The American HORTICULTURAL Magazine spring 1969 / volume 48 / number 2 Journal of the American Horticultural Society, Inc.

2401 CALVERT STREET, N.W. / WASHI l\:GTO:-J, D. c. 20008 For United Horticulture . .. The particular objects and business of the American Horticultural Society are to promote and encourage national interest in sc ientific resea rch and education in horticultw"e in all of its bmnches.

EDITORIAL COi\jl\IITTEE DIRECTORS MR. VINCENT K. BAILEY DR. FREDERICK G. MEYER, Acting Chairman .... Washington, D.C. St. Paul, Minnesota MRS. ER NESTA D. BALLARD DR. J OHN L. CREECH ...... New Carrollton, l\laryland Philadelphia, Pennsyh ania DR. CONRAD B. LI NK ...... Uniyersity Park, ;\laryland l\IRS. J ULIA N 'VV. HILL Wilmington, Delawa'fe l\jR. EL\"IN AlcDoNALD ...... New York, New York DR. JOSEP H E. HOWLAND Columbus, Ohio DR. NE IL W. ST UART ...... Sih·er Spring, l\bryland l\IR. EDWARD P. HU~IE Edwardsville, Illinois DR. FRED B. \\ ' ID~IOYER ...... Las Cruces, New l\lexico DR. LO UIS B. l\IARTIN Dem'er, Colorado l\IR. WILBUR H . YOUNG~IAN ...... Siher Spring, l\laryland DR. FREDERICK G. MEYER Washington, D. C. ;\fR. BRIAN O. ;\I UL LIGA N OFFICERS Seattle, ' Vashington MR. R . HENRY NORWEB, l-'residelll JR. i\IR. FRED C. GALLE ...... Pine Mountain, Georgia l\·lentor, Ohio l\IR. JOH N l\1. PATEK First Vice President Rochester, New York DR. DAVID G. LEACH ...... Broohille, Penn:;y lva nia l\IRS. FRANCIS PATTESON·KNIGHT !\fcLean, Virginia Second Vice President and Treasurer DR . LEON C. SNYDER DR. R . C. ALLEN ...... l\[ansfield, Ohio St. Paul, !\finnesota DR. NEIL W. STUART Secretary Beltsville, Maryland l'V[RS. FRA NC IS I'A I'TESON·KN IGIIT ...... l\lcLean, Virginia DR. HAROLD B. TUKEY, SR. Woodland, Michigan Imm ediate Past President EARL E. VALLOT MR. JOI·IN H. W ALKER ...... W as hington, D. C. Youngsville, Louisi:ll1a DR. FRED B. 'VVlD~!oYER Assistant Secretary Las Cruces, New Mexico l\fRS. ELIZAllETH G. EASTIIURN, Execlltive Director l\[R. NATHANIEL 'VVHITTlER Washington, D. C. Medfield, Massachusetts DR. DO NALD \V Y~ IA N Assislant Treasurer .J amaica Plain, l\IR. GLENN B. EASTBliRN, Finance Office ...... Washington, D. C. l\[assachusetts

THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL ~' [AGAZINE is the official publication of The American Horticultural Society and is issued during the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall quarters. The magazine is included as a benefit of membership in The American Horticu ltural Soc iety, individual membership dues being $ 15.00 a year. THE AMERIC.-\N HORTICULTURAL :\fAGAZINE is devoted to the dissemination of knowledge in the sc ience and a rt of growing ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, and related subjects. Original papers which increase knowledge of plant materials of economic and aesthetic importance are invited. For manuscript specifi ca tions, please consult the chairman of the Pub· lications Committee. Second class postage paid at Baltimore, Maryland and at additional mailing offices. Copy· right © 1%9 by The American Horticultural Society, Inc. SPRING. 1969 VOL UME 48 • NUMllER 2

In This Issue

Guest Editorial- Standards in Horticulture, FR ED C. GALLE ______50

Western Horizons in Tuberous Begonias, Polyanthus Primroses, and Delphinium-FRANK REINELT ______52

Fertiliza,tion of Trees, Shrubs, and 'Woody Groundcovers-JAcK 'WIKLE ______57 Eucalyptus at Disneyland-MoRGAN EVANS ______62

Nutrition of English Holly (flex aquifolium) in Oregon-R. L. TICKNOR, A. N. ROBERTS, and O. C. COMPTON ______.______67

Box Huckleberry-A Much Neglected Native-HAzEL and DON SMITH ______70

Vernonia-A Useful Native for Gardens-SAM B. JONES ______76 The Tree as Air Conditioner-JoHN M. H ALLER ______79

Excerpts from Peter J. Van Melle ______69, 80

Advances in Horticulture-NElL ' IV. STUART, Editor Hawaiian Introductions-DoNALD P. VVATSON ______81 vVeeds-LoRAN L. DA NIEl.SO N 84 Gardeners' Notebook George Wasbington Memorial Cedar-RoBERT B. FISHER ______87

B ergenia strae heyi-EMILY B ROWN ______87

An Unusually Corky Sweet Gum-J. T. BALDWIN ______88

Trees From Pot Plants-ANN N. SHELDON ______89 C leyera japoniea ___ -1 . T. BALDWI N ______90

The Rare Oconee Bells-MARIE B. MELLINGER ______91

Rare Korean Bitter Tree Thrives in New Hampshire-E. lVI. MEADER ___ _ 92 Book Reviews-CONRAD B. LINK, Editor ______94

Taxonomist, FREDERICK G. MEYER A1ana o'ing Editor, ELIZABETH G. EASTBURN

COVER JLL USTR . \TTO ~ Carmine-Rose Hybrid Polyanthus. Pacific Strain o[ Polya ntlills Primroses devel­ oped by Frank Reinelt. PIiO IO VbrrERI.E AND REINELT Guest Editorial

Standards In• Horticulture

Everyone of us who gardens, from the novice to the professional, is involved with and dependent upon the standards which apply in horticulture. Each of us seeks the best in everything which pertains to the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants. V\Then our efforts sometimes produce second-best results we are disappointed, we feel somehow deprived, and we set a new course-determined to produce a first-rate result the next time around. Horticultural standards have their roots in that individual determina­ tion for excellence. Perhaps even more than the professional horticultur­ ist, who has the advantage of formal study and large facilities at his disposal, the home gardener on his own is the major creator of those standards. We admire and applaud the unbelievably beautiful specimens grown under controlled conditions, but what really excites us and stimulates our work are the plants which we can bring to excellent standards of beauty, hea lth and hardiness in our own backyards. In the process of doing this, we find ourselves involved in horticultural stan­ dards at every step. The American Horticultural Society'S committees are in large part groups concerned with the work of establishing standards for our field. Our Committee on Nomenclature and Registration is concerned with the correctness of plant n ames. It will have some news articles in early issues of the Magazine on recent name changes of popular plants, because correct plant names have to do with standards. Through this Committee the Society will distribute, this Fall, the new edition of The Internati01tal Code f01- Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants. As plantsmen we need to know about color standards, too. The Nickerson Color Fan, for which the Society is distributor, is _one of our regular garden tools. Its color names have been selected as standard by the Inter-Society Color Council and the National Bureau of Standards. Our Standards and Ethics Committee has worked for more than two years on the new color fan which the Munsell Company wi ll have ready before the end of 1969. This committee works also with both public and private agencies on standards in horticutural advertising, work aimed at assuring that our gardening materials-plan ts, soi ls, fertilizers, con tainers, insecticides, tools, markers, and other supportive items-are as advertised. By their very nature our sponsorship of our annllal American Horti­ cultural Congress and our co-sponsors hi p of the annual Williamsburg

50 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Garden Symposium are standard-setting events. They bring together a goodly cross-representation of expertise, individual and group, where we can measure our knowledge and experience against the widely accepted standards to which we all aspire. Our new Plant Records Center Committee's basic work is a search for the best method of data processing and storing vast amounts of horticul­ tural information for instant retrieval and use. In brief, research for a standard of value for the whole field of horticulture. Unquestionably, educational standards in horticulture would better serve the public's need if public schools put gardening courses in their curricula for youngsters of all ages. Our Education Committee is de­ veloping a plan to help interested educators and their communities do just that, beginning this Fall. Heart of the program is the standard set by the Cleveland public schools in 1904-and strengthened yearly since. We support another kind of standard in our belief that all men everywhere should have the beauty and the ensuing benefits of a green environment in which to live and work and play. Our Natural Beauty Committee is organizing a national effort to put horticulture into action in urban centers across the land. Its aim is maximum beauty with minimum care-criteria for our own gardens as well as for the public sector. We like to see outstanding horticultural work recognized because the individuals and the organizations which achieve it are creating models for all of us to follow. Our Awards and Citations Committee searches out the best in each field each year for the Liberty Hyde Bailey Medal and for special citations. Our Film Festival Committee sets standards, too. It awards Certificates of Merit annually to those producers of motion pictures on horticultural subjects which qualify under genuinely instructional and/or educational cri teria. Our American Horticultural Magazine sets a high standard of authen­ ticity for our members in the United States and in 53 other countries and territories, where its reg-ular issues and its special issues, our popular handbooks, are respected reference works. Our new bulletin, News and Views, is developing a high standard of reporting which we believe will eventually serve as a major communicator among people and programs in horticulture. Our Committee on International Horticultural Relations is our liaison with the International Horticultural Society. As such it links us with the work, and thus the standards, of gardeners around the globe. This list is far from complete. Standards and their maintenance are the ultimate goal of all the Society'S committees. Who finances this necessary and continuing search? You and I and all the other members of the Society. This is one big way in which your dues dollars go to work. As gardeners we learn very early to avoid the sub-standard. In this, we and AHS share a certain kinship with that late, great champion of standards of whom Lady Churchill once said, "Sir Winston is easily satisfied-with the best!" Sincerely yours,

FRED C. GALLE, PTesident American H01-ticuitural Society Director of Horticulture Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia 31822

SPRING 1969 51 Western Horizons in T llberolls Begonias, Polyanthus Primroses, and Delphinium 1

FRANK REINELT

Plant breeding is a way of life, one the principal progenitor of the large that has filled mine happily to the exclu­ flowers that we have today. This was sion of other normal pursuits. Fads and followed by B. clm'kei, B. TOsaflo1"O, and fancies come and go with men cirding B. davisii from Chupe at an elevation of the earth in rockets, Flower Children 10,000 feet. Six species are represented blooming in the Haight-Ashbury, and in the parentage of today's large flowers defici t financing worrying the olds ters. and variety of forms created by three Do I know about these things? Oh, yes, generations of plant breeders in the past but a plant breeder just goes peacefully 100 years. on, cozily insulated from ou tside disturb­ The early work in breeding tuberous ances and with his eyes firmly fixed on begonias was done in England by the the horizon where the future gener­ firm of Veitch and was followed on the ations of plants are arising. continent in Belgium and France. Lemoine in Nancy, France, perhaps the Tuberous Begonias most productive plant breeder of all It is barely 100 years since the first time, claimed the prize of raising the species involved in breeding tuberous first double tuber-ous begonia flower dur­ begonias were introduced to Europe. Be­ ing the 1870's. gonia boliviensis came from Bolivia in The second generation was rep­ 1864 followed in 1865 by B. pearcei resented by Mr. C. F. Langdon, who which was found near La Paz. Introduc­ with Mr. Blackmore, was responsible for tions from Peru in 1867 provided our most of the progress up to the early most valuable breeding material for 1930's when it was my good fortune to modern tuberous begonias and included carry the ball in the next generation. B. veitch ii, discovered near Cuzco at an The beginning of commercial produc­ elevation of 12,500 feet which has been tion of begonias in California dates back to the embargo enacted on European bulbs in 1917. After several false starts in the north and also in Southern Califor­ nia the industry settled around Mon­ Frank ReineJ.t, of Vet­ terey Bay where conditions were nearest terle and Reinelt, Cap­ itola, California 95010. to the ideal-a long season of growth through cool foggy summers, yet with l AddTess given be­ sufficient chill in December to force the fOTe the 23Td AmeTi­ tubers into dormancy. can HOTticultuml Con­ In the beginning, seed was imported gTess, San Fmncisco, from Europe, and the growers eventual­ Sept. 20, 1968. ly became successful through trial and error despite the lack of any formal

52 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY gardening trammg. The transition of one grower was from strawberries and the other, from cattle. I came to California ill 1926 [rom Czechoslovakia as a trained horticultur­ ist, full of ambition and with the rosy dream of following in Mr. Burbank's footsteps. Actually, I tried to do just that in the beginning, raising everything wildly in this gardening paradise. The day was never long enough, and my test garden GOntained everything from Transvaal daisies to tall bearded iris. Delphinium and begonias soon stepped out in front with the polyanthus prim. roses getting their fair share. These three subjects became not only my pas· sion, but eventually my bread and bllt­ ter. The depression kindly pushed me into commercial production as my surpluses were becoming too expensive to grow and my long·suffering friends were be­ ginning to give up on maintaining them just so I could sort them over when in bloom. The Vetterle Brothers were al­ ready large-scale tuberous begonia grow­ ers, and in 1934 I joined them, establish­ ing Vetterle & Reinelt dedicated to plant improvement. Since my partners already grew up­ ward of a million begonias yearly, I started experimen ts in every direction on a large scale. Napoleon said that God was on the side of the big battalions, and while this is not necessarily true in plant breeding, it definitely helps. F,lowering time found me in the fields from dawn until dusk. Dr. Sidney B. Mitchell, dean of Librarianship at the University of California, contributed the lion's share to my education. He turned his students into sleuths to come up with material, books, and articles for my work. After years of experimenting, I have concluded tha t nothing su persedes selec­ tive plant breeding, and that the short­ cuts that sounded like magic usual! y ended short of their promises. Imagina­ tion, coupled with a dedication which amounts to obsession, is the only thing that gets results. Then one must be alert Blue Jay, one of the named Pacifics. to the breaks when they do occur, as Pacific Giant Strain of delphinium hy. hrids developed by Frank Reinelt. well as visualize what might turn up. PIIOTO VETTERI F. AND REINELT

SPRING 1969 53 Tuberous begonias in the early thir­ ties resembled camellias and were at the outside six inches in diameter. There was a fimbriated type like ragged marigolds, with poor form and size in limited color range_ Picotees as we know them now were non-existenL A small freckled form came from Belgium and was called marmorata. This was the progenitor of today's picotees. The hang­ ing types were stiff brittle plants with fuchsia-like flowers, the plants having been derived from Begonia boliviensis, again with extremely limited color range. Most beginning gardeners are im­ pressed with flower size, and I was no exception. Only after years of enlarging the flowers to nine inches did I realize that size of flower is desirable only if the entire plant has been increased in size and stiffened to maintain balance. At the time I started my work stems were Ruffled camellia type. Mr. Reinelt de­ pitiful:ly weak, and exhibition flowers in veloped this hybrid tuberous begonia shows had to be supported by wires by interbreeding fimbriata plena with propping up their chins. My immediate camellia. search was for plants with strong stems. PHOTO VETTERLE AND REI N ELT After enlarging the size and extending the color range, I concluded that if I were to make a worthwhile contribu­ Hybid Tuberous Begonia, double rose­ tion, I would be forced to develop com­ form type. The classical rose form pletely new types. The quest for new was developed by Reinelt from the forms began. camellia, which it superseded. PHOTO VETTERLE AND REINEL T In the early 1940s we introduced the rose form, a classically perfect open rose type, as a replacement for the old camel­ lia form; and the ruffled type, a big full deep petalled group that replaced the old fimbriata. Both of these have be­ come the commercial standards 0.£ today. Picotees were developed with both d;c rose and ruffled forms. H anging baskets were changed completely in hanging habit, which is now pendulous and graceful, resulting in full round baskets with either perfect rose form or ruffled flowers. The color range is so wide~from the tenderest pastels to the bold and vibrant oranges and reds-that no florist has ever had us stumped in matching begonia blooms to bridesmaid dress swatches for special weddings. In passing, I will say that size anel color are comparatively easy to breed; but form takes generations and big bat-

54 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Hyhrid Tuherous Beg 0 n i a, rose· form Pico tee type. Picotees were de· veloped by Mr. Reinelt by inter. breeding the small marmorata with the large camellia forms. 1'Horo VETTERLE J\ ND REINE!."!"

talions. With each year new breaks ap­ point where they have reached a high peared and good form increased, contin­ percentage of uniformity. This was m~ ually setting new standards. Thirty years object, since propagation of individual ago I would not have believed today's cuI tivars, as practiced in England, is not begonias, could I have had a sneak pre­ practical in less favorable climates. My view. I would have been like the oilman answer was a strain that would produce from New Orleans who recently walked uniform high quality in color separa­ through our greenhouses and kept re­ tions so tha t anyone could grow as fine peating to himself, "The man who grows delphinium as could Mr. Morgan with these things is a liar." AU it took, of his millions. course, was imag,ination, unlimited If you grow at least 10,000 seedlings hours, and 80 million plants in over 35 every year, select the 10 best, interbreed genera tions. these and raise a new generation, you will intensify the quality to the point where it becomes quite uniform. Per­ Delphinium ha ps after 30 or 40 generations, you will Our Pacific strain of delphinium went have a beautiful uniform race. New through a similar period of development plants wi ll continuously appear, out­ although the progress here does not standing in both form and color, so that compare with the more versatile begoni­ you will demand that everything achieve as. In the early days, two to three good the quali ty of your best. plants in a row of 100 were considered a Instead of offering novelties each year, fair stand. Outstanding plants were not we introduced named series of individu­ plentiful. However, by continuous selec­ al colors. The names have become the tion and the inter-breeding of the few standards [or colors over the years, with premium members, both the colors and constant upgrading and polishing forms were polished and intensifi ed to a through each successive generation.

