Title: Meehan's Monthly, v. 6 Place of Publication: Phila. PA Copyright Date: 1896 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg109.6 ;!' ^^\f^'^: FILMED WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A COPY BORROWED FROM: CORNELL UNIVERSITY SOME PAGES IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAIN FLAWS AND OTHER WHICH APPEAR ON THE FILM ''^'-■■..:>£>Ar-fis»i*t^.» Volume 6 J 1896 t « ' • . • • I 1 • > III < > MEEHANS' MONTHLY. A Magazine of Horticulture, l>otany and kindred subjects. CONDUCTKH HV THOMAS MHEHAX, FORMRRr^Y EDITOR OF TUK " OAKDKNK KS' MONTHLY,' AND AlTHOR OK THK " NATIVK TLOWICRS AND FHRNS OF THK UNITKD STATKS." VICK-I'KKSIDKNT (.1 THK ACADKMY LM- NATURAL SCIKNCICS OF PHH.ADKLl'HIA. HOTANLST lO THJC l'KNNSYLYANK\ STATK HOARD OF AGRICI LTIRK, KTC. ASSISTED BY THOMAS B. MRKHAN, J. I'RANK MKHHAN, S. MI'NDKLSON MKEHAN. Volume VI, 1806. UvLUSTRATKD WITH COLORED LITHOGRAPHS, BY L. PRANG & CO., AND NUMEROUS COPPER AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS. COPYRKUITED. XHOMAS MEEHAN & SONS. Gekmantowx, Phila., Pa. fV > • »•• •• •*«»• • • • ••• •• ••• •••• • • «••«• ••• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a » • • • • • • » '' • • • • • • • • • • • • • »•* • 4 • * • * •• • • • • • • • • • t • * o • • • • • a « * • • • • •• • .. . ; : • • INDEX TO VOLUME VI. COLORED PLATHS rA(;K PAOK Preface to Volume VI. Aquilegia ccerulea 6i Aspidiuni Goldianuni 121 Cirsium discolor 161 Dicentra cucullaria 41 Gordonia pubescens 201 Habenaria leucostachys 81 Hepatica triloba 21 Hypericum Kaluiianuin 141 Lespedcza hi rta 1 8 1 Liparis liliifolia i Lupin us pcrcniiis i o i Rudbcck ia fulgida 221 ILLUSTRATlOiNS. 7 LL NATURE is a series of advances and rests. We work by day and sleep by night. Plants and flowers have no diurnal periods, — but they rest and advance all the same. Their whole growth is in rhythms. A little movement, — a greater swell — a gentle passage to rest. Then comes a renewal, man\' times daily, with its corresponding rest. And we, who treat of flowers, have our advances and our resting times. We start when the year opens, — go merrily along, rhythmically from month to month, till we reach our December resting period, when the literary flower presents to the reader its ripened fruit. It remains now only for the reader to gather and store the product on his library shelves. We believe our work has been useful and will be a fund of pleasure for all time. We close the volume, in this feeling, with pleasure, and with renewed life and energy for another year's experience. 0 o ^ PAGE PAGE Adder's-tongue Fern , the 187 Apple and pear on same branch 217 Apple, the Gloria Mundi 137 Apple, the Senator 15 Aquarium plants 191 Bag worm, the 233, 235 Bartram's wood-shed, John 11 Begonia olbia 211 Brace for wind-split tree 229 Bulblets from lily scales 53 Cereus triangularis 5 Chestnut, abnormal 213 Cloverhead 168 Cosmos Marguerita 155 Currant, Werder While 97 Cycas revoluta 134 Eel-worms 117 Flower of sago palm, the female 12 Flower, the cruel 206 Forest at Bellwood, Va 147 Garden, a rock 175 Garden in Switzerland, a glacier 31 Garden puzzles 33 Graftin g 93 Grafting, natural iii Hedges, Japan Privet 9 Herbarium of Blue-prints, Fern 225 Landscape gardening, art in 30, 71 Ivattice-leaf Plant, Madagascar 231 Iviriodendron tuHpifera leaves 104, 105, 145 Maples, three varieties of the Japanese 25 Marsila ([uadrifolia 107 Norway Spruce, var. pyramidalis 87 Norway Spruce 85 Norway Spruce hedge 47 Oak, a large 185 Oak, a young Pin 27 Oak, deer's-head growth on a White 45 Oak, union 167 Pear garden 131 Pine forest in New Jersey, a natural 65 Pine grove, a White 149 Parasite on geranium, a root 192 Plants, repotting 73 Pyrus arbutifolia 55 Quercus inibricaria 91 Retinispora scjuarrosa 51 Rothrock, Prof. Joseph T 119 Rose, Yellow Rambler 173 Sarraccnia variolaris 205 Shortia galaci folia 83 Sweet Pea •' Red Riding Hood " 171 Tilia Americana, trunk of 153 Tillandsia Wilsoni 13" Toad-flax, yellow 164 Violet, a cleistogamous 127 Yew, the Irish 94 POEMS. PAGE Apple Bloom, in the 89 Beauties, Unseen 58 Beech Tree, Memories of the 69 Bird, the Humming 23 Books, the Smell of my Old, Old 79 Chance, the Lucky 118 Choir, the Feathered 189 Compensation 38 DatTodils, in Company with the 29 Dandelion , the 83 Flowers, Winter the Nursery for 17 Garden and the Woods, the 129 Garden, Spring in the 109 January 7 PAGE June, a Day in 103 Life, the Decline of 17^^ March 43 Monumen ts, Living 238 Morn, an Easter 63 Nature, the Language of 223 November 209 Oak, to an 15^ Pumpkin, a Pican to the 169 Reap, as We Sow so Shall we 198 Rose, the Kife of the 2f8 Roses, a Bed of 49 Scene, a Summer 123 September 163 ^4"^^^ try .t" ',.'»:' :'^^T^?!W^SWt. ■■ 1' ^"-l-' - '.-J' r' •■« "■ iWEkS I m III iM iiT riirf iitti 'ii asr PAGE Sermon, a Flower 78 Spring, Welcome 98 Solitude, a Woodland 143 South, Flowers of the 3 Summer, Indian 203 PAGE Territory, a Birdless 150 Tree, Plant the 229 Well Done 138 Woods, the Silent Autumn 183 ^ I V PAGE Achimenes in out-door culture 150 Acorns, peculiar growth of 128 Actinomeris squarrosa 193 Adder's-tongue Fern, the 187 Ailanthus, odor of 10, 93, 171 Agave Virginica 213 Algeria, progress in 150 Aneomone patens var. Nuttalliana 100 Apple as national flower, the crab 159 Apple and pear on same branch 216 American Grape Growing and Wine Making... 159 American Gardening 59 American Gardens and Gardening 19 Animal and vegetable life, independence of..... 26 Animals, provident hal)its in 188 Apgar's Trees of the Northern United States... 19 Apple, the Senator 15 Apples, notes on 16, 17, 37, 75, 76, 116, 137, 197 Apple, Arkansaw 96 Apple, Ben Davis 156 Apple, Northern Spy 96 Apple, York Imperial 177 Aplectrum hyemale 48 Apple Canker in Oregon 197 Apple, Rawle's Janet or Ralls' Genet 136 Aquilegia ccerulea 61 Aquilcgia, the story of 158 Aquarium management 190 Apple as a prophylactic, the 237 Art and Nature in Gardening 30 Asclepias tuberosa 174 Ash, Wafer 139 Asparagus culture 1 35 Aspidium Goldianum 121 Asplenium pinnatifidum 163 Asters and golden rods 1215 Baily,JoelJ 58 Baptisia tinctoria 28 Barclay, George 17 Bark within the wood of trees 227 Bartram's Wood Shed, John 17 Bark, Linden 152 Beans in fall, string 136 Bebb, M. S 79 Bees, notes on 63, 126, 128, 140 Beetle, the Elm-leaf. 118 Bennett, A. W 38 Begonias as house plants 172, 211 Bidens Beckii , 52 Biography 59 Bittern u t , the 27 Blackberries, planting 197 Blackberry branch, an arrested 167 Blue Curls as fodder 63 Books, reference 59 Boissier, Trimen and Trecul 238 Botany in a city town 232 Bradt, Geo. M 219 Breeches Flowers 1 00 Broom , the 203 Bud-grafting, hybrids by 97 Bulblets from lily scales 53 Cabbages, notes on 35» 37» i75' i?^ PAGE Cactuses, grafting no Calendars, fruit and flov\er 231 Camphor tree, the 149 Cannas 95 Canaigre '. 20, 200 Carpet Bedding 34 Carnations, notes on 55, 70, 95, 150, 154, 210 Carvopteris Ma'^tacanthus 55 194 Cardamine pratensis i86 Carrots 115 Cassabanana, the 16, 36 Castil 1 ej a cocci n ea 1 90 Cauliflowers 177 Cedrus Deodara 38 Cereus triangularis 11 Celery culture, amateur 1 15 Cherries, improved Sand 235 Cherries, early ripening of 215 Chestnut tree, transformed sexes in 207 Chestnuts 96 Chestnut Hickory, a 28 C hri sttn as Trees 10 Chrysantlicnium, the George S. Conover 12 Chrysanthemum culture, notes on... 35, 74, 114, 209 Chrysanthemum, classification of the 73 Chrysanthemums, hai r^-flowered 95 Cider 214 Cirsiuin discolor 161, 165, 220 Cladastris ti nctoria 135 Clematis disease, 1 1 , 240 Clematis, Madam E92 Firs and spruces '^9 Fish, care of aquarium i<^>9 Flora of Alabama 219 Flora of Mt. Desert Island 18 Florilegium Harlaamense ^79 Flowers at Trenton Falls i'"^3 Flowers, continuous blooming hardy I94 Flowers, demon 2cx) Flowers, influence of frost on hardy i94 Flowers, insects fertilizing • M^ Flowers, notes on odors of 65, 128, 174, 230 Flowers, Nux Vomica for cut 231 Flowers, preserving cut 240 Flowers, state and national ^^^^ Forest, a winter stroll in a 223 Forest fires, notes on 60,74, 192, 233 Forest laws 49 Forest, succession of '^-'^ Forestry '«. 92, M7 Fothergilla alnifolia 43' Hamburg, exhibition at I4<^^ Hedges, ornamental Hedges, New Jersey tea plant for dwarf Hedges, Japan Privet Hedges, Norway Spruce Hedges, Py rus japonica Hepatica triloba Helonias bullata Herbarium of pictures Herbarium, Dr. Ravcncl's Hcuchera sanguinea Helen lum autuninalc Hickory, the Bitternut History , the truths of Horse chestnut, the Hollv with yellow berries, the American. Honev, poisonous 9'^' '23> Honey from flowers, how obtained by humble- bees Honeysuckles, sweet scented Hop-clover, the yellow Horses, hair balls in Houstonia longifolia Humble-bees and clover Humor, Dean Hole's idea of Hybridizing, raising new forms by H vpericum Kalmianu m Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, An Insects, intelligence of ^""aa'qa' Insectlife, notes on 24, 64, 66, 86, Insect eggs on street trees Insectides Insects, destruction of. '3^* Irises, Japanese '55» Irrigation, notes on '"9 Ivy, the Kenilworth Jav, a plucky Blue Kennedy, Dr. .Alfred I Kentucky CofTee, range of .•••.. Landscape gardening on the Pacific Coast Leaves and flowers, relation between Lemmon, Prof.J. G Labels, tree Leaves and Fruits, skeleton Lawns, care of Lawns, salt for ••• Leaves, injury by loss of '4o, Lettuce, i mpro ved Lespef the Sugar making 143 Such, George 19 Superintendent of Schenley Park 80 Swallows, notes on 4, 43, 47, 48, 68, 84, 105, 146 Swamp plants on dry ground 9 Swamp, the Virginia Dismal 23 Sweet pea. Red Riding Hood 171 Sweet peas, improvement in 32, 75 Sweet Pea Review 239 Symplocarpus foetidus, time of flowering 64 Taconia 159 Tea, Pennsylvania mountain 160 Thalictrum Anemonoides 114 Thistle, Chinese 40 Thistle in California, the Russian 18 Tillandsia Wilsoni 130 Timber Pine of the Southern United States, jhe 239 Toadflax, peloria condition of the yellow 164 Tomato, noteson the 39, 58, 157, 177, 197, 200 PA E Tools, care of garden i 6 Traveller's Notes i^o Tree planting, cost of city 114 Tree seeds, raising 72 Trees, branchingof 90 Trees, badly pruned 92 Trees, growth of 180 Trees, good roots in transplanting 230 Trees , hardier j 40 Trees, historic 220 Trees injured by electricity 1 1, 210 Trees, longevity of 149 Trees, annual wood circles in 45, 144 Trees, preserving wind-split 229 Trees, public street 72 Trees, raising large 170 Trees struck by lightning 138 Trees, trimming street 10 Trees, vitality of. 146, 208 Tulip, the wood 95 Turnips in Autumn 177 Tussilago farfara L 227 Vaccinium occidentale 36 Varieties, productive.... 77 Vaux, Calvert 18 Vegetable growth, subterranean 16 Vegetable kingdom, evolution in 178 Vegetable physiology 168 Vegetables, turnip or tap-rooted 235 Vegetables, winter grown 56 Verbena, recollection of the 12 Vernonia Lettermanii 194 Violet, pronunciation of 220 Virginia, good roads in 229 Vitis indivisa 223 Von Mueller, Baron Ferdinand 238 Walnut hulls 237 Wayside and Woodland Blossoms 99 Weeds, noteson 30, 152 Wheeler, Erastus S 58 Wild flowers of Connecticut 79 Window and Parlor Gardening 19 W^indow gardening, Rudyard Kipling's 9 Wild flowers of Delaware 105 Wild flowers of Oklahoma 168 Wild flowers, a plea for 112 Wild flowers, improvement of 154 Winter effect, plants for 92 Wild flowers in gardens 155 Witch, the water 118 Wood, cell structure in 224 Wood, mineralized 140 Wood, preserving 172 Woods, Botanizing in wintery 4 Worm, the Bag 233 Wordsworth 78 Wragg, John 218 Wych Hazel, fragrance of. 4 Yam, the wild 154 Yew, the Carpenter Irish 94 msi^ 01. VI JANUARY. 1596 ISSUED MONTHLY, $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, SINGLE COPY 20 CENTS. -r nevQled 12 ENERAL^ARDENIN^ LOWERS (saduded by TM9/nA3/^EEMAN Ce^VRIOHTKD 1S*e hNTKRKD AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST OFPICK AS RKCOND-CLAS* MATTER. rieehans' thomas Monthly heehan & sons, ^ Germantown, Phila. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Subsepiption Price $2.00 per year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 cts. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each Month, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Editorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phila., Pa. • EBKSHiiiE, Chester White, Mersey Red Sl Poland China ^PlGS. Jersey, Guernsey k Hol- stein Cattle. Thoroujfhbied Sheep, FancyPoultry, Hunting ^_^ and House Dogs. Catalogue. 8. W. SMITH, Cochranville, Chester Co.. Pa, ^ For Flowers Indoors. ^ Bowker's Flower Food. A rich, concentrated fertilizer,: odorless, made from chemicals;; applied in solution once or twice: a month, makes house plants grow- vigorously and blossom abun-! dantly. A small spoonful for a 3-inch pot. A larger spoonful for a 4-inch pot. ; Enough for 30 plants 3 months, 15c. • Enough for 30 plants a whole year,; 50c. We pay the postage and send a book: on ♦* Window Gardening " free with each; package. n I FERTILIZER CO.. -^ KnUllfPr 27 Beaver St., New York.^ UUlf HUI 43 Chatham St., Boston*^ AND RARE PLANTS Abutilon S. de Bonn, 20c.; New Bougainyilla, 50c.; New Caryopteris, 25c.; (.Crimson and Pink Clematis, 80c.; Royal Coleus, 80c.; Cape Fuchsia, 20c.: Pepero- mia, 26c. ; Blue Solanum , 25c.; Schizocodon, SOc.: 8tro- bllanthes.SOc; Thyr8acanthus,25c. ; Kostelet2kia,25c. etc. New Crimson Rambler Rose. 30c. New Cannas, 25c.; White Canna,Pink Canna,25c.; Black Calla, 20c ; Yellow Calla, 75c. ; Purple Calla,40c. Golden Amaryllis, 60c.; Blue Tigridia, 15c.; Rare Dahlias, etc. New Golden Mayberry.BOc. Strawberry-Raspberry, 60c. New Raspberry-Blackberry, 60c. Any three 25-cent plants for 60c. ; 5 for $1.00 Any two 80-cent plants for 50c. ; 4 for $1.00 100 Summer-blooming Bulbs, 12 sorts, $1. 100 QIadioll, from over 1000 varieties, $1 Hundreds of other rare plants and bulbs. 8end at once for our illustrated catalogues. A. BLANC & CO., 314-316 N.llth St.,Phllada. ■J r — 1 f — p-i r-n '"'^ 1 — - zz -«- [—* jj *! J- ^ ' T . . *, ^ 1 -■"~^*< s i M J ^^^ m y^ ©^ E???^ f^^mif ^ ©@^^RSJJ5^ A.4PK DON'T GET « MAD i f H Page agent claims our wire is 50 to 100 per cent better than used In any other fence. Make nim pro-ve It. He can do Iter we will disown him. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 9 for descriptive The QUAKER DISHES ? No need of it. The Faultless Quaker will do it for you and save time, hands, dishes, money, and patience;no scalded hands, broken or chip- ped dishes, no muss. Washes, rinces dries and lolishes quickly. ..Inde of best ma- terial, lasts a life- time. SellatsiKht. Agents, women or men of honor de- -tsiring employ- ment may hnvea payin^j business by writing now circulars and terms to agents. NOVELTY CO., Salem, 0. S -HAN PINE. UP TO. mi''"m>. •,«^f AND OtHrill »MliOiN«^ rGER. :rial. Sentfvfo^ dur WK^tikrhXtA BooK "CYPAE» LUMrBfiH^t^h-sUSES;' Send r9^Vur $f>ecl&l 6reenhou^Xlrcul&r. tffe» i^ I- .(. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. I I t ; . N '-. I «■ i .>v>>'!r'3lSi*'Bl£!l COLOR PHOTO 4 LIPARIS LILIIFOLIA AMERICAN TVVAY-BLADE. ^ 1 4 NATURAL ORDER, ORCHIDACE.^. Botany of the Northern United States, Chapman's Flora of the Southern United States and Wood's Class-Pook of Botany.^ There are numerous flowers that the popular mind would not esteem beautiful. Too often beauty is merely the gay. If a plant have showy flowers, — flowers with rich colors and which press themselves on our attention, it is rare that the mass of the people do not pro- nounce them beautiful. But those who under- stand true beauty see it in numberless ways not vouchsafed to others to see, and enjoy true beauty where others would only see a bank of weeds. An unknown English poet truly expresses these sentiments in a pretty fugitive poem called *' Sunshine and Shadow." *' Only a bank of weeds, of simple weeds, Of sweet wild thyme and yellow scented broom, Of tangled grass and slender wind-blown reeds, Of brown notched ferns and tall spiked fox- glove bloom, And yet a world of beauty garners there. Low twittering birds, sofl: scents, and colors fair." Those who interpret the gay as the beautiful, will not admire our American Tway-blade. It will not be found among the bright orna- ments of the flower garden But those who can appreciate the poet's bank of weeds, and the many beauties garnered there, will assured- ly not miss this. On moist banks in shad}^ woods, among the dead fronds of ferns and the decaying leaves of the protecting trees, it finds itself at home. Frequently it seems to be growing in this mass of mouldering vegeta- tion rather than in the earth as other plants are found. It grows more or less abundantly all over the Atlantic portion of the United States, that is to say, in most of the territory east of the Mississippi River, and always in these shaded woodland situations, as far as the writer of this is aware. It is remarkable that it is seldom found in any large quantity in any one place, a circumstance common to many other orchids, notwithstanding the many thousands of seeds which mature in each seed vessel. Occasionally cases are met with where numerous small plants, evidently seedlings, surrounded a few old plants. Really, almost all plants of orchids with a habit of growth like this must have originally come from seeds, as they multiply very little by root division. As w^e vSee in our illustrations. Figs. I and 3, there is an old bulb bearing a dried flower stem, and from this bulb, a shoot bearing the flower of the present year. A little later the old bulb (Fig. i) will dry up and disappear, its substance going to nourish the whole foliaceous and floral structure of the new growth, which has no roots of its own. After having been thus nourished from the parent bulb, and gone so far as to mature its seed vessels, a new bulb is produced at the base at Fig. 3, which in turn sustains the whole growth of the ensuing year. There is rarely (if ever) over one stem a year, — so that on this principle the bulb of to-day, produc- ing but one other each year as the old one decays, would yet be represented by but one bulb and one flower scape even a hundred years to come. Fairly presuming that this has always been a character of the plant, the plants, everywhere common, must have origin- ated from seed and not from offsets. The conclusion from all the facts is that it requires a very nice co-operation of circumstancos to produce conditions favorable to the germina- tion of these minute seeds. Further, when we consider how widely some of these species are distributed, and how rarely their seeds grow in these days, we may assume either that the world is enormously old, and the plants have slowly progressed over the continent through (I) I t >4 i ^ ■(• *'.. LIPARIS LILIirOLIA. AMHRICAN I'WAV.lU.ADi:. XATURAL ORDKR, ORCHIDACIv.l-: There are numerous flowers that the popular mind would not esteem beautiful. Too often beauty is merely the gay. If a plant have showy flowers, — flowers with rich colors and which press themselves on our attention, it is rare that the mass of the people do not pro- nounce them beautiful. But those who under- stand true beauty see it in numberless ways not vouchsafed to others to see, and enjoy true beaut}' where others would only see a bank of weeds. An unknown Kn^lish poet truly expresses these sentiments in a pretty fugitive poem called *' Sunshine and Shadow." *' Only a bank of weeds, of simple weeds, Of sweet wild thyme and yellow scented broom, Of tangled grass and slender witid-blown reeds, Of brown notched ferns and tall spiked fox- glove bloom, And yet a world of beauty garners there, Low twittering birds, soft scents, and colors fair." Those who interpret the gay as the beautiful, will not admire our American Tway-blade. It will not be found among the bright orna- ments of the flower garden But those who can appreciate the poet's bank of weeds, and the !nany beauties garnered there, will assured- ly^ not miss this. On moist banks in shady woods, among the dead fronds of ferns and the decaying leaves of the protecting trees, it finds itself at home. Frequently it seems to be grooving in this mass of mouldering vegeta- tion rather than in the earth as other plants are found. It grows more or less abundantly all over the Atlantic portion of the United States, that is to say, in most of the territory east of the Mississippi River, and always in these shaded woodland situations, as far as the writer of this is aware. It is remarkable that it is seldom found in any large quantity in any one place, a circumstance common to many other orchids, notwith.standing the many thousands cf seeds which mature in each seed vessel. Occasionally cases are met with where numen)us small plants, evidently seedlings, surrounded a few old plants. Really, almost all plants of orchids with a habit of growth like this must have originally come from seeds, as they multij^ly very little by root division. As we see in our illustrations. Figs. I and 3, there is an old bulb bearing a dried flower stem, and from this bulb, a shoot bearing the flower of the j)resent year. A little later the old bulb (Fig. i) will dry up and disappear, its substance going to nourish the whole foliaceous and floral structure of the new growth, which has no roots of its own. After having been thus nourished from the |)arent bulb, and gone so far as to mature its seed vessels, a new bulb is jiroduced at the base at Fig. 3. which in turn sustains the whole growth of the ensuing year. There is rarelv (if ever) over one stem a year. — so that on this principle the bulb of tu-day, ])rodnc- iuir but one other each vear as the old one decay's, would yet be represented by but one bulb and one tlower scai)e even a hundred vears to come. I'airly ])resuniing that this has always been a character of the ])]ant. the ])lants, everywhere common, must have origin- ated froui seed and not from oflsets. The conclusion from all the facts is that it recjuires a very nice co-operation of circnmstancos to produce conditions favorable to the germina- tion of these minute seeds. Further, when we consider how widely some of these species are distributed, and how rarely their seeds grow in these days, we may assume either that the world is enormously old, and the plants have slowly progressed over the continent through (I) COLOR PHOTO MEEHANS' MONTHLY— LI PAR IS LILIIPOLIA. [Jan. the long ages,— or else that the conditions favorable to the germination of the seeds have changed in modern times. Mr. Darwin indeed adduces good reasons for the belief that all orchideous plants are very old inhabitants of the earth,— that many forms have wholly dis- appeared,—and that those which have come down to us have been wonderfully changed through a long course of slow modification. As already noted, an immense number of seeds are found in one seed vessel ; but in the Liparis as found about Philadelphia, very few of the flowers produce any seed vessel. In the specimen illustrated, the old spike is drawn as it occurs naturally, mature at about the same time that the flowers of the present season appear. It has perfected but one seed vessel, (Fig. 4) all the others having fallen as the flowers faded away. In order to ascertain how far this tendency to infertility prevailed in the region referred to, twenty-five plants, taken at random, were marked, and the number of flowers and final seed vessel, on each spike, noted. On four spikes aggregating thirty-six flowers, not one capsule matured. On six spikes with sixty-two flowers, only one each, as in our illustration. Three spikes, with fifty-four flowers, three capsules each. Four with one hundred and six flowers, four seed vessels. And twospikes, of thirty one flowers, five each. The last was the greatest number found in any plant outside of those marked. There were altogether fifty-six seed vessels from three hundred and seventy- five flowers, showing that in that number about six flowers were infertile for every one that matured seed ; and this good average only through a few fortunate plants, as fifteen plants out of the whole had no seed, or at best but one or two seed vessels. These peculiarities in orchids are often attributed to circumstances con- nected with the subject of cross- fertilization through insect agency. It has been difficult to decide on the best English name to adopt for our plant. Pro- fessor Gray and other botanists employ the same name for two different orchids. In the Manual of Botany, "Tway-blade" is given to Listera as well as to Liparis. In this chapter, an attempt is made to distinguish them by adding "American" to this species, as it is wholly an American plant, while the Listera is also a native of Europe, and the genus to which the original " Tway-blade" properly belongs. The name is a very ancient English one, and even old writers refer to the two leaves for its origin. It may, however, be remarked that many English plants have a pair of leaves only, and might suggest this name as well as the one which seems to have secured it. The Listera ovata has, besides the two leaves, the lip of the flower divided so as to represent exactly two blades of a knife, united at the base. It is really a *• double" or " Tway-blade. " How far this may have influenced the original appelation, it is not possible now^ to say. The two-leaved character is not always con- stant. As we see in Fig. 3, there is a green sheath under the pair of perfect leaves. Salmon, writing in the days of Queen Anne, says of the original " T way-blade, " "some- times it will have three leaves, but it is very rare ; and this, some account to be a different sort, but is rather looked upon to be Lusus Natures, in ground which abounds with toa much nourishment, which happens also to many other plants." It shows the fact has been long known, however we may differ from the explanation. Gronovius, the editor of Clayton's early collections in Virginia, notes the same '' Lusus Natures ^' of our present species. He says "the two leaves are erect, shining and veined, appearing like plantain leaves, convolute at the base, and sometimes with a lower third one, but always very small. ' ' Why leaves are sometimes suppressed, and at other times developed, is not yet clearly know^n, — but there is reason to believe that it is the reverse of the explanation suggested by Dr. Salmon. All the floral parts of a plant are made up of parts which, in their earliest micro- scopic stages, were designed to be leaves. It is a higher effort of vital power which unites parts as flowers, which under a lower power would be free as leaves ; and the power to make the best use of nourishment is the attribute of strong vital power. How this law w^orks may be seen in Junipers and other coniferous plants. In the Red cedar the more vigorous branches have the leaves united with the stems. In the weaker branch lets the leaves are free, as in species generally. Explanation of the platk.-i. Bnlb of last year. 2. Mature flower-scape of the preceding season. 3 Growth with flower-scape of present season, yet to form the bulb. 4. Only seed vessel, maturin^^ on last year's scape. ^ /^l^ ( > WILD Il.OWHRS AND NATURE. FLOWERS OF THE SOUTH. He told of the magnolia, spread High as a cloud, high overhead; The cypress and her spire ; Of flowers that with one scarlet gleam Cover a hundred leagues, and seem To set the hills on fire — Wordsworth . History of Liparis. — In addition to what has been said in regard to Liparis liliifolia in the chapter accompanying the plate it may be noted in connection with the genus itself that in the writings of the earlier botanists, Liparis plant will be found classed among Ophrys, a name given by the ancient Greeks to some species of orchid, and retained by Linnaeus to designate a genus in which he included this. When more became known of orchideous plants the genus Malaxis was formed, and in this genus our plant will be found in the botanical literature of the earlier part of the century. When still more knowledge was gained, Richard, a French botanist, estab- lished the genus Liparis, and our plant became Liparis liliifolia, Wi^S. is, the Lily-leaved Liparis, Those who are familiar only with the slender stem leaves of lilies will not see the resemb- lance ; but the root or autumn leaves of some lilies, especially Lilium catididum, are broad, thick and shining, and the leaves of our plant have some resemblance to them. The generic name, Liparis, was suggested by the shining, fat-looking leaves of the European plant, Liparis being Greek for fat or unctuous. Clayton, the botanist, who noted it first as growing in Virginia, makes the annual record of the date on which he found it, May 24, 1874. The Fertilization of Clover. — The Hart- ford Times has the following : "The theory that the bumblebee fertilizes the clover blossoms has often been asserted and the Australian importation of that insect for such purpose has been cited, as an example, that one must hesitate to contradict these state- ments. Yet they are improbable and errone- ous when one considers the working of the insects on the clover heads, whose numerous little florets are exact pea-blossoms, with a large tube and selffertilizing organs, into which the insect thrusts its long proboFcis to draw out the secreted honey ; and she need not pierce the florets, but can, and does perfectly well, reach the sweets from the outside, as in the columbine, the foxglove and the pea, which she riddles when at work on them. Careless acquiescence has too long permitted the continuance of this idea To ascertain cor- rectly the truth about it. needs further atten- tion and investigation." This is another illustration of the danger to real science by broad generalizations from a few isolated facts. Mr. Darwin covered some clover so as to prevent the bumblebee from reaching the flowers, and few flowers produced seeds. No one is recorded as repeating such a simple experiment in the Old World. The whole of the great generalization about the necessity of the bumblebee in clover fertiliza- tion rests on this one little observation. But in America men just as reliable as Mr. Darwin have covered clover in the same way, when the plants were just as productive as uncovered ones. These facts have been placed on record in the publications of eminent scientific socie- ties ; but the fame of Mr. Darwin overshadows them all. It does not follow that the results reported by Mr. Darwin were incorrect. But it does follow that some other cause, and not the absence of bees, brought about the infertility in his case. The facts are, as stated by the Hartford Times, and as any one who will take the trouble to watch will see, that American bumblebees slit the tube of the clover flowers, and gather the sweets in this surreptitious manner. They seem to prefer this method with most species of plants except those that fully expose their nectaries. Clover requires some check to growth before it seeds freely. In most parts of America the weaker second crop is depended on for a cup of seed. The clover is a self- fertilizer, and bees have no part in the work. (3) MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Jan. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. ■■■V .»'^ ■■•■ ,' ,"' It. M- «J' .1 : '■■■ ^■/;f>f>.: How DOES THE SWALLOW BUILD ITS NEST? — In the Monthly for November, Edwin C- Jellett says '* the glue which lines the nest of the chimney swift is of vegetable origin." I would like to ask through your valuable maga- zine whether anyone has ever detected the bird in the act of gathering the " gum of the cherry or the peach ' * ? In many parts of the country these birds are quite common. Certainly abundant enough to have been observed gathering the materials from these sources if that is the origin of the glue that holds the twigs together. I once found the nest of this species in the Adirondack Woods, in the second story (attic) of a logging hut, five miles or more from any other build- ing. The species is abundant throughout Cen- tral and Northern New York State, and proba- bly not less so throughout Pennsylvania, so the opportunities are everywhere present. Thus far I have not observed any such proceeding as would be necessary to secure the gum of the cherry or the peach . Dr. Warren says, Birds of PenUvSylvania, pages 182, 183, " The chim- ney bird, unless resting on its nest or clinging to the sooty chimney sides, is always seen fly- ing." It even gathers the materials for its nest, as far as the twigs are concerned, " by breaking them off" trees when on the wing. " It nests with us in barns occasionally^ ; usuallj' high up in the gable of a large barn, against the per- pendicular face of a board. This was the site of the nest in the Adirondack cabin. Has anyone ever seen these birds gathering anything besides sticks and food? M. W. Van Denburg. I'ort Edward, N. Y. If the bird in question is not the Barn Swal- low, what did Chimney Swallows do before there were chimneys? is one of the questions well answered by Dr. Van Denburg. What they have done or will do when they cannot get gum, will doubtless be just as little puz- zling, when we know all. The writer of this paragraph has not seen the chimney swift gathering the gum, — but he did vSee the lump of undissolved cherry gum in the bird's nest referred to. How they dissolve it may yet be a question. We must take the statement of their break- ing twigs when on the wing with as much caution as we now see we should have taken the story about secreting the vegetable gum in glands in the throat. To break a twig while flying rapidly would lead to a pulling of the twig rather than a snapping asunder, — and it would seem that the bird would be in more danger of breaking its neck than breaking the branch. But if any one has seen it done let him come forward and tell how the bird did it. Botanizing in Wintery Woods. — Dr. C. C. Abbott tells the Philadelphia Public Ledger of a winter trip to the woods in New Jersey. " The north wind passes overhead, and the sunlight creeps among the old oaks as if expect- ing to find me. It does, and we laugh together. Summer had left an abundance by which to remember her. We call it winter fruit ; but it was the deft fingers of summer that shaped the bright red berries of the Black Alder which now replaces the Scarlet lyobelia that in August blazed by the brookside. Then, too, there were ruddy hips, and over the ground the golden fruit of the horse-nettle. The privet, laden with black berries, was still green, and the rhododendron and sassafras sprouts were fresh as a bright June morning, and beyond, the gaunt trunks of the walnuts were draped with climbing Bittersweet, glowing with its wealth of crimson and gold. All this, with abundant sunshine — what if it is December ? It would be safe to wager there were flowers yet in bloom, I thought, and straightway found dandelions starring the dead grass. " Fragrance of the Wych Hazel. — Mr. C. F. Saunders, Philadelphia, observes : '• One damp day recently, when in the woods, I was a good deal puzzled by noticing in the air a delightful fragrance, of more than ordin- ary sweetness. It being late in the season (November), I saw no flowers near except an occasional belated aster or goldenrod and the witch hazel, none of which I supposed were odorous. On arriving home and opening my tin collecting case, in which I had placed some flowering twigs of witch hazel, I was greeted with a veritable burst of perfume from them. They retained their fragrance for some time in the room. Is it generally known that these blossoms are fragrant ? I had never noticed the fact before. ' ' A > K. > ^N m\ Childrens* Toys From the Silk Weed. — Mr. E. Newlin Williams refers to the many pleasures children can have from common things. He refers to Eastern Pennsylvania. " The milk weeds are a large genus with us. I note the Asclepias Comuti, the most plentiful ; the delicate quadrifolia , the tuber osa, putpura- scens and incamata. The verticillata may also be found, I believe, by earnest seekers. I find that the incamata has especially large seeds ; and that the tuberosa has very hand- some pods as well as beautiful orange flowers. prise found it quite warm, though the sun had set." The Kenilworth Ivy.— Mr. Isaac Myer, New York City, says : •* In your Monthly for December, 1895, page 232, you say, the A>w/7- worth Ivy is a kind of snap-dragon and its name is Antitthiyium Cymbalaria. I have a great amount growing but have always classed it in the order Scrophulanacece ^ in which are the Antirrhinum, but under Linaria and have labelled it Lttiaria Cymbalaria. It is CERE us TRI ANGULAR IS. --•«e paqk ii. As for the silk weed, the school children strip the pod away to get the unripe column of seeds and use it in their play as a fish. It corres- ponds very well to a spindle-shaped fish, and the flat seeds are a splendid substitute for scales. Homeward over the hills one autumn evening I saw groups of its stalks bearing the splitting pods. The outflow of the mass of seeds and down was in beautiful and regular order, for the day had been still, and they looked so soft and tempting to the touch that I grasped a bunch of the silk, and to my sur- sometimes called by the following names, Ivy- wort, Linaria repens. Mother of Thousands, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, etc. Will you kindly in- form me if I have been wrong in calling it a Toad flax and not a Snap-dragon .^ " Linaria differs from Antirrhinum in having a long instead of a short spur. The Kenil- worth Ivy is therefore critically a Linaria. — and Linaria Cymbalaria should be always employed, as our correspondent well suggests. Indeed it is very often known by this nanie» and the other referred to the list of synonyms. MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Jan. How DOES THE SWALLOW BUILD ITS NeST? — In the Monthly for November, Edwin C- Jellett says " the glue which lines the nest of the chimney swift is of vegetable origin." I would like to ask through your valuable maga- zine whether anyone has ever detected the bird in the act of gathering the " gum of the cherry or the peach ' ' ? In many parts of the country these birds are quite common. Certainly abundant enough to have been observed gathering the materials from these sources if that is the origin of the glue that holds the twigs together. I once found the nest of this species in the Adirondack Woods, in the second story (attic) of a logging hut, five miles or more from any other build- in "■ The species is abundant throughout Cen- tral and Northern New York State, and proba- bly not less so throughout Pennsylvania, so the opportunities are everywhere present. Thus far I have not observed any such proceeding as would be necessary to secure the gum of the cherry or the peach. Dr. Warren says, Birds of Pennsylvania, pages 182, 183, '* The chim- ney bird, unless resting on its nest or clinging to the sooty chimne}^ sides, is always seen fl}^- ing." It even gathers the materials for its nest, as far as the twigs are concerned, " by breaking them off trees when on the wing. " It nests with us in barns occasionally^ ; usually' high up in the gable of a large barn, against the per- pendicular face of a board. This was the site of the nest in the Adirondack cabin. Has anyone ever vSeen these birds gathering anything besides sticks and food? INI. W. Van Denrurg. I'ort Edward, N. Y. If the bird in (piestion is not the Barn Swal- low, what did Chimney Swallows do before there were chimneys? is one of the questions well answered by Dr. Van Denburg. What they have done or will do when they cannot get gum, will doubtless be just as little puz- zling, when we know all. The writer of this paragraph has not seen the chimney swift gathering the gum, — but he did see the lump of undissolved cherry gum in the bird's nest referred to. How they dissolve it may yet be a question. We must take the statement of their break- ing twigs when on the wing with as much caution as we now see we should have taken the story about secreting the vegetable gum in glands in the throat. To break a twig while flying rapidly would lead to a pulling of the twig rather than a snapping asunder,— and it would vSeem that the bird would be in more danger of breaking its neck than breaking the branch. But if any one has seen it done let him come forward and tell how the bird did it. Botanizing in Wintery Woods.— Dr. C. C. Abbott tells the Philadelphia Public Ledger of a winter trip to the woods in New Jersey. " The north wind passes overhead, and the sunlight creeps among the old oaks as if expect- ing to find me. It does, and we laugh together. Summer had left an abundance by which to remember her. We call it winter fruit ; but it was the deft fingers of summer that shaped the bright red berries of the Black Alder which now replaces the Scarlet Lobelia that in August blazed by the brookside. Then, too, there were ruddy hips, and over the ground the golden fruit of the horse-nettle. The privet, laden with black l)erries, was still green, and the rhododendron and sassafras sprouts were fresh as a bright June morning, and beyond, the gaunt trunks of the walnuts were draped with climbing Bittersweet, glowing with its wealth of crimson and gold. All this, with abundant sunshine- what if it is December ? It would be safe to wager there were flowers yet in bloom, I thought, and straightway' found dandelions starring the dead grass. " Fragrance of the Wych Ha/el. — Mr. C. F. Saunders, Philadelphia, observes : •'One damp day recently, when in the woods, I was a good deal puzzled by noticing in the air a delightful fragrance, of more than ordin- ary' sweetness. It being late in the season (November), I saw no flowers near except an occasional belated aster or goldcnrod and the witch hazel, none of which I supposed were odorous. On arriving home and opening my tin collecting case, in which I had placed some flowering twigs of witch hazel, I was greeted with a veritable burst of perfume from them. The}' retained their fragrance for some time in the room. Is it generally known that these blossoms are fragrant ? I had never noticed the fact before. ' ' I :> ^ r. i) t% I A «i / \^ 4 ► < i> •\> 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. Childrens' Toys From the Silk Weed. — Mr. E. Newlin Williams refers to the many pleasures children can have from common things. He refers to Eastern Pennsylvania. ** The milk weeds are a large genus with us. I note the Asclepias Comuti, the most plentiful ; the delicate quadri folia , the tuber osa, pjirpura- scens and incamata. The verticillata may also be found, I believe, by earnest seekers. I find that the incaruata has especially large seeds ; and that the tuberosa has very hand- some pods as well as beautiful orange flowers. prise found it quite warm, though the sun had set." The Kenilworth Ivy. — Mr. Isaac Myer, New York City, says : ''In your Monthly for December, 1895. page 232, you say, the A>////- worth Ivy is a kind of snap-dragon and its name is Antirthinum Cymbalana. I have a great amount growing but have always classed it in the order ScrophulartaceiC, in which are the Ayitinhinum, but under FJnaria and have labelled it Ltnatia Cymbalaria. It is CEREUS TRIANGULARIS- St t paoc ii As for the silk weed, the school children strip the pod away to get the unripe column of seeds and use it in their play as a fish. It corres- ponds very well to a spindle shaped fish, and the flat seeds are a splendid substitute for scales. Homeward over the hills one autumn evening I saw groups of its stalks bearing the splitting pods. The outflow of the mass of seeds and down was in beautiful and regular order, for the day had been still, and they looked so soft and tempting to the touch that I grasped a bunch of the silk, and to my sur- sometimes called by the following names, Ivy- wort, IJnaria repens. Mother of Thousands, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, etc. Will you kindly in- form me if I have been wrong in calling il a Toad fla.x and not a Snap-dragon .^ " Linaria differs from Antirrhinum in having a long instead of a short spur. The Kenil- worth Ivy is therefore critically a Linaria. — and Linaria Cymbalaria should be always employed, as our correspondent well sugge.«^ts. Indeed it is very often known by this nanie» and the other referred to the list of synonyms. r^.' ,*^ ■ J.. , ;; «■« . I. ■ J- ' ■■., ' J -^■; -it-". intentional second exposure MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Jan. Variation in Annual Climatic Condi- tions.—The Girard Estate, in Schuylkill Co., Pennsylvania, which is one of the supporters of the Girard College, in Philadelphia, has a water station which supplies some of the mines in the surrounding country with water. Very careful figures are kept, and it is remark- able how the quantity of water falling varies from year to year. In 1886, the precipitation was thirty-six inches ; in 1887, forty-eight ; 1888, sixty-two ; 1889, seventy; in 1890, sixty- four ; 1891, sixty-two; 1892, forty-nine ; 1893, fifty-nine; 1894, fifty-four. The fractions are not given. The difference between one year of thirty-six and another of seventy is very striking. Green Sprouts Inside Fruits. — ''The germinating of an orange seed within the orange is not a rare occurrence. The writer has frequently met with oranges and lemons in which the seeds had germinated and developed a young plant within . It is caused by defective nutriment in the parent tree. The fruit is always found defective, the little sacs which contain the juices of a perfect orange or lemon are always abortive being changed into fibrous matter and very bitter. The oil sacs in the rind were also defective or absent. — The writer has found the same abnormal development in the seeds of the Calystegia Sepium. Walking on the seashore north of Cape May, the writer noticed the seed vessels of this vine larger than usual. Opening the vessels the seeds were also much larger than usual and of a pale brown color instead of black. Removing the pericarp a young plant was found within, and by carefully unfolding, the cotyledons were found fully developed and about the normal size, of a pale green color. The albumen had all disappeared, being consumed by the young plant. The actinic rays which develop the chloro- phyl in the plant having the power to pene- trate the leathery texture of the seeds of the Calystegia would also penetrate the defective rind of the orange and lemon. The primary cause is probably an abnormally high tempera- ture and a very humid atmosphere. " P. K. SULOFF. Philadelphia. The whole subject of the formation of color in darkness requires going over by a careful epitomist. Many fruits produce green coty- ledons in their little seed-prisons certainly in total darkness, though until a few years ago, no one recorded it. Some one had a paper before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, not half a dozen years since, in relation to the common Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, having green seed-leaves or cotyledons inside the fruit. It was thought exceptional. But it is now known to be comparatively common. The garden Phlox, varieties of Phlox paniculata, are examples readily secured for illustration. American Mistletoes. — The American mistletoes differ from the English mistletoe in the independence of the sexes. In the Euro- pean the male and female flowers are all on the same plant, hence berries may be found on every plant. In America each sex labors for itself, and goes its own way on separate plants, and hence there are many plants wholly barren. Neither are the berries as large as the Euro- pean sorts, following a general law that in allied species, as in the sweet chestnut, the fruit is always smaller in allied American kinds. On account of this difference in the behavior of the sexes, botanists make a dis- tinct genus of the American, — Phoradendron instead of Viscum^ — Phoradendron signifying a thief on a tree, its parasitic nature being refer- red to. lyike its European brother, it is found on any tree frequented by birds that use the berries for food. In Delaware and New Jersey the persimmon and tupelo are mostly its un- willing hosts. Along the Potomac it is com- mon on the Water Elm. It is rarely found north of New Jersey, and scarcely reaches Illinois ; but there are other species which take its place. In western Nevada we again strike our friend from the East, though slightly modified by larger leaves, and the plant gets more and more abundant until it reaches Southern Cali- fornia and New Mexico, and, running into Texas, changes to forms bearing pink berries as well as white. One of the most remarkable of the Pacific Coast species, however, has leaf- less branches ; but the round, cord-like stems are succulent. This usually grows on the western cedar trees, which, covered with white, waxy berries in the winter time, make naturally trimmed Christmas trees. — Philadelphia Public Ledger. s i\ if ^ ^\ <¥\ ^'•••'f**'i GENERAL GARDENING. JANUARY. Then came old January, wrapped well In many deeds to keep the cold away : Yet did he quake aqd quiver like to quell. And blow his nayles to warm them, if he may. For they were numb'd with holding all the day, Ane hatchet keene, with which he felled wood, And from the trees did lop the needless spray. Upon a huge great earth-pot steane he stoode. From whose wide mouth there flowed forth the Roniane flood. — Spencer's Faerie Queen. Borers in Street Trees. — Mr. Lewis Collins, the secretary of the eminently useful Tree Planting and Fountain Society of Brook- lyn, New York, gives the following instruc- tions in relation to boring insects, so often destructive to street trees : — *• Borers are much more injurious to trees than leaf-eaters, and are much more difficult to control. There is a great number of kinds, and they may be found in every part of the tree, from the smallest twig to the largest trunk. Many kinds infest wood that is dead and decaying. Comparatively few work in living tissues These are the troublesome and injurious ones. The Leopard Moth, Zeuzeta pyrina, is the most troublesome at the present time. The larvae of these insects remain within the wood, and beyond the reach of ordinary insecticides. In some instances, they live three years, and excavate channels in the wood that are injurious. They may be cutout in some cases ; in others they may be reached by a wire and destroyed. A little bisulphide of carbon injected into the burrow, and the opening closed with a little putty, will prove effectual. The vapor of the bisulphide will penetrate the full length of the tunnel, and will kill the larvae without injury to the tree. These methods are slow, and require an expert to practice them successfully. It is claimed that a German compound, Raupenleim, insect lime, and a somewhat similar compound called Dendrolene, invented by Prof. E. L. Nason, of New Brunswick, N. J., maybe used to prevent the attack of borers, and also to prevent the larvae in the wood from issuing a perfect insect when the time of transition arrives. It is a sticky substance and may be spread upon a surface and retain its sticky and soft condition a long time. It is claimed that no invsect can walk on this substance, and no eggs can be deposited in the bark of the tree through this coating, neither can the perfect insect penetrate it to get out from its burrow. Where the attack of the borers is limited to a comparatively small area, as, for example, the peach tree borer, or that one that destroys the lilac bush, it appears that these substances can be applied with advantage. They are certainly worthy of careful study." The Dwarf Horse Chestnut.— Respecting the Dwarf Horse Chestnut, of North Carolina, y^sadus parviflora, and a fine specimen in Buffalo, New York, Mrs. S. D. Munro, says : "Your note on the shrub horse chestnut in- terests me, because for years I have admired such a one in a front yard here. It is about six or seven feet high, and spreads over a large space, with numerous stems apparently spring- ing directly from the ground. The flowers are white. It is an old place, and has other fine plants, among which is a large gingko tree. This was the first, I am told, in Buffalo. I have often regretted that I do not know the inmates of the dwelling. Thought you might be interested in this specimen." A Huge Collection of Apples.— Possibly the largest experimental orchard of apples in the world is owned by Benjamin Buckman, of Farmingdale, Illinois. His collection embraces over five hundred and fifty named varieties. It seems almost impossible that in any one fruit there could be so much difference that each variety could be surely identified, which it seems is really the case. Those who give their time and money to enterprises like this are public benefactors, and should have more popular appreciation than they generally receive. Fifty are possibly all of general value. (7) 8 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING A Sublime Story Spoiled —Some one has asserted that there is but a narrow line between the sublime and the ridiculous. How true this may be is illustrated by the following from a Chicago correspondent whose levity, in regard to sentimental matters, we have had heretofore to reprove. But he seems to be a hardened offender, on whom correctional forces are thrown away : A FANCY from FONTANELLE. *' * The Rose in the garden slipped her bud, And she laughed in the pride of her youthful blood, As she thought of the Gardener standing by — ' He is old— so old ! And he soon will die ! ' The full Rose waxed in the warm June air. And she spread, and spread, till her heart lay bare ; And she laughed once more as she heard his tread — ' He is older now. He will soon be dead I ' But the breeze of the morning blew and found That the leaves of the blown Rose strewed the ground ; And he came at noon, that Gardener old. And he raked them softly under the mold. And I wove the thing to a random rhyme. For the Rose is beauty, the Gardener time.' " — New York Morning Advertiser ^ ** And the beauty of all this random rhyme, Is, there was no one there to take his ' time ; * So the Gardener presented a stuffed pay-roll bill, And the boss had to swallow a bitter pill." Raising New Forms ky Hybridizing — It is remarkable that the raising of new varieties by crossing or hybridizing is not more practiced by the lovers of gardening. There are few garden operations that afford more pleasure. The distinction between crossing and hybridizing is that crossing is the term employed for the inter- breeding of varieties, — hybridizing refers to the mixing of different species. For instance, if we raise seedlings between a common red flowered horse- shoe geranium and a white one, that would be considered a cross, — but seed- lings raised between the horse-shoe geranium and the ivy leaved geranium, would be regarded as a hybrid. Prof. Munson, of the Maine State Agricultural College, has raised hybrids between our common garden tomato and the small cherry tomato which people sometimes raise for ornament. These are said to be as large as a fair sized garden tomato, but bear the tomatoes in long clusters like currants. Referring to the general subject, he remarks : " Any one can perform the mechanical oper- ation of crossing plants ; but the haphazard uniting of individuals is of little value. To breed plants intelligently we must have a dis- tinct type in mind and work toward our ideal. In order to do this we must have some concep- tion of the effects likely to be produced. The most prominent effects of crossing, as would be expected, are seen in the offspring ; and it is of the greatest importance that care be used in the selection of parents. If the parents are very different in character the offspring will probably be weak. But the converse is also true : A cross between closely related species or races is more vigorous than its parent. It is well proved that 'crossing is good for the resulting offspring because the differences between the parents carry over new combina- tions of characters or at least new powers into the crosses. It is a process of revitalization. ' The limits to which cross breeding is either possible or profitable are not yet well under- stood. As a rule, closely related species will cross readily ; while widely different species cross with difficulty ; but this rule has very marked exceptions. It seems impossible to cross any of the varieties of winter squash— Cficurdi/a maxima— sMch as Hubbard, Sibley, etc., with varieties of summer squash or with the pump- kin— Cticurbita Pepo ; — while we feel safe in saying the cucumber and the muskmelon can- not be crossed. In selecting parents, the question naturally arises as to which shall be made the male and which the female parent in order to produce certain probable results. It was formerly held that in case of a hybrid the female parent gives constitution and vigor while the male parent gives form, size, color, etc. But at the present time it is generally conceded that the results will be approximately the same no matter which is used as the male or female parent. .It is not always possible to select our male and female parents at will. In other words, reciprocal crosses are not always possible. For example, I may cross a yellow bush scal- loped squash with the summer crook- neck ; but I have never yet been able to cross the crook - neck with the bush scalloped. Other cases of a similar nature are not infrequent. Why is this failure ? Is it due to a constitutional pecu- liarity ; to the form of the ovarium ; to a weak- ness of the pollen of the one species or variety, or what may be the underlying cause? The question is yet one of the unsolved problems.*' t> (> <:> Japan Privet Hedges. — Adversity has its useful lessons as well as its afflictions. Under the late phenomenal drouth, many plants succumbed. Strange to say, the Japan Privet stood the ordeal unharmed, — and this, too, in situations where it seemed hardly possible anything could live. Along a portion of the grounds of Mr. A. H. Mason, in German town, there is a deep cut. The sloping bank, seen in the picture, extends along the top of this cut, and is supported in some places by a wall of eight or ten feet. Along this bank is the dwarf Japan Privet hedge ; nothing could be more unpropitious in such a season, — but not a leaf gave out. everything should be made use of. The swamps have to be made use of by nature as well as dry land, and it has been so ordered that the seeds of certain plants shall only sprout in comparatively moist places. The trees have, of course, to continue their exist- ence where the seeds sprout. Nearly all the swamp plants that are found to grow so well in dry ground will not have their seed grow under such circumstances. The seeds them- selves have to be planted in situations similar to that in which the plants grow naturally. Swamp maple, swamp magnolias, and the native holly are examples of plants found in swampy places, that flourish in dryer ground. HEDGES OF JAPAN PRIVET. (On the grounds of Mr. A. H. Mason, Germantown, Philadelphia.) There is no need of a hedge for protection here. It is used, as a frame would be to a pic- ture, to give a finish to the grounds. As seen here, it excites universal admiration. Swamp Plants on Dry Ground.— It is remarkable that, with very few exceptions, plants which are found naturally in wet or swampy places do much better when trans- planted in comparatively dry garden ground. What is known as the Swamp Magnolia is a good illustration of this Nowhere in its native swamps can any one see as large or healthy plants as are to be seen everywhere in gardens. The explanation is that the plants are in obedience to the law of nature that Rudvard Kipling's Window Gardening. — A Brattleboro, Vt., correspondent says : "Rudyard Kipling, the novelist, has built him a cottage under the brow of a high hill in Vermont. In it is a window overlooking a vast stretch of country across that State and the neighboring State of New Hampshire. A distant view, with little or no foreground, the country sloping rapidly toward the Connec- ticut river. Out of the woods on this hill, he has taken young White Pines, a foot or so high, and placed in boxes before that window which dominates the above view. It was a revelation to me how nice young evergreens look in winter in pots and will grace a window. " "V)S?u'^*^ii^itii. 8 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING A Sublime Story Spoiled —Some one has asserted that there is but a narrow line between the sublime and the ridiculous. How true this may be is illustrated by the following from a Chicago correspondent whose levity, in regard to sentimental matters, we have had heretofore to reprove. But he seems to be a hardened offender, on whom correctional forces are thrown away : A FANCY from FONTANELLE. " • The Rose in the garden slipped her bud. And she laughed in the pride of her youthful blood, As she thought of the Gardener standing by — ' He is old— so old ! And he soon will die ! ' The full Rose waxed in the warm June air. And she spread, and spread, till her heart lay bare ; And she laughed once more as she heard his tread— * 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 ; And he came at noon, that Gardener old. And he raked them softly under the mold. And I wove the thing to a random rhyme. For the Rose is beauty, the Gardener time.' '* — Nezv York Morning Advertiser^ " And the beauty of all this random rhyme, Is, there was no one there to take his ' time ; ' So the Gardener presented a stuffed pay-roll bill, And the boss had to swallow a bitter pill." Raising New Forms hy Hybridizing — It is remarkable that the raising of new varieties by crossing or hybridizing is not more practiced by the lovers of gardening. There are few garden operations that afford more pleasure. The distinction between crossing and hybridizing is that crossing is the term employed for the inter- breeding of varieties, — hybridizing refers to the mixing of different species. For instance, if we raise seedlings between a common red flowered horse-shoe geranium and a white one, that would be considered a cross, — but seed- lings raised between the horse-shoe geranium and the ivy leaved geranium, would be regarded as a hybrid. Prof. Munson , of the Maine State Agricultural College, has raised hybrids between our common garden tomato and the small cherry tomato which people sometimes raise for ornament. These are said to be as large as a fair sized garden tomato, but bear the tomatoes in long clusters like currants. Referring to the general subject, he remarks : •• Any one can perform the mechanical oper- ation of crossing plants ; but the haphazard uniting of individuals is of little value. To breed plants intelligently we must have a dis- tinct type in mind and work toward our ideal. In order to do this we must have some concep- tion of the efiects likely to be produced. The most prominent effects of crossing, as would be expected, are seen in the offispring ; and it is of the greatest importance that care be used in the selection of parents. If the parents are very different in character the offspring will probably be weak. But the converse is also true : A cross between closely related species or races is more vigorous than its parent. It is well proved that 'crossing is good for the resulting offspring because the differences between the parents carry over new combina- tions of characters or at least new powers into the crosses. It is a process of revitalization.' The limits to which cross breeding is either possible or profitable are not yet well under- stood. As a rule, closely related species will cross readily ; while widely different species cross with difficulty ; but this rule has very marked exceptions. It seems impossible to cross any of the varieties of winter squash— 0/67/^/>//^ maxima — such as Hubbard, Sibley, etc., with varieties of summer squash or with the pump- kin— Cucurbita Pepo ; — while we feel safe in saying the cucumber and the muskmelon can- not be crossed. In selecting parents, the question naturally arises as to which shall be made the male and which the female parent in order to produce certain probable results. It was formerly held that in case of a hybrid the female parent gives constitution and vigor while the male parent gives form, size, color, etc. But at the present time it is generally conceded that the results will be approximately the same no matter which is used as the male or female parent. It is not always possible to select our male and female parents at will. In other words, reciprocal crosses are not always possil>le. For example, I may cross a yellow bush scal- loped squash with the summer crook-neck ; but I have never yet been able to cross the crook - neck with the bush scalloped. Other cases of a similar nature are not infrequent. Why is this failure ? Is it due to a constitutional pecu- liarity ; to the form of the ovarium ; to a weak- ness of the pollen of the one species or variety, or what may be the underlying cause? The question is yet one of the unsolved problems." I> kH h . > *> \ Japan Privet Hedges. — Adversity has its useful lessons as well as its afflictions. Under the late phenomenal drouth, many plants succumbed. Strange to say, the Japan Privet stood the ordeal unharmed, — and this, too, in situations where it seemed hardly possible anything could live. Along a portion of the grounds of Mr. A. H. Mason, in Gennantown, there is a deep cut. The sloping bank, seen in the picture, extends along the top of this cut, and is supported in some places by a wall of eight or ten feet. Along this bank is the dwarf Japan Privet hedge ; nothing could be more unpropitious in such a season, — but not a leaf gave out. everything should be made use of. The swamps have to be made use of by nature as well as dry land, and it has been so ordered that the seeds of certain plants shall only sprout in comparatively moist places. The trees have, of course, to continue their exist- ence where the seeds sprout. Nearly all the swamp plants that are found to grow so well in dry ground will not have their seed grow under such circumstances. The seeds them- selves have to be planted in situations similar to that in which the plants grow naturally. Swamp maple, swamp magnolias, and the native holly are examples of plants found in swampy places, that flourish in dryer ground. HEDGES OF JAPAN PRIVET. (On the grounds of Mr. A. H. Mason, (.erniantown. Philadelphia.) There is no need of a hedge for protection here. It is used, as a frame would be to a pic- ture, to give a finish to the grounds. As seen here, it excites universal admiration. Swamp Plants on Dry Ground.— It is remarkable that, with very few exceptions, plants which are found naturally in wet or swampy places do much better when trans- planted in comparatively dry garden ground. What is known as the Swamp Magnolia is a good illustration of this Nowhere in its native swamps can any one see as large or healthy plants as are to be seen everywhere in gardens. The explanation is that the plants are in obedience to the law of nature that Rudvard Kipling's Window Carpkning. —A Brattleboro, Vt., correspondent says : •'Rudyard Kipling, the novelist, has built him a cottage under the brow of a high hill in Vermont. In it is a window overlooking a vast stretch of country across that State and the neighboring State of New Hampshire. A distant view, with little or no foreground, the country sloping rapidly toward the Connec- ticut river. Out of the woods on this hill, he has taken young White Pines, a foot or so high, and placed in boxes before that window which dominates the above view. It was a revelation to me how nice young evergreens look in winter in pots and will grace a window. " intentional second exposure lO MEEHANS' MONTHI^Y GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. II Trimming Street Trees.— The scandalous heading back of street trees, when they are regarded as too large for special purposes, is regarded as an American barbarism. At any rate, it is not uncommon to hear the remark, in such cases : " Oh ! if we had horticultural knowledge so generally diffused as they have in England!" But it would seem tree-bar- barism still exists in the Old World. The fol- lowing is extracted from the London Gar- deners' Chronicle, not merely to show how ignorantly some beautiful plane trees were butchered, but for the sake of the excellent suggestions as to the proper methods to be pursued in such cases : "Those persons who were employed by the Vestry to carry out the work possessed but a scintilla of the principles on which tree-pruning is based, for the whole of the branches have been most severely cut back, and the trees will long remain in evi- dence of the incompetence of the workmen or their employer, we do not know which. The proper method of pruning in this case would have been to cut back the longer branches to a well-placed lateral shoot, which should not have been shortened or touched in any way. By doing this to every leading branch, the heads would have been greatly reduced in diameter, whilst their natural contour would not have been spoiled. Moreover, all branches of such a size as to render the use of the prun- ing-saw a necessity, should be pared over — both the wood and bark— so that the healing- over processes may be carried on without hindrance, and no rough surface left to form a lodgment for water. The cuts, whether of knife or saw, should be so given, that the exposed surface is not directed upwards, but slanting-wise, or facing directly downwards ; and the larger surfaces should be painted of a slate-color." Forestry.— A New Jersey correspondent says : — *• I have a strong desire to study forestry, and the alarming rate at which our forests are being mowed down convinces me that a thorough knowledge of that study should be acquired by more of our young men. I there- fore write to you for information knowing that you can advise me better than any one else I know of. " Forestry, as a branch of agriculture, should be defined as getting the largest possible profit from a given area of land within the shortest time. Forestry, as understood by current liter- ature, is a certain something connected with national interests, wholly aside from questions of individual interests in the way of a profit and loss account. These two lines have been somewhat confused, and there have been little favorable results from the forestry movements. For the first line of study, a practical acquaint- ance with the various species of forest trees is desirable, — the best methods of securing rapid growth, and, of pruning or planting so as to secure good logs. For the latter branch the work ot Minister Marsh, entitled, "Man and Nature." is a leading text book. The Odor of the Ailantus. — In a mem- orandum on the ailantus, Mrs. S. D. Munro, Buffalo, N. Y , remarks : — "A note about the odor of Ailantus trees leads me to say that for years we had one (female) within twenty five feet of our windows, and never knew it had an odor. Then a neigh- bor built close to our line, and next July com- plained bitterly of the odor of the tree, which was close to his windows. But it was found that this lasted only a few days — a week or so — and, as the tree was beautiful and valuable, it was not cut down. No other tree is near this one, yet seedlings continually root and get very strong before they are observed and pulled up." Privet Berries in Inkmaking. — A Phila- delphia correspondent says : "The privet is now used in the manufac- ture of ink. When living in Warwickshire some years ago, my uncle had such large hedges of privet with bryony and haws, and the effect was very fine. The privet berries were so large and fine. One day I saw several girls cutting off all the privet berries, and he told me they were employed to do so by the inkmakers of Birmingham. As we drove about, around South bey and Leamington, we saw boys and girls picking everywhere." Christmas Trees.— The great street rail- way strike in Philadelphia operated against the sale of Christmas trees. Those who usually bought, had no money. It is estimated that ten thousand, at least, were unsold.. ♦ <\ 4 A m Beauty of the Oak. — Although the great beauty of the oak is in its foliage and habit of growth, a large number of them have addi- tional charms in the fall of the year, by reason of the brilliant color of their foliage. It is remarkable that nearly every American oak will change to some peculiar shade of bril- liancy, from lemon to yellow or deep crimson ; while the species from Europe all die away of a green color. It is a characteristic difference between the trees of the two countries. In planting, therefore, for colored-leaved foliage in the fall, one may take almost any species ot American oak, feeling sure that it will in some degree add an interest to the autumn coloring. Graft Scions.— If grafting is contemplated this coming spring, the scions should be cut during the winter, — certainly not after the buds begin to swell in early spring. Choose stout, healthy wood of last season's growth ; bury them in sand or damp saw-dust and keep them in a cool cellar. The operation of graft- ing is performed in the spring, about the time the buds on the trees are bursting, and may be continued to mid-summer provided the scions have not started into growth. The Cactus Dahlia.— Mrs. Seliger notes that this class of Dahlia appears to be more tender than the old kind. JOHN BERTRAM'S WOOD-8H ED. --sck p*oc it. Clematis Disease. — There is a disease that afflicts Clematis Jackmanni, for which no one seems to have found a remedy. Some micro- scopic fungus attacks it near the ground, and the whole plant turns black in a short time, from the effects of the ferment matter circula- ting through its system,— just as a similar fungus operates in the case of the disease known as Fire-Blight in the pear. A large number planted every year die from this trouble. A correspondent believes that if the plant gets safely through its first year of plant- ing, it is always safe. That a plant several years old never suffers. Does any one know of an old one killed ? Will Electricity from Wires Kill Trees. — According to a jury in a legal trial at Pitts- burg, it was decided that electricity from an alternating current would not kill a street tree. The plaintiff did not get the $2500 he asked for. In this case the wire had cut into the tree, and a point was made of this. MEW ©R Rm.t FLINTS, Cereus triangularis. — The beautiful specimen of Cereus triangularis, illustrated on page 5, is from a photo kindly handed in by Mr. G. B. Winslade, of Maraaroneck, New York. Like so many of the long-tubed .!;♦:' 1 lO MEEHANS' MONTH I^Y — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. 1896.] .TO* MEEHANS MONTHLY — GENERAL (lARDENING. I 1 Trimming Street Trees.— The scandalous headinor back of street trees, when they are regarded as too large for special purposes, is regarded as an American barbarism. At any rate, it is not uncommon to hear the remark, in such cases : " Oh ! if we had horticultural knowledge so generally diffused as they have in England!" But it would seem tree-bar- barism still exists in the Old World. The fol- lowing is extracted from the London Gar- deners' Chronicle, not merely to show how ignorantly some beautiful plane trees were butchered, but for the sake of the excellent suggestions as to the proper methods to be pursued in such cases : "Those persons who were employed by the Vestry to carry out the work possessed but a scintilla of the principles on which tree-pruning is based, for the whole of the branches have been most severely cut back, and the trees will long remain in evi- dence of the incompetence of the workmen or their employer, we do not know which. The proper method of pruning in this case would have been to cut back the longer branches to a well-placed lateral shoot, which should not have been shortened or touched in any way. By doing this to every leading branch, the heads would have been greatly reduced in diameter, whilst their natural contour would not have been spoiled. Moreover, all branches of such a size as to render the use of the prun- ing-saw a necessity, should be pared over both the wood and bark— so that the healing- over processes may be carried on without hindrance, and no rough surface left to form a lodgment for water. The cuts, whether of knife or saw, should be so given, that the exposed surface is not directed upwards, but slanting-wise, or facing directly downwards ; and the larger surfaces should be painted of a slate-color." Forestry.— A New Jersey correspondent says : — "I have a strong desire to study forestry, and the alarming rate at which our forests are being mowed down convinces me that a thorough knowledge of that study should be acquired by more of our young men. I there- fore write to you for information knowing that you can advise me better than any one else I know of." Forestry, as a branch of agriculture, should be defined as getting the largest possible profit from a given area of land within the shortest time. Forestry, as understood by current liter- ature, is a certain something connected with national interests, wholly aside from questions of individual interests in the way of a profit and loss account. These two lines have been somewhat confused, and there have been little favorable results from the forestry movements. For the first line of study, a practical acquaint- ance with the various species of forest trees is desirable, — the best methods of vSecuring rapid growth, and, of pruning or planting so as to secure good logs. For the latter branch the work ot Minister Marsh, entitled, "Man and Nature." is a leading text book. The Odor of the Ailantus. — In a mem- orandum on the ailantus, Mrs. S. D. Munro, Buffalo, N. Y , remarks : — "A note about the odor of Ailantus trees leads me to say that for years we had one (female) within twenty five feet of our windows, and never knew it had an odor. Then a neigh- bor built close to our line, and next July com- plained bitterly of the odor of the tree, which was close to his windows. But it was found that this lasted only a few days — a week or so— and, as the tree was beautiful and valuable, it was not cut down. No other tree is near this one, yet seedlings continually root and get very strong before they are observed and pulled up." Privet Berries in Inkmaking. — A Phila- delphia correspondent says : "The privet is now used in the manufac- ture of ink. When living in Warwickshire some years ago, my uncle had such large hedges of privet with bryony and haws, and the effect was very fine. The privet berries were so large and fine. One day I saw several girls cutting off all the privet berries, and he told me the^^ were employed to do so by the inkmakers of Birmingham. As we drove about, around Southbey and Leamington, we saw boys and girls picking everywhere." Christmas Trees.— The great street rail- way strike in Philadelphia operated against the sale of Christmas trees. Those who usually bought, had no money. It is estimated that ten thousand, at least, were unsold.. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE t / 1 . >. m > .► • Beauty of the Oak. — Although the great beauty of the oak is in its foliage and habit of growth, a large number of them have addi- tional charms in the fall of the year, by reason of the brilliant color of their foliage. It is remarkable that nearly every American oak will change to some peculiar shade of bril- lianc3% from lemon to yellow or deep crimson ; while the species from Europe all die away of a green color. It is a characteristic difference between the trees of the two countries. In planting, therefore, for colored-leaved foliage in the fall, one may take almost any species ol American oak, feeling sure that it will in some degree add an interest to the autumn coloring. CjRAFT vSciONS.— If grafting is contemplated this coming spring, the scions should be cut during the winter, — certainly not after the buds begin to swell in early spring. Choose stout, healthy wood of last season's growth ; bury them in sand or damp saw-dust and keep them in a cool cellar. The operation of graft- ing is performed in the spring, about the time the buds on the trees are bursting, and may be continued to mid- summer provided the scions have not started into growth. Thk Cactus Dahlia.— Mrs. Seliger notes that this class of Dahlia appears to be more tender than the old kind. JOHN BERTRAMS WOO D-SH ED. - -st t ^.gc it. Clematis Disease.— There is a disease that afflicts Clematis Jackmanni, for which no one seems to have found a remedy. Some micro- scopic fungus attacks it near the ground, and the whole plant turns black in a short time, from the eflfects of the ferment matter circula- ting through its system,— just as a similar fungus operates in the case of the disease known as Fire-Blight in the pear. A large number planted every year die from this trouble. A correspondent believes that if the plant gets safely through its first year of plant- ing, it is always safe. That a plant several years old never suffers. Does any one know of an old one killed ? Will Electricity tkom Wires Kill Trees. — According to a jury in a legal trial at Pitts- burg, it was decided that electricity from an alternating current would not kill a street tree. The plaintiff did not get the $2500 he asked for. In this case the wire had out into the tree, and a point was made of this. \tM ©1 I^IE FLi^NTS, Cereus triangularis — The beautiful specimen of Cereus triangularis, illustrated on page 5, is from a photo kindly handed in by Mr. G. B. Winslade, of Mamaroneck, New York. Like so many of the long-tubed 12 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING [Jan.. 4896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 13 cactuses belonging to the genera Cereus, Echinocereus and Echinopsis, it is a night- bloomer. Mr. W. kindly furnishes the follow- ing account of the plant's remarkable perform- ances : '•Number of flowers on night-blooming Cereus triangularis, two plants : In 1892, 65 flowers; 1893, 100 flowers; 1894, Jo6 flowers; 1895, 188 flowers. Total 459. The two plants are each in 7-inch pots, but the roots have gone through bottom of pots, into the soil of the bench on which they stand (the pots set on two bricks placed on the soil), which is covered with a layer of ashes (for standing pots, etc.), into which they root freely. The plants are supported on wires running lengthwise of glass partition at back of green- house, covering a space of 7x16 feet. The situation is full sun exposure without a particle of shading. The plants are about ten years old, raised from cuttings, are watered plenti- fully during the growing season, but kept moderately dry during winter, only getting moisture from the watering of pots standing on the ashes. Temperature, 50 to 55." George S. Conover Chrysanthemum. — Some specimens of George S. Conover Chrys- anthemum, which a Rochester firm dedicates to the well known enthusiastic horticulturist of this name at Geneva, New York, come to the conductors' table. There are now so many large yellows with admirers, that it would not be a bad idea to have them all together in a tournament some time. It would not be sur- prising to see the George S. Conover come out ahead. Recollections of the Verbena. — I was very much pleased on reading thearticle in your Monthly on the verbena. We old men do not like to see all the old favorites discarded to make way for new plants, that "in many cases '' are not near so interesting as our old time flowers. I well remember the first time I saw the Verbena melindris, and thought it the prettiest flower I ever saw. At that time, I was an apprentice with my father, and the verbena was planted in a small, round bed. In the autumn, after we had taken all the cuttings needed, my father told me to cover it with a few leaves and straw. The following winter, being exceptionally mild, it stood the cold, and flowered better the following summer. That is the only time I have known any one of the family to stand the winter. When Robinson brought out his " Defiance " we thought there was no other improvement possible; but to- day, I should value a plant of old melindris more than any other. S. Henshaw. ANb Flowers of the Sago Palm. — Although not a "new or rare plant," the Sago Palm is- rare in a flowering condition, though it is probable that it ivS often in flower un- known to observers. In many cases the plants present ? fluffy appearance at the apex, with what appears to be an un- usually large num- ber of young leaves, which never seem to go beyond a cer tain brief stage of development. These are really undevel- oped leaves or bracts, though unlike bracts in general, which are at the base of the pedicel or flower branch, these are collected into a head above the flowers. The writer has never met with a male flowering plant. It is not unlikely that in the male these bracts would be reduced to mere scales, with the stamens in their axils. The fruit in the female plant appears as nuts of about the color and size of a chestnut ; but, for want of fertilization, are always hollow under cultivation. One which has recently flowered in England, has been illustrated in the London Journal of Horticulturey and is reproduced here. FEMALE FLOWER OF THE SAGO PALM. Collections of General Perrine.— The great collection of orchids and other rare plants, which gave thirty years of pleasure to the late General Perrine, of Trenton, New Jersey, were recently disposed of by auction to other flower lovers. ^ Pear Growing in Louisiana. — The readers •of the Monthly will no doubt be interested in the fact that Northwest Louisiana is one of the best regions in the United States for the suc- cessful growth of the pear. Their vigor, longevity, prolificness, are abundantly tested in the hardiness and abund- ance of the trees in every place where found. They receive no care, live long, and bear pro- digiously. It is astonishing how this most valuable fruit flourishes uncared for. The writer makes this assertion with all delibera- tion. If other localities assert that nothing but the leathery and insipid LeConte and Kieffer will succeed with them, so be it. But the writer will engage, to satisfy any thorough horticulturist, that Northwest Louisiana is a superb pear country. And. therein, is wrapped up one of the most inviting opportunities in the South, for the cultivation of this most superb and profitable fruit. The following varieties may be relied on, and are alleged by a most competent authority, to be even a greater success than the Kieffer or Le Conte, viz: The Howell, Winter Nelis, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Seckel— but it is worth while to be more specific in a matter so important, and the practical horticulturist will value minute- ness. Doyenne d'Hte stands climate well, but is not profitable. Beurre Giftard fine grafted on trees of bearing size. vSeckel does well ; and everybody ought to have it. Winter Nelis magnificent, and endures. Duchesse d'An- gouleme, a success, either dwarf or standard. Bartlett fruits splendidly, but blights— as everywhere. Buffum tree all right ; but fruit not profitable. Lawrence splendid pear, but fruit very tender. Madelaine on dwarf, has stood through everything. Bears regularly, and heavy, (loaded down) but tree (of course) slow. Belle Lucrative bears heavily. Never dies. Sheldon magnificent pear ; fruit perfect, but tree very slow. Japan Golden Russet, bears early and enormously. Tree hardy, good cooking pear. Doyenne Boussock, fine in every respect, except tardiness in bearing. Winter Nelis, fine and luxuriant— fruit and tree. Early Harvest, early— as good as Kieffer. Lawson, on Le Conte stock, does well. St. Michael Archangel, most delicious fruit, but tree rather slow ; but not as slow as Seckel, and tree quite as hardy. Tyson, magnificent pear ; but tree not quite hardy, and very slow. Conkling, on Le Conte, fine in appearance, large, but no flavor. Clapp's Favorite, fine, smooth ; thrifty, but tree rather tender. The Duchesse d'Angouleme is so splendid on stand- ard, and bears such prodigious crops some- times, as to kill itself by overbearing. M. B. Hillyard. Shreveport, La. Thin Skinned Oranges —It has often been questioned why orange growers will graft and plant varieties with thick skins when the great public appreciates a thin skinned one more highly. Asking a grower, if not one of the secrets of the orange growing trade, why this was thus, he replied that the thin-skinned kinds were rarely as productive as the thick skinned ones,— that the public would give no more for a box of thin skins than for a box of thick ones.— and as there was consequently more profit in growing orange skins than in growing orange flesh, the skins carried the day. We have never heard such an explanation before, and this may be only '* chaff." Still, the great question remains, why do orange growers graft and plant thick skinned sorts, when the thin skins are preferable ? The Rhubarr as a Vegetable.— After the rhubarb has served its purpose by giving us its leaf stalks in early spring, it often throws up an immense bunch of flowers. An English writer states that if this head of flowers is cut o(T, and treated like cauliflower, it is just as good and desirable. One would suppose that there was something of the acid ta.ste of the stalks in this flower head; but this writer says not. Many plants have a great difference between the elements in their flowers or fruit and the leaves. We can, for instance, eat a tomato, and find it both health- ful and agreeable; but, if we were to venture to eat a handful of tomato leaves, they would probably be the end of us. Those who are on the look-out for new vegetables might, how- ever, make a trial of the rhubarb flowers. It may be noted that the tomato is very closely related to the tobacco, and equally poisonous with that celebrated plant. 14 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan, 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 15 Large and Small PeachEvS. — Nature loves variation. Individuals of a species are never exactly alike ; but there are bounds beyond which individual variation cannot go. When the individual reaches this limit, it hastens to get back again. Seedlings of a comparatively small peach are generally larger fruited than their parents ; but after one has reached an unusually large size, seedlings from that are usually smaller. This is the reason that peach stones from seedling trees are usually smaller than peach stones from grafted trees. The customer in the market wants large peaches, and hence the peach orchardist has to graft the large kinds, so as to be sure of what he has. But this is usually at the expense of a very heavy crop. Where abundance is a point, rather than fine fruit for retailings, as in some districts in the South, seedling peaches are preferred to the grafted kinds. The Grand Duke Plum. — There are few better plums, among modern introductions, than the old Green Gage, and others that have been equally well known for a generation or two; but occasionally a new introduction holds its own. An English plum, named the Grand Duke, is one of those fortunate survivals. Although raised by Mr. Thomas Rivers, who has not for so many years long passed away from us, it is yet considered one of the best. Mr. S. D. Willard, of New York, who is our leading authority on American plum culture, considers it one of the best late varieties. He says it is a very abundant bearer, has large and beautiful fruit, and comes into bearing about October the loth. Its only defect is that it is not a vigorous grower. The tree dealer must have vigorous, strong growing trees, in order to get a purchaser to buy ; and a tree that has a slender looking habit of growth finds few purchasers, hence the Grand Duke is not very well known among those who raise plums for market. The Curl-leaf Disease in Peach Trees. — The readers of Meehans' Monthly cer- tainly well understand that the larger propor- tion of the diseases of fruit trees come from theoperationsof many small species of fungus. One of the worst of these fungus organisms is the one which causes the disease known as the blister, or curl-leaf. It has been dignified by a good botanical name, namely, Exoascus deformans. Like most of these troubles, the little fungus plants originate from a seed, or, more strictly, a spore which lodges on the leaf, through the medium of the atmo- sphere, and there germinates, the result being the well-known moldy appearance which is associated with the curl. It appears on the leaves soon after they push out in spring. Later, towards fall, new leaves appear, on which the fungus does not operate, as its season for work is in early spring; but the loss of its early crop of leaves is a great blow to the vital power of the tree, and the crop of fruit which follows is generally inferior and defective. A peach tree is generally not so large as to be diflacult to spray, and the solution known as Bordeaux Mixture, sprayed over it as soon as the earliest intimations of the existence of the trouble is perceived, proves a certain cure. Careful ex- periments have fully determined this. Sweet Persimmons. — "To pucker ones lips as by a persimmon," is a proverbial say- ing. Every one knows how astringent a per- simmon is before frost or any thing that hastens fermentation has touched it. Sometimes the tree has within itself the power to start fer- mentation, independently of frost action, and when this is the case the persimmon is edible long before frost arrives. Other fruits are of the same class. The medlar is a famous German fruit, not far removed from the apple, — but it is as astringent as the persimmon until it begins to decay, then it is admirable. Frost is not called in to aid decay in this in- stance,— it is simply set aside until it begins to decay naturally. It does not seem a nice phrase, however, to say that "a medlar is not good until it is rotten.' ' The French have a more polite term for it. They say that the medlar is fit to eat as soon as it is bletted. We might with propriety adopt this word for the persimmon. It would sound very well to say that the bletted persimmon is good to eat. The Loudon Raspberry.— Mr. Charles E. Whitten, of Bridgman, Mich., regards this new red raspberry as one of the best late varieties that have been introduced. He says it ripens about the same time as the Cuthbert, and is larger than that well-known variety, and a remarkably productive bearer. ♦ l> !♦ K\ The Senator Apple. — A very heavy apple and of remarkable beauty has been received from Stark Bros. Nursery and Orchards Co., Louisiana, Missouri. It is almost impossible to judge of comparative difference from exist- ing kinds, on account of the great number that have been introduced, without a large number of wax or plaster specimens such as have been made for the United States Department of Agriculture. They regard it as distinct in many respects. We have had a cut made from an average specimen, and append the report of Prof. S. B. Heiges, Pomologist to the Depart- ment: ^^. ^ Compared with a well-known variety, as the Jonathan, it scarcely equals it in quality. I should judge it would reach its prime about Thanksgiving. From a comparison of all the specimens that we have received, it appears to bruise easily. The highl}' pink tinged flesh of some speci- mens would be objectionable for cooking pur- poses. It is a handsome market variety. " This report accords with our own examina- tion, except that [the dots as well represented in our drawing are grey, and not russet, — and SENATOR " specimens of the Senator Apple have been received at this division from three sources this season, all being similar in color and mark- ings, and slightly variable in form. The general form of the Senator is roundish oblate, of large size ; surface smooth, glossy ; color nearly a solid red with prominent russet dots ; stem medium in length and thickness ; basin regular, large, deep, furrowed ; calyx segments short, generally converging ; flesh yellowish white, tinged red, medium fine. granu- lar, very tender, juicy ; core small, closed ; flavor sub-acid, rich ; quality good to very good. APPLE. there may be some doubt whether the pink tinged flesh would be generally objectionable, though in some cases, the partaker of apple sauce or stew may suppose some extrane- ous matter had been allowed a place in the dished article. Pear Culture in Illinois.— Mr. Benjamin Buckman. of Farmingdale, Illinois, says: *' It is very hard to find a variety of pear that will succeed here on account of blight. I have tried a great many kinds, and am not certain yet that pear growing will be profitable here." 1 1 1 y\ '* ■! i6 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Jan. A Subterranean Vegetable Growth. — Mr. Timothy Wheeler, Moscow, Vermont, writes : " I have another curious vegetable growth, just found in the woods by a nephew of mine, E. W. Dillingham, who is always watching for natural curiosities. The vegetable is all roots, with no top whatever, and there are no signs that it ever had a top, and it was not broken off of anything else. The thing (I know not what to call it) laid flat on the ground, just under the top-soil, and covered a space more than 2 by 3 feet. The whole plant will not average two inches thick. There are two round bulbs, as round as balls. One of them is two inches and one half in diameter, and the other is one inch. This sni ill one has roots on one side of it, with nothing on the other side ; while the large bulb has roots on two opposite sides, and it has no signs of any top. The whole thing was under the surface, and it would not have been found, but for the snaking of logs over it. The two balls are six inches apart, and they both head the same way ; they are connected .by a root three-fourths of an inch in diameter. The bark on the bulbs looks like birch wood. Each bulb has two main roots, though one •of them is the connecthig root." The senior conductor of the Monthly has never helped to dig up an old plant of the "Man of the Earth" — Ipomiva pa7idurata. But from the wonderful "travelers' tales'* connected with these roots, this may be a real case. From all accounts the roots really take on strange shapes sometimes. The Tangerine Orange. — In the markets a somewhat flattened form of orange is sold under the name of Tangerine. A recent author notes that in many flowers there is a tendency to grow from the centre and produce other flowers. This is often seen in garden roses and others. This tendency exists to a marked degree in the orange, and a small orange inside, or at the apex of a large orange, is not unusual. In the kind called the "navel orange, " the secondary orange is only rudimen- tary,— but it gives the character which suggests the name. In the Tangerine, the secondary is the only orange produced, the primary orange. as we generally know it, being wholly sup- pressed. In many cases in the Tangerine variety, an attempt at a third may be noticed. Nature makes the different species of plants out of a very few original pieces. Some are suppressed and others enlarged. She makes the lemon — a different species of Citrus — by an attempt at elongation. The thickened point of the lemon, and which gives it a special character, is in all probability the rudiment of a second lemon, produced at the apex of the primary or general one. It would not be sur- prising to find monstrosities on the lemon trees, where the secondary has assumed some- thing more of a lemon-fruit character. Cassabanana. — Under the name of Cassa- banana. Southern papers speak highly of a new vegetable of the cucumber or gourd family. It is a rapid climber, and "the fruits are the shape and size of bologna sausages, twelve to eighteen inches long, and three to four inches in diameter, and of a bright scarlet color when fully ripe, and have a strong fragrance of the pineapple — indeed, so strong is its aroma that it will scent a whole building with its delight- ful odor. It requires a long season to perfect and produce an abundant crop, ripening here from August to away after frost. In the North the seeds should be started in pots early in the spring, and set out in open ground when dan- ger of severe cold is over. The keeping quality of the fruit is something remarkable. They kept sound until January following, and we made some nice preserves with them." Early Apples. — It is sometimes said that early apples are not much cared for, because so many other fruits come in about, or soon after, midsummer, that the apple is quite at a dis- count. But a friend, who has a great variety of fruits in his garden, claims that he would badly miss his Red Astrachan Apple tree, which is in use from the middle of July to the middle of August. He remarks that few kinds are good to eat and good to cook at the same time. Winter Bartlett Pear. — Under the name of Winter Bartlett, the fruit growers of Oregon have a variety of pear which is said to be in every way the peer of the original Bartlett, and it is being extensively planted. It is probably a sprout, and not a seedling. BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. WINTER THE NURSERY FOR SPRING FLOWERS. Death wished to borrow something of thy grace ; And now that thou art lying 'neath the snow. The grave that holds thee seems a favored place. Where one might willing go. But life is not so rich in things divine. That it would part with such a soul as thine ! A voice of comfort breathes from sorrowing Earth ; If winter is the nursery of flowers, If purity and loveliness have worth Beyond this world of ours. If there is pity for the tears we shed, If any truly live — thou art not dead ! —Florence Earle Coates. In Memoriatn on the death of Helen BeU. John Bartram's Wood-shed.— The house in which America's great botanist, John Bar- tram, spent his life, and which he built with his own hands, has become familiar through the work of the pictorial artists. Why not give the wood-shed which he also built, — for before the discovery of coal, a wood-shed was as important a part of a dwelling house as the dining-room or bed chamber. It was for a long time his potting and packing shed, and doubtless most of the cherished plants of Col- linson and other English worthies saw the light of America for the last time here. Profes- sor Trelease seems to have thought it worth taking, as he has kindly given us the photo- graph from which the cut, see page 11, has been made. It was in this shed the notes for the work published in 1853, describing all the trees then growing in Bartram's garden, were made. The writer of that work lived a mile from the garden. To save his time, the offer to fit up a room in this wood-shed was made and accepted. It is interesting to note on how slight occurrences the course of human events seem to turn. While engaged on that work the author was stricken with typhoid fever. As it was considered improbable that he would live till morning, a verbal will was made in the evening, the chief legacy being his copy of Lindley's " Vegetable Kingdom" to a fellow botanist, who has himself long since passed away. But again the Hand-book of Ornamental Trees, or the trees of Bartram's garden, was in danger. In the successful effort to save human beings from drowning in a wreck, a nail was driven through the left hand, and lock-jaw finally threatened but was defeated, and the author lived to do this much honor to Bartram's name and Bartram's work. It seems odd that some forty-four years after these events Professor Trelease should be able to have the author's outline in a picture of John Bartram's wood- shed. George Barclay. — In the November num- ber of your journal, under Coreopsis grandi- flora, I quote: "Of Barclay, whose name is connected with the plant, little more is known than of the early history of the plant itself." I find in "A Biographical Index of British and Irish Botanists," p. 11. the follow- ing accounts : '♦ Barclay, George (fl. 1835-41) : b. Hunt- ley, Aberdeenshire ; d. Buenos Ayres. Kew gardener and collector. H. M. S. * Sulphur,' 1835, to Chili, Peru, Panama, Sandwich Isles, Nootka, etc. Plants and MS. Journal in Herb. Mus. Brit. Gard. Chron., 1882, i. 305. Barclay. Robert (1757-1830): b. 1757; d. 22 Oct , 1830. F. L. S., 1788. Of Clapham and Buryhill, Surrey. Had large garden. Hook. Exot. Fl. 166. Originated ' Bot. Mag.' (see dedication to vol. liv.) Pritz. 14: Bot. Misc. ii. 122. Portr. at Kew. Barclaya Wall." As the two Barclays seem to have been some- what mixed up, I thought the above data might be of interest to you. It will be seen that Robert Barclay died several years previous to the voyage of the •'Sulphur." consequently the original plant referred to could not have been collected by that expedition. Lorenzo G. Yates, F. L. S. Santa Barbara, California. Missouri Botanical Garden— Sixth An- nual Report.— In addition to the usual ser- ies of matter useful alike to the botanist and the gardener, this is especially valuable by a monograph of the interesting genus of aquatics,— the Sagittaria. (17) i9^IKfS^Ss^^. i8 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. [Jan. [896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. ^9 The Russian Thistle in California. — Mr. Charles H. Shinn has issued a paper, in Bul- letin Number 107 of the Agricultural Experi- ment Station, of Berkeley, California, showing that this great pest of the agriculturist is get- ting a hold in that state. As there are already weed laws in California, it will be well to note how far these are practiced in suppressing the advancement of noxious weeds. Mr. Shinn says that so early as 1872 the legislature passed an act imposing a fine of one hundred dollars for allowing the Canadian Thistle to mature its seeds, and that in 1891 and '93 the super- visors of roads had plenary power to provide for the destruction of noxious weeds and in- sects injurious to fruit trees In 1893, another act was passed, which provides for the eradica- tion of weeds by city councils or trustees of any municipal body, which provides that all weeds liable to be spread may be regarded as a public nuisance, and that the proper officials may clear ground of such weeds and charge the expense against the owner. Mr. Shinn sa>sthat there is law enough in California to provide for the eradication, at the early stage, of the Russian Thistle. The Flora op Mount Desert Island. — The "Flora of Mount Desert Island" was issued last year, by Messrs. Rand and Redfield, the latter of whom has since died. Mr. Rand naturally feels reluctant to have it believed that the positions of the authors' names were by any act of his own. It was only by Mr. Redfield's insistence and persistence, that it was not published as the work of Redfield and Rand, instead of Rand and Redfield. Some comment has been made on a point referred to in the Memoirs of Mr. Redfield recently issued by the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia. In that Mr. Red- field's views on the Nomenclature question are presented from the impracticability of en- forcing the priority rule, after names have once been generally accepted. His friends think that his well known objection to the principles underlying the proposed change should have been presented as well as his objection on the ground of impracticability. Gray's Synoptical Flora of South America. — Many years ago Dr. Torrey and Dr. Asa Gray started to write a Flora of North America, but before the second volume appeared, the explorations of new territory brought to light so many new species that the book had to be held back in order to describe the many newly discovered plants. Not till the later years of Dr. Gray's life did the gathered ma- terial seem to warrant a resumption of the great task. His strong desire was that he might live to finish the task, but death overtook him before it was accomplished. But Sereno Watson and Dr. B. L. Robinson stepped into the vacant chair in the herbarium of Harvard, and though the former has also departed, the work begun by the beloved Gray is still going on. Fascicle i, of vol. I, part i, has appeared. It completes the Polypetalous orders from Ramiiiculacece to FrarikeniacecB . It is a wel- come New Year's present to American botanists. Dr. F. p. Porcher. — Another able and em- inent botanist, Dr. Francis Peyre Porcher, passed away in Charleston, South Carolina, on the 2oth of November, in his seventieth year. He was medical Director of the armies of the Confederacy during the Civil War, and the straits to which the Southern army was reduced led to a good use of Dr. Porcher's botanical and medical knowledge. The practical infor- mation he himself gained was all embodied in a work subsequently published, entitled, ' * Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, * * which ranks probably among the most valuable contributions to American medical and eco- nomic botany issued in our country. He was born in St. John's, Berkeley, on December 14, 1825, and was mainly educated in Charleston, — though his education was completed in France. Calvert Vaux. — After having disappeared from the home of his son for several days, the body of Calvert Vaux, the famous landscape gaidener, was found in New York Bay, Novem- ber 19th. He had been suffering mentally for some time. Landscape gardening in America took a great stride forward under the lead of Downing and Vaux, and possibly New York to day would have been without its cele- brated Central Park but for these two distin- guished men. As Olmsted and Vaux, he was little less celebrated. He was born in London, England, December 20, 1824, and came to America in 1848, so that he had nearly com- pleted his 71st year. %m I t r ^ >..M Irrigation Farming. — A handbook for the practical application of water in the production of crops, by Lute Wilcox, New York, published by Orange Judd Company. When Colorado and Utah were first opened up to settlement, few matters amazed the writer of this paragraph more than the enormous crops produced under irrigation. But the secret soon became an open one. Dry earth has the power of absorbing ammonia from the atmosphere. Here was dry desert land, which, for years, had been absorbing ammonia, until it became a perfect bed of nitrogenous manure. Nothing but a little water was needed to set it going. Under rain-fall cultivation, the agri- culturist gets too much or too little rain, — but the intelligent irrigationists can apply water or withhold it at just the acceptable time. This little book enters fully into irriga- tion matters. Apgar's Trees op the Northern United States.-— Under this title, a book has been published by the American Book Company, of New York, prepared by Professor Austin C. Apgar, of the New Jersey State Normal School, for the use of schools and private students. Its main object is to describe and determine trees by their leaves and branches when out of flower. It will be found a very useful aid in this direction. It is not confined to trees of the United States, but includes many exotics in cultivation. No one can determine posi- tively the name of a tree by a leaf and branch alone ; but in some cases they may, and in all cases the book will aid. It possesses the great value of furnishing useful and instructive object lessons to classes, where ordinary botani- cal works would be useless. '»> Prang's Calendars and Greeting Souve- nirs.—Housekeepers, as well as oflSce workers, require calendars,— but few are issued satis- factory to the dwellers in tasteful homes. Prang has met the requirement by issuing beautiful productions which will be welcome to housekeepers. Combining the useful with the beautiful they will ornament any drawing-room table, where they will be for reference. The violet calendar is embellished with violets arrayed in varied forms. The ♦' Happy Child- hood " calendar is truly poetical, as well as artistic. The little girl begins her spring life by chasing butterflies. As she grows, even the beloved *' dolly " is put behind when the roses blow, — and she closes her year of life by arm- ful's of substantial fruit. The poet's calendar has striking portraits of America's worshippers of nature— Whittier, I^ongfellow, Br>'ant and Emerson. Among the souvenirs are a " Posy of Sweet Peas," "Pansies," '• Roses," etc. Presumably they can be found in leading book and stationery stores. For New Year's presents, Easter reminders, or souvenirs at all times or any special time, there can be few more accep- table ones. Prof. J. G. Lemmon.— A correspondent writes that this estimable gentleman and his wife, to both of whom the world is so largely indebted for a knowledge of California botany especially, as well as the botany of other sections, have removed from Oakland to North Temescal, California. He adds "it will well repay Eastern visitors to visit the Lemmons' Herbarium." Geo. Such.— By a note in Gardening, we learn of the death of one of the greatest lovers of flowers, Mr. Geo. Such, of South Amboy, New Jersey. No date is given, but it seems to have been in the early part of November. Few amateurs did so much to encourage a love for rare flowers, and his name ought to have a warm place in the history of American garden- ing. Window and Parlor Gardening by N. JONSSON-RosE, published by Charles Scribners* Sons, New York. Books on window and house gardening have been numerous. This new candidate for popular favor is remarkably plain in its direc- tions, and especially instructive. It is really the best effort of the kind that has come to our attention. American Gardens and Gardening.— A new work, under the title of American Gardens and Gardening, has been projected by Lucius D. Davis, of Newport, R. I. The illustrations will be an especial feature, and the beautiful gardens about Newport will be among the first described. It is intended to be issued in monthly series, with the view of ultimately binding as a whole. i» I *■>• GENERAL NOTES. Thk New Volume op Meehans' Monthly. — To furnish botanically accurate and artistic- ally drawn illustrations of the flowers and ferns of the United States, at a surprisingly low cost, is an idea that originated with the eminent lithographer, Louis Prang, and which was finally decided on during the National Cen- tennial. It is not too much to say that it was received with national pride. Nothing like it at the price was ever attempted in any part of the world. The sudden and unexpected death of the managing partner in the enterprise, Charles Robson, threw the plans into confusion. The publication suddenly rested. No book publisher would take it up "because most of the profit would go to the lithographer," — lithographers would not take it * ' because they were not book -publishers." Most lovers of gardening were also lovers of wild flowers. There seemed to be a wide field open for the spread of gardening knowledge for the pleasure that gardening aflfored ,.and these facts suggested the combination which resulted in the firm of Thomas Meehan & Sons offering Meehans' Monthly. It is a pleasure to feel that the effort is so well appreciated that the magazine will continue for all time. The conductors feel that the work is worth more than the subscription price, and that they are undertaking a task of national importance, fully justifying them in hoping that friends will aid all they can in making the work known. Copies that may be soiled, or lost, through being handed to friends for examination, will cheerfully be replaced. The Growth Force of Plants. — Under caption of **How a Birch Seed Defied Her Wish," the New York World has the fol- lowintr : — "There is in an old churchyard on one of the principal avenues of Hanover, Germany, an ancient grave which has met with a some- what peculiar fate. One hundred and thirteen years ago it was dug to hold all that remained mortal of Henriette Julianne Caroline von Ruling. The tradition of Hanover is that (20) Frau von Ruling was a beautiful woman in her day, and that, fearing, by some chance, her grave might be opened, and her moldering corpse displayed to view, she took the precau- tion to keep the seal of her tomb unbroken. At the back of the massive monument, cut deep into the base of the pedestal, are these words : * This grave, purchased in perpetuity, shall, to the end of time, never be opened.' By a strange fate, into the earth that was shoveled over her cofiin, fell a birch seed. As time passed on, a shoot pushed itself out be- tween the stones of the massive monument, and then came a struggle between the growing wood and the ponderous slabs. A century passed, and the tree won. Bit by bit, it split and burst open the great monument, and up- heaved the great base stones, exposing to view the grave that was always to be concealed and kept tightly closed." This was sent bv a correspondent for com- ment. It is possible a birch seed might find lodgment in a little mortar crevice, on the outside of the wall and then send its roots through, bursting open the wall by its growth force. This power can be evidenced by anyone who observes the roots of trees growing on rocky places. If there is any basis of fact in the story, it may be found here; otherwise, it would be absurd. ScoLOPENDRiUM VULGARE. — In England, where this fern is frequent, it has numerous common names. One of these is "Button- hole," from the resemblance of the fructifica- tion in its young stage to button- holes. (See Britten & Holland's English Plant Names.) C. F. Saunders. Canaigre. — This tuberous-rooted dock — Rumex hymeiiosepalus may throw oak bark out of the market for tanning fine leather. One ton goes as far as five tons of oak, — besides the saving of space over bark in storage. Florida farmers are planting it in the hope of having another profitable article of export. <'■ # ' I ^ *»-!. » il tV u SITUATIONS WANTED. Advertisement under this head, not exceeding 50 words, will be inserted once for 50 cents, or three times for 11.25. OARDENERS:— We shall be glad to furnish ^ names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Germantowu, Philadelphia. OARDENERS— On our register will be found V.3 names of Competent Gardeners, and we will take pleasure in sending these to any one requirmg their services. Henry A. Dreer, Seedsman and Florist, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. O A R D E N E R— English, aged 38. married, small v^ family ; 24 years experience in growing or- chids, ferns, stove and greenhouse plants, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums ; also the management of fruit houses, vegetable and flower gardens, etc. State wages. Chas. Dumper, 119 Tallmadge St., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. OARDENER wants position, German, age 32, V3 married, one child; fully experienced 111 growing all kinds of cut flowers, greenhouse and foliage plants, vegetables and taking care of large or small private place ; had charge of one for last 4 years. Best of references. Address, Gardener, 2222 North 28th St., Philadelphia. H EAD GARDENER-^^^^/^/^^^^f^^''-?^*: • - nation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches ot gardening. Best references from first-class places. Europe and U. S. February or later, " R. F., Office, Meehans' Monthly. While it is under new management, with new editors and new contributors, it is stiH the oldest and most reputable publication of its kind in the west, this being the twenty- sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magazine for 30 cents. To any one sending us 30 cents and «i;[ °""^« 9,^ /"^^^f who might subscribe for our magazine, we will mail our one dona?^magazine a full year. At 30 cents we lose money the fi?st year but hope you will continue to be a subscril>er. after sJeing twelve numbers. If you wish to see the magazine bXe subscribing, send 10 cents and receive a sample copy and a free gift of kn aluminum dime-size charm with the Lord% Prayer engraved in smalle..t characters ; bright as siWer and never tarnishes. Wc do not send sample copies A.^so save your postal cards as "Ojiotice will be given them. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Address THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive SI., St. Loult, Mo. tli\r\t\ nieces of Sheet Music at 10 cents a copy. Also any 6000 S usk published sent on receipt of the re a, 1 price Violin Guitar Banjo and Mandolin Strings, of all grades, from s'to^o cints e^^^^^ Send 2c. stamp for catalogues. In o7der?ng a'nythiif^, by .sending 5 f^^^f^^.^'Z^^^^^ free of charge a sample copy of /A^ A ^u' SL Louts, a loc. magazine. Address, ft. IV^^^^^Hve^Street, St. Louis, Mo. HOUGH'S ''AMERICAN WOODS" A publication illustrated by actual !^P^c\^'^^i .% f^^, looods^ showing three distinct vtew» of sratn J^ 1 ^je J ^"^ " formation before making Christmas purchases, inclosing, 10 cents for samples. ^ . ^ t»„b^„ai?attons We also carry a full line of very nu e Pkki-arat o^ OF Woods for Stkrkoptu on and for ^^''-""j^f^;* ^' also. Wood KN Cros.s section Cards for wooden wed- dings, gift cards, etc. Send for samples. ROMEYN B. HOUGH, LOWVILLE, N. V. Standard Varieties RaspbeFPy and StrambeFPy Plants Send for Price List Box 464 DAYTON, OHIO ^^^■^ and garden there is no FertiliieT so pro- FOR SactlVe, so clean, healthful and free from i«p ■■ p odor, as LAWN ANDORRA NURSERIES, ^h^'.:K^^^^^^^ HARDWOOD ASHES Send for Testimonials. WM. w< -THE KEYSTONE DEHORNER OtitB clean on all sidee-does not crush. The most humane, rapid and durable knfe made, fully warranted. niKhe«t \ot\<\h Fair Award Descriptive CircularH Free. A.C.BROSIUS, Cochranvllie, Pa. THE ELKHART INSTITUTE, of Art. Science, and Industry, Elkhart, Ind. In- structions thorough and eminently practical. Terms very reasonable. Expenses low. Both sexes admitted. Careful home training. Location attractive and healthful. Day and evening sessions. Diplomas awarded. Students can enter at any time. Circulars free. Address, H. A. MUMAW. M. D., Sec'y, as above. THE INSECT WORLD There is published in Philadelphia by the Entomologi- cal Section of The Academy of Natural Sciences at the low price of One Dollar a year, an illustrated monthly journal. " '^' ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS ^^;:^nt^;^e^^ r^^Jno^L^oi^yio^.^^ bv Prof John B. Smith. State Entomologist of New Jersey The new and gossip always so interesting to hntomologi- cal workers finds an important place in the publication. 1 o those remote from the centres of information it cannot fail o be of the utmost importance, since it will keep the stu- dent posted on what is' being accomplished in serials ami monographs at home and abroad. Iti.ects named for s b- cXrs f'ee of charge. Send ?i.oofora >-jr s -b^^^^^^^^ tion, to E. T. CRESSON. Treas.. V. O. H. 248. I hila.. I a. A nF MT^ —Greatest sellerout. Something new. A^^i'j p^fits. Boys and girls make goo HOT WATER HBATHTG BNOOOBBIffi Vima and Estimatea fnrnif bed on application Largest BulMart of (Sreeniioutt Structures. Six Highest Awsrds at the Worli's Fair Send fonr cents postage for illniitrated catalograe AKCHITECTURAI. OFFICB, 100 FIFTH ATB., COR. «l«t STREET, NEW YORK. Faotory: Irvin8rt4>n«4>ii-BttdiM>n, Kew Tork Mention Paper PUBLISHED THE let XNO 15th OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONOH BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2.00 A YEAR 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valuable American Horti- citlt|iral pablication* DBFARTMimTS : The Flower Gsiden, Trees and Shmbs, The Greenhouse, The "Wiad^w Gardeh, The Pruit Garden, The Vege- tslde Gsnien, IncNKits and Other Fests, Mushrooms, and Others in season. See what subscribers say mbimt this yaluable j ournal . '^Vor. condensed common sense in gardening matters, for selieA>ie. naprejtidiced and safe injEbrmation, Gardbnino ciyty^ be surpassed, and although moderate in sixe it ex- paiids ttp6n perusal.'^ W. C Eoam, Highland Park, III. PftACTICAL. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY iXACT. -GARDEN^ -OREST RNALOF HORTICULTURE LANDSCAPE-ART ANDFORESTRY AJOU ^^vmsziiaEiM^ ' ''- "C^tLVtivnitG is the best horticultural pa America/' Chas 1,. BuRK.Spnn rinted in eld, Mass. I a>a greatly pleased with the paper. It is practical and "* — » ^ionof photogra a moat admtra W. M. jOHNSox, ^ackensack^ N. J. SumMMtivt. Its reproduction of photographic views of plants, MSTera'aad landscapes is a moat admirable ffcatore." daUMfttf paf^er and hm e , IlaiMi|Mifft^ la. dQUiDki«tar«» totMsei/ TariHOWt Nofs^c^ Wo|cott;i«ktj^W| do^d. ^isAitDto^itlfi^ ott aeconnt brthe Yery practi- J. A, fwpTXoaiw, Supt. Uncoln Park, Chicago '^Xteard OAlik>«MXir<» aa one of Che ntostt practical maga- '^liea tasried In the intcresU of horticulture.j^ - W. F.MACASA.Waterville.N. Y. **Th« paper is the most practical of any I read. '' W. «. Abbs. Fond dn Lac, Wis. "1 suhAcrlbe to all the horticultural and floricultural jour- nals on this continent as far as I know and find in Gardsn- ittQ the most practical one for an amateur like myself." n» f^KA T TTawi.et. Comincr. N. Y- Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of «fardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenerx' ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Fokest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty, for a purer it^te in the design and dect^^ion of pnblic obd piivalen ^oii^tlds, and is tmi- versally proaotmced the< ^t horticultnr- al joiintal ever published for Americaiii^ " Wise.. intetUgent, eatertaiaing."— //ar/<^'5 Weekly. *' Rich variety of remarkable engravings. "—A' V Post. ' Winning, delightful aadaccorAle."— A'. Y. Tribune. " A compendium of new inlormrttlon."— iV, K Hera.d. • BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. S4 00 A YEAR. Specimen copy free on application. 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Six Highest Awards at the World's Fair Send four cents postage fur illustrated catalogue XjOK/ID n, New York Mention Paper PUBLISHED THE Ut AND 15th OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO subscription price, $2.00 a year 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valuable American Horti- cultural publication. Departments : The Flower Garden, Trees and Shrubs, The Greenhouse, The Window Garden, The Fruit Garden, The Vege- table Garden, Insects and Other Pests, Mushrooms, and others in season. See what subscribers say about this valuable journal. "For condensed common sense in gardening matters, for reliable, unprejudiced and safe information. Gardening cannot be surpassed, and although moderate in size it ex- pands upon perusal." W. C Egan, Highland Park, 111. "Gardening is the best horticultural paper printed in America." Chas 1,. Burr, Springfield, Mass. PRACTICAL. VOL IX. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. :t! :^?v^c : . , .\. , ;..> •, , ottuvO^ta; NO- 410 1 GARDEN. FOREST A-JOURNALOFHORTICULTURE [LANDSCAPE-ARTANDPORESTRY S8| •JANiJARYi-1596- 1 "I am greatly pleased with the paper. It is practical and ■uggestive. Its reproduction of photographic views of plants, flowers and landscapes is a most admirable feature." W. M. Johnson, Hackensack. N. J. "It is a delightful paper and has been very interesting and instructive to me." Frank Hitchcock, Davenport, la. "I have found Gardening extremely useful and interest- ing. You have given your subscribers a great deal more than their money's worth.' Chas. E Brown, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia "Such a publication was long needed in this country. E^ery line of its contributions is a lesson in itself to mauy professionals as well as to amateurs." John Berry, Gardener to Senator Wolcott, Littleton, Colo. "I value Gardening highly on account of the very practi- cal character of its contents.' J. A. PKTTIORBW, Supt. 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"Wise, intelligent, entertaining." -//a^/^» a hVeekly. *' Rich variety of remarkable engravings."— ,V }'. Pbst. ' Winning, delightful and accurate.'"— A'. V. Ttibune. *' A compendium of new information."— A''. >'. Ht-ra.d. • BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. $4 00 A YEAR. Specimen copy free on application. CardCB and Forest PablishiDg Co. ^^'S^w ?ork"'* WHEN WRITINe TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. ■ /^:^^.a:^ INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE HITCHINCS & CO. ESTABLISHED 50 YEARS HORTICULTURAL HRGHITECTS HNO BUILDERS Greenhouse Heating and Ventilating Apparatus and largest Manufacturers of The highest awards re- ceived at the World's Fair for Horticultural Architec- ture, Greenhouse Construc- tion and Heating Appar- atus. Conservatories, Green- houses, Palmhouses, etc., *** erected complete with onr '"** Patent Iron Frame Con- struction. SEND FOUR CENTS FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES. 233 MERCER STREET, NEW YORK CITY Landscape Gardening This branch of our business is under the personal charge of our J. Franklin Meehan, who has had a practical training in the cultivation of trees, shrubs and hardy plants, and who is well fitted to prepare and carry out Planting Plans, Road Making, Draining, Grading and all branches of Land- scape Gardening. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, Phila. EDWARD CAMPBELL L/INDSCAIPE /IRCniTECT AND ENQINEER ARDMORE, - PA. Sketch plans and planting maps prepared, and suggestions given for the laying out and improvement of country and suburban residences, public parks and grounds of every description. Grounds laid out and their construction undertaken by contract or day labor, and carried out under strict personal supervision. The choice grouping and effective arrangement of trees and shrubs has been made> special study. Trees furnished and planted by experienced workmen. Draining Plans and Surreys. Fine Crushed Stone for Walks and Carriage Drives. HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, EVER- tb. «npi ^.er.i •s.ortn.e.t otn^rAjom^ .. _._.. ..«-.-.- ^-*»..-L .%■•».»>■>■■>• M BieBtal IManls In Amerlf*. Two hundred page 6REENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. iHu.tmtcd descriptive catalogue on appUcL tion. Plans and estimates ftirnishcd. Send your list of needs for special rates. THK READING. NfTRSKRY, JACOB W. MANNING, Proprietor. RKADTNG, MASS. >^'<, s^ and wood sash bars on your iron greenhouse when patent puttyless steel glazing has reached perfec- tion, at only a slight advance in cost. Send for catalogue. JOSEPHUS PLENTY, Jersey City, N. J WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION MEEHANS' MONTHLY. Vol. VI FEBRUARY, 1596 No. 2 ISSUED MONTHLY, $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, SINGLE COPY 20 CENTS. f\ ^i> ^'^vi.«^<,V."^S Meehans' x.>^ :>/,■ r/^ \ • '!/ 1 'KW -^, ^/ "f, ^ V C'^-'t-.5 V2) *>-. Ml •' co^vmoMTKO t«*e ENTBaBD AT THB PHILADELPHIA POST OFFICE AS 8BCOND-CLA8t MATTB*. rieehans' t„omas Monthly heehan & sons. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Qermantown, Phila. SubscFiption Price $2.00 per year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 ots. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. ADVERTISING BATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each IMonth, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Bditorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN &, SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phila., Pa. aiiuiiiuiiiikiuiiiiiiiiuiuiniuiiiaiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiHie iGRASS IS KINGI ^ We are the only seedsmen making the erowinir of 5 gtarmjeeds, grasseB and^clovers a great apecialty.5 I We are the only seedsmen making the erowini Sfarm seeds, grasseB and clovers a great specialty b i.9!i^_ ?-^.*J^ _?!:»!.»_ and Clover Mixtures last a tif J:| For Flowers Indoors. ^ ^ Bowker's ^ Flower Food. ^: A rich, concentrated fertilizer,: 4^ odorless, made from chemicals;- ^z applied in solution once or twice: ^- a month, makes house plants grow- ^I vigorously and blossom abun-l ^-- dantly. ^-- A small spoonful for a a-inch pot. A larger spoonful for a 4-inch pot. Enough for 30 plants 3 months, 25c. Enough for 30 plants a whole year,- 50c. We pay the postage and send a book^ on '* Window Gardening " free with each' package. ^ nflWlfPr 27 Beaver St., New York, fc: UUfff RUI 43 Chatham St., Boston. I NEW AND RARE PLANTS Abutilon S. de Bonn, 20c.; New Bougain villa, 50c.; New Caryopteris, 25c.; Crimson and Pink Clematis, dOc.; Royal Coleus, 30c ; Cape Fuchsia, 20c.: Pepero- ^Y^ ^^- • 5i"® ^planum, 26c.; Schiiocodon, 50c. ; Stro- bilanthe8,30c.; Thyr»acanthn8,25c.; Ko9telet2kla,25c. etc. New Crimson Rambler Rose. 30c. New Cannas, 25c.; White Canna,Pink Canna,25c.; Black Calla, 20c ; Yellow Calla, 75c.; Purple Calla,40c. Golden Amaryllis, 60c.; Blue Tigridia, 15c.; Rare Dahlias, etc. New Golden Mayberry, BOc. Strawberry-Raspberry, 6O0. New Raspberry-Blackberry, BOc. Any three 25-cent plants for 60c. ; 5 for $1.00 Any two SO-ceut plants for 50c. ; 4 for $1.00 100 Summer-blooming Bulbs, 12 sorts. $1. 100 Gladioli, from over 1000 varieties, $1 Hundreds of other rare plants and bulbs. Send at once for our illustrated catalogues. A. BLANC & CO., 314-316 N.llth St..Phifada. Small Shrubs We grow Shrubs in large quantities and fre- quently have inquiries for small plants in consider- able numbers. Our new Catalogue for Spring, 1896, contains full price list of these, as well as Trees, Evergreens and Hardy Plants. Catalogue mailed for 6 cents in stamps. Thomas Meehan & $ons Nurserymen and Qermantown PhiU Landscape Engineers ^crmaniown, KHIia. Standard Varieties Raspberry and Straoiberry Plants Send for Price List Box 464 DAYTON, OHIO WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEIVI YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. 4m ^ u ^ BIWS- i\ \ ^ HEPATICA TRILOBA. LIVER-LEAF. NATURAL ORDER, RANUNCULACK.^:. HEPATICA TRILOBA, Chaix— Involucre of three simple leaves, close to the flower, rcseniblin^ se])als ; villous externally. Sepals blue or purplish, rarely white. Leaves all radical, on petioles three to five inches lon^, siib-reniforracordate, with three ovate-obtuse or rounded lobes. (Darlington's Flora Osin'ca. See also Grays Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, Chapman's Flora of the Southern i'nited States and Wood's Class-Book of Botany.) The polite history of our pretty spring flower has become somewhat confused. Scholars of the middle ages believed it to be the Leichen of the Greeks, and invested it with the interest which mythology surrounds the fate of that unfortunate damsel. She was the daughter of ^sculapius and Athesis. The former, who was the God of Physicians, educated her to his medical mysteries; but her mother's chief object was to lead her to a life of rigid pro- priety. When not interested in the study of the medical properties of plants, she was devoted to needl'e-work for religious purposes, and confined her society strictly to those of her own sex. Suddenly, a youth of good report proposed marriage to her, at which she was much alarmed, never having had male society ; but her father insisted on the wedding, at which she became so frightened that she died on the eve of the marriage day. The Gods took com- passion on her, as, according to floral mythol- ogy, they so often did in similar cases ; so they turned her dead body into a flower, which they called Hepatica, chiefly because before her death she had great success in healing diseases of the liver, which the Latinized Greek word Hepatica implies. But, at the historic period we are referring to, those who had claims to plant Icnowledge discerned two forms of Hepatica or liverwort. Our plant was the great liver- wort,— and the green, creeping, membraneous plant found around springs, and known to botanists as Marchantia polymorpha, was the lesser liverwort. The name Hepatica was retained by modern botanists to represent the great order of these moss-like plants, and also with the name of liverwort. Our plant is also called liverwort in many books ; but liver-leaf, also in common use, will be the most distinc- tive. Leichen, Lychen or Lichen has been given to an order of dry or scale like plants which grow on rocks and trees, apparently indifferent to whether it ever rains or not. Darwin, in his " Lives of the Plants," seems to have this plant in his mind in connection with this ancient Goddess. He refers to the Lichen as growing on barren rocks, slowly preparing the hard face for a better vegetable life, but itself dying ere pretty flowers succeed, and then he sings : " Retiring Lichen climbs the topmost stone, And drinks the aerial solitude above. Bright shine the stars, unnumbered o'er head, And the cold moon-beam gilds her flinty head : While round the rifted rock hoarse whirlwinds breathe And dark with thunder sail the clouds beneath. The steepy path her plighted swain pursues, And tracks her light step o'er the imprinted dews ; Delighted Hvmen gives his torch to blaze, Winds round the craggs, and lights the mazy ways ; Shed o'er' their secret vows his influence chaste, And decks with roses, the admired waste." Leaving, however, the mythological ques- tion just as we found it, and without deciding whether the unfortunate Leichen was turned into the solitary loneliness described by Darwin, or the Hepatica now before us, we can say that in our times it is welcomed by every one with any poetical feeling as among the brightest ornaments of early spring. European poets make many references to it in this connection, and Americans have aLso had a share in the pleasant work. Timothy Conrad, better known perhaps as a geologist than as a poet, in his pretty verses on "The Wissahickon in April," says : < « The early Meadow Rue o'ertops the low Hepatica, that amathystine flower, Lowly yet loveliest of the sylvan troop That court fair April's dewy kiss. " (21) I ■ COLOR PHOTO V \ V IIEPAIICA TRILOIiA. i.i\'KR-ij:\r. NATURAL ORDKR, RANrNCrLACI'M:. tiEPATiCA TRILOHA, CHAIX.