' ' '^ t ■ at :i ''i^' '^ - -f^^ " '^h'} ^o\'' ' ,"' ',''\Vfi Otf'^^' . I^f' *xu\/iTzi :^<^ i '• ■ I hS ■ ■■ 1 ^ JJm * 1 1- ■; 1 b^^ 1 L J H X^ •: *.■«» « . , ,JO. . - S.^ ^^• >^'^^S' ." "> .000 ' o ^e: ' . ago o >» » ■ . ■■•••#ix- ;^^;; v--y 'im MICROFILMED 1998 Penn State University Libraries University Park, PA 16802-1805 US AIN STATE AND LOCAL LITERATURE PRESERVATION PROJECT: PENNSYLVANIA Pattee Library Funded by the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES ■ ■■■,\;''-';,v.r', Reproductions may not be made without permission from The Pennsylvania State University Libraries '"*V-;,v''^, COPYRIGHT STATEMENT The copyright law of the United States - Title 17, United States Code - concerns the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. 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';f|^^g|,:...|^,.^^^^ CONTENTS OF REEL 109 1 ) Meehan's Monthly, v. 1 , 1 891 MNS# PStSNPaAg109.1 2) Meehan's Monthly, v. 2, 1 892 MNS# PStSNPaAg109.2 3) Meehan'sMonthly, V. 3, 1893 MNS# PSt SNPaAgI 09.3 4) Meehan's Monthly, v. 4, 1 894 MNS# PSt SNPaAgI 09.4 if't^i-tfe'ifc^i '■«''• CONTENTS OF REEL 109 (CONTINUED) 5) Meehan's Monthly, v. 5, 1 895 MNS# PSt SNPaAgI 09.5 6) Meehan'sMonthly,v. 6, 1896 MNS# PSt SNPaAgI 09.6 Title: Meehan's Monthly, v. 1 Place of Publication: Phila. PA Copyright Date: 1891 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg109.1 MM <213863>*Form:serial InputMCB EditFMD 008 ENT: 820616 TYP: d DT1: 1891 DT2: 1902 FRE: m LAN: eng 037 PSt SNPaAg 109. 1-1 10.6 $bPreservation Office, The Pennsylvania State University, Pattee Library, University Parle, PA 16802-1805 090 10 634.05 $bM47 $caxPX $s+U1X1891-U9X1899 090 20 Microfilm D344 reel 109.1-1 10.6 $cmc+(service copy, print master, archival master) $s+U1X1891-U12X1902 245 00 Meehan's monthly $ba magazine of horticulture, botany, and kindred subjects 260 Phila., PA $bT. Meehan & Sons $c1 891 -1902 300 12v. $bill. $c26cm. 310 Monthly 362 1 Published 1891-1902 500 Subtitle varies 533 Microfilm $mv.1 (1891)-v.12 (1902) $bUniversity Park, Pa. : $cPennsylvania State University $d1998 $e2 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. $f(USAIN state and local literature preservation project. Pennsylvania) $f(Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm) 590 Some are reprints 590 This item is temporarily out of the library during the filming process. If you wish to be notified when it retums, please fill out a Personal Reserve slip. The slips are available in the Rare Books Room, in the Microfomis Room, and at the Circulation Desk 650 0 Botany $xPeriodicals 650 0 Agriculture $xPeriodicals 650 0 Gardening $xPeriodicals 785 80 StFloral life 830 0 USAIN state and local literature preservation project $pPennsylvania 830 0 Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm 936 Vol. 1 and 2 (1891-1892) LIC Wf MJcrofilmed By: Challenge Industries 402 E. State St P.O. Box 599 Ithaca NY 14851-0599 phone (607)272-8990 fax (607)277-7865 www.lightlink.com/challind/microl.htm IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (QA-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 |4. ■ 63 2.8 3.2 M 40 1.4 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 150mm jf /APPLIED ^' IIVMGE . Inc 1653 East Main street '^ Rochester. NY 14609 USA -= Phone: 716/482-0300 Fax: 716/288-5989 0 1993. Applied Image. Inc.. All Rights Reserved MEEHANS' MONTHLY A Magazine of Horticulture, Botany and kindred subjects CONDUCTED BY THOMAS MEEHAN FORMERLY EDITOR OF THE "GARDENER'S MONTHLY," AND AUTHOR OF THE "NATIVE FLOWERS AND FERNS OF THE UNITED STATES." VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. BOTANIST TO THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. ETC. ASSISTED BY THOMAS B. MEEHAN, J. FRANK MEEHAN, S. M. MEEHAN \ Volumes i and 2 1891— 1S92 ILLUSTRATED WITH COLORED LITHOGRAPHS BY L. PRANG & CO. AND NUMEROUS COPPER AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS COPYRIGHTED THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Germantown, Puila., Pa. • 1 ( • • ■»• »• "t* '•• t ••«tl It* • t t t llt'll « « I • « ■ I I » I i • £ 03^.0 Preface to Volumes I and II, "^ W ^HK Conductors close here the first voUimes of their task. Their object III '^''^^ ii^iq^^e. On the one hand are novices, who know little of gardening- JrA^\^ or of the sciences relating to garden art. These require the plain practical liints for successful study wherewith to lay the foundation of future success. On the other hand are hosts of intelligent men and women who desire to keep al^reast with the advance guard in popular knowledge. There seemed no reason why both of these chisses should not be ministered unto. And then there was the desire of continuing in a cheap and popular form, the great work of the senior conductor, T/^r Mmrrs mid Ferns of tJic United States. How well this unusual combination of desirable points has been accomplished the work itself will testify. Having finished this one great day of our labors, the conductors may feel '• I.ike one who draws the drapery of his couch Around him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." For tlie task has been a pleasant one, and they will awake to the responsibilities of the new volume witli a courage born of the enthusiasm of hosts of friends. COLORED Asplcniuni niontanuHi, vol. ii 97 A/.alca nudiilijra, vol. ii 17 Roltonia glastifolia, vol. i 3,^ Desiiiodiuin nudinoruni, vol. ii 65 Hibiscus Moschcutos, vol. ii 161 Lepachys coluinuaris, vol i.. 65 Nothokuna dealbata, vol. i 49 Nupharadvena, vol. i 17 Opuntia Rafiiiescpu, vol. ii «Si PLATES. PA". I. Pavonia Wrij^ditii, vol. ii 177 Ranunculus fascicularis. vol. ii 1 Kho.lodcndron niaxiniuni, vol. i 1 Salicojuia mucrouata, vol. ii 129 SpiiiL-a iob.'jta, vol, ii i.}5 vSarraccnia llava, vol. ii 113 Sarrarcnia purpurea, vol. i S] Trirhoinancs radicans, vol. ii 33 Trillium ercctuui. vol. ii 49 ILLUSTRATIONS. p.\(;j: i'A<;i; Ardisia crcnulata, vol. i 5.S Apple, Bcnoni, vol. i 93 Apple, York imperial, vol. ii 1S9 Aroids, edible, vol. i S9 Balsam fir, Frazer's, vol. ii 165 Beech, cut leaved, vol. i 61 Begonia, improved tuberous, vol. i 59 Berberis Thumbergii, vol. ii 1^9 .Black knot, vol. ii 122, 125 Boecklin, Werner, grounds of, vol. ii 117, 121 lioetcher, John, vol. ii 159 Cactus garden, a, vol.ii S9 Calanchoe pinnata, vol. ii 56 Calla lily, dwarf, vol. ii 69 Canna flaccida, vol. ii 37 Cardoon, the, vol. ii 93 Carrot, vol. i 172, 173 Cedar of Lebanon, vol. i 39, 40 Celery, vol. ii 25, 26, 28,57. 74. 76, 77 Clarkia elegans, vol. i 22 Chaste shrul), vol. ii 44 Chestnut trees, vol. i 7 Chionanthus retusus, vol. ii 157 Chionanthus virginica, vol. ii 154 Chrysanthemum, early flowering, vol. ii 168 Cocoanut tree, a young, vol.ii 171 Corn borer, vol. li 21 Corn, Indian, vol. ii 6 Coreopsis tiuctoria, vol. i «S5 Conservatory, a beautiful, vol. ii 73 Currant, Indian, vol. i 84 Cyclamen, creeping, vol. ii 60 Cypress, deciduous, vol. ii 137 Cypress, vol. ii 134 Dioncea muscipula, vol. i 69 Ducumaria barbara, vol. i 41 P'nglish ivy, vol. i 75 Euphorbia heterophylla, vol. ii 53 Evergreen specimen trees, vol. ii 40 Falls of Linville river, N. C, vol. ii 132 Fox glove, vol. i 56, 57 Funkia ovata, vol. i 73 Fuchsia gracilis, vol. ii 186 Girdled Finns ponderosa, vol. i 37 Gladiolus gandavensis, vol. ii 90 Gladiolus Lenioinii, vol.ii 86 Gloxinia, vol. i 70 Goodyera pubescens, vol. ii 54 Hydrangea, the American climbing, vol. i 41 Judas tree, Ja])an, vol. ii Lapham, Dr. I. A, vol. ii Lawson cypress, a weeping, vol. i Leidy, Dr. Josej)!!, vol. i Lcwisia rcdiviva, vol. ii Liriodcndron tuli])ifcra, vol. ii Mailing cases, vol. i Mamillaria ap})lanata, vol. i Morel, the, vol. ii Memorial i)avilion, vol. i Norway spruce, wood growth of a, v(j1. ii Olmsted. A. H., residence of, vol. ii Palm, the sago, vol. ii Pasture grass garden, vol. i Pear. \'crmont licauty, vol. ii Phytolacca decandra, vol. i Plumbago Larpentic, vol, ii I *okcl )erry , vol . i Pontcderia crassipes, vol. ii Privet, tricolored Japan, vol. ii yuercus macrocar])a, vol. ii Ouercus {)alustris, vol. ii Ras])berrics, vol . i i Red snowberrv, vol. i Redwood trees from cuttings, vol. ii Regel, Dr. P^, vol. ii Rhododendron Kamschaticum, vol. i Rooj), residence of Joseph C, vol. ii Sarcodes sanguinca, vol. i Seakal e , vol . i i vSection of Wisteria trunk, vol. i Skunk cabbage, double, vol. i Smith, \Vm. R., vol. ii Snovvl)erry, the white, vol. ii Spircca Bumalda, vol. ii Si)ruce forest, black, vol. ii Stag's horn fern, vol. i Stvrax Japonica. vol. i Tillandsia Wilsoni, vol. ii Toad stool plant, vol. i Tradescantia pilosa, vol. ii Trenton I'^alls, vol. i Trutnpet vine, a tree, vol. ii Victoria Hotel, Intcrlakeu, Switzerland, vol. ii Venus fly trap, vol. i Victoria regia, vol. ii Wild flowers, vol. ii Xanthoceris sorbifolia, vol. i 139 3' 43 13 85 4 91 4 141 25 181 185 88 9 108 53 58 53 13 42 153 155 102 84 169 I II V*) 105 36 106 20 68 10 24 149 77 II 180 21 36 5 9 143 69 15 79 27 POEMS. ^15^^ PAGE rA<.i; A Brooklet in the Woods, vol. ii 115 A Connecticut Scene, vol. ii 87 A Forsaken Grave, vol. i 94 A June Evening, vol. ii 83 A Morning in Early Spring, vol. ii 35 A Persian Garden, vol. ii 13^ A Spring Garden, vol. ii 55 A Thought in a Rose Garden, vol. ii 23 An Oak, vol. i 51 Autunui, vol. ii \.\'] P\)rget-me-not, vol.ii 158 Hail Chrvsanthemum, vol. ii 167 His Work vShall Live, vol. i 78 Hopeless, vol. ii 46 in iKm^g^S^w- ^SRfSP'^Jf? 'ijs?^ PAGE Ivabor is Sweet, vol. ii .q Loneliness, vol. ii ' 15^ Memories of the Past 174 Memories of the Violets, vol. ii .'.. 10 Nature Blesses All, vol. ii .'.'.*.* 04 Old Friends, vol. ii 142 Old Memories in December, vol. i 8^ Origin of the Rose, vol. ii 62 Plant a Tree, vol. ii "* 7 Planting the Apple Tree, vol. i V.'.' 71 Primeval Churches, vol. i 67 The Absent One, vol. ii " 78 The Blackbird, vol. ii ;.*;; L The Blessed Tree Planter, vol. ii 10^ The Chestnut Wood, vol. ii 67 The Frost Stricken Garden, vol, ii '.['.[['. 157 The Greenhouse m the Winter, vol. ii 183 Abies concolor, vol. i cy Abies pinsapo, vol. ii ""26 qq Absinthe, vol. i "'''''... ' 30 Acacias for shade trees , vol . i i 1 23 Academy of Natural Sciences, vol. ii 16 Adams, John, vol. ii 5^ Air plant, Florida, vol. ii ',[[,', 184 Akebia quinata, vol. ii 103 Almonds, vol. ii 54 Aloe, the American, vol. i 4^ Alphand, M.,vol. ii *.'.*.*.'.'.* 30 American and Japan flowers, vol. ii 21 American Gardening, vol. ii 32 American Pomological Society, vol. i. ............ 80 American Pomological Society, proceedings of, vol. ii J12 Ammophila arundinacea, vol. ii [ 20 Andromeda Mariana, vol. i [ 20 Animals and vegetables, boundaries between, , vol. ii 68 Animals trespassing, vol. ii ir2 Angels' tears, vol. li 117 Ants in gardens, vol. i, 72,90 ; vol. ii, 151***170, 187 Aphis on maple trees, vol. i 28 Apple, vol. i, 23, 92, 45, 60 ; vol. ii, 45, 55,*6o, 70, ioi» 141. IS7 Aquatic culture, vol. i 24 44 Arbronia umbellata, vol. ii ' 70 Arbor Vitae, vol.ii 21 Archyranthes, bud variation in, vol. ii!.!..!.*!.'.'!* -17 Aroids, edible, vol. i §4 Artichoke, Chinese, vol. i '.'."...! 28 Artichoke, Jerusalem, vol. ii 69, 150 Asclepias Cornuti, vol. i 36 Asparagus, tying, vol. ii 13 Aspidium fragrans, vol. i 54 Asplenium montanuni, vol. ii 97 Aster, a new, vol. i !!!!! 22 Aster, China, vol. ii 41 Aster, macrophvllus, vol. i ...........! 22 Audubon, vol. 1 '/[''^ 62 Australia, select plants for cultivation in, vol! ii 30 Autumn foliage, vol. i 38 Azalea anioena, vol. i 24 Azalea nudiflora, vol. ii ......17, 52, 83 Azalea viscosa, vol. i ' ' 70 Babington, Prof. C. C, vol. ii !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 191 Bacteria and plant disease, vol. ii 8 Bailey, L. H., vol. ii 127, 158 Balsam fir, Frazer's, vol. ii 165 Baneberry, vol. ii 38 Bark enclosed by wood vol. i, 20 ; vol! ii, 180 Bartram, John, vol. i 31 Bearbind, the double flowered, vol. ii.!!!!!!!!!!!! 186 Bearded lady, the, vol. ii 70 Beech, an interesting, vol. ii 166 Bees, vol. ii 3, 12, 132, 141 PAGE The June Rose, vol. i 87 The I/O ve of Nature, vol. ii 126 The Meadow Brook, vol. ii 99 The Moral of the Holly Tree, vol. ii 190 The Night Blooming Jasamine in Paradise, vol. ii 71 The Persian Water-lily, vol. ii 48 The Ripening of the Grape, vol. ii 119 The Rose and the Gardener, vol. i 29 The Spirits of Spring, vol. ii ..- 51 The Winter's Ride, vol. ii 179 The Trailing Arbutus, vol. i 19 The Woodbine and the Ruin, vol. ii 135 To the Trailing Arbutus, or May-flower, vol. ii. 3 Wasted Lives, vol. ii 14 With a Box of Pond I^ilies, vol. i 35 Begonia, sweet scented, vol. i 22, 59 Berberis Thunbergii, vol. ii 121 Berberry rust, vol. ii 119 Berries, plants with, vol. i 58, 116 Bignonia capreolata, vol. ii 138 Bigtrees of California, vol. i 6 Bind weeds, pretty , vol.ii 60 Birch, vol. i 7 Bird of Paradise flower, vol. ii 155 Birds, fruit loving, vol. ii 157 Birds, protection of, vol. i 27 Birthwort, tree leaved, vol. i 49 Bitter sweet, vol. i 54 Black knot, vol. ii 124 Blanc, A, vol. i 63 Blechnum spicant, vol. i 86 Bletia aphylla, vol. i 38 Blue spruce, Colorado, vol. i 55, 106 Brasenia peltata, vol. ii 99 Bridal wreath, vol. ii 106 Botanical names, vol. ii 32, 83 Botanic gardens of New York, vol. ii 22 Boltonia asteroides, vol. i 60 Boltonia glastifolia, vol. i 33 Boltonia latisquama, vol. ii 176 Bordeaux mixture, vol. ii 10 Borers, fruit tree, vol. i 58 Botany as an aid in ethnology, vol. ii 179 Botany at waterfalls, vol. i 5 Botany, the pleasures of, vol. ii 164 Buckleya distichophylla, vol.ii 118 Buhach, vol. ii m Buttercups vol. i, 36 ; vol. ii, 31, 86 Butternut tree that should be famous, a, vol. ii 36 Cabbage, the heading of, vol. i, 42 ; vol. ii, 124 Cactuses vol. i, 4, 57 ; vol. ii, 91, 118, 124 Cahoon, John C, vol. i 30 Caladium esculentum, vol. ii 59, 160 Calanchoe pinnata, vol. ii 56 Calla lilly, a new, vol. ii 73 Calla palustris, vol. i 85 Calycantlius, a summer flowering, vol. ii 120 Canna agra, vol. ii jm Canna flaccida, vol. ii !!!!!!!!! 36 Cardoon, the, vol. ii 03 Carnation vol. i, 28 ; vol. ii, s! 1*5*1*, 187 Carrots globular, vol. ii 77 Catalpa timber, vol. ii 107 Caterpillars and tar-grease, vol. ii !!! 138 Cedar, Japan, vol. i 28 Cedar of lyebanon, vol. i 30 Cedar, the red, vol. i !.!!!.!!!!!!! 86 Cedar, yellow, vol. ii 57 Celeriac, vol.ii 23 4^ Celery culture, vol. ii !!!....6o, '76, '140 Celery, turnip rooted vol. i, 77 ; vol. ii, 28 Celery, turnip rooted, vol. ii 28 PAOft Cemeteries, vol. i ii, 26, 72 Cenchrus tribuloides 99 Cephalotaxus Fortuni, vol. i 75 Cercidiphyllum Japonicum. vol. ii 150 Cercis Japonica, vol. ii 170 Cereus triangularis, vol. ii 170 Challos, vol. ii 144 Chamisso, vol. ii 78 Cherries, vol. i 26 Cherry, the capuli, vol. ii 55 Cherry, the Windsor, vol. ii 12 Chestnut trees in Rhode Island, vol. i, 70 ; vol. ii, 54 Children of the forest, vol. ii 48 Chocho, vol. i 76 Chrysanthemums, hardy, vol. i, 8; vol. ii, 151, 152 156, 168 Cicuta bulbifera, great productiveness of, vol. ii 100 Cider, molasses, vol. ii 45 Cinnamon vine, vol. i 28 Citrus trifoliata, vol. ii 40 Clare, John, vol. i 46 Clark, I/ewis and, vol. ii 175 Clarkia, double, vol. i 22 Cleistogamic flowers in the violets, vol. ii 179 Clematis disease, vol. i 74 Cleveland, H. S., vol. i 78 Clover, crimson, vol. ii 42 Cochineal, vol. ii 185 Cockerell, T. D. A., vol. i 30 Cocoanuts in Florida, vol. ii 171 Coleus, vol. i 10 Color and climate, vol. i 51 Columbine, a native white, vol. ii 51 Compass plants, vol. i 68 Cone-bearing trees, English and American names for, vol. ii 85 Coniferae, history of, vol. ii 184 Coniferous trees, native localities for, vol. ii 149 Conservatories, vol. i. 26; vol. ii. 73, 160 Conover, George S., vol. i 78 Cope, Caleb, vol. ii 14 Copperas solutions, vol. i 11, 27, 89 Cobbett, William, vol. ii 94 Cork raising in California, vol. ii 106 Corn, removing tassels from, vol. i 56 Cornus florida, vol. ii 68 Crinkle root vol. i. 57, 83; vol. ii. 19, 22, 38 Crow-foot, early, vol. ii i Crow-foot, the creeping, vol. ii 52 Crown imperial, vol. ii 123 Cucumber, the English, vol. ii 140 Currants vol. i. 58; vol. ii. 45, 61, 75, 188 Cyclamen, a creeping, vol. ii 53 Cypress, the deciduous vol. ii. 131, 133, 163, 167 Cypripedium spectabile, vol. ii 99 Dahlias, vol. i 10, 37, 43 Daisy, vol. ii 38, 70 Dandelion salad, vol. i 60 Daphne cneorum, vol. ii 42 Darwin, Charles, vol. ii 127 Davison, William, vol. ii 175 De Puydt, Mons. P. E., vol. i 30 Desert, the flora, vol. ii 163 Desmodium nudiflorum, vol. ii 65 Desmodium penduliflorum, vol. ii 122 Diplopappus linariifolius, vol. i 85 Dock, the curled, vol. ii 93 Dodecatheon, improvement of the, vol. ii 24 Double flowers, vol. ii 42 Douglas, vol. ii 103, 165 Drains, roots in, vol. ii 27 Ducumaria barbara, vol. i 41 Edwards, Henry, vol. i 47 Elderberry, red, vol. ii 116 Elm seed, vol. i 42 Emblems, floral, vol. i 23 Emerson, Dr. Govemeur, vol. i 45 ]>AOE Engelniann, Dr. Geo., vol. ii 63 English heath, vol. ii 39 Ergot, vol. ii 120 Erigeron speciosuni, vol. ii 69 Eriogonum Haussknechtii, vol. i 67 Eucalyptus trees, vol. ii 138 Euphorbia heterophylla, vol. ii 53 Evening glor\', vol. ii 80 Evergreen, hardiness of, vol. ii 88 Evergreens of Japan, large, vol. ii 154 Evergreen specimen trees, vol. ii 40 Evergreens, transplanted, vol. i 87 Evergreen trees, the beauty of, vol. ii 32 Evergreen trees, the beauty of, vol. i 71 Exhibition, a great horticultural, vol. ii 71 Exochorda Albcrti, vol. ii 170 Exochorda grandiflora, vol. i 28 Fairchild, vol. ii 47 Farlow, Prof. W. G., vol. ii 62 Fern, chain, vol. ii 118 Fern, Killarney, vol. ii 33 Ferns, odorous, vol. i 85 Ferns of California, vol. ii 84 Ferns, origin of, vol. ii loi Ferns, reproduction of, vol. i 69 Ferns, shield, vol. ii 128 Ferns, structure of, vol. i 67 Ferns, whitened cloak, vol. i 49 Fig vol. i 77; vol. ii. 115, 140, 173. 176 Filberts, vol. ii 29, 60, 187 Fire cracker flower, vol. i 54 Fish, fasting, vol. i 70 Fleece, mountain, vol. i 74 Flora of North America, the old, vol. ii 181 Floriculture, vol. i 41 Flower pictures, wild, vol. ii 48 Flowers, miscellaneous notes on. Vol. i. 20,53,69,85,87; vol. 14, 19, 48,, 64, 67, 75, 85, 96, 99. 100. ii5» i«6, 150, 179 Fly catching plants, vol. i 69 Foliage, varying tints of spring, vol. ii loi Forestry vol. i. 14, 41. 58, 90; vol. ii. 41. 7" Foxgloves, curious, vol. i 5^ Franklin tree, vol. ii 89 Franklin, Benjamin, vol. i 95 Frazer, Alexander, vol. i 47 Fringe trees, vol. ii I54 Fruits, miscellaneous notes on. Vol. i. 23, 77, 107 ; vol. ii. 29, 44, 76, 172, 187, 189 Fuchsia gracilis, vol. ii 186 Fuchsia triphvlla, vol. ii ^86 Fuller, Weld Henry, vol. ii 190 Fungi, peculiarity of microscopic, vol. ii 92 Fungus, gooseberry, vol. ii 92 Garden for California, botanic, vol. ii I43 Garden, grandmother's, vol. ii '37 Garden, the Paris plant, vol. ii 25 Gardening, vol. ii • ^5^ Gardening around summer hotels, vol. ii 135 Gardening in Dakota, vol. ii 32 Gardening, ladies in commercial, vol. ii 136 Gardening, landscape, vol. ii 152 Gentians, vol. i • 6, 83, 167 Giant trees of California, vol. i 3^ Gibson, Henry C, vol. ii 3® Ginger culture, vol. ii ^3" Girdled trees vol. i. 37, 53; vol. ii. 100 Gladiolus, hybrid, vol. i. 42; vol. ii. 90 Glass-wort, Virginia, vol. ii 129 Glvptostrobus sinensis, vol. ii 151 Golden-rod, vol. i 5'. ^6 Goodale, Prof., vol. i I4 Goo , 1- ■•■y >i.; j Grapes, culture and kinds, vol. i. 57, 92 ; vol, ii. 13, 45.74, 76. 156, 171, 173, 176, iSA. •^SF^ZSm? L*i. i^jfvViriii^-:i''--'4 ■.iaiLVAMJ>!A>ji«iii!W.'JJ PA6B PAGE Seeds, German flowers, vol. ii 151 Seeds, good, vol. ii 106 Sensitive plant, vol. i 12 Sessen, William, vol. ii 158 Shade trees from Florida, vol. ii..