SPRING 1969 55 While all of the colors in the Pacific pointed to his blue shirt and said, strain now are clear and vibrant, the ""Vouldn't it be wonderful if you could El aine series, our final introduction, is rai~e .(\ .deJphinium as blue as this?" I my contribution toward pink. In reality, ·pi.ck-e.dA. .hlYe floret and ,pJ.a.ced it 'ag;a·ililst 'Elaine' is a diluted warm lihc, hut his shirt. His shirt, to his amazemen t, when freshly opened in dark weather or appeared muddy-lavender. Pure blue is di splayed under artificial light, definitely the rarest color in nature. I used to looks pink, though not the shade found dream of a sea-green blue and once dis­ in begonias. covered one in the field, the color being The yellow and red may come eventu­ due, alas, to a virus infection. Another ally, as Dr. Legro in HoI.land has pro­ dream gone up in smoke. duced a strain of garden hybrids from the cardinale and nudicaule type. These I have concentrated on warming the are still in ,the experimental stage and colors in primroses by eliminating as will take years of breeding before their much magenta as possible. Along the size wi ll compare with present day gar­ way I tried to produce larger stiff round den hybrids. However, it is a start. florets in bigger umbels on strong stems, but maintaining balance. During the The three basic colors, red, yel1low and early quest for size, I produced some blue, do not all appear at once in any monstrosities with four inch flowers, but plan t in pure form. In begonias there is these were great clumsy, ugly brutes pure red and yellow, hence the clear which immediately had their heads vivid tones of every shade except blue. lopped off. Since one cannot create a primary co.lor, it has to be in the plant to start with, so Polyanthus have the same color set-up the tales of blue roses are wishful think­ as pansies and iris, so anything possible ing. in one group is possible in the other. All There are secondary colors, and in­ it takes is time and quantity. Here a nd termediates like magenta, which in pure there you see a hint of the factors a form are brilliant and beautiful. Mixed combination of which will in future with other colors these tend to have a generations bring the ultimate. Sidney muddying effect. This brings us to prim­ Mitchell, from whose garden some of my roses. original polyanthus came, loved prim­ roses. Every spring I visit with him in Polyanthus Primroses memory and wish that he could have seen the impossible color variations of The basic color here is yello.w, with no our early dreams now finally appearing red nor blue in pure form. In the begin­ in reality. ning the reds carried too strong an influ­ ence of magenta cmd so did the hlues, Plant breeding is a way of life. It has which turned purplish. Now after 40 been a magnificent experience fo.r me. generations and six million plants, the The only drawback is that it takes a blues are beginning to look blue to some lifetime to learn something-and Dhen i.t degree, and the reds are an imitation of is time to go. Of course, I have absolute­ scarlet. By selecting the bluest and inter­ ly no intention of going, since I have breeding them, the magenta is cut to a enough work lined up fo·r the next hun­ minimum. I believe that with sufficient dred years. The greatest satisfaction is time and quantity of plants one might that my strains a-re now distribu ted world develop clarity to a point where po.Iyan­ wide and that they will continue to grow thus primroses would compete with del­ regardless of the fact that I personally phiniums. am up to my ears in cacti and off to a Delphiniums also have a little magen­ n ew start. Perhaps I am mo.ving to the ta in their blues. Compare the bluest desert in my older age to prove that delphinium to the bluest blue of the cactus can be beautiful even though my color chart and this win be evident. On friend Alfred Hitchcock calls them the the other hand, a visiting seedsman villains of the plant world!

AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Fertilization of Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Groundcovers JACK WIKLE

Fertilization is ,a term that is used and ment of plants. Another way of stating reasonably well understood in our soci­ this is tha t fertili zed plan ts will grow ety, yet many of us prefer the term more, using the water available, than "feeding," which although not quite as plants which are not fertilized. Fertilized acceptable technically, somehow makes plants ·also tend to have more extensive fertili zation more of a practical, down­ root systems which make more water to-earth kind of thing. available during dry periods. The expla­ Label the process what one will, the na tion is that, inasmuch as water move­ purpose of this article is to consider ment in dry soils is not appreciable, the supplying supplementary nutrient ele­ only water available to roots in dry soil ments for trees, shrubs, and woody is that which is very close to a root groundcovers-supplementary in the surface. Thus an enlarged root system sense that they are in addition to the means an increased water supply. elements already available from soil and Fertiliza tion likewise reduces certain atmosphere, and an addi tion to the en­ insect and disease problems. Many dis­ ergy foods manufactured in plant leaves. eases are what the plant pathologists This is not a report of research results. refer to as "weak pathogens" because Rather, it is a brief summary of some of they are only active in infecting plants the author's understandings developed which are already weak and growing by reviewing litera ture, discussing feed­ poorly. Good examples are some of the ing with experienced people, and by root rots, ca nker diseases and verticiUi­ personal experience. Hopefully, it will um wilt. Furthermore, there ,are certain be of value to some who grow woody insects, particularly borers, which active­ plan ts. ly select weak and declining plants when laying eggs from which destructive larva Benefits from Feeding are hatched. First, it can be said that there is If not overdone, fertilizabion also re­ general agreement that fertilizers do duces winter injury. Experimenral evi­ make a difference which can be seen. d ence indica tes this. On the other hand, The usual response is more growth, excessive fertilization can increase win­ greener color, less dieback and in gener­ ter damage, so it ml:'st be emphasized al ,a more healthy, vigorous appearance. that appli cation rates are important. Also, evidence indicates that fertiliza­ Avoiding fertilization late in the tion can increase resistance to drought growing season in an effort to promote damage. Scientists define a plant's "hardening" of azaleas and other shrubs "water requirement" as the number of prone to winter injury, is still the stand­ pounds of water required ,to produce a ard recommendation of most hor icul­ pound of dry matter. And in experiment­ tural authorities. Therefore the plants­ ing, they have found that fertiliza tion man is well advised in taking this pre­ commonly reduces the water require- ca ution. However, jt is the author's con­ sidered opinion that research will even­ Na /llmlist-Edncotnr, Hidden Lalle Gauiens, A'/iciligrtn State UIli1 J (1rsi / ~ ', Ti/I/(I11, Michigan tually es tablish conclusively that fertil­ 49287. izers at rates yet to be determined, even

Sl'IUNG 1969 57 in late summer and early fall, will de­ established application rates. In short, crease winter injury rather than increase either too much or not enough fertilizer it. is used. Personal experience ver-ifies ·that this is easy to do. Also, it's not uncom­ Not Included as Benefit mon to meet a man who says, ''I'll never At present, increasing survival of use that fertilizer again-it didn't do a transplanted woody plants cannot be thing," when he applied less than half included in the list of fertilizer benefi ts . the amount normally expected to give Although fertilizers are very helpful in results; or a person who condemns a starting such things as cabbage and to­ fertilizer which damaged his plants, mato ,transplants, they have not proven when .the amount used was four to six benefioial in transplanting' trees and times the normal dosage. The other shrubs. In fact, the usual pattern of common fertil'izer failure, if it can be results in experiments designed to evalu­ called tha t, is the result of relying on ate transplanting is tha tsurvival is ei­ fertilizer alone in attempting to correct ther not affected or is dect-eased by fertil­ plant problems which are caused by izing. The growth of surviving plants is other factors such as over or under water­ usually increased but percentage of sur­ ing, poor drainage, compacted so ils, v,ival is not. Some may wonder if the poor plant selection, etc. To the plants­ new "con trolled release" fertilizers man, proper fertilization is but one part haven't changed all -this. Although the of the growing program. answer may change as we learn more abou t the use of the new fertilizer mate­ What Analysis? rials, to date they have not proven as It is easy to become somewhat con­ helpful in this respect as was originally fused in selecting a fer tilizer analysis hoped. In fact, it appears that the best si nce many analyses are available and procedure, if at all practical, is to wait many claims and counter daims are six to eight weeks after transplant before made by their manufacturers. Even the initiating a fertilizat,ion program. recommendations of authorities, as pub­ lished in agI1icultural extension bulletins Research Needed to Improve and similar guides, include a variety of Guidelines fertilizer analyses. Three often listed are Althoug-h there is much to learn, it's 5- 10-5, ]0-6-4 and 12-12-12. There is con­ obvious that plantsmen can be reason­ siderable difference between a product ably successful by following the rather labeled 5-10-5, in which the emphasis is broad g1uidelines as to desirable kinds on phosphorus (designated by the mid­ of fertilizers, application rates, etc., dle number in the grade) and 'a 10-6-4 in which have been established primarily which the emphasis is nitrogen (desig­ by trial and error of practioing plants­ nated by the first number). One reac­ men rather than by formal resea·rch. tion to this discrepancy might be to One who follows these guidelines, can decide on a 12-12-12 or similar formula­ expect results and little fertilizer­ tion because it appea,rs "balanced" in induced plant injury. However, it seems that the proportion of nitrogen, phos­ likely that results might be improved if phorous, and potassium appears to be information were available to make pos­ equal. However, this apparent balance sible more precise t,iming, more specific may not correspond in any way to the application rates for given kinds of balance of supplementary nutrients plants, and more sophistica ted selection which would actually be of greatest ben­ of fertilizer materials to suit specific efit to a given plant. plant, soil, and cultural requirements. Of the three primary elemen ts (nitro­ gen, phosphorus and potassium), nitro­ Most Common Fertilizer Failures gen is the one to which woody 'plants Most of the glaring failures in fertili­ respond most often. It ,is nitrogen that zation seem to be the result of ignoring stimulates greater growth :lIlcl improved

!l8 AMERICAN HORTiCULTURAL SOCIETY color. Experimental work has shown lit­ factor s,ince some of the newer "synthetic tle effect of phosphorus and potassium organics" cost less per unit of nut,rient on woody plants except in areas where element and release nutrients more slow­ soils are unusually deficient in these ly than do the natural organics. elements. Moreover, nitrogen is the one The value of certain organics, .too, primary element which doesn't accumu­ e.g., cottonseed meal, in acidifying soil late in the soil with repeated applica­ has been overemphasized. Although it is tions. The usual pattern is tha tit is true that cottonseed meal has a soil ei ther used up by plan ts or leached ou t. acidifying effect, most of the commercial Also, nitrogen is the primary element fertilizers available are far more effective used in the lflrgest quantities by woody in lowering so il pH. plants. All of this is interpreted by the Yet there still may be a need for author as ·indicating that fertilizer em­ natural organics in that the IJulky phasis for woody plants should be on nature of the materials makes a large nitrogen. Analyses might be 12-4-8, overdose much less likely than with 15-5-5, 15-5-10, 20-10-10 or 30-10-10, but more concen trated fertilizers. Therefore, any other analysis which emphaSlizes ni­ it might be said that where ,control of trogen, mee.ts this standard. Whether an application rates is poor, natural organ­ analysis ,is high, such as 30-10-10 or low ic fertilizers have something to offer. such as 4-1-2 is not especially important Otherwise, they can be considered rather (unless extm bulk is necessary to reduce expensive tributes to tradition. application rates by a heavy handed helper) inasmuch as equal amounts of How Much and How Often? nitrogen can be applied to a given area How much fertilizer should be used? by using more of the low analysis fertil­ How often should it be applied? These izer or less of the high analysis material. two questions go hand-in-hand. An old nurserytn'an once advised the author Organic Versus Inorganic that the way to get ex'tra good results Anothe,r question wh'ich arises is and never burn anything is to use half as whether the fertilizer must contain a much fertilizer as it says on the package, natural organic nitrogen source or twice as often as ,it says. There is a lot of whether a manufacured nitrogen source wisdom in this approach, and if ,time is is equally as satisfactory. Natural organ­ not critical, this is to be recommended, ics have ,the support of tradi tion and not only because the possibilities for history. The Indians used fish. Old gar­ plant injury are reduced but beoause the deners are quoted as saying that growing plants treated will tend to be of higher anything well is a matter of using com­ quality as a result of the more uniform mon sense and lots of manure. Bone nUbrient element supply. meal receives high praise and has been There are some problems which arise used for many years by professional and in determining satisfactory dosage and amateur plantsmen. Cottonseed me.al frequencies of application. Some recom­ has been advocated consistently as a mendations specify so much fertilizer fel'tilizer for shrubs which require an per shrub or inch of tree trunk diame­ acid soil. ter, while others give the number of Today, natural organic materials are pounds per unit of area such as an acre almost always more expensive sources of or 1000 square feet. It is impossible to nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium translate accura tel y from the first type of than the common formulated fertilizers. recommendation to the second because Therefore, the main justifi ca tions re­ in the first oase, the amount of soil to maining for use of the natural organics which the fertilizer is to be applied is are a somewhat slow nutrient release not specifi ed. The so-much-fertilizer-per­ and -the increased safety from burning plant breatment is haphazard at best. An which goes hand-in-hand with it. And amount which might be quite safe if even this is becoming a less' important appli ed over a four foot diameter circle,

SPRING 1969 59 T ABLE TWO LBS. FERTILIZER PER INCH OF TRUNK DIAMETER T1'eated Cil'cle Lbs. of Lbs. 0/ F ert il-izer per TTUnk Dia. Dia. IlTea Fertilizer 100 sq. ft. (approx.) 6 in. 12 ft. 113 sq. ft. 12 10 3 in. 6 ft. 28 sq. ft. 6 20 1Y2 in. 3 ft. 7 sq. ft. 3 40 may cause severe damage or death if get enough of them into a planter to a pplied over a circle of half the size make a good show? If an amount of (which would increase the dosage four fertilizer ,recommended per plant is used times) . on the limited soil area available for To look at this in another way (see treatment in these cases, or if as often table), following a common recommen­ happens, the dosage is increased because dation of two pounds of fertilizer per the growing conditions are poor, dam· inch of trunk diameter, one might treat age is likely. a twelve foot circle in feeding a six inch For consistency and safety, all fertil­ tree. Calculations show this application izer dosages should be based on the size rate to be sI,ightly more than ten pounds of the soil 'area to be treated (pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet. Follow­ per square foot, pounds per 100 square ing the same recommendation, in feed­ feet, pounds per acre, etc.), rather than ing a three inch tree, one might treat 'a plant >size and/or number of plants. The six foot circle, which would be more area treated should be where one can than twenty pounds of fertilizer per 100 find or would expect to find roots. This square feet (the dosage per square foot may be, as commonly suggested, 'an area has been doubled). Using the same ap­ equal to the branch spread for some proach in feeding a one and one half trees and shrubs, but more often roots inch tree, the application rate is well will be found extending two to three over forty pounds of fertilizer per 100 times as far as the branches extend and a square feet (four times the dosage used thorough feeding job will take advan­ on the six inch tree following the same tage of this eXJtra area for fertilizer appli­ recommendation). This is an overdose cation. by any standard. Because of the great variety of fertil­ As can be seen here, damage from izers available, it is necess'ary to select overfertilization is most likely when wme common denominator in making small plants are being fed or small areas general statements on dosage rates. In are being treated. And to increase the this case, pounds of nitrogen per 1000 hazard, humans are much more likely to square feet will be used because it's felt use four ounces of fertilizer where the that nitrogen dosage is, as previously directions say two ounces than they are stated, more critical than phosphorus or to use four bags when the directions say potassium rates. two! Also, there are many situations where Suggested Dosage obstacles squeeze down the area which The suggested dosage which follows is can be treated with fertilizer. How much offered as one which should be sufficient fertilizer does one use ,in feeding the tree to grow vigorous, healthy looking plants planted in the corner where the house and at the same t,ime allow an ample and paved driveway meet? How much margin of safety in -situations where fertilizer doc j he use in feeding the overdoses, unusual soils, delicate plants, evergreens wedged in the awkward little .etc., occur. The overall recommenda­ strip left between the walk and the front tion is to apply four to six pounds of of the house? How much fertilizer for nitrogen per year from a high-nitrogen the azaleas that were crowded a bit to fertilizer (50 lbs. of 12% nitrogen fer til-

