MUusSOURI IBOTANICAL GARDEN JBULLETIN VOLUME XX WITH 49 PLATES r93:2 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI PUBLISHED MONTHLY EXCEPT JULY AND AUGUST, BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR SINGLE NUMBER TEN CENTS Missour) Bes,. GARDEN Li ~ Missouri BoTANICAL GARDEN JBULLETIN Vol. XX JANUARY, 1932 No. 1 SY pe eg CTS + CONTENTS Page Forty-third Annual Report of the Director . . . . . 1 Statistical Information. ~ 3) oes SR ae = 36 Floral Displays of Special Interest in 1932 _ ST. LOUIS, MO. 1932 Published Monthly, Except July and August, by the Board of Trustees Ae SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR SINGLE COPIES TEN CENTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS WERE DESIGNATED IN MR. SHAW’S WILL AND THE BOARD SO CONSTITUTED, EXCLUSIVE OF THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, IS SELF-PERPETUATING President GEORGE C. HITCHCOCK Vice-President SAMUEL C.. DAVIS Second Vice-President DANIEL K. CATLIN L. Ray CARTER ALBERT T. PERKINS THOMAS S, MAFFITT ETHAN A. H. SHEPLEY GEORGE T. MOORE FRED G. ZEIBIG EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS GEORGE R. THROOP, VicToR J. MILLER, Chancellor of Washington University, Mayor of the City of St. Louis FREDERICK F. JOHNSON, ALFRED F, SATTERTHWAIT, Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri President of The Academy of Science 2 of St. Louis RICHARD MURPHY President of the Board of Education of St. Louis DANIEL BRECK, Secretary NYMPHAEA “Mrs, “St... EAU G. H. Pring”’ x N. Siuhlmannti ALY 1 I Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin Vol. XX JANUARY, 1932 No. 1 FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit herewith the forty-third an- nual report of the Director: In an address before the Missouri Historical Society on “Henry Shaw and his Garden” reference was made to the relation of Peter Collinson and Linnaeus to Mill Hill School, Mr. Shaw’s alma mater. It was suggested that, contrary to the generally accepted idea that the Chatsworth garden, in Derbyshire, England, the estate of the Duke of Devonshire, furnished the inspiration for the Missouri Botanical Garden, unconsciously Henry Shaw as a boy of sixteen had fallen under the spell of Collinson’s trees and garden and later in life, when he could afford it, made real this early dream. It must be admitted that there was no evidence for such a statement. It was simply another way of accounting for Mr. Shaw’s love for plants, and particularly for his scientific interest in a subject which was as notable as it was unusual. Now comes corroboration in an unexpected way. The fol- lowing quotations from an old book which has just been re- ceived at the Garden library would indicate that others had the same idea: “While at school he (Henry Shaw) took a great interest in gardening, and, in after years, was wont to tell of the de- (1) 2 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN light with which he used to gaze on the cedars and other famous trees, and to cultivate his own tiny plot.” (page 49*). “He used to trace his interest in botany to the sight of the Linnaean cedars at Mill Hill.” (page 309*). “He entered the school in 1815, and acquired there a taste for botany, which in after-life he used to trace to the mag- nificent trees he saw in the school grounds.” (page 345*). The authority for these statements is not given. Perhaps it is taken for granted that under the given conditions the effect could not have been otherwise. In any case, the thought that the influence of Linnaeus and Collinson mani- fested itself through Henry Shaw in the creating of a botan- ical garden in the new world is one which might very well be cherished, Certainly it emphasizes the fact that the Mis- souri Botanical Garden was founded as a scientific institution and not merely as a pleasant park for recreation. The bust of Linnaeus, flanked by those of Asa Gray and Nuttall, all botanists of the first rank, which Mr. Shaw had placed over the doorway of one of the greenhouses, gives additional evi- dence of this fact. Nor should be forgotten the little obelisk which stands at the entrance to the “Library and Museum” building, on which Mr. Shaw had cut the following inscrip- tion: IN HONOUR OF AMERICAN SCIENCE TO THE MEMORY OF THOMAS NUTTALL BORN IN ENGLAND, 1786, AND DIED SEPT., 1859. HONOUR TO HIM THE ZEALOUS AND SUCCESSFUL NATURALIST THE FATHER OF WESTERN AMERICAN BOTANY, THE WORTHY COMPEER OF BARTON, MICHAUX, HOOKER, TORREY, GRAY, AND ENGELMANN * James, Norman G. B., The history of Mill Hill School. 2 I 4 PLAT. 32 20, 19 VOL. BULL., Mo. Bot. GARD. LOST YELLOW LILY (NYMPHAEA STUHLMANNII) Photographed August, 1930 IRIS GARDEN "ITN “GUVY) “LOG ‘OTY “IOA aALVId e « MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 3 At some future time, when it is hoped the citizens of St. Louis will manifest in tangible form their appreciation of one of the city’s greatest benefactors, instead of merely col- lecting taxes from his estate, perhaps the epitaph, spoken by Mark Antony and composed by one whom Mr. Shaw him- self honored with a statue in Tower Grove Park, might well be incorporated in a memorial to Henry Shaw :* “Moreover he hath left you all his walks, His private arbors and new planted orchards, hath left them you, And to your heirs forever, common pleasures, To walk abroad and recreate yourselves. Here was a Caesar, when comes such another?” In the forty-second report reference was made to the suc- cessful culmination of a long search for the “lost yellow lily,” Nymphaea Stuhlmannit. The work of hybridizing this species with various other tropical lilies grown at the Garden is still incomplete. Additional crosses were made during this last season, and the progeny of the second generation is still to be obtained. One hybrid, however, has proved to be worthy of the name given it, namely, “St. Louis.” This plant, the result of a cross between NV. Stuhlmannii and N. “Mrs. George H. Pring,” has produced blossoms of a pale yellow color far superior in size and shape to the original wild species. More- over, it is a freer bloomer and much easier to propagate than N, Stuhlmann. Thus the Garden was not only the first to cultivate the African yellow lily but likewise has produced the first hybrid of any value using N. Stuhlmannii as one of the parents. In Nymphaea “St. Louis” there has been created at the Garden another notable tropical lily worthy to take its place among the hybrid lilies previously orig- inated here. Early in the year Governor-General Dwight F. Davis of- fered to present to the Garden a collection of Philippine orchids. The necessary permit having been obtained from the Department of Agriculture, a shipment was made which reached the Garden in July. About 250 plants were re- ceived, many of which were new to the Garden collection * Julius Caesar. Act III, Scene ii. 4 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN and several so rare that they are owned by but few growers. The plants supplement most admirably the Philippine or- chids already possessed by the Garden, and sincerest thanks are due Mr. Davis for the effort he made to secure this collec- tion and for his generous gift. Early in the year a request was received from the Council of the St. Louis Horticultural Society for the Garden to fur- nish it office facilities. This society, organized four years previously, had maintained an office downtown, but it was believed that it would be benefited by transferring to the Garden. It has always been the policy of the Garden to en- courage the Horticultural Society in any way possible, and since the south room in the recently renovated museum building was not occupied, space in this room was loaned to the Society and the Secretary is now installed there. The spring flower show and the annual dahlia show, formerly held downtown, conducted under the auspices of this So- ciety, were both staged in the floral display house at the Garden this year. For the past four years there has been offered at the Garden a course for amateurs on various gardening subjects. From year to year the number registering for this course has gradually increased, but it was something of a surprise when more than 150 persons desired to take the course in 1931. This evidence of the awakening of interest in gardening in St. Louis makes it desirable that, in so far as possible, increas- ing opportunities be afforded for instruction along gardening lines at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The PRoceEDINGS OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE THREE HunpreptH ANNIVERSARY OF THE First RecoGnizep USE or Cincnona, held in 1930, were published in March of this year. That the papers presented on this occasion were well worth printing is perhaps best indicated by the following quotation from a review of the Proceedings, written by Pro- fessor H. H. Rusby, which appeared in the November num- ber of the “Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Associa- tion”: “This is a botanical work of a very unusual character and of a high order. To bring together in one volume a sum- Mo. Bot. GARD. BULL., VOL. 20, 1932 PLATE 4 SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS IN MAIN GARDEN koh aap er ae wat CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW, 1931, LOOKING TOWARD BALCONY “IOA CITA “GNVE) “LOE “OOTY TL ‘0% MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 5 mary of the taxonomic labors of so many eminent botanists as have written on cinchona, including extensive field ob- servations as well as herbarium studies, to follow with a de- tailed history of the behavior of plants under cultivation in foreign countries, to discuss the pharmacognosy of their products, their chemical constituents and the variation of these in the several species and under varying treatment, their relation to human disease and their economic history was an undertaking as wisely conceived as it has been suc- cessfully executed. The result of this series of contributions is to supply a volume of monumental importance, and one that will serve as a storehouse of information for all time.” Mention should be made of the valuable contributions both to the herbarium and the collection of living plants made by Dr. Kerbosch, of Java, and Mr. Besant, of the Glasgow Botanic Garden. These gentlemen, who were in attendance at the cinchona celebration, made careful notes while here of material they would be able to supply. Upon their return home they were untiring in their efforts to secure and for- ward to the Garden valuable specimens which could not have been obtained otherwise. On December 27 the Garden kept “open house” to bot- anists on their way to attend the meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at New Orleans. Guides were available to conduct visitors through the grounds and greenhouses, and the library and herbarium were open to those who wished to avail themselves of the opportunity of examining books and specimens. The occasion was made notable by the celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Julius Sachs, the famous German plant physi- ologist. After luncheon, served in the administration build- ing, the party adjourned to the museum auditorium, where the following program was presented: “Plant Physiology as Sachs Found It’”............. Dr. Ernest S. Reynolds, Washington University “The Contributions of Sachs to Plant Physiology”... Dr. Charles F. Hottes, University of Illinois “Progress in Plant Physiology since Sachs”.......... Dr. D. T. MacDougal, Carnegie Institution 6 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN These papers will appear in a forthcoming number of the ANNALS. Perhaps no better evidence of the standing of the Missouri Botanical Garden in the scientific and amateur world can be found than in the notice given it in newspapers, maga- zines, and similar publications. Aside from the local press, which has always been most generous in the publicity given the Garden, hardly a week goes by without receiving clip- pings from newspapers in various parts of the country call- ing attention to some aspect of the work being conducted here. The BuLLerin articles are largely reprinted, and special occasions, such as the celebration of the tercentenary of the first recognized use of cinchona and the one-hun- dredth anniversary of the birth of Julius Sachs, received lengthy notice. Below are listed some of the better-known magazines which, during 1931, have published reprints from the BULLETIN or given more than a passing reference to the Garden. The range of subjects covered is best indicated by the character of the periodical cited. International Medical Age Orchid Review Florists’ Review Horticulture Illustrated Merck’s Report Science News Letter Park and Cemetery Southern Florist Flower Grower Journal of American Phar- Florists’ Exchange mtaceutical Association Literary Digest Garden Club Exchange Tropical Life Science School and Community Horticulture European Representative—Mr. Gurney Wilson, F.L.S., Editor of the “Orchid Review” and European representative of the Garden, has been most successful during the past vear in obtaining long-desired books and pamphlets for the library, as well as seeds and other material for the Garden. His activity in securing old seed catalogues is rapidly plac- ing the Garden library, ahead of any other in the country in this particular field. It might not be supposed that these old catalogues would be of any value, but they frequently con- tain information as to the origin or history of a plant which ‘cannot be found elsewhere. Of particular interest was a complete set of Veitch’s catalogues, including the general cat- 6 PLATE 0, 1932 VOL, 2 BULL:, Mo. Bor. Garb. VIEW OF 1931 CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW FROM BALCONY CHRYSANTHEMUMS CASCADE 1931 DISPLAY MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 7 alogue for 1873 and 1874, containing valuable notations. There was also a copy of Peter Lawson & Sons’ “List of Seeds and Plants” for 1855, Indoor Floral Display.—The three new propagating houses for the city Garden, begun in 1930, were completed, as well -as the addition of three growing houses to the orchid range at Gray Summit. Two additional tanks to take care of the increasing number of water-lily seedlings were built in the propagating range. An artistic fountain was installed in the pool at the south end of the floral display house which greatly increases the attractiveness of the approach to the flower shows. Something quite new at the Garden was the erection of a wire fence bordering the walk in the succulent house. Smaller cacti and other succulents were disappearing so rapidly from this range that this protection was given in the hope that it would dissuade visitors from appropriating these plants. Unfortunately, this method was not successful, and it became necessary later in the year to close the house, open- ing it only on special occasions or to enable those particu- larly interested in the collection to view it. The reputation of the Garden for staging attractive dis- plays of blooming plants throughout the fall, winter, and spring months has become so well established that not only are the shows attended by visitors from St. Louis and imme- diate vicinity, but many now motor long distances in order to see them. While the material used is necessarily much the same from year to year, an effort is made to vary the arrangement as much as possible, and of recent years the accessories and settings of the shows have proved to be as important as the plants themselves. Early in January the Christmas poinsettia show was re- moved and by the middle of the month the orchids were on display. Because of the inclusion of the seedling exhibit which was shown at Washington, D. C., the previous autumn, and certain other special features, all previous records for attendance were broken. With the exception of the chrysanthemums, the orchid show has come to be the most popular indoor floral display at the Garden. In March 8 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN three separate shows were staged: the first consisting of tulips, hyacinths, and other spring flowers. This gave place to the annual show of the St. Louis Flower Show Associa- tion, in many respects the best exhibition ever attempted by the Association. Not only the quantity and variety, but the quality of the cut flowers was superior to any previous show and reflected great credit on the local growers, The cup offered by the Garden was finally won by Fess Witek, he having received the highest number of points at three of the Association’s shows. That the public appreciated the efforts of the florists was manifested by the attendance, over 20,000 coming to the Garden on Sunday, March 21, the last day of the show. In this connection, the following letter from the Secretary of the Association indicates the apprecia- tion of the St. Louis florists of the privilege of having the facilities of the Garden always at their disposal, and the cor- dial relationship existing between the growers and the Garden: “The St. Louis Flower Show Association and the St. Louis Florists’ Club wish to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Missouri Botanical Garden for the sincere co- operation given us in the recent flower show held at the Garden. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate above the florists of other cities in having such an ideal place in which to give our shows. There is constantly growing a closer relationship between the Garden and the florists of this city, which is as it should be. May we hope for the continuous growth in pop- ularity of these flower shows and for your continued good will and codperation which make it a pleasure to those exhibiting.” Immediately following the Association’s flower show a fine display of azaleas and cinerarias was installed. The floral display for April was unusually attractive, consisting of rare color combinations achieved by a mixture of bloom- ing plants forced for the purpose. Three distinct floral dis- plays were staged during May and the early part of June, with the St. Louis Horticultural Society holding its show at the Garden the last of May. During ne summer the per- manent showing of fancy-leaved caladiums was made in the floral display house. This was not removed until the installa- tion of the chrysanthemums in November. This show still attracts the greatest number of visitors. With the aid of MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 9 hanging baskets and cascade chrysanthemums, stone lan- terns, tori gates, and other special features, all combined in a Japanese setting, it was one of the most pleasing arrange- ments that has been devised. The chrysanthemums were followed by the regular Christmas display of poinsettia, narcissus, ete. Outdoor Planting—Display Gardens.—One of the finest collections of tulips ever shown at the Garden, brought to St. Louis through the efforts of the Holland Bulb Exporters’ Association of Haarlem, afforded the visitor an opportunity of seeing some of the newest plants in all of the different classes. As favorable weather conditions prevailed during late April and early May, the tulip season extended over a long period and gradually merged into the season of the iris, the next important flower to claim the attention of the visit- ing public. Most of the clumps in the American Iris So- ciety test garden, which is maintained at the Garden, have reached their maximum size and each clump carried many stalks of flowers. While there are more than one thousand varieties in this collection, many of them are so similar or can no longer be obtained from the iris specialists that it seems desirable in future plantings of this sort that the American Iris Society’s 1931 “Diseard List” should be closely followed. As the winter was very mild, the climbing roses lost prac- tically no wood and the display was unusually good. Va- rieties that are partly frozen in some winters bloomed as profusely as the hardier sorts. Unusually good varieties noted were “Star of Persia,” “Albertine,” “Jacotte,” “Mary Wallace,” ‘Roserie,” “Silver Moon,” and “Aviateur Bleriot.” Contrary to expectations after a mild winter, the bush roses were not as good as the climbers. As a considerable portion of the rose garden is devoted to hybrid perpetuals and most of the beds were remade, many of these roses had to be reset. This checked their growth to some extent, and the apparent ravages of the brown canker disease also reduced the num- ber of flowers considerably. The spring display of flowers in the Linnaean garden was composed of hyacinths, tulips, and irises. The hyacinth and 10 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN tulip borders surrounding the groups of irises were planted with various annuals. The new pink zinnia “Exquisite,” planted against Salvia farinacea, was one of the pleasing color combinations. Another good effect was produced with this same ‘““Mealycup Sage” by planting it between a large number of gladioli of the variety “Alice Tiplady.” For a misty blue color effect in the garden and continuous bloom during the summer, there is nothing to equal this blue salvia. The Lilliput zinnias, which have become so popular in the last two years, are to be recommended for their charm and brilliant colors. The Italian garden contained its usual display of bedding and flowering plants surrounded by the closely cropped Cali- fornia privet hedge. ‘ The main garden was planted with a number of varieties of Darwin tulips, followed by the summer bedding plants. The circular beds contained bronze castor beans, and the rectangular beds pink petunias, blue ageratum, and point plants of standard Lantana delicatissima. The summer bed- ding plants were removed during the last week in Septem- ber and replaced with varieties of hardy chrysanthemums which had been grown in the field for that purpose. The best varieties in this planting were “September Queen” (white), “Normandie” (white), “Yellow Normandie,” and “Glada” (pink). All of these bloomed before the middle of October, a point to be remembered in selecting varieties can be relied upon to bloom before severe frosts blacken them. The knolls were attractive at different periods during the spring and summer when the various groups of plants came into bloom. Some years ago these knolls were planted with large groups of native plants, but as these have served their purpose they are gradually being replaced with groups of herbaceous perennials and annuals to extend the period of bloom over the entire season. Outdoor Planting—Trees and Shrubs.—The fertilizing experiments on trees, begun in 1928, were continued despite the abnormally dry year. The lack of moisture seriously interfered with these tests, making measurements of little MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 11 value. However, the dry season has shown that the feed- ing of trees can be made to take the place to some extent of an adequate water supply, judging by the rate of growth. The walnut orchard, which was fertilized for the third con- secutive year with a crop of weeds plowed under in spring and fall, distinctly manifested the effects of fertilizers. The average twig growth was over 14 inches, while the leaves were retained until a light freeze in November. In the fall of 1930 no moisture was observable in the soil to a depth of 13 feet. The winter and spring rains of 1931 reached a depth of only 42 inches, and this was quickly used by grass, shrubs, and trees. Many trees consequently suf- fered greatly, shedding leaves all summer long, except when fertilized. In July an effort was made to measure the effi- ciency of watering trees with a hose and sprinkler. Under a large maple, in a 40-foot circle, water was left, running for seven days and nights, delivering in this time 5,500 gal- lons of water. Fully 50 per cent evaporated, but the remain- ing water moistened the soil to a depth of 49 inches. This was sufficient for trees in this locality. The method, despite the great waste, would be satisfactory if the water were left running continuously for a week or more. It was necessary to use 750 gallons of arsenate of lead spray to control leaf-feeding insects. An additional 1,400 gallons of contact spray were used outside, and 225 gallons in the display house. This is the first attempt to use the power sprayer indoors. Delayed dormant spraying of trees and shrubs required 8,550 gallons of oil spray. Nearly six months’ time was devoted to the pruning of trees and large shrubs in the Garden proper. A few cables were installed. Only one tree received cavity work. This, a small maple at the main gate, showed callus forming five days after the completion of the operation. Rather exten- sive experiments are now under way, which it is hoped will shed some light on two mueh-disputed subjects—the time of pruning and type of wound dressing. Propagation of the choicer varieties of trees and shrubs was begun in January. About 3,000 cuttings were made. When rooted some of these were sent to the Gray Summit 12 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN nursery and a few were kept in St. Louis. A total of 1,285 trees and shrubs (68 varieties), many of them new to St. Louis, were brought in from Gray Summit. A “specimen” garden for the growing of newer introductions was set aside in the north half of the economic garden. The area west of the palm house and extending along Alfred Avenue was planted to a variety of trees, this section having