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;,~ .,.'. '~ . ' . - ~-;.) AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

1600 BLADENSBURG ROAD, NORTHEAST. WASHINGTON, D. c. 20002

For United Horticulture *** to accumulate, increase, and disseminate horticultural information

Editorial Committee Directors

JOHN L. CREECH, Chairman Terms Expiring 1965 HAROLD EpSTEIN W. H. HODGE New YOTk FRED C. GALLE FREDERIC P. LEE Georgia CONRAD B. LINK FRED J. NISBET North Carolina CURTIS MAY J. FRANKLIN STYER Pennsylvania FREDERICK G. MEYER DONALD 'WYMAN Massachusetts WILBUR H. YOUNGMAN Terms Expiring 1966 J. HAROLD CLARKE Washington OfjiCeTS FREDERIC P. LEE Dist,.i.ct of Columbia PRESIDENT CARLTON P. LEES Massachusetts RUSSELL J. SEIBERT RUSSELL J. SEIBERT Kennett SquaTe, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania DONALD ''\TATSON FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Michigan JOHN H. ''\TALKER T erms Expi?'ing 1967 A le xand7'ia, Vi7'ginia MRS. ROBERT L. EMERY, JR. Louisiana SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT A. C. HILDRETH MRS. JULIAN W . HILL Colomdo Wilmington, Delaware DAVID LEACH Pennsylvania CHARLES G. J\lIEYER ACTING SECRETARY-TREASURER New YO?"k GRACE P. WILSON MRS. STANLEY ROWE Bladensburg, Maryland Ohio

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; 4pp $13.20; 8 pp $27.60; 12 pp $39.60; Covers $13.20.

Entered as second class matter in the post office at Baltimore, Maryland, in accordance with the Act of August 24, 1912. Additional entry for Washington, D.C., was authorized July 15, 1955, in accordance with the pro­ visions of Section 132.122, Postal Manual. The America.n Horticultural /V[agazine is included as a benefit of membership in the American Horticultural Society, Individual Membership dues being $6.00 a year. JANUARY • 1965

FORMERLY THE NATIONAL HORTICULT URAL MAGA ZINE VOL U:MF. 44 • NUMBER 1

Contents

Plants for a 'Winter Garden-Heaths and Heathers HAROLD IN. COPELAND .______3

Bellingrath Gardens-"The Charm Spot of the Deep South" M. B. GREENE ______.______15

Small Daffodils for the Garden B. Y. MORRISON ______23

Rust of Juniper, Flowering Crabapple, and Hawthorn CURTIS MAY ______. ______29

A Visit with Lester Rowntree PHILIP A. BARKER ______. ______32

Quality Geraniums from Research at Penn State DARRELL E. WALKER ______35

The Versatile Crocus OWEN M. ROGERS ______43

A Book or Two ______53

Gardeners' Pocketbook

A Question About Shidekobushi. BENJAMIN BLACKBURN ______~ ___ _ 56

A New Way to Raise Seedlings. ROBERT M. SENIOR ______57

Two Groundcovers Native to Japan. J. L. CREECH ______59

Plants from a Califonia Garden. FREDERICK W. COE 60

Some Aspects of Horticulture and Gardening in the 'Nest German Republic. F. G_ MEYER ______61

Louisiana Violets. SIGMUND L. SOLYMOSY ______-- ______62

Texas Crab Apple. LYNN LOWERY ______64

JANUARY COVER ILLUSTRATION Patio of BeJlingrath Home (Courtesy Bellingrath Gardens) Copyright, 1965 by the American Horticultural Society, Inc. HAROLD W . COPELAND Calluna vulgaris 'Mrs. Ronald Gray' attractive prostrate growth with purple flowers

[2] Plants for A Winter Garden- Heaths and Heathers

HAROLD W. COPELANDl

Are you interested in plants that are height from three inches to five feet. evergreen, with foliage beautiful and at­ There are endless forms,-dwarf pin­ tractive throughout the year; which by cushions, low mats of creeping ground selection of varieties give flowers every cover, bushes densely compact, or loose­ month including Winter, and which re­ ly upright, and miniature evergreen quire comparatively no attention after trees. planting? (Upkeep can be an important Varieties are magnificent in their dif­ item today when help is scarce or ex­ ferent foliage shades of green, gray, sil­ pensive) ver, yellow, orange, gold, copper and Such are the heaths (Erica) and red. The tips of the branches of one heathers (Calluna vulgaris). These variety are vivid pink, lovely when con­ plants take care of themselves and as trasted against the snow. they mature, cover intervening spaces Flowers, single and double, vary wide­ keeping weeds to a minimum. Their ly in color depending on the variety, extensive flowering period is found in in a range from white, pale pink, rosy no other class of cultivated plants; in pink, bright pink, coral to crimson, rosy an otherwise drab Winter garden, heaths red, ruby, blood red, cherry, lilac or and heathers afford endless variety of lavender, mauve and purple. One of color in fo li age, while the Camea heaths the most satisfying and remarkable traits provide bloom all Winter long. Snow is the long blooming season of a single may temporarily hide, but as it recedes, plant. For example Erica camea 'Spring­ the flowers reappear unharmed in bright wood \'Vhite' shows cream white buds in colors of white, pink, lavender, and red. early .T anuary, and though completely The markedly growing interest in covered by several snows during the these plants is due in part to the en­ Winter, reveals as the snow recedes an thusiasm of returning visitors from the increasing number of pure white flowers, moors, arboretums and gardens of Eng­ until in mid-April the variety is a solid land and Scotland. Realizing heath and white mat. Some flowers remain into heather can be grown successfully here, early Tun e. Blooms on some summer­ gardens are fast becoming numerous in flowering varieties are similarly long­ the U. S. Little wonder heath and heath­ lived. er are the coming thing considering their special charm and the wide use Cha,racteristics and Distribution to which they are adapted. Many gar­ A frequent question-"What is the deners of this country are already mem­ difference between heath and heather?" bers of The Heather Society in England, To the average gardener they are alike an affiliate of the Royal Horticultural in appearance, as they are in garden Society. character and requirements. Heather (Calluna vulgaris) has a Charm in Vari,ety colored calyx as the conspicuous part of Lists to follow indicate the widest the flower, longer than the corolla. imaginable variation in height, form, Heath (Erica) has the corolla as the color of foliage and flower, and bloom­ prominent part. ing season. Herein lies the very special In heather the leaves are opposite and charm of this plant group. closely overlap each other, in fours, giv­ According to variety, plants range in ing a quadrangular shape to the densely crowded twigs. The linear leaves of 'Chatham, Massachusetts. heath are arranged in whorls of three 3 4 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

HAROLD W, COPELAND Vlex europaeus yellow flowered gorse commonly associated with heather­ famous in litera-ture for its sharp spines

or four, sometimes SIX; they are short Uses and small pointed. For centuries the common heather, Some varieties are of exceptional value or Scotch heather or ling (Calluna v'ul­ for cut bloom. Double flowered kinds gar is) has covered miles of mountain of heather (Calluna vulgaris) will last and moor over Europe. Of this single several months; sprays of Winter bloom­ species there are many varieties now ing heath (Erica carnea) and the hybrid, growing in gardens of Europe, Canada darleyensis are frequently used in Christ­ and the U. S. mas decoration. The heath (Erica) has many species, These small evergreen shrubs lend natives of South Africa and Europe; themselves to almost endless si tuations. Erica arborea in Spain, E1'ica austmlis­ They are effective in the rock garden, Spain and Portugal, ETica camea-Eu­ wild garden, mixed shrub border, and ropean Alps, Erica ciliaris-England and as carpeting ground cover, edgings and Ireland, Erica cinerea-British Isles, walks. Miniatures can be placed between Erica lw'itanica-Portugal, Erica mac­ stones in paving. Particularly recom­ hayi-Spain and Ireland, Erica medi­ mended is a bed devoted to these plants ten"anea-France, Spain, Ireland, Erica alone; it may be only a small affair of stricta-Corsica and Sardinia, Erica tet­ fifteen feet diameter, or better still if mlix-Northern Europe, El'ica vagans area is available, a real heather garden. -England and Ireland, Daboecia-Ire­ Here di verse colors of foliage and flowers land. Many garden varieties of these extend in drifts of satisfaction. Dwarf different Erica species are now cultivated or slow growing evergreens enhance the in Canada and the U. S. picture. JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER I 5

Soil and Planting April is the best month [or planting, In nature heath and heather thrive after the ground is no longer wet or in poor soil containing plenty of peat. sticky; thus the new plants get a good Hence cultivated garden soil may be too start before danger o[ Summer drought. rich to give the best final results; for a Set out immediately upon receipt from time the plants thrive, but finally grow the nursery, mixing two handfuls of lanky and out of proportion to their peat with the soil [or each hole. Place natural size, bearing fewer flowers with so plant foliage rests on the soil up to spindly foliage. the point where little leaves start; this Heathers grow best in ordinary soil, enables rooting on its own foliage. Firm sandy soil with a large quantity of peat, in by hand, do not tread in. A final top poor soil with peat. Avoid rich soil, dressing of peat is doubly beneficial, pre­ clay, lime, manure, fertilizer. Leaf mold, venting weeds and retaining moisture. compost and seaweed make good food. Soak wi th water, and keep well watered Choose a site well drained in full sun, during drought, especially the first year. placing plants eighteen inches apart; most varieties wi ll meet in three or four Pruning years. Mass groups of one variety are On the moors o[ England and Scot­ most striking, but even in smaller plant­ ings at least three, preferably six of one land nature provides her own pruning kind should be grouped together. system; sheep and grouse eat the tops Though full sun is the rule, the carneas in the Winter and early Spring. In this do well under scattered pines or be­ country wherever rabbits are plentiful, neath tall deciduous trees where lowest they not merely prune but often destroy branches are say fifteen feet from the the p lants, necessitating a wire enclos­ ground. ure. Trimming is beneficial, making the

HAROLD w. CoPELAND Calluna vulgaris 'Foxii Narw' neat rounded pin cushion 6 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

HAROLD W. COPELAND Call una vulgaris 'Sister Anne' unusual tuft with wooly foliage

plants compact and bushy, improving pin or a brick to keep the branch in flower sprays and general vitali ty. place. Put two or three inches of a The rule is to prune Summer flower­ mixture of leaf mold, soil and sand ing varieties by the succeeding March, under the branch, and two inches above and trim "Winter blooming varieties im­ the buried portion. Layering may be mediately after flowering, since these done at any time; leave the layer for kinds set new flower buds early. Excep­ two years before severing and replanting tions are low growing varieties needing separately. Many dwarf varieties will be attention perhaps each two or three found, after a few years, to have layered years. some of their own branches; these natur­ al offsets can be removed in Spring. Propagation Old clumps can be dug up for division There are four methods . of propaga­ but resulting plants are not nearly as tion; from seeds and cutd'"rig's, and by sa tisfactory as from layering. layering and division. Seedlings do not reliably come true. Winter Protect~on Given a greenhouse, cuttings taken in Though in our own garden we give August are an easy way of multiplying no protection, in less favored climes, plants, and some varieties can be propa­ plants should be mulched with peat moss gated by cuttings using only a cold or pine needles around the base, with a frame. light cover of pine needles, marsh hay, For the average gardener the easiest cranberry vines or evergreen boughs. and best way of increasing heaths and Tree Heaths as Erica stricta and E. heathers of all varieties is by layering. arborea aZpina, being taller (four or five Simply peg down those branches near feet) can be hurt by strong winds at low the ground, using wire bent like a hair- temperatures. Plant ina protected spot. JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER I 7

Over one hundred varieties are grow­ number of most beautiful varietIes will ing at Chatham, Cape Cod successfully, thrive in hardiness zone 6 where limits but in fairness it must be admitted that of average annual minimum tempera­ conditions here are most favorable with ture are -5 F to 5 F. the ocean on three sides tempering the ,climate. ·While correspondence indicates Outstanding Varieties that p lants thrive better here than on Some of the favorites which have per­ some parts of Long Island or the Con­ formed well in Qur garden are listed here necticut shore, it is certain that a large with reason for selection.

Callttna vulgaTis varieties. 'Aurea'-yellow-g61d foliage, becoming deep fed in Winter. 'County vVicklow'-double shell pink flowers, vigorous grower. 'Foxii Nana'- low, moss-like pincushion habit. 'H. E. Beale'-long spikes of silvery pink rosettes of flowers. 'J. H. Hamilton'-coral pink flowers, superlative in color. 'Mair's Variety'-one of the best white-flowered varieties. 'Mrs. Pat'-new shoots in Spring are vivid pink. 'Mrs. Ronald Gray'-prostrate ground cover-found on a North Devon cliff exposed to Atlantic gales. ""Wisely it decided some thousands of years ago that a recumbent position gave the best chance of survival". It has lilac pink flowers and is a great favorite. 'Ruth Sparkes'-double white flowers with light gold foliage 'Sister Anne'-crinkled mossy tuft of a plant with downy silvery foliage. ETica species and varieties. arborea alpina.-a tree heath, feathery, light green, miniature Christmas tree. Grows to five feet.

HAROLD w. COPELAND Calluna vulgaris 'County Wicklow' double shell pink flowers 8 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

HAROLD "V. COPELAND Erica vagans 'Mrs. D. F. Maxwell' growing cherry pink with dark foliage • of ""'1

carnea 'aurea'-bright gold foliage 'King George'-crimson flowers 'Praecox R u bra' -deep rich red flowers bloom in Winter, 'Springwood vVhite'-white flowers very hardy 'Vivelli'-red flowers, bronze foliage 'Winter Beauty'-deep pink flowers cinerea 'Atro rubens'-ruby red flowers 'Golden Drop'-golden copper foliage turning red in Winter X darleyensis-blooms all ,!\Tinter, vigorous and hardy, rose lilac flowers X darleyensis 'Alba'-white flowered form of above 'Dawn'-rose pink flowers, blooms all Summer X tetmlix 'Alba'-'Alba Mollis' silver gray foliage, white flowers most vagans 'Lyonesse'-one of best white heaths attractive 'II/Irs. D. F. Maxwell'-deep rose cerise flowers plants, a 'St. Keverne'-bright salmon pink "must" in any collection Among the newer or lesser known varieties of special merit are these: Calluna vulgaris varieties. 'Blazeaway'-foliage turns gold, orange, red and flame in Winter 'Elsie Purnell'-improvement even on H. E. Beale 'Minima' (Smith's var.) -dwarf 4/1 cushion 'Mu lticolor'~prostrate plant with yellow, orange, bronze foliage 'Peter Sparkes' -deeper shade of pink than H. E. Beale 'Robert Chapman'-foilage turns shades of gold, bronze, orange, flame and red. Perhaps best of all foliage plants. 'Silver Queen'-wooly silver foliage J ANUAR Y ]965, VOLDrvCE 44, NUMBER I 9

Erica species and varieti es . carnea 'Eileen Porter'-rich carmine long las ting fl owers cinerea 'Hooks tone Lavender'-unusual fin e lavender color 'Sandpit Hill'-Large rose p ink flo wers X tetralix 'Con U nderwood'-large crimson fl owers, gray green foli age " 'L. E. Underwood'-buds terra cotta, fl owers apricot silver-gray foliage vagans 'Birch Glow'-rose red fl owers " 'Mrs. Donaldson'-crea my salmon-pink fl owers

Inclusive List of V arieties Grown at Chatham, Mass. (* denotes varieti es considered esp ecially worthy) Flower Co lor and Ca lluna vulgaris H eight B looming T ime R emarks 'Alba' 18 in. whi te, July-Sept. 'Alba Plena' 18 in. double white, July-Sept. 'Alba Pilosa' 12 In. white, July-Sep t. 'Alportii' 24 In. crimson, Aug. -Sept. 'AIpo rti i Praecox' 18 In. crimson, July-Au g. *'Aurea' 12 In. purple, Aug.-Oct. fo liage gold In sum- mer r usty red in win- ter *'County Wicklow' 12 In. double shell pink Aug.-Oct.

H AROLD vv. CoPEL AND Group of Calluna vulgaris varieties-four year plants from pots-fore­ ground 'H. E. Beale' & 'County Wicklow' 10 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Flower Color and Call una vulgaris Height Blooming Time Remarks 'Cuprea' 12 in. purple, Aug.-Oct. foliage gold m sum­ mer reddish bronze in winter 'c. W. Nix' 24 m. crimson, Aug.-Sept. 'Dainty Bess' 4 m. Aug-Sept. similar to Sister Anne 'Darleyensis' 18 in. pinkish-red, Aug.-Sept. close curled heads 'David Eason' 18 m. red tinged purple, Sept.-Nov. 'Elegantissima' 24 in. lilac, Oct.-Dec. latest vaJriety to bloom 'E. Hoare' 18 m. cnmson purple, Aug.-Sept. 'Else Frye' 12 m . double white, July-Sept. 'Flore Pleno' 18 in. pink & lilac, Aug.-Oct. 'Foxii Floribunda' 6 in. pink mauve, Aug.-Sept. a round mat * 'F oxii N ana' 4 m. purple, Aug.-Sept. a pincushion type 'Goldsworth Crimson' 30 m. crimson, Sept.-Nov. 'Hammondii Aurea' 18 m. white, Aug.-Oct. new shoots are bright yellow 'Hammondii Rubrifolia' 18 m. purple, Aug-Sept. spring foliage tipped red *'H. E. Beale' 24 III. double silver pink one of the best Aug.-Oct. *'J. H . Hamilton' 9 in. double coral pink best of pinks for color Aug.-Oct. 'Joan Sparkes' 9 m. double mauve, Aug-Sept. 'Kuphaldtii' 4 m . rosy purple, July-Sept. growth resembles a turban *'Mair's variety' 24 in. white, July-Sept. 'Minima' 3 m. purple, Aug.-Sept. close growing mat 'Molecule' 9 m. pink, Aug.-Sept. '~'Mrs. Pat' 8 m. light purple, July-Sept:- foJiage vivid pink m spring *'Mrs. Ronald Gray' 4 m. reddish, July-Sept. flattest growing of all 'Mullion' 9 m. deep pink, Aug.-Sept. * 'N ana Compacta' 6 m. pink, July-Sept. pincushion type 'Plena Multiplex' 18 10. double pink, Aug.-Oct. 'Pygmaea' 5 m. purple, Aug.-Sept. 'Pyramidalis' 24 m. white, Aug.-Sept. 'Rigida' 12 m . white, July-Sept. 'Roma' 9 m. deep pink, Aug.-Oct. 'Rubra' 24 m . crimson, July-Sept. *'Ruth Sparkes' 9 in. white, Aug.-Sept. light golden foliage *'Searlei Aurea' 18 m. white, Aug.-Oct. golden foliage 'Searlei Rubra' 36 m. purple, Sept.-Oct. * 'Sister Anne' 6 in. pink, Aug.-Sept. downy silver foliage 'Spicata' 12 m. white, Aug.-Sept. 'Spitfire' 12 m. pink, Aug.-Sept. golden foliage turn­ ing bronze red Win- 'Tenuis' 9 in. red purple, July-Sept. ter 'Tib' 12 m. rosy crimson, Aug.-Sept. 'Tom Thumb' 6 m. pink, Aug.-Oct. resembles mInIature Japanese conifer 'Tomentosa' 18 in. white, July-Sept. JANlJARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER 1 11