^ 121 Shaw, Henry, vol. i 92 Shelley, Percy Byshe, vol. i 47 Sherman's weed, vol. ii 20 Shrublet, vol. i 75 Shrubs, trimming, vol. i 72 Shultz, S. S., vol. i 78 Side-saddle flower vol. i, 81 ; vol. ii, 38 Side-saddle flower, vol. ii 38 Silk worms, vol. ii 42 Skunk-cabbage, double, vol. i 68 Smilax Walteri, vol. ii 107 Smith, Prof. Emory, vol, ii 94 Smith, Wm. R., vol. ii 175 Snow, red, vol. i 67 Snow plant of the Sierra Nevada, vol. i 36, 52 Snowberry, the red, vol. ii 36 Snowberry, the white, vol. ii 10 Soil, shading the, vol. ii 57 Spiders, red, vol. ii 121 Spinach, vol. i 41 Spiraea Astilboides, vol. i 27 Spiraea Bumalda, vol. ii 24 Spiraea lobata, vol. ii 145 Speedwell, the common, vol. ii , 36 Splatterdock, vol. i 17, 53 Spleenworth, mountain, vol. ii 97 Squash, turban, vol. ii 43 Stamens growing out of pistils, vol. ii 180 Staphylia colchica, vol. ii 40 Stem borers, vol. ii 21 St. Joseph, vol. ii 63 Strawberries, vol. i, 32, 55, 60, 75, 76 ; vol. ii, 45, ^, , . , .. 59. 60,91, 92, 107, 139 btyrax Japonica, vol. 11 n Streets for the florists, vol. ii 96 Strong, W. C, vol. ii 63, 79, 142 Sugar maple, the black, vol. i 83 Sulphate of copper for leaf blight in the pear, vol. ii 172 Sulphate of iron vol. i, 74 ; vol. ii, 41 Summer house, a type of gentility, vol. ii 26 Swamp apple, excrescence in Azalea nudiflora, vol. ii 51, 53 Sycamore, the, vol. ii ' 54 Symphoricarpus vulgaris, vol. ii 118 Symplocos prunifolia, vol. i 24 Tamarisk, vol. i 87 Tamarack on the Pacific, vol. ii 115 Tamarack tree, paper from. vol. ii 84 Taplin, James, vol. ii 46 Tea, substitutes for, vol. ii 86 Teakwood, vol. ii 182 Thistle, Canada, vol. ii 41 Thomas, J. J., vol. ii 31 Thorpe, John, vol. i 94 Thuja gigantea, vol. ii 115 Tick-trefoil, naked, vol. ii 65 Timber, destruction of, vol. ii 119 Tints in Autunm color, vol. i 42 Toad-stool plant, vol. i 24 Toads and tadpoles, vol. ii 133 Toads eat, how, vol. ii 182 Tomatoes, vol. i, 68; vol. ii, 12, 27, 43, 77, 124, 156, 170 Tortoise, the age of a, vol. i 54 Toyow, or California holl^, vol. ii 118 Tradescantia pilosa, vol. li 36 Tradescantia rosea, vol. ii 80 Transplanting, signs of successful, vol. i 88 Trelease, Prof. William, vol. ii 175 Trichonanes radicans, vol. ii 33 Trillium erectum, vol. ii 85 Tropical scenes, vol. ii 165 Trowbridge, J. M., vol. i 62 Trumpet flower, Peruvian, vol. ii 34 Trumpet leaf, large yellow, vol. ii 113 Tree on a tower, a, vol. ii 112 Tree trunks, lengthening of, vol. ii 119, 179 Tree, William Penn treaty, vol. ii 174 Trees, miscellaneous notes on, vol i, 12, 75 ; vol ii, 9, 24, 25, 41, 44, 58, 70, 72, 77, 104, 105, 150, 167, 169, 170 Tulip tree, triangular-leaved, vol. ii 21 Tulip tree, variation in the leaves of, vol. ii a Tulips, Darwin, vol. ii 11 Valentine, Lawson, vol. i 31 Value of a local paper, vol. ii 128 Van Volxeni, Jean B. J., vol. i 95 Vanderbilt, Cornelius, his lawn at Newport, vol. ii 94 Variations, vol. ii 164 Varieties and species, sudden appearances of, vol. ii 84 Varieties, persistency of, vol. ii 172 Vegetable cellars, vol. i 7 Vegetables, Indian, vol. ii 156 Vegetables to Europe, exportation of, vol. ii.... 123 Vegetation in the vicinity of glaciers, vol. ii 164 Verbascum phlomoides, vol. i 53 Venus' fly trap. vol. ii 23 Venus paint bush, vol. ii 42 Veronica chamaedrys, vol. ii 132 Veronica officinalis, vol. ii 166 Vicia Cracca, vol. ii 176 Victoria regia, vol. ii 14, 24 Vine, matrimony, vol. ii 103 Vines on walls, vol. i 26 Vilmorin, vol. ii 143 Violet, bird's foot, vol. ii 56 Violet, bird's foot, vol. ii 106 Violet diseases, vol. ii 8 Violet, dogtooth, vol. ii 19 Violet, the dog tooth, vol. ii 86 Violet, yellow dog tooth, vol. ii 116 Violets in frames, growing, vol. ii 87 Vitex agnus castus, vol. ii 43 Von Muller, Baron, vol. i 45 Von Naegeli, Dr. U. H., vol. i 30 Walnut, English, vol. ii 140 Wagons, steam road, vol. ii 170 Watson, Sereno, vol. ii 62 Weeds, vol. i, 37, 68; vol. ii, 5, 52, 95, 122, 144, 153. 176 Weltz, Ivco, vol. i 29, 45 Whitewash off" glass, getting, vol. ii 7 Whitney, Col. Nathan, vol. i 14,31 Wild flowers vol. i, 54, 84 ; vol. ii, 91 Willows, flowering of, vol. i 54 Willow, curled leaved, vol. i 54 Willow, the history of the weeping, vol. ii 174 Willow wood, vol. ii loi Wisteria multijuga, vol. ii 104 Wood, Dr. Thos. F., vol. ii 158 Wood, fragrant, vol. i 59 Woods, American, vol. ii 63 Woolverton, lyinus, vol. ii 79 Wools, Dr. W., vol. ii 79 Worm, cabbage, vol. ii 122, 125 Worms, eel, vol. ii 121 Wych hazel, vol. i 38 Worm wood, the Roman, vol. ii 52 Wright's pavonia, vol. ii 177 Xanthoceris sorbifolia, vol. i 27 Xavier, St. Francis, vol. ii 95 Yuccas and agaves, vol. ii 190 York imperial apple, vol. ii 189 Zauchneria California vol. i, 36 ; vol. ii, 71 Zimmerman, Godfrey, vol. ii 142 Zinnias, double, vol. ii » 39 nu ..''^}^^:Tifi •"\'. RHODODENDRON MAXIMUM. MOUNTAIN LAUREL. a NATURAIy ORDER, ERICACE.Ii. Rhododendron maximum, Linnseu-s.— Stem six to ten or twenty feet high, with stout, irregular branches ; leaves three to six inches long, with a short acumination, often cuneately tapering at the ba.se, green above, pale or ferruginous beneath, petioles thick, half an inch to an inch in length. Flowers in dense thyrsoid or corymbo.se racemes ; pedicels an inch to an inch and a-half long ; corolla pale rose color, with greenish tinges, and orange or yellow colored spots. (Darling- ton's Flora Cestrtca. See also Gray's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States ; Chapman's Flora of the Southern United States, and Wood's Class Book of Botany.) In the work above cited Dr. Darlington re- marks, ' 'this is a noble shrub ; but lyinnaeus was unfortunate in calling it Maximum, inasmuch as Dr. J. D. Hooker has found a species in the Himalayan Mountains forty to sixty feet high. *' It may be remarked, however, that though it is not usual to go beyond Linnaeus for authori- ties in plants' names, he is scarcely the author of this. Before his time plants had no specific names. The description was given of each kind, with the generic name, and in many cases Linnaeus, when he adopted the binomial system, merely struck out all but /)ne of the descriptive terms. Thus this Rhododendron was known as the Chamcrrhodendron poritica maxima, or the greater pontic — rhododendron. He struck out all but the last, reducing the name to Rhododendron ?naximum. In these days we only regard the meanings of plants' names as matters connected with their histories. A name which has no meaning is as good as any other. It is looked on as dangerous to take the plant's name as any part of its botan- ical character. It, however, has been in many ways the mis- fortune of the Rhododendron to have misconcep- tions arise from its name. In Dr. Gray* s A/a /tua I of Botayiy it is said, •' Rhododendron, rose tree, the ancient name,' ' which is correct so far as it is an ancient name ; but it is not the ancient name for the plants we now know as such. The Xerium, or Oleander, was evidently the clas- sical Rhododendron, and our plants seem to have been unknown to the ancients. It appears to have been known to some of the writers of the sixteenth century, who describe it as the ''Laurel of Alexandria," the Oleander being their " Rose Laurel." Further, we may learn how, under this misconception, this pretty genus of plants came to get a ver>- bad name, for it has been repeated over and over again in most works on the Rhododendron, that the honey collected by bees from the flowers is poisonous. This is simply the statement of Pliny about his "Rhododendron," which, as we have seen, is the Oleander, and may be per- fectly true of that plant, which is believed to be a very poisonous one. It is not probable that the Rhododendron of Europe, or our American species, is in any material degree poisonous. The celebrated Dr. Bigelow, of Boston, did not believe it, and he once ate a whole leaf to show his faith in his convictions. Moreover, an infusion of the leaves oi Rhododendron maximum was a popular remedy for rheumatism among some of the Indian tribes, as we learn from Rafinesque and Lesquereux. The supposed poisonous quality of the Rho- dodendron has caused it to be used in poetical illustrations frequently in that connection. The well known lines of Moore in Lalla Rhook give an instance of this : ** Ev'n as those bees of Trebizond, — \yhich from the sunniest flowers that clad With their pure smile the garden round, Draw venom forth that drives men mad." and, speaking of the Pontic Rhododendron, Mrs. Hooper says, " these purple flowers abound in a poisonous honej', and have been made (I) 99fiH^. T>y^ RHODODENDROxX MAXIMUM. MOUNTAIN LALRKI.. I NATURAL ORDKR, ERICACE.K. Rhododendron maximt-m, Linnaeus.— Stem six to ten or twenty feet liiKh. with stout, irrctjular branches ; k-avcs three to six inches long, with a sliort acumination, often cuneately taiierinij at the base, jjreen above, pale or ferruginous beneath, petioles thick, half an inch to an inch in lenj^th. llowers in dense thyrsoid or corymbose racemes ; pedicels an ijich to an inch and a-half long; corolla i)ale rose ct)lor, with greenish tinges, and orange or yellow colored spots. (Darling- ton's FA>;' much to the pretty appearance of the plant, and is one of the most beautiful we have in cultiva- tion ; but these red berry-like fruit were started b\' the flowers of the preceding year. The Mamillaria is not the only plant that takes this won- derful rest before starting again. Some oaks and pines do the same thing, — bu the rapidity with which the fruit changes from green to red, and complete their full growth, adds an additional element of wonder in this case. Botany at Water- falls.— Those who are fond of natural history and the gen- eral beauties of natural scenery, will N FALLS-scc PAGc 6. usually find more variety to occupy their attention in the vicinity of mountain streams with water-falls, than in any other class of locations ; that is to say, there is more variety in a small compass. There is a large class of wild plants especially, which delight in the spray and moist atmosphere from falling waters, and which can only be found in such localities. Take, for instance, the vicinity of Niagara Falls, where visitors, fond of botany, frequently go to get specimens of the Pamassia palustris, which are found luxuriating in the spray which falls from the dense volume of water flowing over the rocks. MEEHANS' MOXTHIvY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [July, In like manner, near the famous water-falls of a smaller character, such as those in the vicinity of the Delaware Water Gap and Trenton Falls, N. Y., ferns of every character are found in the vicinity of the spraj^ which are either not obtained at all elsewhere, or not with the same vigor and luxuriance, which to the collector is of as much importance as to find an entirely new plant. Equally with the great variety of ferns which love to be in the vicinity of water- falls, is the great chance for the collection of mosses and liverworts, which also abound in these situations. Trenton Falls is especiallj^ interesting, not merely for its varied botanical features, but also from the geological ones. The nature of the formation belonging to the Silurian age, affords many special objects of attraction that are not found elsewhere. To say Trenton Falls to the lover of natural his- tory, is like talking of roast beef and plum pud- ding to a starving man. We present herewith a view of one of the leading features of the Falls, showing the hillsides lined with hem- lock and Arbor Vit?e and many other forms of vegetation, which give variety to the forest scenery. With the exception of the New River Falls in Virginia, there is possibly no river vscenery in the United States which would give features of more varied beauty. We are indebted to the proprietor of Moore's Hotel at Trenton Falls, N. Y., for the beautiful illustration which accompanies this note. The Bk; Trees of California.— A wag once stated that the Dogwood tree ought to be known by its bark, but the big trees of Cali- fornia are as certainly known by their bark, which is a spongy mass, often measuring nearly a foot thick. It is on account of this great thickness of bark, wliicli in a measure does not take kindly to fire, that the large trees have been in a great measure preserved through so many ages, when other trees have been entirely destroyed by the flames which rushed through the forests. The bark of these mammoth trees preserved them from destruc- tion. Another wag, following the wake of the Dogwood man, has stated that among the ani- mals the mammoth trees have the biggest bark, only for the ''bark" he would not have classed it with the animal creation. It is pleasant to read in the public prints, that the United States is taking steps to preserve these mammoth trees from the woodman's axe. Al- though fire has failed to remove these giants from the face of the earth, the other works of man will soon accomplish the destruction, which in a state of nature they have hitherto escaped. No efforts on the part of the United States government should be spared to pre- serve these great memorials of the past for future generations. Compass Plants.— As is now well known the Compass Plant, Silphitnu laci7iiatnm, has the edges of the leaves pointing north and south, the faces of the leaves having an eastern and western exposure. This is undoubtedly true of the younger leaves, the older ones, howev^er, falling around in different directions by their own weight. Just why this plant behaves in this way has not yet been dead}' made out, although a number of shrewd guesses have been offered concerning it. An interesting new fact is one given recently by Mr. B. L. RobiUvSon, of Cambridge, Mass., that there are two distinct forms of this plant ; one form has the stems covered with glandular pubescence, the other is simply rough, covered with bristly white hair, but not glandular, and one kind blooms late in October, a month later than the other. ]\Ir. Robinson does not know from what part of the west these differ- ent kinds come. It would be well worth while, for those fond of wild flowers, to watch the behavior of this plant in its native locali- ties ; possibly the clue to its singular polarity might be discovered by a little closer watch- fulness. Gentians. — Few lovers of flowers but have either met with or read about Gentians, for .they are common in Alpine regions, and some species have entered largely into poetry and literature. Only a few get down to low alti- tudes ; one of the best known of these is per- haps the fringed gentian, though the closed gentian, which appears just before frost in some of the Atlantic sea-board states, is fre- quently collected. A remarkably beautiful blue one, Gcutiana augustifolia is found in the low pine-barrens of New Jersey, south to Flor- ida, and a white one occurs from \'irginia and Kentucky to Lake Superior and western Can- ada. G. sapomv'ia is the most widelj- distrib- uted. GENERAL GARDENING. THE PRETTY AND USEFUL BIRCH. Few trees attract as much attention as the Birches. Being hardy in all climates and soils the birch is universally known all over the world. The White birch, Behila alba, is very common in Europe ; while the species Icnta, rubra, papyracea and excelsa are found in nearly all parts of North America, being espe- cially plentiful in the forests of tlie extreme northern parts. The birch trees are useful as well as beauti- ful. Carriage builders and furniture dealers use the wood on account of its lightness, and at the same time its toughness. Being very pliant it can be bent and twisted into any shape or form. In reference to its use as an ornamental tree, no other class commands such individual char- acteristics as the birch ; its fine willowy branches, small heart-shaped leaves, and gen- eral uniform growth make a model tree for parks, lawns, or even for shade trees. The birch commonly seen along creeks and rivers in many parts of the northeast is the red birch. Betiila rub) a. Of all the species none can be so easily distinguished as this one. Its smooth reddish bark hangs in strips all over the trunk, giving it the appearance of a tree on a battlefield, all tattered and torn by bullets. Though this kind is found in its wild state generally on or near some stream of water, it grows with just as much strength on higher ground. The seeds ripen before other birches in the last part of ISIay. The male catkins are long and slender, and the female a trifle longer and greater in diameter than any other kind except the yellow. The sweet and yellow birches grow on higher ground as a rule, though they thrive in almost any locality. These two varieties are like twin brothers in appearances, both having the same globe-like growth in looking at them from a distance. The sweet birch takes its name from the sugary taste of the sap and bark. From these already mentioned new forms have been founcf. among the most common of which are the purple, upright, cut-leaved and Young's weeping birch, bearing the respective names of purpurea, pyramidalis, incisa and Youngii. The purple kind is so named on ac- count of its purple leaves and young wood, while the main trunk still retains the fine smooth bark of the white birch. The next kind mentioned is a compact form having the same white bark, its peculiarity being its pyramidal form. Betula laciuiata, or the cut-leaved birch is the '* king ' ' variety of all. The finely cut leaves, as the name implies, give it a rather feathery, appearance which no other kind possesses. Young's weeping birch is a grafted kind,— that is to say, grafted on the trunk of another sort. The limbs, which are thin and switchy, like other birches hang down in form like the common Kilmarnock willow ; this makes it useful for lawn and ornamental purposes. Betula papyracea, or paper birch, was formerly used by Indians and hunters for making canoes, the lightness and at the same time the firmness of the bark being specially adapted to that use. J- ^- ^^• Vegetahlk Cellars.— a correspondent who is at the head of a large State Institution would like to know what would be a good plan of constructing a vegetable cellar. It will proba- bly be difficult to suggest a plan that would suit any two cases equally well— so much would depend on the kind and the quantity of each kind. The chief enemies of a root cellar are too high a temperature, or it is too damp so as to cause rotting, or too dry when shrivelling ensues. As to temperature, the nearer freezing the better, so long as it does not fall l)elow freezing point. Though no one's cellar is likely to suit another exactly, many good suggestions would be drawn from the success of another.— and if any one has a structure that is regarded as satisfactory, an account of it for our pages would be very acceptable. (7) 8 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y — GENERAL GARDENING. [July, 189I.] MEEHAXS' MONTHIA* — GENERAL GARDENING. The Seckel Pear.