been pre- viously plowed for the purpose. A number of ‘“weed’’ trees (willow and cottonwood) were removed to make room for these new plants. Many new drains were laid and broken catch-basins re- placed. A new cold-process asphalt was used for patching roadways and for the installation of a new four-foot walk at the south end of the economic garden as well as the resur- facing of a walk in the Linnaean garden. An old spray pump was used for the purpose, which handled 350 gallons during the season with comparative ease. Mushroom soil was placed over all lawns in the main garden, with the result that they remained green except for a short period during the entire summer. About 22,300 square feet of bent grass sod was used in the Garden, most of it around the lily pools. The same area was rebroadcast with bent stolons in the nursery. The occasion for this unusual amount of sodding was the appearance of a brand-new pest related to the June bug larvae. The rapid browning of the bent grass was at first ascribed to drought. When repeated waterings failed to revive it, investigation showed that the larvae of a beetle were present by the thousands in the soil and had eaten off the roots of the grass so completely that it died. This same pest appeared in a few of the beds in the Italian garden, but the greatest damage was to the bent grass lawn between the main gate and the palm house. While it is believed that methods have been devised which will pre- vent the appearance of the larvae in the future, it is impos- sible to say how successful these have been until another season has passed. MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 13 ATTENDANCE FOR THE YEAR 1931 (Recording turnstile count) Week-days Sundays PANUREY eee re es AS is cxen d 15,054 12,334 MPOUTUOLY age oe ee ee YA ee a eS ey aKa 9,508 13,777 1 el shake a a> ne a 13,599 28,958 otis i Soe Dale hed hare ee Lew 17,330 16,542 ey ey a Guha e A Os RNR eS 20,705 28,416 SUIT MPN Pe Newitern dence hey a) ssauaPnctray sie 17,538 9,674 ee eas nak ks be be weer ek ek 6 17,607 8,915 PB A e's hese ie OSTA Sas a OR 24,691 13,816 PODUCINUOE Soe n sida See ab ee ee boa bs oe 8 16,914 13,713 LODO is eS KAA SESS OES 26,934 18,665 MR TE Pe re otc ist Vxae gate iePa wh s 26,638 31,386 RPO OO Ee ete Gach eda ean ve te 9,077 9,788 215,595 200,984 215,595 POW Pilih ci cou wu keutaeeay cswdud wee cee weer 416,579 Gray Summit Extension.—The completion of three addi- tional greenhouses begun in 1930 has made it possible to segregate the orchids, greatly to the advantage of cool-loving plants. The passageway at the head of this range has been fitted up as a display house, and the blooming plants are accumulated here prior to being brought into the city. Asa consequence, there is now maintained at Gray Summit an orchid display which at times rivals the one in town. During the past year there have bloomed at Gray Summit nearly 10,000 orchid plants, all of which have been displayed either at Gray Summit or in the city. Four years ago, when the Garden began on an extensive scale the growing of orchids from seed, it was not contem- plated that this particular project be continued indefinitely. Because of the unexpected quantity of desirable seed which was obtained and the success of Mrs. Linder, the Orchid- ologist, in propagating plants from these, it was decided to terminate the work this year. An institution such as the Garden is not justified in accumulating in great quantity seedlings which in the course of a comparatively few years would produce plants far beyond the facilities to accommo- date them. As the result of this work there are now housed 14 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN at the Gray Summit Extension over 20,000 orchid seedlings ranging from one to four years of age. Nearly three hun- dred different hybrids are included, covering a wide range of genera, some of which are entirely new combinations. Seedlings potted during the year number 6,500. The valley between the cherry and crabapple orchards has been graded and is now ready for surfacing of a 25-foot roadway. The area set aside for the planting of exotics has been graded and seeded and the slopes and road gutters in the same section sodded. Necessary culverts and catch-basins have been built, and the bridge south of the lake in the pine- tum, as well as the one over Brush Creek, has been entirely reconstructed. The growing of rare trees and shrubs from seed has con- tinued. Nearly 5,000 young trees were shifted from seed- beds into nursery rows, and thousands of large trees and shrubs have been transplanted from the nurseries to their permanent location. General improvements have consisted in the removal of the old barn near the administration building, as well as the house near the southern boundary of the tract. About two miles of additional trails have been cleared and many miles of old wire fence removed. The unprecedented dry seasons experienced for the past two years not only caused the 150,- 000-gallon cistern to be exhausted but likewise the water level in the well was drawn down from 65 feet to 25 feet. This condition would have caused some alarm had it not been for the artificial lake in close proximity to the growing houses. An emergency pump was installed on the shore of the lake and 1,000 feet of 214-inch pipe were laid to con- nect the lake to the cistern. This arrangement made it pos- sible to continue to supply the plants under glass with an abundance of rain water. For the past several years sunshine records have been kept by duplicate machines at Gray Summit and the city gar- den, and the number of hours that the sun shone at these two localities is listed below. It is interesting to note that at the time of year when the sunshine is most necessary and valuable for plant growth—October, November, December, MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 15 and January—the number of hours of bright sunlight at Gray Summit exceeded that in town by 83 hours, a differ- ence which in itself would account for more vigorous growth, quite apart from the more favorable atmosphere in which the plants at Gray Summit live. HOURS OF SUNSHINE RECORDED IN 1931 Month St. Louis Gray Summit TLL GR dre ages wigs «os. toice heen te AE ie 182% 152% th 1S eh oa ere 120% 121 1 ia ~~ eae n oene Ree e e 125 130% NG i nd Per eee ee erased 215 213% TEN Ce ge eases oer ores GM Gos GR Ra ye 231 ahs ay Be ee Cen ear a an 264% 296% RUN pee ny ied Monee ee oe pe an te Yate BK 5s 28714 282% PAIS URG 2 Give ccabsea swine wee Nene ee reer 270% 273% OC DRE e Acs hk said send heals ee ee eS 247 255 CEO DET heat iene ne ee Ge 168 184% PROMEEC, cara ae are a 126 187% DIMM INOT ea eae aoe Foe ans eke 83 117% 2,2611%4 2,395% 2,261% IDE TLCU CCM aint ae = esac pts ts a ee ee 134 Tropical Station, Balboa, Canal Zone.—Extracts from the report of the Resident Manager of the Tropical Station give an idea of the development and activities of this important adjunct of the Garden: “The work at the Station has been carried on as in pre- vious years, consisting mostly in the collection of new ma- terial and trying to find the most satisfactory methods of treatment in order that the new plants may adapt themselves to the conditions found in the Garden. “The information gained in the past has been taken advan- tage of and wherever satisfactory results have been secured the method has been continued. The changed conditions at the Station give opportunity for a large number of ex- periments which may eventually make the transplanting of the plants less difficult and surer. “Various kinds of native woods have been tried as sup- ports for the plants to determine which are best suited for 16 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN the purpose. Nothing has been found that is entirely sat- isfactory. Most of the woods have been too short-lived. Plants placed on them require changing to new supports just as they begin to adapt themselves and are set back with the usual stunting, or lost entirely. Cork bark was used and found to be very good during the wet season, but as soon as the dry season set in the plants died. Three varieties of wood have been selected as the most satisfactory, Espave, Spondias, and Calabash. All are more or less easy to secure and wherever possible they will be used in the future. “For the most part baskets and pans with peat packing have been found to be the easiest and best means of caring for the small- and medium-sized plants. “Insects, as usual, have caused considerable annoyance and damage, but by the plentiful use of soap and nicotine the damage has been reduced. 