COMING IN THE NEXT ISSUE In the December 1980lJanuary 1981 issue of American Horticulturist we welcome the holidays with an article by George Taloumis on making apple-cone trees, lovely table decorations to use during the Christmas season. C. E. Lewis writes about branching and bark; Jane Guest Pepper describes a lovely garden in Pennsylvania; Darlene Conley tells you how to grow your own vanilla beans; Mary Baker describes the charms of a dwarf Punica, an easy-care indoor plant which doesn't mind cold temperatures; and Mrs. Ralph Cannon writes about the irresistible charm of hellebores. In addition, look for our regular features: President's Page; Book Reviews; Strange Relatives and the new Pronunciation Guide. All this and more coming up in December. lIlu strarion of Ptmica granatum by Alice R. Tangerini VOLUME 59 NUMBER 5 Judy Powell EDITOR Rebecca McClimans FEATURES ART DIRECTOR Pam Geick Bromeliads in American Horticulture 16 PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Victoria Padilla Steven H. Dav is Jane Steffey Hardy Plants for Damp Soils 21 EDITORIAL ASSIST ANTS Text and Photography by Mrs. Ralph Cannon H . Marc Cathey Money-Saving Ideas for the Garden 22 Gilbert S. Daniels Donald Wyman The Staff and Contributors to American Horticulturist HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANTS Why Are So Few Endangered Plants Protected? 29 Gilbert S. Daniels Bruce MacBryde BOOK EDITOR A Southern Patio Garden 35 May Lin Roscoe BUSINESS MANAGER Text and Photography by George Taloumis Page 16 Dorothy Sowerby EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR COLUMNS Judy Canady MEMBERSHIP/SUBSCRIPTION President's Page 2 SERVICE Gilbert S. Daniels John Simmons PRODUCTION COORDINATION Letters 4 Chromagraphics Inc. Seasonable Reminders: New Apple Varieties 6 COLOR SEPARATIONS Roger D. Way C. Lynn Coy Associates Inc. 220 East 54th Street The Indoor Gardener: Pagoda Bells 10 New York, NY 10022 Ruth Katzenberger (2 12) 751-2960 ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Strange Relatives: The Madder Family 12 Jane Steffey Replacement Issues of AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST are available at a Contributors 14 Page 6 cost of $2.50 per copy. Book Reviews 40 The opinions expressed in the articles which appear in AMERICAN Gilbert S. Daniels HORTICULTURIST are those of the Pronunciation Guide 43 authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. They are presented as Gardener's Marketplace 44 contributions to contemporary thought. Manuscripts, art work and photographs sent for possible publication will be returned if they are accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Page 21 AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is the official publication of The American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703) 768-5700, and is issued in February, April, June, August, October and December. Membership in the Society automatically includes a subscription to AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Membership dues start at $20.00 a year, $12.00 of which is designated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright © 1980 by The American Horticultural Society. ISSN 0096-4417. Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121. Member of Society of National ON THE COVER: A sure sign of the change in seasons: Association Publications this strawberry foliage takes on autumn color as the first frost draws near. Photograph by Pamela Harper. American Horticulturist 1 In 1951 and a second edition was issued AMERICAN lI'I 1956. This four-volume work is ob­ HORfICULTURAL viously more up-to-date in its nomencla­ ture and has many more species described SOC IElY than Bailey's Clyclopedia. Cultural infor­ mation, while directed at the British Isles, OFFICERS is excellent and general enough to allow the American reader to easily adapt it to Dr. Gilbert S. Daniels his own needs. For the greenhouse grower PRESIDENT or the Sunbelt gardener, this is a partic­ ularly useful work as it includes all the Mrs. Erastus Corning, II exotic plants grown in British greenhouses FIRST VICE PRESIDENT as well as the hardier matc::rial grown out­ doors. Two supplements have been pub­ Dr. Harold B. Tukey, Jr. lished, the first in 1956 and a much larger SECOND VICE PRESIDENT second edition in 1969. Although the sup­ plements were originally intended to pro­ Mrs. John M. Maury vide current information on cultivars, which SECRETARY are covered extensively for the "principal kinds of cultivated plants," considerable Edward N. Dane updating on species descriptions for many TREASURER he large number of gardening books other genera is also included. Available which are published each month directly from the Royal Horticultural So­ Thomas W. Richards T give ample evidence that gardeners ciety, it is offered at a discount to mem­ EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT are readers. Those new publications that