HAROLD W. COPELAN D Calluna vulgaris 'H. E. Beale' foot long spires of silvery pink

Flower color and Erica Height Blooming Time R emarks australis 'Mr. Robert' 6 ft. white, Apr.-June a striking pIant *arborea alpina S ft. ash white, Mar.-Apr. resembles miniature Chris tmas tree Cal"nea 'Atrorubra' 8 In. dark pink, Mar.-Apr. * 'Aurea' 8 In. deep pink, Feb.-Apr. only carnea with golden foliage * 'Carnea' 8 In. deep pink, Jan.-Apr. 'Cecilia M. Beale' 8 In. white, Jan.-Mar. 'C. J. Backhouse' 8 In. soft pink, Mar.-Apr. The entire 'Gracilis' 6 m. soft pink, DeC.-Mar. * 'King George' 10 In. crimson, Jan.-May carne a group * 'Praecox Rubra' 8 In. red, Dec.-Mar. 'Rosea' 8 In. rose, Jan-Mar. is very hardy 'Ruby Glow' 8 m. ruby, Mar.-Apr. 'Sherwoodii 8 In. deep pink, Feb.-Apr. and mostly 'Snow Queen' 8 In. white, Jan.-Mar. 'Springwood Pink' 8 In. bright pink, Jan.-May win ter blooming * 'SpriIJ.gwood White' 8 10. white, Jan.-May 'Thomas Kingscote' 8 In. pink, Mar.-Apr. * 'Winter Beauty' 8 In. pink, Jan.-May * 'Vivelli' 8 In. carmine red, Jan-May attractive foliage *ciliaris 'Mrs. C. H. Gill' 12 In. cerise, July-Oct. 'Stoborough' 18 In. white, July-Oct. 'Wych' 18 in. pink, July-Oct. 12 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Flowe1" Colm' and Calluna v ulgaris H eight Blooming Time Remarks cineTea 'Alba' gin. while, July-Aug. 'Alba Major' 9 In. white, June-Aug. * 'Atrorubens' 9 in. ruby red, June-Aug. free blooming 'Atrosanguinea' 6 In. blood red, June·Aug. 'c. D. Eason' 9 In. reddish pink, June-Sept. * 'Golden Drop' 4 In. pink, June-July foliage gold in sum­ mer, red and copper in winter

'Golden Hue' 12 in. June-July more golden & taller than above 'lVIrs. Ford' 9 In. carmine, June-July 'Mrs. Dill' 4 111. bright pink, June-Aug. * 'Po S. Patrick' 12 In. purple, June-Aug. free flowering 'Splendens' 12 In. rose, June-July 'Violacea' 12 In. lilac, J une-J uly * X darleyensis 18 In. lavender pink, Jan.-Mayhardy & vigorous * X darleyensis 'Alba' 18 In. white, Jan.-May X dad eyerz sis 'Arthur Johnson' 18 in. pink, Jan.-April 'Dawn' 9 in. rose, June-Oct. long blooming period 'George Rendall' deep lavender pink J an.-April 'Watsonii' deep rose, July-Oct. 'Williamsii' rosy pink, July-Sept. mackiana 'Plena' 8 In. deep rose, May-Aug. m edite17anea 'Alba' 36 In. white, Mar-May 'Brightness' 24 In. rosy purple, Mar.-May spec~men plant * 'W. T. Rackliff' 24 In. white, Feb.-April speCImen plant terminalis (E. stricta) 4 ft. pale rose, July-Oct. a tree heath X tetTa lix 'Alba' 9 In. white, June-Aug. * 'Alba Mollis' 9 In. white, June-Oct. striking silver gray foliage * 'Con Underwood' 9 In. crimson, June-Oct. one of best of group 'Darleyensis' 6 In. salmon pink, July-Oct. 'Praegeri' 6 In. pink, June-Oct. 'Rubra' 6 In. red, July-Oct. vagans 'Carnea' 12 In. pink, Aug.-Sept. * 'Lyonesse' 12 In. white, July-Oct. * " 'Mrs. D. F. Maxwell' 12 In. cherry, July-Oct. As a group 'Nana' 6 In. white, July-Oct. vagans varieties 'Pallida' 12 In. pale pink, Aug.-Sept. are favorites 'Rosea' 12 In. rose pink, Aug-Sept. because of 'Rubra' 12 In. purplish red, Aug.-Oct. hardiness and * 'St. Keverne' 12 In. salmon pink, July-Oct. excellent habit, foliage and flower. B n .ckenthalia spicu lifolia 8 in. light pink, June-July Closely related to Erica and Calluna Daboecia 1)olifolia 24 111. purple, June-Oct. Closely related to Erica and Calluna " polifolia 'Alba' 24 111. white, June-Oct. * " polifolia 'Praegerae' 12 in. salmon pink, July-Sept. azorica 6 111. rosy crimson, May-June JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER 1 13

Newly Acquired Varieties Calluna vulgaTis 'Rosea' 12 In. deep pink Aug.-Sept. Erica can7ea 'Loughrigg' 8 In. purple Feb.-IvIar. 'Mrs. Sam Doncaster 8 In. pink Feb.-Apr. 'Pink Pearl' 8 In. shell pink Feb.-Mar. 'Queen Mary' 8 In. pink 'Queen of Spain' 8 m . Dec.-Feb. 'Rosy Gem' 8 In. pink Mar.-Apr. 'Startler' 8 In. pink l\iJar.-Apr. ci lim-is 'Camla' 12 in. coral pink Feb.-Mar. 'Hybrida' 6 In. rose July-Sept. * cin e1"ea 'Coccinea' 4 In. rosy pink June-Oct. 'Frances' 12 In. carmine reel June-Sept. 'Knap Hill' 12 In. cense June-Aug. 'Rosabella' 6 In. pink June-Aug. 'Rose Queen' 12 m . pink June-Aug. 'Gwavas' 12 In. pink June-Aug. 'x' X tetralix 'Alba Mollis' 9 In. pink June-Oct. 'Mary Grace' 6 In. white June-Oct. vagans 'Kevernenesis bright pink June-Oct. Alba' 12 In. white Aug.-Oct.

H AROLD Vl. COPELAND Calluna vulgaris '1. H. Hamilton' bright double coral pink flowers FRED W. HOLDER The Rustic Bridge across Mirror Lake at azalea time. The bridge super- structure is made of heaTt cedar.

14 Bellingrath Gardens- "The Charm Spot of the Deep South"

M. B. GREEN!

History and Early Development camp. They were so thrilled with the effects of huge azaleas in woodland set­ The site of Bellingrath Gardens, ting that they called in an American twenty miles south of Mobile fronting architect and later a French gardener on the Isle-Aux-Oies River, was original­ and still later an English landscape en­ ly a beautiful coastal hammock of hard­ gineer and started work in earnest. wood, yellow pine and cedar. It was 'While the gardens were under develop­ acquired in 1917 by Walter and Bessie ment the Bellingraths studied gardens Bellingrath for use as a fishing and all over America and brought back in­ huntihg camp-a retreat away from the valuable information. noise and excitement of the city-where Then came the day one Sunday morn­ they and their friends might relax and ing in the spring of 1932 when Walter be refreshed. and Bessie Bellingrath's dream of their The Bellingraths enjoyed "Belle­ garden had blossomed into realitv. They camp" for about ten years, all the while had invited the people of Mobile to becoming more and more enamoured come to see their gardens with thousand with their beautiful woods of rnoss­ upon thousands of azaleas and camellias draped live oak, water oak, gums, rich and all the host of other plants in bloom. magnolia and stately yellow pine, little THE PEOPLE CAJVIE in such crowds dreaming that here one day their modest that patrolmen had to be called in to camp would have been transformed into " unsnarl" the traffic jam on Bellingrath a world-famous shrine of landscape beau­ Road. ty. Following this demonstration of the The quiet beauty of this unspoiled people's hunger for the beauty of a spot-little changed from the forest garden it was found necessary to make primeval-in time inspired them with an admission charge in order to control the idea of building their home here the crowds that thronged the gardens. and, with the help of the Creator of all What had begun as a hobby, to be en­ beauty, building their garden-the kind joyed by the owners and their friends, of a garden that would complement the in a few short years became a mecca for native forest. They wanted their garden garden lovers the world over and famous to be joyful and exciting, with colorful ~s one of the wmld's most beautiful and exotic flowers artfully arranged but gardens. they wanted to preserve, at all cost, the serenity of the native woods. Plan of the -Gardens So, in 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Bellingrath The Gardens embrace a little over 60 visited the famous gardens of Europe, acres, situated on a bluff fronting on studying their design, their plants and Isle-Aux-Oies (Fowl) River on the east, their horticultural practices in search of on salt water bayous on the north and ideas that might help them to form basic on the south and extending westward plans for their garden. roughly to where the hammock ends They returned to Mobile filled with and the yellow pine begins. They are enthusiasm and with determination to richly wooded with live oak, water oak, get on with their garden. They began to Magnolia gmndiflora , holly, cedar, sweet buy large azaleas, camellias and other gum, black gum, hickory and other trees plants, planting them in their city gar­ of 100 genera and species. The only den and then around the Lodge at BelIe- areas not heavily wooded are: four acre Mirror Lake, four acres of lawn, a one acre rose garden and about seven acres 'Landscape Engineer, Bel1ingrath Gardens, Theodore, Alabama. in the camellia arboretum. 15 FRED w. HOLDER It's chrysanthemum time at Bellingrath Gardens with over ten thousand large plants from 8 inch pots carpeting many strategic spots in the Gardens, and several hundred large cascade plants displayed as curtains, pyramids, etc.

The Gardens are informal and natur­ plete the masses. Camellias and azaleas alistic in character, the only formal por­ were very much in vogue in the 20's tions being the rose garden and small and 30's and, quite naturally, were very areas of transi tion in the vicinity of the freely used in the over-all plantings. home. Attesting to the keen appreciation They thrived in the well-drained, acid of the Bellingraths for the best in na­ soil and in the shade. In this garden in ure and the landscape gardener's art, the woods there are only two areas in and to the skill and artistry of the tech­ full sun-the rose garden and the great nicians who interpreted their dreams, lawn. many have described the Gardens as As one progresses along the garden being a "perfect union" of the natural trails-the effect is kaleidoscopic-ever and the man-made landscape. changing. There are: camellia gardens; Access to all parts of the Gardens is azalea gardens; holly gardens; bulb gar­ by broad comfortable trails. The total dens; rose gardens; deep, informal bays trail length is nearly one and a quarter and major vistas, each featuring a fine miles, half of hard packed earth and half old tree, a fine specimen or mass plant­ of flagstone. The trails wind easily and ing of special in terest, or perhaps a naturally, revealing surprising and de­ superb view of Isle-Aux-Oies River. Also lightful vistas at every turn. along the trails are hundreds of little in­ In the early years of intensive develop­ formal nooks and bays left open in the ment many hundred large specimen permanent shrubbery like settings for camellias and azaleas and lesser numbers gems. ' IVith the exception of beds of sweet olive, Cam ellia sasanqua, lItfich­ planted to bulbs for natural bloom these elia f'lls ca ta, holly, Photinia, C leyera, to beds are kept filled all year 'round with mention a few, were brought in from all colorful bloom and foliage from the over the deep south. Many of the fine old greenhouses. camellia and azalea plants were more Through the winter months quantities than a century old. These huge specimen of forced Kurume and hybrid azaleas were used as key plants-many as im­ and other plants such at Dutch hya­ portant vista and axial termini-and cinths, poinsettias, lilies, mums, etc. are then thousands of smaller and lower used in the beels not planted to bulbs. growing plants were moved in to com- When sub-freezing weather is forecast JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER 1 17 the colel-sensitive plants are either taken haps a more apt statement would be the in or covered. In late winter quantities Gardens present a series of seasonal spec­ of forced hydrangeas, Cineraria, Calceo­ tacles with the interest sustained 'tween loria, Gloxina and B egonia are also used. seasons by continuing flower and foliage Throughout the warm months, from effec ts. April to November many of the sub­ The outstanding seasonal spectacles tropical flowering shrubs that are color­ are: Camellia Time, Azalea Time, Rose Eul all summer are used as annuals in Time, Chrysanthemum Time and Poin­ these seasonal beds. Among these are se ttia Time. Allamanda. . Acalypha in variety, Lan­ I.ana in variety, Hibiscw, Aphelandm, Camellia Time Ixora, Croton, etc. Rhizomatous and "Winter is camellia time at Bellingrath. bulbous things such as dwarf Canna, Starting in October, las ting until April, fancy leaf Caladium, summer lilies, etc. and reaching its season of greatest pro­ are used extensively. Some of the an­ fu sion in January and February Camel­ nuals like Salvia, Agemtum, marigolds, lia japonica presents a floral spectacle at zinnias and peppers in variety, are in Bellingra th Gardens of daily increasing bloom just about all summer. interest until well into March. Bellin grath Gardens is truly a YEAR Camellias contribute so much to the 'ROUND GARDEN, where "beauty floral pageant at Bellingrath that they knows no season." In describing bis gar­ deserve more than passing mention. A den ?vLr. Bellingrath enjoyed comparing native of the Orient the camellia came it, in metaphor, to a lovely lady with to Mobile through Europe more than a 52 beautiful gowns--one for each week century ago. Possibly over 5,000 culti .. of the year. It was his way of saying that vars of Camellia jalJonica exist today, the Gardens were constantly changing most of them being grown in America. their "gown" of leaf and flower, but Few plants flower in such diverse form were always beautiful-ever enchanting. and color. It has been said that the Gardens were During the 27 years that ]\IIr. and ]\II rs. a "YEAR 'ROUND SPECTACLE." Per- Bellingrath enjoyed building and living

A pretty summer scene in the center of the Courtyard showing the moss draped live oaks overhead and the colorful fancy leaved caladiums below. fRED w. HOI.UF R fR ED W. HOLDER The Grotto in Bellingrath Gardens (near Mobile, Alabama) is located on a bluff overlooking the Isle-aux-Oies River near the Bellingrath Home. It is maintained the year round with seasonal flowering plants and provides another highlight for the visitor. It has been photographed from every conceivable angle by amateur and professional alike and has almost be'come a trade mark for the "Charm Spot of the Deep South".

Looking across Mirror Lake with azaleas, spirea and dogwood in full bloom and with scarcely a ripple on the water. f RED w . H OLDER FRED W. HOLDER This view, photographed in March, shows azaleas at 'he right and cinerarias at the left, with the Bellingrllth Home in the center.

in the Gardens many hundreds of camel­ Azalea Time li as were gathered from private yards N ormall y the colorful azalea is very and gardens throughout the deep so u.th much in ev idence in early March-long and transplanted in the Gardens. Begm­ before the camellia show is over-and, ning in 1956 a camellia arboretum has with its "supporting characters"-r.ed been under development. This coIIec­ bud, dogwood, white spirea, daffodIls, tion now includes some 1,200 plants of tulips, mountain laurel, lilies,. hydran­ nearl y 900 cultivars. geas-i t produces an effect that IS .breath­ In ca mellia time there are many "sup­ taking. 'Nhen the plants are In full portin g characters." Poinsettias are very bloom-little 6 inch plants and on up much in evidence from approximately to the 20 foot plants-th.e bloom a l rr~ ost December 15th through J anuary. Forced completely covers the folJage. One writer lilies, azaleas and oriental magnolias aptly called azalea time the "Flaming contribute much color interest in J anu­ Drama of the South." ary and the heavy fragrance of sweet Azaleas first came to :M obile over 200 oli ve fills the air throughout the Garden years ago. Fifise ~anglois broug~t three when it's not too cold. colors from his chlldhoocl home In Tou­ Matching the crescendo of cameII ia louse, France. Since then several hun­ bloom February brings ] apanese cherry, dred cultivars have come from all over orien tal magnoli a, and more and more the world-from tiny dwarfs to trees forced azaleas and lilies and the first and from pure white to all shades of natural azalea bloom-that of Fortune's pink, red, lavender, orange, purple and Vittata. It is during this month that variegated. camelli a bloom is h eaviest. The camelli a arboretum is certainly Rose Time the feature attraction at this time. As Rose time begins at Bellingrath in the visitor strolls along the 12 foot grass early April, not after, but d~ring aza l ~a paths he can observe most of the 900 time and while even camellI as are stIll cultivars in bloom at one time-every­ blooming. Roses here are mostly hybrid thing from the tiniest miniature to the teas, with only a few floribundas, grandi­ nine inch ones-and jot down the names floras and climbers. In a formal garden, of his choice. somewhat like the Rotary wheel emblem fRF.O W . HOLOf R It's camellia time in February, with most of the 800 varieties in bloom. Here is a view in the Camellis Arboretum where visitors may compare the beauty and growth characteristics of the different varieties.