1861 Bee KSmIBIISS Woe grou ci eo a NewYork, (Ns Yccanvectea ce oe 1859 Bloomington Nurseries ..... Bloomington, Ill............. 1859 Re BUIStioe i oa ens oat sd ates Philadelphia sha. cscs ren ee 1855 Waims Bulle eee ce eee London, England ........... 1861 CO ATUC rene hegre eran London, England ........... 1846-7 He Gelgscroaue tenia rons Panis wh rance... caer cite stan 1861 Ge Glisb¥-&i Coes ee: 1G ColDE: Sos ey pemeermrectore Aer ni eerie 1834 Oo NOOR ok 2 ie eee Cincinatl; Onie <4 4.465. oo 1860 CaMeerenunc. jae aoe Altenburg, Germany........ 1857 Cs WUD ST ey Xeiqeeniaicatsen Gooey acer Quedlinburg, Germany....... 1848-9 John Donnellan & Co........ Rochester: Ns ve. aero es 1857 Ellwanger & Barry......... Rochester: N.Y suena ees 1860 COIR ECT) S11 ae aaa PI Planité, Austria «.tece5 1 +535 1861 Ge Gleicninann 604s se ae hx Erfurt, Germany 2272. cs 1857 fps UO a ac revere ae gangs Hamburg, Germany......... 1848 Oe POO i ahaa a eae be 34% Offenbach, Germany....... 1864 LOSE IC er Pad ba ete Erfurt, Germany ........... 1857 Je Nie 12) Rd rene ae eee Dubuque. Lowa. .:< 9.24 cis 1876 Hey. sHeinemann:.< 0. 6246's TUPLUMG, GERMAN. er oyna ne 1861 E. G. Henderson........... London, England............ 1860 TeNop d's OF It ea a eee Stutteart, Germany i014 .5s 1858 Oy TEA CT 0) ae Cin; Germany 5 s ALBERT T. PERKINS Tuomas S. MaFFirt EUGENE PErrus s | GrorGe T. Moore ErHan A. H.. SHEPLEY FRED G. ZEIBIG EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS GrorGE R,. THROOP, VicToR J.. MILLER, Chancellor of Washington ‘University : Mayor of the City of St. Louis FREDERICK IF’. JOHNSON, ALFRED F, SATTERTHWAIT, Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri President of The Academy of Science of St. Louis - RICHARD MURPHY President of the Board of Education of St. Louis Secretary GEORGE F’. HEFFERNAN Mo. Bor. Garp. BuLu., Vou, 20, 1932 PLATE 22 SLEDS OF ESO ULENT BOTS He ae i ABT Mamet geile Nay Coren” Name A CATAE OF GARDEN, GRASS, HERB, FLOW Sold by Bernard M* Mahon, Seedsman, P Pp Nae, CHESNUTATRERT, MHITLADEL PHA, Whee Pe ee _—y Cememee Mem OSGUE k, TREE, & SHRUB-SEEDS, FLOWER-ROOTS, &. Be. ee * * — o Te omen ant Sree Nene ent Dharam, toveiing 0 the Bema Sereeth of the calatpened LINN CUS, re eomanad an dip common, bie the we of egnth Landes, Cicwsis om. ated Graeme, as labs Meee a seminbey seg antw sett Views Fiore The Wie Week me Hecnem Fes Week do Dende Beep SF satan nnn ~ Coa Demme Whee re Tie i ee sai oy ‘ak te sm Ln Ne A of Pein, hon tn SH of TREES AND SRC Ermer Reo ot or Pets tary bo mt Loree oF Searels Nina Peaabone keane cass 98 legate Mogiswe Pye anatin, Trmmcte, Winterton Reet Seely 8 At Anpath, oe bin wm BERNARD M'MAHON’S SEED CATALOGUE ISSUED IN 1804. THE ORIGINAL IS A “BROADSIDE,” 18x 22 INCHES Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin Vol. XX MAY, 1932 No. 5 AN EARLY AMERICAN SEED LIST Through the courtesy of Mr. Edward C. Vick, of Newark, New Jersey, the Garden has received a photostatic copy of one of the earliest seed lists ever published in the United States (pl. 22). David Landreth was the founder of the oldest seed house in America and probably published some sort of a catalogue before Bernard M’Mahon, but it could not long have antedated M’Mahon’s list, which appeared in 1804. M’Mahon has a peculiar interest for St. Louisans, since it is generally believed that the Lewis and Clark Expedi- tion was planned at his house. Certainly he was one of those who took an active part in distributing the seed collected by these explorers. In 1806 M’Mahon published the first important work on horticulture which appeared in America, under the title “The American Gardener’s Calendar; adapted to the climates and seasons of the United States; containing a complete account of all the work necessary to be done in the kitchen-garden, fruit-garden, orchard, vineyard, nursery, pleasure-grounds, flower-garden, greenhouse, hothouse, and forcing-frames, for every month in the year; with ample practical directions for performing the same,” ete. In a report of the committee appointed by the Pennsyl- vania Horticultural Society for visiting the nurseries and gardens in the vicinity of Philadelphia, dated July 18, 1830, (75) 76 MISSOURL BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN appears the following reference to a visit to “Mrs. M’Mahon’s practical directions for performing the same.” “The establishment is nineteen years old, and was founded by that enterprising and distinguished horticulturist, Mr. Bernard M’Mahon, husband of the present proprietor. ... A very large tree of Maclura Aurantiaca, or Osage-orange, a highly ornamental tree with bright green foliage and standing longer in the fall than any other of the deciduous tribe. It bears a large green fruit not unlike an orange. We think Mr. M. was the first to introduce this tree amongst us.... Mr. M’Mahon was an indefatigable arborist, and his garden now exhibits a row of native oaks, planted by him, con- taining thirty varieties, being all the kinds that he could collect in his day, either with money or zealous exertion. The willow- leaved oak is conspicuous and forms a very handsome conical tree. Perhaps we owe as much to the late Mr. M’Mahon as a horticul- turist, as to any individual in America. Besides his efforts in col- lecting and propagating, we are indebted to him for his excellent book on American gardening which has passed through many editions.” Aside from the fact that M’Mahon was born in Ireland about 1775 and died in Philadelphia on September 16, 1816, practically all the information concerning him is contained in a “Brief Memoir of Bernard M’Mahon” which appeared in the eleventh edition of “The American Gardener’s Cal- endar,” published in 1857. “Bernard M’Mahon was no common man. He sought the American shores from political motives, as is understood, but what these were has not been determined; most probably it was necessary to fly from the persecution of government. He found American gardening in its infancy, and immediately set himself vigorously to work to introduce a love of flowers and fruit. The writer well remembers his store, his garden, and greenhouses. The latter were situated near the Germantown turnpike, between Philadelphia and Nicetown, whence emanated the rarer flowers and novelties, such as could be collected in the early part of the present century, and where were performed, to the astonishment of the amateurs of that day, successful feats of horticulture that were but too rarely imitated. “His store was in Second Street, below Market, on the east side. Many must still be alive who recollect its bulk window, orna- mented with tulip-glasses, a large pumpkin, and a basket or two of bulbous roots; behind the counter officiated Mrs. M’Mahon, with some considerable Irish accent, but a most amiable and excellent disposition, and withal an able saleswoman. Mr. M’Mahon was also much in the store, putting up seeds for transmission to all parts of this country and Europe, writing his book or attending to his correspondence, and in one corner was a shelf containing a MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN To few botanical or gardening books, for which there was then a very small demand; another contained the few garden implements, such as knives and trimming scissors; a barrel of peas, and a bag of seedling potatoes, an onion receptacle, a few chairs, and the room partly lined with drawers containing seeds, constituted the apparent stock in trade of what was one of the greatest seed stores then known in the Union, and where was transacted a considerable business for that day. “Such a store would naturally attract the botanist as well as the gardener, and it was the frequent lounge of both classes, who ever found in the proprietors ready listeners as well as conversers; in the latter particular they were rather remarkable, and here you would see Nuttall, Baldwin, Darlington, and other scientific men, who sought information or were ready to impart it. Mr. M’Mahon was esteemed by these, and in several botanical works his knowl- edge is spoken of with great respect and consideration; Nuttall has named a much esteemed species after him, though by omit- ting the M’ the circumstance has been little noticed. “After a long life of laborious and painstaking industry Mr. M’Mahon paid his last debt, and left the concern to the manage- ment of his wife, who conducted it under difficulties that would have appalled most