> pees estate a caealal 5 nC RE ES POLAT DEE = | 34 LASCA MISCELLANEA VOL. 52 OCT 4057 OUNTY OF LOS ANGELES & Los ANGELES “2 ARBORETUM 301 No. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California WILLIAM 8S. STEWART Cable: LASCA, Arcadia, Calif. GEORGE H. SPALDING DIRECTOR Sui Telephone: Hillcrest 6-5247 July 2, 1957 Honorable Board of Supervisors, County of Los Angeles, 501 Hall of Records, Les Angeles 12, California. Gentlemen: On behalf of the staff I am pleased to present this report of our activities during the past fiscal year. Accomplishments of development of the grounds, the education program, and the research program are presented in this report. With the dedication of the new Administration Building and Gatehouse, the Arboretum came of age in December 1956. These new facilities have allowed opening of the grounds to visitors on a seven day a week basis and have resulted in an extensive use of the Arboretum by the public. This is shown by an attendance of 79,000 during the first six months of 1957 which equals the attendance for the entire year of 1956. Appreciation is expressed to the public spirited citizens who are Governors of this Department and who donate their time to its development and operation. Like- wise gratitude is felt to the Trustees of California Arboretum Foundation, Inc. who have given generously of their time and money in initiating and sponsoring the Arboretum as a public institution. DZ dae submitted, (S. btativast DXA . Qs. Lea Director. wss/ja LOS ANGELES CCUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARBORETA AND BOTANIC GARDENS BOARD OF HERBERT C. LEGG KENNETH HAHN JOHN ANSON FORD BURTON W. CHACE, CHAIRMAN WARREN M. DORN SUPERVISORS 1ST DISTRICT 2ND DISTRICT 3RD DISTRICT 4TH DISTRICT 5TH DISTRICT ARTHUR J. WILL, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TABLE OF CONTENTS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS RESTORATIONS HORTICULTURE PROPAGATION DEMONSTRATION HOME GARDENS ARBORETUM LIBRARY ARBORETUM VISITORS EDUCATION RESEARCH SPECIAL EVENTS CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION, INC. PICTURE CREDIT 11 18 al 23 DR. FRITS W. WENT SAMUEL MOSHER SAMUEL AYRES JR, | JOHN GREGG MRS. JOHN R. MAGE HOWARD A. MILLER VARNEY BANCROFT MRS. RUDOLPH RICHARDS F. HAROLD ROACH = RS. EUNICE SPRINGER MRS. RICHARD Y, DAKIN © cat A iS sw Sas LIONEL LOUIS HOFFMAN MRS.HAROLD CROZIER CHARLES S. JONES J. D. FUNK MRS.IVEY DARBY MRS. HARRY J. BAUER GEORGE PR TAUBMAN JR. ROBERT CASAMAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROG-RAM Mr. Millard Shee Art Institute "WHY WE HAVE AN ARBORETUM ts, Director, Los Angeles County MASTER OF CEREMONIES ee ae PRESENTATION OF BUILDING Dr. F. W. Went, Presiden q Honorable John Anson Ford, ingeles inc, Chairman, and Botanic Gardens. Chairman, Los Ai ies County Board of Supervisors and Chairman, Board of Supervisors’ Committee for the Depart ment of Arboreta and Botanic Gardens INVOCATION Reverend Dr. J. Davis Barnard, Minister, Arcadia ACCEPTANCE OF BUILDING ‘esbyterian Church Dr. W. S. Stewart Director, A s§ FLAG RAISING AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Boy Scout Troop 106, Hugo Reid Elementary School “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL AUDIENCE Oh, beau! kies for amber es of grain, for wav z espe “8 Pury above the fruited plain DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOS ANGELES STATE pas 5 ie pres fer ihek cs AND COUNTY ARBORETUM C hood from sea to shi Mr. Robert Casamaijor, Trustee, California Arboretum Foundation, inc. tet INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS er oe eri tres SVR HN aC sein etn gehts oo Mllialina ie REMARKS The musical presentations on this Program are made possible Honorable Herbert C. Legg. through the sponsorship of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor, First Supervisorial District Supervisors and the Los Ang County Music Commissi: Dedication program for the Administration Building and Information Center at the Los i State & County Arboretum, Dec. 14, 19 ANOTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AT THE ARBORETUM DURING THE PAST YEAR AS INSURANCE FOR THE FUTURE HAS BEEN THE INSTALLATION OF TWO DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE FIRE HYDRANTS AT THE HUGO REID ADOBE, THE "LUCKY" BALDWIN CARRIAGE HOUSE AND THE "QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE" , THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE ARMY ENGI- ANOTHER BIT OF INSURANCE AGAINST HEAVY RAINS IN THE FUTURE. Dr. Stewart, Director, signals the "sensitive plant", Mimosa pudica. In response to the signal, the leaves closed an electrical circuit which cut the ribbon. Thus the _ Administration Building was officially _ opened by a plant. THE MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVE- MENT DURING. THE PAST YEAR WAS THE . CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND THE GATEHOUSE, THE MODERN AND INTERESTING DESIGN OF THESE BUILD- INGS CONTRASTS SHARPLY WITH THE SIMPLE STRUCTURES OF THE HUGO REID ADOBE ON THE ARBORETUM GROUNDS. THE ADOBE REPRESENTS THE "HIDE AND TALLOW" DAYS OF EARLY CALIFORNIA. THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND GATEHOUSE BUILDINGS ALSO CONTRAST WITH THE GINGERBREAD OF THE "QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE", CONSTRUCTED BY "LUCKY" BALDWIN IN 1879, ALSO LOCATED ON THE ARBORETUM GROUNDS. RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTAND- ING DESIGN OF THE NEW STRUCTURES IS SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT THEY WERE SELECTED BY THE CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION AS THE BEST EXAMPLES OF CEMENT BLOCK STRUCTURES BUILT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DURING