60 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY izer would contain fi lbs. of nitrogen). ment. Second, the primary reason for This four to six pounds of nitrogen putting fertilizer into the soil is to avoid should be divided between one or two damage to turf or other delicate ground­ applications for trees, two or three ap­ covers in the treated area. Deep place­ plications for most shrubs and ground­ ment of fertilizer containing phosphorus covers, and three or four applications (which is quite immobile in most soils) for plants recognized as being somewhat may be helpful in some cases, but gener­ delicate and/or of borderline hardiness ally there is no consistent advantage in in the area where they are growing. putting fertilizer into the soil rather In situations where a decomposable than broadcasting it over the surface, for low-nitrogen mulch (such as woodchips, woody plants. Third, foliar feeding, al­ sawdust, ground corncobs, etc.) is used, though valuable as a "shot-in-the-·arm," it will be necessary to at least double the cannot supply continuing requirements amount of nitrogen applied per year to unless applied regularly at intervals as supply the addiuional nitrogen required short as seven to ten day.s, because only by the microorganisms which are active limited amounts of fertilizer can be ap­ in decompo~ing the mulch. plied at one feeding without damaging the foliage. Combined benefits of foliar Application Techniques feeding and a soil drench can be ob­ Fertilizer 'application techniques vary. tained by allowing heavy runoff when Dry fertilizers are commonly broadcast spraying foliage. over the sOlil surface or put into holes in Applying small amounts of fertilizer the soil made with a punch bar or auger. at regular intervals by injecting them Fertilizers in solution have been used as into irrigation water appears to be an soil drenches and injected into the soil excellent fertilization technique when under pressure (these solutions usually well engineered injection equipment is contain 5 to 10 lbs. of fertilizer per 100 available. Commercial growers have gallons, and water must be used to rinse been very successful in using this tech­ thoroughly any foilage contacted) . Also, nique. Good information on installation fertilizer solutions are sprayed on foliage and operation of this kind of system is in "foliar feeding" (these solutions com­ available, and the future will probably monly contain 2 to 5 lbs. of soluble see its expanded use in maintaining fertilizer per 100 gallons, and foliage is high value plantings everywhere. not rinsed) . There is much to be learned about Although there are manyconsider­ developing fertilization programs for ations determining which application woody plants and it must be re-em­ technique should be advocated in a giv­ phasized that proper fertilization is but en situation, a few points can be made. one facet of growing plants successfully. First, good soluble formulations are gen­ Water,ing, soil improvement, pest con­ erally more expensive than insoluble trol and other cultural considerations fertilizers. Therefore, solubles are sug­ must also be given attention when prob­ gested only when solubility is a require- lems persist.

SPRING 1969 61 Eucalyptus at

Disneyland

MORGAN EVANS

The genus Eucalyptus covers a range and private industry alike for afforesta­ of nearly 45 0 of lati tude, wi th species tion purposes. numbering in the hundreds (aU but two Thanks to. men like John McLaren, native to Australia and Tasmania) and who. created Golden Gate Park in San varying from shrubs to 300-foot giants. Francisco, John Morley, who. did the With such a source to draw on, it is not same thing for Balboa Park in San Di­ surprising that governmental agencies ego, Dr. Metcalf and Max Watson of San around the world have been able to Francisco, nurserymen, and landscape produce thousands upon thousands of architects too numerDUS to. mention, the acres of stately forest where no trees eucalypts enhance the scene in parks, grew before. groves, avenues, gardens, Drchard wind­ For Californians, the Eucalyptus breaks, and freeways, from the Mexican profile has become so much a part Df the border northward fo,r approximately 600 coastal scene that we sometimes need to. miles. Selected species are being tested remind Durselves of the friendly debt we much farther north, and renewed inter­ est in the genus will undoubtedly lead to Dwe Australia for its presence here. As a trials in areas heretofore considered un­ happy aside, it might be noted that Dur suitable for their culture. own Monterey pine has found a con­ AlthDugh nDble indi"iduals of the genial home in Australia, where it is common blue gum, Ew:alyptus globulus, enthusiastically embraced by government are to be found on the San Francisco Landscape Architect, Disneyland, 1313 Harbor Peninsula and elsewhere in southern ar­ Blvd., Anaheim, California 92803 eas, the preponderant choice of this spe-

62 ;\ MERIr.AN HORTICULTURAL SOr.IETY Fig. 1. (left) Eucalyptus saligna; di· of decorative types, ranging from small rect transplant to new location, Dis· garden trees such as E. cacsia to stal­ neyland 1966 (see Fig. 2). warts like E. viminalis, found sufficient PHOTO WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS acceptance to maintain interest. In be­ tween would fall E. cry thl'O c01'YS, ficitolia, Fig. 2. (below) E. saligna, 1967; same lchmannii, cincl-ca, polyanthcmos, citri­ l1'ee as in Fig. 1. odora, rudis, cladocalyx, camaldulcnsis, PHOTO ' VALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS and sidcroxylon, to mention a few.

Early Plantings In the early days of Disneyland, it was desirable to achieve rna ture plantinO' effects as quickly as possible, and wher~ the idiom was a ppropria te, eucalypts proved extremely useful. Abou.t two doz­ en sl~ecies afford ample range in meeting reqUIrements, with the emphasis on perhaps half that number. Included are two relatively little used species, E. salig­ na .and E. grandis. These two are closely allied, and though considered by some to be forms of the same tree, are O'iven . . b clistmct s.pecies sta.tus with the vernacu- lar of rose gum and Sydney blue gum, respectively, by some Australian authori­ ties. However this may be, they have proved especially fast-growing subjects at Disneyland, developing a handsome skyline profile about 40-feet high in five or six years. A recent avenue of E. saligna set out two years ago from 4-inch cies for windbreak purposes led to its pots now stands 15 feet high, broad and further use in many inappropriate cir­ robust in proportion. cumstances, Blue gum became synony­ When it was first opened to the public mous with Eucalyptus, and understand­ in 1955, Walt Disney said, "Disneyland ably earned the group, albeit unfairly, a will never be completed as long as there bad name. A country lane might support is imagination left in the world." True this giant for many years, but as an to that declaration, Disneyland has un­ urban street tree, E. globulus very quick­ dergone many major changes, adjust­ ly became a menace. ments, additions, and in some cases, Considering that a choice might be complete re-design. Keeping pace with had from the more than 600 species of the literally changing scene, landscaping Eucalyptus occurring naturally in Aus­ components have been repeatedly rear­ tralia, it is surprising that often little ranged. Faced with the need to destroy care or imagination was given to selec­ or salvage, but to remove in either case, tion for early California planting-this the landscape department undertook ex­ despite the counsel of the plantsmen perimental ,transplanting of a wide vari­ men tioned above. In 1937, for exam pIe, ety of trees and shrubs. Because the soil when "Standardized Plant Names" was was of an extremely sandy character, being revised, Eric Walther, then Direc­ and because much of the established tor of Strybing Arboretum in Golden landscape occupied steeply sloping ter­ Gate Park, was able to supply the names rain, conventional transplanting techni­ of 109 species growing in the San Fran­ ques were difficult or impossible. At first, cisco area alone. Fortunately, a number only the more tolerant plant species

SPRING 1969 63 were subjected to bare root removal, but comprising a half dozen species, have progressively more and more species been handled bare root with remarkably were handled in thi:: manner, until to­ good results. (See Fig.!.) In order to day it is standard practice at the Park to avoid injury to the cambium layer, a pick up, one by one, the entire collec­ hole is drilled through ,the trunk and a tion with bucket loaders and swing ,them steel pin inserted, thus providing a con­ by dIe neck to storage pits or new loca­ venien t handle for the lifting cable. tions without recourse to root packaging Once in place in its new home, the tree in any form. The aforementioned Eu­ is guyed agains.t winds, the pin removed, calyptus have figured prominently in and the hole plugged with a carefully this trans plan ting exercise, and more fitted hardwood dowel. Roughly 70 per than a hundred reasonably ma,ture trees, cent of the leaf surface is removed by pruning small branches immediately prior to the move. Some earth may re­ Fig. 3. Disneyland's famous Sleeping main at the center of the root system, Beauty Castle, showing the park-like setting of the area. but for all practical purposes, .the oper­ PHOTO "VALT DISN EY PRO DUCTIONS ation amounts to a bare root transplant. In most instances, the original growth is recovered within a period of one year, and ,two-year-old transplants ,can 'scarcely be distinguished from unmolested com­ panions. It should be pointed out that the sandy soil, while unsuitable for box­ ing or balling, offers a distinct advantage for bare rooting.

Disneyland, Florida With the new Walt Disney vVorld project moving rapidly ahead in Central Florida, the Disney landscaping depart­ ment is confronted with essentially the same need for "instant landscaping," un­ der circumstances in some .respects anal­ ogous to those of Southern California, but in certain others, quite different. Although n a,tive trees are present in vast numbers on the Florida property, the need to eleva te the Theme Park site by several feet will p.resent the landscape architect with a gleaming expanse of pure white sand, unsullied by so much as a blade of grass. In order to conjure up the varied scenes conceived by Dis­ ney artists, a broad plant palette will obviously be required, and although po­ tential salvage of native trees may con­ tribute an important part, there will still be need 'for a great number of fast­ growing exotic species. It is in this area that cultivars of Eucalyptus offer attract­ ive possibilities. Individually or collectively, the solu­ tion for that graceful silhouette, visual screen or wind bauier might be found

64 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY among these evergreen hardwoods. Three and one-half years of growth Opportunities for landscape enhance­ produced a number of trees 30 feet high, ment via the Eucalyptus route are not with sturdy, tapering trunks, which suc­ confined to the man-made sites, but in­ cessfully passed the trials of torrential clude large areas of existing grade some­ summer rains, fall winds, and winter what akin to pastureland. Whereas nor­ frosts. Comparing notes, it was reassur­ mal maintenance practice, and therefore ing to find that the mDst successful spe­ some control over moisture content in cies coincided with those set out recently soil, is possible on the elevated grade, an in a test planting Dn the Disney si te o extremely high water table in the native What was of conside.ably more interest, meadows narrows the option ~n eucalypt however, was .the unquestionably superi­ choices. In additiDn to high water table, or performance of the European seed. high rainfa:I, high temperatures, occa­ sional high winds, low pH, and even lower fertility rate round out the envi­ Fig. 4. E. globulus en route to new lo­ ronmental parameters. Lest this soune! cation, Disneyland. too easy, it should be added that the PHOTO WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS po ~ sibiJi,ty of several sharp frosts every winter dispells complacency. Fortunately fDr the Disney landscape planners, a Eucalyptus testing program was undertaken by a private sponsor in cooperation with ,the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Forestry Service apprDximately four years ago in the vicinity of Fort Myers, Florida. Un­ der the direction Df Mr. George Meskimen and Mr. Howard L. Hoff­ man, some twenty species of eucalypts from various provenances were tested. Approximately fifty different seed acces­ sions were processed .through nursery stages and planted intD the field in very small sizes, where apart from simple weed control, they were left to their own devices. It is inte.esting to note that in many instances, seed frDm sources other than the native stands produced trees superior in nearly every respect. For example, E. carnaldulensis seed gathered from man-made groves in Spain and Israel ou.t-performed that received from indigenous fDrests in Australia. Site preparation included two or three ap­ proaches, but best results were achieved by gentle mounding for improved drainage and the addition of a small quantity of rock phosphate. Land was typically flat, sandy ten-ain, which had to be cleared of native grasses and rather sparsely occurring saw palmetto, a COII­ dition similar to that existing on much of the Disney site.

SPRING 1969 65 Eucalyptus are by no means new to men, the proven feasibility of transplant­ Central Florida, although their use has ing has led to a test planting of several been quite limited. Here and there thousand young ,trees at the Disney proj­ handsome old specimens may be found, ect site. The prinoipal objective, in this principally E. camaldulensis, robusta, instance that of providing a fast-growing and apparently viminalis, although posi­ screen, can be realized while at the same tive identification of the latter is not time affording an ample supply of trans­ easy. In recent years, quite a number of plant candidates selected for individual eucalypts have ·been planted as orna­ quality. mentals in the general vicinity of Fort The pines and cypress which stretch Myers, largely as a consequence of the for miles and presently dominate the site exposure provided by the state and fed­ are justly deserving of the respect ,they eral forestry services and the aforemen­ enjoy, but they lack the special architec­ tioned privately sponsored project now tural quality of the Australian gums. happily being continued by the U . S. The native trees, moreover, are .relative­ Department of Agriculture. The Florida ly unyielding ,to the wind, whereas the State Forestry Service produces an annu­ leaves and pendant branches of the Eu­ al crop of Eucalyptus in several spe­ calyptus are responsive to the slightest cies, which is made available to qualified breeze, conveying a sense of life and growers. In the Lakeland area, an vitality completely lacking in the conif­ amateur enthusiast, Mr. Robert Snow, erous trees. has been responsible for the testing and If good fortune attends this plan ting dissemination of a number of worthy prog·ram, Walt Disney World may be species to be seen here and there in able to offer among its many attractions parks and residential gardens. a landscape in which the familiar pine Although the seedling tree planted in tree horizon is agreeably accented by the situ and undis·turbed thereafter un­ graceful profile of soaring Eucalyptus, if doubtedly produces the strong'est speci- not instantly, at least quickly realized.