At chrysanthe·mum time over ten thousand large plants carpet many strategic spots in the Garden and several hundred large cascade plants are displayed as curtains, pyrmids, etc. fREI) W . HOLDER J ANUAR Y 1965, VOLUi\IE '1'1, NUJvIBER 1 21

in des ign there are about 3,000 rose curtain s, fo untains, pyramids, etc. The plants. Elsewhere about 1,000 polyan­ effect is like huge, fl oral tapestries. T he thas and fl oribundas are used as fac ing m um spectacular is in November lasting plants in front of shrub masses. R oses until sub-freezing weather in December, bloom from Apr il until heavy fros t in but thousands of fo rced plan ts may be November but the spectacular show is seen in all gardens before and after the in April when every plan t seems to be big fa ll show. Other colorful plants in in bloom. October, November and early December Complementing rose bloom in Apr il are holly, Pyracrl'l7 tha, A rdisia, golden are: tulips, lilies, hyd rangeas, anemone, shower tree and Cam ell ia sasCl17qua. petunia, etc. and fo ll owing these are several fl owering shrubs, and ann uals Poinsettia Time that are at their best in the heat of PoinseLLias suggest Christmas time middle and late summer. Gardenia and wiLh gayly colored plan ts all over the NI ag17 01ia bloom in !\ Iay and June; and Garden-whi te ones-pink ones and reel throughout the mid-summer and early ones . At Bellingra Lh Gardens the fl oral fall salvia, ornamental peppers, H ib iscus effect is "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" and A Ilamanda are in bloom. T he very colorful foil age of fa n cy leaved Ca ladi­ Other Features llIn, Croton, Acalypha (copper leaf) are ] n the m idst of the Gardens is the very showy all through the warm Bellingrath Home with its Bess ie Morse months. Bellingrath collection of antique furni­ lU re, pr iceless sil ve r, rare porcelains and Chrysanthemum Time fin e china. T he H ome was opened to Chrysa nthemum time is a real "spec­ the p ublic J anuary I , 1956 after the tacl e" with ten thousand 8" pots of death of Mr. Bellingrath according to garden mums bedded ou t, and three his wishes as set forth in the Foundation hundred cascade plants displayed as Deed of Trust. H ere is a wonderful op-

The Rose Garden blooms most of the year-from March to December­ and is the only formal area in the "Charm Spot of the Deep South" . Patterned after the Rotary Club emblem it reflects Mr. Bellingrath's deep in.terest in this organization. FRED W. HOLDER 22 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

FRED W. HOLDER A view across Mirror Lake jrom the rockery in azalea time. The planting across the lake changes with the seasons. It's azaleas in spring, salvia in summer and mums in the jall. portunity for those who appreciate fine Birds have always been most welcome works of art to not only see but to learn in the Gardens and have been protected their origin and history. Guests are con­ from hunting, trapping or molestation ducted through the home in small of any kind, but last year the area was groups by well informed hostesses and officially designated as a Bird Sanctuary former Bellingrath servants who inter­ by the Aububon Society and the man­ pret the Collection in varying manner, agemen t began a long range develop­ according to the interest of the guests. ment program to provide habitat condi- J ANUARY 1965 , VOLU \IE 44, NUl\1BER I

Lions to attract and hold not only the Mr. BelJingrath continued to li\'e in 43 species already here but many others. the Gardens until his death A ugust 8, The year 1964 wi ll be recorded as 1955, but ownership of them was trans­ another milestone in Bellingrath Gar­ ferred by him early in 1950 to the then dens progress. A fine en trance ga te fa ­ newly crealed Bellingrath-Morse Foun­ cility is under construction that will cl ation, a non-profit organization found­ provide all servi ces and conven iences­ ed for the purpose of aiding charitable, ticket office, gift shop, snack bar, assem­ reli gioLls and educational work in the bly room and a beautiful entrance patio South. T he name "Morse" is in memor y - in a building of old, slave-m ade brick of Mrs. Bellingrath whose maiden n ame and iron lace, with a modern in terior. was Morse. The Gardens are adminis­ Another improvement that is also un­ tered b y a Board of Trustees. der way this yea r is a sunken garden on The Gardens are open every day of the site of the old lodge. And, still anoth­ Lhe year from 7:00 A.1'''1. unti l sundown. er fine improvemen t is the co nversion Admiss ion to the Gardens closes one of the garage into an air conditioned hour before sundown , and to the H orne rest lounge with modern rest rooms. a t 4:00 P. l'vf.

Small Daffodils for the Garden

B. Y. MORRISON

Since Narcissus jonq'llilla grows and species only from near Marrakech, in behaves in the writer's garden, as though the Atlas Mountain area in Morocco, it were a native, curiosity to know its which may b e reason enough for their botanical kin, lead to the purchase at failure here, even if their paren t, N. various times of su ch species as were rllpicola h as lived with apparent success available. The only one of all that have for many years. It does n ot multiply by been here, that is not what could be offsets much, and all seed so far h as called successful has been N. jUl1cifolius been removed at once. and over one hundred bulbs have been The scape of N. rupicola bears but a planted. ' '''hether the fault is wholly my single Rower, that emerges from an al­ own, in not having fo und a proper site most paper thin, nearly translucent gray cannot be guessed. It does not die out; sheath. The flo wer faces upwards, sweet­ but all these bulbs have given not more ly sce nt ~d with a rather distinct scent, than ten blooms, coming very late in the with a perianth of Pale Lemon Yellow season, which may be the main difficulty (Ridgway) and cup of Lemon Yellow. as all late blooming garden kinds are N. scaberulw has been in the garden poor here, even in years when the tem­ even longer than N. ntpicola and the peratures are relatively mild. original planting rem ains, just about One species has refused to grow. at as it was originally set in place. Here all, N. wa tieri and one, N. marmen again, all seed has been picked before keeps barely alive. These two come from ripening, but the pods are very distinct, areas that make changes of climate of much swollen in form, and not like any some difficulty, but if they are indeed other known here. The flowers vary in no more than forms of N. rupicola number on the scape but are usually which does live and bloom here, one is more than one. The color is a self puzzled. Lemon Chrome. There seems to be Dr. Fernandez in his paper, Sur La little scent here, and the sheath that en­ Phylogenie des Especes de Genre Nar· closed the buds is brown in color. cissus L. in Boletim de Sociedade Bro­ N . Femandesi as it grows here, is the teriana, Vol. XXV (2a Serie), Coimbra most robust of the successful kinds, with 1951, gives a map showing the locations larger flowers, several per scape, a brown where these three species have been col­ sheath and not a very strong scent. The lected for his studies. N. rupicola in color is Sulfur Yellow in the perianth Spain and Portugal but the other two and Lemon Chrome for the cup. The 24 THE AMER ICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

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ll. Y. M ORRI SON V ARIOUS JONQUIL SPECIES- Natural Size 1 . Narcissus Fernanclesii 2. N. calcicola 3. N. scaberulus 4. N. rupicola J ANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NU MBER I 25

drawing shows the characteristi c carriage the slight roughness o[ the margins. of the latter as well as the fl are of the N o species here, is a precocious in leaf peri anth segments. production as is N. Jon quilla itself, and N. ca lcico la is larger than N . scabenl­ all will have quite ripened off and clisa p­ iu.s, and h as a sweet scent, typical of the pea red by late May in this garden. jonquil group, but n ot distinct as is If one reads some of the descriptions the case of N. TLI.p icola. The sheath is of these species as they grow wild, with gray, and the Hower colors are a self that notes as to so il , ex pos ure and general lies between Apricot Yellow and Empire character of terrain, one could be di s­ Yellow. couraged in thinking of them as garden Both N. ca lcicola and scabentllls were plants. Aga in when one reads of their studied by Fernandez [rom collec li ons li se in rock ga rdens, one ca n only won­ made near Coimbra in Por tugal. der, if their placemen t there is not large­ From the map shown on page 123 ly to ass ure the owner of the location, (I. e.) it is his opinion that the ancestral "ather than any need of extreme drain­ rupicola spread from a site near Gran­ age. It may well be that fin e drainage ada northward and weS l ward for the is important, but that cannot be proven three species, 1"I ljJ1:co lo, scabenilus and here as we have drain age in excess, and co lcicola while the migrati on that leaves at times almost in extTemis. W atieTi and MarvieTi in Morocco, was The first b1l 1bocodiwn that appeared presumably made before the land broke in the garden came by accid en t, as an between Europe and Africa. ' ''' hile h e admixture in one lot o[ N. JU17cifo lius. cites n o coll ecti on of N . n tpicola which None of this last has ever bloomed, but he consid ers the ances tor of th is group, there h ave been at least fi ve bulbs of from the Afri can con tin en t, this is im­ what I n ow know is N. blllbocodium. plicit in his text. obesLis. The n ex t sa mples came as single As garden plan ts h ere, there are no bulbs from the Division of Plan t Intro­ difficulties in growing those that have uuction, as it was then known, in the succeeded, in the open border, with its U . S. Department of Agriculture, col­ typical sa ndy soil, not much enriched lections by Dr. Frederi ck G. 'Meyer. with the usu al peat but with bonemeal Since all did as well in the sites chosen at planting time and occasional fe rtiliz­ as any of the other species narcissus, it ing with ordinary commercial fertilizers. seemed logical to yield to curios ity and The site is sunny and in midsummer is purch ase whatever other names of b1d­ hot as little shade falls on the one bocod iu m n arciss us as migh t b e found. plan ting and only p assing shade on the Practically all h ave come from M ichael others. J efferson-Brown, with a few earlier From a landscape point, the mos t seri­ ones from Alec Gray. Now, it is diffi cult ous objecti on comes from the fact that to find some that are here, whi ch is re­ each is represented by a meagre plant­ gretted since these, like other small­ ing. U ndoubtedly a much fin er effect flowered species would undoubtedly be would be gained by plantings of fi fty more effective in the garden if they bulbs of each. As they can be placed were in greater quantities . For any un­ close together this could simulate a certain plant, it seems provident, to colony. In a garden, that is much more buy only a few until one knows that "dressed up" than the writer's ever is, the plant will tolerate life on Coastal something might h ave to be devised to Mississ ippi. act as a ground cover, a diffi cult choice Dr. Fernandez (1. e. page 161) h as as it should not conserve too much water much to say about the members of or make a mass of foliage through which the bulbocodium group, and the brief the n arcissus would h ave trouble in translation is suggestive. arising (in March h ere) for their early "Before the opening of the Strait of bloom. Gibral tar, the ancestral species, through All drawings show flo wers life size . an accum ulati on of genetic mutations Nothing has been said about th e as well as structural alterations, gave leaves of any of the species described . rise to N. B u lbocodivm L. a species All represen t the 'usu al type of more or which because of the frequency of its less rush like leaves, except in the case occurrence as well as t he divers'ity ' of of N. sca beTu llls 'in which the leaves are the h abitats it ,can occupy, one may somewhat fl attened and are n oted for consider as the mos t sll ccessful of the 26 THE AMERICAN H ORT ICULTUR AL MAGAZINE

B. Y. M ORRISON V ARIODS BDLBOCODIDMS-Natural Size 1. Narcissus bulbocodiltm al­ bidus zaianiclts lutescens 2. N. b. Romieuxii 3. N. b. cantabricu.s 4. N. b. tananicus 5. N. b. praecox 6. N. b. P. I. 239061 7. N. b. obesus JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUl\/BER 1 27 genus. This species retains certain almost as an edging plant on account of characters of the ancestor, (leaves nar­ the abundant leafage and its long per­ row, tube of the corolla large and the sistence. stamens with filaments almost free) but Here, they are all grown frankly and at the same time it has acquired cer­ openly for my own instruction and tain new characters (Flowers solitary, pleasure. Only one kind has been filaments curved to one side and the bought in any quantity for general corona (or crown) greatly developed." planting, namely N. bulbococli'llm ci­ "The opening of the Strait of Gibral­ trinu.rn, which pleases me greatly. It tar, divided the newly formed species has one curious habit, here at least, that into two new areas, southern Spain and Lhat no matter how excellent the bulbs northern Morocco, regions that caused may appear, not one will flower the it to expand into new territories." first season, even when potted and kept In Spain the development went north­ in the cool greenhouse. Some times only ward covering the entire peninsula in­ a solitary leaf appears, sometimes two. cluding Portugal, and extending into The flowers shown in the drawing the three bordering provinces in France; are not all that might have been drawn in Morocco, the expansion was east­ had the wri ter been alert to the idea. ward into Algiers, and southwards on Enough are shown to indicate that there the coast to a point beyond Agadir. is a diversity of form and carriage Apparently this is a species that in­ among them. trigued Dr. Fernandez for he seems to The first, with its prodigious horti­ have made many collections, and exam­ cultural name, that has not yet been ined all for their caryological make up, taken apart by taxonomists, is N . hllb­ particularly those occurring in Portugal. locodi1l1n albiclus znianiclIs 11ll esc(,l1s. All of this seems far afield from a One can only suspect that this is a color garden of small importance in sOllthern form of some local form, of a whitish­ Mississippi, but now that the writer has colored species. The writer has no de­ been reading Fernandez once again, he scriptive material to indicate the source looks with new interest on his plants. or the location. It barely overtops its None that has been acquired has failed leaves, with flowers of Pinard Yellow, though the habit of the species from the ovary Grape Green inside the northern Africa for what must be con­ brownish sheathing- bracts. Scape about sidered winter-blooming, means that .1)11) inches tall. It bloomed in 1964, on they run the annual hazard of poor February second. weather, whether of actual cold or mere­ Number two of the chart is N. bulb­ ly down pouring rain. There seems to ococlium Romieu..xii a most lovely thing be some variation from year to year in and a second species of which a quan­ the dates of the most precocious species tity is now on order for general plant­ or forms, but basically the group has ing. The color is Pinard Yellow and more blooms in the months ~f January the quality of the flower tissues is such and February with more in the second that they appear almost of ,e,'ossamer month, than earlier. delicacy, but they are in fact very firm As in the case of the jonquils de­ and stand weather well. Variolls color scribed, the foliage is not a matter of variants are or have been reported and great notice. Again, there is one species if all are as splend id as th is one, all with leaves that lie flat on the ground, will be worth hunting for ·and increas­ making a pattern that almost suggests ing. By seed one surmises, since increase an octopus. N. bu.lbicodium obestls. The by offset seems slow here, others make slender leaves, some so The third on the chart is one or the slender as to appear almost fragile. many small bulbs that I have, from an Some make a quantity of leaves so early lot on which the labels were mis­ that there is a foliage mass through plac'ed, Undoubtedly it belongs among which the flowers rise, as in the case 'of the various cnntabricus forms. The color what used to be known as N. bu.lboco­ of the flower drawn was Picric Yellow. dium monophyllus foliosus, a name that a fine clear light yellow, and the peri­ is no lon!!er acceptable, and replaced, anth segments were tipped lightly with I believe bv N. bulbocodium cantabri­ e;reen, If the decision is correct that this cus. There is one other species that Mr. is in fact a form of cnnlnbricus. it can Jefferson-Brown feels might be used be reported that increase by bulb off- THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

DO:,\,ALD S.MFRRETT Narcissus BulbocOllium sets seems to be rapid. How long it will This form has seeded and the seedlings be before any of the infants come to have come up some distance from the flowering sizes remains to be proven. mother bulbs. As yet there is little sign Bulbocodiul1"L tananicus, number four of multiplication by offsets. On account on the drawing, is a small but very of the strong color this may well be charming thing as its perianth makes worth increase by seed. a sprightly coHar under the frilled The last example, N. bulbocodium crown, as frilled as in some of the obesus, with which we began this paper, c{(11tabricus forms. The color is white, has the largest flowers, on the shortest a clear and unstained white. scapes (here). It is also notable for the BHlbocodium. P1"(lefOX in spite of its size of the tube, which makes a gradual name was not one of the earliest to line into the crown, rather than having bloom here, coming about in midseason. a more slender diameter as in most. It This aga in, is Picric Yellow, but the is not as strongly patterned with green staining on the tube, below the perianth on this tube, as in some, but enough so segments is a greenish yello·w. that seems that one notes it. This seems to be one gree n by contrast. As the flower ages, of the forms of bu lbocodium in which the trumpet gets a little crapey in lext­ the stamens and pistil are contained ure so that it suggests the cantabricvs within the crown, if the local observa­ forms of which it is no immediate kin. tion is correct. The other drawings show There is a faint perfume, the only one the curved stamens all to one side, and noted among all the fl owers drawn, but the pistil extended well beyond them, the wri ter is not a good judge of such. as noted by Fernandez and mentioned The sin l!;le example of n~lmber six , earlier in this small piece. sen t here for evaluation as P. 1. 239061, As far as one can tell here, there are as N . Bulbocodium is the smalles t of no problems of cultivation, and unless all the bulbocodiums grown here. The one cannot endure the loss of blooms color is a bright yellow, better than from inclement weather, there seems no Light Cadmium but not quite strong reason to neglect even the most preco­ enough to be called Cadmium Yellow. cious forms. If planted near Tritelia The pattern of green on the backs of un iflora there is a nice, though elemen­ the perianth segments is deep g.een and ta.y, contrast with the lavender blue of conspicuous. Lettuce Green of Ridgway. ,that equally bardy and useful bulb. Rust of Jllniper, Flowering Crabapple, and Hawthorn

CURTIS MAyl

The two common rust fungi that ill di ameter. They mature the seco nd cause serious diseases of juniper, flow er­ ~ prill g aft er the juniper is infected . Dur­ ing crabapple, and h awthorn lead an in g ea rl y spring rains they swell and amazingly complex life. Juniper, and numero us, long, orange, fl exible, ribbon­ apple or hawthorn must be ava il able like gelatinous appendages are extruded [or these rusts to survive. They ca nnot from small, round depress ions on the spread from juniper to juniper, apple slirface of the ga ll. The appendages, to apple, or from ha'wthorn to h aw­ commolll y caIled spore horns, are crowd­ thorn. They must shuttle from juniper ed with co unLl ess rust spores which do to their respective alternate hosts anc! not all maLure aL Lhe sa me time. H eav i­ back to juniper to complete their life ly galled junipers may seem to be in cycle. The rusts stimulate proliferation bloom when the yellow-to-orange spore of infected juniper leaves which enlarge horns are full ex panded. Finall y, the and form galls co mmonly called ceelar spore horns shrivel and the galls be­ apples. come woody. They may drop or remain The juniper-flowering crabapple galls until the next year; but old galls are are light chocolate brown, roughly glo­ functionless. Spores from the ga ll s ca n bular, and one-eighth inch to 2 inches infect flow ering crabapple leaves. In­ fe cted leaves develop yellow-to-orange lPalhoiogist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural spots in which spores are produced that Research Service, United Slales Departmen t of Agri­ culture , Re lt sville, ~ lraT y land . can infect only juniper. They may in-

