the prospective visit to some country garden, wheie the privilege can be enjoyed of plucking the lilac blossoms from some old farm-house lilac fence. The new species is a native of the north of China, and will no doubt prove hardy wherever the com- mon lilac will grow. TME M/flRI^Y fLOWEIi ^/^Ill^EM. Centranthus ruber. — If not one of the showiest in flower, the Red Valerian, Centran- thus ruber ^ is certainly one of the most desir- able and interesting. Perennial plants that commence blooming in early summer and continue until late in the season, are not plen- tiful ; but this answers that description, and is, besides, adaptable to poor soil and rock- work. In color, it is a dark red ; the leaves a glossy green. The flowers individually are small, but are less insignificant than might be by being bunched. There is a white variety, also. Hardy Cactuses.— In rockwork, vases, on old walls, or near anything of a somewhat artificial character in gardening, few things are more effective than the hardy cactuses. Of the genus Opuntia, that class having broad, flat, thick "fronds," as the sections of the plant are usually termed, the one figured from OPUNTIA RAFINC8QUII. Gardening Illustrated — Opuntia Rafinesquii — is the best known. It is the common hardy cactus of the Atlantic sea-board States, and is especially abundant in the sandy regions of New Jersey. In open sunny places it is a free bloomer, and the plants are almost hidden by the profusion of golden flowers. The blooming season lasts but about two weeks, — but the flowers attract wide attention while they last. Lespedeza bicolor and Desmodium pen- DULiFLORUM. — In reference to the notes in the July issue, concerning Desmodium and Lespe- deza, Mr. P. Ouwerkerk, Jersey City, N. J., points out the possibility of misunderstanding arising from the article named. It should be well known that there are two distinct plants, Lespedeza bicolor and Desmodium penduli- florum, and it is to be presumed that A. P. only had the one plant sent him under the two names. This conclusion may be readily reached from the fact that some nurserymen have had their plants wrongly labeled. Mr. Ouwerkerk says: — "The Lespedeza blooms I20 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Aug. transportation. Even the mighty Niagara has been bridled to men's wants. So in landscape work we must try to bring Nature's beauty right to our homes and cities. Of course, not in its entirety, any more than we could bring the w^aters of Niagara actually to our doors ; but we must bring its powers, its summer con- binations of color in foliage effect, and its ber- ried effects of fall, not forgetting the warm and bright winter appearance of the various colored barks of many trees and shrubs. Take these powers and use them to relieve the monotony of bricks and mortar. In other words, let time roads laid and paths made to interesting points, and thus were opened to thousands the opportunity for examining the beauties of Nature. We may say, therefore, that the practical way to gain appreciation of the beauties of Nature, is to open up the natural gems so that they may be approached with comfort and please the eye. J. F. M., Before the Penna. Hort. Soc'y. The Best Decorative Palms.— Of palms used for massing in decorations, none are SYRINGA VILLOSA. (scEPAccian landscape gardening mean the reproduction of Nature's work wherever possible. If we take a stroll along the lovely drives and walks of the famous Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, and especially by the Wissa- hickon, we can get no more forcible illustration of this thought. It is to be doubted very much if before the land for this park was taken, there were more than a few hundred persons in Philadelphia who really supposed there was at command such a wealth of Nature's most costly gifts. But the land was condemned, and in course of better, where tall ones are required, than the Areca and Kcntia. They grow rapidly, and run up more slender than others, yet are quite graceful. Professional decorators admit this, and say further that the Phoenix rupicola is the most satisfactory where the plant is to be brought into frequent use. It stands handling much better. But it is not quite so pretty as the others. For single specimens, the Lata?iia and Livisto7ia rotimdifolia are very desirable. Small plants of the graceful Cocos Weddeliajia are always admired, and may be used in the foreground of a bank of palms. 1900] ^ « MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 121 INIEW ®1 I/^IE FL/^NTS. Flowering of the Eremurus.— We have, in Hartford, a great many fine gardens, owned by friends of yours. One of the loveliest I have had the fortune to be in is that of Mr. N. F. Peck, at 31 Niles Street, where, this week, a grand flower was in bloom, such as has not been seen here, nor have I heard of other- wise, except in catalogues. It was the Ere- mums Hhnalaiais, a tall lily from Turkestan and the Himalaya Mountains of India. A shaft of at least six feet bore, at its terminal, closely set flowers the size of a silver half dollar, with long stamens and anthers, very unique in appearance. It must be a great pleasure to watch and note the gradual growth and bloom of such rare specimens by its owners, as we all know in a less degree of our own experience, from the interesting development of favorite new acquisitions in our gardens. Of other mag- nificent features seen in that garden, I must speak at some future time — such as the rare aquatics, the arbors and hedges of Crimson Rambler roses, and numerous other attractions. Hartford, Conu. MrS. WiLHKMINE SkLIGER. vSvRiXGA VILLOSA (see page 120). — Among hardy shrubs recently introduced to our gar- dens, one of the lilac family, Syriui^a villosa, commends itself b}' several meritorious feat- ures. The photograph is kindly presented b}' Mr. W. C. Kgan, of P)gandale, near Chicago. He well remarks "what a fine plant for a hedge where a space twelve feet wide could be devoted to it." The common lilac was a favor- ite with our grandmothers for forming an orna- mental hedge, — and much of the pleasures of young cit}' folk is in the prospective visit to some countr}' garden, wheie the privilege can be enjoyed of plucking the lilac blossoms from some old farm-house lilac fence. The new species is a native of the north of China, and will no doubt prove hardy wherever the com- mon lilac will grow. TME mi/^lK^T fLOWEl ^i^ll^lE Centranthus ruber. — If not one of the showiest in flower, the Red Valerian, Centran- thus ruber, is certainly one of the most desir- able and interesting. Perennial plants that commence blooming in early summer and continue until late in the season, are not plen- tiful ; but this answers that description, and is, besides, adaptable to poor soil and rock- work. In color, it is a dark red ; the leaves a glossy green. The flowers individually are small, but are less insignificant than might be by being bunched. There is a white variety, also. Hardy Cactuses. — In rockwork, vases, on old walls, or near anything of a somewhat artificial character in gardening, few things are more effective than the hardy cactuses. Of the genus Opu?itic, that class having broad, flat, thick "fronds," as the sections of the plant are usually termed, the one figured from v^;5jg^l.^\^^-r,^^..'^^^-^r^'-^-' OPUNTIA RAFINESQUII. Garde)ihi