Fig. 5. Two-year old E. saligna at Disneyland. Fourteen-foot fence for com­ parison. PHOTO W ALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS

66 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Nutrition of English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) In Oregon

R. L. TICKNOR, A. N. ROBERTS AND O. C. COMPTON

Leaf analysis in most cases has proved orchards, where the annual rainfall av­ superior to soil analysis in determining erages 80 inches and light intensity is the nutritional needs of woody plants. lower than in the valley orchards, where However, both of these techniques can rainfall averages 40 inches and light be useful in diagnosing nutrient defi­ intensity is higher. Nitrogen, calcium, ciencies in orchards and in properly and magnesium levels were highest in managing fertilizer programs. A survey, November, with levels in July and April using both soil and leaf 'analysis tech­ being approximately equal. Phosphor­ niques in 47 holly orchards in the Wil­ us decreased markedly between July lamette Valley and northern coastal coun­ and November but was at approximate­ ties of Oregon, w.as made to determine ly the same level in April as in N avem­ the general level of nutrition in these ber. Potassium content of the leaves was orchards and to identify areas in the highest in July, intermediate in Novem­ state where specific nutritional problems ber, and lowest in April. The boron might exist. Five cultivars, representing content of the leaves remained relatively three types of English holly, were sam­ constant throughout the three sampling pled. The cultivars 'Bleeg' and 'Curley' dates. The greenstem hollies 'Bleeg' and represented the greenstem type, 'French­ 'Curley' had the highest nutrient con­ English' and 'Rederly' the bluestem tent, intermediate were the bluestem type, and 'Silvary' a silver-variegated se­ 'Rederly' and silver-variegated 'Silvary', lec tion. while the lowest nutrient content was The ten trees in each orchard to be found in the 'French-English' cultivar. sampled were selected at random,. ex­ Only in the case of potassium did there cept that no tree next to a male tree was appear to be a relationship between the sampled since these sometimes have un­ soil and leaf analysis, but not with all usually heavy berry crops, Leaves were cultivars. collected for chemical analysis in July, Orchard Ratings at cessation of extension growth; in November, a t harvest time; and in Holly sprays should h ave a proper April, just before new growth started. balance of firm, red berries to dark, Standard laboratory methods were used glossy, green leaves when they are cu t in for the leaf and soil analysis. November for storage and later ship­ ment. The annual growth on these Variations in Nutrient Content shoots is normally 7-10 inches in length. Area, orchard, seasonal, and clonal These factors were considered in rating differences in leaf nutrient content were the orchards as being good, average or found. All elements except calcium and poor. magnesium were higher in the coastal The nutrient content of the July leaf samples from several orchards is shown Depa1·tment of Horticulture, Oregon State in T-able 1. The table presents average University, A1Irora, Oregon 97002 values for the cultivar and location and,

SPRING 1969 67 where possible, values for a good and Problems Revealed poor orchard in a given location. It was The survey revealed two possible not always possible to make these com­ problems associated with the leaf nutri­ parisons, since there were not enough ent content. The yellowing of 2-year-old plantings to give differences in product leaves associ·ated with the fruit clusters quality for all cultivars. In addition, the was a common cause for holly not being average leaf nutrient of I. cornuta 'Bur­ salable. In the good orchards the 2- and ford', I. crenata 'Convexa' and I. opaca often the 3-year-old leaves were still dark 'Silica King' from the greenhouse solu­ green. Since survey samples were tion culture work of Dunham (1) is confined to l-year-old leaves, the cause included. of this yellowing in the 2-year-old leaves There appeared to be some relation· was not elucidated. Greenstem hollies ship between quality and the leaf con­ were found to be more subject to this tent of certain nutrients. On the aver­ yellowing and defoliation of 2-year-old age, leaves from the better orchards con­ leaves than were bluestem types. tained higher amounts of nitrogen, mag­ nesium and boron but lower amounts of Boron deficiency was found to exist in phosphorus and calcium. The potassium some of the orchards sampled. Roberts content of the leaves of greenstem culti­ et al. (2) had earlier described the vars was about ,average in the good or­ symptomology of boron deficiency in I. chards but this was not true fo·r the aquifolium as developed in greenhouse bluestem varieties. solution culture. The purple, target-spot

T ABLE l. LEAF NUTRIENT CONTENT OF SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVE lLEX AQUlFOLIUi111 ORCHARDS IN OREGON WITH LEAF ANALYSIS RESULTS FROM GREENHOUSE TRIALS WITH l. CORNUTA', I. CRENATA' AND I. OPACA' (DRY WEIGHT BASIS). Orchard Quality or N P K Mg Ca B Cultivar Location Amount % % % % % ppm I . aquifolium Average 1. 89 . 108 1.46 0.26 1.22 38.3 'Bleeg' Vall ey Good 2 .22 .125 1. 87 0.28 090 45.7 Valley P oor 1. 74 .086 1.60 0.22 1.20 34 .3 Coast 1. 87 .118 1.40 0.21 0.65 3.5.5 I. aquifolium Average 1. 84 .109 1.70 0.23 0. 87 32 .5 'Curley' Valley Good 1.97 .104 1.65 0.26 0.90 33. 1 Coast Good 2.05 .135 1.60 0.18 0.65 34.3 I. aquifolium Average 1.65 .105 1. 31 0.28 0.75 26 .2 'French-English' Valley Good 1. 85 .099 1.00 0. 33 0.70 21.8 Valley Poor 1.52 .093 1.10 0.35 0. 85 37 .8 Coast Good 2 .07 .150 1. 55 0.22 0.75 29.6 Coast Poor 1.67 . 118 1.45 0.24 0.70 27.4 I. aquifolium Average 1.73 .111 1.46 0.31 0.90 27.7 'Rederly' Valley Good 1. 78 .099 1.60 0. 36 1.05 21.3 Valley Poor 1.72 .092 1.97 0.25 0.95 29.6 Coast Good 1. 77 . 163 1.45 0.22 0.70 39 .0 I . aquifolium Average 1. 83 .112 1.15 0.28 0. 81 28.6 'Silvary' Valley Good 2.00 .110 1.00 0. 30 0.75 34.3 Valley Poor 1.64 .108 1.30 0.27 0.90 28.5 Coast Good 1. 75 .148 1.35 0.27 0. 85 35.5 Coast Poor 2.04 .135 1.20 0 .27 0.60 29.6 I. cornuta Average 1.79 0.18 1.79 0 .62 1.10 41 'Burford' I. crenata Average 1.67 0.16 1.75 0.45 1.30 34 'Convexa' I.opaca Average 1.79 0. 15 1.68 0.39 0.70 46 'Silica King'

I Results of July sampling. 'Results from Dunham, e(al.'

68 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY sym ptoms typical of boron deficiency gen, magnesium and boron, but some­ were always found on the leaves of what lower in phosphorus and calcium, bluestem cultivars when the boron con­ than ,average. tent of the leaves was below 20 ppm. Two possible nutritional problems Symptoms were sometimes found be­ were observed during the survey. These tween 20 and 25 ppm, but when the leaf were yellowing of 2-year-old leaves asso­ content was about 25 ppm, deficiency ciated with heavy fruit clusters and pur­ symptoms were not observed. Leaf ple spotting of the leaves associated symptoms of boron deficiency were not with deficiency levels of boron. observed in silver-variegated 'Silvary' or the greens tern cultivars. Literature Cited

1. DUN HAM, C. W. AND D. V. TATNALL. 1961. Conclusions Mineral composition of leaves of three holly The nutrient content of English holly species grown in nutrient sand cultures. Pmc. leaves varies with cultivar, orchard, Amer. Soc. Hart. Sci. 78:564-571. area, and with the changing season. 2. ROIlERTS, A. N., R . L. TICKNOR AND O. C. COMPTON. 1961. Boron defioiency ev ident in The better orchards usually contained Oregon holl y orchards. Plant Dis. Ret). 45 : trees whose leaves were higher in nitro- 634·635.

Excerpt From Peter ]. Van Melle On "Die-back" Shrubs (1948) In a mthel- lengtlty discussion under' this title, Van Nlelle dis­ cusses shrubs which are mostly summer OT fall-blooming species, in which the flow ers are produced on the new growth. Some of these plants, such as Vitex, are oniy "Toot-hardy" and must be spr-ing-pTuned. H e goes on to say: In very mild winters some of them may be frozen back only. slightly. But since the place allotted to them in the garden pic­ ture is usually that of a single summer's growth. I prefer to cut these s'hrubs uniformly, every spring, down to mere stubs, regard­ less of how far they may have been killed back. This extreme form of spring pruning represents an annual rejuvenation proc­ ess. W e raise practically a new shrub every summer, from its base. In this way we achieve a controI:ed, artificial but efficient use of many kinds of shrubs ,that would otherwise be difficult to manage in the garden picture. (Shrubs which should be treated in this manner) : Hydmngea aTboTescens Spimea X 'Anthony Waterer' 'Hills of Snow' Hydmngea mclia ta S. X bumalda, fTo ebilii, fritchiana A belia X grandifloTa AmOTpha fruticosa Buddleia davidii (all cvs.) Lespedeza thunbergii CaryopteTis incana Vitex agnus-castus &- negundo CleTOdendl-um trichotomum Tamarix odessana

SPRING 1969 69 Box Huckleberry-A Much Neglected Native

HAZEL AND DON SMITH

Gaylussacia brachycera, an exclusively connected by underground stolons . ... North American species, is indigenous There was not the slightest variation of to restricted areas of the northeast. It is morphological characteristics of the found in concentrated, sometimes iso­ members from one end to the other." lated, colonies along the Cumberland This particular plant has been estimated Plateau, parts of the Alleghenies, and in to be 13,000 years old. According to Dr. three separate lowland spots in Mary­ v\Therry, several wri ters have questioned land and Delaware. the age of box huckleberry patches, on For one hundred years after Andre the absurd ground that the estimates are Michaux discovered this plant, in the based on misunderstanding of such 1790's, its history was shrouded in mys­ terms as "clone" and "stolon." Actually, tery. It was alternately "lost" and the age is ascertained just as that of a "found" by scientists, and by 1919 the tree: by measuring the annual growth­ plant was believed to be almost extinct. increment. Its major concentration was in one area Description near New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. This fascinating story through the 1920's Whether or not one accepts the box has been well covered by F. V. Coville (1) huckleberry as the oldest living plant in and Edgar T. v\Therry (2). There is every the world, one would agree, after seei ng reason to believe that individual isolated it in cultivation, that it is a charming colonies, often covering several acres of plant. When grown in full sun, its dark ground, have developed over a great evergreen leaves set off the bell-like blos­ span of years from a single seed. Colo­ soms which appear in May and are nies of this plant spread laterall y in the white, flushed with pink. By August the wild by underground stolons, approx­ flowers have ripened into light-blue ber­ imately six inches a year. Isolated colon­ ries, both beautiful and good to eat. In ies are n early self-sterile. No seedlings winter the extra dividend appears as the could be found after careful checking at leaves turn to- rich mahogany-red, with the Amity Hall, Pennsylvania, locality, [at buds nestled at their base. It is attrac­ and no germination was obtained from ti ve all year. seeds collected from this colony. Healthy 'We fell in love with Gwylussacia seedlings were obtained by Dr. Wherry bTachycera ten years ago wl~en Mr. from plants cross-pollinated with plants Fordham at the Arnold Arboretum gave from Delaware (3). us a small plant for propagati()n. v\Then Writing of the Amity Hall clone, Dr. our customers saw it, they too wanted Moldenke (5) reports, "The colony is not one. Propagation was slow, so we started a series of small plants, bu t one plant what proved to be a futile search for wholesale or retail sources. A few plants­ The Don Smiths operate the Watnong nursery, men h ad once carried it, bu tit had at Morris Plains, New Jersey 07950. They spe­ gradually been forgotten, like so many cialize in dwarf and slow growing evergreens. plants-perhaps because it was en-one-

70 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ously thought difficult to propagate the Alleghenies; note also the great gap from cuttings. Our interest in its history in distribution from Cass, West Virginia was aroused and for the past few years to Amity Hall. Perhaps it is there, we have enjoyed collecting information just waiting to be found. There is also about the box huckleberry, seeing as the small area along the coast. The many colonies as we could, propagating greatest concentration of known colonies it by cu ttings, growing and distribu ting is along the southeastern border of West small plants in an attempt to make it Virginia, where Michaux first found this better known. Thus we help to preserve lovely groundcover. the specie-s, the colonies of which, being Having checked old records, we spent self·sterile, are lost when roads and other a week in the fall of 1967 searching areas clearing operations for "progress" occur. mostly in Tennessee and Kentucky, just touching 'Nest Virginia. With our appe­ Distribution tite whetted we then spent two weeks in vVe have seen the box huckleberry the Cumberland and Appalachian areas growing in its farthest eastern area at hunting more colonies, old and new. sea level in Bethel, Delaware, and at The mountain people knew this useful 2100 feet in West Virginia. Plants at berry under several local names: Millsboro, another locality in Delaware, juniperberry, bear-, cliff-, winter-, or have been exterminated by civilization. Jerusalem huckleberry. They were quite vVe have also seen it at East J amestown willing to show us where it grew, often and Rugby, Tennessee, and at Amity far off the beaten path. Hall, northwest of Harrisburg, Pennsyl­ The way in which the common n ames vania. In 1901, Gattinger reported came into use is fascinating. In the early finding it at Parksville, Tennessee, but 1800's it was known as whortleberry, this did not document this. That area is being the early name for Vacciniurn, the now a huge dam. Observe from the genus in which Michaux first placed this map (Fig. 1.) how this plant occurs plant. vVhen Asa Gray classified it as along the Cumberland Plateau and in Gaylussacia brachycem in 1846, he de-

. 1 GAYLUSSACIA firacfz!Jcera

•.:ea., Jluc~(£6e rr:y" "crrff :H,,"'.reS=.'I"

lJ Winter Jfuck.{eh(rY!/' "J'TU.SArtm HucHebcn:!:f" "Jul1iyer.fkrcy·

I.JHashv:lJf>

T£NNESS£E

Fig. 1. Distribution of Gaylussacia brachycera. MAP MADE BY JOHN J. LARKIN

SPRING 1969 71 Fig. 2. (a) Grow­ ing at Longwood Gardens from plants collected at Bethel, Delaware. Height, 6·8 in. LONGWOOD GARDENS PHOTO

scribed the leaf as box-like, and it be­ ''''hite Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, came the box huckleberry. In West Vir­ towards Anthony's Creek to John Alder­ ginia, it is known as juniperberry, a son's and up Two Lick Hollow to a low corruption of June berry, the name used place between this hollow and Old by the early settlers for blueberries that House Hollow, 2~ miles back from ri pened in June, and eventually the road." That one we have not yet found, name used for this July huckleberry. In but of the fifteen colonies we did check, Kentucky and Tennessee the use of all but one were still there, and many bear-, cliff-, or winter-huckleberry is un­ others were nearby. The farms were still derstandable. Bears are berry eaters; the known by the local people, although plant follows the edge of sandstone original owners might long since have ridges; and it is the only huckleberry passed on, and everyone was friendly that is evergreen. But we have not found and interested in helping as much as the reason for the name Jerusalem huck­ possible. leberry. The box huckleberry was evidently On our most recent trip we had the sent to Europe by Michaux, for it is satisfaction of trying to track a number recorded as having been brought into of the colonies found by Rev. Fred Gray cultivation in 1796. It was described un­ and referred to in his article (4). Having der the name Vaccinium brachycerum advertised for "known patches of by Richard A. Salisbury about 1805, in juniper berry in West Virginia," he re­ a work on plants around London which ceived 75 replies. He tracked down 41 of bore the romantic title, "Paradisus Lon­ these stations and showed many of them dinensis." It has been cultivated for a to Dr. Wherry in 1921. Notes of these number of years in Oregon and Wash­ findings had kindly been given to us by ington. Three years ago we sent it to Dr. 'Wherry, and we set out 48 years later the Trompenburg Arboretum in Rotter­ to find "patch #13, 4 miles up from dam, Holland, where it is growing suc-

72 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Fig. 2. (b) Grow­ ing at Longwood Gardens from plants collected in Perry County, Pennsylva­ nia. Height 6·8 in.

cessfully. We have sent plants to St. vigorous shoot with large leaves appear­ Helena, California, and our grandson is ing from a small-leaved plant. trying it near Dallas, Texas. Last year There is a strange abruptness to the the Arnold Arboretum sent plants C' s far limits of the growth of a colony. It has north as Canada. It will be interesting never been known to cross or jump to learn how it adapts to north and streams. It will often grow for great south climatic extremes. distances in one direction along a steep north and west bank, perhaps in a thir­ Growth Habit in the Wild ty- or fifty-foot wide swath for a quarter­ We have seen 27 different colonies of mile. When found on decaying white Gaylussacia brachycem which have va­ pine stumps, growth is especially lush. ried in height from 3 to 20 inches, with Twice in Pickett State Park, Tennessee, it was seen protruding from under the leaf size varying from ~- to o/4 .inch long. In dry woods where it is the pre­ bark of a live white pine tree three feet dominant ground cover, it is taller and above ground level. We found our only thinner in both stem and leaf structure. seedling in the wild here, in a decaying In moist woods, when growing with oth­ pine log. er ericaceous plants, the leaves and Elsewhere, colonies were found in stems tend to be heavier and foliage these types of soil and growing condi­ generally more lush. On the edge of tions: woods, where it is heavier textured and Moist, moss-covered, well-drained; gets more light, it sets more buds. The damp sandstone, well-drained; wet leaf­ more sunlight, the more colorful the mold over clay, poorly drained ; dry foliage, stems and buds in winter. There woods, sand with light leafmold, otrel1 is often considerable varia tion of leaf over a clay base; almost pure sand, very size on an individual plant--a young dry, with light leafmold.

