~GAZINE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 1600 BLADENSBURG ROAD, NORTHEAST / WASHINGTON, D. c. 20002 For United Horticulture *** to acctlm'ulate, inCTease, and disseminate horticultural information Editorial Committee DiTecton FRANCIS DE Vos, Chairman Terms Expiring 1967 MRS. ROBERT L. EMERY, JR. JOHN L. CREECH Louisiana A. C. HILDRETH FREDERIC P. LEE Colm'ado DAVID LEACH CONRAD B. LINK Pennsylvania CHARLES G. MEYER FRHlERICK G. MEYER New York MRS. STANLEY ROWE WILBUR H. YOUNGMAN Ohio Terms Expiring 1968 FRANCIS DE VOS o [ficel'S Ma?)'/and MRS. ELSA U. KNOLL PRESIDENT California VICTOR R IES JOHN H. WALKER Ohio Alexandria, Virginia STEWART D. WINN Georgia FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT ROBERT WINTZ Illinois FRED C. GALLE Pine Mountain, Georgia Terms Expi,-ing 1969 JOH N P ATEK New York SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT MRS. FRANCIS PATTESON-KN IGHT TOM D . THROCKMORTON Vi·rginia Des Moines, Iowa LEON C SNYDER lVIinnesota E AR L E. V ALLOT ACTING SECRETARY-TREASURER Louisiana GRACE P. WILSON FRED B. "VIDMOYER Bladensburg, Maryland 1\lew JVIexico The American Horticultural Magazine is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society and is issued four times a year during the quarters commencing with January, April, July and October. It is devoted to the dissemination of knowledge in the science and art of growing ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, and related subjects. Original papers increasing the historical. varietal, and cultural knowledges of plant materials of economic and aesthetic importance are welcomed and will be published as early as possible. The Chairman of the Editorial Committee should be consulted for manuscript specifications. Reprints will be furnished in accordance with the following schedule of prices, plus post­ age. and should be ordered at the time the galley proof is returned by the author: One hundred copies--2 pp $7 .20; 4 pp $13.20; 8 pp $27.60; 12 pp $39.60; Covers $13.20. Second class postage paid at Baltimore, Maryland and at additional mailing offices . Copyright, @ 1966 by The Amencan Horticultural Society, lnc. The American HorliclIltllral ," Iagazine is included as a benefit of mem­ bership in The American Horticultural Society, Individual Membership dues being $6 .00 a year. JANUARY. 1967 THE A.lU::t3IBICAN FORMERLY THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE VOLUME 46 • NUMBER 1 Contents Indoor Gardens for Decorative Plants HENRY M. CATHEY, HERSCHEL H. KLUETER, AND WILLIAM A. BAILEY ______ 3 Native and Some Introduced Azaleas for Southern Gardens­ Kinds and Culture F. C . GAL LE __________________________________________ _______ _____________________________________________________ 13 Fragrance Gardens for the Blind-Fact or Fiction LORRAINE BURGESS _____________ __ ________ __ __________________________________________________________________ 25 A Book or Two __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___ __ 33 The Gardener's Pocketbook Eucalyptus maculata, Spotted gum-v. T. STOUTEMYER ________________________ ____ 34 Adenophora as garden plants-RoBERT M. SENIOR _______ ___ ____ __ ____ __ ____ __ ____ ________ 35 Disc hi elia pe c t en 0 ides- H. TEUSCHER _______________________________________ _______________ ___ _ 36 P OTt la n el ia gmn eli !lom-RI CHA RD M. Bo ND _____________________ __ _____ _________________ ___ _ 41 'Wirt L. Winn' , a new cultivar of the Koehne Holly- GENE EISENBEISS AND THEODORE R. DUDLEY_ ___ __ ___ _____ ___ ___________________________ 42 New Zealand Crape Ferns-ALEx D. HAWKES ____ __ __________________________ __~_________ __ 45 Tu bergen' s Scilla-FREDERIC P. LEE- ____ _____ ______ ___________________ _____________ __________________ 46 JANUARY COVER ILLUSTRATION Piedmont Azalea (Rhododend1"O n canescens) grown in the Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia. - Photo courtesy Canaway Gardens. .. U.S. D EPART1o.·rENT OF AORI CULT URE Fig. 1. Plan C garden four feet long and one foot deep. This long, narrow garclen is most useful in dimly lighted corridors. This version of the in­ door garden also may be used as a room divider. Indoor Gardens for Decorative Plants By HENRY M. CATI-IEY, HERSCHEL H . KLUETER, AND WILLIAM A. BAILEyl You can grow and display many kinds able to construct an indoor garden by of decorative plants in yo ur home by following these general plans. using an indoor garden. An indoor gar­ Plan A is [or a garden with a planter den essentially is a planter equipped box 2 feet square. This is a focal-point with high-intensity fluorescent lights. garden-used as the principal decorative The idea is not new. For years, house accessory in a room. (Figs. 7, 8, 9) plant growers-African violet enthusiasts Plan B is for a tall, narrow garden-6 in particular-have worked to develop feet tall and 1 foot