Left-Spore horns in early stage of development. Right-Spore horns gelatinized. Spray should be applied before the horns reach this stage. 30 THE .-\ i\ IERICAI\' HORTICULTURAL !I!.\GAZJNE leCl at once or may survive on the sur­ too large. ""here susceptible junipers face of juniper leaves and infect the are native, large or numerous, gall fo llowing spring. Thus the cycle. fr0T? IJickinoo' would be impracticable . and in- juniper to apple and back to JunIper IS effective. U ntreated galls on wdd trees completed. could produce a multitude of air-borne Juniper-hawthorn rust h as a some­ spores to infect their ornamental alter­ what simil ar life history. The galls on n ate host plants. Spraying with fungi­ juniper are irregular and . gree~ i s h­ cides, however, is practicable and effec­ brown when young, becomll1g lIght tive. chocolate brown as they age. They also Spraying.-Junipers. Spring Applica­ mature the second spring following in­ tion : To prevent spread of rust spores fection. T he clark orange, wedge-shaped, from juniper, spray the trees with a relatively few, gelatinous spore horns fungicide when the colored spore horns extrude from the galls during rains or first appear on the galls and before they misty weather in spring. The galls gelatinize. Spread of viable rust spores function more than 1 year. Spores from from juniper can be stopped or greatly the gall s can infect hawthorn. Rust reduced by the spray. Use the antibiotic, spots or pustules on h awthorn and flow­ cycloheximide. This material is availa­ ering crabapple are orange-to-yellow on ble as Acti-spray2 or Actidione. Use 50 the upper leaf surface; on the lower of the 380 milligram tablets in 100 gal­ leaf surface they are brown, ra ised and lons of water or 5 tablets in 10 gallons. have ha ir-like bristles. Spores produced in the spots on the lower leaf surfaces Summer Applications: Spray junipers are distributed to junipers in summer. in July or August to protect them from Thus the fix ed cycle from juniper to infection by spores prod uced on flower­ hawthorn to juniper is completed. ing crabapples anc! hawthorn. Dr. J. C. Another rust fungus on juniper causes Carter of the Illinois Natural Histor y elong-ated swellings of twigs and other Survey h as recommended a formulation woody parts. The rust is perennial in containing Ferbam and wettable sulfur. the swollen tissues. Its spores pass to Use one-half pound of Ferbam ancl 3 apple, quince, h awthorn, serviceberry, pounds wettable sulfur in 100 gaIIons mountai n ash, and pear. Damage to of water (1 oz. of Ferbam and 6 oz. of flow ering crabapple is reported to be the sulfur in 12 gallons) . Keep the mix­ minor but abundant infection may oc­ ture agitated while spray ing. Junipers cur on hawthorn fruits and twigs. produce new growth all summer and Scientific names of the rust fungi and rains wash away the fllngicicles. More­ common n ames of the diseases each over, fungicides clo not adhere well to causes are: Gymnospomngium illniperi­ juniper foliage because of the waxy cov­ virgin ial10 e Schw.-Jun iper-apple Rust, ering of the needles. Therefore several, G,)'mnosporongium globosum Farl.-Ju­ sometimes up to 6, applications of fun­ n i per-hawthorn Rust, and Gvmnospor­ gicide may be needed for fuII protec­ rmgiu111 rlavipes (Cke. & Pk.) Cke. & tion. GeneraIIy junipers are not kiIled Pk.-Juniper-quince Rust. by the rusts. However, there are situa­ Infectiye spores of the rusts are largely tions where clean plants are wanted or wi nd-borne. Experience has shown that where junipers are severely d amaged. ~eparation of junipers and the alternate Spraying is then necessary to keep them hosts by I mile prevents serious out­ attractive. breaks of the rust diseases. But usually separation by a mile is not possible for Flowering Crabapple and Hawthorn the gardener. Fortunately, other meth­ Timing of spray applications is im­ ods to con trol the diseases have been POI-tan t. Spray crabapple or hawthorn developed through research. These in­ in spring when spore horns first appear clude sa nitation, spraying, and use of on the iuniper gaIIs, or when the crab­ r ust-resista n t selections. apple flowers are beginning- to open . Sa nitation.-R emoval of galls from Use Ferbam (1.5 lb. in 10 gal. of water) junipers as soon as they are detected and or the Ferbam-sulfur combination dis- certainly before the spore horns swell 2!'. fc ll[ ion of fI trade nalll e or a company' s product is practicable if junipers are not numer­ is for information onlv with the understanding Ihat no d isc rimination is intend ed and no gll

]. pTowmbens 'Funalis' j. Tigida 'Hillii' ]. sabina 'Hillii argentea pyramidalis' 'Fastigiata' 'Horizon tal is' 'Pyramidal is' 'Moffetii' 'Tamariscifolia' , Pendula' 'Variegata' 'Pillaris' (a) j. squam.a ta 'Viridifolia' 'Albo variegata' 1. silicicola 'Argesii' 1. vi?'ginian(t var. i'1 eyeTi (Berg's strain) (b) 'Parsoni' 'Albospica' var. Wilsonti 'Canaertii' ]. vil'ginian([ 'aureovariegata' 'Chamberlaynii' 'Burkii' 'Cinerascens' 'Globosa' 'Cupressifolia' (c) 'Kosteri' 'Elegantissima' 'Horizontal is' 'Fastigiata' 'Plumosa' 'Filifera' 'Pseudocll press LIS ' 'Glauca' 'Pyramidalis' 'Nova' 'Pyramidalis glauca' 'Pendula' 'Tripartita' 'Polymorpha' 'Venusta' 'Pyramidiformis' .JI/.nipers s1.lsce ptible to ceclar-ajJple ancl 'Reptans' ceclar-hawthorn rusts: 'Schotii' juniperus chinensis 'globosa' 'Variegata' var. Sargenl ii (c) (a) Slightly susceptible to cedar-apple 1. horizontalis 'a1pina' rust, resistant to cedar-hawthorn rust. 'Plumosa' (a) (b) Slightly susceptible to cedar-haw­ ]. pinchotii (c) thorn rust, resistant to cedar apple rust. ]. sroplllontm (c) Slightly susceptible to both rusts.

A Visit with Lester Rowntree

By PHILIP A. BARKER"

""We must teach our youngsters the California city of Pasadena. "Warnine­ importance of conservation." So urged that natural areas are being depleted Lester Rowntree to students in a land­ rapidly, she requested that today's citi­ scape horticulture plant materials course zens act promptly to conserve as many during a visit to the Dav is campus of acres as possible in their indigenous con­ the University of California. dition. "Such areas," she added, "are an As she sat with the class under one essential heritage for future generations." of the Arboretum's Monterey pines Even though her age exceeded 80 (Pinus rndiata) , she spoke radiantly of yea rs, Lester Rowntree declined all offers the fact that values in today's society of transportation between Davis and her must derive from an appreciation of the home. She replied that this would be simple things of life. She recalled the too great an imposition and that she wilderness beauty of the n atural land­ would drive to the home of her son , scape upon which was later built the Cedric Rowntree, in Danville, California and that we could meet her there. Her · D C r!arlll~cnt or ~and scape Horticulture. Un iversity story "Lone Hunter" in the Atlantic of Ca liforl'1I3 at D aV IS. (Presentl\,: U. S. D ept. rntcrior, flurcfl u of Land i\fanagemcTlt, Sacramento, Ca lifornia. Monthly in 1939, suggests that it was Botanist and author Lester Rowntree of Carmel Highlands, California, (in white blouse at far right) faces an audience of jovial students in the arboretum at the Davis campus of the University of California where she chatted (~bout her beloved flowers, shrubs, and trees. with similar persistent determination melted snow. In June, I am in the that Lester Rowntree traveled the un­ northern counties scented with new­ traveled areas of much of California, mown hay and wild strawberries, in studied the plants growing there, and July in the higher mountams, and wrote about them and the unbelievable in August and September up in the experiences which accompanied her pur­ pine zone with burro .. . suit of them. Excerpts from it follow: "Ten thousand or fifteen thousand "I didn't take up this job for the miles doesn't sound like much for a poetry of it ... I honestly wanted season's work, but in my case it isn't to find out about California wild the automobile mileage which counts. flowers. There was little written about It's the distance covered on foot, alone them in their habitats and nothing at or with pack animals. A person who all about their behavior in the gar­ studies plants doesn't work on the den, so I made it my job to discover highways. The road is just the place the facts for myself .. . where you leave your car-a point to "I live, when I am under a roof, on start from and come back to ... a steep hillside. In front, beyond the "The plants I go to look for grow tops of Monterey pines, stretches the along little-used roads that are nar­ Pacific Ocean .... But I inhabit my row, rutty, sandy, muddy, or dusty, or hillside only from November to Feb­ roads which in the desert are scarcely ruary, while the winter storms are mor much more than ledges . . . They blowing and the winter rains pouring. are terrible from the tourist's point of In March and April I have long shin­ view, but the botanist usually looks ing days on the desert, in May happy upon them and finds them good. They weeks in the foothills, where a chorus may be one-way mountain thorough­ of robins wakes me and my morning fares with an almost perpendicular bath is in a rushing stream of just- bank on one side and an abrupt drop Various members of the University of California at Davis honored Lester Rowntree at an outdoor luncheon. Clockwise from bottom left are Don Sexton, Dr. John H. Madison, Mrs. Alyce W. Lowrie, Warren Roberts (par­ tially hidden), Mrs. Rowntree, Dr. John M. Tucker, Dr. C. Ledyard Stebbins, Dr. Lloyd L. Ingraham, Dr. Reid M. Brooks, Philip A. Barker, and Dr. Charles M. Rick, Jr.

of many hundreds of feet on the oth­ evolved out of an abandoned quarry er, but I have my happiest times upon near Carmel. In a big water-filled tin them, though they do possess certain was a fine assortment of cut wild drawbacks, chief of which is the prac­ flowers for a show which was just tical impossibility of parking. Also, about to open. The river below me they are bad to be caught on at night. pranced seaward singing a happy Because I always feel that just around song, and there were lovely places to the corner there is sure to be a place stop; but a bed with clean white wide enough to pull off and go to sheets awaited me, and the flower sleep, I go on and on with dumb show started the next day. Briskly persistence,-along this ridge, across rounding a curve, the car met a huge that spur,-till it sometimes ends in boulder fallen from the mountain my trusting to luck that no one will side. The road was narrow-to nar­ be traveling that night, and going to row for car and boulder both. The sleep right in the middle of the car swerved, bounced to the side of road .... the road, and balanced itself on the "Occasionally-only very occasion­ brink. ally-I come upon men, or men and "Should I jump? No-all those nice women, of like mind to myself, and cut flowers were between me and the ben t on the same sort of work. Then safe level ground, and I might damage how our tongues wag as we compare them. But another look down into notes and specimens and recommend the canyon and a last teetering of good hunting spots to each other. the car convinced me that those flow­ These few meetings are bright spots ers would never see the show anyway. on my journeys .... So I jumped-just in time. I went "[Once] I had been gayly heading one way and the car went the other. north after a glorious trip into the As I landed on hands and knees I mountains at the edge of the desert. heard the slow deliberate crunch, In my car were many tin cans, once grind, crish, crash as it turned over filled with beans and peaches, now and over on the way down to the can­ holding seedlings of native plants for yon bottom and subsided there among a rock garden which was being boulders and poison oak ... JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER I 35

Far into the night [a] rosy-cheeked termined.1 garage man worked . . . At last came Perhaps Dr. and Mrs. T. Elliot Weier, the moment when uncannily, and who invited Lester to breakfast the next rather like a movie running in re­ morning, could have identified it for verse, [the wrecked car] arose to its her. But by then other matters were of wheels, slowly mounted the incline, immediate interest, such as Dr. "Weier's teetered once more on the spot where reflecting on how he, along with Dr. we parted company, and alighted on Charles M. Rick, Jr., and other mem­ the road ... I watched my car wab­ bers of the original campus arboretum ble off into the dark, hanging from committee here, had planted the banks the derrick of the wrecking car like of Putah creek with hundreds of Cali­ a mouthful of unmasticated prey from fornia natives, many being donated by the muzzle of a dinosaur backing into J ames Roof from his botanical garden his den; then I spread my bedroll in collection in Tilden Regional Park near a sandy trench and went to sleep. "I Berkeley, California. Dr. V\Teier noted generally seem able to sleep pretty that, as young and energetic staff mem­ well, whatever happens ...." bers, their efforts were inspired by read­ Upon meeting her in Danville, to ing Lester Rowntree's vivid accounts of drive her to Davis, she stated that she California n atives. would just as soon be called Lester and Gardening magazines on library shelves nothing more. Soon it became apparent hold upwards of 100 of her articles­ that, attendant with this simplicity of her autographed legacies to horticultur­ character, curiosity and alertness were al journalism-assessing the character, two other important personality traits habitat, and garden requirements of of this eminent botanist. ,,,lhile eating California native plants. "Flowering dinner at the Nut Tree restaurant near Shrubs of California and Their Value to Vacaville, she asked "'!\There's the nut the Gardener" is the fitting title of one tree?" '''Then told of its doom some years of her six books. Four of these were ago, Lester inquired "' !\That kind of a written especially for ch ildren. nut tree was it?" The menu gave a his­ To everyone-students and faculty­ torical sketch of its origin: Lindicating Lester Rowntree spoke glowingly of the that the nut from which it grew was values to be learned from observing and brought to California in 1859 after being experiencing nature- genuineness, sim­ gathered along the banks of the Gila plicity, serenity. River in Arizona. A picture of the tree, 'Apparently alluding to the particular tree for which the N ut Tree restaurant was named. Ralph E. Smith displayed on a wall in the restaurant, identifies it as a } Ilglans major in the University of showed it to be quite large, possibly 70 C a~ ifornia Agricuhural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 231, dated 1912. He mentions also that this feet, with limbs drooping to the ground. species is commOn throughollt southern Arizona, in mountain canyons and allu via l soil s of Rood plains, But its exact identity was not then de- growing at a:titudes between 1,500 and 8,000 feet.

Quality Geraniums from Research at Penn State

DARRELL E. V\TA LKER*

The Agricultural Experiment Station ture and plan t breeding sections of the of The Pennsylvania State University is Department of Horticulture are collabo­ supporting an extensive research pro­ rating with the Department of Entomol­ gram on the many phases of geranium ogy and the Department of Plant production and breeding. The floricul- Pathology to study the cultural aspects including methods of propagation, soil ·Pennsylvania Slate University. University Park. mixes, watering methods, nutrition and Penn. Presented at the 19th American H orticultural Congress, New York City, Oct. I , 1964. disease and insect control as well as 36 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

JOHN MASTALERZ Types of cuttings from left to right: Terminal; stem with bud; and stem with one inch shoot. varietal improvement through genetics merce are included under PelaTgonium and breeding. hOTtonlm, the common zonal geranium. This research may be cited as an However, the Regal or Martha Washing­ example of how much more can be ac­ ton types, PelaTgonium domesticum, are complished when several scientists with also important. There are several of different but related specialties work to­ somewhat lesser commercial significance gether than anyone working alone. The such as the ivy-leaved, the scented and work described here is the combined the miscellaneous dwarf and variegated­ efforts of Dr. J. W. Mastalerz and Dr. leaf types. J. W. White, in floriculture; Dr. J. Tam­ The production of high quality plants men and Mr. J. F. Knauss in plant pa· depends upon several factors: means of thology; Dr. R. J. Snetsinger in entomol­ propagation; optimum cultural treat­ ogy; Dr. R. Craig, Mr. W. '\IV. Knicely ment; disease and insect control; and and Dr. D. E. W"alker in plant breeding. good varieties. The program at Penn . ~e.nnsylvania feels a definite respon­ State covers all of these phases and will SIbIlity to do this work since it produces be discussed in that order. almost ten percent of the 40 million At present, the principal method of geranium plants produced annuallv in propagating geraniums commercially is the United States. Sales of these plants asexually or by cuttings, however, a dis­ make a significant contribution to the cussion of geraniums from seed will fol­ economy of the state. These statistics low later. The quality and quantity of ~efer to plants of the genus Pelargon­ cuttings available is clearly dependent zum, commonly called geraniums, and upon the mother or stock plants used in are not to be confused with the large propagation. In asexual propagation, genus Geranium which has representa­ the cuttings produce plants exactly like tives distributed over many parts of the the parent plant with few exceptions. world. Further, most geraniums in com- It follows that if a poor quality stock JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER I 37 plant is chosen, the offspring will also three weeks during the winter. There be inferior, therefore vigorous plants are a few slowly available fertilizers that that are true to type, apparently free can be substituted for the 20-20-20. Two from disease, free flowering, early of these are urea-formaldehyde and the blooming and of good habit should be coated fertilizers. The former is an or­ chosen for this purpose. After a good ganic fertilizer and the latter are regu­ parent plant is selected, the quality and lar chemical fertilizers covered with a quantity of cuttings available depends plastic coating which controls the rate upon culture of the stock plants. of release of the chemicals. Since both Dr. John Mastalerz has done consider­ types are released slowly, sufficient able research on the culture and hand­ amounts can be mixed with the compost ling of stock plants and from this can before planting to eliminate the need make several recommendations. He has for further feeding. Adequate water shown that a loose soil mixture com­ should be supplied at all times to pre­ posed of 3 parts silt loam, I part peat vent undue hardening of the plants and I part perlite or other coarse ag­ which in turn will result in a reduction gregates such as sand or vermiculite is of the number of cuttings. an excellent growing medium. He rec­ Two distinct systems are available for ommends sphagnum peats but agrees handling stock plants. The conventional that local peats, pine and hemlock barks method, used for many years, is one in or redwood sawdust can be substituted. which the plants are pinched one or Stock plants should be grown in one­ more times to induce branching and the half bushel baskets and they should be terminal cuttings are harvested at regu­ fertilized wi th three pounds of 20-20-20 lar intervals. These terminal cuttings fertilizer in 100 gallons of water applied are rooted and they in turn may be once a week during the spring and topped to produce additional cuttings. summer with a reduction to once every The stock plants are usually maintained