SPRING 1969 Plant commumtIes associated with difference of leaf size and growth habit box huckleberry included the following: each has retained. Trees: Propagation Contrary to much of the literature on Oaks (Quercus spp.) the subject, we have found Gayl ussacia Hard maple (Acer saccharum) bmchycera roots well from cuttings, and Dogwood (Cornus florida) when taken car'efully from the wild in Cucumber magnolia (Magnolia small amounts, it can be successfully acuminata) moved. Our experience has been tha t Holly (!lex opaca) box huckleberry cuttings, like those of Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canaden­ the blueberry, give the highest percen­ sis) tage of rooting when taken between Shrubs: March 15 and April 15, although they Mountain-laurel (Kalmia latifolia) do root when taken in October and Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) November. When the wood was too soft Maple-leaf viburnum (Viburnum acer- we were less successful. Our rooting mix­ ifolium) ture has been half peatmoss and half Inkberry (!lex glabm) perlite, in the greenhouse, in both the Bayberry (Myrica sp.) open bench and the vapor box. Con­ Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) trolled scientific studies of rooting cut­ Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.) tings, relative to timing, wood age, varia­ tion in individual colonies, and other Groundcover plants: factors, are being carried out by Profes­ Teaberry (Gaultheria p1·ocumbens) sor Marvin Runner, Department of Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) Horticulture, Pennsylvania State Uni­ Trailing-arbutus (Epigaea rep ens) versity. These will undoubtedly prove Wandflower (Galax aphylla informative. Wild-ginger (Asarum canadense) Seedlings are scarce in nature, but Catbriar (Smilax spp.) there is conclusive evidence that cross­ Climbing fern (Lygodium palma­ pollination produces viable seeds. Stud­ tu.m) ies in relation to seed fertili ty are being made by P. E. Marucci, Research Growth ln Cultivation Specialist, Entomology, Cranberry and 'Where it does not have competition it Blueberry Research Laboratory of Ru t­ makes a much more compact ground gers University, New Brunswick, New cover than in the wild, and for us, has Jersey; and C. E. Heit, Seed Technolo­ flowered and berried quite heavily. gist, Department of Seed Inves tigations, Grown in semi-shade, without competi­ New York State College of Agriculture. tion, box huckleberry remains a low, After checking seed sent from our nur­ slowly spreading carpet. sery, where plants from different areas Worth noting are three plants that are growing close together, both men have been growing in the same area for found high percentages of non-viable 10 years. One is a handsome patch in the seed. However, two factors would war­ slat house at the Case Estates of the rant further study of seed fertility, one, Arnold Arboretum in Weston, Massa­ the fac~ that the berries were not re­ chusetts. The other two are found side ceived fresh; and two, Mr. Marucci by side in the rock garden at Longwood found frass similar to that found in Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania bluberries, indicating the possibility of though these are from different areas. Lepidopte1·a larvae. One comes from Pennsylvania, the other Alfred Fordham, chief Propagator at from Delaware. The two plants make an the Arnold Arboretum, collected almost impenetrable cover six to eight ripened seed of plants from at least inches high; they are approximately three different areas near their green­ three feet in diameter. Note (Fig. 2) the houses. Seventy-five percent of the first

74 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY batch was sound, but only 20 percent of of this colony, so it too may become a a later .one. Seed picked and planted protected preserve. August 15 started to germinate in 11 The box huckleberry should continue weeks; those picked and planted Sep­ to be protected so it may become better tember 18 germinated in six weeks, and known and more used in our gardens. It there are now flats of healthy young is being propagated by three wholesale seedlings growing in the greenhouse. and a few retail nurseries (6) so will be Part of each batch was given a three available soon. We hope you will see this month cold treatment at 40 degrees and "neglected native" in the wild and will was sown November 15 and December enjoy growing it in your garden. 23; none had germinated by February 22. The outcome of these studies will References prove interesting. I. FREDERICK V. COVILLE, The Threatened Ex­ tinction of the Box Huckleberry, Science No. Natural Settings 1280 N .S. vol. I , 11 July 1919. Box huckleberry can be seen in its 2. ED GAR T. WH ER RY , The Story of the Box natural setting in several areas where it Huckleberry, Nature Magazine, April 1925, p. 238-40. is protected. (F~g. 3.) A four acre tract near New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, giv­ 3. EDGAR T. WHERR Y, Box Huckleberry as an Illustration for the Need for Field Work, en to the State Department of Forests Torr. Bot. Cl. Bull. p. 81 ·4, Feb. 1934. and Waters in 1929, was set aside as the 4. REV. FRED GRAY, Scores of Stations for state's thirteenth "National Natural Gaylussacia Bmchycem in West Virginia, Landmark" on July 11, 1968. There are Torr. vol. 22, no. 2, p. 17·18, Mar.-Ap. 1922. acres of Gaylussacia bmchycera in the 5. HAROLD N. MOLDENKE, The Box Huckleberry, parks at Cumberland Falls and Yahoo Oldest Flowering Plant, Wild Flower, vol. 23, Ridge in Kentucky. The largest area we no. 1, June 1957. have encountered is in Pickett State 6. Nurseries with Gayll.lssacia Brach)'cera. By mail- Park near Jamestown, Tennessee. Here Mayfair Nurseries, Nichols, New York 13812 you may wander through eight square -a few now, more spring 1970 miles of unspoiled wild areas where box Leslie's Wildflowei> Nursery, 30 Summer huckleberry is the predominan t ground Street, Methune, Massachusetts 01844- cover along the footpaths. The owner of spring 1970 Only at nursery- the Delaware area has become aware of W atnong Nursery, :'IlCorris Plains, New the historical and botanical significance J ersey 07%0

Fig. 3. Closeup of branch with flowers. PHOTO BY R . ]. PRINCLE

SPRING 1969 75 Vernonia- A Useful Native for Gardens

SAM B. JONES

The genus Vernonia (ironweed), a not known why they are called iron­ member of the Composite or Sunflower weeds, as their stems are not especially family, is a rather large genus with an tough or hard. It should be noted that estimated 1,000 species in southern Asia, they have been known to horticulture Africa, and the new world. It was named for some time, as two of our native for William Vernon, 16??-1711, an Eng­ species are included in Miller's (1768), lish botanist who traveled in North The Gardeners Dictionary. A few America. This paper, however, will only clumps of Vernonia in the garden will discllss the 19 species native to the reward the gardener with nice clusters of United States. Our species are perennial purple flowers in ] ul y and August, wi th herbs with erect, unbranched leafy stems a minimum amount of effort. and alternate leaves. The flowers are in heads which are collected together in a Culture large rounded terminal cluster. The Our species are for the most part corollas are usually purple, or very rare­ extremely hardy and adapted to a vari­ ly, white or pink. The typical purple ety of soil conditions. They will generaL flowers match the deep reddish purple ly do best in a sunny location in almost (lOP 3/9) on the Nickerson Color Fan. any well-drained soil. Some, however, Color photographs of most of our native will grow even in poorly-drained or wet species of Vernonia may be seen in Rick­ soil. Table 1 provides information on ett (1967). It is of interest to note that their natural habitats as well as their most of the horticulturally desirable spe­ geographical locations. One or more spe­ cies are included in his photographs and cies can be found in almost every state may be identified from these excellent in the eastern United States. At Athens, photographs. Georgia, all of the species are winter My interest and enthusiasm in the hardy with the exception of Vernonia group has developed in connection with blodgettii from extreme south Florida. research since 1961 into the systematics Dr. J. A. Steyermark (1963) reports that and evolution of the species indigenous he has grown Vernonia plants from the to eastern North America. That these Missouri Ozarks in his wildflower garden plants have not been grown and used in in Illinois. One of my students, Mr. our gardens is probably due to their U rbatsch, has overwin tered Vernonia al­ common name of ironweed. It is true tissima collected from Alabama and that several of them do become weedy in Georgia on his farm in Iowa. This prob­ over grazed or neglected pastures or ably indicates that they would be ex­ rangeland. This is, however, partly the tremely hardy away from their native result of man's activities and not that of location. the plant alone. On the other hand, all The best way to start these plants in of them have been grown in the trans­ the garden is to dig and collect the plant garden and in the greenhouse and rootstocks while the plants are in flower. have not been found to be aggressive. In They can be easily recognized at this the garden, the clumps do not spread time. My students and I can spot the nor are their seedlings a problem. It is plants, which normally grow in colonies, as we drive along the roads at highway Assistant Professor of Botany, The University speeds. The stems should be cut near the of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30601. ground level and the freshly dug root-

76 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY stocks placed in moist plastic bags, among the species are common In which should be sealed until the con­ nature where two or more species grow tents are transplanted. Our collections in the same locality. Hybrids have been frequently sprout in the bags if we are produced in every species combination on a long field trip. The plants can also that we have attempted so far in our be started from field-collected seeds experimental crosses. The F 1 hybrids which should be planted in January in are usually fully fertile and intermediate the greenhouse and later transplanted to in their appearance between their par­ the garden, where they will flower the ents. Some of the species more promising first year. The plants are not rare and as ornamentals are indicated in Table I may be collected without depleting the under "Additional Comments". It is natural populations. hoped that this paper will encourage Insects do not appear to be particular­ gardeners to try Vemonia in their gar­ ly troublesome on Vernonia. A rust is dens. I have certainly enjoyed growing often prevalent on natural populations them in connection with my research in the field. It has not, however, been interests. troublesome in the garden where sanita­ tion has been the only control measure. Literature Cited On the other hand, pollinators, mostly Miller, P. 1768. The gardeners dictionary. 8th ed. bees and butterflies, are attracted to the Senatuia No.7. London, England. flowers in large numbers. Rickett, H. W. 1967. Wild flow ers of the United States-the southeastern states. Vol. 2, pt. 2. The flowering season extends from p.618. McGraw Hill, New York, New York. July to early September, depending on Steyermark, J. A. 1963. Flora of Missouri. p. 1457. the species (see Table I). Hybrids The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

2 '" - 1100

Figs. 1 and 2: Fig. 1, Vernonia blodgettii; Fig. 2, V. angustifolia (the black lines are 10 cm. long, or almost 4 in.).

SPRING 1969 77 """00 TABLE 1. THE NATIVE SPECIES OF VERNONIA IN THE UNITED STATES Height Flowering Species Geographical Localion Natural Hahitut (ft.) '}'exttuc Season Additional Comments

V. acaulz's N . C., o. C., Ga. ~a nd y woods 2 fine July has basal cluster of leaves, excellent ornamental V. altissima Iowa to Pa., south to Ga. pastures, roadsides 6 coarse August most widespread species, dry to wet and Texas soil, not ornamental V. angustijolia coastal Miss. to N. C. sandy scrub oak woods 3 fine July excellent ol'llamental, grows well in dry soil V . baldwinii uplands of Ark., Mo. well drained pastures and 4 coarse July bract t ips are recurved, not ornamental roadsides V. bZodgetlii outhern Fla. low pi neland 2 fine July not winter hardy, good in south Florida V. c1'1:nita Ozarks of Ark., Mo. moist dit.ches 3 medium August large, showy heads, excellent ol'llamental V. jasciculata Iowa to Ohio wet pastlll'es 4 medium August good in wet soil V. flaccidijolia Appalachian region of Ga., edge of oak-hi ckory woods, 3 coarse July good in well drained soi l Ala., Tenn. well drained V. gigantea coast.al Ga., Ala., Fla. low roadsides 6 coarse August not ol'llamental V . glauca uplandR from Ala. t.o Pa. edge of oak-hi ckory woods, 4 coarse July excellent ol'llamental in well drained well drained so il soil, large heads V. interim' Great. Plain ~ pastl\l'es a nd roadsides, well 4 coarse July not, ol'llamental > drain ed soil ~ V. lettermannii Ouachita River drainage in sand bars and rocks along 2 fine July dainty grass-like leaves, excellent orna­ t'1 Ark. Ouachita River mental n~ > V. lindheimeri limestone prairie so uth of alkaline prairie soil 2 fine July has white pubescence, excellent and z Dallas, Tex. interesting ornamental ::c: o V. marginata Great Plains pastures and roadsides 2 medium August good in dry areas j V. missurica lowlands, Ark., Mo. low pastures and roadsides 4 coarse August good ornamental () c:: V. noveborace1),sis Ala. to W. Va., Pa., N. Y., low meadows and wet road- 6 coarse Aug.-Sept. excellent ornamental, large heads, will !:j Mass. sides grow in wet to moist soils c:: coarse July not ornamental ~ V. ovalijolia Central Fla. low roadsides 3 t"" southeastern Ga. sandy scrub oak woods 2 fine July interesting foliage rn V. pulchella o () V. texana Tex., Ark., La., S. W. Miss . pine woods 2 fine July leaves are widely :;paced, not orna­ M.., mental ><: The Tree As Air--Conditioner

JOHN M. HALLER

The tree is nature's original air a roof. Consider its pattern of overlap­ conditioner. A tree in a field is an oasis ping leaves, arranged in discrete tiers to which men and beasts are irresistibly which filter out much of the solar heat drawn. Trees planted around a house so and a good part of its light and yet at that their branches overhang the roof the same time permit the free passage of keep the inside temperature down to an air. Buildings, in contrast, tend to trap agreeable level. air masses within them and unless artifi­ Trees do more than provide shade. ciall y air-condi tioned are often hotter They humidify and freshen the atmos­ than the outside air. Consider how the phere, encourage the gentle movement tree's canopy is hung from a central of air, and at the same time break the mast, obviating the necessity for any violence of strong winds. kind of enclosure, while the thick, heavy Functioning as a fountain, the tree roof of a building must be supported by draws many gallons of water from the walls. Consider how walls impede the soil-as much as 200 or 300 gallons a passage of air, regardless of the number day-and evaporates them through its of windows that may be cut into them, leaves into the air. Each tree, during the and how at night, aided by the roof, they daylight hours, is enveloped in a blanket re-radiate trapped solar heat into the of water vapor within which one is interior. The tree, in 'contrast, needs no cooled and freshened. Some species, such windows because it h as no walls; even its as the willow, pump out liquid water "roof" is an open lattice-work permit­ through the leaves in the form of finely ting the free circulation of air currents divided droplets. This fine mist may be upward, downward, and sidewise. felt on the hands and face, and in cer­ Primitive builders h ave come· nearer tain lights, clearly seen. When a slight imitating the tree than civilized ones, breeze is blowing, the temperature un­ constructing their houses without walls, der such a tree may be 10 to 15 degrees equipping them instead with spreading, less than the tempera ture ou tside its sloping roofs, sometimes round, some­ canopy. Manufactured evaporative cool­ times two-gabled. The rounded roof, es­ ers work on exactly the same princi­ pecially, reproduces the design of a tree ple: a current of wind sent through a in several interesting particulars: first, curtain of moisture. its shape (all tree crowns are round in Man-made structures have always cross-section, if not iri profile); second, provided shade, but until the invention the fact that it is taller in the cen ter of mechanical air-conditioning, never than at the edges; third, the fact that it equall ed the cool comfort of a forest. A is made of t hatch, which is a loosely concrete roof placed over 10,000 miles of woven vegetable material effective in desert " 'ould be a welcome improve­ keeping out rain, in deflecting solar ment, but it could not duplicate the heat, and in quickly giving up at night miracle effected by the sudden trans­ all heat absorbed during the day. Many plantation of a forest. tropical roofs, in fact, are not woven at The tree's canopy is superior in sever­ all, consisting simply of palm leaves su­ al respects to the mere inert extension of perimposed and imbricated. Such a roof 1236 College .'\ ve. Modesto, Cali fornia is usually 10-12 inches thick. Many palm

SPRING 1969 79 trees give of their leaves to make it, and reversion to the central-mast pattern: in it may be fitly called a "concentrated California and Florida and other semi­ tree." tropical places, wall-less roofs supported The chief differences between a tree by a central column are seen in increas­ and a building made of thatched roof ing numbers as shade-providers for and no walls are two: the roof is com­ lunch stands, picnic spots, and sidewalk pressed into one plane rather than soar­ cafes. When builders learn the technique ing upward into a three-dimensional of constructing such roofs of separate glory of tier upon tier, and the roof is strips that may be opened and closed supported by a sprawling framework at will, like the slats of a Venetian blind, rather than by a central mast. Recent they will have approached one step near­ efforts of modem architects indicate a er the perfection of the tree.