— -The following inter- esting letter comes from Prof. Emil Bauer, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is a curious com- mentary on the ♦♦truths of history," that the original Seckel pear tiee is still standing in Philadelphia, on the estate of Stephen Girard, the famous philanthropist ; and that the ground was originally bought with the pear tree on it, by a farmer named Seckel, a few of his descendants still remaining in Philadel- phia. They are of English and not German race. There are a number of German de- scent in Philadelphia who spell their names Sickel. " The so called Seckel pear originated in Bal- timore, Md., at the beginning of this century, not later perhaps than 181 8. " A German, by the name of Sichel, raised it there from seed. " My authority for this statement is Rev. Jacob Henrici, leader and Trustee of the Har- mony Society, at Economy, Beaver county. Pa., who has been an officer of said society since 1826, and who, although in his 87th year, is still the intelligent and active leader of said society. I have known him for 30 years and have visited with him at Economy frequently ever since. '♦ Knowing that I take great interest in fruit, Mr. Henrici showed me on the 30th of Novem- ber, 1889, a Sichel pear tree which has a his- tory. It stands in the garden of the Trustees. I was informed by my friend that the society obtained this tree from Mr. Sichel, of Balti- more, and that said tree was first planted by said society at Harmony, Posey county, Indi- ana, whither the society had moved from Pennsylvania in 1814. In 1824 the society sold their town. Harmony, and all their prop- erty on the Wabash river, to Robert Owen, who settled upon it his New Lanark colony. But the Harmonists thought so much of their Sichel pear tree, that they took great pains to take it with them back to Pennsylvania and planted it on their new settlement at Economy, where it grew and prospered again under the intelligent care of Mr. George Rapp, the founder of the society. It is yet bearing and I tasted its fruit from time to time, although I never knew its history until the 30th of November, 1889, as stated above. Pear culture being my specialty of course I took, great in- terest in this statement. I know the fruit of it to be the genuine so called Seckel pear. " The tree at Economy must be at least 70 years old. ♦' It is proper to remark, that this society, from its beginning, has pursued agriculture and horticulture principally, although later, after a successful experiment with the mul- berry tree, they engaged in the manufacture of silk and other industries. There is hardly any fruit that is not cultivated with the most intelligent care at Economy. "Mr. Henrici, my authority for the above statement, although a teacher by profession, was interested in fruit culture from his boy- hood. When his family landed in Baltimore in 1825 they sold thousands of grapevines w^hich thQy had brought with them from Rhenish Bavaria. •' The above statement shows that Mr. Sichel is the benefactor who gave us this highest type of American pears and that it should bear his name, unless Sichel is translated into English, in which case Sickle would be correct. German, Die Sichel ; English, Sickle. Emil Baur, Teacher of German Language and Literature, 1552 Ann Arbor, Mich." Hardy Chrysanthemums.— Chrysanthem- ums are seen almost always in pots and cul- tivated as house plants, but it is not well known that they are very good hardy herba- ceous plants, living out even in severe winters, with a very light protection. They like to grow especially alongside of walls or fences and then with a few dry leaves over them and a little earth to keep the leaves from blowing away, they live out as well as the majority of hardy plants do. Another advantage in hav- ing them under fences or near walls is that they bloom comparatively early ; otherwise they are apt to have their blossoms cut when the early frost comes. They usually flower a little later than asters and golden rods. They also do well when planted in borders of shrub- bery ; the bushes preserving them from the early autumn frosts. They require during the winter the protection of a few leaves thrown over them. Nothing is gayer than a bunch of shrubbery in autumn, with chrysanthemums flowering between them, from plants that have been out the winter before. Management of Lawns. — It is a longtime since the Gardeners' Monthly proposed to con- struct lawns by what was then called in- oculation, instead of sowing or seeding it. By this method, it was advised to take one kind of grass and break it into small pieces, plant- ing the pieces about five or six inches apart ; rolling the whole thoroughly with a heavy rol- ler, so as to make the surface perfectly flat and smooth, and let the pieces grow together, and in that way have the lawn of one uniform species over the whole. The great pressure of different individuals praising what is called having one uniform tint of green, has several patchy colors, not at all as pleasing as when one uniform tint of green prevails. We under- stood that, in Mr. Olcott's method in breaking up one species of grass to fill a lawn, the small pieces are planted closer together than in the method formerly proposed, under the name of inoculating; at any rate, Mr. Olcott's efforts are of immense value to those who like to see beautiful lawns. Under the present method of making lawns, by which grass seed is sown, other weeds frequently are introduced, and give the lawn a bad appearance. This, how- _ ^i^ •••• 1 ^Mi .V ..L^'; >-.w. -^vv •^'^0'* *^vVi x^'T/'r ~^^* -i*-^ .... y^^ .•.^f«tr^^3^ ^W'''f^«^^'.*jPR^ '^P&^J^y "^^^ih ^^ «5?* ■-•■ k^4^ "^^ OLCOTT'S PASTURE-GRASS GARDEN. lawn mixtures, prepared by the different seed houses, has probably prevented this method of having one uniform kind of grass over the whole surface, come into general practice; but the recent efforts of Mr. Olcott to introduce what he calls Pedigree grass, have done much to again call attention to the value of having one kind of grass only used for any one lawn. It is now well known that no matter what the mixture may be, one kind of grass therein con- tained finds itself better suited to the localities than some other kinds, and that one kind finally crowds out all the others; or if two sorts should eventually find themselves equally adapted to the soil, the lawn instead of ever, may be in some measure remedied by hand weeding. All lawns the first year,— and we should judge, even if planted on the pedi- gree system, — ought to have some little hand weeding. It is not so heavy a task as it ap- pears to be ; a comparatively large lawn can be soon weeded, and when the weeds are once kept down and prevented from seeding, the grass eventually takes entire possession of the ground, and little trouble is experienced from weeds afterwards. In our own vicinity, it is sad to see so many beautiful lawns spoiled for want of a little judicious weeding; garlic, blue bottle and Star of Bethlehem take possession of the whole lawn, giving it. in the spring es- WWIR^!^ lO MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [July, I89I.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. II pecially, a miserable appearance. These can easily be kept down by using a small hand- fork, and drawing out the weeds with their bulbous roots ; if any holes are left in the grass, through digging out these bulbs, a little earth forked in will soon give an opportunity for grass roots to sprout in and cover over the hole. Nothing is more eas}- than to keep up a good lawn with a little effort of this kind, and yet nothing is rarer than to see a lawn, out of which the owner could get as much pleasure as he might. Mr. Olcott is experimenting with grasses for pastures as w^ell as for lawns. We give a view of his pasture garden, as showing how the trials are made. The lawn grasses are grown in square beds. T. B. M. Roots of Trefs.— It should not be forgot- ten by planters of trees that roots have a strong disposition to seek drains, and when these roots get inside of a drain or pipe, they in- crease so enormously as to fairly choke the drains and prevent the run of water through them. For this reason no large or strong tree should be planted an3'where near where there are pipes or drains. In California, where the Blue Gum is so popular, an act of the Legisla- ture has been suggested to prevent these trees from being planted nearer than 100 feet to any neighbor's drain. These trees have so great a disposition for w^ater, absorbing it in such im- mense quantities, that they have been found to drain swamps, simply by the evaporation of the leaves, in some countries ; and in the vicinity of drains the roots will go 100 feet towards them, finally choking, and rendering their presence, in this respect, a nuisance. Grasses for the South. — Efforts made in the past to introduce northern grasses into the south have not been wholly successful. Up to the present time Bermuda grass has been chiefly popular, but this does not in many cases meet requirements. They have now in Florida a kind which goes by the name of ** carpet " grass ; botanically this is Paspahnn platycaule. It is said in many cases to crowd out Bermuda grass, and continue to make a permanent sod. It is even said to be very useful as a lawn grass, and to stand well under the mowing machine. Dwarf Periwinkle i-or GrAvSS-less Places. — It is often very desirable to have grass or something green beneath large trees, the roots of which make the ground so dry, by the absorption of the water in the ground, that gravSS ordinarily will not grow beneath them. For the purpose of having something green, and in a measure a substitute for grass, there is nothing better than the common peri- winkle, Vinca minor. This seems rather to prefer such dry places, and being alwa3'S green is attractive, even in winter when grass is usually bare. Besides its value in giving a green surface to these dry places, it has an additional value in having an abundance of blue flowers in early spring, which are almost as welcome as the spring violet. It trans- plants very easily on account of its running habits ; small bunches, placed in the earth at distances of about a foot apart, soon meet to- gether and make a complete mass within a few weeks after growth commences. There is a pink variety in cultivation and also a double variety of this pink one ; and more recently a variety has been introduced in the nursery, bearing white flowers ; so that with the continual increase in the numbers of vari- eties of this pretty plant, one may soon have a complete flow^er garden under the shade of trees, where hitherto not even a bl ade of grass could be made to grow\ J. F. M. CoLEUS. — Our common and well known coleus of gardens, when first introduced by Mr. Bull, of England, in 1867, attracted at once such universal attention for its beauty, that it was well understood it could not fail to be widely popular. Mr. Bull appreciated this fact, and sold seeds in 1868 at the enormous price of 50 cents a seed. It seems scarcelj^ credible when we see immense numbers of plants now sold by florists, that such an enor- mous price was obtained for a single seed in 1 868. Single Dahlias.— These retain popularity in America, but do not gain as rapidly as they do in Europe. One feature which recommends them is that they flower more numerously, and come into blossom earlier than the im- proved double kinds. They are raised from seeds sown in the Spring, while the old class of dahlias have to be raised from sprouts like sweet potatoes. j. F. M. Solution of Copper for Destroying Fungi. — A long time since it was discovered that the smut of the wheat was carried from place to place by the spores of the smut fungus, which attached itself to the seed, and, germin- ating under favorable conditions, imbued the whole plant so as to produce the smut in the ripening grain. The only known remedy is by taking simply copperas and dissolving it in water, soaking the seed therein ; it was found that the smut was totally destroyed. Again it was discovered that the same solution of copper would destroy the fungus w^hich caused the dry rot. It has been a matter of surprise that with these facts before the practical mind, no further use seems to have been made of the knowledge until the French discovered that it was an excellent thing to destroy the various kinds of fungus plants that caused so much destruction in the French vineyards. Since that time this solution of copper has been tried on many forms of the fungus that plague the plant grower, and in all cases has been found effectual. Among the last of the discoveries is that by Clarence M. Weed, of the Ohio Experi- mental Station, which shows that this same article will destroy the fungus which causes the potato rot. It will, of course, be very troublesome to take liquid enough to spray over a large area of potato ground ; but, no doubt, some inventor will find means by which a very small quantity of liquid will be suffi- cient to perform its destructive work, and in that way reduce the cost of applying the liquid to the potato crop. It is a great gain to know- that this solution is so effectual ; to the gar- dener and florist the hint is invaluable. In our own experience we have applied it to mil- dew and black spot on the leaf in rose houses with complete success, as well as to various fungi on other plants. It is undoubtedly one of the most valuable practical discoveries of the age. i n> of copperas to about 2^ gallons of water is about the thing. J. F. M. A Beautiful Cemetery.— Every town of any pretension nuust now have its cemetery, — but most are little better than the old grave- yards attached to churches, which have fallen into disrepute. But many are lovely speci- mens of gardening. One of the most famous is the Forest Hill Cemetery of Utica, New York. Much of the success in forming these beautiful cemeteries depends on getting the proper super- intendent. In this respect this one was fortunate in securing Mr. Roderick Campbell. His advice is often sought by new ventures elsewhere. Styrax Japonica. — In the Gardeners' Monthly for 1869 there is the following account of this plant from a German source : "A pretty hardy shrub, growing four to six feet high, with elegantly spreading branches, bearing bright green elliptic-lanceolate leaves and a profusion of white flowers, resembling snow- drops, from the points of the young branchlets. It should be a pretty object for forcing with such plants as Dciitzia gracilis and its allies. A native of Japan, and introduced into our GHTED. I8S'- THOMAS MEEHAN kSON STYRAX JAPONICA. gardens by way of St. Petersburgh." Since that time it has been introduced into America, and plants are now large enough to flower here. It proves to be well worthy of the intro- duction given it at that time in the magazine above named. We give with this an illustra- tion, showing the fonn and character of the flowers. Ii will undoubtedly become one of the most popular of shrubs for American gar- dens ; growing taller than the statement above indicates. ^- ^- ^^- 12 MEEHAN'S monthly — GENERAIv GARDENING. Cluly. Magnolia Kobus.— Mr. Moon, Morrisville, Pa., says : "I mail to-day a few flowers of a Magnolia taken from a tree about 25 years old and 20 feet high. I would like to know the name of it and will be obliged if you can tell me. > » The flower sent by Mr. Moon is the Magnolia Kobus, a comparatively scarce kind, introduced into our country a number of years ago by Mr. Hogg, and distributed under the name of Mag- 7iolia Thnrberi, in compliment to the late Prof. Thurber. It has, however, been since identi- fied with one previously named as Magnolia Kobus: the latter name being the one em- ployed by the Japanese, who call it Kobusi. It is rather common in the mountainous woods of Japan, especially on the Island of Nippon, and is also found abundantly on the Hakone Mountains. We have a specimen about 20 years old, which is also about 20 feet hig^h, and about 18 feet wide. In its manner of growth it is one of the most beautiful of all the Mag7iolias, being very light and twiggy, and yet carrying a very regular form to the whole tree. Our specimen commenced to bloom about three years ago, this year blooming vsomewhat abundantly, a few days before the well known Chinese magnolia. The latter although called white, has somewhat of a yel- lowish tint. The Kobus is of a pure snow- white ; the flowers are smaller than the Chi- nese, and intermediate in character between the Chinese and the M. slellata. On account of its beauty of form, the plant will undoubt- edly be popular for ornamental purposes, and when the tree comes to be propagated from flowering specimens it will no doubt come into bloom much earlier ; that is to say, young plants will flower earlier than the present spec- imen on our own ground, and that of Mr. Moon, would indicate. The Sensitive Plant.— Few things are more interesting in the flower garden than the sensitive plant. The seeds, sown, as soon as the spring arrives, in the open ground, grow very readily, and no plant gives more pleasure to young people. Its botanical name is Mi- mosa pudica, that is to say, the bashful mimo- sa, from its shrinking habit when touched. If the top of the leaf is pinched carefully, so as not to disturb or jar the other leaflets on the leaf, the leaflets close up gradually one after another from the end to the base of the leaf, until the sensation reaches the end of the leaf stalk, when the whole leaf falls down. Just why the leaflets should close together upwardly and the leaf stalks fall downwardly has never yet been clearly ascertained ; in fact the reason for the sensitiveness inherent in the whole plant has not been made clear ; although there have been many guesses, some of them shrewd, as to the reason for this particular touchiness. A closely allied plant is our native Cassia chcemacrisla, the leaves of which, though they do not fall rapidly when touched, as is the case with the true sensitive plant, yet fall together when the atmosphere is somewhat agitated. It has been called sometimes the American sensitive plant, although this name has been given to some few other things. Trees under Asphalt Roadways. — In many cities it has been found difficult to get trees along side-walks to live when the streets are laid with sheet asphalt, or the side-walks covered with flag stones or broad sheets of lithogen. The roots are prevented from get- ting the air and moisture so necessary to their existence. In Philadelphia it has been found by experience that deep rooting trees stand a much better chance of succeeding than surface rooting trees, and hence horse-chestnuts and oaks have lived and done well where poplars, maples and ashes have failed. This is a valu- able hint to city street planters. The Seckel Pear.— It is remarkable how much that is apocryphal creeps into history, especially the history of fruits and flowers. In "Colman's Rural World " for 1868, some writer is giving a history of the Seckel Pear, and he states it as an absolute fact, that the tree was so named by the party on whose ground it first appeared, from the fact that an old sickle had been kept continually hanging for some years on the tree, when the value of its fruit was first discovered, and in that way it received its name, and the writer contends that the name Seckel should be changed to Sickle. Our readers, of course, know that the tree was so named because growing on a farm occupied by a farmer named Seckel, near Phil- adelphia. These distortions of history are frequent. BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. DR. JOSEPH LEIDY-SIC P«OI I'. (■5> jPflffiB^^ 12 MKEHAN'S MOXTIIIA' — GKNKRAIv GARDENING. [July, Magnolia Kobus.