women. She, however, continued to be success- ful, but was at length stricken with blindness; in this condition, she still occupied a seat behind the counter, and gave directions to assistants, having a kind word and a piece of intelligence for all who frequented the shop. Her foreman supplied the flowers, seeds, plants, and bulbs for a considerable length of time, but at last she too disappeared, the store was closed, and the business passed into other and more enterprising hands. “The writer of this very imperfect memoir, which he regrets there are not materials extant to make more complete, has been favored with the following letter from the able and well-known botanist, Dr. William Darlington, which will fitly close this record of a useful man. “*West Chester, June 15, 1857. ““My Dear Sir, ““T am much gratified to learn that a new edition of M’MAHON’S “American Gardener’s Calendar’ is in press. That work was among the earliest of its kind in our country, and I have always regarded it as among the best. It is at once comprehensive and complete; and, moreover, remarkable for its judicious, prac- tical, common-sense views of the subject. ““T had the pleasure of knowing BERNARD M’MAHON, in my youthful days. He was, I believe, one of those Exiles of Erin who sought and found a refuge in our country, near the close of the last century. In the autumn, I think, of 1799, he passed some weeks in my native village of Dilworthtown, in Chester County, in order to avoid the ravages of yellow fever, in Philadelphia, where he resided; and in that rural retreat I first knew him. I renewed 78 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN the acquaintance in 1802, 3 and 4, while attending the medical lec- tures in the University of Pennsylvania, by which time he had established his nurseries of useful and ornamental plants: and I ever found him an obliging, intelligent, and instructive friend. He was a regularly educated gardener, of much experience and great enterprise. He gave the first decisive impulse to scientific horti- culture in our State; and to him we are mainly indebted, among other favors, for the successful culture and dissemination of the interesting novelties collected by LEWIS and CLARKE, in their journey to the Pacific. When, in 1818, Mr. NUTTALL published his Genera of North American Plants, he named a beautiful shrub “in memory of the late Mr. BERNARD M’MAHON, whose ardent attachment to Botany, and successful introduction of useful and ornamental Horticulture into the United States, lay claim to public esteem:” and although the genus has been reduced by later botanists to a section of Berberis, it is generally known by—and I trust will long retain—the popular name of MAHONIA. “It was a well-deserved tribute of respect, from one who inti- mately knew, and could justly appreciate the merits it commemo- rated: and I am happy in the opportunity, even at this late day, to add my own humble and inadequate testimonial to that of so accomplished a judge of botanical worth, as THOMAS NUTTALL. “Very truly yours, “*WM. DARLINGTON.’” The M’Mahon seed list, containing the names of over one thousand plants available to American flower lovers at the beginning of the nineteenth century, is a welcome addition to the Garden’s collection of these interesting and often valu- able pamphlets (BuLtierix, Vol. XX, March, 1932, p. 54). FROST DAMAGE TO CLIMBING ROSES DURING MARCH, 1932 In this locality climbing roses receive their severest test as to hardiness in early spring. After a second mild winter the roses at the Garden held every promise of blooming pro- fusely in June, but the sudden drop in temperature in early March practically ruined those varieties which had sprouted freely during the mild weather of February. If climbing roses could remain dormant during the first warm spells in the late winter, they would not suffer from frost. In some years they are frozen during severely cold winters, but in such instances the damage results from the cold spell fol- Mo. Bot, GArD. BULL., VoL. 20, 1932 PLATE 28 SHOWING ADVANCED STATE OF GROWTH OF SOME CLIMBERS BEFORE THE MARCH FREEZE CANES OF “DR. W. VAN FLEET” STILL DORMANT DURING THE COLD WEATHER OF MARCH Mo. Bot. GARD. BULL., VoL, 20, 1932 PLATE 24 * Sane é a : Sh Age: tay ts =e iN MANA Ail * ™~ . iw ® MULBERRY TREE AT GARDEN AFTER FREEZE OF MARCH. PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN MAY 11, 1932 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 79 lowing a period of mild weather which had stimulated them into active growth. Ordinarily those climbers which are known to be tender, due to their parentage, are expected to suffer from frost dam- age when weather conditions are unfavorable. The variety “Silver Moon” is a good example. We know that “Silver Moon” is considered somewhat tender, and unless winter con- ditions are ideal it will not bloom, or at least not very freely. This year, however, ‘Silver Moon” and a number of other varieties, “Star of Persia,” for instance, had not been stim- ulated into growth as early as “Dorothy Perkins” and others of the small-flowered type, with the result that the roses which remained dormant in February suffered much less during the March freeze than those which had already sent out leaves. Plate 23, fig. 1, shows how far the growth of some varieties of climbers was advanced when killed by the frost, and fig. 2 shows the canes of “Dr. W. Van Fleet,” which were still dormant during the cold weather of March. The climbing roses that were covered with straw did not suffer so much as the unprotected ones. Any variety that showed green leaves, whether or not the plant was protected with a mulch, was damaged. Covering tender climbing roses has its good points in some winters, but it frequently stim- ulates growth to such an extent in early spring that it is impossible to retain the covering until the weather settles. It is difficult to choose the right course. The winter mulch must be removed before the tender shoots have grown too long, otherwise they will be burned when exposed to the strong rays of the sun. On the other hand, there is always the possibility of a late frost, when it would be better if the roses were covered. This unsuccessful method of protecting tender climbing roses against the changeable temperatures during February, March, and April may in time lead to some altogether different method of protection, or better still, the breeding of varieties that will remain dormant during the first mild spells of February and March. The following climbing roses have been grouped into three classes: those that were frozen to the ground; those that were partly frozen; and those only slightly damaged. If 80 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN ‘“Rugosa’”’ roses were partly frozen this spring, then the cold spell must have been a severe test for any rose. SEVERELY FROZEN PARTLY FROZEN SLIGHTLY FROZEN Aviateur Bleriot Albertine Christine Wright Alberic Barbier Andre Louis Dr. W. Van Fleet Bess Lovett Birdie Blye Leontine Gervais Bonnie Prince Blush Rambler Lucile Coronation Breeze Hill Max Graf ; Crimson Rambler CJ], American Beauty Paul’s Scarlet Climber Dorothy Perkins Dr. Huey Purity Eugene Jacquet Excelsa Silver Moon Francois Levet Ghislaine de Feligonde Wichmoss Gardenia Gruss an Freundorf Hiawatha Jacotte Lady Gay Mary Wallace Paul Noel Milky Way Roserie Neige d’Avril Source d’Or Oriole Tausendschon Paradise Wartburg Shalimar Zephirine Drouhin Star of Persia Yvonne P. A. K. DROUTH AND WINTER INJURY TO TREES AND SHRUBS Few winters, no matter how cold, have caused more “frost- cracks” than the past mild winter. Frost-cracks are longi- tudinal splits produced by the uneven contraction of the exterior and interior portions of a tree. They usually occur during a sudden fall in temperature, and would not be ex- pected in a warm winter. Closely associated with winter in- jury, this spring, we find a great deal of drouth injury. At times it is impossible to separate the two, and, since there is but little satisfaction in a post-mortem examination, it does not matter which one is responsible for the death of a tree or shrub. The all-important point is that nearly all trees in and around St. Louis have been very near death, due either to a lack of water, or, as in the case of the mulberries, to a very mild winter followed by a freeze in March. The late freeze can be charged with the death of 22 mulberries from 15 to 30 years of age, 7 willows (one of which was 32 years MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 