Excerpts From Peter J. Van Melle

On Rock Gardens (1933) Many of those who may originally h ave been impelled by the [rock-garden] fashion must have come -to hear a voice of Nature in their contact with that wide range of wild plants that drape even the most primitive sort of rockery. Nature never wearies of appealing to the heart of man, and her opportunities of late have probably bee n not altogether lost. She must have awakened in ~housands of these unskilled amateurs some vague new apprecia­ tion of the kindred loveliness of all those velvet spreads and mounds. Of them she must have whispered, "Lo, with such as these my mountain sides a·re clothed." Of the little narcissi and the gentian, "These are the su nlight of this snow-fed pasture." And of the tiny sedum's tinted beads, "They are but pieces of the coral reefs on high." In some such way, surely, Nature has lately spoken to thou­ sands, newly come within reach of her voice, whom the woods and the fields had not persuaded. Will -there not be an answer, a response, "How beautiful upon their mountains," that may give new life to our gardens?

On the Beauty of Sempervivums (undated) The silver tracery of S. arachnoideum is perhaps the greatest achievement of Semp'ervivums in the garden. If there be anything which is prettier than it for weathered stone surfaces, it is S. fau­ connettii, which shows, under the patches of very tiny rosettes in which there is emerald green, a little of the silver webbing of arachnoideum and a shimmer of red leaf-tips. These patches are particularly lovely during the period of new growth in spring.

80 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Advances in Hort iculture

The opulent t?'OPics, somnolent for ages astride the Equator, warmed by bril­ liant sunshine, bathed in torrents of min, await man's purpose ful exploitation to pTOduce the food his children will need. Tamed by powerful machines, planted w£th the new gene-manipu.lated cultivaTS, fed with life-giving nitrogen and sup­ porting nutrients, jJTOtected from pests of soil and air, the tropical regions loom as a giant cOl'nucopia f01' continuous production of the jJroducts f01' man's suste­ nance in the yeaTS to come. A step along the way toward the fulfillment of this dream is this contribution from Hawaii. Donald Watson, Chainnan of the Department of HOl-ti1culture of the UniveTSity of Hawaii (Honolulu 96822) assemb led these modest reports f?'Om some of his colleagues who describe their p?'Ogress in improving horticultuml crops for Hawaii.

HAW AllAN INTRODUCTIONS Producing a well-formed vigorous tree with 'medium sized, smooth-shelled nuts Development of horticultural crops of 42-46 percent kernel, it is resistant to for tropical and subtropical regions at anthracnose (Gloesporium sp.) one time resulted from colonial pro­ 'Keaau' was named after Keaau Or­ grams of European origin. More recent­ chard of the Royal Hawaiian Macada­ ly, however, breeding programs of inter­ mia Company in Hawaii County, where est to and initiated by the Hawaii Agri­ the first comprehensive yield test was cultural Experiment Station have been conduGted.-R. A. Hamilton and H. supplementing this earlier activity. To­ Ooha. day many of the University of Hawaii introductions are being tested and wide­ TROPICAL SWEET CORN ly used on the mainland, throughout the Failure of winter sweet corn produc­ Pacific basin, in Africa, and other tropi­ tion in the tropics is because of the short cal and subtropical regions throughout daylength stunting and the disease sus­ the world. Some 'recent representative ce ptibility of temperate hybrids. Plant introductions from among the many trop­ heights are often reduced by 50% in ical crops include macadamia, sweet winter months, and ear lengths are short­ corn, anthurium, papaya, and tomato. ened measurably. Damage by mosaic­ stripe, transmitted by the leaf-hopper, DONALD P. ,,vATSON Peregrinus maidi'S, as well as earworm and (Journal SCTies No. 1059 ot the Ha­ waiian Agl'icultumZ Experiment Sta­ blight (Helminthosporium tUTCicum) tion) 'damage are often serious. Two sweet corn hybrids have been released by the Hawaii Agricultural Ex­ MACADAMIA periment Station. H38 is highly produc­ 'Keaau', a new commercial macada­ tive, tender, sweet, and matures in about mia (Macadamia integrifolia) originally 70 days. Ears are small (5-Y2 to 7 inches) selected in 1948 has been under close with slender cobs, tight husks, and short observa tion since 1958. Annual yield of husk tips. Plants usually bear two mar­ kerne1s has been shown to be significan t­ ketable ears. H 38 is resistant to ear­ ly higher than that of three standard worms and sweet corn mosaic, but sus­ macadamias-'Kakea', 'Ikaika', and ceptible to Helminthospol'ium leaf Keauhou'. blight (H. turcicum) .

SPRING 19G!J 81 H68 is a productive hybrid selected New anthurium selections: A. 'Uniwai' especially for its comparatively large -broad heart-shaped white spathe; (6- 12 to 8 inches) ears and high quality. B. 'Marian Seeful"th'-broad heart­ It is a tall hybrid, especially in summer shaped pink spathe. (Technical Bulle­ months, and matures I to 4 days later tin 58, H.A.E.S.) than H38. Yields of marketable ears on H68 approach or equal H38, but the ears are heavier, longer, and have short­ er husk tips. Resistance to pests and diseases is comparable to that of H38. Both of these hybrids have performed creditably throughout the tropics.-J. L. Brewbaker. PASTEL-COLORED ANTHURIUMS Although the first introductions of an­ thurium over 75 years ago were pastel­ colored spathes, recently the bulk of commercial production has been those with red and orange spathes. In the spring of 1950, the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Sta,t'ion inau­ gurated a breeding program placing emphasis on improvement of flower col­ or, size, shape, texture, productivity of flowers and young plants. After 13 years in which selected plants were placed under surveillance and a hybridization program was conducted, the following two seedling selections were introd uced (see photo) . Cv. 'Uniwai' A smooth, pliable, white, heart-shaped spathe with overlapping lobes main­ tained an exceptionaUy high yield of 7.7 flowers per plant per year. The spadix is short, yellow and drooping when young but turning upright with age. Sucker production is relatively low. The spathe tends to develop a slight pink tinge during spring months, but the demand for whi,te flowers and high yield make it a valuable introduction. 'SUNRISE SOLO'-A DIFFERENT Cv. 'Marian Seefurth' COLORED SOLO PAPAYA The rich pastel pink spathe measuring 'Sunrise Solo' combines the orange-red 6- 12 inches long and 5-12 inches wide flesh color and precocious low-frui,ting with heart-shaped overlapping lobes habit characteristic of Line 9 'Solo', makes this a desirable anthurium. The with excellent quality, high sugar con­ spadix is white and upright when ma­ tent and the desirable 'Solo' flavor of ture. Flower yield over a consecutive 'Kariya'solo. period of 151 weeks averages 6.9 flowers 'Sunrise Solo', is a precocious low­ per plant per year.-H. Kamemoto and bearing cuItivar maturing its first fruit H. Y. Nakasone. about nine months after transplanting,

82 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY at a height of approximately three feet. have, with the exception of N-fi9, all Carpellody is almost completely absent been indeterminate in vine habit. They and there is little or no sterility, depend­ also have immature fruit color of the ing on season and growing conditions. "green shoulder" type. The greater lon­ Frui,t from hermaphroditic plants is gevity of these hybrids in the tropics is pyriform in shape with a slight neck and now well proven and appears to result generally smoother with less ribbing from a combination of hybrid vigor and than other 'Solo' strains, and the seed disease resistance. cavity is not as deeply indented or star­ Hybrid N-II, made with the island distinct 'Solo' flavor and aroma. Total variety 'Anahu' and STEP 174 from the shaped. Flesh is sweet with mi.Id but U. S. Vegetable B-reeding Laboratory at dissolved solid content ranges from 12 to Charleston, Sou th Carolina, was the 17 percent, with an average of about heaviest yielding tomato in the 1960 15.5 under good growing conditions.-R. STEP replicated trials ·conducted in 15 A. Hamilton and P. Ito. southern states. In more recent years, hybrids N-55, N-64, and N-65 have also DISEASE RESISTANT TOMATO won that distinction. HYBRIDS In El Salvador under conditions of Multiple disease resistant Fl hybrid severe disease infestation which made tomatoes with inherited resistance to as tomato production extremely difficult, many as eight different diseases are the hybrid N-56 yielded some nine tons of result of crossing multiple resistant but fruit per acre, approximately four times quite unrelated lines from Florida and the yield of the standard varieties used Hawaii. as a basis of comparison.-J. C. Gilbert. With most of these diseases, the genes References for resistance were dominant and there­ fore expressed in the hybrid if present in Hamilton, R. A. and H. Ooka. 1966. Keaau-A New Commercial Macadamia. Proceedings An­ one or the other of .the parents. In the nu.al M eeting, H awaii Macadamia Producers case of some of the diseases, both of the Association. Pp. 10-15. parent lines were resistant. This was Brewbaker, J. L. 19G8. Hawaii H -38 and Hawaii true of Fusarium wilt, gray leaf spot, H-68 Sweet Corn H ybtids. University of Hawaii and tobacco mosaic virus resistance in Cooperative Extension Service Circular 120, 9 hybrid N-52, N-56, N-63, N-65, and N- pages. 69. In addition, these hybrids received Kamemoto, H. and H. Y. Nakasone. 1963. Evalu­ root knot and spotted wilt resistance ation and Improvement of AnthU1

SPRING 1!)fi9 83 Weeds

"He who has a garden has a futu're." These words greet visitors to the head­ quaTters of the venerable Garden Club of San Fmncisco. Gardeners everywhere will app1'eciate their philosophical and inspimtional message. So do the editors of The American Horticultural Magazine. As pmcticing gm'deneTS, however, they confess a cOTollary thought: He who has a garden also has weeds. Thus is born this new feature of the American Horticultuml Society's journal. Its edit01' is Dr. LOTan L. Danielson, Leader, Weed Investigations, HOTticultuml CTOPS, Agricultuml Resem'ch Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. The pw'pose of this n ew service is to help Society members become knowledge­ able about weeds and their control.

CONTROLLING POISON IVY tal plantings, wooded areas around the AROUND THE HOME home, and on hikes or cam ping tr,ips in Few people have escaped the skin­ the woods, mountains, or at the beach. blistering effects of contact wi.th poison The defoliated stems, handled mistaken­ ivy Rhus mdicans. Though we generally I y as other brush in fall or early spring. use considerable care ,in our ramblings of.ten cause poisoning. Poison ivy seed­ in the woods and gardens, we are often lings grow unnoticed among woody or­ unknowingly exposed to it. namentals until they emerge through Poison ,ivy grows as a woody twining the covering foliage where we make con­ vine on trees, as a tall shrub 3 to 4 feet tact with them. Severe cases have been high, and as a low-growing shrub 1 to 2 reported of poisoning from contact with feet taU. In 'general, twining and low­ the smoke from poison ivy plants growing forms are found in densely burned with other brush. Animals do shaded areas. The large shrub forms not appear to be affected, but some cases usually occur in slightly shaded or open of poisoning of humans have been tenta· areas. Poison ivy has alternate trifoliate tively traced to contact with pets that leaves. Leaflets may be smooth­ were previously exposed to poison ivy margined or variously toothed or notch­ foliage. ed among the several subspecies. Clus­ Prevention of poisoning or even the ters of small, white, waxy, ber,rylike most sensitive person is possible. First, fruits are formed in the leafaxils. Birds avoid it by knowing the plant. Study carry the seeds to uninfested areas, and descri ptions and photographs. Remem­ esta.blished plants spread by creeping ber our childhood warning, . Leaflets rootstocks. It grows well in many loca­ three, let it be." Second, if you must tions including perennial ornamental handle poison .ivy, wear heavy rubber or plantings, parks, and camping areas. leather gloves tha.t can be thrown away. The various forms of poison ivy are Avoid contact with contaminated cloth­ widely distributed over the United ing or -tools. Finally, eradicate the poi­ States, with the exception of the extreme son ivy plants. Southwest. Poison ivy cannot be satisfactorily Poisoning occurs when crushed leaves controlled by handpulling, grubbing, or or broken stems contact the bare skin. mowing. Many roots are overlooked in An intense itching and formation of grubbing, and repeated mowing is a blisters follows within a few hours. Con­ temporary remedy. R epeated exposure tact is most frequene in woody ornamen- to the plants in these manual operations

84 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Rhus r II cl i C II n s growing through canopy of azalea foliage.

is a real hazard. Fortunately there are injury to the ornamentals. These herbi­ herbicides that will safely and effectively cides move from the foliage to all parts control poison ivy in practically any area. of the ivy plant and ,thus kill the roots as Carefully directed sprays or solution well as the tops. treatments of 3-amino-s-triazine [ami­ In large wooded areas or parks and trole] and ammoniumsulfamate [AMS] lawns, (2,4,5,-trichlorophenoxy) acetic can be used in wooded areas around the acid [2,4,5-T] will kill poison ivy with­ home and in woody ornamental plant­ out injury to desirable plants if sprays ings. Spray only during calm weather. are carefully directed. Use low pressure and a metal or card­ All chemicals described in this report board shield to proteot valuable plants. should be applied in accordance with Where poison ivy is growing among or­ the directions on the manufacturer's la­ namentals, it m ay be necessary to a·pply bel as regis,tered under the Federal In­ the herhicides with a small sponge secticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide nailed to a wooden handle to prevent Act.

STINGING NETTLE-A leaf surfaces. Contact with the stinging GARDEN PROBLEM hairs produces a moderate itching and How many times have you ,reached burning sensation that usually lasts for into a clump of flowers -to cut a bouquet less than an hour. The stinging nettle and snatched your hand back with a spreads by seed and shallow creeping sensation of having been stung by a bee rootstocks. Though widespread across or wasp, but saw no sign of ,the insect? the continent, stinging nettle is infre­ The culprit is often a stinging nettle quent because it is a ni,trophilous or plant growing unobtrusively among the nitrogen-loving plant. Thus it grows best foliage of the ornamentals. in moist fertile soils around barnyards, Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) , a in gardens, and in the heavy mulches on broadleaf weed, is a member of the forest floors. Nettles grow well in either Urticaceae or nettle family. There are low or high light co nditions, and there­ several perennial and annual species of fore may floUlcish unnoticed under the nettles widely distributed throughout foliage canopy of other plants during North America. They have numerous early vegetative growth. Later, the bristly, stinging hairs on the stem and stems elongate preparatory to flo wering,

SPRING 1969 85 and may grow to a height of 3 to 6 feet, depending on fertility and light levels. The sma.Il, greenish flowers form in clus­ ters at the stem nodes. Flowering and seed formation occur in August and Sep­ tember in the Middle AtlantJic States. Because nettles spread by rhizomes as well as seed, they tend to grow in local­ ized clumps. They sometimes grow in fertile, uncultivated areas where they can be safely killed by treatment with 3-amino-s-triazole [amitrole] or (2,4-di­ chlorophenoxy) acetic acid 2,4-D, ap­ plied as a spray on the foliage durin ~ the early vegetative stages of growth. Repeated mowing will prevent seed formation and limit spreading. Cutting off the stems or killing the tops alone Vrtica dioica, showing bristly, stinging does not kill nettles because of the sur­ hairs on stem, petioles, and leaves. viViing live rhizomes. Hand grubbing of roots and rhizomes, and exposure to drying, help minimize spread; but these are not completely effective, because age or stems of ornamental plants. many roots and rhizomes are missed. Introduction of stinging nettles into S.tinging nettles among ornamentals gardens can be minimized by planting are successfully controlled by donning a weed-free crop seed, avoiding transfer of pair of leather gloves, separating out the roots or rhizomes in soil which accom­ nettle plants, bending them down to the panies transplants, and by fumigating ground without breakling them, and topsoils and rotted peat moss with carefully wetting ,the foliage with a methyl bromide before use. Follow spe­ sponge soaked wi,th a solution of ami­ cial precautions described on manufac­ trole. Amitrole is a systemic herbicide turer's label when using methyl bro· that kills the nettle plants by entering mide. and moving to all parts, including stems, A.ll chemicals described in this report roots, and rhizomes. To accomplish this, should be applied in accordance with the treated -tops must remain attached to the directions on the manufacturer's la­ the roots and 'rhizomes for a minimum bel as registered under the Federal In­ of 2 weeks after treatment. Be sure to secticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide avoid applying amitrole solution to foli- Act.