— Mr. Moon, jNIorrisville, Pa., says : "I mail to-day a few flowers of a Magnolia taken from a tree about 2^ years old and 20 feet high. I would like to know the name of it and will be obliged if you can tell me > > The flower sent by Mr. Moon is the Magnolia Kobus, a comparatively scarce kind, introduced into our country a number of years ago by Mr. Hogg, and distributed under the name of Mag- nolia Thurberi, in compliment to the late Prof. Thurber. It has, however, been since identi- fied with one previously named as Magnolia Kobus ; the latter name being the one em- ployed by the Japanese, who call it K'obifsi. It is rather common in the mountainous woods of Japan, especially on the Island of Nippon, and is also found abundantly on the Hakone Mountains. We have a specimen about 20 years old, which is also about 20 feet high, and about 18 feet wide. In its manner of growth it is one of the most beautiful of all the Magnolias, being very light and twiggy, and yet carrying a very regular form to the whole tree. Our specimen commenced to bloom about three years ago, this year blooming somewhat abundantly, a few days before the well known Chinese magnolia. The latter although called white, has somewhat of a yel- lowish tint. The Kobus is of a pure snow- white : the flowers are smaller than the Chi- nese, and intermediate in character between the Chinese and the M. sicllata. On account of its beauty of form, the plant will undoubt- edly be popular for ornamental purposes, and when the tree comes to be propagated from flowering specimens it will no doubt come into bloom much earlier ; that is to say, young plants will flower earlier than the present spec- imen on our own ground, and that of Mr. ^loon, would indicate. The Sensitive Plant.— Few things are more interesting in the flower garden than the sensitive plant. The seeds, sown, as soon as the spring arrives, in the open ground, grow very readily, and no plant gives more pleasure to young people. Its botanical name is Mi- mosa pudica, that is to say, the bashful mimo- sa, from its shrinking habit when touched. If the top of the leaf is pinched carefully, so as not to disturb or jar the other leaflets on the leaf, the leaflets close up gradually one after another from the end to the base of the leaf, until the sensation reaches the end of the leaf stalk, when the whole leaf falls down. Just why the leaflets should close together upwardly and the leaf stalks fall downwardly has never yet been clearly ascertained ; in fact the reason for the sensitiveness inherent in the whole plant has not been made clear ; although there have been many guesses, some of them shrewd, as to the reason for this particular touchiness. A closely allied plant is our native Cassia cJucmacrista, the leaves of which, though thej^ do not fall rapidly when touched, as is the case with the true sensitive plant, yet fall together when the atmosphere is somewhat agitated. It has been called sometimes the American sensitive plant, although this name has been given to some few other things. Trees under Asphalt Roadways. — In many cities it has been found difiicult to get trees along side-walks to live when the streets are laid with sheet asphalt, or the side-walks covered with flag stones or broad sheets of lithogen. The roots are prevented from get- ting the air and moisture so necessary to their existence. In Philadelphia it has been found by experience that deep rooting trees stand a much better chance of succeeding than surface rooting trees, and hence horse-chestnuts and oaks have lived and done well where poplars, maples and ashes have failed. This is a valu- able hint to city street planters. The Seckel Pear.— It is remarkable how much that is apocryphal creeps into history, especially the history of fruits and flowers. In "Colman's Rural World " for 1868, some writer is giving a history of the Seckel Pear, and he states it as an absolute fact, that the tree was so named by the party on whose ground it first appeared, from the fact that an old sickle had been kept continually hanging for some years on the tree, when the value of its fruit was first discovered, and in that way it received its name, and the writer contends that the name Seckel should be changed to Sickle. Our readers, of course, know that the tree was so named because growing on a farm occupied by a farmer named Seckel, near Phil- adelphia. These distortions of history are frequent. BIOGRAPin- AND LITILRATURE. DR. JOSEPH LEiDYSCE page m. .>. ■■J:yJTl ■■■: ■ ■■".■■ ■ r.j;Viyf^''' ■ .■^i;-S-^. jajf^('C':AV^A^:;Jfc^«p^^,,-^^:tf^ INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE Tff^ 14 MEEHANS' MOXTIILV — HIOC^RAPHV AND LITERATL'RE. [July. 1S9I.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — inOCiRAIMIV AND LITKRATrRE. 15 DR. JOSEPH LEIDY. This eminent scientific man died in Phila- delphia on the 30th of April, aged 68 years. Few scientific men reached such a world-wide eminence, — few more richly deserved the fame he achieved. Scientific men are human, and though many deserve the honors they get, a large number become prominent as much by their own endeavors for prominence as by the actual value of their work. This cannot be said of Leidy. Born in a comparatively hum- ble home near Third and Callowhill streets, in Philadelphia, his earlier years saw a struggle for support ; and yet it is questionable whether in the slightest degree he ever entered into any scheme to suggest or obtain the many high honors that came to him. Indeed such was his good-heartedness that he would rather any time withdraw in favor of a competitor, should such competition arise. The writer was once asking him about a contemporary who died many years ago ; he remarked, '• He and I were both competitors for the position." (It was only three hundred dollars a year.) "I did feel that I wanted that money badly about that time, but when I found that he needed it as badly as I, and had a mother dependent on him besides, I withdrew in his favor." Pos- sibly no man who ever lived was at the same time so universally beloved for his per- vsonal charms, and at the same time vso vener- ated for his scientific work as Dr. Joseph Leidy. Though not known as a botanist, it was his first special study, and had not his reputation been more intimately connected with other work, his labors in this field alone would have obtained for him a commanding position. Col. Nathan Whitney.— This gentleman started the first nursery north of the Illinois River. He was born at Conway, Massachu- setts, in 1 79 1, and his one hundredth birthday was recently celebrated at the home of his son, Asa R. Whitney, at Franklin Grove nursery. J. C. ScHMnrr.— The chief of the Prussian establishment with the above title, Henry Schmidt, died at Teneriflfe on the 26th of De- cember. It is a great loss to gardening, as he was a leader in the introduction of new things, many of which have become popular in Amer- ica. Mr. I. De G. Nelson, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died on the 25th of ]March in his 85th year. Mr. Nelson was one of the original horticul- turists of Indiana ; and his beautiful grounds and greenhouses were probably among the earliest of the best laid out places of that section of the country. His pretty green- houses always attracted the lover of exotic plants who visited that section ; and whatever horticultural or pomological societies met in that vicinity, they were always cordially and handsomely entertained at Mr. Nelson's resi- dence. In connection with his love of horti- culture he v.-as very prominent and popular in public affairs. One of his greatest works of public useful- ness was the establishing of Lindenwood Ceme- tery, which is one of the most beautiful in the country. In this work he continued to take a warm interest up to the time of his decease. On his own lot in that cemetery the projectors erected a monument, on which the following is inscribed: "The trustees feel that to Mr. Nelson they owe a debt of gratitude for his long service and unflagging fidelity to the best interests of Lindenwood, and as a mark of their appreciation of his valuable* service, order the erection of a suitable monument on his ceme- tery lot." We often wonder that those who would preserve their names to posterity do not often interest themselves in securing public grounds for either the living or the dead, as Mr. Nelson has done ; for our own part we would sooner know that one's name was con- nected with a public square, or a beautiful cemetery-, than have a monument in marble or brass, such as is usually given to a military or some other hero. Prof. Goodale.— Accounts from Australia state that the presence of Prof. Goodale as the President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at the recent meeting of the New Zealand Association for the Advance- ment of Science, was very highly appreciated ; not only its representative value, as from the President of the Association, but also on ac- count of the genial character of the Professor, of which the accounts speak very warmly. The Professor is expected home from Australia the coming autumn. JosHi'A Peirce. — Though it is now some years since his death, no public account of this distinguished Horticulturist has ever appeared. Lovers of gardening are not ungrateful, and they desire to long hold in pleasant remem- brance the memory of the man who gave them the beautiful race of Prairie roses — a class that has brought enjoyment to many a home. We have obtained from one of his descendants the following sketch of the man, and a slight ac- count of his work. "Joshua Peirce was the pioneer of horticul- ture in the District of Columbia. He was born in 1795, at Peirce's Mills, on Rock Creek, the picturesque region now in the limits of the National Park. His father, Isaac Peirce, came from Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1794. and established the mill known by his name. In connection with his mill Isaac Peirce had nurseries of fruit and other trees, w^hich he grew for his own planting and to suppl}' the orchards of his neighbors. In 1823 Joshua Peirce built a house for him- self upon a tract of 84 acres, given him by his father, and the next year erected the green- houses which for many years were the only es- tablishment of the kind in the District. The place was one of the attractions of the capital. It was visited by all the distinguished men of the period. With the exception, perhaps, of Eckington, the residence of Joseph Gales, the editor of the National / ntelligencer, no place in the neighborhood of Washington can show a greater arra\' of distinguished and famous names among its visitors. As the city grew in population other estab- lishments were started in the city, until the greenhouses at Linmean Hill were abandoned, the nursery business being continued by Joshua Peirce up to the time of his death in April, 1869. The life of a horticulturist is not one of striking vicissitudes or of stirring events. The progress in this pursuit is along general lines of effort in which all of its votaries par- ticipate with equal enthusiasm and where the experience of one becomes common property. One important experiment was conducted at Linnaean Hill in the successful hybridization of the Tennessee rose, the result being shown in the beautiful family of Prairie roses, which are even mofe highly prized in England than in the land of their origin. In the raspberry known as the Catawissa raspberry when dis- vSeminated from Linnican Hill, another addi- tion was made to the class of autumnal fruits. Many things were accomplished in the intro- duction of new varieties which have become established favorites of the garden and the lawn. At Linmean Hill the ivy covered walls ot the now venerable stone mansion erected in 1823, surrounded by the noble trees, many of which were grown from the seed, planted on the plateau overlooking the romantic valley, form the most attractive feature included in the National Park." Dr. Maxwell T. Masters.— The Garden- er's Chronieh\ of London, is known wherever intelligence in horticulture is appreciated. Dr. Lindley, the famous botanical horticultur- ist, was its first editor, commencing in 1841. On his death, Dr. M. T. Masters, equally known as an eminent botanist, succeeded him, and has fully maintained its high character. He was born in Canterbury, England, of which famous town his father was mayor. Born in 1833, he is still one of the hardest workers in the science he verv earlv learned to love. Dr. Maximowicz. — This famous Russian traveler, in whose honor so many beautiful plants known in our gardens have been named, died on the i6th of February. He was par- ticularly well known by his explorations in northern Asia. EinvARD Ke^H'. — This gentleman, whose work on landscape gardening, entitled "How to lay out a Garden," is in good use in Amer- ica as well as in the old world, died on the second of March, in his seventy -fourth year. The Rose of Sharon. — In olden times terms now specially applied, had a general application. Any succulent fruit might be an apple ; a lily a handsome flower of any kind, and a rose would be applied to a number of things. Hence the biblical terms of this nature do not mean the plants we understand by these names. It is now understood that the Rose of Sharon is one of the Wind-flow- ers, Anemone coronaria, a close relative of the anemones of garden culture. GENERAL NOTES. Our Friends. — We shall depend in a great measure on the good will of those who appre- ciate the work we are trying to do. Should any one receive a copy and not be sufficiently interested in the subject to subscribe person- ally, it is hoped the specimen may be handed to some flower lover. The publishers will of course make due dis- counts on the subscription price for the trouble taken to get additional subscriptions to send with one's own, besides being thankful for the kindnesses. Our Correspondknts. -A number of friends have offered to contribute to our pages. Notes of anything of interest will be gladly received. It will be perceived that we shall not have room for the exhaustive essays that often ap- pear in periodicals, which cover every minute point in practice, so readily obtainable from standard horticultural works. But we desire to get notes of such things of such a novel and yet popular character that the great ma- jority of those who read will be glad to know about. The notes of cultivators as to what is new or interesting will be quite as welcome, with due credit, as if the information were furnished by our own grounds. Our Circulation. — We desire for the patrons of our magazine all who take any in- terest at all in wild flowers, or who love gar- dening in any form. Until comparatively re- cent times a knowledge of plants consisted of little more than knowing their names, or of so arranging dried specimens that anything de- sired could be readily found through a sj^s- tematic arrangement in a herbarium. But thousands who would blush to be called bot- anists are in love with flowers, and are always interested in knowing of the many strange facts which even the commonest weed presents. Flowers as living things with strange stories and "o'er true tales," present a charm to all, (16) though few at present know little more about them than that they are pretty and sweet. It is just those stories that we propose to tell, and we know there will be no lack of listeners ; and those who have yards and gardens, who love to grow that which is beautiful and use- ful, and make everything about their homes lovely and attractive, will we trust find our pages interesting. We can only say to the reader who may not perhaps see in any one number just what is wanted, what some store- keepers post up for the benefit of customers, " if you don't see what you want, ask for it. " It will alwa3's be a pleasure to answer any query through these columns that is likely to interest others as well as the querist. The Flower on the Cover. — As a com- pliment to our southern friends, so many of w^hom were interested in our former enter- prises, we have selected for an ornament to the page, the southern yellow Jasmine, Gelseyniian fiitidum. This is the earliest of southern spring flowers and fills the air with its sweet perfume. We could perhaps have arranged more artistically the lettering on the title page, but for a desire to interfere as little as possible with the characteristics of this beautiful wild flower. The original specimen from w^hich the drawing w^as taken grew near Aiken, South Carolina. Our July Number. — A number of our friends have kindly wTitten to us, that when the July number appears, they will make an active can- vass for subscribers. For this purpose we have issued the July number earh^ in June, so as to give abundant opportunity for friends to do as they proposed to do. Any numbers soiled or lost by this friendly canvass will cheerfully be made good b^^ the publishers. We make this explanation, as there will, of course, be an interval before the appearance of the second number, due on the ist of August. VbiJ Plath, NUPHAR ADVENA. COMMON Sia.ATTERDOCK. NATURAL ORDER, NYMPH.^v\CE.K. IsTphar ADVENA, Aiton. — Sepals six, unequal; petals shorter than the stamens and restmhling them, thick and fleshy, truncate; stigma twelve to twenty-four-rayed ; ovary and fruit not contracted into a narrow neck under the stigma ; thin submerged leaves seldom appearing ; floating oremersed and erect leaves thick, varying from roundish to ovate, or almost oblong in outline, thesinus open, or (variety rattfgatumoi Kngelmanni flower often purplish, closed ornarrow. iGray's Flora of the Northern United Slates. See also Chapman's /•Vo/t; o/" ///*■ .Vom////; w Inited States, and Wood's Class/iook of Botany. As noted in the description, our pretty plant belongs to the Nymph cracecr, or that order to which the Nymphcea or common pond-lily belongs. Indeed the older botanists regarded it as belonging to that genus, and the closely allied species, Nuphar luteum, was known to Linn?eus as a Nyviphcea merely. The species we are now describing w^as not perceived to be distinct from the old w^orld species at that time. The differences were detected by Aiton the youn- ger, the curator of the Royal Gardens at Kew, who named it Nuphar advena, — that is to say, the introduced Nuphar, — a very good name as contrasting with the one so nearly like it indig- enous to the old world. It differs from that species in being much more vigorous in its growth, and in the form of the leaf. The petiole or leaf-stalk of that one is weak, and will not support the leaf blade, which therefore rests, or floats, as one might say, on the water ; while the leaf of our species seldom floats, but is borne erect above the surface. Besides this, the lower or divided part of the leaves in the European kind rarely spreads, while, as seen in the plate, our species spreads the lobes considerably. There are also some differences in the flower. In the description quoted from Dr. Gray it is noted that the " berry and fruit is not contracted into a narrow neck under the stigma," — that being the character of the European form. This European species, Nu- phar luteum, is also found to souie extent in our country, — indeed Torrey and Gray, in the Flora of North America, suggest that ours, after all, is little more than a variety of the older known species, though more modern botanists regard them as quite distinct. Nuphar is an old name of Dioscorides used in connec- tion with some of these forms, and when the Nyjuphcea were divided by Dr. Smith in his Prodrojuus of Sibthorp's Flora Grcrca in iSo6, it was retained especially to designate this section. It is structurally closely allied to the Nympha'as, but yet so very different in general appearance, that few but critical botan- ists would suspect the relationship. The beau- tiful white petals of the common water lily attract every one's attention, — but the petals of the Nuphar are very small and insignificant, and are scarcely- to be distinguished from the stamens. The yellow parts which constitute the popular flower in this case are regarded as the sepals or calyx. In fact the great differ- ence between the two genera consists in the different gradation of these floral parts. In the Lily the change from sepals to petals and then to stamens is so gradual that any one can trace the several changes, while in Nuphar the change from the large yellow sepals to the diminutive petals is very sudden indeed, and seems to leave a wide gap instead of a transi- tion between them. Critically, perhaps, botan- ists may be wrong in regarding the smaller inside cycles as petals rather than as imper- fectly formed stamens : but the fact is, the morphological distinctions between sepals, petals and stamens are so slight that it is often diflicult to decide positively whether an organ in question is a sepal or petal, and in such cases as the present few botanists would object to whichever term was chosen for the colored parts that would ])opularly be taken for the flower. In all our botanical works our plant is spoken of as the Yellow Pond Lily ; but it seems desirable as much as possible to limit the popular name of our flowers to one that may (17) ?3» Nn^llAH AlA'l . M..hiii,,.M..HU.Iy''> 1 IV.ii'ijX" )3Sa^L^ NrPIIAR ADM^.XA. COMMON SI'LAT'IKRDOCK. NATTRAL ORDI-.R, N VMRILI:ACI:.1:. Nt TiiAK .