— Tiivolucre of three sini{)lc kaves, close to the tl.>\ver, i< -etnhliiiL; sejirils; \r.l<)»is exteinally. Se])als blue or pMri)lish, ratelv wliite. Leaves all radical, on petioles thret- t<' h\f imhe> loti^^, sub-rtiiiformcordate, with three ovate-obtuse or i-oiiiulrd lobe> (Darlington's Fh> a ('t'sttica. See aNo (Uay s .^lannal of the Kotiiny of the .Xofthefti I'niled Stairs, Chapman's Flota of the .Somhetn I'uiteU States ami U'ootl's Class- J!<>ok of Hotany. > i The polite history of our pretty spring flower has become somewhat confused. Scholars of the middle ages believed it to be the Leichen of the Greeks, and invested it with the interest which mythology surrounds the fate of that unfortunate damsel. vShe was the daughter of ^sculapius and Athesis. The former, who was the God of Physicians, educated her to his medical mysteries ; but her mother's chief object was to lead her to a life of rigid pro- priety. When not interested in the study of the medical properties of plants, she was devoted to needte-work for religious purposes, and confined her society strictly to those of her owm sex. Suddenly, a youth of good report proposed marriage to her. at which she was much alarmed, never having had male society ; but her father insisted on the wedding, at which she became so frightened that she died on the eve of the marriage day. The Gods took com- passion on her, as, according to floral mythol- ogy, they so often did in similar cases ; so ihej^ turned her dead body into a flowtr, which they called Hepatica, chiefly because before her death she had great success in healing diseases of the liver, wdiich the Latinized ^Treek word Hepatica implies. But, at the historic period we are referring to, those who had claims to i)lant knowledge divScerned two forms of Hepatica or liverwort. Our plant was the great liver- wort,— and the green, creeping, membraneous plant found around springs, and known to botanists as iMarchatitia polyynorpha, was the lesser liverwort. The name Hepatica was retained by modern botanists to represent the great order of these moss-like plants, and also with the name of liverwort. Our plant is also called liverwort in many books ; but liver-leaf. also in common use, will be the most distinc- tive. Leichen, Lychen or Lichen has been given to an order of dry or scale like ])lants which grow on rocks and trees, apparently iiuliffcrent to whether it ever rains or Tiot. Darwin, in his " Lives of the Plants." seems to have this plant in his mind in connection with this ancient Goddess. He refers to the Lichen as growing on barren rocks, slowly preparing the hard face for a better vegetable life, but itself dying ere pretty flowers succeed, and then he sings : " Retiring Lichen cliiiihs the topmost stuiic. And drinks the aerial solitude above. Hriv;ht shine the stars, unnumbered o'er head. And the cold moon-l)eam ;^ilds iicr flinl\' head : While round the riftetl rock hoarse whirlwinds breathe And dark with thunder sail the clouds beneath. The stec])v path her plighted swain pursues. And tracks her lioht step o'er the imprinted dews ; Delighted H\ men gives his torch to blaze. Winds round the craggs, and lights the nia/.y ways ; Shed o'er their secret vows his influence chaste, And decks with rose>, the admired waste." Leaving, however, tlu mytholooical (pies- tion just as we f«»und it, and withotit deciding whether the unfortunate Leichen was turned into the solitary loneliness described by H.irwin, or the LIcpatica now before us, we can say that in our times it is welcomed by every one with any ])oetical feeling as among the brightest ornaments of early spring. F.uropean poets make many references to it in this connection, and Americans have also had a share in the pleasant work. Timothy Conrad, better known perhaps as a geologist than as a poet, in his pretty verses on "The Wissahickon in April." says : " The earlv Meadow Rue o'ertops the low Hepatica, that amathystine flower. Lowly yet loveliest of the sylvan troop That court fair April's dewy kiss. " (21) COLOR PHOTO 22 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — HEPATICA TRII^OBA. [Feb. WSm rv:--; The botanist-poet, W. W. Bailey, has also the early, spring-flowering character in mind in the following lines : " Thou blossom-blue, with laughing eye, I cannot tell the reason why Thou art so dear, except for joy Thou broughtest to me when a boy. Ere snows had left the woodland ways On sunny morns of April days, I found thee smiling, as in glee. And peeping through the leaves at me. The alder-bushes barely show Their golden tassels o'er the snow ; And pussy-willow's silken cap Proclaims her yet unbroken nap. But thou bright flower, brim full of mirth. Art here to welcome April's birth — A sign to us that not in vain Has been the winter's snow and rain " As regards its botanical history it may be noted that, although it is described as Hepatica triloba, there is no essential difference between Hepatica and Anemone, and most of the lead- ing botanists of our times refer to it as Anemone Hepatica. Usually, in Anemone, the three stem-leaves form a leafy involucre ; but, in this, the involucre has assumed the appearance of the ordinary calyx of other genera. (See Fig. 2). This was made the leading distinc- tion between the two genera. It has been kept distinct here only because as Hepatica it has entered so deeply into popular literature. Plants were classified, by the old herbalists, according to the resemblance of their leaves ; and the three-lobed leaf of t\iQ Hepatica caused it to rank as a Trifolium. With most of the well known plants of that period, this one had its religious associations, and it was popularly known as "Herb Trinity." It was a great favorite for garden culture, for over two hun- dred years. There were known double blue, double pink and double white varieties, which had been occasionally found in woods, and intro- duced into garden culture. It is remarkable that while it is usually found with but a single flower on a stalk, Professor Beale has seen cases where two or three flowers have appeared, and then resembling the Meadow-rue Ane- mone. In its geographical relations, it is remarkable that, while it does not exist in England, it is found in Sweden, Lapland and Russia ; and, continuing on, enters the United States at Sitka, where it was found by Rothrock, and goes across our continent to Canada and Lab- rador. On the Pacific Coast, however, it does not go far southwardly. Progressing west- wardly, it is found in Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska ; and, as it extends eastwardly, is found in Eastern Missouri, and goes down the Allegheny range to Georgia. In Sweden and Denmark, Linnaeus says it grows in dense, dark woods, — while, in Austria and more southern countries, it is spoken of as the associate of junipers. In our country, it is usually found in rocky woods formed of oak, chestnut or hickory . In low, flat lands near the coast, it is not often found. It is not in the catalogue of Suffolk Co., Long Island, made by Mr. E. S. Miller. It grows in immense quantities in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, where it is collected and dried, and sold by the ton for medical purposes. It enters largely into what are known as patent medicines ; but has little repute among the regular medical professions. The regular practitioners believe that its virtues do not extend beyond its name. In olden times the medical virtues of a plant were supposed to be indicated by its form, and these leaves, looking something like liver, were therefore applied to liver diseases. It does not appear that this was wholly the case with this plant. Linnaeus, though entirely familiar with the doctrine of signatures, as believing by these leaf-signs was called, admits the plant into his Materia Medica, and gives it credit for utility in liver-diseases. Our Rafin- esque also admits it into his Medical Botany, Its misfortune seems to have been that it was too highly praised, and this has led to an opposite extreme. Both GriflBth and F. Peyre Porcher admit that it has some slight medical virtues. It varies much in its foliage. Sometimes the lobes are quite sharp, when it has been described as Hepatica acutiloba. Sometimes it is found with five lobes instead of three, — but these differences are not now regarded as of specific importance. As Hepatica triloba, it is said to have been first described by Chaix, in Villar's History of the Plants of Dauphiny, but we have not the means at hand of verifying this point in its history. Explanation of the plate.— i. A full prown plant taken in April from the Wissahickon near Philadelphia. 2. The calyx-like involucre. 3. The leaves of last year, decaying after flowerinj?. 4. The new leaves of the season. 5. Pollen grain 470 times enlarged. \*i b WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. THE HUMMING BIRD. ** There, lovely bee-bird ; may'st thou rove Through spicy vale and citron grove. And woo and win thy fluttering love With plume so bright ; There rapid fly, more heard than seen, 'Mid orange-boughs of polished green, With glowing fruit, and flowers between Of purest white." — Charlotte Smith. Seed Corn from an Indian Mound. — An Ohio Falls (Indiana) despatch to the Indian- apolis News, says : " A curious experiment was made this sum- mer by Charles Graham, a nurseryman of this county, and the result lies upon the desk before your correspondent as he writes. Last year Mr. A. A. Graham, of Mount Vernon, Ind., made a visit to the vicinity of Alton, 111., and called upon a friend, who had just opened a mound builders' burial mound. Upon the mound grew several large trees, among them an oak four feet in diameter, and thus the age of the mound was established as considerable. In it were found the crumbling remains of bones, and among other utensils a large pot, contain- ing a maize very much like our present com- mon red corn. Of this Mr. Graham secured several grains, and on returning home planted them. They grew, and the result was that he produced a strain of corn which is most likely the ancestor of the corn we now cultivate. In spite of having been in the grave for cer- tainly not less than four hundred years, it grew very rapidly and produced a large, well- shaped ear upon a fairly tall stalk. The ear is well set, the grains being somewhat smaller than any of the present varieties, except pop- corn. In shape the grain resembles dried sweet corn, being rough and wrinkled. In taste it is sweet and agreeable." It is to be regretted that anything so won- derful as seeds growing after four hundred years, is not better verified. Only three nurserymen are recorded in the Nurserymens' Directory as being in Clark County, Illinois, in which Ohio Falls is situated, none of these bear the name of Graham. Seeds will remain in the ground and preserve their power to germinate for an indefinite number of years. This is certain. But it requires better proof than the preceding paragraph affords. Seeds are often carried into mounds and stored up by ants, squirrels and other creatures. The Virginian Dismal Swamp. The fol- lowing interesting account of this famous local- ity is from the lVashi?igton Star : ** There is fine fishing in Lake Drummond, which contains plenty of perch, black bass, two kinds of pickerel, three species of sunfish and other pan fish. There is no dry ground in the swamp ; and one sinks, at every step, to his knees in mud. The cane which forms brakes all through the South, is abundant. Together with a varied undergrowth, it is tangled with vines that run up into the trees, so that half a mile an hour is a good rate of progress. One must carry a knife to cut the vines, walking being further impeded by the cat brier, whose thorns catch in the clothing and hold on like hooks. The boats used in the Dismal Swamp are all dugouts, made from cypress logs, 12 feet long and very narrow. To shape such a craft properlj' is a nice piece of work. The novice who steps into one of these boats is apt to go out on the other side, but the native stands up and paddles with security. The water is darker than amber and excellent to drink ; it is said to be a sure cure for malaria. There are no malarial diseases in the swamp. The swamp is full of magnolias from the size of bushes to trees 60 feet high. When I was there they were full of flowers. The cypress trees are cut for shingles. The best trees for the purpose are those which fell from 25 to 50 years ago and are now covered with mo.ss. The negroes wade in and cut off the moss and rotten bark. Then they cut up the log into shingles on the spot. The next best tree is one that is newly fallen, and the third quality is the tree that has to be felled." The absence of malaria is remarkable. *f»'l 24 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Feb. Poisoning by Elderberry Root.— The readers of Meehans* Monthly will remember that the conductors of the magazine put themselves in correspondence at once with the authorities of the Institution of Mercy, at Tarrytown, in 1894, to find out certainly what proved so rapidly fatal to a number of children. Dr. Luke Fleming kindly sent a root pointed out to him by one of the lads that recovered as the root they had been eating. It occasioned us great surprise to find that it was our com- mon elder root, a plant not known before to have such virulent properties. Our identifica- tion was generally doubted. We did not know that the matter had been closely investigated by other botanists till reading a paper on the poisonous plants of New York, by Dr. H. H. Rusby. It will cer- tainly interest our readers, and it is gratifying to the conductors, to find their identifica- tion of the piece of root so ably corroborated by this independent investigation : " Our most direct evidence bearing upon the poisonous character of the elder-berry root rests upon a case which occurred in the spring of 1894, at the Institution of Mercy, a Roman Catholic institution for children, at Tarrytown on the Hudson, and which attracted a great deal of attention at the time in the public press. The grounds of this institution were comparatively new, and ditching and fencing were still in progress at the time stated. A workman in digging a drain, uncovered a large number of roots to which the children took a fancy, and which they began eating. Within a very few minutes, and while still engaged in eating, a large number of the boys were seized with convulsions and several of them died. One of them had the remainder of the root, the marks of his teeth upon it, still clutched in his hand after death. The symptoms cor- responded in most features to those of the Cicuta poisoning before described, and to that agent the accident was ascribed in the public press. Several months later I visited the insti- tution in company with Mr. Frederick V. Coville, the botanist of the United States Department of Agriculture, and Prof. Edward L. Greene, Professor of Botany in the Catholic University at Washington. At this time, and subsequently through correspondence, a pretty thorough investigation of the case was made. We found that it was not a locality where Cicuta would be apt to grow, and no evidence existed that any had grown there. Three poisonous plants grew upon the spot, viz., the locust, poke-berry and elder. The workman who had dug the drain, the surviving boys and the Sisters in attendance were positive that it was the elder root which had occasioned the poisoning. They did not know the name of the plant, and had accepted the statements of the papers that it was Cicuta ; but they posi- tively identified it by its appearance and by the young purple shoots and compound leaves which they had observed carefully while still attached to the pieces of root which had been taken from the hands of the boys poisoned. Their story was so clear, connected and positive that it was difficut to doubt that the elder root was the poisoning agent. Furthermore, the locust would not have produced the symptoms that were observed ; and the poke should have at once been distinguished by even a casual observer. Nevertheless, since the root was described as "like a carrot or parsnip," and since the symptoms in some respects resembled those of Poke-root poisoning, the question can- not be regarded as settled beyond a doubt. In the case of so large a number of victims it is even possible that both of the roots were con- cerned. The attending physician. Dr. Luke Fleming, does not believe that the poisoning was caused by elder. The active constituent of the elder is not known farther than that a report has recently appeared that an Italian chemist has isolated Coniine from the twigs and leaves of the related European species. Samhuais nigra. This would, of course, ex- plain the very similar symptoms to those of Cicuta poisoning. The chemistry of the plant is now receiving thorough investigation in the division of pharmacology in the United States Department of Agriculture." Insect Life Under low Temperature. — Mr. George B. King, in Psyche, a well-known entomological journal, asserts that insects freeze solid during the winter and thaw out when warm weather comes. This surely has never been demonstrated. If once the power of evolving heat is lost, life goes with it. At least this is a great principle in biology. There are liquids which do not freeze under a low temperature, and these possibly enter into the insect organism. 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE 25 I i THREE VARIETIES OF JAPANESE M APLE.-.tc V*ot *■ 24 MKRHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Feb. Poisoning by Elderberry Root. — The Teadens of Meehans* Monthly will remember that the conductors of the magazine put themselves in correspondence at once with the authorities of the Institution of Mercy, at Tarry town, in 1894, to find out certainly what proved so rapidly fatal to a number of children. Dr. Luke Fleming kindly sent a root pointed out to him by one of the lads that recovered as the root they had been eating. It occasioned us great surprise to find that it was our com- mon elder root, a plant not known before to have such virulent properties. Our identifica- tion was generally doubted. We did not know that the matter had been closely investigated by other botanists till reading a paper on the poisonous plants of New York, by Dr. H. H. Rusby. It will cer- tainly interest our readers, and it is gratifying to the conductors, to find their identifica- tion of the piece of root so ably corroborated by this independent investigation : '• Our most direct evidence bearing upon the poisonous character of the elder-berry root Tests upon a case which occurred in the spring •of 1894, at the Institution of Mercy, a Roman Catholic institution for children, at Tarrytown on the Hudson, and which attracted a great deal of attention at the time in the public press. The grounds of this institution were comparatively new, and ditching and fencing were still in progress at the time stated A workman in digging a drain, uncovered a large number of roots to which the children took a fancy, and which they began eating. Within a very few minutes, and while still engaged in eating, a large number of the boys were seized with convulsions and several of them died. One of them had the remainder of the root, the marks of his teeth upon it, still clutched in his hand after death. The symptoms cor- responded in most features to those of the Cicuta poisoning before described, and to that agent the accident was ascribed in the public press. Several months later I visited the insti- tution in company with Mr. Frederick V. Coville, the botanist of the United States Department of Agriculture, and Prof. Edward L. Greene, Professor of Botany in the Catholic University at Washington. At this time, and subsequently through correspondence, a pretty thorough investigation of the case was made. We found that it was not a locality where Cicuta would be apt to grow, and no evidence existed that any had grown there. Three poisonous plants grew upon the spot, viz., the locust, poke-berry and elder. The workman who had dug the drain, the surviving boys and the Sisters in attendance were positive that it was the elder root which had occasioned the poisoning. They did not know the name of the plant, and had accepted the statements of the papers that it was Cicuta ; but they posi- tively identified it by its appearance and by the young purple shoots and compound leaves which they had observed carefully while still attached to the pieces of root which had been taken from the hands of the boys poisoned. Their story was so clear, connected and positive that it was difficut to doubt that the elder root was the poisoning agent. Furthermore, the locust would not have produced the symptoms that were observed ; and the poke should have at once been distinguished by even a casual observer. Nevertheless, since the root was described as "like a carrot or parsnip," and since the symptoms in some respects resembled those of Poke-root poisoning, the question can- not be regarded as settled beyond a doubt. In the case of so large a number of victims it is even possible that both of the roots were con- cerned. The attending physician. Dr. Luke Fleming, does not believe that the poisoning was caused by elder. The active constituent of the elder is not known farther than that a report has recently appeared that an Italian chemist has isolated Coniine from the twigs and leaves of the related European species, Sam bums nigra. This would, of course, ex- plain the very similar symptoms to those of Cicuta poisoning. The chemistry of the plant is now receiving thorough investigation in the division of pharmacology in the United States Department of Agriculture." Insect Life Under low Temperature. — Mr. George B. King, in Psyche, a well-known entomological journal, asserts that insects freeze solid during the winter and thaw out when warm weather comes. This surely has never been demonstrated. If once the power of evolving heat is lost, life goes with it. At least this is a great principle in biology. There are liquids which do not freeze under a low temperature, and these possibly enter into the insect organism. 1896.] .,0 » .MKKHANS monthly— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 25 %i% \ « I THREE VARIETIES OF JAPANESE MAPLE. --sec paoc sa INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 26 MEEHANS' MONTHI^Y— WII^D FLOWERS AND NATURE. Interdependence of Animal and Vegeta- ble Life.— The saying of a moral philosopher, that a little learning is a dangerous thing, is no better illustrated than by much that we read in relation to the purity of drinking water. Immense sums are spent in making water pure that Nature would purify for us for nothing. On land, animals do not need carbonic acid. They expire it from the lungs. They need oxygen. Plants want carbonic acid, and throw off oxygen. In this way, the balance of purity in the atmosphere is maintained. It is as true of water as of the land. Water plants throw off oxygen, which is what fish and aquatic creatures need,— while the living crea- tures give carbonic acid to the plants in return. In this way an even balance is retained. But, in addition, the living things must have food,* and they devour every particle of vegetation! living or dead, if there are enough of them to demand all the food. But living beings are not confined to those one can see. Water contains myriads which even powerful microscopes can hardly identify. These also must eat to live. If there be no new source of supply they will soon eat out all the invisible particles, and leave nothing but water,— absolutely pure water. Then they die themselves, because there is nothing more to eat. Water on ship- board is a good illustration. No matter how full of organic material it may be, after a week in the cask it is absolutely pure. One may take the drainage of a manure pile and leave it exposed for a few days so that microbes from the atmosphere may enter. Then cork it up and wait. Unless much vegetable matter be taken in with the liquid so as to furnish plenty of food for the microbes, it will soon be fit to drink. Philadelphia had a pleasant experience of this the past season. It derives its drinking water from the Schuylkill River. They have had, lately, additional subsiding reservoirs, and good pumps to fill them. For months there was no rain. The water in the Schuyl- kill was fairly black. But after a ten days' sub- sistence in the reservoirs, the microbes ate all there was to feed on, and then died themselves, when the water was drawn for use it was as clear as spring water. No better illustration of the interdependence of animal and vegetable life, and the simplicity of nature's self-balanc- ing and self-purifying methods could be afforded. [Feb. 'a 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE 27 Green Color Without Light.— The fact that seeds will often sprout and grow inside a fruit has long been known. The great ques- tion incident thereto, is how can the young plants become green in total darkness ? Some of the contributors to Meehans' Monthly contend that the darkness is not total, but that sufficient light is received through the outer cases to form the chlorophyl which gives the green color to the young plants. As bear- ing on this question, a correspondent sends from a Chicago paper an account of a pumpkin, which a Mr. Russell, of Wabash, Ind., found in his cellar on Thanksgiving Day : "Mrs. Russell brought the golden globe from the cellar, cut it open and was astonished to find that, while the flesh of the vegetable's interior was sound and sweet, the seeds had sprouted and were growing at a lively rate. Some of the leaves thrown out were two inches in length and of a bright green color. The seeds themselves had apparently taken firm hold in the meat of the pumpkin, but how the minia- ture vine managed to thrive in the dark, air- tight cavity is a mystery to all who have seen the phenomenon." Here is certainly a case where plants grew perfectly green without air or light,— a still profounder question intrudes itself here. If pumpkin seeds were to be sown in earth, and the seeds sprouted in a dark cellar, would they be blanched or be green as grass. If not, what is there inside the pumpkin fruit that can supply the usual requirement of light and air. that is not in the atmosphere of the cellar itself.^ There is evidently room for some great discovery here. The roots of Nelumbium luteum. Mr. Edward Tatnall, of Wilmington, Delaware, notes : — ♦• I notice in line eighth from the bottom on the first page, Vol. V, No. 12, you use Adian- tum for Aspidium. Regarding the remarks on • Nelumbo ' on page 224, I have this to say • Honor to whom honor is due. ' I have a letter from Dr. Engelmann, as long ago as i860, in which he says, ' the tubers of Nelumbium are the only part of the plant living over winter.' It is not generally known that there is a three to four acre locality of this plant about three miles below Dover in this State. I visited it last summer." f * The Bitter-nut. — The Bitter-nut, Carya amara, is not a very common tree in any one locality, though found over a wide district of country, and those familiar with woodland scetiery can tell us little about it. The writer has found it generally along river bottoms, — not in wet or swampy places, but in what might be termed alluvial deposits. Professor Rothrock gives the following note of it in Forest Leaves'. — * ' This tree is sometimes called the Swamp Hickory. It has a wide range, extending from Maine to the Saint Lawrence Valley, west to Nebraska and south to Texas. It also appears in Florida. The name Swamp Hickory, so far as we are concerned, is rather misleading. It is true that it grows in swamps ; but it is also true that it flourishes luxuriantly on land which is wholly dry. The bark of the tree is of a close, compact pattern. It shows nothing of the roughness of the shellbark, and is smoother even than that of the common Hickory Nut. The tree is best distinguished by yellow buds and its small, narrow, pointed leaflets, which are from seven to eleven (more commonly the latter) in number. The fruit, at first sweet, is more or less bitter, or one might say, astrin- gent and bitter. The shell proper is thin and smooth, and the outer husk is also thin, having six narrow ridges, usually clearly marked. More than most of our trees, it shows a tendency to produce several shoots from the same root. Of course, one might readily un- derstand this if they were a second growth, coming as sprouts from a stump. But in many instances where this occurs there is no reason to think that it is anything else than an original growth. Taken as a whole, the hicko- ries are a very variable group. It is sometimes hard to say just what a given specimen should be called. The Bitter-nut is, how- ever, in Pennsylvania probably as distinctly marked as any species except the genuine shellbark." Variations in Rose Fruits. — Fruits as well as flowers afford interesting studies. Mr. E. Newlin Williams has this to say about rose- hips : "The rose-hips afford an interesting study. Rosa micrantha hips found on large bushes by the wayside, seem to have large seeds of irregular, crowded arrangement. Rosa humilis has a single layer of seeds packed up- right on the thickened floor of the hip. The swamp rose, Rosa Carolifta, has quite small seeds in all I have seen, set upright over the lower hemisphere of the hip, so that the cells givesomewhat the appearance of a geode when broken open." One may occasionally see this in the haw, — a neighbor of the rose. The writer once sent a •' haw " to Dr. Asa Gray in which the five bony seeds sat like acorns in their cups. In fact, the rose fruit is but a fleshy calyx, and may be abbreviated. A YOUNG PIN OAK. 26 MEEHANS* MONTHI.Y— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Feb. 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE 27 Interdependence of Animal and Vegeta- HLE Life.— The saying of a moral philosopher, that a little learning is a dangerous thing, is no better illustrated than by much that we read in relation to the purity of drinking water. Immense sums are spent in making water pure that Nature would purify for us for nothing. On land, animals do not need carbonic acid. They expire it from the lungs. They need oxygen. Plants want carbonic acid, and throw off oxygen. In this way, the balance of purity in the atmosphere is maintained. It is as true of water as of the land. Water plants throw off oxygen, which is what fish and aquatic creatures need.— while the living crea- tures give carbonic acid to the plants in return. In this way an even balance is retained. But, in addition, the living things must have food,' and they devour every particle of vegetation! living or dead, if there are enough of them to demand all the food. But living beings are not confined to those one can see. Water contains myriads which even powerful microscopes can hardly identify. These also must eat to live. If there be no new source of supply they will soon eat out all the invisible particles, and leave nothing but water,— absolutely pure water. Then they die themselves, because there is nothing more to eat. Water on ship- board is a good illustration. No matter how full of organic material it may be, after a week in the cask it is absolutely pure. One may take the drainage of a manure pile and leave it exposed for a few days so that microbes from the atmosphere may enter. Then cork it up and wait. Unless much vegetable matter be taken in with the liquid so as to furnish plenty of food for the microbes, it will soon be fit to drink. Philadelphia had a pleasant experience of this the past season. It derives its drinking water from the Schuylkill River. They have had, lately, additional subsiding reservoirs, and good pumps to fill them. For months there was no rain. The water in the Schuyl- kill was fairly black. But after a ten days' sub- sistence in the reservoirs, the microbes ate all there was to feed on. and then died themselves, when the water was drawn for use it was as clear as spring water. No better illustration of the interdependence of animal and vegetable life, and the simplicity of nature's self-balanc- ing and self-purifying methods could be afforded. Green Color Without Light.— The fact that seeds will often sprout and grow inside a fruit has long been known. The great ques- tion incident thereto, is how can the young plants become green in total darkness ? Some of the contributors to Meehans' Monthly contend that the darkness is not total, but that sufficient light is received through the outer cases to form the chlorophyl which gives the green color to the young plants. As bear- ing on this question, a correspondent sends from a Chicago paper an account of a pumpkin, which a Mr. Russell, of Wabash. Ind., found in his cellar on Thanksgiving Day : "Mrs. Russell brought the golden glol^e from the cellar, cut it open and was astonished to find that, while the flesh of the vegetable's interior was sound and sweet, the seeds had sprouted and were growing at a lively rate. Some of the leaves thrown out were two inches in length and of a bright green color. The seeds themselves had apparently taken firm hold in the meat of the pumpkin, but how the minia- ture vine managed to thrive in the dark, air- tight cavity is a mystery to all who have seen the phenomenon.'* Here is certainly a case where plants grew perfectly green without air or light,— a still profounder question intrudes itself here. If pumpkin seeds were to be sown in earth, and the seeds sprouted in a dark cellar, would they be blanched or be green as grass. If not, what is there inside the pumpkin fruit that can supply the usual requirement of light and air, that is not in the atmosphere of the cellar itself.? There is evidently room for some great discovery here. The roots of Nelumbium luteum.— Mr. Edward Tatnall, of Wilmington, Delaware, notes : — " I notice in line eighth from the bottom on the first page. Vol. V, No. 12, you use Adian- tum for Aspidium. Regarding the remarks on 'Nelumbo' on page 224, I have this to say * Honor to whom honor is due. ' I have a letter from Dr. Engelmann. as long ago as i860, in which he says, * the tubers of Nelmnbium are the only part of the plant living over winter.' It is not generally known that there is a three to four acre locality of this plant about three miles below Dover in this State. I visited it last summer." . « #« 1 % \ » i» % \ The Bitter-nut.— The Bitter-nut, Cary>a amara, is not a very common tree in any one locality, though found over a wide district of country, and those familiar with woodland scenery can tell us little about it. The writer has found it generally along river bottoms. — not in wet or swampy places, but in what might be termed alluvial deposits. Professor Rothrock gives the following note of it in Forest Leaves'. — 'This tree is sometimes called the Swamp Hickory. It has a wide range, extending from Maine to the Saint Lawrence Valley, west to Nebraska and south to Texas. It also appears in Florida. The name Swamp Hickory, so far as we are concerned, is rather misleading. It is true that it grows in swamps ; but it is also true that it flourishes luxuriantly on land which is wholly dry. The bark of the tree is of a close, compact pattern. It shows nothing of the roughness of the shellbark, and is smoother even than that of the common Hickory Nut. The tree is best distinguished by yellow buds and its small, narrow, pointed leaflets, which are from seven to eleven (more commonly the latter) in number. The fruit, at first sweet, is more or less bitter, or one might say, astrin- gent and bitter. The shell proper is thin and smooth, and the outer husk is also thin, having six narrow ridges, usually clearly marked. More than most of our trees, it shows a tendency to produce several shoots from the same root. Of course, one might readily un- derstand this if they were a second growth, coming as sprouts from a stump. But in many instances where this occurs there is no reason to think that it is anything else than an original growth. Taken as a whole, the hicko- ries are a very variable group. It is sometimes hard to say just what a given specimen should be called. The Bitter-nut is, how- ever, in Pennsylvania probably as distinctly marked as any species except the genuine shellbark. " Variations in Rose Fruits. — Fruits as well as flowers afford interesting studies. Mr. E. Newlin Williams has this to say about rose- hips: "The rose-hips afford an interesting study. Rosa mtcra?i/ha hips found on large bushes by the wayside, seem to have large seeds of irregular, crowded arrangement. Rosa htimilis has a single layer of seeds packed up- right on the thickened floor of the hip. The swamp rose, Rosa Carolijia, has quite small seeds in all I have seen, set upright over the lower hemisphere of the hip, so that the cells give somewhat the appearance of a geode when broken open." One may occasionally see this in the haw, — a neighbor of the rose. The writer once sent a " haw " to Dr. Asa Gray in which the five bon}' seeds sat like acorns in their cups. In fact, the rose fruit is but a fleshy calyx, and may be abbreviated. A YOUNG PIN OAK.--SCC PAQK a9. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE ;u«SPgS^' 28 MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. A DOUBLE FRUITED HICKORY NUT. A Chestnut Hickory.— Modern botany teaches that all the varied plants we see have been, or could have been, derived from a few primordial forms. This doctrine is only an extension of what had been taught in the De- partment of Vegetable Morphology for a cen- tury. The latter science tells us that every part of a plant is but a leaf- blade modified. A number of cells unite and make a flattened membrane like unto the green blade of the Marchantia that is so common near springs or in damp places.— and that it is the coiling of these membranes, and subsequent un- ion, that forms axis or stem, and subse- quently every organ of the plant. In the language of Dr. Ivindley, "the lus- cious peach, which so pleasantly tickles our palates, is neither more nor less than a bundle of trans- formed peach leaves." The experienced cul- tivator knows how to make the individual plant produce flower buds or leaf buds at will by a control of the growth force. Life energy, directed in various lines, changes the charac- ter of the leaf modifications ; and nature herself often does this by virtue of forces in a measure unknown to us. A rose will often send up another rose from its centre, instead of mak- ing a seed vessel. Parts that might have been seeds and carpels, are made into more petals and stamens,— and so on through the whole chapter. There is no doubt but that a similar law. influencing the direction of energy, induces the evolution of new species, as it does itt the evolution of individual charac- teristics,—and we can see the evidence of this in occasional variations from normal types, just as we can see the individual variations already referred to. The popular eye can easily tell this is a walnut ; this a hickory; this an acorn; this a beech nut ; this a hazel nut, or this a hornbeam ; but the evolutionist can show how these may have been derived from one another just as easily as the florist can show that one rose may grow out of the centre of another rose, or that a stamen can grow out of a petal, as every [Febv florist knows is the case. The shell or leaf- like involucre that surrounds a hazel nut, and which botanists term a capsule, is precisely the same in its original nature as the shell which covers the walnut, hickory, chestnut or beech. But if the popular voice were called in to tell what difference there is between a chestnut and hickory, aside from the prickly burr of the chestnut, the story would doubtless be, that the one had but a single nut, while the chestnut had two or three in the oneinclosure. Botanists would commend the statement. But to-day is illustrated, with this chapter, a spec- imen of the shellbark hickory, Catya alba, which has two nuts, and which in form is the analogue of the chestnut. We can see from this piece of chance work how nature can easily make a chestnut out of a hickory, or a hickory out of a chestnut, when the life energy is exercised in these several directions. And yet it is scarcely fair to say, ' ' a chestnut from a hickory or a hickory from a chestnut," for the law of change is decided before the ulti- matum is reached. The true formula might be, that it depends on the degree and direction of life-energy whether the original "bundle of leaves" shall take the form of hickory or chestnut. The specimen from which the illus- tration was taken was found by Mr. H. Clay Borden, one of the Jessup students of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, at Fort Washington, Montgomery County ^ Pennsylvania. The Nutmeg Hickory.— The laws which regulate the relative hardiness of trees are ob- scure. It sometimes happens that a whole genus of hardy plants will have a few tender species. This is illustrated by the Nutmeg Hickory, Carya myristiccEfottnis. Repeated at- tempts at the Meehans' Nurseries, at Philadel- phia, have shown that it will not endure the winter climate of that locality,— and is the solitary exception in the whole family of hickories of North America. Baptisia tinctoria.— a correspondent, re- ferring to the figure and description of this plant which appeared in the May issue of the M0NTHI.Y, remarks that he has never seen the plant show any love for cultivation. He never knew it encroach on cultivated ground,— or ground that had been cultivated. i GENERAL GARDENING, IN COMPANY WITH THE DAFFODILS. " t wandered lonely as a cloud. That floats on high o'er vales and hills. When all at once I saw a crowd — A host of yellow daffodils, Beside the lake, beneath the trees. Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle in the milky way. They stretched in never ending line Along the margin of a bay : Ten thousand saw I at a glance Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced, but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee : — A poet could not but be gay In such a jocund company ! I gazed and gazed but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought. For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood. They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude. And then uiy heart with pleasure fills And dances with the daffodils." — WadsworTh \ The Growth of Oaks. — When the age of trees, from a timber-growing standard, is con- sidered, the seedling state or first few years from the seed may be left out of the account. We give an illustration of a Pin Oak, Quercus palustris, on page 27, of about twelve years old, yet nearly all the growth which the picture presents has been made in five years. It is very easy to tell the approximate age of a tree by its branches. In most evergreens, the annual tiers of branches may be clearly traced ; and this can be done, though not so clearly, in a deciduous tree. In the oak illustrated, the past season's growth — a long shoot from a vase- like base, is easily traced. The vase-like branches come from the strong buds that were at the apex of last year's growth ; and the main stem can be traced backwards to another set of strong branches coming out of the main stem. This cannot be traced in the picture, but the upper long arm on the right is one of these two-year-old branches. Below this, in the picture, is another strong arm, slightly pendulous — a chaiacteristic of the Pin Oak, — representing the point of growth, three years back. One-half of the apparent height is the growth of but three years. Oaks- are in themselves objects of great beauty, and the Pin Oak particularly so, — but the ardent lover of Nature may find much profitable study in them wholly aside from the pure aesthetic feature. A Greenhouse Covering an Acre of Ground. — Nothing surprised our European brethren in their visit to the great Columbian Exposition more than the enormous green- house, which, by the aid of steam heating, American florists were able to successfully operate. Hot water, with its limited range of operations, is still the favorite method of heat- ing in the Old World. But even here steam heating for large commercial establishments is regarded as only in its infancy. The well- known and highly esteemed firm of Henry A. Dreer, of Philadelphia, has just completed, on its grounds at Riverton, New Jersey, a house which covers one whole acre of ground. A party of some two hundred and fifty florists recently paid a visit to Riverton for the purpose of inspecting the mammoth establishment, which was explained to them by Mr. Eisele, Mr. Dreer 's able foreman. It is the intention to devote the new house to palms and ferns, which, it is believed, can be raised here as cheaply as in other countries. Peppermint.— The preparation of pepper- mint is especially an American industry. The peppermint is cut when in bloom, like hay^ dried, placed in close wooden vats and steamed. The oil cells burst and the oil passes upward with the steam, which is condensed and con- ducted into a receiver, where the oil rises and is dipped off". It takes about 350 pounds of dry peppermint to produce one pound of oil. An acre of land yields from 6 to 10 pounds of oil, often more— even as high as 50 pounds. New York and Michigan produce the most. (29) 3° A Plea for Weeds.— it is hard to find any- thing in the world that has not a dark as well as a bright side.-and that has not a bright spot, no matter how dark the outline may be. Prof L. H. Bailey has a good word for the vilest weed. He says the truth is that weeds always have been and still are the closest friends and helpmates of the farmer. It was they which first taught the lesson of tillage of the soil, and it is they which never allow the lesson, now that it has been partly learned, to be forgotten. The one only and sovereign remedy for them is the very tillage which they have introduced. When their mission is finally matured, therefore, they will disappear because there will be no place in which they ^an grow. It would be a great calamity if they were now to disappear from the earth, for the greater number of farmers still need the discipline which they enforce. Probably not one farmer in ten would till his lands well if it were not for these painstaking school-masters and many of them would not till at all. Until farmers till for tillage sake, and not to kill the weeds, It IS necessary that the weeds shall exist ; but when farmers do till for tillage sake, then weeds will disappear with no effort of ours. MEEHANS' MONTH I,Y— GENERAL GARDENING, [Feb. Trees on Old WALLS.-Travelers often note trees growing on the walls of old ruins,-but It IS not common to see them on buildings actually ,„ use. In an early issue of Meehans' Monthly, reference was made to a mountain ash growing out of a church tower at Utica. N. Y. According to a note in Forest Leaves, this tree ,s now commencing to bear fruit. Its red berries must have a striking effect : "E.rHi""..':'"- ^ ~™-"^"'' " The Universalist Church in that city has two towers with battlement finish. On the top of one of them is a mountain ash in vigorous condition, having now a fair crop of berries. It has been growing there twenty or inore years, and I should think is fully twelve leet high. Viewing it from the ground I could not conceive it possible that there could be an accumulation of soil nor did it appear that the roots had displaced the stones. It would seem that whatever moisture would be de- posited during a rain would be evaporated by an hour of sunshine. ' ' Art and Nature in Gardening.— The world has always ran to extremes. It always will,- even in gardening. Gardens, a century ago. were elaborate creations. Flower beds in squares,— grounds enclosed by solid walls,— paths straight.— and even the trees sheared into shapes that never existed in the heavens above or the earth beneath. The garden worship of that time did not even reach idolatry. Then came the natural system, under which that garden was regarded the most desirable in which scarcely a trace of the hand of man could be discerned. The mean between these is the beautiful line. As we do not want a^ house built of coarse, untrimmed blocks, thrown together as if carried down by a glacial stream, so neither do we desire our gardens to be mere trees, grass, weeds and rocks, just as nature strew them. Abortive specimens of good gardening are as common in the Old World as in the new,— but there are often cases where nature and art walk hand in hand together, charming each other by their delightful company. Such a specimen is given opposite, showing what is known to tourists as the Glacial Garden at Lucerne, in Switzerland. The glacial torrent, in its descent from its mountain home, may make a slight depression in a softer rock. A harder stone finds a lodgment in the depres- sion. The torrent is not sufficient to wash the small stone out of its nest, but it keeps it in motion, and this slow but steady motion in time wears huge basins known as pockets in the hardest rocks. We need not go to the Old World to see these wonderful workings of a small stone. The canons of the Colorado abound with them, and when population settles about the localities as it does in the Old World we shall not need to go to these countries to profit by these pleasant object lessons. The ancient gardener would not have thought to make such natural beauties elements in his garden art. They would probably have been graded to a level, and marked over with Dutch flowerbeds. The picture is a good lesson all round. Many of us have some special object of natural interest on our own grounds that could readily be brought in to accord with landscape gardening propriety. The object in garden art should be to develop and show off to best advantage good natural effects, and not to ignore or destroy them. r m O > 3 O n 2 0) H N n i Kf*f>r.- 30 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. A Pi.EA FOR WEEDS.-It is hard to find any- thinjr in the world that has not a dark as well as a bright side,-and that has not a bright spot, no matter how dark the outline may be. Prof L. H. Bailey has a good word for the vilest weed. He says the truth is that weeds always have been and still are the closest friends and helpmates of the farmer. It was they which first taught the lesson of tillage of the soil, and it is they which never allow the lesson, now that it has been partly learned, to be forgotten. The one only and sovereign remedy for them is the very tillage which they have introduced. When their mission is finally matured, therefore, they will disappear because there will be no place in which they can grow. It would be a great calamity if they were now to disappear from the earth, for the greater number of farmers still need the discipline which they enforce. Probably not one farmer in ten would till his lands well if it were not for these painstaking school-masters and many of them would not till at all. Until farmers till for tillage sake, and not to kill the weeds. It IS necessary that the weeds shall exist ; but when farmers do till for tillage sake, then weeds will disappear with no effort of ours. [Feb. Trees on Oi.i, WALLS.-Travelers often note trees growing on the walls of old ruins,_but It IS not common to see them on buildings actually in use. In an early issue of Meehans' Monthly, reference was made to a mountain ash growing out of a church tower at Utica N. Y. According to a note in /^ores/ Leaves this tree is now commencing to bear fruit.' Its red berries must have a striking effect UrVTVT '"°"- "Tl"- -"-spondent, Mr. fc,. 1^. Hall, says : " The Universalist Church in that city has two towers with battlement finish. On the top of one of them is a mountain ash in vigorous condition, having now a fair crop of berries. It has been growing there twenty or more years, and I should think is fully twelve feet high. Viewing it from the ground I could not conceive it possible that there could be an accumulation of soil nor did it appear that the roots had displaced the stones. It would seem that whatever moisture would be de- posited during a rain would be evaporated by an hour of sunshine." Art and Nature in CxARDENiNG.—The world has always ran to extremes. It always will, — even in gardening. Gardens, a century ago, were elaborate creations. Flower beds in squares. —grounds enclosed by solid walls,— paths straight,— and even the trees sheared into shapes that never existed in the heavens above or the earth beneath. The garden worshipof that timedid not even reach idolatry. Then came the natural system, under which that garden was regarded the most desirable in which scarcely a trace of the hand of man could be discerned. The mean between these is the beautiful line. As we do not want a house built of coarse, untrimmed blocks, thrown together as if carried down by a glacial stream, so neither do we desire our gardens to be mere trees, grass, weeds and rocks, just as nature strew them. Abortive specimens of good gardening are as common in the Old World as in the new,— but there are often cases where nature and art walk hand in hand together, charming each other by their delightful company. Such a specimen is given opposite, showing what is known to tourists as the Glacial Garden at Lucerne, in Switzerland. The glacial torrent, in its descent from its mountain home, may make a slight depression in a softer rock. A harder stone finds a lodgment in the depres- sion. The torrent is not sufficient to wash the small stone out of its nest, but it keeps it in motion, and this slow but steady motion in time wears huge basins known as pockets in the hardest rocks. We need not go to the Old World to see these wonderful workings of a small stone. The canons of the Colorado abound with them, and when population settles about the localities as it does in the Old World we shall not need to go to these countries to profit by these pleasant object lessons. The ancient gardener would not have thought to make such natural beauties elements in his garden art. They would probably have been graded to a level, and marked over with Dutch flower beds. The picture is a good lesson all round. Many of us have some special object of natural interest on our own grounds that could readily be brought in to accord with landscape gardening propriety. The object in garden art should be to develop and show off to best advantage good natural effects, and not to ignore or destroy them. \ I \ i .1 \ K S > o n > a o n 2 H N ^, INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE ?^=;^rassHBS 32 MEEHANS* MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING [Feb. Japanese Maples— There are some two dozen species of maple in Japan,— but those which we so much cherish in gardens as Japanese maples are derived mainly from two species, Acer palmatum and Acer polymorphum . The latest authority on the Flora of Japan, Savatier, considers the last as synonymous With the former, which may do botanically ; but among the numerous varieties the two can be distinguished. Savatier also throws in the two older species of Thunberg, Acer Septen- lobum and Acer dissectum, in which he is probably right. He says it is by the industry of the Japanese gardeners that we have such an infinity of form in this species. The names are very much confused in gardens. The three beautiful forms figured on page 25, are sup- posed to belong to the polymorphum group, the upper the dissectum, the central reticulatum and the lower pinnati/olium atropurpureum. Insect Eggs on Street Trees.— Mr. Lewis Collins, Secretary of the Tree Planting and Fountain Society of Brooklyn, furnishes the following useful instructions : •' The eggs of the Tussock Moth {Orgyia leu- cosiigma) should be hunted and destroyed. They are deposited on trees, may be on any part of a tree, in and around tree boxes and guards, on fences, on buildings and their appendages, and generally in any partially concealed place. These e^^ masses should be removed and destroyed before spring. Spray- ing the foliage with insecticides after the eggs hatch in the spring will destroy the caterpil- lars. Therefore, when one is prepared to spray his trees with insecticides when the proper time comes he need not be so particular to destroy the eggs. But when he is not prepared to spray, the removal of the eggs becomes necessary to prevent a recurrence of this pest next summer. Mutual protection requires that everyone should attend to his own premi- ses. Yards and gardens in many instances are breeding places of this and other insects. The Tussock Moth is particularly fond ofcherry trees, and when it has consumed the foliage it moves in great numbers to adjoining yards and trees ; and so it happens that one person in a neighborhood may perpetuate these pests while all others destroy them. It is not a neighborly act. And surely one cannot at this day plead ignorance, unless he allows himself to be willingly so. An inexpensive spraying appara- tus in the ordinary back yard or garden, properly used, will destroy entirely leaf-eaters of all kinds. All the information required to use it can be had for the asking. Spraying for leaf-eaters should be done when leaves are on the trees, and the insect first appears. Spraying for leaf-eaters during the winter is useless. In hunting the e%% masses on fences be par- ticular to look under the railings, both top and bottom, and in every obscure corner. Tree boxes and guards, particularly nearly-enclosed wooden ones, are apt to contain many eggs. Rubbish should be gathered and burned, for it is apt to contain e%%s> and crysalides of various- insects." Improvement in Sweet Peas.— The sweet pea was a welcome inhabitant of our grand- mothers' gardens ; but many of these good old dames would hardly believe to-day in the actual loveliness of this charming flower, as developed by modern florists. Even our mothers and their daughters, not to say their sons and sons' sons, who get a bunch of one kind to-day and of another kind to-morrow, know what perfection in endless variety has been reached. Messrs. W. Atlee Burpee & Company, of Philadelphia, have placed on our table a large lithograph showing a great variety of beautiful forms brought together in one pic- ture,—while the picture itself is a model of artistic elegance. The schoolmaster is evident- ly turning to pictures as one of the best of educational methods. Acclimatizing Exotics.— Southern Califor- nia being "betwixt and between," as one might say, the temperate and tropical regions, offers good opportunities to test the value of exotic plants for American cultivators. Though the word acclimatize does not now mean a gradual inuring of a plant to conditions foreign to its nature, it is always a matter of experi- ment whether the nature of a plant is suited to new conditions. Acclimatizing is simply ex- perimenting. A very useful nursery with the object of testing plants of this doubtful charac- ter has been established at Santa Barbara. The firm's name is "The Southern Acclimatizing Association." It issues priced catalogues of the rare plants they find successful. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 33 i Garden Puzzles. — A few years ago, the writer persuaded a principal of a largd public school to have a little fern garden in the school yard. Having a more than usual accomodating janitor, the fern garden was made and admired by every one. Some three years after, again visiting that school, nothing remained but a circular line. The fern bed had been removed and bricked over! Knowing the principal's love of nature, there was some curiosity to hear the explanation. ♦' It was a sore disappointment to me" she exclaimed, ♦♦ but I had to learn that children do not care to sit around like old men and women admir- ing ferns." The fact is, children are children, and must have childish things,— and nothing is truer than the poet's axiom that men are but <;hildren of a larger growth,— at least the great mass of them. close growing plant is as good. Indeed, for America, a deciduous article would be better on account of evergreens being more liable to die out in places. Poisonous Roots Near New York.— Dr. Henry H. Rusby, the eminent botanist, gives the following list of plants furnishing poison- ous roots in the vicinity of New York : ''Aconite, Cimicifuga, ActcBa, Podophyllum, Sanguinaria, Phytolacca, Robinia, Cicuta, Sam- bucus, Triosteum, Ipojnoea, Solatium tuberosum, Apocymim, Euphorbia, Atiscema, Veratnim, Trillium, Leptaudra, Iris, Convallaria and Roripa Armoraaa.'' By the last name. Dr. Rusby would indicate the common Horse-radish, but the couple of dozen species of plants which have been separated from Nasturtium under the name of GARDEN PUZZLES. 4 In spite of our principles of art and beauty, we must not forget the great want of the mass of humanity. A maze is a very childish affair, — and yet in every large public park and pleasure ground, we would have something of the sort for public amusement. With this is a sketch of the one formed over two hundred years ago on the grounds at Hampton Court, in England, which were given by the frightened Cardinal Wolsey to King Henry VHl. This must have been a hundred years before the maze was constructed, which was in the reign of King William III, so that the mazed con- dition in which he found himself, when he decided to try to conciliate the wretched king, could not have come from this labyrinth of vegetation. It has given pleasure to thousands since. This one is formed of English Yew, which is a cheap article in England ; but any Roripa are not considered sufficiently distinct by those who furnish the botanical dictiona- ries. Horse-radish is generally known as Nas- tuftium armoracia. He gives this further account of the effects of Horse-radish on the human system : '^ Roripa Armoracia (L.) Hitchcock, the com- mon Horse-radish, likewise loses its irritat- ing properties when heated or dried. These are alAiost identical with those of mustard, and while it would not generally be regarded as a poisonous article, yet used in excess it may become so through its powerful irritation of the urinary organs, by which it is excreted. Johnson gives a case in which this result was extreme and serious. It may therefore be borne in mind that it should not be consumed in inordinate quantity. This result, should it occur, would be found excruciatingly painful." 34 MEEHANS' MONTHLY- GENERAL GARDENING. INttiW ©R Ri^RE wL^nrs, [Feb. KL^f^.AGNus SiMONii.— The practice of mak- ing new species on account of trifling varia- tions has received a proper check from modern botanists. Descriptions are now made more elastic. At the same time, there is a tendency to the opposite extreme. In the Meehan Nur- series, the pretty, evergreen, late fall or early winter blooming Elceagnus Simonii, of Car- nere, has been under propagation for some time. Now that it is ready for distribution, word comes that it must be regarded as a synonym of the old Elceagnus latifolia of Ivinnaeus. As this is a tropical plant, while the E, Simonii from Northern China will endure severe frost, and possibly the severest New England winter, there must be enough difference to warrant the nurseryman in keep- ing them distinct. It will never do to sell one for the other. Cymbidium aloifolium.— Many orchids are sweet,~but it is doubtful whether any one can excel in sweetness an East Indian species, rather rare in gardens, Cymbidium aloifolium. Its cinnamon-colored flowers make no show, but a spike, set in a bottle of water, will diffuse fragrance through a rather large house. And such a fragrance ! The odor of the violet, the rose, the carnation and the mignonette, seem to be all comprised in one powerful volume. It is worthy of remark, by-the way, that art has never been able to successfully counterfeit nature in the matter of fragrance. No matter how deftly the perfumer may imitate the fragrance of any flower, the ex- perienced can tell the difference between a mere perfume and the grateful odor of a natural flower. Whoever enters a room in which there is a flower of the Cvmbidium might have a thought of Paradise, but never of the laboratory of a maker of sweets. THE nmMl FLOWEl ^/^RI^IN. Hardy Primroses for Frame Culture.— We have at present. May loth, a frame of beautiful, hardy primroses in flower, and a more beautiful sight there is not on this place ■—no, not even in the aristocratic orchid house. No wonder that Beaconsfield loved the prim- rose ; any one loving the beautiful and simple would. Why is it we do not see them more generally cultivated ? Their culture is simple and not costly. Anyone can have these dainty little gems of nature for a trifling outlay and a little patient care. The colors range from pure white to deep maroon ; some a delicate straw color ; others a deep yellow of the color of the golden-orchid dendrobe {Dcfidrobium chryso- toxum) ; some marginated and oculated,— others a "solid " color, ^iscortusoides, aih^Siutu ful, distinct variety with rose-lilac colored flowers. The plants we raised from seeds in the first instance, and were purchased from Barr & Son, London, England. The varieties are ♦'Dean's Highly Colored," and " Ware's Hybrids." Some of them exhibit the charac- ter of Primula acaulis, and others seem like the polyanthus, showing their hybrid origin. Seeds sown in March will produce blooming plants the following May. As soon as they are done blooming, we plant them out in a shady border, sheltered from the sun's rays; lift, divide, and pot them in October, and winter them in a frame. If desired, they can be planted out in April at the north side of a building for spring bedding. Wm. Fitzwilliam. Boronaki, Orange, N. J. Carpet Bedding.— The style of gardening by which many variegated -leaved plants are arranged so as to represent patterns on carpet is usually much deprecated by those who love the nature in gardening. Certainly the intro- duction of carpet bedding was a misfortune in this respect, that in many cases it destro} ed the taste for individual plants, and many gardeners, which, before the introduction of carpet bedding, had a great variety of various flowers blooming the whole season through, where left with nothing but a few strips of floral carpeting. It is well, therefore, that the style has been in a measure shorn of its popu- larity in private gardens and grounds, for look- ing the whole season, from spring to fall, at the same piece of carpet, must certainly be- come monotonous in time. Old fashioned flowers are again assuming their place in pri- vate gardens ; but, as before noted, there are certain conditions which favor the application of this style,— and this is particularly true of parks and public grounds. To persons who visit these occasionally, the first impression of a 1896.] meehans' monthly — general gardening. 35 first-class piece of carpet gardening is certainly very pleasing. In nearly all our large cities which have great public parks, carpet bedding is among the pleasantest of popular attractions. f ^<^11TS ^S ¥E^ETiflI^LE^. Chrysanthemum Culture. — February or March is a good time to put in cuttings. Select the short shoots from the base of the plant, bare the leaves well, of the cuttings,— insert them into flats of half-leaf- mould and sand,— place the flats on a bench near the glass with no bottom heat, temperature 45 by night. If the sun is too strong during the middle of the day, slight shading will be beneficial. They should be well rooted in four weeks ; then they should be potted into three inch pots,— com- post one-third loam, one leaf- mould and one sand. When the pots are filled with roots, shift into six-inch pots of two-thirds rotten sod and one third rotten cow manure that has been dried and rubbed down. They should be fit, by the middle of June, to be put into their flowering pots. The vigorous growing kinds need larger pots than the more delicate ones. The soil for this potting should consist of two- thirds rotten sod and one-third rotten cow manure. To each bushel of the compost, add a six-inch pot-full of bonemeal. The soil should be firmly pounded down against the sides of the pots, with a stick, as firm potting insures firm growth. Stake your plant while you have it on the potting bench. After this operation has been gone through with plunge the pots into beds of coal ashes, three [feet ? Ed] between the lines. To keep the plants from being destroyed by wind, run a wire on posts along each line, to which tie the stakes. Do not allow the plants to suffer for want of water ; but be sure they require it before you give it to them, as careful watering is very im- portant. When the pots are fairly filled with roots, give weak liquid manure once a week until the first of August,— then twice a week until they show color, when it should be stopped. Disbud twice a week, whether for standard or bush plants, throughout the grow- ing season. House them by the early part of October,— ventilate freely,— keep the tempera- ture about 40° by night,— keep mildew in check by dusting the affected parts with sul- phur. To kill Brown Fly, dust them with to- bacco powder. Robert Angus. Tarry town, New York. Cabbage in Seedling Rows. — Last summer was the dryest for many years past in this part of the country, so that cabbage was scarce in these parts. We learn that cabbage sown in drills, two feet apart, without transplanting, and afterwards thinned out, did stand the heat and dryness the best. Of course, the cause of this is very simple,— the main root remained undisturbed and got its food from deeper regions than those that were disturbed in transplanting. The heads of those not moved were as solid as the others. Alb. Millard. Peaches and Plums in America. — That America is a "great country" is no better illustrated than by studying the area over which crops fail. It is rare that we have not some portion that is productive, and hence the failure of a crop is more of a local than a national concern. It is generally understood that the fruit failure was general last year, but the following, gathered by U. S. Pomol- ogist Heiges, shows how many places escaped. It gives at the same time an idea of the heavy capital that must be invested in fruit grow- ing : '• Peaches were almost a total failure in the commercial peach districts of the South, ex- cept in Florida and Texas. The immense orchards of Georgia did not yield sufficient fruit for home consumption, while the total yield of the Chesapeake peninsula was esti- mated at 150,000 baskets, as against a crop of 7,000,000 baskets in 1893. North of Delaware, Maryland and central Ohio, there was a fair crop of this fruit in most of the commercial orchard districts. The Rocky Mountain and Pacific Slope States harvested nearly a full crop. Plums failed in most parts of the South, owing to the frosts already noted. The Japa- nese varieties, being early bloomers, suffered the greatest injury. In the North, particu- larly in New York, the crop was very large and prices extremely low. On the Pacific Slope the yield of prunes was much smaller than in 1893, conservative estimates placing it at 40,000,000 pounds of the cured fruit, of which about 3,500,000 pounds were produced in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, and the remainder in California." 36 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [Feb. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 37 Prune Culture in America. — Drying plums, for the commercial article known as prunes, has been developed to an enormous extent in Oregon and Washington. Mr. E. R. Lake tells the Department of Agriculture that the first commercial prune orchards of this section were planted near Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, two cities lying only six miles apart, but on opposite sides of the beautiful Columbia. Vancouver is located in Clarke County, and this is the center of prune culture in Washington . Douglas County is the banner county for prunes in Oregon, though Yamhill is a close second. Wallawalla Valley has a large area of young orchards and will, in the near future, market large quanti- ties of this fruit. While the sections above enumerated are the leading centers of the in- dustry at present, there are several other points at which it is becoming important. In Ore- gon, Ashland, Grant's Pass, Eugene, Cor- vallis, Salem, Oregon City and Milton are the local centers of large plantings which will begin bearing next year, as well as of some that are already bearing. In Washington, •Olympia, San Juan Island, Yakima and the Snake River Canyon are other points at which young bearing orchards are to be found. At all these points the soil and climatic conditions are peculiarly suited to the growth of the prune. The varieties of the plum known as the Italian Prune d'Agen and Coe's Golden Drop, are the most popular for the purpose. The trees are set from 18 to 20 feet apart in the plum orchards. Bearing commences the fourth year. In regard to drying the fruit for prunes he says that for that purpose it should be fully ripe. The riper it is without being rotten, the better. With the process of ripening comes the formation of fruit sugar, the especial element desired in this product. As soon as the fruit begins to leave the stem freely and fall to the ground the evaporators are started. Boys are usually employed to pick up the fruit and are paid at the rate of five cents per bushel. None but fully ripened fruit is permitted to be gathered. The boys are not allowed to shake the trees, though a light shake or jar is sometimes given by a person assigned to this particular task. Green or partly ripened fruit makes a very inferior — in fact, a nonmarketable— product, and it is to avoid this loss that great care is exercised in gather- ing only fully ripened fruit. Some orchardists allow the fruit to lie on the ground several days after it has fallen or been shaken off before gathering it, holding that this mellows and "sugars" the fruit; certain it is this fully ripened or even overripened fruit always gives the best returns in the dried product. Boxes holding from 50 to 60 pounds are used exclusively for the gathering up of the fruit. Occasionally, though not necessarily, the fruit is dipped in lye to facilitate evaporation. As practised here, he says *'the dipping process is about as follows : A large caldron kettle, holding perhaps 60 gallons, half or two thirds full of water, in which concentrated lye has been dissolved in the proportion of i pound of lye to 12 gallons of water, is put over the fire, the water brought to boiling point and kept there while the dipping progresses. A basketful of fruit is immersed in this solution, given a swirl and removed. The object is to bring every part of the prune in contact with the hot lye water. If the work is thoroughly done the skin of the fruit will present, on re- moval, a blistered appearance, which is accom- panied by numerous minute scratches. From the lye water the prunes are taken to tubs of pure, clean water, where the dipping is re- peated, even more thoroughly than before, in order to rinse off all traces of lye from the fruit. Even if dipping is not practised, this rinsing is just as necessary for the removal of dirt and other foreign matter that may adhere to the fruit. All fruit is therefore washed before going onto the trays. '' As it is only about ten years since the indus- try was started, its success is wonderful. There are now 40,000 acres, — and nearly $6,000,000 have been invested in it. Vaccinium occidentale.— The Californian huckleberry, Vaccinium occidentale, is said to be much better worth cultivating than the huckleberry of the Eastern United States. It is said to be very productive and to have the berries as large as May Duke cherries. Cassabanan a.— This new introduction, noticed in a recent issue, is said to belong to the cucumber family. Its botanical name is Benicasa cerifera. It has been long cultivated in tropical Africa and Asia. Leaning of Apple Trees.— In many or- chards, apple trees contract a habit of leaning. Usually, the departure from the perpendicular is in a given direction. The prevailing impression is that this results from heavy rain storms, the trees being tilted by the wind while the earth is mushy by the rain. But this has not been definitely ascertained by examining the conditions of the trees before and after a storm. Still it is certain the trees show no inclination to lean until they have gained large and heavy heads. Some dispute this, and contend that the tree leans in order to avoid sun in winter. These recommend that trees should be planted with a little lean in the first place. They would plant so that the inclination would be such that the tree would point to the sun at i p. M. Others con- tend that this is not enough but that the leader should point to where the sun is at 2, or even 3 p. m. This means in Michigan or Minnesota. In those latitudes where the sun is not much above the horizon at mid- day during tree planting time, such a rule could not be applied. In the absence of direct tests it would seem that those who look to the act of the storm king in the leaning of apple trees have the best of it. Insects Infesting the Red Currant.— Fruit growers in the East often envy the fruit growers of the Northwestern Pacific States. Nearly every kind of our garden fruits thrive admirably well, and for a while it seemed as if they required no care from the hand of the gardener or fruit grower. It is, however, only a question of time when the enemy will steal into every garden, even if it were '*Eden," and this is getting to be the experience of the Northwestern fruit grower. The ordinary red currant is at home there. In no part of the country are the currant bushes so healthy or the product so large as in Washington State; but the cotton scale has found it out. This is known to entomologists as Pulvinaria ribis. It is considered as one of the worst insect pests that the currant grower of that region has to contend with. Kerosene emulsion has to be applied in order to dislodge them. The Japan Persimmons.— It is said that good, ripe Japan Persimmons make pies that are perfect epicurean delights. The Pineapple in Florida— Pineapple raising is becoming quite an industry in cen- tral south Florida, especially in the lake region, where water protection is afforded. The best results, however, are obtained by growing the plants under a grating cover, which affords protection from occasional frosts and strong winds, and shuts out some of the summer sunshine. The cover is made of narrow boards placed a few inches apart, and is supported on posts at an elevation sufficient to enable the plants to be worked readily under it. The cost of the sheds varies from $300 to $500 an acre. Orland is the most prominent centre of this interior pine-raising region, and there are several large pineries near this enterprising town. The largest that were in full bearing before the severe weather of last winter killed the tops of all the pine plants in this region are the Modela Park pinery, containing six acres ; Russell's pinery, containing nine acres; and Fairview pinery, containing five acres. Quite recently, a tract of forty acres has been purchased just south of the city to be planted in pines, and the work of fencing it, preparing the land for the plants, putting up the cover, etc., is going on vigorously. The plants of the old pineries are rapidly recovering from the effects of the freeze, and it is expected that there will be thousands of fine apples ready to ship during the coming spring months. Thos. C. Baker. Rollins College, Fla. Large CABBAGES .—A correspondent inquires of what use are premiums by horticultural societies for large cabbages, unless it it is in localities where cabbages are grown for Sauer Kraut. He thinks that the perfection of a cabbage for an amateur's garden is one that would not exceed eight or ten inches in diame- ter. He would have premiums for the encour- agement of these. Locust Leaves for Sheep Feed.— Com- plaint is sometimes made that the Yellow Locust, Robinia pseud-acacia, throws up suckers —but it is said that the young shoots are devoured by sheep and cattle, with as much avidity as they do clover, luzerne, and other members of the same natural family, and so would not be objectionable in a pasture lot. if-'./ ■ BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. COMPENSATION. The spreading hills with gentle slope Lie broadly to the rising sun, Whose cheering beams of early hope Caress them softly, one by one. While in the hollows, gray and low, Thick mists and shadows heavy lie, For all the morning's ruddy glow Has coldly passed the valleys by. So hill-tops laugh, while valleys weep Away the hours of early days. With sunshine resting on the steep. And darkness shrouding lonely ways, Till evening hastes and shadows sleep On every eastward-lying hill. Then down the slopes the sunbeams creep, And raptured vales with gladness thrill. To lonely lives, which sadly missed The early sun's inspiring beams ; To valleys morning shadows kissed, But wakened not from laggard dreams — To these at eve shall come a glow Of sunshine o'er the happy plain ; A sweeter joy than mornings know — The touch of gladness after pain. — HBI.ICN EvERTSON Smith, in Harper s Bazaar. John H. Stevens.— The i^/;^^^^^/^ Horticul- turist gives a sketch of John H. Stevens, whom it regards as one of the pioneers of horticul- ture in Minnesota. He vi^as an intimate friend of the well-knovi^n Dr. Warden, with whom it was almost impossible to be on terms of intimacy without becoming enthusiastic in favor of botany or horticulture. He was born on the thirteenth of June, 1820, in one of the eastern townships of lower Canada ; but his father and mother were natives of Vermont. He was one of the earliest to take up a claim on the original site of the City of Minneapolis, which city has ever since been his home. He has filled many positionsof trust and responsi- bility in public life. He was one of the founders of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, which was in 1868. He always declined to accept honors in the Society, but was eventu- ally induced to become its vice-president, which office he still holds. His interest in horticulture has been from the first a labor of love. (38) Cedrus Deodara.— a writerin Lyon Hor- ticole, an excellent French, horticultural maga- zine, states that in Nepal, a province of India, this beautiful tree is known to the natives as "Devadara," of which our ''Deodara'' is a corruption. The tree in that country is looked upon with great veneration, from the fact that it has remarkable longevity. It is said that no dead tree has ever been seen anywhere, although this is, of course, a popular prejudice. Still, the fact of the trees, longevity has given it something of a divine character. Among the Hindoostanese, the native word signifies a divine tree,— or more properly, a tree of life. It is remarkable that a very closely related species is the Cedar of Lebanon. It was said of this, in Olden Times, that they never died, and it is undoubtedly the tree of life referred to in Babylonian inscriptions, and possibly of the scriptures also. The writer of this paragraph has identified figures of this tree on Babylon- ian pottery, evidently used in public worship, and indicating clearly the veneration accorded to it. It is remarkable that the two legends should accord in connection with practically the same tree among people so widely sepa- rated, although there are some who think that they ought to look to ancient Indian legend to get at the foundation of much of modern thought. A. W. Bennett.— The progress of public parks and gardens in the United States is materially obstructed by the difficulty of get- ting the right men in the right places. There is an abundance of the right material ; but the appointing powers are ignorant of the require- ments. Pittsburgh was among the few fortu- nate ones. With Mr. A. W. Bennett, as super- intendent, she was in a fair way to have her parks the envy of other municipalities. Schen- ley Park was already famous. His sudden death from typhoid fever, on the 17th of Janu- ary, was a shock to his friends, and a severe blow to intelligent horticulture. He had hardly reached his 31st 3^ear. 1896.] MEEHANS* monthly — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. 39 History of the Tomato. — Mr. Burnet Lan- dreth, of the well-known seed firm of D. Lan- dreth & Sons, has recently given an interest- ing account of the history of the tomato in the United States. His grandfather, the founder of the seed firm, was the first, in this country, to grow it for seed commercial purposes, and to-day, the firm is the largest producer of tomato seed in America. It is a native of America, though its exact home has not been clearly ascertained. It was in cul- tivation by the Mexicans when they first made the acquaintance of the white man. Mr. Landreth thinks that Peru is its original home. It was introduced into Europe in 1596 ; but as it requires a great deal of heat in summer to bring it to perfection, it never reached more than a rare delicacy in the English cuisine. It first appeared as a kitchen-garden plant, in a Philadelphia seed catalogue, in 1820, and was generally known as the "Love Apple." The first premium offered for tomatoes was by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, in 1837. This was followed by the Massachu- setts Horticultural Society, in 1839. In 1840, six varieties were catalogued in the lists of vegetable seeds. In France, it was rarely used, except as a garnish or salad, until 1850, or even as late as 1876. Only in a stewed form could tomatoes be had in first-class Paris hotels,— and that with the greatest difficulty. The first great improvement was known as the Figi Island Tomato. This was in 1862. In 1864, Cook's Favorite was the next great im- provement to appear ; but the most marked advancement was one brought to public atten- tion by Apollos W. Harrison, in 1866. It was called the Tilden, having been raised by Henry Tilden, of Davenport, Iowa. Some fruit was exhibited at the Philadelphia Horticul- tural Society, one of which was given to Mr. Landreth, and from these seeds the stock, which subsequently got into commerce, was first raised. The packing of tomatoes in tins and glasses was first undertaken in 1848 by Mr. Harrison W. Crosby, of Lafayette College, Pa. They were then fifty cents a can, while the price is now about seven cents. Rosa rugosa Hybrids.— The Rugosa Rose seems likely to be the parent of numerous new races . Hybrids have been obtained in France be- tween it and the well known Microphylla Rose. The Sassafras Trees.— A recent number of the American Jotirnal of Phannacy has an extremely interesting article on the structure of sassafras, by Dr. Edson S. Bastin, which, while furnishing a great amount of matter in- teresting to those who deal in drugs, also has much value for the general reader. The name of the tree, as given by Linnaeus, and adopted by every authority since that time, is Laurus Sassafras. Modern botanists who feel that they ought to go back to original names, notwithstanding the authority of Linnaeus, •' propose now to call it Sassafras Sassafras, a name doubtless applied in strict accordance with the new rules for botanical nomenclature ; but whose unpleasant effect upon the ear could not well be endured, except in the hope that sometime between now and the millenium our botanical nomenclature will acquire something like a stable equilibrium." The Dr. com- ments on the extraordinary feature of this plant, indigenous in the austere climate of Canada, and yet being everywhere at home in the warmest parts of Floida,— and will endure almost every condition necessary to growth in the whole of this vast area. He attributes this wonderful adaptation to a vast variety of conditions to the fact that it is one of the few plants which seems to be a survivor of what is known as the original fossil flora. A large number of supposed species are found in a fossil condition,— that is to say the leaves of the tree are found, and it is supposed they belong to a large number of species, from the fact of their varying in character,— but as our present species of sassafras has a large number of vari- able forms, even on a small tree, it does not follow that these ancient leaves belong to very different species. However, in the absence of positive evidence of this fact, the palaeontol- ogist can do nothing more than name them as distinct species. The journal referred to speaks of it as . a tree in the middle and southern latitudes, found with a trunk of a foot or more in diameter, and a height of fifty or sixty feet. In the vicinity of Philadelphia, the writer of this paragraph has seen sassafras trees having trunks of about twelve feet in circumference. They can scarcely all have dis- appeared, and Meehans' Monthly would be obliged to any correspondent giving the dimen- sions and estimated height of any fine speci- men that may come under his observation. GENERAL NOTES. Warren H. Manning.— Mr. Warren H. Manning, son of the well-known and esteemed Jacob H. Manning, of Reading, Mass., and himself one of the most intelligent of the younger race of horticulturists, has announced his entry on the career of a professional land- scape gardener. He has had some years prac- tical experience with one of the leading firms of landscape architects in this country. The Wild Fi^ower Pictures in Meehans' Monthly.— A correspondent, L. Fuller, of Jacksonville, Illinois, remarks : " For the sake of such a choice collection of prints of our wild flowers as your monthly plates afford, I have seen nothing like them outside of costly works. I have classes in botany among friends and neighbors, and find them very useful." Inflammable Gas in a Hollow Tree.— Going the rounds of the papers is the follow- ing paragraph which a correspondent sends to us for an explanation : " A gas tree was discovered in the southern part of Washington County, Pa., in a very curious way. Hunley Gooch and his son were chopping down an old and hollow tree, when they thought as they struck into the hollow that they smelled the odor of gas. The son struck a match and applied it to the hollow, which the ax had opened. Instantly there was an explosion and the young man had difficulty in escaping without serious injury. The tree continued to burn until its bark was burned oft. The ax, which was left in the tree, had its handle burned. " There is always some doubt about newspaper paragraphs giving accurate details when tech- nical topics are reported. It does not, how- ever, seem impossible that in oil regions, in one of which this is said to have occurred, the tap root, or other root deep in the ground, was hollow as well as the trunk, and that this hol- low root found itself in an oil vein and acted as a feed pipe to the hollow trunk. (40) Chinese Thistle.— Western editors seem fond of the thistle. The Saltwort, Salsola Tra- gus, became the Russian Thistle. Now they are worrying over another "thistle," which they call Chinese Thistle. A correspondent from Spokane County, Washington, sends a specimen under this name, which proves to be Lactuca Scariola, a weed from western Europe. There need be no scare over it, as it is by no means a troublesome weed to contend with. This is probably the farthest western point it has yet reached. It is rather common in the eastern states now. Fothergilla alnifolia — An attempt has been made to change the name of the interest- ing hardy shrub, Fothefgilla alnifolia, to Fothergilla Gardeni. It is said to have been so named by one Murray, who published an Edition of Linnaeus* Systema NaturcB, at Got- tingen, in 1744. Linnaeus himself, and the younger Linnaeus who gave the plant the name it has borne for nearly 150 yoars, wholly ignore Murray's name as have all botanists to the present time. They would hardly do this without good reason. It would seem that those who, by this change, condemn Linnseus, should show us why he was wrong. Willdenow, who, about the time of the younger Linnaeus, issued an Edition of Linnaeus' Species Plant- arum, seems to quote from Murray ''Fothergilla Gardeni— di shrub with leaves and fruit like a Hamamelis, but very different flowers. D. Garden." It would appear from this that D. Garden, whoever he was, is responsible, and a name given on hearsay evidence would justify all the botanists from Linnaeus to Asa Gray in rejecting it. Where a name with legitimate description, properly published, has been accidentally overlooked, while a later one has usurped the legitimate place, there seems some good reason for trying to upset a long established name, for all the ill consequences that confessedly arise from the effort. But this is not that. SITUATIONS WANTED. Advertisements under this head, not exceeding 50 words, will be inserted once for 50 cents, or three times for >i. 25. OARDENERS:— We shall be glad to furnish ^ names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Germantown, Philadelphia. OARDENERS—0° our register will be found vJ names of Competent Gardeners, and we will take pleasure in sending these to any one requiring their services. Henry A. Dreer, Seedsman and Florist, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. O A R D E N E R— English, aged 38. married, small v3 family ; 24 years experience in growing or- chids, ferns, stove and greenhouse plants, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums ; also the management of fruit houses, vegetable and flower gardens, etc. State wages. Chas. Dumper, 119 Tallniadge St., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. OARDENER wants position, German, age 32, ^ married, one child; fully experienced in growing all kinds of cut flowers, greenhouse and foliage plants, vegetables and taking care of large or small private place ; had charge of one for last 4 years. Best of references. Address, Gardener, 2222 North 28th St., Philadelphia. UEADGARDENE P,- Estate Manager-^ii- ■■ nation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work, cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches of gardening. Best references irom first-class places. Europe and U.S. February or later, " R. F.," Office, Meehans' Monthly. GARDENER.— A. thorough and practical gar- dener wants a situation. Single ; age 36 ; has been working at gardening for over 20 years. Capa- ble of raising vegetables under glass in winter. John Welsh, Haddon field, N. J. HOUGH'S ''American Woods" A publication llluslrated by ^tucd specimens of the woods showing three distinct tnews of gr<^in^ Mr n*,e for m- ^rmation befbre making qhu-^;na? paivhases, .inclosing While it is under new management, with new editors and new contributors, it is still the oldest and most reputable publication of its kind in the west, this being the twenty- sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magazine for 30 cents. To any one sending us 30 cents and six names of friends who might subscribe for our magazine, we will mail our one dollar magazine a full year. At 30 cents we lose money the first year but hope you will continue to be a subscriber, alter seeing twelve numbers. If you wish to see the magazine before subscribing, send 10 cents and receive a sample copy and a free gift ofan aluminum dime-size charm, with the Lord's Prayer engraved in smallest characters ; bright as silver, and never tarnishes. H'e do not send sample copies free, so save your postal cards as no notice will be given them. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Address, THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive St., St. Louis. Mo. C%nnn pieces of sheet Masic at 10 cents a copy. Also any DUUU music published sent on receipt of the retail price. Violin, Guitar, Banjo and Mandolin Strings, of all grades, from 5 to 50 cents, each. Send 2c. stamp for cataloRues In ordering anything, by sending 5 cts. additional, we will send free of charge a sample copy of The New St. Louis, a 10c. magazine. Address, H. H. HA KNES, 2819 Olive Street, St. Louis, Mo. • . « • t • ''^^W?Irso'cTr?^\%uiriine 0/ very nice Preparations OF WOODS •f&rSte^poptpcon and rbh Mickoscopk: also WoodkIn Udoss 8kctJion Cards for i'oodei\ ued- dings, gift catds*4fc/. 'Send'fh't Htiwp\es. ROMEYN B. HOUGH, LOWVILLE. N. Y. • • * 1 ^1 ^^ -^ and gW.en, thferr, V ic Fec^.ttipr so pro- p^ O K ducti ve, 80 clean, healthful and free from THE LAWN odor, as HARDWOOD ASHES Send for Testimonials. ANDORRA NURSERIES, ^KH^XTV. WM. WAHNBH HAHPCR. MANA0«« P.KBBEIBEIIIITIFOLPLBIITS tvxwi T>An7anr«»'s New Hybrid Sweetbriars, Old Garden R^fes New RSsls^SUu^ard Roses, Philadelphia Lemoenei, New 'Ulacs, Lonicera Hildebrandtii, Hpirsea -Anthony '^AlLr^CloTirtforof'^Hk^e^ -^ Greenhouse Pltnte Intburlum^ Alocaslas, Orchids, Rare Conifers and oth?r beautiful Evergreens. Magnolias, Japanese Maples, "'^VEONlES-AUrircoUe^ the finest in cultiva- tion Hardy Perennials, Phloxes Japanese Ins, Roses, Clematis, etc New and Standard Fruits, etc. Catalogue on application. JOHN SAUL. WASHINGTON. D. C. THE ELKHART INSTITUTE, of Art, Science, a'nd Industry, Elkhart, Ind. In- structions thorough and eminently practical. Terms very reasonable. Expenses low. Both sexes admitted. Careful home training. Location attractive and healthful. Day and evening sessions. Diplomas awarded. Students can enter at any time. Circulars free. Address, H. A. Mumaw, M. D., Sec'y, as above. THE INSECT WORLD There is published in Philadelphia by the Entomologi- cal Section of The Academy of Natural Sciences at the low price of One Dollar a year, an illustrated monthly journal. "' ''' ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS devoted to the study of insects in all branches A special feature is a department on Economic Entomology, edited by Prof John B. Smith. State Entomologist of New Jersey The news and gossip always so interesting to Entomologi- cal worker? finds an important place in the pub .cation. Fo thosTremote from the centres of information it cannot fail to be of the utmost importance, since it will keep the stu- dem posted on what is being accomplished in serials and monographs at home and abroad. Insects named for sub- s^ribe^ f?ee of charge. Send $10? for a year s subscrip- tion, to E. T. CRESSON. Treas.. P. O. B. 248, Phila.. Pa. A rFMT<^ —Greatest seller out. Something new. A^ ^Q Irofiis. Boys and girls make good agents. Write now. Address, Dr. H. A. Mumaw. Elkhart, Indiana. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOUlA^TSiiS^XSFTinrEEHANS' MONTHLY. rlxperience has proven conclusiveiy that better grapes and peaches, and more of them, are produced when Potash is liberally ap- plied. To insure a full crop of choicest quality use a fertilizer containing not less than lo Actual Potash. Orchards and vineyards treat- ed with Potash are compara- tively free from insects and plant disease. Oiir pamphlets are not advertising circulars bonni- mg special fertilizers, but are practical works, contain ing latest researches on the subject of fertili/ation, anrl are really helpful to fanners. They are sent free for the asking GERMAN KALI WORKS, o^ Nassau St., New' York. NEW CATALOGUE OF Oflf^DEfi SEEDS Now ready. Send for it 37 Hast fliNETEE^iTH St. HSTABUISHBD 1824 BLOODGOOD ^ ]41)HSEHIES (Oldest in America.) Establislied 1790 Offers inten(JinK planters a choice selection of Kruit Trees and Fruit Plants in variety. Also, a full stock of Orna- mental Trees and Shrubs, deciduous and evergreen. Some rare specimens. Our stock of Maple Trees and Privet is I?H«i?"i*^^y ^°®- ^^iS^J •"•remelv low. Correspondence solicited. KlSENJf: & FOULK, Flashing, N. Y. Gardens and Gardening With Descriptions of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Flowers. Lucius D. Davis, Kditor and Publisher. Newport, R.I. ' This is the title of a new magazine, the first two numbers of which have already been published. Each issue will contain, for the present, a some- what general plan of one of the famous Newport Gardens with detailed descriptions of the plants most prominently in use. Later the same treat- ment will be extended to noted gardens and villa grounds in other localities. Besides this there will be in each number nu- nierous descriptions of Trees and Plants, especially of new and rare varieties. The Magazine is printed on heavy paper, with broad margins and in the best style of the printers art. ^ Original Illustrations accompany all the garden sketches. ^ A jj^"^®' ^^*°° * y®*^» Single numbers 20 cents. Address, ♦' Gardens and Gardening," Newport R. I., or the Editor. ^ * Rosa Rubosa (JAPANHSB I^OSB) We have a large stock of this beautiful Rose ; strong and thrifty plants on their own roots ; suitable for planting in masses. See our new descriptive catalogue which contains a full paged illustration of them, also prices for single plants or in quantities. Azalea yviOLLis (CHINHSB AZALiHA) This is the most attractive of all the Aza- leas,— the flowers are born in great pro fu- sion. We have a good stock of thrifty, well rooted plants. See description and illus- tration in our new catalogue for 1896. Descriptive catalogue for Spring, 1896, will be mailed free to old customers, to others for six cents in stamps. TflOMAS JAHBHRH St SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS GBf^lWANTOWfi, PHlliA. RARE AMARYLLIS AND BEGONIAS. Three grand new Begonias, strong plants, sent for $2.50. Amaryllis Defiance, 350. to 75c. each ; A. New beautiful white lined with red, fluted edges, 50c. and 75c. each, $4.50 to $6.00 per doz.; A. Red. marked with white, 35c and 50c. each, $1.50 to $250 per doz ; A. Formosissima, bright scarlet, 15c. to 25c. each. A collection of all the above, $1 .50 to $2 50 post paid. Amaryllis seeds, mixed, 25c. per packet. Small sccd- 1 ings, assorted, $1 .00 per doz. Send for catalogue to Mm. Theodosia B. Shepherd, Yentura-by-the-Sea, Cal. TRY DREER'S ♦ GARDEN ♦ SEEDS ♦ Plants, Bulb5 and Requisites. They are the best at the lowest prices. Calendar for '95 mailed free. Address HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chcstnut St.. Pmila. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. 000 f too, • III! Fruit Trees tor prom. opeciAiuoo ^ ^ dWYER, Orange Co. Norseries, Cornwall, N. Y. TiSrelsHo Doubt m\°r1to. ^oisiiiMo and the horns are oflf close It ciu'both wayH, does not crush. On«^JJ{;,- Write for circular. A. is- BRO«iu» jhranvillei Pa.^ FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL SilALL FRUITS, GRAPES. SHRUBS, R05E5, EVERGREENS, HARDY PLANTiJ. liAraest and choicest coUectiouM in America* FOR SPRING PLANTING. Prepare your llsta now, and send for estimates. Write for New 0»tAlo«ae. beantif ally illuBtrated. f rte. ELLWANGER & BARRY, nOUNT HOPE NURSERIES, Rochester. N. Y. eiTABLISNEO OVER NALF A CENTURY ACQ. URPEE'S FARM ANNUAL for 1 896. 'The Leading AmerUnn Seed Catalogue." -.1..*^. «lk«k»^ ^^m*^\t* \-\i A nnnt^^fllid Itatrcs more complete than ever be- (bre??hundJcds,fnfr.fitratl..n.s. ,.l.-.ures puini ^m^ M » M — — fore;— hundreds 01 iimsirainMi>, |m,^^«.^o ^.^...ted tiom W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA. NUT AND FRUIT CULTURE isse '^""Zr. p™0.ab.e'tSaV.ihi:^ oT Cot^n with '-^^-^-It oper^'eS^rhliT.?.! tl'iX eon, and others. , , i^„ .»» i»i««iarrk. fruits at two years old ; Parlin*s Beauty, ^ Star, '*the perfection of early apples ?' ^^V^^J^*^' Rusget, AngJl and other pears. Japan the handsomest ; Lincoln «««•••«?«• .^"''"^^'SefySlSftru unequalled for>lly. FLOWERS ^^'.^ Zn^v 'THK BKJ^T." .Miiiiy ii<'V»ltitrt fill M.x.in. Tli.-usaii.N -:»> ' *** ."^ .^Vf „, "t^ Pure Ke4^. tl«'«''r iuiV»' <'thr l.uy.iH many induceiiientrt. NNe ( an ha\i >y","**'"Vv-it«' for iUnstrat«'.. 12 KverhlooniinsJ IWh, al "I'^.^.'^.V" : *''|2 prizo-winninir ChryHanth.-mumH. many colore, an.l f<>rmK of thiH 'l"ef J> , j ningW. ^A) cents. 18 Elegant Cieraniums. no tw<» ;\'"^^„,./;""V,i liffi-rent. r*^ cent«. lOrarnatinnH. Fragrant everhloomer- ;J ' ** "^T* "^\Vpnt«. Order today. I BeSoii ias. The prettiest col ertum >ou ♦'^ »" navj • r!^ \ ' Addrenn. "^SaTiHfartion andW arrival ^^^|^";-^'o'i' 49. rJCHMONP. IN P. " ' ^ -^ __ ^ Our stock is one of the finest in the Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, v^.. ^^^jr^^^m-^ Vines and Hardy Plants = = -.-".sp".- E':r.ta"Sfa5 . .., . . A T .„,» hiivers will be particularly interested in this cata- described and it is also profusely •""« r«'ff„„ Large buyers wiU p ^_ y logue. It will be mailed free upon apphcat.on.^ . • ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^.^ Landscape Engineering, f-'z^'^r'^i^^'^^n'^^"^^^^^^^ when extensive work is contemplated, correspondence solicit^. ^ .. . . . THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS 1 num/\o QERMANTOWN. PHILADELPHIA. — — -— __, , -ucM von SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW IHWH va "^msf^ illllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllljIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH^ § A Shady Corner in city or country, is just the place to put shade loving plants. Hardy Ferns, Wood Lilies, Lady's Slippers and others, do finely in such places. My spring and autumn catalogues not only provide for such, but for sunny ijround, the rockery and bog garden. They offer plants that have been tested in cold Vermont. It will pay you to send ac. stamp for it even if you don't purchase. F. H. HORSFORD, Charlotte, Vt. 250,000 Peach Trees Quince, Aprlco^ Etc. lOoTO S"*.*^*^?.*^ «»000,000 Small IhrX?* Ornamental Treen'and Fuli supply of flower and veirA. table .eedii, plants, balbg. ttS^ Elegant l«8-naKe catalogue free S^encl l?zPnnf/''T^^"^r'"«- Kverythlng mail size postpaid. LarKer by exorpss or freight Safe arrival and sauStion Kuaranteed.DlrectdealinifsSvesmoney 42iidirear. 1,000 Acres. if 9 Oreeuliouses. STORRS & HARRISON CO. Box 236 PAINESVILLE. OHIO. eid s |IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIII Illlllllllllllllllllllliiii LORENTZ ELDORADO I PEACH. BLACKBERRY. S mm Write to Headquarters for free, | handsome, Illustrated Catalogue of I Peach, Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Quince, Nectarine*, Nut Trees, Shrubs, Stra^vberrles, Raspberries, Wlneberries , Blackberries, De-^vberrles, Gooseberries, Grape Vines, Ornamental AAAMWMyWMM^ I $1.60 a Bbl. POTATOES Larflreftt frowem of POTATOES for Seed In Amerk.a. The "Rural New-Yorker" sive« Sal. ser's Early WUcoiiMln a yield of 786 bu«lieU per acre. Prke« ilirt clicnp. Our irreut »re- poiutinjf 'harjrain collectlou>," but at'riffbt prices fiiriu>b everything for the No finer rata pa^es. 400 illustrations, beautiful colored plates, hone«.t ?ue, 100 '' free 11 yo" name iiim i»i*if»-i. |. ^lOWA SEED CO., Des Moines, Iowa, g im Gaoaan lurseiies We have the largest and most complete assortment of Nursery stock grown in New England, consisting of Fruit, Forest. Or- namental and Evergreen Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Small Fruits, Grape Vines, Aspar- agus, etc., etc. This stock is all grown with care and is well adapted to our East- ern climate and soil. Satisfaction guaran- teed. Send for catalogue. Address, Stephen Hoyt's Sons NEW CANAAN, CONN. ^^lttjt»it»t|?^i^'j|K»|?»^'4»'*»*4»'l?'l^»*''l^'**'^^'l^^'*'^ Zbc Best Unveetment. You cannot p9»»ibly rtmd more than •ne pereentjfthe lit- erature of the day. Why lose precious hours on worthless reading, when youjanj^auejhejery best or,ly?__ThisJsjijhatj8 given Jn CURRENT LITERATURE, from which, writes Paul D.JUese, of Athens, Ga^"l get more than from any^thej^hwestment I ever mader LQr,don_Vanitu Fair speaks oflt as a "wonderful compilation, the lifieof which la unknownjnjurope. -Jfyou_dojioam^wjt^jnention fM. aler^sement and i^itn^^copy will be sent free. CurrerA Literature is $3. 00 a year; 25 cents a number Send for Clubbjng List. The Current Literature PublishingCo^ New Yorju * * ^ ^ ^ * ^ «• ^ ^ $4»4»4*4*4*4*4»4^4^4'4»4'4*4'4*4*4*4»4*4*4*4*4*^ WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. i .^^M)M 'I ml ^^:J^^i^ '-•^W).'.W?'*-fl k // i6;..nV ^?r \^1^¥. ^^*^ HURRAH, FARMERS! SHOUT FOR JOY! Fine, luxuriant pastures and rich meadows, produclnir tremendous hay vields (4 to 6 tons per utTiv, are now made poMslble on every huU, In every elhne, by sowing oiir Kxtra i-rans and Clover Mixtures. You won't need to wait a lifetime ror a irood start of irruHH, tor we have flrrasHeH, whleh. If sown in April, will duee a rousing crop in July, i'amphiet on i^raHs Culture, etc., td cents posi WE PAY 9400 IN GOLD PRIZES. pro- postage. mcmmU produce— as the editor Of the Kurui New-Yorker tiarH-Salzer'M Early Xv.'5*l*""*.*". potato yielded for me 786 buMheU per acre. If uii early Mort yields 7»6 buHhels, what will a late dot Potatoes only l|1.50 per barrel ! EARLIEST VEGETABLES IN THE WORLD. rarewt ot rare novelttcH, only 15i eentH. Cutuloicue alone 6e. poHtaffe. J°HNA.SALZERSEEDCo IACR0SSE,WIS JflPflNESE mflPLES, niflQNOLiPS and other choice Trees and Shrubs. Red- Flowered Weeping and - - White-Flowered Dogwoods. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Phila. CRAPE VINES. Lar^eKt Stock Introducer of Goo8«'b«'rr - Geo in the World. Small FriiitH. unrivalled new Red Jarlcpt M-rry A Fay C urrant. CaMotueJvfe. *>. JowNelyn, Fredoiiia, N. Y,' Mushrooms. How to Grow Them. For home use fresh mushrooms are a delicious, highly nutritious and wholesome deli- cacy; and for market they are less bulky than eggs, and, when properly handled, no crop is more remunerative. Any one who has an ordinary house cellar, woodshed or barn can grow Mush- rooms, This is the most practical work on the subject ever writ- ten, and the only book on growing Mushrooms ever published in America. The whole subject is treated in detail, minutely and plainly, as only a practical man, actively engaged in mushroom growing can handle it. The author describes how he himself grows Mushrooms, and how they are grown for profit by the lead- ing market gardeners, and for home use by the most successful private growers. The book is amply and pointedly illustrated, with engravings drawn from nature expressly for this work. By Wm. Falconer. Is nicely printed and bound in cloth. Price, postpaid SLOO THOMAS MKEHAN & SONS, (iermantown, Phlla. Henderson's * Practical * Floriculture. BY PETER HENDERSON. A guide to the successful propagation and cultivation of florists' plants. The work is not one for florists and garden- ers only, but the amateur's wants are constantly kept in mind, and we have a very complete treatise on the cultiva- tion of flowers under glass, or in the open air, suited to those who grow flowers for pleasure as well as for those who make them a matter of trade. The work is characterized by the same radical common sense that marked the author's "Gardening for Profit," and it holds a high place in the estimation of lovers of horticulture. Beautifully illustrated. New and enlarged edition. Cloth, lamo. Price, S1.50. THOMAS ME£HAN & SONS. Germantown, The ^o^B : It^ dultivatiion, Varieties, etc. BY H. B. ELLWANGER. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tion, the treatment of di.sea.ses and insect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip- tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo Price, •l.as. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, Pa. i i*^ * i., *■ i f^ M^e^ii^V C> S«" ■ "t- >* .- H '3.1 i^ i^ -|,, i i)iii» ■ ' ■»if ■■>... « .^ Largttt BttHltrt Of fintaheoie Stmeiims. %H ItlgiiMt Ananlt «t th« WorM'$ Fair bend iotir eeBts postage Car iUiittiptfd>p«|alogue LOK/X) OMMi» laiiecte And O^ier l>ests, Muahrootns, ^efs^ in. season. See what snbecribecB say aixmt tlii3 tiltiable jounJ^f. >*l»or ooadebaed ixmimoti iwsaselii g«t^«#iii« m^tjris fiw pi^ upoipwtifial.'' W. C lt6A», H^aild Park, III. ♦'OAltDBHiiiro is the bo»t aiortlctiHwria t?«|ic» J^rinteJ to j^meriea." CHAd t Boia.Sprtngfield, Maas. n am greftUy pleased witlTtliepaper. It to .ptttc|if»J mt^ I Pil«CT8GAt. *Xn5€:» POPULAll. SCIENTIFICAUY EXACT. mmxi m /\ N N • FOREST . m Ab O F HO RT I C U tJU REI CAJ5t-ARTv\HD'FQf " '' ■r^mwii'DBK-Ji^' • ^«^1!?* Indispensable to all who love gurdc^os or the litetature of gardens ; to ^11 who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of ttees, tibniks, truits and llcwers. Oarden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- w^ ' / ■ , ■'. * -.vV ...» ^ % »i;.k K.*4' t X \. ^2ms,^ tkiafe Snied la tHe |fiteiy»ti of ^ ^^jt^Wataitvttle, N. y. "TJia paptr Is the mott practical of ^y Ije^'' ^ ^^ ^.^ • '^•^ w. ft. AbHs. f'Ond du Lac, Wia. "X sttbacribe to all the horticultural and floricailtural Jot»r- aals ofl this cotttliieiitas far m I know and find in Gakdj iMO the most practical tr^tiaf>!acii#^T»<»««-^'^ ^ f^^ ♦Wiliain*,ddtightfulaBda9cnrate.*'-^;V. K Tribnrnr, *• A eoiapcndivm of acliir Ipfi^rinsitioD."— A'l v. fieta 4. BEAUTIFtlUT rLLVStffA^. WSCitY. $4 00 A YEAR. Specimeil copy free on application. Gardftfi iBd Forest mW^i Co. ^^'Shw ?s:4k"^' W^iTmTihfi Ta adVh^ tell thew you saw THfcm card im heehams' mowthly. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. 'I "^nv.'f T ' ?^%, \ i^fltf/lL- HURRAH, FARMERS! SHOUT FOR JOY! w i<: i»AV 5JJ510O IN <;oi.ii i»i{i/.t:s. On oiitM, burl.y nn«I j-oriil Theblflrgt-Htyhhl on Sil v«rmliu> (Nunuli-HH Itounty ) V'«u..'" . ' 7 ''".:..r.V'* '*"'*•'•'''*« *•'*'. "♦■^^ ~"« n^'*- "*'-^'- Von «.UM iMMit thut In I M!»U ,in«| win **^*>*>l Onr now tCMttd InirUy. uaIh, «orn and potalo«-N ^vill r» vnln- noiii/.t> larniinie! U «- ur«> the laru;«'Mt urowr'M Varlv U lj*iuj>. ^pU'ndldHprtH. Hni- yields. Onion Seed only >. :;:> iiktr**. KarllcHt V«'«.latH«.*, ijH, postpaid. 10 pktTH. Flowor s,-,.d-, 'i:*i: Kvt-r^ tiling nt hard- tinu-* inh'i'M. Wliolt'talc Market <;ard«'n.r'« I.Ul. ««'. Onr icrtal wttd catuloKue ( I fi Ijijr l|:,,rt.n) ,i,h| (,.„ p„,.|^„jj,.^ ^■••"'*'*«''* ""«' e. ptiHtaire. J9HNA.SALZERSEED Co, LA CROSSE, WIS; JAPANESE niflPLES, fflAGNOLIflS and other choice Trees and Shrubs. Red Flowered Weeping and White Flowered Dogwoods THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Phila. Miislirooins. How to Grow TImmii. For home use fresh niusljrooms are a dehcious, lii^hly nutritious and wliolesonie deli cacy; and for market they an less btilky than ej;gs, and. when properly handled, no crop is more reiminerative. Any one who has an ordinary house ceMar, woo.lshed or l.arn can i;row Mush- rooms. This is the most practical work on liie subject ever writ- ten, and the only book on j^rowing Mushrooms ever published in America. The whole subject is tre.tted in detail, miiuitely and plainly, as only a pra* lical man. actively engaged in mushroom growing can hamlle it. Ihe author describes how he himself grows Mushrooms, and how they are grown fur profit by ihe lead- ing market gardeners, and for home use by the most successful private growers. The book is amply and pointedly illustrated. with engravinjrs drawn from nature expressly lor this work. Hy Wm. Falconer. Is nicely pruned and bound in cloth. I'rice, l'«sM>''»'d »i.r.o THOMAS MRKHAN & SONS, <;eriiisiiitowii, Plilla. The I^o^e: It^ Cultivation, Varieties, etc. nv 11. n. i:ijavan(;i;k DirtvtiiMi.s fi)r cnltivatioti, fur j)latiting, i>nitniig[, i->roi>nga- lion, iIk- tvcatnu'iit of tlisca.scs and insect tMit.Mnie.>^, particu- larly vahiahle fot its cla.ssification, ali)hal)t'tical atul descrip- tive list of nine Inimlred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, ibvo Price, 5#l.'i.5. THO^IAS MKEHAN Si SONS, GtMUiaiituwii, l»a. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. Henderson's ^ Practical ^ Floriculture. HV PKTKR HKNDHRSON. A guide to the successful proi)agatioii and cultivation of flonsts' i)lants. The work is not one for florists ami garden- ers only, but the amateur's wants are constantly kept iu tiiind, and we have a veiy comj)lete tieati.se on the cultiva- tion of flowers under glass, or in the open air, suited to tho.se who grow flowers for pleasure as well as for tliose who make them a matter of trade. The work is characterized by the same i adical common .sense that marked the author's "hardening for Profit," and it ht)lds a high place in the estimation of lovcis of horticultute. Heantifidlv illustrated. New and enlarged edition Cloth, i2nio. Price', * I ..">(». TH• * — — •• — ■* — — — — "^ — — *^"^ ' ^ ~^ ^ 7^ t_ , _ , . Meehan s' neveled 12 (general la ARDENIN6 LOWERS (snduded by TM2MAV,/^EEHAN 1^0. § Kl^TEEED AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST OFFICE A9 SKCOND-CLASt MATTER. *j-| ^ -I" I r • rieehans* thomas Monthly heeman & sons, Qermantown, Phila. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY SqbscpiptioD Price $2.00 per year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 cts. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. /ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each Month, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Bditorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers « Germantown, Phila., Pa. "UP- XO - DATE" Sktisfaeilon Gturanteed o> Honer R ftinded. Eudorsed by Leading Eni _ ■tolocints. 60,000 tn Ufte. We are U. S. Headquarters fcr fipray Pumpfu and liiae<>tlfldefi. Catalogue, Spray Calendar, aud full Treatise on Spraylnff* FREE. tt 4 "9 Spraying Outfit d^e fS#\ vF I # Express Paid, for «FWbWW P. C. LEWIS MFC. CO., Box ir CatBkUl, N.Y« For Flowers Indoors. Bowker's 3 Flower Food. 3 A rich, concentrated fertilizer,: odorless, made from chemicals;- applied in solution once or twice: a month, makes house plants grow; vigorously and blossom abun-! dantly. A small spoonful for a 3>inc)i pot A larger spoonful for a 4*inch pot. Enough for 30 plants 3 montns, 35c. Enough for 30 plants a whole year,; We pay the postage and send a book^ on ** Window Gardening " free with each] package. Bowker FERTILIZER CO.. 27 Beaver St., New York. - 43 Chatham St.. Boston-: iUiUiUiUiUiUMUUE^ AND RARE PLANTS Abutilon S. de Bonn, 20c.; New BougainYilla, 50c.; New (Jaryopteris, 2oc.;i'rim8on and Pink Clematis, 30c.; Royal Coleus, 30c.; Cape Fuchsia, 20c.: Pepero- mia,25c ; Blue Kolanum, 25c.; Schizocodon, 50c.; 8tro- bi]anthes,30(^; Thyri»acauthn8,25c.; Ko8teletzkia,26c. etc. New Crimson Rambler Rose, 30c. New Cannas, 26c.; White CanDa,Pink Canna,25c.; Black Calla, 20c : Yellow Calla, 76c. ; Purple Calla,40c. Golden Amaryllis, 60c.; Blue Tigridia, 16c.; Rare Dahlias, etc. New Golden Mayberry, 60c. Strawberry-Raspberry, BOc. New Raspberry-Blackberry, 60c. Any three 25-cent plants for 60c. ; 6 for $1.00 Any two 30-cent plants for 60c. ; A for $1.00 100 Summer-blooming Bulbs, 12 sorts. $1. 100 Gladioli, from over 1000 varieties, $1 Hundreds of other rare plants and bulbs. Send at once for our illustrated catalogues. A. BLANC & CO., 314-316 N.llth St.,Philada. Small Shrubs We grow Shrubs in large quantities and fre- quently have inquiries for small plants in consider- able numbers. Our new Catalogue for Spring, 1896, contains full price list of these, as well as Trees, Evergreens and Hardy Plants. Catalogue mailed for 6 cents in stamps. Thomas Meehan & Sons l^urserymen and ^ ^ Landscape Engl neers Germantown, Phila, Standard Varieties Raspberry and Stramberry Plants Send for Price List Box 464 DAYTON, OHIO WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. I wr- M • VO!, .'. \\ DICENTRA CUCILLARIA BREKCHES FLOWER. NATrRAL ORDER, FUMARIACK.^^. The natural order FumariacecB, to which the present subject belongs, is founded on the genus Fumaria, some of the representatives of which have been noted from the earliest times. One of them, known in the Old World as the Fumitory, is referred to by the old Roman author, Pliny, and it is recorded of it that it will give off an odor from the ground like smoke ; and that, like wood-smoke, it will draw tears from the eyes. From these sup- posed smoky fumes, the plant has derived its name. Fumaria. and Fumitory from Fumus Terra under which name it is indeed described by Otto Brunfels in a medical thesis published in 1532. The name under which it is de- scribed by Pliny is Capnos. which appears to have been derived by him from the Greeks. Few plants have had so many questions raised as to its proper name as this. Most plants of the order have but a single spur. This has two and thus has originated the common name of Breeches Flower. The term. Dicentra is expressive of these two spurs. By bad proof-reading, or some similar oversight, the name was rendered Dieltry'a and Diclytra. and there are botanists who hold that what the author meant is of no great consequence in a name and therefore adhere even to a misprint if it have priority ; while others feel free to cor- rect the error, and use the intended name. So in this instance. Dr. Gray, whose description we quote, cites De Candolle as the authority for the name, who described the plant as Diclytta Cucullaria in Prodromus in i82i.-while other authors give Bernhardi as the authority who used Dicentra Cuccularia in the Linncea in 1833 Trouble came in nomenclature also from a difference of opinion as to whether the two spurs form a sufficient generic dis- tinction. Early botanists, long before the time of Linnseus, followed Lobel in using the old classical word Capnos for the whole Fumitory family. Then those species with a round pericarp within a large inflated calyx were classed as Cysticapnos. and those in which - the nectary of the lower lip is as prominent as that of the upper." were known as Capnor- chis Our DiceJitra CuaiUatia was known as Capnorchis Americana. While these difl^er- ences of opinion, as to what should constitute proper generic characters, and consequently what should form a stable name, exist, the same questions are raised, with as much difference of opinion, about the names that should be credited with authorship. Thus Professor Conway McMillan, in his - Seed-bearing Plants of Minnesota Valley' \ credits Goldie, who gave a list of the plants of Canada in the Ed- inburgh Philosophical Journal, with the name Capnorchis Americana,— while other authors credit Boerhave with it, who published an In- dex Planlanum, in 1720. The lesson shows that it is best for the general student to follow the names adopted by the authors of generally accepted works, as in the present case the Manual of Dr. Asa Gray is preferred. The early history of our plant seems to be that it was sent to the Old World in the first instance by the Rev. John Banister, from Vir- ginia, and it became quite well-known to cul- tivators in the early part of the century. Of our own collectors. Pursh refers to it as a Cofy- dalis, and savs -this singularly constructed flower grows on the sides of shady hills in rich vegetable mould among the rocks, and is known among the inhabitants as ' Breeches- flower,' or ♦ yellow-breeches,' and, as I consider that all those species with two spurs or nectaries might form, with propriety, a good genus. I have given it the n^meoi Perizoma nth us r (41) l\ . t } \ /V V? •^^^v..,^/ DICKNTRA CUCrLLARlA r.RKKCMlKS FLOWKR. NATURAL ORDER, FUMARIACI^K. I., ('xvr.oi I K — Scape and sU-Tuler-petiole.l leaves froju a sovl ( DiCENTRA Cuci'LiAKiA. ^^ » .V„\^,;;"'^ : /^o wert^^ with two .Hvernenl spur, lon^nr Sr/LV;« 1w);"/!s7;z/.s and Wood's a...v-/>V>.^- ./ ^./-;v. from a sort of ^lanulatc- bulb; lobes ot_ tlu; T than the ].ediccl ; crest of tlu See al-o Chapniati's /•/()» ./ £>/ I'l'' The natural order Fumariacecc, to which the present subject belongs, is founded on the genus Fumaria. some of the representatives of which have been noted from the earliest times. One of them, known in the Old World as the Fumitory, is referred to by the old Roman author, Pliny, and it is recorded of it that it will give off an odor from the ground like smoke ; and that, like wood-smoke, it will draw tears from the eyes. From these sup- posed smoky fumes, the plant has derived its name, Fumaria. and Fumitory from Fumus Terra under which name it is indeed described by Otto Brunfels in a medical thesis published in 1532. The name under which it is de- scribed bv Pliny is Capyios. which appears to have been derived by him from the Greeks. Few plants have had so many questions raised as to its proper name as this. Most plants of the order have but a single spur. This has two and thus has originated the common name of Breeches Flower. The term, Dicentra is expressive of these two spurs. By bad proof-reading, or some similar oversight, the name was rendered Dieltrya and Diclytra. and there are botanists who hold that what the author meant is of no great con.sequence in a name and therefore adhere even to a misprint if it have priority ; while others feel free to cor- rect the error, and use the intended name. So in this instance. Dr. Gray, whose description we quote cites De Candolle as the authority for the name, who described the plant as Diclytra Cuadlaria in Prodromus in 1821,-while other authors give Bernhardi as the authority who used Dicentra Cuccularia in the Linmra in 1833 Trouble came in nomenclature also from a difference of opinion as to whether the two spurs form a sufficient generic dis- tinction. Early botanists, long before the time of Linna-nis, followed Lobel in using the old classical word Capnos for the whole Fumitorv family. Then those species with a round pericarp within a large inflated calyx were classed as Cysticapnos. and those in which - the nectarv of the lower lip is as prominent as that of the upper," were known as Capnor- cfiis Owx Dicentra Cucullafia was known as Capnorchis Americana. While these differ- ences of opinion, as to what should constitute proper generic characters, and consequently what should form a stable name, exist, the same questions are raised, with as much difference of opinion, about the names that should be credited with authorship. Thus Professor Conway McMillan, in his - Seed-bearing Plants of Minnesota Valley", credits Goldie, who gave a list of the plants of Canada in the hd- inburgh Philosophical JournaL with the name Capnorchis Americana.-^^^^^\^ other authors credit Boerhave with it. who published an In- dex Plantanum. in 1720. The lesson shows that it is best for the general student to follow the names adopted by the authors of generally accepted works, as in the present case the Manual of Dr. Asa Gray is preferred. The early history of our plant seems to be that it was sent to the Old World in the tlrst instance bv the Rev. John Banister, from Vir- ginia, and it became quite well-known to cul- tivators in the early part of the century. Of our own collectors, Pursh refers to it as a Coiy- dalis, and says -this singularly constructed flower grows on the sides of shady hills in rich vegetable mould among the rocks, and is known among the inhabitants as ' Breeches- flower.' or • yellow-breeches,' and. as I consider that all those species with two spurs or nectaries might form, with propriety, a good genus, I have given it the name of Perizonia nth us.'' (41) ^^jsssmmms^ms^ COLOR PHOTO TEXT CUT OFF 42 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — DICENTRA CUCULLARIA. [March In its relationship, it comes close to Dicentra Canadensis, from which it differs in the roots, not creeping, but forming a sort of bulb com- posed of numerous granules. At least this bulb is usually referred to as a "root" in botanical descriptions, though really a bulb as properly as a lily or onion bulb, for it is com posed, as they are, of the thickened bases of the leaves. As seen in the illustration (fig. 2), these granules are at the base of the leaf- stalks which disarticulate and leave the starchy granules to form the bulb, which is surrounded at the base by leafy scales. The roots, properly so called, are fibrous and seem to endure only for one season. The granules are red, only when near the surface. If well covered by earth they blanch. The structure of the flowers rivals that of orchids in their peculiarity. Botanists differ among themselves in their descriptions of the parts. Some consider the two small, ovate, pro- cesses, at the base (fig. 6), the calyx. Others regard these as bracts, and call the parts pro- ducing the spur-like nectaries the calyx. In the latter case, the two smaller ones at the apex of the flower would be the petals. The stamens seem to be arranged in two sets of three each ; but it is probable that, if their early construction could be ascertained, they would be found, in the whole structure, to be built up on a binary plan. There is yet much to be ascertained regard- ing the fertilization of these singular flowers. In the round-fruited forms of Fumitories, the anthers are just above the stigma ; and, as the petals never separate, the flowers must be self- fertilized. In this species, however, which belongs to the long-capsuled section, the anthers are beneath the stigma (fig. 4), and it seems difiicult to conceive how the fertilization is effected. It may be that most of the flowers fall unftrtilized. The writer has never seen a mature seed vessel of this species, nor of its Asiatic relative, common in gardens, Dicentra spectabilis. Cornutus, an early writer on Canadian plants, describes this as having "insipid" bulbous roots. Linnaeus describes the Ftini' .aria biilbosa of Europe as having roots •• Amara," " Acris," etc, — and that oiFumatia officinalis, as "Amarissima." Possibly this is insipid merely by comparison. They do not seem to have had their qualities particu- larly noted in America. Of a related species in Japan, Corydalis racemosa^ a Japanese author says: " A single leaf is enough to kill a man." It flowers in Pennsylvania, in April and May, being among the earliest to cheer the wild- flower lover. Its range in the Eastern United States seems to be from high latitudes in Canada to North Carolina, and from there westwardly from Northern Minnesota to Ar- kansas. It appears again on the Northern Pacific coast, and will probably be found in northern latitudes, across the whole North American continent. A good lesson in botanical nomenclature may be furnished by an error in the printing of the name on the plate, where it is Dicentra cucullaria instead of Dicentra Cucullaria. In the reconstruction of the system of botany by Linnoeus, he indicated that where he had derived the specific names from proper names, he made use of a capital, otherwise the student would be puzzled to understand the derivation of the term employed. The specific name he adopted in his binomial system would be frequently the proper or generic name it had formerly borne. Hence his Raminculus Ficaria was not so named by him because it had fig- like roots, which might be assumed if he had written it ficatia, but because Ficaria was the name of the genus to which this species of buttercup was anciently referred. Even in modern times, when plants' names are derived from aboriginal names, places of growth, or other sources that would be termed proper names, the use of the capital in the specific name expressed a full chapter in the history of the plant. Some modern authors have abandoned the use of all capitals in the use of specific names, apparently for the sake of uniformity in the manner of the spelling ; but this practice is not adopted by the larger number of botanists. By writing Dicentra Cucullatia^ the student is at once informed that the name is so constructed to indicate that Cucullaria was once its generic name. This explanation will serve in other cases. KxPLANATiON OF THE PLATE.— I. Plant ffom the Wissa- hickon Creek, Philadelphia, furnished by Dr. Hedcmann. 2. The scaly basis of the leaves. 3. The outer sheathing scales. 4. A flower, divested of petals, showing the six stamens in two sets with the large, capilate stigma above the anthers. 5, Enlarged flower, showing the position of the two (inner) petals, 6. The bracts (or sepals), the figure 6 not l)eing very distinct between the two spurs in the plate. WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. MARCH. Like some reformer, who with mien austere, Neglected dress and loud insistent tones. More rasping than the wrongs which she henioans, Walks through the land and wearies all who hear. While yet we know the need of such reform ; So conies unlovely March, with wind and storm, To break the spell of winter and set free The prisoned brooks and crocus beds oppressed. Severe of face, gaunt-armed, and wildly dressed, She is not fair nor beautiful to see ; But merry April and sweet smiling May Come not till March has first prepared the way. —Ella Wheeler Wilcox, in Ladies' Home Journal. The Nest of the Chimney Swallow.— I am pleased to notice Dr. Van Denburg's quer- ies in the January Monthly, and on re-read- ing my recent note, I find that, in the attempt to^be brief, I was a little too brief, and conse- quently a little more positive than I intended. What I should have written was this. '*one who will observe the bird, and who will exam- ine a nest, will. I doubt not, discover the ma- terial which forms the bulk of the structure to be the gum of the cherry and peach trees." I make this correction now, because I desire to record only to the extent of my knowledge and belief. I have not seen the birds actually collect the gum referred to, but I have watched them <:losely enough, and long enough to be con- vinced that the material they use is something wholly extraneous. Whether the Chimney Swallow furnishes the substance which lines its nest, or whether it collects a foreign matter and makes use of it, may not be a matter of vital importance,— nor even a question of gen- eral interest.— but for many reasons I am glad the readers of Meehans' Monthly are pre- pared to discuss the subject. I am sensible that the weight of recorded testimony is against the theory advanced by Prof. Meehan and supported by myself Since the appearance of " The American Or- nithology, '* nearly every one who has written upon the subject has either copied from it ver- batim, or else appears to have been over- whelmingly influenced by the conclusions there expressed; and this is quite pardonable, for Wilson was a keen observer, and seems to have given the Chimney Swallow its full share of attention. Wilson has told us that the •'twigs " are " fastened together with a strong adhesive glue or gum, which is secreted by two glands, one on each side of the bird 's head, and mixes with the saliva." Dr. Brewer goes a little beyond this, and informs us that ♦' when dry, this saliva hardens into a glue- like substance apparently firmer even than the twigs themselves." This practically is what Gentry has recorded in his *' Life Histories of Birds," where he tells us "the twigs are fast- ened to each other by the saliva of the builder. This saliva after a slight exposure hardens into a glue-like material." Thomas Nuttall in his " Ornithology of the I'nited States and Canada," radically differs from the authorities quoted by saying, "a copious quantity of ad- hesive gum or mucilage secreted by the stom- ach of the curious architect/' is the material which unites the work. This then is the recorded testimony. To a pair of Chimney Swallows which had their nest in the stack of a bake-house, and whose movements for sev- eral seasons I had the privilege of observing, I will confine my remarks. This bake-house stood upon a farm bordeiing upon the Perki- omen Valley in southeastern Pennsylvania,— a region noted for its ornithological treasures, and one which will long be remembered in con- nection with that eminent naturalist, John James Audubon. The chimney of this bake- house was so situated, that from the attic of the dwelling house adjoining, one could con- veniently look down it.