JOHN MASTALERZ Plants resulting from different types of cuttings (left to right): Terminal; stem cutting with one node; and stem with two nodes. two methods of handling stock plants are equaL It may be necessary to use slightly more spa~e and light a.nd less water when rootmg stem cuttIngs to guard against botytris infection at the cut end which is exposed. An interesting by-product of this type of stock culture can result from a par­ tial harvesting of the cuttings. If only the lateral shoots are harvested from the elongated stem and a few are left at the top a very interesting tree-type geranium of considerable ornamental value will result. Such a plant is two to three feet tall and when planted in a large container is very attractive for use on a patio. It may be desirable to pinch the shoots at the top to induce more branching. It blooms constantly and, as is the case with all geraniums, grows quite well even when neglected. The work of Dr. John White had dealt more specifically with the culture of the rooted cuttings and the produc­ tion of high quality plants. He has JOHN MASTALERZ worked extensively with automtaic wa­ Con'ventional type stock plant-cut­ tering systems. The plastic tube sy~tem tings harvested regularly. with various methods of controlling the time of watering has been tested. Fer­ one or two years. A more recent system tilizers can also be applied through this has been developed and uses a single­ system. ''''ith geraniums a daily water­ stem, tree-type stock plant. The rooted ing controlled by a time clock has been cuttings or young plants to be used as proven very satisfactory. Results indi­ stock plants are planted in the baskets. cate that the same optimum conditions The top of the plant is not pinched and for growing stock plants applies to the main stem is trained to grow upright rooted cuttings. Good soil mixes, ample by tying it to a stake. The side shoots water and fertilizer, high light intensity that develop are pinched regularly to and good varieties are all important in produce a large number of cuttings production. which are accumulated on the plant. It The addition of carbon dioxide to may be necessary to remove some of the the atmosphere has been shown to en­ larger leaves to permit air circulation hance the growth and improve the quali­ and provide more light for shoot de­ ty of flowers of several greenhouse crops velopment. 'When cuttings are required, and geraniums are no exception. the entire plant is cut up into terminal Dr. Mastalerz and Dr. ''''hite suggest and stem cuttings to produce a large that with the proper combination of number of plants at one time. Stem cut­ the environmental factors-soil mixture, tings produce plants of a quality equal water, fertilizer, temperature, light, car­ to those from terminal cuttings. Dr. bon dio'< ide, and disease and insect con­ Mastalerz recommends that a stem cut­ trol-and good vanetles, production ting contain two nodes or eyes and care time for finished plan ts can be reduced should be taken to avoid an eye that from 14 to 18 weeks now required to has produced a flower because it won't about 10 weeks. break after rooting. Too close spacing Geraniums are susceptible to several of stock plants causes thinner growth diseases which can be extremely devas­ and thus lower quality cuttings. tating under certain environmental con­ Dr. Mastalerz has found that the qual­ ditions. One of these is Bacterial Stem ity and quantity of cuttings from the Rot and Leaf Spot or Bacterial Blight JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUIVIBER I 39 caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas free. T his is a very tedious proc~ss with pelargonii. Bacterial blight is a systemic only about two to eight percent success. disease which means that the bacteria As new techniques are developed, it is are carried in the plant tissues and there hoped that greater success may be at­ mayor may not be any visible expres­ tained. sion of the disease. Symptoms are par­ Culture-indexing and heat treatment ticularly suppressed during periods of to produce pathogen-free plants is prov­ cool weather. Since most propagation ing to be extremely valuable to gerani­ is done during the cooler months of um growers but as indicated above, the year, it is difficult or impossible to plants so produced are not resistant to select only healthy cuttings and the the disease organism and thus every pathogen is propagated with the cutting. precaution must be taken to prevent Control of bacterial blight can be reinfection. In addition, the initial cul­ achieved by the use of pathogen-free ture-indexing and heat treatment re­ plants propagated from culture-indexed quire special equipment and highly cuttings. Dr. James Tammen has ap­ trained personnel and thus is an expen­ plied culture-indexing to geraniums sive procedure. and has provided several cultivars of For these reasons, the plant breeder bacterial-free geraniums to be used com­ has an excellent opportunity to make mercially. Culture-indexing is the labor­ a contribution. The plant breeder im­ atory testing of thin slices of stem tissue mediately has two lines of approach for the presence of absence of the bac­ open to him, namely, the breeding of teria. Each cutting is tested individually cuI tivars resista n t to bacterial blight, or, and if one is found to be free of the or­ secondly, the development of true breed­ ganism, this cutting is used to provide ing lines which can be propagated from a plant in a nucleus block of disease seed and used as open pollinated types free plants. These plants are given spe­ or as parents of hybrids. cial treatment to prevent the reinfection of the plant because these plants are Tree-type stock plant-cuttings har­ in no way resistant to the disease. In­ vested once only. creases from these plants eventually JOHN MASTALERZ provide sufficient cuttings for use by ~~------~~~--~ growers. At regular intervals, the plants in the nucleus block are again culture­ indexed to maintain the freedom from the disease. Culture-indexing also frees the plants of other root rot organisms including the black leg fungus but offers no con­ trol of virus diseases which are present in most cultivars. Tomato ringspot is the main virus in P. hortorum. Dr. Tam­ men is currently adapting the heat treat­ ment method of eliminating viruses which has been successfully applied to chrysanthemums and carnations. The infected plants are grown three to four weeks in a growth chamber at alternat­ ing temperatures of 95 °F at night and 105 ° during the day. They are grown under constant fertilization with 2000- 3000 foot candles of light at the leaf surface. Short growing tips about one fourth inch long are taken from the treated plants and rooted on an artifi­ cial medium containing growth sub­ stances. Plants resulting are then tested on tobacco to determine if they are virus JOHN MASTALERZ Plant showing Bacterial Blight.

In order to breed disease resistance cultivars were assayed and it was found into existing cultivars, it is necessary that tested plants fell within the com­ to locate a source of genetic resistance. plete range of highly resistant to highly This may be found within the species susceptible. Only relatively few of the Pelargonium hortorwn or in other spe­ possible types were tested, thus it will cies. If it is found within the species, the be necessary to apply this technique hybridization necessary to incorporate much more extensively in the search for resistance should be relatively easy. a source of resistance. However, if it is found in P. domesticum At the same time that the search for or certain other species, it may be diffi­ resistant types was being made, Mr. cult to make the cross or if the cross is Walter Knicely, a Master of Science successfully made, the hybrid may be candidate in plant breeding, was deter­ sterile and thus preclude further prog­ mining chromosome numbers in many ress. Failure of the cross may be due to of the cultivars and species. The results genetic causes or to chromosome differ­ of his studies have confirmed previously ences between the species to be used as reported chromosome numbers and parents. This indicates the need to un­ have provided counts of several new dertake two further lines of investiga­ species and cultivars. From these deter­ tion. One is to search for a source of minations it should be possible to more resistance and the other is to establish accurately judge the feasibility of mak­ the cytogenetic relationships between ing inter-cultivar and interspecific the species and cultivars. crosses. By correlating the results of the Mr. James Knauss, who earned his pathological and cytological studies, it M.S. degree in plant pathology while will be possible to set IIp systematically working with Dr. James Tammen, ap­ a hybridization program that might pro­ plied the technique of screening plants vide a means for transferring genetic for resistance and susceptibility to bac­ resistance into existing cultivars. terial blight. A uniform, highly patho­ The breeding of disease resistant lines genic isolate of the bacteria causing the under optimum conditions takes several disease was selected. This isolate was years. A quicker method to obtain re­ used to innoculate the plants and the sults would be to develop true-breeding reaction within the plant was used as lines and hybrids which are not neces­ a measure of resistance or susceptibility. sarily resistant but can be reproduced With this technique several species and from seed. Plant pathologists report that JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER 1 41 bacterial and fungal diseases are not a few years it is expected that several transmitted through seed and that it un­ lines displaying different flower colors likely than many viruses are carried and with semi-double flowers will be from generation to generation through available. Further it is likely that, as in seeds. Therefore, reproduction from many other flower and vegetable crops, seeds would provide pathogen-free the Fl hybrid will be most desirable. plants more easily than culture-index­ During the time that it took to de­ mg. velop 'Nittany Lion Red', Dr. Craig Dr. Richard Craig, then a candidate worked on several other related prob­ for the Master of Science degree in plant lems. The most important are seed breeding, began work on this problem. germination, culture of seedlings and Several Pelargonium hortorum cultivars the inheri tance of several characters. were chosen because of their desirable The geranium seed is about three­ horticultural qualities and a program of sixteenths of an inch long. When har­ in breeding was begun. Several inbred vested the seed is enclosed in a husk lines were developed that differed from which is easily removed. The seed coat each other in flower color, flower dou­ is shiny and smooth and very hard. This bleness, leaf zoning, earliness of flower­ hard seed coat is quite impermeable to ing, branching habit and many other water and as might be expected, un­ characters. A surprising amount of uni­ treated seeds exhibit low germination formity was observed after only a few and irregularity of germination. Several generations of inbreeding. seed treatments were tried with the re­ Within a relatively short period of sult that simple mechanical scarification time Mr. Craig observed one inbred was found to be sufficient to allow for line that showed considerable promise. almost immediate germination and a This line had single, dark red flowers germination percentage in excess of 90. and foliage with a dark red zone. In The handling of seedlings has been addition, it showed uniformity of habit found to be quite routine. The seed­ and flowering time. After testing in sev­ lings are ready to transplant in seven eral parts of the country it was decided to ten days after sowing. A recommend­ to name it and release it through Agri­ ed procedure is to transplant the ger­ cultural Experiment Station. Thus 'Nit­ minated seedlings into 2%" peat pots tany Lion Red', the first true breeding with later repotting into 4" clay pots. geranium line reproducible from seed, Dr. Craig and Dr. John White have de­ will be available to the public in 1965. termined that the culture of seedlings In the meantime, several other inbred is essentially no different from that for lines are being observed and hybrid rooted cuttings. It is necessary to ferti­ combinations are being tested. Within lize the seedlings as soon as they are

JOHN MASTALERZ 'Nittany Lion Red' as a bedding plant. 42 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE transplanted to the peat pots. Their appears that flower type is determined recommendation is to incorporate coat­ by one gene with no dominance. An in­ ed fertilizer in the soil and supplement teresting observation was made regard­ this with liquid fertilizer (20-20-20) at ing insect resistance. A few mite infected each watering using a rate of 8 oz. per plants were found in segregating popu­ 100 gallons of water. Automatically w.a­ lation. Dr. Robert Snetsinger studied tering once a day using plastic tubes m these plants and discovered that segre­ each pot has proven very satisfactory. g~tion for mite resistance was occur­ High levels of fertilization had no effect rmg. on the earliness of flowering or the Much more work remains to be done number of flowers per plant. This is concerning the genetics, cytology, and contrasted to a delay in flowering of breeding of geraniums but enough has seedlings grown dry and at low fertility been done to clearly indicate that grow­ levels. Differences between lines were ing geraniums from seed will be rou­ also noted. tine in the near future and may replace The length of time from sowing to the cutting method of production. This flowering is important and has been will become a reality as soon as the found to differ because of genetic and breeders have time to develop lines and environmental factors. In addition to hybrids with the range of flower colors optimum levels of water and fertilizer, and with the differen t flower types now Dr. Craig has found that light intensity found in existing cultivars. is a factor and that given amount of It can be seen that the research pro­ light energy is required for flowering. gram at Penn State is quite comprehen­ Thus in the summer months when light sive. The study of the methods of han­ intensities are high, plants will flower dling stock plants for asexual propaga­ in a shorter number of days than in the tion and the determination of the best winter. Selection for earliness is proba­ culture practices for producing finished bly the most important factor. Under plants provides valuable information to similar conditions, some plants have the grower on how he can produce top been observed to flower in as few as quality plants in a minimum of time 60-65 days while others require much and thus at a lower cost. No mention longer periods with an average of 85-90 has been made of the investigations con­ days during- the spring and summer cerning control of insects and diseases, mon ths. 't\Ti th selection for earliness and but research is being carried out in the proper cultural practices, geraniums these areas also. New fungicides and grown from seed will compare favorably insecticides are constantly being tested with rooted cuttings as regards time re­ as well as the methods of application. quired to flower. The production of pathogen-free A vital part of any breeding program plants from culture indexing has already is an understanding of the inheritance been proven to be extremely valuable of the important plant characteristics. to the geranium grower. If virus-free For his doctoral thesis, Dr. Craig studied types can also be produced, an even the inheritance of flower color, flower greater contribution will be made. type, leaf zoning, and stigma color. In a very short period of time the These results have not been published breeding program has shown the feasi­ but he found three genes were responsi­ bility of producing geraniums from ble for the flower colors of seven geno­ seed. types studied. He found a relationship In conclusion, it might be stated between flower color, stigma color and again that a cooperative effort such as red color in the zones of the leaves. He the geranium program at Pennsylvania also described three types of leaf zones State University can make valuable con­ -zoneless, green zoned and red zoned tributions to the art and science of hor­ -and proposed genotypes for each. It ticulture. The Versatile Crocus

OWEN M. ROGERS1

Everybody knows crocus yet few peo­ an t.her~ of one variety are black-ti pped ple know Crocus. I will admit that this whIle In the other variety they are not does sound paradoxical but it's true. (5) . The forms of Crocus ve?'nus seen bloom­ Variation in plant form also occurs ing in spring gardens are certainly well both between and within species, for known, but there are many other C?'ocus such ~haracters as leaf shape, style species with a wide range of colors, branching, corm tunics and double forms, and blooming dates which are flowers .. With this kind of diversity seldom grown in American gardens even present In the genus, is there any won­ where there is knowledge of their exist­ der that crocus growers wax enthusias­ ence. This is unfortunate-like eating tic about its value in the garden? only the lettuce in a salad and ignoring all the rest. Take the autumn-flowering Crocus History crocus, for example. People are often surprised to hear that there are fa 11- . Some forms of crocus are very old. It blooming crocus and, when they are IS known th.at the bright yellow dye saffron, obtained from the stigmas of mentioned, frequently confuse them Crocus satlVus, was widely used even be­ with Colchicum (4). Yet, I can find ten fore recorded history, since all Euro­ to fifteen Crocus species offered for sale pean and several of the Oriental lan­ in this country which bloom in the fall. 1£ you increase that number to include guag~s co~1tain the word with only slight modifications from the Arabic za-feran. the cultivars developed within these species the list becomes so long that a During recorded history the culture of whole garden planting could be de­ C. sativus for its saffron spread through­ veloped around just the autumn-flower­ out the Mediterranean, through Europe to England and even to America (2, 6) . ~ng forms. The same kind of diversity IS present in the spring-blooming group. !t has. been as~xually propagated dur­ The spring garden can have crocus both In.g this 10~lg history and this, together WI th conscIOus or unconscious selection before and after the common C. vernus by using selections from a very long list of mutant types, has resulted in forms quite different from any of the known of Crocus species that bloom in the existing wild species. Even by the time spring. of Linnaeus C. sativus was reported to The variation in date of bloom is be completely sterile and the identity of only one of the striking variations its native progenitors is still a matter present in the genus. Color is another of conjecture (2). obvious source of variation. It can be within one color as in the fall-blooming Histories of long cultivation and C. speciosus where colors range from problems concerning the origin of pres­ dark blue through light blue to white, ent day variants are recorded for many or the variation may entail a range of other forms besides C. sativus. Crocus colors as in the spring flowering C. vemus is a typical example. Linnaeus chTysanthus where blue, white, orange, included all the spring-flowering types ~nd yel~ow. are represented singly and known to him into the single species, In combinatIOn. Variation can exist even C. vemus. Burtt (2) has traced the gen­ within a selected form where color eral history of the species and the name ~ports arise spontaneously. Also, color and has been able to separate out the In

IDurham, New Hampshire. breeder, or time of origin of many of 43 are not available. Nor are they expen­ sive. Many forms are priced at four or five cents apiece with the price de­ creasing to two or three cents when pur­ chased in lots of 100. The most expen­ sive crocus I can find listed sells for $1, while the same catalogs list choice daf­ fodils at $10. to $20. each. If a gardener is willing to buy from un-named col­ lections or mixed lots, $10. could buy from 250 to 500 corms. Crocus can be used lavishly even with restricted ,gar­ den budgets. Classification Taxonomically, Crocus contains 75 to 80 species of Mediterranean or south­ west Asian origin (I, 3) . Commonly the forms are divided into autumn-flower­ ing and spring-flowering types. This dis­ tinction is artificial and depends on the severity of the climate. In areas of moderate conditions, where growth can P. DE JAGER & SONS N. V. HElLOO HOLLAND continue throughout the winter, a Crocus kotschyanus graded winter-flowering series becomes evident among types which are spring­ the present day types. The factor of bloomers where conditions are severe. commercial value has resulted in con­ The basic reference for the classifica­ siderable attention being paid to the tion of the genus is a monumental mon­ production and asexual increase of ograph by George Maw (6) written in many variant forms (2). 1886. For anyone interested in taxono­ Intermediate between those species my this is a fascinating volume and well known only from the wild and species worth the trouble of finding a library such as C. sativus which has not been which has a copy of the book which found in native populations there is Maw claimed "pleasantly occupied my a group of species, such as C. chrysan­ leisure hours from business for eight thus. Native forms of C. chl"ysanthus are years." known, but as a result of long mainten­ The genus is classified on technical ance and importance in cultivation points such as the presence or absence many variant forms have arisen which of a basal sheath and the character of have been perpetuated and increased. the corm tunic. Maw and other taxo­ The problem of the origin of these vari­ nomic authorities (3, 4, 5) fully describe ants is as obscure as with C. sativu.s and these characters and for the enthusiast C. vernus (6). these points make fascinating study, Crocus Are Available particularly the differences in corm tunic types, but for the gardener an Crocus are increased by asexual propa­ understanding of the genus from the gation both commercially and in native point of view of how the crocus grows populations. This method of propaga­ is more important for its use in the gar­ tion has perpetuated many forms and den. variants which under obligate seed re­ All CTOCUS species send up leaves in production might have been lost. While the spring and form the new corms and many of these forms are known only in initiate next year's shoots and flower botanical collections, a goodly number buds during the summer months. After are readily available to gardeners. Sev­ shoots and buds are initiated in a rela­ eral of the Dutch Bulb companies which tively warm temperature, a cold treat­ retail in this country have crocus list­ ment of varying duration is necessary ings of several pages and offer mail­ for bud development. Thus, those spe­ order service to any point in the United cies which require little or no cold States. No gardener can say that crocus treatment will flower in he autumn JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER 1 45 with the remainder flowering in a pro­ Nlaw named C. zonatus. C. zonatus is gressive series as their cold requirement still seen in commercial listings, but are satisfied. In areas where winter tem­ most dealers now treat it properly as peratures are moderate, such as in Eng­ a synonym for C. kotschyanw. The land, there will be a continuous series species has pale lilac flowers, often with from the autumn types through the win­ a blush of pink about them and a ring ter and into the spring. Under these of bright orange spots at the base of conditions no additional protection is the petal segments. The species is very necessary except a cold frame for some easy to grow and will increase rapidly of the tender forms which flower in mid­ from cormlets which are formed in winter. In areas such as northeastern profusion. There is also a form with a United States where winter tempera­ white throat (C. Iwtschyanus var. leuco­ tures are low enough to prevent growth, pharynx) which is unlike any of the flowering is divided into autumn and other au tumn crocus. spring periods with a period of growth C. medius is one of the showiest fall cessation in the winter. Under these con­ bloomers having a lilac blue color with ditions some species are killed and only darker purple markings at the base of the hardy species are recommended for the petals and again a spreading orange­ garden use. scarlet stigma. The species blooms after C. speciosus and is supposed to be slight­ Spec~es Description ly fragrant although my senses-dulled It is always difficult to select a few by tobacco-have never been able to forms to recommend for use over a wide detect it. range of the country, but here are some C. ochToleucus. A cream-white flow­ that are readily available, have given ered species suffused with orange toward good results, and are among the hardiest the base with white anthers and orange so that they can be grown in northern stigma. It is a very hardy, free-growing gardens. This should be considered as plant which tends to bloom later than a base list, a kind of starter collection. the other fall blooming species, so that Gardeners to the south will be able to the blossoms may need some protection add to the list immediately by including from unseasonably early winters. The some of the less hardy forms described creamy flowers and bright orange ac- in catalogs, and northern gardeners can increase the number by experimentation Crocus speciosus in their local area. P. DE JAGER & SONS N. V. HEILOO HOLLAND FALL-BLOOMING SPECIES: C. speciosus is one of the largest-flow­ ered of the fall species. There is a range of blue forms from the bright blue of the species to the pale blue of the culti­ var 'Aitchisonii' and the dark blue of cultivars such as 'Globosus' and 'Oxon­ ian'. A white flowered form, 'Albus', is also available. This species will ap­ pear suddenly in the fall as the flowers shoot up in a day or so after the shoot has reached the ground surface. The color of the outside of the petals is as bright as the inside, so this crocus is attractive whether the flowers are opened or closed. When the flowers do open, the large, much-branched, showy stigmas are revealed. They are usually a bright orange and this color com­ bined with the yellow anthers against the blue petals makes a most conspicu­ ous color pattern. C. lwtschyanus is the proper, though less pleasing, name for the species that 46 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