\l)\'i.NA Alton. — Scjialssix. inH'(Hial ; j ctaK •«hi'it«r iIk-iii thr ^taiiun- aii-r<)ur-ra> td : ()\a:y and triiit not ti'iiti arttd im<> a iianow tk i k iindtr tin- -ti^ni.i : ilnii .■-ulimer'ied leaves seldfjtn ai)i)eariiiij ; float in i,^ ort nu-rsed aiid rrect Ic.ive-- tliii k . \ ar\ mil; I: om t i M:::di>-h t< x >% .itt • iltn. '-t (»l)lonji- ill outline, the sitnis o}5en, or I variety : «/; /'.t'i thn n I'nitrd Stat,>. See also Cl-.a} man"- /-A// ./ -■ - - >.■/',■//.;;.' ///.',.■• s.'.; - . a::.i Wo..,;- of Jl()/an\ . As noted in the description, our ptetty plant belongs to the Xy}fip/iirac€u\ or that order to which the Nymphcca or common pond-lily l)elon<^s. Indeed the older botanists re<;arded it as belon^j^ing to that genus, and the closely allied species, XiipJiar liitcum. was known to Linmeus as a Nvmp/uca merely. The species we are now describing was not perceived to be distinct from the old world species at that time. The differences were detected by Aiton theyoun- >• Dr. vSmith in his P}(hfr(U)i/(s*^)i vSibthor]>'s I-lo}'i (i)u\'a in iSoO. it was retained especiall\' to designate this section. It is structurally closel\- allied to the Nvmph.eas, but yet so very different in general a])pearance. that few but critical botan- ists would suspect the relationship. The l)eau- tiful wliite petals oS. the common water lily attract every one's attention.- but the ])etals of the A V//'// ^7 r are very small and insignificant, and are .scarcely to be distinguished from the stamens. The yellow ])arts which constitute the poj)ular llower in this case are regarded as the sei)als or calyx. In fact the great diiTer- ence 1)etween tlie two genera consists in the diflerent gradation of these lloral parts. In the Lilv the change fnun sepals to i)etals and then to stamens is so gradual that any one can trace the several changes, while in Xuphar the change from the large yellow sepals to the diminutive |)ctals is very sudden indeed, and .seems to leave a wide gap instead of a transi- tion between them. Critically. j)erha])S. botan- ists may be wroni; in regarding the smaller inside c\cles as petals rather than as im])er- fectlv f()rme whichever term was chosen for the colored paits that would ]>opularly be taken for the ll«)wer. In all our botanical works our plant is s])oken of as the Yellow Pond I.il\- : but it seems desirable as much as })()ssibk to limit the p(^j)ular name of cnir tloweis to one that may TWiJiT-f'':,: INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE i8 MEEHANS' MONTIII^Y — NUPHAR ADVENA. [Aug. be the most likely to be generally adopted, and to lead to as little confusion as possible. As we have now a true yellow water lily in Nymphcea Jlava, yellow pond lily would become confused with it. As it is generally known as " Splatterdock," it seems bCvSt to endeavor to retain that name. Dr. Oray uses ' * Spatter- dock," but the orthography adopted in this chapter is probably correct. The European form is popularly known as "Can-Dock," — *' dock," perhaps from the form of the leaves, and "can " from the flowers and fruit resemb- ling such a vessel. Splatter-dock — or as it was no doubt originally with the German settlers on the Delawar e — platte-dock — represents the same idea, — a dock with the flowers of a plat- ter or shallow vessel. The common splatterdock forms one of the most striking features of the muddy shore lines of rivers, or the margins of ponds in most portions of the United States. The leaves appear very early in the season, pushing up in immense quantities wherever the water is but a few feet deep. From May to August, accord- ing to latitude, the yellow flowers are produced in great abundance, and make the waters gay with their brilliant blooms. In some parts of our country they are in bloom in April, and the writer has a letter from a Kentucky lady describing how, in her 5'outh, their collection from the ponds in the vicinity of Louisville, was an essential part of the programme in the •• May Day " parties of that time. ' It had a more practical attraction to our ancestors to whom it was among the greatest blessings vouchsafed to man. The old world form grows in Egypt and other countries washed by the Mediterranean and the Red vSeas. Herodotus, an ancient writer, tells us of the Egyptians that " when the waters of the Nile have risen to their extremest height, and all their fields are overflowed, there appears above the surface an immense quantity of plants of the Lily species, which the Egyptians call Lotus ; having cut down these they dry them in the sun. The seed of the flower, which resembles the poppy, they bake and make into a kind of bread ; they also eat the root of the plant, which is round, of an agreeable flavor, and about the size of an apple. " He then describes a second species of Lotus with a flat upper surface to the seed vessel, and seeds like an olive, which is the Neliunbiicm or " Eg^^ptian Lotus " of our present times. The description of Herodotus is precisely fit- ted to our Nuphar, and it is interesting to note that the Indians of our continent used the plant in precisely the same manner. In many parts of the country are pockets, apparently artificially constructed, and which are believed to have been formed on purpose to grow these aquatic plants. In the annual report of the United States Department of Agriculture for 1870 it is stated that the plant is called Tak- wah-pah, by the Dacotah Indians. The roots grow four or five feet deep when growing in water, and the Indian women dive for them, obtaining large quantities one or two feet long. Thej^ are very porous, slightly sweet and gluti- nous, generally boiled with wild fowl, but often roasted. Muskrats store large quantities of these roots in their dwellings for winter use, which the Indians contrive to steal. The seeds form an important part of the diet of the Klamath Indians of California, and when puL verized they are made into bread or gruel, but are often parched and eaten as pop-corn. Jossleyn, in that curious old book, " New Eng- land Rarities," published in 1672, saj^s, "the Indians eat the roots, which are long a boiling ; they taste like the Liver of a Sheep. The Moose Deer feed much upon them, at which time the Indians kill them, when their heads are under water." The drying of the leaves in the sun for cattle feed is still practiced by the Swedes, and is probably the same practice as that referred to in the note from Herodotus. In addition to the popular names cited it has many others of more or less local celebrity. In the old world it is sometimes called " Brand \' bottle," from the form of the flowers or frui^ . Darlington calls it " Strange-Nuphar," merely translating the name, but this seems rarely in use. Aiton calls it " Three- colored Water Lily, "and Wood notes that "from its dirty habits, it is called • Frog Lily.' " It is well to place these on record as matters of reference, — but they are not worth perpetuating. Explanations of the Plate.— Leaf and flowers from the shores of the Delaware river. WILD FLOWERS AND XATURH. TRAILING ARBUTUS. I wandered lonely where the pine trees made Against the bitter east their barricade, And, guided by its sweet Perfume, I found, within a narrow dcU The trailing spring flower, tinted like a shell, Amid dry leaves and mosses at my feet. From under dead boughs, for whose loss the pines Moaned ceaseless overhead, the blossoming vines Lifted their glad surprise, While yet the blue-bird smoothed, in leafless trees, His feathers, ruffled by the chill sea breeze. And snow-drifts lingered under April skies. Whittier. ORCHIDS IN NEW ENGLAND. A correspondent of the American Garden, describes a wood at Shelburne, New Hamp- shire, in which Cypripedinni acanle grows, and in which there are many varieties of color exhibited among the flowers. Some he says are snowy white, and there are many shades between the snowy white and deep purple. Near Stowe, Mass., the yellow lady's slipper, Cypripedinni pubescens he found in great quantities ; though rarer than the acaule, or steniless species. The small flowered C par- vijlorum he found at Acton, Mass.. on a richly wooded slope. C. spectabile, grows in bogs in Western Massachusetts, and in Maine. The Ramshead Lady's Slipper, C arietinum, grows in North- ern New England. The purple fringed orchis, Habenaria Jim- briata is one of the commonest, and very beautiful. It grows neath shady nooks, and the borders of a wooded stream, where they look like red-coated sentinels in a row. It will sometimes reach 3 ft. in height. Habenaria psycodes, is still more common, growing with the other, flowers smaller and less deeply, though abundantly, fringed. Most any wood or damp bog will reveal it. The correspondent, Mr. Walter Deane, finds few perfect good fruit, though the structure is well adapted to fertili- zation by moth agency. The white fringed orchid, Habenaria ble- phariglottis. grows in spongy bogs. Stems one or two feet, with a two-inch spike. Ha- benaria Hookeri, is a yellowish-green flowered one, not attractive, but pretty when examined, found on grassy knolls by the Androscoggin river. A more striking species is //. orbicnlata, common in rich woods, with greenish-white flowers, the two largfe root leaves lying flat on the ground. A plant which had a spread of leaves of fourteen inches, beginning to form fruit in July, at Jaffray, New Hampshire, in a rich wood. Habenaria tridentata appears every- where in boggy places, a foot high, with inconspicuous greenish flowers. Half hidden in the grass of a wet meadow at Concord, Mass., he finds //. zireseens. H. braeteata and //. obtusata with greenish white flowers grow in the damp woods of Northern New Ivngland ; and he found together //. Iiypetborea and //. dilatata in great profusion in a boggy field by Willoughby Lake, N'ermont. growing from 6 inches to 2 feet. On the Blue Hills, not many miles from Boston, grows the yellow fringed orchis. //. cilia f is. In rich bogs in almost any part of New England, Arethnsa bulbosa may be found ; in two or three weeks it is followed by Pogonia op/iiogiossoides ; and this a few weeks later, running into July, is followed by Ca/opogon pnlchellus. An uncommon species in New England, is Pogonia rerticillata, resembling, he remarks, in its sterile form, Trillium cernuum. It is not really common, we think, anywhere, and near Philadelphia, is so much like Medeola zirginica as to be often passed for it. He has collected it among the Blue Hills in, Milton, Mass., as early as the fourth of June. He speaks of rarely finding Pogonia pendula. This also, we think, is never common anywhere though widely scattered. The Orchis spectabile is abundant about I^banon, N. H. Orchis ro- tundifolia occurs in Northern New England, in woods and bogs. The rattlesnake plantain, or Goody era re pens, he finds in abundance among the White Hills. In South New (19) 20 MHKHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS A>fD NAYUrE. [Aug. 189I.] MP:KHANS' monthly- wild FLOWKRS and N.Ul'RE. 21 England, a larger vSpeciCvS G. pubescais suppliCvS i ts place. Spirant he s simplex, ' ' ladies tresses, ' ' , as he calls them ; but which we believe should more properly be called "ladies' traces," ac- cording to old works, is found only in South New England. S. gracilis is found all through New England, in the woods or along road- sides. The upper surface of its small lip is green, while that of 5". si^nplex is white. ►S". gracilis has clustered roots, but not more than • one tuber is found on simplex, as a general thing. The commonest of the ladies' traces is S. cernua^ a stouter plant, growing six ' inches to a foot. He found a field, at Jaffray, • N. H., in September, white with it. It has fiot an unpleasant odor. S. latifolia and 6*. . prcBCOx are rare, and found only in wet places. S. Romanzoffiana is not uncommon in Northern New England. Listera convallarioides grows in rich shade • about Willoughby Lake, and extends soutli- ' ernly along the mountains. L. cordata is more delicate, but has a wider range. The ^common name is twayblade. In wet places throughout the State is the adder's mouth, Microstylis ophioglossoides. The name tway- blade is also given to another genus of orchids, of which there are two species in New England, Liparis Lee sell i and Li par is liliifolia. He has collected it at York in Maine, though growing in all New England. The crane-fly orchis, Tipidaria discolor, is rare in New England. The putty-root {Aplech^m hietnale) is also rare in New England. Calypso borealis is rare ; it likes cold damp shade. The coral-root, or Corallorhiza are probably parasitic. The com- monest is C. mtiltiflora, found in rich woods ; sometimes flowers as late as September. C. innata is a more delicate plant, and more com- mon in swampy places. C. odonlorhiza is delicate and rare. WildFloweRvSof Missouri. — Mrs. Lamance, of Pineville, speaks of the beautiful picture formed by the bird's foot violet, Viola pedata, and the cactus, Opiuitia Rafinesqtii, growing together in that vicinity. It is the first time that we have known of these two plants grow- ing contiguoUvSly ; the violet usually prevailing in damp and shady situations in more eastern localities, while the Opuntia likes a situation that is blazing hot. Enclosure of Bark hy Wood. — A corres- pondent from Mickleton, N. J., sends a section of a stem of Wistaria, with sections of bark enclosed by circles of wood, of which he desires explanation. Wood is formed by the growth of cells out of a mother cell. This can be readily under- stood by noting how new wood and bark grow over a wound caused by cutting: a branch off near the trunk of a tree. Suppos- ing this wound covered by dead bark, the new growth of wood would spread over and enclose it. SECTION OF A WISTARIA TRUNK. Bark Enclosed by Wood. Now the Wistaria has often portions of its surface become practically dead, no daughter cells are produced from the mother cells ; on the other hand portions of the trunk, getting a full suppl}^ of nutrition, will produce the daughter cells in amazing abundance and vigor. This new wood then overflows the weaker spots, bark and all, precisely as it flows over a wound. Other trees, especially the Red Cedar, furnish similar illustrations. Andromeda Mariana. — A correspondent from New Jersey says he thinks that that part of the world will show more beautiful floral scenery than any part of the United States. He chal- lenges any one to produce a more lovely sight than this little State can exhibit at the end of May, when the large waxen flowers of this Andromeda, intermixed with the broad shining leaves of the Black Jack oak, go to make up the floral picture. The Pepper Bush. — The beautiful white flowered shrub known as Clethra alnifolia, and which is a striking feature in the wild- flower beauty of the sea coast region of the Northern Atlantic States, has a variety further south which, according to Professor Sargent's experience in the Arnold aboretum, does not come into bloom till the northern form is over. This is figured in Botanical Magazine, No. 3743, as Clethra tomentosa, but Michaux regards it but a variety of the common Pepper bush. No public explanation has ever been given that the Editors remember why the plant has received the popular name of Pepper bush, but it may be from the blackish anthers, which certainly give the flowers the appearance of being dusted with pepper. Another curious fact in its history is that though usually found growing in swampy places, plants seemingly from accident in dryer ground make larger and finer bushes. J. F. M. The Toad-stool Plant. — Any one can tell a mushroom Irom a flowering plant, — and yet, such is the unity of plan in nature, there are dividing lines when one may well be doubtful to which great family some questionable sub- ject should be referred. The class now illus- trated is an example. They appear as a fun- gous mass, parasitic on roots ; and some throw out spawn and rot away like a mushroom ; but they throw out eventually an infloresencemuch like the usual flowering plants. These flower stems will often push up in a single night, just as a mushroom would do, and have a mushroom- formed head, but have scaly stalks and real Salvia lyrata.— This species of sage is the only one that is native to the Atlantic seaboard vStates. It is usually found in low and wet meadows. A correspon- dent tells us that in a deep cut along a roadside, near Jenkintown, Pa. , it completely clothes the slop- ing sides of the comparatively dry cut, and is one of the prettiest wild flower scenes that has come before his observation this year. Marshallia lanceolata. — a correspondent from Spartanburg, S. C, speaks in praise of this pretty herbaceous plant, as one of the features of wild flowers scenery in that part of the world at the end of May. It has a real English daisy habit of growth. Eyonothamnus ASPLENiiFOLius.— This is the name of a new tree discovered in 1866 on Santa Cruz Island, off" the coast of Southern Califor- nia. The flowers are said to be quite showy, the corymbs often measuring a foot in diameter. It is called "iron wood" by the natives. It belongs to the order Saxiftagactcc. of which the mock orange is a familiar example. THE TOAD-STOOL PLANT. flowers, in.stead of the usual pileus or cap of the mushroom. We give with this an illustration reproduced from Engler and Prantl's Xaturaliehera Pflan- zenfamilien, showing a Brazilian member of this family named Scybaliumjnngiforme. There are separate male and female heads of flowers, the latter represented by i : the former by ^. The natural order is called Balauaphoraceica. Jews Mallow.