— and from this point I spent many an hour watching the birds, both in the building of their nest, and in the rear- ing of their young. Not once, but several times I observed their work ; for as the presence of the birds is considered objectionable, the nests were pulled down when the young had disappeared. At the time I am writing of, I unfortunately did not possess an opera glass, (43) 44 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [March and I could not satisfy myself as to the exact method employed in building and finishing the nest. In the stack the birds were very awk- ward and clumsy, and appeared to be able to use their feet only to cling, and this they did in a way to hide their method of work from one in an elevated position. This much I know, however, the birds left the stack at fre- quent intervals for material, and returned with what they had collected, and what they made use of appeared to be dependent upon its col- lection. The conclusion that the composition of the bulk of the nest is from the gum of the cherry and of peach trees was arrived at by an examination of the nest itself. Upon this point, I never have had any doubt, and if I shall prove in error, I hope to be corrected. I have never dissected the bird, but I have ex- amined it superficially, and have failed to find its mucilaginous reservoirs. Alexander Wilson is responsible for the statement that the bird ** is never seen to alight but in hollow trees or chimneys,'* and generally speaking this is correct, — but I can hardly imagine an observing country boy who has not seen one endeavor- ing to settle upon a fence. Both Wilson and Nuttall record the Chimney Swallow building in hollow trees ; and our own townsman. Prof. Gentry, gives one instance of a nest on a board in a winter log house, and another one against the roof of an out-building ; so that the species is not entirely iron clad in its habits. I hope the discussion of this subject may be continued until the question is determined, when the result I feel sure will be against the authorities, — and in favor of Prof. Meehan. Philadelphia. EdwIN C. JeLLETT. Wild Rice. — Few know more of the reed of our river mud-flats than that it furnishes the food on which fattens for the epicure the reed- bird of autumn dinner tables — the bobolink of other seasons. But as wild rice — Zizariia aquatica of science — it has played no mean part in the service of man. It was the staple food of the Indians that formerly inhabited Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, where the plant abounds on the margin of lakes. Dr. Elliott Coues says that it is still the chief re- course of the Objibway Indians on the reserva- tions of Minnesota. They not only gather it for their own use, but for the purpose of trade. A common name is Indian Rice, and the lakes along which the plants abound are known as rice lakes. Whole Indian villages will be tenanlless in autumn, the inhabitants having gone " ricing," as the harvesting is termed. The Indians push their canoes into masses of rice, bend the heads of rice over a crotched stick, and thrash the grain into the bottom of the boat. — Independent. Note on Ferns, Lygodium palmatum and AsPLENiUM MARGiNALE. — Mrs. F. L. K., Dan- ville, Vt., notes in regard to some recent fern illustrations : '' Aspidium marginale, in this region, has bright brown spores. I have gathered it at all stages of growth, and have never found any that approached black, though some have darker shades of brown than others. The day that the October, 1895, number came in, with its beautiful illustration of Lygodium pal- matum, I also received a fine specimen from Somers, Ct. Your history of the fern had an added interest to me, because I am almost sure I have in a lot of ferns from Japan, unnamed, a Lygodium Japo?iicum. It is a sterile frond, so that identification cannot be complete, but I hardly see how it can be anything else. What a feast of knowledge is in store for me these coming months if I live. My botanical correspondents are the wiser for my reading the magazine." Twin Ears of Corn. — '♦ I think I have somewhere read that a single stalk of corn cannot produce two ears, one of which has 8 rows and the other 12. I have in my pos- session two ears taken from one stalk this fall, one of which has 12 rows and the other 8, with 3 short rows tucked in at the butt, about one inch long. ' ' Perhaps you may think there is some mis- take about this ; but I know there can be none, for I still keep the ears and thej^ will show for themselves. My own brother husked them and saved them for me, knowing that I was always look- ing for curiosities. " Timothy Wheeler. Moscow, vt. Twin ears of corn — united in some portion Siamese fashion — are not uncommon. We do not know that two ears wholly separated, as Mr. W. describes, have been before noted. It will interest morphologists to inquire why one should be 12-rowed and the other only 8. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 45 Fanciful Resemblances in Plants — Noting your paragraph on the resemblance of a ripe seed vessel of the Jefftrsoyiia, when inverted, to a Turkish pipe, I send you a photo of a white oak, which I took while at Wild- wood, in southern New Jersey. My atten- tion was directed to it as presenting the appearance of the head and horns of a deer, from some particular points of view. If you tilt the picture a little upwards on the left Cotton-wood Tree grown on the made lands of the banks of the Mississippi River. They want to show that the tree is 50 or more years old. They had the oldest tree cross cut and brought into court. I was called on, and counted 36 rings ; but contend that a ring is a groivth. and many trees make two and even three growths a year, showing a ring each growth. A Yellow Pine I had cut down here, that / knew to be 25 years old, had 75 rings, A DEER'8-HEAD GROWTH OF A WHITE OAK. hand side, the resemblance is suggestive. By the way, how is this peculiar habit of growth to be accounted for ? Haddonfield, N. J. These peculiar growths can often be ac- <:ounted for when an examination is made on the spot, and with a fair knowledge of the usual phenomena of the growth. But an ex- planation could not be very well offered from a study of the picture alone. Annual Wood Circles in Trees.-A Mem- phis, Tenn.. correspondent says : '* There is an argument as to the age of a showing three growths a year. Now what do you say ? . , tt \ - Again, some of those interested {Hooseers) say each ring, as they know it. counts a year Again, they say when the sap goes down it forms a ring, and that only once a year. *«Now I contend, and from my learning back to 1835, that the sap going up forms the ^owth,-the wood and the ring; but the sap does not go down. There is nothing to go down It is utilized, -made into wood until another start to make anew. And so one. two and often three a year. Now what do you say : Do you remember reading the very celebrated 44 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [March MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. and I could not satisfy myself as to the exact method employed in building and finishing the nest. In the stack the birds were very awk- ward and clumsy, and appeared to be able to use their feet only to cling, and this they did in a way to hide their method of work from one in an elevated position. This much I know, however, the birds left the stack at fre- quent intervals for material, and returned with what they had collected, and what they made use of appeared to be dependent upon its col- lection. The conclusion that the composition of the bulk of the nest is from the gum of the cherry and of peach trees was arrived at by an examination of the nest itself. Upon this point, I never have had any doubt, and if I shall prove in error, I hope to be corrected. I have never dissected the bird, but I have ex- amined it superficially, and have failed to find its mucilaginous reservoirs. Alexander Wilson is responsible for the statement that the bird •* is never seen to alight but in hollow trees or chimneys," and generally speaking this is correct, — but I can hardly imagine an observing country boy who has not seen one endeavor- ing to settle upon a fence. Both Wilson and Nuttall record the Chimney Swallow building in hollow trees ; and our own townsman, Prof. Gentry, gives one instance of a nest on a board in a winter log house, and another one against the roof of an out-building ; so that the species is not entirely iron clad in its habits. I hope the discussion of this subject may be continued until the question is determined, when the result I feel sure will be against the authorities, — and in favor of Prof. Meehan. Philadelphia. EdWIN C. JELLETT. Wild Rice. — Few know more of the reed of our river mud-flats than that it furnishes the food on which fattens for the epicure the reed- bird of autumn dinner tables — the bobolink of other vSeasons. But as wild rice — Zizaiiia aquatica of science — it has played no mean part in the service of man. It was the staple food of the Indians that formerly inhabited Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, where the plant abounds on the margin of lakes. Dr. Elliott Coues says that it is still the chief re- course of the Objibway Indians on the reserva- tions of Minnesota. They not only gather it for their own use, but for the purpose of trade. A common name is Indian Rice, and the lakes along which the plants abound are known as rice lakes. Whole Indian villages will he tenanlless in autumn, the inhabitants having gone " ricing," as the harvesting is termed. The Indians push their canoes into masses of rice, bend the heads of rice over a crotched stick, and thrash the grain into the bottom of the boat. — Independent. Note on Ferns, Lygodium palmatum and AsPLENiUM marginalE. — Mrs. F. L. K., Dan- ville, Vt., notes in regard to some recent fern illustrations : '' Aspidium marginale, in this region, has bright brown spores. I have gathered it at all stages of growth, and have never found any that approached black, though some have darker shades of brown than others. The day that the October, 1895, number came in, with its beautiful illustration of Lygodiutn pal- 7natum, I also received a fine specimen from Somers, Ct. Your history of the fern had an added interest to me, because I am almost sure I have in a lot of ferns from Japan, unnamed, a Lygodium Japonicum. It is a sterile frond, so that identification cannot be complete, but I hardly see how it can be anything else. What a feast of knowledge is in store for me these coming months if I live. My botanical correspondents are the wiser for my reading the magazine." Twin Ears of Corn. — " I think I have somewhere read that a single stalk of corn cannot produce two ears, one of which has 8 rows and the other 12. I have in my pos- session two ears taken from one stalk this fall, one of which has 12 rows and the other 8, with 3 short rows tucked in at the butt, about one inch long. ' ' Perhaps you may think there is some mis- take about this ; but I know there can be none, for I still keep the ears and thej^ will show for themselves. My own brother husked them and saved them for me, knowing that I was always look- ing for curiosities. " Timothy Wheeler. Moscow, vt. Twin ears of corn — united in some portion Siamese fashion — are not uncommon. We do not know that two ears wholly separated, as Mr. W. describes, have been before noted. It will interest morphologists to inquire why one should be 12-rowed and the other onlj^ 8. 1896.] Fanciful Resemblances in Plants — Noting your paragraph on the resemblance of a ripe seed vessel of the Jefftrsonia. when inverted, to a Turkish pipe. I send you a photo of a white oak, which I took while at Wild- wood, in southern New Jersey. My atten- tion was directed to it »s presenting the appearance of the head and horns of a deer, from some particular points of view. If you tilt the picture a little upwards on the left 45 Cotton-wood Tree grown on the made lands of the banks of the Mississippi River. They want to show that the tree is 50 or more years old. They had the oldest tree crosscut and brought into court. I was called on, and counted 36 rings : but contend that a ring is a grouth. and many trees make two and even three growths a year, showing a ring each growth. A Yellow Pine I had cut down here, that / knew to be -5 years old, had 75 rings, A DEERS-HEAD GROWTH OF A WHITE OAK. hand side, the resemblance is suggestive. By the way, how is this peculiar habit of growth to be accounted for ? HaddonBeld, N. J. These peculiar growths can often be ac- counted for when an examination is made on the spot, and with a fair knowledge of the usual phenomena of the growth. But an ex- planation could not be very well offered from a study of the picture alone. Annual Wood Circles in Trees.-A Mem- phis, Tenn.. correspondent says : ''There is an argument as to the age of a showing three growths a year. Now what do you sav ? r, \ - Again, some of those interested {Hooscers) sav each ring, as they know it, counts a year. Again, thev say ivhen the sap goes doun it forms a ring, and that only once a year. ••Now I contend, and from my learning back to 1S35. that the sap going up forms the ,o,vth,-the wood and the ring: but the sap does not go down. There is nothing to go down. It is utilized,— made into wood until another start to make anew. And so one. two and often three a year. Now what do you say / Do you remember reading the very celebrated intentional second exposure 46 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [March controversy on this, which ended as I say, between R. F. and Humphries, in the Gar deners' Chronicle, in 1845 ? If you can sustain me, make it so I can show it. I am sure I am right." Sap does not ascend and descend in the manner it was supposed fifty years ago to do. All of us have learned much since then, and have to learn much more, for there are still some obscure points. We all read too much and observe too little. It is the easiest thing in the world to test the question raised by our correspondent by measuring a tree daily through the growing season. If there were two or three distinct growths there would be two or three halts in the progress of the figures. The senior Conductor kept a record in this way on some Carolina Poplars. There was not the slightest variation in the figures until a few weeks past midsummer. The whole new circle of wood was completed in one effort, not extending over two weeks. The record is published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, in one of the volumes in the early sixties. Last year, one of the clerks, in the office of the Meehan Nurseries, kept a record on a large Silver Maple, near the office ; commencing June 12th and ending November 24th. The girth was 55 inches at the commencement. There was not a hair's-breadth of increase till the i8th of June, when a sudden increase of one-sixteenth was found. It then continued at the regular rate of about one-sixteenth of an inch increase in girth every five days until August 13th, when 56^ was reached. This was the end of the increase in girth for the season. The senior Conductor has often counted the rings of old trees, the ages of which were known, and the correspondence was close. In some cases there does seem to be fine lines within the larger ones, and without some caution these may be mistaken for the rings winding up the annual growth. It may be asked, here, how is the line formed, by which we trace the annual growth ? The old notion was that wood was formed out of elaborated sap. We now know that only that which has life can give life. •' All things from an ^%^'' is the form in which this is expressed. No elaborated sap could originate a living cell. New wood cells are formed from the older cells, and the elaborated sap supplies the food. On the 18th of June, in the experiment above cited, the mother cells holding over from last year brought forth a new brood of cells. These younger ones again brought forth others, and so they kept on continuously — the older giving birth to younger— till the 13th of August. By this time the leaves ceased to prepare food. Without food, the cell growth ceased for the season. When food becomes limited, the cells are smaller. When they renew growth with abundant food around them, they are large. The smallness of the cells make a darkish line between the broader cells. This is all that con- stitutes the line. A sudden deficiency in the food supply during active growth will lessen the size of the cells, and give the appearance of an "annual line;" but the renewed growth shows a gradual increase in size, and not the abrupt connection between large and small which marks the whole growth of one season and the beginning of the new. As to the ascent of the sap, there is a continuous flow of sap from the roots to the topmost twig to supply evaporation and transpiration. Theie is no evidence that sap descends ; but some- thing descends, for the food which nourishes the germinating cells contains elements which can only be procured from the atmosphere through the medium of the leaves of the tree. Just how all this is brought about has never been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the writer of this paragraph, but it is clearly the case, nevertheless. AspiDiUM MARGiNALE.— In the article upon Aspidium marginale, in the December number of the Monthly, there is an error which should be corrected. At the bottom of the first column on page 222, the writer, in enumerating the various altitudes at which the plant grows, mentioned Garrett Co., New Jersey, 2,700 feet. There is no county by that name in New Jersey, neither is there an elevation that great in the state ; the highest ground in New Jersey is at High Point, on the Kittatinny range of moun- tains, and is slightly less than 2,000 feet. The only Garrett County in the United States is in the northwestern part of Maryland, and as it is in a mountainous section of the state, it is presumably the locality meant. Charles H. La wall. Philadelphia. 1896.J MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 47 Nest of the Chimney Swift. — While I am not prepared to say that the chimney swift does not use vegetable gum in the con- struction of its nest, I can yet certify that in ten years observations upon this bird in a locality where they are very plentiful, I have never seen one instance in which the bird was seen in the act of gathering cherry gum. The swift is a bird of the higher air, and unlike the other swallows, does not alight on houses or on the ground. In fact, to see a chimney swift on the ground or the trunk of a tree would be remarkable enough to ' ♦ make a note of ' ' Now this cherry and peach gum usually is found only on the trunks and larger limbs, and I venture completion, and found that it takes much longer than it does many other birds' nests. A noticeable feature of the work was the fact that the birds would cling to the wall near the nest for an hour or more, a7id then go to work on the nest! During this time they may have been dissolving the cherry gum, but to me it seems much more likely that they were gather- ing the saliva with which to advance the build- ing. One who has examined the swift's nest closely will be struck with the multitudes of fine slender threads of the glue, which it seems would be hard to produce from cherry gum. A chemist of my acquaintance recently told me that it would require rather compli- ■^^ WV'^ 'tw!*i .-mm}- n-.. t^.. .->-■ t .. ^-'v-'- -, •■^i%. J»^:^''- .^^/. -' •.»'•;.%, ^^V '.'■■■-.i/'^iM^'^ * "' C««M.7 -v 'y^'r jiX ■ /:^';*«^■.»..^.»^».^.^...■t.'■ . ^a,— and Dolichos sesquipedalis is re- tained. Catjang and Soga are the Asiatic ver- nacular names which have been retained by botanists. BiDENS Beckii. — A correspondent from New York City sends a specimen, of a plant grow- ing in a parlor aquarium, to ask for its " com- mon name. " A friend procured the Latin name from a botanist as Bidens becki, but could not get at the meaning for his visitors. It appears to be correctly identified, though we did not know that the plant was employed in aquarium work There is no common name so far as known, as the plant has not been in common use. The "botanist " was probably misled by the practice of some moderns of dropping the capital from a man's name. There is no Latin word beck, and it is no wonder the student was puzzled over the meaning. It simply means "the Bidens named in honor of Mr. Beck." Older botanists would suppose the owner spelled his name with a capital — Beck. Just why some botanists desire to spell these names in this way, we never knew. The "botanist " would have seen at once that "beck" was a proper name if it had been properly spelled. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 53 Cultivating Native American Plants.— Parke Davis & Co., the well-known dealers in drugs of Detroit, believe that the plants used in the drug business are still so abundant, in a wild state, that there is no chance for any one of them to be cultivated to a profit for some time to come. Bulblets from Lily Scales.— The bot- anist usually explains the formation of new bulbs in the lily family by saying that they are formed in the axils of the leaf-stalks. That this is not always true is proved by some bulbs oiLilium candidum which I set out last fall. Diseases from Root-fungus.— The atten- tion which Meehans' Monthly, and in former times the Gardefiers' Monthly, called to the work oiAgaricus melleuson the roots of peach, pines, spruces and other things, resulting in a weakened vital power as shown by a yellowing of the foliage (in the peach-" the yellows ") followed by a growth of twigs of such low vitality that the twigs would die under slight winter frosts, is resulting in good work. Baron von Mueller states that another fun- gus Tremetes tadiciperda, acts in a similar way in Australia. He further states that the Scotch Fir and the larch suffer in Scotland from AgaricMS fnelleus just as the peach and other thino-s do here. He has recently had a letter from" Prof. Frank, of Berlin, saying that owing to the attacks of Agariais melleus on the larch plantations they have been looking for some tree the roots of which are not in favor with this serious depredator, and it is believed the Yellow Locust, Robinia pseud- acacia, will be a success in this respect. In the observations of the senior Conductor of this magazine the peach, apple, White Pine, Bhotan Pine and the Norway Spruce are the only species seen to suffer from this root-fungus. It would be worth while to have more extended observa- tions The fungus seems to get its first start from rotten wood, spreading subsequently to healthy roots. The Norway Spruce takes the fungus very easily. It was used by the Con- ductor in his earlier experiments. A few shovel- fuls of earth with the roots of a peach afflicted with the • ' yellows ' ' placed in the ground about a Norway Spruce would be nearly sure to give the -yellows" to the Norway Spruce the next season following. The peculiar fer- ment, which permeates the tree so attacked, seems to follow the individuals raised from it either by cuttings, seeds or grafts. This Agaric is probably the worst pest the cultivator has to contend with. To avoid half.rotten wood in the soil, is the best safe- guard. These had a great many small bulblets spring- ing from near the edge of the bulb-scales on the inner surface of the scales. They were an inch or more from the axils. Some of the bulblets showed consider- able growth, hav- ing two or more scales of their own I enclose drawings of the bulb and scales. WiLLARD N. Clute. Binghamton, N. Y. This interesting note shows that when a leaf is so modified as to become a bud scale it still retains a power possessed by true leaves, in exceptional cases, of forming buds outside of the usual axillary position. Some begonia leaves, and the leaves of the Bryophyllum or "live for ever'* of Florida, will make buds from the ends of the veins, just as these lily scales have done. A Double Mayweed.— Miss Bessie L. Put- nam says : , t • - I had two plants of double mayweed this year— the finest one was self-sown from last year's experiments (you perhaps recall my sending you some of those ligulate heads a year ago for seed). I have since sent blossoms to several botanists, none of whom had ever seen 54 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [March 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 55 it before. I hope I may succeed in making the variety permanent." A double composite is simply a flower in which the disk floret has strap shaped, instead of tubular, florets. A large section of the order are therefore naturally double. The dandelion is a familiar instance. A remarka- ble fact, and one of which no use has been made by those who write of evolution, is, that while there is a constant tendency of the species with tubular florets to produce strap- shaped ones, there is absolutely no tendency in the strap-shaped ones to assume the tubular disk form. No one ever heard of a dandelion becoming "single'*; while the daisy, dahlia, chrysanthemum, and others well known, often become •' double." Silicates as Manure. — A Chicago corres- pondent says : " Some twenty or more years ago, some firm in or near Baltimore sent out a fertilizer com- posed in whole or part of a diatomaceous earth, the fossil microscopic diatoms being composed entirely of silica. This earth came from some deposit in Maryland. Do you know if it is still sold, and 'where it can be obtained ? Scientists say that these small fossil skeletons, of many shapes, — stars, rings, discs, etc., — form to a great extent the outer coating of wheat, rye, etc.; that experiments have been made, where this, or rather a diatomaceous earth , had been used, — that the macerated straw, under a microscope, showed the diatoms un- changed in form. A friend of mine, who is experimenting largely in chemical manure, chiefly in solution in growing Chrysanthem- ums, intends trying some form of silica, and I suggested this earth. If the Chrysanthemum will take the silica and use it to build up its stem, the question of a stifl"stem maybe solved. I understand that Fuller's earth contains a large percentage of silica. Have you ever known this earth used in the cultivation of plants ? Can you give me any information as to the best form to convey silica to a plant ? ' * Several years ago it was pretty well demon- strated that mineral matters, that had once entered into the structure of plants or animals, were more readily taken up by plants than when presented to them in an original condi- tion. Thus, for instance, potash supplied by wood ashes was much more valuable as a manure than potash from decomposed feldspar. This should hold good in the present case. It is doubtful, however, whether the diatoms could retain their forms after their substance was assimilated by the plant. Perhaps others may be able to give more specific answers. MEW ©1 R^RE FL/^MTS. FUNKIA UNDULATA FOLIA VARIEGATA. — This is a highly recommendable little plant for forcing in winter. Planted in boxes and placed under benches, with a temperature of 50 to 60°, it will soon be a surprise to every observer. The plant can be forced right away, without being rooted again. The leaves — and they are the only valuable part of the plant when forced — are beautiful, having white, green and yellowish stripes ; they are daintily curled and do not wither readily, — a very important factor in the ar- rangement of flowers. Fu7ikias are perennials, — often named as Hemerocallis in mistake. Alb. Millard. Spir/EA Anthony Waterer. — Among the new shrubs to be introduced here this spring is the SpircBa ''Anthony Waterer,'" — a sport from the Spircea Bumalda, raised by Anthony Waterer, Knap Hill, England. It has the same character of growth as the Bumalda, but it is much freer in blooming, the flower heads are a great deal larger, and they are of a brighter pink color than the parent. The Con- ductors saw some of the original plants at Mr. Waterer 's nursery, the past summer, and were much struck with the beauty of the plant. Its low-growing compact habit makes it useful for planting in small shrubbery beds. PsEUDOPHcENix Sargenti. — Up to recent times, the Washing to7iia filifera was regarded as the rarest member of the palm family indige- nous to the Union. But the more recent dis- covery, Pseiidophoenix Sargenti, is now con- ceded to be the rarest palm of the United States, if not in the world, occurring as it does only in one or two of the more southern ' • keys " of Florida ; discovered by Prof. Sargent a few years ago, but up to now hardly known in col- lections, seeds being very hard to obtain. It has recently been distributed by the South California Acclimatizing Association. Caryopteris Mastacanthus.— In the Feb- ruary issue of MEEHANS' Monthly for 1895, there was an illustration of a new shrub from Mandchuria, Caryopteris Mastacanthus. It has been on the grounds of the Meehan Nurseries for several years past, and has created a very favorable impression. In spite of the drouth during the past summer, it made a vigorous growth and was particularly beau- tiful when in flower during August and Sep- tember. It is reported to be quite hardy in the New England States and is not injured at all at Philadelphia. It is especially valuable on ac- count of its late blooming qualities,— the flowers expanding at a season when few other shrubs are in bloom. appreciated to its full extent; indeed, it is questionable whether there are not quite as many good things standing in the background as have achieved prominent notice. One of these is the shrub now introduced to the atten- tion of the readers of Meehans' Monthly. Pyrtis arbutifolia,— or, as it is commonly known where it abounds, Chokeberry. It belongs, as its name Pyrus implies, to the apple family, and makes a rather dense bush of about five feet high. The leaves are some- Carnations.— Some promising new varie- ties of carnations will be disseminated this spring, and a few of them that have been brought to the notice of the conductors would indicate that the " ideal carnation '^ is near at hand. A long and stiff stem, large, full and well-shaped flower and a calyx that will not burst, are the main points which go to make up perfection in this flower. Jubilee is a dazzling scarlet, it has a large and full flower and a strong stem. The foliage and growth resemble Daybreak. It will be sent out this spring by E. G. Hill & Co. Delia Fox is another new variety raised by Myers and Samtman, Philadelphia,— it is a cross between Daybreak and Grace Wilder. It has all the characteristics of Daybreak, both in growth and in flower, but the color is deeper and it is more delicate in appearance. Bridesmaid is a promising sort disseminated last year by the Cottage Garden Greenhouses. It is also of the Daybreak character. The flower is a beautiful pale pink in the centre, gradually fading to a cream white on the outer edges. This firm also introduced a dark crim- son sort last year which they named Meteor. It has a strong growth and a large full flower. The color is that of the well-known variety, Annie Webb. Pyrus arbutifolia.— It is only during the past few years that the wonderful wealth of American trees and shrubs has been apprecia- ted in ornamental gardening. It is not yet PYRUS ARBUTIFOLIA. (Berries red, reduced three-fourths.) what like the famous Strawberry Tree of Eng- lish gardens, or Arbutus Unedo, and which tree is generally in mind when a botanist names any thing " arbutifolia. " It has corymbs of white flowers in spring, which are more like minute pear blossoms than apple, though the bright red fruits in autumn have more of an apple character than of a pear. The leaves turn of a beautiful crimson in the fall of the year. The specimen illustrated shows its appearance at the end of November, and is reduced three- fourths. 56 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [March FK^DTS KB ¥E^ETi^PLES. Peach Growing in North Carolina. — Professor Heiges reports that Tryon, North Carolina, is a great centre for profitable peach growing, and that their principal varieties are the Crawfords, Elberta, Oldmixon, St. John, Anisden, River's, Heath Cling and Stump. The Splendor Prune. — The new fruits, raised by the successful efforts at improve- ment made by Mr. Luther Burbank on the Pacific Slope, are already getting into circula- tion. Stark Brothers are offering the Splendor Prune, which is more than double the size of the D'Agen, which has hitherto been the most popular of prunes. Immediate Changes by the Action of Pollen. — It seems very hard to settle this question. A correspondent asserts that he has seen a pear tree intertwining its branches with an apple. One branch of the pear had a round fruit like an apple. He is sure the pollen of the apple influenced this form. It is remarkable that those writers who make the strongest assertions, that pollen has this immediate influence, have never made any actual experiments, — while those who have tested the matter directly never had any re- sults. The old English author, Bradley, who wrote in 1724 and asserts most positively that such immediate results do occur, had no other evidence than that he had found various changes in form and character in the same orchard. These parties could see the same changes if they looked where there was nothing to cross with. Mr. T. A. Knight, the famous President of the Royal Horticultural Society of England, told that body, in 1824, that, after all his experiments, he could find no change through the immediate action of pollen. He had found abundant change independently of pollen. He instanced especially a Coe's Golden Drop Plum, which once produced a branch wnth red fruit, when he had no plum like it to act in the cross. Sabine, the secre- tary, as famous as an investigator as Knight, after summing up all the evidence up to his time, declares that there is no warranty for a belief that the many curious changes are due to the influence of pollen. He says, as we say now, nearly a hundred years later, "investi- gation is necessary to discover the real cause of these changes." The probable cause is in the inherent power of all plants to vary, not only in the fruit, but in every part of the plant. Some changes have been noted in crossed seed, but a seed is really a part of the new individual, quite as much as it is of the old one, and one might reasonably look for immediate change there. Winter-grown Vegetables. — It has been the work of Meehans' Monthly to show that there is good profit in raising fruits or vegeta- bles under glass in the North, in spite of the fact that the milder climate of the South seems to render such success out of the question . Last year it was shown to what an enormous extent lettuce, under glass, was being grown for the Boston market.— and tomatoes are being raised in many places. Possibly the largest venture of this kind is at Richfield, Minn. The houses are of enormous extent, and are heated by a steam engine located four hundred feet away. The Market Garden tells us of its success the past winter : " There are 38 beds running north and south with a row of tomato vines on each side of the pipe supports, and 39 plants in a row, making 2,964 plants in all. The vines are 16 ins. apart in the row, with a space of 30 ins. between rows. The beds are seven feet wide, with a 12- in. path between them, leaving an open space of five feet between every other row. Two main rows of two-inch water pipes, running east and west, with a faucet at every bed, fur- nish complete irrigation facilities. The seed was sown August ist, and the plants set out September ist. During the first week in November the first fruit was picked. The vines have been trained on cords or wire and are now nearly 10 feet high. 3,000 pounds of tomatoes have been picked thus far, and Mr. Busch estimates that he will get 8,000 pounds more by the end of the season." This was only up to the middle of December, when Florida tomatoes w^ere selling in Chicago for between three and four dollars for a four- basket crate. Tomato Culture. — Many methods of sup- porting tomato plants have been suggested. Inverted (/\) trellises are frequently used with good results. j8^6 "I meehans' monthly— general gardening. 57 Th:ck Skikneb Oranges. - " Meeha.s' large number of seeds, and -J el y because it is- no n.ore for a box of thin skins than for a box '^^^-l\^^;^ ^^Z^ ^^'^^'^ Slation. of thick ones-and, as there was consequently stated in the interest ot gene more profit in growing orange skins than in , , „, ri^^^f -.ooles properly growin^g orange fiesh. the skins carried the J^^^^^^^^^^^^L tit fiv^ o^ si^ The M0NTHI.V goes on to say : feet high. An occasional one vviH reach ten We have never heard such an explanation feet. When they grow Waller, 't - -used as befoTe, and this may be only .chaff.' Still, -nietin.es in the pear or th - ,^^^^^^^^^ the great question remains, why do orange par graf ed on t'^^/^fXe stock is a small growers graft and plant thick.kinned sorts. -;-/ j^ ^JJ ;::;^^;in1,e mountains when the thin-skins are preferable ? species 01 ^^Ha app , g fe strone- we assure Brothers Meehan that the grower of Asia Minor and natiu^b on a ong^ referred to was conversing largely through his growing shrub. It i. the ^ ''^J K r. Thf writer has had much experi- botani.sts. Dwarf apples are very prett% orna prSer h "k.sklned'fruU L'the reasons stated Centre County, has been testing the bearing EEo?™^^:^!^:^^-- =-;s--g=:"e^^:^ ^ored by Mr. ^Thomson in his .improved ^<^ ^ ^^^^ ^ ^^Z:; ^^, ,.,„,..,,. Navel orange - is in producing a thinner ^^^^^^J^^^ ^;"^;:;^ 4,555 skinned fruit. To say that the thin-skinned ~t^r:... 9.552 n,..5 varieties are less prolific, is equally absurd, so ghustcr (Gem) 7,632 M.^oS far as California at least is concerned. Abso- Crescei.t •;■;;;•••;;;•;; ^^l ^^^^ lutely the most prolific orange grown in Call- ' has other qualities which recommend it as H--;/;^^*'Sar?of Charles S. Mills, near superior to the thin-skinned sorts. This is the ^^^^^TJtL the finest that ever came oni;practicalreasonwhythickskinnedora^ges «- ^ H^^; -^;„ „, ,,, ,,.,,er. Thetrees are produced ; and «'ne^tenths of all growers unde Augouleme would be only too glad to dispose of a 1 the ^^'^^aDoui j theentirecrop averaged skin possible, as wdl as seeds, in all varieties ^^^^^l^:^^-^::^^:,^ .894, th'e crop was "^rhafbertemarked a thousand times by simply enormous. " California growers that if the paper rind St^ vegetables.- While mineral Michael were a seedless orange it would be the J'^^^'^''^ ^„^ vegetables grown for most profitable variety to grow because of its «a°«^« ^"^ ^^^^^ ^^^.^ -.^ ferred for small size and its thin skin. Many regard it seeds or fruit, stable manu p a^the most profitable orange, in spite of its leaf-produc.ng kinds. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. 59 BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. UNSEEN BEAUTIES. ■*' Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear ; Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air." —Gray. Joel J. Baily.— Mr. Joel J. Baily is well- known, not only in Philadelphia, but in many parts of the United States, by reason of his great interest in all philanthropic enterprises in many things which redound to the benefit of humanity. He is also one of Philadelphia's leading amateur horticulturists. His gardens and grounds are always attractive to lovers of fruits and flowers. He has an excellent gar- dener in Mr. George Fowler. Longevity of Seeds. -Monsieur Casimir De Candolle sends us a copy of his paper on the longevity of seeds. He has found that there is a period of suspended animation, as one might say, and which, if long continued, will enable a seed to live for an indefinite period. One of the evSsentials to this suspension is a low temperature. This is in accord with the recent observations of others. Deep in the earth, under regular temperature, or under other circumstances favorable to regularity and exclusion from the atmosphere, seeds will undoubtedly live for a long time. Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Queries With Answers From Landreths' Book OF Inquiries Upon Agricultural and Horticultural Subjects.— Issued by D. Lan- dreth & Sons, Philadelphia. Possibly no com- mercial enterprises are so flooded with letters of inquiry from customers as those which deal with seeds, trees and flowers. It was a happy thought to issue a work like this. The question that interests one will interest scores of others, and the book is more likely to serve general purposes than could be obtained from a large library. A firm that has been in existence over one hundred years will be an acknowledged mentor. (58) Erastus S. Wheeler —Though he would be regarded as merely a local botanist, Erastus S. Wheeler, of Berlin, Mass., deserves a more honorable record, for his services to botany and entomology had a world-wide value. He died at his home on December i8th, in the city of Berlin, where he was born on the 15th of December 1832. He was well acquainted with the flora of the whole of our Eastern Con- tinent, traveling continually in connection with the pursuit he loved. He never married. The Early Culture of the Tomato. — A certificate is held by Mrs. Zelia T. Burkart, of Oak Lane, Phila., from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, owned by her father Conrad S. Esher, which reads : *• Presented by the Pennsylvania Horticul- tural Society to Conrad S. Esher as an honor- able testimony of his having gained by his exertion and skill the premium for the growth of the best tomatoes submitted to this society this year. Sec, Chas. Pickering. Pres., Geo. Vaux. 'Philadelphia, 1833.' " Charles Pickering, by the way, is the famous author and botanical traveler. Dr. Alfred L. Kennedy. — A quarter of a century ago, no one was better known in agricultural and horticultural circles than that of Dr. A. L. Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy was in many respects a remarkable man. In many branches of science he was among the fore- most, and his earnest eflbrts were directed to turning scientific truths to practical benefit of mankind. For some years he has dropped entirely out of view. It was suddenly dis- covered, by his tragic death, through the explosion of chemicals, that he had been lead- ing the life of a recluse in a solitary room, still studying and recording results of experiments he had been making. The death occurred on the 30th of January. He was born in Phila- delphia on October 25, 1818, and was thus in his 78th year. Biography.— Among the studies in human life, biography is perhaps the weakest. In the far away past stories are told of great men, that we now know could have never happened. In our own time many prepare their own future histories ; and, even in the most conscientious cases, the ''best foot is placed foremost." A story is told, in a recent life of the Duke of Wellington, which cannot be true. It is said that the late Mr. Loudon, whom most of us remember as the author of numerous books on trees and gardening, wrote to the Duke for permission to examine some beech trees grow- ing in his garden. It is said that the letter simply asked the Duke to permit him to examine his beeches, without any further ex- planation, and that it was merely signed C. J. Loudon. English Bishops use their titles rarely. The Duke thought the letter came from ''Charles James (Bishop of) London" and read beeches "breeches." He thought, says the story, that the Bishop had a cranky notion to see the breeches he wore at the battle of Waterloo ; and wrote to the Bishop that he might see the breeches if his valet could find them. The Bishop, in turn, thought the Duke had gone crazy,— and it was some time before the Duke came to understand that it was not Charles James of London, but Charles James Loudon, and that it was the beeches in the garden, and not the breeches in the old clothes closet, that was the subject of correspondence. That the story is wholly apocryphal is clear from the certainty that Mr. Loudon's letter would have had some adjectives at least, by which the Duke would have understood why he desired to see the beech trees, which had the reputation of being very fine. There was no reason for writing for mere permission to look at a beech tree, for Mr. Loudon was well-known, and welcome everywhere; but above all his name was not Charles James,— the same initial letters as those which designated the Bishop of London,— but John Claudius Loudon. REFERENCE BoOKS.— Sometime since a re- mark was ventured that the comparatively wealthy Massachusetts Horticultural Society would render inestimable service to horticul- ture and horticultural botany if they would compile a complete index of all the matter ouched on in Hovey's Magazine,— and this might be extended to other serials. The United States Department of Agriculture did valuable service a few years ago by getting out such an index for their reports. But the whole range of literature needs going over in the same way. The thought arises from a kind letter from the Old World, hoping that " Mee- haniana' ' might be collected together before the senior Conductor of this magazine should sit down to rest. But active workers are too busy making history, -but societies might very well do such work. Thorny PLANTS.-Mr. F. N. Tillinghast sends the following extract, with the com- ment, " Is it true?" - One of the uses of thorns is to protect the plant from animals which feed on herbage. Says La Nature : Nearly all plants that have thorns in their wild state lose them after generations of culti- vation. It is as if plants brought under the protection of man gradually lay down their arms and trust themselves entirely to his pro- tection." r • U It would be difficult for any one to furnish the proof of this. The holly and the hawthorn have been under cultivation extensively in the Old World, the seedlings in each generation from cultivated trees, but they are thorny still. If Homer and Sappho, or other ancients who sang so sweetly of the roses a couple of a thous- and years ago, were living now, they would find to-day that there was no * 'rose without a thorn . ' ' AMERICAN GARDENiNG.-The well-knowu semi-monthly horticultural serial, Ametican Gardening, has become a weekly. It is the oldest magazine, genealogically considered, in existence. When the publisher and proprietor of the Ganiencrs' Monthly, Chas. H. Marot, died suddenly and unexpectedly, Amcncan Gardening stepped in and purchased its sub- scription^ist. as the Gafdencrs^ Monthly had before absorbed the Horticulturist. The last named was established in 1846 by A.J. Down- ing. It is a record to be proud of. and on which we congratulate our contemporary. Modern ARX.-The beautiful quarterly. Modern Art. hitherto published in Chicago, is in the future to be issued in Boston by Messrs. Prang cS: Co. GENERAL NOTES. Evaporating Fruits.— There is far too little done in the way of giving credit to the public benefactors, — possibly because so many of them patent their inventions, and the public therefore considers that as we give them an exclusive right to sell their goods, that this is reward enough ; but there are many inven- tions of this kind that are of immense national importance, and it does seem that some honor is due, even though the parties have secured patent rights for their invention. We have this fact in mind while reflecting on the enor- mous value America has received from those who have worked up good methods of evapor- ating our surplus fruit. • Among these useful citizens prominently stands the name of B. L. Ryder, of Chambersburg, Pa. (The Company is now at Waynesboro.) There can be no question, but that the invention of the Amer- ican fruit-dryer by this gentleman gave the great impetus to this industry, which has brought this great national benefaction. Forest Fires. — It is many years now since the senior Conductor of this magazine point- ed out that nothing could possibly save American forests from serious conflagra- tions but some well directed effort to get rid of dead brushwood, which every- where abounds. It is pleasant to note that this seed sown so long ago is now bearing fruit. Secretary Morton has distinctly stated to one of the Forestry Conventions, that there is absolutely no other hope of saving a forest from fire than the removal of the dead brush- wood,— and this idea is now being taken up in forest articles in newspapers, and in speeches in conventions. In the early part of the season it was stated that the losses by forest fires in New Jersey would cer- tainly come up to two hundred thousand dollars. Then, it was stated, that if the State of New Jersey were to appropriate two hundred thousand dollars for the em- ployment of forest wardens, it would be a cheap thing to do. These forest wardens are (60) to have nothing to do but to sit around and wait for the beginning of the fire, and then put it out. If a hundred thousand, or only fifty thousand dollars, were spent in removing dead brush-wood, which feeds the fire, the money would be better spent. But the universal weakness of our people is to think that noth- ing can be done unless the state has a '* finger in the pie, " — not only in forestry, but in many other good efforts. The true forestry policy should be to encourage private enterprise. The state might give a bonus for the best cared-for forest after a certain number of years, and it might relieve forest lands from their share of taxation. In many ways it could be made the interest of owners to plant forests and to care for those which are worth caring for. To our minds, the talk of the forest wardens, and similar state expenditures, are all labors at the wrong end. Meehans' Monthly in Libraries. — So many great works come to an untimely end, that Meehans' Monthly naturally came under the general suspicion that it would do likewise, as apparently did the " Native Flow- ers and Ferns of the United States.*' But it was to continue this great work that Meehans' Monthly was started. A continuous work, under ordinary publishing houses, is uncer- tain. The nursery firm of Thomas Meehan & Sons have undertaken it, simply to give assur- ance that it will be continued for all time. As it must become a permanent work of reference, libraries, with confidence now that the work will be permanent, are looking up back vol- umes. These early complete sets are getting scarce. There are at the present time less than two hundred sets on hand. The Druggists' Troubles with Changes op Plant Names. — The druggists are now complaining of the Babel which the wholesale changing of botanical names is inducing. In many cases it is literally a question of life or death with them. PUBLISHERS NOTES. Each year the enterprise of the various Nursery Seed and Plant Establishments in the country bring to the front numerous new or rare flowers, plants and vegetables. These firms, who are advancing horticulture in this direction, deserve a great deal of credit, and they should have the support of every enthu- siastic horticulturist. It gives the publishers a great deal of satisfaction to note the increased number of these new introductions this year, and a perusal of the following list will show the untiring eff^orts of these firms for the advancement in this direction. It would be not only a source or pleasure ; but an educational feature for the readers of Meehans' Monthly to secure catalogues of any of the following firms, and to look over them carefully and to experiment with the new plants or vegetables offlered by them. In this way it can be determined just what part of this country the various plants or vegetables will do best, and the publishers can say, on behalf of the horticulture press, that they will always be glad to publish the experiences of those who have tried the various novelties offered by advertisers. A great deal of good would come from this and it is really the duty of everyone to do his or her part towards the advancement of horticulture in some such way as this. The publishers will hope to hear during the coming summer and fall from those who have tried novelties, as to how they have succeeded with them in comparison with older sorts that have already been tested. The plants or vegetables enumerated in con- nection with the name of each firm represents what that firm is introducing, or is making a particular sale of. Storrs & Harrison Co., Painesville, Ohio. Perpetual flowering hardy rose - Mrs. J. Shar- man Crawford," - Clio," New Hybrid - Sweet Brier, "and novelties in Fruits and Vegetables. Alfred Bridgeman, New York City, N. Y. New Cox-comb -Vesuvius" Nasturtium, -Lilliput," ''Scarlet Globe," Radish, 'Up- land," Cress. Dingee & Conard Co., West Grove. Pa. Ever blooming Rose, -Princess Bonnie," Crimson Tea Rose, " Mariaon Dingee," Ever blooming Tea Rose - Graziella " Canna -Flamingo." Jacob W. Manning, Reading, Mass. Lord Penzance Sweet- Briers Spitae^^^vAnthony Waterer," new Phlox, Japanese Iris and other herbaceous perennials. J. M. Thornburn & Co., New York City, N. Y. Carnation, - Double Perpetual," Celosia - Ostrich-Feather," " Thornburn Valentine Wax Bean," - Melrose Sweet Corn," " Thorn- burn New York Tomato," and the -Carmine No. I," and - Carmine No. 3" Potatoes. W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. -Large Red-ribbed" Celery, -Early White Radish," Morse Lettuce, -Cupid" and other improved Sweet Peas, Japanese Asters, " Bur- pee's Defiance" Balsam, - Fordhook Fancy Fringed Double Petunia." G. R. Gause & Co., Richmond, Ind. - Queen Charlotte " Canna, improved double and single Geraniums. Geraniums -Souv.de Miranda." H. W. Buckbee, Rockford, Ills. -Monte Cristo," Water Melons, -Golden Globe" Danvers Onion, - Buckbee's New Queen " and - Christmas " Cabbage, -Colossal " Corn, and -Illinois" Oats. W. C. Gault, Ruggles, Ont. The - Gault Late Raspberry. Andorra Nurseries, Chestnut Hill, Phila- delphia. - Schweidleri " Norway Maples. '« Oriental Plane," - Hypericum Moserianum. " EUwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. New seedling Apple -Barry." Fall Pear -Lady Clapp," Winter Pear -Dorset," -Crimson Rambler ' ' and ' ' Marchionees or Londonderry Rose, New Lilacs. Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia. -Rogers Lima" Wax-Bean, Double Sweet Peas, -Climbing Meteor" Rose, Water Lilies, and Marguerite Carnation. Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines. la. New «' Rose Turnip" Raddish, -Washington Wake- field" Cabbage, -Ideal Mammoth " Rhubarb, Double Morning-glory, -Goldmine" and ♦' Silver mine " Corn. Reasoner Bros.. Oneco, Fla. Nelumbiums, Nyphseas and other Water-lilies, Tropical and Sub-tropical plants of all kinds. H F. Michell, Phila. Michell -Delicious" Sweet Corn, - Non superior " Evergreen lawn grass seed, Sweet Peas and -Lemon Oil" Insecticides. Hyre Bros.. Dayton, Ohio. Small fruits of every description. Pike & Ellsworth, Jessamine, Fla. White, night blooming, and red, white and blue ever blooming Water-lilies, Tropical and Sub- tropical plants. Penzance owcct .ducio w^ ^ : ZT^T^Tir^^cuAiuQt MONTHLY ^/i]i^WSmNGf^ADVERT.SEBS-. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD .N MEEHANS MONTHLY. k. Douglas & Sons, Waukegan, Ills. Colo- rado Blue and Douglass Spruce, Evergreens and Forest seedlings. G. S. Josselyn, Fredonia, N. Y. New Grapes, * ' Campbell, " • ' Early Esther ' \ and ' ' Rock- wood " *' Red Jacket " Gooseberry. C. E. Whitten, Bridgman, Mich. "Satis- faction " and *• Splendid'' Strawberry, small Fruits and plants. Parry's Pomona Nurseries, Pomona, N. J. "Star'* Apple, "Japan Early Reliance" Chestnut, "Japan Golden Russet" Apple, "Bismark" Apple. A Blanc & Co., Philadelphia. Clematis " Stanleyi " "Climbing Meteor " and " Golden Rambler ' ' Rose, White ' * Alsace ' ' Canna, Imperial Japanese Ipomseas. Phoenix Nursery Company, Bloomington, Ills. "Abutilon Souv. de Bonn," Trees, Shrubs and Fruits in great variety. Keene & Foulk, Flushing, N. Y. Large Maples, in variety, California Privet, Rhodo- dendrons, Aazleas and other choice nursery stock. T. J. Dwyer, Cornwall, N. Y. Fruit trees and small fruits in variety. Deming Co., Salem, Ohio. Improved Spray- ing apparatus for every purpose. F. H. Horsford, Charlotte, Vermont. Hardy herbaceous perennials and native trees and plants. G. H. & J. H. Hale, So. Glastonbury, Conn. "Hale" Plum, "Triumph" Peach, " Bouncer " Strawberry. D. Hill, Dundee, Ills. Evergreens, and Forest seedlings. Hillside Nursery, Somerville, Masis. Choice vegetable and flower seeds. W. H. Moon Company, Morrisville, Penn. Rosa Wichuriana, new and rare Fruit and Ornamental Trees. John Saul, Washington, D. C. Choice new and rare Foliage Plants. J. A. Salzer Seed Company. La Crosse, Wis. "Salzer's Early Wisconsin" Potato, "Silver-mine" Oats, " Teosinte," "Giant Golden " and " German " Clover. E. W. Reid, Bridgeport, Ohio. " London " Raspberry, • * Keepsake " Gooseberry, * ' Eureka ' ' Raspberry, ' • Brandy wine ' ' and Timbrell " Strawberries. Thomas Meehan & Sons, Germantown, Philadelphia. Native Oaks, Japanese Maple, Red- flowered Dogwood and other Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, etc. NEZ PERCE # POTLATCH # PALOUSE These are the names of three great agricultural aud fruit growing districts in Idaho and Washing- ton reached by the Northern Pacific Railroad. They each adjoin the other, are similar in poducts, climate and character, and together form a region for a homeseeker hard to equal. The Palouse region has long been noted for its mar- velous grain Production. It is to the Pacific Coast what the Red River Valley is to Minnesota and North Dakota. The Potlatch country is like unto the Palouse, and adjoins it on the east. The Nez Perce region lies south of the others and has until recently been a part of a great Indian reservation. 500,000 acres of it have been thrown open to settlement and its lands can be bought at cheap prices and on favorable terms, Write to CHAS. S, FEE, General Passenger Agent Northern Pacific Railroad, For folder and rates St. Paul, Minn. Rosa Rhbosa (JAPAI4HSB ROSE) We have a large stock of this beautiful Rose ; strong and thrifty plants on their own roots ; suitable for planting in masses. See our new descriptive catalogue which contains a full paged illustration of them, also prices for single plants or in quantities. Azalea yWoLLis (CHINESE flZniiEA) This is the most attractive of all the Aza- leas,— the flowers are born in great profu- sion. We have a good stock of thrifty, well rooted plants. See description and illus- tration in our new catalogue for 1896. Descriptive catalogue for Spring, 1896, will be mailed free to old customers, to others for six cents in stamps. THOMAS MHHHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS GEf^MflNTOWrJ, PHlliA. SITUATIONS WANTED. Advertisements under this head, not exceeding 50 words, will be inserted once for 50 cents, or three times tor »i. 25. OARDENERS:— We shall be glad to furnish ^ names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Germantown, Philadelphia. ^^^p^ and garden there is no Fertilizer so pro- PO K ductive, 80 clean, healthful and free from t^m ■■ *■ odor, as I VuUM HARDWOOD ASHES Send for Testimonials. ANDORRA NURSERIES, ^KrilX'^i Hill ,Pa. WM. WA«N«« HaRPIP. MANAOCf* GARDENERS— O" our register will be found names of Competent Gardeners, and we will take pleasure in sending these to any one requiring their services. Henry A. Dreer, Seedsman and Florist, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. GAR DE N E R— English, aged 38. married, small family ; 24 years experience in growing or- chids, ferns, stove and greenhouse plants, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums ; also the management of fruit houses, vegetable and flower gardens, etc. State wages. Chas. Dumper, 119 Tallmadge St., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. P.RHBESBEiTIFDLPLRIITS l^rd Penzance's New Hybrid Sweetbriars, Old Garden nifps New Roslf. Standard Roses, Philadelphia Leiuoenei, N^w 'Ulacs Lonicera Hildebrandtii. HpirJBa ''Anthony Waterer," Teooma Smithii, etc. A la Plants, other l>c».u«->.— - ..^---r^ — I ui \ "pVk(%?ES-aT^^^^^^ the finest in cnltiva- ti°\VeTvln^y publication of its kind in the west, this being the twenty sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magazine for 30 cents. To any one sending us 30 cents and six natties ?/" friends who might subscribe for our magazine, we will mail our one dollar magazine a full year. At 30 cents we lose ™J>ney the first year but hope you will continue to be a subscriber after seeing twelve numbers. If you wish to ,see the magazine before subscribing, send 10 cents and receive a sample cop> and a free gifl ofan aluminum dime-size cjiarm with tnc Lord's Prayer engraved in smallest characters ; bright as silver, and never tarnishes. ir^ do not send sample co/>tes free so save your postal cards as no notice will be given them. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Address, THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive St., St. Loulf, Mo THE INSECT WORLD There is published in Philadelphia by the Entomologi- cal Section of rhe Academy of Natural Sciences, at the low price^f One Dollar a year, an illustrated monthly journal, "" '"' ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS tr^^'is'vxttt^^'. r^otr'ic^nroLi^^^^ by Prof John B. Smith. State Entomologist of New Jersey. The news and gossip always so interesting to Lntomologi- Jal workers finds an important place in the pubhcat ion . To those remote from the centres of >"f°^";^^'^,"^^^;*X^ ,^f, to be of the utmost importance, since it will keep the stu dent ^sted on what is'being accomplished m serials and monographs at home and abroad. Insects named for sub^ s^ribefs f?ee of charge. Send ^i-oo or a year s subscrip- tion, to E. T. CRESSON. Treas.. P. O. B. 248. Phila.. Pa. or^no nieces ofSlieetMoKlc at 10 cents a copy Also any 6000 Suisic published sent on receipt of the retail price. v;r.nn r.uitar Banio and Mandolin Strings, of all grades, V lolin Guitar Manjo a ^ ^^ for catalogues In magazine. Address, fl. "; »*ofi^f *„,t, g., Louis, Mo. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. nr„^^««e TciT^MFM YOlJ^W THEIR QARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y, yVHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW « ntm v r otato es, Tomatoes, Melons, Cabbage, Turnips, Lettuce, Peas, Beets, Onions, and all Vegetables, re- move large cjuantities of Potash from the soil. Supply Potash in liberal quantities by the use of fertilizers containing not less than io% actual Pot- ash. Better and more profit- able yields are sure to follow. Our pamphlets are not advertising circulars boom- ing special fertilizers, but are practical works, contain- ing latest researches on the subject of fertilization, and are really helpful to farmers. They are sent free for the asking. GERMAN KATJ WORKS, 93 Is'ussau St., New York. NEW CATALOGUE OF GARDEfl SEEDS Now ready. Send for it 37 Hast fliNHXEEfiTH St. HSTABlilSHED 1824 BtOODGOOD * HOHSEfllES (Oldest In America.) Established 1790 Offers intending planters a choice selection of Fruit Trees and Fruit Plants in variety. Also, a full stock of Orna- mental Irees and Shrubs, deciduous and evergreen. Some rare specimens. Our stock of Maple Trees and Privet is particularly fine. Prices extremely low. Correspondence solicited. K££N£: & FOULK, FlashiDg, N. Y. Gardens and Gardening With Descriptions of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Flowers. I^ucius D. Davis, Editor and Publisher, Newport, R.I. This is the title of a new magazine, the first two numbers of which have already been published. Each issue will contain, for the present, a some- what general plan of one of the famous Newport Gardens with detailed descriptions of the plants most prominently in use. Later the same treat- ment will be extended to noted gardens and villa grounds in other localities. Besides this there will be in each number nu- merous descriptions of Trees and Plants, especially of new and rare varieties. The Magazine is printed on heavy paper, with broad margins and in the best style of the printers art. Original Illustrations accompany all the garden sketches. Price, $2. CO a year, Single numbers 20 cents. Address, ** Gardens and Gardening," Newport, R. I., or the Editor. CLASS SEEDS. Our Ninety-Fifth Annual Catalogue is now ready, and will be mailed FREE on application. It contains the largest collection in the world of Yegetaoie, Flower s Farm seeds, including every standard variety and every novelty of established merit. For Nearly a Century the Leading Seed House of America. J.M.THORBURN&Co.lS JOHN ST.NewYork RARE AMARYLLIS AND BEGONIAS. Three grand new Begonias, strong plants, sent for $2.50. Amaryllis Defiance, 351;. to 75c. each ; A. New beautiful white lined with red, fluted edges, 50c. and 75c. each, $4.50 to I6.00 per doz.; A. Red, marked with white, 35c and 50c. each, I1.50 to $2 50 per doz ; A. Formosissima, bright scarlet, 15c. to 25c. each. A collection of all the above, $1.50 to $2.50 post paid. Amaryllis seeds, mixed, 25c. per packet. Small seed- lings, assorted, $1 .00 per doz. Send for catalogue to Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd, Tentara-by-the-Sea, Cal. DECORATIVE PLANTS Palms, Bainl>ooH, Cactus. Succulents, Rare Fla. Flowers, Ecotioinic plantM, Fruit trees and vines, etc., from all over the tropics. Hend for new illustrated catalogue, full of good things priced low. Plants safely sent everywhere by mail, express or freight. Low special rates. We can please you. REASONER BROS., oneco. fla. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY^ 3 000000 Plants * 100,000 Fruit Trees FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL. 5MALL FRUITS, 0RAPE5, SHRUBS, R05BS, EVERGREENS. HARDY PLA^^^S, I«aive«t!and choicest collections In Amorlflft* NEW CATALOQUEv beautlfnllY illustrated, ft^e to regular onstomers, to others lOc for postage. ^^ ELLWANCER & BARRY, nOUNT HOPE NURSERIES, Rochester, N. y. FARM ANNUAL for 1 896. *'The Leadinfi American Seed Catalogue." URPEE'S w. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA. NUT AND FRUIT CULTURE _ 1896 r frl«r '^lTa?cWe".io\Y^Td1;ctfvl^^^^^^ '-6-t '»- '-L, around ; P.r». «""srr^?tt"p'erfec.io„ Of ear,, appUs;;;B.sma^^^^^^ the handsomest : Lincoln C»''«'tf,'L',,u^I,rin^i^e a valoal.le fruit unequalled for jelly. yuince Coau^b'^i^ JL*Ji'^° ■itiet and ?SuamS?ntrodS?tlons, Frnit.'si.ado an.l' Ornamental Small Fruits, Rare Trees. ) Novelties and vaiuanie miruuuui.^..^. — ^ ■ PARRY'S POMONA NURSERIES, Parry, Hmw Jer«ey FLOWERS in ro.»e«,oliryw*ntlieiiiunii», ''"•;;'"47,.\;\,ectii.n of BeBOiila« in Ahmt- vegotabk', H.at an- ''"••'' »V»*^.m .Tine d ants of uu to valuf. NN •• -tVr l.u>.r« ica, many oth.T house and ^•♦*'*'Vv'fvo Sumev With evtMV onl.T ..f ?1.«t and n.any inducenu-ntH. \N •7,"" ? ,n n f " ^''^SVrit - for illustrated oaniloL-u.. of wi 50 4>nt» Z^.i;: free, valuable inf.nrnjatrmyoeM^ .;;^ -^. p,.,, ,,4.,. nil buy any one of the l'';"^'^ ,:"; " ' *; 7 i^ '**''" aHHortnient of c<.lors you have 2 Everbloonima HoseK, all *""*7* ",;i;''io" Vize-winniiiir ("hryHantheniums, ever had «-«» vanetien -J. entH I« ,^, ^^,,t,_ many eolor^ and f;'""» of this *iy^^^,,,^ ^„ j single. •'-. c leeant (ieraniiinis, no t>*_'> itlKe-i '<•»'» '^ nfterent. ."Su ten .'»«i centa. enlH. Order today. AddreKH. inPCCP^C RELIABLE lUnCCn O PLANTS and BULBS I Are everywhere known a. The BEST. Why risk poor one» when the b^^^^^ g ^ noat^e stamp for Breer's Garden Calendar for 1896-ricUiyiiiusija«, chettnut SI., g iSnSflr.Tpular flower.^ It describe. HENRY A. DREER, Phil... P.. B 3 everythinK New and Old, of Merit. SMeng- Plants- mat- mow. such as Brandy wine, Bisel. Eleanor, Clyde Splen^d 8^^^^^^ faction, Wm. Belt, etc. My prices are right. Send for list. C. B. WHITTEN'S NURSERY. Bridgman, Mich. ^n^ir^i^T^i^nTYOUSAWTHEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY, WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW TMtm i,n EVERGREENS! and Ornamental trees, Nursery K.rown. ISo Choice EverpreenH 10 vanetieH rz. 400 Ornamental trees. 6T«"«V,®:jvS«h nrher*f) and |10 harRRins, 100 Scotch wvTnel ft hiih. $«;l.(l00.10to 12inche8 irmo All other varietjes and sue* f-hean. Local AKents Wante.l Send for Illustrated Ciitaloi^ue FREE. ■■III EverRreen Specialist, D. H I LL, . DUNDEE. ILLINOIS. CRAPE VINES. Largest Stock Introducer of Gooseberr ^ Geo In the World, unrivalled Small new Red Fruits. Jacket lerry & Fay Currant. Catalogue /rw. . S. Josseiyn, Fredoiiia, N. Y.c IHI'.fl OUR BEST Wild Flowers and Ferns are very beautiful, and so are those of other coun- tries. It is my mission to grow and sell hardy plants that have been tested in this hardy climate. I g* the world over to get the best. My catalogue offers over 700 kinds of plants, shrubs, vines, etc., tells how to grow and where to plant. Sent for 2c. stamp. F. H. HOKSFORD, Charlotte, Vt. (n 250,000 Peach Trees S"*.* ^f^^ »,000,000 Small oar loads Ornamental TrecM and Full supply of flower and veire. Sr ff hif J^*'^^'^? catalogue, free Send fii7P^n.®/^''P^^"^r'"«- Everything mail frpfoPht^^E^'l''' ^l"''*^?'* ^J express or rreight Safe arrival and saitsfaotion Kuaranteed.Directdealingsavesmoney" 42nd Year. 1 ,000 Acres. *Z9 Oreenliouses. STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box 236 PAINESVILLE, OHIO. *i ^ ' wSm^IJE^ REID'S Fruit ■ rilHl Specialties. Mm wPily Save one-half ^ by buying di- rect from head- quarters. All the best and leading varieties, new and old. Fruit Trees, Small Fruits, Roses, Vines, Orna- mental 5hrubs,Cratesand Baskets. Handsome illus- trated catalog describes them all. Mailed free. Write for it. >LORE^^2 REID'S f PE^cH NURSERIES,! TIMBRELL Bridgeport, I strawberry. Ohio. V ELDORADO BLACKBERRY. EVERGREENS. Largestatock in Ameri ica, including Colorado Blue Spruce and Douglas Spruce ~ of Colorado. Also Ornamental^ Shade and Forest Treea^ Tree Seeds, Etc, B. DOUGLAS &80NS, Waukesan, IlL FECIAL OFFER Made to Build New Business. Atrial will make you our permanent customer. A Vegetable Garden forthecostofPostafie ^ (Premium Collectiont— Radish, 10 varieties: Lettuce, 9 kindn; TomutoeH, 7 finest; Turnips, 5 splendid; and Onions, 6 best varieties. ^PNR TPN PPNTn to cover postage and pack- OUHU I Lll ULUIO Ingand receive this valu- able collection of seeds postpaid. R. W. Laughlin, Ada, O. writes: "Have planted Buckbee's Seeds for years, with the best of success. It is a grand business to nandle such a good grade of seeds." Write to-day and receive my new Seed and Plant Book; the best published. I guarantee to please. HW RIIPIfRPP Rockf or d Seed Farms, I TfiDUOKDCCf Box 207. RocKFOBD, III, jyMywMyMMyyMMWMMM^ In that old flower pot and make It a thing of beauty. Plant a D. <& C. Rose and it will be a Joy forever. D.& C.Roses grow and bloom Indoors or out. In pot or garden— they are on their own roots. Our new Guide to Rose Culture will help you make a wise selection— tell you how roses and other flowers are grown at rose headquarters and bow you can grow them equally well. If you 80 request, we will send free, this valu- able book and a sample copy of our floral mogazlDe, Success with Flowers, THK DINGKB* A CONARD CO., "West Grove, Pa. WHEN WRITINO TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARP |N ME^HANS' MONTHLY, >?' ^■^ ^^^ ^"^^ ^"^ ^"^ ^^^ ^^^' ^^^ .. . — ,, — ^.— ,,—..- — .- — ^— " h^X Have You Plenty of Money ? SKietsonwmprovevaluablefor yourself. your nelRlihors, and the PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. FRUIT t TREES FROM HEADQUARTERS. T ftff«r a choice stock of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Sh^ubs'/RoseTRoot-Grafts seedlings, etc. New Price List mailed on application. Address, F. S. PHOENIX, BLOOMINGTON-^-^-^ MCLEAN COUNTY. ILLS. Rare books and Papers Science and Medicine. SEND FOR B^^SPECIAL CATALOGUE''^* of Valuable Works on BOTi^?T^J^*^^™'^ *"^ ZOOLOGY. Just issued. Mailed free. The largest stock of Scientific Books in America. If vf»ii arfl lookinc for a scarce " out-of prmt or neea any thing, Sew or Sfd. in books, it will pay you to wnte us. MINERAL SPECIMENS for scientific and educational purposes. Catalogue and price list free. Dr. E. a. FOOTE 1224-26.28 N. 4l8t STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., U S. A _>0 N 'T buy worthless nursery stockaiid WASTE many yearsof VALUABLE TIME waiting results and finally lose your M ON EY. But send to the llew BaDaayiiiiseiies We have the largest and most complete assortment of Nursery stock grown in New England, consisting of Fruit, Forest, Or- namental and Evergreen Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Small Fruits, Grape Vines, Aspar- agus, etc., etc. This stock is all grown with care and is well adapted to our East- ern climate and soil. Satisfaction guaran- teed. Send for catalogue. Address, Stephen Hoyt's Sons NEW CANAAN, CONN. OON Company who have the FINEST NURSERY STOCK at Reasonable Prices. New Catalog Tor 1896. Send for one. Free. Fstimates furnished. Correspondence solicited. THE WM. H. MOON COMPANY, Morrisiille. Pa. FRSiSrCANSASCHEAP 1 , wVhl" a large stock of all the choicc»t vane- 'tieYot the New Wart French Cannas at pnco8 .as low as Geraniums can be *>»"«''/ 'or- 4* « I '■'-'"--''^"'''"tALM CHEAP' Palms are considered the rich mans plant, because 80( hiKh- priced at the North. We Jtrow them at a mini-i munTof cost, and to intro- duce them to the general, public, we will nmii a tine. . healthy plants'-/ " r;W J^ hnc to vwn„fj^ /•"'»•/. t« (he ,rf,M/oir-po8tpaid to any art- _■ J ■■ ■ dress for only 20 cts. Or , for only «r. cent- w- ^"» T«ttl«K«eitS (MichcU's Evergreen Lawn Grass Seed.) FRESH TESTED RELIABLE at moderate prices. Also a very lar>;e stock of IMPLEMENTS and EVERYTHING FOR THE GARDEN. Illustrated catalogue Irce. hemryTmichell, 1018 Market St., PHILADELPHIA. JCC5'«^%5"^^^^'^^^ -— ^^— -— - YOU SAW THEm^ARolirMEEHANS' MONTHLY, WHEN WRITING TO ADYERTISERb, TELL THEM YOU bAW i ntin v v!„.^-* ^'^"^ ^^^^^ Aquatics to our line of specialties and carry a full line of stock suitable for all ourooses S 1^ 3t/"T *F"' r '"Pfr"^) Nympha^as, hardy and tender, all colors, Nelumb urns (Eg/ptian ^t^M. nn/ f^v.' "^^ orriameutal grasses. Bamboos, Perennials and subaquat c plants. This depart- "to ours ""anagement of the well known specialist. WiUiam Tricker, who has merged his sto?k Dreer's Garden Calendar for 1896, mailed for a stamp, describes everything in Seeds, Plants and Bulbs. . HENRY A. DREER, 7i4 chestnut street, Philadelphia SiiiiiiiiinnmiiimranmiiiiM^ I HALE PLUM, TRIUMPH PEACH, BOUNCER STRAWBERRY i Sand All nth*,!. Koa* #i^l*a *^ rr-i- _i-_ „.,_ ' . . "^ ■■■»»■■■»»■■■■ f g -<■: ri.J?il °*.l^I t^i W,*^C'?,?»_H5Je. who makes more money in fmit culture than any m a'n Tn I secrets. Address HAtE, South OlastonburyfcONN = lUIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIlllUIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIMliiiiiaa............. ...'.„.^.t:.. _* S . America. Free book, tells whole story, no secrets. Aaaress HAI.E, South GIa.8tonhiii-v'rov^^ a 1,000,000 TREES Over 1,000 Tarleties. Fruit and Ornamental S'ec'faiyarretles"-"'' "*"• ^" '"""^"^ »"<» Send for illustrated Catalogue. W. S. Little & Co., Rochester, N. Y. N. Y. City. 52 Exchange Place. JflPflNBSE niflPLES, niflBNOLIflS and other choice Trees and Shrubs. Red-Flowered, Weeping and - - . White-Flowered Dogwoods, THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Phlla. SALZLRS SEEDS ,i^^-W: 35 Paclcaires KAllLIEST VECiETABI.E SEEPS. Postpaid, $l.(K).p v^r* > # A^ i YOUri' Have often •cen leed come up poor and Mlckly, without -uffleient vitality to proiliieeu crop-that was an object L'Mon that poor fiee«fH produce poor eropH— but when r,...-. ♦!. u^"" plant Sttlzer'd Northern Orown Need*, for garden or farm, the Mccne chunice* hh If by inaclc. Inntead of poor yields you at once sot rouMlnccropmeropA that will sladden your heart and nil your Durne. lor Mal«er'« 8eed« are ftill of life, full of vigor, full of producliY* uualltJSi * «r *, , »400.00 IN GOT.D PRIZES. V, ™i«jyvl'*^^ !*''**&" ^*^^^♦ JJarlry and Corn. 200 bushels Silver- I?IL« Ki^?IV*^'/f**'*.??**^.".'^^ ^^*^''* Krowii on one acre in 1 895. You uVl i*r**^ **'?i^* '^ "* *•'*' •fr***^*''*^ <>»*»'* of t»»<* centHrv. No more hard tiinoH il you now a plenty of SnWw'n ilariev, OntM, Pota- tm-H, liraHs and CioyerHl Have yon tried TeoHinte, Saraiiiie, «iant Spurrv and CJiant Qnicii.CJro^vinff Bgt»n.oa-HaB«C«lf*riOM PRICt, $2.00 A YEAR— 24 WUMBER8 llie most practical ^od 5^uable A«»«^£?^; ^ <^hci^ in fB^KM^. : 9ee wbat sutiftcnbefs »y «BoWtJiis^mlW)1tei<><«^4^ ■« , ^.h^ for SCIENTIFICkUY EXACT. ^^oKKmo U a« b«t^5fHSS;|5,n ii«d iu l4, Mstts. ' f- -*> -^f ^ idtiMi of l>l«rt©gfX8l*«l^^*?''^^*^ pianiSi ;,Ap'^-^ *f'^ll«« •Itidi^pensable to all who love ig^iifdens or tihe litar^tjire of gardens ; to all A^hp^ own country places or take pkasni?e in niral soedery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shmbs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of oiir forests, the pre- l^yk^lf <^ija^ ? ^^i <^^ ^ P*^ •>- -^ *' -Tl« pmper la the moit l>««^^£J. V^^^nUiC.^«fl. iico «lc mom pHfcctJoU '-:«■- '.-■ ,->,^^. ...>.-. ..insr.N.Y. WHi J t «y r^ ij' " •- SJERS ' » Wlnnif g;delichtfbj aid aibiide,"-^^ JK 7W^«#^ '. A coWiMdfui df »ew it,fariiitl^.M-7y. K Ifeta.d. BEMltlPUUt *.LU$mUD. WiWLY. $4 00 A YiA^ Spcdtnen copy tre^ o« appHcAtlon. CMdei an4 Forest Pibll$JilB« Co. ^'»}5S» ?S£I{-'^ TMEIII YOU SAW THfclH tARD IN KEEHAN*' l^iTML>. ■ If i' •3HIF ' I'yP'.y -^liAiHTER LILIES i<^ Victors ^r^^f.'';!;!^'^ A(iuatics to our line of specialties and carry a full line of stock suitable for all purposes, lo usT ; vw/ T V^' unsurpassed) NyiiiplK.as, hardy and tender, all colors, xNelunibiums (k^tian otus) in vatiety, hardy ornamental grasses, Hamhoos, Perennials and sub-aquatic plants. This depart- in to ours" "^-"a^'cnient of the well known specialist, William Trickier, whoSiafmerged his s^ock Dreer's Garden Calendar for 1896, mailed for a stamp, describes everything in Seeds, Plants and Bulbs. HENRY A. DREER, 714 chestnut street. Philadelphia 2.......,..,,.m...n.mn..«n..,.im..m [ HALE PLUM, TRIUMPH PEACH, BOUNCER STRAWBERRY i " '"' """■■■■"■■■■■■'■■■' ••••••iimimii.umu ..u..... «uiiuim!i::^,m,!,^uZu!,««\u«Ls 1,000,000 TREES Over 1,000 varieties. Fruit aud (JriKiiuental 1 rees. Vines, Hoses etc. All standard and special varieties. Send tor illustrated Catalojjue. \V. S. Little & Co., Rochester, N. Y. N. Y. City, 52 Exchange Place. JflPflNESE IDflPLBS, fflflGNOLIflS and other choice Trees and Shrubs. Red-Flowered, Weeping and . - . White Flowered Dogwoods. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Phila. SALZLKS SEEDS BRL ^i^mm'"^ 3.5 HnckafrcH kaim.ikst vi«:<;i:t\ki.e S 1:1: IIS. I'oMlpaiil, SI. 00. YOU'Ji^ "— is;»;;»;y.-.-. jjUjj^g^. Hay oft 11 •<'en «ocd oomo tip poor nnd nlokly, without "iimiitiit vilality to protliK'.-u "" plaat -^alztp H Northirn (;rowM Sceilfi. for irardcn ur farm, the hovuh chautfrN a« il l.v uiaiflj.. Iii«t»«ad of poor vl«M- you at on<><>^> >N <'Ori> iM{izi:s. V, \\ e imy tliiNoii 4»:ii^, linrlcv tiiMirorii. 2(M) iMiMlieU Silver, iniiie (NaiMeie*^N Kctiiiiv) OtUs tfiowii on one sicie in I HiKt. Voii can Went ihai I It ,^ i hr irn-alc^l Outs of flic cenlnrv. No more hard linicN il yon;.o\v a plenty ol SalxerN llarlev, Oal^, l»oliV- toe^, l,ra»«^ and < lovers! Have yon tried Teo^inte, Sacaline, j.iant spnrrv and liiant, <^iicU-<;ro>vintf (German "lover ^ < atalotfne teilNall about tlie«*e inarvcloiiMly wondert'iil Fodder s!»i.i:mhi> vi:<;i:t\imj:s. .. no''"**** iV'.'Vll'"."."' T."'^ -plru.lhl -ort-. Kvi'rvthlair<.h.ap. Onion Aoid at !) «.. mrlh; lOpkt-. Mowrr ^o.d, Vi.M-. I ,OOt».OOtU{o-oM. IMAnt^aad H„,„|| b rulU. hardy "';/»"»♦•'• ^« "'I >•«•• for Mark, J tMirdtnt-r'- Whoh^alr I.Ut.Our «r«at SiMjl nnd IMai.t Itook. 1 IH pp.. with 10 pUtf-. tira-ni- and t^ruh.P., In I'linMnir ahov«' l*ri/.4'<»atfi. Harloy and torn. Im ^.fnt u Hl£V ;•? ••""" ■ ■■" ;'....'. ....r.,., »•■«■ , oni. IM i.tMii uiion receipt of I Oc. powt* < Mtalocal.>ne,4*e. i atuloi; and one pkjj. Pumpkin Yellow Melon, Die. JgHNA.SALZERSEEDC9 LACR05SLWIS. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. ) if LORD * BURNHAM CO. horticultural ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS n\jn I 1V.W %i^^M AND HOT WATER HEATING ENGIJi EBBS Plane and Estimates mmiehed on application L.rQe.t Butlter. ol «re.nho».ellruc«ure.. Sl« Hl9h.it Award, at th. World'. Fair Hend tour cents postage tor lUustrated catalogue ABCH-feSSif^FFI^. le^I^H AVE.. COB. « 1st STREET. NEW VORK. Factory : Irvington-on-Haduon, New^ork Mention Paper PRACTICAL. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. PUBLISHED THE lax AND 15th OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2.00 AJVEAR 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valuable American Horti- cultural publication. DEPARTMENTS : The Flower ^rden. Trees and Shrubs. The Greenhouse The Sow Garden, The Fruit Garden, The Vege- UWe Garden, Insects and Other Pests Mushrooms, and otiiers ik season. See what subscribers say about this valuable journal . ••For condensed common sense in Ka^,^l°Kj^""*St'iNa «aii.w* nnnreiudiced and safe infonnation, Gardekino "I am ereatly pleased with the paper. It •»,?"««'«»' ^* .uk2S« Its reproduction of Ph°'°»"Ct''f;'tTre°^ ^ •flo^ and landscapes 's^'^^^^'SiSJ^H^ken'sack. N. J. "Tt !■ a deliahtful paper anThas been very interesting and taa^rtiVS to m"" ""^ FRANK HITCHCOCK, Davenport, la. •• I have fcnnd Gardknino extremely "«[»' «?lJ»if^'-: lo» Voi hav« liven your subscribers a great deal more than •"To^'r^^Gai^S-^oS^'^"'"^*." "I value GARDENING highly on account of the very practi- e«I diyacter jf ^ty^^SaBV Supt. Lincoln Park. Chicago "I regard Gardrning as one of the most practical maga- .toea^ned in the interests^l |°j;'/^i',"I^ waterville. N. Y. "The paper is the moat P^ ^^"^"^^'J. 'p^f i,'„ Lac. Wis. ••I snb«ribe to all the horttoTltnral "<> 8°"^="''°"' j?"^! .hi. " ttU^ntment as far as I V°rie'ur like .^ys^lf " .»» the moat P^^cUcal one for^.n^.mat^H^ke myself ^ ^ ■^^'f^xy:^. i^i^ivr^r^^r^'i-^^ - ^GARDEN. ® FOREST „^ ::;• ..lTO>mViVWiE»^r£: Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- ser\'ation of natural beauty, lor a purer taste in the design and decoration of public and private grounds, and is uni- versally pronounced the best horticultur- al journal ever published for Americans. ••Wise, intelligent, entertaining." -Mir/<»'5 Wtekly. •• Rich variety of remarkable engravings."- .V Y. P»s(. •Winning, delightful and accurate."-.V. Y. Tribune " A compendium of new intormation."-iV. >'. Ha ad. BEAUTIFULLT ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. $4 00 A YEAR. Specimen copy free on application. Garden and Forest PubUsWng Co. '^^^e'^ ?"o*ir»^ JLTK. V* «»'-'• • • — — » — ■«- ■ ■ WHEN WRITIN6 tFaDVERTI^ERS. tELl THtH YOU SAW TMfein i^Anu i^l INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE H-- ^^^■■Wl2 yj'i tH ri'- ESTABLISHED 60 YEARS HITCHINGS 5 CO. HORTICULTURAL flRCHlTECTS AND BUILDERS M.n*"flWCt|7C 1^1 1 j^l 1 ICCn ng^. grading, roadmaking, planting and remodel- u 4. J '^ 1 • . * . , « ^^S ^^^ places. Special arrangements made when extensive work IS contemplated. Correspondence solicited, .• • • »? . THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Nurserymen ,nd L.nd.cp, Englaeers QERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA, EDWARD CAMPBE L/INDSC/IFE /IRQHITECT Am ENQINEER ARDMORE, - PA. Sketch plans and planting maps prepared, and suggestions given for the laying out and improTcment x>f country and suburban residences, public parks and grounds of every description. Grounds laid out and their construction undertaken by contract or day labor, and carried out under strict personal supervision. The choice grouping and effective arrangement of trees and shrubs has been made a special study. Trees furnished and planted by experienced workmen. Draining Plans and Surreyi. Fine Crashed Stone for Walks and Carriage Orives. I ■■AROY ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, EVER- Tb. i.,.t „.„.. ..^H.»t .tn»<,or... 8REENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. mu°Xi:d"rcrtpr.:e'?;J:;.r„r.tre5: H tioii Plans and estiihates ftinuBhcd. Send your list of nveils for spccialratea. THE READING NUBSTJ^RY. «TAC<>B W. MANNING, Proprietor. BEADING MASS. ' ^ ^ r^^ and wood sash bars on your iron greenhouse when patent puttyleas steel glazing has reached perfec- tion, at only a slight advance in cost. Send for catalogue. ^ J JOSEPHU^ PLENTY, Jersey City, N. J WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. PLEASE MENTION MEEHANS' MONTHLY. II :> i-? II n fV iw f>< I f \ ' ', I ;:^- ..•^> :f 3. -V Vol. VI Plate X^:^4. f XJnited I- 'fvb^iti-i ^^^^4^: :^^,-..iitl^%- ' m '1' i\,..':l n y !■' I I ■■■.^- '1 ^rillgfstii^ (^atatfDgttj:. lOSEPHUS PLENTY. f tety, N ■ J SEK8. mm ^W i ^%- GENERAL NOTES. SrPPZRINTENDENT OF SCHENLEV PaRK. — Mr. Wm. Falconer, the well-known gardener to Mr. Chas. A. Dana, and the esteemed editor of Gardening, has been selected superintendent of the beautiful wSchenley Park at Pittsburgh, to the satisfaction of every lover of park gardening in America. The idea is prevalent, that politics enter so largely into public work, that it is difficult to get the right men into the right places. The fact that so able a man as the late Mr. Bennett, and now INIr. Falconer, can be given such a position speaks for itself. Spirka AstilroidEvS eloribunda. — Mr. K. J. Kuyk, ot Tlillegom, Holland, writes that the photograph from which we made the cut of A^tilbc Japonica grayidijlora, at p. 174 in our last vol., was sent tons for our information only, and not for use, and that it appears in his cata- logue as Spinca Astilboidcsjloribunda . We have always taken it for granted that we can make cuts from photographs sent to us, and can only regret that there was any misunderstand- ing on this occasion. And further, we were under the impression that if there was anj-- thing on the photogra])h to indicate private ownership it was overlooked. At any rate, we supposed that it was the same as the one in the trade, being distributed under the name referred to in the article. We are glad of the chance even at this late date, to do full justice to Mr. Ku3'k, who is one of the most enterprising of Holland's nurserymen. e-lt' Dean Hole's Idea oi- Humor. — It has been the proud boast of flower-lovers that the cultivation of a love of gardening tends to broaden human sympathies. Dean or Canon Hole, of Kngland, has a great name in connec- tion with rose culture, and he is in some sort a leader in some branches of gardening. For this re]nitation he was feasted and toasted during a tour through our country last year in a man- ner seldom accorded to visiting horticulturists from the Old World. He has had to write a book about us, of course. In this he quotes (80) with unction many specimens of what he re- gards as typical American humor. When he was in Cincinnati, the thing that most im- pressed him was the following bit of doggerel, which he heard recited in that city : " Little Willie from his mirror Sucked the mercury all off, Thinking in his childish error. It would cure his whooping cough. At the funeral Willie's mother Smartly said to Mrs. Brown : * Twas a chilly day for William, When the mercury went down.' " It is a matter of surprise that a gentleman of his cloth could have ever gotten into com- pany where such heartless rubbish entered into the festivities of the evening ; and still more surprising that he should have so much en- joyed it as to make a cop}- of it for his " book." If Canon Hole is to be taken as a specimen of floral -cultured humanity, the less we boast of the civilizing influences of our craft, the better. P'ortunately we all know that such an exhibi- tion of callous sympathy is exceptional in our country, however it ma}' be enjo3'ed in the Old World. Proe. Wm. Saunders. — Few names are more familiar among intelligent horticulturists than that of Prof. Wm. Saunders, of London, Ontario, — a reputation equally gained among botanists and entomologists. He is a native of England, having been born in Devonshire, but vsettled in Canada in 1S4S. In 1S55, he started in business as a manufacturing chemist. When the Western I'niversit}- was established at London he was chosen Professor of ^lateria Medica. In 1863 he published in the Canadian Journal, a " Flora of the vicinity of London." He was a leading spirit in establishing the Entomological Society of Ontario, and was for three years its President, and during the same time President of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Asi^ociation. One of his greatest works is in the interest of horticulture, namely *' Insects injurious to forests and fruit trees." At the present time he is Director of the Dominion Experimental Farms. Vol. VI MAY, 1596 No 5 I ISSUED ^j^jiYHIX$2^0rPERTEAFTrr ADVANCE^INeLE C0PY^20 CENTS^ 1 S. '< Gr)evs1eci 19 ENERAL LOWERS E.NTERED AT THE PHILADRLP UXA POST OFFICE A« SECOND-CLASS MATTER. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL t.^ ^1 ii rieehans' Thomas iVionthly heehan & sons, PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Qcriiiantown, Phila. Sabseription Ppiee $2.00 pep year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 cts. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. i|DVERTISIN6 RATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each IVIonth, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Editorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phila., Pa. to send for our New Catalogue, which tells of IT WILL PAY YOU Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Roses, FruYt?aud our special stock of Rhododendrons. It will in- ter. St all who are interested in such matters ANDORRA NUrtSERIES, ^^l^-,, Wm. Warn r Harper. Manaqeh TRY DREER'S ♦ GARDEN ♦ SEEDS ♦ Plants, Bulbs and Requisites. They are the best at the lowest prices. Calendar for '96 mailed free. Address HENRY A. DREER. 714 Chestnut St., Phila. JERKKHIRE. Chester White. U^i^^*'!'^ ^^*"^^ Poland China «1 IGS. Jerwjy, Guernsey & Uo\- stein Cattle. Thnroa«hh,e>l Sheep Fancy Poultry. Hunting 8W*'«iMiiTj""^' "i"^ Jlouse l)oKH. CatnloRue. . W. SMITHTCochranville, Chester Co , Pa. WE DIVIDE THE WORLD Into three classes Those who wUI have the best so'7^%to«^;?'"l;''^>,^\'-'''<' '^«^A*"^»"'' care son s < xicap. The first always buy Paee fence thp PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. All the Novelties in Plants, etc. Allamanda Williaiusi, 25c.; Asparagus Snrenffen 4(\r • rar'for'^'"'^!^*"^^'**?*' 2^«- <^^oUr!lac?o^Sma; '^\\ (.aiyoptens Mastacanthus, 15c.; Clematis Stanley .^- 20^Jra^?.%' ^t?eZSi to?^"*"^^' '''- Teco^a^B.^?.^ beckii''4ft..'^ V.V**'"T ^aterer. 20c.; New Double Rud- ri e^rt^- i'n^''*V""*!l^«^^»*'*''*' •"'*'*'•' '^"^^'•f Flowering lio!o rrl\«?o. ';«»'<', »;*'"^»»ler, 60c.; N«w Rose, Carmine Pillar, «1; New Rose dXl '^ru?fs'*Tnn''"« etc.. etc. Several new ami won! Oaliliaw 7/^^^^ ^^^ ?"v:® ^"••**- ^""^ Cannas. New log\'^ ofV4^i1?e'2!' ^* ^"^ ^"^^ Kare Plants free. Cata- A. BLANC & CO. 314 and 316 N. Eleventh St.. Philadelphia Pa. Small Shrubs We grow vShrubs in large quantities and fre- quently have inquiries for small plants in consider- able numbers. Our new Catalogue for Spring, 1896, contains full price list of these, as well as Trees, Evergreens and Hardy Plants. Catalogue mailed for 6 cents in stamps. Thomas Meehan & Sons Nurserymen and Landscape Engineers Germantown, Phila. Standard Varieties Haspbeppy and Stvmhmy Plants Send for Price List Rox 404 »e: Bros. dayton, ohio fPHESS 18 HUCH '^pi^£DtiMU|||l«^HAN PINE. SASH BARS/ Ff rr >NUN6TH on LMGER. REENHOUSE »UILOIN« MAItRIAL. — ■ ■"» I rliii . / LUMiER^idni Irs USES." STezirr^ lymbejh (b nSg!>P^ JS9&T9H, AVa^s.* WHEN WRITING TO ADVER USERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS* MONTHLY. h t f t w'.'K." T ^^r^ r HA15HNARI A LUrCOSTACI I\'S. \vnrn:.^iMKi:i) < )R('hi<. NATl'RAL ORDER, ( )RCniI)ACHJ:. Haiunaria lkt'costacuvs, Watson. — stands oiu- Id tour fett hiK'h. I't-arins^ a Mian\ n..\\ener o\ ate-oblonj,', two (ji three lin<- lony : ;.ctal> lancco- late and sub-falcate, oblitpieat ba>e. more or less cotiniveiit with the ba-e- of the -.pals; lij. three or lour litus loni^. rhombic-lanceolate.— spur narrow, four to >i.\ lino 1om« ; beak of the stigma very pr..!iiineiit. ovate, more than half thr lenj^nh of the connective ; ^land> linear— obloni;. vertical : cap-ule obloni;. ^e^^i'.e. -i\ to nine iiiie- '.-u- Iiieut-r in>! Watson's Botany of t/u' Crological .S/ot.m o'' Gilt'ci nui. This was first described by Dr. I.indley in his " Orchidacere " as Platayithera leucostacJiys. But the dilTerences taken to distin<2:nish Platan - theta from Haboiaria are so slight that — at least so far as the Pacific Coast species are concerned — Dr. Watson does not regard them as of suf- ficient weight, and hence remands them all to the original Habenaria. The magnificent white spikes are, however, so characteristic, that it is not surprising that Dr. Lindley chose the specific name leucostacJiys, in describing it. If size and strength are to be characteristics of royalty, Habenafia leucostachys should be the king of American orchids. Before rail- roads spanned the northern portion of the American continent, the author of this had to do some thousand miles by stage, and Nevada floral scenery is impressed the more strongly on his memory by the huge spikes of this orchid, — three, four, and occasionally nearly five, feet high. — which lined the road-sides whenever damp, grassy, gravelly spots were passed. There seems to be nothing in general literature from which a popular account of it could be written. The drawing was made from specimens kindly furnished by Mrs. Ross Lewers, of Franktown, Nevada, to whom the reader is also indebted for the following charming: account of its behavior in its natural home. "It grows here on the edge of alder and willow thickets, near running water, just as you saw it on your journey across the conti- nent. It seems to love the company of moss, grasses, and rushes, in which also appear species of Mimulus, Polemonium, Pyrola, Vera t mm, a yellow lily and columbines. Though growing in wet ground, it is more luxuriant in open, sunny places, than in shade. On the last Fourth of July (1S93), I found some plants in flower which were about three feet high, which were growing on a bank formed by the construction of a water ditch. The soil was of very rich leaf mould. Though some of the flowers on the dense spikes had not yet opened, they were alreadv twenty inches long. This bank was sloping to the east, and the fl )wers of the orchid made a chariniTig ])icture among the wild roses, flowering currants, grasses and the Orange Lily, emboweied as they all were among a few scattering bushes of a shrub with red twigs and small white heads of flowers {Coy?ius pubcscc/is. j)r()l)ablyi and scattering trees of alder and Halm of Crilead, with a background of pines on the higher lands beyond. It seems to have a ])artiality for this shrub (the dogwood above noted), as the finest specimens are found in ]^roxiinity to it. When growing in the wet, springy places, among alders and pines on the moun- tain sides on higher altitudes, it does not flower till September. A friend tells me that, at this altitude, ferns {Aspleniurn I'ilix- fa-mina) and the Nevada Snow plant, as well as the grasses and pines, are its comi)anions. For two or three years past, it has sprung up among the red-top grass in our orchard, the seeds having probably been brought down in the water used in irrigation. Here, the })lants are only eighteen or twenty inches high, and the flowers are more scattered along the stem ; but they are closer set, and the spikes stronger with each succeeding year. In this situatioti, a yellow twisted orchis and a "blue-eye grass" grow with them. livery attemjjt to cultivate them fails. They die out though others may be growing not ten feet from them in the orchard. It is not a common plant in our Sierras, though more common than its fellow orchid. Epipactis ^i:^antea, — the latter, however, prefers dryer ground. Prof Hilmen. "^i ii 'wm^Tc. l't--i^S\ COLOR PHOTO 8 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — HABENARIA LEUCOSTACHYS. [May H of the State Universit} , who has botanized extensively through the state, has never found either orchid north of Reno. The soil is volcanic, and the altitude 5,300 feet. It com- mences to bloom here in July. " It may be noted that in some respects this species resembles Habenaria dllitata, a species scattered freely over the northern part of both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres ; but its larger size will strike one at once, and the more minute characters can then be observed. In Dr. Watson's " Botany of Clarence King's Expedition," it is described as a larger form of this species. It will be conceded that in the preparation of this drawing Mr. Lunzer has given a master- piece of instructive botany as well as an admirable lesson in the art of flower painting. He has given the whole three-foot plant on a single page. Rarely can a white flower be painted without some unnatural appearance of the greener parts. Here, the spike is so placed in front of the green as to appear the natural result of cutting into sections. The specimen selected is comparatively young, as the unopened buds show, and tells that it would have been much taller had it been allowed to grow. The perfect root system ex- plains admirably how this class of orchid sup- ports and perpetuates itself. There are fibrous roots and a pair of tubers. One of the tubers bears the flower-stem, — the other has a young bud at the apex. The under bud is the darker, and, indeed, is in an incipient stage of decay. The life of each tuber is but two years. One is formed this year by the help of the fibrous roots and leaves of the older one, — the next year it forms another tuber, sends up a flower stalk and dies when that dies. Thus it goes on from year to year, — one new tuber born and one dying each season. No increase follows this method, — the only new plants appearing from seed. Just how the plant obtains its food is not clear. The point made by Mrs. Lewers, that the plant will not live under cultivation, has been noted in connection with many allied plants. It is now believed that in most of the cases some species of fungus attaches itself to the young plant in an early stage of its existence, and feeds on what the plant does not want, but preparing in return the food which the plant requires. Neither can live without the other. This dual relationship is termed living in symbiosis. It is possible that, when the plants are transplanted from their native places, the food required by the fungus is wanting. The manner in which leaves pass gradually into bracts, and the parts of the inflorescence are beautifully seen in this orchid. The flowers which appear in the axils of the bracts come from axillary buds, which under some favorable conditions might have been branches with leaves. The flowers, in cases like these, are formed in an early stage out of arrested and transformed branches. It has been noticed that this arrestation is frequently in propor- tion to the activity of the spiral growth. All grow^th of vegetation is in a more or less degree spiral. A long-drawn-out spiral may result in a branch or flower stalk ; a closely drawn in spiral is favorable to completely sessile flowers. The enormous activity of arrestive force in this species can be seen in the twisted ovarium, — possibly more twisted than in many other orchids. It is believed that it is the propor- tionate twist that determines the irregularity of the parts of the flower, — the greater the spiral activity, the more irregular the floral parts. Dr. Watson gives the range of the species as: "From Mariposa County (California) to Oregon and Idaho, — also eastward to Arizona and Nevada, — flowering from July to Septem- ber." According to this the specimens fur- nished by Mrs. Lewers are from the eastward boundary of its geographical range. In some orchids the lip of the flower is uppermost, while the sepals and less modified petals occupy the lower position. This may be seen in the genus Epidendrum of Florida, one of the few Epiphytal species of the United States, but of a genus which has a very large repre- sentation as we approach the tropics. This characterisation is wholly owing to the degree of twisting which the flower stalk is subjected to. Nature makes genera very easily in this way. To some extent this is true of the forma- tion of species. The manner and direction of the growth-force plays an important part. WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. Explanation of the Plate.— i. A full-sized plant in three sections. 2. Twin tubers, the product of two successive years, and employed as .storage reservoirs of food. 3. Fibrous or food-gathering roots. 4. The newer tuber for flowering the next year. 5. A .section of stem with bract and flower enlarged. 6. Showing the twi.sted ovarium, finally the seed-ves.sel. THE DANDELION. Dear common flower, that grow'st beside the way Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold ; First pledge of blithesome May, Which children pluck, and full of pride, behold, High-hearted buccaneers, o'erjoyed that they An El Dorado in the grass have found. Which not the rich earth's ample round May match in wealth— thou art more dear to me Than all the prouder summer blossoms be. — Lowell. Shortia GALACiFOLiA.—There are few lovers of botany and of pretty flowers who have not heard of the cnrious history of the Shortia. The great botantist, Michaux, traveled through the Alleghenies. Years afterwards, our Dr. Asa Gray was examining Michaux's herbarium in Paris, when he noted a single flower which had been passed over as of no consequence, or, at the best, an exotic which had accident- ally gotten into the American collection. But Dr. Gray diagnosed it as a wholly new genus, and named it in honor of a great American botanist, Dr. Short. Though many tried to fol- low Michaux's track, it was only after many searches that a few plants were rediscovered, and Dr. Gray's belief, that the Michaux scrap must be American, confirmed. But it was still regarded as comparatively rare,— in short, it was believed to be an evidence that some species formerly abundant, are, under some law of de- cadence opposed to a law of organiza- tion, gradually dying out. It was left to a school teacher, an excellent botanist. Prof. T. G. Harbison, to dispel this speculation. He was the first to find that it was comparatively abundant. He conceived the idea of founding an educa- tional institution from the proceeds of the sale of the plants. In this way arose the highly successful Wayne School, of Waynesville, North Carolina, and which, from the peculiar method of its estab- lishment, has come to be known as the Shortia School . To accompany the illus- tration here given of this interesting plant, we have obtained from Prof. Harbison the following account of his share in the dis- covery : — " I was interested in Shortia from the moment I heard of its history. I concluded that it might be found in considerable quanti- ties lower down along the streams on whose headwaters it had been found. In the spring of 1887, with an extract from Michaux's diary, as a guide, I traversed the region he visited at the time he found Shortia. I found the place where the old settlers in the upper South Carolina valleys say used to be a Cherokee vil- lage, and this was doubtless the place where Michaux found Shortia. I was the first to discover the fact that it is not a high mountain plant, as is given in our botanies, and that it is grown most plentifully and luxuriantly in the low mountain valleys of South Carolina, and but sparingly higher up in the mountains. I saw it growing on the edge of a cotton field in a South Carolina mountain valley." It probably furnishes a new chapter in the history of this very interesting flower. SHORTIA GALACIFOLIA. (83) r 82 MREHANS* MONTHLY — HABENARIA LEUCOSTACHYS. [May of the State Universit} , who has botanized extensively through the state, has never found either orchid north of Reno. The soil is volcanic, and the altitude 5,300 feet. It com- mences to bloom here in July. " It may be noted that in some respects this species resembles Habenaria dilitata, a species scattered freely over the northern part of both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres ; but its larger size will strike one at once, and the more minute characters can then be observed. In Dr. Watson's " Botany of Clarence King's Expedition," it is described as a larger form of this species. It will be conceded that in the preparation of this drawing Mr. Lunzer has given a master- piece of instructive botany as well as an admirable lesson in the art of flower painting. He has given the whole three-foot plant on a single page. Rarely can a white flower be painted without some unnatural appearance of the greener parts. Here, the spike is so placed in front of the green as to appear the natural result of cutting into sections. The specimen selected is comparatively young, as the unopened buds show, and tells that it would have been much taller had it been allowed to grow. The perfect root system ex- plains admirably how this class of orchid sup- ports and perpetuates itself. There are fibrous roots and a pair of tubers. One of the tubers bears the flower-stem, — the other has a young bud at the apex. The under bud is the darker, and, indeed, is in an incipient stage of decay. The life of each tuber is but two years. One is formed this year by the help of the fibrous roots and leaves of the older one, — the next year it forms another tuber, sends up a flower stalk and dies when that dies. Thus it goes on from year to year, — one new tuber born and one dying each season. No increase follows this method, — the only new plants appearing from seed. Just how the plant obtains its food is not clear. The point made by Mrs. Lewers, that the plant will not live under cultivation, has been noted in connection wnth many allied plants. It is now believed that in most of the cases some species of fungus attaches itself to the young plant in an early stage of its existence, and feeds on what the plant does not want, but preparing in return the food which the plant requires. Neither can live without the other. This dual relationship is termed living in symbiosis. It is possible that, when the plants are transplanted from their native places, the food required by the fungus is wanting. The manner in which leaves pass gradually into bracts, and the parts of the inflorescence are beautifully seen in this orchid. The flowers which appear in the axils of the bracts come from axillary buds, which under some favorable conditions might have been branches wuth leaves. The flowers, in cases like these, are formed in an early stage out of arrested and transformed branches. It has been noticed that this arrestation is frequently in propor- tion to the activity of the spiral growth. All growth of vegetation is in a more or less degree spiral. A long-drawn-out spiral may result in a branch or flower stalk ; a closely drawn in spiral is favorable to completely sessile flowers. The enormous activity of arrestive force in this species can be seen in the twisted ovarium, — possibly more twisted than in many other orchids. It is believed that it is the propor- tionate twist that determines the irregularity of the parts of the flower,— the greater the spiral activity, the more irregular the floral parts. Dr. Watson gives the range of the species as: "From Mariposa County (California) to Oregon and Idaho, — also eastward to Arizona and Nevada, — flowering from July to Septem- ber." According to this the specimens fur- nished by Mrs. Lewers are from the eastward boundary of its geographical range. In some orchids the lip of the flower is uppermost, while the sepals and less modified petals occupy the lower position. This may be seen in the genus Epidendnan of Florida, one of the few Epiphytal species of the United States, but of a genus which has a very large repre- sentation as we approach the tropics. This characterisation is wholly owing to the degree of twisting which the flower stalk is subjected to. Nature makes genera very easily in this way. To some extent this is true of the forma- tion of species. The manner and direction of the growth-force plays an important part. <'T> KxPLANATioN OK THK PLATE.— I. A full-sized plant in three sfctioiis. 2. Twin tubers, the product of two successive years, and emphiycd as storage reservoirs of food. t,. I'ihrous or food-gathering roots. 4. The newer tuber for flowering the next year. 5. A section of stem with l)ract and flower enlarged. 6. Showing the twisted ovarium, finally the seed-vessel. n WILD FLOWERS AND NATL RL. THE DANDIvLION. Dear common flower, that grow'st beside the way Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold ; First pledge of blithesome May, Which children pluck, and full of pride, bclu)ld, High-hearted buccaneers, o'erjoyed that they An El Dorado in the grass have found, Which not the rich earth's ample round May match in wealth— thou art more dear to me Than all the prouder summer blossoms be. — LowHLL. ShorTia galacii-olia.— There are few lovers of botany and of pretty flowers who have not heard of the curious history of the Shortia. The great botantist, Michaux, traveled through the Alleghenies. Years afterwards, our Dr. Asa Gray was examining Michaux's herbarium in Paris, when he noted a single tlower which had been passed over as of no consequence, or, at the best, an exotic which had accident- ally gotten into the American collection. But Dr. Gray diagnosed it as a wholly new genus, and named it in honor of a great American botanist, Dr. Short. Though many tried to fol- low Michaux's track, it was only after many searches that a few plants were rediscovered, and Dr. Gray's belief, that the Michaux scrap must be American, confirmed. But it was still regarded as comparatively rare,— in short, it was believed to be an evidence that some species formerly abundant, are, under some law of de- cadence opposed to a law of organiza- tion, gradually dying out. It was left to a school teacher, an excellent botanist, Prof. T. G. Harbison, to dispel this speculation. He was the first to find that it was comparatively abundant. He conceived the idea of founding an educa- tional institution from the proceeds of the sale of the plants. In this way arose the highly successful Wayne School, of Waynesville, North Carolina, and which, from the peculiar method of its estab- lishment, has come to be known as the Shortia School . To accompany the illus- tration here given of this interesting plant, we have obtained from Prof. Harbison the following account of his share in the dis- covery : — " I was interested in Shortia from the moment I heard of its history. I concluded that it might be found in considerable (quanti- ties lower down along the streams on whose headwaters it had been found. In the spring of 18S7, with an extract from Michaux's diary, as a guide. I traversed the region he visited at the time he found Shortia. I found the place where the old settlers in the upper South Carolina valleys say used to be a Cherokee vil- lage, and this was doubtless the place where Michaux found Shortia. I was the first to discover the fact that it is not a high mountain plant, as is given in our botanies, and that it is grown most plentifully and luxuriantly in the low mountain valleys of South Carolina, and but sparingly higher up in the mountains. I saw it growing on the edge of a cotton field in a South Carolina mountain valley." It probably furnishes a new chapter in the history of this very interesting flower. SHORTIA GALACIFOLIA. {^i) INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 84 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [May The Chimney Swift, and other birds. — The Chimney Swallow articles in the March Meehans' Monthly remind me of their arri- val from their winter quarters some forty-five years ago. We had an early spring that year and vegetation was more forward than usual. The blue birds, meadow larks, robins and thrushes, were nesting. The numerous species of little warblers had passed along on their way to their breeding places further north. The passenger pigeons had hurried northward in immense flocks, when a severe freeze came suddenly in the night, the cold increased the next day, doing immense damage to vegeta- tion. At this time, the chimney swallows reached us, in immense numbers, and,- as there were fires in every house, they flew around in flocks all day, exploring the chimneys all over the town, flying above and around the chimneys during the day. As night ap- proached, they concentrated in one black mass flying so closely that one wondered they did not knock each other down. Their object seemed to be to find a place where they could find shelter from the cold, — flying under the high blufi^ and down deep in the ravines that pass through the bluffs towards the lake. They finally settled in my ravine, as night approached, and we all thought they would die there in the night ; but several of us re- mained in the cold to keep the shivering crowd from disturbing them. You may judge of my surprise and delight when on moving down the bank of the ravine I saw them flying in solid mass into the brick culvert under State Street bridge, and there they remained during the night, clinging to the brick walls and com- ing out in the morning fresh as larks. The wind had changed, the morning was bright and they were all right. As to the cherry gum, — I've nothing to say, only that we had no cherry trees on this side of Lake Michigan at that time, except here and there a tree in the woods of the wild black cherry, Prunus serotina. The rosin weed was plenty at that time, but swallows' legs are so much shorter than their wings that they would make poor work of getting gum off level ground, and you will never see them alight except where they have an opportunity to descend far enough to outstretch their wings. T feel sad when I think of the destruction of the feathered tribe in this country since the time I have referred to. The Passenger Bird passed through here in immense flocks ; the warblers and other migratory birds, keeping their course along the shore of the Lake were seen in larger numbers than farther inland. Spencer Baird had assistants here regularly, as it was the best place in the country to collect rare specimens. We had the Evening Gross- beaks, the Crossbills and many other species not met with in such plenty elsewhere. Wild geese in plenty, and ducks, many of which would breed around our small lakes, — prairie chickens, in the mating season, could be heard cooing all over town in the early morn- ing from the flocks that bred on the sand dunes under the bluffs, and it seemed we would always have them ; but since the forest fires in 1 87 1, all this is changed and I have not seen a wild pigeon in twenty-five years, except a very few in Washington and Oregon, and then not so closely as to know whether or not they are the same species. Robert Douglas. Waukegan, Ills. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. S5 Coiling of a Fern. — What is the cause of the unilateral development of the frond of Camptosorus rhizophyllus figured and described in the April number of the Monthly, does not appear ; but that the coiling is due to the com- bined pressure of the cells on that side of the frond which is developed seems evident. The pressure of the cells on the developed side not being balanced by an equal pressure on the opposite side has forced the midrib over to the undeveloped side and the result is the coiling described. We see in a warped board a similar effect produced by the same cause, viz., a greater lateral pressure of the cells on one side than of those on the other. At the apical end of the leaf the growth is normal, both sides are equally developed and the pressure on either side being balanced by a corresponding pres- sure on the opposite side, no coiling takes place. F. N. Tillinghast. Greenport, N. Y. Helonias bullata, — The Swamp Lilac. — Mr. C. F. Saunders says that the common name, in Cape May County, New Jersey, for Helofiias bullata, is •' Swamp Lilac," — a much more appropriate name than flowers often get from the people. The Curculio and the Japan Plum.— A Philadelphia correspondent says that he saw, last season, a variety of a Japan plum and a variety of the ordinary garden plum growing side by side. Every plum on the latter rotted from the puncture of the Plum Weevil. Many of the Japan plums were marked by the Cur- culio, but no worms followed the puncture, and thus none of the plums rotted. This experience has been had before with other species or marked varieties of plums, — but after a while the eggs are fully deposited, as in the other species. Why they puncture the fruit, without depositing any ^%z i" these earlier instances, is somewhat puzzling. Can it be that they know from the touch of the ovipositor that it is not the kind they have had former experience with, and that they know the kind they prefer is somewhere near? — and further, after they really find that there are no other preferable kinds about, fall back on the others as a sort of second choice? This is conceding a large amount of judgment, and consequently reasoning powers to the lower orders of creation ; but the more we study them the more we are inclined to concede judgment as one of their endow- ments. The Hackberry is very rare in this part of the Central West, a few being found on above Island giving it its name." Pursh, in his diary, expresses his pleasure and surprise at finding a solitary tree of the Kentucky Coffee in Oneida County, New York. The writer some years ago had a similar pleasure in finding a single tree in a wood near Washington, D. C. This, with Mr. Douglas' locality, probably furnish the exact boundary within which it may be found. Nelumbium luteum.— The beautiful Yellow Lotus,— the New World representative of the famous Egyptian Lotus, is said to grow abund- antly at Selden's Cove, near Lyme, Connecticut. '^'-^■ \ > - - ' '^^ The Range of the Ken- tucky Coffee. — Mr. Thos. H. Douglas, Waukegan, 111., says: '• There is a single Gymno- cladus Canadensis growing on Hackberry Island, in Grass Lake. The only one I know of in this part of the country. Have hunted from Lake Superior to Green Bay but have not met with a single tree. But Gray quotes it as being found as far North as Minnesota. We have grown the Gymno- cladus in our nurseries for years, but it proves with us a very slow grower ; while in Kentucky, and other parts of the South, it is a rapid grower, proving that w^e are very near its northern limit. *^.-. : :*\ ' --^^m- '€0 ^' f^' ^y ?^ ;V.'iV:>>^ -"'^ ■/' • - ' FIO. 1. --NORWAY SPRUCE. NORMAL FORM --•«€ ^.oc .o. .^^^^§^i^-i 84 MEKHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [May The Chimney vSwift, and other birds. — The Chimney Swallow articles in the March Meehans' Monthly remind me of their arri- val from their winter quarters some forty-five years ago. We had an early spring that year and vegetation was more forward than usual. The blue birds, meadow larks, robins and thrushes, were nesting. The numerous species of little warblers had passed along on their way to their breeding places further north. The passenger pigeons had hurried northward in immense flocks, when a severe freeze came suddenly in the night, the cold increased the next day, doing immense damage to vegeta- tion. At this time, the chimney swallows reached us, in immense numbers, and,- as there were fires in every house, they flew around in flocks all day, exploring the chimneys all over the town, flying above and around the chimneys during the day. As night ap- proached, they concentrated in one black mass flying so closely that one w^ondered they did not knock each other down. Their object seemed to be to find a place where they could find shelter from the cold,— flying under the high bluff and down deep in the ravines that pass through the bluffs towards the lake. They finally settled in my ravine, as night approached, and we all thought they would die there in the night ; but several of us re- mained in the cold to keep the shivering crowd from disturbing them. You may judge of my surprise and delight when on moving down the bank of the ravine I saw them flying in solid mass into the brick culvert under State Street bridge, and there they remained during the night, clinging to the brick walls and com- ing out in the morning fresh as larks. The wind had changed, the morning was bright and they were all right. As to the cherry gum, — I've nothing to say, only that we had no cherry trees on this side of Lake Michigan at that time, except here and there a tree in the woods of the wild black cherry. Primus serothia. The rosin weed was plenty at that time, but swallows' legs are so much shorter than their wings that they would make poor work of getting gum off level ground, and you will never see them alight except where they have an opportunity to descend far enough to outstretch their wings. T feel sad when I think of the destruction of the feathered tribe in this country since the time I have referred to. The Passenger Bird passed through here in immense flocks ; the warblers and other migratory birds, keeping their course along the shore of the Lake were seen in larger numbers than farther inland. Spencer Baird had assistants here regularly, as it was the best place in the country to collect rare specimens. We had the Evening Gross- beaks, the Crossbills and manj^ other species not met with in such plenty elsewhere. Wild geese in plenty, and ducks, many of which would breed around our small lakes, — prairie chickens, in the mating season, could be heard cooing all over town in the early morn- ing from the flocks that bred on the sand dunes under the bluff, and it seemed we would always have them ; but since the forest fires in 1 87 1, all this is changed and I have not seen a wild pigeon in twenty-five years, except a very few in Washington and Oregon, and then not so closely as to know whether or not they are the same species. Robert Douglas. Waukegau, Ills. 1896.] meehans' monthly— wild flowers and nature. ^5 Coiling of a Fern. — What is the cause of the unilateral development of the frond of Camptosorus rhizophyllus figured and described in the April number of the Monthly, does not appear ; but that the coiling is due to the com- bined pressure of the cells on that side of the frond which is developed seems evident. The pressure of the cells on the developed side not being balanced by an equal pressure on the opposite side has forced the midrib over to the undeveloped side and the result is the coiling described. We see in a warped board a similar effect produced by the same cause, viz , a greater lateral pressure of the cells on one side than of those on the other. At the apical end of the leaf the growth is normal, both sides are equally developed and the pressure on either side being balanced b}^ a corresponding pres- sure on the opposite side, no coiling takes place. F. N. Tillinghast. (treenport, N. Y. Helonias bullata, — The Swamp Lilac. — Mr. C. F. Saunders says that the common name, in Cape May County, New Jersey, for Helofiias bullata, is " Swamp Lilac," — a much more appropriate name than flowers often get from the people. ^ «s The Curculio and the Japan Plum.— A Philadelphia correspondent says that he saw, last season, a variety of a Japan plum and a variety of the ordinary garden plum growing side by side. Every plum on the latter rotted from the puncture of the Plum Weevil. Many of the Japan plums were marked by the Cur- culio, but no worms followed the puncture, and thus none of the plums rotted. This experience has been had before with other species or marked varieties of plums, — but after a while the eggs are fully deposited, as in the other species. Why they puncture the fruit, without depositing any ^Z'g in these earlier instances, is somewhat puzzling. Can it be that they know from the touch of the ovipositor that it is not the kind they have had former experience with, and that they know the kind they prefer is somewhere near? — and further, after they really find that there are no other preferable kinds about, fall back on the others as a sort of second choice? This is conceding a large amount of judgment, and consequently reasoning powers to the lower orders of creation ; but the more we study them the more we are inclined to concede judgment as one of their endow- ments. The Hackberry is very rare in this part of the Central West, a few being found on above Island giving it its name." Pursh, in his diary, expresses his pleasure and surprise at finding a solitary tree of the Kentucky Coffee in Oneida County, New Y(^rk. The writer some years ago had a similar pleasure in finding a single tree in a wood near Washington, D. C. This, with Mr. Douglas' locality, probably furnish the exact boundarv within which it may be found. Nelumpium luteum.— The beautiful Yellow Lotus, — the New World representative of the famous PVyptian I.otus, is saiv '-^'. FIG. 1. --NORWAY SPRUCE. NORMAL FORM -scr ^*gc bo INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE '^JHjff^BS^C' 86 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [May Growth OF Insects. — Possibly few branches of scientific thought are more active at this time, than that which is considering the influence which environment has in govern- ing form and general character. A recent author who objects to the extent to which environment has been carried in forming theories of evolution well remarks that it must have some influence or it could not have captivated so many leaders in scientific philosophy. But he contends that it is a weak and not a strong agent, and is limited in its powers. He illustrates by the common house- fly. When an insect emerges from the pupa stage, it has reached its full size. But there are small house-flies as well as larger ones, — these do not grow larger or smaller after being once formed. It must have been some * * condi- tion of environment ' ' that led to these varia- tions in size. Possibly some inability in one case to make available nutrition at a certain period of growth, made the dwarf, and opposite conditions favored the giant. But heredity is also a potent factor, and is able to hold what has been brought into existence. If the small flies could be so isolated that they would mate with each other only, heredity might result in bringing about a race of small house-flies. Such a race might, under some conditions, be regarded as a species, — yet it would be due rather to heredity than to conditions of environment. The great probability would be that when "environment" again acted on some one member of the small race so as to change its puny character, it would be to remand it to the race of giants again, and thus make it again larger. Pell^a gracilis.— Of this rare fern, Mr. W. N. Clute, Binghampton, New York, notes : * ' It may be of interest to note that I have found PellcBa gracilis twenty-five miles north of Binghampton, on rocks at an altitude of about a thousand feet above sea level, — an un- expected place to find this boreal species." American Holly with Yellow Berries. — Mr. W. A. Robinson, of Greenesboro, North Carolina, sends specimens of Ilex opaca with bright yellow berries. There is under cultiva- tion yellow-berried English Hollies, but this seems to be the first instance of its American cousin sporting in that direction. Fruit of the May-apple. — Mr. E. Newlin Williams says of the Podophyllum : — ** The fruit of the May-apple, which Whit- comb-Riley has celebrated, is handsome and tempting-looking, and pleasing to some palates, though I think the majority of us consider it edible, but hardly eatable. Will any poet sing Of a richer, lusher thing, Than a ripe May-apple, rolled Like a pulpy lump of gold Under thumb and finger-tips And poured molten through the lips. It is strange that the fruit should not par- take of the poisonous nature of the root and herbage of the plant. Additional Notes on Hepatica triloba. — Among the naimes o( Hepalica in the February Monthly, I notice the omission of a very poetical one, *' Squirrel Cups,*' by which, according to Burroughs, these plants are known in some parts of New England. It is worth noting, also, that Professor Wood calls this plant Noble Liverwort, in contradistinction to the humbler one. There is no easier plant to coax to bloom in the house in late winter than this. Dug out of the frozen earth, it will bloom in from six to nine days. The impression prevails that those plants whose leaves are most deeply mottled produce the flowers of the deepest color and are generally selected. A peculiarity of the blossoms is that those picked in the fields and placed in water do not close at night, but those on their own roots do. In some sections the Hepatica is regarded as steadily fragrant, in others as having no scent at all, while John Burroughs says they are occasionally fragrant. This vagary must be accounted for by some variation in the soil or locality, it would seem. WiLLARD N. Clute. Northern Range of the Spanish Oak. — A correspondent inquires for the Northern limit of the Spanish Oak, Quercusfalcata. It was formerly abundant in Kingsessing and Darby Township, in the County of Phila- delphia, before builders occupied the whole County as a City. There are still a few trees in the woods included in Fairmount Park. It is also found in Lancaster County. 1896.] MEEHANS* monthly— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 87 The Origin of Thorny Plants.— On my note on *'The Use of Spines to Cactuses," in the number of the Monthly for March, 1894, the following comment was made : «*Itis usually understood that changes in plants, generally considered under what is termed evolution, are brought about by gradual modification through a long series of years. If, therefore, cactuses without spines found trouble from predaceous animals, and desired spines to protect themselves, they would all be eaten up by the animals before the long series of years required in order to produce perfect protective spines, had passed away." In reply to which I would say that I think such a result might depend upon the number and voracity of the predaceous animals. As bearing on the subject of the use to the plant of spines or prickles and the way in which they came into being, I quote from Grant Allen's *' The Story of the Plants," recently pub- lished : « * I have spoken so far mainly of quite central and typical leaves, which are arranged with a single view to the need for feed- ing. But plants are exposed to many dangers in life besides the danger of starvation, and they guard in various ways against all these dangers. One very obvious one is the danger of being devoured by grazing animals, and, to protect them- selves against it, many plants produce leaves which are prick- ly, or stinging, or otherwise unpleasant. The common holly is a familiar instance. In this case the ribs are prolonged into stiff and prickly points, which wound the tender noses of donk- eys or cattle. We can easily see how such a protection could be acquired by the holly-bush through the action of Variation and Natural Selection. For holly grows chiefly in rough and wild spots, where all the green leaves are liable to be eaten by herbivorous animals. If. there- fore, any plant showed the slightest tendency towards prickliness or thorniness, it would be more likely to survive than its unprotected neighbors. And, indeed, as a matter of fact, you will soon see that almost all the bushes and shrubs which frequent commons, such as gorse, butcher's broom, hawthorn, blackthorn, and heather, are more or less spiny, though in most of these cases it is the branches, not the leaves, that form the defensive element. Holly, t FIG. 2.. -NORWAY 8PRUCC.--VAR. PYRAMI DALI8. ." ^a*" .o- ^?^^^^;^ 86 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [May 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE 87 Growth OF Insects. — Possibly few branches of scientific thought are more active at this time, than that which is considering the influence which environment has in govern- ing form and general character. A recent author who objects to the extent to which environment has been carried in forming theories of evolution well remarks that it must have some influence or it could not have captivated so many leaders in scientific philosophy. But he contends that it is a weak and not a strong agent, and is limited in its powers. He illustrates by the common house- fly. When an insect emerges from the pupa stage, it has reached its full size. But there are small house-flies as well as larger ones, — these do not grow larger or smaller after being once formed. It must have been some ** condi- tion of environment " that led to these varia- tions in size. Possibly some inability in one case to make available nutrition at a certain period of growth, made the dwarf, and opposite conditions favored the giant. But heredity is also a potent factor, and is able to hold what has been brought into existence. If the small flies could be so isolated that they would mate with each other only, heredity might result in bringing about a race of small house-flies. Such a race might, under some conditions, be regarded as a species,— yet it would be due rather to heredity than to conditions of environment. The great probability would be that when *• environment " again acted on some one member of the small race so as to change its puny character, it would be to remand it to the race of giants again, and thus make it again larger. Pell.EA GRACILIS.— Of this rare fern, Mr. W. N. Clute, Binghampton, New York, notes : " It may be of interest to note that I have found PellcBa gracilis twenty-five miles north of Binghampton, on rocks at an altitude of about a thousand feet above sea level, — an un- expected place to find this boreal species." American Holly with Yellow Berries. — Mr. W. A. Robinson, of Greenesboro, North Carolina, sends specimens of Ilex opaca with bright yellow berries. There is under cultiva- tion yellow-berried English Hollies, but this seems to be the first instance of its American cousin sporting in that direction. Fruit of the May-apple. — Mr. E. Newlin Williams says of the Podophyllum : — *' The fruit of the May-apple, which Whit- comb-Riley has celebrated, is handsome and tempting-looking, and pleasing to some palates, though I think the majority of us consider it edible, but hardly eatable. Will any poet sing Of a richer, lusher thing. Than a ripe May-apple, rolled Like a pulpy lump of gold Under thumb and finger-tips And poured molten through the lips. It is strange that the fruit should not par- take of the poisonous nature of the root and herbage of the plant. Additional Notes on Hepatica triloba. — Among the nanneso^ Nepal ica in the February Monthly, I notice the omission of a very poetical one, "Squirrel Cups," by which, according to Burroughs, these plants are known in some parts of New England. It is worth noting, also, that Professor Wood calls this plant Noble Liverwort, in contradistinction to the humbler one. There is no easier plant to coax to bloom in the house in late winter than this. Dug out of the frozen earth, it will bloom in from six to nine days. The impression prevails that those plants whose leaves are most deeply mottled produce the flowers of the deepest color and are generally selected. A peculiarity of the blossoms is that those picked in the fields and placed in water do not close at night, but those on their own roots do. In some sections the Hepalica is regarded as steadily fragrant, in others as having no scent at all, while John Burroughs says they are occasionally fragrant. This vagary must be accounted for by some variation in the soil or locality, it would seem. WiLLARD N. Clute. Northern Range of the Spanish Oak. — A correspondent inquires for the Northern limit of the Spanish Oak, Qiicrais falcata. It was formerly abundant in Kingsessing and Darby Township, in the County of Phila- delphia, before builders occupied the whole County as a City. There are still a few trees in the woods included in Fairmount Park. It is also found in Lancaster County. \ * s The Orkhn of Thorny Plants.