81 old), 2 magnolias, and 8 flowering crabs, in addition to all the California privet in the Garden. It destroyed the flowers of maple, elm, magnolia, and some flowering cherries, and injured the flowers of fragrant honeysuckle and forsythia. Drouth injury is much more serious than the loss of flowers for one season through freezing, and it is also more likely to escape attention. Since trees and shrubs have greater storage space than herbaceous plants, one dry season may do little more harm than to curtail growth, and even the second dry summer in St. Louis did not cause much destruc- tion. However, it is evident, this spring, that a third succes- sive dry summer would witness the death of a great number of woody plants. This was most evidenced in the uneven opening of leaf buds, especially those of elm, walnut, sweet- gum, willow, basswood, and oak. The walnut orchard, de- spite intensive cultivation and fertilization but no irrigation, shows a very spotty opening of leaf buds, very typical of drouth injury. Some branches are clothed with leaves, others on the same tree are entirely dormant. This condition seems to be somewhat improved by the recent rains, but not in many years have woody plants been so filled with dead branches. If there is a normal rainfall during 1932 we may look for the customary growth and perhaps our irrigation problems will be over for many years. At the Gray Summit Extension there was much less dam- age than might have been expected. After an unusually mild January and February the thermometer dropped to 8° F. on the morning of March 6th, and it was not until the 11th that a gradual rise of temperature began. Native trees and shrubs were practically uninjured, but the flower buds of most of the lilacs, peaches, flowering almonds, and pearl- bush (Exochorda racemosa) were killed, as well as some of last year’s wood of the flowering almond and the dwarf plum. Rhododendron decorum, R. javanicum, and R. trroratum, natives of Malay and China, were defoliated or killed to the ground. These plants were raised from rooted cuttings, started in March, 1929, and had made an unusually fine age They were mulched with oak leaves at the time of the freeze. 82 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN Three species of pine, namely Pinus Massoniana, a native of China, P. caribaea, of Central America, and P. Pinea, of the Mediterranean region, were all killed. These were three- year-old seedlings. Cupressus arizonica and Thuya orientalis var. “Rosedale” had the foliage badly injured. Of the sev- eral varieties of box which are being tested for hardiness, only one, Buus Harlandii, showed any effect of the freeze. This was killed to the ground. A. P. B. 1. ee “CHINCHERINCHEE” The title of this article is not Choctaw, as might be sup- posed, but is the South African common name for a mem- ber of the lily family, Ornithogalum thyrsoides. The origin of the native name is said to be the noise made by the stems when rubbed together. It must be confessed, however, that any one trying this experiment would be able to invent any number of names from the screech produced, depending on the way he did it and his ability to turn sound into words. Originally the name was “chincher uintje.” A hundred years ago it was spelled “tinterintjes,” and it is now occa- sionally spelled “chinkerinchee.” South Africans have chris- tened it “star of Bethlehem,” but it is the same O. thyrsoides and should not be confused with the star of Bethlehem com- monly cultivated in the United States, which is quite another species of Ornithogalum. The plant has also been called “viooltze.”’ The botanical name for the genus Ornithogalum is from the Greek, meaning “bird’s milk,” an allusion to the pure white color of the flower of some of the species. It was a proverbial expression for something dainty or precious, and any one seeing the plants in bloom at the Garden will admit the name was well chosen. There are about one hundred and fifty species of Ornitho- galum, more than half of which are native of South America. It is the “chincherinchee,” however, that is beginning to appear in American markets and, strangely enough, it is not the bulbs or plants that are usually on sale, but the cut flowers, shipped from Africa. These flowers possess remark- GARD. BULL., Bort. Mo. THE CHINCHERINCHEE (Ornithogalum thyrsoides o MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN ) able vitality. If the stems be cut when the lowest flowers are just about developed, all those above will gradually open and remain fresh for weeks, even without water. If gathered in bud and kept in water, in the dark, until each bud has opened, the flowers will remain fresh for two or three months. Quite an industry has developed in the shipping of cut flowers to England, where they are in great demand for the decoration of churches around Christmas time. One does not have to depend upon Africa for a supply, however, as ‘“‘chincherinchees” are easily grown from bulbs or seeds. Naturally, they cannot be established out of doors in this climate, and one still has to go to Africa to see whole fields of these lies. They make a very satisfactory house plant, however, frequently blooming in nine months from the time the seed is sown. Germination takes place within a few weeks after sowing the seed, and when the grass-like foliage is about two inches long the seedlings are pricked off into flats. From the flats they are transferred to two and a half-inch pots and later to four-inch pots. After the “chink- erinchees” have flowered, the bulbs are gradually dried out and rested, in the same way that calla lilies are treated, and then in late summer they are repotted into the same size, or larger, pots if necessary, and grown in a greenhouse main- tained at 50° F. With this treatment the plants will begin blooming in early April. The soil used for potting these bulbs is composed of three parts moderately heavy soil, two parts leafmold, a little sand, and a four-inch pot of bone meal to each barrowful of soil. Seedlings must be grown at least three years to secure large flower spikes. Large bulbs should be potted directly into six-inch pots, and they will then require no further shift. Another South African species, Ornithogalum aureum, is occasionally to be seen. It has deep orange flowers, but they are fewer in number and the plants are smaller. A sport from O. thyrsoides, with double flowers, is frequently to be found in Cape gardens, but, so far as known, is not available in this country. One reason for not desiring this plant to become wide- spread in the United States is that it is poisonous to stock. Even dry in hay it may cause death to cattle. Unlike many 84 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN of the poisonous plants of this country, the poisonous prin- ciple is not an alkaloid but is a resinous substance. There is no record of the “chincherinchee” causing trouble from contact with the skin; it must be eaten to produce any dele- terious effects. NOTES On May 7, the Board of Trustees of the Garden met at the Gray Summit Extension for luncheon and inspection of the grounds. The June, 1932, number of the “Ladies’ Home Journal” contains an article by Mr. G. H. Pring, Superintendent of the Garden, on “The Lost Yellow Lily,” illustrated with col- ored photographs. Dr. Hermann von Schrenk, Pathologist to the Garden, gave an address before the National Association of Railway Tie Producers, at Memphis, Tennessee, May 18, on “Some Comparisons of the Different Species of Tie Timbers.” Recent visitors to the Garden include Prof. Eric Ruttin, of the Medical School of the University of Vienna; and Dr. A. R. Van Linge, of the Nederlandsche Kininefabriek, Maarssen, Netherlands, and Mr. R. W. de Grieff, of New York. The annual flower sermon, for which Henry Shaw made provision in his will, was preached at Christ Church Cathe- dral, May 15, by Dr. Howard C. Robbins, of the General Theological Seminary, formerly Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in New York. Mr. L. P. Jensen, Manager Gray Summit Extension, spoke before the members of the Warrenton Garden Club, at Warrenton, Mo., April 12, on “Planting of the Home Grounds;” and before the Kirkwood Garden Club No. 1, May 3, at the Gray Summit Extension, on “Wild Flowers.” Among the recent visitors to the Garden herbarium and library were a group of students from Stephens College, Columbia, Mo., accompanied by the teacher in botany, Miss Minnie M. Johnson, May 7; the students and instructors in botany from the University of Missouri, under the leader- ship of Prof. H. W. Rickett, assistant professor of botany, on MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 85 May 21; and Dr. E. R. Spencer, professor of botany, Me- Kendree College, Lebanon, IIl., with his class in bacteriology, May 21. Mr. L. P. Jensen, Manager Gray Summit Extension, is the author of an article in the April, 1932, number of “Mis- sour!” entitled, ‘Protect Wild Flowers of the Ozarks;” and also of one in the “Blue Diamond” (publication of the Kan- sas City Athletic Club), on “Ozarks Are a Wild-Flower Para- dise.”’ Both articles are illustrated with numerous photo- graphs of wild flowers from the Garden Extension. Mr. G. H. Pring, Superintendent of the Garden, spoke before the P. E. O., April 27, on “Orchid Exploration in the Andes;” before the students of Cleveland High School, May 4, on “Before and After Planting;” broadcast over Sta- tion KWK, May 16, on “Water-lilies for St. Louis; spoke before the South Side Exchange Club, May 17, at the Saum Hotel, on “Plants of Interest ;’’ and before the members of the Friday Club, May 20, on “Flowers and Insects.” 86 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN STATISTICAL INFORMATION FOR APRIL, 1932 GARDEN ATTENDANCE: Total HEMDEr OF VISILONG «66k kine ase ee Karas sd Seaiwceds 27,900 LIBRARY ACCESSIONS: Total number of books and pamphlets bought.......... 104 Total number of books and pamphlets donated......... 185 PLANT ACCESSIONS: Total number of plants and seed packets donated...... 457 HERBARIUM ACCESSIONS: By Purchase— Weigel, Th. Oswald—Hamel’s “Algues des Antilles Fran- caises” Fasc. I, Nos. 1-50, inclusive................. 50 By Gift— Benke, H. C.—Plants of the southern Mississippi Valley.. Kiltz, B. F.—Vicia micrantha Nutt. from Oklahoma.... Stokes, James R.—Tradescantia sp. from Georgia...... Trout, F. M.—Plant of horticulture.................. Woodson, Robert E., Jr.—Photographs of “Apocynum androsaemifolium Herb. Linn.”........ 0.0.0.0 ee ee eee DD eee} By Exchange— Botanical Garden and Museum, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany —Photograph of Verbena trifida HBK............... 1 FLORAL DISPLAYS OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN 1932 In order that readers of the BULLETIN may have a more com- prehensive idea of the various flower shows and outdoor exhibits which from month to month may be seen at the Garden, the fol- lowing tentative schedule is given. While the indoor exhibits can be quite definitely indicated, the blooming period of outdoor plants is subject to variation, depending upon the weather, and out-of- town readers should confirm the date of any display before visiting the Garden. JANUARY FEBRUARY (Floral Display House) (Floral Display House) Orchids, Primroses, and Orchids. Cyclamen. MARCH ats (Floral Display House) (Floral Display House) Azaleas, Roses, Schizanthus. March 1-9—Orchids. March 10-13—St. Louis Florists’ (Outdoors) Show. Pansies, English Daisies, Early- March 14-31—Cinerarias flowering shrubs. and Azaleas. MAY (Floral Display House) Hybrid Pelargoniums, Salpiglossis, Begonias, Marguerites, Lupines, and other spring annuals. May 20-22—St. Louis Horticultural Society Show. (Outdoors) Bulbs (early in month), Hardy Water-lilies, Peonies. Iris (late in month), Spring-flowering shrubs and perennials. JUNE (Outdoors) Roses, Hollyhocks. Medicinal Garden. JULY (Outdoors) Tropical plants. Annuals. Economic Garden — farm crops, fiber plants, rice, cotton, peanuts, tobacco, sugar-cane. Medicinal Garden. AUGUST (Outdoors) Tropical Water-lilies, Victoria Cruziana, Lotus Lilies. Economic Garden. Medicinal Garden. SEPTEMBER OCTOBER (Outdoors) (Floral Display House) Tropical Water-lilies. Economic Dahlias (novelties and newer Garden. Medicinal Garden. varieties). NOVEMBER DECEMBER (Floral Display House) (Floral Display House) Chrysanthemum Show. Poinsettias, Stevias. SOME FACTS ABOUT THE GARDEN The Missouri Botanical Garden was opened to the public by Mr. Henry Shaw about 1860. From that date to the death of Mr. Shaw, in 1889, the Garden was maintained under the per- sonal direction of its founder, and, while virtually a private garden, it was, except at certain stated times, always open to the public. Although popularly known as “Shaw’s Garden” the name Missouri Botanical Garden was designated by Mr. Shaw as its official title and in his will or in any of his writ- ings he specifically referred to it as the “Missouri Botanical Garden.” By a provision of Mr. Shaw’s will the Garden passed at his death into the hands of a Board of Trustees. The original members of the Board were designated in the will, and the Board so constituted, exclusive of certain ex- officio members, is self-perpetuating. By a further provision of the will, the immediate direction of the Garden is vested in a Director, appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Garden receives no income from city or state, but is supported en- tirely from funds left by the founder. The city Garden comprises 75 acres, where about 12,000 species of plants are growing. There is now in process of de- velopment a tract of land of over 1,500 acres outside the city limits which is to be devoted to (1) the propagation and growing of plants, trees, and shrubs, designed for showing either indoors or outside, at the city Garden, thus avoiding the existing difficulties of growing plants in the city atmos- phere; (2) gradually establishing an arboretum as well as holding a certain area as a forest reservation, with the idea that possibly at some future time this may become the new botanical garden. The Garden is open to the public every day in the year, ex- cept New Year’s Day and Christmas—week days from 8:00 a.m. until one-half hour after sunset; Sundays from 10 a. m. until sunset. The main entrance to the Garden is located at Tower Grove Avenue and Flora Place, on the Sarah car line (No. 42). Transfer south from all intersecting lines. The Garden may also be reached by Bus Route No. 12, to which all other motor- bus lines transfer. Cyt BERERS re OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN GEORGE T, Moore, Director KATHERINE H, LEIGH, Assistant to the Director -HERMANN VON SCHRENK, CARROLL W. DODGE, Pathologist _ Mycologist JESSE M. GREENMAN, RoLAND V. LAGARDE, Curator of Herbarium Research Assistant ERNEST S. REYNOLDS, Rosert E. Woopson, Jr., Physiologist Research Assistant NELL C. HORNER, Librarian and Editor of Publications GEORGE H. PRING, Superintendent JOHN NOYES, Pau. A. KOHL, Consulting. Landscape: Architect Floriculturist W. F. LANGAN, Chief. Engineer A. P. BEILMANN, J. H. KELLOGG, Arboriculturist Plant Collector J. CUTAK, J. LANGAN, In charge Exotics Assistant Engineer A. D.. FORRESTER, — A. PEARSON, Plant Recorder Painter GRAY SUMMIT EXTENSION L. P. JENSEN, Manager G. GOEDEKE, D. MILLER, Foreman Orchid Grower R. E. KIsseck, Engineer TROPICAL STATION, BALBOA, CANAL ZONE A. A. HUNTER, Manager REPRESENTATIVE IN EUROPE GURNEY WILSON, F. L. S. Missouri BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN Vol. XX JUNE, 1932 No. 6 CONTENTS B63 Buoble Bouygues: ie ora eee oe eee hs BF AP itanie Plant) 3s sea ae gO Weak Branching’in Trees. ° 9.4 8 0 e292 Written Zinc Labels Again. ... .. 0.0. 00... 93 A New Alga from Missouri... 1. 5... 94 dy aR RE, ELS OE SY Oe Maat SNC ERS mR MEAN Se Statistical Information sts , es | Floral Displays of Special Interest in 1932 ST. LOUIS, MO. 1932 Published Monthly, Except July and August, by the Board of Trustees SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR SINGLE COPIES TEN CENTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS WERE DESIGNATED IN MR. SHAW’S WILL AND THE BOARD SO CONSTITUTED, EXCLUSIVE OF THE’ EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, IS SELF-PERPETUATING President GEORGE C. HITCHCOCK Vice-President SAMUEL C. DAVIS Second Vice-President DANIEL K. CATLIN L. Ray CARTER ALBERT T, PERKINS THOMAS S. MAFFITT EUGENE PETTUS GEORGE T. Moore ETHAN A. H. SHEPLEY FRED, G. ZEIBIG EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS GEORGE R. THROOP, VICTOR J. MILLER, Chancellor of Washington University Mayor of the City of St. Louis FREDERICK F’. JOHNSON, ALFRED F'. SATTERTHWAIT, Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri President of The Academy of Science of St. Louis RICHARD MURPHY President of the Board of Education of St. Louis Secretary ay GEORGE F. HEFFERNAN Mo, Bor. GARD. BULL., VOL. 20, 1932 PLATE 26 “Oo Rr \ eae EXAMPLES OF BUBBLE BOUQU