THE PAST YEAR, al Stairway and entrance to the MMMM siministration Building. The Entrance Pavilion. The glass cases provide display areas for horticultural and botanical subjects. Lecture Room. Seating approxi- mately sixty adults, classes, staff meetings, horticultural society and garden club activities are-held here. An enclosed patio at the east end of the building serves for informsl meetings and an over-flow space for Lecture Room programs. A well equipped, small leboratory furnishes fecilities for experimental work, RESTORATION THE 1955-56 CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED $102,040 TO RESTORE THE "LUCKY" BALDWIN CARRIAGE HOUSE AND THE HUGO REID ADOBE ON THE ARBORETUM GROUNDS, THIS ACTION WAS PROMPTED BY THE OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF RESTORATION OF "LUCKY" BALDWIN'S "QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE" WHICH HAD BEEN ACCOM- PLISHED ENTIRELY BY PRIVATE FUNDS RAISED BY THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE OF THE CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION, INC, DURING THE WINTER OF 1956 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS WERE BEGUN AT THE HUGO REID f/DOBE. THESE STUDIES ARE CONDUCTED BY DR. J. W. WALLACE, DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND HIS STUDENTS. WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH DR. WALLACE, THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAVE CCNTRIBUTED MANY HOURS OF HELP. THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, MR. ROGER DESAUTELS AND MR. KRITZMAN DESERVE SPECIAL CREDIT FOR THEIR PART IN THIS PROJECT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS ARE DONATING THFIR TIME AND KNOWLEDGE TO THIS PROJECT AT NO COST TO EITHER THE STATE OR THE COUNTY. THIS SPLENDID CONTRIBUTION TO CUR KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN VIEW OF THE ARBORETUM IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED BY ALL CONCERNED. hugo Reid Adobe foundation under the former Baldwin Annex. Workers: Gary Coon trowels in Pit A8; Dr. Wallace shovels back dirt in Pit h6; Ken Dampf in Pit A5, Archeeological students at work inside one of the rooms of the Hugo Reid Adobe. country side. The walls and ceilings of the first floor are panelled in tongue-and-groove redwood and cedar. 10 HORTICULTURE IT IS TO THE CREDIT OF THE CHIEF HORTICULTURIST AND HIS STAFF OF EXPERIENCED ARBORETUM GARDENERS, PARK MAINTENANCE MEN, EQUIPMENT OPERATORS AND PARK MAINTENANCE MEN HELPERS THAT THE VARIED AND SEPARATE PLANTINGS OF THE ARBORETUM BROUGHT MORE VISITORS TO THE ARBORETUM THIS YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE, ONLY A BRIEF SUMMARY CF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THESE MEN CAN BE IN- CLUDED IN THIS REFORT. ONE MUST VISIT THE ARBORETUM TO APPRECIATE THE HORTICULTURAL BEAUTY AND VALUE CONTRIBUTED BY THESE PLANTSMEN TC THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE, A thumb-nail map of the Horticultural Sections of the cheetah The border consists of sketches of plants of repr tativ within these sections. AUSTRALIA THIS SECTION IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT GARDENER. THE EMPHASIS Is PRIMARILY ON TREES, TREES UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING GROWN AS MUCH FOR THEIR CONSPICUOUS FLOWERS AS FOR THE SHAPE OF THEIR LEAF AND LIMB, SCLITARY AND GROUPS OF EUCALYPTUS SPECIES ARE COMING OF AGE WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, FORMING A 'FOREST' OF SUCH TREES a HIBISCUS HUGELII, ALSO CALLED THE "BLUE HIBISCUS" HAS CAUGHT THE FANCY OF THE NURSERY TRADE. THIS IS ALSO 4 NATIVE OF AUSTRALIA. Eucalyptus SOUTH AFRICA SPRINGTIME IN SCUTH AFRICA DAZZLES THE VIEWER. THE ACRE OF COMPOSITES (SUNFLOWER FAMILY) FROM GROUND COVER HEIGHT TO SMALL TREES, RANGE IN COLOR FROM ORANGE TO YELLOW TO WHITE TO BLUE TO RED. NATIVE WILDFLOWERS IN AFRICA, THESE PLANTS WILL SOMEDAY BEAUTIFY HOMES HERE AS OUTSTANDING HORTICULTURAL GEMS. NO LONGER MUST THIS SECTION BE RESTRICTED TO VIEWS FROM A DISTANCE. CONVENIENT PATHES NCW LEAD THE INTERESTED AMONG THE VARIOUS SPECIES FOR A CLOSE-UP LOOK, THE LOS ANGELES CITY FLOWER - "BIRD OF PARADISE" - IS FOUND IN THIS SECTION, FOR IT TOO IS A NATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCULENTS ~—- MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS, CRASSULAS, AND EUPHCRBIAS CATCH THE EYE OF "LIMITED SPACE" GARDENERS AS THEY TOUR THE WESTERN EDGE OF THIS SECTION, BALDWIN ESPLANADE -WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF COLORED PICTURES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CREATE WITH WORDS THE FLORAL DISPLAY ALONG THIS ROADWAY. ICE-PLANTS ( MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS ) NOW FORM A FOUR BLOCK LONG CARPET BORDER FROM COLORADO BOULEVARD TO THE ARBORETUM ENTRANCE, RED, PINK, CREAM, YELLOW AND WHITE FLOWERS MAKE UP THIS ‘PERSIAN CARPET! , EACH YEAR, 'ACACIA CORNER' BECOMES MORE LOVELY AS THE TREES AND SHRUBS, BEARING THEIR YELLOW BLOOMS, MATURES, THINNING OUR INITIAL PLANTING HAS rth ag TO BEAR on’ THE FORM OF EACH OF THE MANY SPECIES WITHIN THIS DURING THE YEAR, AND FOLLOWING THE SPRINGTIME BURST OF COLOR, INDIVIDUALS OF PUYAS, DYCHIAS, CORAL TREES, CEANOTHUS, CASSIAS, CRAPE MYRTLES AND AGAVES CARRY ON’ THE BEAUTIFICATION OF "THE PARKWAY ° A ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OUR FRONT YARD IS GIVEN OVER TO A VARIED PLANT COLLECTION, REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF PLANT FORMS, TEXTURES, COLORS AND NATIVE COUNTRIES. Dominating the scene to the left of the stairway is a clump of Thosnis reclinata or the Senegal date palm, a gift to the Arboretum. sloping expanse to the right of the stair is covered with the ae Rosemary. SOUTH AMERICA "MANANA" NO LONGER WAS HEARD IN ANY DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE page MENT OF THIS SECTION. THE COMPLETION OF THE FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL AND T INSTALLATION OF THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM CHANGED THE WORK SCHEDULE TO *ADELANTRNDS. ON A MESA-LIKE MOUND, A GARDEN OF CACTUS SPECIMENS, NATIVE TO SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS, CATCHES THE EYE. ACROSS THE FLAT IN FRONT OF THIS MOUND, MORE NATIVES, TREES AND SHRUBS, NOW APPEAR ESTABLISHED. IN ALL, OVER 700 PLANTS WERE SET OUT IN THIS SECTION WHICH HAD TO BE NEGLECTED FOR SO MANY YEARS 13 MEDITERRANEAN THIS SECTION ALSO SUFFERED IN ITS DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THE SAME REASONS LISTED FOR THE SOUTH AMERICAN AREA. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE PLANTING SEASON ENDED, SEVERAL HUNDRED OLD WORLD PLANTS WERE SET OUT, GIVING THIS SECTION AN APPEARANCE OF BEING INHABITED AT LEAST, PALM & BAMBOO THIS YEAR, NO OTHER SECTION RECEIVED MORE ATTENTION THAN OUR GROW- ING COLLECTION OF PALMS AND BAMBOOS. ok IT IS RAPIDLY BECOMING THE MOST VARIED «}, COLLECTION CF ITS KIND ON THE WEST COAST. NURSERYMEN ATTRACTED BY THE ORNA- MENTAL APPEAL OF THE MANY SPECIES IN- QUIRED ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF NUR- SERY STOCK AND CULTURE METHODS. THE PUBLIC WANTED TO KNOW WHERE THEY MIGHT © OBTAIN PLANT MATERIAL, STUDENTS FOUND | THESE TWO GROUPS A FASCINATING STUDY, BOTANICALLY. TO SEE A PALM WITH MAROON LEAVES (LIVISTONA MARIAF) OR ONE WHOSE LEAVES HAVE A BLUISH CAST (ERYTHEA ARMATA) OR A YELLOW AND GREEN STRIPED CANE OF e- BAMBOO, DEBUNKS THE LAYMAN'S IDEA THAT ALL SUCH PLANTS COME ONLY IN GREEN! Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr*. A yellow cane, striped with green. HERB GARDEN A RUSTIC FENCE: BEGINNINGS OF A ROCK GARDEN: AN AISLE OF PURPLE LEAVED -FLOWERING PLUMS: A DIPPING WELL: A SPLIT-LEVEL JEWEL BOWL BRAISER WATER FALL: AND SOME 900 PLANTS -- ALL THESE THINGS ARE NEW TO THE HERB GARDEN, SPECIMENS. THEY ARE NOT FINISHED WITH THFIR PLANS EITHER, WATCH FOR NEXT YEAR'S REPORT. 14 This young visitor poses beside the jewel bowl waterfall, a recent addition to the Herb Garden. TES! G& OMSeLAY .GARDEN ADJACENT TO THE HERB GARDEN, ONE STEPS FROM AN OLD WORLD FORMAL GARDEN INTO A MODERN DISPLAY ARRANGEMENT OF THE 'NEW' IN BOTH ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS. LATE SUMMER THROUGH MAY, THE ANNUAL FLOWER BEDS CONTRIBUTED BRIGHT COLOR TO THE VISITOR'S TOUR. MORE THAN 20,000 PLANTS WERE REQUIRED FOR THIS SPLASH OF COLOR. PLANTINGS INCLUDING AMARYLLIS, DAY LILIES, IRIS, 'MUMS', GERANIUMS AND PELARGONIUMS ARE PERMANENT AND APPEAR IN SEMI-CIRCULAR BEDS. TALLAC KNOLL A DIVERSE PLANTING AREA BEST DESCRIBES THIS SECTION, AT TTS SUMMIT, IS THE "GARDEN OF EDEN’. FOR- MERLY AN EARTH RESERVOIR, NOW PLANTED TO TROPICAL VEGETATION, Ae eb ORCHIDS, COFFEE T AND PEYELOUEROHONS cncare A LUSH, INVITING SHADY GARDEN. THE BROMELLIAD SOCIETY i MATERIALLY AIDED THIS GARDEN WITH A COLLECTION OF COLORFUL EXOTIC PLANTS. ANOTHER SPECIALIST A Halaconia in the 'Garden of Eden! HAS GIVEN US THE BEST IN HER COLLECTION OF BEGONIAS, 5 FOUR ADDITIONAL PLANTINGS ARE NOW QUITE EVIDENT AROUND THE SHOULDERS OF THIS HILL. 1) A COLLECTION OF AVOCADO SPECIES, 2) AN ORNAMENTAL FIG COLLECTION, 3) A PINETUM (COLLECTION OF CONIFERS), AND 4) THE BEGINNINGS OF AN ECONOMIC STONE FRUIT ORCHARD, IT IS ON TALLAC KNOLL THAT OUR NATIVE STAND OF ENGLEMANN AND COAST LIVE OAKS MAY BE FOUND. THE COMBINATION OF TWO WELL TIMED SPRAYINGS AND EFFICIENT TREE CARE BY OUR ARBORIST AND HIS CREW, BROUGHT CUT THE MAJESTIC BEAUTY OF : THESE FINE OLD TREES, LUX ARBORETUM DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE LUX ARBORETUM PROPERTY HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY AN ARBORETUM GARDENER AND ONE HELPER. THESE TWO MEN HAVE DONE AN OUTSTAND- ING JOB OF CLEARING PATHS, PRUNING PLANTS, WATERING AND MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE GROUNDS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHEN IT WAS COMPLETELY NEGLECTED HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE, IT IS HOPED THAT DURING THE YEAR 1957-58 PROBATE OF THIS PROPERTY WILL BE CLOSED AND WORK CAN MOVE AHEAD TOWARD A MASTER PLAN FOR DEVELOPING THIS AREA. ANTELOPE VALLEY TEST STATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE PALMDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE PALMD GARDEN CLUB, DURING THE FALL AND WINTER OF 1956,. SURVEYS WERE MADE POR POSSIBLE SITES FOR AN ARBORETUM TEST STATION IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. THE SITE FINALLY SELECTED WAS A THREE AND ONE-HALF ACRE TRACT OF LAND ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT NORTHEAST OF PALMDALE, DISCUSSION WITH THE SANITATION DISTRICT LED TO ESTABLISHMENT OF A LEASE TO THE ARBORETUM FOR THIS PROPERTY FOR ITS USE AS A TEST STATION. IN THE SPRING OF 1956, ONE ACRE OF THE ARKA WAS AND WATER PIPE WAS INSTALLED TO ALLOW IRRIGATION OF Eilon A eg “aa ce BEGUN IMMEDIATELY, SINCE THAT TIME, OVER 500 PLANTS GROWN AT ARCADIA HAVE BEEN PLANTED, THEY REPRESENT OVER 100 DIFFERENT KIND OF PLANTS NOT NOW CR OWING IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY, THEIR GROWTH AT THE TEST STATION WILL BE WED WITH GREAT INTEREST BY ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES OF THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. 