— On my note on ''The Use of Spines to Cactuses," in the number of the Monthly for March, 1894. the following comment was made : ''It is usually understood that changes in plants, generally considered under what is termed evolution, are brought about by gradual modification through a long series of years. If, therefore, cactuses without spines found trouble from predaceous animals, and desired spines to protect themselves, they would all be eaten up by the animals before the long series of years required in order to produce perfect protective spines, had passed away." In reply to which I would say that I think such a result might depend upon the number and voracity of the predaceous animals. As bearing on the subject of the use to the plant of spines or prickles and the way in which they came into being, I quote from Grant Allen's '• The Story of the Plants,*' recently pub- lished : ♦' I have spoken so far mainly of quite central and typical leaves, which are arranged with a single view to the need for feed- ing. But plants are exposed to many dangers in life besides the danger of starvation, and they guard in various ways against all these dangers. One very obvious one is the danger of being devoured by grazing animals, and, to protect them- selves against it, many plants produce leaves which are prick- ly, or stinging, or otherwise unpleasant. The common holly is a familiar instance. In this case the ribs are prolonged into stiff" and prickly points, which wound the tender noses of donk- eys or cattle. We can easily see how such a protection could be acquired by the holly-bush through the action of Variation and Natural Selection. For holly grows chiefly in rough and wild spots, where all the orrceii leaves are liable to be eaten by herbivorous animals. If. there- fore, any plant showed the slightest tendency towards prickliness or thorniness. it would be more likely to survive than its unprotected neighbors. And, indeed, as a matter of fact, vou will soon see that almost all the bushes and shrubs which frequent commons, such as gorse. butcher's broom, hawthorn, blackthorn, and heather, are more or less spiny, though in most of these cases it is the branches, not the leaves, that form the defensive element. Holly, FIG. 2. --NORWAY SPRUCE. • -VAR. PY R AM I DA LIS- -.ct -..a. .o INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 'Wfesm^^ 88 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [May however, wastes no unnecessary material on defensive spikes, for though the lower leaves within reach of the cattle and donkeys are very prickly indeed, you will find, if you look, that the upper ones, about six or eight feet from the ground, are smooth-edged and harm- less. These upper leaves stand in no practical danger of being eaten, and the holly therefore takes care to throw away no valuable material in protecting them from a wholly imaginary assailant. Often, too, in these prickly plants we can trace some memorial of their earlier history. Gorse, for example, is a peaflower by family, a member of the great group of " papilionace- ous," or butterfly-blossomed plants, which includes the pea, the bean, the laburnum, the clover, and many other familiar trees, shrubs, and climbers. It is descended more immedi- ately from a special set of trefoil-leaved pea- flowers, like the clovers and lucernes ; but owing to its chosen home on open uplands, almost all its upper leaves have been trans- formed for purposes of defence into sharp, spine-like prickles. Indeed, the leaves and branches are both prickly together, so that it is difficult at first sight to discriminate between them. But if you take a seedling gorse plant you will find that in its early stages it still produces trefoil leaves, like its clover-like ancestors ; and these leaves are almost exactly similar to those of the common Genista so much cultivated in hot houses. As the plant grows, however, the trefoil leaves gradually give place to long and narrow blades, and these in turn to prickly spines, like the adult gorse leaves. Hence we are justified in believing that the ancestors of gorse were once genistas, bearing trefoil leaves ; and that later, through the action of natural selection, the prickliest among them survived, till they acquired their existing spiny foliage. In every case, indeed, young plants tend to resemble their earlier ances- tors, and only as they grow up acquire their later and more special characteristics." From these facts is it not reasonable to infer that plants which are prickly or thorny were not originally so, but became so by a gradual development of sharp appendages, the purpose of which is to protect the plants from animals ? Frank N. Tillinghast. Greenport, N. Y. The labor of an iconoclast is unenviable. To shatter such a beautiful idol as Grant Allen has constructed out of the gorse and the holly is surely a thankless task, — but the upper leaves of the holly become more entire as the tree grows by virtue of the general law which turns vigorous leaves into bracts as maturity is being reached. It is by virtue of the same law that changes the early deeply lobed leaves of many mulberries into wholly entire leaved ones when the tree is in its fruiting stage. It is therefore very doubtful whether the holly had any idea of " taking care not to throw away valuable material " when it was led by other influences to stop making thorns. Those of us who have made the inner life of plants a study have come to see, as we think clearly, that plants would of necessity be as thorny as now, though never an animal had been created to browse on them. That spines do protect is clear to any one, and that this was all forseen by infinite wisdom may be conceded. It undoubtedly entered into the original general plan of the universe ; but it seems incredible on the face of it, that it was wholly left to the chance accident of a brows- ing animal's appearance, before a thorny plant should exist on the earth. Mere chance, as a factor in development, seems a poor agent out of which to work out a harmonious plan. Green Color in the Absence of Light. — A correspondent writes : '* As to the origin of the green color inside of a pumpkin, I have read of similar cases before. It is my idea that the vacancy in the pumpkin is filled with air, the pumpkin not being impermeable to the same. Plants grow- ing in a dark cellar, yet exposed to air, lack the green color, — but, may not the air in the pumpkin, in combination with the food being obtained from its parent, undergo such changes (chemical) in the laboratory of the ^ lant as to account for the color ? I am inclined to think that the origin of the color^ inside, feeding on its parent (so un?iattiral), is in the food.'' Dicentra cucullaria. — A correspondent from Crete, Illinois, remarks : — ** The plate of Dicentra Cucullaria, or Breeches Flower in the March number, is so true to life ! How many times I have wandered through the woods and ravines of New York, in early spring time, and gathered handfuls of these blossoms." GENERAL GARDENING. IN THE APPLE BLOOM. Where no sunbeams with the shadow mingle. Deep in cells where silence sleeps alone, Root and fibre share the sudden tingle, Stirring with a power beyond their own. Swift the rugged stems throw on their covering, Far in azure, trembling with delight. Like a cloud — the apple blossoms hovering, Lost from morning, drifting pink and white. In the casks, then, where nor flash nor flicker Ever lifts the long year's vaulted gloom. Straightway beads and brims the golden liquor, Feels the fragrance and divines the bloom. Bubbles breaking from their dark and dreaming, Boughs in blossom, roots beneath the sod. Know their kinship, and alike, in seeming. Serve the joyous footsteps of a god ! — Harriet Prescott Spofford, in Harper's Bazar, Early Gardening in Chicago.— The magi- cal growth of large American cities, amazing as it is to foreigners, can scarcely be realized even by ourselves. Those of us who love gardens and flowers can perhaps better appre- ciate the wonderful transformations ; as these strong ingredients in human pleasures enable the memory to retain more vivid recollections of the beauty spots, now given up to huge piles of brick and mortar, than anything else can do. What Chicago is to-day, and what she was in the younger days of the writer of this paragraph, is a striking illustration of this wonderful transformation. In those times — the latter portion of the fifties— Dr. Egan's ^'•eat and beautiful garden was — not exactly tue V,Iecca of the American garden lover, for the great leader in gardening had not then been •* translated" as Mahomet was,— but it was one of the great beauty spots in the great and growing city, that everyone loved to see. Many hundreds of dollars were spent on gathering together rare trees and flowers. Now — well, every one knows what Chicago is today. It is at least pleasant to know that one of his descendants, Mr. W. C. Egan, is now doing, for horticulture in Chicago, what his father did in his day, even if the city should after his departure burst a rolling wave over where his rural pleasures now abound. We have in our possession a copy of a letter written by Dr. Egan to his brother in Mt. Lebanon, Louisiana, which will surely interest our readers, giving as it does a glimpse of this famous garden, as well as of the happy charac- ter of one of Chicago's early founders. It is dated October 26, 1S49 : — ''I must say I am pleased with 3 our southern move. Your love for agriculture and its concomitant duties will relieve the mind of many a weary hour and would I should sup- pose, compensate in a great measure for those social deprivations which an educated mind must undergo in a new and thinly settled country. Where did we all get a taste for fields and gardens ? I am too lazy to work but no garden can surpass mine in this region. I have thrown down the glove to Cincinnati, vSt. Louis, Cleveland and Buffalo, all on the straw- berry crop, and am so far the victor. My gar- den is in the city and contains over 50 acres. Flora and Pomona divide the honors and while I am their most ardent worshiper, they fail not to reward my devotion . The Cedar of Lebanon , the Araucaria of Brazil, the Irish Yew, and the Mexican Cypress lend their foreign charms to my garden home. My hedges of Arbor- Vitse, and lawn of Giant Evergreens are the admiration and boast of our city whose motto is " Urbs in Horto." The stately Weymouth Pine waves over our sunny terrace with its melancholy music like the memory of ancient day. The double sloe with the double red and white Hawthorn glisten from the shrub- bery with the brightness of other days ; and I feel somewhat proud in the consciousness that whatever may befall me, I leave behind me a graceful and tasteful home which cannot be alienated from my children. But I must not talk so much of my place, yet it is the pride of my heart, and I know your taste will approve it. And although I have been face- tiously termed the delirium treeman, the useful (89) ^o MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAI. GARDENING. [May 1896] MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 91 and the profitable combine to render my occu- pation renumerative. I have shipped this evening to St. I^ouis $100 worth of Celery which was raised on one-eighth of an acre in my garden." The Branching of Trees . — A correspondent refers to a specimen of an inverted Norway Spruce which he has seen, and desires to know what were the parents of this curious hybrid, and how nurserymen proceed to cross them to get these singular results. Such a question has probably never been asked before, and yet it is reasonable considering the ideas of some good botanists, who see in any striking form of foliage a hybrid between two species. It is just as reasonable to regard a striking depar- ture in the form of branching, as in the out- lined form of a leaf ! There is, however, no necessity for bringing in hybridization to account for these varia- tions. Nature abhors monotony. She makes no two things exactly alike, and variation is the most constant act of nature. But as the force impelling growth seems to come from in- numerable centres, it weakens with its expen- diture ; hence variation dependent as it is on the degree of force, can only go so far. A striking variation is merely the result of an extraordinary expenditure of force ; and strik- ing variations are therefore rarer than the lit- tle variations seen every day. In all trees, there is a normal form of branching, as of other forms. The White Pine usually branches at right angles with the trunk, — the Norway Spruce at an acute angle, though, by the weight of foliage they attain a rectangular position with age. Fig. i, on page 85, shows the normal character of a Norway Spruce, when about six feet high, that has had good culture in a nursery row. But under some extraordinary growth -force in a given direction the branches all take a downward curve, and the variety ** in verta, '* referred to by our correspondent, results. But this special impulse may be turned upwardly at another time, and then we get the pyramidal form, as illustrated in Fig. 2, on page 87. The impulse, if one might so term it, goes with the original cell of the individual tree at its birth, and continues through the whole life of the tree, whether it be continued by cut- tings, grafts or layers, and to some extent fol- lows through the seeds. Is, in fact, hereditary to a slight extent. The nurserymen simply select these outlying wanderers from the central type as they show themselves in the seed bed, and propagate from them. These peculiar forms are not made use of in gardening to the extent they might be. The Pyramidal Norway Spruce, for instance, gives a fine effect where upright plants are desirable. Possibly the extra cost is against the general use, as plants which have to be raised by cut- tings or grafts will necessarily be more expen- sive than where a few thousand plants can be grown by merely scattering a handful of seed. QUERCUS IMBRICARIA, THE LAUREL OaK. — The oak of general literature is an oak with lobed or divided leaves. The botanist recog- nizes this to some extent. Many botanical names have quercifolia — the oak- leaved — for the specific appelation, a lobed or cut-leaf always entering into the idea. An oak-leaved form, has come to be understood as the normal form which the English Oak, Quetcus Robur assumes. But of the three hundred and thirty-seven species of Quetcus now recognized as such, a comparatively small number are lobed like the famous one of England, or like those generally found in our north-eastern regions. Entire- formed leaves prevail. In the southern por- tions of the United States, entire-leaved forms give the chief character to the oak-wood scenery. There are a few entire-leaved forms in the North which give much pleasure in gar- den art, by their foliage, which, in these local- ities, are styled peculiar. One of these is the Laurel or Shingle Oak, of which a specimen about twenty- five years old is illustrated on opposite page. This is from a plant growing in the Michaux Grove of oaks in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. It is found abundantly in Ohio, Indiana and adjoining States, becoming rarer westwardly and eastwardly. When suf- fered to grow from the ground, the branches spread out in beech-tree fashion, and with its shining green, lance- formed leaves, it is difl^- cult to persuade the average observer that he has a real oak before him. The Willow-Oak, Quercus Phellos, makes pretty branching speci- mens,— but we have seen none to compare with Quercus imbricaria, as illustrated here. I i QUERCUS IMBHICARIA--THC UAURCt OR SHINGLE OAK. ) •90 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [May 1896 ] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — (iENERAI- (iARHKNING. and the profitable combine to render my occu- pation renumerative. I have shipped this evening to St. Louis $100 worth of Celery which was raised on one-eighth of an acre in my garden." The Branching of Trees . — A correspondent refers to a specimen of an inverted Norway Spruce which he has seen, and desires to know what were the parents of this curious hybrid, and how nurserymen proceed to cross them to get these singular results. Such a question has probably never been asked before, and yet it is reasonable considering the ideas of some good botanists, who see in any striking form of foliage a hybrid between two species. It is just as reasonable to regard a striking depar- ture in the form of branching, as in the out- lined form of a leaf ! There is, however, no necessity for bringing in hybridization to account for these varia- tions. Nature abhors monotony. She makes no two things exactly alike, and variation is the most constant act of nature. But as the force impelling growth seems to come from in- numerable centres, it weakens with its expen- diture ; hence variation dependent as it is on the degree of force, can only go so far. A striking variation is merely the result of an extraordinary expenditure of force ; and strik- ing variations are therefore rarer than the lit- tle variations seen every day. In all trees, there is a normal form of branching, as of other forms. The White Pine usually branches at right angles with the trunk, — the Norway Spruce at an acute angle, though, by the weight of foliage they attain a rectangular position with age. Fig. i, on page 85, shows the normal character of a Norway Spruce, when about six feet high, that has had good culture in a nursery row. But under some extraordinary growth-force in a given direction the branches all take a downward curve, and the variety " in verta," referred to by our correspondent, results. But this special impulse may be turned upwardly at another time, and then we get the pyramidal form, as illustrated in Fig. 2, on page 8y. The impulse, if one might so term it, goes wnth the original cell of the individual tree at its birth, and continues through the whole life of the tree, whether it be continued by cut- tings, grafts or layers, and to some extent fol- lows through the seeds. Is, in fact, hereditary to a slight extent. The nurserymen simply select these outlying wanderers from the central type as they show themselves in the seed bed, and propagate from them. These peculiar forms are not made use of in gardening to the extent they might be. The Pyramidal Norway Spruce, for instance, gives a fine effect where upright plants are desirable. Possibly the extra cost is against the general use, as plants which have to be raised by cut- tings or grafts will necessarily be more expen- sive than where a few thousand plants can be grown by merely scattering a handful of seed. Quercus imbricaria, the Laurel Oak. — The oak of general literature is an oak with lobed or divided leaves. The botanist recog- nizes this to some extent. Many botanical names have quercifolia — the oak- leaved — for the specific appelation, a lobed or cut-leaf always entering into the idea. An oak-leaved form, has come to be understood as the normal form which the English Oak, Quetcus Robur assumes. But of the three hundred and thirty-seven species of Quercus now recognized as such, a comparatively small number are lobed like the famous one of England, or like those generally found in our north-eastern regions. Entire- formed leaves prevail. In the southern por- tions of the United States, entire-leaved forms give the chief character to the oak-wood scenery. There are a few entire-leaved forms in the North which give much pleasure in gar- den art, by their foliage, which, in these local- ities, are styled peculiar. One of these is the Laurel or Shingle Oak, of which a specimen about twenty- five years old is illustrated on opposite page. This is from a plant growing in the Michaux Grove of oaks in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. It is found abundantly in Ohio, Indiana and adjoining States, becoming rarer westwardly and eastwardly. When suf- fered to grow from the ground, the branches spread out in beech-tree fashion, and with its shining green, lance-formed leaves, it is diffi- cult to persuade the average observer that he has a real oak before him. The Willow-Oak, Quercus Phellos, makes pretty branching speci- mens,— but we have seen none to compare with Querais imbricaria, as illustrated here. I *.• .* »; ^i lUERCUS IMBRIC*RIA--THE LAUREL OR SHINGLE OAK INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 92 MEEHANS* MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING [May Plants for Winter Effect, Pyrus arbu- TiFOLiA, Etc.— Meehans' Monthly in the February issue has done good to call atten- tion to the many desirable native trees and shrubs so little used for winter effects in our grounds. Of Pyrus arbutifolia, he cannot say too much. In my small (3 acre) yard I have one plant, fully 10 to 12 feet high, blooming early in May. Its blossoms are very like the English Hawthorn, only more beautiful. Some of the blooms form berries which remain green until fall approaches, and gradually turn from pink to a deep translucent coral-red to deepest crimson, which at this date are still fresh as in fall. I,ast year, my son while out botaniz- ing, found these in clumps of hundreds, and planted seven additional around my tall plant, which make a grand show. I cut branches from one densely crowded with berries, after the leaves had fallen off, mingled with it the exquisite evergreen leaves of Cherokee Rose, placed in a narrow vase, and turned over it a glass globe. This was November, 1895. To- day, March 2d, both leaves and berries seem as fresh as when gathered. We find another variety of Pyrus with purple berries, equally as desirable, and two varieties of buckthorn with round and oval yellow berries. Although we had the ther- mometer to register 3 degrees below zero, the coldest weather I have ever known here at the foot hills of Blue Ridge Mountains, yet these berries, the size of the English garden pea, are still fresh and unshrivelled. Besides these, I have a Catalpa which bears black bean like pods, li inch in diameter, nearly 9 to 12 inches long, with a Sweet Brier Rose, whose tips I oRen mingle in with their odorous leaves and the evergreen leaves of the native Chero- kee Rose. This rose ought to be hardy north ; and none can rival it for special purposes. It bears pure waxy-white single blooms, with such quantities of yellow stamens that it adds much to the beauty of the plants. Spartanburg, S. C. MrS. J. S. R. THOMSON. Forestry Knowledge.— -I wish to sincerely thank you for such sensible, timely and valuable, statements relating to forestry as these, viz.: "Forests depend upon climate and not climate upon forests. Better observe more and read less." The first is a great general, fundamental truth and whatever slight limitations there may be to it we leave for future scientific investigation to determine. The second is sound advice especially the first clause of the sentence. The recently published report of William F. Fox, Superintendent State Forest, New York, on the Adirondack Black Spruce, is exceed- ingly valuable. Its data is taken from the forests themselves. Foresters in the employ of the commission went into the woods, measured plots, counted trees, felled trees and measured their diameters and lengths and counted their annual rings and thus secured the important facts with which the report abounds. Many similar facts secured in the forests of Maine and New Hampshire by Austin Cavy, when in the employ of the United States Forestry Bureau, are published in the Maine Forestry Report. These facts are invaluable. Their evidence is admissable in court, for it is not of the hearsay, the read, or the theorized kinds. To me, the forests present many unsolved problems after years of study. The only way I see "to get out of the woods" in regard to forest problems is to stay in them and study them. " Observe more." Observation and experiment have convinced me, that hundreds of thousands of acres of the waste lands in your state can be cheaply and profitably put to the growing of timber by sowing or plant- ing them with the seed of timber trees. A crop of timber as well as a crop of corn can be grown without the trouble and expense of transplant- ing. J. C. Lyman. Exeter, N. H. Our American Plane Trees.— Mr. George C. Nealley observes that he understands Platajius Mexicana and Platanus Lindeniana, another Mexican species, are both now referred to the Western Platanus racemosa. But Index Kewensis retains Lindeniana as a distinct species, — and P. Mexicana of Torrey is given as a synonym of Platanus IVrightii. Badly Pruned TRHES.^Amertcan Garden- ing has an illustrated article showing the evil results of leaving spurs or snags in pruning trees. These invariably rot, and cause the premature death of a tree. Branches should be cut close to the trunk. The scars soon heal over. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING, 93 Vagaries in Grafting,— Correspondents keep us pretty well supplied with the vagaries of the public prints. It is hopeless to look for reform, and it is questionable whether any criticism by Meehans' Monthly will stop the out-pour of absurdities. Still we must be courteous to our correspondents ; and one desires to know how far the following is correct : " The olive has been grafted on a juniper, a peach on a myrtle, pears on oaks, apples on plums, mulberries on figs, a rose on an orange, carnations on fennel, peaches on mulberries, and red and white grapes, with peaches and apricots, on the same stem, for as all buds are distinct, the stem furnishes nutriment." Only plants closely related will unite by grafting. Possibly the grafting of lilacs on the privet is among the most remarkable feats of the gardener's art, as these are placed by botanists in the different genera of Ligustrum and Syringa. But they are of the same natural family, and perhaps closer related in their anatomical structure and physiological rela- tions than would appear to the systematic botanist. It is indeed the physiological rela- tionship, if one may so term it, that decides the matter. Odor oe the Ailantus. — Mrs. Elizabeth L. H. Willis, Charleston, remarks ; "Apropos of the odor of Ailantus trees, mentioned by Mrs. Munro, in your magazine for January, I wish to say that I had my first experience with the pistillate Ailantus last year, and it was altogether delightful. A young tree, about twenty-five or thirty feet high, grows in my neighbor's grounds, and near my garden wall. Last spring it blossomed most profusely, and never a breath of disagreeable odor was wafted from it to our olfactories. The flowers were succeeded by dense masses of fruit each flat, spindle-shaped samara being suspended by one end and overlapping each other with the regularity and symmetry of fish scales. As the summer advanced each one of these graceful winged seeds took on a rich, yellowish-russet, verging to crimson, and these gay clusters contrasting with the handsome foliage made the tree a thing of beauty for many weeks." The point made by Mrs. Willis in regard to the beauty of the Ailantus when covered with its bright samaras is a good one. Even though the tree had a stronger odor than desir- able, the glorious beauty would pay for it all. For this, if not for the less degree of odor over the male, the female tree is preferable. r>' Graft propagation.— *' The art of propa- gation of plants is something of which no one, however great his experience, can say he is entire master. This fact is the more forcibly impressed upon me when I wonder why I am not very successful in graft- ing the White Persian Lilac and yet entirely so with its parent the Purple. Can you explain why this is ? " Most lilacs are now grafted in the same manner that apples and similar roots are grafted. A piece of root is cut into sections. A wedge neatly and smoothly cut is inserted into a clean slit in the root, and then tied together with some soft material. The accompany- ing sketch illustrates it. Some use waxed paper, as it keeps the moisture out, and thus guards against decay. The aim of the root grafter is to get the scion and root to granulate together as soon as possible. Just how to effect this can only be learned by experi- ence in each particular case. A man may be eminently successful as a grafter of apples, and yet fail wholly as a grafter of roses. The apple will granu- late freely under a low temperature. If the grafting be done in mid-winter, and the grafts set together in sand or damp sawdust in a cool cellar, the granulation will be so complete that when set into the open ground in spring the apples will sprout at once and grow almost with the vigor of seedlings. It is more than probable that the difference in the success of our correspondent with the different lilacs is that in the one case he has struck on the right temperature to favor union in the one case, but not in the other. 94 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [May The Carpenter Irish Yew.— Possibly one of the finest specimens of Irish Yew in our Country is that represented in the accompany- ing engraving. It is about 15 feet high, and 18 feet in circumference. It is near the residence of the late George W. Carpenter, one of Philadelphia's prominent and progressive men, and which residence is also shown in the picture. The Irish Yew is but an upright- growing variety of the common yew of the Old World, Taxus baccata, but its close grow- ing, upright character gives it a self-protective character from cold winds. Old Boreas can not whistle through the branches as it loves to do through the open-branched normal form. The Carpenter mansion is part of a tract which until a few years ago had about one hundred acres attached to it. It is in the 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 95 central part of that section of Philadelphia known as Germantown. Held by Mr. Carpen- ter mainly for his personal pleasure, and in- deed of the community which always had free access to his beautiful grounds, it was recently placed in the market for improvement by the Pelham Company, and was estimated as being worth one million of dollars. Hundreds of beautiful suburban residences have been erected, and are still going up, but the new roads have been so constructed as to save the residence from destruction. Mr. Carpenter was a poor and friendless boy. As a lad he attended a lecture on Mineralogy by the cele- brated Naturalist, Thomas Nuttall. He started to collect minerals for himself, and had them so correctly named and beautifully arranged that he was offered $1,000 for them. With this he started the drug business of which he had acquired some knowledge through work- ing as a young man in a drug store. He be- came an active member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and was a trusted oflficer of the Institution to his death. He became Nuttall's financial agent ; and, on the latter's return from New Holland, Mr. Carpenter built capacious green houses for the plants raised from Nuttall's seeds. These greenhouses were for many years the pride of Philadelphia. The remains of these plants now form the nucleus of the Carpenter Winter Garden, attached to the great conservatory in Fair mount Park. When the question is asked, what is the use of science in the practical affairs of life ? one might point to the career of Philadelphia's George W. Carpenter for an answer. The Pelham Company deserves the thanks of those who would encourage thrift and sound knowledge through the community, by preserving the Carpenter house. The dwelling alone, with the story of the Carpen- ter life, will be a living lecture of encourage- ment to many a struggling youth. Absorption of Silica by Plants.— I was interested in the query of your Chicago cor- respondent, on page 54, of the March Mee- hans' Monthly, and have looked into the subject a little. A great number of experiments have been made with various plants to see if there is any stiffening of the stem by the silica which the plant assimilates. By means of water cul- tures, corn (maize) has been grown by a num- ber of German investigators with but minute traces of silica in the solution, yet the plants seemed as healthy with 0.54 per cent, of silica in the culture, as with 27.98 per cent in the field. As to the stiffness of the stem, Wolff found that the corn and oat plants containing but slight quantities of silica "were as firm in stalk, and as little inclined to lodge or ' lay * as those which grew in the field." (John- son's ♦• How Crops Grow " (1894) Page 216). I have examined the stem of Equisetum hyemale to ascertain whether diatoms are de- posited in this stem so rich in silica. There are no such deposits, although the silica crys- tals in the stomata might at first glance be taken for such. It is impossible that it should be otherwise, since the plant absorbs its food by osmosis entirely, the nutrient particles are absorbed through their solutions which the carbonic acid and water of the soil, and the acid moisture of the microscopic root-hairs are able to produce. The weakness of your correspondent's chrys- anthemum stems is undoubtedly due to a too vigorous, rapid rather, growth, which does not allow the proper assimilation and elabora- tion of the food. Frederick H. Blodgett. New Brunswick, N, J. MEW ©1 RAWt WhAWTB. Carnation Culture.— Mr. Denys Zirn- giebel, of Needham, Mass., has astonished the French florists by a letter to one of their horticultural magazines regarding the extent of carnation culture in America. He tells them that under our system of forcing varieties do certainly run out, but the American culti- vator does not wait to restore them ; but fills the gap with new kinds from seed. This not only keeps up healthy stock, but at the same time leads to the improvement of the race itself. Mr. Z. refers especially to the wonder- ful demand for a recent American variety of a salmon pink color,— Delia Fox. And this will be supplanted in a few years by a new candi- date for popular favor. Hairy Flowered Chrysanthemums.— The curious class of chrysanthemums from Japan, which was introduced some years ago in the variety named Louis Boehmer, has been vastly improved. It was little more than a curiosity at first,— but some really pretty forms have been raised both in this country and Europe. Cannas. — The rapid improvement in the Cannas, has led to a desire to eliminate the poorer, and selection becomes the order of the day. One called Queen Charlotte is believed to be among the first-class varieties. Expanded flowers are five inches across. The rich brown of the centre of the flower is edged by a wide border of gold. at first sight thought was a yellow Gerardia, but upon examining it. I found it was not, nor could I tell what it was. It did not blossom in 1894, but last year it again was in flower— with a long spike of yellow flowers. It has only had one spike each year. Last summer I gave it to Prof. Merrit Lyndon Fernald, of the Cambridge Herbarium and he pronounced it Digitalis ambigua, and says it has never been found before in this country, so far as he knows. The first year I found it, it had a lot of the rather rare snail Acarthinala harpa, upon it and around it, and last season it again had them on it, and I have never found them before or since. The plant grows in the shadow of a hickory and fir tree, which stand not more than 8 feet apart, and about 6 feet from the walk, and 20 feet from the road. I have no idea where the seed could have come from. It grows in Asia and Europe. Hiram Kelley Morrell. Gardiner, Mc. THE MiflRI^Y f LOWER ^^i^^i^^ We have a complete stock of the choicest, rarest and best. Accurately and per- fectly described in our New Catalogue, which is mailed for six cents in stamps. 0^i^X?^^^i^^i^^j^ THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Nurserymen and Landscape Engineers GERMANTOWN. PHILADELPHIA, PA. SOLD BY THE SEEDSMEN SLUG SHOT has a history. SLUG SHOT is a cheap powder powder, remarkably tine, very aiflfusable. and clings in a fine dust upon any plant over which it is dusted. It kills Currant Worms. SLUG SHOT kills insects as sure as sugar sweetens coffee. 3LyQ SHOT is not a new or untried preparation. It kills Cabbage Worms. SLUG SHOT as a compound general insecticide was put on the market in the year 1880. It kills Uose Slugs and Blight. SLUG SHOT kills insects that prey on vegetation and drives off or kills Cockroaches and Bed Bugs too, besides fleas on dogs and cats. SLUG SHOT when used does not harm man, beast or towl. It kills Sheep Ticks. SLUG SHOT primarily was used on the Potato Bug and then the Currant Worm. Then on Roses and flowers generally. Cabbaob was saved by it. Beans, Tomatoes, Tobacco, and Radishes, were treated. Turnips by the acre were protected from the fly. Melons from the Cut Worm and Fly Beetles. Savecl the Plums from the Curculio ; the Quince covered with sluf,s was completely cleaned, the Apple was saved from the Canker Worm. Saved the Elm trees from being destroyed by the Elm Tree Beetle. SLUG SHOT went into the Jersey Cranberry Bogs; acre atter acre of Cranberry vines from Grasshoppers were saved. SLUG SHOT was used on lousy chickens, on calves, dogs and cattle too. SLUG SHOT went into the hands of commercial flor- ists, first as a sample, lastly by the Barrel. S LU G S H OT tloes what Hellibore will ; where Tobacco is useful it is more so; jf sulphur drives and smothers vermin, so does this. If arsenical preparations kills insects, more safely can this be depended on. Try it carefully. eiijG SHOT has been used with safety to man and beast and fowls for 14 years. Subject to exhaustive criticisms, there has not appeared any known cause of harm in its use to either man or woman, girl or boy, horse or cow, dog or cat. calf or sheep, goose or turkey, hen or pigeon, hog or ox, or any other quadruped or biped ; and it has been used freely to destroy lice on cattle, cats dogs and fowls. SLUG SHOT is put up in five and ten pound bags; kegs, 12.5 pounds ; barrels, 23.5 pounds. Bulk, in canis- ters with perforated top. It is cheap enough for every- body to use and is SOLD by the SEED DEALERS generally throughout the United States and Canada. FOR PAMPHLET ADDRESS. BENJ. HAMMOND FISHKILL-ON-HUDSON, N. Y. NEZ PERCE # POT LATCH # PA LOUSE These are the names of three great agricultural and fruit growing districts in Idaho and Washing- ton reached by the Northern Pacific Railroad. They each adjoin the other, are similar in poducts, climate and character, and together form a region for a homeseeker hard to equal. The Palouse region has long been noted for its mar- velous grain Production. It is to the Pacific Coast what the Red River Valley is to Minnesota and North Dakota. The Potlatch country is like unto the Palouse, and adjoins it on the east. The Nez Perce region lies south of the others and has until recently been a part of a great Indian reservation. 500,000 acres of it have been thrown open to settlement and its lands can be bought at cheap prices and on favorable terms, Write to CHAS. 5. FEE, General Passenger Agent Northern Pacific Railroad, For folder and rates St. Paul, Minn. Rosa Rubosa (JAPANHSB ROSB) We have a large stock of this beautiful Rose ; strong and thrifty plants on their own roots; suitable for planting in masses. See our new descriptive catalogue which contains a full paged illustration of them, also prices for single plants or in quantities. Azalea yWoLLis (CHINBSB nZAUBA) This is the most attractive of all the Aza- leas,— the flowers are born in great profu- sion. We have a good stock of thrifty, well rooted plants. See description and illus- tration in our new^ catalogue for 1896. Descriptive catalogue for Spring, 1896, will be mailed free to old customers, to others for six cents in stamps. THOMAS MEEHflN lea, including Colorado Blue Spruce and Douglas Spruce ^ of Colorado. Also OmamentaU Shade and Forest Trees^ Tree Seeds^Etc B. 1>0LGLASA80NS, Waukeffan, IlL BOYS WANTED money with fall inetructions f or sell- Hh OR D i V iug. NO MONEY TO INVEST. NORISK.uUUU I AT THE NEW YORK WEEKLY KEOORDER, New York. everywhere to Hell our paper. We send pa- pers without P*¥-tfftl5TTTn A Up-todate Horticultural hand A .MJUi/^m.iLAL/iA l)ook. Past and present of tlie — — — — \ fruit industry. Experience and opinion of 400 leading growers. Latest practice and best methods of culture. Most recent experience in orchard aad market with varieties new and old. Authoritative work by State Horticultural Society. Send «1 for "last Annual." 1^- st.i.Tn.gSr'---^- FRUIT GROWING The Ro^e : It^ dultivation, Varieties, etc. BY H. B. ELI.WANGER. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tion, the treatment of diseases and insect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip- tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo "rice, 9i>2o* THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, Pa. ■^"^."^^^^ ^flf WOMEN TALK ^% over the \ FAULTLESS SUAKER ISH WASHER- and it is little '**'Wonder. It is such a boon to Huffering wo- mankind. Makes the home happy. Agents make money with it. Better write for a place to-day. We have a new plan that will make you happy The Quaker Novelty Co. Salem, Ohio. '^^;:^ "t MONEY IN FRUITS Japau PliiiUHy or othermoney makers. FUN, tooj if you put heart and soul in their culture. Hale has found heaps of both. Tells the storv in book, "From Pnsh Cart to Trolley Car in Fruit Cul- ture." It's />«?«. Send for it now if ... —^gy^i—i interested in BerrieH* Peac'hen, Address HALE, SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONN. Useful BOOKS on Wicultural aod (oral Su^cts MuHlirooiUH. How to Grow Tlieui. For home use fresh mushrooms are a delicious, highly nutritious and wholesome deli- cacy ; and for market they are less bulky than eggs, and, when properly handled, no crop is more remunerative. Any one who has an ordinary house cellar, woodshed or barn can grow Mush* rooms. This is the most practical work on the subject ever writ- ten, and the only book on growing Mushrooms ever published in America. The whole subject is treated in detail, minutely and plainly, as only a practical man, actively engaged in mushroom growing can handle it. The author describes how he himself grows Mushrooms, and how they are grown for proiitby the lead- ing market gardeners, and for home use by the most successful private growers. The book is amply and pointedly illustrated, with engravings drawn from nature expressly for this work. By Wm. Falconer, Is nicely printed and bound in cloth Price postpaid . SLsd BtrryN Fralt Garden. By P. Barry. A standard work on fruit and fruit trees ; the author having had over thirty years' practical experience at the head of one of the largest nurseries in this coun- try. New edition, revised up to date. Invaluable to all fruit- growers. Illustrated. Cloth, i2mo •8.00 Designs for Flower Beds. By Geo. A. Solly & Son. The author of this work has devoted nearly forty years to the study of landscape gardening and floriculture, and gives here some very C irefully executed designs, many of them colored, for laying out and planting flower beds, which he has selected as the best and most pleasing. Most of these beds can easily be arranged and made attractive by any intelligent amateur as well as by a profes- sional gardener 113.00 F«M-nM in Their Homes and Ours. By John Robinson. Fully illustrated. Colored plates. Cloth, lamo S1.50 Fuller's Practical Forestry A Treatise on the Propagation, Planting and Cultivation, with a description and the botanical and Handbook for Fruit Growers. By F. R. Elliott. Contain- ing instructions as to soil and location, how to grow from seed bud and graft, the making ot cuttings, pruning, best age lor transplanting, etc., etc., with a condensed list of varieties suited to climate m| qa Heinrich's Window Flower Garden. The author is a prac- tical florist, and this enterprising volume embodies his personal experiences in Window Gardening during a long period. New and enlarged edition. By Julius J. Heinrich. Fully illustrated Cloth, i2mo 75 cents. Henderson's Gardening for Profit. By Peter Henderson. Wew edition. Entirely re-written and greatly enlarged The standard work on Market and Family Gardening. The s'uccess- •ip^P*"*"*^^ o^ **»« author for more than thirty years, and his willingness to tell, as he does in this work, the secret of his success tor the benefit of others, enables him to give most valuable infor- mation. Ihe book is profusely illustrated. Cloth, lamo. SS.OO Henderson's Gardening for Pleasuie. New edition re- written and greatly enlarged. A guide to the amateur in' the truit, Vecetable and Flower Garden with full descriptions for the Greenhouse, Conservatory and Window Garden. It meets the wants of all classes, in country, city and village, who keep a garden for their own enjoyment rather than for the sale of pro- ducts. By Peter Henderson. Finely illustrated. Cloth, i2mo S2.00 ThOTV^KS 7V^BEH7:^N Se SONS NTOiniN. PHILHDELPHIH GERTW^K WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. LORD & BURNHAM CO. HORTICULTURAL ARCHITECTS AND BUILD gTBAM AND HOT WATER HEATING KNaTNEEBS Plant and Estimates tarnisbed on application Largest Bulldars ol Sraenhouie Structures. Six Highest Awards at the Wsrid's Fair Send {out oenia postage for Illustrated catalogne XiOR/ID &c 33TJI?.Isri3:.A.iyn oo. ARCHITJBCTUKAL OFFICE, 160 FIFTH AVE., COB. 21st STRKBT. NEW YORK. Factory : Ii*vlngton»on-Hadsoii, New York Mention Paper PUBLISHED THE Ut AND IStm OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2.00 A YEAR 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valuable American Horti- cultiiral publication. DeparTmi^nts : The Flower Oatden, Trees and Shrubs, The Greenhouse, The Window Garden, The Fruit Garden, The Vege- table Garden, Insects and Other Pests, Mushrooms, and others in season. See what subscribers say about this valuable journal. "For condensed common sense in gardening matters, for reliable, unpr^udiced and safe information, Gardening cannot be surpassed, and although moderate in size it ex- pands upon perusal." W. C EOAN, Highland Park, HI. "Gardehino is tlte best horticultural paper printed in America." Chas L. Burr, Springfield, Mass, "I am greatly pleased with the paper. It is practical and •nggestive. Its reproduction of photographic views of plants, flowers anA landscapes is a most admirable feature.' W. M. JoHWSON, Hackensack, N.J. PRACTICAL POPULAR SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. N O- 4J0 -« Lgarden »* /\ N D FOREST •AJOURNAL-OF-HORTICULTURE tANDSCAPEARTANDfORESTRY ^ •ii ^Xt la a iO^«Cjr . J ^ ^.^ •w^Hw^vw,1 ;;■".'.'*'"-, ^' DON'T ^'^ly \\<'rtlilcr>s nurscn' stiK'kaiid VVASTE in.iiiN years. .f VAi.iAiujc TIME waitinjr results andllnally lose your (VI ON EY. liut send to the • !• N Coiup.iny who ha\e the , EVERGREENS. ,* LarKosf stork in Amer* 'JJ lea, including '^Colorado Blue Spruce "and Douglas Spruce ^^, ;i.->!^H ' of Colorado. a«.^'^.'.i-.«f Also Ornamentiil, ShSt 5^v 'fne Setiln, Etc. ^li. l>Ol(; LAS & SONS, WuukcKun, 111. FINEST NURSERY STOCK «l l<< asonabli- I'llci-^, N«-*% <-aitulo;; for I s«>«i. s.-nd \uv on.-. Fr«-«-. KstiinaU-s Iiirfiisli.-<1. < ■nrrrs|,Mi„|, ■,„.,.-., I i, it,, i THE WM. H. MOON COMPANY, Morrisville. Pa. ni^FVnTJTT^A l^I>-t )-«J:>t.' n..rti.;ultur:il han.l M^ IJ ; I A ^1 JLJ A-\ lu).>k. PiiHtan.l prcsoiit (►! tli." -— — fniit iii.lustry. Kxp.'rienr.' and <»|)iinun of jOii leadinj; mow.Ts. Liitest practi.u' an.l l.est in«'ili<.il> of (Milture. Most lecMit expi'ri(Mi..'e in orclianl ami inaik.it with varieties new and ol.l. Aiitliotitative work »y State Hoiticuliural So(>i..ty. Send «1 for 'Mast Annual," «.c^- ^t.': V^ DISH j^^jTH^WASHER- '""'"' -ami it is Jittl.- """ Wijiider. It i>i puoh a boon ♦<> !-Mli«'riiu,' wo- ni:iiikiud. Maki-s the hoinc happy. An»^Mt-^ uiake nioiie.\ , witli it. Hetter write for a" place to-py The Quaker Novelty Co. Salem, Ohio. i ,^. MONEY IN FRUITS Ju|»aii l*liiiii>, (irotiur money makers. Aiidresd n N« loo? if you put heart and soul in t heir cidture. Haiehasfound lo-ap.-. of hot li. Tells the storv ill honk, "I'rom Pu^>h Tart to Trull. -y Car in 1 ruit Cul- ture." It's /><■*'. Send for it new if interested in |{ri*ri«'>*, |*«'aehi*>«, llALi:, SOI Til 4iI.ASTOMU KV, CONN. Usefol BOOKS Oil liortiGultural aon Qural SuOjects :>l(i>lir<>oins. How t<» \v Thoin. For Iiomk- use fresh nuishrooms ate a deli, ions, highly muritious and wholesome deli- < a. y ; an.l for matket they ar< l.-^s bulky th.m e';cs, and, when liropeily hand!**.!, no cn)i> is nioie lemiu'ieiative. Any oi'ie who has an i-rdinary house cellar, woo.lshed or barn can grow Mush- rooms, 'ihis is the most practical work on the subject ever writ- ten, and the only book on ;.;rowing .Mushrooms ever ]>ub.lished in Ameri.a. The whole subject is treated in detail, mimitely and plainly,. is onU a pra.ti.al man, activelv engaged in mushroom growing can handle it. The author describes how he himself grows Mushio.;ms, and how they are grow n for profit by the lead- ing matket gardeners, and for home use by the most successful private growers. The book is amply and pointedly illustrated, with enuravmj^s drawn from n.iture expressly for this work. Py Wm. FaK..ner. Is nicely printed and bound in cloth i'rice 1"^^*P''»'^ • »i.r»o liiiry's Fruit <;aiMl«Mi. F.y p. p.airy A standat.l work on fruit and fruit tiees; the author having h.id over thirty ye. us' pr.iciical experieiu «• .it the head of one of the l.ngest nurseries in this «-.)Ut>- trv. New edition, revised U]) to date. Invaluable to all fruit- giowers. Illustrate. 1. Cloth, i.-nio S8i2.(»0 OosiKiiK for riower H«mIs. p.y ( ;eo A Solly vS: Son Ihe .tiithor of this woik has devoted marly forty years to the study of l.inds. aj.e gai.lenmg and floriculture, an.l gives here some very c irefullv exeruted .iesigns, many of them coloie.l. for laving out ind planting How. i beds, which he has sole, t.-.l as th. best ami most phasing ,M,,st of these beds can e.asily be anangeil and m.ide atti.iotive by any intelli-.pecies lly Andrew S. luller, author of (.lapeCulturisi,' " Small Fruit Culturist, etc »1..">« Han.l hook for Fruit Growers. V,y V. R. Elliott. Contain- ing mstiuctions as to soil and location, how to grow from -eed bud and graft, the making of cuttings, ptuning, best age for transplanting, etc., etc , with a condensed list of varieties suit«d »i.oo to climate. • •rii> ill Th.'ir H.un«>> and Our>. Ily b,hn kohms.ui Full i.iiistr.tt. .1. t (ili>retl plates Cloth, i.Viiulow Flow.-r CJarihn. 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Sketch plans and plantiog maps pna)arcd, and suggestions giveii for tjie^^ying oi^ i|nd lmpr<:iyynent of cpi^i^ and snbttrUtt fetide^ces^ pupUt parks andgi^unds of eveor a ^*r^. •*>r -^.'^. i«-Hr. -^ V '-i :Jl|^# . \W ^» •flA ♦. vv -y^-'!'?- ''v ,■ ^ ^ m Hi tHt#i Wabuljd of lai Iron^'ah Wool, ^r a BsoamciitWii <« «l«lieir, wj dwlWA. »b©W Ibr C^pi^sfe ^ih Bardf'ftyr lotted ih%»n Water }£«>at.!n>r Ii r^ *,»« Blmeiirofi Siia nit, or ftU Wood »t(i(ons. Contmct* tak«*i for Completed Stnurture. *'~*-riaiiiTffir''-fi '' to j(m :. PUMTY'S HORTICULTURAL WORKS, J48.(5€ Randolph Ave^Sf^ty C WrtJLW WKIiir^U 10 AUVLKJI^jLiKb, PLIlA)»E MEMTIOM MEEKANS* liONTHl '} D^ u^ * ^T. '\;o r PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL "• r ■ .. 1 Ui , rpiMs i-'iL'f--\.\is musmH' "ff^S^S? K?^StSfi7ai^il^^r5^>«^^^ mwsi^- muu^uof NAL SECOND EXPOSURE LUPINUS PERENNIS. SUN-DIAL LUPINE. NATURAL ORDER, LEGUMINOS^. LUPiNUs PERENNIS, Linoaeus.— Percnuial ; stem erect, nine to eighteen inches high, striate-angular, pubescent, somewliat branching, leaflets seven to eleven, oblanceolate, tapering to the base, smoothish above ; common petiole one or two to four or five inches in length, raceme three to six inches long, loose, terminal, on a naked peduncle two to four inches in lengfth ; flowers purplish-blue with shades of dark violet, legumes about an inch and a half long, very hairy and dark tawney ; seeds obovoid, variegated Darlington's Flora Cestrica, see also Gray's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, Chapman's Flora of ike Southern United States, and Wood's Class-Book of Botany. In the ♦• Botanical Magazine " Miller's *' Dictionary/* and Barton's ** Flora of the United States" — the last (a work something similar to ours, which ended with its third volume), are colored figures of Lupinus per- enniSy differing from one another, and from the illustration now given, though all of the same species, — the one in Miller the nearest like ours. These have, no doubt, all been taken from nature, and the fact shows that plants though of the same species have all a limited variation. When selecting a specimen for our artist, it was impossible to find many that had not had the older flowers damaged by the bees which actively made use of them. It seemed that truthfulness to nature should select one of these, as exhibiting its most usual appearance, in preference to the rare cases in which the whole raceme was perfect. In nature, how- ever, wherever the plant is growing abund- antly, and covering as it often does vast areas of ground, the destructive work of the busy bees is not apparent in the blue sheet of flowers the plants present, — for there are always large numbers coming on above to take the place of beauty in the stead of those the bees destroy. The family to which it belongs is one of the most classic in history. The name Lupinus is a very old one and was in use by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The exact identity of many plants of the ancients have been lost, and there is in many cases no certainty that plants now under an ancient name, are the plants in- tended by the writer who used them. But this is not the case with Lupinus. There seems to be but little doubt that the white Lupine of Europe — Lupinus albus, is the plant to which the ancients referred, notwithstanding the modem differences of opinion as to the deriva- tion of the name. In Gray's ** Manual of Botany," it is said to be derived from lupus a wolf, because it devours the fertility of the soil ; and most American botanists seem to have adopted the same opinion, which is essentially that of Dr. Martyn a distinguished botanical scholar of the last generation. How improbable this derivation is may be gathered from the fact that this Lupine was not a devourer of the best as the wolf is, but was satisfied with very poor food. Theophrastus says that they grow only on sandy or poor soil, and in rich land can be made to produce a crop, only with difficulty. Indeed it was used according to both Pliny and Columella, as a green manure in order to make a poor soil rich, — that is to say it was sown as if for a crop, and, while still green, ploughed down into the earth by which the ground was fertilized as if the usual manures were used. There is a story in ^sop's fables about a boy who loved to cry wolf when there was no wolf about. The story could not be better illustrated^in the vegetable kingdom than by a reference to its use in the case of this plant. Dr. W. P. C. Barton, referring to the above, adds, *• the word is also supposed to be derived from (the Greek) lupe, grief, — a notion which is supposed to be sup- ported by Virgil's epithet '' tristes lupinir which he used not, perhaps, without a full stretch of the poet's license, from the fanciful idea that the acrid juices of the lupin he alluded to, produced a sorrowful cast of coun- tenance. " It is singular that the most prob- able reason for the epithet "sad lupin " has been generally overlooked. An old writer observes of the white lupin '* the leaves have the sides contracted at night, and bend down, being bent back to the petiole." It has been customary from the earlist times to associate drooping leaves with sadness. We speak of (lOl) 102 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — LUPINUS PERENNIS. [June the weeping willow, and apply the term to all trees the branches of which bend toward the ground and it was probably from this droop- ing habit of the leaves that the Lupine derived its name, and suggested the idea of sadness to Virgil. This seems to have been in the mind of the poet, J. W. Davis, probably, when he wrote : ** the lyUpines here, as evening shadows rise, Low droop their sorrowing leaves, and close their timid eyes. ' ' The connection of the name, however, with the wolf has entered so widely into literature that the emblematists have dedicated the flower to *' voraciousness,*' — and it is almost impossible to look on this pretty plant with any sort of sentiment without this character entering largely into the idea. The great Latin poet Horace refers to the seeds of the Lupine in connection with counterfeit money. Plautus calls them aurum Comicum, or as we might translate it for our times, *' stage money,'* because the flat seeds were used in comedies where real money was to be repre- sented. The seeds being as flat as if pressed, and with a rounded outline, were well adopted to this use. From this form it was known to the older garden authors as •* The Flat Bean," and though the ' * Bean ' * has a sort of vege- table-like sound, old Parkinson, Queen Eliza- beth's gardener, remarks *' it hath a flower which is accepted as delightful to many, and therefore fit for the flower garden." The great use of the Lupine in the olden time was as an article of food. The * * sorrowful cast of countenance " already referred to might be exhibited by those who partook of them in a natural state, for they are then very bitter ; but when soaked in salt and water before boil- ing they are very palatable indeed. In this connection the story of the ancient painter Protogenes is in place. He lived in Rhodes about three hundred and twenty-eight years before Christ. Like those prophets who are without honor in their own country, none of his fellow citizens cared anything for his worth, till some foreigners found him out, and pur- chased his pictures at enormous prices. So great was his desire for accuracy that he spent seven years on the picture of Jalysus the founder of Rhodes. During all this time he lived chiefly on boiled Lupines, because of an impression that they favored an imaginative turn of mind. They do not, however, seem to possess any strong medical property. Cul- pepper the old astrological herbalist remarks that * ' the virtues are governed by Mars and Aries. The seeds are opening and cleansing, and are good to destroy worms. " All this however relates to the ancient white Lupine, or in some degree to the yellow Lupine which has taken in a great measure its place in the agriculture of Europe, though the species we now illustrate, Lupinus perennis, has much the same character as its more classic relations. Its medical qualities seem abso- lutely none. Rafinesque who investigated very closely the virtues of the plants known to him, merely says of our plant, '* liked by horses and sheep," and Dr. L. Peyre Porcher, in his •♦ Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests," does not mention it at all. Dr. Unger, a celebrated German writer and natura- list, in a paper published in 1858, on '* Plants Used by Man as Food," says that, "The New World has also its wolfs-bean, in Lupinus perennis ; and its bitter seeds are eaten from Canada to Florida," on what authority this statement was made is not known. The seeds have not been so used to any extent, so far as researches for this chapter have discovered. Its botanical history has some points of interest. The half dozen species so long known to Europeans, are annuals, and this, the first American species known to them, being a perennial, suggested to the botanists of the time its specific name perennis. It has frequently been noted in the progress of this work, that we must not depend too much on the name as descriptive of the plant, and this is another illustration of this. Since our conti- nent has been explored, more than fifty species have been discovered, and many of them are perennials. They abound chiefly on the Pacific side of the United States. The present species is one of only two found in the Atlantic portions of the United States, but has a remarkable distribution over a very wide extent of territory. It extends from the Atlantic coast across thorough Michigan and Minnesota by a form, closely allied if not exactly the same, through to Behring's Straits and up into the Arctic Seas. Explanation of the Plate.— i. Full sized specimen, injured by bees, contributed by Mr. W. F. Bassett, from Ham- monton, New Jersey. 2. Portion of its creeping root, or more properly, rhizome. 3. Nearly side view of a flower with an unusually pointed keel. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. A DAY IN JUNE. And what is so rare as a day in June ; Then, if ever, come perfect days, The cowslip startles in meadows green, The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice. And there's never a leaf nor a blade too mean To be some happy creature's palace. — Loweli,. Lupinus perennis, additional notes. — Along the Atlantic it extends to Florida, and Dr. Suckley on the Pacific Railroad Survey found it on the march from St. Louis to the Rocky Mountains. It is very rare for any American plant to be found over so wide a range. So far as the writer of this has seen it is nowhere to be found in such luxurient masses, and exhibiting such great beauty, as in the sandy soil near our sea coasts. The Scotch Botanist George Don, who must have visited our country in the early part of the present century, was also struck by its beauty in such situations as he tells us in his "General History" that he saw and admired it growing in such great plenty on sandy banks and in woods about Philadel- phia and in Long Island. Of late years much attention has been given to the behaviour of plants, and to their relation to insects. Lupinus perennis has been particularly noted for the manner in which it ejects the seed. As the green pod dries the lobes contract, and finally splits with great force ; the result being to throw the seeds many feet away. The seeds are ejected so easily by this process, that it is not often any seeds can be found in the open seed vessel, which has to be gathered belore quite mature if seeds be desired. In its relation- ship to insects Mr. Scudder has noted that a butterfly of New England, Theda Scudderi, has a peculiar fondness for feeding on these flowers. Of its popular history there is not much to be said. Rafinesque tells us that in some places it has obtained the name of Finger leaf. The name of Sun-Dial Lupine given because its leaves droop at mid-day under a hot sun, and the leaves at the same time ranged around a centre like the points on a sun-dial, — seems the more general of the two, and it is only desirable to retain one in prominence. Others no doubt have the same property and appear- ance, but have not been lucky enough to get the priority in the popular name. Another matter of popular interest may be that the Curthusian monks, finding it to bloom in France in their gardens on the 14th of July, dedicated the plant to Saint Bonaventure whose festival is celebrated on that day. New Jersey, the Paradise of Botanists. — It is doubtful whether the average *' Jersey- man" has any idea of the affection entertained for its sandy wastes and swamps and marshes, by hundreds of people over this broad Union. The average hungry collector of wild flowers looks back on a trip to Jersey with much the same longing as did the ancient Hebrews when they remembered the onions, the cucum- bers, and the fleshpots of Egypt. One of these longing souls thus writes to the conductors regarding a trip made to that State under date of April i6th. *' I was at Mays' Landing a few days since and found things pushing out down there. I ventured into one of the tangles and was peer- ing into a shadowy depression filled with damp sphagnum when I suddenly become aware of a bright green snake returning my stare. I soon retreated and thereafter confined my travels to dry open places. The smell of the young pitch pines is an ever new delight to me, as are the carpet of many tinted winter-green which carpet the woods, and the amber waters colored by teachings from the pine-needle floor. The breeze was cool and made the water lap and lap upon the pebble shore, while towards the middle of the inlet the reflection of the sky contrasted pleas- ingly with the deep green of the pines and white patches of sand. What wonder the people love an easy life and grow to be poets and mystics and philoso- phers under these benign fostering influences } (103) 104 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — ^WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [June Some Rare Leaves of Liriodendron tuli- PiFERA. — The Litiodendron has for a number of years been of especial interest to me. The three trees which stand in the spacious front yard of the old homestead, have long been in- timate friends. Taking the various discussions and numer- ous references concerning the variation of the foliage of the Tulip Tree as indicative of the general interest in its history, I would like to mention a few of the rare forms which I have found. (Fig. 1.) In the interesting and exhaustive * 'Notes on the Leaves of the *Lirioden- dron, ' * by Mr. Theo. Holm, are figured many different forms or variations of our present Litio- dendron, in substantiation of his very reasonable claim that the great variation in the leaves of the present species gives one strong grounds for doubting the existence of so many distinct fossil species. Mr. Holm comes to the conclusion also that our Tulip Tree at one time had a pointed leaf, or one in which the apex was present, his hypothesis being based upon the prolongation of the midrib— this projecting of the midrib, he claims, is evidence of a previous extension of the leaf in this direction. Soon after reading his ' Notes,* I was so fortunate as to find a perfect pointed leaf. It came fluttering down from the tree as I stood looking up into its branches in search of it. It is a mature and symmetrically-formed leaf, Fig. I is an exact representation of it. '^Proceed U. S. National Mnsenm, Vol. xiii. Two years afterwards, Fig. 2 was found. It is larger, more striking in outline, than Fig. I. I never saw any leaves that even approached these in outline, and yet, as we say of children often, ** they have a general family resemblance. *' Another interesting form which might be designated as the hither- to missing link, was a number of leaves in which the apex was in an incipient stage — quite an interesting series was found, one of which is shown at Fig. 3. These three forms m^'' (Fig. 2.) seem to be in harmony with Mr. Holm's theory. I remember quite a while ago to have seen an unusual form of Lirio^ dendfon leaf figured in Meehans' Monthly,, found some where in the South, similar to Fig. 4. I have found numberless leaves of this kind. Indeed, they in themselves form an interesting series, and it seems as if they might almost be considered the earliest type or real Uhr Blatter of the Liriodendron, Almost any Liriodendron leaf one may take up has a sort of resemblance to this curious shape. Sometimes upon seeing a child one involuntarily exclaims ** how like its grandmother,'* etc., and so it is with our present typical Liriodendron leaf. If we look at it carefully, searchingly, may we not see re- presentatives of by-gone ages, stamped by heredity upon it ? The truncate apex of our OTw9Ss^ PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL 1896.] BfEEHANS* MONTHLY — WIUD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 105 present leaf is often almost an exact counter- part of Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, we have an * abnor- mal* leaf which in a measure demonstrates this idea. Mrs. W. A. Kellerman. This paper of Mrs. Kellerman is a valuable contribution to the Biological Department of Botany. The old idea of fixity of species, as originally established, dies hard. When- 4<' ^'■- '■ r. «k H ■f v;: --y Nest of the Chimney Swift. — I have been much interested in the discussion about chimney swallows. At my old home, in New York State, I have often watched these birds dive and dart from one cherry tree to another on the trunks of which were quantities of grum. I never saw them alight, but they would dart with a sort of vengence — I supposed at the time they were collecting the gum for their nests, as they built many in the large old fashioned chimneys of our house ; but, as the gum was hard, I have thought since then per- haps they were after the insects which collected around this gum. Still, it was only at nest- building time that they frequented these trees. Mrs. Frederick C. Johnson. Wood Vale Farm. Crete, Ul. (Fig. 3) i I ever changes, such as these noted in Mrs. Kellerman 's paper, are referred to, ** hybridi- zation or some other condition of environ- ment*' is imagined, in order, to explain the variations. In the Tulip tree, there is no other species to hybridize with, and the ** environment*' is the same for all the forms. The changes are all explainable under the theory of variation in the degree of growth force, aside from any external ** accidents." The illustrations are reduced one-half from the natural size. Wild Flowers in Delaware. — Mr. Edward Tatnall says that New Castle County, Dela- ware, covering 512 square miles , had 58 1 genera, and 1465 species within its limits in 1895. (Fig. 4 ) ^^:'-l |V.'.-'-H''iv.-.>:i* io6 MBEHANS* MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [June 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 107 Succession of Forests. — It would be of great interest to me, and, without doubt, to many of your readers, judging from the con- tents of some of the latest issues of jour valu- able Monthly ; if you would give, in it, a table of the succession of plants and trees which begin to germinate and grow, after the cutting down of forests of especial varieties of trees, in this or other countries, and which are of a different variety and species from those cut down, i. e., after cutting down the Abies Canadensis (Hemlock Spruce), why do the acorns of certain species of scrub, dwarf or pin-oaks begin to grow, and how long may one assume they have been in the ground without germination ? If this labor is too great can you refer to the authorities which treat on this special branch of learning ? Isaac Myer. New York City. It has been conceded that seeds may live when deep in the earth and excluded from changes of temperature, and an atmosphere capable of discouraging fungus growth, for an indefinite number of years. But this can scarcely apply to seeds at or near the surface as would have to be the case when plants appeared after a forest fire. In these cases the seeds are brought to the pine forest, by roost- ing birds chiefly, — and the little plants sprout, but are not observed. They will remain but a few inches high for many years. When the pines are burnt off these miniature plants start into vigorous growth, so that what was before obscure, is readily seen. The kind of sue cession, therefore, depends on the character of the roosting birds, and what they have fed on. If any one does believe that there are seeds of other plants than these, waiting a few inches beneath the surface for a chance to grow, the fact could be readily determined by washing a tub full of the earth. Vigorously stirred, the earth would be at the bottom and the seeds at the top. A glass vessel is preferable to a tub, as the successive layers, on subsiding, can be readily seen. Distribution of Seeds.— It is said that on a visit to the Island of Krakatoa, four years after the outburst of the volcano had destroyed every living thing, a traveller found 246 species of plants that had already found a home there. Essays have treated on this fact as inducing the wonderful power of the wind in carrying seeds long distances, and of the remarkable contrivances in the nature of wings by which seeds are enabled to be transported by winds. Theoretically one might reason that wings are given to seeds to enable them to fly ; but when the matter is tested practically the re- sult is a surprise. In the case of the linden, the seeds which manage to get to any consider- able distance will be found to be hollow. The sound solid seeds are all under the trees, or at most but a little distance away. The Dande- lion, and similiar plants are continually used in illustration. If we watch a Dandelion as the breeze floats over the crown of pappus, the seeds are seen to fall a little aside, and it snaps from its fleecy crown, the latter floating away leaving the seed behind. If we gather a head and give it a jar, the pappus does not separate, and we can see how awkwardly it floats away. It is indeed impossible by reason of the weight, for the downy head to carry the seed far away. If one be caught on the wing and cut open, it will be found usually hollow or imperfect. In many pine seeds it will be found that only the hollow ones are carried any considerable distance. If we are to look for a single purpose only, it would be just as reasonable to conclude that wings were pro- vided in order that the light seeds might be fanned out, in order that the good seeds might have a better chance to grow. It is one of the weaknesses of modern scien- tific philosophy to imagine that nature has but a single purpose in view in the arrangement of things. Nature is a grand instrument in which a few things can be made to produce an infinity of harmonious sounds. It is not fair to assume that any arrangement, however peculiar, was provided for any one purpose wholly. As to the distribution of seeds on islands, the muddy feet of birds, their feathers, or even material for building nests, are more respon- sible for results than the winds. It would be interesting to know how many of the 246 species had wind- loving seeds. OSTRYA VIRGINICA, ThE Hop HoRNBEAM Tree. — I notice in your recent publication some remarks in regard to the size to which Ostrya Vitginica attains. In this connection I thought that my observations might be of some interest. The Hop-Hornbeam, or iron- wood, Ostrya, is not a very common tree here- abouts, being found usually near streams of some size. I yesterday measured the finest specimen that I know of and found the girth at 6 feet from the ground to be 3 feet 2^ inches, and estimated the height at 40 feet. This tree is in the low ground along Ridley Creek, about half mile north of the Philadel- phia and West Chester Pike. Another tree of the same kind, perhaps a mile further up stream, its somewhat less in size, but is still a fair- sized little tree. Two that I found along the Brandywine, near Lenape, afe much smaller, but one of them is still quite young. Jno. D. Carter. Wcsttown, Pa. the surface, and as they grow older fall back upon it. The fronds are coiled and rise from the creeping rootstock just as fern fronds do. The four parts of the leaf are folded up when young, one-half enclosing the other. It was among these new leaves that the sleep was observed. At the approach of night the two leaflets that were inside the leaf-bud again rise upward, and meeting the others face to face are enclosed by them. When the leaves grow older they do not close at night. Allied to this the plant has the trait of shutting its leaves when taken from the water, making it some- what difl&cult to get good botanical specimens. WiLLARD N. ClUTE. This very interesting plant is figure No. 4, in the- seeond volume of the first series of MARSILA QUADRIFOLIA. Marsilia QUADRIFOLIA. — The rare little Marsilia guadrifolia, which is nowhere indi- genous in North America except at Bantam Lake, Conn., is a plant of more than ordinary interest. Although so restricted in location, naturally, it thrives in other localities when transplanted. It may also be grown in a tub like the water lily. Some specimens that were grown here in this way last summer, proved valuable objects for study. They were actually discovered asleep — a state in which one would hardly expect to find plants so nearly allied to the mosses. As is doubtless known, the Marsilia usually grows in shallow water, but may also be found in the mud along the margin. When in water, the leaves are generally floating, but often the strong young leaves push up above "Flowers and Ferns of the United States." In the chapter accompanying the plate, it is suggested that some observer would probably discover that the leaves would close, like oxalis leaves, under peculiar conditions, — a point now made good by Mr. Clute. The plant is so nearly intermediate between a fern and a lycopod, that it is remarkable that some one who sees hybrids everywhere has not sug- gested it as a '* hybrid genus.** If we were to associate the plant with ferns in some degree, we might say it is probably the only instance known of fern fronds closing in this way. Botany of Mexico. — Mr. C. G. Pringle is about to start on his 12th botanical explora- tion of little known portions of Mexico. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL io8 MEEHANS* MONTHI^Y — ^WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [June Spring in Georgia. — An enthusiastic lover of nature writes in private letters worth pub- lishing, the following, under their respective dates, of spring matters in Georgia which will certainly interest the readers of our general natural history column. March 23 : — Our spring comes with long lazy strides right onto and into the dead leaves, brush- wood and winter rubbish. The little scrub-oaks are so cracker-lazy they wait for their new leaves to shove off the old. The nearest approach we have to the turning-over- a-new-leaf kind of coming is on the coal-black burns under the pines. There the green comes out with a rush and its brilliancy against the black is marvellous. You know that the pine woods are very open ; now fancy an acre or so of stately trees without under brush and the new grass under them as even as a carpet, and this in virgin forest. You can drive through it with a lively span going at a trotting pace. Of course we haven't much land of this simplicity of growth, but what we have is very beautiful. One gets to care for straight lines and level stretches and clear sun- colors here. I have been studying a beautiful owl which was shot "just because it flew out," by a near neighbor who lives five miles away. I brought it on horseback all the way from where he gave it to me, and it looked as though it had been to sea with a very quarrelsome pussy- cat by the time I got it home. It turns out to be of the genus Strix, I was so astonished. They say an earnest seeker after truth is finally rewarded ; but I got my reward in an enlarged horizon in human nature only. I carried the owl to nine authorities (native) both white and black, and they were all what we call •* cock- sure " of what kind of an owl it was and they all differed. Finally I took it to Prof. Coues and treed it. April 7 th : — The young and early enthusiasts are fewer here and less varied than in Pennsyl- vania. There are violets in the pine woods in February. I saw the first on the 8th this year. These are all for the open woods. Along the branches you find (what you might expect) a far greater variety, for our wood land is poor. The crab {Pyrus coronaria) is not growing scarcer here, but more abundant from year to year. Its prickly twiggery, and delicate leaves are found along all roads and in snake- fence comers; in old fields, along branches, and in the heart of the pine woods, too, where there is some approach to dampness. Let it be our national flower and be spread again. I am sure nothing here is more contented with any kind of ground. I wish you could see the clouds and clouds of dogwood now. INFLAMMAB1.E Gas in Trees. — I have just been reading the article on "Inflammable Gas in a Hollow Tree,'* and I think I can "throw a better light on the subject.** This is neither a gas nor oil country, as it is mountainous, rocky and broken ; yet, trees containing gas in their cavities, are of frequent occurrence in the spring time and occasionally one is found containing gas at other seasons of the year. It is combustible, as I can attest from two different occasions, but I would account for its presence in an entirely different way from the one you quote from the newspapers. Here, we have forest fires, insect pests and various other agencies which may injure trees, causing cavities to form of greater or less size. Many trees have what is called v* windshake,** and these cavities contain gases, formed in the trees. Sometimes these gases will ignite and sometimes not. Young trees more frequently contain the gas than old trees, from the fact that old trees are not so full of sap nor so liable to injury by forest fire ; thus they are not so apt to retain this gas, nor to have the re- ceptacle to hold it. It is the custom here to "deaden " trees by girdling, prior to cultivating the land ; and as nearly all of this is done in the spring just when trees are starting into growth, every farmer knows what it is to find a tree with gas in it. I have found, I feel safe in saying, as many as a dozen trees in a day that contained gas. The gas seems to be under heavy pressure, for it hisses loud at first, as the axe enters the crevice. If one happens to strike the cavity in such a way as to only cut a very small opening, he may get a match lighted before the gas has all escaped ; and if he does, he is neither blown to atoms, nor the tree burned, nor the axe scorched, but there may be a faint flicker just long enough for him to say he has "struck gas,*' and is out. C. E. Pi,eas. Clinton, Arkansas. GENERAL GARDENING. SPRING IN THE GARDEN. '•'iSpring ! Summer ! Autumn ! Of all three, Whose reign is loveliest there ? Oh ! is not she who paints the ground. When its frost fetters are unbound. The fairest of the fair ? ..<< I gaze upon her violet beds, Laburnums golden -tress 'd. Her flower-spiked almonds ; breathe perfume From lilac and syringa bloom. And cry, ♦ I love Spring best.* ** — Mrs. Southey. Trees on Old Walls. — Mr. Timothy "Wheeler observes : ** Years ago I read of the Mountain Ash growing on a stone steeple in Utica, New York. Often I have used this fact to illustrate (together with other similar facts) my view of the origin of maple sap here in the North where we make sugar while the ground and roots are solidly frozen, and the more frozen the more and sweeter the sap. Question. — Whence the origin of the sap? There is a gorge in a mountain here where the almost perpendicular wall of rock rises more than 100 feet ; yet all along up there are little shelves whereishrubbery and trees grow finely and thrive alirsummer, even through a drouth they are un wilted and green, yet they have no soil for their support ; then, from whence comes their feed and growth ? On our farms we have small trees and shrubbery grow- ing and thriving on the same, yet no roots extend to the soil below. Small accumulations of dust and dirt that the wind helps to collect among the roots will collect a little rain, but one sunny day, all is dry as powder, from whence then their support ? These questions have long been settled in my own mind. " Mineral matters are found in the ashes of plants that grow out of the soil — air plants — and, for all that we are taught to the contrary, there is good reason for the belief that trees can take in these materials through the medium of the atmosphere. Ornamental Hedges. — Occasion has been taken in Meehans' Monthly, to point out that the list of shrubs for ornamental hedges may be widely extended, as any stiff" growing shrub can be successfully employed. Mr. 1. A. Bedford, of the Manitoba Experimental Farm, reports that in that high northern region he has enlarged the list considerably. He finds the following make excellent hedges. Red osier cornel. — Cornus sioloni/era. Wolf Willow or silver bush. — Elceagnus argentea, Snowberry. — Symphoricarpus occtdentahs. Meadow Sweet. — Spiraea salici/olia. Native Rose. — Rosa Layi, Saskatoon. — Antelanchier alni/olia, Hazlenut.— Corylus Americana, Pin Cherry. — Prunus Pennsylvantca. Aspen. — Populus Iretnuloides. Guelder rose-leaved spiraea.— .SJ^zV^a opulifolia. Golden-leaved spiraea — Spircsa opulifolia aurea. Besides these Mr. Wm. Saunders finds the following to make good hedges at Ottawa. Acer glabrum, — Smooth Maple. Acer tnonspessulanum. — Montpellier Maple. Betula lutea.—YeWovf Birch. Beiuia papyriJera.^VA^ry or Canoe Birch. Cornus sibirica variegata. — Variegated Siberian Cornus. Cotoneaster buxifolia, — Box-leaved Cotoneaster. Cotoneaster tnicrophylla. — Small-leaved Coton- easter. Cotoneaster nepalensis. — Nepaul Cotoneaster. Cotoneaster Sitnonsii.— Simons' & Cotoneaster. Calycanthus fioridus. — Carolina Allspice. Fagus sylvatica. - European Beech. Hippophae rhamnoides. — See Buckthorn. Larix atner icana. — KmtxioAn Larch. Pinus ponder osa. — Heavy- wooded or Bull Pine. Quercus Robur. — Black or common Oak. Quercus palustris. — Pin Oak . Rhamnus catharticus, — Cathartic Buckthorn. Rhamnus I'rangula. — Breaking Buckthorn (dense form). Thuya occidentalis globosa, — Globose Arbor- vitae. Thuya tatarica. — Tartarian Arbor-vitae. Care of Aquarium Fish. — Fish in Aquaria turn on their side, or in other ways at times indicate a diseased condition. If they are taken out and placed in a vessel of salt water — water made about as salt as sea-water, they will usually recover. They should remain in the salty water about 24 hours. (109) n L u., ■'*■,■ '. ■-■■ ■ ■^;4^ tfA'idUl'' ;*i3^3ii^'*A PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL no MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [June The Influence of Frost on Hardy Flowers. — The following paragraph, we find in a New Jersey newspaper, referring to the garden of Mr. W. F. Bassett, of Hammonton. *'A yellow crocus has held its head above the ground for several days on the sunny side of William F. Bassett's house, even yesterday's severe cold and snow failing to wilt the bright little forerunner of spring. For a number of years a small patch of violets in a hedge near- by has bloomed profusely all through Febru- ary.'* It is worthy of use as a text for a lesson. Hardy plants are injured during winter chiefly by bright sunlight when frozen ; or by the evaporation by cold, frosty winds. In a few words, injury from frost comes from the evapo- ration of the juices faster than the plant can supply them. The common garden chick weed affords a good illustration. It grows freely up to the advent of severe frost. A few days of sunshine on a frosty day will cause the green leaves to rot, but if some branches can get the shade of a few dry leaves, the plant's foliage will get through the winter uninjured. In Alpine regions Gentians and similar plants have been found blooming under snow, the plant's own internal heat thawing a little chamber around the flower. In any one's garden, violet flowers may be had very early if only a few dry leaves are scattered over the plants, to afford the same shade that a garden hedge would give. Grafting on Cactuses. — The Arizona Republican has this to say about grafting on the wild Cactuses of that region : — ** Considering the near approach of Arbor Day and the great abundance in Arizona and in Phcenix of the Mountain Ash, the attention of the modern horticulturist should be at- tracted to that section of Virgil's *• Bucolics" wherein is advised the grafting of the pear upon the Mountain Ash, "that due strength of the tree may be secured for the proper fruit- ing." *Tis an experiment that yet awaits the western fruit-grower, and then maybe Virgil •• wasn't onto his Job," and knew not that ye cannot gather figs from thistles. Yet there have been tried as curious experi- ments in Arizona. Once near Tucson an eccentric German "took up" a quarter section of hillside whereon grew many a thousand giant cacti, telling that he saw no reason why the damp pulp of the Saguara should not be the best of material upon which to graft or im- plant grape cuttings. His primitive idea was- to simply bore a hole in the Cactus and there- in thrust a grape cutting. It is not in history that he succeeded Others for years believed that the fig might be grafted in some way upon the woody fiber or framework of the giant Cactus, giving as reasons that the fruit of the Saguara and of the fig are strongly alike in flavor and in shape. The climate in which grows the Saguara is in every way suited for both the fig and the grape, and the moisture of the ' * desert sen- tinel" is assuredly ample to dispense with all necessity for extraneous irrigation. Thus,, eventually, may the desert blossom as the rose, and the waste places be made glad, and even to the desert dweller, remote from springs of water, be given the privilege of reclining 'neath his own vine and fig tree,** It need not excite surprise that the pear can be grafted on the Mountain Ash, as the two are members of the same family, Pyrus, and there is little difficulty in gardening in getting close relatives to unite by grafting. In the case of the Cactus and the Vine-families in no way related, the case would be different. It might not be impossible, though improbable, to graft a Gooseberry on a Cactus, as they are not distantly related. But though grafting in its proper sense, — that is the thorough union of the wood of two distinct species, could not occur between widely related plants and the Cactus, it would not be impossible to get a case of something like parasitism, by inserting a scion into the cellular tissue of a Cactus. It is barely possible that some kind of gooseberry- would be found willing to send out roots in the Cactus tissue, and try to live on the food pre- pared by its host. As a matter of pure science, the experiment is worth trying. Rye Grass and Darnel. — Authors fre- quently confound Darnel and Rye grass. Dar- nel is Lolium temuUntum, It usually grows among wheat, and was at one time erroneously supposed to injuriously affect bread ; but ergot or some other fungus, it is now believed, should be charged wi h the offense. Rye grass is Lolium perenne, a very different species. Dar- nel is the "tares" of Scripture. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL 1896.] MEEHANS' monthly — GENERAL GARDENING. Ill Natural Grafting— In Shakespeare, one of the pretty scenes is where one tells another about the art which doth improve Nature — the art of grafting, — but Nature herself possesses the secret as well as the proud practiser of the garden art. Instances of branches joined together by inarching are not rare in our forests. A friend hands in a photograph taken in a New Jersey, open glade, wherein two American Hollies have become partners for life, — though showing as they have gone along, occasional disagreements, and occasional deter- minations to obtain a divorce, — again thinking from the ground will be that much further extended upwardly, and be all that will tell us of the original separation above. They have curved in a little, met, and united, only to curve out and get separated again. This sort of growing together is, however, not genuine grafting or inarching, but a mere over-lapping of wood growth. If this Holly were cut across just above the line, the layers of bark would be found at the point where the two trunks first met. There is no absolute union as in true grafting. Bark is often found in among the woody parts of fell'd timber. In all these NATURAL GRAFTING. better of it, coming together, and perhaps finally diverging in their old days for all. There were evidently two young plants start- ing together near each other. By a line on the bark starting near the ground, we see that the stems were distinct at one time when but an inch or two from the ground. This line extends apparently for a couple of feet upwardly, at which point they are now separate. The separate trunks are still alone but nearly touch for an additional foot. If the trees live a few years, they will meet, when the rough line cases it results from a branch having been over- grown by some more rapidly increasing portion of the tree. Stable Manure. — Mr. Ramson, the noted vegetable grower of Boston, finds stable manure preferable to commercial fertilizers in growing vegetables. But he thinks those who use fertilizers largely are his good friends through having made less demand for stable manure, which he now gets more cheaply than hereto- fore. no MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [June The Influence of F^rost on Hardy Flowers. — The following paragraph, we find in a New Jersey newspaper, referring to the garden of Mr. W. F. Bassett, of Hammonton. " A yellow crocus has held its head above the ground for several days on the sunny side of William F. Bassett's house, even yesterday's severe cold and snow failing to wilt the bright little forerunner of spring. For a number of years a small patch of violets in a hedge near- by has bloomed profusely all through Febru- ary." It is worthy of use as a text for a lesson. Hardy plants are injured during winter chiefly by bright sunlight when frozen ; or by the evaporation by cold, frosty winds. In a few words, injury from frost comes from the evapo- ration of the juices faster than the plant can supply them. The common garden chickweed affords a good illustration. It grows freely up to the advent of severe frost. A few days of sunshine on a frosty day will cause the green leaves to rot, but if some branches can get the shade of a few dry leaves, the plant's foliage will get through the winter uninjured. In Alpine regions Gentians and similar plants have been found blooming under snow, the plant's own internal heat thawing a little chamber around the flower. In any one's garden, violet flowers may be had very early if only a few dry leaves are scattered over the plants, to afford the same shade that a garden hedge would give. Grafting on Cactuses. — The Arizona Republican has this to say about grafting on the wild Cactuses of that region : — '• Considering the near approach of Arbor Day and the great abundance in Arizona and in Phoenix of the Mountain Ash, the attention of the modern horticulturist should be at- tracted to that section of Virgil's ••Bucolics" wherein is advised the grafting of the pear upon the Mountain Ash, ••that due strength of the tree may be secured for the proper fruit- ing." *Tis an experiment that yet awaits the western fruit-grower, and then maybe Virgil •• wasn't onto his Job," and knew not that ye cannot gather figs from thistles. Yet there have been tried as curious experi- ments in Arizona. Once near Tucson an eccentric German ••took up" a quarter section of hillside whereon grew many a thousand giant cacti, telling that he saw no reason why the damp pulp of the Saguara should not be the best of material upon which to graft or im- plant grape cuttings. His primitive idea was- to simply bore a hole in the Cactus and there- in thrust a grape cutting. It is not in history that he succeeded Others for years believed that the fig might be grafted in some way upon the woody fiber or framework of the giant Cactus, giving as reasons that the fruit of the Saguara and of the fig are strongly alike in flavor and in shape. The climate in which grows the Saguara is in every way suited for both the fig and the grape, and the moisture of the * • desert sen- tinel" is assuredly ample to dispense with all necessity for extraneous irrigation. Thus^ eventually, may the desert blossom as the rose, and the waste places be made glad, and even to the desert dweller, remote from springs of water, be given the privilege of reclining 'neath his own vine and fig tree." It need not excite surprise that the pear can be grafted on the Mountain Ash, as the two are members of the same family, JPyrus, and there is little difl&culty in gardening in getting close relatives to unite by grafting. In the case of the Cactus and the Vine- families in no way related, the case would be different. It might not be impossible, though improbable, to graft a Gooseberry on a Cactus, as they are not distantly related. But though grafting in its proper sense, — that is the thorough union of the wood of two distinct species, could not occur between widely related plants and the Cactus, it would not be impossible to get a case of something like parasitism, by inserting a scion into the cellular tissue of a Cactus. It is barely possible that some kind of gooseberry- would be found willing to send out roots in the Cactus tissue, and try to live on the food pre- pared by its host. As a matter of pure science, the experiment is worth trying. Rye Grass and Darnel. — Authors fre- quently confound Darnel and Ryegrass. Dar- nel is Lolium temulentum . It usually grows among wheat, and was at one time erroneously supposed to injuriously affect bread ; but ergot or some other fungus, it is now believed, should be charged wi h the offense. Rye grass is Lolium perenne, a very different species. Dar- nel is the ••tares" of Scripture. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. Ill Natural Grafting— In Shakespeare, one of the pretty scenes is where one tells another about the art which doth improve Nature — the art of grafting, — but Nature herself possesses the secret as well as the proud practiser of the garden art. Instances of branches joined together by inarching are not rare in our forests. A friend hands in a photograph taken in a New Jersey, open glade, wherein two American Hollies have become partners for life, — though showing as they have gone along, occasional disagreements, and occasional deter- minations to obtain a divorce, — again thinking from the ground will be that much further extended upwardly, and be all that will tell us of the original separation above. They have curved in a little, met, and united, only to curve out and get separated again. This sort of growing together is, however, not genuine grafting or inarching, but a mere over-lapping of wood growth. If this Holly were cut across just above the line, the layers of bark would be found at the point where the two trunks first met. There is no absolute union as in true grafting. Bark is often found in among the woody parts of fell'd timber. In all these NATURAL GRAFTING. better of it, coming together, and perhaps finally diverging in their old days for all. There were evidently two young plants start- ing together near each other. By a line on the bark starting near the ground, we see that the stems were distinct at one time when but an inch or two from the ground. This line extends apparently for a couple of feet upwardly, at which point they are now separate. The separate trunks are still alone but nearly touch for an additional foot. If the trees live a few years, they will meet, when the rough line cases it results from a branch having been over- grown by some more rapidly increasing portion of the tree. Stable Manure. — Mr. Ramson, the noted vegetable grower of Boston, finds stable manure preferable to commercial fertilizers in growing vegetables. But he thinks those who use fertilizers largely are his good friends through having made less demand for stable manure, which he now gets more cheaply than hereto- fore. 112 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING [Jnn A Plea for Wild Flowers. — It is something inexplicable that people who are interested in growing flowers do not cultivate the wild- flowers of their home region oftener than they do. It certainly is not for want of plenty of material from which to draw a supply, for all over the United States there are myriads of wild flowers, often of the rarest beauty. There is no place where any vegetation exists that has not its wild flowers, from the low wooded dells of the valleys, to the high mountain side ; even in the high Sierras where great wastes of snow perpetually clothe the rugged steeps, the Snow Plant thrusts its gorgeous spike up through the cold, chilly covering of the mountain, and glows like a great ruby in its snow setting. And from among the thousands of varieties of plants growing wild all over the country it is possible to gather a great many floral treasures for the flower garden. In the coldest of the northern states there are plenty of beautiful spring flowers, that Tcogether with some of tha native ferns would make a fairy nook of some shady and secluded corner. Suppose one takes a corner of the dooryard that is sheltered by trees and shrubs, and plants large ferns, the common brake for instance, close against the fence, then filling the corner with Trailing Arbutus, Anemones, Bloodroot, Wake- robins and Checker- berry vines interspersed with Maiden hair Ferns, there is a bit of woodland beauty that will take no care and grow prettier every year. In many places there are numerous varieties of ferns that would add an airy grace to the corner inside the old gray fence, and then the Cypripediums or lady-slippers if put in there, would bloom a little later than the first of the spring flowers and prolong the effectiveness of the wood-garden. If a big clump of golden-rod was planted in that sunny spot against the old board fence how it would nod its great plumes of gold in the chill winds of autumn ; and a bunch of blue Fringed Gentians, would well repay being given a place where they could hold up their intense blue tips. Away up in cold Wisconsin and Minnesota grow some of the most exquisite of ferns ; the pale Hepaticas and Anemones march in with the violets when the long winter is done. The finest Cypripediums I have ever seen any- where grow there, both the purple and yellow sorts. Some of the Lupines of Wisconsin are worthy of a place in any garden ; I have never seen any grown from the best strains of seed offered by the florists, that could begin to com- pare with the great cluster of bloom of the creamy white Lupine of northwestern Wis- consin. The farther south one searches for wild- flowers the finer they are in color, the more luxuriant of growth and tropical in appear- ance; in the Carolinas, Kalmias, Rhododen- drons and Azaleas form dense thickets ; while honeysuckles, Clematis and trumpet creepers climb the fences and reach long festoons of gorgeous bloom from tree to tree. And in Florida there is a wealth of the grandest flowers, many of them varieties that are carefully cherished as greenhouse treasures at the North ; Tecomas, Yellow Jasmines and Passion Vines run riot ; and members of the Amaryllis family make gay the damp marsh- lands ; while the lakes, ponds and rivers abound in rare and beautiful aquatics. California also has a large range of magnifi- cent wild flowers, and although florists both at home and abroad have recognized their worth and beauty, it is very seldom that Californians take pains to bring these flowers to the home garden. There are rare lilies, Brodiaeas, Fritil- larias, Godetias, Calochortus, Azaleas, Salvias, Nemophilas, violets and countless other rare and beautiful native flowers, as well as many varieties of the most dainty and exquisite ferns. So it appears that the cultivation of our native flowers and ferns is quite practical, and no one can urge as an excuse that they can get nothing worthy of culture. It appears as if a great many people raised flowers with a feeling of envious pride, seem- ing to care only to outdo others ; or to show off" their wealth. But where there is a real love for flowers, there is a feeling of true love for all beautiful flowers without regard for their ** fashion " or cost. And to the flower- lover there must ever be a beauty in the wildflowers of the home woods, or hills, or plains, as the case may be ; and an airy grace to the ferns that hide in the shady nooks about the springs or in the deep woods, that is not spoiled by the fact that they are wild. Let every floriculturist gather of the wild beauties that hold up their mute faces in the I -•:-■-:- ^- PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 113 woodland depths, or those that laugh in the warm spring sun on the hill slope, and taking them home weave them into the scheme of the home garden. What a charm the wildflower comers will reveal when the warm, spring sun- shine brings the first pale, sweet blossoms out ; or in the warm climates how many new beauties will be discovered as the tinted pets burst forth in all their splendor, adding their graceful forms and rich coloring to the garden's glory. Imogene E. Johnson. Los Gatos, California. The Conductors, when traveling through California, have noted that the native flowers of the localities are seldom seen in gardens. This is true of other western regions. The reason probably is that the settlers naturally love the flowers which remind them of their home gardens. In the older settled sections, wildflowers form a feature in many gardens, — and very interesting features they are, as our good correspondent pleasantly suggests. Silicates as Manure. — In the matter of silicates as a manure, remarked upon by your Chicago correspondent ; — The stiffness of the stem is due to the favorable development of the woody substance. Experimental investi- gation has demonstrated the fact that a high silica content is accompanied by a relatively low production of organic matter. Regarding this diatom aceous earth fertilizer, that it is no longer heard of, answers the question as to its practical value. Another point made by your correspondent deserves notice; — that mineral matters derived from organic sources are more readily assimi- lated by plants. This is wholly without foundation, in fact, as has been repeatedly proved by exhaustive experimentation. Crude rock phosphates, acidulated, have a crop-pro- ducing power fully equal to any other form of phosphate ; the German potash salts are fully equal to wood ashes, and in some notable cases much better, as it is now settled that wood ashes promote the root scab. Nitrate of soda, or sulphate of ammonia, pure chemical salts, are not one whit behind dried blood in fertiliz- ing value, and are better than barnyard manure. The Rothamsted experiments, con- tinued for more than half a century, fully demonstrate this latter point. On another page of your issue of March, you say, — * * Mineral manures are best for vegetables grown for seeds or fruit, stable manure is best for leaf- producing kinds.*' I think it would be well to qualify this statement, as it might possibly mislead a florist. In stable manure, nitrogen is the predominating element both in quantity and ready availability. The special function of nitrogen in plant-growth is to promote the formation of branches and foliage, even at the expense of buds and flowers. Now, as to the minerals : — potash is essential to the proper development of the woody parts and the pulp of fruits, phosphoric acid has as its especial function, the maturity of plants — it is chiefly found in the seeds. To the florist, potash is by far the most important single element, as you are no doubt aware. It remains but to state that wood ashes, as a source of potash, must be avoided on account of the immense quantity of carbonates it contains. S. Peacock, Editor American Fertilzer, Philadelphia, Pa. When reference is made to expert testimony, such as that furnished by Mr. Lawes, in the Rothamsted experiments, one cannot but be struck by the difference in results as reported by other experts. If any one will examine the agricultural serials of a quarter of a century ago, they will find that Prof J. C. Mapes made just as careful experiments as Prof Lawes, and his results seemed clear to all of us, that plants profited more by mineral substances derived from organic material than from mineral matters derived directly from the earth. It seems that the influence of that mysterious agent we call life, is overlooked in those purely chemical discussions. We know, for instance, the exact chemical requirements of sugar as distinct from starch, but the chemist cannot make sugar. Only the living plant can do it. The varying life-power of the plants used in experimenting may perhaps account for the expert's varying results. Salt for Lawns. — A Harrisburg correspon- dent inquires for the best top dressing for lawns, when the soil is rather dry, but where the lawn was heavily dressed with stable manure last winter. Nothing is better than a light dressing of salt under these circum- stances. Salt absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, and is beneficial in this way in dry soils. 114 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAI. GARDENING. [June Insect Life Under Low Temperatures. — I wish to add to the testimony of Mr. Geo. B. King, quoted by Mr. Wheeler, of Moscow, Vermont, relative to insects freezing in winter and thawing to life in spring. I have seen this so many times in the case of ants that I do not see how it can be doubted by anyone who has taken the trouble to study the matter. In the northern part of Wis- consin, where the winters are severe, I have seen, in the rotten hearts of trees just felled, thousands of frozen ants which would crawl about very soon after being exposed to a fire. There could scarcely be any doubt that the ants were frozen, for I have made this observa- tion when the temperature was from ten to fifteen degrees below zero Farenheit, when the wood fibres were as brittle as glass, and the bodies and legs of ants would snap like spi- cules of ice when attempts were made to bend them. As to the freezing of live fibres there is an abundance of testimony. The latest you may find in the magazine number of the Outlook for January, 1896. It occurs in an article on Mr. John Burroughs, and this acute observer makes the statement. Jno. Madden, M. D. Milwaukee, Wis. It is necessary to repeat that there seems to be a misconception of the point in question. That not only animals, but plants also, will have some of their juices or liquids freeze in the winter time is too well known to admit of controversy. Twigs will snap easily when the thermometer is below zero, because of being frozen, and ice crystals can be readily discerned by the microscope. But the question is do they freeze solid 9 The contention is that the active living cells cannot do this, and still live. Large- FLOWERED Chrysanthemums. — We recently gave some information as to the method of producing the enormously large flowers on comparatively dwarf plants. Appended is another method given by a correspondent of the Canadian Horticulturist. In this it will be seen much stress is laid on having but a single stem : **The method usually practised to obtain very large flowers is to root the cutting late in May or in June, then place in a small pot, and in two or three weeks put in a five or six inch pot, the side growth being carefully nipped off^ in order to throw all the vigor into the main stem, which must be supported by a stake, and tied. As soon as buds appear, select the largest and most perfectly formed one, and the plant should never be allowed to produce another bud to even the size of a pea. Thus with all the strength of the plant concentrated in one flower, and with all conditions favorable, flowers are produced that will measure six, eight and even ten inches across." Cost of City Tree Planting.— People of little thought are often surprised that the cost of planting and caring for a tree is largely out of proportion to its first cost. That admirable institution the Brooklyn Tree-planting and Fountain Society, off*ers to plant and care for trees when desired to do so by citizens, and gives the following, as approximately the cost : — Cost of planting a tree under ordinary cir- cumstances : Cost of Tree (except in exceptional cases). .... 75c. to $1 50 New Soil, where necessary, . , i 00 Post and Wire Guard, . . . . i 00 Cutting hole in flagging, where necessary, i 00 Iron Plate, when used, . . • . i 50 Labor, , i 00 1896.] MEEHANS* monthly — GENERAL GARDENING. 115 Maximum, $7 00 Vitality of Seeds. — Prof. Wm. Saunders, the Director of the Dominion Experimental Farms, has made the interesting and practi- cally useful discovery,. that the vitality of seeds is largely affected by the season in which they are gathered. For instance he found that in 1894, a large number of cereals had a. much larger percentage of growth than in 1893, and 1895. If this had occurred in only a single instance it would not have proved much, — but the results followed along a long line of articles. Thalictrum anemonoides.— Mr. S. W. Crandall, of Chicago, sends specimens of the Rue-Anemone, Thalictrum anemonoides from the vicinity of that city, more purple than usual farther east. This appears to be the case with Anemone nemerosa, which often grows with the Thalictrum and much resem- bles it. Is there a general tendency in white flowering spring flowers to acquire color as they travel westward ? FRUITS ^ VE<^ET^©LEJ). The Timbrell Strawberry.— In Minne- sota this has been found to be a remarkably productive variety, coming in rather later than others, and thus prolonging the straw- berry season. The Early Rose Potato. — Some varieties of potato soon degenerate if planted continu- ously in thejsame farm or garden. It is said the famous variety known as Early Rose, re- sists this degenerative tendency longer than • most other kinds. The Woolverton Strawberry. — Mr. O. W. Blacknall, of Kittrel, N. C, grows the Woolverton Strawberry to six inches in cir- cumference, having five berries on a common stalk, and the berries perfectly egg-shaped. It is a hermaphrodite or self- fertilizer ; and besides the beauty of the berries themselves, he regards it as an abundant bearer. LucRETiA Dewberry. — The Dewberry is earlier than varieties of the *' High bush " or Rubus villosus type, but has not been much improved by fruit growers, though the well- known Wilson's early is believed to be in some way related to the Dewberry family. Of true Dewberries, however, in the eye of the fruit grower, the Lucretia is regarded as a very worthy representative. Carrots. — Economy in small things is usually the key to good habits in weightier matters, and even in the form of a carrot this good principle is studied. In the long and pointed forms a considerable portion of the narrower end is cut off by the cook. For this reason the stump- ended varieties are getting more and more popular. They are sometimes termed "half-long " in seedsmens' catalogues. Improved Lettuce.— California is not satis- fied with its high reputation in beating the world of gardening in the fruit growing line ; but is sending out its challenge in the line of vegetable growing. Eastern growers are com- ing to admit that there are few varieties of lettuce superior in general qualities to the California All-heart. In what other lines of vegetables does California intend to compete ? Hardiness of Peas. — It is remarkable that while surrounding conditions have little result in changing the form or general character of varieties, they do affect hardiness to some extent. Varieties producing seed in a Northern climate, are usually hardier in their descend ants than those raised in warmer ones. This is found to be especially the case with peas, in which character the ability to resist frost in the earlier stages of growth is desirable. On this account most of the larger seedsmen have their seeding grounds for peas in Canada. But for all this there are some varieties that are hardier than others, though all will stand a good share of frost. A variety known as the Telegraph is one of the hardiest, and a favorite for very early spring planting. Amateur Celery Culture. — In olden times the chief pride of the amateur gardener was in the department devoted to vegetables and small fruits. It was wonderful what immense crops could be secured from a small space. The first operation in a new vegetable plot would be to trench it, as the task was technically called. The earth was turned absolutely up- side down for some three feet in depth. As the subsoil brought to the surface was poor, a good coat of manure was necessary for imme- diate effect. But in a few years when the upper surface became crop-sick, it would be turned under again, — and so on, ad infinitum, as the years rolled by. Under this treatment celery flourished beyond almost any other vegetable. It was planted in deep trenches that would hold water, and permitted of abund- ant earth for blanching with facility. Old World gardeners tell fabulous stories of the many score of pounds a stalk would weigh, — and most of it as soft, tender and crisp as an almond kernel. But in these days this is re- garded as too much labor. The plough is the great garden implement, and as deep as the plough can go is regarded as the perfection of culture. Even if spade- fork culture has to be depended on few care to go further than a good plough-depth. The best celery stock now a- days is rarely thicker than a delicate lady's arm. But it is still regarded as just the thing to make shallow trenches, though they are rarely more than four inches deep. The manure is concentrated therein after the celery plants are set out. \J^--: PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL ii6 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [June 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 117 The American Plum.— The native plum has braved the severest of winters in western Canada, and fruit growers are endeavoring to get a race of good garden fruits from them by selecting the best varieties, and again selecting the best from the seedlings. The Apple in Manitoba. — The apple suc- ceeds very well in Eastern Canada. Canada apples compete successfully with American in European markets. But Mr. S. A. Bedford reports that no variety succeeds in Manitoba. They are all killed to the snow line. Even the usually extra hardy Siberian crabs suc- cumb. Growing Tomatoes Under Difficulties. — In localities where the summers are short or the summer temperature low, it is difficult to get tomatoes to mature much of a crop. They are often trained up against the south side of walls or buildings, and these do fairly well. Mr. Samuel B. Green, of the University of Minnesota, has good success by growing them in barrels which are placed in any warm sunny corner. This furnishes a hint also for those in city yards or other spots where ground is scarce. A barrel crowned with handsome ripe tomatoes would be a pretty sight as well as a useful object, With a photograph of a very successful barrel-grown plant Mr. Green has the following description : In the case photographed these plants were grown in an old sugar barrel in the bottom of which was a foot of well-rotted horse manure. The plants were trained up the south side of a building. When plants are grown in this way they should be near the house so they may be properly cared for as in dry weather they need much water. Treated thus, the plants have good chances of growing and ripening their fruit even in very unfavorable years and in very unfavorable locations. The soil in the barrel warms up quickly in the spring and when placed against the south side of a build- ing the plants have the most favorable condi- tions for ripening their fruit. The barrel should have plenty of holes in it for drainage. Several barrels so treated will furnish quite a supply of tomatoes. Root Parasites, — Eel- worms. — The pro- ceedings and reports of societies have not the usefulness they once had, because the numer- ous magazines and periodicals appearing so promptly and regularly bring before the people about all they desire to know. This limits considerably the readers of ** proceedings.** In many respects this is to be regretted, as they often contain articles of value deserving of the widest perusal. We have occasionally re- ferred to the proceedings of the Columbus Horticultural Society as especially one of this valuable class. There is scarcely an issue that does not contain some paper that deserves general attention. In No. 10 of Vol. 4 just issued, among others is one on vegetable pathology by Aug. D. Selby. The section on '* nematodes in the greenhouse" deals with those little root - galls, caused by •• Eel- worms,* 'as the nematode is popularly termed. These galls appear like grains of wheat or rye on the roots. Cutting them across, and examining them with a pocket lens, it can readily be determined that they are of insect origin. As a specimen of the value of the Proceed- ings as well as for the value of the chapter it- self to our readers, we have transferred an account of the eel- worms and their mischie- vous operations. The observed injuries of greenhouse plants ascribed to the root parasitism of nematodes or eel-worms have been considerable. These parasitic worms have been found upon roots of abutilons, roses, begonias, tomatoes, violets, cucumbers, and adventive plants in the green- house, as burdock, etc. The nematode trouble is now a very serious one in greenhouse cul- ture. Many rose growers have complained of yellowing of rose plants under glass, and also of the sudden leaf dropping, wilting and col- lapse of roses. These symptoms, with stunted growth, unfniitfulness and serious loss of plants, have been met at the greenhouses of this Station, as elsewhere. With us they have been traced to nematodes. The leaf symptoms of the nematode disease are usually diagnostic. Aside from the ' yellows* aspect on the more thrifty rose plants, the leaves die off with special characteristics : there is dying from the tip and margins of the leaf toward the petiole, and leaves thus dying have a scalded appearance. In cases of nematode attack, the rootlets will, if examined, show the small excrescences upon them caused by the nematodes. This root examination will give final evidence. The enlargements due to nematodes are quite small but fairly clear, and when examined under the microscope show the minute worms, nematodes, or their eggs, or both . Cucumbers in a forcing-house at Hyde Park, Hamilton county, showed in early winter an extreme case of nematode injury. The roots of even small cucumber plants were beaded with the nematode galls, in some sur- prisingly like a neck- lace in form and ap- pearance. The illustrations show the' nematodes and their work. The plants attacked soon perish. The losses caused by the para- sites are liable to be severe. Upon begonias both roots and stems (at crown) were found attacked ; on violets the roots were affected , and the same is true of tomatoes and abu- tilons. In all of the plants named, the leaf symptoms, notably dying from margin toward petiole, with general evidences of mal-nutrition, stunted growth, etc., were usually quite marked in connection with the nematode galls upon roots and stems Precautionary measures in fitting and select- ing earth and manure for the benches seems most promising for nematode troubles. The soil or sod for soil which, with the manure, appears to provide them, should be cut early, watered in pile if necessary, to secure prompt decomposition, and then so handled in winter by cutting down, two-winter exposure, or otherwise, as to secure thorough freezing and disintegration of the soil. The freezing, it is thought, is our chief reliance for prevention, but Prof. W. J. Green has suggested the use of steam for treatment to destroy the eel- worms and their eggs. The nematode problem has become one of the pressing ones for the greenhouse culturist. Fig. 8. CCL-WORM8 ON ROOTS OF CUCUMBERS. Fig. I. Small seedling cucumber plant, with the nematode galls upon rootlets. Natural size. Fig. 2. Root of a full-grown plant similarly affected. Natural size. Fig. 3. Two nematodes or eel- worms, mag- nified 130 diameters. Drawings by Miss F. Detmcrs. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. THE LUCKY CHANCE. As exhalations, when they burst From the warm earth, if chill'd at first, If check'd in soaring from the plain, Darken to fogs and sink again : But, if they once triumphant spread Their wings above the mountain head Become enthron'd in upper air, And turn to sun-bright glories there. — Thomas Moore. The Spraying of Plants. — By E. G. Lode- man, New York, McMillan & Co. This little book gives an account of the history, principles and practice of the application of liquids and powders to plants for the purpose of destroy- ing insects apd funguses. Such a handbook is essential in these times, when it is almost impossible to garden successfully without some knowledge of these things. Early History of the Osage Orange.—- Nuttall tells us in the Supplement to Michaux 's Trees of North America, that the Osage Orange, which he named Madura, in honor of William Maclure, the chief founder of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, "was first noticed by Hunter and Dunbar, in their voyage up the Red River, on the banks of the Little Missouri of the Washita River, also near Natchitoches, and upon the banks of the Arkansa. It was likewise observed by Dr. James, in Major Long's expedition along the banks of the Arkansa and the Canadian. I first saw living plants bearing fruit, about the year 1810, in the garden of Mr. Chouteau, at St. Louis, from seeds collected in the country of the Osages. It was afterwards introduced into the garden of the late Mr. McMahon, from seeds collected by Governor Lewis. " It so happens that the writer has had the op- portunity of examining the collection of plants brought home by Lewis and Clark, in their famous expedition across the continent, and which package has not evidently been opened since they were examined by the celebrated Pursh ; and, though many are completely devoured by the herbarium beetle, there is a (118) specimen of the Osage Orange among them, uninjured, without leaves or flowers. Pursh could evidently make nothing of it, and passed it over. But from the whole history, as here developed, the first discovery of the Osage Orange should be credited to the Lewis and Clark expedition. Floral Poetry.— A Philadelphia corres- pondent says, with some justice : — "I have never been an ardent admirer of Whitcomb- Riley's poetry. His chief merit consists in a twisting and torturing of the English lan- guage into horrible forms, that, even as "dia- lects" never had substantial existence. The quotation by Mr. Williams at page 86, is not hacked in the language employed, as Riley usually loves to display, — but the imagery is too absurd to be offered as genuine poetry. Who would want to hold a ''molten lump of gold" between his " thumb and finger tips," much less "pour" out of his "finger tips" the red-hot mass of molten metal * ' through his lips." In comparison with the really choice bits of floral poetry given by the editors from month to month, this May-apple piece of Riley's seems more than commonly absurd. The Water Witch.— The following clip- ping from an English paper looks as though the Witch Hazel had some friends yet, does it not? "WELL-SINKING.— J. J. Green, Water Finder, will be pleased to wait upon persons desirous of finding a Spring before digging or boring. Will with his Rod point out the Exact Spot, saving expense. Will send cir- cular for penny stamp. Terms moderate ; good references. — Cheddar, Somerset." Philadelphia. C. F. SaUNDERS. The Elm-leaf Beetle. — Professor Howard believes that the beetle which has been found skeletonizing the leaves of Scutellaria Veosi- color, is not the true Elm-leaf beetle of entomo- logical literature. Should any one note such an insect feeding on this species of Scutellaria Mr. Howard would be glad to have it. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL 1896.] MEEHANS' monthly — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. 119 1^^ Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. — Few of the younger race of botanists are better known than Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Dr. Asa Gray regarded him as one of his most promising students, and results have fully justified this early estimation. His love for botany was so marked, that when in his 23rd year he enlisted as Captain in the 20th Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, he did not think his preparations for the war completed until he had placed a copy of Gray's Manual of Botany in his saddle bag. He was shot through the thigh in the battle of Fredericksburg. Returning from the war he resumed his studies and graduated from the Scientific Department of Harvard, and subse- quently as M. D. from the University of Penn- sylvania ; in which In- stitution he became sub- 1 .1 . sequently Professor of | Natural History. He joined the party explor- ing for a telegraph route through Alaska, and subsequently published a Flora of that territory. In 1873, he was appoint- ed surgeon and botanist to the Wheeler explor- ing expedition, sub- sequently preparing the volume on the botany of that expedition. Since 1893 he has been Forestry Commissioner of the State of Pennsyl- vania, and devotes most of his time in studying matters on the spot. Born at McVeytown in 1839, there is every reason to hope that in the natural order of things. Dr. Rothrock has really but entered on the field of usefulness, for all the good work his knowledge and enthusiasm has already accomplished. The cut is from one in the possession of Mr. John Gifford, of May's Landing, New Jersey, a good co-worker with Dr. Rothrock in the advancement of forestry. y DR. JOSEPH T. ROTHROCK Prang's Easter Chromo's and the Harris Lily. — Those who enjoy the beautiful pictures prepared for Meehans' Monthly by L. Prang & Company, were not surprised at the match- less art developed by their Easter cards. The Harris Lily found a prominent place in the designs, and the remark make in their circular that this is pre-eminently an American florist's flower, reminds one of the remarkable career of this variety of Lily. It is not so many years since Mr. W. K. Harris, a promi- nent florist of Philadelphia, senl a single blossom to the monthly exhibition of the Germantown Horticultural Society. It's Pro- fessor of Botany, Thomas Meehan, made a practice of giving an extemporaneous address on the articles exhibited at these meet- to ings. He explained that this huge lily was only a monstrous va- riety of the well-known Japan Lily, Lilium longiflorum, but well worthy of variatal dis- tinction. He named it Lilium longiflorum Harrisii. Its progress since has been pheno- menal. The seventeen florists of Philadelphia sold on Easter day Harris lilies, to the ex- tent of thirteen thous- and dol lars. The history teaches the lesson that the one who knows a good thing when he sees it is more entitled to reward than the ignoramus who is in first possession. The Bermudians were in utter ignorance of the value of that of which they had abundance. That they have made fortunes out of it is due to the wisdom of Mr. Harris solely. The Columbine Association. — Under the title of Columbine Association, a society has been formed in Boston, the object of which is to secure a general recognition of the colum- bine as a National emblem. Leaf-charts — Miss Lewis, of Media, Pa., has issued No. 3 of her illustrations of leaves and fruits, for the use of nature — teaching in the public schools. The oaks are continued, — and this time rendered particularly valuable through having the leaves of some fossil species in the collection. They are models of accuracy, as well as fine specimens of drawing. GENERAL NOTES. '**r >¥^ ^ i^^ The Manna of the Old Testament. — A Long Island correspondent, desires informa- tion as to what was the Manna of the Old Testament and sends the following from the Christian at Work : "On the first Sunday in June the Sunday schools consider the subject of the supply of manna. It has been a question upon which commentators have differed — and upon what questions have they not differed? — as to whether a relation exists between the natural manna — the Egyptian mannu, being the exuda- tion of the Tamarix mannifeta — and the spiritual manna [Exodus xvi. et seq.] The Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia says : * The sweetish exudation of the tamarisk has nothing to do with the bread furnished by the Lord to the Israelites.' Smith's Bible Dictionary also says : ' The manna of Scripture we regard as wholly marvellous and not in any respect a product of nature.* Both these expressions are very positive ; but Professor Franz Delitzsch thinks differently, holding that the gift of the quails and the gift of the manna are certainly correlated in our Biblical narrative. No one supposes the quails to have been specially created birds, but such as have been noted in Algeria, where acres of ground have been found covered with them at daybreak where there were none the night before. So it is claimed by Dr. Delitzsch the manna is the ordinary tamarisk juice, of which the Bedouins speak as 'raining from heaven,' because 'it falls from the trees like the dew.' Of course the subject is purely speculative ; still it enters into a distinctive school of thought of to-day — that which draws upon the miraculous to that extent only in which the supernatural is necessary. In this view the same interpreta- tion would be given to the manna as to the quail miracle, the supernaturalness being placed upon the miraculous abundance of the supply, and not upon the article of food " It should be sufficient to say that no expla- nation based on natural phenomena, has ever been given. It must not be forgotten that the (1 20) occurrence was on a desert where no trees grew, and though it is possible that a few scrubby specimens of the Tamarix might be found here and there, the salty stuff it exudes called Jews' manna, would have been found every day, and there could be nothing miracu- lous on its appearance at the particular occasion cited There is absolutely nothing growing on that great desert that could furnish the article described. It is given to us as an absolute miracle, — and it could just as well have been accomplished in the shape of some absolutely new farinaceous compound. Indeed the miracle would have been just as perfect if the Jews had been enabled to live for forty days without food at all. When things are given to us as miracles, what is gained by explaining them away ? The Christian at Work should know better. Manna, as we know it, is the sap of an Ash tree, Fraxinus Omus. This does not grow in Palestine. White Pine Forest in New Jersey. — Are you dead sure that your illustration in April issue of Meehans' Monthly is of white pine? My observation or rather my shadowy memory makes me think it is another specie, — probably Pinus rigida, about the hardest tree we have for fire to harm. I am not here calling in question your principle, but your facts — and possibly you may be light. At any rate it would be well to ascertain, for that trunk in the foreground has a dreadfully rig id like look to me. J. T. RoTHROCK. West Chester, Pa. Dr. Rothrock is undoubtedly correct, as the prominent figure in the foreground clearly proves. It is rare that such extra fine speci- mens of Pinus rigida are seen in New Jersey in these days. The principle which the picture was intended to illustrate, namely the safety from fire which the absence of dead under- brush insures, remains unassailed by the change of name. Flaming forest now^ are proclaiming against dead underbrush. ■ft fife ''i^. % ■V -^ m^^ / l^ , and not upon the article of food " It should be sufticient to say that wo expla- nation based on natural phenomena, has ever been given. It must not be forgotten that the ( 120) occurrence was on a desert where no trees grew, and though it is possible that a few scrubb}' specimens of the Tamarix might be found here and there, the salty stuff it exudes called Jews' manna, would have been found every day, and there could be nothing miracu- lous on its appearance at the particular occasion cited There is absolutely nothing growing on that great desert that could furnish the article described. It is given to us as an absolute miracle, — and it could just as well have been accomplished in the shape of some absolutely new farinaceous compound. Indeed the miracle would have been just as perfect if the Jews had been enabled to live for forty days without food at all. When things are given to us as miracles, what is gained by explaining them away .^ The Christian at Work should know better. Manna, as we know it, is the sap of an Ash tree, Fraxiniis Ornus. This does not grow in Palestine. White Pine Forest in New Jersey. — Are you dead sure that your illustration in April issueof Meehans' Monthly is of ichite pine? M3' observation or rather my shadowy memory makes me think it is another specie, — probably Pinns yii^ida, about the hardest tree we have for fire to harm. I am not here calling in question your principle, but 3'our facts — and possibly you may be light. At any rate it would be well to ascertain, for that trunk in the foreground has a dreadfully rigid tike look to me. J. T. Rothrock. West Chester, I'a. Dr. Rothrock is undoubtedly correct, as the prominent figure in the foreground clearly proves. It is rare that such extra fine speci- mens of Pinus rigida are seen in New Jersey in these days. The principle which the picture was intended to illustrate, namely the safety from fire which the absence of dead under- ])rush insures, remains unassailed by the chauiie of name. Flamiuix forest now. are proclaiming against dead underbrush. ISSUED MONTHLY, $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, SINGLE COPY 20 CENTS. EEIHANS neveled 19 ENERAL _8< LOWERS (snduded by M9MA5 fAEEHAN co^vnioHTKO fa*e ENTERED AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST OFFICE A3 .SECOND-CLASS MATTER. PHOTOCOPY OF ORIGINAL * rieehans' Monthly PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Thomas riEEHAN & Sons, Qermantown, Phlla. Sabseription Price $2.00 per year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 cts. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each Month, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Editorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phlla., Pa. IT WILL PAY YOU sg-gws: Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Roses, Fruit, and our special stock of Rhododendrons. It will in- terest all who are interested in such matters. ANDORRA NURSERIES, ?!;r,ir^"!.'! >. Wm. WARNf r Harper, Manager DREER'S ♦ TRY GARDEN ♦ SEEDS ♦ Plants, Bulbs and Requisites. They arc the best at the lowest prices. Calendar for '96 mailed free. Address HENRY A. DREER. 714 Chestnut St.. Phila. 8. W. 8MIT BERKHniRE, Chester White, Jereey lied A Poland China Pigs. Jersey, Guernsey & IIol« stein Cattle. Thoronehbred Sheep, Fancy Poultry. Hunting . and House Dogs. OntaloRue. OChranvilie* Chester Cc.. Pa. REFERENCES Before hiring; a man you want to "know where and how well he has worked. Just so with fences. Plenty of careful, thrifty farmers have had ours in use eight or ten years. Can you do better than asl< their opin on. Send for our monthly paper free. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 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Small Shrubs We grow Shrubs in large quantities and fre- quently have inquiries for small plants in consider- able numbers. Our new Catalogue for Spring, 1896, contains full price list of these, as well as Trees, Evergreens and Hardy Plants. Catalogue mailed for 6 cents in stamps. Thomas Meehan & Sons Nurserymen and Landscape Engineers Qermantown, Phila. Standard Varieties Haspberry and Stvmhmy Plants Send for Price List Box 464 DAYTON, OHIO CfW IS NUCH MOilC 0W S -HAN PINE. .