square. It is designed ways of growing plants satisfactorily [or displaying plants in hanging baskets. where there is little or no daylight. (Figs. 10, II) By acclimating the plants to a dimly Plan C is for a garden 4 feet long and lighted environment and by providing 1 foot deep. This long, narrow garden is supplementary lighting with fluorescent most useful in a dimly lighted corridor. lamps, growers have been able to It will brighten as well as decorate the maintain plan ts indoors for long peri­ corridor. This version of the indoor ' ods. But they h ave been hampered by garden also m ay be used as a room lack of a light source that is suitable for divider. (Figs. 13, 14) plant display-a source that is high in Planter Box intensity, that is not too hot for the plants, and that does not detract from The planter box can be made of fir the appearance of the surroundings. plywood painted to match the walls in With the development of high intensi­ the room where it will be used, or it can ty lamps that have square, tubular, and be made of veneered plywood stained or round shapes, many lighting handicaps oiled to ma·tch the furniture with which have been overcome. Plants thrive when it will be displayed. Many kinds of wood grown in an indoor garden illuminated and wood finishes are available that are by these high intensity fluorescent sui table for planters. lamps-plants that barely existed in­ Inside the planter is a watertight doors before the lights were developed. liner. This liner is best made of sheet tin painted with asphalt to retard rusting. To grow plants satisfactorily in an For a temporary liner, heavy-gauge poly­ indoor garden- ethylene may be stapled inside the • Water the plants thoroughly, but planter. only often enough to prevent wilting. The planter is mounted on a plat­ • Fertilize the plants every 2 to 4 form, equipped with casters, that fits weeks while they are actively growing. under the riser. (Fig. 2) The entire unit • Illuminate the plants with fluores­ may be moved easily; floors and carpets cent lights 12 to 16 hours daily. around it m ay be cleaned; plants in the garden may be reached easily for care THE GARDEN and replacement; and the contents of Plans for three versions of the garden the room-garden as well as furniture­ are shown. A cabinetmaker should be may be rearranged easily. 'Waterproof hanging baskets are avail­ lAgricu ltural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Md. able for use with the tall, narrow garden 3 4 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Fig. 2. Platform, equipped with casters. Fig. 3. Ballast, con­ nector, and timer. P I"IOTOS-U.S . D E·PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE shown in Plan B. (Figs. 10, 11) These baskets have a drainage disk in them Fig. 4. Panel lamp. that permits excess water to be drained off. Lighting System The lighting system for the gardens using panel fluorescent lights consists of separate lamps, ballast, fixture, and ti­ mer. (Fig. 3) The panel fluorescent lamps are de­ luxe cool white. The lamps also are available in tints other than cool whi,te. (Fig. 4) They require special connec­ tors, which should be ordered at the same time the lamps are ordered. Rapid start ballast is required for these lamps. One ballast will operate two panel fluorescent lamps. 'When you order lamps, ask the dealer if mounting fix·tures are available for 5 Fig. 5. Frames must be custom fitted to , each lamp. I / / , / \ / , / ~~------------------------------~~ , PH01 os-u.s. D E PA RTMENT O F A CRI CUL T t 'RF Fig. 6. Fixture for panel fluorescent lamps. them. If not, you will have to make your own or have them made. The fixture consists of a wood frame about 13 inches sq uare. (Figs. 5, 6) Three of the sides of the frame have grooves cu t in the inside faces. The panel fluorescent lamp is slid in to these grooves and the fourth side of the frame then is screwed in place, holding ,the lamp secure in the frame. The lamps are held in position over the planteF by slotted metal channels 4 • feet long. These channels are wall stan- Fig. 7. Focal-point garden using panel fluorescent lamps (Plan A). With dards for adjustable bracket shelves. lamps attached to the rear standards, They are available at most large hard- rlS shown here, lighting intensity is ware stores. The lamps, in their wooden high enough for good growth of fixtures, rest waffle side toward the flowering plants. plants on 12-inch brackets that are set in the slots at the top of the standards. The upturned ends should be cut from the brackets to form a flat top on the brackets. Since the ballast is separate from the light fixtures, it can be placed on the rear of the planter box. Not only is it out of sight, but in this location the heat that i,t generates will not harm the plants in the garden. A timer can also be mounted at the rear of the planter.