P. DE JA CER & SONS N. V. HEILOO HOLLAND C. chrysanthus 'E. P. Bowles' (left) C. tomasinianus 'Whitewall Purple' (middle) C. chrysanthus 'Zwanenburg Bronze' (right and back). cents make it an excellent addition even be given and where the corms can be in the open garden where one gambles lifted and reset at least once every three that early weather will not spoil the years. bloom. Protected in a cold frame, its C. caTtwl·ightianus. This species is cheeriness seems to forestall the onset closely allied to C. sativus and some of winter. catalogs still list it as a variety of C. C. satimts. Here is the crocus of his­ sativus but most authorities today con­ tory. This is the saffron-producing cro­ sider ita separate species. It is of con­ cus that could, it was claimed, cure siderably easier culture than C. sativus every disease, dye hair, and flavor foods. and its freely-produced pure white Fortunes were made in its production blooms with large blood-red stigma and men died to procure the corms. make it a most striking addition. If Against such a background, how can a there is no place for C. satimts in the garden be considered complete without garden, grow this one instead. Better at least a few plants of C. sativus? There yet, grow this one and then if possible is an answer to this question. C sativus add C. sativus. is hard to grow (not to keep alive) and to get flc>wers requires a hot summer SPRING-FLOWERING SPECIES: and frequent resetting with good doses Cmcus dlTysanthus. The desirable of fertilizer. Granted that it is a difficult variation in this species has led to the garden specimen, the results are worth production of an array of cultivated the effort. The large lilac flowers wi th varieties ranging in color from white to the huge orange-red stigmas are reward yellow to orange to blue with every con­ enough to recommend it. However, ceivable combination and variation of don't grow it unless a space can be de­ streaks, spots and speckles. Commercial voted solely to C. sativus where care can catalogs list more forms 0 C. chrysan- JANUARY 1965, VOLUIvIE 44, NUMBER 1 47

CLAUDE HOPE Crocus alatavicus thus than any other except the Dutch of the bes t are 'E. P. Bowles' and 'E. Crocus (C. vemus) and with good rea­ Aug. Bowles' . Their names commemo­ son. C. chrysanthus is an easily·grown, rate the late rvrr. E. A. Bowles. There are very free-flowering species in which sev­ still hybridizing opportunities in the eral of the named forms such as 'Moon­ group and hybrids will be formed by light', 'Snow Bunting', " 'Varley "Vhite', bees among forms growing in the gar­ 'Blue Pearl', 'Cream Beauty', Nanette', den. This can be disturbing to the bo­ 'Suzie', 'Zw anenburg Bronze', and 'Blue tanical collection but can add a new Giant' have all earned awards of merit dimension to the home garden as seed­ or di stinction for their originators. Two lings will appear over the years, many 48 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

to be discarded but always with the C. angustifolius. This is the proper possibility that one will be outstanding. name for the plant often listed in cata· Any spring-flowering collection of crocus logs as C. susianus. Sometimes it is called should contain some forms of C. chry­ just Cloth-of-Gold Crocus, but whatever san thus. It is one of the earliest of the name it deserves a place in the spring spring types and its use increases the garden. It has a small flower, bright range of bloom dates considerably. yellow with mahogany outer markings, C. bifiorus. Called for some unex­ so that the overall effect resembles a plained reason the Scotch Crocus. T he "cloth of gold" spread out over the gar­ fact that it is very hardy, very early, den. and very free-blooming recommends C. Culture bifionts. The flowers are, in general, small but available in a range of colors Crocus is of easy culture. The most from white to blue to violet. The in­ important consideration is drainage. dividual flowers have been described as Crocus will grow in almost any soil as exquisite and dainty, while the mass long as there is good drainage in the of bloom from an established clump top eight inches. A sandy loam rich in provides bright areas of color in the organic matter is best although the or­ garden. ganic matter should be well decom­ C. etruscus has large, well-formed posed. Manure is not recommended flowers, frequently with gray or buff since it harbors problem organisms even outside markings. The 'Zwanenburg if it is a year or so old. If one follows Variety' is larger and more robust than the general rule of planting bulbs with the species. An established clump will the tops at a depth of three times the produce beautiful bluish flowers for a diameter of the bulb, then most crocus long period, often more than a month. wi ll be set four to six inches deep. Any A soft pink form is also known, al­ of the vigorous growers can, however, though it is rare enough to be quite be set lower and if there is to be an expensive. overplanting, bulbs set eight to ten C. sieberi. This is not the earliest inches deep will allow some surface blooming species although it does pre­ preparation without disturbing the cede C. vern us. The straight species and crocus. In my own garden we regularly cultivars such as 'Violet Queen' have set small annuals among the crocus to blue flowers with golden throats which provide summer color. The annuals give the flowers brilliance when open start small and do not interfere with and a cool bluish violet when closed. the natural maturation of the bulb fo­ In addition, some cultivars, notably 'H. liage-which is a must for maintenance McD. Edelsten', have brilliant combina­ of vigorous bulbs-and later on the an­ tions of white-tipped, lilac petals, and nuals completely fill in the area with a silvery lilac interior with a yellow their own riot of color. Clumps and throat and orange stigma. All forms drifts of crocus are more effective from produce flowers in profusion. a design point of view rather than single C. tomasinianus. The range of colors plants or formal rows and to my mind from blue to ruby purple to white in easier to plant. I dig out a hole or area the. forms of this species are all striking. to be planted, then set the corms one AllIed to C. vernus, it is a smaller dain­ inch apart over the bottom of the whole tier version of C. vern us except that it area. 'With this method there is an op­ blooms very early. The form 'Taplow portunity to add organic matter such Ruby' comes the closest to red of all as peat moss and a slow release fertilizer the crocus and when the slender, tightly­ such as bone meal into the bottom of wrapped buds open to reveal the bril­ the hole before planting. There is also liance of. the in~e.r petals it is truly an an opportunity to mix color and species outstandmg addItIOn to any collection. according to predesigned patterns. If C. tomasinianus seeds freely and seed. different types are to be planted to­ lings will appear any place the seeds gether one trick is to plant different ~re scattered, and they have been spread tunic types side by side. The tunics of m. gardens eve~ through compost. I find crocus vary widely and separating two ~hlS feature deslTable unless they intrude similar tunic types with a different one mto rarer, more carefully maintained will materially ease future sorting when plantings. ~ the corms are handled during the dor· JANUARY 1965, VOLU1VIE 44, NUMBER 1 49

CLAUDE HOPE Crocus aureus Flowers 4/1 tall, howl-shaped, golden yellow. mant season . Another trick that is help­ when the corms are dug up for re­ ful is to plant the corms in a one inch handling. layer of sand. This tends to improve Crocus do not have to be reset as drainage in the immediate area of the often as many other bulbs but as the bulb, helps prevent some of the rots cl urn ps spread and increase, resetting and decay that can happen if the bulb (say every third or fourth year) will is in contact with fresh rapidly decom­ increase the amount of and size of posing organic matter and, more to bloom. I'm a lazy gardener, and some the point, serves as a location indicator of the drifts of crocus under shrubs and 50 THE Ai\IERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

In mixed borders do not get divided they can be eradicated from the bulb even that often. The dividing, sorting, area you are fairly safe. By all odds the and resetting sh_ould be done when the best mouse control is a hungry cat. This corms are dormant in the summer. The is sufficient for us even though my wife fall blooming types should be reset im­ does not like cats and we have to de­ mediately but the spring bloomers can pend on the neighbor's black and white be left until September or even early tom. October if there is a cool, dry storage Beyond this, good sanitation 'will pre­ area available. vent most crocus pests from gaining a Like all plants, crocus respond to a foothold. This means no manure near fertile soil but it is a long term process. the corms in the soil, clean-up of dead It is not like fertilizing annuals where and dying plant material on top of the the effects ca n be seen in a week or so soil and general garden spraying. If but rather the fertilizer this year helps some of the corm rots do get started produce a bigger corm which means bet­ they can be treated in a similar manner ter bloom next year. Thus, slow release as rots on gladiolus corms. Or, consider­ fertilizers worked into the soil are ing the price of crocus corms, it may be probably best. Things like superphos­ much easier to discard the whole clump phate bone meal have been used success­ and start again in a different spot with fully for many years. Again my lazy-gar­ new clean stock. dener approach comes out. I h ave most of my bulbs associated with other plants, Use Situations so I make one fertilizer do for both. I Since crocus are inexpensive they can use a 4- J 2-4 every year over most of the be used lavishly in many parts of the garden. This is ideal for the bulbs and garden. They can be used as underplant­ for shrubs and, with the addition of ing around deciduous shrubs where they some quick release nitrogen, good for will produce a carpet of spring color most of the quick-growing summer an­ and then the covering leaves of the nuals. shrub will hide the maturing bulb fo­ Don't forget that bulbs need moisture liage. They will not do well under especially during the active growing sea­ shrubs which throw a deep shade but son. Mulches or other covers over the along the edge of the shrub border or ground will help conserve moisture and under fine-foliage shrubs they do very also shade the soil during the summer. well. This summer shade is important since Crocus, of course, go well in mixed a lowered soil temperature wi ll increase borders. One of the best combinations the size of the corm. 'Winter mulches is spring-blooming crocus and chrysan­ are also desirable to preven thea vi ng- of themums. These are shallow rooted the corms and the resultant root dam­ and can b e handled with a minimum age. Put on a good garden mulch after danger to the crocus corms. In the the ground has froze n but be sure to spring the chrysanthemums green up watch in the spring to get it 0[£ before very early but stay close to the ground the new sprouts are tall enough to be to provide a green carpet under the damaged. Perhaps a grouping of the crocus blooms. After the time of crocus earliest flowering forms so that the bloom the foliage grows UD to hide the mulch can be removed in sections would bulb foliage. Or, try fall-blooming cro­ be desirable. cus in a low growing ground cover such as Vinca mino?' in a sunny spot. The Pests Vinca will have its own blue flowers in Probably, mice are the most serious the spring and provide a "foliage" for a pests of crocus. If. mice find the planting crocus such as C. specios1lS in the fall. ~hey ca n be a serIOUS problem. If mulch If there is plenty of garden space, a IS placed on too early mice wi ll move in bed might be set aside just for crocus and make their winter home under it reserving this area for the rarer kinds and can then feed on the corms at leis­ and letting the beauty of the crocus ure and the damage will not be noticed bloom season compensate for lack of until. spring. If there is any indication color the rest of the year. One luxury of mIce I recommend an all-out attack tha t is reasonable is to devote a cold including traps and baits. Mice do not frame to crocus for the latest fall bloom­ travel over a very large distance so if ers and the earliest spring swing bloom- JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER I 51

ers. Thus, the blossoms can be pro­ Forcing tected from unexpected spells of bad weather such as ice or wind. If the gar­ If crocu herald spring outdoors they den cannot afford these luxury spaces, can also preview it indoors as a forced I'd suggest the rock garden [or the un­ pot plant. Select only large new corms usual or rare species where a little spot and plan t several in a pot. I like the can be set aside for the exclusive use of squat bulb or azalea pans best. Place four or five choice crocus corms. the corms about an inch below the soil surface putting in almost as many as I enjoy putting a few crocus right up the pot can hold (corms almost touch­ again t the exposed fo undation on the ing each other). Then, bury the pot so uth side of the house. The heat from outdoors or place it in a cool (40 ° F.) the wall wi ll bring those crocus up one bulb or vegetable cell ar for about three to two weeks ahead of corm planted months or un til the shoots are about only two or three inches out into the 1-1 % inches above the soil. After the garden. T his is not the best place to corms have had the temperature treat­ grow crocus because it stays hot all ment they can be forced in a sunny cool summer, but I can afford a few replace­ location in the house-SSo is the best, ment bulbs every few years and in the 60-62 ° is all r ight while 70 ° will make meanwhile I bask in the glory of h av­ the growth rather soft. Try a few on a ing the first crocus in bloom in the cool sun porch or on a cool window neighborhood. sill. They will do much to brighten the I'ye left naturalization to d i cuss last drab 'winter months. becau e it doesn't work for everyone. There are two problems. First, if the Hybridization corms are to continue they must be To have crocus in the ~arden is to able to mature naturally and this means have seedlings , since many ~f the species n o grass cutting until at least late June. are very fertile. vVith this si tuation Most small properties cannot afford many gardeners like to try some hybridi­ such an area. The second problem is zation. The crocus is a very easy flower competition by the grass or whatever to work. To make controlled crosses the natural undergrowth is pres en t. Only anthers should be removed from ready­ the most Yigorous growers such as C. to-open buds and pollen transferred tomasinianus, C. ch1"),santhus and C. from the pollen paren t as soon as the vemus among the spring group and C. stigma branches reflex, generally by the speciosus and C. lwtsch)lanus of the fall first day the flower opens. Then, pro­ group should be tried in a n atural tect the flower from future unwanted planting. I don't want to discourage the pollinations and mark it. All this can use of at least a trial of natural plant­ be done wi th tweezers while on your ing because, where so il conditions are hands and knees in the garden; or, if a right and the natural growth not too number of crosses are planned, the thick, crocus will establish themselves luxury way is to plant each of the differ­ and there is nothing more striking than ent kinds in separate pots sunk in a cold drifts of crocus along a wood's edge or frame. Then, when the crosses are to scampering among a rocky outcrop or be made, the pots can be lifted to a in sheets on a meadow prominence. I table top or even brought into the house am told that along the cool, moist for the crossing. T he marking is a prob­ coastal regions of eastern Maine there lem because each plant produ ces sev­ are areas where crocus do so well n atu­ eral blooms and the ovaries are under­ rally th at they can become weedy and ground at the time of flow~ring. The must be restrained from invading lawns easiest method I have found 1S to mark and gardens. If there is a question in the whole pot and make the same cross your area, wait until you are dividing to all the flowers in that pot, removing the garden clumps and then take the any flowers that do not get crossed. After increase plus the cormels and any stray the cross, patience is required because seedlings and try these in the n atural the ovary is underground and cannot setting. If they do well money can be be examined until the seed is ripe. As invested in large number or the prac­ the time for seed maturation ap­ tice of using the natural setting as an proaches, daily inspection is necessary overflow garden ca n be continued. because along in Mayor early June the 52 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE stalk under the ovary begins to extend The name crocus should mean more and raises the seed up to ground level than just C)'oeus ven1US. It should mean so that, if the cross has been successful, an exciting range of colors, forms, one day a large plump seed capsule shapes and sizes with a wide range of will appear at the surface of the ground. spring and fall bloom dates. It should These capsules should be collected as mean a small garden bulb that has many soon as any brown appears on them be­ uses and can be useful in many places. cause the capsule splits easily-and it It should mean an opportunity for in­ is the devil's own job to find and identi­ teresting hybridizalion. And, above all, fy seeds that have spilled out onto the it should mean a "must" plant for every ground. garden regardless of size. The seed should be planted in a small pot and plunged in the cold frame or References. other spot where it can be left undis­ turbed except for weeding for two years. I. Bailey, L. H. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. 2nd ed. MacMillan Company, If growth has been good there will be New York, 1917. small corms the size of peas in the bot­ 2. Bowles, E. A. A Handbook of Crocus and tom of the pot at the end of that time. Colchicum for Gardeners. The Bodley Head. These can be planted out and handled London. 1952. like any small crocus. Some will bloom 3. Feinbrum, Naomi. Chromosome numbers in next year but others will take still Crocus. Genetica 29:172-192. 1958. another year for the first bloom. If there 4. Lawrence, G.H.M. Keys to cultivated plants, are too many problems associated with 3. Autumn crocus. Baileya 2:77-85. 1954. 5. Lawrence, G.H.M. Keys to cultivated plants, controlled crosses, don't give up the idea 4. The spring-flowering crocus. Baileya 2: 126- of hybridization; let the bees do the 137. 1954. crossing and just collect the seed. If this 6. Maw, G. A Monograph of the Genus CTOCLIS. is done every year, once the first cycle Dulva and Co., London. 1886. of waiting is over there will be new Editorial Note: Plates by Claude Hope from seedling blooms to examine every year. NHM 29, April, 1950. A Book or Two

The Life of Plants The nature of the plant is to become a static part of the environment and its interceptor. E. J. H. Corner. '