♦ iirl iiiriiii PRES SASH BARS UP Toilft mr IN LENGTH on LON^GER. REENHOUS AND OTifiN BUiLDIHC MATERIAL^ Sendifof eurlttUltrdUd BooK :ES)S LUMB£li/iift|rsUSES;' ur$P«ciftt Greenhous^?i\\ Saytaccnia purpurea with yellow tlowers." After collect- in "; for a short time he went to (Juebec. He packed all his collections and placed them on a vessel bound for (Vreenock, but never heard of them afterwards, l-rom thence he went to Montreal and met Frederick Pursh, author of the North American Flora. " who advised me to turn my course northwest the folhnving spring, and promised to secure me permission to accompany the traders leaving Montual. I walked all the way to Albany, then went by water to New York." I-roni this as a centre he explored the eastern part of New Jersey. which gave him " more gratification than any part of America I had seen." At (Juaker Bridge " I gathered some most interesting plants, and with as large a load as my back would carry, I took my journey for Philadel- phia where I staid a short time." Then he went to New York and again placed his treasures on board of a vessel for vScotland, and again "never heard of them after." He tramped along the Mohawk River, but at length found himself absolutely penniless, (121) ^^ INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE Tt3 VT r^T TT^ /~vT7ll? 122 MEEHANS* MONTHLY— ASPIDIUM GOLDIANUM. but then started as a "schoolmaster " in which capacity he struggled through the winter. When the winter broke up in 1818 he tramped off for Montreal, only to find that Pursh had left for Quebec, "and I found that even if he had been present his interest would scarce have been sufficient to have obtained for me the assistance and protection I desired." Again penniless " my only alternative was the spade, at which I worked all summer, reserving two days a week to make collections. The only excursion I was able to take was a little way up the Ottawa or Grand River." In the autumn he again shipped his plants ** but the vessel was subsequently totally wrecked in the St. I^awrence." To live during the ensuing winter he "designed some flower pieces" from which he obtained " a trifle." With the spade in spring, he managed to save $50 by June, and found a friend to lend him fifty more. This was riches ; and he started for the grand tour,-— to Kingston, New York, Lake Sincoe, back to New York, Niagara, Fort Erie, over to the United States, ninety miles along Lake Erie, to Pittsburg, returning along the side of the Allegheny River to Point Orlean, to salt works of Onondaga, to Sackett's Harbor, to Kingston, where he packed up his whole collection, carried it to Montreal, and then this time went with his collections to Greenock, and this time reached safely home. He sadly writes that this package was all he had for three years' labor,— but he bravely adds that "in spite of ill fortune I will go again in spring." Whether or not fortune ceased to frown on him from that time the author has not been able to determine. Brittin 's biography briefly notes that "John Goldie was born at Maybole, Ayrshire, in Scotland, in 1793, and died at Ayr, Waterloo County, New York, United States, in June, 1886. He was the dis^ coverer oi Rumex aquatiaisV It is at least a gratification to know that in spite of the early frowns, fate so far relented as to extend his days to near the century mark. When the law which determines how one species is evolved from another shall be definitely determined, it will be seen that a slight variation in the direction of life energy makes all the difference between Aspidmm mar- ginale and Aspidium Goldianum. The forking of the veins— a character which the student of ferns pays close attention to— is exactly on the [July same plan in both. The fruit dot is on the apex of the lowest branch of the forking veins in both species. But in Aspidium marginale the veinlet is extended to the margin, while in Aspidium Goldianum the growth energy rested almost as soon as the veinlets started. One might almost say in the one case the fruit dot was sessile, and in the other pedunculate. The other characters have had to follow this primary leadership in giving the characters which distinguish the two species. The geographical range is given by Eaton as " Canada and Maine to Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.'' It does not appear to be abundant in any one locality, but has possibly been overlooked in many places on account of the broader fronded form being looked for, or in the mind of the collector. A writer on the elevations at which ferns are found, in an interesting sketch in the "Bulletin of the Torrey Club " has seen specimens from Owen Sound, Mount Mansfield, Mantastignet, N. H., Cheshire, Conn., Bongoon's Gap in the Penn- sylvania Alleghenies, Madison, Ohio, Peaks of Otter Virginia, and Laurel County, Kentucky. Gradations may be found between Aspidium marginalt, Aspidium cristatum and our present species, Aspidium Goldiafium ; and it is more than probable that they are all derived from one parent form. It is often held, when such close relation exists, that the several forms are hybrids, or else mere variations not deserving of separate specific names. The practice then is to drop or make synonyms of all but the original. But classification is for aid in study and it is more useful to keep widely different things distinct, even if their boundaries be not clearly defined, than to unite many striking points under one denomination. And this may be sound, though we actually knew that one distinct form was derived in our own time from another. No matter how closely these three ferns would seem to run together at times, botanical study is served by keeping them under their distinctive names. Color is not often taken into account when marking the differences between species, though it is in many cases a constant character. This fern can be well distinguished by a brighter green. Explanation OF THE Plate -i. A full-sized frond from the rocky hills of the Wissahickon, Phila. 2. Outline of a scarcely matured frond 3. Undersurface of pinnule show- ing vems and position of the fruit dots. WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. A SUMMER SCENE. It was a sultry day of summer-time. The sun pour'd down upon the ripen 'd grain With quivering heat, and the suspended leaves Hung motionless. The cattle on the hills Stood still, and the divided flock were all Laying their nostrils to the cooling roots, And the sky look'd like silver, and it seem'd As if the air had fainted, and the pulse Of nature had run down, and ceased to beat. — N. P. W11.LIS. Poisonous Honey. — The subject of honey ever being poisonous has long interested the writer with a desire to know what are the facts and not theories. Myself and some of my family having been made sick, as well as many of our neighbors, soon after eating poisoned honey, the symptoms being invariably the same — vertigo, blindness and sickness (remedy : drinking milk freely or taking mustard as an emetic) makes it an established fact. Then, too, in certain places on Long Island, where the Andromeda Mariana is not known to grow, these cases are not known, giving a reason for attributing it to this plant. Some thousand acres on the Hempstead plains are covered with it, and it is noticed that if there has been a plenty of flowers, very rarely are there any cases of poisonous hone3\ Honey containing this poison gives a sharp taste in the mouth, and the experienced can detect it by its color. Often but a few cells are poisoned, and one may eat from a comb with impunity until the sharp taste and burning sensation gives warn- ing, and the effect is easily counteracted by drinking milk as stated. It is not known that it has proved fatal, — even to the bees, but with some persons it nearly has. The member of the Solebury Farmers' Club is correct in stating that many apiaries have been abandoned on account of the danger in honey made in the vicinity of the Hempstead Plains. Now what shall we attribute it to ? Some years ago, I saw in a paper that a Phila- delphia chemist had examined some honey of the Andromeda Mariana^ — called Kill-calf, be- cause sheep eating of the leaves had the same symptoms, — and the result was that prussic acid was found in it. Now, if any of the army of Xerxes, or even my friend Meehan, had unfortunately experienced its effects, as so many have in this portion of Long Island, the verdict would not long be in suspense. Horses will eat the Rhus toxicodendron ; and there are many proofs that what is injurious to one is not to all. I am sorry to give such a bad name to Kill-calf or Staggerbush, for it is a beauty. Does this statement amount to proof ? My old friend Meehan had better eat mihce pie, for I should be sorry to have him suffer as my son did last summer after eating poisoned honey. Isa.\c Hicks. Wcstbury. i,. I, The diflScult part of the question has always been in the certainty of the fact that honey capable of killing a man would certainly kill the bee. And it seems contrary to the usual order of things in nature that bees should col- lect and store for themselves and progeny that which would wipe out the whole race of bees in a neighborhood in the course of time. If it should be really proved in the cases of sick- ness cited that it was truly the honey which was really of a poisonous character as to pro- duce the disastrous results, it would seem more reasonable to suppose that there was some chemical change in the honey after it was col- lected by the bee. There ought to be some way of solving these topics of such immense importance to humanity without guessing at them, — and this is the chief reason Meehans' Monthly loves to introduce them. A Large Red Oak. — In a forest of Pemis- cot County, Missouri, is a red oak which has recently been measured by Gol. George B. Bowles of Affton, St. Louis Co., which has a trunk of 27 feet in circumference near the ground, and 19 feet, at 8 feet from the ground. The straight trunk is 60 feet to the first limb. Is there a larger oak tree of any species anywhere ? The white oak has usually the largest specimens. (123) 124 MEKHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [July 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 125 The Bitternut Hickory. — Occasional references have been made in Meehans' Monthly to variations in the Bitternut or Swamp Hickory. A couple of years ago, I made a careful study of the hickories of this vicinity, mainly for the purpose of finding Carya porcina, the Pignut, as I was not cer- tain of its occurrence in our woods. With a view to this, trees were selected in various localities and marked so that the same tree might be visited as occasion required through- out the season. The work began in the spring, with the opening buds, and ended in autumn, with the fruit and winter buds. Those of the Bitternut kind particularly studied were seven in number, but compari- sons were made with several more. Full descriptions were written of all of the trees selected, each being independently studied. No points were strained to make them match each other, or fit a published description. The species was to be left unnamed till the work was done, for in the effort to fit a description there lutks a temptation to sug- gest or find features which may not exist, or, at least, to "strain a point." On the com- pletion of the work, the notes were all com- pared, together with a full set of specimens, and all proved to refer to one species, Carya aniara, or Hicoria yninirna by the new nomen- clature. There was no feature constant throughout, but from the notes could have been compiled a description of the Bitternut which would be tj^pical of the species as found in this vicinity. The least variable character was the terminal winter bud. It is considerably longer than the axillary buds, pointed, almost always curved, and rather conspicuous from its yellow or copper colored scales. Next were the seg- ments of the calyx and the number of stamens, the former nearly always three, occasionally four, and the latter predominantly four, but sometimes five. In no case was a leaf taken that had more than nine leaflets, and rarely less than seven. In shape, they ranged from lanceolate to oblong obovate. They graded from those that were long-pointed to those scarcely or but slightly pointed. The long- pointed lanceolate type prevailed. The most common nut was small, and depressed globose in form. Others were nearly twice as large, much elongated, and rather broader above the middle. The sutures of the husk were some- times very prominent, running from the top nearly to the base, so as to make the edges of the valves winged, while in others they nearly disappeared, and the husk was almost smooth. The shells varied greatly in thickness, being sometimes so thin as to crush easily, while others needed a smart blow of a hammer to break them. Though the prevailing charac- teristic of the meat was bitterness, some of the nuts were quite edible, with no after taste of bitterness, and considerable testing was necessary to decide whether they should be considered palatable. Even the same tree bore those that were comparatively sweet along with the very bitter. The trunks in general had a close, smooth bark, but there were cases with exfoliating bark, it coming off in thin flakes so as to suggest a youngish tree of the Shell bark Hickory. As this was observed in small trees, it did not seem due to age. Though there were characters which varied towards other species of hickory, there were none that needed the hypothesis of hybridity to explain them. It was not particularly diffi- cult to interpret all as blonging to Catya amara, however they might vary. None of the trees grew in proper swampy land, some are in river valleys, mostly where not subject to overflow ; but they are common throughout on hills and in valleys, in soils of varying composition, but principally on clay land or soils mixed with clay loam. The Shell-bark is usually one of its companions, and I have yet to find an example of Catya porcina, which is said to occur here. E. J. Hill. Chicago, 111. Prof. Hill's paper is a contribution to vege- table biology of more value than the modesty of the author would be willing to acknowl- edge. The old idea that every species of plant has retained all the characteristics it originally possessed, — and that new species can only originate under the accident of new external conditions of which hybridity is one, is weakening, — and the plant's own varying degree of internal energy given credit for- many of these charges. As Mr. Hill shows in this instance the accident of hybridity has nothing to do with the striking variations in the Bitternut. Death from Freezing.— In one of your Monthlies, sometime since, I noticed your say- ing something like this about strawberries, •' They are not injured by frost, but by the sun." Now I claim that this law must apply to all vegetables, also to all animal life. Death comes at the transition between the cold and heat. I have read of animals as large as wood- chucks being frozen solid, brought to the wood- shed for meat for the poultry, but, when the warm days of spring came, some of them were found alive. Some thirty years ago, I remember of asking a post-master (a man well posted) if he had ever read or heard of the idea that frost killed nothing, he said " no."— I told him my views, and that I thought of writing an article on the subject, but then I thought the view would be so novel and new and absurd that I concluded to keep silent. Occasionally I come across something con- firming me in my opinion. The following extract I take from a paper. "Gruselbach, a German savant, has been devoting a considerable time to perfecting an apparatus to freeze living people and keep them in a torpid condition for a year or two. He has submitted his invention to the Swedish Government, with a request that a criminal condemned to death shall be provided to enable him to demonstrate the efiicacy of his discovery. He is professor of chemical science in the University of Upsala, and those who are anxious to take a long rest should keep his address in mind." With my view of the subject, I view with horror the burial of those persons who are frozen with their life still in them (only stis- pended), ready to be rususcitated when suitable conditions are applied. Who knows but the low temperature of the soil may be suitable conditions for recovery,— and then to think of the horrible death to fol- low. I have observed, in my life, among others, two very singular, natural curiosities. I will relate them to you. When I was younger than now, I was accus- tomed to cut our wood 8 or 10 feet long, in the fall, skid them in piles and then, when sled- ding time came, draw the wood home. That fall and early winter was mild, rainy and open, so that when I come to drawing the log- piles I found the logs were frozen together. There was one large cake or chunck of ice between two logs, and in this chunck— in the center, the form or picture of a very small ever- green tree, about an inch or a little more, tall with beautiful proportions in stem, branches, limbs and twii;s. I carried it to our village and showed it to various ones, including the teachers of our seminary, but no one could tell whether it was a tree or not. Soon the ice began to melt. I thought I would find out whether or no it was a veritable tree or not, so I took my jack-knife and shaved it up little by little,— and I found no tree ; but the body and all I found to be hollow,— a vacancy,— a vacuum. Who can explain ? The second curiosity : One cold, frosty morn- ing in the fall, I found, on one of my back windows, a peculiar frosting,— a perfect imita- tion of a circular spider's web. with all the inner circles, with all the cross-bars, and in fact a frost web. I am not Geometrician enough to explain it, so that if you are unacquainted with these webs you may not fully understand me. But the most singular thing about it is to come ; it was repeated the next morning, in the same spot. Timothy Whekler. Moscow, Vt. Poisonous Honey.— A Germantown corres- pondent writes: "Can you tell me if the pink Japan Judas tree, which was in bloom a couple weeks ago, emits a fluid poisonous to bees and other insects? I have seen it stated that such was the case. That insects were at- tracted by the bright blossoirs, but that the latter emited an opiate and the dead insects could be seen on the ground about the bush." Dead bees can be found in abundance under any early flowering plant that they frequent. It is not that they are poisoned ; but simply that their time has come. The life of any bee does not reach twelve months. Asters and Golden rods.— The botanist can scarcely describe the botanical diflerence between the Asters and the Golden rods, for with a few whitish exceptions, the Golden rods are always yellow. m^'^yy 126 MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. How Humble BEES Obtain Honey from Flowers.— I have read with much interest the accounts given, on this subject, at pages 3 and 63 of this volume of the Monthly. During the last twenty or more summers I have annually and repeatedly watched the mode of insect-visitations to flowers ; especially the mutilation of flowers by insects. At first I thought I had observed bumble-bees slit the tubes of the corollas of a number of plants, and so reported in the Botanical Gazette, but afterwards corrected this statement. By more careful study of these insects I learned that the real humble-bee {Bombus) seldom if ever slits the corolla tube to obtain honey. Bom- bus pen7isylvanicus and B. americanorum are common with us, and so far as my observation goes, they invariably have taken the honey through the mouth of the flower. The insect which I have found doing such depredations is not really a humble-bee, but the carpenter-bee, {Xylocopa). I never have seen this insect enter the embrasure of a flower ; yet it is a frequent visitor for honey. In my observations it has always slit the corolla at the point where the nectar was situated. In larkspurs and colum- bines the slit was made at the end of the spur. Nor does it try to find a slit made at a former visit, but as soon as it finds the proper place it at once sends its sharp beak through and takes the honey. I have observed Xylocopa Virgtnica, the Virginia carpenter-bee, take honey in this manner from Physostegia Virginiana, Merten- sia Virginica, Pcntstemon pubescens, P. Iceviga- tJis, Pontederia cordata, Astragalus Canadensis, Trifolinm pratense, Aquilegia Ca?iadensis. Dclp/iininjH tricome and D, palviifolia. After these slits have been made a number of the small bees take honey through them ^^^^' J. SCHNECK. Mt. Carmel, 111. Effect of the Season on Plant Growth. —A correspondent in Southern Maryland says: —♦•Brant says his cherry trees were loaded with ' blooms. ' There are but few cherries. I note that generally each flower has from one to three leaves coming out of it. The pistil or stamen has gone back. This is probably the direct cause of the crop failure. But why have these leaves appeared ? I frequently remarked last summer to my friends that I thought the bud could not possi- [July bly form on trees during a summer aflfected with such a hot drouth as last year's. The tree could not in my opinion do its duty with such a lack of one essential and such an excess of the other. This spring the prediction appears to be coming true. With no great cold during winter and no unseasonable weather this spring the fruit crop is exceedingly irregular, and the irregularity is going more and more against a full crop which latter everybody expected at the blooming season. All crops are deteriorating as to quantity, as the season advances. It is to be hoped that what is left will be better than usual." The specimens sent were very interesting from a morphological point of view. The flower buds— for they were what nature had evidently set out to make as flower buds— pro- duced small leaves only. In a few instances, however, short pedicels \^ith ovariums and calyx-lobes were projected, but in place of the fine white petals of the cherry flower, were five small green leaves,— rather they were geeen for a short time, but were as yellow as an autumn leaf at the stage examined. The pretty serratures of the cherry leaf were present. Other instances of the influence of environment on changing the character of plants have been numerous. How far these changes may oper- ate in a permanent way is another question. Rose Colored May Apple.— In one of my botanical excursions this spring, I met with several odd specimens of the May Apple, Podophyllum peltatum. The first I met with comprised a bed of these beautiful herbs,— the petals of every flower were of a beautiful rose color instead of white, and the stigma and ovary a very dark purple instead of yellow. Otherwise it was the same as the regular May Apple. The other peculiarity of another specimen was the absence of leaves, the stalk very short, all the parts of the flower double, and the flower large. I measured one of them, which was a little over three inches. H. P. Beaver. Greeuvillc, Pa. The Poison Vine.-— How the poison Sumack Rhus toxicodendron, manages its venomous action, is still a profound mystery. People brush against it, or handle it with impunity. 1896.] MEEHANS' monthly— wild FLOWERS AND NATURE 127 Fruits Without Flowers.— The cleistoga- mous flowers of the violet are among the inter- esting things about these plants and the im- pression seems to prevail that these alone are fruitful. However this may be with other species, it is not true with regard to the sweet white violet, V. blanda, which fruits, with me, abundantly from the showy flowers. But that this species is not without its cleistogamous flowers is shown by the accompanying draw- ing, which illustrates also the peculiar runners of this plant. The runners seem to be little known, but may be found plentifully on the plants about midsummer. The leaves of the runners conform to the manner of leaf arrange- ment on the caulescent species, being alter- nate. In the axils of most of them are de- veloped the cleistogamous flowers which bear full seed pods. Willard N. Clute. days we had, springing up by thousands, each rising as if by magic from the centre of a rosette of tiny root-leaves, mostly so hand- some in the mustards, and covering sunny meadows with patches of webby lace." It so happened that the writer of this para- graph noted the past spring that this common harbinger of spring did not expand its petals except in sunshine. There had been no sun- shine for a long time, but from these closed flowers the growing capsules were maturing. They certainly had been self- fertilized in the bud and without the aid of insects. Looking further it was noted that the two "shorter" stamens were as long as the four "longer ones" as usually so termed, but that they were arcuate or bent inwardly, bringing the anther just over the stigma, and beautifully arranged for insuring self-fertilization. A CLEISTOGAMOUS VIOLET. The whole subject of cleistogamy— that con- dition under which some plants can perfect seeds without making perfect flowers or open- ing the flower buds— is one of profound interest. It is an absolutely perfect arrangement of nature to secure self-fertilization. A very in- teresting point in connection with the violet is that in some cases only a single grain of pollen is at times produced, and yet a score of perfect seeds may follow this single pollination. DrXba verna.— It is remarkable how much there is to be seen that has never been seen before, even in the commonest plants. An enthusiastic young botanist in a note to the conductors says :— '* May loth, on a slop- ing hill side the first seed of the season is ripening,— the Draba, It bloomed early in April, on the second or third of those warm Though the writer had been handling and dissecting this plant for between fifty and sixty years, this pretty behavior had never been observed before. It is annoying to reflect on how blind many of us are. Habenaria orbiculata — Mr. C. F. Saun- ders, Philadelphia, notes:— "In Hamilton County, X. Y., a not uncommon plant in the coniferous woods is Habenaria orbiculata. In local parlance it goes by the names of "Bear Ear" and "Heal-all," the former doubtless from its too large, flat, roundish leaves, and the latter because of the esteem in which it is held by the home doctors, who I was told by a man who had a number in his pocket, used the leaves to apply to burns, cuts, etc., one side to draw, and the other side to heal. 128 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [July Peculiar Growth of Acorns. — Mr. J. C. Whitten, Columbia, Missouri, asks : *' Can you tell me the species of oak that is said to plant its acorn by pushing a sprout down into the soil and transferring its matter below ground, where a new acorn is formed ? " This has reference to a paper from the pen of the Senior Conductor, referring to the man- ner in which the 1 jve Oak, Quercus virens, pushes its radicle into the ground. That was many years ago, but the author, with a wider observation, has found that the acorn of this species of oak was only doing, on a wider plan, what all acorns were doing in a more or less degree. In most acorns, the cotyledons in germination have the power of rupturing the outer coating of the acorn, or of easily with- drawing them from the shell. In cases where this is difficult, the petioles of the cotyledons elongate, pushing before them the radicle with its plumule, which is thus led to a considera- ble distance from the acorn before the radicle turns to enter the ground. Sometimes these petioles will be almost united together, and appear like a perfect root, and this is the case in Quercus vire?is, when it seems strange to note the little bud from which the future tree is to ascend seeming to proceed adventitiously from the young rootlet. This is the method pursued in all monocotyledons, and suggested to the author the idea that probably the mono- cotyledon was the original type of all vegeta- tion,— an idea that was vigoroUvSly opposed by Dr. Gray and others when the topic was broached,— Dr. Gray remarking, as it is recorded, that he would •♦ leave to Mr. Meehan the task of re constructing " botanical science on that basis. And this may be, — but yet the correspondences are surely interesting. Humble-reks and Clover. —Having called attention to the false theory of the bumble-bee fertilizing the red clover in my regular " Gar- den Notes " of the Hartford Tunes and you sir, as conductor of your highly valuable Mee- HANS' Monthly, endorse my view of the case as correct, allow me kindly further a few ex- planatory remarks, concerning this erroneous matter, which should for the benefit of general education be taken cognizance of by the De- partment of Agriculture which no doubt by same of its publications fostered in a certain measure the distribution of this wrong idea. Constantly re-occuring references in the daily press, and reported lectures by authors stating as positive, that since the importation of Bum- ble-bees into Australia, the people there were able to raise clover seed, which before their in- troduction had been an impossibility on account of the failure of fertilization by these sonorous insects. I myself have blindly believed this Australian Bumble-bee stories, since even the government publication of "Insect Life" has articles re- ferring to it printed in its issues. See Volume IV., 1891, page 157, '* The Bum- ble-bee in New Zealand." Also Volume VI., 1893. page 50, also page 133 by V. Riley, "the later successful introduction of bumble-bees to the latter country (New Zealand) to fertilize the red clover is well-known history." This Vill suffice at present and as the red clover is beginning to bloom, let us all who have an interest in it watch the doings and appearances of the bumble bee. So far as my observation goes they have, since the late spring freeze of 1895. greatly diminished in numbers, and only the late fall of last year brought out a few solitary ones, at the time, when the dhalias w^ere in bloom. But the real big and full 7- ' \ ones I missed entirely. This spring some more are noticeable, but by no means the usual number as we see them in favorable seasons. Those that are out can in no way affect the fertilization of the clover. For the sake of American intelligence this matter ought to be authoratatively disposed of, to settle further references to it at once. I may also mention the fact that German bee keepers have long disregarded the clover as a profuse honey producing plant. Mrs. Wilhelmine Seliger. Hartford, Coun. The Odors of Flowers. — Many suppose that the odors of flowers come from the sweet secretions that the honey bee so fondly cherishes. This is true to some extent, and especially in flowers that have no petals and are yet sweet. But in a large number of in- stances the petals furnish the grateful fra- grance. The rose and the carnation are familiar instances. There is not much sweetness to the rose after the petals have fallen. Honeysuckle fragrance precedes the nectar. GENERAL GARDENING. THE GARDEN AND THE WOODS, the plants around Feel the too potent fervors ; the tall maize Rolls up its long green leaves ; the clover droops Its tender foliage and declines its blooms. But far in the fierce sunshine tower the hills, With all their growth of woods, silent and stern. As if the scorching heat and dazzling light Were but an element they loved. Bright clouds, Motionless pillars of the brazen heaven— Their bases on the mountains— their white tops Shining in the far ether— fire the air With a reflected radiance, and make turn The gazer's eye away. ^ — W. C. Bryant. Indian Mound Corn.— I can add a little to the story of the " ancient corn ' ' referred to on page 70. About ten years ago a man by the name of John Cowle who was a '♦jack of all trades," and something of a wanderer— and who, part of the time, made his home in this neighbor- ' , brought from Arkansas and distributed among his acquaintances a small quantity of corn which he said was the product of some taken from an Indian mound the year before. What I received was of a smoky color, the product of this was also of the same color— as I recollect— without exception ; but the next crop showed many red ears, and the year fol- lowing gave entirely red corn. About here I abandoned the variety. My corn was isolated and therefore not likely to be affected by other kinds ; moreover, I heard that the behavior was the same with all who planted it. So the influence with me was— providing Mr. Cowle's story was correct— that the material which colored the corn had been nearly elimi- nated by time and the conditions under which it was stored. But the— to me, mysterious part was that no trace of the red showed in the first and second crops— that the coloring material could remain apparently dormant through two successive crops, and still be there. Perhaps botanists may explain this. The corn grew to an unusual height and gave generally two or more ears to the stalk. There was more to the story— I have forgotten much of it, but I remember that some professor, a town or county officer, with Mr. Cowle, were present when the corn was exhumed. This story antedates that of Mr. Stark, and if both are true may indicate a fixed custom with some ancient tribe or race of people, of depositing corn in the tombs of the dead. This will perhaps be proved by future researches. I do not think the editor's reason- ing good regarding the distinction of the thir- teenth kernel, because, not only different ears of the same field of corn vary much in vitality but there is also a variation in the different parts of the same ear. Kernels from the butt of an ear are not so likely to germinate as those from the middle. We may have a half, a quarter, or an eighth of a stand of corn, caused by poor seed. Benjamin Buchman. Farmingdale, 111. Gardening in Pullman. —The town of Pullman, Illinois, was built wholly by the Pullman Palace Car Company, and its govern- ment is retained under the company's control. The houses for the operatives are built by the company, and the care of them with their sur- roundings are subject to the company's over- sight. There are 1, 750of these cottages, and the court yards are under one superintendent who has a force of 30 men during the summer and 12 during the winter months to look after these affairs. The superintendent has to spend from three to five hours daily, in caring for methods, plans, and accounts in the office: and the remainder of the day, is given to actual super- vision of the workmen's labors. The opera- tives are happy and contented, and it is a good illustration of beneficent ' 'one-man power. " A friend wonders why all municipalities might not be as beneficially governed? Unfortun- ately the "one-man power," when it does not happen to be beneficent, is an unbearably bad power, and for this reason communities have to put up with the moderately good, rather than risk the superlative on either side. (129) ^^^ MEEHANS* MONTHI^Y GENERAL GARDENING. [July T11.1.ANDSIA Wii.soNi.--Under the name of The Red Spider.-Iii Eastern Pennsylvania TtUandsta Wtlsom an illustration appeared in and possibly many other portions of the United Vol. II, p. 180 Meehans' Monthly of a Florida States, one of the greatest pests of the gardener air plant, which at that time, was supposed to is the red spider. It is not only an insidious have been hitherto undescribed in American enemy of the fruit-grower, but is equally botanical literature. Mr. Reasoner wrote that troublesome with ornamental trees and flowers, in his opinion It was only a young form of the Some evergreens, especially among the spruce well known Tzllandsta utriculaia of Linnaeus. family, suffer serious injury from them. The plants have since developed so as to leave Unfortunately the creature is so minute that no doubt but that Mr. Reasoner, is right. few realize its existence till the foliage is Many botanists have been deceived before, as noted as of a rusty brown color instead of the bchultz's Tillandsia Nuttalliayia is also known normal shade of green belonging to it An now to be but a young condition of the same examination with a pocket lens,-which by the x^.^^^; ^1/^^'' '^ Tillandsia Bartrami of way, every good gardener should always have ^uttall. The T, stipulata of Schultz is another in his pocket-will disclose to view the little form of the same thing, as also is Bartram's brown eggs, or even the insect with its webby productions— from which it takes its name, for it is not of the spider family. The Canadian '^^^W^^^ ^oard of Agriculture gives the following as a ifflllli^^^^^ mixture destructive of the insect when the bark of the apple tree is painted with it in the S'^'^^^S^^^\\> winter time. It ought to be equally valuable 'S'^'''^^*^V^^^i^\l ^^ ^ spraying mixture in the summer, as only '^^ffim^^lKV^^ ^^^ larger branches can be easily painted,— '^C^JI^Mji*^ ^^^ applications of such mixtures should be '}j^'Pia?^DM V always applied experimentally at first. ^^^W^^X/W Kerosene 2 gallons rM%(7$5a ?°^P 'A pound ^^M^mAm.-"^ ^ Water 30 gallons Boil the soap in ]4 gallon of water, when boiling add the kerosene, and violently churn for from 5 „, .. , -^-_— ^_ _ , to 20 minutes till emulsion is formed, then add the ^^yy iS^^^^=~ / water. It also gives the following, which is also said to be an excellent mixture for destroying the red spider. TILLANDSIA wiLSONi. Quicklime 25 pounds -, -. Sulphur 20 *• /. Lingulata, the 7. polystachya of Muhlenberg, Salt "/,'„ 15 .. and the T. rainosa of Sweet. This shows how ^^'<^^r 50 gallons the variations have confused the botanist '^o Mix.— Take 10 lbs. lime, 20 lbs. sulphur and The cut is reproduced with the correction i? ^''/^''f fi!" "^^^i^" J ^?u ^'^^ ^-^^ ^""^P^"" ^^ ^^^^^ \.^.^ f 4.1. tae correciion dissolved, then slack the remaining 15 lbs. of lime Here lor another purpose also,— namely to and the 15 lbs. of salt, and add to the previous emphasize the method of growing- eoiohvtal "M^^"^^' "^^^^"S "P^^^ water to 50 gallons. Apply r^lanfe T« 4-1, ' ^ • ^ ^ t' J uiilk-warm after straining. Use in water TC^^^n plants. In their own countries they are found stirring while using, and be careful of the hands ^ in situations where the air is saturated with moisture. Where one can have a regular Destruction of Insects.— The drop or bag- orchid house this atmospheric moisture can be worm, which is very destructive, especially on provided, and no such precaution is needed. evergreens, can be kept down easily by hand But for those who have no such opportunity picking.— and the much dreaded Tussock Moth the planting of a block in a pot of earth is the which creates so much havoc amongst street next best thing. The block is kept moist,- trees in cities, can just as easily be mastered the evaporation from the earth, helps to keep by collecting the cocoons in winter and burn- the atmosphere damp. i^g them during that season. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 131 The Mignonette. — This well-known old garden favorite {Reseda odorata) is one of the staple products of the florists' greenhouses in winter, and on account of its beautiful fragrance, finds a ready market in the large cities ; that is, well-grown mignonette does. The following is generally the method pur- sued by the florists : Sow about the first of August, for early cutting, in slight depressions six inches apart each way. Thin out to four plants, and allow no more than two shoots to each plant — if extra strong spikes are wanted, leave only one shoot to each plant — this allows eight shoots to a "hill." All the energy of the plants must be thrown into these shoots, ing the ball of soil intact, when they are ready to receive them. The variety known as '* Machet " is the general favorite with the florists. If properly treated, the plants should be ready for cutting three months after sowing. Wm. Fitzwilliam. Orange, N. J. Mahonias as Pot Plants.— The Mahonia is one of our most popular out- door ornaments. Wherever the winters are not excessively severe, even when the temperature is very low in winter, they thrive well, if not exposed to bright sunlight while frozen, — and if the earth in which they are growing does not get too dry PEAR GARDEN. --sec PAoc 13S. and for this reason all side shoots, or laterals, must be pinched off, leaving only the terminal one. This causes the plants to have long, straight, stout stems with a good terminal truss of flowers. The soil should consist of three parts good loam and one part well-rotted manure, with a good sprinkling of sand. Five inches depth of soil is sufficient in the benches, unless there be too much bottom heat. As the plants grow, fill in the depressions, and firmly fix the plants with the hand. They need full exposure to sunshine. If the benches are in use in summer time, the seeds can be sown in four-inch pots, and carefully transplanted into the benches, keep- in summer time. But in England they seem to be a favorite element in in-door culture. In a schedule of premiums on the table, we find one offer for twenty Mahonias in variety. One would hardly suppose that there were any great number of varieties in Mahonias, as we see them growing in our gardens ; but it is evident that foreign horticulturists are taking them in hand,— and one can readily imagine that a large variety can be selected so as to make a collection of twenty of these plants of great beauty. Mahoriia aquifolia is the species referred to. The Rocky Mountain form, M. repefis, is a dwarf and not so showy a one as that. I30 MEEHANS' MONTHI^Y Tii^LANDSiA WiLsoNi.— Under the name of Tillandsia ^F//^^;// an illustration appeared in Vol. II, p. iSoMeehans' Monthly of a Florida air plant, which at that time, was supposed to have been hitherto undescribed in American botanical literature. Mr. Reasoner wrote that in his opinion it was only a young form of the well known Tillandsia utficulaia of IJnnreus. The plants have since developed so as to leave no doubt but that Mr. Reasoner, is right. Many botanists have been deceived before, as Schultz's Tillandsia Nuttalliana is also known now to be but a young condition of the same species, as also is Tillandsia Bartrami of Nuttall. The T. stipulata of Schultz is another form of the same thing, as also is Bartram's TILLANDSIA WILSQNI. T. lingjilata, the 7. polystachya of Muhlenberg, and the T. ramosa of Sweet. This shows how the variations have confused the botanist. The cut is reproduced with the correction here for another purpose also,— namely to emphasize the method of growing epiphytal plants. In their own countries they are found in situations where the air is saturated with moisture. Where one can have a regular orchid house this atmospheric moisture can be provided, and no such precaution is needed. But for those who have no such opportunity the planting of a block in a pot of earth is the next best thing. The block is kept moist,— the evaporation from the earth, helps to keep the atmosphere damp. general gardening. [July The Red Spider. —In Eastern Pennsylvania and possibly many other portions of the United States, one of the greatest pests of the gardener is the red spider. It is not only an insidious enemy of the fruit-grower, but is equally troublesome with ornamental trees and flowers. Some evergreens, especially among the spruce family, sufifer serious injury from them. Unfortunately the creature is so minute that few realize its existence till the foliage is noted as of a rusty brown color instead of the normal shade of green belonging to it. An examination with a pocket lens,- which, by the way, every good gardener should always have in his pocket— will disclose to view the little brown eggs, or even the insect with its webby productions— from which it takes its name, for it is not of the spider family. The Canadian Board of Agriculture gives the following as a mixture destructive of the insect when the bark of the apple tree is painted with it in the winter time. It ought to be equally valuable as a spraying mixture in the summer, as only the larger branches can be easily painted, but applications of such mixtures should be always applied experimentally at first. Kerosene 2 gallons ^^^P J^ pound Water ^q gallons Boil the soap in Vz gallon of water, when boiling add the kerosene, and violently churn for from 5 to 20 miuutes till emulsion is formed, then add the water. It also gives the following, which is also said to be an excellent mixture for destroying the red spider. Quicklime 25 pounds Sulphur 20 '♦ Salt jc «« Water ]. 50 gallons To Mix.— Take 10 lbs. lime, 20 lbs. sulphur and 10 gallons of water ; boil till the sulphur is quite dissolved, then slack the remaining 15 lbs. of lime and the 15 lbs. of salt, and add to the previous mixture, making up the water to 50 gallons. Apply milk-warm after straining. Use in water. Keep stirring while using, and be careful of the hands. Destruction of IXvSECTs.— The drop or bag- worm, which is very destructive, especially on evergreens, can be kept down easily by hand picking,— and the much dreaded Tussock Moth, which creates so much havoc amongst street trees in cities, can just as easily be mastered by collecting the cocoons in winter and burn- ing them during that season. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. i;i The Mignonette. — This well-known old garden favorite {Reseda odoratd) is one of the staple products of the florists' greenhouses in winter, and on account of its beautiful fragrance, finds a ready market in the large cities ; that is, well-grown mignonette does. The followMug is generally the method pur- sued by the florists : Sow about the first of August, for early cutting, in slight depressions six inches apart each way. Thin out to four plants, and allow no more than two shoots to each plant — if extra strong spikes are wanted, leave only one shoot to each plant — this allows eight shoots to a "hill." All the energy of the plants must be thrown into these shoots. ing the ball of soil intact, when they are ready to receive them. The variety known as " Machet " is the general favorite with the florists. If properly treated, the plants should be ready for cutting three months after sowing. \Vm. Fitzwilliam. Orange, X. J. Mahonias AS Pot Plants. — ^\i^ Mahonia is one of our most popular out door ornaments. Wherever the winters are not excessively severe, even when the temperature is very low in winter, they thrive well, if not exposed to bright sunlight while frozen, — and if the earth in which they are growing does not get too dry PEAR GARDEN, -sec FAoc 135. and for this reason all side shoots, or laterals, must be pinched off, leaving only the terminal one. This causes the plants to have long, straight, stout stems with a good terminal truss of flowers. The soil should consist of three parts good loam and one part well-rotted manure, with a good sprinkling of sand. Five inches depth of soil is suflicient in the benches, unless there be too much bottom heat. As the plants grow, fill in the depressions, and firmly fix the plants with the hand. They need full exposure to sunshine. If the benches are in use in summer time, the seeds can be sown in four-inch pots, and carefully transplanted into the benches, keep- in summer time. But in Ivnglandthey seem to be a favorite element in in-door culture. In a schedule of premiums on the table, we find one ofler for twenty Mahonias in variety. One would hardly suppose that there were any t»reat number of varieties in Mahonias. as we see them growing in our gardens ; but it is evident that foreign horticulturists are taking them in hand,— and one can readily imagine that a large variety can be selected so as to make a collection of twenty of these plants of great beauty. Mahonia aquifolia is the si>ecies referred to. The Rocky Mountain form, J/. repens. is a dwarf and not so showy a one as that. intentional second exposure 132 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING [July 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 133 Roses, and the Odor of Roses. — The im- provements in rose culture have now made its varieties over 7000, but the v^^orks of Redoute, Guillemeau, Buchoz and of many other writers on the " Queen of Flowers," before i860, show, that until a recent period, the era of large double roses, excepting, perhaps the Provence or Cabbage rose, had not been entered. The old roses were mostly single, a few double and some, semi-double. Until 1 81 5, the progress of rose cultivation was very slow, then M. Vibert, under the patronage of the Empress Josephine, who made roses fashionable, founded his nursery. The Empress caUvSed search to be made for all known varieties to be cultivated in her garden at Malmaison. Up to i860 we had very few roses which to-day would be considered of much value, with the exception of General Jac- queminot, among the Hybrid Perpetuals ; and Mme. Bravy, Rubens, Souvenir d'Elise and Devoniensis, among the Teas. From i860 to 1865, great advances were made and since then still greater. The names of Paul, Cranston, Cant and Bennett, in England ; Dickson, in Ireland ; Naboiinand, Jacotet, Guillot, Ducher and many others, in France ; are well-known to rosar- ians, and such roses as Marechal Niel, Gloire de Dijon, Ernest Metz, Paul Neyron, and Hon. Edith Gifford show this advance. Nor is this country behind, as Bridesmaid, American Beauty, Sunset and Mrs. Pierpont Morgan testify. Some varieties have been introduced only recently, for instance, the dwarf Polyan- thas, and the climbing, Turner's Crimson Rambler and Mister's Stella Gray ; also Paul's Carmine Pillar and Lord Penzance's Sweet Briars, and the Japanese Rugosas and "Multi- floras and their Hybrids, which are just com- ing to the front. In our days of green bloom- ing roses, irises and chrysanthemums, what will be the next rose production is difficult to foretell. We may have black and blue flowered. Attention has been given by rosarians to vigor, form, color and size, but so far, the difference of perfume in different varieties has been almost neglected, yet distinct perfumes in the different species are recognizable and there are some men who can name varieties in the dark, from the odor. The purest rose odor cannot be defined. It is best represented by two varieties ; one is the Rosa centifolia. This grows wild in the eastern parts of the Caucasus and has been largely cultivated in Provence, France. It is commonly known to us in its red variety as the Cabbage or Hundred-leaved Rose, also as the Provence Rose. The other, the Rosa Damascena, or Damask Rose, is cul- tivated in the Orient and in Bulgaria, for the manufacture of Attar of Roses. The red variety of the latter is preferred to the white for this purpose. The Damask Rose is not known to exist uncultivated. Red roses usu- ally have more odor than white. Cut roses placed in water have more fragrance than when attached to the plant, and those flower- ing under glass, give more perfume than those cultivated in the open air. No two flowers on the same plant have the same odor, and even the same flower will emit, at different hours of the day, a different perfume. The first attempt made to classify the varie- ties of perfume in the rose was made at Phila- delphia, in 1886, by an anonymous writer.* In 1889 the subject w^as further studied in France, by Dr. Blondel.f The following statements are interesting : R. Gloire de Dijon has an odor which cannot be defined. The so-called Tea-roses have not the odor of Tea. The Tea-roses, Melanie Souppert, Marie Guillot, Marie Caroline de Sextoux and Triomphe de Milan h^ve not scent. R. caiiina, R. sepiu7n, R. alpina and R. arverisis, have the odor of Mignonette ; Isabelle Narbon- nand, the odor of the Violet as has also R. Banksia alba, R. Baiiksia lutea has not an odor. Marechal Niel, Goubalt and Bravy, the finst named having a Tea strain, and the latter two being Teas, have the smell of the Raspberry. The odor of the pink may be found in Safrano, R. Caryophylla, R. Ripartii, Descglise and R. Moschata, The last, not- withstanding its name, does not have the Musk odor, that is peculiar to the Moss, Salet. Elizabeth Barbenzien smells like a melon, and R. bracteata and Macartney, like apricots. Socrates has the odor of Peaches, and Souver- aine, a hybrid of a Tea and R. centifolia, also smells like a Melon. These fruity odors are frequently blended with those reminding one of the smell of the Banana or Quince. ♦See article iu the Crtrrf^w^r' J Monthly aud Horticulturist xxviii, 1S86, p. 249 r/. seq. ^ BulUtin de la Soc. Bot. de France, Fcvrier, 1889. Also see his : " Les produits odorants des Rosters, Paris, 1889." Noisette roses do not usually have an odor, but there are exceptions : Unique Jaune has the perfume of Hyacinths, and there is a slight fruity odor to Celestine Forestier, Clavie Carnot. Earl of Eldon and Desprez. Marechal Niel is sometimes termed a Noisette, but it has Tea blood in it, and holds an unique position. The flowers of the varieties of the R, nibiginosa mostly do not have any odor but A', platyacan- tha, R. CapiiCine (R. Eglantcria), especially, bicolor, smell of bugs (Cimex lentiaclarius) and Coriander ; R. Beggerina {R. coriosma,) has the same disagreeable smell. R. z'illosa, in some of its varieties, has the odor of Oli- banum and Myrrh, and R. Brunonii (a moss variety of R. moschata) has in its sepals and pedicels, the odor of Pinks. R. rubignosa (Sweet Briar) has an odor in its green parts, especially the lower part of the leaves, like the smell of the Apple called Pippin. The glands of R. micraniha, R. graveolcns, R. gluiinosa, all have a similar perfume. What the composition of the substance in these glands is has not been studied. The leaves of R. lutea or R. Capucine, smell something like Jasmin. The petals of R. Gallica have only a slight odor when first gathered, dr3ing de- velopes the perfume, but the odor of R. Dam- asccna is almost destroyed by drying. In Persia, R. moschata is used for making Attar ; in Bulgaria, R. Damascena ; in France, R, centifolia ; in Germany, the Bulgarian variety of R. Da?nascena. There is no reason why the making of Attar should not be an industry of the United States. In Bulgaria the Attar is always adulterated, usually with •' Indian Geranium Oil," {A?idro- pogon Schccnanthus,) or one made from varie- ties of the Pelargonium. Hindu Attar is also adulterated with oil of Sandal- wood. The Germans and French are now distilling a fine Attar. The French has a green color, the Turkish is yellow. The latter is adulterated with - geranium oil." Distillation, however, destroys the true rose odor for it is so delicate that it will not stand heat. By the French system of making rose pommade through maceration in warm fat, a compound usually of hog's lard and beef suet, or in olive oil ; the odor can be obtained pure and the fat, impregnated with the odor, is then shaken by machinery, in closed vessels, with 90 per cent, alcohol at a very low temperature, and results in the oil of rose becoming absorbed by the alcohol and completely separated from the grease, preserving its pure rose perfume. Many attempts have been made to improve on this method, but they have not been success- ful. There are many parts of our country in which the rose plant grows in the open air to great perfection, for instance, South Carolina and Texas, and the manufacture of rose oil and rose water could be conducted at much profit. Is.\AC MvER. Hackberry. — Noting the observation of Thos. H. Douglas, of Waukegan, 111., the Kentucky Coffee tree and Hackberry are both found quite plentifully in the natural groves of the prairies and also in the natural timber covering the river blufl's along the Missouri, having noticed the Hackberry as far north as Sioux City,— but I think it can be found beyond that point. The Cofi'ee tree is planted some as a street tree in Omaha and Council Bluffs, but the pods being so attractive to boys, who climb and break them citizens give that as an objectic n to having them on the premises or streets. The Hackberry is highly prized, chiefly be- cause it is an improved or glorified elm. Ps straight habit places the top higher in the air and the high western winds have less hold on the tree. But its fine corrugated bark is a chief attraction and this in itself makes it a finished and a fine object on a lawn. The Hackberry should have more attention. W. M. BOMHERGER. Htirlan, la. It would be agreeable to have the dimensions of the largest Hackberry known. The largest ever noted by the conductors, were in the vicinity of Cincinnati. It is now long ago,— but in memory they appear twelve or fifteen feet in circumference. Celtis occidentalis is referred to. Tree L.\bels.— The Kentucky Institution for the education of the blind, at Louisville, has invented a tree label by which the letters are raised by being stamped on soft metal. While having them made for themselves, they would make others cheaply for public parks or other places where named collections of trees are desirable. Education for the blind has progressed wonderfully. ^^"^ MEEHANS' MONTHLY NEW ©1 Ri^RE FL/^NTS, — GENERAL GARDENING. [July Improvement of the Cosmos —Under date of April i6th, Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd says : I am doing a great deal with Cosmos ; it is a flower with wonderful possibilities, and one that is very delightful to work with. I expect, within a short time, to bring into existence some flowers, that the general public do not dream of ;— exquisite double Cosmos, dainty flowers, resembling tassels, double Amenone flowered, and many others of charm- ing form. Cosmos is as full of freaks as the Chrysanthemum, and is destined to be as valuable, if not more so to florists, than the Queen of Autumn. I am in love with the flower, I have at this time, a field of it in full bloom, something that has never happened before, at this season, it is volunteer crop with plants two feet high, having magnificent flowers, very large, of perfect form and beautiful colors. Think of Cosmos in full bloom outside in March and April, the beautiful fancy vari- eties which you see in the pictures I send you, and many others besides. The seeds were dropped from the tall plants, which bloomed last season, and I am hoping for an early blooming strain of more dwarf habit from the seeds of this early crop." As the Cosmos is closely related to Dahlia botanically, one may reasonably look for as much variation in one genus as the other. There is little doubt but that Mrs. Shepherd's pleasant visions of the Cosmos of the future will be abundantly realized. Spir.ea Vanhouttei— Those who have seen clear white snow hanging in festoons and various forms of drapery over rocks and banks in drifting weather will recognize the resemblance in a flowering bush of Spircea Van- houttei. It is one of the most charming ornaments in a spring scene in the shrubbery border. It is said to be a hybrid raised by Mr. Zabel of Munich, —but it is hardly more than a sport from the well-known Spircpa Reevesii, on which it is a decided improvement. SpircEa Reevesii itself is indeed only a varietal form of an old Asiatic species known as Spitcea Canton- iensis. Flowers of Cycas revoluta — In the November number, 1895. of Meehans' Monthly, it was noted that the Common Sago Palm of our gardens, had flowers of separate sexes on separate plants. An illustration of the female form was then given. To make the history complete an illustration of the male form is given, for which we are indebted to the courtesy of the London Journal of HortU culture. CYCA8 REVOLUTA 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 135 Cladastris tinctoria. — The beautiful but rare tree, Cladastris tinctoria or, as it is still called in some catalogues, Virgilia lutea, seems to have attracted a more than usual amount of attention this year, judging by notes in corres- pondence in reference to it. The long cymes of white pea-shaped blossoms, are produced in unusual abundance. It is probably becoming more planted. THE IHliflRB)T FLOWER ^iflI^ID)EN. PEONIES. — Some plants are like the much traveled Scotchman of whom it was said that he felt himself the most at home when he was abroad. These plants like to be moved from place to place in order to get the best results from them. But there are others that like to be let alone. The Paeony is one of these. Nothing can exceed the grandeur of a Paeony root that has been left in one spot for a num- ber of years. But it loves a good top dressing of manure every year. Some raise small hoops around the stems when growing, which keep the weight of flower heads from falling apart in a storm. Sick Gladioluses. — Gladioluses as well as many summer flowering bulbs, suffer easily from root fungus, which starts primarily from half decayed manure. All fertilizers for these plants should be free from fungus-supporting material. Where bulbs are grown on a large scale the ground is usually manured a year previous, so that all vegetable material may be thoroughly decayed. Gladiolus communis. — A remarkably beau- tiful herbaceous plant, though rare in our gardens, is the wild corn-field Gladiolus of Greece, and Asia Minor generally. It is per- fectly hardy in American gardens, and bright- ens June by its purple flowers. These are not as showy as the improved forms, but are still very attractive. TR'yilTS £S ¥EQETrtPLES. Asparagus Culture.— Amateur gardening has been annoyed by the Asparagus beetle. It can readily be destroyed by Paris Green, but no one likes to use this poison, while the crop is being cut. If one can make up his mind to give up cutting early, and then use the poison, the whole crop of insects can be destroyed in one season. Great care must however, be used to keep the Paris Green from blowing on other vegetables. It is a dangerous poison in a vegetable garden, though quite safe in prudent hands. Special Fruit Culture. — Good fruit seems to fall into our laps so readil}', that we can hardly realize the trouble taken with them in other parts of the world. In most parts of France, Belgium and Germany they can set out pear trees, and in time gather pears just as we do, — but they can get something better by a little care and cost, and in this way pleasure and profit go together. B}' profit the mere cash idea is not intended, — but that profit which we all feel in beating nature at the same task. We give an illustration on page 131 of a Pear Garden, taken from Nicholas Gauchers beautiful " Handbuchder Obstcultur" pub- lished by Paul Parey, of Berlin. The owner has been to heavy expense in constructing walls and trellises on which to train his pears, — and given much time and thought to the careful training. He feels richly repaid in the large and luscious fruit which no mere orchard grown fruits could ever compare with. One good result of this work is that the one who undertakes it soon becomes a master in the general art of pruning. It is a good school. Early Corn. — In no class of vegetables is there a greater difference in the time of matur- ity as in sweet corn. Some varieties will yield corn fit for table use in six weeks. Many years ago there was a variety introduced called the Squaw, which forestalled all competitors in this respect. Many attempts have been made to outdo this variety in the respect of early maturity, but it is understood that no earlier variety has yet been produced. Twin Ears of Corn. — Twin ears of corn —Siamese fashion— are not uncommon, but the only instance of two wholly distinct ears in one husk that has came to the knowledge of the conductor is furnished by Mr. Timothy Wheeler, Moscow, Vermont. One is eight- rowed and the other twelve. They are fine specimens. 136 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [July The Muscat of Alexandria Grape — Will you please give us your opinion on the following question in regard to setting of Muscat of Alexandria grapes. A. says, "I leave all the flowers on the vines until the fruit is set so as to have plenty of pollen in the house, "—and further says "that the perfecting of flowers requires no extra effort on the part of the plant." B. on the other hand says, "it does require an effort on the part of the plant to bring forth flowers and perfect pollen," and that "his practice is to cut away all superabundant clusters before the flowers open." Alex. MacLellan. Sec'y. Newport Horticultural Society. Both parties are right. It will be difficult to decide on which side the balance of the argu- ment favors. It has been proved that the saving of energy, by cutting or pinching off the tendrils as they appear, is an advantage. This must be as true of the prospective bunches, which are merely more fully developed tendrils. On the other hand many of the flowers of the Muscat of Alexandria have pistillate flowers ; or, what is practically the same thing, flowers with defective anthers. In this case an abundance of pollen is desirable. It may be considered that the latter condi- tion is not constant. In some cases the vines have few imperfect flowers. In other cases they are abundant. What is the better practice will depend on the conditions in each case, which the experienced vine grower will have to decide for himself as the circumstances occur. Apple, Rawle's Janet or Ralls' Genet. —In your May issue you state: "It has always been understood that one of the apples indicated was raised by Mr. Caleb Rawle, in Amherst Co., Virginia, and that he named it for his daughter, Janet." In the report of Dr. Howsley on Nomenclature of Apples, vide Proceedings of American Pomological Society for 1871, pp. 74 and 75. we find the following: " Rawles' Genet is the proper spelling of the name of this apple, and not Janet, as it is usually spelled." It would require too much of your valuable space to report his reasons at length. Brieflystated, Thos. Jeff*erson became acquainted with this apple during the adminis- tration of General Washington. M. Genet was sent to this country as Minister of the French Government. M. Genet had apples of the variety in ques- tion sent him from France for his own use. Mr. Jefferson so admired this apple that he procured scions and gave them to a Mr. Rawles (Ralls), a nurseryman and fruit grower, of Virginia, for propagation. The last named gentleman propagated trees from these scions and introduced them as Genet. Mr. Darney introduced this variety into Kentucky, about 1795, as Genet. It was not called Rawles' Janet prior to 1810. Dr. Howsley states that within his recollec- tion, this apple was in the neighborhood of Lexington, Ky., called Jefferson Pippin, thus showing the connection of Mr. Jefferson with its introduction. A letter from Chas. L. Ellis, Cleik of Amherst County Court, Va., of date, February 14, 1892, in reply to an inquiry as to thCvSpell- ing of Caleb Rawles' name, stated that it was spelled R-a 1-1-s. In reply to a letter of inquiry sent from the division of Pomology May 4, 1896, Mr. Wm. Sandidge, the present Clerk of Amherst County Court, Va., states : ♦'I find the name '' Rawles " of record in this ofHce in several instances, but no "Caleb Rawles." The name of "Caleb Ralls" appears several times. We believe these are " good and suffi- cient " reasons for the name Ralls Genet, as used by the division of Pomology. S. B. Heigks, Pomologist, U. S. Dept. Agriculture. Washington, D. C. Care of Garden Tools. —The vast differ- ence between a clean shining garden tool and one covered with rust can scarcely be appreciated by one not accustomed to their use, — and even those who have to use them do not often think spades, hoes, forks, etc., should always be kept bright. Where there is much hoeing to do the laborer should have a file with him. A bright sharp hoe is wofth half a laborer's time. String Beans in the Fall— There are few more delicious vegetables than String Beans, when they have no sign of strings. Sown in August, in very deep and rich soil this luxury will be realized through October. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. m ■"The Largest Apple Known.— Considera- ble interest has been manifested in the ques- tion of the largest apple known since the illus- tration given of the one in our last volume. The following note from Prof. S. B. Heiges, Pomologist in the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington, brings to light a still larger one. This is probably the one re- ferred to in western serials as having been grown in the State of Washington: It is remarkable that no one knows who originated, discovered, or named this variety Mar^'land and New York have both claimed, but with little more evidence than the bare J/ claim itself Its chief merit is in its size, as it does not bear abundantly, nor is its flavor or general quality very high. One merit is that it keeps pretty well during most of the winter season. " In a former issue of your valuable Monthly there was a description of a very large apple together with an illustration of its outlines. There is in our collection of apples in the division of Pomology the model of a Gloria Mundi which surpasses in both axial and transverse diameters the one outlined. The accompanying painting will enable you to form a proper idea of its immense size.' ^>S. •*>v GLORIA MUNDI--LARGEST APPLE KNOWN. 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. 139 BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. WELL DONE. It may not be our lot to wield The sickle in the ripened field ; Nor ours to hear, on summer eves, The reapers' song among the sheaves. Yet where our duty's task is wrought In unison with God's great thought, The near and future blend in one, And whatsoe'er is willed, is done. — Whittier. Grape Fruit or Shaddock.— The Shaddock or grape fruit-as it is commonly called in our markets, is getting more than usual attention, on account of the increased taste for it among our people. It is said to be a cultivated taste, as those who enjoy it cared little for it on the first venture,— but after a while it affords so much pleasure, that many prefer it to the best flavored orange that could be offered them. The early history of the fruit is lost in obscurity, the only point on which all agree is that it must have been wild originally in some local spot somewhere in Asia. There are some who contend that this local Asiatic spot • must have been the Garden of Eden, and that this is the exact beautiful fruit which the unfortunate or fortunate progenitors of our race were forbidden to touch. On account of this supposition, it often bears the name of the forbidden fruit. The further argument brought forward to sustain this view is that as no one seems to like the fruit particularly on the first bite, its subsequent popularity is merely because it is a forbidden fruit,— there being a sort of perversity, ever since the unfortunate day on which our first parents erred, inborn in human nature to hanker after all things sup- posed to be forbidden. Besides there are some cynical old bachelors who ought to be ashamed of themselves, who declare that even in these days it is more the women than the men who have acquired the forbidden grape-fruit taste, just as it is related of good lady Eve. There are some who consider the shaddock and the forbidden fruits as essentially different, and some botanists have classed the shaddock as Citrus deaimaria, and the Forbidden Fruit as (138) CiMis Paradtsi. But with the common people the names seem inter-changeable. The name grape-fruit is from the habit of the variety growing the fruit in clusters instead of singly as in the common orange,— a method both the shaddock and Forbidden Fruit have in common if indeed there is any difference of note, worth noting between them. There are few more beautiful sights in this degenerate world than a large grape fruit tree with the fruit just a ripening,— and it must be conceded that if it really was the tree that tempted Mrs. Adam to disobedience, it was a temptation none of her descendants could have better resisted than she. Trees Struck by I^ightning.- It is stated that investigations made by Dr. Carl Miiller. and reported in Himmel und Erde, show that lightning prefers to strike certain kinds of trees. Under the direction of the Lippe-Det- mold Department of Forestry, statistics were gathered, showing that in eleven years light- ning struck fifty-six oaks, three or four pines, twenty firs, but not a single beech tree,' although seven-tenths of the trees were beech! It would seem, then, that one is safer in a storm under a beech tree than under any other kind. So far as the observations of the conductors of Meehans' Monthly go, no species of tree is exempt from lightning strokes, and it would not therefore be safe to fly to any one for protection in a storm. There seems to be a tendency in electrical storms to favor certain local areas, and the trees, whatever they may be, suffer more than those outside this local limit. One such case comes to mind while writing this paragraph. Trees on a slight elevation from surrounding ground, have been repeatedly stricken during the last half a cen- tury, while others but a few hundred feet beyond this spot, have had immunity. It seems the tallest trees, instead of any par- ticular species, that attract the current. But even this may be wrong Water in Plants. — Professor Asa Gray is reported to have once said that the Washing- ton elm at Cambridge has been estimated to produce 7,000,000 leaves, which would make a surface radiation of about five acres in extent, and give out every fair day in the growing sea- son seven and three-fourths tons of moisture. It is barely credible that all this water was stored in the earth within the area covered by the roots. Is it a fair question how the tree obtains so much moisture for evaporation daily. Much more mysterious seems the case of a Japan Ivy, Ampelopsis aispidata ( Vcitchii of gardens.) Plants covering the walls of some lofty buildings must have as many leaves as the Washington Elm at Cambridge. Yet the moisture which daily has to go — under prevail- ing hypotheses — to the amount of seven or eight tons daily through the leaves, all has to pass through a stem no thicker at the ground than one's finger. It seems a physical impos- sibility. Is it probable that living plants have the power of converting gases into liquid, — and that it does not all come into the system as water, through the roots ? The Value of Collections. — Professor Agassiz once said that the ability to make com- parisons was about all of the faculties necessary to start one on a successful study of natural history. Mr. Newlin Williams well says of those who make herbariums or collections of dried plants. *' There is a tendency in the human mind to bring together related objects for the purpose of comparison. It is a trait the mental mechan- ism almost invariably possesses, — a trick of which it is blindly fond. For who has not made a collection ? You and I are in evidence. What has not been collected ? Everything is on record, costumes, coins, herbaria, bones, books, paintings, gems, beans, bottles, teapots, tulips, arrow-heads, — even dollars, which vary less among themselves than many of the fore- going, yet would often afford interesting stories of acquisition." National Distribution of Flower and Vegetable Sebds. — During the month of May, the government distributed garden seeds at the rate of about 10 tons per day. The seeds distributed cost about $53,000, — while the labor of putting them in small packages and distri- bution cost $80,000. Congressmen may now look forward anxiously for next season when they may get a good fat appropriation for the national distribution of mouse-traps, tooth brushes, ribbons and fine tooth combs. These it is believed will render the congressman even still more '* solid " with the voters than flower and vegetable seeds, which require some labor to plant. Half of the seeds sent out are never sown, as there is not enough in a package to make it worth while, --but they come like Easter cards, as pleasant reminders of the con- gressman's obligations. Combs and mouse traps, it is believed, will be a more lasting reminder. Sweet-scented Honeysuckles. — Some of the early American works on botany described under the term of Loniceta grata, a species of honeysuckle closely allied to the English, and equal to it in sweetness. No one has ever been able to find it,— should any one know of such wild species they would do good service by making it known. The famous English Loni- cera Caprifolium , the delight of English poets and a deserved favorite with English cottagers, does not seem to have made itself at home in American gardens. It has frequently been in- troduced, but we never met with it. Dr. Ravenal's Herbarium.— The Herbar- ium of the celebrated Southern Botanist, Dr. Ravenal, is preserved in the Female College at Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Profes- sor of Botany in the college is a lady, and is reported as doing excellent work in train- ing young women to a love for the amiable science. Dr. William Saunders.— Queen's Univer- sity of the Dominion of Canada has conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, on Prof. Wm. Saunders, whose eminent services to agricul- ture, horticulture, and the sciences bearing thereon, it is intended in this pleasant manner to recognize. Wafer Ash.— A correspondent notes that Wafer Ash must have been originally a mis- print for Water Ash. Its most common name is, however. Black Ash,— botanically, Frax- inus sambjui/olia. It loves to grow along water courses. ilBS ■i"r.. GENERAL NOTES. MvsTERiEvS IN Science.— What we do know is so little in comparison with that which baffles us, that the pride of man is humbled when he contemplates the fact. Here before us is a White Pine tree in which the leading shoot that forms the trunk, ultimately goes so straight upwardly, that a plumb-line can show no deviation from the perpendicular, while the lateral branches push out at a right angle with the stem. The power which directs these different directions is wholly unknown, — and then note how this direction varies in different trees. While the leader in a Norway Spruce is directed as truly perpendicular as the White Pine, the lateral branches are at an acute angle,— and the angle of nearly the same degree in all the individual of the species. If we then compare the angular divergence with other species, we find that most have a plan of their own, which is fol- lowed through all the individuals of the species, —nearly all, for " never " is a word unknown to Nature. Of the atmosphere around us, we know scarcely anything. In other eyes than ours it would look like a huge aquarium in which myriads of forms of plants and animals are floating, while man would look like a little streak of black sand, strewn along the bottom. Even the elements of which this atmospheric sea is composed, are in a measure unknown, judging by discoveries continually made. We had thought we knew, and that oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbonic acid gases alone constructed it,— but now we have found another, which has been named Argon. Once we had concluded that hydrogen was the mother of all the other gases. It looks as if Argon was, in the new light,— but then even Argon may have to go. Frog Culture.— In England a term in derision often applied is a " frog eating French- man ' ' which the Frenchman retaliates by his *• beef-eating Englishman. But Americans are competing with France in the frog-market, there being quite a demand in some cities for (140) froggy -legs. Some farmers find frog ponds profitable. But even this seemingly easy thing requires brains to make it profitable. Unless the tad-poles are protected, various varmints prey severely on them^ Bees and Honey. — A newspaper dispatch from Honesdale, Pennsylvania, under date of May 12th, says : '• The apiaries of Wayne County are almost entirely destroyed, the bees having been killed by the long-continued drouth of last season. It seems that the bees were poisoned by the gathering of some herb. In the Wayne County townships, skirting along the upper Delaware river, not a single hive has escaped." Surely loose statements like these are not creditable to the modern spirit of close inves- tigation. It is not probable, as this magazine has always contended, that nectar from any flower is ever poison. That some microscopic element may work on hone}' and render it poisonous at times is probable, — but this could readily be ascertained. Mineralized Wood. — Trees which have been converted into flint are often found in the earth. This is known as Silicified Wood. Silica in solution is absorbed by the timber. It is not often that trees are found turned to iron in a similar manner ; but a good speci- men of this character was recently unearthed at the Village of Three Tons, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It affords the news- paper paragraphers texts for mysterious * ' iron trees" in past ages. A Great Exhibition in Hamburg. — American lovers of gardening, visiting the Old World, are invited to take in the great exhibi- tion at Hamburg, which opened May ist, and will continue till September. Every few days there will be a different ttet of exhibits. Schedules may be obtained from Dr. T. G. Monckeberg, Secretary, Hamburg. The Chrysanthemum section is expected to excel. SITUATIONS WANTED. Advertisements under this head, not exceeding 50 words, will be inserted once for 50 cents, or three times for $1.25. A Chance To Make Money. OARDENERS:— Wc shall be glad to furnish ^ names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Germantown, Philadelphia. GARDENERS— On our register will be foimd names of Competent Gardeners, and we will take pleasure in sending these to any one requiring their services. Henry A. Dreer, Seedsman and Florist, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. GA R D E N E R— English, aged 38, married, small family ; 24 years experience in growing or- chids, ferns, stove and greenhouse plants, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums ; also the management of fruit houses, vegetable and flower gardens, etc. State wages. Chas. Dumper, 119 Tallmadge St., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. AS GARDENER, byamanof experience '^ and ability, will be disengaged ist of March next, thoroughly conversant with the management of a gentleman's country estate, unexceptional references for ability and personal character. Address, J. E. S. Box 103 Toms River, N. J. UEADGARDENE R—Bslate Manager-S\t- • ' nation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work, cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches of gardening. Best references from first-class places. Europe and U. S. February or later, " R. F.," Office, Meehans' Monthly. GARDENER. Situation wanted as gardener by a thoroughly practical English-American, single, 8 years experience as gardener and florist. Excellent references. Address, E. A. C, Box 311, Tarry town, N. Y. GARDENER — Wants situation on private place, competent in all branches, by married man, age 34; three children, small ; experienced in growing all greenhouse plants, highest reference for sobriety and integrity, five years in present place. M. B., care of Thomas Mcehan & Sons. While it is under new management, with new editors and new contributors, it is still the oldest and most reputable publication of its kind in the west, this being the twenty- sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magazine for 30 cents. To any one sending us 30 cents and six names of friends who might subscribe for our magazine, we will mail our one dollar magazine a full year. At 30 cents we lose money the first year but hope you will continue to be a subscriber, after seeing twelve numbers. If you wish to see the magazine before subscribing, send 10 cents and receive a sample copy and a free gift of an aluminum dime-size charm, with the Lord's Prayer engraved in smallest characters ; bright as silver, and never tarnishes. We do not send sample copies free, so save your postal cards as no notice will be given them. Subscription price, $1.00 per year Address, THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive St., St. Louit. Mo. I read how one of your subscribers made money selling Dishwashers ; I ordered one, and my lady friends were charmed, as they hate dishwashing My brother and I com- menced selling them, and have made $1,700 after paying all expenses. We don't canvas any. Our sales are all made at home People come or send for them. The Mound City Dish Washer is the best Dishwasher on the market Our business is incrsasing, and we are going to keep right on, until we make ten thousand dollars. We sell from 5 to 15 machines every day, and some days more. The Dishwasher is lovely, evcrv housekeeper wants one There is no excuse to be poor when so much money can be made selling Di.^h- washers. For full particulars, address The Mound City Dishwasher Co.. St. Louis, Mo. They will start you on the road to success. — A Reader. Ice Cream Now Made In a Minute. I have an Ice Cream Freezer that will freeze cream perfect- ly in one minute ; as it is such a wonder a crowd will always be around, so anyone can make from five to six dollars a day selling cream, and from ten to twenty dollars a day selling Freezers, as people will always buy an article when it is demonstrated that they can make money by so doing. The cream is fro/en invtantly and is stnooth and free from lumps. I have done so well myself and have friends succeeding so well that I felt it my duty to let others know of this oppor- tunity, as I feel confident that any person in any IcKality can make money, as any person can sell cream and the Preezcr sells itself J. F. Casey it Co., 1143 St. Charles St., St. Louis, Mo., will mail vou complete instructions and will employ you on salary if you can give them your whole time. The Ro^e : It^ Cultivation, "hMxz^ etc. BY H. B. f:llwangf:r. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tion, the treatment of diseases and in.sect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip- tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo Price, •1.3.">. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, I'a. NEW CREATIONS IN FLOWERS If you want to know about them send 10 cents for Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd's New Catalogue of K«re and Beautiful California Novelties. Many New Begonias, New Cosmos, Rare Cacti, etc. Otfered by no others. Ventura-by-the-Sea, Cal. nieces of Sliret Music at 10 cents a copy. Also any magazine. Address, II. II. BAKNES. 2819 Olive Street, St. Louis, Mo. ii QUI0K_A8 WINK 99 Ih the namt* of our SUPERIOR HOSE COJIfmP ithH OUICKESTand mo»«t convonient cnuplinkiou the markVt'rvil .^X..fnnn Hi t-/^:;'.!"':. K-'lu. ve towu Ir riKhrH'"rA«;nt;'tv,.;in«o,,f ♦trnii o^^^'. r^""ii''**,;;y mail, a)c. W. J. Clark Co. Box 6, Salem, Ohio. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. r«-v r^ A material has been discovered for glazing which after thorough test has been proven far superior to putty, it is called filRSTlCR. Mastica is easier to apply and when once put on it stays It IS not affected by extremes of weather, and is thus especiaN ly adapted for greenhouses.conservatories.graperies, hotbeds etc. Kndorsed by prominent florists throughout the country' Glazing Mac'hine?:"^''''^ "''"^^' ""^ ^^'^'"^ ^"^ ^^"'^^^ F. O. PIEI^CH St CO., Sole ]VIanufQ3tui The Orchid Grower's Manual. Sixth edition, enlarged and revised. By Benjamin Samuel Williams, F. L. S F R H S Ihis popular work contains descriptions of upward of 1 470 spe- cies and varieties of Orchidaceous plants, together with 478 syno- nyms ; profu.sely illustrated with a large number of pace and double-page engravings on wood, together with blocks illustrative ot types ot the various genera ^^ qq The Propagation of Plants. By Andrew S Fuller Illus- trated with numerous engravings. An eminently practical and useful work. Describing the process of hybridizing and crossing species and varieties, and also the many diflferent modes by which cultivated plants may be propagated and multiplied. Cloth 91.6d i2mo. THOMAS MBKHAN & SONS. Germantown, Flilla. NEZ PERCE # POTLATCH * PAL0U5E These are the names of three great agricultural and fruit growing districts in Idaho and Washing- ton reached by the Northern Pacific Railroad. They each adjoin the other, are similar in poducts, climate and character, and together form a region for a homeseeker hard to equal. The Palouse region has long been noted for its mar- velous grain Production. It is to the Pacific Coast ^ i^Jl^,^^^ ^^^'^^ ^^"^y »s to Minnesota and North Dakota. The Potlatch country is like unto the Palouse. and adjoins it on the east. The Nez Perce region lies south of the others and has until recently been a part of a great Indian reservation. 500,000 acres of it have been thrown open to settlement and its lands can be bought at cheap prices and on favorable terms, Write to CnAS. S. FEE, General Passenger Agent Northern Pacific Railroad, For folder and rates St. Paul, Minn. Gardens and Gardening With Descriptions of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Flowers. I^ucius D. Davis, Editor and Publisher Newport, R.I. ' This is the title of a new magazine, the first two numbers of which have already been published. Each issue will contain, for the present, a some- what general plan of one of the famous Newport Gardens with detailed descriptions of the plants most prominently in use. Later the same treat- ment will be extended to noted gardens and villa grounds in other localities. Besides this there will be in each number nu- merous descriptions of Trees and Plants, especially of new and rare varieties. The Magazine is printed on heavy paper, with broad margins and in the best style of the printers arc. Original Illustrations accompany all the garden sketches. Price, $2.00 a year, Single numbers 20 cents. Address, '• Gardens and Gardening," Newport R. I., or the Editor. ^ ' Henderson's * Practical * Floriculture. BY PETER HENDERSON. flnl^iffaJll '°. the successful propagation and cultivation of ^rll. ^^V'\^\u^^^ ''■"'^^ '-^ "°* o"« fof fl«"sts and garden- ^f„^ ^'^^"^ i^^ amateur's wants are constantly kept in Hn A? fl "^'^ ^'^^V ''^'■y complete treatise on the cultiva- JJ...L ^^°'^^'''' JJ"'^^'' fi^^^''''^' o*" '" "^e open air. suited to those who grow flowers for pleasure as well as for those who t^l sVme"r.';^"'^"^' °^ ''^^^' '^^^ ^°^^ >« characterized^ b? the same radical common sense that marked the author's "Gardening for Profit," and it holds a high place in thi Ke^'^lT. ""/ lovers of horticulture. Beautifully UustVated New and enlarged edition. Cloth, lamo. Price, •1.50. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, LORD & BURNHAM CO. HORTICULTURAL ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS aftnAM Aim hot watkb beatiro bnohockiw PiMia Had Esrlmates f urntebad on kppltoatioii 4 Largest Builders of Qrsenhouse Structures. Six Hlfhtst Awtrds tt the World's Filr Send four cents postage for iUustrated catalogue XjOK.13 ac D3TJi2.3sri3:^3sd: 00. ARCHITECTUBAI. OFFICE, 160 FIFTH AVE,. COR. 2Ut STREET, NEW YORK Factory : Irvingrton-on-Hudson, New York Mention Paper PUBLISHED THE Ut AND 16th OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2.00 A YEAR 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valuable American Horti- cultural publication. DSPARTMENTS: The Flower Gexden, Trees and Shrubs, The Greenhouse, The Window Garden, The Fruit Garden, The Vege- toble Garden, Insects and Other Pests, Mushrooms, and othera in season. See what subscribers say about this valuable journal. ••For condensed common sense in gardening matters, for reliable, unprejudiced and 8i»fe information, Gardbniho cannot te surpassed, and although moderate In «i*e it cx- p^ds npon p^sal." W. C ^oan, Highland Park. 111. **Oardbi»iko is the best horticultural pap«r printed in America." Chas U Burr , Springfield, Mass. "I am treatly pleased with the paper. It is practical and Slias«sti^ Its reproduction of photograph ic views ol plants, ttyms and landscapes is a moat admirable feature. W. M. Johnson, Hackensack, N. J. "tl is a delSclitftil P«>er snd has been very interesting and tBatt^cOvet^tae." PaAKKHircKCocK. Davenport, la. Oiiir»p«.y»aw«th;'' ^^ ^^JSSiB. Nova BooUa **&ack a imblieatSoB vas lotur needed in this coantry. nJS%i StmSS&SSoSSn kssoii ia itself to many utiSiplOBalfc as well aa to amatewts.** ^jMrBlSLiLT; Oafdeber to Senator Woloott.Uttleton, Colo. •*I vaiae Garoskino highly on aceount of the very practi- cal character of its conten to.' nUir^^ J. A. PRTTiORBW. Supt Lincoln Park, Chicago ••I tegard Gardekino aa one of the most practical maga- sines issued in the interests of horticulture. W. F. M agar A, Watervillc, N. Y. ••The paper is the moat practical of any I read/' *^ *^ W. K. abbs, Fond du Lac, Wis. ••I subscribe to all the hortTcTltural and Aw^^"'*"*"*!.!? "'* aala on this continent as far as I know and find In gardbn- IMO the moat practical one for an amateur like myseit. Dr. Gbo. T. Hawlby, Coming* N. Y. PRACTICAL. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. ^GARDEN^ FOREST AJOURNALOFHORTICULTURI ^LANDSCAPE-ART AND FORESTRY waaHaaHE3i? ' ' Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty, for a purer taste in the design and decoration of public and private grounds, and !.«« uni- versally pronounced the best horticultur- al journal ever published for Americans. " Wise, intelligent, entertaining."— /f«r/^*jr IVeekly. •• Rich variety of remarkable engravings."— A^. Y. Pbsi. ♦ Winning, delightful and accurate."— A: K Tribune. " A compendium of new information."— A^. K Heraid, BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. S4.00 A YEAR. Specimen copy tree on application. Gardei and Forest PnbUsUng Co. "^"ftrw ySSc"" WHiFW^ITINB TO APVER^TsrRS. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IM HEEHAWS' iOliTHLY. m\ m WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YoTsAW ThTi^ARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. f.l>-'. .::..,:-:v'..i.: i A material has been discovered fm j^lazuitr which after thoroii^htest has been I)I()vc'ti farsuiu'iioi to pnttv. it iscill.-.l JWflSTICfl. . •^^•Y*iV''* '^<^»^'*'' to '-^Pply and \vh<'ii once put on it xt;,\s t isnot af ected l.y extn-nies of ucatliei . and is tluis e.s,.,vi,-d- ly adapted '"iKitenhousis, conservatories, <^i.'ii)eiics hotl.cd- etc. hndorsed by prominent florists thron^iiont the'roniitry' r^i, " n,f u''^"^^"'*^"'' ^"Jit"'''! of Mastica and Mastica Olazing Machines. F. O. PIERCE St CO., Sole IvianufQQtureps 170 Fulton St., Neuj YoPk ^S}!Sy.A' ^J^EER, 714 Chestnut St., Phila., Pa. ^r..x,"E^^^Y P- IVIICHELL. 1018 Market St., Phi a Pa FHwrpn^^'^^r^u'^T^T^r.'^ ^^•' ^°5 N. Paca St., Baltn'nore, MD. EDWARD S. SCHMID, 712 12th St., N-W., Washin^^ton, D.C. Superior Flower Bulbs Al v«*rv inodcrutc prices FREESIA REFRACTA ALBA ALLIUM HERMITTI GRANDIFLORUM HERMITTE CESAR, Horticultuer Ollioles (Var) France USEFUL BOOKS '' "««™^™«''^ and RURAL SUBJECTS Nicholson's Illustrated Ofetionary ol (iar.linint;. Hy loi.nr. ^^" .'" ';.'"^\"'»■"*^^ <^1""', 4to. A practical and scientific encyclopedia of liorticnltuiv. With 2/^,0 fiisi-cl.iss t-n- graviiif^s Kach volume , :tiir>.1.00 The Auiateur's Tloxver iJard.n. A ( .nide t.. the Korma tion and Management of the I'Iowcm (iaiden and the Cultiv.ition ot (,arden Mowers. New and revised echti.m. Uv Miiriev Hih- l)ard. Illustrated with colored plates. Cloth, i2nio. . . j^'^.oO The Amaf enr'H (ire< -nhoiisr and ( onservHtor> \ ( ui.fe to the Construction Ami Manaunuent of Plant HouVes an, I the Selection, Cultivatum and liuprovemeni ol ( )i naiiK-nta'l ( .re»Mi house and Conservatory Plants. \\ Shirley Ilihbard. Coh.re*! plates. C lotli, i2ino. ju.> ri% The Hose- Its Cultivation. Varieties, ete. Directions for .■ultivat.on. for planting, piuiiin,^, propa.^ation, the tnatmeni ol diseases and insect enemies-particiil.,rlv valuable for its classi- fication. Alphabetical and descriptive list of iiine hundred .uul hftysix varieties. l?y H. P. Kllwanger. Cloth, vivu . . jfil.iJo Trees and Tree I'lantinj;. My C.en J.oiu's S. Ihisbin, C S A Kach f.onily ol trees is . aiefully described by the autiior. and ihe relative- values ol the .several varieties of each are spec ilie.l I.'IUO, cloth ... «M -ik . cM.4»0 Viek'8 Flower and Ve^etahle Ciarden. A book ol over o pages. iliindr.dsot ilhisti.itions and six colored pl.ues Im,II of prartical directions for the cultivation of llowenn^. ornamental and kitctien garden plants JHi|.r>l> The Orehid 4;rower's Manual. S..xth edition, eniarge.l and revised. liy lieniamin Samuel Williams, F. I .. S K R H > I his popular work contains descriptions I'.f upward' ol 14-0 sne c les ami varieties ol Orchidaceous plants, together with i7,s syiio- nyni.s; piolusely illustrated with a latge number of paw' 'ami .louhle-page engravings cm wood, together with bleaks illuslrativr ol types ol the various L;enera ^-j ^^^ The Propaj-ation ol Plants. I'.y An. hew S Fuller Flus ti.ite.l with numerous engravings. An eminently prat tical an>i iis.lul work. Describing tin- process of hvbric'i/inu and ciossim: species and varieties, and also the manv difVerent uiodi-s 1,% which cultivated plants may be propag.ated ind multiplied Cloth '""^^ .... .JSi.r.ci THOMAS MKKIIAN JicSONN, <;©rniantown, Fhiia. NEZ PERCE # POT LATCH * PAL0U5E These are tlic names of tlnee ^reat agricultiinil and fnnt -rowiiio districts in Idalio and Wasliint- Ion reaelicd by tlie Xortheiii Pacific Railroad. riiey each adjoin tlie other, are siniihir in IKxhicts, climaie and character, and toi^rctlier form a region for a homeseeker liard to ecjiial. Tlie Palon.se region has long been noted for its mar- velous gram Production. It is to the Pacific Coast what the Red River Valley is to Minnesota and Aorth Dakota. The Potlatch countr} is like unto the Palouse, and adj(jins it on the east. The Nez Perce region lies south of the others and has until recently been a part of a great Indian reservation. 500,000 acres of it have been thrown open to .settlement and its lauds can be bought at cheaj) ])rices and on favorable terms, Write to CnAS. 3. FEE, General Passenger Aijent Northern Pacific Railroad, For folder and rates St. Paul, Minn. Gardens anfl Gardening With Descriptions of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Flowers. Lucius D. Davis, Kditor and Publisher Newport, R.I. " ' This is the title of a new maga/ine, the first two numbers of which have already been published. Kach issue will contain, for the present, a souie- w'hat general plan of one of the fauious Newport Gardens with detailed descri])tions of the plants most prominently in use. Later the same treat- ment will be extended to noted gardens and villa grounds in other localities. Besides this there will be in each number nu- merous descriptions of Trees and Plauts, es])ecially of new and rare varieties. The Magazine is printed 011 heavv paper, with broad margins and in the best style of the printers art. Original Illustrations accompanv all the garden sketches. Price, $2.00 a year, Single numbers 20 cents. Address, ** (Lvkdicns and (Lvrdkninc;," Newport R. I., or the Kditor. Hendersop^s ^ Practical ^ Floriculture. nv PKTKR HKNDKRSON. n,,'^i%"^^'i ^". ^''S..':"^"^'^-^'''"^ pt'M'apration and ctiltivation ol non.st.s I'Inii ts 1 he xvcik is not one for flori.sis ami garden. New and cnlaigod edition. Cloth. v2mo. Vvwv »l.r.<»" THOMAS >li:KiIAN A SONS, <;ernianto \vn, LORD & BURNHAM CO. HORTICULTURAL ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS STEAM AND HOT WATEll HEATING KNGINEKKS FlaDB and Estimates turnihlied on apphcation ■"ft^SJ.'hiC'-^ Largest Builders of Greenhouse Structures. Six Highest Awards at the World's Fair Send four cents postage for ilhistrated cataloj^ue IliOIS/3D &c :HTj:EtlMii their money's worth." Chas. E. Brown, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia "Such a publication was long needed in this country. Every line of its contributions is a lesson in itself to many professionals as well as to amateurs.'' ;.♦,.»«« r^ir^ John Berry, Gardener to Senator Wolcott, Littleton, Colo. "I value Gardening highly on account of the very practi- cal character of its contents.' , ^ , /^t.:„« J. A. PETTiGREW. Supt. Liucolu Park, Chicago "I regard Gardening aa one of the most practical maga- eines issued in the interests of horticulture. W. F. M agar A, Waterville, N. Y, "The paper is the most practical of any \Tcad:' *^ *^ W. E. Abbs. Fond du Lac, Wis. "I subscribe to all the hortl^ltural and Aoricultural jour- nals on this continent as far as I know and find in oarden- ilfO the most practical one for an amateur like my.seii. Dr. Geo. T. Hawley. Corning, N. Y. Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own couiitr\' places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flow^ers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty, for a purer taste in the design and decoration of public and private grounds, and is uni- versally pronounced the best horticultur- al journal ever published for Americans. Wise, intelligent, entertaining. "—//a»/>^r'^ H'ffkly. Rich variety of remarkable engravings."— .V. V. Post. * Winning, delightful and accurate."— A'. K Triburtf. " A compendium of new information."— A'. K Heraid. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. $4.00 A YEAR. Specimen copy free on application. GardeH and Forest PublishlDg Co. '^''^"e'K- Wir** Z^:^:^^^^^€, TCI I Tucy vnu SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YOU bAW intin u«nu WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MOriTHLY. 7A- -i*".:;'. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE ESTABLISHED 60 YEARS HITCHINGS S CO. HORTICULTURflL ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS Man'u"flSof GreenhousB Heating and Ventilating Apparatus 'Ci;'?v . The highest awards re- ceived at the World's Fair for Horticultural Architec- ture, Greenhouse Construc- tion and Heating Appar- atus. Conservatories, Green- ^^^^^^ houses, Palmhouses, etc., 5Sr!^5? erected complete with our " Patent Iron Frame Con- struction. SEND FOUR CENTS FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOQUE8. 233 MERCER STREET, NEM YORK CITY Trees, Shfubs, Evergreens, Vines and Hardy Plants = = Our stock is one of the finest in the United States. Strong, thrifty, well- rooted and carefully selected to please our customers. New Catalogue for .^-.o/^^iK*.^ „«^ u J 1 r 1 -1, . ^ ^ , Spring, 1896. Everything accurately described and it is also profusely illustrated. Large buyers will be particularly interested in this cata- logue. It will be mailed free upon application. .* .• .• .. .. I .fl nH ^Cf% t\^ Pn (Titlf^P^t^trtfr ^^^"^ prepared and carefully carried out for l^dllVl^CCtpC; LrllJ^IIICCrinj^. grading, roadmaking, planting and remodel- 1, 4. . , . ^ , , ^ ^"S ^^^ places. Special arranejements made when extensive work is contemplated. Correspondence solicited. .• .• .. »^ "a**^c THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Nufgcrynien and Landscape Engrfneers QERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA. EDWARD CAMPBE L/IND5C/IFE /IRQHITEQT AUb ENQINEER ARDMORE, - PA. Sketch plans and planting maps prepared, and suggestions given for the laying out and improvement of country and suburban residences, public parks and grounds of every description. Grounds laid out and their construction undertaken by contract or day labor, and carried out under strict personal supervision. The choice grouping and effective arrangement of trees and shrubs has been made a special study. Trees furnished and planted by experienced workmen. Draining Plans and Surveys. Fine Crushed Stone for Walks and Carriage Drives. H ARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, EVER- ti>,...«,,^.,„, „««„., .,„.^,„„.. BREENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. "ur.!rrcVpSrcVuT:^'r«„r' tion. Plans and estnnatog fnniiihcd. Bond vmir li.i of t,»»h. r^.. o,>^„:- 1 .-*-.. '"^ caiaioipie on appl ica- n.«*. «;^ * il'™"^ estnnatog furnished. Send your list of needs for special rates. THE RKADING NURSERY, JACOB W. MANMNG. Proprietor, READING. MASS. Modern Horticultural Building, Elegant Conservatories, Practical Commercial Houses, and all Classes of Greenhouse Structures Planned and Erected. PLENTY'S HORTICULTURAL WORKS, 148-156 Randolph Ave., Jersey City, N. J. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION MEEHANS' MONTHLY. VI AUGUST, 1596 No. 5 ISSUED MONTHLY, $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, SINGLE COPY 20 CENTS. ^ J)evQled 19 ]ENERALk]ARDENIN^ Wild ""^ (gnduded by coPVRiaHTCD ia*e ENTERED AT THB PHILADELPHIA POST OFFICE AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER. m :? 1 TIGHT BINDING TEXT GUT OFF rieehans' tmomas Monthly heehan & sons, Qermantown, Phila. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Sabsepiption Price $2.00 per year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 cts. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. /j^DVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each Month, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Editorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phila., Pa. IT WILL PAY YOU to send for our New Catalogue, which tells of Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Roses, Fruit, and our special stock of Rhododendrons. It will in- terest all who are interested in such matters. ANDORRA NURSERIES, ^',tS!£>%Z Pa. Wm. Warner Harper, Manager GHAIiIiEH'S ItABOH^SAVlHG BOOKS for Advertisers, Advertising Agencies, Publishers, Printers and (Merchants in every line of business. These are the most compact and systematic record books published, and once tried are always used. The printed headings under all the Records, enable an entry or refer- ence t«» be mude In a moment, errors avoided, and system 'established worth many times the price, and the names and addresses are invaluable for reference and for circularizing. The Records are uniform in size, 9x12 inches. Indexed through on directory plan and vowel arrangement for in- stant referenc<>. Descriptive circular sent on application. "WALTER W. G£<)KC;£, Tublisher AGENTS WANTED 150 NASSAU ST.. NEVtf YORK 8. W. SIMIT BERKSHIRE. Ohester White, Jersey Red A Poland China Pias. Jersey, Quernsey & Hol« stein Cattle. Thoronghbred Sheep, Fancy Poultry. ITanting V and House Dogs. Oatalogne. OChranvillet Chester Oc., Pa* Tfie Ten Year Test This Is attracting considerable attention amone fence buyers. They realize that all wire fences are nice when first put up, but that very few are presenta- ble after two or three years. A'ter ten years service there Is^but one able to answer roll call— The Page Woven Wire Fence, made at Adrian. IMich. NOVELTIES IN PLANTS, FRUITS, Etc. A. BLANC & CO., 314, 316 N. 11th ST., PHILADELPHIA A material has been discovered for glazing which after thorough test has been proven far superior to putty . it is called IVIflSTICR. Mastica is easier to apply and when once put on it stays. It is not affected by extremes of weather, and is thus especial- ly adapted for greenhouses,conservatories,graperies, hotbeds, etc. Endorsed by prominent florists throughout the country. Send for descriptive circular of Mastica and Mastica Glazing Machines. p. o. PiEf^ce St CO., Sole ]VIanufaetut«eP8 170 Fulton St., fieux York HENRY A. DRBER. 7x4 Chestnut St., Phila., Pa. HENRY F. MICHELL, 1018 Market St., Phila., Pa. GRIFFITH TURNER & CO., 205 N. Paca St., Baltimore, MD. EDWARD S. SCHMID, 712 lath St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Pot Plants op Vines im euMBERS We have a full stock of Vines and Climbers in pots. We do not issue a printed list, but will give prices on any quan- tities and varieties desired. When writing, please mention varieties and quantity required. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Phila. P.O. STATION Q. mim^. SAS REENHOUSI AND OtIMIII SUII.IIiN« KAI \ iiii « y "CYPAES)$ UIMSfiilAMir^USES; Sand jftr^ur 5|Nect»i ^UngenhooWctfjcui^r. rGER. RIAL. t» WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. 'JBRE95r^' HYPERICUM KALMIANUM. KALM'S ST. JOHN'S WORT. NATURAL ORDER. HYPERICACE.K. HYPERICUM KALMIANUM, Linn^us.-Branches four-auglcd, »>--J^-t;J,-«-^?f,^ kve'ceTlcT'or'^^^^^^^ one to two inches long ; flowers few, in a cluster, one inch wide ; pods o%ate, h^e celled. iora> any of the yorthern United States, and Wood's Llass-Book ojhotany.) This is one of the most beautiful of the American species of St. John's Worts, and in some respects one of the most interesting. It has broader leaves and larger flowers than its relative, Hypcriaim prolificum, and the habit is not so dense, one might almost say so un- couth as in that species. The glaucous green, thick, shining leaves might do credit to some species of Kalmia, and in this respect do a double honor to the energetic botanist Kalm, after whom Linnaeus named it. The large flow- ers equal in size and beauty some buttercups, and they have not the crowded, uncomfortable look that characterizes a head of H. proliftcum. It is stated by the early botanists to have been collected in Virginia, and that the specimens were taken to Linn reus from there. But even allowing for the indefinite idea which the early traveller had of Virginia, this part of its his- tory must be a mistake, as its only known localties are along the banks of Canadian riv- ers and in the vicinitv of the northern lakes, along the shores of which it is often found in great abundance. It has indeed been suggested that it was probably first found by John Bar- tram, who also made northern collections, and that it was on this account that Miller named it Hypericum Bartramiarnim. In his Species Plantarum, issued in 1764, Linnaeus gave it the name it bears, four years subsequent to the name of Miller's, probably from a certainty that the honor was misapplied. As Humphrey Marshall, Bartram's cousin and scarcely less dis- tinguished botanist, accepts the Linnaean name in his At bust um Americamim, issued in 1785, and accepts the Linnaean statement that it was brought by " Kalm from Virginia," he would probably have known had Bartram been its original discoverer, and have made the correc- tion. Though known for such a period in the herbariums of English botanists, it remained a long time from gardens in the Old World. Paxton gives 1759 as the date of its introduc- tion into British gardens, but this must have reference to the dried specimens on which Mil- ler and Linnceus endeavored to honor Bartram and Kalm. It is not in the Ilortus Kewensis of Aiton, issued in 1812, or the equally com- plete collection of Page, whose Prodromus, issued in 1817, was supposed to contain every- thing known in British gardens. Even at this writing it is rarely referred to by writers on English gardening. There is some doubt whether Linnitus had the plant under consider- ation really before him. That Kalm really did have some Virginian plant before him is clear— for he says the leaves of the plant he named were ♦'like rosemarry or lavender," a resemblance much more likely to be suggested by other species than by this. Historical questions, of seemingly trivial importance, are worthy of accurate determination from the influence they often have in determining matters of greater value. Possibly the locality where Kalm's St. John's Wort may be seen in the greatest luxuriance and beauty is along the western shores of Lake Michigan, where it is one of the shrubs that aid in forming the singular sand dunes of that region,— little hillocks, which, only for the vegetation covering them, might be taken by one at a distance for flocks of sheep. The sand, in the winter season, drifts between the branches of any shrubby plant, covering it all but its tops— in the Hypcriaim, say up to Fig. I in our plate. When spring comes and growth follows, the whole surface of the sand is covered by what appears to be a clothing of vegetation of but a few inches high ; that is the portion above the figure indicated, which in turn is filled in with sand the ensuing win- ter. In this way the sand-hill increases in size from year to year. The brilliant golden blos- soms, which in June cover these dunes when (141) !N'iM"i;lri-\' \ ^ ,/.■■■■ .t atiy of thr So^thnn Cnited States . and Wood's C lass-Book ofh'nuiny.} This is one of the most beautiful of the American species of St. John's Worts, and in some respects one of the most interesting. It has broader leaves and larger flowers than its relative, Hypericum ptolificu7n, and the habit is not so dense, one might almost say so un- couth as in that species. The glaucous green, thick, shining leaves might do credit to some species of Kahnia, and in this respect do a double honor to the energetic botanist Kalm, after whom LinUcL^us named it. The large flow- ers equal in size and beauty some buttercups, and they have not the crowded, uncomfortable look that characterizes a head of //. prolifictun. It is stated by the early botanists to have been collected in Virginia, and that the specimens were taken to Linnjuus from there. But even allowing for the indefinite idea which the early traveller had of Virginia, this part of its his- tory must be a mistake, as its only known localties are along the banks of Canadian riv- ers and in the vicinity of the northern lakes, along the shores of which it is often found in great abundance. It has indeed been suggested that it was probably first found by John Bar- tram, who also made northern collections, and that it was on this account that Miller named it Hyperiann nartramianurn. In his Species Playitamm, issued in 1764, Linnjuus gave it the name it bears, four years subsequent to the name of Miller's, probably from a certainty that the honor was misapplied. As Humphrey Marshall, Bartram's cousin and scarcely less dis- tinguished botanist, accepts the Linniuan name in his Arbustum Americatium, issued in 1785, and accepts the Linuccan statement that it was brought by " Kalm from Virginia," he would probably have known had Bartram been its original discoverer, and have made the correc- tion. Though known for such a period in the herbariums of English botanists, it remained a long time from gardens in the Old W^orld. Paxton gives 1759 as the date of its introduc- tion into British gardens, but this must have reference to the dried specimens on which Mil- ler and Linn^uus endeavored to honor Bartram and Kalm. It is not in the Hoytus Kciveusis of Aiton. issued in 181 2, or the equally com- plete collection of Page, whose Prodromus, issued in 1S17, was supposed to contain every- thing known in British gardens. I'.ven at this writing it is rarely referred to by writers on English gardening. There is some doubt whether Linuit-us had the plant under consider- ation really before him. That Kalm really did have some Virginian plant before him is clear— for he says the leaves of the plant he named were "like rosemarry or lavender." a resemblance much more likely to be suggested by other species than by this. Historical questions, of seemingly trivial importance, are worthy of accurate determination from the influence they often have in determining matters of greater value. Possibly the locality where Kalm's vSt. John's Wort may be seen in the greatest luxuriance and beauty is along the western shores of Lake Michigan, where it is one of the shrubs that aid in forming the singular sand dunes of that region,— little hillocks, which, only for the vegetation covering them, might be taken by one at a distance for flocks of sheep. The sand, in the winter season, drifts between the branches of any shrubby plant, covering it all but its tops— in the Hypericum, say up to Fig. I in our plate. When spring comes and growth follows, the whole surface of the sand is covered by what appears to be a clothing of vegetation of but a few inches high ; that is the portion above the figure indicated, which in turn is filled in with sand the ensuing win- ter. In this way the sand-hill increases in size from year to year. The brilliant golden blos- soms, which in June cover these dunes when (141) 142 i;-» MEEHANS' MONTHLY — HVPERICUM KAI^MIANUM. [Aug. made the home of this plant, is a sight once seen that is never forgotten. To one sentimentally inclined, they might readily suggest the chil- dren's heads on the Eve of St. John, crovi^ned by flowers of another species, which historians tell us are very commonly seen in some coun- tries ; the flowers being placed there as a sacred rite, protecting the children from the machina- tions of evil spirits, a practice from which it is said, among other reasons, the popular name of St. John's Wort is derived. In relation to the term Wort, as applied frequently to this and other old and well-known plants, it may be noted here, that it is an old Anglo-Saxon word used to distinguish low- growing or herbaceous plants from trees. In the latter case it was customary to use the word as part of the regular designation. Thus we had the apple tree, the pear tree, the plum tree. So among the humbler classes of plants we have colewort, the cabbage plant, the milk plant, the Saint John's plant, and so forth. In its original it was written wyrt. To the structural botanist the plant has an interest by the increase in the number of car- pels or divisions of the fruit over the number in its allies. While //. prolificum has but three styles, and consequently but three carpels, H. Kalmianum has five. But even this character is not definite, as our artist has noticed it to occasionally have six, one of which is shown in a cross-section in Fig. 3 and 4. Another interesting feature which our species possesses in common with all of the genus is the apparent perforation of the leaves. When held up to the light, subtransparencies appear, as if the leaves were pierced with holes. One species is so profusely dotted in this manner that it has been specifically denoted as Hyperi- cin perforahim. But these vary in size and character, and one might, with some experi- ence, identify a species by the character of these perforations. In the present species, Hypericum Kalmiafium, they are small and comparatively obscure, resulting apparently from the thick texture of the leaf, which is rather more leathery than in most of its allies. These perforations are really oil glands. In many cases the oil is very fragrant, and the dried leaves retain a pleasant odor for many years. A European species, Hypericum Andto- S(vmum, and which is commonly known by English country people as Tutsan, is gathered for preparing dried leaves which are placed in drawers with clothing, used as book-markers, and also for other pleasant purposes. The nature of these glands has been in doubt, — but our plant, and its allies, have aided much in furnishing us a knowledge of their character. In this and other species they appear as mere circular perforations, — but in some they have an elongated form, while others have been noted to assume the character of transparent veins. In some cases dots, as such, disappear, and their place is occupied by a reticulation of transparent lines, which emit the same odor when bruised, as do the regular perforations. There is little doubt from these observations and comparisons, that the oil dots in these plants, and probably in many other plants, are merely the terminals of small veinlets which have been transformed to cysts for the purpose of collecting together little doses of fragrant oil. This plant, in common with some other spe- cies of Hypericum, shows the influence which the varying intensity of growth rhythms has on the characters which go to make up what we know as species. Growth is not one continu- ous and regular movement, but proceeds in jerks or rhythms. In the lower portion of the main stem (in the plate), the leaves are small, and the space between each course of leaves narrow. As the growth-wave increases in in- tensity, the inter-spaces widen, and the leaves increase in size. As the wave loses its force, the leaves and spaces again shorten. In some plants the growth-wave ceases somewhat grad- ually, then we have a spicate or paniculate inflorescence. In the case of this Hyperiaim, the wave has ceased so suddenly to flow that two of the axillary buds at the base of the flower have felt the rebounding force, and have developed into growths which have resulted in a cymose form of inflorescence. It is thus seen how much the varying intensity of the rhythmic waves in growth has to do with vary- ing forms, and this discovery is having much to do with theories accounting for the origin of species, which subject has become one of the most fascinating biological studies of the pres- ent age. Explanation ov the Plate.— i. Lower portion or last year's wood of a branch from a Lake Michigan specimen 2. Young carpels of a primary and .suddenly arrested flower, with two axillary brauchlet.s at the base. 3. The same mag- nified, btit with 6 carpels. 4. Cross-section of the same. Cross-section of the normal ovarium. WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. A WOODLAND SOLITUDE. " And in the woods of Aldornere lie found A solitude befitting his sad mood. Far in those depths there is a woodland stream That wells from springs within the silent hills. Here, o'er its ledge, a tiny waterfall, Pouring into its basin in the rock. There sleeping quietly, a fairy mere. On snowy pebbles set in golden sand." — Howard Worcester Gilbert. Sugar Making. — Dr. W. H. Seaman, Washington, D. C, observes : " I regret much to see grave scientific errors in a journal holding the position of Meehans' Monthly, but such is the statement on page 113, by the Editors that the ' chemist cannot make sugar. ' On the shelf of our office stands a sample of sugar syrup sworn to as made by a certain chemical process ; but even if it was not already made, there is no possible com- pound that may not be made by the chemist. Only structure baffles him." So much, not generally known, was indica- ted by Dr. Seaman's card, that further informa- tion was invited, to which Dr. Seaman courteously responds as follows : **To the chemist, sugar is the name of a class of bodies, distinguished by having six atoms of carbon or a multiple thereof combined with hydrogen and oxygen in the proportions to form water. There are many kinds, some of which were made years ago from acetylene gas, while all our glucose or table syrup is made from starch by a chemical process at the present time. Until recently, we did not know how to make cane sugar by synthesis, but that was lately discovered, and the syrup of which I spoke was a solution of cane sugar. It does not follow that a chemical process per- fectly successful in making a substance, nec- essarily goes into practice ; that depends en- tirely on relative cost. Alizarin from gas tar has compelled the abandonment of the culti- vation of madder ;— Bayer, after ten years of unintermitted labor, found out how to make indigo, but not so cheap as the Hindoos can grow it ; but other dyes will make the indigo color, and its cultivation will be abandoned because of cheaper substitutes. This will ultimately be the fate of the sugar cane. If we could make the starch grain, we could dispense with the former entirely, as an unnecessary luxury." Naming of Varieties in Plants.— I should like to inquire if there is an adequate reason for not specially naming the white variety of Cichorium Intybus ? Prof. Gray, in his " Man- ual of Botany," tells us that ''vain is the attempt to draw an absolute line between vari- eties and species." Now, without questioning this statement, which I believe is correct, it would seem that where there is a known varia- tion of distinction and permanence, it should be recognized. It has long been a mystery to me how the white flowered chicory, and the white variety of Verbascum Blattatia, escaped being catalogued at a time when it was the custom to so dignify every noticeable variation in plants, and especially as our accepted text- books preserve many varieties, whose only distinguishing qualification is the difference in the color of the flower, the difference giving the name to and stamping the variety. While I recognize and admit the force of the argu- ments against the multiplicity of species, still I think the line may be too rigidly drawn, and it would certainly seem that permanent variation like those named are well worthy, and should be given, a distinct place in our botanical nomenclature. Philadelphia, pa. EdWIN C. JELLETT. Prairie Roses.— Some few years ago, Mr. John Feast, a nurseryman of Baltimore, under- took the improvement of our Wild Rose, Rosa setigera—oi a number of these, two, the King of the Prairies and Baltimore Belle achieved a wide celebrity. With the passing away of Mr. Feast further advance rested. There is a fine field for some one here. If an everblooming race of prairie roses could be effected it would, make any one's fortune. (143) 144 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Aug. The Growth of Wood in Trees. — I was much interested in the article commencing on page 45, entitled "Annual Wood Circles in Trees." Your observations, relating to the time or days of the tree's growth, were quite interesting, as I had never seen any observa- tions in this line before ; and, in connection with this, I thought it might be interesting to you, and perhaps to your readers, to know in what part of the day the tree made its growth, providing you are not in possession of the facts already. I have a clipping from a paper reading thus,— *' The Growth of Trees." ' * The government entomologist of Tasmania reports on the results of experiments relating to the growth of trees at different times of the day. Measurements were taken as far as possible every three hours, with the following results : from 6 a. m. to 9 a. m. 833 percent, of growth, from 9 A. M. to noon, \% per cent, of growth, from noon to 3 p. M., no growth, from 3 p. m., to 6 p. M., no growth, from 6 p. m., to 9 p. m., \}i per cent, of growth, from 9 p. m., to 12 p. M., 3J^ per cent, of growth, from 12 p. m., to 6 A. M., 85 per cent, of growth." Please allow me to state some conclusions I have come to by study, reason, experiments and observations. I know nothing about elaborated sap. Sap or water does not pass down in summer. Wood cells can be developed, (under suitable condi- tions) into roots or branches. I regard the leaves of trees similar to expanded bark, as one botanist has said, and so, I regard their offices similar. As yet, I am unable to see how the food of a tree passes down, I am compelled to seriously doubt it. The elements that go to make up a tree are of two classes and drawn from two sources, — soil and atmosphere. These elements are mineral and gaseous. Most of the mineral elements were stored up in the tree the year previous to their assimilations, but the gaseous elements are taken from the atmosphere when needed for assimilation. Moscow, vt. Timothy Wheeler. This specially valuable contribution by Mr. Wheeler deserves the close attention of all who love to explore the treasure box of nature's mysteries in relation to plant life. The experi- ments of the Senior Conductor of this maga- zine show that the increase in the girth of trees only takes place during a few weeks about midsummer, — and now it appears that this daily increase, in Tasmania at least, occurs mainly between midnight and morning. Many of the conclusions of Mr. Wheeler, though not yet generally taught as sound theories in Horticultural Science, are fast being generally adopted, — the only one that is yet debated is the manner in which the food which the leaves prepare is carried to the cells which are to be the parents of the new wood layer. The whole woody structure of a tree is carbon, or, as one might say in popular language, charcoal. It seems incontestible that this carbon can only be taken in from the atmosphere through the medium of the leaves. Certainly, if the leaves of the tree be removed for a season, the tree dies. Explanations which seem clear to their authors are given, but the writer confesses that no explanation as to how this carbon gets to the new cells has ever been made quite clear to him. Poplar Leaf-stalks. — Says Mr. F. N. Tillinghast : — " What purpose is served by the lateral flattening of the petioles in Poputus tremuloides and some other poplars ? ' * One might reasonably ask, what purpose does the petiole itself serve ? There are thous- ands of species of plants with absolutely sessile leaves, — no leaf-stalk of any kind. The writer of this delivered an address before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, many years ago, at Montreal, en- titled "Variations in Nature" in which he took the ground that variation, for the mere sake of variety, was essential to the existing order of things, — and therefore it was futile to look for special purposes in every peculiar form or condition. That paper was honored by the attention of many eminent men, and the author was complimented by Professor Asa Gray on the conclusion of the address by the remark that he cordially endorsed the views propounded, adding, however, that "they were not Darwin's, as he had spent all one evening trying to convince him to the contrary." The views certainly conflict with the Darwinian enunciation, that every organ is arranged with a view to fitness for a struggle for life ; and it is doubtless this thought which has suggested the query. The answer would be, from the author's point of view, " no special purpose at all." 1896.]. MEEHANS' MONTHLY— wild FLOWERS AND NATURE. 145 Adnate Stipules in Leaves of Lirioden- DRON. — The discussion between Mr. Theo, Holm and Mr. Arthur Hollick in a recent number of the Botanical Gazette, regarding adnate stipules in the leaves of the Lirioden- dron, was especially interesting to me. It seems rather strange that Mr. Holm, who has made such a careful and thorough study of the Liriodendron leaves, should assert so emphatically that " the stipules are free in all the leaves of our Tulip Tree, not only on the saplings, but on all the branches from seedlings to mature trees." And again that he should say ' ' any one who has studied vernation in its various forms will The senior conductor of this magazine had to thank Professor Asa Gray for teaching him that the expression "in all cases," "never," and such like, were very dangerous forms of speech for a student of plant-life to use. Mr. Holm will probably be equally as thankful to Mrs. Kellerman for putting him on the guard against them, though seeming so natural after extended experience in a given line. We would commend to all our readers the study of these Tulip Tree stipules. They teach strongly that a leading duty in the life of a stipule is the protection of younger parts of the plant. He may even conclude that bud- scales in general (being careful not to say LIRIODENDRON LEAVES. appreciate the fact that the Linodendron leaf could not possibly assume the position it -es in the bud if the stipules were not free. " I have found a number of specimens in which the stipules are rt^««/- 152 MEJEHANS' MONTH I.Y — GENERAL GARDENING. Linden Bark.— The bark of trees, equally with the wood of trees, is made of a number of annual layers ; and the inner bark, or the layer the last formed, often presents beauty of structure which can be well examined when the pulpy matter is carefully washed away. The well known bast matting, which the residents of Northern Europe use for covering packages, and which is known as Russian matting, is the inner bark of the linden tree. Each species of tree has its own distinctive bark. The char- acters are so marked that a student might know a tree by the bark as easily as another could know a tree by its fruit. This is true of the outer appearance as well as of the inner character. Sometimes, indeed, a species closely related in the characters usually used for dis- tinction, can be distinguished much better by the bark than in any other way. This is espe- cially true in the case of the common European and the common American Linden. In the American Linden the rough bark takes the form of long narrow rifts, as shown in the annexed cut, on opposite page, which we have been kindly permitted by the publishers of Forest Leaves to use for the purpose of this illustra- tion. The English Linden has a smooth bark for a much longer period, and the roughness is irregular. The differences are hard to describe but readily appreciated by experience. What is true of the linden is true of all trees. One with due experience can distinguish one species from another by feeling the bark, at least as easily as by the ordinary botanical characters. [Aug. 1896.] MEEHANS' monthly— GENERAL GARDENING. 153 Politics in Public Parks.— During the last ten years, there has been marked attention to providing public parks or small open squares for the people in the greater majority of the larger cities of the Union ; but much com- plaint is made that politics dominate to such an extent that very little real good is obtained from the tax-payers' money. It is frequently spent extravagantly, while the amount of pleasure derived from the expenditure is pro- portionately small. The writer of this para- graph has had some fourteen years experience as a legislator in one of the largest cities of the Tnion, and his experiences are,— for all the objection the American people generally have to Boards and Connnissions— that their parks and pleasure grounds are more likely to be well managed under Boards and Commissions, than under the direct supervision of City Councils themselves. Politics will enter into Boards and Commissions just as much as they will into the management directly by the city; but the continual changes which follow this latter direct management are far more disas- trous than even the influence of politics, in affairs of this kind. To have a good success- ful park or garden, there must be a regular plan to be carried out ; but with incessant, and almost yearly, changes in management,' what is done one year is upset the next ; and there is far more waste through this, by the personal influence referred to, than in general politics. There is, however, always this in connection with parks and open spaces, that although they cannot be managed in the best possible interest of public wants, the open spaces in themselves are of value. It has fallen to the good pleasure of the writer to add nearly 1000 acres in numerous small parks for the city in which he resides ; but although sometimes grieved that they are not, and prob- ably will never, be managed as they might be for the best interest of the community, they will afford recreation to thousand?. They are not what they might be, still they are of great value as they are. Laws Against Weeds.— One of our failings is to look to laws to help us in everything. No sooner is there some trouble, but legislation is appealed to. In the case of weeds, numerous enactments have been made by different State Legislatures. It would be interesting to know whether any instance is known of the weeds' progress being obstructed thereby. There is no excuse for trouble from any weed. Instead of praying to Jupiter, one's own shoulder to the wheel is usually sufficient. Hot Water eor Destroying Insects. —It is given out as a new discovery that steam, allowed to fall to a temperature of 120°, will destroy insects. This is only repeating what was made public by the writer of this over forty years ago, that water heated to 120° was destructive of insect life, without being injur- ious to vegetation. The application, however, has been found rather troublesome, except where only a few plants are to be dipped in the water. People prefer insecticides that may be applied by powders or by spraying. TRUNK OF TILIA AMERICANA. ■:^i»552^^' INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE ■1-- -v>' Vt 154 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. The Wild Yam, Dioscorea villosa.— Miss Kate Clement, of Barnesboro, N. J., has a Sood word to say for the beauty of the wild yam, as an ornamental twiner. Under the name of Cinnamon Vine, its neighbor from Northern China, Diostorea divaricata, (known also as D. Batatas, or Chinese Yam) is widely grown, -but is not equal in beauty as Miss Clement remarks, to our native species. [Aug. cessful who has the chance of an occasional change of soil. If the disease appears among the plants as they are growing in the open ground, it is not safe to have the plants grow in the same locality the succeeding year. The Cost of Gardening.— Some cynical people whose hearts are fixed on little else than pleasure and mirth and fashionable calls, some- times have their little jokes on residents of the suburbs as to the cost of their gardens, flow- ers, fruits and vegetables. It may be true that occasionally the results to an amateur gardener may cost a little more than if he had to buy the article in the market ; but amateur garden- ing is not always for the dollars and cents, but for the pleasure which gardening conveys There is infinitely more pleasure in raising a a few crops of fruits and flowers than in riding to market to purchase them. We live for pleasure, and not for the accumulation of a little money. In fact, the only value of money IS for the pleasure in life which we can ^et out of it. ^ Diseased Blossoms in Carnations - . Many growers of carnations know to their sor- row that some varieties will seem to give out after a few years of cultivation. One of these provoking changes is a deformity in the flower The calyx splits and is frequently of a dropsical appearance. These troubles all come from attacks of minute funguses. Those who use solutions of copper have little trouble in keep- ing down these defects. Unfortunately, after some plants have been thoroughly infected with the fungus attacks, the trouble follows through succeeding generations, and this renders it necessary to keep a perpetual suc- cession of new varieties. When once a carna- tion grower finds his flowers deformed, he may be pretty sure that the propagation of any plants, although they may appear healthy growing in the vicinity of the diseased one! will probably produce a diseased race. This trouble comes more than is generally supposed from the attacks of fungus on the roots. For this reason the carnation grower is most sue- EW @1 li^ll FL/^NTS. Flowering Onions.— An advertisement of Alliums, or flowering onion bulbs, in another issue, reminds us to remark on the rarity of these beautiful plants in our flower borders. They mostly come from Eastern Europe and Western Asia, and are therefore perfectly hardy, and take care of themselves very easily. Of the large number of species that might be grown to advantage in our gardens, only the following are seen and these but rarely,— Allium Moly, A. senescens and A, flavum. Some of our western species are well worth growing. There are at least fifty species that might be grown to advantage in ornamental gardening. A Double Wichurian Rose.— From Mr. W. A. Manda. South Orange, New Jersey, comes a branch of a new double, pinkish white variety of i^^^^ Wichuriaria, It is certainly a little beauty, and will no doubt become popular. Improvement of Wild Flowers. — In nothing is the proverbial patience of the Ger- man more exemplified than in the continual improvement of some common wild flower. Almost yearly some plant with which we have been familiar for many years is brought before us in the shape of numerous varieties in color or form. Among the latest of these is our old-fashion Blue Corn Flower, botanically known as G?