16 AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION OF THE FENCING, RESIDENTS OF PALMDALE OF THE OPERATION AND ORGANIZED AN IMPROMPTU GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY. THE PRINCIPAL OF THE PALMDALE HIGH SCHOOL, THE PALMDALE GARDEN CLUB, AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALL MADE BRIEF COMMENTS TO THE GATHERING WHO HAD COME OUT TO THE TEST STATION IN A CARAVAN OF OVER 100 CARS. THE INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM OF THE PALMDALE GARDEN CLUB IN THIS PROJECT IS OUTSTANDING. THEY VISIT THE TEST STATION REGULARLY AND FOLLOW THE GROWTH OF THE NEW INTRODUCTIONS WITH INTEREST, THEY HAVE ASSUMED FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPPLYING ONE OF THE TWO NECESSARY WEEKLY IRRIGATIONS AT THIS TEST SITE. Mrs. Charles Thomas of Palmdele Garden Club, (center) Dr. F. H. Bourne (right) and Mr. Don Woolley inspect a Hawaiien mahogany tree in the test station plantings. DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS DURING THE 1956-57 CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE, ASSEMBLY BILL 4430 WAS INTRODUCED BY ASSEMBLYMEN ERNEST R, GEDDES. THIS BILL AUTHORIZES THE ARBORETUM TO DISTRIBUTE NEW PLANTS TO COMMERCIAL NURSERYMEN AT COST. THIS IS THE FINAL STEP IN THE SUCCESSFUL INTRCDUCTION OF NEW PLANTS, TREES AND SHRUBS, FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL NURSERYMEN IN TURN MAY THEN PROPAGATE THE PLANT MATERIAL AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, A COPY OF THIS BILL FOLLOWS: "THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY SELL AT A PRICE NCT LESS THAN THE COUNTY'S ESTIMATED COST, SURPLUS PLANTS, SHRUBS, FLOWERS, TREES, AND VEGETATION, AND THEIR SEEDS OR PRODUCTS, PRODUCED AT THE COUNTY ARBORETUM, THE BOARD MAY ALSO EXCHANGE SUCH MATERIALS FOR OTHER MATERIALS OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME VALUE WITH ANY PERSON, ENTITY, POLITICAL ENTITY, OR NATION, OR MAY DISTRIBUTE SUCH MATERIALS WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY PERSON, ENTITY OR POLITICAL ENTITY IN THIS STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF TESTING SUCH MATERIALS UNDER CONDITIONS NOT OBTAINABLE AT THE COUNTY ARBORETUM, IF IN THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUCH EXCHANGE OR TESTING WILL BENEFIT THE ARBORETUM OR FACILITATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE PURPOSES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 25920. NO SUCH PLANT, SHRUB, FLOWER, TREE, SEED OR THEIR PRODUCT MAY BE SOLD IF SUCH PLANT, SHRUB, FLOWER, TREE, SEED OR THEIR PRODUCT IS AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY WITHIN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA", L7 PROPAGATION NEARLY ALL THE PLANTS GOING TO THE FIELD LOCATIONS HAVE THEIR BEGINNING IN THE HANDS OF THE ARBORETUM PROPAGATOR, AS AN AID TO HIS WORK, A SECOND 35" X 100' GLASSHOUSE WITH AN ATTACHED HEADHOUSE FACILITY CAME UNDER CON- STRUCTION THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION, TWO SMALL ORCHID GROWING HOUSES WERE CCM- - THE MONEY FOR THE LATTER TWO HOUSES WAS DONATED BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WAS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MIST PROPAGATION BENCH, USED FOR THE ROOTING OF CUTTINGS. THIS YEAR, THIS BENCH WAS ENLARGED TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR PLANTING MATERIAL IN THE VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE ARBORETUM, A LARGE STEAM STERILIZER FOR SOIL HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE PROPA- GATION PROCEDURES. CONTROL OF PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS, DETREMENTAL TO EARLY PLANT GROWTH, NOW CAN BE MORE CERTAIN, TO HELP MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY WITHIN THE GLASSHOUSE, A "HIGH" FOG WATER SPRAY WAS INSTALLED. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC DEVICE, ACTI- VATED THROUGH THERMOSTATIC CONTROL. LIQUID NUTRIENTS CAN BE WHEELED TO THE BENCH-SIDE OF ALL PLANTS USING A NEW, LARGE MOBILE FERTILIZER DISPENSER, THE USE OF PLASTIC FILMS, EITHER IN SHEET OR BAG FORM, IS FINDING MORE AND MORE APPLICATION IN MODERN PLANT PROPAGATION, HERE IT HAS BEEN USED WITH REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN THE GERMINATION OF FERN SPORES, The beginnings of our second glasshouse. Office facilities will be located in the concrete block headhouse at the far end. 18 ~ en nn PLANT RECORDS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PLANT RECORDER TO KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS OF ALL PLANT MATERIAL ENTERING OR LEAVING THE ARBORETUM. HIS RECORDS INCLUDE THE LIFE HISTORY OF EACH PLANT, FROM SEED TO MATURE SPECIMEN. THESE RECORDS FURNISH INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC CONCERNING THE PROPAGATION AND CULTURE OF THE PLANTS SEEN GROWING AT THE ARBORETUM. THE FITNESS OF THE THOUSANDS OF NEWLY INTRODUCED SPECIMENS TO GROW AND SURVIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAN READILY BE ASCERTAINED FROM RECORDS SUCH AS THIS SERVICE IN ITSELF IS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY TO THE ARBOR- ETUM, BUT TO THE HORTICULTURIST AND PLANT SCIENTISTS WHO ARE ENDEAVORING TO IMPROVE THE BEAUTY AND PRACTICAL ASPECT OF THE PLANT LIFE IN THIS AREA, SEED AND PLANT CONTROL FOR 1956-57 ACCESSIONS 2151 SEED PLANTED 896 packages CUTTINGS INSERTED 4621 PERMANENT 9039 AN ALUMINUM LABEL SIMILAR TO THE ONE BELOW IDENTIFIES EACH PLANT IN THE FIELD, FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLANT, ONE NEED CNLY INQUIRE WITH THE NUMBER AND FIGURE STAMPED IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE LABEL. SUCH LABELS ARE PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PLANT RECORDER. 54-S-1028 CISTUS TAURICUS CISTACEAE ITALY ARBORETUM NURSERY THIS SECTION, COMPRISED OF THE LATHHOUSE AND ADJOINING NURSERIES, IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE ARBORETUM. THIS YEAR'S WORK HAS EMPHASIZED THE IMPROVEMENT OF PLANT QUALITY THROUGH IMPROVED CULTURAL METHODS, INCREASING THE USE OF ONE GALLON SIZE CONTAINERS FOR NURSERY STOCK, NECESSITATES MOVING THE PLANTS TO THE FIELD BEFORE THEY BECOME TOO LARGE OR THEIR ROOTS BECOME CAN-BOUND. PLANTING-OUT WAS MORE CLOSELY COORDINATED WITH THE BEST TIME FOR PLANTING, BASED ON THE WEATHER, SOIL AND PLANT CONDITION, A HIGH DEGREE OF CONTROL WAS OBTAINED IN WEED ABATEMENT IN THE NURSERY AREA BY USING MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL METHODS. WITH ADDITIONAL HELP AVAILABLE, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GIVE CLOSER ATTENTION TO WATERING, FERTILIZATION AND SANITATION SCHEDULES. AND LASTLY, WINTER FROST PROTECTION WITHIN THE LATHHOUSE WAS AIDED THROUGH THE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DEVELOPED RETURN-STACK ORCHARD HEATERS. THE WORK OF THE NURSERY, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LATHHOUSE AND THE VARIETY OF PLANT MATERIAL BEING GROWN, BROUGHT MANY INTERESTED VISITORS TO THIS AREA SEEKING ANSWERS TO THEIR INDIV IDUAL HORTICULTURAL PROBLEMS. THE WEATHERMAN WEATHER STATION #1032 F LOWEST TEMPERATURE 31 DEG. F. JAN, 28, 1957 HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 107 DEG. F. SEPT. 9, 1956 JUNE 18, 1957 TOTAL RAINFALL 16.39 INCHES HIGHEST MONTHLY TOTAL RAIN 5.56 HIGHEST DAILY TOTAL RAIN 276 8 TOTAL EVAPORATION a4 3 20 DEMONSTRATION HOME GARDENS TO DEMONSTRATE TO HOME OWNERS HOW TO USE THE NEW ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS INTRODUCED INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE ARBORETUM RESEARCH PROGRAM, FOUR HOME DEMONSTRATION GARDENS ARE BEING DEVELOPED, PLANS FOR THESE GARDENS WERE OBTAINED THROUGH A LANDSCAPE CONTEST OPENED TO ALL REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE ARCHITECTS OF THE WINNING DESIGNS WERE THEN RETAINED TO DEVELOP AN OVERALL MASTER PLAN FOR THE FOUR GARDENS AS WELL AS TO MAKE PLANS FOR THE MASONRY AND WOOD STRUCTURES AND PLANTING LISTS, THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION, SUNSET MAGAZINE HAS SUPPLIED BOTH THE AWARD MONEY FOR THE WINNING DESIGNS AND THE RETAINER FEES FOR THE SELECTED LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS, IN ADDITION, SUNSET MAGAZINE HAS CONTRIBUTED FREELY OF THE TIME OF ITS STAFF OF GARDEN SPECIALISTS IN PLANNING THESE GARDENS, HE FOUR GARDENS ARE BEING PLANNED TO REPRESENT HOME OWNERS OF FOUR CONTRASTING TYPES OF GARDENS. THE FIRST GARDEN IS DESIGNED FOR THE HOME OWNER WHO HAS A SMALL BOAT ON A TRAILER PARKED IN THE GARAGE. ON WEEKENDS, HE LEAVES THE GARDEN FOR THE SEASHORE OR MOUNTAIN LAKES, HIS YARD IS PLANNED TO BE ONE OF LOW MAINTENANCE, PLANTS GROWN HERE WILL REQUIRE THE MINIMUM OF ATTENTION AND WATERING, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR THIS FAMILY TO STAY HOME WEEKENDS TO WATER THE YARD, IN CONTRAST, THE SECOND GARDEN IS PLANNED FOR A RETIRED COUPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING A GARDEN OF UNUSUAL PLANTS. THEY HAVE THE TIME TO SPEND IN GIVING SUCH PLANTS ALL OF THE ATTENTION THEY NEED. THIS GARDEN WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS THE PLANT COLLECTORS GARDEN. Site of the Home Demonstration Gardens north of the Administration Building. Various treatments of concrete slab surfaces are visible in the foreground. 21 THE THIRD GARDEN IS DESIGNED AS THE HOME OF A RISING YOUNG EXECUTIVE. IT IS VISUALIZED HE MAY BE ABOUT 42 YEARS CLD. HE USES HIS GARDEN TO EN- TERTAIN CLIENTS AND TRANSACT BUSINESS, HIS GARDEN WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS THE ENTERTAINERS GARDEN, THE FOURTH GARDEN IN THIS SERIES WILL BE FOR THE MAN AND WIFE WHO HAVE FOUR CHILDREN RANGING IN AGE FROM TWO TO NINE AND WHO HAVE A DOG. THE DOG BURIES BONES IN THE FLOWER BEDS AND TAKES AFTERNOON SNOOZES IN THE FERNS, THE CHILDREN CLIMB THE TREES, RIDE TRICYCLES OFF OF THE FATHES AND FREQUENTLY BREAK OFF A CHOICE FLOWER IN THEIR ECSTACY OF A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK, TEIS GARDEN IS DESIGNED TO BE VERY PRACTICAL AND VERY FUNCTIONAL. THE PLANTING MATERIAL WILL BE ATTRACTIVE BUT ALSO RUGGED. SOME DEVICES WILL BE USED TO CONTROL THE WHEEL TOY PROBLEM SUCH AS HAVING SLIGHTLY RAISED BEDS FCR MANY OF THE ANNUALS. INSTALLATION OF THESE GARDENS WAS BEGUN LATE IN THE SPRING OF 1957, IT IS HOPED THAT AT LEAST ONE GARDEN MAY BE OPENED FOR THE PUBLIC DURING THE WINTER OF 1957. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT EACH YEAR CNE OF THE GARDENS WILL BE REPLANTED WITH NEW INTRODUCTIONS. THIS WILL SERVE TO SUSTAIN INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS TO ALLOW A CURRENT DISPLAY OF THE NEW PLANTS RECOMMEND- ED FOR GROWING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Circular, colored, concrete stepping stones lead through the Entertainer's Garden 22 ARBORETUM LIBRARY THE MOVE TO OUR NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BROUGHT GREAT SATISFACTION TO OUR LIBRARY STAFF, FIRST, BOOK SHELVING SPACE WAS INCREASED. SECOND, A SMALL READING CORNER WAS GAINED, A LUXURY LACKING IN OUR FORMER BUILDING. THIRD, STORAGE SPACE IN THE BASEMENT HAS BROUGHT ALL OUR BOOKS AND PERIODI- CALS UNDER ONE ROOF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY EIGHT YEARS. THE NEW FACILITIES MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 150 PERCENT IN- CREASE IN THE USE OF THE LIBRARY'S RESOURCES BY TEACHERS, STUDENTS, HORTI- CULTURISTS AND OTHER NON-STAFF MEMBERS, THE CLASSIFICATION SCHEME FOR OUR REFERENCE MATERIALS WAS USED WITH EQUAL EASE BY THE AMATEUR AS WELL AS THE PROFESSIONAL PLANTSMAN, ADAPTED FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY LIBRARY, THIS SYSTEM IS PARTICULARLY DESIGNED FOR LIBRARIES NOT ONLY DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL FIELDS, BUT ALSO SERVES FOR THE RELATED BRANCHES OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY. AMONG THE ACQUISITIONS OF THE LIBRARY WAS A RECENT REPRINT OF THE GRAY HERBARIUM CARD INDEX, ISSUES 1-218, THIS INDEX OF PLANTS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE IS A MOST USEFUL TOOL FOR THE PLANT TAXONOMIST. THE TOTAL OF NEWLY ACQUIRED LIBRARY MATERIALS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR WAS AS FOLLOWS: BOOKS 321 PAMPHLETS A i 5 NON-CURRENT SERIALS 16 volumes LOAN NON-CURRENT SERIALS 364 volumes CURRENT SERIAL PUBLICATIONS 218 BOUND: NON-CURRENT SERIALS 166 volumes ARBORETUM VISITORS THE ARBORETUM ENJOYED AN EXTREMELY SATISFYING VISITATION RECORD THIS YEAR, TWICE AS MANY VISITORS PASSED THROUGH OUR TURNSTILES AS THE YEAR BEFORE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE GROUNDS WERE OFEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND VISITORS COULD WALK THROUGHOUT THE PLANTINGS AT THEIR LEISURE. THESE TWO OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES MAY BE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCREASED ATTENDANCE, The Information Center and Getehouse. The staff here answers questions by the public on gardening and horticulture. Guided tours of the Arboretum initiate here also. Qnonthly Uttendance Jotals gnet Attendance number to the ssn epamsetadai pe CUR VISITORS CAME FROM NEAR AND se ook a FAR: RIVERSIDE GARDEN CLUB, AMERICAN 1950-810) ASSOCIATION OF NURSERIES AND BOTANIC ARCHITECTS, EACH OF THE 48 STATES WERE ooo REPRESENTED. THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CAMBODIA; DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, CAIRO, EGYPT; HELSINKI, FINLAND; SOUTH AFRICA; AUSTRALIA, AND TOKYO. THE "GUEST REGISTER" HAS BEEN GEOGRAPHICALLY FASCINATING. Pwice as many visitors toured the grounds in 1956-57 as in 1955-56, NOTABLY, SPRINGTIME HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST POPULAR SIGHT- SEEING SEASON, THE LOW ATTENDANCE POINTS REFLECT THE RAIN SEASON, AS PLANTINGS DEVELOP WHICH WILL INCREASE THE FALL COLOR, AUTUMN VISITATION WILL GRCW IN NUMBERS, THESE GRAPHS DO NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WEEKDAY AND WEEKEND ATTENDANCE, FCRMERLY, THE LATTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GREATER; THIS YEAR, WEEKDAY TCTALS ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF EACH WEEK'S TCTAL, CHILDREN ATTENDANCE FROM SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND YOUTH OR- GANIZATIONS (TOURS MADE BY RESERVATION) TOTALLED 12,459. A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF NUMBERS OF ALL CHILDREN INCLUDED IN THE YEAR'S TOTAL WOULD PROBABLY BE 30 PERCENT. 10.000 Cumulative Monthly Totals for 1955-56 & 1956-57 7 10Q000+- sa Paooo. dttendance number to the nearest Thousand J as-s7 a 84000+ 4 v ¥ Fe racco+ , 4 vA sac00- we Fé 4 $a.0004 ra a #00004 ora an 958-56 ee saa ‘34000. po ee 20.000 oe Co ee te ae tl 18,000 SFist vy ss aueusr)— SapTEMeAR «6 xTOREA «6weveM~R «ooutarean «JaNuaRyY §=6FaRRUARY =A AP mar ene This monthly cumulative graph shows that the greatest increase in attendance was in the latter six months of the fiscal year. 25 EDUCATION THE TERM "EDUCATION" HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING FOR EACH PERSON, REGARDLESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, THERE IS A GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT TO HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, ONE MUST FEEL, SEE OR LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT WHICH HE HAD LITTLE PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE. THE SATISFACTION OF THIS DEFINITION TAKES TWO FORMS AT THE ARBCRETUM. ONE IS INFORMAL, THE OTHER A MORE FORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, COMPOSED OF REGULAR CLASS MEETINGS. THE INFORMAL PROGRAM IS QUR GUIDED JEEP TRAIN TOURS, AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE PARTICIPATED IN BY THE GREATER PORTION OF THE 103,000 VISITORS TO THE ARBORETUM THIS YEAR. THE FORMAL PROGRAM IS A SERIES OF CLASSES IN HORTI- CULTURE, BOTANY AND PLANT AESTHETICS, BOTH FORMS OF OUR EDUCATICNAL ACTIVITIES, INCREASING IN SERVICE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, LOOK TO THE 1957-58 SEASON FOR PLAYING EVEN A GREATER ROLE IN THE OVERALL LIFE CF THE ARBORETUM. a . asi a «* 1 Be phe art AgEY. as ee e Pg Information Aid, Denis Kucera, explains the phenomenon of a natural graft in this Englemann oak to a group of school children. REE /DENTIFICATION CLASS 6 b2 REG/STEREO ys 670 PUPIL HOURS Mrs, Jane Morse conducted a class in "Art in Nature" for children between the ages of 7 and 14. Here she helps two pupils master the techniques of finger painting. ae rw Tie 240 PUPIL HOURS teases Bo puri, Hovrs QuAsé DERS Leacers F 7 245 puPil wouns "HOME OWNERS k NW FIELD D DECEMBER oy meearaien APRIL 200 REGISTERED a ASS ¢ Ay) wears Ch \ : eIRST 1OnN gn EG/STERED 720 PUPIL HOURS COND SESSION 45 REGISTERED 408 PUPIL HOURS Dr. Lawson, ea member of the Southern California Unit of the Herb Society of America, expleining the secrets of cooking with herbs, Delicious samples of this ert can be seen on the table, NG CLASS IME LANDSCAPING Coo Ho. 73 REGISTERED 370 P uPIL HOURS. Members of the evening class in Home Landscaping discuss their problems in design and the use of plent materials, Mr. Eric Johnson, Instructor, is et the bleckboerd, Foran can SHE 7CHING “a REGISTERED PUP £ #f 3/6 OURS TAXONOMY CLASS 40 REGISTERED O PUPIL HOURS GRAND TOTAL OF REGISTERED STUDENTS 748 GRAND TOTAL OF PUPIL HOURS OF INSTRUCTION 3051 FOR F OF 1 JUNIOR BIRD STUDY HERB LECTURES PRACTICAL ORCHID CULTURE BOTANICAL SKETCHING TREE IDENTIFICATION HOME LANDSCAPING BEGINNING PLANT IDENTIFICATION ADVANCED PLANT IDENTIFICATION 29 RE SE ARUN RESEARCH, USING A SPECIFIC METHOD OF PROCEDURE, ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS CR EXPLAIN OBSERVATIONS ENCOUNTERED IN A PARTICULAR FIELD OF STUDY. PROBLEMS IN HORTICULTURE ARE MANY, DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE ARBORETUM MADE PROGRESS ALONG CERTAIN LINES OF ESTABLISHED PROJECTS AND INITIATED NEW AREAS OF IN- VESTIGATION, THE FIRE RESISTANT PLANT PROJECT THE FOLLOWING IS AN ABSTRACT OF A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING CF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AUGUST 26-30, 1956, HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, STORRS, CONN. "A Germination Inhibitor in Cistus salvifolius, an introduced plant for erosion control in So. California". Gustaf Juhren, L. B. Martin and Marcella Juhren. Periodic fires in the chaparral vegetation of southern Californie mountains present constant reforestration and erosion control problems. Growing con- ditions on these exposed mountain Slopes are severe. Introduced plant species ere often used to supplement native vegetation. Species of Cistus (Rock Rose), @ Mediterranean native, is able to grow under these conditions and in addition shows a certain degree of resistance to burning. Cistus seed germinated Sporadically over long periods when grown in the greenhouse and when directly seeded in the field. Chercoal mixed with seedbed soil appeared to hasten and produce greater germination. Seeds of Cistus salvifolius mixed with acti- vated charcoal and germinated under controlled conditions (light, moisture, temperature) resulted in: earlier germination then in the control without charcoal, the greater number of seedlings produced in 10 days was significant at the 5% level compared with the control. A second set of seeds germinated under identical conditions but in which the seedlings were removed each day, produced similar results. These experiments suggest the presence of some type of germination inhibitor in seeds of Cistus salvifolius. The total germination for the two sets of treatments was not significantly different at the end of the eight weeks experimental period. Inspection of Cistus seedling plots established on a recent burn in the Sen Bernardino Mts. This is a co- operative venture between the United States Forest Service and the Arboretum. 30 THE ELECTRIC FURNACE THE FURNACE IN THE ILLUSTRATION (RIGHT) WAS CONSTRUCTED TO TEST LEAF SAMPLES FOR FIRE RESISTANT PROFERTIES. THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE AT THE CENTER OF THE FURNACE IS APPROXIMATELY 950 DEG. F. FCUR ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE WIRES, FASTENED ALONG THE INNER WALLS OF THE FURNACE, SERVE AS HEATING ELEMENTS, A SINGLE LEAF OF A PLANT SPECIES IS INSERT- ED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE OVEN, USING A PAIR OF LONG HANDLED TONGS, THE LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED FOR LEAF TO BURST INTO FLAMES IS RECORDED. THESE DATA ARE USED AS A SCALE OF FIRE RESISTANCE. THE FIRST EXPERIMENT, USING BOTH FRESH AND DRIED LEA ES, SHOWED THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN TIME REQUIRED FOR THE VARIOUS LEAF SPECIES TO BURST INTC FLAME WAS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT. THE ARBORETUM HAS CONTINUED TO COOPERATE WITH THE U.S, FOREST SERVICE IN FIELD PLOT TESTS OF CISTUS THROUGHOUT THE ADJACENT MOUNTAIN AREA, FURTHER, MANY OTHER LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE BECOME INTERESTED IN FIRE CONTROL BY PLANT MATERIAL. COOPERATIVE WORK THROUGH CISTUS SEED DISTRIBUTION AND CONFFRENCES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH THESE AGENCIES, AT PRESENT, THE ARBCRETUM IS SERVING AS A COORDINATOR IN THIS INITIAL STUDY OF FIRE RESISTANT PLANT RESEARCH. THE FLOWER CARPET PROJECT WITH A RESEARCH GRANT OF *9,000 TO THE CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION, INC,, FROM THE LONGWOOD FOUNDATICN, STUDIES WERE INITIATED CN THE "FLOWER CARPET PROJECT", THE OBJECT OF THESE STUDIES IS IC DEVELOF THE MEANS OF GROWING DWARF ANNUAL FLOWERING PLANTS, SUCH AS THOSE FOUND IN THE MOJAVE AND CCLORADC DESERTS, ON A CARPETING MATERIAL WHICH COULD THEN BE USED IN THE PREPARATION OF FLOATS, AS FOR EXAMPLE IN THE ROSE PARADE, OR IN OTHER PLACES WHERE FLCRAL DISPLAYS ARE DESIRED. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE JANUARY 1957. DETAILED STUDIES ARE NOW IN PROGRESS REGARDING THE BEST METHCDS OF GER- MINATING THE SEFD AS WELL AS THE ENVIRCNMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR GROWING THE VARIOUS KINDS OF SEEDS, THE STUDIES ON FNVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE BEING MADE AT THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, EARHART PLANT LABORATORY. Flower Carpet. Lower half of pan, seedling Alyssum, (left) removed from moisture chamber one week after plants at right. Upper, Californie poppy seedlings. Sceds germinated on foem plastic or urethane plastic set on meg Oe NS vermiculite and fed 3 times e week ‘ Praga © ee with nutrients. — INE tS 31 THE PLANT HORMONE STUDIES GIBBERELLIC ACID, A RELATIVELY NEW CHEMICAL IN THE FIELD OF PLANT HORMONES, IS NOW READILY AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH AND HORTICULTURAL USES, IN GENERAL, IT HAS THE EFFECT OF CAUSING ELONGATION OF PLANT CELLS, THIS RESPONSE MAY HAVE NUMEROUS HORTICULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS WHEN IT IS DESIRED TC OBTAIN TALLER PLANTS, FASTER, IN VIEW OF THE WIDE POPULAR INTEREST IN GIBBERELLIC ACID, A SERIES OF EXPERI- MENTS USING THIS COMPOUND WERE INITIATED AT THE ARBORETUM. A BRIEF PROGRESS RE- PORT OF THIS WORK FOLLOWS: A. TO THE STEMS OF SEEDLINGS OF ERANTHEMUM ATROPURPUREUM, LANOLIN PASTE CONTAINING 25 PPM (PARTS PER MILLION) OF GIBBERELLIC ACID WAS APPLIED AS A RING AT THE UPPER MOST NODE, . MEASUREMENTS SHOWED BOTH THE INTER- NODE ABOVE AND BELOW THE TREATED NODE GREW SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER THAN THOSE ON UNTREATED STEMS, B. TO SEEDLING STEMS OF CARICA PAPAYA VAR. SOLO, A LANOLIN RING WAS APPLIED CONTAINING GIBBERELLIC ACID, NO ELONGATION OF STEM WAS OBSERVED, HOWEVER, A GROWTH IN STEM THICKNESS RESULTED AT THE SITE OF APPLICATION, FURTHER STUDIES SHOULD REVEAL WHETHER CELL SIZE OR CELL NUMBER WAS INCREASED BY THE TREATMENT , C. AT THE SUGGESTION oF MR. GWYNN WILSON OF COACHELLA VALLEY, TESTS WERE INITIATED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF SPRAYING APPLICATIONS OF GIBBER- APPLICATION OF A WATER SPRAY OF EITHER 10 PPM OR 100 PPM GIBBERELLIC ACID Thompson Seedless grapes harvested June 21, 1957, from flower clusters sprayed with 100 ppm Gibberellic acid on April 9, 1957, Above, left, sprayed; right, non- sprayed. Below, close-up view of individual fruits alternating non~sprayed and sprayed from left to right. 32 BFECIAL EVENTS Lea Posada on the veranda of the Hugo Reid Adobe, presented by children of the Little Theeter. This group is sponsored by the Arboretum Historical Committee. THE INCREASED ATTENDANCE WAS A REFLECTION /\ OF PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR. Ms Wie ercy | * : WEEKLY NEWS RELEASES CARRIED STORIES OF : NEW PLANT INTRCDUCTIONS TO BIRD WALKS AND : aie CONSTRUCTION ADVANCES. NEARLY 10° PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED TC GARDEN CLUBS, CHURCHES AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, Neighbors of th a. BY TRAINED ARBORETUM PERSONNEL. Sunday, December 16, 1956 4:30 - 5:30 P.M. THE ARBORETUM WAS INVITED TO DISPLAY 301 N, Baldvin Avenue SS EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH MATERIALS IN SEVEN pe arg preg er setting o: °. Sona a Sn Oa FLOWER SHOWS, IN THE SOUTHLAND AREA. Rei tion will fe Following tt stration Bull: your tion. shen MANY TRADE MAGAZINES CARRIED INDIVIDUAL ins pec’ tata Lage 7 Pat Mra STORIES OF THE ARBORETUM, COVERING A VARIETY The Arboretum Staff, OF SUBJECTS. SPECIAL EVENTS HELD AT THE ARBORETUM, SUCH AS LA POSADA, INTERESTED FIRST TIME VISITORS WHO LATER RETURNED FOR A COMPLETE TOUR OF THE GROUNDS. pine from Dr. Stewart. Six such trees were given to the Boy Scouts at our Arbor Day program. Various lawn equipment on display during the Home Owners Lawn Field Dey. Arboretum staff members help release gift of wild fowl from the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. The Arboretum's display at Descanso Gardens annual Camilla Show. CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION, INC. ACTING NOW AS A SPONSORING ORGANIZATION, THE CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION, INC, SERVES THE ARBORETUM IN MANY WAYS, THE FOUNDATION DESERVES MUCH CREDIT FOR ITS WORK OF OBTAINING GIFTS OF PLANTS AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR THE ARBORETUM. THE GIFTS, DIVERSE IN KIND, ARE ALL OF CONSIDERABLE VALUE AND REPRESENT THE INDIVIDUAL'S BELIEF IN THE FUTURE OF THE ARBORETUM'S WORK WITHIN THF COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, RECENT GIFTS: 1. THE ROBERT C, CASAMAJOR ORCHID PROPAGATING HOUSE 2. THE J. F. DOUGLAS MEMORIAL ORCHID HOUSE 3. THE BOYLE ORCHID LITHOGRAPH COLLECTION (Through donated funds) 4. THE COOKE REDWOOD GREENHOUSES 5. PHOENIX RECLINATA PALMS 6. A COLLECTION OF 6,250 CYMBIDIUM ORCHID PLANTS FROM THE MOSHER FOUNDATION 7. THE ARTHUR FREED CYPRIPEDIUM ORCHID COLLECTION 8. THE MCFIE CYPRIPEDIUM ORCHID COLLECTION 9, A CRYSTAL CHANDELIER FOR THE "QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE" (Through donated funds) 10. A MELODEON FROM MR. WINSTON S. CRUSE li. FIVE THOUSAND ARBORETUM BIRD CHECK LISTS FROM MR. W. DAN QUATTLEBAUM The Casamajor and Douglas Orchid Houses. These houses make it possible for visitors to see the many orchid species and learn something of their propagation, 36 The Foundation sponsored Jeep Train makes touring the Arboretum more pleasant. Coelogyne pandurate. An example of the lithograph orchid prints from the Boyle collection. "Lasce Leaves", the official publi- cation of the Foundation, is pub- ished quarterly in conjunction with | the Southern California Horticultural / Society. It carries articles on horticulture, work of the Arboretum, California history, and research dete in the fields of horticulture and botany, It has a circulation of about 1000, This is not a picture of just eny group of sucks, of any lagoon, of any peacock, Your heart strings will be touched with sedness when you learn the poultry truth of this scene. Almost from the shell, this peacock was reised with a duck, Together, However, fate was not to be Cenied. One day, the duck found our lagoon too irresistible and paddled away from the shore for a swim. The scene, the play, the pathos are united. Dubbed "psychopathic" peacock, but more éppropriate would be "schizophrenic", he'1] probably never be sure of his friend again, but of greeter tragedy, his own position in the feathered world, 38 mrPctURE CREDIT Photos by J. Shulman and loaned by the Concrete Masonry Institute Entrance to the Administration Building Entrance Pavilion Lecture Room Administration Building Patio Front Yard of the Administration Building Information Center “is SE RE Sa SRE iS saad Ww OWN & Ww # 8 Hugo Reid Excavation -- Edith Wallece # 9 Archeeology Students -- Arcadia Tribune #18 Antelope Velley Test Station -- Marie T. Walsh # 27 Information Aid -- Independent Star-News #29 Mrs. Jane Morse -- Independent Ster-News #48 Arbor Day -- Arcedia Tribune Editorial Staff Louis Martin, Editor Gerry Patten, Dllustrator Joyce Day, Production