(Books available for loan to the Membership are designated: (Library). Those not so designated are in p'yivate collections and are not available for loan. Books available for sale to the Member­ ship are designated with the special reduced price and are subject to the usual change of price without notice. Orders must be sent through the American H01·ticultural Society accompanied by the proper payment. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery. Those not designated fOT sale to the Membership at reduced prices can be pu,ychased through the Society, however, at the retail prices given. In these instances the full pmfit is received by the Society to be used for increased services and benefits of the Membe1·ship.) 53 54 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE tives, etc., and he has included more than 100 In Part II, gardens of special interest have illustrations, mostly taken from out-of-print been featured. This iBcludes Japanese gardens, works on Fiji of which there are so few. The topiary gardens, rock gardens, and a multitude bibliography and the index are extensive and of other forms of plant use. Unfortunately, invaluable. these begin to lead one away from the subject This book may be obtained in the U. S. from matter and are perhaps of more interest purely the reviewer at Stuart, Fla. frorn a photogra phic slant. Edwin A. Menninger The purpose of Part III is to show gardens which have special seasonal flower attractions, The Picture Book .of Perennials such as Sherwood Gardens for its tulips, the Arno and Irene Nehrling. Hearthside Press Coe Estate for azaleas. Otherwise, the color Inc., 118 E. 28th St. New York 16. 1964. 286 work is devoted to the flowering plants them­ pages. Illustrated $5.95 (Library) 'Members selves. There is not much more to offer the price $5.05. . reader in this section other than some beautiful Boeh the beginning and the iBtenned,ate color work and garden photography. Little new gardener will find quantities of useful info1'ma­ from a horticl11tural aspect can be expected ti on in this book. The text itself is about 100 from a book of this type. pages of readable, illustrated material dealing Despite such shortcomings as depth of pur­ with propagation, disease and pest control, pose and direction, this is a nicely carried out basic gardening methods, and layout of plant­ piece of work, one that if you have around will ings. This text section is especially useful to the Sllrely be picked up and looked through. As beginner as it provides many tips that would the preface points out, "To enjoy our garden o theTwise req u i re several years 0 f m is takes to journey, yo u need not be an experienced horti­ discover. The last part of the book contains a culturist. " calendar of th[ngs to do, a list of definitions TLC and a chart of perennial locations and bloom­ ing periods, all of which can easily be found Herb Gardening in Five Seasons in other garden books. The first section is Adelma Grenier Simmons, D. Van Nostrand the most useful containing short passages on Company Princeton, New Jersey, (Library,) about 150 perennial genera with shorter com­ Price - $6.95, Member's price - $5.90. 337 mentaries on a number of species within each pages, illustrated, Index, Pronunciation glos­ group. There is in 60nnation about ideal lo­ sary. cation, strengths and weaknesses. size, color, and shape of plant foliage and blossom. Not This is rather m o re than just another herb only will the gardener find much new informa­ book with recipes for cooking' and for making tion about familiar plants, but also he will potpourri. There are chapters such as the one discover many new possibilities of what to headed "Herb Teas and Tea Parties" which not plant. Again in this section, the photographs only go into when to serve tea, but how to and illustrations are useful. brew tea and which herbs to use in what quan­ Lucinda Murphy tity for various teas. Plans, with perennial, annual, and biennial America's Gardens herb lists, are given for herb gardens. Herb Better Homes and Gardens. Meredith Press. shows, harvesting and drying herbs, happen­ Des Moines. 1964. 208 pages, largely consist­ ings at the author's home at Christmas fill the ing of color and black and white photographs pages. with descriptive texts. (quaTto size (Library.) There is an excellent dictionary of fifty se­ Price $9.95 . lected herbs. Here a nice drawing by Kathleen Bourke faces the text which gives the botanical This book is a pictorial display of American name, the common name, the plant family, gardens and familiar garden plants with the and, also, the u ses, cultural requirements, and objective of providing an, armchair visit to description of the herb. some of our more famous plant collections. It A list of Early American herbs prepared in consists of photographic material, largely in 1672 followed b y herbs listed for use in the the style of the parent periodical and is divided flower garden, herbal trees, herbs for moist into three parts; Visits to America's Gardens, soils, herbs for dry soils, and much more is Gardens that Specialize, and Gardens [or All to be found at the back of the book-not the Seasons. least useful being a useful list with the phonetic Pa1: t I is an assemblage of views of what pronunciation of herb names. one might regard as the Aristocracy of American F. P-K. gal"dens. These are the large "'National Trust" gardens, a few botanical gardens and arbore­ tums, and some privately managed estates. For Gardening and Cooking on Terrace each , there is a brief descriptive statement, and Patio usually the history, present status, and oc­ Mary Childs Hogner, Doubleday and Com­ casionally a suggested season for a visit. The pany, Garden City, New York. (Library.) majority of the gardens are those of the eastern Price-$3.95, Member's price-$3.35. 168 pages. part of the country, swinging south to the Index. Gulf States indicating the dependency on those establishments reflecting a historical as well The two previous books by this author dealt as horticultural aspect. Except for the St. Louis with herbs, their growing and use in cooking. Botanic Garden with its Climatron, the scene The new book is dedicated to the legion, ever­ shifts immediately to the Pacific Coast and increasing, of gardener-cooks who ply both the suggests that the broad mid-portion of our garden trowel and the kitchen fork. country has little to contribute to horticulture. The opening chapter on containers both con- JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NWvIBEK 1 55

VCl1tioaal and h ome-made-tubs, terrace pots, These Fragile Outposts hanging baskels, wall planters, or bulb-crate planters-shows the wide variety of types and Barbara Blau Chamberl ain, Doubleday & Co. m ateri a ls being u sed in outdoor li vi ng areas. Inc. 575 Madison Ave N.Y. 22. 1964, 327 pp. After some notes on the soils used in potting ill. $6.95. alld repotting plants in containers, the decora­ ti ve plants, annual and p erennial, are listed. T he gardener who works with more than Unfortunately, only the cOl11mon names a rc Lhe . city lot, or who lives anyw here in the given and the descriptions, uses, and cu lture of glaCIated part of the United States well under­ the plants as the author h as them seems ski mpy. stands the meaning of a word like " h ardpan" A chapter on suitable culinary plants to grow and the implication of its presence. Yet all on the terrace is followed b y a chaptcr on too few, possibly, have a real understanding of wheel-spoke and border gardens with several the geologIC processes by which this and our sketched plans for such gardens. other manifold type of soil were formed and The rest of the book is given ovcr to menus their corresponding effect on vegetati\'e growth. and the preparation of food to be ea ten on Thus it is for this reviewer that some hours the terrace or p atio. have been well spent, reading about (sub­ F. P-K. title) r\ GEOLOCIC,\L LOOK AT CAPE COD, ;'vfARTHAS Vl:-.lEYARD, AND NA:\TUCKET, for, as one geO logist i quoted, "To know the The Florentine Codex Earthly geOlogy of the region is to know its so i1. " Things The a uthor of this book has taken a relative­ Bernardino de Sahag·un (16th cenl.) The ly small secti on of our great countr and care­ School of American R esearch , Santa Fe, New fully pictured the success ive processes by which Mexico, 1963. 300 pp. ill. $15. thIS area has achieved .its variety of soils, proc­ esse whIch. WIth vana LI ons, have been in opera­ Considering the interest which all of liS tiOn from "Visconsin to Maine. must (or should) h ave in Mexican plant life, Thus-whether or not the reader of this it is good to at last find a translation into re\'iew is a resident of the great coastal olllwash English of the GENERAL HISTORY OF THE area (i ncluding Long Island) or of any other THINGS OF NEW SPAIN of which this Vol part of the glaciated United States, a perusal I I, is a part. Using contemporary Aztec so urces of the book will be repaid in a better under­ this indefatiga bl e priest, with the help of the standing of all the " micro-soils" whose com­ knowledge of educated natives, recorded in the positions so co nduce to a degree of acidity, Nahuatl language (1529-1590) every facet of fertility, workability and prOductivity. One will life in Mexico which was explorable. Long find that so il com position may be just as im­ avai lable in Spanish translation, here at las t portant as the presently much discussed " micro­ in English are the engaging and informative climates", climates which indeed are often the comments on the inorganic and organic, the result of geOlogy and geography. flora and fauna, of that great center of Ameri­ In its thoroughness THESE FRAGILE OUT­ can culture. The illustrations, done much in the POSTS offer us the kind of writing that R ach el same manner as those in the famed Badianus Carson gave u s in THE SEA AROUND US manuscript, are by Aztecs working in the mode but as words a nd thoughts make this a much dictated by their pictorial writing. more important book for the horticulturist. Mineralogists will find here a discussion of Nelson Coon rocks and their uses, while bird lovers will read about Mockingbirds and '''' rens or about the home "cultivation" of the Turkey with New Zealand Flowers and Plants in (illustrated) instructions for fattening. Bugs, Color bu tterflies, bees and beasts-they are all h ere. Coming to plant life one will find a number J. T. Salmon, D.Se. 210 pages, quarto. A. H. «)f pages given to a full discussion 0'£ Corn and & A. W. Reed, Wellington. Beans (most important to the life there) while Chocolate, Vanilla, Cacti, and grains are all dis­ This beautiful book with 543 color plates, played and discussed. As might be expected is the ruost comprehensive, useful, and colorful (and as the contemporary H ernandez explored work on the New Zealand flora ever published. fully) much space is given to m edicinal plants The author is not only a distinguished botanist and other plants of economic value. But the but a highly sk ill ed nature photographer, and ornamental plants are not n eglected for the h e spent years traversing New Zealand to pic­ early Mexicans treasured fragrant and colorful ture the unique plants of that country in their plants for use in the home and temple and we natural habitats from shore to mountaintop. read about these. Several pictures of garden A large number of the fl owers and fruits in operations are included to prove that point. this volume have never been photographed be­ The translators Anderson and Dibble have fore. The book is mostly pictures, grouped by done a trem endous job in rendering the Nahuatl habitat-shore, coastal, scrub, forest, mountains, into English in the spirit 0'£ the age and no ete. and the pictures are accompanied by the library on American life should be without scientific, common, and Maori names, brief this truly fiTSt writing on the subject. expla natory captions, and a record of flowering From the useful and critical viewpoint, one or fruiting times. Elsewhere in the book is a could wish that an index of English or Scienti­ more general discussion of the flora, with cross fic names of flora and fauna might have been references to the plates. included but footnoting does take ca re of some This book is obtainable in U. S. from the re­ of this lack. viewer at Stuart, Fla. I elson Coon Edwin A. i\Ienninger 56 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Other Books Added to the Library ton Press , Sea ttle, vVashing-ton 98 105. 1964. pages. Illustrated. $7.95. (Library). Farmer's World (The Yearbook of Ag..icul­ Perennial Garde'" Flowers-So'rt Guide to lure-1964 ) the (Plastic Box of cards) Agriculture, U. S. Dept. of. Government Kell y, George W. Crown Publishers, New Printing Offi ce, Was ~in gto n , D. C. 20402. 1964. York 16, New York. 1964. 152 cards. Illus­ 592 pages. $3.00. (LIbrary). trated. $4.95 . (Library). Adventure Lit Their Star Bird Songs : Adventures and Techniques in All sop Kenneth . Crown P ublishers, New Yo rk R ecording the Songs of American Birds 16, ~ ~ w York, 1964. 222 pages. $3.95. (Li­ Stillwell, Norma. Doubleday & Company, Inc., brary) . New York, New York 1001 7. 194 pages. 1964. $4.95. (Libra ry) . Big Mel/ , Big Jobs . . B eneficial Insects . D uncan, Clyde H . UnIversIty of Missouri, Swan, Lester A. H arper & R ow PublIshers, Columbia, lVl issouri. 1964. 150 pages. $.50. Inc. , New York 16, New York. 1964. 429 (Library) . pages. Illustrated. $7.95. (Library) Vascular Plan ts of the Pacific N orthwest The Genera of Amaryllidaceae (Part II) . Traub H amilton P. T he America n Plant H itchcock, C. L., A. Cronq uIst, M. O wenbey, Life Society, La J olla, California. 1963. 85 and J . "V. T hompson. Unive rsity of vVashIl1 g- pages. Illustra ted. $5 .00. (Library) .

Gardeners Pocketbook

A Question About Shidekobushi­ buclcling, but many specimens produce viable seeds and this means of propaga­ A R e-examination of Magnolia stellata Maxim. tion h as been followed in som e cases. Several of the clones with pink petals Botanical descriptions of this lovely (of which there ar e at least three in spr in g-fl owering subject seem to re.quire American nurseries today) have been some m odification, as studies co ntll1ued obtained in this way. However, it is for several years have shown that a hi ~ h common knowledge among specialists ratio of opening fl owers have small 111- tha t these seedlings grow into a mixed conspicuous sepals on the SJm e o rder lot, and they are often used as under­ and, in fact, indistinguis hable from stocks on which to graft the true dwarf those of M agnolia K obus DC., rather plant. If grown for a number of years, than sepals similar to the showy petals. the greater portion of M. stellala seed­ It ap pears that the erroneous idea was lings show looser and more open growth based on fully opened fl owers from and their fl owers have broader obovate which bud-scales and sep als had already petals. Furthermore, the petals ~ r e fallen, or even from dr ied herbarium usually fewer in number, often rangmg specimens on which the evanescent se­ from 9 to 15, and occasionally as few as pals wo uld hardly persist. iVl aximowi cz 6. In fact, these seedling plants show used the purported sepal ch aracter as a graduati ons in fl owers, shoots and separati on in his diagnosis of the Mag­ leaves, ane! habit of growth between noli as growing in J apan (Bull.,. Acad. their parent and M. K o.b us. As s t a ~ed St. Petersb. 17: 419, 1872.), 111 whIch the in an article in the Amen can gardenmg line "Sepal a petaloidea petalis aequil­ periodical noted below, genetic beh avior onga" leads to M. stellata. and 1\11. conspi­ does not justify m aintaining IH: stellato CW I ; as he knew them. Fully opened as a botanical species, and one IS tempt­ fl owers of Shidekobushi rarely show an y ed to concl ude that it originated as a sepals, or sometimes just one or two. selecti on , probably of a mutation, of T his plant is characterized b y delicate jill. Kobus made b y an observant fl ower- lan ceolate sepals 1-2 cm. long which lover in J apan many years ago. . usually fa ll away as the petals are ex­ A m ore conserva ti ve weighing of eV I­ pand in g. dence in fl oral p arts and in the dwarf Plan ts known as Magnolia stellata in compact growth d iffering so markedly nurseri es and gardens have been propa­ from Kobus, and particularly from the gated almos t entirely by grafting and m ore vigorous H okkaido Magnolia (M. JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER 1 57

BENJAMIN BLACKBURN Magnolia stellatll Maxim

Kobus val'. bOTea lis Sargent) which ap­ servers in Japan will communicate with pears to be the prototype of the species, the author, or send pressed specimens of leads to presenting Shidekobushi here opening flowers considered to be of this as a variety, rather than in the lesser plant clearly growing in the wild, their category of form. The synonymy may be collaboration will be most welcome. It given as follows: is an amusing note tha t the vernacular Magnolia Kobus A. P. deCandolle names Himekobushi and Shidekobushi val'. stellata (Siebold et Zuccarini) are more accurate in pointing out the status novus natural relationship of this plant to BueTge1'ia stellata Sieb. et Zucco in Fl. M. Kobus than the artificial designation J aponica Faro. Nat I: 78, 1845. maintained for so many years in botani­ M. stellata Maximowicz in Bull. Acad. cal records.-BENJAMIN BLACKB URN, De­ Sci. St. Petersb. 17: 418, 1872. paTtment of Botany, Drew University, M. Halliana Parsons in Garden 13: Madison, New l eney, U.S.A. -reprinted from Amatore.' H crbarii 1i: J ·2. 1955. 572, 1878. J apan M. Kobus forma stellata (Sieb. et ZUCc.) Blackburn in Popular Gar­ A New Way to Raise Seedlings dening 5, 3: 68, 1954. Anyone who raises plants from seed, Some of the original data on flower or handles the ensuing seedlings, is of­ parts in this study were obtained from fered numerous suggestions for prepar­ plants of Shidekobushi growing in gar­ ing the compost. For planting seeds, dens in Tokyo and Yokohama. If ob- the usual medium suggested by many 58 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Briefly, he bought a number of them, and in due course, gave us one to try. The manufacturer called them "multi­ pots": the picture gives an idea of their appearance, together with the seedlings that we planted. In this "multi pot" there are 28 containers, but I under­ stand that there is also a larger size wi th 48 pots. The material from which this inven­ tion is made is a lightweight plastic, so light in fact that a little child could easily carry it, even when filled with seedlings. At the bottom of each pot there is a small hole, so that, if desired, the entire container can be put in a large pan of water, and the contents thus watered from below. I do not know of a more unscientific method of handling seedlings than the one which we have employed. 'We didn't sterilize the soil, we didn't measure a certain amount of sand, or a certain amount of fertilizer. All we did was to take some granulated peat, possibly as ROBERT M. SENIOR much as would fill a four or fiye inch Containers with about twenty differ. pot, add a small handful of Perlite, a ent seedlings. sprinkling of 5-10-5 fertilizer, and fill the "multipots" with this mixture. In nurserymen is to use equal parts of good each one of these we inserted a seedling, loam, leafmold or peat, and sharp sand. in all, about twenty different kinds, in­ In England the so-called John Innes cluding Anclrosace sarmentosa, Gentiana mixture is widely used: it consists of hascombensis and G. septemfida, Cam­ two parts sterilized loam, one part of jxtnula betulaefolia and Codonopsis coarse sand, and one part peat, to which ovata. is added a small amount of superphos­ Our seeds were originally planted in phate and ground limestone. For pot­ flats: whenever seedlings emerged that ting seedlings, the John Innes formula were too close together, we would pull is seven parts sterilized loam, three one or two in the cotyledon stage, and parts peat, and two parts sand, to which replant them in the container. General­ a small amount of limestone and ferti­ ly we waited until the first tiny leaf ap­ lizer is added. One nurseryman in this peared before we withdrew it. Probably country states that he is raising practi­ no seedling was much over an inch high cally all of his plants in sterile sphag­ when it was transplanted. I suppose that num mixed with a little perlite, and of here too we broke some of the rules course, when necessary, watering the often suggested by experts, ne\,ertheless, plan ts wi th liquid fertilizer. our procedure proved highly sati factory Over the course of many years we to us: all the plants throve with possi­ have tried almost all of the above-men­ bly the exception of one or two. tioned composts. In the last year we And now, for us, came the most in­ have experimented with a new method teresting part of the experiment. A.Iter for raising seedlings, at least a method our seedlings were well rooted, possIbly that is new for us. A short account of after two or three weeks, we prepared how we happened to try this may be to lift them from the pots. For this pur­ of some interest to readers. pose, the manufacturer furnishes a little Last year an acquaintance in the nurs­ two pronged plastic fork. Inserting this ery business was traveling in Germany, deeply into the pot, and possibly hold­ where he observed that a container hold­ ing the stem of the plant tovvard its ing a large number of seedlings was base, we drew it out, surrounded by a used rather widely in that country. perfect cylinder of the compost, in many JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER I 59

instances leaving the empty pot almost either because of limited hardiness or entirely free from any dirt on its sides . lack of familiarity. Two groundcovering Carrying the cylinder to a 21/2 to 3 inch species nati ve to J apan fall into these clay pot, in which we had put pebbles types, Pachysandra lermina lis Sieb & at the bottom for drainage, we gently Zuce. and ATdisia jatJonica (Thunb.) dropped the cylinder into it, and filled Bl. )\lost gardeners in the eastern part the spaces on the side with a regular of the co untry are famili ar with Pachy­ ]Jotting mixture, containing a little fer­ sandra. I ts use on banks, under coni­ tilizer. On the surface we scattered a fers and elsewhere as a groundcover is small handfull of pebbles. After water­ quite expected. It is harel y without ques­ ing the plant, we placed the pot for a tion, especially in areas where there is few days in a shady corner. This opera­ a good snow cover to afford protection. tion was completed some time in June: Few gardeners know A rdisia j({ponica. since then the potted plants have con­ In J apan, Pa chysandra lennina /is is tinued to thrive. known as Fukki-so and is used for gar­ The name and add res of the manu­ den purposes equall y as much as in the facturer is H erman H eifen,-Duisburg­ United States. It is naturally distributed Meiderich,-Postfach 81 ,-Germany. I be­ throughout all the islands and it can be lieve he h as appointed an agent in this fo und in the moist woods in lowlands country.-RoBERT M. SENIOR, Cincin­ all the way from Kyushu to Hokkaido. nati, Ohio I suspect tha t wi th this broad range of distribution there might be considerable Two GroUlulcovers Native to Japan variation in hardin ess but since it has Japan has contributed a number of performed so we ll for us this appears useful plants to our gardens, some of not to be a need. A variegated form is which have been especially successful in cultivation and is grown in both and others which are restricted in use J apanese ane! American gardens. As

]. L. CREECII Ardisia japonica has formed a solid ground cover in dense shade at Ayukawa, northern Honshu. Covering trees are CameJlia, Hex, Machilus, and evergreen oaks. 60 THE Al'vIERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE might be expected of a variegated form serve similar garden duty in milder cli­ it is not as vigorous as the common n:ates. perhaps wi.th a bit more grace type and does best in shaded places. smce It IS not as vIgorous a plant.-J. L. Pa ch)lsandm terminalis is far more har­ CREECH, H yattsville, Md. dy than our native species, P. pTOcum­ bens, and is classed as one of our best Plants from a California Garden evergreen groundcovers. A phyllcmthes monspeliensis (leafless flow­ A1disia japoniCCl, on the other hand, er) -This native of the western portion is not too well known in the United of the Mediterranean is well named, even States and is limited in culture to the though. the name !tself sounds a great Southeast. Vole usually think of Al·disia deal lIke some VIrulent skin disease. in terms of the small pot plant with The true leaves are small and mem­ bundles of red berries growing in a con­ branous and are at the foot of the reed­ servatory, but A. japonica is more like lik~ grey-gree!1 unbranched flower scapes Pa ch),sandm both in habit and natural WhICh here 111 the Bay region around distribution than to any of its close San FranCISCO are more than double in Ardisia relatives. There are a number height the four inches which is appar­ of pros trate species in this Genus of ently common when grown in England. so me 250 species and two of them occur When happily wedged between two in J apan (see Nat. Hort. 37, 4: 266-67, stones i~ a dry, sunny spot in the rock 1958). These are A . japonica and A. garden It blooms freely during May. pusilla and they differ from each other, The flowers, star-like, and a good sky horticulturally, in hardiness and man­ blue, are about an inch across and borne ner of proliferation. Our plant, A. ja­ tJonica .. produces underground leafless singly in a head at the top of the runners which poke up through the soil "!eaves". Two or three appear succes­ and eventually start a new clump. It is, SIvely out of small chaffy brown bracts, like Pach),sandTCl , widely distributed each lasting for two or three days. They throughout Japan but unlike that spe­ look like one had stuck a large blue­ cies does not enter Hokkaido and may eyed grass flower on the very top of be found only on the off-shore island a reed stem. As might be expected these of Okushiri. In the forests near Sendai, stems act as leaves after the flowers have on the northern Pacific coast of Honshu, faded. During the winter many of the A. jajJonica, literally covers the forest stems die down as new ones form and flo or. It also occurs in China, having push up among the small leaves. been collected by F. N. Meyer. The The fibrous roots grow best in a leaves are lustrous green and the stems purplish in color. There are small white sandy loam and propagation is either or pinkish flowers from August to Octo­ by seeds which seldom set in this cli­ ber followed by small solitary red ber­ mate or divisions which are difficult to ries which last all winter. The Japanese reestablish. refer to this plant as Yabu-koji. I have Orthrosanthus multiflorus (morning not seen it cultivated to any extent by flower) -This relative of our native blue the J apanese, so there are not any varie­ eyed grass (Sisyrinchium) is one of eight gated forms to be expected. It is only when these master craftsmen of horti­ species, five of them-including this one culture get their hands on a plant do -found in southwest Australia while we find bizarre forms. the other three are found in the Andes. . In the United States, the largest plant­ This plant occurs in shaded, moist hu­ mg I have seen is that in one of the mus-filled soil and gives a good show small wall gardens at the McIlhenny in the latter part of spring. Here it Estate , Avery Island, Louisiana. Here it blooms the last week of lVIay and performs in the manner that is de­ through the middle of June. manded . of a good groundcover. In my As the name implies the flowers open garden 111 Maryland, A?"disia japonica in the morning and in normal weather has been outside for only two years but are closed and gone by mid-afternoon. the pl~nts have come through both win­ ters wIthout any sign of injury and have The flower is at first cup-shaped, but begun to spread. This is a shade plant, by mid-morning it has opened flat to more so than PachysandTCl, but it will nearly one and a half inches and gradu- JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUNIHER 1 61

ally reflexes slightly. It fin ally fo lds in­ Others also exist. A modern garden ward again and closes like a clenched maintained in the grand style is owned fi st. One to four flowers may open daily by Count Bernadotte on the Island of on a one-sided reaceme 16 inches long, iVfainau in the Bodensee (Lake Con­ each bud appearing out of a separate stance) . many-flowered spathe above somewhat l ax, grassy fo li age a foot high. It is al­ Botanic Gardens of West Germany ways a question in the evening whether In Europe the botanic garden carries there will be one or several flowers in with it a time-honored tradition in uni­ bloom on the raceme the fo llowing day. versity life dating from the Italian gar­ On very hot days the flowers may las t dens, first at Padua in 1545. In Germany, only until noon, whereas on cool, cloudy the earliest botanic garden was es tab­ days they may last until four. lished at Leipzig in 1579. Now, nearly The color of the fl owers is a good 60 botanic gardens are found in the misty blue. Seeds are set quite readil y co untry, including East Germany. T he but I have not sown them. Propagation largest and best known are those in is easy by division of the short root­ Berlin-Dahlem, Bremen, Munich-Nym­ stock. The fo liage is burned by tem­ phenburg, Frankfurt am Main, Darm­ peratures below 20 degrees bu t the roots stadt, Dortmund, Hannover, Essen, can probably stand 15 degrees for a H amburg, and Kiel. The university bo­ short time.- FREDERICK \tV . COE, R oss, tanic gardens are designed primarily Califomia. for academic purposes with little or no emphasis on horticulture at the level Some Aspects of Horticulture and of the layman. In contrast, the munici­ Gardening in the West German pally operated botan ic gardens at Frank­ Republic furt am Main (Palm Garden), Cologne, and Dortmund are maintained solely The position of horticulture and for the public with emphas is on horti­ home gardening in West Germany to­ cultural plant materials at the p opular day enjoys such an aura of prosperity, level. one wonders what might be the n ext Botanic gardens in \ Nes t Germany step forward. Since World \tVar II, eight definitely are in an era of expansion. major horticultural shows called Feder­ Since "'Torld \IVar II, the botanic gar­ al Horticultural Exhibitions (Bundes­ den in Berli n-Dahlem has undergone gartenschau) have been held in as much reconstruction as a result of war many cities. In scope, these horticultural damage that nearly destroyed the glass­ fairs are unlike anything ever attempted houses, although the arboretum was left in the United States. intact. In fact, the arboretum of the West Germany has a thriving nursery botanic garden was spared while other industry, with more than 2,000 nurser­ parks in the city virtually were denuded ies, mostly located in East Friesland in of trees for firewood in the perilous win­ the far northwestern part of the coun­ ter of 1945-46, the first after the war. try and in an area around Pinneberg In Hannover, the glass houses in the just north of Hamburg. Home garden­ Berggarten have been completely re­ ing has become an integral part of mod­ built to replace the old palm house and ern life as never before, and the "klein­ its famous collection of palms, all garten" movement provides recreation destroyed by the war. In Heidelberg, which has become traditional among the old garden was abandoned, in favor thousands of people. Worth visiting, too, of a new site across the Neckar River are a few of the old "schloss" parks in where a completely new garden has various parts of the country, developed been established. The garden in Co­ by the landed gentry in the 18th and logne h as been reconstructed; at Dort­ 19th cen turies. Such places are the mund, an ambitious expansion program Berggarten and Royal Garden of Her­ by the present director, G. Kriissmann, renhausen at Hannover; the parks of has brought into existence a completely Ludwigsburg; Veitshochheim; ·Wilhelm­ new range of plant conservatories de­ shohe, near Kassel; and of Sanssouci signed solely for exhibition purposes; near Berlin (now in East Germany); the new plantings of hardy woody plants and the great English garden and H ot­ in the Dortmund Garden are reputed gaT ten of Nymphenburg at Ivlunich. to be the largest assortment in \"'est li2 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Germany. In the small botanic garden Dortmund which attracted 7 million at Kass el, an active program of expan­ paid admissions at 50 cents each. This sion is under way, and new glass houses is a city of over a half million persons. have been constructed since the war. Indeed, these garden shows are object To a botanist, horticulturist, or seri­ examples of what can be accomplished ous amateur, a visit to a German botanic on a national level in an area of interest garden, either municipally or university such as horticulture and gardening, es­ operated, can be a rewarding experi­ pecially when ~he necessary coordination ence, if for no other reason than expo­ is available. sure to a sizable segment of the earth's Floral festivals at the local level are flora in so small a space. Indeed, botanic not uncommon events in a number of gardens are a good source of germ German communities. In many cities plasm for use in a plant introduction of 'tVest Germany annual garden shows program. are held, with a scope we find in the larger American cities as a prelude to German Horticultural Exhibitions spring. Dortmund, for example, annual­ ly holds a spring show for 10 days in Federal Horticultural Exhibitions March. As many as 3,000 flowering rho­ called Bundesgartenschau held in vari­ dodendrons up to 6 feet tall are brought ous cities of West Germany since 'tVorld into these exhibitions. Bremen holds an War II are the largest ever attempted annual rhododendron sho"". in the country. These colossal shows are a plan to promote German horti­ The German "Kleingarten" culture at the level of the average home gardener. The results have been extra­ For people living in large cities and ordinarily successful if attendance fig­ industrial areas, the German "klein­ ures are indicative. garten" movement satisfies the native These exhibitions run from May 1 desire to cultivate the soil. The munici­ to October 31 in odd-numbered years, palities provide the land, usually . on and require 2 years to prepare. The lo­ the edge of the city, and apportion lots, cal municipality sponsoring the show about one-eighth to one-quarter of an in cooperation with the Central Asso­ acre in size. The aim is to provide gar­ ciation of German Horticulture under­ dening space for city dwellers who writes the entire cost. During the shm..., would not otherwise be able to culti­ all expense of maintenance is borne by vate their own vegetables and flowers. the municipality. The exhibitions usual­ The Kleingarten tenant always erects ly are held on about 100 acres of rela­ a small house for use on weekends. In­ tively undeveloped land, the objective deed, the Kleingarten is treated very being to establish the area as a perma­ much like the cabin at the beach in the nent park and garden of the city. At the United States. Dortmund alone has 70 end of the show the rnunicipality pur­ kleingarten-parks, each with 50 to 100 chases plants desired for the permanent weekend residents. Competitions are planting-so held between cities, and the Golden The exhibitors of these exhibi tions Harvest Crown is awarded the winner consist largely of nurserymen and com­ at the end of the season.-F. G. MEYER, mercial horticultural sundrymen who U. S. N ational A?-boretum, Washington, contribute all materials. Every aspect of D. c. the horticultural trade is represented, Louisiancf Violets including the latest in garden archi­ tecture; many gardens are built fully to The study of the indigenous flora of scale. Rose gardens, rock g-ardens, health the Gulf Coast Area is carried on a gardens, and an extensive exhibit of year-round basis at The University of "kleingartens" usually are represented. Southwestern Louisiana. The spring Cemetery landscaping is featured at plan includes the collecting of the vio­ some of the shows. New g-arden machin­ lets, live, and for the herbarium. The ery, greenhouses, horticultural sundries, state of Louisiana is host to several vio­ and a large horticultural book section lets-according- to Dr. J olm Kunkel are also prominent features. Small, in his Manual of the Southeast­ Popularity of these horticultural fairs ern Flora (1933) -13 species; some of is evidenced by the 1959 exhibi tion at them are typically southern, some are JANUARY 1965, VOLUME 44, NUMBER 1 63 varieties of northern species, and some I-Io elm. The plant emerges from a are more northern with an extended thick short rootstock. The character range into our area. In the years from leaves are deeply cut, thus divided in 1957 through 1962 field trips were made several narrow sections. The flowers are in Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Evange­ born on peduncles to 6" long. The pet­ line, Lafayette, Livingston, Sabine and als are all of the same color (in contrast Vermilion parishes to hunt for violets. with the species which has two dark Ten were located so far in Louisiana and three ligh t petals) varying from from the thirteen known species and near-white to dark violet, the lower we hope to have in time a complete col­ petal has a w hi te base and the two later­ lection of our native violets. Live plants al ones are bea1 ·dless. are growing at USL and the exsiccata This is our most spectacular violet are deposited at the USL Ornamental cherished by gardeners all over the Horticulture Herbarium. The violets world. located in our state up to this date fol­ Collected in Evangeline and Sabine low in alphabetical order: parishes in light soils with a pH of 6.4. VIOLA LANGLOISII Greene. The VIOLA PRIMULIFOLIA L. The plant emerges from a fleshy rootstock. plant emerges from a strong but short The character leaves are glabrous, rootstock. The leaves are pubescent (the elongate-triangular with serrate mar­ northern form has glabrous leaves) , ob­ gins. The large and showy flowers sur­ long to elongate ovate, sometimes cor­ pass the leaves considerably. The petals date and sometimes decurrent. The are light violet, the three lower ones flowers surpass the leaves. The petals with dark veins; the two lateral ones are white, the three lower ones ve ined are clayate. wi th dark blue, the two la teral ones are Collected in Vermillion parish in vari­ beardless or sometimes bearded. T his ous soils with a pH of 6.4-6.7. violet grows in Sphagnum bogs, on VIOLA LANGLOISII V AR. PEDA­ banks wi th seepage, and in wet depres­ TILOBA Braine1·d. The variety can be SIOns. distinguished from the species by its Collected in Allen, Beauregard, Bien­ character leaves which are 3 to 5 pedate. vi lle, Sabine and Vernon parishes in Collected in Livingston and Lafayette Sphagnum bogs and damp places, in parishes in various soils with a pH of soi ls with a pH of 6.2·6.7. 6.1 -6.8. VIOLA ROSACEA BmineTCl . T he VIOLA LOVELLIANA BraineTCl. plant emerges from a fleshy rootstock. The plant emerges from a thick root­ The character leaves are heart-shaped stock. The character leaves are three­ and somewhat scabrous above. The lobed, peclate, glabrous, rarely minutely flowers surpass the leaves. The petals pubescent; the middle lobe narrows to­ are rosy-violet, the lower one veined ward its base. The flowers surpass the wi th dark lines, the lateral ones are foliage by several inches. The petals are bearded. T hi s violet was first discovered violet, the three lower ones are densely near Crowley. j'vi iss issippi is the only clavate with dark veins on a white base. other state where it is known to grow. All petals are bluish white outside. Collected in Lafayette parish in sandy Collected in Sabine parish in a light soi l with a pH of 6.4. sandy soi l with a pH of 6.6. VIOLA SAGITTATA Aiton. T he VIOLA j\llISSOURENSIS GTeene. plant emerges from a very short, almost The plant emerges from a multi­ corm-like rootstock. The narrow and branched thick rootstock. The character glabrous leaves have a somewhat rounll­ leaves are triangular in outline with a ed apex, are scalloped at the b as e, cordate base, the margins of the basal and are arrow shaped in outline. The lobes are sometimes folded in. The flow­ lowest leaf segmen ts point downward. ers surpass the leaves. The petals are The petals are violet. The three lower pale violet to violet, all of them with ones are bearded and are veined on a a white base and with dark veins; the white base. lateral ones are bearded. Collected in Sabine parish in bogs Collected in Allen parish in heavy with a pH of 6.2. clay with a pH of 6.7. VIOLA TRILOBA V. DILATATA VIOLA PEDATA VAR. CONCOLOR BraineTd. The plant emerges from a 64 THE MvIERICAN HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE thick rootstock. The character leaves are M.alus angustifolia, the Southern crab three-lobed pedate, usually densely does well and is used some although the pubescent; the middle lobe is narrow flowers and fruit are not as showy as and elongated, the lateral lobes are many Asiatic hybrids. three-parted. The flowers surpass the Another species likely to do well in foliage. The petals are of bearded and our area is the Texas crab apple, Nlalus veined dark on a white base. This vio­ ionensis texana. This tree from the Ed­ let is the southern variety of Viola tri­ wards plateau has almost been wiped foleis, Schweinitz. out, mainly by the browsing of goats. Collected in Evangeline parish 111 There are some wild trees remaining sandy soils with a pH of 6.7. near Blanco, 15 miles south of Johnson VIOLA WALTERI HOtlse. This vio­ City. let is easily recognizable by its trailing Pink fragrant flowers are borne on habit. The plant emerges from a some­ thickly branched sometimes shrubby what woody rootstock; the growing trees. Many root sprouts are produced stems ~ie flat on the ground and root forming thickets. The frui t is greenish at the tips as they grow. The leaves are yellow and was valued highly for pre­ orbicular to cordate, small; the veins serving. are bordered wi th dark green on a The need for more good flowering silvery green base. The flowers are small trees here should cause the Texas crab and ei ther surpass the leaves by one or to be given a good trial. The importance two inches or are borne on short pedi­ of adapted varieties has been proven cels, the petals are light violet; the two by the erratic growth here of many lateral ones are bearded, and the three northern varieties with high chilling or lower ones are veined. This violet has other climate requirements. Southern a good chance to become a showy varieties of sugar maple, red maple, red groundcover for shady places in the gar­ bud and many other trees grow off bet­ den or in rockeries. ter than northern varieties of the same Collected in Evangeline parish under species. It is logical to expect tha t the Fagus and Magnolia grandifiora in light Texas crab apple would have lower soils with a pH of 6.2-6.4.-SIGMOND L. chilling requirements than l\!falvs ion en­ SOLVMOSV, Univ. of Southwestern Lou­ sis strains from the north. isiana, Lafayette, La. Like several other rare trees on the Texas Crab Apple verge of extinction the Texas crab should not be allowed to disappear. It Houston's climate doesn't suit most may be a good parent for hybridization of the flowering crab apples that are with Asiatic crabs.-LvNN LOWREV) Rt. such useful ornamentals in the north. 8) Box 308, Houston, Texas. REGISTER NOW FOR THIS OUTSTANDING GARDEN EVENT

VIRGINIA Garden Symposium

MARCH 21 THROUGH MARCH 26, 1965

Twelve leading specialists in horticulture an d and historic buildings in Virginia's eight- landscape design will be conducting this year's eenth-century capital and see J amestown, the exploration into New H OTizons in H Ol·ticul- first permanent English settlement in the New tLl1"e at the nineteenth presentation of a con- "World. T he Symposiu m is open to all inter- fere nce which has become one of the leading ested in gardening. Register now to insure garden events of the year. All the elements for desired accommodations at \Nilliamsburg Inn, a relaxed ye t productive conference are pres- vV illiamsburg Lodge, or The Motor House. ent: ta lks, special garden tours, social activi- vVrite or call Mrs. Mary B. Deppe, Registrar, tIes, and question-and.answer clinics . Yo u will Post Office Box C, \'Vi II iamsburg, Virginia. also visit the world-famous colonial gardens Telephone (703) CA 9-1000. Pl'esented by Co lonial Willia.msbu.Tg in Associa.tion with th e Amnica.n H01·ticultu.j"({l So ciety