//- taurea cyanea. Many of us have known it in its native blue form for a long life time ; now we have white, purple, pink, orange and variegated forms. They are being welcomed by the florist, as the cut flowers keep a considerable time without withering. The Hart's - Tongue FERN.-Our great early botanical traveller, Pursh. discovered a few plants of the Scohpendrium vulgate in one of his travels through New York State. It is 1896.] meehans' monthly — general gardening. 155 a very common fern in the north of Europe, but doubts have been entertained as to its being thoroughly native to our country. U has been occasionally found by others since his time, but it is still scarce. Mr. C. F. Saunders writes that in travelling through New York he stopped a day at Jamesville, in Onondaga County, and had the pleasure of finding it in that location. He states that in a beautiful, rich wood, near the village, where the limestone crops to the surface, he came suddenly on a number of — -— -- plants growing in small clumps from under the out-cropping of limestone. It was almost hidden by the rich growth of Cystopteris bulbi- feta and other herbage. Gerani- um Rohertianum, another common weed in the Old World, and which usually accom- panies the Hart's- tongue, was also among the herb- age surround- ing the plants. The fern seemed to be confined to a little basin in the woods, but it was there in consider- able abundance. THE MiflRID)T FLOWEl ^^ii^Ri^EN. Improvement of the Cosmos. — The note referring to the good work of Mrs. Theodosia Shepherd in improving the Cosmos was writ- ten for the information of the Conductors only. It seemed of so much public interest that we asked permission to publish it, and should have added the picture which is now presented here, as making our readers the better acquainted with this beautiful class of plants. Wild Flowers in Gardens.— Dr. D. W. Beadle, of Toronto, says : " I wish that you would favor us, in your Wild Flower chapter in the Monthly, with directions for growing them in our gardens. vSoon many of them will be annihilated if not preserved in our gardens. I have been successful with Cypripcdium spec- labile on the north side of the house. C pub- esc€7is also, and am trying C. arictinum,'" There is room for a first class book on the cultivation of American wild flowers, just such another as Mr. William Robin- son has done for British flower gardens. There are some of our uative plants that can take care of them- selves anywhere. The flower gard- ener needs no directions in re- gard to these, — but a number of the fastidious re- quire for each one almost special treatment, and a special chapter would in most cases be required for each one. As far as practicable the information shall be given as we go along. Japanese Irises.— Japanese irises are among the most use- ful of plants in the herbaceous border. Besides the many beautiful colors in which they exist, they bloom later than any other kind,- prolonging the iris season from April till July. Although growing very well in any ordinary garden border, they delight in quite wet places. In some collections they are planted where it is practicable to flood them with water every few days, which results in vigorous growth and extra large flowers. All irises are moisture loving plants, and might be used in wet places where many other ones would not thrive. They are frequently pic- tured in Japanese river scenes. COSMOS MARGUERITA. 154 MICEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. The Wild Yam, Dioscorea villosa.— Miss Kate Clement, of Barnesboro, N. J., has a good word to say for the beauty of the wild yam, as an ornamental twiner. Under the name of Cinnamon Vine, its neicrhbor from Northern China, Diostorca divaricata, (known also as 1). Batatas, or Chinese Yam) is widely g:rown,-but is not equal in beauty as Miss Clement remarks, to our native species. [Aug. cessful who has the chance of an occasional chan-e of soil. U the disease appears among the plants as they are growing in the open ground, it is not safe to have the plants grow in the same locality the succeeding year. The Cost oi' Gardening.— vSome cynical people whose hearts are fixed on little else than pleasure and mirth and fashionable calls, some- times have their little jokes on residents of the suburbs as to the cost of their gardens, flow- ers, fruits and vegetables. It may be true that occasionally the results to an amateur gardener may cost a little more than if he had to buy the article in the market ; but amateur garden- ing Ls not always for the dollars and cents, but for the pleasure which gardening conveys There is infinitely more pleasure in raising a a few crops of fruits and flowers than in riding to market to purchase them. We live for pleasure, and not for the accumulation of a httle money. In fact, the only value of money LS for the pleasure in life which we can get out of it. Diseased Blossoms in Carnations — Many growers of carnations know to their sor- row that some varieties will seem to give out after a few years of cultivation. One of these provoking changes is a deformity in the flower The calyx splits and is frequently of a dropsical appearance. These troubles all come from attacks of minute funguses. Those who use solutions of copper have little trouble in keep- ing down these defects. Unfortunately, after some plants have been thoroughly infected with the fungus attacks, the trouble follows through succeeding generations, and this renders it necessary to keep a perpetual suc- cession of new varieties. When once a carna- tion grower finds his flowers deformed, he may be pretty sure that the propagation of any plants, although they may appear healthy growing in the vicinity of the diseased one,' will probably produce a diseased race. This trouble comes more than is generally supposed from the attacks of fungus on the roots. For this reason the carnation grower is most suc- INiEW ©1 l^lE FLi^NTcS. Flowering Onions.— An advertisement of Allhuris, or flowering onion bulbs, in another Lssue, reminds us to remark on the rarity of these beautiful plants in our flower borders. They mostly come from Eastern Europe and Western Asia, and are therefore perfectly hardy, and take care of themselves very easily. Of the large number of species that might be grown to advantage in our gardens, only the following are seen and these but rarely,— Allium Moly, A. senesmis and A. flavum. Some of our western species are well worth growing. There are at least fifty species that might be grown to advantage in ornamental gardening. A DouHLE Wichurian Rose.— From Mr. W. A. Manda, South Orange, New Jersey^ comes a branch of a new double, pinkish white variety of Rosa Wichuriana. It is certainly a little beauty, and will no doubt become popular. Improvement of Wild Flowers. — In nothing is the proverbial patience of the Ger- man more exemplified than in the continual improvement of some common wild flower. Almost yearly some plant with which we have been familiar for many years is brought before us in the shape of numerous varieties in color or form. Among the latest of these is our old-fashion Blue Corn Flower, botanically known as Cen- taurea cyanea, xAIany of us have known it in its native blue form for a long life time ; now we have white, purple, pink, orange and variegated forms. They are being welcomed by the florist, as the cut flowers keep a considerable time without withering. The Hart's -Tongue FERN.—Our great early botanical traveller, Pursh, discovered a few plants of the Scolopcndrium vulgare in one of his travels through New York State. It is INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 1896.] meehans' monthly — general gardening, o:> a very common fern in the north of lunoj^e, but doubts have been entertained as to its being thoroughly native to our country. It has been occasionally found by others since his time, but it is still scarce. Mr. C F. Saunders whites that in travelling through New York he stopped a day at Jamesville. in Onondaga County, and had the pleasure of finding it in that location. He states that in a beautiful, rich wood, near the village, where the limestone crops to the surface, he came suddenly on a number of plants growing in small clumps from under the out-cropping of limestone. It was almost hidden b}^ the rich growth of Cystoptens bulbi- feta and other herbage. Gerani- 2im Robertia7in7n, another common weed in the Old World, and which usually accom- panies the Hart's- tongue, was also among the herb- age surround- ing the plants. The fern seemed to be confined to a little basin in the woods, but it was there in consider- able abundance. just son such another has done for i^ir\ would favor us. in your Wild iHower chapter in the Monthly, with directions for growing them in our gardens. vSoon many of them will be annihilated if not preserved in our gardens. I have been successful with Lypn'pt'dimn spec- labile on the imrtli side of the house. C. pub- csccns also, and am tiying C, atictinuni ^ There is room for a first class book on the cultivation of American wild flowers, as Mr. William Kobin- British flower gardens. There are some of our native plants that can take care of them- selves anywhere. The flower gard- ener needs no directions in re- gard to these, — but a number of the fastidious re- quire for each one almost special treatment, and a special chapter would in most cases be required for each one. As far as practicable the information shall be given as we go along. -*-- -41^^^ lA COSMOS MARGUERITA. TIHIE Inli^I^i)T FLOWEl ^i^li^ElNIo Improvement of the Cosmos. — The note referring to the good work of Mrs. Theodosia Shepherd in improving the Cosmos was writ- ten for the information of the Conductors only. It seemed of so much public interest that we asked permission to publish it, and should have added the picture which is now presented here, as making our readers the better acquainted with this beautiful class of plants. Wild Flowers in Gardens.— Dr. D. W. Beadle, of Toronto, says : *' I wish that you J a r A N E S E J Irises.— Japanese irises are among . _ the most use- ful of plants in theherbaceous border. Besides the many beautiful colors in which they exist, they bloom later than any other kind." prolono;ing the iris season from April till July. Although growing very well in any ordinary garden border, they delight in quite wet places In some collections they are planted where it is practicable to flood them with water every few days, which results in vigorous growth and extra large flowers. All irises are moisture loving plants, and might be used in wet places where many other ones would not thrive. They are frequently pic- tured in Japanese river scenes. 156 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAI, GARDENING. fK^lT5 m VE'QiS.TmLES,. [Aug. Intelligence of Insects.— Vigor of growth dunng early development bars insects such as the Curculio and plum Gouger from effective work on plums. It is altogether possible that early rapid development of the Japan plums makes the small fruits destructive to the new- ly laid egg, destroying it or making it so un- favorable a place for deposit ; the instinct of the insect causes it to avoid that class of plums. It is altogether possible that the strong sap-flow drowns it and the insects know it. As a rule insects do their most effective and destructive work on immature growths, and injure fruits that lack vigor.-and this season's observation leads me to a firmer conviction of this fact. At this writing, the American class of plums grown in the West show but very few plums stung so as to cause the fruit to drop rot, or be worthless later at the gathering period. But I find large quantities of fruit just well marked, and the skin in most in- stances just cut through. There they seem to have stopped, and, as in one or two other seasons past, we know well that their injury will be very little in the plum orchard this •season. But conditions of growth have been favorable. The West passed through the worst drowth period yet known in its settlement lor two years, resulting in very little top growth of trees and heavy root growth and develop- ment ; and the foliage area now on vegetation and advanced stage of growth after a series of heavy rams and top development of trees is remarkable,-and the fruits on plum trees are far advanced making, as everything ^Ise phenomenal growth. W. M. Bomberger ' Harlan, la. This question of the comparative freedom of some varieties of plum from attack or injury from the Curculio, and their subsequent vulnerability, is one well worthy of investi- gation, and the interesting contribution of Mr. Bomberger fairly opens it. When the class known as the wild goose varieties of the Chickasaw were introduced, they certainly were not marked by the Curculio ; yet the writer of this saw wild Chickasaws in North Carolina, growing in old fields, so completely attacked by the insect, that it was difficult to find a ripe fruit that was not prematurely rotting from the attack. In like manner the improved Beach plums were announced as free from the Curculio, and the announcement was honest. A tree on the grounds of the conductors, matured perfect plums for several years. The tree is still there,-and has an enormous number of fruit with scarcely a dozen perfecting, and these marked though the egg of the insect either failed to develop, or was not deposited in the cut made by the ovipositor of the insect. Briefly the point to be investigated is this :— Classes of plums are from time to time intro- duced which for a time seem free from the attacks of Curculio, or do not suffer from their attacks,— but subsequently the same varieties suffer as all their predecessors have done. How is this temporary exemption and change to be accounted for ? Strawberry Bught.— Mr. A. Remington, Amy, Wis., inquires for the best remedy against the strawberry leaf disease. In olden times, when it was more the practice to grow strawberries in beds than now. the leaves were mown off about the end of July or begin- ning of August and burnt. This destroyed the spores of the fungus, and of course the opportunity for the fungus to spread itself. It IS not so easy to do this under row-culture as the loose leaves cannot be raked up as com- pletely. The only remedy would be a spray- ing with copper solution early in spring — about the time the fruit is fairly set. The Black CuRRANT.-The Black Currant IS a northern fruit, and though the plants do not seem to be affected seriously by sum mer's heat, the fruit is by no means tempting Those who would enjoy a really delicious black currant should taste thtm when grown in higher latitudes. In those places they are often more delectable than the Red or White Dutch, and will not require a coating of su^ar to tempt the palate with. Apple Ben DAvis.-The Ben Davis Apple has been the subject of much lampooning on account of its inferior eating qualities. But it remains a great favorite with market goers At times its eating qualities are good, and it is never wholly poor. It will probably hold its own for some time for popular planting 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 157 Changeable Characters in Fruits and Flowers. — A Vermont correspondent inquires whether the flowers of the cultivated plums are proterandrous, — that is to say whether the stamens mature before the pistils, or the pistils before the stamens — proterogynous. It has been demonstrated in recent years that in a large number of plants there is no regular rule. In our common fruits especially, it depends on the season which matures first. Stamens are excited under a comparatively low temperature long continued, while the pistil grows rapidly when the higher tempera- ture is reached. Experiments with Onions. — Mr. S. A. Bedford, the superintendent of the Dominion Experimental Farm at Branden Experimental Farm, finds the onion a vegetable that seems particularly at home in that high northern region, and has the following to say about some experiments he made during 1895 : " Nine varieties of onions were sown in drills twelve inches apart. All germinated with one exception, viz., Giant Spanish Yellow. This year gives additional evidence that onions are one of the most paying vegetables grown. All varieties averaged over 400 bushels per acre, and as they usually command a good price, few vegetables will give the same return. Many growers leave onions too long in the ground, and the frost injures them before they are dried. It is best to pull them a little on the green side rather than to leave them to ripen in the ground. The best keeping onion of the va- rieties tested last year, was Large Red Globe, which when looked over in April 12th, 1895, were as sound as when stored. This year tak- ing all points into consideration. Yellow Globe Danvers and Red Globe Danvers were the two best varieties. Stiver skin. — A medium-sized white onion of mild flavor, irregular in shape, and having a loose, moist skin, which will probably detract from its keeping qualities. /^ed Wethersfteid. — A red globe onion, much later in arriving at maturity than the others, and inclined to be thick-necked. Yeiiow Globe Danvers. — Although not a very heavy yielder, its thin neck, and early ripen- ing qualities, make it a variety that can always be relied on here, globe shaped, light yellow in color. Yeiiow Flat Dajivers. — A flat onion, similar in color to Globe Danvers, but later and more thick-necked than that variety. Red Danvers. — A red globe onion of fine color and appearance, ripens early, and has a thin neck. One of the best varieties tested. SoiMport Red Globe. — A red globe onion of good size, but has a tendency to thick-neck. Sojiihport Yellow Globe. — A yellow globe onion of good form and substance, a heavy yielder, and produces few thick -necked onions. Mammoth Silver King. — A flat white onion of good flavor, but having the loose skin and irregularity of Silverskin, not desirable." Forcing Cucumbers in Winter. — Mr. Albert Millaid, gardener at Senator Cameron's '•Lochiel Farms," is an expert at forcing cucumbers. His first crop matured about November 15th last, and the second about the first of February. At this writing, June 12th, there is still a good crop-showing with every prospect of its lasting for three weeks yet. Mr. Millard considers the old " Herman's Selected Telegraph " still the best variety for forcing purposes. Some of the fruit gathered this winter measured twenty-two inches long. Apple Culture. — In most parts of our country, the worst foe of the apple tree is the apple tree borer, — the larvfe of a beetle which enters near the ground. Its presence in the tree can readily be detected by the saw-dust- like material which it ejects during its progress, and which can readily be detected when looked for. Amateurs who have but a few trees should look after them occasionally. A wire ran into their runs will crush them. Pine tar and lard may be painted around the trunk near the ground to prevent their entrance. Tomatoes in Florida.— A few growers in Florida are in a measure making up by their tomato crop the losses of former years on their oranges. The reports of the profits of the tomato crop for the past winter are something enormous, and it may be judged from the accounts given that they have been quite as plentiful as the orange in its past day. Many thousands of crates have been shipped away, and now it is thought that with this good ex- perience even tomato growing may be over- done. BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. TO AN OAK. How glorious is the green above my head ' How far the branches reach, and outward spread! How musical the sighing, sea-dewed wind Reveals to leave its message sweet and kind I How storniful-strong when tempests sweep above » All quickly followed by the peace of love ' There morning dawns in golden beauty drest There, too, I see the gateway of the West ; ' A tar I hear the winding river flow, And by the breeze the swelling ocean know ; 1 list the birds of summer clear and sweet 1 he violet, my neighbor, I can greet ; 1 he children come and play with shout of glee. Oh, wonderful the world that's known to thee ! — Wm. Brunton, in Christiaji Register. Botanical Names in Gardening.— It was, if memory be correct. Prof. Bailey, of Cornell,' who sometime since expressed an opinion to the effect that he might perhaps agree to the wholesale changes of names proposed, speak- ing as a botanist ; but he could not from the horticultural standpoint. It really does look more aad more clearly that the botanist and the horticulturist will have to part company. It is found impossible for the nurseryman to change names in his catalogue that have be- come the current property of his customers and of the world. This will have to be conceded further in the case of marked varieties that the botanist insists are but forms of one species For instance, the two forms of Silphium which have the stems run through the leaves, so that a half pint of rain water will be held as in a cup, were named Silphmm connatzim and Stlphium perfoliatum. Botanists now refer the former name as but a mere synonym of the other. But, assuredly, if any nurserymen were to send the hispid round-stemmed one to a customer who had already the smooth square- stemmed one, there would be a sharp corres- pondence thereafter. In like manner, if a customer required the maples Acer ginnale ?.xid. Acer mgr7im^ and the nurseryman responded with the Tartarian and the common Sugar there would be a storm. And yet in Index Kewensis, Acer Gt7maie is given as the same thing as Acer tatariciim, and Acer nigrum as (158) the same with Acer sacchari?ium. It is prob- ably right, from a botanical point of view, that these names should be regarded as mere syno- nyms ; but the horticulturist cannot afford to follow. The trouble wiH be how to distinguish the botanical from the horticultural department of nomenclature. The Story of Ar)uii.EGiA.--The New York Independe?itnot^s:—^^ln the modern descrip- tions of plants their popular histories find a place alongside of their more substantial characters. The author of a recent paper on the columbine gives good reasons for the belief that the botanical name Aquilegia is not de- rived from either ^^«//^, an eagle, or aquilegium, a water pitcher, as botanical writers have generally assumed. He contends that Aquilegia is the full name of a daughter of Jupiter, who was in love with the beautiful eagle which Ganymede rode in his courting excursions, and who died for the love of that bird when Ganymede, discovering the transfer of the lady's affection for himself, hid the bird when on visits to her. The gods, with their usual pity in these heart-broken cases, changed her into the flower which now bears her name. Aquilegia may, therefore, be construed as given to or for an eagle. The matter has a new in- terest in connection with the fact that a society has been formed to induce the selection of the columbine as the national flower. This should please the American eagle. ' * RuDBECKiA sPECiosA.— Dr. Gray decided that the Rudbeckia fulgida, long known as such, —and as such figured in Meehans' "Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States," is really Rudbeckia speciosa, and we have since been calling it under this changed name. But we note that it is in bloom early in June while the Rudbeckia speciosa is credited with ' • August and September. ' ' It does seem as If there is a little clearing up yet to be done. The Rudbeckia Missouriensis is said to be but a form oi R. fulgida. Will ll I I'l I 8896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. 159 Impressions of Scenery. — A correspondent of the Independe?it , New York, says that "the Kew Gardens is a favorite resort with the people now. Every one used to go to Richmond, an- other beautiful suburb, which is still popular* though somewhat changed. This section had always been noted for the beauty of its scenery. It will be remembered that when Jennie Deans, accompanied by the Duke of Argyle, paused for a moment on the brow of Richmond Hill to gaze on the unrivaled landscape presented to her view, the Duke said to her : ' This is a fine scene ; we have nothing like it in Scot- land.' To which remark the matter of- fact Jennie replied : • It's brar rich feeding for the cows, and they have a fine herd of cattle here ; but I like just as well to look at the crags of Arthur's Seat, and the sea coming in against them, as at a' the muckle trees ' " But it does not follow that chance expressions like this attributed to Jennie Deans, are true indexes of individual character. When the writer of this was but a small lad, the famous William Cobbett was a visitor to his father's grounds. When he was invited to come around to the front of the house to be shown a " beauti- ful sea view," he hastily replied " I care noth- ing for sea views ; the land views alone concern me. ' ' But he was so intent, at that moment, in trying to induce the folks to experiment with *• Cobbett' s corn," as he had newly christened our six weeks Indian corn, that his real dispo- sition was momentarily obscured. Cobbett really did admire fine sea views. Tacoma. — Residents of the northwest coast are exercised about the name of the great mountain known in geography as Mt. Ranier, but which they insist shall be called Tacoma. Vancouver was the first geographer who saw it, and under geographical rules had the right to give it a name. He named it after a friend in the Old World named Ranier. The Indians had long ago known it as Tacoma, and the effort is to set aside the geographical name in favor of its ancient Indian one. Mt. Tacoma is possibly one of the most remarkable of mountains. The glaciers which flow from it are among the most wonderful in the world. It furnishes the water for a large number of western rivers. Those who are well versed in Indian history conclude that the Indian inhabitants of this part of America came from Alaska, and that from this point the immigration was south- wardly until they eventually settled ancient Mexico and Peru. That the Indians of Alaska came from Asia is pretty clearly settled now. The line of their journeyings seems to have been all along the Pacific coast. Tradition among the Alaska Indians, describing the country from which their forefathers came, seems to fit Kamtschatka so clearly that there is little room now for doubt of the Asiatic origin of the Indian race. The American Crab Apple as a National Flower. — I notice in your June number (page 108), your Georgia correspondent proposes the Wild Crab Apple as the national flower. I think I have seen it proposed before, and of the flowers which I find in this locality it certainly would be my choice. I should be pleased to have you bring it before the public as it seems so much more appropriate. Virginius H. Chase. Wady Petra, 111. American Grape Growing and Wine Making, by George Husmann, New York, Orange Judd Co. — This is the fourth edition — a fact which of itself speaks for the value of Mr. Husmann's work. There has been so much of interest developed in grape culture during the few past years, that a new edition now makes this old standard treatise as good as new in every respect, while better than new in many progressive points. A Large Pitcher Plant. — In reference to Sarracenia purpurea, Mr. Willard N. Clute says : — •• While collecting at Lily Lake, near Dal ton, Pennsylvania, on May 30th last, I found one of the largest, if not the very largest, pitcher plant on record. When found it had eighty- five perfect •* pitchers," with many more form- ing. I believe the largest plant heretofore recorded in Meehans' Monthly had but sev- enty." Familiar Trees, and Their Leaves.— This is an admirable work for those who love trees, and are not trained botanists. Two hundred illustrations are given. It is prepared by F. Schuyler Mathews, and published by D. Apple- ton & Co., New York. GENERAL NOTES. American LupiNES.-The following pleas- ant notice of our magazine from the Joliet (Illinois) News, is so instructive as regards members of the Lupine family in that section, that it is reproduced here :— - "Meehans' Monthly is a magazine that would be a delight to many of our readers, for It treats of general gardening and the wild flowers. The wild flowers are given a promi- nentposition. Strangely, flower growers better understand the names and habits of imported plants, though less attractive so far as beauty goes, than they do a large number of the most choice of our wild plants. The present number of this magazine has a full page illus- tration in colors of one of the most beautiful of the lupines. It is found in abundance along the line of the Michigan Central between Joliet and Lake Station, in the sandy soil on the edge of Indiana, ll is a very dark blue, indigo blue in color, resembing somewhat the blossom of a pea, and is often gathered in great quan- tities for use here on Decoration Day. This is the Sun Dial Lupine, or, as the scientists have It, L7tpi7ius perennis. It was named at a time when it was supposed to be the only perennial in that family. There are several, however in this vicinity-one having white or cream colored blossoms and another having white and pink mixed, known to old prairie farmers as shoe string. Lovers of wild flowers and ferns will find much delight in this maga- zine." ^ The Mosquito Plant.— The very pretty genus of mosquito plants, known as Lopezia have flowers which in some degree resemble the winged insects from which its name is taken. One might also say that they present the appearance of a large mosquito. More- over, there is a certain irritable movement in the stamens, which would almost suggest a thing of life. In some parts of the country they have received the name of mosquito flowers, or mosquito plants. Beyond the form there is nothing else to suggest the mosquito. (i6o) The flowers are in almost all the species of a very pretty rose color, and it seems rather far- fetched to compare them with this hateful insect ; but there is no accounting for taste in the application of common names. Pinus T.Eda.— Concerning Pinus Tceda, the '• Short-leaved Pine," Col. M. B. Hillyard says of it as growing in Northwest Louisiana : ' The Short-leaf Pine finds its best development in Northwest Louisiana, dividing honors with Northeastern Texas and Southern Arkansas. There it occurs • in greatest abundance and per- fection,' to quote the great authority. Some acres each will cut thirty thousand feet ; fifteen thousand feet is quite common. Its great merits are well known to lumbermen." Poets and Nature.—** Poets are all who love, ' ' says one of the class,— but there is a vast difference in the objects of their affections. We may follow some poets for all time, and not be led once into the woods and fields among the birds and flowers. But others are in warm contact with nature. Mrs. Seliger says, that among the ardent lovers of trees and flowers among German poets, Heine stands pre- eminent. Damaged Plates. —Several Complaints have recently been received that numbers of the Monthly are folded in the post-oflSce department, the plates being injured for bind- ing. If others have found cause for complaint on the same account, the publishers would be glad to hear of it that steps may be taken to prevent further trouble. Pennsylvania Mountain Tea. — Under this name the leaves of one of the Golden Rods, Solidago odora, are in very common use as tea, by the families of the German race in the interior of Pennsylvania. Men gather the leaves in the summer time, and many are said The to make a good living at the work. They peddle it in the winter time. SITUATIONS WANTED. Advertisements under this head, not exceeding 50 words, will be inserted once for 50 cents, or three times for $1.25. G ARDENERS:— We shall be glad to furnish names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MKKHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Gerniantown, Philadelphia. GAR OE N E R— Situation wanted by a man thor- oughly experienced in all branches. Age 38, married, 2 small children. Excellent references. Address, J. W. B., care of Mkkhans' Monthly GA R D E N E R— English, aged 38. married, small family ; 24 years experience in growing or- chids, ferns, stove and greenhouse plants, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums ; also the management of fruit houses, vegetable and flower gardens, etc. State wages. Chas. Dumper, 119 Tallmadge St., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. A Great Chancj; To Make Money. AS GARDENER, by a man of experience '^ and ability, will be disengaged ist of March next, thoroughly conversant with the management of a gentleman's country estate, unexceptional references for ability and personal character. Address, J. E. S. Box 103 Toms River, N. J. UEADGARDENE W- Estate Manager-^xi- * ' nation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work, cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches of gardening. Best references from first-class places. Europe and U. S. February or later, ** R. F.," Office, Meehans' Monthly. G/^PDENER. Situation wanted as gardener by a thoroughly practical English-American, single, 8 years experience as gardener and florist. Excellent references. Address, E. A. C, Box 311, Tarry town, N. Y. G /l^RQENER — Wants situation on private place, competent in all branches, by married man, age 34; three children, small ; experienced in growing all greenhouse plants, highest reference for sobriety and integrity, five years in present place. M. B., care of Thomas Mcehan & Sons. While it is under new nianaKcment. with new editors and new contributors, it is still the oldest and most reputable publication of its kind in the west, this being the twenty- sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magrazine for 30 cents. To any one sending us 30 cents and six names of friends who might subscribe for our magazine, we will mail our one dollar magazine a full year. At 30 cents we lose money the first year but hope you will continue to be a subscril>er, after seeing twelve numbers. If you wish to see the magazine before subscribing, .send 10 cents and receive a sample copy and a free gift of an aluminum dime-size charm, with the Lord's Prayer engraved in smallest characters ; bright as silver, and never tarnishes. We do not send sample copies free, so save your postal cards as no notice will be given them. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Address, THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive St., St. Loult, Mo. I want to tell you of my jvondcrful success. Being a poor girl, and netding money badly, I tried the Dish Washer bus- iness, and have cleared $2(K) every month It is more money than I ever had before, and I can't help telling you about it, for I believe that any person can do as well as I have , if they only try. Dish Washers sell on sight ; every lady watits one. The Mound City Dish Washer Co., St. Louis, Mo , will give you all necessary instructions, so you can begin work at once. The Dish Washer does .splendid work ; you can wash and dry the dishes in two or three minutts, without putting yotir hands in the water at all. Try this business and let us know how you succeed. Klizahf.th C. Ice Cream Made by a New Process. I have an Ice Cream Freezer that will freeze cream in- stantly. The cream is put into the freezer and comes out instantly, smooth and perfectly frozen. This astonishes people, and a crowd will gather to see the freezer in opera- tion, and they will all want to try the cream. You can sell cream as fast as it can be made, and sell freezers to many of them who would not buy an old style freezer. It is really a curiosity, and you can sell from $s to fs worth of cream and six to twelve freez«is every day. This makes a good profit these hard times, and is a pleasant employment. J. V. Ca.sey & Co., 1 143 St. Charles St., St. Louis, Mo., will send full par- ticulars and information in regard to this new invention on ai)plication, and will employ good salesmen on salary. The I^o^e : It^ Cultivation, Varieties, etc. BY H. B. KLLWANGER. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tion, the treatment of diseases and insect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip- tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo. Price, »1.35. THOMAS MEEHAN ik SONS, Germantowii, Fa. NEW CREATIONS IN FLOWERS If you want to know about them send 10 cents for Mre. Theodosia B. Hhepherd's New Catalogue of Kare and Beautiful California Novelties. Many New Begonias, New Cosmos, Kare Cacti, etc. OlTered by no others. Ventura-by-the-Sea, Cal. |« r||-|/\ pieces of Sheet Music at 10 cents a copy. Al.so any DUUU music published sent on receipt of the retail price. Yiolin, Guitar, Banjo anN' »» mail. 60c. W. J. Clark Co . Box 6, Salem, Ohio. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. POTTED STlRflWBEKf^Y PhflflTS }^ *^L°?V" ^"8"st or September will produce a crop of berries tlie next June HENf^Y fl. Dt^BBtR, 714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia THE AMERICAN HANDBOOK-:-:- OF ORNAMENTAL TREES By THOMAS MEBHAN 1853 This work is now out of print, and second- hand copies can only be had of it. We have a single copy to offer, in excellent condition, pages perfect and showing very little the effects of age. PRICE, POSTPAID, $1.50 IKPPIII Rnni^C ^^ HORTICULTURAL UOLrUL DUUIVO and RURAL SUBJECTS NicholHon'H IllaMtrated Ulctionary of Oardeiiine. Ry G.Nicholson. In four volumes. Cloth, 410. A practical and scientific encyclopedia of horticulture. With 2,000 first-class en- gravings. Kach volume 95.00 The Amateur's Flower Garden. A Guide to the Forma- tion and Management of the Flower (Jarden and the Cultivation of Garden Flowers. New and revised edition. By Shirley Hib- bard. Illustrated with colored plates. Cloth, lamo. . . #8.60 The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory. A Guide to the Construction and Management of Plant Houses, and the belection Cultivation and Improvement of Ornamental (Jreen- hpuse and Conservatory Plants. Hy Shirley Hibbard. Colored plates. Cloth, lamo ^ ^ 9^.50 The Rose-Its Cultivation, Varieties, etc. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propagation, the treatment of diseases and insect enemies-particuhirly valuable for its classi- fication. Alphabetical and descriptive list of nme hundre pages. Hundreds of illustrations and six colored plates Full of practical directions for the cultivation of flowering, ornamental and kitchen garden plants »1.50 The Orchid Grower's Manual. Sixth edition, enlarge,! and revised. By Benjamin Samuel Williams, F L S F R H S This popular work contains descriptions of upward of 1470 sne- cies and varieties of Orchidaceous plants, together with 47H syno- nyms ; profusely illustrated with a large number of p.ice an.t double-page engravings on wood, together with blocks illustrative ot types of the various genera it^ ^^^ The Propagation of Plants. By Andrew S Fuller Jllus trated with numerouG engravings. An eminently practical and useful work. Describing the process of hybridizing and crossing species and varieties, and also ihe many diflferent modes by which cultivated plants may be propagated and multiplied. Cloth ""*° mi.56 THOMAS MKISHAN & SONS. Germantown. PliHa NEZ PERCE # POTLATCH * PAL0U5E These are the names of three ^reat agricultural and fruit growing districts in Idaho and Washing ton reached by the Northern Pacific Railroad. They each adjoin the other, are similar in poducts, climate and character, and together form a region for a homeseeker hard to equal. The Palouse region has long been noted for its mar- velous grain Production. It is to the Pacific Coast what the Red River Valley is to Minnesota and North Dakota. The Potlatch country is like unto the Palouse, and adjoins it on the east. The Ncz Perce region lies south of the others and has until recently been a part of a great Indian reservation. 500,000 acres of it have been thrown open to settlement and its lands can be bought at cheap prices and on favorable terms, Write to CMAS. S. FEE, General Passenger Agent Northern Pacific Railroad, For folder and rates St. Paul, Minn. Yellowstone Park is more and more impressing itself upon the public, as the years go by, as being the Great Park of the land. The strong feature of it is the fact that it is not a man-made park. True enough man has built roads and bridges and hotels in order that he may see the Park, but he has not yet tried his hand at constructing new fangled Geysers, or re-adorn- ing or re-sculpturing the Grand Canyon of the Yel- lowstone. These are as God left them. There, too, the elk, bear, deer and other animals are not en- closed in wire fences. They wander free and un- fretted whithersoever they will. Man's handiwork is but little seen and the Park is the grander for it. Send Chas. S. Fee;, General Passenger Agent, Northern Pacific Railroad, six cents for Wonder- land '96, and read about the Park. HENDERSON'S GARDENING FOR PLEASURE New Edition rewritten and greatly enlarged. A jrnidc ' S*; amateur in the Fruit, Vegetable, and PMower (iaVden with full de.scnption.s for the cfeenhotise. Con.servatory and Window Garden. It meets the wants of all cla.s.ses. in countrv rntir; ^''^'?8^^^^'^o ,keep a garden for their own enjoyment rather than for the .sale of products. By Peter Hender.son. Finely Tllnstrated. Cloth, l«ino. »2.00 THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, Pa LORD <£ BURNHAM CO. HORTICULTURAL ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS 8TKAM AND HOT WATtfB HXATHtO imeiNBlfiRS Plwis imd EstimatCB f amitbed on application targett Builn, New Toi-k Mention Paper PUBL)8HED THE 1«T ANO'IStm OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2.00 A YEAR 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valtiable American Horti- cnltiiral pubUcation. Departments: The Flower QMden. Trees and Shrubs, The Greenhouse, The Window Garden, The Fruit Garden, The Vege- tMit Garden, Insects and Other Pests, Mushrooms, and others in season. See what subscribers say about this yaluable journal. "For condcnacd common sense in zaxdening matters, for Mllabie, unprejndiccd and safe information. Gari>bnino cannot be surpassed, and althougli moderate in sisc it ex- panda upon penasal/^ W. C Eqan, Highland Park, 111. "GAaDEHiNO is the best horticnltural paper orinted in i^nerica." Chas I^. Buaa, Springfield, Mass. "I am greatly pleased with the paper. It is practical and aacxeatlve. lU reproduction of photographic views of plants, lowers and landscapes is a most admirable feature."^ W. M. J0BM8OH, Hackensack, N. J. **ilia a daHtfk^l paper a^d haa been very iutereating and hMffiiftliiw timr " FmAlntHXTeircocx, Davenport, xa. ^^ ^^ ' Jtmmomih, Nota Sootia •Mk a jp«Mleitiott w«i |% wM«<>,fffej»«<«tg: "1 valnc OarnDBiaKo higbly on account of the very practi- eal dMtfacter of its contenW ^ ^^ ^.. J. A. PBTTionnw, Supt. Uncoln Park, Chicago "I rcgaxd OAmDBitiito aa one of the moat practical maga- alnca iSaued In the interesta of horticulture.'' ^^ W. F. Macab A, Waterville, N. Y. -The paper ia the most practical of any I readr *^ *^ W. B. Abb«, Fond du I,ac, Wis. "1 aubncribe to all the it ^rticultural and floricultural jour- aala on this continent as far as I know and find in Gaudbk- IHO the most practical one for an amateur like myself. ^ Da. Gbo.T.Hawlby. Coming, N.Y. PRACTICAL. ^OL- IX. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. GUSUDDII' ^GARDEN. FOREST AJOURNALOFHORTICULTURE LANDSCAPE'ARTANDFORESTRY i*QluiaSe?toS«iS«^ Volcott,UtUetoii. Colo. m^imsa^m'-'-' Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty, for a purer taste in the design and decoration of public and private grounds, and fc uni- versally pronounced the best horticulture al journal ever published lor Americans* " Wiae, intelligent, entertaining.'*— i5f«f:^^J i^eekly. " Rich variety of remarkable engravings.'*— -/V, V. /\>sL ' Winning, delightful and accurate."— -M K Th'dume. " A compendium of new information."— TV. K Her aid, BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. $4.00 A YEAR. Specimen copy free on application. Gardei and Fowst PublisUng Co. "^'^Ri"^ %»?,["»' WHEN WIUTINQ TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM ^^^^i^^T^^A,^^!^^ WHEirviimMG^^^^ YOU SAW their card in IIEEHAII8' MONTKIY. Mmsrmi iliiiLiliiiiil- :■>-■:'■;•::• POTTED STRAWBERF^Y PliAflTS }l ''^L'- Vo'" ^"«"^' ?"" Seplciiibcr will phmImcc a en,,, „l l,c,rirs the ncM liuic Our M.roi.a.L;ation. the ti.atM.ent ol diseases and insect enemies^paiti. tilariy valnaMe for its nassi- i.ati..n. .\lph.d.et..al and .tes,ripi,ve list ol inne linndied an.l lifty SIX varieties. Uy H. \\ KlUvanuer (loth. ..mo . . m.io Tro«'s ,uul Tn... IMaiitiiiK:. |{y ( len James S i:risl,i„ r s a Ka. h family ol trees ,s . aieliilly .e.s. rihed l.y the author.' .muI ti.e relative values ol the several varieties of ea.h are sp,. ,,„.,, ''""0'^'"»»' . 5SI..-.I, Vick'H Klowor and V««K«tahU. ;alion ol IManls. I.v An.li. w S Fuller IIUis trate.l w.th numerous engravings. An eminently pra. li. al ami us.-lul w..rk. De.s. nl.ing the pr.K.ss ol hyl.ri.-i/n'.g ami . i..ssnie spenes ami varieties, and als.. ihe many .lilVereni imxl.s l.y which cultivated plants may l)e propagated ami multiplied Cloth ''""'' .»I.oO THOMAS MKKIIAN & SONS, <;erinai.towi., I'hila. ihcsc arc the names of tlircc i^ronl aj^i icultural and frnit j^rovvni'; districts in Idaho an.l WasliinL: ton reached hy the Northern Vnr'ific Railroad They each a.ljoin the other, are similar in podiicts, (^hmate and character, and together form a re^Mon for a homcscckcr hard to ecpial. The Paloiisc re.i,'ioii has lon.i; hecn noted for its mar- velous orain Production. It is to the Pacific Coast what the Red River Vallev is to Minnesota and North Dakota. The Potlatch countr\ is like unto the Palousc, and adjoins it on the cast. The N(v Perce region lies south of the otheis and has until lecently been a ])art of a -reat Indian reservation, ^oo.ooo acres of it have been thrown open to settlement and its lauds can l)e bought at chca]) ])riccs and on favoiablc terms, Write to CliAS. S. FEE, General Passenger Ajjent Northern Pacific Railroad, For folder and rates St. Paul, Minn. Yellowstone Park IS more and more imprcssinj^ itself upon the i)ublic, as the \cars ^'o by, as beiiiii the Great Park ol the laud. The .strong feature of it is the fact that it is not a man-miidc park. True enou-h man has built road^ and brid-cs and hotels in order that he may see the Park, but he has not yet tried his hand at CiMistructing new fanglcd Geysers, (»r re-adoin- ing(»r re-sculpturinj^ the (irand Canyon of the Yel- lowstone. These are as (;o.l left them. There, too, the elk, bear, deer and otlu r animals are not en dosed in wire feiu^es. They wander free and uu- fretted whithersoever they will. Mans liandiwork is but little seen an.l the Park is the -randcr tor it. v^end Cn.\s. vS. I'l;!:. (Vencral Passeui^ei A-ent, Northern Pacific^ Railroad, six cents for Wonder- land '^(\ an.l read about the Park. HENDERSON'S GARDENINS FCR PLEASUHE New l-Miti,,,,. truiittiji and guatlv Lulaigcd. ..\ euidf o lu- ainU..M in the ITuil, Vrgclaldc. atni ^M..^ycl (iat.le, u 111 lull .e.scnpt.oti.s f..r the (;,cc,ih..,i.t., C.niset yat.M y a, i \V i.uh.xy ( ..-mk-ti. n u,ot Is the wants ..| all classe.s. i„ ontitM ctty and village ulu> kee,. a ganlei, (,., their ,»w, etij.. , .Jnt ratlter than f.,: the sale of ,„.ul„et.s. Hy ivter MendeLsot, rinely I Must , at,. I. < U.tli. liino. » i.OO THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, Pa WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE LORD & BURNHAM CO. HORTICULTURAL ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS STEAM AND HOT WATER HEATING ENGINEERS Plans and Estimates lurnifhed on application Largest Builders of Greenhouse Structures. Six Highest Awards at the World's Fair Send four cents postage for illustrated catalogue ARCHITECTURAL. OFFICE, 160 FIFTH AVE., COR. Slst STREET, NEW YORK. Factory: Irvington-on-Hodson, New York Mention Paper PUBLISHED THE Ist AND 15th OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY IVIONON BUILDING, CHiCAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2.00 A YEAR 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valuable American Horti- cultural publication. Departments : The Flower Garden, Trees and Shrubs, The Greenhouse, The Window Garden, The Fruit Garden, The Vege- table Garden, Insects and Other Pests, Mushrooms, and others in season. See what subscribers say about this valuable journal. "For condensed common sense in gardening matters, for reliable unprejudiced and safe information, Gardening cannot \)e surpassed, and although moderate in size it ex- pands upon perusal." W. C Egan, Highland Park, 111. "Gardening is the best horticultural paper printed in America." Chas t,. Bdrr, Springfield, Mass. ••I am greatly pleased with the paper. It is practical and mggestive. Its reproduction of photographic views of plants, flowers and landscapes is a most admirable feature." W. M. Johnson, Hackensack, N. J. "It is a delightful paper and has been very interesting and instructive to me." Frank Hitchcock, Davenport, la. "I have found Gardening extremely useful and interest- ing You have given your subscribers a great deal more than their money's worth." Chas. E. Brown Yarmouth, Nova Scotia "Such a publication was long needed in this country. Every line of its contributions is a lesson in itself to mauy orotessionalaas well as to amateurs." John Berry, Gardener to Senator Wolcott.Uttleton, Colo. "I value Gardening highlv on account of the very practi- cal character of its contents.' . ,. , ^t.1 J. A. Pkttigrew, Supt. Lincoln Park, Chicago "I regard Gardening as one of the most practical maga- ainea isBued in the interests of horticulture." W. F. Macara, Waterville, N. Y. ••The paper is the most practical of any I read.'* *^ *^ W. E. Abbs. Fond du Lac, Wis. "I subocribe to all the horticultural and floricultural jour- nals on this continent as far as I know and find in Garden- INO the most practical one for an amateur like myself. DR. Geo. T. Hawley, Corning, N. Y. PRACTICAL. ,VOL- IX. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. ^}'i}^-c^i'?!iff^^ri,t.-rwohani^p^e ™LJi£^2iS2.^i£2££ll£^£2S-g:d«ANJ*INO. Proprietor. REAPING, MASS. Modern Horticultural Building. Elegant Conservatories, Practical Commercial Houses, and all Classes of Greenhouse Structures Planned and Erected. Gla.^,B clipped oteg'wuror'wuSoS^ "I Cypres. 8a.h Bars for Butted Gl«i» Expert ady,ce at Regirtenee or Catalogues on applieatiou. .„ ^„. „„. ,.„„ ,„„ „.„„ PLENTY'S HORTICULTURAL WORKS, 148-156 Randolph Ave., Jersey City, N.J, f^ , ■ ,- ♦ ^-^••»>« «.«m ixwf TV <*Lei rieaunjr. iron n.,^?,^? fi*"^ Structur*.. Materials furnished to ifuilders. Don t fail to get our Plans and Prices. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION MEEHANS' MONTHLY. )L.VI SEPTEMBER, 1596 m No. 9 ISSUED MONTHLY, $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, SIN6LE COPY 20 CENTS. r ^^ %^- ,i'.v. 9J>^. *'-'^ .v^. , J)ev5ted 12 (]ENERAL Gardening, LD Flowers (endudsd by TMe/nA") /^EEMAN "^ «v<^^ f\\\ I _^y \^r\ -'Vii ■'' .v>\> . • % r.w x t V2) c/u6//j/?ed T^^ "S? OOI>VRIOHTCD f«»« ENTERED AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST OFFICE AS SBCOND-CLAM MATTER. m i«. ! ''h ^•;^:>'.'*:v,;;> i^-^rsi-?:'^ nnn rieehans' thomas Monthly « heehan & sons, PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Qermantown, Phila. Subseriptipn Ppiee $2.00 pep year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 ots. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year, ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each Month, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Editorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phlia., Pa. IT WILL PAY YOU ^fh^r-. — ■^— — i^— — ■•— — i— which tells of Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Roses, Fruit, and our special stock of Rhododendrons. It will in- terest all who are interested in such matters. ANDORRA NURSERIES, gKrfflJfll.': Pa. Wm. Warnir Harper. Manaqer if QUICK AS WINK 91 Is the name of our [SUPERIOR HOSE , ,, ^ _ COUPLlllfl Isthe QUICKEST and most convenient coupling on Uie market. All sizes, from K to2>^in8. Exclusive town '**'f?.**.rJ^" AgentH buying our $4.50 outfit. 8amj>le by mail,60o. W. J. Clark Co. box 6, Salem, Ohio. 8.W. BERK8HIRE, Ohester White, Jersey Red & Poland China Pigs. Jersey, Guernsey & Hol« Bteiu Cattle. Thoroughbred Sheep. Fancy Poultry . Hunting „ and Honse Dogs. Catalogue. oohranvllle, Chester Co., Pa* Tlie Only Buffalo Fence. The late Austin Corbin firmly believed It to be the Page. He used it freely on his great park in New Hampshire, and when he donated half his herd of Buffalo to the city of New York, he attended person- ally to having our fence enclose them. Not every fanner owns buffalo, but no one objects to a strong PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. NOVELTIES IN PLANTS, FRUITS, Etc. A. BLANC A CO., 314, 316 N. IIth ST., PHILADELPHIA * ' ' - ^ o^t«ri*l lias been discovered for glazing which after thorough test has been proven far superior to putty, it is called JWRSTICA. Mastica is easier to apply and when once put on it stays. It is not affected by extremes of weather, and is Uiua especial- ly adapted for ereenhouses.conservatories.graperies, hotbeds, etc. indorsed by prominent florists throughout the country. „. S^"a for descriptive circular of Mastica and Mastica Glazing Machines. P. o. PiEf?ce St CO., Sole |vianufm«tui>et>s 170 Fulton St., Neca York ^£?SLA«^?®®^' 7M Chestnut St., Phila., Pa. /.,>T«5?il?^ ^- MICHELL, ioi8 Market St., Phila. , Pa. SSJSFlT?o^^RNER & CO., 305 N. Paca St., Baltimore, MD. EDWARD S. SCHMID, 71a xath St., NW., Washington. d!c. Pot Plants QP Vines enp Climbers We have a full stock of Vines and Climbers in pots. We do not issue a printed list, but will give prices on any quan- tities and varieties desired. When writing, please mention varieties and quantity required. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Phlla. P.O. STATION Q. c IS MUCH M '0 II.. ;r, i.ii||1^^^|p rHANPINE. SASH iAil: REENHOUS AHD OtNiUI auitOtMS MATERIAL. » i.. .-.>.t~ CYPilESS UUKBEfl/MtrsuSES;' Sand fo^^ph SPtchi ^ngei^s^Cifjcu (5r. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISEB8. TELL THEM YOU SAW THE.R CARD .N MEEHAN8' MONTHLY. i ».. juo.yr V kV > I CIRSIUM DISCOLOR. TWO COLORED— LEAVED THISTLE, NATURAL ORDER. COMPOSITE. The name, thistle, has come to be a term of reproach. A thistle would generally be re- garded as a weed and not a flower, in the pop- ular acceptation of the term. Flowers we may love and care for, but weeds we generally des- pise. But this character has been given to thistles perhaps from a misconception. When it was said that the land should henceforth bring forth thorns and thistles, it was only in the event of man not tilling the ground. If man neglects to do his part in cultivating the ground, the thistle should have a right to make use of the soil which man neglects to turn to proper account. If we will allow our- selves to look at a thistle while forgetting early prejudices we shall find much to claim our admiration. Certainly the species we now describe is always attractive though strug- gling with stronger vegetation in neglected places ; but when it is found in an open place, where the branches have a chance to develop without being crowded by other things, it may be termed a beautiful object when in full bloom. Indeed its crowding into unoccupied ground is in many cases a merit, as Withering, a worthy English botanist of the past age, pointed out of thistles generally. There are often tracts of barren clay on which scarcely anything will grow ; but the thistle is not fas- tidious in its selection of food ; and, carried by the light thistle-down, the seeds find them- selves on these places and the plants thrive, preparing in time the soil for other more deli- cate things which could not exist there but for the work of the thistle in the first place. The connection of the thistle with man's neglect has often been a subject of poetical association. Shakespeare, in Henry V., brings the English and French princes and princesses together to celebrate the return of peace to their several countries. The Duke of Burgundy, sketching the miseries of war, remarks : ••The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover, Wanting the scythe, all uncorrected, rank. Conceives by idleness ; and nothing teems. But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs, Losing both beauty and utility." Not always in history, however, has the thistle been despised. It is the national em- blem of Scotland, this honor having been be- stowed on it by the Stuarts, James the IV and James the V. It appeared on Scottish coins first in 1514, with the motto '' No body offends me with impunity." This honor was founded on an old legend connected with the early history of Scotland. Achains, a Scottish King, had used it in memory of a defensive league between himself and Charlemagne, the French Emperor, and founded an order of nobility thereon, the order of The Thistle or of St. Andrew. The original incident was said to have been that in one of the early wars a soldier of the Danish forces trod on a thistle, and crying out with pain, betrayed the pres- ence of the enemy to the Scottish troops on which they obtained the victory. No one knows what species of thistle it was, and some have denied the whole story. It may not have been a thistle at all, even if the legend were genuine, as any rough seed vessel that could be used in carding wool, was a thivStle. The teasel is used for this purpose to this day, and the two names have probably the same origin. Those poets who love to trace in the habits of flowers types or emblems of the passions or emotions of humanity, connect the thistle with austerity or misanthropy. This of course is suggested by its spiny character, which leads even those who may admire it to leave it alone ; and the emblematic ideal is not so much (161) S' (: ■ CIRSIUM DISCOLOR. TWO (OLORKD— T.KAV1:D THISTLK. NATURAT. ORDER, COMPOSITJ'. and Wood's Cla.ss-Booi- of Botany.) The name, thistle, has come to be a term of reproach. A thistle would generally be re- garded as a weed and not a flower, in the pop- ular acceptation of the term. Flowers we may love and care for, but weeds we generally des- pise. But this character has been given to thistles perhaps from a misconception. When it was said that the land should henceforth bring forth thorns and thistles, it was only in the event of man not tilling the ground. If man neglects to do his part in cultivating the ground, the thistle should have a right to make use of the soil which man neglects to turn to proper account. If we will allow our- selves to look at a thistle while forgetting early prejudices w^e shall find much to claim our admiration. Certainly the species we now describe is always attractive though strug- gling with stronger vegetation in neglected places ; but when it is found in an open place, where the branches have a chance to develop without being crowded by other things, it may be termed a beautiful object when in full bloom. Indeed its crowding into unoccupied ground is in many cases a merit, as Withering, a worthy English botanist of the past age, pointed out of thistles generally. There are often tracts of barren clay on which scarcely anything will grow ; but the thistle is not fas- tidious in its selection of food ; and. carried by the light thistle-down, the seeds find them- selves on these places and the plants thrive, preparing in time the soil for other more deli- cate things which could not exist there but for the work of the thistle in the first place. The connection of the thistle with man's neglect has often been a subject of poetical association. Shakespeare, in Henry V., brings the Ivnglish and French princes and princesses together to celebrate the return of peace to their several countries. The Duke of Burgundy, sketching the miseries of war, remarks : " The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth The freckled cowslip, hiirnct. ami green clover. Wanting the scvthe, all uncorrected, rank, Conceives hv idleness ; and nothing tectns, lUit hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksics, l>urs, Losing ijoth beauty antl utility.'" Not always in history, however, has the thistle been despised. It is the national em- blem of Scotland, this honor havinj^ been be- stowed on it by the Stuarts, James the IV and James the V. It appeared on Scottish coins first in 1514, with the motto " No body ofl"ends me with impunity." This honor was founded on an old legend connected with the early history of vScntland. Achains, a Scottish King, had used it in memory of a defensive league between himself and Charlemagne, the French Ivmperor. and founded an order of nobility thereon, the order of The Thistle or of St. Andrew. The original incident was said to have been that in one of the early wars a soldier of the Danish forces trod on a thistle, and crying out with pain, betrayed the pres- ence of the enemy to the Scottish troops on which they obtained the victory. Xo one knows what species of thistle it was, and some have denied the whole story. It may not have been a thistle at all, even if the legend were genuine, as any rough seed vessel that could be used in carding wool, was a thistle. The teasel is used for this purpose to this day. and the two names have probably the same origin. Those poets who love to trace in the habits of flowers types or emblems of the passions or emotions of humanity, connect the thistle with austerity or misanthropy. This of course is suggested by its spiny character, which leads even those who may admire it to leave it alone ; and the emblematic ideal is not so much ^161) COLOR PHOTO l62 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— CIRSIUM DISCOLOR. [Sept. strained as it very often is by writers of this class. In most of our text-books this plant is described under the name of Cirsium discolor. Both this and Cnicus are very old names for these plants, but the more modern botanists do not regard the differences sufficient to dis- tinguish the two genera, and Cirsium is aban- doned ; cnicus is from the Greek, and signifies to bite or to prick, and is a very characteristic name for most of the species of the genus, when we consider the spiny character most of them possess. Thistles are very numerous throughout most of the temperate regions of the world. The United States has about thirty species, besides a few that have been intro- duced. Webster, in his dictionary, has with all the care bestowed on that work an evident misprint in making Cnicus lanceolatus ** indi- genous " instead of introduced. Some few thistles have been used as food, and reputed useful in medicine, but on the whole they would be considered a useless tribe of plants. The bee would, however, object to this deci- sion. It is a favorite pollen plant for this in- dustrious insect, a fact noted even in Shake- spear's time. In "Mid-Summer Night's Dream, " Bottom directs his French friend as to the luxuries he is to bring : ** Good monsieur, get your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped bumble bee on the top of a thistle ; and, good monsieur, bring me the honey bag. " Whether the honey in the bag was from the same kind of plant as furnished the mass of red pollen the bee's hip was loaded with may be a question. As far as the writer has been able to conclude, a bee engaged in collecting pollen or honey, continues at this work for some time, and does not collect either indis- criminately as it comes to it. It may some- times collect honey from thistles,— but its great attraction is the pollen. The peculiar arrangements of thistles in con- nection with composite plants generally have been a matter of interest to those engaged in the study of the relations of plants to insects. It is, however, by no means certain that we should regard every form in vegetation as being constructed with an especial view to in- dividual benefits. For instance in many plants of the order compositae the ray florets are very conspicuous while the disc florets have little to attract them. It would be par- donable to compare ray florets in such cases to little flags held out for the plants benefit, to attract insects to the humbler disc flowers, — but we see kinds with no ray florets making their way just as well. There seems to be no reason why all the florets should be showy, as in our thistles. In like manner there have been discussions on the way the florets are fertilized. The pistil pushes up between the connected set of anthers, carrying pollen with it, as in our Fig. 6. In time the pistil divides, exposing two stigmatic surfaces ; but not be- fore all the floret's own pollen has been lost, except such as may adhere as seen in this same Fig. 6. It is therefore assumed that the fertil- ization must occur from the pollen from another floret, and this is regarded as an ar- rangement for cross-fertilization. But in thistles these stigmatic lobes never open, but remain always as in Fig. 6, and yet the florets are as perfectly fertilized as are the average of flowers of the order. It seems as safe to say that the peculiar forms of flow^ers are arranged as much for variety in nature as that any special benefit to an individual is to result from any particular form. In 1876 Dr. Asa Gray, in his final revision of North American thistles, gives the geographic- al range of the species we are now illustrating as from "Canada to Illinois, and southward along the upper country. " Its next neighbor, Cnicus altissimus, was early discovered, and is thus more extensively referred to in botanical literature, but it is scarcely so abundant nor so well fitted to represent a purely American thistle, but very few of our native species are abundant in any one spot. Darlington and Michener include it in their treatises on weeds especially worthy of atten- tion from American farmers. Thistles of all kinds are considered bad weeds for farmers, because their seeds may be floated long dis- tances by th^ir coma or down. But the seed of this species is too heavy to be carried far by this frail agency, — and as the plant is an annual, large, and does not flower till late in the fall, only the very slovenly farmer would let it stand long enough to seed again. Explanation of the Plate.— i. Part of a stem and stem leaf, 2. A branchlet with flower. 3. Interior invol- ucral scale. 4. Floret. 5. Upper portion of pistil, showing the permanently united lobes, with adherent pollen. WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. SEPTEMBER. The morrow was a bright September morn ; The earth was beautiful as if new-born ; There was that nameless splendor everywhere, That wild exhilaration in the air. Which makes the passers in the city street Congratulate each othei* as they meet. — LONGFEl*I.OW. Poisonous Parsnips. — Mr. Chas. H. Loch- man has a paper in June Popular Science News, from which we take the following : ** Dr. Fred B. Power, assisted by one of his pupils, J. T. Bennett, in his experiments, gives an account, in a contribution to the Pharmaceutische Rund- schau, New York, July, 1891, of investigations to determine whether the frequent reported cases of poisoning by the wild parsnip were true, or whether, as he suspected, they were caused by other umbelliferous roots, which were mistaken for the parsnip. The chemical examination made by Mr. Ben- nett failed to detect the presence of any poison- ous principle in the root of the true wild pars- nip, and when boiled were fed in considerable amounts to a cat, and no symptoms of poison- ing were manifested. About the same time an independent contribution to the subject was made by Dr. J. J. Brown, of Sheboygan, Wis., in which he says : ' Just north of my home on the lake is a patch of wild parsnips, still holding the fort of an abandoned garden, belonging to the cabin of an 1836 pioneer. These parsnips have grown there and run wild to my certain knowledge about forty years — and, no doubt, for nearly fifty years— yet my faith in their innocence was such that a few days ago I dug enough for a good dinner, which I ate, and can testify that I could dis- cover little or no difference, either cooked or raw, between these that have run wild for fifty years and those now cultivated in my garden.' Dr. Kremers, an associate of Dr. Power, gave lYz ounces of finely cut raw wild parsnip root to a small dog, who experienced no symp- toms whatever of poisoning, and in fact, the doctor himself ate half of a raw root without experiencing any ill effects." The Senior Conductor of Meeh ans ' Monthly has eaten parsnip roots, and has known others to eat them, without the slightest injurious effects. Always interested in the question, he has taken special pains to investigate cases. In the Danville, Pa., cases, he knew well the physician in attendance, Dr. Schultz, who was also an excellent botanist. He sent the roots, — some of which had been partially eaten, with the mark of the childrens' teeth on them. The crowns were good, and were planted. They proved certainly the common parsnip. There was no mistaking something else for it. How are we to account for these varying re- sults. If we are not mistaken, even the water parsnip itself has been tested, as the tests above cited were made, with no serious results. It is worth inquiry as to how these differ- ing results are to be accounted for. Ice cream is sometimes poisonous, — but this is by some deadly representative of the lower organization getting a chance to work. Can there be some similar explanation here ? A Mossv Cup Oak.— Dr. \V. Saunders re- gards the Mossy Cup Oak {Quercus macrocarpa) as being one of the oak family to have a wide geographical range in the United States. It is found rather plentiful in Kentucky, while in Canada it is found in a number of localities be- tween New Brunswick in the east, and Ft. Ellis in the northwest. It varies remarkably in size and general character. In some parts of the country it is known as the Scrub Oak, from its rarely reaching more than 15 feet in height. ASPLENIUM PINNATIFIDUM. — Mr. C. F. Saunders finds this rare fern in York County, Pennsylvania, and a case where one of the fronds has assumed a rhizomatous character, as in the Walking Fern. These cases of transi- tion between species — some would say rever- sion— are always of interest. (163) 164 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WII^D FLOWERS AND NATURE. A Peloria Condition of the Yellow ToADFLAx.^Dr. S. P. Speese, of Lansdale, Pa., sends specimens of the common yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris, in what is known as its peloric condition. In this condition the flowers have several spurs instead of one, and the whole structure of the flower is changed. The specimens were rather small to make a good drawing from, so we have made use of a figure, given some years ago, in the London Journal of Horticulture, which represents ex- actly the condition in which it is occasionally found in America. The word "occasionally " is used, as it does not seem a com- mon occurrence with us,— at least it has never been the good fortune of the writer of this to see a living specimen until this one kindly sent by Dr. Speese. The Greek word pelor signifies a monster,— and the term peloria has been employed to designate the mon- strous forms of flower, and of this toadflax in partic- ular. There is nothing more interesting than a study of the method em- ployed by nature in constructing the various forms of flowers ; and these monstrosities are always welcomed in these days, as they fur- nish the clue to much knowledge that can otherwise be only guessed at. We have come for instance, to conceive that all flowers are made up of many parts that might have been, but for the conditions surrounding them, pure green leaves. But life-energy unites parts that might have been separate, and thus what we call monopetalous or tubular flowers, are really made up by the union of distinct leaflets. The [Sept. snapdragon, or toadflax, which seems so solidly of one piece for all its wide-gaping mouth, we come to believe is really made up of five distinct pieces, which in early infancy became united. The lower lip, which has the palate, should have been of three pieces, and the upper, arching segment, is of two. The peloria condition is a reversion towards the original. An arrested degree of vital energy has permitted a separation of the parts usually united, and we have four or five petals with spurs, as if it were an Aquilegia, or columbine. This does not mean that a columbine and a toadflax, or snapdragon, are near relatives, that the reversion is towards the columbine family,— but that a phase of vital energy, occurring on any flower at a certain stage of its career, will produce a certain definite result. It is not a reversion towards any particular ancestor,— but a reversion towards the poly- phyllous condition, the common type of all monopetalous flowers. Skeleton Leaves and Fruits.— To some extent any skeleton is natural, but nature sometimes prepares them in peculiar ways. Mr. E. Newlin Williams has this to say of Arabis Canadensis: "In the fall and winter woods we are apt to see the Arabis or sickle- pod, with its abundance of slender, scythe- shaped valves and the flattest and lightest of chestnut-brown winged seeds. The first time I met it I took it for a bean or a pea instead of a mustard. In one specimen I found the valves had been whipped away by the winter, and there only remained an outline skeleton of two curving threads— a mere wraith of a pod ! The mustard brings to mind the triangular capsule of the shepherd's purse and the round flat pods of the pungent wild pepper grass, so pleasant to bite at when green." Proliferous Roses.— Mrs. Wm. Hopkins, Jr., of Germantown, sends a rose flower, out of the centre of which a number of smaller flowers are growing. Roses show this freak occasion- ally, as do other flowers,— but the present sea- son seems to exhibit more than usual. These freaks are now welcome to students in morpho- logical botany. They teach that a rose flower is but an arrested branch. With a less display of resisting force a rose flower might have been a branching bunch of roses. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 165 The Flowers of the Sumach. — I wish to ask you a few questions in regard to the sumach. We have several clumps on our place here, and one clump especially is planted in a very conspicuous place, and we very much de- sired to have the red ''bobs" show in the latter part of the season ; but every year they fail us. They bloom profusely, and the pani- cles of bloom are immense, — a foot or more in length, and large in proportion, but the blooms always drop off", leaving the bare main stalk which soon dries up and breaks off". In examining several clumps to-day that are growing wild, I find that every clump which has perfectly formed bobs on has the new growth and the main stem of the leaves cov- ered with a short fuzz, while the variety with the large panicles of bloom and no bobs had the new growth perfectly smooth, the main stem of the leaf perfectly smooth and the upper side of the leaf stem red in color. There was also a marked difference in the leaf. The variety bearing the bobs having a leaf much more notched on the edge than the other, and shows the veins more plainly. I concluded that there were two varieties, one bearing bobs and the others not ; but on coming to the group mentioned on our grounds, I find that it is the same variety that bore the bobs in another location. Can you explain the matter to me, or state why the blooms drop on some and remain on others? I also have a fine specimen of Rhus laciniata on the lawn, and the spike of bloom is dropping this year the same way. Last year it had a spike of red bobs. We cannot see any insects at work on them. It may be the birds, but we do not notice them working specially on them. We have a specimen of Oxydendron arboreum in bloom at the present time. It is the first spec- imen of it I have ever seen in bloom. We also have a fine Stuartia pentagyna in bloom at present. We think a great deal of this, and intend making a clump of it. Lakewood, Ohio. ^' ^- CaRR. Mr. Carr has done well in drawing attention to these sumachs, as there is much of popular interest about them. The smooth one is Rhus glabra, the ♦' fuzzy ' ' one is a different species, Rhus typhina, the Stag-horn Sumac. But aside from this, they have separate sexes on different plants. The one ' • in the conspicuous place" is evidently a male plant. The female plant always produces "bobs " or seed vessels ; but unless pollen from the male plants reach them, they are hollow and seedlevSS. In the experience of the writer, plants with perfect seeds and plants with the hollow seed vessels often grow side by side, and indeed have their branches occasionally interlace, and yet each preserves its fertile or infertile character. The explanation probably is that the fertile plant is not purely pistillate, but hermaphrodite. But although this has been in mind to exam- ine at the blooming period, it has always been overlooked in due season. Certainly the female flowers get no benefit from the pollen of the male plants, either by the wind or by insects, although this point is much insisted on by speculative writers on the cross-fertili- zation of flowers. The male flowers are espe- cial favorites with bees and many other insects. A bunch of male flowers is a perfect entomo- logical cabinet, and well repays a lover of nature for watching it when covered by the insect world. Whether they visit the female flowers so freely has not been especially observed. In garden scenery few things can vie in autumnal beauty with the various species of sumach. They are worthy of much more atten- tion in landscape gardening than they gen- erally receive. CiRSiUM OR Cnicus DISCOLOR.— In addition to what has been stated of this beautiful thistle in the general chapter it may be noted that Cnicus discolor is perhaps one of the best representatives of the thistle family to be met with in the Atlantic United States. It is rare that we can make a good day's excursion with- out meeting with it. Along the lines of rail- road to the Mississippi river, it strikes the traveler as being very common, and yet it wholly escaped the notice of the earlier botan- ical explorers. Muhlenberg, the famous botanist of Lancaster, Pa., first noted it and named it Cnicus discolor from the white under- surface of the green leaf. The plant was by him communicated to Willdenow who de- scribed it with Muhlenberg's name. Muhlen- berg includes it in his catalogue of American plants issued in 18 13, but confines it to Penn- sylvania. In 18 1 8 Nuttall gave a very good description of it in his "Genera of North American Plants," and then assigns it to New Jersey as well as Pennsylvania. 1 66 MEEHANS* M0NTH;I,Y— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Sept. Seeds that Claim Human Friendship.— Mr. B. Newlin Williams has the following charming thing to say of even such homely things as ' ' beggar-ticks. " He is writing of a wood in Eastern Pennsylvania: "Then the DesmodiMms, whose leaves in our neighbor- hood are generally skeletonized, and whose pods in all habitats have the trait of sticking fast to one. I bring home rows of them every time I go to the woods, and my collie brings many more. Five species are easily recognized by the difference in the pods, though they have more distinct differences in their foliage and form. It is the Desmodium paniculatum of which Thoreau speaks, when he says, 'You may run as for your life, yet these pods will have time to stick to you as you pass. ' We bring home several other things without the trouble of plucking them— two or three kinds of beggar-ticks. Polygonum, sweet cicely, Geum, and the urn-shaped capsules of the agrimony ; but there is one, worst of all, and, studiously to be avoided, namely, the tick- seed, with which you have surely met. The stem pulls away from a string of the capsules and leaves them in a serried rank of apparently undetachable hedge-hogs, with their hooked bristles buried in the cloth. They come off by main force, and the green prickles that stay behind die and are lost to notice, though you are conscious that they will always form a part of the texture of your walking suit. In pick- ing off the stickers I sometimes find things I never saw stick before, and so add them to my list of plants whose seeds are disseminated by attachment. No doubt if I should examine my dog I should find more, as he penetrates wilds which I despair of, fearless of smilax and wet and the marsh." How Nature Protects Seeds.— Mr. G. N. Williams says : "The nuts have learned by long experience how good they are, and have armed themselves with formidable husks to strengthen their chances for being left uneaten. The chestnut from the very beginning shows only the part we know as the trio of little bristles at the end of its tail. Then the beech nut has a tough hull to protect it through its growing days. But the rude exterior of both these nuts protects the downiest of nests for the seeds from babyhood to ripeness. The shellbark and walnut are wrapped in a close bitter hull until the inner well-nigh impenetra- ble shell is a well hardened protection. The squirrels must get through most of them of course, but they do not gnaw at more than are necessary, being economic in the matter of dentistry. The acorn does not seem so well protected, perhaps it is because it is the natural food of the rodents, while the richer walnuts and shellbarks are meant for rare luxuries, being so difficultly attainable. The squirrels, it would seem, would eat even chestnut burrs when hard pressed. I have seen the snow died brown with the nibbled hulls in a severe winter. Then, too, I have seen sparrows making a meal off the wild amaranth and goose-foot seeds, littering the snow with the chaffy hulls. The cross-bills feed on the seeds of the Hem- lock cones just outside our window in winter and afford a pretty sight,— a flock of them taking all sorts of positions to get at the seed. The red squirrels like the green seed of the cones, for I often find the resinous scales scat- tered about under the tree.*' Extension of Plant IvIFe.— Mr. W. C. Egan says : " Is not the George Peabody Gol- den Arbor Vitae, or any other sport propagated by slips or cuttings so that in fact each one living is in reality part of the original sport ; and in this way the original will exist in parts, much longer than the natural term of existence, had the plant not been propagated ? I under- stand it to be so, — if wrong, set me right." Yes,— the Red Dutch Currant, for instance, has been increased by cuttings for many hun- dreds of years, though the original plant which started this great improvement on the wild Ribes rubrum, could not have endured these many ages under the most favorable circum- stances. After all, what is the plant, is but a single cell. Nearly all portions of a tree are practically dead portions after they get to be a year old, though we usually regard wood as dead only when it commences to decay. This decay will affect parts not so far advanced, and it is the increasing bulk of inert matter acting on the comparatively smaller aggregate of active life, that results in the final death of the tree. When we take a cutting from the weight of these depressing conditions, we give it new life. When the brakes are removed, the car of life moves smoothly on. It is the balance which decides the question. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 167 Union Oak.— The White Oak represented by the cut is growing on the farm owned by Miss Rhoda Hampton, on the Hampton Road north of the Marlton Turnpike, and about four miles from Camden. The larger body is 2 x 4 j4 feet in its diameter and the smaller i >^ x 2 feet. It appears to be sound and quite solid above the union. The earliest date the writer could learn of its being observed was about forty years ago, when it was said to be about aslargeasaman's body. There has been much dis- cussion as to the cause of the singu- lar growth. The inside of the parts are more nearly flat and the out- sides more oval as indicating a split, but the trunks are too far apart at the ground. The smaller trunk is larger just below the unibn than farther down, as if a branch had been turned down and rooted ; but the writer thinks that, as a fence formerly ran through the open- ing, two saplings had been drawn together and bound with a withe to serve as stakes to hold the would be adduced against the idea of a split trunk,— as also against the suggestion of a branch turned down and rooting. No theory but natural inarching will suit the case. An Arrested Blackberry Branch. —Mrs. S. M. Gaskill, Swarthmore, Pa., sends a branch of a common blackberry, which is terminated by a single blackberry fruit, looking like a miniature drum stick. Quite a large sized leaf is just under the berry. Botan- ists tell us that it takes a whole branch to be gradually modi- fied into a fruit. In this case the fruit was sudden- ly formed without the branch going through its grad- ual transforma- tion. It shows how growth ener- gy will vary in intensity in the same plant. UNION OAK. rails in place. The marked rod gives the dimensions of the opening more correctly than the medium sized man who stood back out of the shade of the trunk. It is said that photo- graphs, like figures, do not lie ; but both tell bifir fish stories sometimes. ^ ^ ^ , R. Bingham. Camden, N. J. This is undoubtedly a case of natural inarch- ing, the union having occurred at an early age. Very good reasons derived from a knowl- edge of the manner in which wood is formed, Trees and Lightning.— Mr. C. D. Phipps, of Franklin , Pa., says : " I note in the July issue of the Monthly, the paragraph regard- ing lightning striking the high- est objects. I do not think it will deviate a particle in its course for any object. I have in mind two cases, one of them being so near myself and horse that we were badly stunned. The fire,-- if so I may call it,-came direct to the ground between large shade trees and a house in a space of not more than 15 feet. The other case was in which a small tree was struck, a large house with rod protectors being on one side and large trees on both sides. One of our neighbors was killed in the yard near the house. These may be exceptions, but they will carry out my idea. " 1 66 MEEHANS* MONT^LY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Sept. Seeds that Claim Human Friendship.-— Mr. K. Newlin Williams has the following charming thing to say of even such homely things as " beggar-ticks." He is writing of a wood in Eastern Pennsylvania: "Then the Desmodiums, whose leaves in our neighbor- hood are generally skeletonized, and whose pods in all habitats have the trait of sticking fast to one. I bring home rows of them every time I go to the woods, and my collie brings many more. Five species are easily recognized by the difference in the pods, though they have more distinct differences in their foliage and form. It is the Desmodium paniadatutn of which Thoreau speaks, when he says, 'You may run as for your life, yet these pods will have time to stick to you as you pass. ' We bring home several other things without the trouble of plucking them— two or three kinds of beggar-ticks, Polygonum, sweet cicely, Geum, and the urn-shaped capsules of the agrimony ; but there is one, worst of all, and, studiously to be avoided, namely, the tick- seed, with which you have surely met. The stem pulls away from a string of the capsules and leaves them in a serried rank of apparently undetachable hedge-hogs, with their hooked bristles buried in the cloth. They come oflf by main force, and the green prickles that stay behind die and are lost to notice, though you are conscious that they will always form a part of the texture of your walking suit. In pick- ing off the stickers I sometimes find things I never saw stick before, and so add them to my list of plants whose seeds are disseminated by attachment. No doubt if I should examine my dog I should find more, as he penetrates wilds which I despair of, fearless of smilax and wet and the marsh." How Nature Protects Seeds.— Mr. G. N. Williams says : "The nuts have learned by long experience how good they are, and have armed themselves with formidable husks to strengthen their chances for being left uneaten. The chestnut from the very beginning shows only the part we know as the trio of little bristles at the end of its tail. Then the beech nut has a tough hull to protect it through its growing days. But the rude exterior of both these nuts protects the downiest of nests for the seeds from babyhood to ripeness. The shellbark and walnut are wrapped in a close bitter hull until the inner well-nigh impenetra- ble shell is a well hardened protection. The squirrels must get through most of them of course, but they do not gnaw at more than are necessary, being economic in the matter of dentistry. The acorn does not seem so well protected, perhaps it is because it is the natural food of the rodents, while the richer walnuts and shellbarks are meant for rare luxuries, being so difficultly attainable. The squirrels, it would seem, would eat even chestnut burrs when hard pressed. I have seen the snow died brown with the nibbled hulls in a severe winter. Then, too, I have seen sparrows making a meal off the wild amaranth and goose-foot seeds, littering the snow with the chaffy hulls. The cross-bills feed on the seeds of the Hem- lock cones just outside our window in winter and afford a pretty sight,— a flock of them taking all sorts of positions to get at the seed. The red squirrels like the green seed of the cones, for I often find the resinous scales scat- tered about under the tree.*' Extension of Plant I,ife.— Mr. W. C. Egan says : " Is not the George Peabody Gol- den Arbor Vitae, or any other sport propagated by slips or cuttings so that in fact each one living is in reality part of the original sport ; and in this way the original will exist in parts, much longer than the natural term of existence, had the plant not been propagated ? I under- stand it to be so, — if wrong, set me right." Yes,— the Red Dutch Currant, for instance, has been increased by cuttings for many hun- dreds of years, though the original plant which started this great improvement on the wild Ribes rubrum, could not have endured these many ages under the most favorable circum- stances. After all, what is the plant, is but a single cell. Nearly all portions of a tree are practically dead portions after they get to be a year old, though we usually regard wood as dead only when it commences to decay. This decay will affect parts not so far advanced, and it is the increasing bulk of inert matter acting on the comparatively smaller aggregate of active life, that results in the final death of the tree. When we take a cutting from the weight of these depressing conditions, we give it new life. When the brakes are removed, the car of life moves smoothly on. It is the balance which decides the question. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 167 Union Oak.— The White Oak represented by the cut is growing on the farm owned by Miss Rhoda Hampton, on the Hampton Road north of the Marlton Turnpike, and about four miles from Camden . The larger body is 2 x 4 Yz feet in its diameter and the smaller i >^ x 2 feet. It appears to be sound and quite solid above the union. The earliest date the writer could learn of its being observed was about forty years ago, when it was said to be about aslargeasaman's body. There has been much dis- cussion as to the cause of the singu- lar growth. The inside of the parts are more nearly flat and the out- sides more oval as indicating a split, but the trunks are too far apart at the ground. The smaller trunk is larger just below the unibn than farther down, as if a branch had been turned down and rooted ; but the writer thinks that, as a fence formerly ran through the open- ing, two saplings had been drawn together and bound with a withe to serve as stakes to hold the would be adduced against the idea of a split trunk,— as also against the suggestion of a branch turned down and rooting. No theory but natural inarching will suit the case. An Arrested Blackberry Branch.— Mrs. S. M. Gaskill, Swarthmore, Pa., sends a branch of a common blackberry, which is terminated by a single blackberry fruit, looking like a miniature drum stick. Ouite a large sized leaf is just under the berry. Botan- ists tell us that it takes a whole branch to be gradually modi- fied into a fruit. In this case the fruit was sudden- ly formed without the branch going through its grad- ual transforma- tion. It shows how growth ener- gy will vary in intensity in the same plant. UNION OAK. rails in place. The marked rod gives the dimensions of the opening more correctly than the medium sized man who stood back out of the shade of the trunk. It is said that photo- graphs, like figures, do not lie ; but both tell bis: fish stories sometimes. ^ ^ ^ T R- Bingham. Camden, N. J. This is undoubtedly a case of natural inarch- ing, the union having occurred at an early age. Very good reasons derived from a knowl- edge of the manner in which wood is formed, Trees a n i> LuiHTNING.— Mr. C. D. rhipps, of Franklin, Pa., says : " I note in the July issue of the Monthly, the paragraph regard- ing lightning striking the high- est objects. I do not think it will deviate a particle in its course for any object. I have in mind two cases, one of them being so near myself and horse that we were badly stunned. The fire,-- if so I may call it,-came direct to the ground between large shade trees and a house in a space of not more than 15 feet. The other case was in which a small tree was struck, a large house with rod protectors being on one side and large trees on both sides. One of our neighbors was killed in the yard near the house. These may be exceptions, but they will carry out my idea. " INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE i68 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Sept. Accelerated development.— It is well understood in these days that the various forms of plants result from internal growth force. This force is ex- hausted before it reaches far, — hence plants vary with the degree or the direction of energy involved. A spe- cies therefore can only vary to a limited degree, because the energy is worn out before it reaches far. There seems to be a normal de- gree or condition of growth in all species. When this is exceeded we say growth has been accelerated, — when it falls short, growth is said to be arrested . There are fre- quent illustrations of these cases in abnormal forms. In the rose it is not uncom- mon to note a small rose growing up from the center of the normal flower. Here- with is another illustration of acceleration in a head of white clover, gathered at Hackettstown, New Jersey, though sent from San Diego, California. The senior con- ductor has occasionally met with similar efforts in this clover. It shows how easily Nature might give us a racemose instead of a capitate head. It only requires that strong growth energy should be always in that direc- tion. Wild Flowers in Oklahoma.— C^^^/w vtoiacea Z. is so common as almost to assume a weedy character here in the spring. Sabbatia angulan's of Pursh dots the prairies with its beautiful pink flowers. I have been noticing this summer how the anthers of this plant mature before the stigma. They at first stand erect while the twisted deeply two-lobed stigma lies bent over on a plane with the petals until the anthers have discharged their pollen and begun to coil outward. Then the stigma straightens up and untwists for pollination. A fine example of dichogamy. A form of Tradescantia Virginica L. with pink flowers is quite common here. It does not answer the description of 7". rosea of Ven- tenat, so I take it to be a form of the species T, Virginica L. which is very common. Vtola tricolor arvensis is so well established here, one would say that it is native. Sapindus matginahcs is frequent along the creeks here, and the so-called mistleto, Phora- dendron flavescens^yxXX., is often seen in tree tops. Stillwater, Oklahoma. E. E. BOGUE. Vegetable Physiology. — Mr. W. C. Egan puts the following interesting questions ; — " Is all, or what percentage is, stored in the roots during winter ? If all, why do freshly cut oak posts sprout ? Are there two * runs ' of sap — the spring and mid-summer ? Some people speak of the second run of sap. (Make a plain • kinder- garten ' article.) I've read considerable on horticultural mat- ters, and endeavor to grasp many problems, but cannot recall any article on this question that left clear ideas in my mind. Whether there is a second run or not I do not know. I suspect something of the kind, as new growth appears in summer." What is called the **rise of the tsap * ' in spring is simply the separation of the layer of bark cells from the wood cells of the past year, — the period when the boys make whistle pipes. There is no "rise of the sap " in the popular sense of the word, but the plant's juices in- crease in abundance at the time when there is to be a heavy draft on the supply. The " second run " of the sap is the activity shown during the few weeks after mid-summer, when the new layer of wood is being formed. Sprouts from freshly cut posts, or prostrate trunks, are fed by the food surplus, stored after the cells forming the annual layer of wood have been fully supplied. With no roots to furnish moisture and necessary food elements, the growth cannot be continued after the previ- ous year's stores have been exhausted. Houstonia longifolia. — Miss Margaret E. Houston, of Canonsburg, Pa., under date of May 8th, sends specimens of Houstonia longi- folia, quite as pretty in its way as Houstonia ccBrulea, which under the common name of Quaker bonnets, Quaker ladies, Innocence, etc., has won its way deeply in popular affection. \ [ \> \ GENERAL GARDENING. A P^KAN TO THE PUMPKIN. How dear to my heart Is the old yellow pumpkin. When orchards are barren Of stuffin' for pies. When peaches and apples Have both been a failure, And berries of no kind Have greeted our eyes ; How fondly we turn To the fruit of the cornfield ; Only fools these despise, The old yellow pumpkin, The mud-covered pumpkin, The big-bellied pumpkin That makes such good pies. — Louisville Democrat, Proprietary Rights in a Seedling —It has long been felt desirable that the same pro- prietary rights should be given to the discov- erer of a new and valuable variety of fruit or flower that is given by the patent laws to the originator of a new mechanical device ; but it has been found impracticable to give rights in any similar way by reason of the impossibility of the discoverer stating in language what special point it has that he claims as a propri- etary right. If one man can get a patent for something which could be described as the figure ten, and another could invent something which could be described as figure twelve, there could be no dispute as to which is ten and which is twelve ; but the peculiarity which gives distinction to a fruit cannot be described in this way. Something of the kind is, however, being dis- puted in one of the Minnesota courts. A Mr. Knudson has a seedling which he thinks valu- able. A Mr. Heideman is selling something which Mr. Knudson claims is identical with his own ; but the latter claims that he raised it himself. The only question to be settled by the court is whether it is possible for two dif- ferent men to raise two seedlings which shall seem to be exactly alike. The one who has instituted the suit, however, rather injures his claim by asserting that he raised his seedling by a cross between the plum and the cherry. It would seem that he should be made to prove this, as well as the party on the other side be made to show his plant was not a seedling. It seems far less probable that there should be a cross between a plum and a cherry ; than that two different parties should raise what is practically the same variety. Waste Water in Irrigation. — The por- tions of our country under irrigation are hav- ing new experiences. As we know, when it rains a ver>' small portion of the water is used by vegetation ; the surplus goes into the earth to feed springs, or passes at once to add to the volume of rivers. So in localities where irri- gation is practised, the larger portion of water used passes into other channels. A remarkable result, but one to be naturally expected is, that the underlying water level is often changed. Wells which at one time had the water level twenty- five or thirty feet from the surface, have it now ten or twenty. In other cases, springs of water will appear in ravines where never water appeared before. Many an owner with a dry and worthless piece of ground becomes suddenly wealthy by water appearing on his property in this peculiar way. But here the lawyer turns up,— and suits arise as to whose property the water is. Here in the East, or far West, we have to return a run- away horse when he is found on our premises, —and there the runaway water is as much of a question . Every condition in life has troubles of its own. Firs and Spruces.— Some kinds of the pine family have cones that stand erect on the branches ; and when they are mature, have the scales drop apart, leaving the central axis standing on the branch. Others have the cones pendent, and remain entire even when gathered from the tree. The latter are called spruces, and the former firs. Besides this the firs usually have the buds covered with turpentine, —while the bud of the spruces are usually scaly. (169) .•-■!iV' I70 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. Fairy Rings.— What are known as fairy rings in meadows or lawns are not common in America ; the fungus which produces them rarely showing itself in this country. The writer of this paragraph has not seen them very often. The only place where he noticed them in any great abundance was on the grounds of the late George W. Childs, near Philadelphia, and this was several years ago. They are pro- duced by a fungus which is very good to eat, namely, Marasmius Oreades, When the mushroom appears, it sends out a number of radiating threads which the gardener would call the spawn. This is of such a strong character as to destroy temporarily the grass, leaving a bare circular patch where the fungus has spread. The next year, however, the grass re-appears with renewed vigor, and it is much stronger and usually of a different color tint than the surrounding grass. The next year the mushroom comes from the circumfer- ence. It is said, though the fact has never come within the observation of the writer, that other rings extend subsequently, but that the part once occupied by the fungus will not per- mit of renewed growth of spawn in after years, and consequently there appears only an addi- tion to the size of the circle. It is probable that new facts may be discovered in connec- tion with these fairy rings by closer observa- tion. [Sept. Raising Large Trees.— In the vicinity of Philadelphia they have a fashion of lifting large trees where the grade has been raised that does not seem to be in practice elsewhere. Two ropes are attached to the top of the tree so that each can be drawn in difierent directions. A trench is dug around the base of the tree,— . the circle being as wide as may seem judicious. When dug to the depth desired the earth is forked away from the ball, on one side, and a block set under the roots as a sort of fulcrum. The rope on that side is drawn over the block and the result is the lifting up of the mass of roots on the opposite side. A little earth is then placed under these elevated roots, and the opposite rope drawn to that side. This lifts the roots over the block and more earth is placed there. The tree by the aid of the oppo- site ropes is then drawn backwards and for- wards, more earth being placed at each turn In a very short time the tree may be elevated as many feet as may be desired, standing on the summit of a firm mound of earth. Trees 25 to 50 feet high, with trunks 12 to 18 inches in thickness have been lifted in this way with very little check to future growth. The Rose Niphetos.— Rose after rose is in- troduced ; and rose after rose disappears in the course of a few years. Only a very few seem to survive in popular estimation for any great number of years. One beautiful Tea rose, Niphetos, is one of those rare survivals. Although it is some fifty years since it was first introduced, it is just as popular to-day in some quarters as ever it was. It may be that this is because it was one of the first of this class to have a fine oval shape, which is the form generally preferred by those who love cut flowers. This is certainly so in America. It made its appearance first in France in 1843, having been raised by a celebrated raiser of new roses, by the name of Bougere. The origin of the name is now attracting attention in the Old World. Some say it was given by Mr. Bougere, who was something of a classical scholar, after the nymph Nyphe, who was one of the companions of Diana ; and that the name should therefore be spelled Nyphetos and not Niphetos. But like many other explana- tions of this kind it is probably nothing more than a shrewd guess. Eucalyptus.— ^wr^/j///w J is a honey tree. The different species of Eucalyptus, or blue gums, as they are commonly called, have had a great reputation in many lines of human use- fulness ; but it is something new to learn that in California they serve the same purpose, of being planted in order to furnish honey for bees, as the linden is employed in the Eastern States' They commence to flower in California in October, and some species follow with flowers during the whole season ; for in California our winter season is their spring. Window Gardening. —A very charming effect in window- box decoration can be made by planting dark red Geraniums with English Ivy in the foreground. Several residences along the Michigan Boulevard, Chicago, are so decorated, —the dark olive colored leaves of the ivy presenting a strong contrast with the scarlet flowers of the geranium. 1896.] meehans* monthly— general gardening. 171 Sweet Pea ''Red Riding Hood."— Marked attention has been given toward the develop- ment of the Sweet Pea during the past two or three years, and many new and beautiful sorts have been produced. The Sunset Seed and Plant Company now announce a new sort which they will distribute next January, and which they have named the ''Red Riding- Hood." They give the following description of it :— ' ' In this variety we have a fixed type, and an absolutely new de- parture in form. When fully developed, the standard and wings are a pleasing rosy pink, shading to blush white at the calyx ; the keel, which is al- most completely en- veloped, being nearly pure white. Although unusually robust in habit, it is early flower- ing, and in plentitude and continuity of bloom it excels all other existing sorts. The standard is di- minutive, and peculi- arly convoluted, form- ing a hood around the wings, which protrude in wavy form, lending a novel and pleasing character to the flower. The fragrance sur- passes, in a marked degree, that of other varieties of Sweet Peas. The length and rigidity of the stems are remarkable ; they run eighteen inches long and over, and, when cut, the stem and bloom retain their stability for a much longer period than other sorts. " vital power the cork cells are not formed, and then the leaves are not thrown off, but remain attached to the tree. Any one may find lessons in this line from some forest trees, especially with different kinds of oak. Fre- quently it is the case that a large proportion of leaves will remain on the tree all winter, dry and brown, until the advancing growth in the spring throws them off ; but they always will be found on the weaker trees, or weak or half-dead branchlets, — chiefly those in the centre of the tree where the absence of light or the absence of food leads to a weakening growth. It may also be seen where, during the summer season, a branch may be parti- ally broken by the wind. Although that branch is not sufi&ci- ently broken to die entirely, its vital power is considerably checked, and the ob- server may note that the leaves on this branch remain dead and dry all the winter, while the leaves on all the rest of the tree may have fallen. A valuable lesson is therefore taught by this experience, that the fall of the leaf is a result of high vital energy. We may say that the perfectly healthy tree ought to shed its leaves easily when the proper period for the fall of the leaf arrives. If it does not shed its leaves easily, we may understand that we have a sickly tree. The Fall of a Leaf.— The fall of a leaf is a natural process characteristic of the higher type of vitality in a tree. A layer of cork cells is formed under this high vital power, and the leaf is detached. With a weakening of The Odor of the Ailantus.— Mr. C. L. Lochman, of Bethlehem, Pa., says that a seedling Ailantus recently flowered near that city and proved a female plant. It was abso- lutely odorless. 172 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. Mineral Matter in Plants.— It has not yet been clearly demonstrated what particular purpose mineral matters serve in the woody structure of plants. A portion of lime, for in- stance, is found in some form or another, in almost all wood. In cactus it is in combination with oxalic acid, or as the chemist would say in the form of oxalate of lime ; and in cactus especially, crystals of oxalate of lime abound. Much at- tention has been given to describing the part these crystals play in the economy of plant life. Dr. Kraus, in Germany, has recently discovered that the crystals of oxalate of lime are more numerous at the end of the growing season, and that there is a steady loss of those crystals during the winter season. The ques- tion has been discussed in this magazine as to whether life is wholly extinct when the plants or animals seem frozen. When we are able to answer such questions as to what becomes of these crystals during the winter season when they are apparently consumed, we may find it has some bearing on the problem of life under low temperatures. Protection From Early Frost— In dis- tricts in Japan where fruits and vegetables are liable to suffer from early spring frosts,-or, to speak meteorologically, late spring frosts,— they carefully preserve all the prunings'of their trees ^nd make heaps of them in various outlying portions of the orchards. When the frost likely to do injury is imminent, they start one of these brush fires in the direction from which the wind comes. They only make fire enough to make a smoke. To make a fire has a tendency to bring the cold into the orchard rather than to keep it out. Heat rarifies or lightens the atmosp*here, and the cold or heavier air presses forward unto the vacuum made by the heat expanded. They depend on the smoke and not the heat for protection. The Black-mold Fungus.— In Florida, they have found that common pine tree resin is as effective in destroying the microscopic funguses as copper solutions ; and especially in destroying the black mold, which is a species of microscopic fungus that sometimes seriously attacks orange leaves and orange fruit. These molds are known to the scientific as belonging to the genus meliola. The same or similar [Sept. species of fungus is often found in green- houses, on camellias and other plants with leathery leaves. The formula for the prepara- tion of the spraying liquid is given as follows : resin, twenty pounds ; caustic soda, four and a quarter pounds ; of crude fish oil, three pints ; water enough to make fifteen gallons. This is all boiled thoroughly until the resin is dis- solved. It takes about ten minutes to boil thoroughly. A little more water is added while it is hot. After it has been thus pre- pared, while still hot, water enough is added to make it about one hundred and fifty gal- lons. It is said to be extensively used in the orange groves of Florida. Preserving Wood. — Solutions of copper seem obnoxious to all fungus vegetation. The rotting of wood is caused by a fungus. If wood be steeped in a solution of copper it is almost indestructible. Railroad ties are steeped in it where wood is scarce and dear,— and it is often used to preserve posts. Begonias as House Plants. — Begonias love partial shade and a moderate tempera- ture. They are found among the best of all for window or conservatory culture,— at least there are few families of plants that can excel them in this respect. Moreover they are of comparatively easy culture. Watering Pot Plants. — No pot plant should have water till the earth is dry. More failures arise from giving water when unnec- essary than from any other cause. Cladrastis tinctoria.— Mr. Edward Tat- nall says : "please do not write Cladrastis 'Clad- astris. ' " In extenuation of the proof reader's fault it may be said that these slips are not really his fault. In case of doubt he is apt to take the first " authority '» that may be in the office, and this time "Wood's Class-book of Botany » » fell into his hands ! Parks at Plymouth, Massachusetts.— It is often said of old towns that they remain old and never become rejuvenated. But this is not true of some of the older Massachusetts towns. Plymouth, in Massachusetts, for in- stance, has five parks and is talking of open- ing more. ,gQ5 -] meehans' monthly- mew ©1 l/^^l FL/^NTS, New Rose, "Yellow Rambler,'* (Aglaia). —The creating of new varieties of roses has continued unabated, and the coming fall and winter will see the introduction of several new sorts. One that will be particularly strongly recommended will be the - Yellow Rambler " or "Aglaia," and it will be introduced by Messrs. Jackson & Perkins, Newark, N. Y. This rose was raised by the well-known Ger- man rose-grower, Mr. Peter Lambert, who tested it for eight years before seeking its in- troduction, and then only after he felt con- vinced that it was a valuable acquisition. GENERAL GARDENING. 173 shoot. The flowers are nearly full, of a cupped shape, and of a decided golden-yellow, like '•Mme. Talcot,"and darker than "Coquette de Lyon." This variety should not be confounded with the noisette rose ''Allister Stella Gray," which has been sold under the name of *• Golden Rambler." The Yellow Hop-Clover.— Mr. A. A. Romig, of Lowell, Snyder County, Pa., sends for the nameof a weed recently appearing there, some fine specimens, fifteen inches long, of the European Yellow Hop-Clover, Trifoliuin agrar- ium. It is quite a harmless weed, but one of NEW ROSE, YELLOW RAMBLER. AGLAIA. Few yellow roses, other than the varieties of the Austrian type, are hardy; but the "Yel- low Rambler" has stood a continued tempera- ture of from Zero to two degrees below— and this, without any protection whatever. It is a seedling from the Japanese Poly- antha "Sarmentosa " crossed with pollen of •'Reve d'Or." The former of these, it is thought, was undoubtedly the progenitor of the '* Crimson Rambler," and the plant shows many of the excellent qualities of that rose,— notably, in its foliage, vigorous habit of growth, and manner of blooming. The flowers are produced in large trusses, often as many as one hundred and twenty blossoms on one such beauty that it is surprising that it has not made its way into the flower catalogues of the seedsmen. For though in abundance in some localities, there are many gardens that would be brightened by its presence. Magnolia tripetala variegata.— On the groundsof Senator J. D. Cameron. Harrisburg Pa stands a specimen of the golden-leaved form of the Magnolia tripetala. It is at least 35 feet high, and this year the golden color was unusually bright. Unfortunately the tree is standing with a number of other trees, con- sequently it is not a shapely specimen, though probably the largest tree known of this variety. 172 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. Mineral Matter in Plants.— It has not yet been clearly demonstrated what particular purpose mineral matters serve in the woody structure of plants. A portion oflime, for in- stance, is found in some form or another, in almost all wood. In cactus it is in combination with oxalic acid, or as the chemist would say in the form of oxalate of lime ; and in cactus especially, crystals of oxalate of lime abound. Much at ' tention has been given to describing the part these crystals play in the economy of plant life. Dr. Kraus, in Germany, has recently discovered that the crystals of oxalate of lime are more numerous at the end of the growing season, and that there is a steady loss of those crystals during the winter season. The ques- tion has been discussed in this magazine as to whether life is wholly extinct when the plants or animals seem frozen. When we are able to answer such questions as to what becomes of these crystals during the winter season when they are apparently consumed, we may find it has some bearing on the problem of life under low temperatures. Protection From Early Frost.— In dis- tricts in Japan where fruits and vegetables are liable to suffer from early spring frosts,-or, to speak meteorologically, late spring frosts,— they carefully preserve all the prunings'of their trees But Miss Margaret Thompson, of Minneapolis, reports that Phlox ccrspitosa, a spring flower of the Black Hills, is very frag- rant. Rock Gardens. —Few things give more pleasure than a rock garden when it is properly placed. Too often they are incongruous, and then fail to please. We all know what is meant by being in harmony with one's sur- roundings,— and can readily understand what IS meant by being out of place, yet too often this IS the condition of a rock garden. Taste- ful gardening does not make new principles, but simply improves on nature. To find rocks where nature never meant there should be rocks strikes one unfavorably. A locality for a rock garden should be where one might ex- pect to see rocks, should nature have been so disposed. It is always Vorth while to have a rock gar- den if the conditions are favorable, as many plants thrive best in rocky places, and many do better there than elsewhere. With this is a representation of the Rock Garden in the Edinburgh Botanical Garden, for which we are indebted to the courtesy of the London Gar- deners' Chrofiicle. It is admirably situated against a bluff", where one might reasonably expect to find rocks cropping out. The break between nature and art is made admirably to blend, by the introduction of the most artificial looking plants. To the left we see that Yuccas 5 dSB ¥E^ETi^PLES. Early Cabbages.— The proof of the pud- ding is said to be in the eating. It is as true in regard to cabbages. In few vegetables is there so^great a difference in the eating quality of the vegetable. vSome kinds, in spite of the best art of the experienced cook, might make the Irish story of the mistake in cooking Paddy's leather breeches, seem a very reasonable one. In the lineof a soft delicious flesh, which even toothless gums may masticate, the old Wake- field varieties have yet no compeer. ?^ J j;^- .yy;:^ -,':^-r>: =,^jr^, ^--j £^^ ^ ^ rr'. — rPT .^tJJ9|^ -ri'- ••^k? A ROCK GARDEN. are largely employed, and on the right, in the centre of a little conical mound, we have the Monkey Puzzle, Araucatia imbricata, which one not accustomed to vegetation might be ex- cused for doubting whether it belonged to the vegetable world at all. But no rule for forming a rock garden can be given beyond the general statement that it should be made as far as practicable to work in with conditions already existing, or which one might reasonable suppose could exist in the situation chosen. They are always best on somewhat hilly ground. Pe.\ch, Triumph.— Messrs. D. Baird ^^ of an inch thick. By getting a good idea of the average growth per year, one may very nearly arrive at the age of a tree without cutting it across to count the rings. Public Gardens and Parks.— It begins to be a matter for wonder how any large town or city can get along without its public gar- den or park. The pent up denizens crowd them whenever possible. The recent report of the Missouri Botanical Garden shows that on a single Sunday, last September, 30,151 visi- tors were counted as entering the gates. Not a single act of vandalism was committed by this vast crowd. Small Parks in New York.— New York city has 7j^ per cent, of its area in park ground,— but below 44th street, where half New York's population lives, the area is but 2;^ per cent. The great want of modern civi- lization in cities, is small parks for people who never see the larger ones. In Philadelphia thousands of dollars are being spent in buying parks where miserable buildings stood. w SITUATIONS WANTED. Advertisements under this head, not exceeding 50 words, iU ^ iSed once for 50 cents, or three times for $1.25. PARDENERS:— We shall be glad to furnish ^ names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Germantown, Philadelphia. What A Woman Can Do. /^ A R D E N E R— Situation wanted by a man thor- v3 ouLdily experienced in all branches. Arc 38, married; 2 small children. Excellent references. Address, J. W. B., care of MKKHANS' MonTHIA' I ast week I cleared, after paying all expenses, fJ55.85 the ,nonth previous. f2f...'and haVe at the saine ["»; attended o other duties. I believe any cmrKctic person can ^o ^n"«l^> as well, as I have had very httle experience J^^ J^^ Washer' is just lovely and every ^^'''^\ZlT V^l^\l\^^^x makes selling very easy. I do no c""^«f/°K„,*„^„^P^*' j^^ about the Dish Washer and come or send for one. It is Jtr .nVe that T eood cheap Dish Washer has never l)eforc beV:rut on\lu-Tatket. 'Phe Mouiul City Dish Wj^Jj-r ^'^ this bill With it you can wash and dry the dishes for a ami^y of ten in two minutes without wetting your hands As soon as nconk- see the Washer work they want one You can make n5cW money and make it.iuicker than wUh any household article on the market. I feel convinced that any ady or gentlemaii can make from $10 to $14 per ^l«y;^^o"'"^ home. You can get full \^^^}}^^^l]\''\.y^^^^ Mound City Dish Wasiikr Co., St. Louis, Mo Ihey help you get started, then you can make money awful la^t.^^ ^ GARDENER— English, aged 38. married, small family; 24 years experience in growing or- chids, ferns, stove and greenhouse plants, roses, carnations, chrysanthetnums ; also the management of fruit houses, vegetable and flower gardens, etc. State wages. Chas. Dumper, 119 Tallmadge bt., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. AS GARDENER by a man of experience ^ and ability, will be'disen^raged ist of March next thoroughly conversant with the management of a gentleman's country estate, unexceptional references for ability and personal character. Address, J. E. S. Box 103 Toms River, N. J. W EAD GARDEN ER-^'^^^/'^ Manager-^\\.- n uation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work, cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches of gardening. Best references from first-class places. Europe and U. S. February or later, " R. F., Oflice, Mcehans' Monthly. OARDENER Situation wanted as gardener vJ hya thoroughly practical English-American, single, 8 years experience as gardener and florist. Excellent references. Address, E. A. C, Box 311, Tarrytown, N. Y. G A QQENER— Situation wanted as assistant gardener by thoroughly practical Scotchman ; age 25 ; single ; 10 years experience in all branches. Address, D. R., Box 420, Mamaroneck, N. Y. Ice Cream Now Made In a Minute. I have an Ice Cream I'reezer that will freeze c'-^^^J"* I^^<^*;{: ly in one minute; as it is such a wonder a crowd will -ilwavs be around, so anyone can make from five to six doUars a day sellin'g cream, and from ten to twenty dollars a d^v selling Freezers, as people will always buy an article wh^en it f demonst^atecl that they can make money by so doiim The ere Am is frozen instantly and is smooth and free fron^lumps I have done so well '^y^^l^ '-^"i^ X'rs'inow succeeding so well that I felt it my duty to let others know of tSfs opportunity, as I feel confulent that any person n. any locality can make money, as any person can sell eream ami the iMeezer sells itself. J F. Casey ^: Co.. 114.^ St. Chants S S Touis Mo will mail you complete instructions and wil\ employ you on salary if you can give them your whole time. The te : It^ Uultivation, Vafietie^ etc. BY H. R. KLLWANGER. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tion, the treatment of diseases and insect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip- tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo. Price. •1.35. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, Pa. NEW CREATIONS IN FLOWERS If you want to know about them send 10 cents for Mrs. Theodosia B. Hhepberd'fl New CataloRue of Kare and Beautifnl CHllfornIa N«veltl«.H. Many New Begonias. New Cosmos, Itore Cacti, etc. Ollered by no others. Ventura-by-the-Sea, Cal. While it is under new management, with new editors and new contributors, it is still the oldest and "'o^t ^P"*^*;'*^ publication of its kind in the west, this being the twenty- sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magazine for 30 cents. To any one sending us 30 cents and six names of friends who might subscrll)e tor our magazine, we will mail our one dollar niaga^ine a full year. At 3" cents we lose "^""ey the first year but hope you will conlinue to l>c a subscril>er. after seeing twelve numl>ers. If you wish to see the magazine before subscribing, send 10 cents and receive a sample copy and a free gift of an aluminum dime-size charm, with the Lord's Praver engraved in smallest characters ; bright as silver, and never tarnishes. U'c do not send sample copies free so save your postal cards as no notice will be given them. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Address, THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive St., St. Loult. Mo e^CkCkCk nieces of Sheet Muutc at 10 cents a copy. Also any 6000 Su^c published sent on receipt of the retail price. v;^ii„ ridtar Hanio and Mandolin Strings, of all grades. Vom .'to o cents eich. Send 2c. stamp for catalogues. In n.agazi.,e. Address, fl. »';3»*„«j^,^^'„e.. St. I-ouls, Mo. ;; Jd IlU.strared with colored plates. Cloth, ,amo. . W^.^O The OrcliKI Growor'KMannHl. Sixth edition. rn!..rgeH and Ths,',opnar wo t comain. description, of upw.-,rj of M7o »P«- :i^X,i.p'L«t;ntal'n.Ton'to:i', to««hlr with b.ocW. L..^^ of types of the various genera THOMA8 MEEHAN & 80N8. Ie Nurserymen. Noj)e ifenulne without oursealH We guarantee safe arnyaj »>>' i»aii J^arwest stock of grape vines in the world. Small'fruit.s Intnxlucer of unrivalled Red Jacket (^oose- «iuii.-*. herry and Fay Currant. Catalogue free. GEO. 8. J088ELYN, Fredonia, New York. o<^ yi' ^m Si CUT PRICES ON pumps: everythlnsr the farmer sells Is low. Who ^ sells low to him ? We have repeatedly refused to join, and, therefore, defeated windmill combi- naUons^d have, since '89, reduced the cost of wmd power to one-sixth what it was We believe in low prices, high grades and larRo sales. No one knows the best pump or prices until he knows I ours. We make short hand and long ^j-^^fc^^ power stroke pumps, with best seam- ^hICUqa , '*^^^ hT2iS.s tube cylinder, lower than ^«U iron ones— a 2j^ x 16 inch at $2.12. Tell your dealer. Buy none other. Aermotor prices and iroods are always best. Through gratitude, and because we are price makers, and are safest to deal with, the world has given us more than half Its windmill business. We have ao branch houses— ^one near you. Write for beautifully illustrated circular. HENRY A. DREER'S Aufumn Catalogue Now Ready FREE TO ALL APPLICANTS A handsome l^ook of 48 pa*,^es, with beautiful lithographed covers, describing and illustrating all that is best in BULBS with full cultural directions for Hyacinths, Narcissus, Tulips, Liiies, etc., etc. NoTR.— To all purchasers of nulhs will be sent, free, a copy of our (larden Calendar, issued January, 1897. HENRY A. DREER 7 1 4 Chestnut Street PHILADELPHIA, PA. 1, Yellowstone Park is more and more impressing itself upon the public, as the years go by, as being the Groat Park of the land. The strong feature of it is the fact that it is not a man-made park. True enough man has built roads and bridges and hotels in order that he may see the Park, but he has not yet tried his hand at constructing new fangled Geysers, or re-adorn- ing or re-sculpturing the Grand Canyon of the Yel- lowstone. These are as God left them. There, too, the elk, bear, deer and other animals are not en- closed in wire fences. They wander free and un- fretted whithersoever they will. Man's handiwork is but little seen and the Park is the grander for it. Send Chas. S. Fee, General Passenger Agent, Northern Pacific Railroad, six cents for Wonder- land '96, and read about the Park. Henderson's * Practical * Floriculture. BY PETER HENDERSON. A guide to the successful propagation and cultivation of florists' plants. The work is not one for florists and garden crs only, but the amateur's wants are constantly kept in mind, and we have a very complete treatise on the cultiva- tion of flowers under glass, or in the open air, suited to tho.se who grow flowers for pleasure as well as for those who make them a matter of trade. The work is characterized by the same radical common sense that marked the author's "Gardening for Profit," and it holds a high place in the estimation of lovers of horticulture. Beautifully illustrated. New and enlarged edition. Cloth, lamo. Price, 9\.M\ THOMAS M££UAN & SONS, Germaiitown. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TEU T^^lii^^^KVt THEIR CARD l¥1>iiEHANS' MONTHLY. Ml i II ■ fRAeriCAt. POPUiAR. SCIEIITiFWALLY EXACT. PO«U0H 60 THE iVr AN O 1 St« Of EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO •SU««CmPTJON PRICE, $2.00 A VEAR-— 24 NUMBERS The most practical aiad itoluable Ametj^ Horti- cMltSn^wbUcatioii. DEPAEWlfcim: The mower SS«^U^i*b aid Other 3^e«t*, MiwtoKWis, 2Sai«iMO i« th€ b««t hortlciUtural pa AmSiSl^ Chas I,. Burr. Sm JOAF, Highjaad Park, HI. r printed In eld, Mass. "I am areaUy pleased with the paper. -Jt l»,P"^V^LS?? m»i^^S^^Tod.^\. Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- scrvotipn of mtaral beauty, ior a purer tafete in the \j«s«?i-» of A\ I i ^ "J^jj'!"'?;' j?";;: B*U on thl. contlneDt m far «» I know •»^,*'>? '"^.ViP"" «"• tho n««t P^cttai' »'4. •' Rich vartoty of t«m«rkaWe%agrairiiifi.»»-./y: K /bi/. • WinnlBg, dellghtftil and aomttate."— A^ K Irihune, •• A. compendiam of naw in , r,kix*:f;-<'.f*iv'\^"-vr ^ ■M'fe.Trt'<<"'V,i)!-.i mmmsL, ,-kt ^ s fc "- ^ "^ "^ "^ •^ •^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^r^r^^r^FW^ wwwww^ CAMPBELL'S EARLY (hir M.'trvcJuns Acu GRAPE Itrsi uiKl iiK.^I \:iliia(.|... HiLlH-st ('(>iiiiiirii():,ti..n In. in lii-li»st iiiithontif's \Iav<1\ h.-altliv vi- oroiis. \.T\ 1. 10.111. -fiv.-. liarly or late, l.ar-.-st .•In-hi-. liin-t .|iialitv. imt U,\\' Seeds 'nt-cd not he sualloweil. s.,|.| l,\ inn\\\ r.-iiutal.lf Nurs.-i vm.-n. Noim- -.•riniiH' wit ln.iit <»iirM,.a|s \\ . •iianiMl.-.- sal.- arrival l.\ mail. l.iU-.-M .sl...k..l i-rap.- v ,1..- 11. Ili.-\v<.rl.l. O'^ CUT PRICES ON pumps: '';\^^'^- hvervthlnjr the farmer sells Ks low. Who ^ sells low to him ? Wo hav.> r. poatcdly rcfusod to ]()in. an.l, tluTf^fori-, dt-featcd windmill coinbi- Cauous^jmd liavo, since '89, roilurtd the cost of ^"^ wind power to onc-sixtli what it was. Wo bcliovc in low prirps. lii^^h {grades and lar,^.. ai, 3. No one knows the best pump or prices until he knows ours. \\c iiiake short hand and lon>» power stroke pun)[)s, witli best soani- _ less bras:-, tiil)o rvlinder. lower than iron ones— a 2'^ x if> inch at f2.i2. Tc II yonrdealor. liny nmieother. Aermotor prices and goods are always best. Thronj^h gratitude, and beeause wo are i)rire niakers, anci are safest to deal with, the world has Riven us more than half itswindmili bnsiness. We have 20 branch houses— ^one near you. Write for bp.iutif.illy illustrated circular. <^HIC4G( HENRY A. DREER'S Autumn Catalogue Now Ready FREE TO ALL APPLICANTS A li.nulsonu' h.x.k ..1 4S p.i-i-s. with hc.iiiliriil lilli()L;r.i|»lu'(l covers, (k's(ril)in- and illiLslraliiiL; all thai IS lu-si "^ BULBS witii lull ( ulliiial triiia tioiis li,r „^ Hyacinths, Narcissus, "^^ Tulips, Lilies, etc., etc. Noil-. To all |im< has. Is <.t I'.iill.s uilMt,. s< III. Ii.<-. a ropy t'l «'iii ( iai .l.ii laU luiai . issiKil l.imiarv. i:' ij. HENRY A. DREER 7 1 4 Chestnut Street PHILADELPHIA. PA. Yellowstone Park is more and more impressing itself upon tlio ))uhlic, as the years ^o by, as heinj^ the Great Park of tiie hiiid. The strong feature of it is llie fact that it is not a man-niadc ])ark. True enough man lias huilt roads and bridges and hotels in order that he may see the Park, but he has not yet tried his hand at constructing new faiigled (Geysers, or rc-adorn- iugor re-sculpturing tlie (;ran«l Canyon of the Yel- lowstone. These are as God left them. There, too, the elk, bear, deer and other animals arc not en clo.scd in wire fences. They wander free and un- fretted whithersoever they will. Man's handiwork is but little seen and the Park is the grander for it. vScikI Chas. vS. I'i:!-:, (;encral Passenger Agent, Northern Pacific Railroad, six cents for Wonder- laud '96, anil read about the Park. Henderson^s ^ Practical ^ Floriculture. Hv pi':ti<:r hkxdkrson. A Kuide to tlie smvesslul pi ..i>aKali()ii and (.ullivatioti of florists' plants. The woi k is not one lor florists an.l maiden ers only, hut tlie amateui * wants are eonstajitly kept in mind, and we liave a very cotni-lete treatise on the cultiva- tion »)t Ih.wcrs un.ler ^las^, or in the open air. suited to those wh.. -n.w floweis for pleasure as well as for those who make them a mattei of trach-. Th.- wo.k is eharacteri/ed by the s.uue radical comnioji sen.se that juarked the .author's "CardeninK i"t rroht." and it holds a hi^h place in the estitnation of lovers of hort iniltuic. neautifullv ilhistrated. New and enlarged eilition. Cloth. i2mo. I'riee, »l.r.O. TiUniAS >II:KII\N a sons, 1| L.ra.«t Bulld.rt ol «reenhou7e Stfuclur.s. Six Hl,li..l Award, at the World'. Fair Send four cents postage for illustrated caulogue ABCH-fei^iSi^^FFI^. leo FIFTH AVB.. CO^ «st STHBErr. NEW YORK. Factory : IrvlnKton-on-HndHon, New York .ucmiuu ir^y^ PUBLISHED THE 18T AND 15th OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2.00 A YEAR— 24 NUMBERS The most practical and valuable American Horti- cultural publication. DEPARTMENTS : The Flower Garden. Trees and Shrubs, The Greenhouse The window Garden, The Fruit Garden, The Vege- Ublc Garden, Insecte and Other Pests, Mushrooms, Mid others in season. See what subscribers say about this valuable j ournal . ••For condensed comtnon s^^se in gardening matters for r#.HahiV unoreiudiced and safe information, Gardening ^^G«r,nK.«o i. th. ^^^^ft'i^l^^ili^^'i^t^.i^. ?S^"lSd land^apes '- "-'j^^^^-t^H^^Ji^n'sact. N. J. "It is a deliehtful paper and has been very interesting and in.Sirti>etom"" ^ frank Hitchcock, Davenport, la. ••TliAve found Gardening extremely useful and interest- ln£ YoS hav? given your subscribers a great deal more than ISS.. ^tftS^v'a worth •' Ch AS. E- BROWN. their money s wonn. v.- Yarmouth, Nova Scotia "Such a publication was~ng o««^«^ .*°, "i\*r ff*""!^' KTCTy Hue 6f its contributions is a lesson m itself to many "I valoc GARDENING highly on account of the very practi- e1 character J^^^^^^^^V Supt. Lincoln Park. Chicago "I rc«rd Gardening as one of the most practical maga sine. i«med in the interests^f »;<>jj*^^^l^;i^waterville. N. Y. "The paper is the most P«'^*^of any I^read/'^ ^ ^^ "I .ub.cribe to all the hortT^tural -"^ ^g^^Vn gIrde"n: B«U on this continent as far as I know a^^^.f J«^ »^,^fA°^'' .HO the most practical one for^an^amate^^^^^^^^ ^ ^ PRACTICAL. ,VOL- IX. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. ii'■iy\i^^y;i'x^^^i'?Ci^^<^'^^'^^■ "^ '^' /^ N D FOREST Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty, for a purer taste in the design and decoration of public and private grounds, and is uni- versally pronounced the best horticultur- al jounial ever published for Americans. •• Wise, intelligent, entertaining."-/^a»/^r'j ^gfkJy. •• Rich variety of remarkable engravings."— iV. K fbst. ' Winning, delightful and accurate."— A^. K Tribune. •• A compendium of new information."— A^. K Heraid. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. $4.00 A YEAR. Specimen copy free on application. Garden and Forest PnblisWng Co. -^"{i-E"^ ?-o'4r" WHEN WRITING ToTB^^^^rni^iTFiiTTHam^ ■" ""HANS' MONTHLY. ESTABLISHED 60 YEARS HITCHINCS « CO. HOHTICULTUHflL flRDHITECTS AND BUILDBRS Greenhouse Heating and Ventilating Apparatus and largest Manufacturers of The highest awards re- ceived at the World's Fair for Horticultural Architec- ture, Greenhouse Construc- tion and Heating Appar- atus. Conservatories, Green- houses, Palmhouses, etc., 2^ erected complete with our Patent Iron Frame Con- fm^W^i^m^'^^'ss^s^^'^'^^ ... struction SEND FOUR CENTS FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES. 233 TWIERCER STREET, NEW YORK CITY Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, Vines and Hardy Plants = = ?i _ 1 1 • . . Our stock is one of the finest in the United States. Strong, thrifty, well- rooted and carefully selected to please 2,"^ customers. New Catalogue for scribed and it is also profusely illustrated I arcr^ h^^.r^r■<. :n k ' .