86 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Gardeners' Notebook

GEORGE WASHINGTON iden tified on the l'ist as a deodar cedar, MEMORIAL CEDAR but who provided this identification is In December, 1899, a Masonic group not known. planned a memorial ceremony at George Flowering of the tree was observed for Washington's tomb in commemoration the first time about 1957. T his tree com­ of the centennial of the General's death. mences to flower and to dlistribute pol­ Mr. W. R. Smith, Superintendent of the len during February. For the first time, United States Botanical Garden in to our knowledge, viable seeds were em­ Washington, D. c., supplied for the cere­ mitted from the cones during November mony a sapleing of a tree identified by and December, 1968, sixty-nine years af­ him as cedar of Lebanon (C edrus li­ ter the tree was planted. A quantity of bani) . Since the weather on the date of these seeds was planted under green­ the ·ceremony, December 14th, was most house condi tions on December 10, 1968 unfavorable, the tree therefore was actu­ in a wardian ·case at a temperature of aUy planted

BERGENIA. STRA.CHEYI 'ALBA' Distinctive characteristics make the cultivar more desirable than the better known Bergenia stmcheyi. The genus Bergenia is closely related to Saxitmga, is sometimes included with it, and has been called M egasea; B. stmcheyi has been known as saxifrage or winter prim­ rose. This and other species are still around in old gardens and ·in parks, having been planted for w,inter flowers and a thick coverage of shady ground. B. slmcheyi went out of favor, when its "shocking" pink became unpopular and Cedrus libani near George Washing­ its interlacing rhizomatous stems made ton's tomb, Mount Vernon, Virginia. too fine il housin g development for Planted in 1899 to commemorate the snail s and slugs. 100th year of the Gener"al's death. PlIOTO ROHER r fl. FISH ER T he cultivil r h ilS il n foven more vigor-

Sl'lUNG 1Y6Y 87 together with moss, and a space a foot tall and 2 feet wide is thick with charm­ ing seedlings of various ages all with round glossy smooth green leaves of vari­ ous sizes from 1 inch to 3 inches across. How the seeds were carried and became affixed to the face of the adobe bl'icks is a mystery. Upon examination I found the roots were well attached to the wall but were shallow so that ,they could be gen tl y removed. I transferred a few to a bed of regular soil and they are thriving. This spontaneous gTowth in quantity under such conditions has encouraged me to try to grow from seed several uncommon bergenias which otherwise would take some time to be ready to di~tribute from root stock. One is Ber­ genia 'Bellawlay' a h andsome culoivar which was sent to Strybing Arboretum from England in 1967. Bergenia stracheyi 'Alba'. PHOTO BY JUDITH BROW~ EMILY BROWN 3045 Ralston Avenue ous overlay of thickened root stocks but H illsborough, California since the folliage is decidedly more hand­ some it is worth the trouble to keep the leaves reasonably free of holes. They are larger, rounder, thicker, glossier, of rich­ AN UNUSUALLY CORKY SWEET GUM er texture, with more indented mar­ gins; the color is a deeper green and is In 1962 I found an extremely corky shaded bronze in leaves very young or specimen of LiquidambaT st)ITaciflua in quite old, while in autumn all leaves are Charles City County, Virginia, fi ve miles reddish copper. They burn very little from Route 5 and on Route 623 that around the edges in full sun on the San leads toward Holdcroft. The tree, esti­ Francisco peninsula. Plants will also mated to be sixty feet tall and measured withstand a cold winter here, and in to h ave a oircumference of three and a fact, this BeTgenia is reported only a half feet at breast height, grew fifty feet little less hardy than the ha,rdiest ber­ west of the road. The cork occurred in genias. There would be winter damage localized wings and pegs and, in places, in northern areas. doubled the diameter of the stem. The The color of the flowers of 'Alba' is fruits were small for this species. creamy white. The clusters are about 4 I detected the tree from the road as I inches long by 4 inches wide on stems drove past. Located in the margin of a sometimes as long as 10 inches, and are low-lying wood and at the edge of a numerous. The green seed pods are not field, the tree is conspiouous at a dis­ unattra:ctive. tance. In the latter par,t of October and Propagation is easy from pieces of early November its leaves vary from thickened root stock. yellows through reds to purples, Plants in my ga,rden have been estab­ maroon, and violet. Perhaps the amount lished a.t the top of a 4-foot adobe wall of rainfall and other climatic conditions for five years. The adobe is the old­ affect coloration, as well as nutritional fashioned mix of earth and bitumen. supplies for particular branches. This This year near the hase of {he wall, in tree is especially h andsome in winter the wall itself, many seeds germinated when all its sculpturesque branches are

88 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY paper on Lir;lIirlnmbnT (Amolrlin, Vol. 21, No. 10: 59-63) in which he states the L. stymcif/ua forma subaosa was "described in 1933 as having branches l with unusually thick, corky wings. It \ differs very little from the normal ... and is thus hardly worth distinguish­ ing." I have greater expectations for our plant. J. T. BALDWIN, JR. Profess01' of Biology College of William and Mary Williamsburg, ViTginia 23185

TREES FROM POT PLANTS It's fun to train a pot plant into a small flowering tree, with flowers at nose level. My trees have been made from heliotrope, PelaTgonium, Fuchsia, Bougainvillea, Plumbago capensis, CleTOdendrum thomsonae (a special joy), azalea, Acacia, Cassia, Gelsemium, Osman-thus fragrans, Forsy thia, and oth­ ers. When you have trained a strong­ stemmed young plant up to about two feet, brace it firmly and tie the leader Liquidambar styraciflua. Branch with firmly but gently between every hranch. blasted leaves from seedling of Xilitla, For a brace I bend heavy wire orchid San Luis Potosi, origin; other branch from Williamsburg, Virginia tree. hangers into a clamp over the rim of the Photographed December 20, 1968, in pot. studios of Colonial Williamsburg, hy After a first year of good feeding and Charles G. Kagey. side branch growth, start nipping off side branches at the base, but stake the trunk and keep i,t going up. Maximum apparent. Pieces of the branches consti­ height for corky-stemmed heliotrope or tute "found" art. Pelm'gonium is two or three feet; for I sent wood for propagation to Henry woody C laodendrum or Bougainvillea, J. Hohman, Kingsville Nurseries, six or seven feet; and somewhat less for Kingsville, Maryland and he made grafts Fuchsia; Fonythia tops off 'at eight feet on seedlings. Four grafted specimens or more. Staking can be done with any that he sent us are now eight feet ,tall size pipe or rod, from % -inch (curtain and exhibit marked corkiness in places rod size) to I inch. along the stems. Mr. Hohman included Start forming the tree the second year, this corky sweet gum in a plant list pinching back main branches lin succes­ which he recently distributed. My hope sive years and keeping unwanted side is that the cul,tivar wiI.l keep the charac­ and basal growths cut off. By the third t~r of the mother tree-that the extreme season it will be lovely at full height and corkiness is genetic. This sweet gum will have been moved to a tub. A ten­ should then enjoy a wide usage and be a inch tub is right for fuchsias, a four,teen­ significant addition to our horticultural inch tub for bougainvilleas and big trees. azaleas, and at least a sixteen-inch tub Joab L. Thomas (1961) published a for Fonythia.

SPRING 1969 89 Varied Color Your tree will give you about one mon th of spectacular color. Cleroden­ drums show white and crimson against rich green in November, Gelsemium showers fragrant yellow bells in midwin­ ter, and Plumbago follows with sky-blue flowers. In early March the bougainvil­ lea's four-foot blooms are a mad sight, while the heliotrope is opening its first purple perfume bottles.

Care When the little trees are growing, feed as required, water lavishly, and allow appropriate periods of rest. Allow also for their ~diosyncracies. The showy cassi­ as are messy, the Osmanthus (sweet­ Fig. 1. Cleyera japonica used as a olive) needs coolness. Acacias are sub­ screen. PHOTO nY ARTH U R H. SAWYERS ject ,to red s-pider, and heliotrope to COLON IAL VVILLiAMSnUR(; whitefly; in addition, the latter turns brown if aHowed to dry out, but pruning Cleyera h as found the site a good one: its branches severely will not hurt it. the foliage remains a rich green year­ CleTOdendmm, Bougainvillea, and round; the plants flower and fruit pro­ Fuchsia are susceptible to mealybugs, lifically (see close"up, January, 1966.); and Plumbago, to many pests plus a volunteer seedlings spring up in abun­ rusty spot affliction which is controlled dance in the pine-bark mulch. The loca­ by "Phaltan." We use the systemic spray tion is a shaded court. But perhaps the "Cygon" for mealybugs, or a big dose of moist breezes from the alir-conditioner "Scope" in the pot. These treatments are also effective for scale, which afflicts Gelsemium. * Other possibilities for this hobby in­ clude B ignonia, Allamanda, mock­ topiary forms of ivy, and Christmas cac­ tus types grafted onto columnar cactus bases. ANN N. SHELDON 6037 Ramshorn Place McLean, Virginia 22101

CLEYERA ]APONICA FOR SCREEN PLANTING Shortly after the ,installation in 1957 of alir-conditioning in Ewell Hall at the College of William and Mary, we planted six specimens of Cleyera japoni­ ca Thunb. to screen off the outside equipment. The photograph shows the plantJing in January, 1966; the plants are now twelve feet tall. The screen is effec­ tive. Fig. 2. Cleyera japonica, closeup of branch. PHOTO BY ARTHUR H. SAWYERS • Use systemics with caution.-Eds. COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

90 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY account in great measure for the healthy Charles S. Sargent in North Caroliml, in and vigorous growth of these plants. 1878, and Dr. Gray finally saw it Other represenatives of the same lot of growing on the banks of the Keowee in Cleyera (sent to us by the Missouri 1879_ Meanwhile C. M. Hyams found Botanical Garden) get more sun and ShoTtia near the Catawba River in 1877. none of the breezes. The plants are in a Botanists and ecologists fail to agree sorry plight. on the reason for the very limited dis­ A scale insect, which Miss Louise tribution of ShoTtia_ Russell, Systematic Entomology Labora­ Dr. Wilburn Duncan who helped dis­ tory, USDA, ,identifies as Ceroplastes cover the only known Georgia station, ceTifems (Anderson), also enjoys this wrote (Rhodora, Oct. 1950), that the ecological situation: it occurs in great Sh01·tia once had a much wider distribu­ number on the moistened side of tion. His theory is that the plant has CleyeTa but hardly at all on the drier remained only on those oldest mountain side. ranges that were present before the There is often confusion about Great Smoky Mountain overthrust. An­ Cleyel-a, TeTnstTOemia, and Ew-ya in the other scientist has suggested that chan­ horticuI.tural trade. D-r. CarroU ,1\1 ood of ges in clima tic condi tions caused the The Arnold Arboretum k1indly clarified plant to survive where the "combination the taxonomic problems for me. of shade, humidity, and temperature was l- T. BALDWIN, lR. such as was necessary for the maturing College of William and Mary and germination of seed." There are two Williamsburg, Vil'ginia 23185 other species of Shortia in the world, both in Asia. One is sometimes offered [or cultivation under the name of "Nip­ THE RARE OCONEE BELLS pon-bells." There are many ravines with similar The natural habitat of the Oconee ecological conditions and associated bells, Shortia galacifolia, has been cer­ plant species. Yet the Shortia is found in tain deep gorges and ravines at lower only a very limited area of apparently elevations in the Blue Ridge mountains. The range was confined to two counties in South Carolina, three counties in neighboring North Carolina, and one elusive station in R abun County, Geor­ gia. In these areas Shortia grows under beech (Fagus grandifolia) and the great rosebay (Rhodociencil-on maximu.m). In more recent years ShoTtia has been discovered in Virginia and Pennsylva­ nia, but it is thought these stations were planted. Shm·tia in the wild has always been elusive_ To briefly review its known history, it was discovered by An­ dre Michaux in 1788. This was in De­ cember and Michaux collec·ted only the leaves. These leaves were seen by Dr. Asa Gray when he visited Paris and Michaux's herbarium in 18 39_ Dr. Gray recognized that Shortia was a n ew plant, and named it for Dr. Short of Kentucky. Dr. Gray began a search for the ShoTtia, but was led as tray by Michaux's nota­ tion, "found in the high mountains." The ShoTtia was rediscovered by Prof. Shortia gaiacijolia, Oconee hens

SPRING 1969 91 identical habitat. Unfortunately, much When not in flower or seed, Shortin of its na-tural range in South Carolina is might be mistaken for the distantly being destroyed by backwaters from new related Galax which has a round leaf, dams on the Keowee and Toxaway Riv­ with prominent . veins branching £an­ ers, and by development of a new high­ wise from the edge of ' the rounded pe­ way and recreational area near vVhite tiole. Shortia has a more oval leaf, with 'Water Falls. veins digressing from the midrib, and a We became personally acquainted grooved petiole. A Galax leaf is slightly with SllQ'rtia in the wild in the area of aromatic when crushed. Both have the White Water River, near Camp leaves shiny green in spring and sum­ Jocasee, South Carolina, while on a mer, and deeply crimson or bronze in search for the Arizona Fern with the late autumn. From a car window, cer­ Rev. Rufus Morgan of Franklin, North tain round-leaved violets, or patches of Carolina. At Camp Jocasee we met the wild-ginger leaves might be mistaken for caretaker, an extremely interesting old Shortia. gentlemen, named J. G. Hager,ty, who ShoTtia has been planted successfully considered himself the guardian of the in private gardens, and in nature re­ Oconee bells. While glad to show "the serves at Fernbanks in Atlanta, and plants" to interested botanists, he de­ Pearson's Falls at Tryon, N. C. It is also plored the new power complex soon to offered for sale in some wild flower nurs­ flood the area. Mr. Hagerty wrote letters eries. Botanists and nature lovers to various heads of state in protest should be on the lookout for new sta­ against this flooding, but of course, to no tions for ShOTtia. avail. It is always refreshing, in this day ShOTtia will probably continue to exist of destructive development, to meet in gardens and under cultivation. But someone who is trying to save some­ somehow this is not the same as to see thing in ,its natural state. In his philoso­ Shortia growing wild in its beautiful phy and appearance, Mr. Hagerty re­ natural setting. At the rate the native minded us of the great n aturalist, John habitat is being destroyed, ShoTtia is in Burroughs. danger of disappearing. It is now time to "'Then Mr. Hagerty took us to the create a preserve for part of its natural ShOTtia beds, only a few feet from the habitat before it is too late. main road, we were amazed at the carpet :MARIE B. MELLINGER of richly green scalloped leaves. The R 1, Tiger, Georgia 30576 area was deep in moss, watered by a trickling, spring fed stream. The Shortia was growing under a few beech trees, RARE KOREAN BITTER TREE THRIVES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE and dense thickets of rhododendrons, in association with Galax, white violets In a 1920 report, the bi tter tree, Pi- (Viola jJallens) , bluets (Houstonia CTOS17'W quassioides, was described as " .. . pusilla) , and variegated-leaf Ginger a small -tree wi th pinnately divided (Asarum sp.). Rocks, old stumps, and leaves and lenticellate shoots, the bark fallen logs were covered with the SII01'­ of which is intensely bi.ner to the taste tia, which spreads by runners, or stolens. and is used by Coreans both for medical The whole area was laced with the ever­ . purposes and also in the manufacture of green-leaved creepers of the wood-vamp shoes. It is chiefly found in central Corea, (Decumaria barbara). It was a place though not very common there." [Ar­ that exactly exemplified a "mossy dell." bOTet1l.1n C01'eense, Part II, M. N. Trol· A visit to Shortia in its natural habita t lope. 1920. Transactions of the KOTea can be an inspir,ation to any flower lov­ Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. er, especially when it is in blossom. Each XI, pages 40-7 5. Repllintecl by YMCA five· petalled, waxy white flower rises on Press, Seoul, Korea in 1936.J a slender s tern from its rna t of leaves. I was fortuna,te to have been able to Bending down, one gets a whiff of the collect a few seeds in autumn 1947 from almost elusive fragrance of the flower. a tree growing on the upper slopes of