— This is a common name given by English writers to the common Cor- chorus of our old ganlens, — Kerria Japonica. ;4 ':;•., .?o , , t MIUUIANS MONTHLY — WILD FLOWICKS AND NATUKK. [Aug. 1S9I.] Mi:i:nANS' MONTIII.V- wild I-LOWI-RS ANT> NATlRi:, 31 Knglaiul, a larger species G. pubesccns supplies its place. SpiriDithcs simplex , " ladies tres.ses," , as he calls them ; but which we believe should more properly be called "ladies' traces," ac- cording to old works, is found only in South Kew England. ^. gracilisx^ found all through New Kngland, in the woods or along road- sides. The upper surface of its small lip is green, while that of ^. simplex is white. ►S". graeilis has clustered roots, but not more than one tuber is found on simplex, as a general thing. The commonest of the ladies' traces is S. eeniua, a stouter plant, growing six inches to a foot. He found a field, at Jaffray, N. II., in September, white with it. It has not an unpleasant odor. ►S'. la I if alia and S. prcceox are rare, and found only in wet places. S. RomanzoJfiiDici is not uncommon in Northern New Kngland. Listera eo)ivallarioides grows in rich shade about Willoughby Lake, and extends vSouth- ' ernly along the mountains. L. cordata is more delicate, but has a wider range. The ' common name is twayblade. In wet places '^throughout the State is the adder's mouth, Dlieroslylis opliiogiossoiiles. The name tway- blade is also given to another genus of orchids, of which there are two species in New England, Liparis Livselii and Liparis I Hi if alia. He has collected it at York in Maine, though growing in all New luigland. The crane-fly orchis, Tipularia diseolot\ is rare in New Ivngland. The putty-root {Apleclnim hiemale) is also rare in New ICngland. Calypso borealis is rare : it likes cold damj) vShade. The coral-root, or Corallorhiza are probably parasitic. The com- monest is C. multijlora, found in rich woods ; sometimes flowers as late as September. C. iuuata is a more delicate plant, and more com- mon in swami)y places. C. odo)ilorhiza is delicate and rare. Wild iMAnviCRSOi* Missolri. — Mrs. Lamance, of Pineville, speaks of the beautiful picture formed by the bird's foot violet, / lola pedala, and the cactus, Opioitia Rafniesqui. growing together in that vicinity. It is the first time that we have known of these two })lants grow- ing contiguously ; the violet usually prevailing in damp and shady situations in more eavStern localities, while the Opuntia likes a situation that is V)lazing hot. Enclosi'rk oI' Bark \\\ Wood. — A corres- pondent from Mickleton, N. J., sends a vSection of a stem of Wistaria, with vSections of bark enclosed b}- circles of wood, of which he desires explanation. Wood is formed by the growth of cells out of a mother cell. This can be readily under- stood by noting how new wood and bark grow over a wound caused by cutting: a branch oft' near the trunk of a tree. Suppos- ing this wound covered by dead bark, the new growth of wood would spread over and enclose it. 'J- '%)!J,-J«a f SECTION OF A WISTARIA TRUNK, Bark Enclosed by Wood. Now the Wistaria has often portions of its surface become practically dead, no daughter cells are produced from the mother cells ; on the other hand portions of the trunk, getting a full supply of nutrition, will produce the daughter cells in amazing abundance and vigor. This new wood then overflows the weaker spots, bark and all, precisely as it flows over a wound. Other trees, especially the Red Cedar, furnish similar illustrations. Andr()mi:da Marlvna. — A correspondent from New^ Jersey saj's he thinks that that part of the world will show more beautiful floral scenery than any part of the Ignited States. He chal- lenges any one to produce a more lovel}' sight than this little State can exhibit at the end of May, when the large waxen flowers of this Andromeda, intermixed with the broad shining leaves of the Black Jack oak, go to make u}) the floral picture. Tiiic PkppkR Bush.— The beautiful white (lowered shrub known as CUilira alnifolia, and which is a striking feature in the wild- flower beauty of the sea coast region of the Northern Atlantic States, has a variety further south which, according to Professor vSargent's experience in the Arnold alx)retuni. does not come into bloom till the northern form is over. This is figured in Botanieal Mao a zi fie, No. -^743, as Clethra tomeutosa, but Michaux regards it but a variety of the common l'ei)])er bush. No public explanation has ever been given that the iCditors remember why the ])lant has received the popular name of Pepper bush, V)Ut it may be from the blackish anthers, which certainly give the flowers the appearance of being dusted with pepper. Another curious fact in its history is that though usually found growing in swampy places, plants seemingly from accident in dryer ground make larsfcr and finer buvshes. J. F. M. TiiK ToAD-sTooL Plant.— Any one can tell a mushroom trom a flowering ])lant. and yet. such is the unity of plan in nature, there are dividing lines when one may well be (hnibtlnl to which great family some ([uestionable sub- ject should be referred. The class now illus- trated is an example. They api)ear as a iun- gous mass, parasitic on roots ; and some throw out spawn and nH away like a mushroom : 1)ut thev throw out eventually an inflt)reseiue nuich like the usual flowering i)lants. The.se flower stems will often push up in a single night, ju.st as a mushroom would do. and have a mushroom- formed heaf which the mock orange is a familiar example. THE TOAD-STOOL PLANT. flowers, instead of the usual i»ileus i»r cap of the mushroom. We give with this an illustration reproduced from ICngler and PrantPs \aturaliiheya rdan- zenfamilien. showing a Brazilian member of this family named Srybaliinn ffnii^-ifomie. Ti;ere are separate male and female heads of flowers, the latter represented by i : the former by ^. The natural order is called nahuiaf^horaeeua. jLws Mallow.— This is a eoinmon name -iveii bv Ijiglish writers to the common Cor- chorus of our old garden... Kerria Japonica. ■V/ .■ • ,J. ,y. INTENTIONAL 2ND EXPOSURE 22 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Aug. Double Clarkia.— This beautiful California annual was so named in honor of Captain Clark, — of the famous Lewis and Clark expedi- tion,— the earliest to cross our continent. The}^ formed an admirable double in a great work, — and now the plant itself has done the double duty of producing a double flower bj^ changing its vStamens to petals as in the annexed sketch. CLARKIA ELEGANS. DOUBLE. Flowers Rose-color. Sweet vScented Be(;onl\s. -One of the most remarkable facts developed of late years is this — that odor in families of plants is usually confined to afevVvSpecies, no matter how large the genus. Very few of the large family of violets have fragrance, and only one mig- nonette in some half a hundred of the genus Reseda ; of the several hundred species of Bcgo- 72 la known, only one is sweet scented, and this has been distinguished as Begonia odomta or B. siiaveoleiis . This particular one has been taken in hand by the German florists, and a new race called sweet scented /?f:^^;//V75 developed from it. Aster >l\crophvllus.— This species grows wild "from Canada to Manitoba, and through tlw? mountains of Carolina and Georgia," vSays Garden aud Forest, which on page 48 gives a portrait of it. The root leaves are broadly ovate, cordate at the base, and eight or ten inches long b^^ four or five wide. Varying Tints in Autumn Colors.— It has been noticed that in two trees of maples, oak or other trees, coloring in Autumn, of the same species, one will often have much brighter leaves than the other. It should be re- membered ihat though there must be certain chemical combinations before any color can be produced, the act of producing is a vital one, and can only operate under vital conditions. If we cut off" a l)ranch of any tree in Summer time, and throw it aside, the leaves turn black or brown, and without any brilliant color ; but if the branch be only half broken off", or in some way injured, the leaves will color ; as if the Autumn time has arrived. This shows that coloring is connected with a check to vital power, short of its total destruction. Hence.., in the Autumn, the tree with the greater vital power will color less than the other. A New Aster.— Those who are interested in these beautiful fall blooming wild flowers, will find a new species illustrated and described in a recent number of the " Botanical Gazette:' It is called Aster Orcuttii, and is from the Colorado desert in California. It is a very handsome species, and well worth cultivating. The flowers are not borne in clusters or pani- cles, as in so many Asters, but are singly on the ends of the stalks. The edges of the leaves are also vSo deeply cut as to be almost comb like, and very different in appearance to the ordinary run of the Asters, as we see them in the East. A Large Park.— Many of our cities and States are boasting of the size of their parks. Philadelphia contends for one of the premiums, by the fact that she has in Fairmount Park, some 2,800 acres ; but our good friend Uncle Samuel can beat us all ; he claims to have 2,760,000 in the Adirondack Park of New York State. This, however, is almost all forest, and beautiful as it may be in its wildwood char- acters, may not boast in real beauty what small parks would be capable of. Parnassia Caroliniana. — In writing of the botanj' of water-falls we inadvertently spoke of the plant of Niagara P\ills as Parnassia palnstris instead of Parnassia Caroliniana, as it should have been. We are indebted to a Cambridge friend for the suggestion. GENl-RAL GARDIiXING. A Double American Apple.— Our readers of course know that the Apple of our gardens is an importation from the old world. We have, however, two native species, namely : Pyrus coronaria and Pyrus angustifolia. These are both considered slight forms of one species by some botanists, but to our mind, are as sufficiently distinct as many plants that are recognized as distinct species by the same botanists who would unite these. They are especially distinct from the old world species, in having a delicious fragrance, which those of Europe have not. We have just received from E. A. BechtePs Sons, of Staunton, Ills., some fine specimens in flower, of the last named species, as double as roses, and of a bright crimson color. This, together with the deli- cious fragrance already referred to, of this species, must give it very great value to culti- vators. In our opinion these gentlemen have happened on a very valuable addition to our list of ornamental shrubs. We use the word shrub, for although these Amer- ican Crab Apples are usually class- ed as trees, they are really, as usually seen, not more than large shrubs. It has always been a matter of surprise to us that these two species are not more generally grown in gardens, where choice collections of shrubs are appre- ciated. The fragrance is exactly that of the rose, and when large specimens are covered with blos- soms, the fragrance permeates the atmosphere to a large distance around. Floral Ivmhlems. -European magazines are fond of raillery on the taste of Americans in arranging flowers in the form of ships, anchors, and other things. But it would seem that mankind is much the same everywhere. Count \'on Moltke, who died recently, had passed his 90th birthday, a short time before, and the citizens of Cologne presented him with a huge cannon ball, which took ten thousand violet blossoms to form. Why not a floral ship to an Admiral as well as a cannon ball to a Field Marshal ? Clematis Petunias.— A cla^s of Petunia has been raised with the corolla so deeply lobed that they resemble some Clematises. There are few garden flowers that have been broken up into so many distinct races. The method is to take some variation in the line desired.— to save seed from that,— and mark and save seed again from those in the line of the proposed improvement. Vagaries ok Fruit Crops.— Under date of June 20, a Springfield. iNIass., subscriber says that while there are heavy crops of peaches north of them, there are none of any consequence in Connecti- cut. CLEMATIS PETUNIA. Flowc«8 PuRPLC. (23) ^^mv,-:.'.:.:^ '^'^ \- ■■■' 24 MEKHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [Aug. 1S9I.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 25 Iris. — A correspondent inquires how to keep Irises in the greatest health, how best to preserve their beauty and bloom, and how to plant them so as to compare well with other plants in the general features of a garden. As a rule Irises are very fond of a mixture of rotten leaves and sand ; the creeping rhizomes like to penetrate this rich sandy material, and although some species are found entirely in swamps they do equally well in rich garden soil of the character described. For grouping they are admirable along the borders of shrub- bery. Of late the Japan forms of Irises, bloom- ing so much later than others, have prolonged the season, so that taking Iris verna as among the earliest to flower, with his Kccmpferi of Japan as the latest, it gives us a period of nearly three months in w^hich various kinds of Irises may be in flower. The bright yellow Iris of Europe, Iris pseiid-acoriis, is also late, blooming just before the Japan Irises come in- to flower. As a rule Irises do not like hot broiling sun ; Iris Missourienis of Colorado is however an exception. It may be noted that the rhizomes, or creeping stems of Irises, are little more than annual. It is only the ex- treme points that are in active life ; and in some species like the Iris Hartwegii of Cali- fornia, not more than half an inch of the ex- treme points carries the plant over for another year. The Symplocos prunieolia.— A few years ago we were kindly presented from the Arnold Arboretum with a plant simply labeled " 6)7;/- />/t?r^^ species. " It has bloomed this year, and proves to be the 6". prunifolia. The flowers are white, blooming in :\Iay, and have a much more feathery appearance than most of the white flowering plants of that time of the year. It will undoubtedly be a popular ornamental shrub. It belongs to the same family of plants as the Halesia or snowdrop tree. Azalea amcena.— This does not seem to be as generally distributed as it ought to be. A plant on the grounds of Mr. Samuel Emlen, in Germantown, is possibly one of the oldest in America, and is regarded as one of the most beautiful of all very early flowering shrubs. On the first of May, rivaling the lilacs, it is a perfect blaze of beauty. l\Ir. E. 's plant is about two feet high and across. Hybridizing Flowers.— One of the most interesting occupations for the lover of flower gardening is the raising of new varieties from seed by hybridizing. The relationship must be near, as for instance two kinds of roses, two of geraniums, of fuchsias, or of other plants. It is best to open carefully the petals a day before they would do this of themselves, cut- ting off" the anthers with a slender pointed scissors, and then dusting the stigma with the pollen from the flower of the other kind to be used in the operation. The stigma will in all probability not be in receptive condition for a day or two, but the pollen will remain in per- fect condition until it is. This has been found a much safer plan than the one usually em- ployed of enclosing the flower in a gauze net to prevent the use of foreign or the plant's own pollen by visiting insects, and then appl}^- ing the desired pollen after several days. The garden geranium, or as the books now gener- ally say, "Zonale pelargonium," takes very readily to hybridizing or crossing, and much pleasure can be had from experiments with them in watching the blooming of the seed- lings. Culture of Aquatic plants.— The colored plate which we give this month is suggestive of aquatic plants in general, and a few words on their culture may not be out of place. Usually they have hard and bony seeds, which often remain a year without sprouting. If this hard coat is filed so that the water can get to the cotyledons they will sprout at once. Those who have no ponds to grow aquatic plants can have tubs of water sunk level with the earth. We saw once a garden of many species of water plants sunk in tubs in this manner. Plants which have their leaves easily destroyed by frost will yet often live over winter when the mud is deeper than the frost can reach. We believe the common Calla Lily, Richardia cpthiopica will live out in the winter in this manner, and the so-called sacred lotus, Nelum- bium speciosiun, will also live out in the same w^ay. The roots are not injured by so low a temperature as 45 degrees, which is about the temperature of the mud under water in winter time. Tropical water plants require warmer mud, and they rot when the temperature goes so low. J. F. M. \ *r Historical Monuments.— It is to be re- gretted that monuments to commemorate great men or women or great events do not oftener take shape in something useful. Just now Philadelphians are asked to sacrifice one of the extremely few breathing spots they possess in order to build a huge monument costing hun- dreds of thousands of dollars, to the memory of Washington. If Washington could vote, he would rather cast it to buy a twenty-acre square for the good of the people, than take from them the little four-acre plot known as Independence square. Ellwanger & Barry take a better view of things. They have erected in Highland Park, cases we find them suffering from starvation. When growing in woods rotten leaves and underbrush collect food for the roots ; on lawns and in gardens there is generally nothing whatever for them. Trees as well as corn or potatoes want food. If large trees, like these referred to, could have an occasional top dress- ing of manure there would be fewer complaints about. Branches when dead, or weak ])ranches, when cut off from old trees, should be sawed close to the trunk and painted, so that the wood could be preserved until the bark grows over. It is the rotting away of dead stems which frequentlv causes permanent decay. J. F. M. MEMORIAL PAVILION IN HIGH Rochester, at a cost of 525,000 dollars, for ground, trees and all, a pavilion for the use of the school children of that city, to the memory of the late Patrick Barry. This will cover a lit- tle less than the monument to Washington. Thousands will look up and wonder at the great monument and give thanks to the great man who gave them a country— but the same thought would have been just as well excited by something intrinsically useful, as this memorial pavilion is. 1/ Health of Large TREES.-Many inqui- ries come to us as to the preservation of old trees in parks or on lawns. In almost all LAND PARK. ROCHESTER. N. Y. l^osrs — descriptive Catalogues. — KH- wanger & Barry, in their descriptive ro.se catalogue follow a good l^nglish practice of placing the name of the introducer, and the year in which it was introduced, after the ;ame in the catalogues. This serves to iden- tify the rose, as occasionally the same names are given to the difterent roses ; for instance, describing the rose Annie Cook after the name is put -Cook. 1S8S," then follows the description, -An American seedling from Bonsilene. delicate shade of pink, changing to white under glass in winter, vigorous and free blooming." In this way we get the whole history of the rose in a few words. ':'::\ ■•>*-'v, ,.'v'- 24 MKIUIAXS' MONTHLY — (ilvXKKAL GARDKNINCi. [Aug. 1^91.] MKl-.HANS' MONTHLY— C.l-.NI.KAL CAKDICNINC. ^.S ',:»ii ■"'.. II. ■1'. A •' ■ r.,. .. Iris.— A correspondent inquires how to keep Irises in the greatest health, how best to preserve their beauty and bloom, and how to plant them so as to compare well with other plants in the general features of a garden. As a rule Irises are very fond of a mixture of rotten leaves and sand ; the creeping rhizomes like to penetrate this rich sandy material, and although some species are found entirely in swamps they do equally well in rich garden soil of the character described. For grouping they are admirable along the borders of shrub- bery. Of late the Japan fonns of Irises, bloom- ing so much later than others, have prolonged the season, so that taking Iyi% vcrua as anion ir the earliest to flower, with Iiis Kccmpferi of Japan as the latest, it gives us a period of nearly three months in which various kinds of Irises may be in flower. The bright yellow Iris of Kurope, Iris psci(d-acori(s, is also late, blooming just before the Japan Irises come in- to flower. As a rule Irises do not like hot broiling sun ; Iris Missotuienis of Colorado is however an exception. It may ])e noted that the rhizomes, or creeping stems of Irises, are little more than annual. It is only the ex- treme points that are in active life ; and in some species like the Iris Jlaytivcgii of Cali- fornia, not more than half an inch of the ex- treme points carries the plant over for another year. Thk Symplocos prunh'ollv.— a few years ago we were kindly presented from the Arnold Arboretum with a plant simply labeled *' Svm- plocos species. " It has bloomed this year, and proves to be the .V. pniui folia. The flowers are white, blooming in May, and have a much more feathery appearance than most of the white flowering plants of that time of the year. It will undoubtedly be a popular ornamental shrub. It belongs to the same family of plants as the Ilalcsia or snowdrop tree. AzALKA AMdCNA.— This does not seem to be as generally distributed as it ought to be. A plant on the grounds of Mr. Samuel lunlen, in Germantown, is possibly one of the oldest in America, and is regarded as one of the most beautiful of all very early flowering shrubs. On the first of May, rivaling the lilacs, it is a perfect blaze of beauty. Mr. K. 's plant is about two feet high and across. IlYimiDiziNG Flowers.— One of the most interesting occupations for the lover of flower gardening is the raising of new varieties from seed by hybridizing. The relation.ship must be nei.r, as for instance two kinds of roses, two of geraniums, of fuchsias, or of other plants. It is best to open carefully the petals a day before they would do this of themselves, cut- ting off the anthers with a slender pointed scissors, and then dusting the stigma with the pollen from the flower of the other kind to be used in the operation. The stigma will in all probability not be in receptive condition for a day or two, but the pollen will remain in per- fect condition until it is. This has been found a much safer plan than the one usually em- ployed of enclosing the flower in a gauze net to prevent the use of foreign or the plant's own pollen by visiting insects, and then apply- ing the desired pollen after several days. The garden geranium, or as the books now gener- ally say, "Zonale pelargonium," takes very readily to hybridizing or crossing, and much pleasure can be had from experiments with them in watching tlie blooming of the seed- lings. CuLTURK 01- Aquatic plants.— The colored plate which we give this month is sugirestive of aquatic plants in general, and a few words on their culture may not be out of place. Usually they have hard and bony seeds, which often remain a year without s])routing. If this hard coat is filed so that the water can ark grows over. It is the rotting away of dead stems which fre(iuentlv causes permanent decay. J. V. M. MEMORIAL PAVILION IN HIGH Rochester, at a cost of S25.(x>o dollars, for ground, trees and all, a pavilicm for the use of the school children of that city, to the memory of the late Patrick Harry. This will cover a lit- tle less than the monument to Washington. Thousands will look up and wonder at the great monument and give thanks to the great man who gave them a country— but the same thought would have been just as well excited by something intrinsically useful, as this memorial pavilion is. Hkalth of Larc.k TRKKS.-Many uKiui- ries come to us as to the preservation ot old trees in parks or on lawns. In almost all LAND PARK. ROCHESTER. N. Y. K()^,;s — DK.scKii'TivK Cat \L«M,ri:s. — lUl- wanger .^ Harry, in their » 26 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Aug. 189I.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 27 Sea-kale. — There are few more delicious vegetables than Sea-kale, but it is rarely, if ever, met with in American kitchens, indeed the writer has never met with it at all in America. Possibly this is from the fact of its being useless until blanched, and as it cannot be blanched by earthing up, as celery can, it is probably considered too much trouble. It does not vSeem, however, to be generally known that the roots can be lifted and planted in boxes, and sown in a comparatively warm cel- lar, when they will grow and blanch naturally by growing in such dark places. It ought to be easy to propagate, as it grows by pieces of roots. It would be better, however, that the plant should be grown one year in the open ground, before taking up for forcing, or the product would be too weak ; possibly it need not have even the trouble of being planted into boxes or pots, as the roots could be set in beds in some dark place. At any rate, with a little care there ought not to be any great labor or cost required in growing this delicious vegetable in our country. Cherries.— The crop in the East has been simply enormous, while California has, for the first time, sent them East by the carload. Strange to say, the unusual influx did not break prices. Everybody wanted to buy cherries, and the extra demand kept up the price. The California Black Tartarians were sold by auction as they arrived, and brought from 55 cents to $1.00 per box of 10 lbs., ac- cording to quality ; while the California Royal Ann's, in some cases brought the enormous price of $2.35 per box. The general retail price of cherries on the street was from 10 to 15 cents per pound. A Beautiful California Cemetery. --It is said that the most beautiful cemetery in California is one called Mountain View, near Oakland, which was planned and laid out by Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted, in 1865. The landscape gardening work is said to be so completely in harmony with the idea of a cemetery, that few will compare with it any- where in this respect. Of course, the climate of California being so favorable to many plants and flowers that will not thrive in the Atlantic States, gives so much more opportunity for fine results. Vines on Walls.— A question often occurs whether vines which attach themselves to walls create dampness or not. Where the}' are confined entirely to the walls, they aid in drying rather than in creating dampness. The little rootlets are great devourers of moist- ure, and suck up everything of that character that gains access to the walls. There is nothing harder or dryer than the ivy-covered walls of old ruins, as every one who has visited the old world can vouch for. Wherever walls are damp, when vines cover them, it is owing chiefly to their being allowed to get into vspouts and gutters, and in pipes. In addition to vines making walls dry, they keep them cool in summer and warm in winter. From any point of view, vines on the walls of houses are an advantage to health rather than an injury. J. F. M. Rhododendrons.— One of the sights which everyone who visits West Grove, Pa., drives out to see, is the fine mass of Rhododendrons on the grounds of Mr. Dingee, of the well- known Dingee & Conard Co. The specimen plants are probably from 8 to 10 feet high, and, forming a beautiful sight from the public road, do much to acquaint the world with the great beauty of these plants. The Rhododendron is getting better known as a garden plant from year to year. It is strange that but a few 5^ears ago it was supposed they were unculti- vatable in our country. The exhibition of the Waterers during the great Centennial, did much to popularize this grand flower with Americans. Fairmount Park Conservatory. — It is proverbial that people seldom vSee anything wonderful when it is near their homes. They have to go away to be surprised. Just now the English papers are full of the great beauty of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, with its grand conservatory. The Park comprises 2816 acres, and the large conserv^atory is con- sidered by these English correspondents to be one of the most beautiful in the world. A recent number of the Journal of Horticulture, published in London, gives great credit to Mr. Charles H. Miller the Superintendent land- scape gardener in charge of the Park. T. B. M. Copperas.— The use of copperas disolved in water, as an invaluable remedy for all kinds of fungus troubles, is now getting to be known. No greater benefaction has been conferred on the cultivator than the knowledge which has been disseminated about the value of this solu- tion. The " Count)y Gmtlcman " now tells us that its use is being extended to the cleaning of milk cans. It is said to be so perfect a remedy against the germs of typhoid, diph- theria, and other epidemic diseases, that its use in that line is likely to be as invaluable as to the plant grower. After all there is no reason why it should not be, as these germs are simply a low order of fungus growth. It should be noted, that blue copperas- sulphate of copper,— and not ^reen cop- peras—sulphate of iron,— is the proper article. J- F. M. Xanthoceris soRiJir<>LL\.— Mr. William Falconer believes that this is getting to be one of the most popular trees recently introduced into cultivation. It has the advantage over some other trees of flowering when only a year or two old, but old specimens are said to be particularly l)eautiful. Although illustrations of it have occasionally appeared we repeat it again in this place. It is certainly one of the inost desirable of ornamental trees introduced into cultivation during the past few years. It is from Northern China. Blackberry Rust.— A correspondent from Ivast Stroudsburg, Pa., calls atten- tion to the prevalence of red rust on raspberry and blackberry leaves this season. This is a small fungus easily kept down if cultivators will cutout the infected branches, or leaves, and burn them as soon as they appear. Protection to Native Birds.— Mr. Thomas C. Thurlow, of West Newbury, Mass., read a very interesting essay on this subject before a recent meeting of the INIass. Horticultural Society. Mr. Thurlow does not seem to ex- empt any birds, except the crow, from the list of those that are far more useful than destruc- tive. He does not deny but that it is very trying to the fruit grower to see the robins running away with his cherries, but he in- sists that they only take a few of these, as a matter of after dinner dessert,— that their chief food is on destructive insects. XANTHOCERIS SORBIFOLIA. Rose Empress Auousta Victoria.— This new hvbrid-tea seems to be pushed with vigor in Germany, whether the popularity is on ac- count of its name wholly remains to be seen. The (;ernian publications say of it :— " A bril- liant and most eftective rose either for garden decoration, exhibition or forcing purposes, quite flrst-rate. Growth strong, large foliage ; flowers borne on long, strong stems : bright pure white, in the centre orange colored : outer petals finelv reflexed like ' The Bride, ' ex- ceedinglv free in blooming during summer and autumn,' every shoot crowned with a flower bud. ' ' Pruning Trees in Summer.— A correspon- dent inquires whether the branches of street trees too low for hats or umbrellas may be cut otT in Summer, or in March or April. So far as the tree itself is concerned, it really makes little difterence. Of course, a branch cut ofl' before June, if it is not too large, will allow a new growth of wood over the wound before the season is over, and this may be some slight advantage. Sph^ea AsTH.r.oiDES.-We have from Rea Bros., specimens of this handsome flower, recentlv introduced from Japan. It is closely related' to our well-known wild flower, the Goats' V.^^xCi.SpircraAruncus, common through the Alleghanies, and is described by Maximo- wicz as Sp. Aruncus var. Astilboides. It is a good addition to the list of herbaceous plants. 28 MEEHAN'S MONTHLY — GENERAL CxARDENINO. [Aug. Norway Spruce HedgEvS.— Along the pub- lic highway, around a large country vSeat near Abington in Pa., there is a mile or two of hedge formed of Norway Spruces, which were planted some twenty-five years ago, under the direction of Mr. William Saunders now of Washington ; enclosing the country seat, then owned by a Philadelphia merchant by the name of Kent. This hedge has been admirably treated by being pruned in a conical shape. Notwithstanding its age it is to-day a marvel of perfect beauty. Close to the ground to the extreme top it is so thick that a bird could scarcely find its way through. To all appear- ance it would be still good for another quarter of a century. Much as we have known that the Norway Spruce makes a fine hedge, we have never seen one so extremely beautiful and successful as this of Mr. Kent's. J. F. M. A Yellow Bon Silene Rose.— Mr. S. W. Crowell, of Huntsville, Ala., has a branch of this fine pink rose pushing out with yellow flowers. If this branch is propagated from, it might possibly be of great value. We sup- pose it would have something the appearance of Saffrano, which at one time was one of the most popular of the kinds grown by florists. Its exact value, however, will depend on other circumstances than its color alone. ExocHORDA GRANDiFLORA. — A Correspon- dent from Salem, Mass., notes that this plant suffers in that .section from a disease similar to that which attacks many rosaceous plants, such as the fire-blight in the Pear, and the well-known blight of the Dwarf Almond, and which has almost driven out of cultivation the beautiful Red Plum, Pniniis triloba, of China, though he supposes the trouble to be from a want of hardiness. Cinnamon Vine. — A correspondent, Miss Jackson, sends us a leaf of the Chinese Yam for name. It is known in the West as Cinnamon Vine. Just why a plant which has been so universally known as Chinese Yam, and sold at low figures, should be re-christened Cinna- mon Vine, and sold at a much higher figure than under its old name, passeth the common understanding. Aphis on Maple Trees.— In reply to a lady correspondent we may say, that the best way to get rid of the Honey Aphis on street trees is to use the street hydrant, or a powerful garden engine, in cases where street hydrants are not available. They are very easil}^ washed off by the force of the water, and the water besides is a benefit to the leaves. J. F. M. Carnation Culture. — Those who grow carnations for winter flowering often complain that the}^ flower late. There are some kinds which have a natural tendency to bloom late ; but lateness often comes from pinching them late in the seavSon. One or two pinchings early in the season, to make them bushy, is all very well ; but two pinchings is all the law allows. Chinese Artichoke. — A new vegetable in- troduced from China under the botanical name of St achy s tiibifera, is getting popular in the old world, where it is being distributed under the name of Chinese Artichoke. The roots, which are eaten boiled, are not as large as Jerusalem artichokes, but are knotted much in the same manner. Rhododendrons. — The Massachusetts Hor- ticultural Society makes a specialty at its spring exhibition of the rhododendron. The exhibition this year was on the 5th of June, and was said to be one of the finest sights ever seen in the city of Boston. Japan Cedar. — A correspondent notices as among one of the most beautiful trees in Washington, a C}yptomcria japouica in Lafay- ette Square. Lovers of rare conifent visiting Washington, should look at it. Sagittaria Sinensis. — Mr. Hugo Mulertt, who takes great interest in aquarium plants, says of this, "it is known as the Chinese arrowhead. A charming novelty of easy cul- ture. It may be grown, similar to the Chinese lil}^ in water, moss, or soil, in vases, bowls, tubs or pots. It is a highly ornamental plant for in and outdoor aquariums, fish-ponds or the lawn." Our common arrow-heads, also sagil- tarias make excellent plants for aquariums. BIOGRAPH\' AND LniiRATLRE. THK ROSE AND THK GARDENER. ••A FANCY FROM FONTENELLE. " • I)e Menioires de Roses on n'a point vu mourir le Jardinier. ' (( ( ( <{ The Rose in the Rardeii slipped her hiul, Ami she laughed in the pri- He is old,— so old ! And he soon nuist die . The full Rose waxed in the warm June air, And she spread and spread till her heart lay bare; , , i i,- And she laughed once more as she heard his trea He is older now ! He will soon be dead . But the breeze of the morning blew, and found That the leaves of the blown Rose strewed the ground ; ,11 And he came at noon, that gardener old, And he raked them softly under the mould. And I wove the thing to a random rhvnie, ^^ For the Rose is Beautv the gardener Tune. Austin Dobson. (< LEO WELTZ.— In the history of Western horticulture few probably have occupied a more prominent and useful position than this gentleman, who died on the 31st of December last, though, strange to say, no account of this loss to floriculture seems to have appeared in any prominent paper. He was born in Prussia on the 27th of January, 1825 ; his father being Prof. Weltz, a prominent botanist and geolo- gist. He was especially interested, as a youth, in landscape gardening, and assisted the laying out of the Botanical Gardens of the University of Heidelburg. He subsequently became chief gardener to Alexander the III, Ivmperor of Russia. He returned to Germany and entered the army, receiving directly from the hands of the late King William four medals for meritorious conduct during the revolution of 1847. As a student he was connected with Alexander Humboldt. lu 1851 came to America, locating at Huntington, West \a., removing to Ohio in 1852 as a landscape gardener. He laid out the grounds of Gov. Salmon P. Chase, Gov. Dennison, Hon. George Pendleton, and others. He was especially in- terested in laying out cemeteries on the modern principles of landscape gardening. Sugar Grove Cemetery at Cincinnati, and the Cemeteries of London. vSpringfield, Martins- ville, and others in the West, are from his designs. He commenced a nursery in 1855, removing to Wilmington in 1866; the land owned by him comprising over 240 acres. Like most intelligent nur.serymen he has been frequently called to take part in public affairs. In 1875 he was elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture ; in 1883 a member of the State Board of Public Works : in 1S85 he was commissioned by President Cleveland to inves- tigate the hardy trees and shrubs of Russia, n'e was especially fond of trees and flowers, and a large number that now beautify the State of Ohio, and other parts of the Union, were introduced there by him. He was married in 1853 to Anna Elizabeth vSchwalenberger of Bavaria, who also died in May last, leaving six sons, whom it is pleasant to note have in- herited the love of flowers and gardening which their father so eminently possessed. Outside of the loss to horticulture by Mr. Weltz's death, he was a man personally and socially beloved by all who came in contact with him. Greenland Kxplokation.— In the early part of Mav an Arctic expedition, under the lead of Lieutenant R. l'. Peary, and organized under the auspices of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, left to explore north- ern (;reenland. This is the third expedition sent with the encouragement of this scientihc institution. Besides the examination of the countrv, natural history, and especially l)otany, will be looked after by the expedition. It is believed that this expedition will go nearer to the North Pole than those who have hitherto ventured towards that point. The other two expeditions were under the charge of Dr. Kane and Dr. Hayes, respectively. (29) 30 MEKHANS' MONTHI.Y — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. [Aug. 1S9I.] MEKHANS' MONTHLY— BUKiRAPHV AND LITERATURE. 31 John C. Cahoon. — There were probably few young naturalists of a greater promise of use- fulness in different branches of science than this gentleman, who lost his life on the 17th of April in Placentian Bay, Newfoundland, while engaged in ornithological pursuits. He was endeavoring to collect some eggs from a craggy spot called Shag Roost. The sea closed in closely around these rocks at the base, and he left his boat in charge of two young lads while he went around to the top of the cliff ; on the top of this cliff he fastened a knotted rope, and descended some 150 feet to the nest of the birds for the eggs. In endeavoring to re-climb to the point of the cliff, for some reason or another the rope liad got over a huge projecting rock, and pressed so tightly against the rope that it was impossible for him to get his hands around the rope in order to ascend. In this way he had to hang to the rope for a considerable time ; when finding his strength give way, he had to drop from the rope into the sea, a distance of 200 feet, striking rock after rock in his descent. He fell into the water finally, and disappeared, leaving noth- ing but blood tinted water on the spot where he fell. His body was not recovered until the next day. In ornithology especially he had already made for himself an enviable name. MoNS. P. E. DE PuYDT.— Those familiar with Belgian horticulture must be very fa- miliar with the name of this gentleman, who died at Mons, in Belgium, on the 20th of May. He was born in the year 18 10, and for sixty years was continuously Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society of the city in which he died. He undoubtedly did at least as much as any man of our times to bring Belgian horti- culture up to the high position it occupies before the world. Dr. W. H. Von Naegeli. — All those in- terested in the physiology of plants must have met frequently with the name of Naegeli. He was by birth a vSwiss, and for many years curator of the Botanical Museum, and Garden of Munich. He died recently in his 74th year. He was a great opponent of Darwin's views. He was remarkably a modest man in the ex- pression of his views, notwithstanding the high position which he achieved in this par- ticular branch of botanical science. Elisha Moody.— Few names are more famil- iar to horticulturists than that of Moody, of Lockport, N. Y., who was the founder of the large nurseries at that point, besides being intimately connected with many progressive movements which have given prosperity to that beautiful city. He died on the 19th of April. He was born at Unity, N. H., on the 27th of October, 1809, being therefore 82 years of age at the time of his decease. He established his nur- series in 1830, but removed the business finally to Lockport, in 1861. The ground covered some 150 acres, and, in fruit trees especially became famous. He was particularly fond of the Pear, and at one time had one hundred and twelve varieties for testing on his grounds. He was among the first to show that these could be raised from seed and grown to a profit on American soil ; until his time America was dependent on importations from Europe. Like so many eminent nurserymen, he was honored by his fellow citizens with many positions of prominence. He was councilman in the city of Lockport, and in 1872 was Mayor of the city, also a member of the New York Legislature. It is pleasant to know that he has enterprising sons, who will con- tinue the business established by their honored father. Ahsinthe.— The readers of French novels,, and indeed of other French books, must be familiar with the term, absinthe, a highly ex- hilarating liquor in use by the French people. Its use is extending more and more every year, and nearly as many gallons are used in some countries in the old world as of whisky in ours, but we believe it is not generally known in this country out of what plants or in what manner absinthe is made. This is given as follows : — "The leaves and flowers of wormwood, or Artemisia, angelica root, anise root, sweet flag, and other aromatic roots are pounded together and soaked in alcohol for a week or ten days. The compound is a pale emerald color, and by the addition of anise oil absinthe is the result.'* T. D. A. CocKERELL.— This well-known botanist, especially versed in Colorado flowers, has taken a trip to England in the interest of the science, and will make an exploration of Jamaica before his return to the United States. John Bartram.— After a struggle of many years against obstructive circumstances Coun- cilman Meehan has succeeded in getting this saved from destruction. City Councils have taken possession of it as a public park. It was j)lanted in 1720 by John Bartram, his father allowing him a portion of the estate for that purpose, when he was but nineteen years of age. Many of the large and fine trees planted by the botanist, and his son William, are still in a fair state of preservation. The Mayor of the city, the Director of Public Works, and other officials, with Mr. Meehan, and other members of the City Parks Association, paid it a visit for the first time, in their official capacity, recently. The magnificent specimen of the Yellow Wood tree, Cladrastis tinctoria, was in full bloom to greet the guests on their arrival there. The final arrangements for the preservation and improvement of the property have not yet been agreed upon. All that is done at present is to place a superintendent in charge, and policemen to guard the property from vandalism. At the end of this year an appropriation will be made to care for it in a more instructive manner. Prof. John L. Rissell.— It is remarkable how tenaciously many scientific writers hold on to an idea, that hybrid plants are sterile. Outside of strictly scientific men, this has long been exploded. There are certainly cases where hybrids are sterile, but in a vast major- ity of cases the reverse is true. There are numbers of sterile plants, which are well known not to be hybrids, while on the other hand, it is also well known that plants which are often sterile, occasionally become abund- antly fertile. So long ago as 1869 Prof. John L. Russell, of Salem, Mass., recorded the fact, that the common Golden-Bell, which is usually sterile, fruited alnindantly for him in the year previous. As there was no other form of this species anywhere in the vicinity, it showed that it was simply a case where a plant, usu- ally sterile, will occasionally assume produc- tiveness. Col. Whitney.— In our last magazine we gave a notice of the looth birthday of Col. Whitney, of Franklin Grove, 111., and some account of his great services to horticulture in that part of the world. The venerable gentle- man has since died, the event occurring on the nth of June. Besides his being a pioneer in horticulture in Illinois, he was the oldest living member of the order of Free Masons in the world, having been initiated into that fraternity on the 22d of June, 1817. Lawson Valentine.— Since our last niaga- zine was prepared for press the death is an- nounced of the above gentleman on the 5th of May last, aged 64 years. Mr. Valentine was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the •'Agricultural" and ♦' Horticultural Press" of this country, and much of the great success that has followed the establishment of the -American Garden" and other periodicals was due to his enterprise. Undoubtedly his death is a great loss to the cause of American horticulture. Dr. Heinrich Mavr. — This gentleman made many friends during his examination of the American Forests for the German Ciov- ernnient. He is now Professor of Forestry in the University of Tokio, Japan. He is pub- lishing in the Ck-rman language a work on the conifenu of Japan.— the colored plates being taken from native trees. Dr. ScHOMBrROHK.— The announcement of the death of this gentleman has been made. It is, however, the director of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide. Australia, and not the Dr. Schomburghk who was the discover of the great Victoria Lily of the Amazon, who was his brother. Both of them, however, were distinguished botanists. Dr. J. M. McFarlane.— This eminent Scotch botanist, whose discoveries in regard to the structure of hybrid plants have much in- terested European scientists, will visit this country, and address the American Association for the' Advancement of Science on the subject at its meeting in Washington the present month. The meetings of this association are always rich in botanical attendants,— and the personal intercourse adds largely to the inter- est their new facts produce. GENERAL NOTES. A Lady's View of Meehans' Monthly. — The first issue of this welcome addition to the list of magazines devoted to our native flora is before me. It brings with it a double wel- come from the compliment paid its Southern friends from having for its embellishment a picture of one of the South' s most lovely native plants. The Editor calls it " Gelsemium nitidum,'' whilst we Southerners know it as "Yellow Jasamine, " and botanically Gelse- miu?n sempe}^ire7is . Had I known sooner (/. e. in March) that such a compliment was pro- posed, I would have begged the privilege of furnishing a spray which would have given a better idea of what the Yellow Jasamine can do under liberal culture. In its native haunts the cut is true to nature, — a delicate evergreen climber with sparsely scattered blooms. Under cultivation the sprays become shortened in a measure, which though, adds to its quality of blooms, these being crowded closel}^ to- gether as in sprat's of the Weigelias. I cut numbers of sprat's from my luxuriant vine this season from 8 inches to i8 inches long crowded with the fragrant beautiful blooms. I was told quite often that my plant was the pride and boast of the " West End " of our town. M. I. Thomson. Our next plate. — As September is especi- ally the season for Asters and Golden-rods, we shall give as an illustration Boltoiiia glastifolia, a genus nearly related to Solidago and Aster, and which we believe has not before been figured anywhere. As it is found in places over most of the States east of the Missis- sippi, flower lovers will be glad to see the face of a familiar friend. Photographs. — Photographs of any unique feature in wild flower scenery, or of any re- markable plant in our readers' grounds, or even of brief notes about them will always be thankfully received. The same may be said of sketches, or good living specimens. (32) Meehans' Monthly. — The kindly manner in which the Horticultural and Botanical press, in Europe as well as in America, have noticed the prospectus and first issue of our magazine, merits our warmest thanks. The conductor had come to believe that he had almost dropped out of memory — so fast does the world of to-day stride away from the days that are passed : and the warmth of this greeting is a pleasant sur- prise to him. After fift}^ years of service with the pen as a horticultural writer and teacher, he would not have dared the new venture only for the strong belief that the younger members ot the firm will be fully able to continue the w^ork long after he has to resign the charge. The very large number of subscribers who had such faith in us as to send in their names be- fore a single copy was issued is also exceed- ingly gratifying. Our constant effort shall be that these good friends are not disappointed. Frauds. — There possibly never w^as a time when so much appeared in the public prints about frauds in horticulture, as during the past two or three years. "Old and cheap things with new names and high prices. ' ' This comes in a great measure from a want of leadership in the horticultural papers themselves. No one who reads an intelligent journal will be caught b}^ a fraud, and the very fact that frauds abound shows that the good papers have no readers, or that the readers of such papers do not get the intelligent guidance the}^ should have. Potted Strawberries. — Those who labor for the advancement of horticulture, are some- times disheartened at the slow progress ap- parent everywhere. But when wide periods are contrasted, the}' can see great advance. When the conductor of this magazine first re- commended potting strawberry- runners, so as to save a season in getting a crop, he hardl}' anticipated the immense trade so many nur- series now have in this article, would come so soon. Vol. L BOLTONIA ASTEROIDHS. ASTER-BOLTOXIA. NATURAL ORDER, COMPOSHM-. BoLTONiA ASTEROiDES, ly'Heriticr.— Leaws lanceolate; achenia broadly oval ; pappus of few minute !»ri>tles and no awns. ^See Cray's Manual of the Botany of the Xorthcrn I'nittd States.) Boltonia f^lasti t'ltlia , I/Heriticr Leaves lancet)latc, ascending; achenia obovate, broadly winged : pappus of several short bristles and two t(i three short awns, {iitay's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States. See also Wood's Class-Book of Botany, ami Chapman's Flora of the Southei n United States.) The author has collected this plant along the banks of the Susquehanna, and many have no doubt gathered it in similar situ- ations, but no one, probably, has ever seen it approach the same plant in its culti- vated beauty. It is naturally remarkably foliaceous, and the leaves seem out of all proportion to the flowers. But under cul- ture the brown earth in the flower borders relieves the superabundance of green, and, be- sides this the flowering principle seems to be favored, and the overgrowth of leaves checked, by exposure to full light and air. The plant used for illustration grew in poor soil in a nar- row border, reaching a height of about four feet, and in September formed one of the most striking objects in the writer's garden. Though flowering at a season when asteraceous plants are particulary abundant, it claims a full share of attention from lovers of beaut3\ It is closely allied to the true asters, and in botanical classification would be placed be- tween Aster and Bellis or daisy — the Gowan of the poets — and it is from this general re- lationship to Aster that its specific name — astctoidcs — was derived. The plant had, before the time of the French botanist I/Heritier, been classed with Matricaria, which may be characterized as the chamomile family ; and it was named Matricaria asteroides by Linnaeus some twenty years before the French botanist discovered the true distinction between the two genera. It is interesting to note by the specific name asteroides that notwithstanding the wnde difference between Matricaria and Aster, as now understood, natural appearance was for once wiser than scientific rules. I/IIeritier estab- lished the genus in 17SS, in a work called Scrtnm Anglicum — that is, a wreath or selec- tion of interesting plants he found growing in English gardens ; and he took lioltonia from Matricaria because, as he says, the Matricaria had no j)appus, while in this the pappus is obsoletely dentate, and has two horns as we see at a in our fig. 3. He describes two dis- tinct species, claiming for one, Holtonia i^las- tifolia, that the lower leaves are serrate, while the other has all the leaves entire. lie claims no other distinction between the two, though modern botanists have attributed other distinc- tions to the separate species, beyond what the original author saw, as we see in the descrip- tions of the two given at the head of our col- umn. Professor Ci ray, who has made a special stud}' of the genus in the light of modern ex- perience concludes they are all forms of one thing, and will, in his Synoptccal Flora, * adopt the name at the head of the chapter, probabU' from its being the original Linnean name, as B. i^lasti/otia would have the priority in L'Heritier's work. Our illustration would have been B, glastifolia under former interpre- tations of the limits of species. The specific name refers to the saw-like or toothed edges of the lower leaves, which are supposed to be like those of the D\'er's woad — Isatis tinctoria, Glastiim being the name of that genus with some botanists at that time, though at the present an almost unknown synonj-m. At a congress of scientific men held in Bel- * See, since the above was written, S\n. Fl., page 166, Part II. (33) Boi;iX)NiA GivVs'riR.)i,i.\ . 1^. \l,^|,„„, M.„,|,ivl., I IVnin'K. / V ^1 BOLTONIA ASTERoll)i:S. ASTER-r,Oi;i'()MA. NATTRAL ()RI)I':r. COMI'OSIT.I:. Uoi.ToNiA ASTKR<)ii)!:s, 1/ 1 Icritier.— Lcriws lanceolate; achenia broalt,)ma i^Ln,!) f^lt.i , I/Herilicr I.cavt-s lancfolate, ascending; aclienia ohovate, broadly winged : pappus of several short bristles and two to thrre -hort awns. {(;>r.\'> Miimtal of' t/ir liitfany of thr Xoi tlirm I'tiitrdStiitrs. Seealso ir.hnf' < C!d:^'--J>.-'k- or' /.'",.•)/ 1 , and Chapin.m^ i'. o a of thr Southt'i )i I'lntrd Statts.) Th(j author has collected this plant along- the bankvS of the vSusciuehanna, and many have no doubt gathered it in similar situ- ations, but no one. probably, has ever seen it a])proach the same i)lant in its culti- vated beauty. It is naturalh- remarkably foliaceous, and the leaves seem out of all proportion to the flowers. Ihit under cul- ture the brown earth in the flower borders relieves the superal)undance of green, and, be- sides this the flowering j)rincipk' seems to l)e ra\-ored, and the overgrowth of leaves checked, by exposure to full light and air. 'IMic plant used for illustration grew in })0()r soil in a nar- row border, reaching a height of about four feet, and in vSeptember formed one of the most striking objects in the writer's garden. Though {lowering at a season when asteraceous plants are particulary abundant, it claims a full share of attention from lovers of beauty. It is closely allied to the true asters, and in botanical classification would be i)laced be- tween ulster and Beilis or daisy — the Gowan of the poets — and it is from this general re- lationship to Aster that its specific name — nstcioiih's — was derived. The plant had, before the time of the French botanist I/IIeritier. been classed with ^Fatl icaria, which may be characterized as the chamomile family ; and it was named Matricaria astcroides bj' I.inmeus some twenty years before the French botanist discovered the true distinction between the two genera. It is interesting to note by the specific name astcroides that notwithstanding the wide difference between Matricaria and Aster, as now understood, natural appearance was for once wiser than scientific ruk-s. I.' I kriticr estab- lished the genus in 17SS, in a work called Scrt/t}n An:^lici(})i -that is. a wreath or selec- tion of interesting plants he found gr«>wing in Ivnglish gardens ; and he took lloltoiiia from Matricaria ]>ecause, as he sa\s, the Matrican'a had no })appus. while in this the ])aj)pus is obsoletely dentate, and has two lioiiis as we see i\i a in our fig. ;. He describes two dis- tinct species, claiming for one. /><>itonia ,^/as- tifotia, that the lower leaves are serrate, while the other has all the leaves entire. lie claims no other distinction between the two. though modern botanists ha\e attributed other distinc- tions to the separate species, beyond wluit the original author saw. as we see in the descrip- tions of the two given at the head of our col- umn. Professor dray, who has made a special study of the genus in the light of modern ex- j)erience concludes they are all form.s of one thing, and will, in his SyN(>ptccaI I-'lora, ' adopt the name at the head of the chapter, probably from its being the original I.innean name, as />'. :^iasti/olia would have the priority in I/IIeritier's work. ( )ur illustration would have been />'. i^tasti/olia under former interpre- tations of the limits of sj)ecies. The specific name refers to the saw-like or toc^thed edges of the lower leaves, which are sup])osed to be like those of the Dyer's woad — /satis titicti>ria, Gtastum being the name of that genus with some l)otanists at that time, though at the present an almost unknown synonym. At a congress of scientific men held in Hel- * See. since the above was written, Part II S\u. /••; , pagL- . *w.