^^* ,^^ery thing accurately dc- logue. It will be mailed free /pon appHcaiion ^ ^ ' "" " ^^ particularly interested in this cata- Landscape EnS'ineerinir ^^^^? P^-^P^^f^ and carefuny earned out for t- ^ M^iiiVVl 111^. F^^'fg' ^oadmaking, planting and remodel- when extensive work is contemplated. Correspondence solicitld"! '^' ^^^'^^ arrangements made Nurserymen and Landscape Engineers THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA. ^EDWARD CAMPBEi-i_^ ) L/INDSC/IPE /IRCniTEQT AND ENQINEER ARDMORE, - PA made a special A. Trees i::iz ^!72:r.;!^z::^Tc::::i:' '''-' "'' ''-'- '- ^- Draining Plans and Surreys. Fine Crushed Ston. for Walk, and Carriage Drives. H*""^ ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS. VINES EVER- n. . ~; " 8REENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENIilAl5 l^^^E^'^^'^'^'^-''^^^^^^^ ^mmmm^i^m^i^mmHmmm^mil^m^m^m^m2^ilL^12SIl^l2T* REAPiyp, mass. Modem Horticultural Building. '•■•^"TY S HORTICULTURAL WORKS, 148-156 Randolph Ave., Jersey City, N. J. WHEN WBITINe TO ADVERTISERS. PLEASE MENTION HEEHAWS' MONTHLY. .VI OCTOBER, 1596 No. 10 ISSUED MONTHLY. $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, SINGLE COPY 20 GENTS. »N Meehan ENEfiAL Gardening "LOWERS (snduded bjT TM?nA5 MEEHAN coPvnioMTCD i««e ENTBRED AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST OFFICE AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER. '".ft ! p? rieehans' thomas Monthly heehan & sons. PXTBLISHBD MONTHLY BY Oermantown, Phila. Sabseription Ppiee $2.00 per yeaf. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 cts. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. j^DVERTISINQ RATES ON APPLICATION Forms close on the 20th of each Month, preceding date of issue. Address all Correspondence relating both to Editorial and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phila., Pa. to send for our New Catalogue, which tells of IT WILL PAY YOU Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Roses, Fruit, and our special stock of Rhododendrons. It will in- terest all who are interested in such matters. ANDORRA NURSERIES, ^iSS^^^r"'- Philadelphia, Pa. Wm. Warner Harper, Manaoer 11 QUICK AS WINK 99 Ih the name of our SUPERIOR HOSE _ COUPLINO Is the QUICKEST nnd moKt convenient coupling on the market. All sizes, from ^ to'i^ins. Exclusive town rightH to Agents buying our *4.50 outfit. 8nmF)lo by mull, 60c. W. J. Clark Co. Box 6, Salem, Ohio. BERKSHIRE, Chester White, Jer»ey Red & Poland China *PlG8. Jersey, Qnernsey & Hol- Btein Cattle. Thoroa^^hbted Sheep, Fancy Poultry, Jlunting _ — i^pMMv and Houne Dogs. Catalogue. 8» W. SMITH. Cochranvillet Chester Cc, Pa* IT'S UNCERTAINTY THAT HURTS ! That's what tho business men claim, and why not. consider that feature when fipurinR on the fence problem. With an unproved device, you are never sure that your slock and crops !i re safe. Weiare sellinR Page to men who have tested It over ten years. They're not experimenting. PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. I NOVELTIES IN PLANTS, FRUITS, Etc. A. BLANC db CO., 314, 316 N. 11th ST., PHILADELPHIA A material has been discovered for glazing which after thorough test has been proven far superior to putty, it is called IWflSTICfl. Mastica is easier to apply and when once put on it stays. It is not affected by extremes of weather, and is thus especial- ly adapted for greenhou.ses.conservatories.graperies, hotbeds, etc. Kudorsed by prominent florists throughout the country. Send for descriptive circular of Mastica and Mastica Glazing Machines. p. O. PIHRCH St CO., Sole fasinutaetufeps 170 Fulton St., fiem Voitk HENRY A. DREBR. 7M Chestnut St., Phila., Pa. HENRY F. MICHELL, xoi8 Market St., Phila., Pa. GRIFFITH TURNER A CO., 205 N. Paca St., Baltimore, MD. EDWARD S. SCHMID, 7x3 lath St., N W., Washington, D.C. Pot Plants op Vines md euMBERS We have a full stock of Vines and Climbers in pots. We do not issue a printed list, but will give prices on any quan- tities and varieties desired. When writing, please mention varieties and quantity required. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Cermantown, Phila. P.O. STATION Q. IIMO S^ct^ 6ree WHEN WRITING TO AOVERIISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. ' ^^w t jl. LESPEDHZA HIRTA. HAIRY HI SH-rLOVKR. NATURAL ORDER. LHGl'MINOS.i:. ,.-.-. Illicit -^tem viUotts; leaflets rcnndish-oval. P'>!;^^--';\,.^;^:V7^S-/?;;;^ 'vX^ lespedeza h.irla was one of the first to attract the attention of the earlier botanists to wliorn it appeared as one of the clover family, and is described by Gronovius in his Flora of \ ir- ginia as " Ttifolium frutkosum hirsntum,"— and we see here the origin of its common name of Fruticose or Bush Clover. It was said by Clayton, who furnished the notes and specimens for Gronovius, to have "the Howers disposed in a long, hairy spike." In LinnKus' time it came to be classed with Hedysarum, and in the Specks Plantariim of this author it is described as Hedysanim hirliim. Botanists are often exercised to find some distinctive character by which large genera are divided. In this case many of the family had the loment or seed pod divided like a chain, with one seed in a section of the chain-like pod. Others had a pod with onlv a single seed, and no chain- like division. Michaux, in 1803, proposed to separate the last from the first under the name Lespedeza, and this has been accepted by .suc- ceeding botanists. He could, '-owever,^ find only three species on which to e.-- " the genus, leaving nine remaining under n.d satiitn. Michaux tells us he nan -1 th" "» honor of Governor I). Lesj. charge of what at that time wa. -""■<» territory of Louisiana, and who rendered .lui- good service in his travels through the terri- tory ; but his journal shows no obligation to any Governor of Louisiana— but much to the Governor of Florida. He started down the Mississippi to explore, but returned after reaching the mouth of the Cumberland , This seems all that is known of Lespedez. Michaux, when making the genus Lespe- deza. named our plant L. polystaehya .-^r^A Persoon, in 1807, named what proved to be the same plant. L. villosa. Why botani.sts have adopted the name of F.lhott, L. hirta. not given to the plant as a Lespedeza till 1S24, docs not appear, consideri.ig thai the botanical canon is that the prior name ouj;ht to prevaiL Some have contended that the adjective should be carried through though the nominative might continually change, but this is not conceded by others. In this case the plant might be named Lespedeza hiHa of Linn.cus. but who did not regard it as a Lespedeza at a 1 The matter is of little consequence in .t.ell but furnishes a lesson to the student in regard to the diir.culties surrounding a stable nomen- clature in plants. A remarkable feature in some plants s that thev have the power of producing two dis .net forms of flowers, on the same .ndivulual though often at different stages, of the plant s growth. One class of flowers is as we usual y Jee and understand a flower to be; that, is wi h the petals, often bright colored, that -e usually understand as the most essential part in the idea of a flower.-the other class has no petals, and indeed the calyx rarely opens or appears more than a mere bud. But inside, the p.s til is absolutely perfect, and a stamen or two may bear a little pollen, -but even with but a few pollen grains the bud is fertile and produces a seed vessel. This latter class of flowers are called cleistogene. As a general rule, when these two clas.s-s of flowers exist on the same plant the sh( aalbearing flowers are more or ,e.ss infe .e,- but the imperfect bud-like blos- soms bear seeds freely. The reason for h s curious ar...,gement in the economy of nature has been a • alter for numerous speculations none of which, however, have commended themselves to general acceptation. In Les- pedeza some species bear cleistogene flowers, and the g.nus is divided into t-o sect.ons m accordance w>th this fact. Lespede.a hirta belongs to the section which has perfect flowers «^""y'- (.8.) I I ; ^ I 1 1 ■ f COLOR PHOTO ■iM^SSS^ v.'. ^'SjM COLOR PHOTO f MT'CXTT'Tr^XT A T OT^/^i^XTT^ TT^ Liisrni)p:zA iiirta. iiAiRV r.rsn-'M/)VKR. NATURAL ORDER. Li:(;rMlNOSJ:. Ic^pedcza I'irta was one of the first to attract the attention of the earlier botanists to whom it appeared as one of the clover fanuly, and is described by C.ronovins in his Flora of \ ir- ginia as " TutoUum fniticosum hitsiitum: — and we see here the origin of its common name of Kruticose or Bnsh Clover. It was said by Clayton, who fnrn.shed the notes and specimens for (ironovius, to have "the llowers disposed in a long, hairy spike." In l.inniuns' time it came to be classed with Ihdy^arum, and in the Species Plantarum of this author it is described as Ikdysanim birtum. Botanists are often exercised to find some distinctive character by which large genera are divided. In this case many of the family had the I.iment or seed pod divided like a chain, with one seed in a section of the chain-like pod. Others had a pod with only a single seed, and no chain- like divi.sion. Michanx, in 1S03, proposed to separate the last from the first under the name Lcspedeza, and this has been accepted by .suc- ceeding botanists. He could, '-owever, hnd only three species on which <.o e.-. ' the genus, leaving nine remaining under Ha saiiini. Michaux tells us he nan -1 th" ••' honor of Governor D. Lest, ^ charge of what at that time wa '"'•-> territory of Louisiana, and who rendered .iin- good service in his travels through the terri- tory ; but his journal shows no obligation to any Governor of Louisiana— but much to the Go'vernor of Florida. He started down the Mississippi to explore, but returned after reaching the mouth of the Cumberland 1 his seems all that is known of Lespedez. Michaux, when making the genus Lcspe- deza. named our plant A. polyslacliya .-^v^<\ Per.soon, in 1S07, named what prov.d to be the same plant, /-. rilhsa. Why botanists have adopted the name of IClhott, /-. Imla, not given to the plant as a Lcspedeia till in^4. does not appear, considenns; that the botanical canon is thai the prior name ought to prevail Some have conten.led that the adjective should be carried through though the nominative mi-hl continually change, but this is no conceded bv ollurs. In this cise the plant ,„i.ht be named /.,../-•-/,:. ////A. of l.mnaus, but who did not regar.l it as a Lespedez., at a 1. The matter is of little con.s< . me curious ar,.. gemenl in the economy ol natu.e has been a • alter for numerous speculations „„„e of which, however, have commended themselves to general acceptation. u /.»■ />,,/..-<7 .some species bear cleistogene flowers, and the g.nus is divide.l into two .sections 1.1 accordance with this fact. /.«M-' ""''' belongs to the .section which has perfect flowers always. (iSi) l82 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— LESPEDEZA HIRTA. The philosopher, looking for compensation in nature, might say that the flowers being comparatively insignificant and without the gaudy character possessed by other species, might be regarded as almost within the cleisto^ gamous class at any rate.-and this sentimen- tal conclusion might be sustained by the fact that every flower is as abundantly fertile as if really cleistogene. It is. however, but the small size of the flower which gives the impression of homeliness. Under a magnify- ing glass, the beauty is found to be equal if not superior to the more showy kinds. But though not attractive so far as colored petals are concerned, it combines in its whole appear- ance many striking elements of beauty The artist has taken advantage of this in the make up of the picture here presented, for the whole picture is beautiful. Many a fern that might call for admiration would have no more points of excellence than this picture affords. After all, it may be a question whether we do not place too much stress or color as an element of beauty. No one ex- pects color in a fern, yet the exclamation of *'how lovely " is often heard when meeting in the wild woods some fern-clothed bank, or the abundant growth of ferns in the fissures of some rugged pile of rocks. And many a tree, which we should scarcely know had flowers at all, but for the fact of its having nuts, acorns, or berries of some kind, is regarded as absolutely beautiful by the beholder. Our hairy bush-clover, though requiring a lens to show us its really pretty colors, often presents Itself to us in a manner to command admiration. One such instance is especially remembered by the author. It was a burning hot day in August. Everything was parched and brown. The locality, in Eastern Pennsylvania, was a somewhat barren one. Small washed pebbles and fine sand constituted the chief portion of the soil, and the heat, waves trembling as rising from the ground, were suggestive of some firey furnace, rather than of a place where lovely wild flowers should dwell. But over the sur- face, scattered here and there, were large groups of our friend in company with its sister plant. Uspedeza capitala, with not a leaf wilting under the burning sun. Whenever Americans shall undertake a language for our wild flowers as Europeans have done for theirs, courage may be noted here. [Oct. Lespedeza hirta has made no mark for itself in the arts, nor found to serve any purpose in the economy of human life.— but it is one of those which in modern times has been telling us something of the wonderful history of the past. In our country this and other Lespedezas are not found to any great extent beyond the lines of the Mississippi and Missouri. Of the nine or ten American species, not one is found to have reached the Rocky Mountain region,— nor is there any on the Pacific Coast. But Lespedeza hirta, our present species, appears again in Japan, and is found to have precisely the same tastes there as here,— being found on rocky hill sides among shrubby plants, or in half-shaded, open places in the woods. There is no ground for believing that identical plants had separate originations. A few species may have been carried by seed to new locations long distances apart, just as we find plants of the Old World brought to the New by the agency of man. But the appearance of American plants in Japan could not be explained in this way. The groups of this Lespedeza must have had a close connection in the past. The conclusion is in^ evitable that there must have been at one time in the Earth's history, a land connection be- tween the Eastern Atlantic States and Japan,— that there must have been a subsidence from the line of the Missi.ssippi to Japan, and a sub- sequent upheaval of those parts in which the Lespedeza does not appear. Japan and the Eastern Atlantic States can thus be proved by this pretty little plant to be rather very old than very new parts of the earth's surface. The Pacific coast is the new world. The points narrated show^ how closely related the facts of Botany are with many other studies of uni- versal interest. This species extends far northwardly being found rather commonly in Northern Canada —and it may be met with in every state as far westwardly as Minnesota, and southwardly to Mississippi and Florida. It is especially common in Ohio. Early in the century the botanist Pickering collected a form at Quaker Bridge, New Jersey, with virgate stems, growing four feet high, and with leaves one and a half inches long by one inch wide, and which may be a distinct species. It is possibly Britton's var. oblongifolia. flowei^l^lkV n'^.ST "" v'' ^•^'^'•^^•-THe upper portions of two nowei siaiks. fiom a New Jersey plant. WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. THE SILENT AUTUMN WOODS. *• 'Twas autumn in the woods of Aldornere, The chestnut-burs were bursting in the sun, With their rich wealth of fruitage ripe and brown That crackled down all day from bough to bough, Where gathered restless troops of noisy crows On the warm southern slopes that else were still. The squirrel there was busy all day long Hoarding his store deep in the hollow bole, ^^ Down in the silence of those autumn woods. —Howard Worcester Gilbert. Among the Flowers at Trenton Falls — The neighborhood of Trenton Falls, in Oneida County, N. Y., has long been known to the summer tourist as a spot of rare natural beauty and grandeur. Here the west branch of Canada Creek, in a series of cascades and rapids, makes a descent of about 400 feet in a distance of two miles— cutting its way between perpendicular walls of Trenton limestone, which tower above the dark waters of the rapid stream sometimes to the height of nearly 200 feet. Such is the formation of the rock, its surface split not only horizontally but often vertically too, and worn into many different shapes by the action of water, that in looking up at the solid piles of natural masonry one is reminded of the bastions of some mighty fortress set down here for some huger race than ours— some warlike Anakim of this western world. To the geolo- gist, the region must be of peculiar interest ; but the lover of plant life also will find much here to engage his attention. Indeed, the writer recollects the commendation of a well known naturalist of Philadelphia, recently deceased, who said of Trenton Falls that, for an intelligent outing, he regarded it as one of the best places to be found anywhere. It was with that statement in mind that I stopped there about the middle of last summer to spend a part of two days. So short a time was of course inadequate to do anything like justice to the locality, but perhaps some notes of a few plants which especially appealed to one rather unfamiliar with northern woods, may not be without interest to some readers. The sides and summits of the deep ravii.e through which the stream flows are covered with a primeval forest growth, in whose cool, dark shades, (kept perpetually damp by the moisture arising from the turbulent w^aters which fall and eddy and fall again far below.) the wild flowers have bloomed and fruited year in and year out for ages, with few doubtless to notice them. So steep are the sides of the gorge in places, so thick the growth of shrubs, and so unstable the loose, light soil, that pro- gress is extremely difficult, and to be prosecu- ted only with the help of the hands. In the chinks of the shaded cliffs, some specimens of the beautiful fern, PellcEa gracilis, were found. This is peculiarly a northerner, never having been reported, I believe, south of Pennsyl- vania. Here, as at Chittenango Falls where I had collected it a few days before, its fronds werealmost, if not quite, prostrate— certainly a lazy sort of habit for a plant so gracefully out- lined as this. Near by were some trim speci- mens of the ginseng, or " ginshang" as the herb gatherers call it. {Aralia (juimjue folia), some in flower and some in fruit. The com- mercial value of the roots of this plant is con- siderable, so that "ginshangin," as the pur- suit of it is termed, has been at times a rather remunerative vocation in the mountains, though growing more and more precarious every year, as the abstraction of the roots must mean absolute annihilation to the plants, which are nearly everywhere becoming scarce and scarcer. The Beaked Hazel {Corylus rostrata) grows here, too, a shrub bearing nuts each of which is surrounded by an envelope of united bracts prolonged into a curious tubular beak, an inch and a half or so in length. It was also a pleasure to find here the Mountain Maple {Acer spicatum), although this is not an un- common shrub, being found even as far south as North Carolina. The spike-like racemes droop gracefully when in fruit, and are very attractive, the small samaras being beautifully tinted that morning with pink and yellow. (1S3) 1 84 MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. MEEHANS' MONTHLY-WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. i8n As is well known, many characteristic low- land plants are at times found growing at great elevations, so it was interesting to find high up on this hillside under evergreens a plant whose habitat is given as bogs by Gray- namely, the three-leaved gold thread (Coptis trifolia). It is a cheerful little thing, with shiny, evergreen leaves divided into wedge- shaped leaflets. It forms quite a carpet over the ground in favorable situations, spreading by means of the long, wiry roots which easily distinguish the plant, being bright yellow in color and bitter to the taste. It was past flowering now, but in abundant fruit, each up- right flower-stalk bearing a few sharp point- ed, brown, membranaceous pods. Walking on under the evergreens, I came soon to a spot where the ground was appar- ently strewn with green hemlock boughs. At first I thought this had been the work of wood- cutters, but as I stumbled over the sprawling branches I found to my surprise that they were firmly rooted. The supposed boughs were in fact small evergreen shrubs of a straggling habit ; and a little further investigation re- vealed the fact that they bore occasional, cur- ious, fleshy, cup-shaped bodies that seemed at first glance as if they might be a sort of gall or similar excrescence. They were bright red in color and about the size of a marrow-fat pea, but with a hole in the middle, at the bottom of which rested a black, bony seed. They were, therefore, seedvessels, and upon reference to Gray's Manual, the plant was found to be the American Yew, or ground hemlock, {Taxiis Cafiadensis.) classed because of its naked seeds among the cone-bearing gymnosperniju. The wood is tough, and it is said to have been used by the Indians for bows. Another interesting denizen of these damp woods was the twisted-stalk (Streptopus rosetis) —a member of the lily tribe, not unlike the Solomon's Seal in general appearance, and in summer bearing bright red berries suspended by slender axillary flower-stalks curiously crooked in the middle, as though broken — whence, doubtless, the name. Here, too, the Wood Sorrel {Oxalis Acetoselld) displayed its lovely white blossoms veined with pink, and barely rising above the masses of clover-like leaves. This plant seems most at home in the dark recesses of cool, mountain woods, often creeping over mossy logs and covering them [Oct. with its foliage, which is at times delicately tinged with purple. There seems to be a wonderful atmosphere of purity about this flower, and it is said to have been frequently employed in the decorations of some of the old masters. In England it has been called hallelujah, *' by reason," says an old herbalist, quoted by Britten and Holland, "when it springeth forth and lowereth \i. e., between Easter and Pentecost] alleluia was wont to be sung in the churches." Its three heart- shaped leaflets set tip to tip and suggesting the idea of tri-unity, have doubtless helped to link it to religious associations. Standing down by the stream's edge and looking upward at the tall cliffs, rounded out in places like towers, we can see, here and there far above us, little balconies made by the jut- ting rocks. Upon such ledges many ferns and flowering plants find lodgment, forming natural window gardens. Most noticeable among them, perhaps, is the Harebell {Campa?i- ula roUmdifolid), the blue-bell of Scotland famed in song. The beautiful blue blossoms droop over the face of the rocks and sway gaily from their airy heights, like bells on their tower. On windy days what a fairy tintinna- bulation they must make, swinging in the breeze— tongueless chimes, as musical to the ear of imagination as the poet's '* horns of Elfland faintly blowing ! " The blue of the flower is said to make a good ink when extract- ed ; but I should not like to trust anything very important to it, for the corolla speedily becomes white in the press. The plant pre- vsents a special feature of interest in the wide dissimilarity existing between its stem-leaves and root-leaves— the latter (which give to it its specific name) being small, round and during the flowering season few in number, while the stem leaves are long and narrow and quite numerous. The radical leaves are there- fore apt to be overlooked entirely by the inex- perienced botanist, and the plant may on that account puzzle him at first ; but a little search will probably always be rewarded by finding enough of them to identify his specimens. Before and after the time of blooming, I believe they are more numerous. For some interest- ing observations on the leaves of this plant, see article Campanula rotu7idifolia in Thomas Meehan's " Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States." c. F. Saunders. 1896.] Two Big Oaks,-The Slsters. — On the bank of Cooper's Creek, about four miles from Camden, New Jersey, two very large White Oaks stood. The property was once owned by a Mr. Kay. who named them for his two daughters. These trees survived the family so long that the writer was unable to learn the names given them, and the trees seem to be the only memorial of the family. One was prostrated by a strong wind about two years ago. The one still standing meas- ures twenty feet in circumference, in height about seventy-five feet and the branches extend from the trunk about thir- ty-five feet each way. The fallen one was seventeen feet in circumfer- ence, and two hundred and six- teen fence posts were cut from the branches. W e think the practice of planting and naming trees as memorials an es- timable one, and a tablet giving the date of p^ant ing should be at- tached . RODOLFUS Bingham. Camtlcn, N. J. The attaching of the names of APm-a for SENTiMHNT.-Sometimeago, I showed a gentleman around our greenhouses. He is commerciallv interested in arboriculture. As I pointed out to him various beautiful plants, his remarks forced me to believe that he looked at everything throu-h monetary spectacles, and that he had mistaken his voca- tion in his choice of a profession : " Not any money in that thing." " Doesn't pay." " No good commercially." "Only a wild fiower.' "No room for ac- sentinient," etc. " No room for sentiment I " Vet sentiment rules the world. A na- tion without the sentiment of pa- triotism has seen its best days. The sentiment of love is stronger than death. A people without the sentiment of taste, /. c. love of the beautiful, is reverting to barbarism . The florist and landscape garden- er, at every step, appeal to senti- ment for sup- port. Poets and painters in all ag-es have e.x- pressed their ad- miration for flow- ers, these living gems ot nature. A LARGE OAK. friends to trees is a pleasant practice. This can be done either by planting a tree especially for the person , or by associating the name with one already growing. The Heme of Shakespeare did not plant the oak,-but Heme's Oak is just as famous as if it had been planted for him or by him. It is to be regretted that the name of the lady who was associated with this grand old oak cannot now be given. Ceitainly it would add materially to its interest. A White Oak is a pleasure in itself. A 11 d the land- scape-ardener of to ent. never loved an} thing. iS4 MEKHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Oct. As is well known, many characteristic low- land plants are at times found growin^^ at jjreat elevations, so it was interesting to find high up on this hillside under evergreens a plant whose habitat is given as bogs by Gray- namely, the three-leaved gold thread {Copt/s infolia). It is a cheerful little thing, with shiny, evergreen leaves divided into wedge- shaped leaflets. It forms quite a carpet over the ground in favorable situations, spreading by means of the long, wiry roots which easily distinguish the plant, being bright yellow in color and bitter to the taste. It was past flowering now, but in abundant fruit, each up- right flower-stalk bearing a few sharj) joint- ed, brown, membranaceous pods. Walking on under the evergreens, I came soon to a spot where the ground was appar- ently strewn with green hemlock boughs. At first I thought this had been the work of wood- cutters, but as I stumbled over the snrawlino- branches I found to my surprise that they were firmly rooted. The supposed boughs were in fact small evergreen shrubs of a straggling habit ; and a little further investigation re- vealed the fact that tliey bore occasional, cur- ious, fleshy, cup shaped bodies that seemed at first glance as if they might be a sort of gall or similar excrescence. They were bright red in color and about the size of a marrowfat pea, but with a hole in the middle, at the bottom of which rested a black, bony seed. They were, therefore, seedvessels, and upon reference to Gray's INIanual, the plant was found to be the American Yew, or ground hemlock, {Taxus Canadensis.) classed because of its naked seeds among the cone-bearin^*-' of the beautiful, is reverting to barbarism. The florist and landscape ganUn- er. at every step. ap])eal to senli- nient for ^^U'' port. rovts au.l painttrs in all ages h.ive <^n pressed tluir nd- niir.ition for tlow- crs. these living gems (>^ nature. A nd the lau^V ith a A LARGE OAK. friends to trees is a pleasant practice. This can be done either by planting a tree especially for the person, or by associating the name with one alreadv gnnving. The Heme of Shakespeare did not plant the oak. -but Heme's Oak is just as famous as if it had l>een planted for him or bv him. It is to be regretted that the name of the lady who was associated with this -rand old oak cannot now be given. Ceitainiy it would add materially to its interest. A W Inte Oak is a pleasure in itself. 1 .f \,^ fi'iv must be a man wi' scape-gnrdenerofto..a> niusi correcn knowledge of the pruKM les of art ai.d be thoroughly imbuul with the.. entimeiitot ^•'""*- Wm. l-ll/Wll.I.IAM. Ves' even those who n-licule se.Uui.e.a. ure as much innuencea by >t asthos. uh..ncnKn,/.e Usp.wer over human act,o„ The a,K""-t of 'no sentiment ■• i. men Iv Wrought u, for the -H-casion. A man without sentin,ent, never lovetl an\ thing. 1 86 MEEHANS- MONTHLY- WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. The Flow oi- the Sap.— In the August Monthly, page 144, I note some exceptions to Mr. Wheeler's views in regard to tree sap. If a pile of bladders should be made, the lower ones filled with brine and the upper with sugar solution, there would be no flow \n either di- rection sufficiently pronounced to be called a current. But if the bladders were confined in a vessel, a tub for instance, the salt of the lower solutions would work through the walls of the adjacent bladders and finally into the sugar solutions in the upper row. The same process would be carried on in the reverse di- rection as well, until a condition of equality should be reached between the two solutions While this is a crude illustration, and in prac- tice would be slow, on account of surface evaporation from the bladders, it illustrates the movement of sap as given in the best text books. That is, the "flow "is transferrance by osmosis of more or less dense liquid from one cell to adjacent ones. If your correspondent will turn to Johnson's "How Crops Grow." (,894) pages 376-385, he will find the direction of " flow " discussed at length, especially pages 382-83. " The sub- stances which are organized in the foliage of a plant, as well as those which are imbibed by the roots, move to any part where they can supply a want," page 384. <'The fact that they chiefly follow certain channels, and move in this or that direction, is plainly dependent upon the structure and arrangement of the tissues, on the sources of nutriment, and on the seat of growth or other action," page 385 Since the roots imbibe moisture and the sub- stances in .solution, and the leaves evaporate most of this, there must be an upward move- ment of sap toward the evaporative portion- the leaves. And if all the moisture thusdis- tributed IS not evaporated there will be formed a return movement which will carry in solu- tion the more highly org .nized elements which the leaves have produced. This downward • How " is strongest when evaporation is least that IS at night ; and an additional reason is given by your correspondent-the elaborated sap IS needed in the formation of the new cells which give the increase of girth shown by his ngures. In Cxoodale's "Physiological Botany," page 32 1. we find that "starch is the first w«W^ product of assimilation." On the next page [Oct. we find that the starch has been found to go through the process of reduction as follows : totarch (C H„ O, ) in presence of carbonic acid ?'i t? ""■*'" ^"' O^ S'^«« "se to formic acid (C H, O, ) thence into formic aldehyde (C H, O) which is the same in the atomic propor- tions as glucose (C. H,. O. ). Sachs (Physiology of Plants,) page 358 describes the " tran.sloca- tion of starch, in which the transitory starch repeatedly undergoes solution, osmosis, and re- formation until it is transformed into tissue or permanent starch at the point when it is needed, but he does not say how the solution IS effected. Frederick H. Blodgett New Brunswick, N. J. The Cuckooflower, Cardamine pra- TEN.SIS.— I have been much interested in the behaviour of some plants of the cuckoo flower, {Cardamine pratensis), which is also called meadow cress and is the plant alluded to as the Lady's Smock in Shakespeare's lines : " When daisies pied and violets blue And lady s smocks a.\\ silvery white And cuckoo buds of yellow hue Uo paint the meadows with delight ! " The plant bears pinnate leaves, but the leaf- etsare but lightly joined to the midrib and the s ightest touch causes them to fall from the plant, leaving the bare mid-rib with per- haps a few leaflets remaining. Something of the kind has been observed in the honse-radish an allied cress with the same natural habitat as the cuckoo flower ; but in this the branchlets dropped off to float away and form new plants. Why the cuckoo flower should drop its leaflets does not seem so clear. Willard N. Clute. Biogh.imptoo, N. Y. Freezing and LiFE.-In relation to freez- ing, thawing, and death. I will relate a cir- cumstance, bearing on these points, which has taken place here in my neighborhood to my personal knowledge. Last fall one of my neighbors forgot to carry his onions down cel- lar until they were solidly frozen, some lyC bushels. He put them into a sack and buried them ly^ feet in his garden. He dug them out in the spring and found them all sound, not one rotten, and the outside of the sack was white with roots grown through. This corroborates my idea. Moscow, vt. Timothy Wheeler. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 187 The Adder's Tongue. — Adder's tongue {Ophioglossum vulgatum) grows on our own farm. My sister caught sight of two plants last year, in June, just as we were descending into the woods from a border fence. •' What are those queer, snaky looking things ?" she said. They were a variety indeed. Even the all-seeing Martindale had not listed them with the Bucks County flora of 1876. They seemed as illusory as rare, for look as I might about the same place afterward, and I did look many times through the summer, I could not redis- cover them. This year, how- ever, I came upon seven of them in spore about July 4th, growing deeper in the woods than the first, in low soggy ground, too dank to produce any canny bloom,— spotted pipsissewa, Green Orchis and Carrion Lily are the only flowers ever found in the place except Jewel Weed, and perhaps violets when the ardor of the cosy spring was on and there were no leaves to shut out the coaxing sun of April. I gathered some of the slender, twisted stalks, each with one semi-succulent, elliptical leaf standing out about an inch from the ground. I dug up the thick, fibrous roots. The plants were about eight inches high with a double row of spores at the tip of the stem arranged like the rattles of a deadly snake. The upper part of the stem and sporangium was twisted spirally, as a photo- graph I took plainly shows. E. Newlin Williams. " The Hedges," New Hope, Pa. ornamental tree is Zelkova crcnata. Indeed, the only species botanists have left to Planera is our North American P. aquatica. The fact illustrates how difficult it is to change botani- cal names after Ihey once get into general literature. It is many years since the Gtu- denef's Monthly pointed out that Plana a Rich-^ arfl'/ should be called Zelkova aenata. Meehans' Catalogues have persistently listed it as Zelkova crenata ,—h\\\. the customers continue to com- plain that they " ha\ e by some mistake received Planera Richatdi, which they already have." Planera Richardi. — It may be well to note that the plants mostly known in nur- sery catalogues and gardens as Planera have been mostly removed to Zelkova, by bo- tanists. Planera Richardi, the beautiful, elm-like, hardy THE ADDER'S TONGUE. 1 86 MEEHANS- MONTHLY-WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. The Flow oi- tue SAP.—ln the August Monthly, page 144, I note some exceptions to Mr. Wheeler's views in regard to tree sap. If a pile of bladders should be made, the lower ones niled with brine and the upper with sugar solution, there would be i\o J/ow in either di- rection sufficiently pronounced to be called a current. But if the bladders were confined in a vessel, a tub for instance, the .salt of the lower solutions would work through the walls of the adjacent bladders and finally into the sugar solutions in the upper row. The same process would be carried on in the reverse di- rection as well, until a condition of equality should be reached between the two solutions While this is a crude illustration, and in prac- tice would be slow, on account of surface evaporation from the bladders, it illu.strates the movement of sap as given in the best text books. That is, the " flow" is transferrance by osmosis of more or less dense liquid from one cell to adjacent ones. If your correspondent will turn to Johnson's "How Crops Grow," (1894) pages 376-385, he will find the direction of •' flow " discussed at length, especially pages 3^2-83. " The .sub- stances which are organized in the foliage of a plant, as well as those which are imbibed by the roots, move to ny part where they can supply a want," page 384. "The fact that they chiefly follow certain channels, and move "1 tins or that direction, is plainly dependent upon the structure and arrangement of the tissues, on the sources of nutriment, and on the .seat of growth or other action," page 3S5 Since the roots imbibe moisture and the sub- stances in .solution, and the kaves evaporate most of this, there must be an upward move- ment of sap toward the evaporative portion— the leaves. And if all the moi.sture thus dis- tributed is not evaporated there will be formed a return movement which will carry in .solu- tion the more highly org .nized elements which the leaves have produced. This down wan! '• flow " IS strongest when evaporation is least that IS at night ; and an additional reason is given by your correspondent-the elaborated sap IS needed in the formation of the new cells which give the increase of girth shown by his figures. In (Joodale's "Physiological Botany, " pa; feet in his garden. He dug them out in the spring and found them all sound ^ not one rotten, and the outside of the sack was white with roots grown through. This corroborates my idea. Mc).s™w, vt, Timothy Wheeler. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. I 87 The Adder'vS Tongue. — Adder's totijrue {Ophioglossum vulgatum) grows on our own farm. My sister caught sight of two plants last year, in June, just as we were descending into the woods from a border fence. " What are those queer, snaky looking things ?" she said. They were a variety indeed. Kven the all-seeing INIartindale had not listed them with the Bucks County flora of 1876. They seemed as illusory as rare, for look as I might about the same place afterward, and I did look many times through the summer, I could not redis- cover them. This year, how- ever, I came upon seven of them in spore about July 4th, growing deeper in the woods than the first, in low soggy ground, too dank to produce any canny bloom,— spotted pipsissewa. Green Orchis and Carrion Lily are the only flowers ever found in the place except Jewel Weed, and perhaps violets when the ardor of the cosy spring was on and there were no leaves to shut out the coaxing sun of April. I gathered some of the slender, twisted stalks, each with one semi-succulent, elliptical leaf standing out about an inch from the ground. I dug up the thick, fibrous roots. The plants were about eight inches high with a double row of spores at the tip of the stem arranged like the rattles of a deadly snake. The upper part of the stem and sporangium was twisted spirally, as a photo- graph I took plainly shows. E. Newlin Williams. " The Hoco ^^e -nnng veai . I need the money, why not make it. Miss c. l,. HEAD GARDENER— ^^^«^^^^*^''^^^^'~?^^: nation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches of gardening. Best references from /r5^r^^5.y places. Europe and U. S. February or later, 'R. i^., Office, Meehans' Monthly. The te: \\% Cultivation, Vaitietie^, etc. BY H. B. KLI.WANGKR. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tion the treatment of diseases and insect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip. tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo. Price. » 1.^5. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, GermHntown. I a. G ARRFNER Situation wanted as gardener ^ by a thoroughly practical English-American single, 8 years experience as gardener and florist. Excellent references. Address, E. A. C, Box 311, Tarrytown, N. Y. GARnFNFR— Situation wanted as assistant gardener by thoroughly practical Scotchman ; age 2? ; single ; 10 years experience in all branches. Address, D. R., Box 420, Mamaroneck, N. \. NEW CREATIONS IN FLOWERS If you want to know about them send 10 cent* for Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd's New Catalogue of llare and Beaatifal CaUfornia Novelties. Many New Begonias, New Cosmos. Rare Cacti, etc. Offered by no others. Ventura-by-the-Sea, Cal. wHiiP it is under new management, with new editors and sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magazine for 30 cents. T« o«v on^ sendine us ^o cents and six names of friends who°m ^h?'ubscr1liVr'o?.r magazine we will mjdl our one heforl subscribing send 10 cents and receive a sample copy «nd a free eVft ofkn aluminum dime-size charm with the ? nrd% Praver engraved in smallest characters ; bright as s^Tver and^nevlr tiniishes. /f V do not sfnd sample co^jes /y^/ so save your postal cards as no notice will be gi%en them sSbscriptioS price, $1.00 per year. Address, THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive St., St. Louit. Mo ^^f\f\ r^i^rM of Sheet Music at 10 cents a copy. Also any 6000 S usic pub ished sent on receipt of the retail price. Vi"in. GuX;. f "J\-^l,,^;r.c°l!^amp V;fr'caUlogu?s'' in' from 5 to 50 <^f°^«; ^^f,^„5tSe set's additional. ..e will send magazine. Address. H. ^\^^^^^^,^^^^^ st. Louis. Mo. The Amateur's ^^^wer Garden A Cud o^the F^-*^ ELrd" I Uis^r^cr^ Cloth, ..a»o. . ill2.50 The Orchid Grower's Manual. Sixth edition «"'*'g^^ /"5» nyms ; profusely >V"*^"1*° "^i'" * ..u'r with blocks illustrative double-page engravings on wood, together wiin u.o ^ ^^ ^ of types of the various genera THOMAS MKEHAN & SONS, Ger.nantown. Fhlla. Mm ^^rr-»o Trii TT^iM^mTsAWTHEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW I ntm un I CAMPBELL'S EARLY m Best and rno.st valuable. HJirhPHf r./^r«.«o„H-.*i^_ * ^ ". Our Marvelous New GRAPE not be swallowed. Sold S"J^any repu^aW^Nurser^^^^^^ ]3nl''"""7' "«^f"^y- Seeds'^ need guarantee safe arrival by mail LaTKent ^^^^ We Introducer of unrivalled Red Jacket Goost ^''^^P® ^^"*^^ ^" *^^ ^^^-'d. Small fruits, berrv un VAN DUZEE BUY NO INCUBATOR and pay for it b«'fore y;iving it a trial. The firm who is afraid to let you try their incubator before buying it, has no faith in their machine. We will sell you ours ON TKIAI>. NOT A CKNT until trie«l, and a chihl can run it with 6 minutes attention a day. _ . . ..^ We won FIRST PRIZE WORLD'S FAIR and will win you for a steady customer if you will only buy ours on trial. Our large catalogue will cost you ft cents and give you »100 worth of practical information on poultry ank of 180 subjects and 8« Illustrations, worth 95.00 to any bicycle rider. VON CCLIN INCUBATOR CO., Box 180. Delaware City, Del. Hew, Rare ami Beaulitui Plants Lord Penzance's New Hybrid Sweetbriars, Old Garden Roses, New Roses, Standar.i Roses, Philadelphia I.einoenei, New Lilacs, Lonicera Hildebrandtii, Spira;a "Anthony Waterer," Tecoma Smithii, etc. » .^ A large collection of rare Hothouse and Greenhouse Plants, Anthuriums. Alocasia?, Ornhids, Riire Conifers and other beautiful Evergreens. Magnolia?, Japanese Maples, with other choice Trees and Shrubs. „„u:„o PAEONIES— A large coll*»ction of the finest m cultiva- tion. Hardy Perennials, Phloxes, Japanese Ins, Roses, Clematis, etc. New and Standard Fruits, etc. Catalogue on application. JOHN SAUL, WASHINGTON. D. C. Wonderful Flowers Fruits Shrubs Trees For House or Garden To be had Absolutely Frte througfh America's bright- est and most reliable gar- dening paper. Send postal for sample copy and list of unsurpassed seasonable premium offers. 60 choice Bulbs, Flowers, Fruits, Seeds, etc. F:stab. fifty yrs. AMERICAN GARDENINS. P. 0. Box 1697. New York. Roe's Play and Profit In My Garden. The author takes us to his garden on the hillside in the vicinity of West Point and shows us how out of it. after four years' experience he evoked a profit of f I. ooo, and this while carrying on pastoral and iterary labor It is very rare that so much literary taste and skil are mated to so much agricultural experience and good sense. ^'o^J^ i2mo. THOMAS MEKHAN & SONS, Geruianto\%'n, Fhlla. USEFUL BOOKS ON HORTICULTURAL and RURAL SUBJECTS Nicholson's Illastiated Dlrtionary of Gardening, hy G Nicholson. In four volumes. Clutli, -;to. A practical and scientific encyclopedia of horticulture. W ith a.oco first-cliiss cii^ gravings. Each volume ~°* The Amateur's Greenhouse an;bin, I S.A. Each family of trees is caref.i'ly .escribed by the 'ii't''^'^ J*;"^J-/_'^« relative values of the several ijmo, cloth Vick'rt Flower and Vegetable <;ar ^\uch cultivated plants may be propagated and multiplied i2mo, ... Cloth, HI .50 Elliott's Handbook of Practical Lan.lscape Cardeninu. Hv F R Elliott. Designed tor city and suburban rr-side,u es and comitry schoolhouses, containing Designs tor Lots and ( .rou.ul^ fromalot 3.xiooleettoa4oacreplant. Cloth, Jvo. . . »i..»" Frait8 and Fruit Trees of America. On their culture, propa- gation am! management. With a description of all the tinest vari- eties, native and foreign, cultivated in this country. »■> f -" Downing Second revision and correction, with large additions^ It contains the names and synonyms of over io,c<>o varieties, l.y Charles Downing. Over iio<. pa^es, with several hundred out,me engravings, including supplements "• ' Henderson's Handbook of Plant*. ^ concise and compre- hensive dictionary of plants, with instructions on propagation .»ml culture. Cloth, large 8vo Henderson's Practical Floriculture. I^V, ^''^\" "^^"^^^[t.^ls' A guide to the successful propagation ^"^ 5^"'^'7"°" ^'' "^"i ' plants The work is not one for florists and g.irdeners «^n;> . »>"t t^hramateur-s wants ..re constat^tly kept '" J"'- '. ^"l^^luss or very complete treatise on the cultivation ol towers '"der Jass. or in\heopen air, suited to those who tJ^-o^' 'V°^*^" *^'^. ''V wo!k^ well as for those who make them a matter of trade. 1 h«^ ^*o^k is SacteHzed by the same radical common sense that marked he aS-r- hardening for Profit," and it holds a high place ,n the S^'n^Itfon of lovers'of horticulture. Beautifully ^^^^-^;^-^ ^ V^ and enlarged edition. Cloth, tamo i rn e, • . Lonir*s Ornamental Gardening for Americans. A ^'reat- ise^n Be".tifying Homes, Rural Districts and Cemeteries. A Plain and pactical work at'a moderate price, with n""'^^^"* ' '"»- Stions"'a'nd instructions so plain that tbc^ "-y - -^ T M- lowed. By Eiias A. Long, Landscape Architect. 1"""^^^;]^^,^^ Cloth, lamo Parsons on the Rose. Hy Samuel B Parsons. A treat^e on :;-ns'^Vh!r:::r;!p^nrroi;;Mr^Ya.^ led up the curious legends concerning the flower and pves us an idelof the esteem in which it was held in f^";;"^^-^;^-^, simple garden classification has been adop ed,and «he j"':"."^ V " ettefunder each class enumerated and briefly described^ lie chapters on multiplication, cultivation, and ^^«'"'"ti »;*l ^^ ^^the an? the work is altogether one of the most complete before the public. Illustrated. Cloth, tamo • * THONIAS MEEHAN Sl SONS, Cermantown, Philadelphia. ^tii^^mmO TO A5viRTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CAHO IN MEEHAlJiH^NTHLY. ... . ■ -^-y- .^^ , JAPANESE MAPLES . . . CHINESE MAGNOLIAS . . NEW LORD PENZANCE'S HYBRID SWEET BRIAR ROSES gewniustrated Descriptive Catalogue for fall planting is now ready. It will be of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Evergreens mailed for four cents in stamps. It is the i«,i^H o„„f • • , , "^'^•^* complete catalogue of its kind ever issued Contains prices of large and small trees, specimens for immediate effect and special prices for quantities. It is a practical Guide to Tree Planting. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. Station ♦♦ G." PRESERVING BIG GAME. Commendable Instances of Private Enterprise. Adrian, Michigan.— The recent death of Austin Corbin, the New England multi-mil- Uonaire, at his villa, near Newport, N H elicits special interest here. Mr. Corbin has tne most extensive private preserve for lar^e game that probably exists, covering 25 000 acres in the Blue Mountain Forest. On this magnificent range much of the Page Woven Wire Fence has been used, the works for the manufacture of which exist in this city The great financier had adopted the Adrian product in preference to all others. He had given much attention to preferving from ex- tinction the American buffalo : and one of the stipulations submitted for enclosing his New Hampshire domain was that the fence should be proof against attempts to leap it, or break through, on the part of these powerful and agile animals. Unlike barb wire and analagous devices the Page product is a protection instead of a menace to animals within its enclosure. A short time ago he donated to the park commis- sioners of New York, a number of bison from his Blue Mountain herd, with the condition that none but Page fencing be used to enclose them. Stimulated by Mr. Corbin 's example, the 1 age people have instituted a zoo of their own A range of 37 acres has been enclosed, and in this the company has placed a number of deer and elk, ^yith nine bison. These were obtained after considerable trouble and expense, so rare are full-blooded specimens of the American bison becoming. Nero, a superb animal weigh- ing 2,000 pounds, died recently from injuries sustained in its transportation to the Adrian park and has been mounted together with a beautiful elk, and donated to the museum of Adrian college. Having succeeded so well in coraling- the brawny bison, the Page people are now pre- paring a fence to enclose the elephants in Lin- coln park Chicago, and relieve the animals from the chains which keep them in subjection at the expense of their tempers and physical condition. ^ -^ The company has also made a tender to th*- government to enclose a range at Yellowstone 1 ark and save from depredation and loss the few buffalo that remain. WHEN WRIT.NG TO ADVERT.SERsTTini^SISrYOU SAWT^EIR Ca"rd1^^^ ^m <^ L. «^^il2aS?ta5SrtSjSSi « .ppite^oi. jrnr« uwumumb- AMCnxnsA.^KJM^ factory: Irrington^on-Haat^on. K^w York ^ r^ m III 1*1 PUBLlSMtD r«E Itt AND 15th OF EACH MONTH BY PRACTIML. POPULAR. «CIEIITIflC»LLY EX»«T. THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUIUDtNG, CHICAGO SUMCRtRTION PBIOE^a^A YEAR— 24 liuMSeM S^Srf^toecte *wl Other Pe*t», Mn^rooms, Sw ^ ik^^. See ^hat su>«cribe» say iibotit this valuable jouraal. pftnas tlpon perusal." w. «- w pftxi^ tipon p«ni»al. America." ^haS I.. Bukr, in caraening »"»«•'•'=•"» "^' nfonnation. Oarobmiwo b moderate i» »^e it «- iOAW, tiigblaad Park, 111. ni printed in eld, Mass. ^}£SS Woi»o*l.«tW«tc«i, Colo. "tortile OAai>«.rtiil^^ cm! t*«*^ Jf i?^^5S3h?»w. Stipt. Uocolii P»rk. (Chicago -t ^•mt^OAMtrnttiWi •sottTef the mort practical mafa. ^'?SUVS^S^^ot^^^^^:;,,^n.. N. Y. "The p.pct i« a.« met P^^f^'iS?. F^d i'a L«c. V^fct "I »1«cHb. to .1. the ho-;^'«'„»i,".td'S"in G«i^^^^^ ■•!• on thl. coDtloent M f«J " ' '""Tlenr li£ myse" " Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rurd scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty,^ for a purer taste ill. the deaign odd decoratJoa d k fuWic and pnvate gtwim^; a»d » wa-\ 'Ha^ pron^tmeoi tbe ^ horticJultor- al jdmiial ev« publishfed f or Aiaericaii*. •MTto., totelHg«t. atcrtMinin,:-ffarf*r; mtkfy. •• Rlth vmrlety of rtinMk«bIe «a«r»»to«»-"- ^^ *'• '*'*■ ■Wtanlng. delightful and .ccia»te."-X K. Irilmnf. " A compeodiua of »«w intotwatfc>ii."-/V. K. Htra.d. BEAUTIFULLY ILUISTMTW. WetKLV. 14.00 » TBAR Specimen copy free on appHcatlon- GudeB and Forost PnWlsUn^ Co. ^"Al"^ ?"cS$"- if : * - ' . . . hTTyOiT iiwTHEIB CARD IN IIEE HANS' MOKTHtt. iSlN WRITIHa TO A0VERTIS6KS. ltl.i. 'HEII YOU SAW Thii 4 i? >, 'W ' ifVu, ■,;..,/;,-r.-,, ■ I '^'■'^''If'^my'fC^yr- ji^i^i^ JAPANESE MAPLES . . . CHINESE MAGNOLIAS . . NEW LORD PENZANCE'S HYBRID SWEET BRIAR ROSES ge^Ll^lustrated Descriptive Catalogue for fall planting is now ready. It will be ot Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Evergreens mailed for four cents in stamps. It is tlie issiiPrl r..t.fo- • r . "'^"^^ complete catalogue of its kind ever issued Contains prices of large and small trees, specimens for immediate effect TnH special prices for quantities. It is a practical Guide to Tree Planting THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Station ''G." NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. PRESERVING BIG GAME. Commendable Instances of Private Enterprise. Adrian, Michigan.— The recent death of Austin Corbin, the New England multi-mil- lionaire, at his villa, near Newport, N H elicits special interest here. Mr. Corbin has tne most extensive private preserve for lare-e game that probably exists, covering 25 000 acres in the Blue Mountain l^^orest. On this magnificent range much of the Page Woven Wire Pence has been used, the works for the maiiufacture of which exist in this city The great financier liad adopted the Adrian product in preference to all others. He had given much attention to preferving from ex- tinction the American buftalo ; and one of the stipulations submitted for enclosing his New Hampshire domain was that the fence should be proof against attempts to leap it, or break through, on the part of these powerful and agile animals. Unlike barb wire and analagous devices the 1 age product is a protection instead of a nienace to animals within its enclosure. A short time ago he donated to the park commis- sioners of New York, a number of bison from his Blue Mountain herd, with the condition them"''"'' ^*^^^ fencing be used to enclose Stimulated by Mr. Corbin's example, the 1 age people have instituted a zoo oftheir own A range of 37 acres has been enclosed, and in tnis the company has placed a number of deer and elk, with nine bison. These were obtained after considerable trouble and expense, so rare are full-blooded specimens of the American bison becoming. Nero, a superb animal weigh- mg 2,000 pounds, died recently from injuries sustained in its transportation to the Adrian park and has been mounted together with a beautiful elk, and donated to the museum of Adrian college. Having succeeded so well in coraling the brawny bison, the Page people are novv pre- paring a fence to enclose the elephants in Lin- coln park Chicago, and relieve the animals from the chains which keep them in subjection at the expense of their tempers and physical condition. ^ -^ The company has also made a tender to th« government to enclose a range at Yellowstone 1 ark. and save from depredation and loss the few buffalo that remain. WHEN WRmNG TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YOU SAW THE.R CAHoli[l^El,i]i,i^r,;,^i,fi^, LORD & BURNHAM CO. urioTir^iiiTURAL ARCHITECTS AND BUILD HORTICU LTU K Al- J^^^^nATTSQ BNGINBBB8 YORK. Mention Paper PRACTICAL. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. ^^ . PUBLISHED THE l8T AND 15th OF EACH MONTH l^F"!^. BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PRICE^JZ^^VEAB— 24 NUMBERS Tt.» tno«t oractical and Taluable American Horti- cX^^KuT departments: The Flower ^rfS^.Tee8 and Shrubs The G'^e'^^ome The «S^™ r«r*l*^n The Fruit Garden, The Vege- about this valuable journal. "For conden^d common |XinVrS^t?on?J« G ARDEN.KO highly on account of the very pn««i- d ch«*cter jf^lVSmSKkw. Supt. Lincoln P.rk, Chicago "I r«Kd OAKMK.NO u ^of tte ««.t practical m«,a. rtnlfSS2l to the i«t«-"^f J°j{!Sl"rw.teryille, N. Y. "The paper is the moat Pr^-^o^SS:. V"nd in Mc. WI* "1 «.h«ribe to all the l»ortl^'«"J^»td'to™in gIVd-": mate on thto continent as f«J "'\°°r." , ,"£:■,,«».•' IK. the moat Pr»«"<»' ^J'^'So^xTaSJ-b" Co"<°«' N. Y. iSJEiTwBITIHB TO AOVEimiEBS. TELL THEM Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty, for a purer taste in the design and decoration of public and private grounds, and is uni- versally pronounced the best horticiultur- al journal ever published for Americans. "Wii*, intelligent, «nterUlning."-«.r/«' tf »*!}'■ " Rich variety of remarkable engni»ingi."-W K fl>J«. • Winning, delightful and accurate."-^: K 7ritmme. " A compendium of new inlormation."-/V. K Hrra.J. BEAUTlFULLt ILIUSTMTW. WEEKLY. $4 00 * TfBAfc Specimen copy free on application. GirdoH and Forest PnbllshlDg Co. n^iS ^'o'ar" ^^oO-iiwlHEiB CARD IN MEEHAHS' MOKTMU. *■■■*■ ¥ ! INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE JAPANESE MAPLES . . . CHINESE MAGNOLIAS . . NEW LORD PENZANCE'S HYBRID SWEET BRIAR ROSES New Ilh^a^ed^Descripti^^ f.„- ,,„ ,,,a„ii„, is „,.,. ,,.,,., a .,11 he ot^^rees^ Shrubs, Vines and Evergreens "lailcd lo, four cents in stamps. It is tlie ,v.„p,, ,> , • . , "'"'^'- I'onipletf catalogue of its kind ever 1 sned. Lonta.ns pnces of lar^e an,l small trees, specin.ens for Cnmediate efll-cn „d specml prices lor quantities. It is a practical Guide to Tree Planting. AIHHHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. THOMAS Station " G." PRESERVING BIG GAME. Commendable Instances of Private Enterprise. Adrian, Miclii.uan. -The recent death of Austin Corbin, tlie New lvna-e Woven Wire hence has been ii.sed. the works for the niamifactnre of uhicli exist in this city The oreat financier had adopted the Adrian product 111 preference to all others, lie had given much attention to prefervin- from ex- tinction the American butlalo : and one of the stipulations submitted for enclosincr his New Hampshire domain was that the fence should >e proof a-ain.st attempts to leaj) it, or break tlirouoh. c,„ the part of these powerful and a^ile anim.'ds. Knlike barb wire and anala^-ous devices the 1 a-e product is a protection instead of a menace to animals within its enclosure. A sliort tiniea-ohe donated to the park commis- sioners of New York, a number of bison from his lUue Mountain heid. with the condition them"''"'' ''"""^ Tencing be used to enclose Stimulated by Mr. Corlnn's example, the I a-e people have instituted a zoo oftheir own A range of 37 acres has been enclosed, and in this the company has j)laced a number of deer and elk. with nine bison. These were obtained after considerable trouble and expense, so rare are lull-blooded specimens of the American bison becoming. Nero, a superb animal weioh- in- 2.000 pounds, died recentlv from injuHes sustained in its transportation to the Adrian park and has been mounted together with a beautiful elk. and donated to the museum of Adrian college. Having succeeded so well in coralin^r the brawny bison, the Page people are now pre- paring a fence to enclose the elephants in I in- coln park Chicago, and relieve the aninials from the chains which keep them in subjection at the expense of their tempers and phvsical coiubtion. ^ - The company has also made a tender to th" government to enclose a range at Yellowstone 1 ark. and save from depredation and loss the lew bultalo that remain. WHEN WR,T,NG TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE HORT.cJrS5PAU*Aal4"AN^^BU,UOEBS HORTICU LTUR AU ^!^^^^^ heating enoinkers ^^Plans and Estimates furnished on application /^^ ABCHITBCTUBAL OJ FICK. 1«« J' „.„„.„^d,„„. jjew York Factory: Irrington-on-Hi^dHon. New York Mention Paper PRACTICAL. POPULAR. SCIENTIFICALLY EXACT. PUBLISHED THE l8T AND 15th OF EACH MONTH BY THE GARDENING COMPANY MONON BUILDING, CHICAGO SUBSCRIPTION PR.OE^2^00^VEAR— 24 NUMBERS about this valuable journal. ..For condensed common f-^^lVo^-^fr^T"^^^^^^^ reliable, unprejudiced a"^^,!?|f, 'g ,noderate in size it ex- "1 .m greaUy pl»sed with the ?«?"•«'» P;af„7» lag Yon have g.«n your sutecrit«rs«^«t their money's worth. chas.. n y^j^oufj, _ nova Scotia «; -^e^7V«Hhrrlf a",?s^'n^L^t^\} tr^^^^^ '7o's'°BB1;l"G:;d?^e^^o•se^^^^^^^^ "I vine Garden.no highly on account of the very practi- C.1 chwacter jf^'»p<=°°i',° Ji„, supt. Uncoln Park. Chicago "I regard Oabdening as ^of the most practical maga- .inUlS.ed in the interesU^I ^oj'l^i'i'i^V.terville, N. Y. ••The paper i. the most P^^^'^^^J^^, Vonddo Lac, Wis. ■•I s«b«:ribe to all the hort'^tural and Boncultural Jour- ■aU on this continent as far as I \°°7, "A-le „,,elf/' „0 the most practical one for^.n^.m.t«r^l;k^^i„g^ „. v. WHEN WBITINB TO ADVERTISERS; TELL THEM .VOL- IX. _• MO- AK)?. GARDEN^ FOREST ^^ •A-lOl RNALOFHORTICULTURE- '' •-■■■■■ .jANliAKV im% *i*WWi^a^^ TTTi'TTnnnTTTTrtnfir "^ft Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forest stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty-, for a purer taste in the design and decoration of public and private grounds, and is uni- versally pronounced the best horticultur- al journal ever published for Americans. "Wise, intelligent. entertaining."-^<"/>«^> H'"*'^- " Rich variety of remnrkable engravings."-;v. )•. fl>st. •Winning, delightful and accurate."-.V. }'. 7«A««. •■ A compendium of new i„lormalion."-A'. V. Htra.J. BEAUTIFULLY ILIU8TR»TE0. WEEKLY. $4.00 » YE*». Specimen copy free on application. Gardes and Forest PuWlsWng Co. ^%'^^ %tr" VsirsAwTwEiTcARririEE^^ Pi ESTABLISHED 60 YEARS HITCHINGS « CO HOBTOLTDHflL flBCHITEGTS HKD BUILDBHS - - ., Greenhouse Heating and Ventilating Apparatus ti Manufacturers The highest awards r»- ceiTed at the World's Fair for Horticultural Architec- ture, Greenhouse Construc- tion and Heating Appar- atus. " Conservatories, Green- m nouses, Palmhouses, etc., -rr^Mir ■"••-%..•. erected complete with oar ■W»S^»^»^^^^,,^ ... ftroetfon^™" *"""" *'*"'" SEND FOUR CENTS FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES MERCER STREET. NEM YORK CITY Trees, Shrubs, Everg^reens, gur stock is one of the finest in the Vines and Hardy Plants == H£S-S^Sp'r ^ n- ;\ i:e-i,?r& -S^,„-- Buyers .„ ^I&^^^^^S^S^ Landscape Engi neeri n g:. SX^rS r-^ "'?''"'iy "»"•«' <"" for whe„e.ten3i.e.o. is contemplate. Corresponael soufe?'^^^^^^^^^^^^ THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS ' * Nuraerymen and Landscape Engineers ~ QERMANTOWN. PHILADELPHIA. . ..i....^^ ^EDWARD CAMPBELL^—) L/INDSC/IPE /IRCniTECT Am ENQINEER ARDMORE, . p;4 ^ ' ^'-" "tir.i^.rr "" -^ ^"«" --"- =:,°' - - -- - -. ^'"^ ^^"""^ stone for Walks and Carriage Diives. I UAROy ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS. VIMES evfr ^T. . ' n flREENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERPli«rm« ^'-'^"^'^"'•^'i^.r^',"."^'.'"- — _ '•'""^'- """"'S. 148.156 Randolph Ave., Jersey City N J .N.. ,.,„., „ ,o,E,x,su,.. , U,^ .t.,,0. «.H,... ...thlV ■ TIGHT BINDINQ TEXT GUT OFF i .VI NOVEMBER, 1596 No. 11 ISSUED ^i5SmY:^^:5ir7ES^^^xnN7^^ Meehans' Genef\al(^ardenin^ tOWERS /■J»k I TM?nA5/A^EHAN I4li 4^1 rieehans' Monthly PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Thomas Heehan & Sons, Oermantown, Phlla. SabscKiption Priee $2.00 pep year. $1.00 for Six Months. Back Numbers 20 ots. Each. Two Subscriptions for $3.50 per Year. ADVEBTISINB RATES ON APPLICATinii Forms close on the 20th of eacfr Month, preceding date of issue. . . ^Address all Correspondence relating both to Bditonal and Advertising matter, to THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers Germantown, Phlla., Pa. IT WILL PAY Ynil !?.r?.S;o ™ terest all who are interested in such matters ANDORRA NURSERIES cfestnut hmi. Wm. Warnir Harpcr, MANAoen Coi»ie8 of THE HMERICHN HHND-BOOK OF ORNHWENTKL TREES By THOMA& MBBHflN Must be in f.irl, good oondlti.,n. 8.ate condU.on. lowe.t Thomas Meehan & Sons, PublishePs st«tiooo. OepmaDtocuo, Phlia., p,. OpOR YARD HORSES sprlriK work" nCi.lv h,.''^e'""- ThestronR <1is.:,n.-e" reKHla.^Vlsn.Jdebv'"^ ''''"« PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO.. Adrian. Mich. WHEN WRITING TO ADVEi^iiiRvFiuTHiST A.°Brfri-cT?o'^3,r^,t.^TS, FRUITS. ETC. v^^«,314, 316 N. 11th ST., PHILADELPHIA JWflSTICA. etc. KudorseS by proSm flnHc^^^ hotbeds, Send for descriDt?leo^i^,^*^-^i^l?"S^«"''he country Glazing Machines^ ^ circular of Mastica and Mastica F. O. PIERCE 6t CO., Sole Wainufaatupers ^ 170 Fulton St., NgQu York ^HENRY^F^Sfr^;;^ Chestnut St. , Phila., Pa. GRIFFITH TURNER I CO "V^ ^^'^'^ ^^ ' Phila f Pa. EDWARD S. S^C^h'JIiI* .^..^S?. S^.'^a^rSl'^l^^^^^^^^ DAY LILIES Theordiaary, large greea-leaved Day Mies, with their graceful spikes of lilac or whitish blue flowers, are well-known to all who possess grass plots large enough to admit of a few ornamental plants ; but the vanegated sorts are not so frequently seen and they remain practically unknown to the average home gardener There is a deep contrast between he dark green and white of the striped leaves forming an equal contrast with the green grass of a lawn. It also makes a good border or edging for wa,ks or beds, the leaves lying closer than the farge eacb , yi.25 per 10 or |io.oo per 100 Our grounds are always open to visitors, and we mvite .nspccion of our stock especially during Z sumn.er, when the plants are in leaf and bloom feeUng sure that the visitor would be well pleased with the stock. Address or call on THOHAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERVnEN .„d LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS tipper Church and Chew Sts. Telephone 94 1 ■ A. Germantown, Phila., Pa. c IS MUCH Mj S HAM PINE. AND OUIUltHt tlA^f AL. **i»t}' . ^...in,. '•»■'""< "cvp»iS^i^rssjMsES" YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHT^iinSSimiu. ■¥^SB^S^^- \ ^ ! ' \ 44 4 Hi I'. GORDONIA PUBESCENS FRANKLIN TREE. NATURAL ORDER, TERNSTR(i;MKRIACE.li. • /■ . . . ■ \% NATURAL UKUr.^, X. ,M,„ve cn,r- ; , , .„,.„.„.« -..eaves serrate, thin, decU.uous ...on, cu;.^^^^^^^ s /*,.. «°""So;'^™o,nho« rlamldel^e^a.s and petals silky outsuie. ^^ ocl of thf Southnn i'nited States. It was not the intention to illustrate more than the herbaceous vegetation 07^-^^;^^ States but to leave the larger, woody p an s to other pens and pe„ci.s,_a vv.rW i-^eed winch has been ably undertaken by Prof. C- S. Sar sent in the Silva Atnericana since this work w-as planned. The smaller woody Pl-t« '-e been included, and the Gordoma is given a place because, though it has a strong woody growth, it flowers freely as a low bush when L. t two or three years old. Various opinions have been expressed by leading botanists as to the name it ought to bear,-but the name chosen from Wood s Class Book of Botany is the name by which it is fow generally known. It was A -t discovered by Joun Bartram and named in his Cata Wue •• Franklmia Alatamaha,-\.\^^ genus in hono; of Benjamin Franklin, and the speces because he found it only in one place along the Alatamaha River in Georgia^ and the name was to emphasize that fact. He conjd- ered it a distinct genus from G<"'''"f ^f^^^^ thus, a species then well-known and common in swamps along the Southern Atlantic sea board States. The date of Bartram s first description is unknown, as no copy of the .. Catalogue - is known to be in existence, but Marshall, in his Arbustum Afnencanum^V^^- lished in 1785. refers to it as the authorit • William Bartram, son of John who accom panied his father when they first foiind the Franklinia, left Philadelphia for another ex tended trip South, in April. .77,V ^"f,^"^","^^' back seed's and plants of the PrankUn.aX.o years later.-but for some reason or ano her his '• Travels," so often quoted j«/°""-^'7 with this plant, were not published t»n I79«^ He states in that work that " We have named Franklinia." " We," meaning evidently his father, John, and himself. The Kurope n botanists, however, did not regard it as dis ti„ct from Gonlonia, a genus ^^f^^ lished- and 1/Heritier, a Vrench botanist, gfit\henaiiieitnow,.ais.6V./<.^.^'- rpu<; This was in I/S4— one >c.i ^shaii published Art„.u,n ^ ^«;;;;;;';-; The dates are >-";;--;;;?:r iatil the proper name, as pnont> o i Uas much weight in dispute.s as to the na.ne adopted, though it is doubted by sou e tl e after a name has been generally adopU, the rule of priority should have much weight. It rule 01 pii'jA*'-^ ^1 4. T 'Mf^ritier in is worth noting, however, that L Hentier naming Gordonia pubescens. imagined he had I^lfin^ else and gives Rartram's plant on sonietning eisc, aim e, ,,t\ipr as th. same page, but foUowni- the other, as the same pag . f G. pubescens that he could not get an ico ^^ .^ ^^ . singular how this plant gol ' ^^^^ dent I/Heritier had no susp. _ »,om'« nlant Without going -irtner in heTe figu "s and details, it may be -said to be these ngur Oordonia, its proper rr It d t t:Zia Alata,nal,a of John o 1 It is not improbable that this name "rayTt be adoplea in lading botanical works^ ma> >eu uc « r French call a TVi*.re is something m what the ^renci JiP' f^which often decides when art.hcial n;t'.;f:Loftheeye"would indicate a rellSnship with a Slua>1ia. just as readily, at etst aswHh Gordonia Lasian,hus,^r.A mor- counterparts in Japan, «■ .„„:,„;„ that noted that, while there are "o ^"'■'^""r 'X country, there are Stuartias in several spec.es. ■ . r 'H!-N( " -■-'■V ... »..,L>'--,S'-'.-Mi )i COLOR PHOTO \. ^* f 4 ► GORDOXIA iniu-:sci'Ns. FRANKLIN 'IKKI' NATURAL . .Kl)l-R- Tl-.KNSTK. 1- MI- KIACl- .T. o/ the SouthriH r,n!rd States. It was not the intention to illnstmumo,.. than the berbaceons vegetation "7'>-/ ";;'^ States, but to leave the lavKcr, woo leading botanists as to the name >t ough to bear.-b«t the name chosen from \V ood s C n nook of Botany is the name by which it is fow generally Unown It was first disco v^.red by Jo.n Bartram and named in his Cata ZA^- Franklinia Alatamaha,-^.V^ genus in ho^no; of Benjamin FranUlin, and the s,.c,es beca„.se he found it only in one P'-" j^'"' ; the Alatamaha River in f.eorg.a^ and tie name was to emphasize that fact. He cons - ered it a distinct genus from Gordoma Los n tl,us a species then well-known and common swamps along the Southern .Vtlantic sea board States. The date of Bartram s fir t description is unknown, as no copy of the .. Catalogue •• is known to be in existence, 1 ut Marshall, in X.^ Arbust.nn Amcncanum p b- lishedin ..785.referstoitastheautho>t • William Bartram, son of John who accoin^ panied his father when they first found tl^ Franklinia, left Philadelphia for •-^""t'^^^J^; tended trip South, in April, .77,;. =^"^ ''^f^'; back seeds and plants of the '■''-''^''''''^^ years later,-but for .some reason or ano he his .• Travels,- so often quoted n conne t o n ...,b this plant, were not publise;^;'^^;,- He states in that work that W e na F.ankliniar " We,- meaning evulentl> his father, John, and himself. ""='"'',. botanists, however, did not regard it as li„ct fion. Con/o.io. a go.us alr.a.iy cstab- d- and l.'lU-ntK.r. a .-..nch b..tanist, '.V. i. the name U now, ..a,s..;,..v-^^- ■ ,-0, nm- vc 1 oeioi^ ,;■,,< Tins was ni i , .s.) o"'- . , V , 1 l.hN^linii Am. n.o II II III. Marshall pubhslu-d Af'^nsnuii •nu- dues are imporlanl m cnn.-U...! uiU. "" ''''^' .L •■„rinnlv""l puhlu-atum Ihc proper name, as pnniuv Uas much weight ni disputes as to th.n.n, aaopu.d,though,t,sd.-ubtedbyson,e. lah. .furaname has been ^— >'>/'" '' nne of priority .should have inuci we. . ,s woith noting, howeverta - ntr^^^^^ something else, and gives l.artr.ni. t1,. same pa-e, but following the ollui. the same P-'- ■ . , ^f (;. p«l>fi''"-^ that there had been growing, at "-i. n .". somewhat tender plant, blooming a e - frost, and the flowers ft 11 I'Cl. ^^^^^^^ that he could not get an ico .;;,,,;. singular how this plant goi \^.,,; „,r. dent l.'Herit.er had no susp. -^ tram-s plant. ^Vilhout going -itti^r these fi-nues an^^ ,ell onsl'p with a 5/..^//.^ h-; - - '>^ • east as with C.onionio Lasnuilhus an.l mo ho ogical conceptions justify the glance. Us ;,: osition ,s prob,d.ly ^-^^^^^ ^,Z counuv, there are Stuartias in .se.e,.d .specie, . (201; COLOR PHOTO 202 . J.\l'"''*°''^ °^^^^ discovery is so interesting that Marshall's account is here given in full ■_ ';Th.s beautiful, flowering, treelike shrub rises with an erect trunk to the height of about twenty feet, dividing into branches alternately disposed. The leaves are oblong narrowed towards the base, sawed on the edges, placed alternately, and sitting close to the branches. The flowers are produced to- wards the extremity of the branches, sitting close at the bosom of the Ieaves,-they are often five inches in diameter when fully ex- panded, composed of five roundish, spreading petals, ornamented in the center with a tuft or crown of gold-colored stamina, and possessed with the fragrance of a china orange. This new- Iy-d,scovered, rare, and elegant floweringshrub was first discovered by John Bartram when on botanical researches, on the Alatamaha River in Georgia, A. D., ,760, but was not brought into Pennsylvania till about fifteen years after when h.s son, William Bartram. employed in like pursuits, revisited the place where it had been before observed, and had the pleasing prospect of beholding it in its native soil, pos sessed with all its floral charms, and bearing ripe seeds at the .same time, some of which he CO lected and brought home, and rai.sed several plants therefrom, which in four years' time flowered, and in one year after perfected ripe seeds. ^ It seems nearly allied to Gordon/a. to which it has m some late Catalogues been joined ; but William Bartram. who first introduced it be- lieving it to be a new Genus, has chosen to honor it with the name of that patron of sci- ence and truly great and distinguished charac- rJ' ^I'.^?^''""'' P''««klin. The trivial name >s added from the river, where alone it has been observed to grow naturally. It delights in a loose, moist and sandy soil." In Alton's //orius ICeivensis, it is stated that It was first introduced there "by Mr. Wm Malcolm, in 1774." as William Bartram did not start on his trip till 1773. and did not have the seeds in the Bartram Garden till 1775 it is a question where Malcolm got his set from. It indicates two distinct sets of discoveries and may account for the early plants referred to by L'Heritier. as existing in the French Kings' Garden at Trianon. Bartram does not seem to have had many plants to distribute.-there are some half MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GORDOXIA PUBESCENS. [Nov. dozen old trees about Philadelphia.— and Joshua Pierce, of Washington, of the same family of Pierces which, at the beginning of the century, had a remarkably fine arboretum near to the Garden of Humphrey Marshall, had also of this original stock,_of late years layered plants have been distributed by nurserymen. The leaves change to a bright crimson in the fall, and add to the interest which the sweet, white flowers gave just before. The history of the genus Gordonia is inter- esting as showing how great a progress has been ,uade in the real knowledge of plants. The plants now known as Gordonia has been long known, but was regarded by some of the earlier botanists as a species of the St. John's Wort family-a Hyper icum~2.x^A by others as of the Mallow family-an Alcea. In both of these cases the grounds were the supposed union of the stamens. In the old Linnsean system, plants with the stamens united in one mass would have to go to his class Monadel- phia, no matter how incongruous the various members of the class might be in other re- spects. Some botanists fancied they saw this unity in the plant in question, and this brought it into Alcea. When the stamens would seem to be in several parcels or sets a plant would be in the class Polyadelphia. and some fancied they saw this Polyadelphian character here, and then it was referred to Hypericum. In the modern system of botany natural resemblances, or a whole set of char- acters, are taken to form the order. Now the plant IS referred to TenisfrcemcriacecB. because Its general characters agree with the genus 7>/-;M/^«.wm«, a somewhat tropical set of plants named in honor of the Swedish naturalist Ternstrom. This brings it in connection with the Tea plant, and other members of the Camellia family, to which a common observer may trace the relationship. In Linnaeus' ear- lier works, before he suggested the binomial system, he recorded what is now Gordonia Lastanthus, as Hypericum {Lasianlhus) flori- bus pentaygnisr and Catesby. in his History of Carolina, recorded it as - Alcea floridana qun,quecapsularis." John Ellis proposed the new name, Gordonia. i* / ^) « , WILD FLOWERS AND NATURL. KXPLANATION OK THK Pi ATI' t t?l , . taken in September. 2. Seed veJseU V., ^ °^**''"«^ ^""^^ time from the flowers of the year before! "'°^ *' ^^* "^^^^ A INDIAN SUMMER. There is a beautiful spirit breathing "ow Its mellowed richness on the clustered trees, And from a beaker full of richest dyes, Pouring new glory on the autumn woods, And dipping in warm light the pillared clouds. Morn on the mountain, like a summer bird. Lifts up her purple wing, and in the vales The gentle wind a sweet and passionate wooer, Kisses the blushing leaf, and stirs up life Within the solemn woods of ash deep crimsoned. And silvery beech, and maple yellow-leaved, Where autunm, like a faint old man, sits down By the wayside aweary. — LoNGFEU.ow. The Bonnik Broom— A Plant of Beauty AND Fame.— The following is contributed by William T. Harding, of Mount Holly, N. J. : It has frequently been remarked that one of the most familiar and beautiful objects to be seen in rural England, and still more in Scot- land, is the common broom h\x?\i— Genista scoparia—wh^n in full bloom. Its thousands of golden flow^ers make a delightful show, as they gleam like so many butterflies with ex- panded wings settling on its slender summer boughs. And these same silky blossoms give out a delicious perfume, which generally pro- claims the presence of the plant long before it becomes visible. In "the land o'cakes," where it is exceed- ingly abundant, it seems to be held in as much esteem— both by Highlanders and Lowlanders, as is the lovely heather bell, which densely spreads o'er banks and braes in many a romantic spot. And in order to give a better idea of its wild or indigenous habits, an indi- cative quotation is here presented : " The moorcock springs On whirring wings. Amid the blooming heather." Both on mountain and moorland in Great Britain the comely and modest green broom has had '* a local habitation and a name," from time immemorial ; and where, apparently, it will still continue to flourish as long as destruc- tive man permits it to remain. It is mostly seen (as is the case with its native companion — the whin, or furze, — Uiex EuropcEiis) growing in inaccessible spots, or where the uninviting soil is too shallow \o tempt the enterprising husbandman to dis- turb its unbroken surface. On that account it is likely it will ever retain its olden tenure there. And, while thus unmolested, will no doubt continue to spread its retentive roots in the soil of "the fast anchored isle." where for thousands of years before the ruthless foot of the invading Dane. Celt, Norse- man, Scandinavian. Roman or Norman had pressed its green turf, it annually blossomed and mingled its fragrance with the hawthorn and rose. Undoubtedly, the broom was far more abundant in Great Britain formerly— before many of the moors and commons were enclosed, and made into arable farms, than it is at the present time. And. in the long ago, it seems to have given its name to many places which are still retained, such for instance as Brooms- grove, Bromly, Broomhill, Bromielaw. and probably Brompton. As it requires but little moisture, and grows freely in undulating lands, it has been largely planted in Flanders, in order to improve the sandy soils there and hold them well together by its roots. And as its slender, tough, and elastic growth renders it capable of being easily made into sweeping brooms, and for which purpose it has long been used, its appropriate name appears to have been derived from that useful implement. As floral emblems significant of past events, or pleasant reminders of places, circumstances or persons have often been adopted by promi- nent characters in history. The plant under notice has long been famous on that account. Its renown chiefly rests upon the legend of having given its old name, Planta Genista (Celtic gen and French genet), to a long race of English kings ; and it became the badge of the proud and lofty Plantagenet, Geofi'ry, Earl of Anjou, who married Matilda, daughter of Henry I, and became the father of Henry H, who was in the habit of wearing a sprig of this plant in his cap ; or as the old chronicler (203 S ITRjeiSsataim 204 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Nov. 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. ^05 quaintly remarks — "He commonly wore a broom in his bonnet." According to tradition, "The Earl, when encamped upon a heath just before a battle, plucked a golden spray and placed it in his helmet. The flower gleamed everywhere amid the swaying storm of battle, and the triumph- ant victor adopted this chance badge as his device." Not only did this nobleman adopt his country's most beauteous wild flower as a cognizance, but he also took its name of Planta- genet, or Planta genista, and transmitted the name to his princely descendants, who each bore it from the time of his son Henry II, the first Plantagenet King, called by historians " The Royal vSprig of Genesta," to the tyrant " Hunch-backed Richard," last degenerate scion of the house of Anjou. Referring to this circumstance, a poet has thus addressed the plant : — ■" Time was when thy golden chain of flowers Was linked the warrior's brow to bind ; When reared in the shelter of royal bowers, Thy wreath with kingly coronal twined. *• The chieftain who bore thee high in his crest And bequeathed to his race thy simple name, lyong ages past has sunk to his rest, And only survives in the rolls of fame. *' Thoujrh a feeble thing that nature forms, A frail and perishing flower art thou ; Yet the race has survived a thousand storms, That have made the monarch warrior bow. ** The storied urn may be crumbled to dust, And time may the marble bust deface ; But thou wilt be faithful and firm to thy trust, The memorial flower of a princely race." The many intelligent readers of this chapter will of course remember the historical account of the sanguinary " Wars of the Roses,'' waged between the rival houses of York and Lancas- ter, "which had for more than thirty years deluged the land with human blood and watered it with tears." And, as was the case with the Earl of Anjou, wearing a sprig of broom in his helmet, the ''Red Rose'' was chosen as the device of the house of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the fourth son of Edward III, while Edmund, Duke of York, assumed the " White Rose " as a distinguishing insignia. To Shakespeare we are mainly indebted for the account of the assumption of the red and white roses by the belligerent followers of the aspiring factions of the house of York and Lancaster, from a quarrel in the Temple Gar- dens, between Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and the Earl of Somerset — the partisan of Henry of Lancaster. Finding that their voices were getting too loud, Plantagenet proposes that they shall "In dumb significance proclaim their thoughts," adding, — " Let him who is a true born gentleman And stand upon the honor of his birth. If he supposes I have pleaded truth. From off this briar pluck a white rose with me." To which Somerset replies, — " Let him who is no coward, nor no flatterer, But dare maintain the party of the truth, Pluck a red rose from oflf this thorn with me." Their respective followers gathered the dif ferent colored roses, and hence, tradition says, these flowers were adopted as badges by the houses of York and Lancaster during the civil wars w^hich followed. The wearing of crests and badges, by our pugnaciously inclined ancestors, may be traced to a very early period of their history, and seems to have continued until about the time of Queen Elizabeth, when they appear to have lost most of their former popularity. Yet. in Scotland, the custom seems to have lingered longer as a distinguishing badge among the various clans, where some thirty distinct species of plants represented as many different clans. The badge of "Good Queen Bess" was a Tudor Rose, with the motto, Rosa Sine Spina, or a Rose withotit a Thorn ; while the group- ing of the Rose, Shamrock, Thistle and Princes Feathers still retain their old-time significance in this our day and generation on the British escutcheon. The discerning readers, I opine, will not have forgotten Sir Walter Scott's allusion in " The Abbot, " to the Holly twig which Julian Avenal wore in his helmet when slain, and by which he was recognized as he lay dead in his complete panoply of steel. After the revolution of 1638, the White Rose was adopted by the Jacobites as their badges of the exiled house of Stuart, and the loth of June was for a long time White Rose Day, that being the birthday of the Pretender, as the son of James II was called. After thus briefly reviewing a few other in- teresting floral badges our forefathers so proudly wore in the belligerent times now happily long passed, I will now return to the favorite golden flower, which in many instances / U seems to have completely charmed its cesthetic admirers with its simple, though exquisite beauty, and which is so pleasingly expressed in the following sentimental stanzas. "The bonnie broom," so familiar to Mary Howitt in her youthful days— and the fond remembrance of which so forcibly reminded her of happier times, is thus pathetically alluded to :— " Oh the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom, On my native hills it grows ; I had rather see the bonnie, bonnie broom, Than the rarest flower that blows. Oh the yellow broom is blossoming In my own dear countrie ; I never thought so small a thing As a flower my nerveless heart could wrmg Or have drawn a tear from me. " It 'minds me of my native hills Clad in the heath and fern, Of the green strath and the flowery brae. Of the glen and rocky burn ; It 'minds me of dearer things than these, Of humble faith and bended knees, Of home joys gone and Memories Like sere leaves left behind." Retrospective views of what has been, may, in some measure or degree, be pleasing, even though they may sometimes be slightly tinged with melancholy— as are many of the concerns of life. Yet, the earlier associations, which the remembrance of the " long yellow broom" awakens in slumbering memory, when, in after years, and far away they are transiently revived again, seem to reappear with all the vivid freshness of the past. And, to the sensi- tive mind of the poet, they seem to have strongly appealed, especially when closely followed by misfortune, and while distracted with care he recalls the peaceful occupations of his earlier days, and the rural scenes which then surrounded him, and with saddened or regretful feelings pens these lines : " More pleasing far is Cowden Kuowes, Mv peaceful happy home. Where 1 was wont to milk my yowes At e'en among the broom." In his novel of -Alton Lock," Charles Kingsley makes old Sandy Mackay exclaim within a few minutes of his death : ♦' Oh ! the broom the bonnie yellow broom, The broom of the Cowden Knowes." In Shakespeare's -Tempest," reference is thus made to the broom plant where Iris says to Ceres: -And thy broom proved whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, being lass lorn." And poor Burns, whose love for Nature was ever intensely strong, thus expresses his love for the bonnie broom : •• Those groves of sweet myrtle, let foreign lands reckon. Whose bright beaming summers exalt the per- fume, ^ . . Far dearer to me von lone glen of green brechcn, With the burn stealing under the long yellow broom. Far dearer to me are von humble broom bowers Where the blue-bell and gowan lurk lowly unseen. For there lightlv tripping among the wild flowers, A listening tlie linnet, oft wanders my Jean. We have now, figuratively, been wandering among the -bonnie broom "—inhaling its perfume, and admiring its flowers— for some length of time, and while so doing have said much in praise of the humble little shrub I have endeavored to interest all good folk in. through the aid of poetry, history, narrative SARRACENIA VARIOLARIS ■ •«( C PAGI 206 :»7.^j-- ^5Wf^ 2o6 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. and legend. And. although these desultory remarks may perchance seem to occupy more valuable space than the subject may possibly deserve, yet the seductive theme which has so pleasantly beguiled the enthusiastic scribe, who thus ventures to give expression to his thoughts, will, it is hoped, be accepted as a sufficient apology for trespassing so long upon time and patience. In conclusion, it now only remains for the writer to courteously say there is, at the present time, a fair specimen of such a plant, or shrub, as he has been describing, in full bloom, at 34 Union Street, Mount Holly, New Jersey, and where it will be kindly pointed out, to any one who delights in such pretty things,' by the owner. [Nov. Insect Catching Plants. - A correspon- dent writing from Bethlehem, New Hampshire, sends a specimen, which we engrave, with the following note : '' There came to me in the mail yesterday a curious object which I forward to you, namely, a butterfly entrapped in a flower. I soaked out the dry specimen and found the tongue of the butterfly tightly clasped in the shelly corpusculum of the poUinia of some seemingly Asclepiadaceous plant. The original observer designates the flower by the name of Cruel Floiver, as it thus entraps butterflies without seeming reason. I find no description corresponding to it in Gray and conclude it must be an importation from the tropics or from a region where there are large strong insects able to grapple with such resistances as the heavy and tightly fixed pollen masses offer." It is a Peruvian plant which, to-day is known as Aurajia sericifera. For twenty years after its introduction to cultivation it was known as Physianthus albens. Dr. Lindley CRUEL FLOWER. gave it to us as Schubettia graveolens. We florists had scarcely changed all our catalogues to suit before it was found we must drop Schu- bertia and again go back to Physta?itkus. Our catalogues were scarcely distributed before some musty volume turned up, and it was discovered that Aurajia was given to the plant in 1818, while Physiayithus was not born till 1824. Under botanical rules, that the oldest published name must prevail, we must call the plant Amajia sericifera until some other pamphlet turns up with a prior date. Botanists, under the rule of priority they have adopted, can do no less than stick to it,— but we flower-lovers ought to have some consideration in these matters. Because some lazy botanist did not examine the records as he should have done, the whole world of flower-lovers have to suffer by these changes of name. Thus the botanists have made it a very cruel plant to the makers of garden catalogues,— but priority rules have no mercy for them. Its insect catching proclivities are, however, well known, and a wide-awake florist made much money by the tact of giving it the "cruel " name. But we need not go to the barbarian flora of Peru for instances of vicious behaviour. Our common Dogs '-bane, Apocynum a7idtosmcB- folium, exhibits the same blood-thirsty proclivi- ties. Scores of innocent little creatures may be seen at times hanging from the flowers as the poor butterfly in the picture hangs. Our good correspondent seems tainted with the prevailing sophistry that the visits of insects to flowers are for the flower's special benefit. If he will shut up the books written by sensational writers, and take a look for himself at the world of flowers, he will find those that depend on insects for pollination make very poor headway in the world. None of them are annuals. They dare not move away from the territory of their special insect agent,— and only for being perennials, would soon be swept from the earth. The whole subject of the relation between insects and flowers seems to have had but one- sided treatment. How plants and animals live and behave has been well considered, but little has been said of how they die. One must be as providential as the other. Nature has decreed that every individual must die, and has ar- ranged various methods by which this decree MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 207 1896.] shall be enforced. We are reminded of what has been written about insectivorous plants by a cut in Gardening Illushated, which came to hand while penning these lines, and which is reproduced here. It was thought the leaves were arranged as pitchers for no other purpose than catching and feeding on insects. It Is found that the Sarracenias, or pitcher plants, thrive just as well when insects are prevented from entering the pitchers. If we admit, as we must, that nature has planned all living things so as to be of service to others as well as themselves, and that death as well as life is an evidence of providential benevolence in the line of good to the greatest number, we need not assume utter selfishness as the origin of the pitcher-like form, or of any plant behavior. Transformed Sexes in a Chestnut Tree.— I send to Meehans' Monthly some burs of a chestnut tree at Pitman Grove, N. J. We thought you might be interested. The tree was very heavily loaded with blos- soms, as it is with burs. The burs all grow in clusters. The tips sent are characteristic of the whole tree. I left the grove two weeks ago, and had these specimens forwarded to me. I thought at first it might be a reversion to the original type, or, as I was told, a foreign variety. The tree grows on the edge of the grove with other chestnuts and oaks, and is proba- bly 25 years old. Professor Apgar informs me it is our ordi- nary chestnut " so changed that the staminate catkins have become pistillate, and so produce chestnuts." I send him to-day also a better specimen. I think he was under the impression that only a few, and not all, the burs grew in clusters, when I wrote him a few weeks ago. G. Buckwalter. Camden, New Jersey. As Professor Apgar reported, it is a case in which what are normally male flowers have been transformed. The late Isaac C. Martin- dale exhibited specimens similar, probably from the same tree, some years ago. The change of sexual characters in flowers is not uncommon. The disk flowers of the dahlia are bi-sexual, but when the tubular flowers become strap-shaped,— that is, form - double "-dahlias,-the stamens disappear, and the florets are wholly pistillate. Fema e flowers are occasionally noted in the aments or catkins of male flowers in willows and pop- lars. But the Indian corn is the most fatmliar illustration. It is not unusual to find the female, or ear-producing spike, with male flowers at the apex ; or the - tassel " or pani- cle of male flow^ers with grains of corn here and there. It is not usual to see these changes in the chestnut, though it is reasonable to look for them, since we now know the laws which regulate the sexes of flowers. These laws were demonstrated many years ago in a paper published in full in the proceedings of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science. Salem meeting, by Mr Thomas Meehan, and since adopted by most biologists, as noted in - Encyclop^i^dia Bntan- nica," though the strongest facts in support of the principle are not given there. At the period of fertilization, the primary cell or nucleus is prepared to be of either sex. The final decision is dependent on nutrition. If abundant nutrition is at hand, or the pri- mary cell itself with a high grade of vital power to avail itself of nutrition, the develop- ment of the cell is in the female line. W ith limited nutrition, or a lower degree of vatal power in the primary cell to avail itself of it. the development is in the male line. In trees, some whole branches may have a low vital power, when male flowers result, as in pine and spruce trees,^the stronger branches producing cones. In annuals, the whole plant will often have its vital powers lowered by limited food, either by poor ground or crowd- ing, when nothing but male flowers are pro- duced The Ambrosia, or ragweed, hemp, spinach, etc.. are familiar illustrations. This chestnut here figured is another illus- tration of this law. The extra thickness of the stalk or rachis to which the chestnuts are attached shows how much stronger the organ- izing power of the plant is, at this point, over its condition in the normal state of male- flower inflorescence. , We may say that an unusual power in the primary flower cell to avail itself of nutrition resulted in female instead of the usual male flowers. Just to hand are specimens, from Mr C. F. Saunders, of Adinomeris squarrosa with disk flowers wholly pistillate. 2o8 MEEHANS' MONTHI.Y— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. Vitality op Forest Trees.— In the August number of Meehans' Monthly, on page 146, is an article by Mrs. Frederick C. Johnston,' from Crete, Illinois, on hijiity by Loss of Leaves. She says : - On our farm, in Adams County, Nebraska, May 22, 1893. a hail and wind storm took every leaf from the trees in our orchard ; many were in bloom, but after the storm the trees were as bare as in winter. They leaved out again, and the middle of June another storm left them leafless. We feared the trees would die this time, but they again sent out their green robes, seem- ingly bound not to give up to the elements, and by July 9th they were in full leaf again,' when the third hail storm not only took leaves but small branches, and tore the bark in strips on the side towards the storm. After this over half of the trees died. The others, later varieties, still clung to life, and a few even blossomed in the autumn, but the succeeding spring nearly all were dead." Now, let us draw a lesson from this. Na- ture helps us to many conclusions. Is it not a legitimate conclusion that those trees lost one-third of their vitality by the first storm, another third by the second storm, and the last third by the third storm ? Suppose these three storms covered three years, one storm each year, would the trees have died the same ? I answer, yes, emphati- cally, and I appeal to nature for proof. Some years ago my Sugar Maple orchard, of 350 trees, was alive with apple tree worms, or something similar, which denuded the trees or their leaves. The worms then disappeared and the trees leaved out again. Question : Was one-third of the tree's vitality gone or exhausted ? Let nature answ^er the question. The next year these same trees lost their leaves in the same way and leaved out again. The third year the worms appeared again, but died without doing any harm. The result was that 50 of the trees died, and dead limbs were seen all over the orchard. There can be no doubt but what the whole orchard would have died had the trees lost their leaves the third year. Now, then, is it not conclusive that vitality once lost is never restored ? A plant, a tree, an animal, or a human [Nov. being, suffers in vitality in proportion to the amount of damage done. Vitality, in all these, can be exhausted slowly or rapidly. It has been my opinion for many years that vitality in a human being once lost is never regained, and the results of these two observa- tions seem to confirm me in my conclusion. Why does a tree die when denuded of its leaves '^ The roots of a tree absorb water from the soil and the leaves evaporate the same into the atmosphere, and when there are no leaves to evaporate the roots cease absorbing, and this is a sufficient reason for the death of the tree. Timothy Wheeler. Moscow, Vt. ^^^x^rrv. The Plucky Blue Jay. — My raspberry patch is 50 feet square, surrounded by a wire fence. So many birds make their home in the wooded rooms within ten feet, that it is neces- sary to protect this patch by netting, which is supported by wires strung overhead. The net hangs over the sides of the fence three or four feet. Occasionally a bird gets inside, especially the Blue Jay. We catch them and let them go unharmed. Yesterday my man and myself were near and saw a Blue Jay in there with a ripe red raspberry in his bill, fluttering against the net. My man went inside and chased him from one side to another three times, and finally got his hands on him at where the fence rail and net met, but the bird managed to slip through his hands and down between the net and the outside of the fence and gained his liberty. All this time he hung on to the berry and flew away with it. That certainly is a good illustration of bird pluck. ^ , , „, W. C. Egan. Egandale, Ills. The Yellow Geum.— We have a number of the yellow Geum in our woods,— (^^ww album, Gmelin, and noted as var. flavum, in the ♦'Torrey Bulletin" for Jan. 12, 1889. It does not difier from the other except in flowers, though if my memory serves me I found one having a large number, about seven or nine leaflets on the radicals beside the smaller inter- posed ones. This is not according to the re- quirements of the species, G. album. E. Newlin Williams. GENERAL GARDENING. NOVEMBER. There is no wind at all to-night To dash the drops against the pane ; No sound abroad, nor any light, And sadly falls the autumn rain. There is no color in the world, No lovely tint on hill and plain ; The summer's golden sails are furled, And sadly falls the autumn rain. The earth lies tacitly beneath. As it were dead to joy or pain — It does not move, it does not breathe, And sadly falls the autumn rain. And all my heart is patient, too ; I wait till it shall wake again ; The songs of spriug shall sound anew. Though sadly falls the autunm rain. — Celia ThaxTER. fresh set of flowers is produced continuously day after day. The climbing is accomplished by the twin- ing of the young shoots. A wire or stout string support, with a few wooden strips to bear the weight is alone necessary. The Moon-flower.— The worldly worth of anything is usually measured by the amount of gratification or pleasure it may afford. Reasoning thus, the garden-lover will find it worth his while to hunt a place to put a root or two of Ipoma:aBona-nox, the well-known Moon-flower, next spring. It is only an annual ; but a plant raised from a cutting during the winter afforded a great deal of pleasure to the writer in its situation on an arbor. The rapidity of its growth enables it to soon cover a small arbor. Its large, clear white flowers stand out from the background of broad, green leaves making it visible even in the darkness of night, at which time the flowers are open. It is interesting to compare the times of open- ing and closing. The closing hours are from 7 to 8 A. m., and the opening about 7 to 8 p. m., the times apparently depending on atmos- pheric conditions. After the cool fall weather sets in, the time of blooming is irregular. The plant above mentioned omitted to bloom one night, and several days after the flowers might be seen during the day. and since at all times. On two vines, one hundred of the immense flowers were recently counted,— and this amount is not a limit. Its great blooming ability is the more pronounced when we learn the life of a flower is but the one night, and a Successful Chrysanthemum Culture.— Mrs. B. P. Cheney, of South Natick, Mass., is noted for the successful culture of chrysanthe- mums on her grounds, under the management of Gardener John Barr. He has had 700 flowers on a plant trained on a single stem. Last year there were 120 varieties in the col- lection. A committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society says of them : '' Mr. Barr considers that quite a number of the Japanese are not worth growing except as exhibition blooms ; 500 were grown in boxes on account of the convenience of handling them, it being an easy and quick way of filling up the house, and as they are done flowering they can be cleaned out gradually and the space used for other purposes. The results of this mode of cultivation were quite as satisfac- tory as growing them on benches. For fertil- izing, clay and sheep manure were used. Thirty plants, mostly Japanese varieties, were growing in twelve-inch pots. Those growing hi boxes were particularly noticeable, and that mode of cultivation— new to at least a portion of your Coininittee— it seems to them might be adopted by many growers as an easy way of giving a place to this popular flower." Crimson Rambler Rose.— The Lyon-Hoyti- cole writes of an exhibition in France of which one whole tent was filled with Turner's Crim- son Rambler Rose. They were artistically arranged. The eflect. says our contemporary, was " rellement admirable y This truly beautiful climber appears to re- ceive a welcome in all quarters,— and not with- out reason. Although introduced but recently, it has been broadly disseminated, which serves to show the extent of its popularity. (209) 2IO MEKHANS' MONTH I.Y— GENERAL GARDENING. [Nov. Carnation Culture.— A committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society visited the famous carnation house of Mr. William Nichol- son, at Framingham, Mass., who gave them the following details of his method of culture : "The cuttings are taken for general stock for winter forcing from February 14th to April ist ; pricked out in flats, which I prefer to pots ; placed in cold frames about April 20th, and planted out in the field from May to June loth. I have had splendid plants for fall use struck in April and planted in the field June loth. I prepare my ground in the following manner : It is ploughed in the fall, about the middle of November, and left in the rough till spring ; then I put on about once in three or four years eight barrels of lime to the acre, in heaps of say half a bushel. As soon as it is all powder, which will be in about ten days, or earlier if it rains, I spread all over the ground thinly. I put on about one ton of wood ashes to the acre and about five cords of manure, and plow it in about seven inches just before I plant out. I harrow it smoothly and plant the carnations in beds, eighteen inches between the rows and fifteen inches between each plant in the row. Every fourth row I leave two feet, which makes it very handy to take out the weeds in sum- mer. I think that it is owing to the lime and wood ashes that my plants are so free from all kinds of diseases, and that they present a glaucous appearance. In regard to stopping, one must be governed by the kinds he grows and the time when he wants the flowers for market. Some kinds do not need stopping after July 25th ; others will need it until the last week in August. The preparation of the loam for benches is as follows : plough up sod ground in the fall ; get a car of good rotted horse manure from' horses that are heavily grain fed ; add one horse load of manure to four of loam, and two buckets of pure bone flour without acid ; repeat that till your pile is large enough ; turn two or three times and add two buckets of wood ashes to every five loads (one horse loads). I always have my benches well washed with water and then give them a heavy coat of hot whitewash from fresh lime. I begin to take in my plants September ist, and plant in the house about ten by twelve inches apart-a little more or less, according to the size of the plants, and after they are planted in the house syringe once in two weeks with four ounces of salt to three gallons of water, and the alternate week with the follow- ing formula : one pound of sulphate of copper in powder, and one quart of concentrated ammonia dissolved together in an earthern jar with water enough added to make three gal- lons. Keep it all perfectly air tight Take a two-inch potful of this mixture and at the same time half a two-inch potful of clear ammonia and syringe alternate weeks with the salt mixture. I also mulch my carnations about twice in the season with a light dressing of sheep manure.*' Injury to Trees from Electric Light.— Seeing that you take an interest in arboricul- ture, permit me to call attention to the dele- terious effect of the electric light on trees. In front of my house, all the trees that are within 50 or 60 feet of the big arc lights lose their leaves and show many dead branches. One tree within 15 feet of one of these lights is nearly stripped to the lowest branches, and is dry and dead (it is a maple). A tall elm about 30 feet away is fast losing the leaves from the long pendant branches— and a Butternut in front of my window is fast going the same way. To test this point I have taken walks of about 20 miles in extent through the city streets with same results visible everywhere, so I am convinced the electric light is hurtful to most trees. They can't sleep with those big glaring electric eyes shining from about 8 p. M. to 3 A. M. or thereabouts. I believe there is also a chemical action from these lights. The tree cannot live in almost eternal day, — they, like human or animal life of any kind, want rest. It is only near these lights the decay is so marked. Have any of your correspond- ents noticed this.? I would like to know. Maples, Butternut and elms seem to suffer most. Willows and horse chestnuts do not seem to be effected, nor the lilacs— the Cotton Wood does not seem to feel it all. Montreal is the best lighted city I have seen on this continent, not excluding New York. The lights are large arc ones and placed about 25 to 30 feet from the ground. Now note this : the trees all begin to lose their leaves on top or on the side facing the lights, and gradually keep 1896.] meehans' monthly— general gardening. 211 losing them downward. Now for a digression, I also believe the electric lights are much to blame for human sight defects, and nervous- ness, and, lastly, for insomnia. We want dark- ness for rest, all Nature demands it, and how can people rest comfortable with these high flickering lights glaring in at their windows. You may say close your blinds, but in this climate at this season of the year we have it hot and need our windows open. I am often The subject suggested by Mr. Ross is one of great interest to lovers of trees. Whether or not some darkness is of advantage to trees may be a question. One would think if of value to a maple it should be to a horse chest- nut or Cotton Wood. But Mr. Ross's sugges- tion to have the actual experience of others is better than all reasoning on possibilities. In some cases electric light has been thought beneficial to the growth of plants. BEGONIA OLBIA awakened by a sudden flare and then equally sudden decadence of light. I have no time to go into this phase of the subject, but I am convinced there is much in it. Another phase of this subject,— I think for forcing vegetables, etc., the light would be useful, properly adjusted. I notice, when ex- posed to the light, they obtain size, but are weakly. John Hugh Ros^j. Montreal, Canada. Bf.gonias as House Plants.— Few things are found by experience to be better suited to house gardening than Begonias. In their own homes they mostly grow in shady places, free from frost, but not over warm. The en- graving represents a very pretty species from Brazil, which has but recently made its appear- ance, which we have made from a photograph sent' to us by Mr. John Coulson, gardener to Hon. Stephen Salisbury, Worcester. Mass. 2IO MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. [Nov. , m ?....^^.:»,.0.■. Carnation Culture.— A committee of the Massachusetts Plorticultural Society visited the famous carnation house of Mr. William Nichol- son, at Framingham, Mass., who gave them the following details of his method of culture : "The cuttings are taken for general stock for winter forcing from February 14th to April 1st ; pricked out in flats, which I prefer to pots ; placed in cold frames about April 20th, and planted out in the fleld from May to June loth. I have had splendid plants for fall use struck in April and planted in the field June loth. I prepare my ground in the following manner : It is ploughed in the fall, about the middle of November, and left in the rough till spring ; then I put on about once in three or four years eight barrels of lime to the acre, in heaps of say half a bushel. As soon as it is all powder, which will be in about ten days, or earlier if it rains, I spread all over the ground thinly. I put on about one ton of wood ashes to the acre and about five cords of manure, and plow it in about seven inches just before I plant out. I harrow it smoothly and plant the carnations in beds, eighteen inches between the rows and fifteen inches between each plant in the row. Every fourth row I leave two feet, which makes it very handy to take out the weeds in sum- mer. I think that it is owing to the lime and wood ashes that my plants are so free from all kinds of diseases, and that they present a glaucous appearance. In regard to stopping, one must be governed by the kinds he grows and the time when he wants the flowers for market. Some kinds do not need stopping after July 25th ; others will need it until the last week in August. The preparation of the loam for benches is as follows : plough up sod ground in the fall ; get a car of good rotted horse manure from' horses that are heavily grain fed ; add one horse load of manure to four of loam, and two buckets of pure bone flour without acid ; repeat that till your pile is large enough ; turn two or three times and add two buckets of wood ashes to every five loads (one horse loads). I always have my benches well washed with water and then give them a heavy coat of hot whitewash from fresh lime. I begin to take in my plants Septeml^er ist, and plant in the house about ten by twelve inches apart-a little more or less, according to the size of the plants, and after they are planted in the house syringe once in two weeks with four ounces of salt to three gallons of water, and the alternate week with the follow- ing formula : one pound of sulphate of copper in powder, and one quart of concentrated ammonia dissolved together in an earthern jar with water enough added to make three gal- lons. Keep it all perfectly air tight Take a two-inch potful of this mixture and at the same time half a two-inch potful of clear ammonia and syringe alternate weeks with the salt mixture. I also mulch my carnations about twice in the season with a light dressing of vsheep manure.*' Injury to Trees from Electric Light.— Seeing that you take an interest in arboricul- ture, permit me to call attention to the dele- terious eflect of the electric light on trees. In front of my house, all the trees that are within 50 or 60 feet of the big arc lights lose their leaves and show many dead branches. One tree within 15 feet of one of these lights is nearly stripped to the lowest branches, and is dry and dead (it is a maple). A tall elm about 30 feet away is fast losing the leaves from the long pendant branches— and a Butternut in front of my window is fast going the same way. To test this point I have taken walks of about 20 miles in extent through the city streets with same results visible everywhere, so I am convinced the electric light is hurtful to most trees. They can't sleep with those big glaring electric eyes shining from about 8 p. M. to 3 A. M. or thereabouts. I believe there is also a chemical action from these lights. The tree cannot live in almost eternal day, — they, like human or animal life of any kind, wa/a rest. It is only near these lights the decay is so marked. Have any of your correspond- ents noticed this .^ I would like to know. Maples, Butternut and elms seem to suffer most. Willows and horse chestnuts do not seem to be efl\?cted, nor the lilacs— the Cotton Wood does not seem to feel it all. IMontreal is the best lighted city I have seen on this continent, not excluding New York. The lights are large arc ones and placed about 25 to 30 feet from the ground. Now note this : the trees all begin to lose their leaves on top or on the side facing the lights, and gradually keep 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 211 losing them downward. Now for a digression, I also believe the electric lights are much to blame for human sight defects, and nervous- ness, and, lastly, for insomnia. We want dark- ness for rest, all Nature demands it. and how can people rest comfortable with these hi;,^h flickering lights glaring in at their windows. You may say close your blinds, but in this climate at this season of the year we have it hot and need our windows open. I am often The subject suggested by Mr. Ross is one of great interest to lovers of trees. Whether or not some darkness is of advantage to trees may be a question. One would think if of value to a maple it should be to a horse chest- nut or Cotton Wood. But Mr. Ross's sugges- tion to have the actual experience of others is better tlian all reasoning on possibilities. In some cases electric light has been thought ))enencial to the growth of plants. BEGONIA OLBIA awakened by a sudden flare and then equally sudden decadence of light. I have no time to go into this phase of the subject, but I am convinced there is much in it. Another phase of this subject,— I think for forcing vegetables, etc.. the light would be useful, properly adjusted. I notice, when ex- posed to the light, they obtain si/e. but are weakly. John Hugh R()S=. Montreal, Cana■'•,: .r>j V • ^'.i m Yf"- ■' 'W V, ■' ^ '^ ■' '■ 'f~-i% 1 .;^'"i^5c-.- ■'. r-'^v v"i,'S>:,.t:>'^, BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. THE IvIFB OF THE ROSE. Where are voices kings were glad to hear ? Where now the feast, the song, the bayadere? Ihe end is nothing, and the end is near. And yonder lovely rose : alas ! my dear ! See the November garden, rank and drear ; The end is nothing, and the end is near. ?;?^ ! ^V^ *^^ ^^^^ ^^°P mingles with the mere. Mark ! how the age devours each passing year : The end is nothing, and the end is near. Forms arise and grow and wane and disappear. The life allotted thee is now and here ; The end is nothing, and the end is near. — From the Persian, EucAi^YPTus.— A correspondent, who occa- sionally sends us criticisms on literary matters, which we always value, refers to the orthog- raphy of Eucalyptus rostrata and E. amag- dalina. He suggests that the specific name should be rostratus and amygdalimis. Another correspondent refers to the same thing, and refers to Eucalyptus Globuhis as in general use, and must be right. It is pleasant to receive these reminders, for the way to be right in matters of importance is to be careful in the smaller ones. Then the larger ones will take care of themselves. But the criticism will furnish a lesson to lovers of flowers who do not know the reason for some things. An adjective, in grammar, must agree with the noun in number, gender and case. In Latin the termination usually indicates the gender. Most nouns ending in us would be masculine; those ending in a would be feminine. Eucalyptus, if a male, would require its adjective to be in the same form—rosttatus, and not rostrata. But it so happens that though ending in us, Eucalyptus is classed as feminine, and, therefore, the feminine rostrata is to be used, and not rostratus. But how about Globulus, which is correct ? Our correspondent number two has to put the trouble of deceiving him on those modern reformers, who are dropping all capi- tals in the spelling of the adjectives, which specific names really are. Unn^eus adopted the practice of using capitals for the specific (218) names when it was necessary to indicate that they were derived from proper names, or had been in former use as proper names. He would write Smithii and not smithii, as some moderns do, so as to indicate that it was named in honor of a Mr. Smith, and not for a black- smith or some other smith. In the case of Eucalyptus Globulus he would spell the name with a capital, because it is not used as a mere adjective to Eucalyptus, but was once a proper name when first employed here by Labillardiere, and not from its seem- ing mathematical meaning as an adjective term. Our correspondent could not have struck a better illustration of the weakness of the reform movement in relation to the use of capitals in specific names. Ignorant of its origin and of the gender of Eticalyptus the re- former would be at sea. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. 219 GoLDiE.— Apropos of the interest which the notices of Mr. John Goldie, in the July and October numbers of Meehans' Monthly, have brought out, it may be well to call atten- tion to the brief but interesting and accurate account of the life and botanical labors of this pioneer botanist published in the Botanical Gazette for October, 1886. The article was written, if I am not mistaken, by Dr. Asa Gray. It will be a service to botanists to have Goldie's journal put into print, which will be much appreciated. J. C. Arthur, Purdue University. Lafayette, Indiana. John Wragg.— One of the original pioneers of intelligent gardening in Iowa has recently passed away in the person of Mr. John Wragg, of Waukee. He was full of years and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He settled in Iowa in 1854, starting from the vicinity of Philadelphia, and few subjects gave him more pleasure than to write about the beautiful rare trees he had left behind him but never forgot. He located at Waukee in 1865. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada and the British possessions between the Atlantic Ocean and the 102 meridian. By Dr. N. L. Britton and Hon. Addison Brown. Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, Vol I, to be com- pleted in three volumes. It will be no exag- geration to pronounce this the most valuable contribution ever made to American botany, so far as the area covered by Gray's Manual- somewhat extended. Plants vary considerably among themselves. It is rare that a collector can find his plant accord with its description. The more extended the description the worse often for the student, as he finds more dif- ferences from the text than in the shorter ones. A wood cut of every described plant, together with the description, as given here, cannot fail to be of immense service. The student will have to remember that the same difficulty will occur with a cut as with the description. It will only give the general character, but the text and a cut together is a double security. Regret will be felt, in many quarters, at the wholesale changes in plant names, under what many regard a strained interpretation of the priority rule. But this matter has been so often discussed, that it need not be reviewed here. Granting this to be unfortunate, the authors deserve the thanks of every botanist for this successful ending of a great task. The Soil.— By F. H. King. Published by McMillan & Co., New York. It is said that it is a sign of a bad workman, when one quarrels with his tools. By the converse, a good work- man knows all about his tools. Certainly the most successful cultivator is one who, with good practical experience, knows all about the soil, its nature, relations and fundamental principles of management, which is what Prof. King teaches in this little book. The author is connected with the Agricultural De- partment of the University of Wisconsin, and is a successful teacher in his line. President of the Park Commission of that city, and the first great park there was dedicated on the last holiday of the nation, Mr. Bradt receiving many compliments for his successful work. He is but 31 years of age, and progres- sive gardening may yet receive many years of success from his intelligence and energy. Geo. M. Bradt.— Mr. Geo. M. Bradt, the founder of the very successful Southerji Florist and Gardeyier, was brought up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the founder of the Chattanooga Floricultural Society, and he has in many ways been connected with the advanced gardening of that section. He is The Flora of Alabama.— For all his advancing years, the well-known and highly esteemed botanist, Dr. Charles H. Mohr, of Mobile, is as youthfully active as ever. In August he returned from an extensive botanical trip through the southwestern extremities of the Appalachian chain of mountains and has added another interesting plant to the cata- logue of the plants of Alabama, in the form of a grape vine, Vitis palmata, originally dis- covered in Missouri by the lynx-eyed Michaux, but still comparatively unknown. Rayless Erigeron strigosum. — For several years I have noticed the marked in- crease of the discoid variety of Efigeron strigosum, Muhl., in our fields, and also many gradations. One form with large, fine rays. one with smaller rays, one with depauperate rays or only rudiments. Mr. Ferris Price has noticed the same thing in Delaware Co., Pa. The movement was first noticed in New Eng- land, and of late years has grown very marked in this section. Is there a plausible explana- tion ? F. Newlin Willlams. The Nursery Book.— By L. H. Bailey. That this book, which was issued as a com- plete guide to the multiplication of plants, should have sold so well as to call for this, the third edition, is a strong fact in favor of its value, aside from the editorial approval which greeted the first edition. It is pub- lished by the McMillan Company, New York. Dr. H. H. Rusby.— Dr. Rushy has returned from his botanical excursion to the Southern Orinoco, in South America. It has been rich in results, many new species and some new genera are among the discoveries. New Work on American Ferns.— Mr. Raynal Dodge, of Newburyport. Mass., is preparing a book on the vascular cryptogams of New England. {^.-^ii'i-:- GENERAL NOTES. ^<^- Pronunciation of Vioi^et. — A corres- pondent of Ivondon Garde7iers' Chfoiiicle says : ' • We have hardly got over the discussion which raged so freely respecting the proper pronunciation of the name Gladiolus, when another hare is started by a querist who at the recent conference at the Botanic Gardens, Re- gent's Park, wanted to be informed as to the proper pronunciation of Viola. The somewhat affected one getting into common use is Ve-ola, the ♦♦!" being pronounced "e, " but soft. That is the style of the cult, who always seem to be fond of pronunciations of the mincing order. The querest in question wanted to know if using a plain English accent to Viola, we should be right in pronouncing an allied plant ve-olet. Now there are in common use two pronunciations, Vi-o-la and Vio-la, the first syllable short and soft. The first is the old style, the latter, the later common style, whilst the perversion of the ♦' i " into ♦• e " is presumably the new style. If Viola is to be regarded as a purely Latin term, then its pro- nunciation must be governed by its derivation. If on the other hand we regard it as a purely vernacular term, such as violet, pansy, daf- fodil, etc., then should its pronunciation be governed by custom. That the term is not used in its botanical sense by raisers and growers of Violas there can be no doubt, but it is by them regarded entirely as a common and well understood appellation. When, how- ever, at a conference some two or three diverse accentuations are heard, there is wisdom in having the correct one made not only clear, but constantly employed ; even the most un- learned does not like to be caught in any lapsus lingucB. ' ' This has an interest for Americans, as well as other English speaking people, for an at- tempt is being made in some of our schools to have Latin spoken, as Italians to-day would speak it. For ages English people have given English pronunciation to the Latin letters, and there is no more reason why we should give the Italians the privilege of exclusively using (220) a dead language. The English language is probably spoken by a greater number of intel- ligent people under our special form of civili- zation than any other, and the English method of pronouncing Latin would render it better understood by the majority of men than any Italian pronunciation would. We are glad to see our contemporary standing out for Vi-ola instead of Ve-ola. Varikties of Peas.— Very much attention is given to pea growing in vegetable culture in Massachusetts,— and a nice discrimination shown as regards varieties. Mr. C. N. Brackett says in regard to the exhibitions before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society last year : *' Peas were shown for the first time June 15th, F. C. Goddard being the exhibitor. From this date on through the season peas were shown in liberal quantity and variety. The leading kinds were American Wonder, Ad- vancer, Stratagem, Heroine, and Champion. A new and very handsome pea belonging to the same class as the Heroine and Stratagem was shown by Samuel J. Trepess, and was much admired. It was called Juno. With many growers the Heroine is taking the place of the Stratagem on account of the difficulty of procuring pure seed of that variety, which of late appears to be badly mixed and unreliable. It is to be regretted that so fine a pea should be allowed to run out for want of care in the selection and growing of stock seed." CiRSiUM DISC01.OR.— Mr. A. Lunzer, who painted the original admirable picture of Cirsium discolor, calls attention to an error in the description of the plate. The explanation of Fig. 5 belongs to Fig. 6 ; Fig. 5 is the outer calyx scale. Mr. Lunzer has our best thanks for pointing out this great blunder. Historic Trees.— A San Franciscoan is planting trees from battle-fields and historic spots of the Revolution. SITUATIONS WANTED. Advertisements under this head, not exceeding 50 words, will be inserted once for 50 cents, or three times for I1.25. PARDENERS:— We shall be glad to furnish ^ names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Germautown, Philadelphia. GA R D E N E R— Situation wanted by a mau thor- oughly experienced in all branches. Age 38, married, 2 small children. Excellent references. Address, J. W. B., care of Meehans' Monthly. Another Smart Woman. My husband is poor but proud and he does tioi ^^ant me to work as I have uothiuK to do I get restless, and after readine'in vour paper Mrs. Russell's exoenence selling self- heat n? flat-irons I concluded I woulA try it. I wrote to T F Casev .S: Co., St. Louis. Mo., and they treated me so nicely that I felt very much encouraged As soon as^ I got my sample iron I started out, and sold n irons the first day clearing $12. I have not sold less than s any day since, and one dav sSld 17. I now have $226 clear .'"°»7. f "\ ";>'/ am hand does not know I have l)een working at all. but I am afraid he will be mad when I tell him. Have I done right or should I quit work and leave him to stni^'gle ;»!»"J. An ANXK'i S >> Irr-. You are doiui.- just rijjht, your husband should 'f.Proud of vou?KO ahead ami show the world what an enerK'ct.c woman ban do. That self-heating iron must be a wondertul seller, as we hear of so many that are succeeding selling U. GARDENER— Situation wanted as gardener and florist, by single, middle aged man. Thoroughly experienced in growing flowers, fruits and vegetables. For further information address L. Beiderman, Huntsville, Ala. AS GARDENER, by a man of experience '^ and ability, will be disengaged ist of March next, thoroughly conversant with the management of a gentleman's country estate, unexceptional references for ability and personal character. Address, J. E). S. Box 103 Toms River, N. J. UEADGARDENE ^-Estate Mauager-Sxi- n uation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work, cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches ot gardening. Best references from first-class places. Europe and U. S. February or later, " R. F., Office, Meehans' Monthly. H BAD GARDEN ER-Position wanted on private place bv practical Scotchman, 30 years old, married, no children, thorough experience in every branch. Highest recommendations. Ad- dress, W. A., care of Meehans' Monthly. ARDENER— Situation wanted on private - place by Dane, single, 40 years old. Experi- enced in all branches. Highest references. Ad- dress G. R., care of Meehans' Monthly. G While it is under new management, with new editors and new contributors, it is still the oldest and ™ost reputable publication of its kind in the west, this being the twenty- sixth year of its age. A $1.00 Magazine for 30 cents. To any one sending us 30 cents and six "'J.^" ^^ J^^_^"^| who might subscribe for our magazine, we will mail our one doUar magazine a full year. At 30 «"^« ",%'^^^,^ir;V ^after first vear but hope you will continue to be a sutjscnoer, aucr siing twelve nSmbers. If you wish to ^^^h^ magazine beforl subscribing, send 10 cents and »-«9ei^'J^*„,«^"^P}ftu^X and a free gift ofan aluminum dime-size charm, with tne Lord% Prayer engraved in smallest characters ; bright as hwer! and^nevlr^rnishes. H'e do not sjnd sample co^tes free, so save your postal cards as no "otice will be given them. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Address, THE NEW ST. LOUIS, 2819 Olive St., St. Louif, Mo. A Chance To Make Money. In the past three months I have cleared $660.75 selling Dish Washers^ I did most of the work, my brother helped some I expect to do better next month, as every Di^h )J .^^ ^ !° advertises itself, and sell.. ««^V«V;;'''^i;i h u^ her>? and leave the house. People hear ^'^»^"^/'^^i^ ;^\)J *';' f/ferSa^^ send for them they are so cheap. '^"V la''>/'^^,^" .,^,?-^" can make monev in this business, as every f'^""'> '«;^ Jf .^ Dish washer. At,y of our readers -»V«^^«;^,rT8'lo $" fer toanolvfor an agencv can easilv make trom J8 10 »i" per day You can geffull particulars by addres>in.u the Mound CUy Dish washer Co.. St. Lcuis. Mo. Try ,t and publish your success for the benefit of others. *-• '■^- ^- The Ro^e: It^ Cultivation, Vaitietie^, etc. HY H. B. KLLW ANGER. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tion, the treatment of diseases and insect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip- tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo. I'rice, »l.5i5. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown, Pa. NEW CREATIONS IN FLOWERS If you want to know about them send 10 cent* for Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd's New Catalogue of ll^ire and Beautiful California Novelties. Many New Begonia*. New Cosmos, Kare Cacti, etc. Offered by no others. Ventura-by-the-Sea, Cal. frotn Vto 50 cents, each. Send 2c. stamp for cataioguc o7d?r?ng anything, by sending 5 ct-- addiU^na . we will free of charge a sample copy of rA^A^u/ .5>/. J^uts. magazine. Address 11. H. BAKNES, , ^, Address, ^^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^j^ Ti.« Atnntenr's Flower Garden. A Cuide to the Forma- ^ ^nlnd Manrgtnfent of the Flower ^-^en and^he Cu t.^.^.on ot (larden Flowers. New and revised edition. By i>hirle> Mil> bard. Illustrated with colored plates. Cloth, lamo. . • .•2.60 The Orchid Grower's Manual. Sixth J^ition, -"^^^^ed ^g'*, revised By Benjamin Samuel Williams F. L. b , f. *<• "•^- of types of the various genera THOMAS MKEHAN & 80N8, CJermautown, Fhila. ^s^s^i^^;^siY,ii^n^75^R-Y.^i^^ "* '^""^'^s' '^o'*^"'-^- i-t):<, lyOW IS THE TIHE TO PLANT CROCUS, CHINESE LILIES And all Other SPRING FLOWERING BULBS. ^i ;; Our Stock and Assortment is one of the most com- Ijf. plete in Philadelphia. Prices Moderaie, Illustrated Catalogue Free. MinUPI I 'Q SEED WAREHOUSE IfllUIILLL O 1018 Market St., Phi ,Phila. CAMPBELL'S EARLY Onr Marvelous New GRAPE Best and most valuable. Highest commendation from highest authorities. Hardy, healthy, vig- orous, very productive. Early or late. Largest clusters, finest quality, not foxy. Seeds need not be swallowed. Sold by many reputable Nurserymen. None genuine without our seals. We guarantee safe arrival by mail. Largest stoclc of grape vines in the world. Small fruits. Introducer of unrivalled Red Jacket Goose- berry and Fay Currant. Catalogue free. CEO. S. JOSSELYN, Fredonia, New York. HENRY A. GREER'S Aufumn Catalogue Now Ready FREE TO ALL APPLICANTS A handsome book of 48 pages, with beautiful lithographed covers, describing and illustrating all that is best in BULBS with full cultural directions for ^^ Hyacinths, Narcissus, Vv^ d Tuiips, Lilies, etc., etc. r^iA^' Note.— To all purchasers of Hulbs will be sent, free, a copy of our Garden Calendar, issued January, 1897. HENRY A. OREER 7 1 4 Chestnut Street PHILADELPHIA, PA. ki Yellowstone Park is more and more impressing itself upon the public, as the years go by, as being the Groat Park of the land. The strong feature of it is the fact that it is not a man-made park. True enough man has built roads and bridges and hotels in order that he may see the Park, but he has not yet tried his hand at constructing new fangled Geysers, or re-adorn- ing or re-sculpturing the Grand Canyon of the Yel- lowstone. These are as God left them. There, too, the elk, bear, deer and other animals are not en- closed in wire fences. They wander free and un- fretted whithersoever they will. Man's handiwork is but little seen and the Park is the grander for it. Send Chas. S. Fee, General Passenger Agent, Northern Pacific Railroad, six cents for Wonder- land '96, and read about the Park. Henderson's * Practical * Floriculture. BY PKTER HENDERSON. A guide to the successful propagatiou and cultivation of florists' plants. The work is not one for florists and garden- ers only, but the amateur's wants are constantly kept in mind, and we have a very complete treatise on the cultiva- tion of flowers under glass, or in the open air, suited to those who grow flowers for pleasure as well as for those who make them a matter of trade. The work is characterized by the same radical common sense that marked the author's "Gardening for Profit," and it holds a high place in the estimation of lovers of horticulture. Beautifully illustrated. New and enlarged edition. Cloth, lamo. Price, S1.50. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germantown. LKNDSCHPE ^^ SHNITHRY ENGINEERING Sub-division and treatment of property for towns, parks and villa sites. „P/,f|°^/°'-f|;^b^^^f '/"^^ buil VAN DUZEE ^^7 walnut st. TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING BUY NO INCUBATOR and pay for it before giving it a trial. The firm who is afraid to let you try their incubator before buying it. has no faith in their machine. We will sell you ours ON TRIAL. NOT A CKNT until tried. and a child can run it with 6 minutes attention a day*. ^,^ ,--,0 We won FIRST PRIZE WORLD'S FAIR and will win you for a steady customer ;f yo" J/J only buy ours on trial. Our large c»;*l«8:«® .^"J. coit you 5 cents and give you »100 worth of practical information on poultry and incuba- tors and the n»oney there is in the business. Plans for Brooders, Houses, etc, 25 N.B, Send us the names of three persons in- teretted in poultry and 25 cents and we will send vou «'The Bicycle: Its Care and Repair," Twk of 180 subjects and 8» Illustrations, worth 95.00 to any bicycle rider. VON CHIMIN INCUBATOR CO., Box 180. Delaware City, Del. Hew, \m ami Beauilfui Flams Lord Penzance's New Hybrid Sweetbriars Old Garden Rofes New Roses, Standani Roses, Philadelphia Lemoenei, Ne^'uilcs, Sicera Hildebrandtii, Spna^a -Anthony Watftrer " Tecoma Smithii, etc. , ^^ . f iI?J'e collection of rare Hothouse and Greenhouse Pltntl AnthSms Alocasias, Ornhids, Rare Conifers and other beautiful Evergreens. Magnolias, Japanese Maples, with other choice Trees and Shrubs. ^ ^ . ,*• ,„ PAEONIES-A large collection of the finest in cultiva- tion Hardy Perennials. Phloxes, Japanese Ins, Roses, Clematis, etc. New and Standard Fruits, etc. Catalogue on application. JOHN SAUL, WASHINGTON. D. C. USEFUL BUOKS ON HORTICULTURAL and RURAL SUBJECTS THE FAMILY MONEY MAKER! make home grounds attractive. flmEBICPH liHSDEIIIIIIi America's brightest and most reliable gardening and family paper. Established 50 years. Illus. Weekly. $1.00 a year. WITH HANDSOME PREMIUM To introduce it to new readers we will send American GARDENING three months (12 numbers) to any address on receipt of Ten Cents, in stamps or coin. Sample free. iMERlCAH GURDEHIHG, P.O. Box 1697, N.V. xamo THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Gerunantown, Phila. NicholHon'H lUaKtrated Dictionary of Gardening. Hy G Nicholson. In four volumes. Cloth fo. ^ J?"^"^,^ en scientific encyclopedia of horticulture. With 2,000 first-cios^ en- gravings. Each volume The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory. A Guide to theT'ons.ruction and Mana.e.nent of Plant H-";". -J^.^^^^^^*^ Selection, Cultivation and Improvement of O^"^"^^"*^' XTd house and Conservatory Plants. By Shirley H.bbard. Colored plates. Cloth, i2mo The Kose-Its Cultivation, Varieties, etc. Directions for cultivaUon, for planting, pruning, propagation, /^e treatment o diseases aAd insect enemies-particularly valuable for is Uass Son Alphabetical and descriptive ^st of nme hundred and fifty-six varieties. By H. B. Ellwanger. Cloth, .6n.o .. »l.<5 Trees and Tree Planting. By Gen. James S. Brisbin, I'' S A. ^Erhrm!l> of trees is carefully 'described by ^he author and the relative values of the several varieties of each are ^P^^^-J'^^Jj izmo, cloth Tick's Flower and Vegetuhle Garden. A b°ok of over 2 x> Diees Hundreds of illustrations and six colored plates. 1 H Sf^practical "Erections for the cultivation of tlowenng. omamemal and kitchen garden plants The Propaeation of Plants. By Andrew S Fuller. Illus- tr!ted"^th numerous engravings. An eminently practical and useful work Describing The process of hvbridizing and cross ng "pedes and varieties, and also ,he many different modes by wh ch cSmlated plants may be propagated and multiplied. Ooth. lamo irin^ttu Handbook of Practical Landscapt- GanUnhiK. Hv F RFlott Designed tor city and suburban residences and c'^olmr^choolhouses, c'ontaining D-Jsn^f .'-"^"^ '^"^^^ from a lot 30x100 feet to a 40 acre plant. Cluth.SAO. . .»i.." engravings, including supplements Henderson's Handbook of Plants. A concise and compre- "'henlive'dictiona!;- of plants, with instruction, on P-pagat-on and culture. Cloth, large 8vo and enlarged edition. Cloth, i2mo » "t ,, Lone-s Ornamental Gardening f"*".-^"**'**?,"^* ,,^^!,'"V Cloth, lamo public. Illustrated. Cloth, i2mo THOMAS MEEHAN A SONS, Cermantown, Philadelphia. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. PLOiAZ:ER ROTS— STKNDKRD You will make a mistake if you place your order for Flower Pots without first receiving our estimate for the same. Our plant is now the largest in the WORI^D. STOCK UNLIMITED. «OODS UNEQUALED A. H. HHWS St CO., flofth Cambridge, JWass. ITVTRORTM no TflonnS flO ^IILkDEW NT NEiiiiS ROR RRUIT GROiAi Keports from many sections of the country by well-known and leading Fruit Growers state that LETELLIER'S GOOSEBEliKIES have proven to be SPINELESS and FKEE FKOM MILDEW. W. H. Sai.te:r, Rochester, New York, writes:— "My opinion of the Spineless Gooseberry is quite favorable havk seen no mii^dew as yet and what I consider most important Thev are entirelv free trom Tliorns. J. W. Adams, Springfield, Mass., Have not seen any Mildew upon them. Jos. H. BI.ACK Son & Co., Hightstown, N. J., We have found no rust or Mildew upon them. Opders noca Booked fov flovembep and Febfuapy Delivery FOR PRICES, DESCRIPTION AND COLORED PLATE, Address C. H. JOOSTEN, Groaa£ER's 193 OnEEHWlCH STl^EET, flECU VORI^ eNT JAPANESE MAPLES • . . CHINESE MAGNOLIAS • • BMAR New Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue for fall planting is now ready. It will be of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Evergreens mailed for four cents in stamps. It is the . ~ \ most complete catalogue of its kind ever issued. Contains prices of large and small trees, specimens for immediate effect, and special prices for quantities. It is a practical Guide to Tree Planting. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. Station " G." WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. ..-*^ \i m» L«r«eti BUI ^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ceBXajK5»tftKe for ilJni^wttNl «»»logii<» ^ 4=t,v;^i£Tt"^FPI^ loJTFli^BTAVE,. COR. »lirt 8TRKBT, KBW TOKK. Factory: Irvtngtata-oa-Hnclgoitf «qw xwru. . i^ I ■ " ""' pmCHCAL. rOPUtAR. tClfiflTIFICIUY bxact. Sr A««0^$T»rOf iA.tH M^*%TH '■■ BY latel aittd tftla^ble Ai»crija» Horti- ido©- D«R4f.T|4lCK«s : The^Bower ,.^,^,^-^ fei' atatwi. see what siib»cnbcr» say SS^S^s ▼^^^^^^^ jounial. eoaOgime^ common ictiae to g«r^aiii« w^t««» ftj ^^simim f^»iKt<» /^ N D FOREST .j?;.«:.»c;vittC2rtt ' " Iiidfcpep^able to all who love gardens or the litetatiire of garden* ; to all who own country places or take pleasure in rural scener>' ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flow^. Garden and Forest stands ^lonc^ opt fottes^vt^< I'fi •"The p«per I. th^ mo^t P^^^^^^^^J ^^a^;!; u.c Wis. WH£N WRITIHC T<> AUVtisi iot«T»o. » twu. THEM l^jMn*!^ *• Rkk variety <)Si:i5i:Kiri i:s Iiave imox eii t<» be SPINKLKSS ami inin: l K(>3I mildkw. \V. H. SAi/rj.;K, Rochester, New York, writes:-- My opinion of the Spineless Gooseberry is cpiite Kivorahle ii avk sijcn no Mirj)i:w as yet and what 1 consi.ler most imi-ort \nt Tliev ai-e eiitireh IVee Irom Thoins. ' J. \V. Ai.AMS, Springfield, :\Iass., Have not seen any Mildew upon them. ]os. H. liLACK Son \- Co., Hightstown, X. J., We have found no rust or Mildew upon them. Orders noLU Booked for November and February Delivery I OK Pi;u |>. OKSC KII'TION AND Ctn.OKKO I'l ATI.. Addi es* ss O. H. JOOSTEN, GROinZER'S KGENT 193 GREENWICH STREET, fiECU YORK JAPANESE MAPLES • . . CHINESE MAGNOLIAS • • NEW LORD PENZANCE'S HYBRID SWEET BRIAR ROSES — ^il^^^^^^^^ Descriptive Catalogue for fall planting is now ready. It will be of Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Evergreens "^'^^il^^^l for four cents in stamps. It is the most complete catalogue of its kind ever issued. Contains prices of large and small trees, specimens for immediate elTect, and special prices for quantities. It is a practical Guide to Tree Planting. THOAIAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Station '• G." /-> ^ t-^, -i , , , • ^ Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARdTnIvIEEHANS' M0NTHl7. LORD & BURNHAM CO.,_,^ Piano and Eatimates f urnk Ued on application L.ro..l Builder, 0. er..nh.u.e Structures. SU Hi,h..t Award, .t the World', F.ir Large,! u ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ po8ia)!;e tor illnstrated catalogue Factory. Irvingtop-on-Ha>>ir. - - -'-.--^- — s^t^^J ' r v.- •• . StrUC tlOU . SEND FOUR CENTS FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES. 233 MERCER STREET, NEM YORK CITY Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, Vines and Hardy Plants = = Our stock is one of the finest in the United States. Strong, thrifty, well- rooted and carefully selected to please our customers. New Catalogue for ., , , ., . , r 1 .,, , ^ ^M^ 1896. Everything accurately de- scribed and It IS also profusely illustrated. Large buyers will be particularly interested in this cata- logue. It will be mailed free upon application. .• Landscape Engineering. pLrrS^ll^g!^^^^^^^^^^ , . . , . . , . ^ ^ , ing old places. Special arrangements made when extensive work is contemplated. Correspondence solicited. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Nufgerymen and Landscape Engineers OERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA. EDWARD CAMPBE L/INDSC/IPE /IRCniTECT /1ND ENQINEER ARDMORE, - PA. Sketch plans and planting maps prepared, and suggestions given for the laying out and improvement of country and suburban residences, public parks and grounds of every description. ^ Grounds laid out and their construction undertaken by contract or day labor, and carried out under strict personal supervision. The choice grouping and effective arrangement of trees and shrubs has been made a special study. Trees furnished and planted by experienced workmen. Draining Plans and Surveys. Fine Crushed Stone for Walks and Carriage Drives. HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, EYER-Thetn..t,.«er.,»««»H.entofH«.dyor... GREENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. r^':^^^^^ZT.k:^o^^^T.t^^t tion. Plans and estimates furnished. Send your list of needs for special ratet. ^vv^v:^ THE BEADING NURSKKY, JACOB W. MANNING, Proprietor. READING, MASS. Modem Horticultural Building, Elegant Conservatories, Practical Commercial Houses, and all Classes of Greenhouse Structures Planned and Erected. ^".' ^* 'i."H'* "' ^'l,'.™?> *" Wood, or a modiBcation of either, as deslrsd. Steel or Cypress Sash Bars for Biittert niiuj. °'*.''i?IV-'iifJP''*^ S "^'"S- "i'J; or without put y. Latest .uetho.ls ot VemllatioD. Stelin awi Hot-wlter Heanna Ir^ ^ll^iffAl^^rfi »'.'•':?• "■■ "' Wood Staging. Contracts ttken tor Completed Structure. Materials furntahed to ifuiljMs E»pert advice at Residence, or Catalogues on application. «- l^on't fall to get our Plans and Prices oO'iaets. PLENTY'S HORTICULTURAL WORKS, 148-156 Randolph Ave., Jersey City, N. J. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION MEEHANS' MONTHLY. 3L. VI DECEMBER, 1596 No. 12 ISSUED MONTHLY, $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, SIN6LE COPY 20 CENTS. OOPVniOMTCO «••• ENTERED AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST OFFICE AS SKCOND,. Wm. Warnir Harper, Manaoeh Copies of THE KMERICKN HKND-BOOK OF ORNHMENTKL TREES By THOMAS MBEHAfl Must be in fairly good condition. State condition, lowest price, etc. Thomas ^eehan St Sons, Publishers Station G. Gefinantouin, Phlla. , Pa. f Our Fair Exhibits. ^'B&:^3^;k^^r.^!>>^ appir^atlons are in for ne'xt Jj»r1%?h "bVt '^'"'™' PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. NOVELTIES IN PLANTS, FRUITS, Etc. A. BLANC & CO., 314, 316 N. 11th ST., PHILADELPHIA Second-band sets of Th» Dictionary of Gar, dening, by Nicholson. State condition, price, etc. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Pub Ithers Germantown. Phlla. _„„ DREER'S ♦ Tf|Y GARDEN ♦ SEEDS Plants, BulbA and Requisites. They are the best at the lowest prices. Calendar for '96 mailed free. Address HENRY A. DREER. 714 Chestnut St., Phila. VflBIEGflTED FUNKIflS DAY LILIES The ordinary, large green-leaved Day UHes, with their graceful spikes of lilac or whitish blue flowers, are well-known to all who possess grass plots large enough to admit of a few ornamental plants ; but the variegated sorts are not so frequently seen, and they remain practically unknown to the average home gardener. There is a deep contrast between the dark green and white of the striped leaves, forming an equal contrast with the green grass of a lawn. It also makes a good border or edging for walks or l;eds, the leaves lying closer than the large green form. We offer fine pot grown plants at 15c. each ; $1.25 per 10 or $10.00 per 100. Our grounds are always open to visitors, and we invite iuspcclion of our stock especially during the summer, when the plants are in leaf and bloom, feeling sure that the visitor would be well pleased with the stock. Address or call on THOriAS MEEHAN & SONS NURSERYHEN and LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Upper Church and Chew Sts. Telephone 9411 A. Germantown, Phila., Pa. GYP IS HUCH MOitE Dti S rHAN PINE. PRES REEJM AND Oltitll BWlS^ikmwmVERIAl. -*•■« I iitti'f. cYpg£ 5)5 wmmMHjm^s ujs es." Send J^tmirSHci^ 6reenh0i»^ Lymbei ^s. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS. TELL THEIW YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. I V p' A 'TX: ^i0W^ I > RUDBFXKIA FULGIDA. SHINING CONE-FI.OWEK. NATURAL ORDER. COMPOSIT.B. NATURAL ORUtK. v-v^-" .o oblo„g-l«n«oW,.e. mostly .-■ 1. i.avM from nnrrowly '° °'",'''.,^ „f tht- involucre 111 v»it»»»-~ , 5/a/«, Chapman in the "Native ^lowajs and Fe^ns o t^ united States." ^^ -^-^, ^^J^/; • Mo.th- iUustrations -- --""^ ^f ,\'Xtration in ,v is a continuation there. -^^^^^^^ ^^ ,^^ the first volume ^J ^^^^^^^^j.^.d to be Rud- of what was at that time ^^^ ..... /«/./J. ^^ jl^/tbJve e'-d. decides " Synoptical Flora a ^,^^. should properly ^-^^^ "^^ ,,at this species has been lo g .^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ as /?. /«/^"^« ■ ^""^ °°' ^ .visted The Hud- i„ herbaria has the ".^°\^^^ f ;;^,, c«/«V:. A^f/few /«&■«■''« °f Darlington s I-lora u Sy^flates to ^;^/Sf::;UeTboU«ist descriptions of many of the ear^ ^^ ^^^^^^ Even many «°""f"\ ^^.^ species. Dr. times had ^""f^^^^^^'J^tesewfen the plant Engelmann was among these^ ^.^ ^^ ^^^ now figured was first broug ^^ Eggert. a notable bo an^t " J;^\,^, ,, Uttle did he -ognue the P ;^ ^^^^^^^.^^, had known as R. /"'S'^"-^ distributed it to H to be a «-/P-f„;::/o?i«k..- ^Z- his f"-''V-f;f,^„;7ven with this chap- ren:rmade%ror of Engelmann-s sped- Ldtnscribed with its new name. He mens, a"*!/"""' ^^j^e it under this name in had intended to f-^^J^ „f ^he American a chapter '« the Proc g^^^^_, ^^^^^ ^.^^ Academy of Arts an ^^^ ^^^^ ^^''"'"". itu^r to find that'it was the hesitated, fortunately ' jj^ botanists. t.ue ^"''^'^^^-^'^'^/this species as one of the Many will regard this «P^*='^',^„t throws «.ost beautiful of the g-- Jhe p U t ^^ ^^^^ out side-branches ^J.^^^.^/^'^.m be creeping ^ere a little more geotrop'C ^° .nnners or stolo-^ --^ ^ ^^^^^ ^,,^ ,„ ::Lr : of r^Ueavel But these leaves a.e less coarse and harsh than .n thej^^^^^^^^^ species, while t^- A"-- -\: J, ,,o'ught yellow, the ti«ts o ;J f^;;;,',e of the disU r tf "ow stems also support them- florets. The nower ^^^^^^^^^ selves easily, and ^^r^f^l... are paler as if seeking support. 1 ' beneath than other spec.es and -'Sj J ^^,^ havetlieappellation-^d.color^ .Oi.^^^^^^ rf^^^noHdTb; B^Uam, which, with the utp^^p'or i^n^^f the ray petals goUlen yeUow. Zl thL deep orange or V^^^;^,,,,,. It is interesting to -te hat -^ ia speciosa is found to ^ ^^ -^^ ........ed and grassy place.s t^he spec ^^„,,. is found -t-f > ,"^ "^';:„ey, in his •' Com- '"T of tie Flora of North America," ro;en\:be";-at.veofthe;-^^^^^^^^ and Middle States •• b^e, Ike n^^^^^^ ^tXtX ^:.S Wv- for it. US evidently laKcu Pennsvlvania. northern range scarcely --^^jj^ ""j^^j^iana Virginia to Louisiana, ^.s our,, and Texas is the range as gnen > authors. Mr. "^-^ ^'^f "''„?,' a«e"tion to .ho early called »-/^"f X" rue A'../^-^- it. and «;->f^r^'taf hot is^b^^ ^^^^ fulgida, for all the great do ^^ it was a new species, found jn the g ^^^^ ^^ ,ocky hms--someUm s - ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ''""'"/ oresenttng a beautiful picture at the ground, presenting ^, j^etterman. end of summer. Mr. oe . ^^.j,,, another botanist residing -J^^^'^^^^ >p^„g,i. was also prominent m drawing niann-s attention ^V-Tnith ih ^«e situa- author as find.ng;>nX;l„„,.„^ rtLTnslope's^nimestoneglades-nej^^on •*r^: ?:i^ COLOR PHOTO M^-. RIDIU-XKIA FULC.IDA. NATURAL ORDKK.COMroSlT.T RU NATURAL OKi'...v. ^. ,„.„,.„.« la.Ke,.:..., mo.fy united State./- of wHch, ,n so f-^^^^ Ulustratio„sareconcen^e^M,U- the first volume of ^e seco ^^^ ^,^^_^ of what was at that tn"«= ^'^^^^^ ;,, ^„, ,../. A^/./^J. ^;;-!r=V, ;e ^^ted, decides " Synoptical Flora ^^^^^ ^^ ^,,^,^. should properly have bee ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^.^ spaces has been Ion ._^ ^^^^^^ ,^^^^ as ^■./"'^!''''. ^^^^'^error existed. The Rud- in herbaria has the ^^"^"^ (^^.^(rka teckia ful,Uia of "-^-J^, /^^ do the clearly relates to ^.^ffj'^'^,;,, botanists, descriptions of n,ar,y of tl-r^ of ,nodern Even many «"""^"\ ^^^.„ ecies. Dr. times had confused ^^'^ J;^\,.J,„ ^he plant ^-nrrr rsfbrS-o Uim by Mr. SeS'rltai,le botany of f. Uttle did he -ogn e the^^ ^^ ^^^^^^__ .__^^ had known as A. /«'."" • ^ i,,uted it to it to be a n-V^-';;;, :U aC ' jj^, botanists. t,ue A'-'^'-^-- Z"''^; ;; .f;l^:: s one of the ^^^rtfrStheniir The plant throws most beautiful of tue g ^^.^^^ .^ ^j^^^ out side-branches ^Jj^jjf;.,,,,,,! be creeping ,vere a little more 8^°^ °f ' % ,^,,,-,,„ does, .nnners or stolo-. - ^- ^^^^^^ ^^,,, ,, :;tr: of r^eaver. But these leaves a.e less coarse and harsh than uyuejoni.^^ ^p--^^^•^''^':fw,•ra:^.:;t:rb:.ru.bt ?r 1" T;;:'n V St msalso ««,,><.,. thcn,. llorets. The lU.vsei ^^^^_^^_^_, .elves easily, and "- -\ f ^,^., ,,, „.aer as if .seekuiK support. Ibe e ^^^^^^ beneath than other spec.es .u d nn have the appellation ■^discoh. ^0 - _ isgiveninl-ursh's-Hora, ^ ;' ^ ^^.,^„ ^^e ted in morula, by Bartr.im, uluch. « t upper portion of the rav petals golden ellou . and grassy places, the specie. is found naturally in higher alU-on rocky hnUsides.>orre>.u^ pendium ot the hlora o. x;„rthcrn ;,otesitasbeinga.iat,veoftlK - ^^ and>.iddleStates," uthe,lUe .^^ _^ contemporaries as alread> "^^'^" ; ,„v fiken Rudhcckia sfMos^' for U. !«> evidentb taken ,^.„ches Pcunsvlvania. northern range scarcel reach ^^^^^^^^^ Virginia to '-''"■-""=^' ^"^ " , '-' diflcr.nt andTe.xas is the range as gne ^ _ authors. Mr. ^enry '-.ggert <>f ^^ ,, ^,, ...boearlycalledl.r.Engem u .tu^^^__^^_^ it, and -1-ays considered It ttn ^^^^^^ >/,/,/„, for all the great botan _ ^^^ it was a new species, found - t^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^ -^^>: 'l';;.^7oTi;:Tos;-^^^^^^^ """'T, resent ng a beautiful picture at the ground, presenting ^. , „^^^.,,„.^„, en.l of suiunier. Mr. ».e . ^^^^^ anotherbotanistresiding. -^ ^^^ was also proiiiuient m dra^^ n ^ ^^^ „,ann's attention to this - ^^ ^ ^^^^ ,.,,,. anthor as finding It lu-ui^^ti^.^^^ tions as 3U. »'^«^^ ^ o-iules— nevt-r on southern slopes of l.me.stone glades <^a»^ COLOR PHOTO 222 the northern slopes or in level woods. They are often found in company with Kuhnia eiipatortoides, LiaMs cylindracea, CEnothera Mtssouriensis, Echinacea angustifolia, Cacalia tnbcrosa, Silphium laciniatum and Asckpias ■nrtclts. These stony glades are rather wet until the beginning of summer, and usually very dry in July and August. " The common name, " Cone Flower, " adopt- ed here, is not the common name, but a botan- ical effort to start something of the kind, which the common people have not followed The receptacle in which the florets are borne (Fig 3) IS more conical than in many other genera of compositae, and this point suggested the name. Common people, when they give plants names, rarely note these nice distinc- tions. In Pennsylvania, where some of the species trouble the farmer, the name of Golden iJaisy is the prevalent common one This particular species, however, judging from the ocalities in which it loves to grow, is not 'ikely to be a troublesome one to the cultiva- tor. Aside from the beauty of the flowers and of the general appearance of the plant, which add to human pleasure, it has not earned for its- self a place among those which serve the wants or alleviate the sufferings of mankind _ nor, indeed, has any one of the genus. But a pecu har resin abounds in most of the species which may be found useful wh ; human needs suggest the necessary experim ts. Though the species gathered, .ether under the genus Rndbeckia are exclus; ,y American Linnaeus dedicated it to tw --S-^^rished botanists of his own time, tv iiudb^cks,- Jather and son, who had preceded him as pro- fessors in the University of Upsal. The forr, ,^r was the author of a work called Campi Elysii -^ a work. Linnaeus says in one of his letters'to Haller, that was so rare that he did not think there were ten copies extant in the whole world. After the younger Rudbeck had suc- ceeded his father in the professorship, Linnaus became his assistant in the botanical depart- ment, and continued to aid Prof Rudbeck for a year in this capacity. This was during the year 1830. Subsequently, when Prof Rud- beck retired on account of age. Linnteus suc- ceeded him in the position. There seems to have been no reason for attaching the names of these botanists to the genus but a grateful MEEHANS* MONTHLY— RUDBECKIA FULGIDA. [Dec. desire to do honor to those who had benefitted ahke the science he loved and his own personal veneration for them. Botany, however, knows no country ; and. American genus as it is, the tribute done to the memory of men whom Linnaeus delighted to honor, will be appreciated everywhere. Though the genus is not very large in numbers, many attempts have been made to send some of the species to other genera Among the best known of these are Echinacea, Lepachys, and Obeliscaria. The modern ten- dency IS, however, to broaden the character of a genus, so as to include a number of points than to add to the lists of names by too closely dividing. Even the species which are now recognized as such, vary so much among themselves that botanists are frequently at a loss to decide to which of the various species anyone in question should be referred ; and it IS more than likely that in time, when a larger number of specimens from various localities shall have been collected and compared, some of the species now regarded as distinct will be combined as have the several genera. At the present time there are about twenty-five recog- nized species, but this includes some that would be regarded under the genera of some authors as cited. Though, as already no; '-e cliie^ use of the species of Rudbeckia .„ .0 ornament the world's surface, and little is known of any special use in the arts that aid human pro- gress, they are invaluabL in deco vtive gar- dening. They grow and provi .e for them- selves in flower borders much more easily and with less care on the part of the cultivator than many others. When those which require nicer care disappear, the Rudbeckia will hold Its own, and seems to rather prefer to be let alone. In the gardening of the Old World they receive a prominent place. Mr. Wm' Robinson, in his "English Flower Garden •• gives them much praise. They continue 'a long time in bloom, and he remarks that in that country, they are singular ornaments from early August till late in October. In our country, they are much valued for cutting for table decoration, for even in water, the flowers ''^'°^'" a long time without withering. "enKth s?,ech„e;,s of (iL^^TaYkL '"ri'^'^l','- ' ?^'''''' f"" shoHiog the couical form ^' ^*'="°" "f receptacle WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. THE LANGUAGE OF NATURE. To him who in the love of Nature holds Commurion with her visible forms she speaks A various language; for his gayer hours, She has a voice of gladness and a smile Xnd eloquence of beauty ; and she glides Into his darker musings, with a nnW And healing sympathy that steals away Their sharpness ere he is aware. — BR'^ an 1 . Habit of the Cuckoo Flower. — Since writing of the Cuckoo Flower (Cafdamtne pratensis), in the October number of the MONTHLY, I find my speculations regarding the dropping of its leaflets verified by a refer- Ace to the recently is.sued -Wayside and Woodland Blossoms," by Edward Step. Here it is stated that each leaflet is capable of send- ing out roots and forming a plant by itself, just as the Horseradish stems are known to do It would be curious if these two marsh-inhabit- ing cresses are found to be the only ones possessing this habit. An examination of our other n r loti^s may reveal others with this strange netn .cl .pagation. ® *• WILLARD N. CLUTE. Biughamtou, N. Y. FERTIT.K -I OVER - In America, the first cropofclover uely J roduces seed . Aftercut- ting for hay a second crop of .shoots appear and these seed abundantly. The humble bee is not hatched while the first crop of clover is in flower. Those who see the necessity for in- sect aid in the pollination of flowers, in almost every case, have always cited this as one of the strongest arguments. It runs thus :-no bees, no clover seed ; plenty of bees.-much seed. The other side have contended, that it is vege- tative luxuriance, and not the lack of pol.ina tion that results in the .sterility "f;'- ^^^ crop In support of this they refer to the ^' r r rr,^\t trees br of all trees for viffor of young fruit trees, 01 the matter of that. If by some accident a voui g ree gets injured, and its vegetative v"gor checked, it becomes fertile some years before its more lucky fellow.s. , . A remarkable instance of the working of this law on the clover question is given in the National Stockman, of August 6th. " M. C. Morris, of Coschocton County, Ohio, [post ofiice address unfortunately omitted] tells of the effect of the extraordinary dry season, so checking the luxuriance of the first crop of clover, that it was as fruitful as any second crop It was ripe by the 20th of May. Every head was well filled, not a solitary bee had been hatched up to that date. " ViTis iNDiviSA. - A correspondent sends a specimen for name with these remarks : '• It has the stem of the Virginia Creeper with somewhat similar fruit and tendrils. It has the leaf of the Frost Grape and the long bunch, but with few berries ; colored pink and blue with a bloom. If it is not a cross of these two plants, then what is it ? " , , .. ^ The suggestion of this correspondent, that Vitis indivisa is a hybrid between a wild grape and the Virginian is just as legitimate as the numerous ■•undoubted" hybrids recorded m the works of eminent botanical authorities in other cases. N nerous • • undoubted ' ' hybrid oaks are in m d while penning these lines, the only gro i for this absolute certainty being the "in. lediate characters, as in this instance A Winter Stroll in a FoREST.-Dr. C. C. Ab- .ott. describing a December stroll in a wood near Trenton, advises one to "determine beforehand w'hither you will ramble, and make an early start. Sunrise I have always asso- ciated with mirth, and sunset with melancholy . It is reasonable to do so. Be astir at sunr.se then, and receive the greeting of that lover of the dawn, the blackcap. Chick-a-decdee means .cheerfulness,' as he who hears it qu.ckly learns for the chill of the early hour is tem- pered. Those who never see the world at such a time have strange ideas of winter. Pros is a gardener of most excellent taste, and when he has encased seed pods and dry grass in crvstal all their beauty is restored. (223) J^30SSW?^W 224 MEEHANS' MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. Cell Structure in Wood.— How is it formed ? It is generally believed that the necessary elements for the formation of the new cells are taken in by the leaves and so are passed down to all parts of the tree (outside) and assim- ilated. Of course they must pass down in the cells ofthewoodor bark. I have an objection to each of these routes. If we cut across a tree (when the bark is loose) a few inches, and then up some inches, turning the bark up, and then slip in a plate of some metal, fitting it nicely, draw down the up-lifted bark, securing it from the atmos- phere, and then, when the growth of the tree is over for the season, strip up the bark, we shall find the new cells on the outside of the plate. So the material for the cells cannot come down in the wood. And how can the bark be the channel when the continuity of the cell -structure is broken by lifting the strip of bark up for the plate ? Nature usually takes the shortest cut and the easiest way in accomplishing her pur- poses. If neither of these passages are used for this purpose, then we must look elsewhere for the origin of these cells. There can be only one other explanation. Shall we not find an answer by comprehend- ing the office of the Medullary rays ? They are radial and connect the centre or heart of trees with the atmosphere by flat, elongated and radial cells. These cells are for some purpose. Why do not our botanical text books explain the office of the Medullary rays 1 Is it because they do not know ? I have specimens of maple wood, showing distinctly the rays clear through the inner bark, thus reaching the atmosphere. Does not this explain the mystery of cell structure? Timothy Wheeler. Mo.scow, Vt. The Norway and Sugar Maples.— A cor- respondent observes that very few are able to distinguish between the Norway and Sugar Maples, and that some rules for distinguish- ing them might be useful to readers of Meehans' Monthly. Nurserymen readily distinguish them by the Norway Maple having [Dec. meehans' monthly-wild flowers and nature. 225 stouter shoots, round blunt buds, and the bark of the older wood veiny. The tree itself is rarely perfectly straight. The flowers are yellow and showy, and there is milk in the leaf- stalk, which flows when broken. The Sugar Maple has slender twigs, long acute buds, bark not veiny, trunk generally straight, and the flowers in pendulous racemes, not particularly showy. There is no milk in the leaf-stalk. The under surface of the Sugar Maple is grey, —almost silvery at times, except in variety nigrum, in which the leaves are of the same shade of green on both surfaces. But what the botanists call variety nigrum, is just as good a species as numberless other plants which are so regarded, and should always be spoken of as Acer nigrum. That Iiidex Kewensis and other authorities should make it the equivalent of Acer saccharinum, indicates a knowledge of it from herbarium leaves chiefly. Herbarium of Pictures. — I send you three pictures of fern fronds which have been printed from nature. Any one making a col- lection of our native or cultivated ferns will find this a nice way to obtain permanent pictures of each frond gathered. After the collection has reached to a good number of pictures, they can be mounted in a blank book with name and full description of the fern, and any notes that would be interesting about the same. The best way is to paste the picture on one side of the book and write the name, etc., on the other. In this way one will soon get a book of ferns that will be invaluable to the collector. Not only ferns, but, leaves of the different oaks, or in fact any of our forest trees, can be treated in the same way, and I can assure you it is a very interesting study to get up a collection of leaves or ferns in this way. The accompanying pictures are on what photo- graphers call ''blue paper" (or FerroPrussiate), which can be purchased at any dealer in photog- raphers' supplies, and in any sizes, from 1% by 4X inches, up to 18 by 22 inches. Then you need a printing frame of the size you desire the picture to be. (The printing frame can be purchased at same store as paper.) If one does not wish to go to the expense of a print- ing frame, two sheets of glass will do as well, only more care is necessary in printing, as in this way the frond is apt to move in handling. \ 1896.] which is apt to spoil a picture, therefore I would advise all to get a regular frame, as it will prove more satisfactory in the end, and it is much more easily handled. If the frame is used, a sheet of clear glass to fit the frame is required. Place the glass in the frame, on this lay the subject to be pictured ; then the pre- pared paper, dark side next the leaf. Now place the back in position, and expose to sun- light or strong daylight, and watch the paper through the glass.-very soon it will become of a beautiful blue color, and as soon as you have got the blue shade you desire, remove the print and wash in pure water for about fifteen minutes. Then place between blotters to dry. In this wav, one can get a beautiful picture in blue and white, the outline of the frond or leaf being in white, while the surrounding ground is a beautiful shade of intense blue. By watch- ing the printing carefully, one can get any shade desired, from a light blue to a deep dark blue In this way. we can get up a collection of pictures which can be handled without fear of breaking, which cannot be said of fronds dried and mounted in the ordinary way. P. BiSSET. Washingtou, 1). C. 1> FERN FROM A BLUE PRINT" HERBARIUM. ISSBlS^fii, ■ ^SSMK. 226 MEEHANS* MONTHLY— WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Dec. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY-WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. 227 r'..,-' Autumn in New Hampshire.— Mr. Newlin Williams writes : — -The leaves of Aralia nudicaulis, in the woods about two weeks ago, were a marvel to behold, seeming to change to all colors indifferently, from pale yellow to deep, rich old gold, and from orange through the reds to maroon, and then, not content with that, some assumed terra cotta and pinkish shades. The leaves of some of the Red Maples are brighter in the fine sunlight than I ever con- ceived it possible for Red Maple, or any leaves, to grow. They were a living, fiery crimson. At Blair, I received the cut of Ophioglossum forwarded to me from New Hope. It is good, considering the poor print, but I should have been very glad to have provided a better one. I have found much larger specimens of Ophio- glossum about Bethlehem than those in my photograph ; also many interesting things quite new to me. Though most of the Bunch- berry is in fruit, some few linger in blossom, and, by most fortunate chance, one Gold-thread flower in its prime came to my notice while looking for ferns at an upland woodedge. I fear to begin on the Flora lest I weary you by my enthusiasm. Whole sloping meadows are green with Sweet Dicksonia, which exhales a most delicious perfume in the noonday sun. The delicate beech-ferns {Phegopteris Dryop- teris and P. polypodiodes) are features of the woods,— co-features with the Oxalis Acetotella, dwarf cornel. Hobble-bush and Linnsea on the forest floor, and birches, maples, poplars, firs and Red Spruce above. I am making my temporary home at an altitude of 2,000 feet, where Rag- weed does not venture. I remark no poison ivy, no May- apple, no Amphicarpcea, no Desmodiums, no Aster ericoides. The asters here are (so far as I am able to judge) Aster radula and var. strictus, very common, the variety almost covering the ground of Round Mountain and sunny spots on Mt. La Fayette. Aster longifolius in the open, and in the wood edges ; Aster puniceiis,—\owQr dovfu Aster NovceAnglJce and others. Weeds do not flourish. Carrot is absent. Rag- weed none, Erigeron Canadensis x^^wz^^ to a mere pauper sprig a few inches high.— Achillea in the same state. No daisy,— a few harmless, rather pretty, Erigeron strigosMs,— very large and handsome tall buttercups. Actually Elecampane escaped, and blooming orpine, the two species of Galeopsis, clovers, and mulleins are about the only weeds. Sper- gula arvensis lines the woodsides, — a pretty pearly flower earlier, but now dying, with heavy pods on angular deflexed pedicels. I climbed Mt. La Fayette (5240 feet) and found on the very summit the Veratrum viride that grows at sea-level (also, I am told, on Roan Mt., Tenn.) I found Geum radiatum vslv Peckii, Bryanthus (once Phyllodoce), Seduniy creeping snow-berry (and snow-birds), moun- tain cranberry, Potentilla tridentata, Smilacina^ dwarf-willow, stunted fir, two birch, and, of course, blueberries, berberry, and mountain sandwort Clintonia and Coptis Potentilla, Just as we were descending from the sum- mit we saw a young rabbit crouching among the rocks. He did not seem much afraid, and limped gently off at our near approach. He and the snow-bird were the fauna of the mountain top. Also, in our explorations, a bit of down or the coma from some seed was borne toward us against the sun and disappeared in the north. On the way up and down we refreshed our- selves constantly at the bountiful springs of cold, slightly bitter water that lined the path, and with red raspberries of delicious flavor. In the region are lower hills, in the forest of which the flora is most interesting. Mountain Ash and boneberry, the Tiarella, Aralia jiudi- caulis, and Microstylis ophioglossoides were some of my finds. Also several Habenarias, a red-berried Trillium, a number of Lycopo- diums and strange, finger-like, yellow fungi, under the very dark spruce and fir woods. The open uplands are rocky and, as I have said, covered with Sweet Fern and Wood Fern and with Cinnamon Fern, which you know does not turn brown and wither, but changes to a deep golden brown, making a most sunny effect. Besides this, there are armies of Steeple bush. By the trickles grow Drosera and S\in^ro\>s{CEnothera pumila,) Tiarella and Hydfocotyle ; and where the upland slopes into bog come the speckled alder, beaked willow, spongy sphagnum, quantities of Spira^ithes, tall buttercups, and hawkweed and Cinnamon Ferns. Ostrich fern {Onoclea Strut hiopteris) is quite frequent,— as is also Maiden-hair. On the whole, few regions could present a cheerier autumn scene." TussiLAGO Farfara L.— I consider myself meeting with a piece of good fortune if some- time during the season I chance to meet in my wild flower rambles, a new find— a flower or plant I am not acquainted with or at least one we seldom meet and do not know the name and place in the wild flora. Tussilago Farjara L. or Coltsfoot, — also called Cough- wort. Foal's Foot, Horse Hoof, etc.,— is one of my latest acquaintances of the season and is one that has eluded my search for bloom during the last two or three years,— in fact it appears to have bloomed before I suspected it would flower. This has rather excited my admira- tion of it, as I had heretofore supposed I was out early enough in the vernal season to catch all the shy bloomers, even to the Skunk Cab- bage, from which the bees collect their first pollen ; but as this plant is only infrequently found in our State it is only at intervals I have chanced to meet it,and doubtless have always missed it during its blooming season in early spring,— when I have seen it, it was when the leaves were but partially developed, woolly, and no appearance of a scape or bloom. During the first week of October I came across two or three fine colonies of this plant with its large conspicuous leaves 6 to 9 inches long 5 to 7 inches wide with petioles 9 inches in length The root stalk had about three of these leaves, and its terminal bud was hidden by the base of the leaves, but seemed to be fully developed for next season's growth. One writer says -Its presence is a certain indication of a clayey soil, "-and this is my observation where ever I have met it growing. Prof Gray says in his Manual - Thoroughly wild' ' (Nat. from Europe). In the ' 'Catalogue of all Ph^nogamous and Vascular Cryptogam- ous Plants growing without cultivation in the State of Connecticut," 1896. seven stations are ^i^en,-Waterbury not included, but could Lve been reported, as I have found it here in two separate localties. ^ ^ John K. Goodrich. Waterbury, Conu. A beautiful plant but dangerous to the culti- vator, as every piece of root will «ake « -w individual. It may be imagined that it re gards itself as having a mission, and forces its company where it is not wanted in order to reTder good service as • • colts-foot tea ' .n cases of colds and similar complaints. B\RK Within the VVoon oi- Trees.— In cutting across the stems of Wistarias, horn- beams, Bauhinias. and other trees which have irregular outlines, bark will often be found far within. But there is little mystery about it when the conditions of increase in the woody structure is understood. Setting aside the botanical terms of xylem, phloem, cambium, and so on. which students of vegetable physi- ology so freely use, it may be explained that life can only proceed from life. Wood is formed by new living cells proceeding from older cells which eventually form the woody trunk of the tree But cells can only grow freely where there is an abundance of food to construct the cell material. A whole line of cells down the trunk of a tree will often get more food than an adjoining line,-and, with plenty of food, plenty of wood is formed on that line. Ihe poverty stricken line makes little wood. As in society the rich can get richer and the poor poorer, so it is with these rich cells. Year by year the numerous rich cells increase, and the result is a fluted form of trunk. These richer growths eventually meet, overflowing the poorer neighbors, which are thus covered in. bark and all. It is a simple story. BARE RocKS.-I'erhaps the Monthly will tell us sometime if such a thing exists in nature as an absolutely bare rock. I am often interested in my rambles among the rocks to note the variety and abundance of low forms of vegetable growths.-lichens, etc.-on even dry, exposed rocks, while of course, on damp ones, the growth is richer and more varied still-and I believe I have never yet seen one that was entirely bare of all growth, have you ? C. F. Sauni>ers. Possibly no rock is absolutely bare after a few months exposure to the atmosphere. The microscope would disclose numerous animal and vegetable organisms in every part of its surface It is these invisible but wonderfully active creatures which prepare soil for organ- isms of largerand morecomplex mould. Mosses and lichens, which the naked eye can behold soon follow, and if all things are favorable the naked rock soon becomes completely clothed with verdure. It is believed by some that thev aid the wind and weather in inaknig earth out of the rocks, and thus preparing soil. 22S MEEHANS' MONTHLY—WILD FLOWERS AND NATURE. [Dec. Pell.^a gracilis. — Mention has occasion- ally been made of this rare fern in Meehans' Monthly, and its distribution towards the south as well as to altitude have interested me. It is eminently a northern fern, — I have met with it but once in many years collecting, having found it in 1874 near the city of Kan- kakee, 111. It grew in crevices of limestone bordering a narrow ravine that set back from the Kankakee River. The altitude above the sea is about six hundred feet. This is the only station where I have seen mention of it in this State. Nor does it appear in the States immediately east or west till we come to the northern border of Iowa (Emmet County), and the adjoining part of Minnesota (Marten County). But this is nearly two hundred miles to the north. It occurs in New Jersey in about the same latitude as at Kankakee, 41°. In the Rocky Mountain region it goes somewhat farther south, and possibly in the Alleghenies, though our botanies do not so specify. The station at Kankakee is evidently on the southern border of its range in the plain region, and is reniarkable for its isolation and low altitude. Tho other Cliff Brake, Pellcea atrop2irputea, grew in the same locality, but was of a somewhat different habit as seen here or where I have found it elsewhere several times. P. gracilis grew quite in the shade, on shelves of horizontal strata which had partially disintegrated, leaving cavities roofed over by the next stratum above. Here the little fern was well protected, and one had to reach in to get them. P. atropurputea grows in more exposed places on narrow shelves or projections along the vertical faces of clifts, or on any slight protuberance or in shallow cavities where it can gain a foothold. Chicago, 111. How Plants Feed.— In the papers that have recently appeared in Meehans' Monthly on various problems in plant life, it has been noted that though the old notion of an upward and downward current of sap has been aban- doned, no one yet knows in what manner the carbon necessary to build up the woody struc- ture of a tree is carried from the leaves down to the farthest root-point. The whole trunk of a tree is little more than charcoal and water. Car- bonic acid gas abounds in the atmosphere. This is formed of two elements, carbon — prac- tically charcoal— and oxygen. The leaves absorb this gas, and in the leaf the oxygen is taken out and given back to the atmosphere,— while the carbon in some mysterious manner goes to form the annual woody layer of the whole structure. Prof. F. T. Shutt, of the Canadian Department of Agriculture, in a recent treatise, well says : ''Very little is known as to the precise manner in which the decomposition of carbonic acid is effected within the plant. It is known, indeed, that the decomposition is in some way intimately connected with the green chlorophyl grains to which the color of the leaves is due ; and it is known that light is necessary in order that the decomposition may be brought about." Magnolia glauca in Pennsylvania.— The one who travels the woods and fields on botani- cal tours is constantly meeting with some rare tree or plant new to him, and it is this that gives a good deal of zest to the pursuit. The Magnolia glauca is not uncommon in Southern Pennsylvania,— indeed, I have seen it myself growing in Delaware County, just outside the city limits of Philadelphia. But it remained for a good friend, and a good botanist too, Mr. George Redles, Jr., of Germantown, to give me a great surprise the past summer by taking me to a veritable magnolia swamp, right in the heart of Montgomery County, and not far from the new Willow Grove Park, near Edge Hill. This is not a swamp containing but a dozen or so of trees, there are perhaps fifty trees in it, and from their size they are of great age. Some of them are a foot in cir- cumference and 25 feet high. The soil is so springy that one's steps have to be picked with care. And thriving in the sphagnum moss are nice plants of the common Sundew, Drosera totundifolia. How pleasing and how surprising it is to find miles and miles away from any other tree of it such a rare and beautiful tree as this and in such a large grove? W. Wynne Wister, who in his younger days botanized this locality pretty thoroughly, told me he had no idea this tree could be found in such abundance on this, the Pennsylvania, side of the Delaware River. Joseph Meehan. GENERAL GARDENING. PLANT THE TREE. Bring forth the tender shrub, the tree and vine, And plant them by the house or in the field ; They will in time, we hope, for thee or thine, Reward all toil— a precious harvest yield. If not for us, for others they will bear The shining apple, pear or luscious peach ; The jucy grapes, all sparkling bright and rare, Will smiling hang within an easy reach. Plant oak or ash in useless spots of ground, A birch or willow at the murmuring brook. Some flowering shrub upon the grassy mound, Or useful tree in any vacant nook. The graceful maple and the fragrant pine. In schoolhouse grounds where children love to play ; . , f 1 • Some hardy trees along the highway s line. To shade the traveler on his tiresome way. The birds will carol from their leafy bower. And build their nests with tender, loving care ; The bees will gather sweets from every flower, Whose store of honey you may live to share. And when you're gone beyond this earthly sphere. Your labors iu each season s round will bring- To bless your memory and to keep it dear— The fruit in autumn and the flowers in spring. ^C. L. LOCHMAN. Bethlehem, Pa. Good Roads in Virginia— An observing philosopher has stated that the condition of the highways is the best measure of the advance of a community in civilization. The Richmond Dispatch notices the good work done for the splendid thoroughfares in the vicinity of Richmond,-all evidences of the taste, gener- osity and forethought of Major Louis Ginter. Lovers of gardening are usually in the advance in public spirited occupations, and when it is remembered that Major Ginter is one of the best known of the amateur gardeners of Rich- mond, no one is surprised at his eminence as a good citizen. A Catalpa Caterpillar. — Mr. E. L. Resh, of Bird-in-Hand, Pa., sends a specimen of a caterpillar, which has made considerable havoc among the leaves of the Catalpa-prob- ably the eastern species, Catalpa bignonwtdes. Prof L O. Howard, of the United States Department of Agriculture, decides that it is the lar\^a of one of the Hawk Moths. Sphinx Catalpcp. By the name it can be inferred that its feeding habits have been long known,— but it is the first time that any serious trouble, from "worms" on the Catalpa tree, has been brought to the notice of the con- ductors. Preserving Wind-Split Trees. — In a public park, in one of our large cities, a magnificent specimen of the White Ash which had been long famed for its magnificent size and fine proportions was ordered taken down by the park superintendent because it had been wind shaken in some such manner as indicated in the sketch, and it was regarded as danger- ous to life in that condition. Tears were actually shed by some tender-hearted tree- lovers over the fallen trunk. It does not seem to be generally known that such injuries may be assisted by a bolt and nuts, as shown in the sketch. A half inch rod is quite strong enough, and inch nuts are all that is needed. The nuts will become com- pletely imbedded by the tree growth in a few years, with no bad result. By the help of ropes on the upper portion of the branches, and help from the wrench on the nuts, the cleft can be drawn together so closely that the wood will eventually grow together again, — that is th( will cover old wood and that cannot unite. Bands connected by chains have been sometimes used to pre- vent further separation of a cleft, but these prevent the growth, and act like girdling, the final result being the death of the por- tion above the band. V. *. * • ■ i 4 A ■•; ^^■ (229) 230 MEEHANS' MONTHI^Y — GENERAL GARDENING. [Dec. Good roots in Transplanting trees. — Mr. H. M. Stringfellow, a fruit grower of Texas, and who is regarded in that section as a good authority on practical fruit culture, has lately startled planters by contending that young trees planted for orchards, or, one may say, for anything else, are better without roots than with them. He cuts in all the roots to a mere stump, making the tree little more than a cut- ting. The top is of course cut in severely at the same time. It is argued that there is a great point gained, provided such trees are equally successful— with trees transplanted under the ordinary method with us. Many more can be packed in a case for shipping in this way, and heavy transportation charges thus avoided. It has been long the thought of the writer that by far too much value is placed on the root fibers ; and distinction should be made between the true roots and root fibers. The fiber is practically only a thread-like pro- duction which pushes out of the main roots in large quantities. They live only for one year, just as the leaf does, and they can be of very little practical use to a tree in transplanting. The success of transplanted trees comes from the new production of these fibers. The food of a tree is taken in by the root hairs, which are produced at the end of these little threads, and, unless there is a new production of these fibers, the tree will not grow. What is needed in a successful transplanting is an abundance of two or three year old roots, and not annual fibers. It is this which makes a transplanted tree much more of a success than one not transplanted. When the large, old roots are shortened, and a number of new, true roots proceed, this is the class of roots desirable. If there are a number of this class to the main stem of the plant, we should be apt to regard all the other mass of very old roots and half dead fibers as being in the way of success rather than to aid it. For trees generally, Mr. Stringfellow's method will not be adopted, but his thought is useful in showing us the absurdity of many of our old views. Fragrant Flowers, Gelsemium skmper- viRENs, OR Yellow (False) Jessamine.— This vine has been but sparingly introduced in the gardens throughout the country. I have seen it described in a Florida catalogue, but never anywhere else. I met with it in the *5o's, and there was no question of its hardi- ness growing in a city lot of Annapolis, Mary- land. It never had protection in any way. In the same lot was an almond tree which pro- duced its nuts regularly as well as fig trees. The Crape Myrtle grew there also. The figs had a protection of the south walls of build- ings. In the latitude of Annapolis, it is per- fectly hardy. In a garden in that city, I saw it growing over and well covering an arbor. It has a delicious fragrance which is wafted around on every zephyr. The flowers are large and showy, of a bright golden yel- low, length of corolla one to one and a half inches. It has handsome oval leaves, many of them hanging through the winter till spring. In the south it is an evergreen. "Gray '^ says, that its home is in the low grounds of eastern Virginia and southward. I think that this vine will grow and thrive in Philadelphia and the surrounding territory with some slight protection. It is worth cultivation, is a perennial whose top does not die down in winter, and is a thing of fragrance and a beauty forever. I^. K. STEELE. Festus, Mo. The Carolina Jasmine gets killed to the ground most winters in Philadelphia, when ex- posed to the ordinary bright light of the snowy season. When carefully protected from the bright winter sun, it might get through. Many years ago there was a plant in the Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia, that had grown up among the English Ivy, on an old wall. It may be there yet. It was secure in the shade of the ivy leaves, and flowered nicely every year. Several plants are now being cultivated under slight protection in the Meehan nurseries. Insecticides. — There are now numerous popular insecticides, but it is not always material is at hand. Every new formula is wel- come. Mr. Doogue, the well known city gar- dener of Boston, says, that *' Canada hardwood ashes, containing eight per cent, and upward of potash, with one-third of slaked lime added, is absolutely destructive to all insect life. At the same time this combination is admittedly a valuable fertilizer for any kind of crop. This combination acts very quickly, as the lime and magnesia unite rapidly with the carbonate and caustic properties of the potaj^h." 1896.] MEEHANS* MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 231 \ ) OUVIRANDRA FENESTRALIS, THE MADAGAS- CAR Lattice-leaf.— The note in Meehans' Monthly for October, on the Lattice-leaf, (page 189,) has induced me to send you a photograph of a full-sized leaf of this wonder- ful plant. The photograph is printed from nature, and is therefore a truthful likeness of this leaf. I am sure you will confer a favor on your readers by illustrating it in an early issue. It is a plant that should be more com- monly grown, as it is not a difficult subject by any means. What it needs, is a tem- perature of from 75"* ^^ 80°, and a tub or half-barrel filled with water to grow it in. The soil may consist of good loam and well rotted cow manure, or a mixture of loam, cow manure, and leaf-mould or peat,— whichever may be at hand. The plant will do equally well in either, as it is not so particular as to soil, as it is to clean, sweet water. The pot or pan, which ever is used, is to be sunk in the water so that there will be several inches of water over the leaves,— say four or five inches. The plant must be kept away from direct sun- light. It is more commonly known under its old name of Ouvirayidra fenesttalis than Apo7Wgeton fenestrale, and the plant is generally cata- logued under the name of Ouvirandra, P. BiSSET. Washington, D. C. It will be well for us garden folk to retain the name Ouvitandra, given by Thourin, to the Madagascar plant in 1806. in- stead of changing to the Aponogdon given by the younger Linn^us in 1781, for the reason that the species combined under Otivirandra have a distinct character. Botanists will proba- bly write their tickets Aponogeton {Ouvirandra) fenestrate ; and it does seem that where there is distinction enough* to retain a botanical name for a section as a sub-genus, it is not worth while for general literature to recall its work of probably fifty years in the general distribution of the name. The cut is half size. MADAGASCAR Fruit and Flower Calendars.— Those good old monks who lived in France and pre- pared a calendar of the first opening of a large number of flowers and then dedicated each to a Saint's day, which may have been fixed for commemoration of that day, would have a difficult task to form a calendar for the first coming of the fruits and flowers of our country. While the flowers are opening in one part of our wide territory, the fruit is ripening in another. It would, however, be very inter- esting if some sort of a table could be arranged by which we could see the differences in the diff"erent localities. To be useful, however, such a calendar would have to be * very carefully prepared. The writer has just noticed a paragraph in the Rural Northwest, published at Port- land. Oregon, saying that the date for the first ripening of blackberries in the vicinity of Portland was July 20th ; but it does not say whether these are the cultivated varieties of blackberries brought from the East, or whether they are the native blackberries of that region. The writer has col- lected plants in the vicinity of Portland, and in fact along the line of the Columbia River, but believes there are only two species growing wild ..TT.rr LEAF in that region that may be LATTicc-LEAF. ^^^^^^^^ ^3 blackbcrries, so far as their fruit is concerned. -one of these is closely related to our Black-cap Raspberry, and the other to the dew-berry. Nux vomica for Cut- flowers. -Dr. Samuel G. Dixon notes.-" I hope you will try tine ture of Nuxvomica as a stimulant or tonic for cut-flowers, as the Chrysanthemums I tried it on are certainly holding their freshness to a very unusual degree." We have not heard of this before. 230 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING, [Dec. "j»r'."'".--'*i'-«'i? ■'''3sX>-.'-'V!"' Good roots in Transplanting trees. — Mr. H. M. wStringfellow, a fruit grower of Texas, and who is regarded in that section as a good authority on practical fruit culture, has lately startled planters by contending that young trees planted for orchards, or, one may say, for anything else, are better without roots than with them. He cuts in all the roots to a mere stump, making the tree little more than a cut- ting. The top is of course cut in severely at the same time. It is argued that there is a great point gained, provided such trees are equally successful— with trees transplanted under the ordinary method with us. Many more can be packed in a case for shipping in this way, and heavy transportation charges thus avoided. It has been long the thought of the writer that by far too much value is placed on the root fibers ; and distinction should be made between the true roots and root fibers. The fiber is practically only a thread-like pro- duction which pushes out of the main roots in large quantities. They live only for one year, just as the leaf does, and they can be of very little practical use to a tree in transplanting. The success of transplanted trees comes from the new production of these fibers. The food of a tree is taken in by the root hairs, which are produced at the end of these little threads, and, unless there is a new production of these fibers, the tree will not grow. What is needed in a successful transplanting is an abundance of two or three year old roots, and not annual fibers. It is this which makes a transplanted tree much more of a success than one not transplanted. When the large, old roots are shortened, and a number of new, true roots proceed, this is the class of roots desirable. If there are a number of this class to the main stem of the plant, we should be apt to regard all the other mass of very old roots and half dead fibers as being in the way of success rather than to aid it. For trees generally, Mr. Stringfellow's method will not be adopted, but his thought is useful in showing us the absurdity of many of our old views. Fragrant Flowers, Gelsemium semper- viRENs, OR Yellow (False) Jessamine.— This vine has been but sparingly introduced in the gardens throughout the country. I have seen it described in a Florida catalogue, but never anywhere else. I met with it in the '50's, and there was no question of its hardi- ness growing in a city lot of Annapolis, Mary- land. It never had protection in any way. In the same lot was an almond tree which pro- duced its nuts regularly as well as fig trees. The Crape Myrtle grew there also. The figs had a protection of the south w^alls of build- ings. In the latitude of Annapolis, it is per- fectly hardy. In a garden in that city, I saw it growing over and well covering an arbor. It has a delicious fragrance which is wafted around on every zephyr. The flowers are large and showy, of a bright golden yel- low, length of corolla one to one and a half inches. It has handsome oval leaves, many of them hanging through the winter till spring. In the south it is an evergreen. "Gray " says, that its home is in the low grounds of eastern Virginia and southward. I think that this vine will grow and thrive in Philadelphia and the surrounding territory with some slight protection. It is worth cultivation, is a perennial whose top does not die down in winter, and is a thing of fragrance and a beauty forever. L. K. STEELE. Festus, Mo. The Carolina Jasmine gets killed to the ground most winters in Philadelphia, when ex- posed to the ordinary bright light of the snowy season. When carefully protected from the bright winter sun, it might get through. Many years ago there was a plant in the Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia, that had grown up among the English Ivy, on an old wall. It may be there yet. It was secure in the shade of the ivy leaves, and flowered nicely every year. Several plants are now being cultivated under slight protection in the Meehan nurseries. Insecticides. — There are now numerous popular insecticides, but it is not always material is at hand. Every new formula is wel- come. Mr. Doogue, the well known city gar- dener of Boston, says, that '* Canada hardwood ashes, containing eight per cent, and upward of potash, with one-third of slaked lime added, is absolutely destructive to all insect life. At the same time this combination is admittedly a valuable fertilizer for any kind of crop. This combination acts very quickly, as the lime and magnesia unite rapidly with the carbonate and caustic properties of the pota.^h." 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 231 . 1 t) OUVIRANDRA FFNKSTRALIS, THE MADAGAS- CAR Lattice-leaf.— The note in Meehans' Monthly for October, on the Lattice-leaf, (page 189,) has induced me to send you a photograph of a full-sized leaf of this wonder- ful pliant. The photograph is printed from nature, and is therefore a truthful likeness of this leaf. I am sure you will confer a favor on your readers by illustrating it in an early issue. It is a plant that should be more com- monly grown, as it is not a difficult subject by any means. What it needs, is a tem- perature of from 75"* ^^ ^^°* and a tub or half-barrel filled with water to grow it in. The soil may consist of good loam and well rotted cow manure, or a mixture of loam, cow manure, and leaf-mould or peat,— whichever may be at hand. The plant will do equally well in either, as it is not so particular as to soil, as it is to clean, sweet water. The pot or pan, which ever is used, is to be sunk in the water so that there will be several inches of water over the leaves.— say four or five inches. The plant must be kept away from direct sun- light. It is more commonlv known under its old name of Ouvira?idya fenestralis than Aponogeton fenestrale, and the plant is generally cata- logued under the name of Oiivitandra. P. BiSSET. Washington, D. C. It will be well for us garden folk to retain the name Ouvhamira, given by Thourin, to the Madagascar plant in 1806. in- stead of changing to the Aponogdon given by the younger Linn^us in 17S1, for the reason that the species combined under Otiviyandra have a distinct character. Botanists will proba- bly write their tickets Aponogdon {Ouvnandra) fenestraU ; and it does seem that where there is distinction enough' to retain a botanical name for a section as a sub-genus, it is not worth while for general literature to recall its work of probably fifty years in the general distribution of the name. The cut is half size. MADAGASCAR Fruit and Flower Calendars.— Those good old monks who lived in France and pre- pared a calendar of the first opening of a large number of flowers and then dedicated each to a Saint's day, which may have been fixed for commemoration of that day, would have a dilTicult task to form a calendar for the first coining of the fruits and flowers of our country. While the flowers are opening in one part of our wide territory, the fruit is ripening in another. It would, however, be very inter- esting if some sort of a table could be arranged by which we could see the diff'erences in the difl"erent localities. To be useful, however, such a calendar would have to be very carefully prepared. The writer has just noticed a paragraph in the Rural iXorthwest, published at Port- land, Oregon, saying that the date for the first ripening of blackberries in the vicinity of Portland was July 20th ; but it does not say whether these are the cultivated varieties of blackberries brought from the East, or whether they are the native blackberries of that region. The writer has col- lected plants in the vicinity of Portland, and in fact along the line of the Columbia River, but believes there are only two species growing wild ..TT.rr LEAF in ^l^at region that may be L ATTICE-LE A r . ^ recorded as blackberries, so far as their fruit is concerned, -one of these is closely related to our Black-cap Raspberry, and the other to the dew-berry. NlKVOMicA FOR CuT-iT.owERS— Dr. Samuel G Dixon notes.-" I hope you will try tinc- ture of Nuxvomica as a .stimulant or tonic for cut-flowers, as the Chrysanthemums I tried it on are certainly holding their freshness to a very unusual degree." We have not heard of this before. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE _-! y^itf 532 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Dec. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 235 Dodder. — A correspondent writes : " 'Along^ Butter Creek, Ore., has appeared a vine that when above the ground will leave the root and -cling to an3^ vegetation to which it can attach itself and through which it can draw nourish- ment. The seed is said to have been brought there with alfalfa seed from Salt Lake.' The above from this morning's Philadelphia Ledger would indicate that dodder was a novelty to the observers along Butter Creek, wouldn't it? " This is believed to be the European Clover Dodder, Cusaita Europcea, which has been intro- duced with clover seed, and has found a tasteful host plant in the Alfalfa, a close relative of the clover. There is no excuse for the spread of this parasite. Anyone who has eyes can see the thread-like growth, which can be cut off in a few minutes, and nothing but sheer ignor- ance or indifference would allow it to remain long enough to go to seed. New Jersey Tea Plant for Dwarf Hedges. — Very little seems to have been said of the ''Jersey Tea" {Cea?iothus America?ia) as a plant for hedges ; but when a low hedge is wanted that will take care of itself, not grow beyond bounds and look well at all seasons, no native species seems better than this. The Jersey Tea will stand much drouth. In spring it puts forth fresh stems and leaves and is soon covered with a multitude of feathery blossoms. When the leaves have fallen, the erect red brown stems are still pretty. The winter kills these back nearly to the ground each year in this latitude, saving the labor of the gardener's shears, unless it be to cut off the old stems in early spring. Binghamton, N. Y. WiLLARD N. ClUTE. Botany in a City Lawn.— It has often been a matter of interest to the writer that such a large number of species of plants may be found among the grass in a city lawn. The matter is brought freshly to mind by the following note from Mr. Newlin Williams : •'Philadelphia, May i6th. Our city grass plot has been sodded lately. It probably does not comprise in all an area more than twenty feet square, and at a glance one would think it grass and clover only. But in watering it and setting plants about its borders I have become more intimate with it, and find we have quite a botanic garden at our door. A few butter cups rose up and bloomed after the first water- ing. The children found open dandelions in it even before it was all laid. There are at least two kinds of clover, two plantains, a sedge, a Bouncing-Bet, and two things which could only have come from a low meadow, — Water Horehound and peppermint. There are motherwort, younglings of wild carrot, cinque- foil, violets even ; a dock, three-seeded mer- cury, vervain, honewort, chick-weed, and the gem of all, the pale blue creeping Veronica. Seventeen ! And thus, while I am daily ex- pecting to happen upon others, I am at the same time dreading the day when they will all have to be clipped down to a kempt and urban level . Now I have no sooner ended my chronicle than I must begin another, for I come upon a daisy and ragweed, and one I am not so sure of, just as I rise from the ground. I count beside the grasses. May 20th. Yesterday I took another look at my grass plot, and found yarrow, boneset and great ragweed. To-day in the rain an arrow-leaf has developed as an additional piece of evidence that the sod is of riparian extrac- tion. Also, I find a mustard-like capsella, sheep sorrel, bird knot-weed, what I take to be a young Xanthium, and the rarest yet, a graceful, slender cornucopia, which I cannot but hope will turn out to be an orchid, though I say it with the intuitive warning that it may only develop into a coarse grass. It has a little fleshy round leaf at the base of the stalk. Later still I find seedlings of Swamp Maple (?) and am strongly moved to say Heal All and Myosotis, though I have not a clear light on them as yet." Queen Victoria's Garden. —A London paper says : '* The Queen is going to have a large kitchen garden laid out at Osborne, and conservatories and forcing houses are to be built. The flower gardens to be extended and improved, and a number of choice trees and shrubs, sent by the Empress of Russia, are to be planted in spots chosen by Princess Beatrice. At present there are practically no gardens at Osborne, and both there and at Balmoral all the daily sup- plies of fruit and vegetables are sent from the Frogmore Gardens, near Windsor." \ Landscape Gardening on the Pacific Coast.— Mr. George Hansen, formerly in charge of the Foothill Agricultural I^xperi- ment Station, at Jackson, Amador Co., Cali- fornia, has decided to establish himself as a Landscape Gardener and Architect at Oakland, California, — a profession for which he is eminently qualified. Dead Underbrush and Forest Fires.— Dr. Rothrock notes, in Forest Leaves, that by employing 114 men, at a cost of $26,253, to watch for and put out forest fires at their com- mencement, areas amounting to hundreds of square miles may have been saved from des- truction. The point Meehans' Monthly would make is that this large force of men might just as usefully be employed in burning the dead brush that feeds the fire as in merely putting out a fire when once started. being oftentimes overlooked, until the damage is done. They must be picked off in the early stage. In many respects the insect has a peculiar his- tory as it journeys through the various stages of its life, and the accompanying illu.strations prepared by Mr. L. O. Howard for the Year Book of Agriculture, for 1895, and which we have been kindly permitted by Hon. Sterling Morton to copy for our readers, will be as interesting as it is practically instructive. NEW ©1 li^ll^ FLINTS. The Bag Worm.— Few things are more sur- prising than that an insect so easily handled as the bag worm should be allowed to get the upper hand to an extent so often evident in many gardens. The insect is especially fond of arbor^'itc^s, firs and other resinous trees,— and it is not uncommon to see fine specimens which the owners would not part with for many dollars, killed utterly in a few weeks by a few score of " bags," which the owner could hire any boy for twenty-five cents to collect and destroy. When out of reach of the ladder and the hand, picking in this way cannot be resorted to, but here the sprayer and the Pans Green could come in just as eff'ectively,— though hand picking is the cheapest and best whenever the creatures are within reach. The enemy hides itself under a cover it builds for itself out of the leaves of the plant it feeds on and carries this protective tent along with it while it feeds. As it grows it enlarges this tent, and when it dies the tent serves as a grave in which the dead lie buried. This little moveable home is small while the inmate is young, and it is prob- able that this leads to its RiBES LoBBii.— A Flowering Gooseberry. —While collecting plants in British Columbia some years ago, the writer met with a goose- berry, near what is now Nanaimo, the fruit of which was as large as that of the English gooseberry, but it was covered by hair so sticky that the berry would adhere to one's fingers, and gave to the fruit a very bitter taste, though the pulp itself was agreeable. On reaching home, no specimens were found in the general collection, and the species could not be identified. Noting that Dr. William Saunders had recently been giving someatten- tion to the woodlands of British Columbia, a postal card sent to him brought the following interesting item : «' The handsome gooseberry which you saw at Nanaimo, B. C , is Ribes Lobbii. which is a most beautiful shrub whether seen in early spring when covered with its rich crimson-pur- ple and white flowers (like miniature fuchsia flowers) or in August when loaded down with ^Vvv^V^ 'zz;:;^r.z^^;it'-s^^}-^-'-^-^^~i'i^- ^32 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Dec. Dodder. — A correspondent writes : " 'Along Butter Creek, Ore., has appeared a vine that when above the ground will leave the root and -cling to an}^ vegetation to which it can attach itself and through which it can draw nourish- ment. The seed is said to have been brought there with alfalfa seed from Salt Lake.' The above from this morning's Philadelphia Ledge f would indicate that dodder was a novelty to the observers along Butter Creek, wouldn't it.^ " This is believed to be the European Clover Dodder, Cusaita Europcca, which has been intro- duced with clover seed, and has found a tasteful host plant in the Alfalfa, a close relative of the clover. There is no excuse for the spread of this parasite. Anyone who has eyes can see the thread-like growth, which can be cut off in a few minutes, and nothing but sheer ignor- ance or indifference would allow it to remain long enough to go to seed. New Jersey Tea Plant for Dwarf Hedges. — Very little seems to have been said of the "Jersey Tea" {Ceaiwthus Amerka?ia) as a plant for hedges ; but when a low hedge is wanted that will take care of itself, not grow beyond bounds and look well at all seasons, no native species seems better than this. The Jersey Tea will stand much drouth. In spring it puts forth fresh stems and leaves and is soon covered with a multitude of feathery blossoms. When the leaves have fallen, the erect red brown stems are still pretty. The winter kills these back nearly to the ground each year in this latitude, saving the labor of the gardener's vShears, unless it be to cut off the old stems in early spring. Biughamtoii, N. Y. WiLLARD N. ClUTE. Botany in a City Lawn.— It has often been a matter of interest to the writer that such a large number of species of plants may be found among the grass in a city lawn. The matter is brought freshly to mind by the following note from Mr. Newlin Williams : •'Philadelphia, May i6th. Our city grass plot has been sodded lately. It probably docs not comprise in all an area more than twenty feet square, and at a glance one would think it grass and clover only. But in watering it and vsetting plants about its borders I have become more intimate with it, and find we have quite a botanic garden at our door. A few butter cups rose up and bloomed after the first water- ing. The children found open dandelions in it even before it was all laid. There are at least two kinds of clover, two plantains, a sedge, a Bouncing-Bet, and two things which could only have come from a low meadow, — Water Horehound and peppermint. There are motherwort, younglings of wild carrot, cinque- foil, violets even ; a dock, three-seeded mer- cury, vervain, honewort, chick-weed, and the gem of all, the pale blue creeping Veronica. Seventeen ! And thus, while I am daily ex- pecting to happen upon others, I am at the same time dreading the day when they will all have to be clipped down to a kempt and urban level . Now I have no sooner ended my chronicle than I must begin another, for I come upon a daisy and ragweed, and one I am not so sure of, just as I rise from the ground. I count beside the grasses. May 2oth. Yesterday I took another look at my grass plot, and found yarrow, boneset and great ragweed. To-day in the rain an arrow-leaf has developed as an additional piece of evidence that the sod is of riparian extrac- tion. Also, I find a mustard-like capsella, sheep sorrel, bird knot-weed, what I take to be a young Xanthium, and the rarest yet, a graceful, slender cornucopia, which I cannot but hope will turn out to be an orchid, though I say it with the intuitive warning that it may only develop into a coarse grass. It has a little fleshy round leaf at the base of the stalk. Later still I find seedlings of Swamp Maple (?) and am strongly moved to say Heal All and Myosotis, though I have not a clear light on them as yet." Queen Victoria's Garden.— A London paper says : '* The Queen is going to have a large kitchen garden laid out at Osborne, and conservatories and forcing houses are to be built. The flower gardens to be extended and improved, and a number of choice trees and shrubs, sent by the Empress of Russia, are to be planted in spots chosen by Princess Beatrice. At present there are practically no gardens at Osborne, and both there and at Balmoral all the daily sup- plies of fruit and vegetables are sent from the Frogmore Gardens, near Windsor." 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. 233 1 i Landscape Gardening on thk rAcii-ic Coast.— Mr. George Hansen, formerly in charge of the Foothill Agricultural l^xperi- ment Station, at Jackson, Amador Co., Cali- fornia, has decided to establish himself as a Landscape Gardener and Architect at Oakland, California, — a profession for which he is eminently qualified. Dead X^nderurush and Forest Fires.— Dr. Rothrock notes, in Forest Leaves, that by employing 114 men, at a cost of $26,253, to watch for and put out forest fires at their com- mencement, areas amounting to hundreds of square miles may have been saved from des- truction. The point xMekhans' Monthly would make is that this large force of men might just as usefully be employed in burning the dead brush that feeds the lire as in merely putting out a fire when once started. being oftentimes overlooked, until the damage is do'ne. They must be picked off in the early stage. In many respects the insect has a peculiar his- tory as it journeys through the various stages of its life, and the accompanying illustrations prepared bv Mr. L. O. Howard for the Year Book of Agriculture, for 1S95, and which we have been kindly permitted by Hon. Sterling Morton to copy for our readers, will be as interesting as it is practically instructive. MEW ©1 l^I^E FLi^MTS. The Bag Worm.— Few things are more sur- prising than that an insect so easily handled as the bag worm should be allowed to get the upper hand to an extent so often evident in many gardens. The insect is especially fond of arborvities, firs and other resinous trees,— and it is not uncommon to see fine specimens which the owners would not part with for many dollars, killed utterly in a few weeks by a few score of - bags," which the owner could hire any boy for twenty-five cents to collect and destroy. When out of reach of the ladder and the hand, picking in this way cannot be resorted to, but here the sprayer and the Pans Green could come in just as eflectively,— though hand picking is the cheapest and best whenever the creatures are within reach. The enemy hides itself under a cover it builds for itself out of the leaves of the plant it feeds on and carries this protective tent along with it while it feeds. As it grows it enlarges this tent, and when it dies the tent serves as a grave in which the dead lie buried. This little moveable home is small while the inmate RibesLohhii.— A Flowering OooSKP.KKRV. —While collecting plants in British Columbia some vears ago, the writer met with a goose- berry, near what is now Xanaimo, the fruit of which was as large as that of the Fnglish gooseberry, but it was covered by hair so sticky that the berry would adhere to one's fingers, and gave to the fruit a very bitter taste, though the pulp itself was agreeable On reaching home, no specimens were found in the ^reneral collection, and the species could not be"^ identified. Noting that Dr. William Saunders had recently been giving scmieatten- tiontothe woodlands of British Columbia, a postal card sent to him brought the following interesting item : •• The handsome gooseberry which you saw at Nanaimo. B. C , is Kibes Lohbii. which is a most beautiful shrub whether seen m early spring when covered with its rich crimson pur- ple and white fiowers (like miniature fuchsia flowers) or in August when loaded down with ^V^-v-^V^ is small wnue Uie unnnu. ^—^ _ , r» . j^.ne is young, and it is prob- ^.,, .y-^.^orr. ,TH.r^,opUr.yH^^ able that this leads to its ^ale pupa, ./.female pupa; ..adult temale . /.aEiNI. Helenium autumnale. — Those who are fond of cultivating our wild flowers in their gardens will find our common Sneeze-weed {Helenium autumnale) one of the best for that purpose. When properly cared for it makes a strong clump six feet or more high and bears a profusion of bright yellow flowers of a pattern not very common with composites. The disks are globular and appear to rest on the inner ends of the ray flowers. The plant has the added charm of blooming at a time when other flowers are fading, — usually bling contemporary with the beautiful New England Aster and the Fringed and Closed Gentians. Biugharaton, N. Y. WiLLARD N. ClUTE. The Giant Spider Plant.— Dr. Wm. Mor- rissy, Brooklyn, New York, sends a photograph of a remarkably finely grown specimen of the Giant Spider Plant, with the following note : " Accompanying this letter is a photograph of a plant,— the Giant Spider Plant,— which grew in our garden this summer. It reached a height of eight feet and at one time had sixty-four large flowers upon it. It is from self-sown seed. It belongs to the Caper family, and I believe it is a cultivated Pohuiisia, It began to bloom in early June and has remained in bloom ever since. To-day I counted forty-three large racemes of flowers on it. What do you think of it for a whole flower garden of one plant ? " William P. Morrissv. Certainly a remarkable specimen of a curious plant. There are quite a number of kinds of flowers that have honored the spider by bearing the name of Spider P'lovver, from the arach- noidal resemblances. As our correspondent remarks, this is a capparidaceous plant, — the family to which the Caper of the culinary department belongs to, but there is no record that this plant has a similar pungent character in the seed. Possibly it may have and the vegetable as well as the flower garden claim a share of its attention. Pola- nisias are all now regarded as Cleomes. In our younger days this was known as Cleome penta- phylla. Its native home is everywhere in tropical regions. Early Blooming Cosmos.— I have been watching some early blooming Cosfuos bipiniiata planted in a neighbor's spent hot bed this spring. They have been flowering more or less all summer, but put me in mind of ? chicken at its moulting period, as the foliage was very thin. One of the beauties of the old-fashioned Cos- mos,— its foliage — AHb LCS. Improved Sand Cherries.— Nothing is more remarkable in nature than a habit she has of now and then introducing to us indi- viduals of a species, usually of humble growth, in the form of small trees. This is especially true when the species is growing in localities somewhat out of what might be termed their geographical centre. The writer of this has seen the Beach Plum, which is but a trailing bush but a foot or two high in the sands of New Jersey, form bushes nearly as high as himself in Montana. Thesand cherry. Cerasus pumila, often varies in this way. Some forty years ago the writer received from H. A. Terry, then of Iowa City, was gone ; but what I want to record is this : Self-sown Cos- mos have come up all around the plant, and are now some eight to ten inches high, and have bloom buds — generally only one bud, — the crown ; but in a few instances there are side branches. What a change in a plant that, a few years ago, was only known to bloom about October . And furthermore one that bloomed about that time, whether started in heat in February, March, April, or May, or seeded out doors. Had this fact any influence on the recent election ? • 1, f There never were any Cosmos in this hot bed so there is no question about the fact that this October-blooming plant bloomed, ripened its seed, dropped them, and they germinated, grew and bloomed,-and all done in one season. , Of course, being near Chicago, and owned by a Chicago man, they absorbed Chicago energy, and did in one season what a Philadel- phia Cosmos would take two or more to do. rOf course. Conductors.-] Still the fact is worth f;«cr W. C. Egan. noting. FIG 84.-Bagworm at (a, b, c) successive stajjes of growth c, male bag ; d, female bag-natural size (original . (See article page 233.) Iowa, a plant of one, which, in his Ger- mantown garden, was quite as vigor- ous as an average Mahaleb. By selec- tion and care, some great improvements might be made. Mr. A. W. Latham. Sec- retary of the Minne- sota Horticultural Society, notes that this good work has already begun. He saw on the grounds of Mr. Knudson, at Springfield. Minne- sota, a specimen of an improved variety that was eight or nine feet high, and but five years old. The red fruit is an inch in diameter, has lost the usual astringency of the sand cherry, and is more of the flavor of the Miner Plum. Mr. Knudson deserves encouragement in this eft'ort to improve this line of the cherry family. Turnip RooTKD. or Tap-rooted Vege- tables.—Among radishes, beets, and carrots, there are kinds with long roots penetrating the soil deeplv,— and turnip-rooted kinds which grow near the surface. The latter are usually the earlier ; but epicures say the tap- rooted kinds are preferred by those who know delicacy from coarseness. 234 MEEHANS* MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Dec. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY— GENERAL GARDENING. 235 the large ruddy fruit. The resinous glandular coat of the fruit makes it rather distoothful, but the pulpy interior is quite as pleasant as that of many of the cultivated varieties. This species is not hardy here without protection ; but bushes grown from seed flowered for two or three years on such branches as were well covered with snow. I judge that it would suc- ceed well in such districts as 7?. saiiguifieum will thrive. It is a vigorous grower and flowers the second year from the seed. I find that it is an extremely rare species in collec- tions." J. Fletcher, Botanist to Department of Agriculture. Dominion of Canada. The shore line of British Columbia has its climate mollified by the warm water of the sea of Japan flowing northwardly along its line, in the same manner that the British Isles have theirs softened by the gulf stream. Though so far north, the native plants will not endure the winters of our Atlantic coast. But such an interesting plant as this would be well worth introducing as a conservatory plant. Ribes Lobbii is a comparatively newly dis- covered plant, having been first described so recently as 1876, in the " American NaturalivSt," by Dr. Asa Gray. Dwarf Black Jack Oak.— Last summer, when botanizing in the vicinity of Millville, N. J., I came on what was to me a great curios- ity, in the shape of a dwarf form of the Black Jack Oak, Qnercus7iigra. In botanical works this oak, Jiigra, is described as a small, gnarled tree, with a trunk 20 to 30 feet high. I had been accustomed to seeing this oak in great quantity all throughout South Jersey, and of various sizes, but near me on the occasion re- ferred to were quite a number of trees, full of acorns, of all sizes from 2 feet up to 20 and 30 feet of the botanies. And as it was a good vseason for acorns of most all kinds, these little dwarfs were just as full of fruit as they could be. It was a pleasing surprise to me, the more so as the little fellows were not of stunted growth, but appeared as vigorous as the largest ones. Should this dwarf feature be a permanent one, as I have no doubt it is, this little oak would be a beautiful lawn orna- ment, as nigra has long been admired for its large pretty shaped, shining green leaves. Joseph Meehan. Cosmos atro-sanguinea. — A very dark blood-red Cosmos, under the name of Cosmos atro-sangtdiiea , has been introduced from Mexico to English gardens. It goes there by the name of the Black Dahlia. There is little difference between a Dahlia and a Cosmos. The leaves of this one look more like the leaves of a Dahlia than do those of the common Cosmos. TME H/^l^I^Y FLOWEl ^i^HJ^l Helenium autumnale. — ThOvSe who are fond of cultivating our wild flowers in their gardens will find our common Sneeze-weed {Helenitifn aiihinuialc) one of the best for that purpose. When properly cared for it makes a strong clump six feet or more high and bears a profusion of bright yellow flowers of a pattern not very common with composites. The disks are globular and appear to rest on the inner ends of the ray flowers. The plant has the added charm of blooming at a time when other flowers are fading, — usually b^ing contemporary with the beautiful New England Aster and the Fringed and Closed Gentians. Uiiighamton, X. Y. WiLLARD N. CLUTE. The Giant Spider Plant.— Dr. Wm. Mor- rissy, Brooklyn, New York, sends a photograph of a remarkably finely grown specimen of the Giant Spider Plant, with the following note : " Accompanying this letter is a photograph of a plant,— the Giant Spider Plant,— which grew in our garden this summer. It reached a height of eight feet and at one time had sixty-four large flowers upon it. It is from self-sown seed. It belongs to the Caper family, and I believe it is a cultivated PoUuiisia, It began to bloom in early June and has remained in bloom ever since. To-day I counted forty -three large racemes of flowers on it. What do you think of it for a whole flower garden of one plant 1 " William P. Mokkissv. Certainly a remarkable specimen of a curious plant. There are quite a number of kinds of flowers that have honored the S])ider])y bearing the name of Spider IHower, from the arach- noidal resemblances. As our correspondent remarks, this is a capparidaceous i)lant,— the family to which the Caper of the culinary department belongs to, but there is no record that this plant has a similar pungent character in the seed. Possibly it may have and the vegetable as well as the flower garden claim a share of its attention. Pola- nisias are all now regarded as Cleovies. In our younger days this was known as Cleotne peyita- phylla. Its native home is everywhere in tropical regions. Early Blooming Cosmos.— I have been watching some early blooming Cosmos bipiyiuata planted in a neighbor's spent hot bed this spring. They have been flowering more or less all summer, but put me in mind of a chicken at its moulting period, as the foliage was very thin. One of the beauties of the old-fashioned Cos- mos, — its foliage — Pi^qilTS ^B ¥E^ETi^^LE5. Improved Sand Chkrriks.— Nothing is more remarkable in nature than a habit she has of now and then introducing to us indi- viduals of a species, usually of humble growth, in the form of small trees. This is especially true when the species is growing in localities somewhat out of what might be termed their geographical centre. The writer of this has seen the Beach Plum, which is but a trailing bush but a foot or two high in the sands of New Jersey, form bushes nearly as high as himself in Montana. Thesand cherry. Cenuus piunila, often varies in this way. Some forty years ago the writer received from H. A . Terry, then of Iowa City, w^as gone ; but what I want to record is this : Self-sown Cos- mos have come up all around the plant, and are now some eight to ten inches high, and have bloom buds — generally only one bud, — the crown ; but in a few instances there are side branches. What a change in a plant that, a few years ago, w^as only known to bl 00m about October . And furthermore one that bloomed about that time, whether started in heat in Februarv, March, April, or May, or seeded out doors. Had this fact any influence on the recent election ? There never were any Cosmos in this hot bed, so there is no question about the fact that this October-blooming plant bloomed, ripened its seed, dropped them, and they germinated, grew and bloomed, -and all done in one season. Of course, being near Chicago, and owned by a Chicago man, they absorbed Chicago energy, and did in one season what a Philadel- phia Cosmos would take two or more to do. rOf course. Conductoys:\ Still the fact is worth ^. W. C. Eg.\n. noting. riG 84 -Bagwonn at (a. ^ c) successive stages of growth c, male bag ; d, female bai;-natiiial si/e ^original . (See article page j.;,v) Iowa, a plant of one, which, in his Ger- mantown garden, was quite as vigor- ous as an avt^rage Mahaleb. By selec- tion and care, some great iniproveuients mijj^ht be made. Mr. A. W. Latham. Sec- retary of the Minne- sota Horticultural Society, notes that this good work has already begun. He saw on the grounds of Mr. Knudson. at Springfield, Minne- sota, a specimen of an improved variety that was eight or nine feet high, and but five years old. The red fruit is an inch in diameter, has lost the usual astringency of the sand cherry, and is more of the tlavor of the Miner Plum Mr. Knudson deserves encouragement in this etlort to improve this line of the cherry family. TlRNir R<>OTKD. OR Tap-roothd Vkgk- T.VBLES.— Among radishes, beets, and carrots, there are kinds with long roots penetrating the soil deeply,— and turnip-rooted kinds which grow near the surface. The latter are usuallv the earlier ; but epicures say the tap- rooted'kinds are preferred by tlio.se who know delicacy from coarseness. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSUM 236 MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING. [Dec. Improved Strawberries. — It is a well- known fact that the varieties of strawberries in use to-day are in no respects better, if in- deed as good, as many varieties that were popular over a quarter of a century ago, and yet it is recognized by all hands that new vari- eties are essential. This chiefly comes from a disease caused by the operation of the straw- berry fungus, which takes the form of small brown spots on the leaves. Wherever it occurs, the strawberry plants decline in health and general quality. As long as a variety can be kept free from this trouble, new kinds are not essential ; but it seems, according to the experience of most strawberry growers, that sooner or later these little parasites will dis- cover the most isolated plantations. Grapes Under Glass.— Among the pleas- ures of gardening, raising grapes under glass is prominent. The Garden Committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society praise very highly one oh the grounds of Mrs. J. W. Clark, of Pomfret, Conn. Mr. Ash's account of his method of cultivation is as follows : " I would say, with regard to my mode of cultivating grapes that it is very simple. I start my grapery about February 15th, at a temperature of from 43° to 48° of artificial heat, allowing the sun heat to run it up to from 80° to 85° with moderate ventilation, keeping the house at these temperatures until the buds show signs of swelling, when I raise the arti- ficial heat to 55°, night temperature, with a day temperature of 60°. I keep the house at this heat until the vines have made a growth of about three inches, when I again raise the temperature to from 60° to 65°, night, and from 65° to 70°, day. When starting my house I give the border a thorough soaking with water heated to 85°, repeating the operation once about two weeks before the vines are in bloom, at which time I keep the atmosphere in the house moderately dry, ventilating freely on bright days and only damping the floor about midday. This treatment is followed until the fruit is set, when I put on a top-dressing of barnyard manure and give the border a thorough watering with tepid water, repeating as often as is required. Just when the grapes commence to take their second swell, I give a copious watering with liquid manure and another similar dose just before the grapes begin coloring. After this I use only clear water, and when the grapes are ripe I keep the border as dry as possible without allowing the vines to suffer. My grapery is 50X20 feet. The extent of this estate is one hundred acres ; we have about six acres of lawn and flower garden, and about four acres of vegeta- ble garden. We grow almost everything in the vegetable line. Besides the grapery we have a palm house 50X20 ; rose house 50X18; one house for general greenhouse flowering plants, 50X18, and a house for Carnations and Violets 100X10. The greenhouses are heated by hot water (overhead system), using two Foster boilers connected so that we can use either separately or in conjunction with each other." A Large Currant. — Although no American garden in the northern half of our continent is considered complete without some currant bushes, it is rare we hear tell of them growing anywhere to the perfection that they do in England, although it is quite possible that they may successfully contend for the palm of superiority in Canada. The currant does not like long spells of warm dry weather ; under these circumstances the leaves become a prey to parasite fungus, and we all know that injury to leaves is the first step towards deterioration. At a recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society in England, the red currant called the Comet was exhibited — in which the bunches were six inches long, and some of the berries half an inch in diameter. With these figures we may be able to decide how near American currant growers can come to this excellence of their English brethren. Poisonous Parsnips. — Noting paragraph in your September number about poisonous pars- nips, will say that in the vicinity of my child- hood's home, it was customary to save the seed of wild parsnips for garden planting. The roots of the wild parsnip were not used, for, being uncultivated, they were too small ; but garden grown parsnips from wild parsnip seed supplied our table for many years. These parsnips were sweeter than the present varieties, though the roots were never as large. What they lacked in size was made up in quality. Mary G. Booth. Springfield, Mass. 1896.] MEEHANS' MONTHLY — GENERAL GARDENING, 237 The Apple as a Prophylactic. — Many can testify from actual experience to the value of the following which appeared originally in the New York Merchants Revieiv. " Everybody ought to know that the very best thing he can do is to eat apples just before going to bed. The apple has remarkably efficacious medi- cinal properties. It is an excellent brain food, because it has more phosphoric acid in easily digestible shape than other fruits. It excites the action of the liver, promotes sound and healthy sleep, and thoroughly disinfects the mouth. It helps the kidney secretions and prevents calculous growths, while it relieves indigestion, and is one of the best preventatives known for diseases of the throat. No harm can come to even a delicate system by the eat- ing of ripe and juicy apples before retiring for the night." Walnut Hulls.— Referring to the utiliza- tion of waste material in the garden and farm, the Califoy?iia Frtiit Grower has the following interesting note regarding the husks or hulls of the English Walnut :—'* A prominent walnut grower of Ventura County has been requested to put a price on his walnut husks, and is now drying a few hundred pounds for an experi- mental shipment. The would-be purchaser expects to use the husks for dyeing purposes. Like the husk of the butternut and the black walnut, the outer covering of the California walnut stains the hands a rich glossy brown, which is found a very fast color by the enquiring mind pursuing investigation in this avenue of research. If this waste product can be utilized for such a purpose, it will form a notable addition to that class of economic processes, which reclaim waste and refuse material and adapt it to new and practical uses. I » escaped observation. It has been known to pear growers for several generations paj-t. The proprietor of Hartrani Gardens, writin.i; to Loudon (see Vol. VIII of London's Gar- deners' Magazine) notes that Bartram's Petre Pear is free from this blight. Hut we now know that all kinds are liable to it. Fire Blight in the Pear.— A correspondent inquires what part of the world that first sent to America the great scourge of the pear grower— the fire blight— which will destroy the main portion of a large tree in a few days. The vicious little organism that causes the trouble is probably of American origin, and it may be assumed that before the pear was introduced to this continent, the little parasite had for a host plant some species that did not suffer to the extent the pear suffers, and hence Old Pfc.xr Treks.— Indiana and Illinois claim that they have the oldest pear trees in the West in their respective vStates. There is one near Springfield, 111., known locally as the great vSudduth pear tree, which is 50 feet in height and 10 feet in circumference. It is said to be 50 years old. This does not begin to compare with some of the old pear trees planted by the early German and Swedish settlers in the vicinity of Philadelphia, but it is remarkable for a country settled so compara- tively recently as what was but a few years ago known as the " far west." ToKAV Grapes. —Flame-colored Tokay, or California grapes, were offered in inimen.se quantities in Philadelphia during September and October. The street vendors had (juite good material at 10 cents a pound, and the higher grades in the fruit markets were rated at 15 and 20 cents per pound. Some of our earlier native grapes were in competition with those of the European race, and found many to prefer them. The Leek. —Those who have charge of restaurants report a growing request for stewed onions. If this taste is really "[rowing, the leek ought to come into more general demand. The flavor is much more delicate than that of the onion, —and some contend that, when every part of the green foliage is removed, a good dish of stewed leeks is preferable to the best asparagus. Lettixe.— With the exception possibly of the cabbage, few vegetables re(iuire as rich soil in order to get the best results as lettuce. Many vegetable plants are not particular as to the quality of the manure. Anything in abundance will do.— but the lettuce .seems to prefer rank, partially-rotted manure to any other kind. We have seen it thriving in the rich soil of a greenhouse where it was used as a " first crop." BIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE. LIVING MONUMENTS. Lot dead names be eternized by dead stone, Whose substance time cannot increase nor mar ; Let livinj^ names by living shafts be known, That feel the influence of sun and star. Plant thou a tree, whose griefless leaves shall sing Thy deed and thee, each fresh, unfolding spring. — Edith M. Thomas. BoissiER, Trimen and Trrcul. — The Gar- deners' Cliro7iicle, of October 24th, has biograph- ical sketches of these three eminent botan- ists. Edmund Boissier died in 1885, — but a catalogue of the living plants in his wonder- ful garden at Valleyres, at the foot of the Swiss Jura, has only just been published. Dr. Henry Trimen was for a time editor of the Londo}2 Jon f rial of Botany, but went a few years ago to take charge of the Botanic Garden at Peradenya, in Ceylon, and was engaged in a Flora of the Island at the time of his death, on the 1 6th of October, in his 53d year. Auguste Trecul was famous years ago in ana- tomical and physiological botany. Early in the century, he traveled for the French govern- ment as botanical collector in the Rocky Moun- tains, Texas and Mexico, — but his collections were lost by shipwreck. He was a member of the French Academy of Sciences. His death is just announced in his 78th year. Egandale, Chicago. — A note in regard to Dr. Egan's services, as one of the pioneer hor- ticulturists of Chicago, recently appeared in Meehans' Monthly. A recent article in a daily paper, furnished by Mr. F. F. Brown, in a discussion over naming a public school in his honor, gives additional particulars concern- ing him. He says : "The new school should by all means be called the Egandale School. The name is historic. Until recent improvements had changed its character, there was no region around Chicago more picturesque or better known. Nowhere was there a finer bit of nature. Dr. Egan had laid out an elaborate system of winding roads, covering many miles, (238) and bordered by fine hedges, some of which are still standing. The beautiful groves, many of which had been planted by him, were filled with an astonishing variety of rare birds ; and the ground was covered with patches of violets and innumerable wild flowers. Here was the favorite resort of the botanist, the bird-lover, and the artist. Everyone who has known this once lovely region has felt a debt of gratitude to Dr. Egan, to whom its beauty was so largely due ; and now that its character is changing under the advance of city improvements the per- petuation of its founder's name in the way proposed is at once a graceful and fitting tribute. The place is, and has been for forty years, Egandale ; and any school built there must logically and appropriately be called the Egandale School." Baron Ferdinand Von Mueller. — This distinguished Australian botanist, a sketch of whose valuable work with portrait appears in No. 12, Vol. v., of Meehans' Monthly, died on the 9th of October, at Melbourne, as the cable informs us. Thus has passed away one of the most intelligent and practically use- ful botanists of the present generation. He was born in Germany in 1825, but has been many years a resident of Australia with the development of which his name will be forever conjoined. Resignation of Editor Wm. Falconer. — The horticultural world will doubtless be sur- prised and sorry to hear of Mr. Falconer's resignation as Editor of Gardening, a position which he has ably filled since our contem- porary's commencement. As is well-known, he was not long since appointed superintendent of Pittsburgh's great Schenley Park, which is yet in a youthful stage. The work of develop- ing this large tract of 450 acres, naturally claims his closest attention and occupies all his spare moments, including his evenings which were heretofore devoted to his editorial work. meehans' monthly— biography and literature. 1896.] Honor to a Rose Grower.— It is said that Mr. F. G. L. Bruant, of Pontiers, France, the originator of that beautiful rose Madame Georges Bruant, has been appointed a Cheva- lier of the Legion of Honor in honor of his services to floriculture. He is said to be an improver of flowers in many directions. Americans would be glad to know of the dis- tinction conferred upon him, if only for the production of the rose already cited, for it is one of the most valuable additions to the list of shrubs for American gardens that has ever been introduced. It blooms twice a year, the August blooming being, if possible, more abundant and showy than the blossoms of its spring season. On the writer's grounds, there is a little bush about 4 to 5 feet in height and nearly as wide, which attracts general atten- tion during August and September. Fungoid Diseases.-U is a good subject for literary criticism whether our Department of Agriculture at Washington, and other authority equally eminent, should continue the use of the phrase - fungoid disease," which was long ago shown in the old Gardeners Monthly and elsewhere to be without meaning. The termination - oid " to words simply stands for that which is similar. The fungoid disease therefore should mean the disease which is similar to a fungus, but that is not what is intended. They mean disease which is caused by fungus, and not a disease which is similar to a fungus. When the Gardeners' Monthly first called attention to the inappro- priateness of the phrase, it was dropped for a time —but, under the encouragement of those to whom we look up to as leaders, it is getting to be a common phrase again. Sweet Pea Review.— by Sunset Seed cS: Plant Co., San Francisco, Cal. A neat little booklet of 32 pages designed as a review of the more prominent Sweet Peas in present cultivation. To say the least, it is extremely complete in its details, even to the illustration of the various types. The - Sunset Co ^ claim considerable experience with Sweet Peas, and this httle booklet is compiled from their own investigations. To any one interested in this popular flower it cannot fail to be a source from which a fund of valuable information may be gained. 239 Local Names. — A correspondent suggests that it would be desirable if some one with a knowledge of English peasantry would collect the local names of Britinh plants before peasantry, as a class, is driven out by the advance of general education. These names, he thinks, would often furnish clues to the uses plants have been put. He says, in South Hampshire, when he was a boy, over half a century ago, the fruit of the hawthorn was known as " Hagales." but he finds no reference to the name now in any popular work. The Timber Pinks oi- 'the SorxiiERN United States, bv Dr. Chas. Mohr,-published by the Division of Forestry of the Tnited States Department of Agriculture. Possibly nothing that anyone may desire to know in regard to the timber pines of the Southern United States, but may be found here. As a specimen of patient, careful and intelligent industry, no work exceeds it. It is a monument Dr. Mohr may be proud to have built for himself.-and does great credit to the United States Govern- luent. l'\RLY History of thk Mistlktoe. — Modern evolutionists believe that the habits of plants, in a great measure, are an outgrowth of the plant's environment, - and from this starting plant, the history of parasitic plants has a peculiar interest. Plants allied to our mistletoe are among the fossils in the Miocene and Eocene formations. If they acquired their parasitic habits, it must have happened very early in the history of the earth. Amos O. Oshornk. — A zealous lover of llowers. AmosO. Osborne, of WaterviUe, New York, passed away on the 27th of September in his 85th year. He died in the city in which he was born. By profe.ssion, a lawyer, he gave all his spare time to those studies which are con- nected with rural affairs. He was a man of pub- lic spirit, and was chiefly instrumental in the formation of the beautiful WaterviUe Cemetery. PRAsr/s Calendars. - Prang's Calendars ornamented with pansies, violets and other pleasant reminders of green fields and flowery woods, are healthy ornaments to hard olhce life They have always been popular, and the present effort is among the best of the series. GENERAL NOTES. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.— For all the difficulties surrounding the administra- tion of public parks, quite as many seem to get under intelligent and successful manage- ment as those of Europe. Golden Gate Park, at San FrancivSco, is one which secures frequent commendation from visitors and the public press. It is under the charge of IMr. M. H. Dunn. In these grounds are, carefully cared for, numbers of the Piniis msig7iis,—2L beauti- ful pine which will soon cease to exist in a wild form anywhere. Aquatics are also an especial feature in the gardening. Geneva Nurseries.— There are numbers of first-class nurseries in Geneva, New York, but one to start the boom and probably the oldest is that of William and Thomas Smith. It started with a few acres in 1846, the main line being fruit trees, for which that part of our country has been found especially favorable. It has now five hundred acres under nursery culture. The Maxwell Brothers must have been nearly contemporary with the Smiths, but we have no exact date. Like the latter, they have an enormous acreage under cultiva- tion, and have been eminently successful. Preserving Cut Flowers.— In olden times, much thought was given to growing flowers for cutting which would keep sometime after being cut. The Camellia was popular on that account, and the different forms of Bouvardia were also popular for the same reason. These flowers have lost, in a great measure, their great popularity. The carnation , now so popu- lar, is one of the class which keeps in good condition for considerable time after cutting. It is not, however, generally known that if flowers, after being cut, are placed for a few hours with their stems in cold water, in a com- paratively cool place, will preserve their fresh- ness when placed in a warm room much longer than without this process. Roses, especially if cut and placed in decorative positions at once, soon wilt ; but if cut and placed in water in a (240) cellar for a few hours before being brought to the full light, they will continue fresh for double the time they otherwise would. Motive Powers.— In days long ago, and when many of us were young, the only motive power known that could be generally employed was obtained from wind-mills. With the intro- duction of other motors, wind power has been allowed to go to waste. Recently, however, attention has been drawn to the value of this motor in our garden operations. We frequently find, in climates where rains are in a measure irregular, that the flow of water at our hands would be desirable, and wind-mills are just the thing for getting this remedy to our hands. In like manner, motors may be con- structed by the aid of currents of water flowing through our gardens, and in many other ways we might avail ourselves of the motive forces of nature which we find everywhere around us and going to w^aste. Very much more might be accomplished in this line than we have already expressed. The Clematis Disease.— Many Clematis growers unfortunately know that the beauti- ful variety Jackmanni is liable to die off sud- denly by an attack of a fungus near the root, which sends its ferment through the whole upper portion in precisely the same manner that fire blight does in trees. This seems to occur more frequently when the plants are about one or two years old. It would be very interesting to know whether any one who has a plant older than three years that has suffered. If it be a fact that the disease is entirely confined to these young plants, it would be encouraging to lovers of this fine flower to replant when one has died. There is scarcely anything more beautiful than this variety of Clematis, and many growers would not mind planting a few times, if they felt sure that after reaching a certain age the plant would have immunity. As with the Fire Blight, no sure preventive has yet been made known. SITUATIONS WANTED Advertisements under this head, not exceeding 50 words, rill be inserted once for 50 cents, or three times for $1.25. OARDENERS:— We shall be glad to furnish names of competent gardeners adapted to large or small places. Gardeners wishing situa- tions should correspond with us. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Nurserymen, Gerniantovvn, Philadelphia. GA R D E N E R — Situation wanted by a man thor- oughly experienced in all branches. Age 38, married, 2 small children. Excellent references. Address, J. W. B., care of Meehans' Monthlv GARDENER— Sitviation wanted as gardener and florist, by single, middle aged man. Thoroughly experienced in growing flowers, fruits and vegetables. For further information address ly. Beiderman, Huntsville, Ala. AS GARDENER, byamanof experience '^ and ability, will be disengaged ist of March next, thoroughly conversant with the management of a gentleman's country estate, unexceptional references for ability and personal character. Address, J. E. S. Box 103 Toms River, N. J. UEADGARDENE ^—Estate Manager-Sxi- ' ' uation wanted by a theoretical and practical gardener, 27 years experience in Landscape work, cultures under glass or out-doors, all branches of gardening. Best references irom Jirst-class places. Europe and U. S. February or later, " R. F.," Office, Meehans' Monthly. HEAD GARDENER— Position wanted on private place by practical Scotchman, 30 years old, married, no children, thorough experience in every branch. Highest reconiinendations. Ad- dress, W. A., care of Meehans' Monthly. GARDENER— Situation wanted on private place by Dane, single, 40 years old. Experi- enced in all branches. Highest references. Ad- dress G. R., care of Meehans' Monthly. Southern ^^1?* THE ONLY FLORAL MAGAZINE FOR THE SOUTHERN CLIMATE. ISSUED ON THE IST^OF EACH MONTH. iK« AA «4Ai» t^AJii* Ten cents additional to $L00 per XCar, pay postage on one, of our handsome floral premiums, which we give free of charge to each new subscriber. Liberal Cash Commissions to Agents. Advertising Rates on Application. PUBLISHED BY Tie SouHem Florist and Gardener Put). Co. klizabeth fry. Editor and M'g'r SAMPLE COPY FREE 336 \V. Gkekn St.. LOUISVILLK, KY. lyrEEHflns' JUOriTHbY Vol. VI The complete issue for i S96 can now be furnished handsomely bound in cloth, gilt edge, to match preceding vol umes. Price .... $2.50 Subscri])ers can return unbound parts for 1S96, and receive a bound copy in return for 65 cents. Missing numbers supplied at 20 cents each. Write your name and address on outside of parcel, but put no writing whatever in- side. We can also supply volumes i and 2, (bound together) for S3. 50; and ?2.5o for each of the succeeding volumes. Total, Si 3. 50 for the entire set. THomAS fDEEHAN & Sons PUBUISHBRS GERmAflTOWN, PHIUR. The I^o^e: It^ Cultivation, VaPietie^, etc. BY H. B. KLLVVANGER. Directions for cultivation, for planting, pruning, propaga- tiou, the treatment of diseases and insect enemies, particu- larly valuable for its classification, alphabetical and descrip- tive list of nine hundred and fifty-six varieties. Cloth, i6vo. Price, •1.25. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Germautown, Pa. 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A book of over 2.^ pages. Hundreds of illustrations and ^ix colored plates. I-uI of practical directions for the cultivation of flowering, "''"''"ic".'-*' and kitchen garden plants »l.aO Tlie Propagation of Plsmts. P.y .Andrew S Fuller. Illus- trated with numerous engravings. An eminently practical and usefi.l work. Describing the process of hybrun/ing an. 1 crossing species and varieties, and also ihe many oitTerent modes by which cultivated plants may be propagated and multiplied. C otti, i2mo «1.50 Elliott's Handlmok of Practical Landscape Gardeniiig. i;y F R Flii(.tt I tesigned tor city and suburban residences and country schoolhouses. containing Df signs tor Lots and < -j^""^';; from a lot juxioo feet to a 4oacre pianl. Ctotfi, .-vo .si.r>o FrnitH and Fruit Trees of America. On their . ulture, propa gation and management. With a description of all the finest vari- eties, native and foreign, cultivate.! in this couritry. l.y A .1. Downing S^-cond revision and correction, with large additions. It contains the names and synonyms of over 10,000 varieties, hy Charles Downing. Over 1100 pages, with several hundred out me engravings, including supplements J»a.ov Henderson's Handbook of Plant*. A concise and compre- hensive dictionary of plants, with instructions on propagation and culture. Cloth, large Svo •*'* Henderson's Practical Floricultnre. By Peter Henderson A guide to the successful propagation and cultivation ot "onsts plants The work is not one for florists and gardeners on^y. but the amateur's wants are constantly kept in mmd, anu we have a very complete treatise on the cultivation of flowers under glass, or in the open air, suited to those who grow flowers Kp'''^';'";;. " well as for those who make them a matter ot trade 1 he work is characterized by the same radical common sense that marked he author's -Gardening for Profit." and it ho ds a high pl..ce ,n the estimation of lovers of horticulture. Beautifully '>"^"f;;^,,^q!; and enlarged edition. Cloth, i2mo Price, »1..»«» Loncs Ornamental GardeninR for Americans. A Treat- ise on Beautifying Homes, Rural Districts and Cemeteries A plain and practical work at a moderate price, with n""^;;^;^ '^^ rations, and instructions so p ain that they may be "^'^^ V f°'- lowed. By Eiias A. Long, Landscape Architect. H>"'^JJ;;«;«^ Cloth, i2mo Parsons on the Rose. By Samuel B. Parsons. A treatise on the propagation, culture and history of the rose New and re- vised coition. In his work upon the roseNIr . I\^«"^ h«';.«f h; eredup the curious legends concerning the flower, and gives us an idea of the esteem in which it w.is held m former times. A simple garden classification has been adopted, and ^^e '"'?'."« v.irieties under each class enumerated and bnefiy described. I he chapters on multiplication, cultivation, and training are v,ry full, and the work is altogether one of the most complete befc^e the public. Illustrated. Cloth, ismo •!.« w THONIAS MEEHAN Sl SONS, Cermantown, Philadelphia. WHir^'^ITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. F=L_OiA£ER POXS— STKNDKRD * You will make a mistake if you place your order for Flower Pots without first receiving our estimate for the same. Our plant is now the largest in the WORLD. STOCK UNLIMITKD. GOODS UN EQUALED fl. H. HHWS 6t CO., ^'^oFth Cambridge, JVIass. Garden and Gardens • • • A Horticultural Magazine laii^ely ticvoted to omlinc plans and descriptions of sonic ol the best gardens in America. Kach number has for its leading article an account of some one of these gardens with detailed descriptions of the trees and plants in use and their adaptability for group- ing for best effects, so that taken as a whole it covers all departments of horticulture. : : : The first twelve nuniber5 treat of Newport Villa grounds in which some of tiie best gardening in America undoubtedly appears as arranged by some of our most eminent landscape architects. The writer has seen most of these villas planted and has watched their progress from the begin- ning, noting successes and failures alike. 'I'hese 12 mimbers will constitute a valuable contribution to horticulture, in a bound volume, for which they are especially prepared. Numerous other articles appear in each issue. :::::: The work is printed on heavy paper and in large type, and illustrated with full page " half-tones " of the best class, ::::::: Subscriptions $2.00 for the first 12 numbers. Single Copies, twenty cents. Address, : : Newport, R. I. LUCIUS D. DAVIS Editor and Publisher Good Housekeeping Chief Corner Stone Of Good Homes - - for the maintenance of Happiness, Peace and Contentment, where the Wife and Mother, the Husband and Father reign su- preme, and rule by means of the law of love ; where one is the Mother at Home in the best sense of the word, and the other sways the scepter of righteousness forming lives well worth the living. " However happy a home may be, il will be made happier by the presence of (iood Housekeeping." —Atlanta (Ga.) Southern Cultivator. With a view of making all Homes happy, the December, 1896, number of (>ood Housekeeping will give a carefully prepared paper on "The Model Wife," by Rev. Henry Tuckley, D. D., ami for January, 1897. one on " The Model Husband." The first of a novel series of papers on "(jood Cooking," ap- peared in the November issue of Good Housekeeping, being the experience of the Woman who Cooked and Went to Market, and the Man who Ate and Paid the Hills— worthy the attention of every home dweller in Christendom. Two papers will be given during the year 1897 on First, " The Woes of a Nervous Man at Home," by a Woman of Nerve. Second, " The Woes of a Nervous Wonran at Home," by a Man without Nerve. " The Woman with liundles," will also have a hearing in due time. As will a Scriptural Discussion of the, as yet, unsettledproblem of " How Poor Was Job's Turkey?" On all new subscriptions for 1897, copies of Good Housekeeping for November and December, 1896, will be sent free of charge. CLARK W. BRYAN CO., Publishers SPRINGFIELD, MASS. JAPANESE MAPLES • • • CHINESE MAGNOLIAS • . NEW LORD PENZANCE'S HYBRID SWEET BRIAR ROSES New Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue for fall planting is now ready. It will be of .Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Evergreens mailed for four cents in stamps. It is the ~~" ' most complete catalogue of its kind ever issued. Contains prices of large and small trees, specimens for immediate effect, and special prices for quantities. It is a practical Guide to Tree Planting. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Station " G." NURSERYMEN AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. mm & BURNHA ARCHITECTS PlMW ■«< BkamMM tnnibbad on kppUoMloa Largest Bollder* ol OM.nhouM Stmoturtt. Six HiglMSt Awards at th* Wsrld's Fair a«nd four cents poMage for illnstrated cat&lugae Il.OR/33 &c 13TJT^Tle Garden, Insects and Other Pests, Mushrooms, fuad.others in season. See what subscribers say ftbo^t this valuable journal. "For coiwtensed cotnmou sense in gardeuinK matters, for reUable. tmprcjodiced and safe iiiformation Gardbnimg ^ttot be airpaseed, and although moderate io size it ex- pinds aporLperuaal." W. C Koan, Highland Park. Ill "GA»DBmNO \s the best horUcultural Paper prioted iu As^TicA." Chas L. burr, Springfield, Maas. •'1 ant ««aUy pleaaed with the paper. It is practical and * !^^^^^^,,^j^Q„ jrfplj^tOjirraphicviewg of plants, i^«o.i«iHiw«i^ it. u. Ju will make a mistake il you })lacc ycnir order for Mower I'ots without lir>t receiving; our estimate lor the same. Our plaut is now the larL;est iu the WORM). ^TOCMv INI.IMI l'i:i). i;ai.i:i) A. H. HEWS (& CO., jMorth Cambridge, JVIass. Garden and Gardens • • • A horticiilturul Alaj^^a/ine ' M I I i I 1 1 1 ) t i , 1 I 1 - . I 1 1 I . , i 1 . 1 ! I . 11 c t t i : • ' ■ • ~ ' ■ ■ ' 111 .\ ii: ■ ; 1,^1..;, !.!i ill li- , i : : '■ " i ii^ ,1 I 1 ,1 il ;iii .11 I ■ '.111 I .) .1 II"' it • ■ ji ' I • ••n-- Willi (I't.iii' li li' -,:i j.! 1. Ill - III : . ; i . ■ iH'i |i!.ilit^ ,11 ii-,r .iiu! tin n ,i( !.. ji; .il li 1 n \ Im ■_;i .,i|i. ■11.^ ti'l \n-'[ I'lliil-, ,1 tii.it l.ii.cii ,- ,, ui,.i!. i! •■"Vi.r^ .ill ili-p.ii I ineiii - i.f" limiH uliuu : rile first twelve numbers :. n .i Wwi-hi \ ill. I ukpUDiI-. :ii wliii ji -Line ol 111'- Id -' ^.i 1 1 ii-ii i liu; 111 Aiiici ic.i iin>!<)iil)tiiih. .iiijii-.ii- .1-. It i.tiiLi' li i'\' ""'11' ''i "111 iiiii^t - t"i in idi If^tii- nii^ , iiDilu- sm.Cf>>tj- .111(1 i".i!;uic- ..lil..' 1 hc-c I.' iiuiiiin'is will t;i .ii-iiii-.tf .1 v.dii.ilili' 1 uiitriiiKtioii t'l In iiM Miih 111 c. III 1 Ixjiiml vuliiinc. fm wliirli tin \ .Uf • -pec Lilly pi'p.iif'ii. \ mill' K.I iN (.tlici- aitii Irs il>p<-.ii ill ( .nil i>vii.-, ;;.::: The work is printed <>\\ iu ..\ v p.ip. i.tmi in i.nuf t\-p'-. .iini illii~.ti.ii( li u nil till! ji.i^r " li.iil-ioiu's ■' I i| I )l'' It'-st rl.i -s-^ . ; ; ; ; Subscriptions $2.00 t.u lii«- liist 1.. intm: .•: '^ ii_;l'' ( 'nj-n,'-, t wmly 1 i-nt-. A'i' i 1 <'-^ , Newport, R. I. LUCIUS D. DAVIS bditor and Publisher Good Housekeeping Chief Corner Sfone Of Good Homes - - tiir ill',- Ui.iini'.-iMiii'f "1 H.ippilies-. I'r.i.r .aii'; < jUl' : ■:•.:, wIk.ti' ill'- Wile .iiiii Motln-r, til'- 11 iisiri in i ;i ml F.d iiet r'-iyii ->ii- |>t 'inc. .1 ml nil'i liy m''.'Ui-< nf tin* l:i\v nf 1 iv«- ; wIvt'- our :■» llii* M"lli'T .it lloim 111 the be^t S'-nse ol tin wonl.-ind tli«' "iIkt -w.ivs tin- sC'-pli-i -t" I ii;litt;"U-m--s> fDriiiiiiL: live^ well uorth lin.- liviii-. " lli'wevor li.tppy ;< liniin' iii.iy be. il will be iii;ui'' happi'-r by I iic pi ('s(-ii(;c ul ( iiMxl I Ji .n-vt,*l;eepin^." -Atlanta ida^ Southt')n CuHiiator. \\ nil .1 \\v\\ 111 iii.il.iii^ .(II Homo imj'py, tin- 1 »' cciiilx'i , icy'>, lUiiiilwM of (ioo'l i loii-x-k'ccpinj; will .L;iv«- a carefully ]iri'partHl piptji on "111..- M.mU-I Wif^,'" i>y K,-v. H'-my Tuokley, D. D., ami for J.miiary, \'^>t~, on<- on " 'I'lu' .Morit.-i Ffuslj.uid " J'Ih' Inst i.t a iiovtl ^♦'li'-s of p.tpers mi "(iooil Cookiii;.;." ap- pr.tred in tin- No\-i-niliei i^siic ot (ionil Hnii-rkcfpiii;.;, b'-ni:4 tlip fxperifiicc ot Un- Wuman wlio t'ookcil ami Went to M.tik't, .tiid tin; M.ni wlio At'- .iml I', ml tin- Kills —w ortliv tin- .itteiit i- 01 of cvrrv 111. Ill'- ilwelU-r in t iiiistem.loin I \\ o p.ipcis will il'- iiiveii (inrin;^ tlie year 18.^7011 l:i'^t, '■ I In- \\ oi-s ol .1 \rr\..iis .M.m at JIoiiic," bv ,( Worn m (.1 N<-i\-i-. Scianni. '■ I in- Wis .f .t .W-ivoii- Woiir.iii .it Jloim." by a M an witlioiit Nerve " 'I'lie Woiii.di witb r.iiiKilc-^," will ai^oli.ixea be.iiing in due tiiiic. \-. w\\ ,1 ^( liii-ii.il I >i-cti'~--ioi! of tlie. .Is yet, iiiisellledpi oIm'MU ot "llow I'ooi \\ .IS lolls I'm key '.' ' <.>ii .ill !)i\v '-iil)script iiiii- ti.r iS)7, Copn s of ( lood IIon>ekeepi 114 ' 1 .\ii\ ciiiix-i and I Li eiiil)er, i^'i'', will lie sent free of ciiar;.;!-. CLARK W. BRYAN CO., Publishers SPRINGFIELD, MASS. JAPANESE MAPLES • • • CHINESE MAGNOLIAS . . NEW LORD PENZANCE'S HYBRID SWEET BRIAR ROSES New Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue for fall j^lantin^ is now ready. It will be of, Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Evergreens ^ii^'^i^^'^^ ''<>^' four cents in stamps. It is the ~~~ — — most complete catalogue of its kind ever issued. Contains prices of lar^e and small trees, specimens for immediate effect, and special prices for quantities. It is a practical Guide to Tree Planting. THOMAS MEHHAN & SONS Statit)ii '• G." nurserymp:n and landscape engineers Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE LORD & BURNHAM CO. HORTICULTURAL ARCHITECTS AND BUILD STEAM AND HOT WATER HEATING ENGINEERS Plaus and Esliiuates luruklied on aiiplicatlon IK |-W« Si* -r'— '<^2, Largest Builders of Greenhouse Structures. Six Highest Awards at the World's Fair ttend four cents posiajje for illustrated caUloRue AKCHITECTUK.^L OFFICK, IGO FIFTH AVE., COR. *4l»t STREET, NEW YORK. Factory: Irvington-on-Hu»-'-f ,^*'t T>. UiUUUilkiUIUIiUtilllMMttiiNUe UL.IAM.;AKVM506-iMiJi*ii«.ll.il.**i*i Indispensable to all who love gardens or the literature of gardens ; to all who own country places or take pleasure iu rural scenery ; to all who desire a broader knowledge of trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers. Garden and Forkst stands for the protection of our forests, the pre- servation of natural beauty, for a jnirer taste in the design and decorati(Mi of public and private grounds, and is uni- versallv pronounced the best horticultur- al journal ever published* for Americans. "Wise, intelligent, entertaining.'— //a»/<'ri Weekly. ** Rich variety of remarkable engravings."— iV. Y. Poit. " Winning, delightful and accurate."— A'. Y. Tribune. " A compendium of new information."— A'. }'. Heraid. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. WEEKLY. $4.00 A YEAR. Specimen copy free on application. Gardea and Forest PnblisWng Co. "^"Rrw vo'Si""' WHEN WBITIW6 T0APVERTISEB8. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR CARD IN MEEHANS' MONTHLY. HITCHINGS 5 CO. ESTABLISHED 60 YEARS HOflTICULTURflL flRGHITECTS AND BUILDERS M..'uf»3!.f Greenhouse Heating and Ventilating Apparatus SEND FOUR CENTS FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES. The highest awards re- ceived at the World's Fair for Horticultural Architec- ture, Greenhouse Constmo- tion and Heating Appar- atus. Conservatories, Green- houses, Palmhouses, etc., erected complete with our Patent Iron Frame Con- struction. 233 TW^ERCER STREET, NBM YORK CITY Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, Vines and Hardy Plants = = Our stock is one of the finest in the United States. Strong, thrifty, well- rooted and carefully selected to please our customers. New Catalogue for J . . Fall, 1896. Everything accurately de- scribed and It IS also profusely illustrated. Large buyers will be particularly interested in this cata- logue. It will be mailed free upon application. .* Landscape Engineering. Plans prepared and carefully carried out for grading, roadmaking, planting and remodel- ing old places. Special arrangements made when extensive work is contemplated. Correspondence solicited. THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS Nurserymen and Landscape Engineers GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA. EDWARD CAMPBE L/lNbSC/1PE /IRCniTECT AND ENQINCER ARDMORE, - PA. Sketch plans and planting maps prepared, and suggestions given for the laying out and improvement of country and suburban residences, public parks and grounds of every description. Grounds laid out and their construction undertaken by contract or day labor, and carried out under strict personal supervision. The choice grouping and effective arrangement of trees and shrubs has been made a special study. Trees furnished and planted by experienced workmen. Draining Plans and Surveys. Fine Crushed Stone for Walks and Carriage Drives. H AROY ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, EVER-Ti..i...ti,».nui».rt.»t.fH.rd,or... GREENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. iZX'rd:J?r,;:"'~J<:;.er^p!S^ tion. Plani and estimates fbrnished. Send your list of needs for special rates. THE REAPING NURSERY, JACOB W. MANNING, Proprietor, READING, MASS. Modern Horticultural Building. Elegant Conservatories, Practical Commercial Houses, and all Classes of Greenhouse Structures Planned and Erected. ■ We build of all Iron, all Wood, or a modification of either, as desired. Steel or Cypress Sash Bars for Butted Qlass ®^^i?*i.**^*^P**®^ S!F'' S' T^***> "'■ without put y. latest methods of Ventilation, Steam and Hot-Water Hcatinir. Iron and Slate. Iron and 1 ile, or all Wood Staging. Contracts taken for Completed Structure. Materials furnished to Builders. Expert adTice at Residence, or Catalogues on application. 4^ Don't fail to get our Plans and Prices. PLENTY'S HORTICULTURAL WORKS, 148156 Randolph Ave., Jersey City, N. J. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION MEEHANS' MONTHLY. "SWHPS!!?' f ■•» t,*!^".'^ fi" ». -lit' f.>' ,*.u. 'ii-sC' •.«s,i» :r.ri ■'A *r, -^k. ^^ - ii