bers, which makes it more than worth­ are considered most worthwhile are re­ while to join this English counterpart to 'Dr. Henry M. Cathey viewed in American Horticulturist. Both our own Society. IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT popular and more technical works are A third major encyclopedia has just been brought to your attention, and from the published (see the book review section in BOARD OF DIRECTORS orders received, it is obvious that many this issue) by the New York Botanical of our members are interested in building Garden. The New York Botanical Garden TERMS EXPIRING IN 1980: their own reference libraries. Since many Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture of the standard reference works in gar­ by Thomas H. Evc::rett is a brand new 10- J. Lyle Bayless, Jr. dening have been around for a long time, volume work which will be particularly Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole, J r. I thought it would be worthwhile to use welcomed by American gardeners. The first Everett Conklin this President's Page to list some works volume has just reached me and I under­ Mrs. Nicholas R. du Pont which I regard as basic to a gardening stand that all 10 volumes will shortly be Alfred M. Hunt Mrs. William Wallace Mein reference library. available. Mrs. Pendleton Miller The two basic encyclopedias of garden­ A one-volume work which includes most Captain Walter W. Price, Jr. ing are surprisingly useful today in spite of the hardy plant material and a great TERMS EXPIRING IN 1981: of the length of time they have been around. deal of the sub-tropical material grown in The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture the United Statc::s is Wyman's Gardening J. Judson Brooks by Liberty Hyde Bailey was first published Encyclopedia by Donald Wyman. Pub­ Dr. Gilbett S. Daniels in 1900 by the Macmillan Company. It lished by the Macmillan Company in 1971, Harold Epstein Mrs. Howard S. Kittel was revised in 1914 and all subsequent I find it particularly useful as a quick ref­ Mrs. Joseph G. Poetker editions, no matter what claim they may erence work I can keep on my desk. Dr. Harold B. Tukey, Jr. make, are essentially the same as the 1914 For Westerners and sub-tropical gar­ Theodore Van Veen James W. Wilson revision. It is found in both six- and three­ deners of the Southeast, The New Western volume forms, but any version published Garden Book published by Lane Publish­ TERMS EXPIRING IN 1982: after 1914 is worth having. In spite of the ing Company in 1979 is a greatly ex­ obviously dated contents, the descriptions panded and updated version of the ex­ Richard]. Both of plant species, the extensive cultural in­ tremely useful first edition published in Edward N. Dane Jackson R. Eddy formation for all parts of the United States 1967. Available in paperback for under Mrs. A. Lester Marks and well written discussions of history and $10, it is one of the best buys in gardening Mrs. John M. Maury background make this a reference work books available today. Mrs. Edward C. Sweeney Mrs. William C. Weaver, Jr. which I still consult on an almost daily For quick identification of plant mate­ Dr. John A. Wott basis. Copies are often available from sec­ rial with particular emphasis on house ondhand book dealers. plants and greenhouse material (thus also The Royal Horticultural Society Dic­ of extreme value in the Sunbelt states), no tionary of Gardening was first published book can compare to Exotica by Alfred 2 October/November 1980 nJune 24,1980 David Burpee died Energy-Free at the age of 87. He was the son Reflectors O of W. Atlee Burpee, the founder of the firm that bears his name. For most Give Plants of us that name is synonomous with gar­ More Light dening in the United States, and David Burpee was the personification of the seed industry. He took over his father's com­ Sun-Stretcher Shells can help you produ ce blo s­ soms faster. grow sturdier see dlings, rai se a wider pany in 1915 when the senior Burpee died. variety of plants. Made of mirrored plastic . Shaped to collect and concentrate light. Can make a windowsill In the more than half a century which fol­ more like a greenhou se or brighten a dark corner. lowed, he developed the company into the 12" lall . 9" wide . $3 each , 2 for $5 . largest mail-order seed house in the United States. For me the Burpee Company has always meant something new and worth­ while to grow in the garden. Marigolds come first to mind, but snapdragons, zin­ nias and gloriosa daisies are not far be­ hind. Vegetable gardeners, too, owe a great deal to David Burpee. Who hasn't grown Sun-Stretcher Collars are ideal for offices or any the 'Big Boy' tomato? Many hybrid veg­ place with overhead lighting . Opens wide to go on without disturbing plant. Promotes bushier grdwth . etables, including cultivars of squash, can­ In 1978 David Burpee accepted the Liberty Hyde Bailey Medal from the American 9" across , 2" high , 3" opening .