92 i\MERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY trees have strong wood and have not been broken by heavy wet snow or ice stonns. Now a score of years old, one tree with excurrent malin stem and growin O" in ,the open approx im ates 20 feet i~ height; the other, planted on the north­ west shady side of a building, has bifur­ cate trunk and is 15 fee t tall.The rather stiff branches form mostly a 4·5-degree ~ n.g l e with the main stem. Very few are ]oIn: d more acutely to the trunk. Large len tJcels of one-year-old tWligs are partic­ ularl y conspicuous. I have tasted the bark of the twio·s. It is decidedly bitter. The glossy "dark green odd-pinnate leaves often have thir­ teen leafl ets, bu t there is nothing unlucky about them. Neither insects nor diseases have troubled the foli age. Prom­ inent veins of the leaves become even '/j /­ ~ more striking in fall when yellow color Foliage of Korean bitter tree with of the blades develops to make the com­ prominent leaf veins made conspicu­ pound leaves look like engravings (see ous by yellow autumn coloration. photo) . Sex of the two trees is unknown PHOTO By ARTHUR HA WKINS as neither h as blossomed. It was a surprise to learn in summer 1967 that the bitter tree was not among Ing Wang mountain, located just be­ the many fine hardy trees at the Arnold yond the western edge of Seoul, Korea. I Arboretum, J amaica Plain, Massachu­ remember only this tree standing beside se tts,. so roots were dug from my largest a large granite boulder, though it would tree III December and sent to Alfred J. seem there must have been ano,ther Fordham, Propagator. H e has written to sufficiently near by to furnish pollen, as me that root pieces placed horizontally the Bitter Tree is dioecious. Seeds for­ in flats of sandy so il gave abundant warded to the late A. F. Yeager, Horti­ shoots, and as ,they were juvenile, rooted cultural Department, University of New quickly. Through the summer repeated H ampshire, Durham, were stratified batches of shoots were harvested, for as promptly and germina,ted the following soon as one was collected a new crop spring. would appear. I observed also that sever­ Two of the seedlings have been under al shoots volunteered from the severed observation for the pas t two decades in roots left in the soil under the tree in my my home grounds at Rochester, N ew home grounds. H ampshi,re where, most winters, minima As it is possible to propagate this of minus 5° to 10 °F can be expected. In pleasing small ornamental tree readily Wlinter 1958-59, minus 25 OF was recorded by means of ,root cuttings, the hi tter tree here. No appreciable ,injury to the bitter can become available for planting in tree resul,ted. As the noticeable cinna­ northern states without the necessity for mon-brown dormant buds are naked, growing seedlings. they are most fascinating, since bud E. ]\II. MEADER scales commonly are considered protec­ RFD #2, Box 515 tion against adverse conditions. Both R ochester, N ew Iiamj)shire 03867

SPRING 1969 93 Book Reviews

From Sea to Shining Sea one state, or even international action, as in the case of the Great Lakes, A Report on the American Environment-Our Pollution is recognized as a major problem in Natural Heritage. The President's Council on our present environmen.t. '

94 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY sh ru'u<;, fru'i t trees, vines and some herbaceous as plOved by the color·photo endpapers. It is on plants such as dahlias and tomatoes are also the elaborate side, however, and not for the covered. I found this book especially va luable beginner. for its in,60rmation on many other lesser·known Mrs. Pardee has g.ardened in several states, bUit desira.ble landscape plants. under varied conditions. Her ten-point program In addition to pruning hints, the author differs widely f.rom the usua l compost practices ocoasiona lly offers useful obse rva tions on other and atten.tion to the chemical composition of the topics such as winter protection, propagation, soil. For her present patio garden, top soil and and effeotive landscape use. H e is cl early a manure were added and worked in before an y well·informed plantsman of wide experience. planlting was done-a procedure almost certain to bring success, or at least be the first step ROBERT L. BAKER toward it. H er lists of favopite plants anrl those Trees of North America to be avoided should be ve ry helpful. On the whole, careful study of this book Brockman, C. Frank (H. S. Zim, Ed.) . Golden shou·ld save time, energy, and ex pense for the Press, New York. 1968. 280 pages. Illustrated. beginning gardener who usuall y has to rely on $2.95, paper. (Library) the trial and enror method. This neat, truly pocket sized manual includes MRS. A. THOMAS BENZI NGER 594 of the 865 species native to America, north of Mexico. Naturalized and introduced species You Can Grow Cattleya Orchids are included , to give a total of more than 730 Mary Noble. Published by the author, 3003 species in 76 families (numbers ft'om the intro­ Rive rside Ave., J acksonville, Fla. 32205. 1968. duction) . 148 pages. Illustrated. $3.5 0. Instead of the technical keys common to most manuals, each family is described briefly and a This is a simple, easil y read , factual book on t}'pical illustration given. Necessa ry descriptive the growing of Ca ttleya orchids. The author is terms regarding leaves, fl owers, fruits, twigs, and using ·the term to mean not only this species but bark are given by means of illustrations with those cl osely related to it and with which many labels. bigeneric or compound genera have been de· The book is arranged in the usual systema tic ve loped. Familiar compound genera are X fashion beginning with the Gymnosperms. Dis· Lae/ioca illeya and X Brasso laelioca tlleya al­ tinctive features of each group, fo r example pine though 24 co mpound genera have been regis· family or oak genus, are given by word and teredo illustrat ion. The genet'ic descriptions are fol· The author goes through each step in orchid lowed by illustr·ations and concise descriptions of culture, after fi rst describing the plant and its each species. The accu m.te illustrations are in habits of growth. The culture is described with color; leaves, flow ers, fwits, tree sh ape, and bark comments tha. t apply to either greenhouse or are shown. The size range of leaves, tree height, indoor home culture. Propagation is cove red for and trunk diameters a re give n by wo rd, also the both division and by seed. The sections on habitat and usefulness of each species . The problems and pests in growing orchids is well n a.tural range of each native species is given b y a done. The description and the illustra ti ons sma ll map. should be ve ry helpful in diagnosing an y diffi· The color illustra·ti ons make the book attrac· culty and the suggested remedy is listed. This tive; the bold type face is easil y read. The paper book is well done. cover promises to outwear cl oth. CONRAD B . LI NK This book will probabl y be in m y station A Field Guide to Wild Flowers wagon more days than on the she\.f; in fact, I never expect to travel outside my own state R oger T ory Peterson and Margaret McKenny. without it. It is recommended to all travelers Houghton·Mifflin Co., Boston. 1968. 420 p ages. who, by foot or by car, reall y want to learn as $4.95. (Library). they tr.avel. The Field Guide includes speci es in the R USS ELL G. BROWN northeastern sta.tes, Virginia; Kentllcky, Missouri northward to southern Canada. Since all ferns, Anyone Can Have a Green Thumb grasses, sedges, trees and most shrubs are ex­ Alice DeW olf Pardee. H earthside Press, Inc., cl uded , this manual includes probably half of New York . 1968. 126 pages. Illustrated. $4.95. the herbaceous species, about 1300 to be found (Libra ry) in the area covered. Little wonder Peterson This is not as unconventional as its non­ needed twen ty yea rs to locate ~ h e pl ants and cap'itali zed title might suggest. It is a practica l make the illustrations! book for the n ov ice gardener. Unlike many FON una tely most of the illustrations are ex cel· gardening hooks now on the market, this one is lent line d raw in gs, mostl y made from fres h fill ed wi·th informa ti on rather than pi ctures. T o specimens; the few color pl ates are genet-a lJ"y he sure. it has line drawings tha t will hring in accurate as to color. Arrows direct the II se r's chuckles from female ga rdeners with non· att en tion to the most dependable or n oti ceabl e gardening hu ~ h a nd s. Mrs. Pardee's husband de­ cha racters in the illustrations; the tex t usuall y signed her garden, and with grea t success, mentions only the fi eld charac ters of greatest

S PRING 1969 95 usefulness. The size of each species, its habitat, fore as she discusses the old time favorites ar­ and range are given. temesia, garden pinks, and the peon,ies of early Nowhere is the user advised to use a good England. 10-power hand lens (a hand lens is a must for Informal as it appears to be, this volume is a the field botanist just as binoculars are for ' the real contribution to garden literalure. It is equal­ bird student) . Just one or two additional char­ ly suited for the gardener'S, own bookshelf and acters, visible under such m agnification would as a gi6t to a gardening friend. have made many identifications m ore certain. An MRS. A. THOMAS BENZINGER enlarged sketch of the flower, fruit, or other sm all p art should have been made for each The A111erican Camellia Yearbook species, not the occasional one. Edited by Joseph H. Pyron. The American The glossary of terms is limited and the Camellia Society, Fort Valley Georgia. 1969. illustrated glossary, on the inside covers, would 302 pages. Illustra ted. $4.00. (Library). be more convenient if right with the definitions. Perha'ps in fa irness the reviewer should Society annual yearbooks offer the opportunity m ention that he h as taught plant identifioa tion to publish new information about their particu­ from sta ndard manuals, (five different ones over lar plant interest. The 1969 issue of the Ameri­ nearly forty years, only one w~th illustrations) can Camellia Yearbook does this well for the and has found no shortcut or substitute for oamellia. The recording of new introductions careful, methodical examina;tion of a plant and and evaluating of old ones is impol'tan,t for any the use of keys and complete descriptions to garden plant. New varieties from several sources determine species. Some of my studen·ts u sed the are desoribed and lists of the most popular Guide last spring and expressed my opinion of varieties fo r Ga.Ji.fornia, Florida and Georg'ia are its usefulness-Han excellent set of illustrations included as well as the 100 most popular to use with a manual." camellias. Such lists help the beginner to start a RUSS ELL G. BROWN collection and the collector to develop one, of kinds that would be expeoted to succeed. A report on the use of gibberell i ns for the Gardening on Main Street production of early large show blooms is out­ lined by J ohn 1. Wear of Auburn, Alabama. Buckner H o.JIingsworth. Rutgers Univers.ty Tests at the U ,S. National Arboretum on an Press, 30 College Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. out-door collection are described by Arthur A. 08903. 1968. 170 pages. IlIustmted. $7.50. (Li­ Maryo tt. A list of approximately 90 cultivars is br;ary) divided into 3 groups according to their re­ This thoroughly enjoyable volume is a record sponse, I-foolproof, II worth a try, III don't of the author's Vermont dooryard planting, with waste time on them, Most of those in group I its many problems, its failures and its tri­ are seasonally classified as early or early to umphant success. By the time the black and mid-season. whi,te p pi nts of the outdoor and indoor blooms This annual publica.tion includes articles on h ave been admired and the book is laid down, the historical development of the camellia as one feeLs acquainlted not only with the gardener well as "personages" associa ted with its develop­ an? h er home, but also with h er country ment. neighbors and h er casual visitors. Other articles consider some historical topics One has incidentally learned about garden such as J apanese camellias of 1710, camellia gimmicks and gadgets and the trick of placinCT praotices in England, shipping camellias, blooms, chicken wire over emerging shoots of per e nnial~ and an arrangement contest. and raising thi,s as the plants grow, to make a A cumulative index, 1958- I 968 based on both frame tha t defies wind and rain. ''''e also know topics and a·u thoTs is a valuable part of this Mrs. Ho.J!ingsworth's disl,ike of "glad" and issue but would h ave been more convenient at "mum" and artifici.al flowers as subst'i,tutes for the end of the volullle where the society mem­ the real. H er intensive research, done for an bership list is pl aced. earlier book, Garden Chronicle, comes to the CO NRAD B. LINK

June 27, 19(i!)

96 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY THE AZALEA BOOK Second Edition

by FREDERIC P. LEE

This handsome book tells everything there United States Department of Agriculture. is to know about azaleas, incorporating the Part II thoroughly covers basic horticul· most recent developments in cultural prac· tural-plant structure, growth factors, soils tices, the latest methods of treating diseases and nutrition, with step·by·step procedures and pests, and the best of the new imported for hybridizing. and domestic azalea varieties. Part III considers the place of azaleas in Here is botanical and historical informa· the plant world: relationship to rhododen· tion of immense interest to the scientific ex· drons; distribution and classification, with pert as well as complete know·how for en· detailed descriptions 'Jf Ghent, Moll is, Ku· thusiastic amateurs on selecting, planting, rume, Belgian and Southern Indicas, Gable, fertilizing, and pruning azaleas-whether Glenn Dale, and many other azalea groups, they be evergreen or deciduous, 6·inch dwarf together with their origins and history. or 10·foot giant. There is also a revised classification and de· The vast knowledge of plant explorers, scription of some of the American and Jap· government specialists, and foreign collectors anese species and a thorough revision of the is embodied in this authoritative book. Satsuki group. Sponsored by the American Horticultural Part IV offers a complete index of de· Society and successor to its Azalea Hand· ciduous and evergreen azaleas, with notes on book, this volume reflects world experience habit, blooming period, flower type, size, with azaleas, and also contains the consider. and color. The list of azalea breeders and able practical knowledge of Frederic Lee, nurserymen in America, and their contribu· who himself continually tested some 500 tions to azalea culture has been fully up· al:alea plants in his Maryland garden. dated. International registration proceedings Part I is a complete garden guide, with are discussed, and the list of trade sources information on planting and care, hardiness, extended. A table cataloging registered companion plants, propagation, indoor cuI· azaleas is also included, as well as several ture, and directions for bonsai plants. In ad· lists of recommended varieties. dition, plant hardiness has been keyed to 408 pages, 6% x 9%. 65 illustrations, 5 in the new Plant Hardiness Zone Map of the color.

The American Horticultural Society, Inc. 2401 Calvert Street, Northwest Washington, D. C. 20008

Please se nd me ...... _...... copies of The Azalea Baal!, 2nd Edition $ ...... is enclosed. Price to non·members $12.50, plus 40¢ for postage and handling. Price to Society members $9.00, plus 40¢ for postage and handling.

N A ME ••..•...... •.••...... •.•••••.••.... _ •.•••••.• _ ••••. _ ....••.... _ .... _ ••..••..•..••...... _ .....•••.•.•..••••••• _ •..•..••.• _ ••..• _ ••....•. _ .•.••.••__ ._

STREET ...... _ ...... •...... _ ....•.... _ ...... _._ ....•...•...... •.. _ ...• _ ...._ ...._ •... _ ...•.•.• _ ...•...... _ .....•_

CITY ...... _ ...• _ .... _ ...... _ .•..... _ ....•...... _ ...... STATE ....._ ...... • _ .... _ ...... •.....•... _._ .. ZIP .. _ .•.• ____ 24th AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

The annual Americ.an Horticultural Congress, twenty-fourth in the series, is co-spon­ sored by the Garden Writers Association of America and the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta. More than 46 horticultural groups in Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley, together with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will act as hosts for this event. The Congress will explore the theme, Horticultural Horizons, with a preview of the 1970s and the world of gardening.

Highlights of Program Highlights of Fellowship

• HDrticultural Experts­ • luncheDns, receptions, as speakers, panel· and dinners ists, mDderatDrs • Panels and discussiDns • AHS Horticultural Film Dn plant prDpagatiDn, Festival plants in cities, plant • Harvest Show O'f the" survival, tDmDrrDw's Pennsylvania Horticul­ hDrticulturists, ama· tural Society teur and prDfessiDnal • WDrkshDps fDr individu­ • Rare Plant Sale and al, cDmmercial, insti· Choice Plant Auction tutiDnal, and Drganiza­ tional members - • "Ask the Experts" - sDunding boards for QuestiDns answered members' viewpDints by natiDnal notables • Tours - tours - tDurs • Book Stall: gardening - befDre, after, and bDoks-old, new, rare in between -all interesting

For space, write to: For registration write to: Benjamin Franklin Hotel Congress Committee AUention: Mr. Francis Mauer Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Chestnut at Ninth Street 325 Walnut Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19105 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106

SEPTEMBER 17 - 20, 1969 PRE-CONGRESS TOURS: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 POST·CONGRESS TOURS: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA