jhllacktborne SUPER HARDY Clematis Clematis are the noblest and most colorful of climbing vines. Fortunately, they are also one of the hardiest, most disease free and therefore easiest of culture.

As the result of our many years of research and development involving these glorious vines, we now make ava ilable to the American gardening public: * Heavy TWO YEAR plants (the absolute optimum size for successful plant­ RED CARDINAL ing in your garden). * Own rooted plants - NOT GRAFTED - therefore not susceptible to com­ mon Clematis wilt. * Heavily rooted, BLOOMING SIZE plants, actually growing in a rich 100% organic medium, - all in an especially designed container. * Simply remove container, plant, and - "JUMP BACK"!! For within a few days your Blackthorne Clematis will be growing like the proverbial "weed", and getting ready to flower! / * Rare and distinctive species and varieties not readily available commer­ cially - if at all! * Plants Northern grown to our rigid specifications by one of the world's premier Clematis growers and plantsmen, Arthur H. Steffen, Inc. * The very ultimate in simplified, pictorial cultural instructions AVAILABLE NOWHERE ELSE, Free with order. - OLD GLORY CLEMATIS COLLECTION - RED RED CARDINAL - New from France comes this, the most spec­ tacu lar red Clematis ever developed. It is a blazing mass of glory from May on. Each of the large, velvety, rich crimson red blooms is lit up by a sun-like mass of bright golden stamens, in the very heart of the flower! Red Cardinal's rich brilliance de­ fies description! Pri ce $6.95 each - 3 for $17.95 POSTPAID WHITE MME lE COUl TRE - Another great new one from France, and the finest white hybrid Clematis ever developed. Giant, salad E LE COULTRE plate size, (often larger) blossoms simply smother the vigorous plant in May and June, intermittently throughout the summer, with another massive display in September, continuing until season 's end! Price $6.95 ea ch - 3 for $17.95 POSTPAID BLUE SHO-UN (AZURE SKIES) - A brand new phenomenon from Japan. Absolutely huge, rich, clear blue blossoms, strikingly SHO-UN accentuated by a tuft of ivory stamens in their centers, dramati­ cally engulf the exceedingly vigorous plant for an unusually long (AZURE SKIES) flowering period from May on . Price $6.95 each - 3 for $17.95 POSTPAID

Complete OLD GLORY CLEMATIS COllECTION, consisting of one each of the above rare and beautiful plants, only $14.95 POSTPAID

SPECIAL PRICE FOR THE COMBINATION AS SHOWN IS POSITIVELY VOID AFTER MAY 15, 1976, OR BEFORE, IF SOLD OUT.

COLOR CATALOG (A Bota nica l Re ference Piece) featuring what is considered to be the most e xtensive li sting of e a sil y grown, new, ra re a nd unusua l lilies, Clematis, Alliums, Hostas, Wild Flowe rs, Dutch Bulbs, etc. PLUS spring sales folde r fe aturing ra re a nd unusua l bulbs and pl a nts from world wid e sou rces, to individualize your garde n, $ 1.00-deductible from first orde r, or FREE wi th a ny of th e a bove Cl e matis Colle ctio ns. WE PAY POSTAGE ALL ORDERS TO THE WEST COAST SENT BY AIR POSTPAID MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS ADD 5% SALES TAX . Jilachtborne ~arben5 48A Quincy Street, Holbrook, Mass. 02343 American

Herticulturistvolume 55 Number 1 February, 1976 For United Horticultllre ... the particular O. KE ISTER EVANS, Executive Director objects and business of The America n Horticultural Society are to promote and MURRAY KEENE, Edi tor encourage nat ional interest in sc ientific JANE STEFFEY , Editorial Assistant research and edu cati on in horti culture in DONALD WYMAN, Horticultural Consultant all of its branches . ALEX BERRY, Art Director The American Horticultural Society, Publisher AMERICAN H ORTICULTURIST is the of­ Mount Vernon, Virginia 22 121 ficial publica ti on of The American Horti ­ 703/768-5700 cultural Society, 793 1 East Bouleva rd Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, and i iss ued in February, April, June, August, October and December. Membership in the Society au tomati ca lly includes a sub­ scripti on to American Horticult urist and $1.50 is des ignated for each iss ue of thi s IN THIS ISSUE pub licati on. Membership dues start at $15.00 a year.

Refer editorial matters to : Murray Keene 2 An Editoriat Ame rican Horticu lturist Mount Vernon, Virginia 22 121 Historical Horticulture Refer adverti sing matters to: 4 Peter Henderson-Edythe Henderson Scripps and Dolly Maw Pub lisher Services, In c. 621 Duke Street Gardener's Notebook Alexandri a, Vi rginia 22 314 9 The Garden of Eden - Harlan T. Pierpont, Jr. Address requests for reprints of arti cles to The Ameri can 16 Low Maintenance Gardening-Donald Wyma n Horticultural Society, 18 Sno' Beautiful-Lorraine Burgess Mount Vernon , Virginia

AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is devoted Travelogue to the dissemination of knowledge in the 14 Going Down South-Lorraine Burgess sc ience and art of growing ornamental 34 The Nona Whitney Eva ns Memorial Reading Garden-Richard T. Isaacson plants, fruits, vegetabl es, and related sub­ jects. O ri ginal papers which increase knowledge of plant materi als of economic Education and aestheti c importance are invited. For 22 Bonsai-Clifton Pottberg manuscript specifica tions please address 30 Housep lants Under Lights-Charles Marden Fi tch the Executi ve Director, Mount Vernon , Virginia 22 121. My Favorite Plant Rep lacement iss ues of AMERICAN HOR­ 38 Double-Fi le Viburnum-Francis DeVos TICULTURIST are available at a cost of $2.50 per copy, but not beyond twe lve 26 Native Azaleas-Fred C. Galle months prior to date of current iss ue. 41 Books-Tom Stevenson The opinions expressed in the articles which appear in AMERICAN HORTICUL­ TURIST are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. They are presented as contributions to contem­ porary thought.

OUR COVER PHOTO by Guy Burgess. Yellow crocus Second class postage pa id at Alexandria, -its' pollen is the source of saffron. Virginia and at add itional mai ling offices. Copyri ght © 1976 by The Ameri ca n Hor­ 1 ticultural Society. PRINTING: RAY PRINTING. KANSAS C ITY. MISSOURI An Editorial

The Vanishing Line Between Conservation and Horticulture

This issue of theAmerican Horticulturist begins Ameri­ millions of acres of land. Whether we like it or not, we ca's Bicentennial year. This anniversary of 200 years of must expect these areas to change. The outpouring from ach ievement (and disappointment) comes at a time when our cities and industries, the spills from our cultivated major forces are reshaping the traditional priorities of lands will flow, drift, permeate and pollute all lands in how we treasure the natural resources of our land. Twenty time. We must take the steps to identify the eroding and decades ago, most of the basic blocks for living were contaminating factors and seek ways to stop them. within a short walk of our Colonial forebearer's home­ Conservation must also go beyond the doomsday sites. Trees, shurbs and grasses were cleared for crops and babblings of the voices of despair. Negativism has never game was abundent, but each new season forced us to been part of the American heritage. extend our living spaces and cultivated land. Not all land Conservation in its old sense emphasized mainte­ was suitable, however. The marsh and wetlands were nance. We now must broaden our endeavors to include by-passed for the flatlands and rolling countryside. The renewing our resources. Horticulturists can help. We hills and river-cut gorges were left as natural property have always dealt with the renewal practices for plants. dividers. Just like a life-sustaining culture in a petri plate, Horticulturists already know how to breed, select, our people covered the continent from coast to coast. Still propagate, grow, transplant, install, train and maintain pockets of non-arable land were left almost untouched. thousands of plant species. Unfortunately, we have really These areas abounded with natural flora and fauna that lavished our attention on a very limited number. The rose, were badly affected by human encroachment. The the chrysanthemum, and the potato (as examples) have concept of conservation-the creation of preserves and had hundreds of years of pampering and development. national parks-was not even embryon ic during th is We must bring our skills to here-to-fore neglected plants. period. Many of our native American plants, which fill our Even today, many areas of natural beauty still evade the meadows, gorges, and hill spaces, need re-emphasis as protective mantle of a federal, state, or private preserve. we strive to re-stock these areas. Yet, each morning our newspaper brings us stories of I am most encouraged that our recent horticultural the threat of a loss of another area of natural beauty. We sessions in Hawaii presented new information on the have seen the development of countless groups who seek germination requirements for several native plants. We through funding, lobbying, and "education" to preventor must expand these activities to the hundreds of en­ delay the disappearance of these isolated areas of natural dangered native plants. As gardeners, we can and must beauty. The battle is expanding daily as new areas be­ use our skills to help repopulate vanishing floras. come vulnerable to development and/or the ravages of Horticulturists are beginning to erase the lines between pollution. themselves and conservationists. Our tasks have only Will there ever be a time when the conservationist can begun, for we must learn how to communicate what we feel that the losses of natural beauty can be held in check? know. The American Horticultural Society is dedicated to Will we ever stabilize our life-giving lands to create a this education and communication. It awaits every positive balance sheet of energy, space, food, industrial member contributing his part, I hope you seek your ways necessity, environmental quality, and aesthetics? to serve. Henry M. Cathey 2 This cannot be accomplished simply by preserving President AHS ~aurie c1b66a Bookshop for Gardeners

From the stock of Laurie Todd's comes the finest in gardening literature

THE ORCHIDS: SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THE TREES OF CHRISTMAS FERNS FOR GARDEN AND GREEN- Carl L. Withner $22.50 Edna Metcalfe (comp) $ 7.95 HOUSE This 1974 edition is not a revision of The Horticultural Society of Davidson Philip Swindells $ 7.50 1959 edition. New Material. County, Tennessee whose annual exhibit THE RHODODENDRON VOL. II "Christmas Trees of Many Lands" was THE NATURAL GARDENS OF NORTH Published by both the in spiration for and basis for CAROLINA: WITH KEYS AND DE­ The Leslie Urquhart Press $35 .00 this book. SCRIPTIONS OF THE HERBACEOUS WILD FLOWERS FOUND THEREIN 18 reproductions from paintings by FLORA OF THE PACIFIC NORTH­ $ 7.95 Carlos Riefel. WEST : AN ILLUSTRATED MANUAL B. W. Wells MICRO-CLIMATE: THE BIOLOGICAL C. Leo Hitchcock $25 .00 ENVIRONMENT A taxonomic treatment of all the species CREATE A BUTTERFLY GARDEN Norman J. Rosenberg $13.50 of flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and L. Hugh Newman $ 2.00 fern-related plants native to or estab­ WILDFLOWER TRAILS OF THE lished in Washington, northern Oregon ALPINES FOR TROUBLE FREE GARD­ PACIFIC NORTHWEST and Idaho, western Montana and south­ ENING Art Chipman $15 .00 ern British Columbia. Alan Bloom $ 5.00 236 full color illus. Over 10,000 illu s. PLANTS OF SHAKESPEARE DWARF BULBS CARNIVOROUS PLANTS Adelma Grenier Simmons $ 2.50 Brian Mathew $12.95 Randall Schqartz $ 6.95 Published in association with the Royal How to find, grow, feed and care for THE COOL GREENHOUSE TODAY Horticultural Society. 700 species covered. more than 40 species. A unique myth Deenagh Goold-Adams $12.50 and mystery chapter with cartoons, com­ A SAMPLER OF WAYSIDE HERBS: 250 genera described. Construction, ics and old engravings. REDISCOVERING OLD USES FOR equipment, management. FAMILIAR WILD PLANTS THE PHILADELPHIA AREA GREEN FERNS OF MICHIGAN Barbara Pond $17 .50 PAGES: A HANDBOOK FOR GREEN­ Cecil Billington $ 5.00 ING OF PHILADELPHIA Fern allies, rushes, club mosses included. One of the most exquisite books ever $ 3.00 stocked by Laurie Todd's - sought A HISTORY OF THE ORCHID after even by the non-gardening biblio­ An indispensible guide for any gardener phile. 32 full-color paintings, 60 fine living in Philadelphia Area. Published by Merle A. Reinikka $15.00 line pencil drawings. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Foreword by Rebecca Northen

Free gift wrapping. Card enclosures. Mailed anywhere

Send order to: LAURIE TODD'S 62 E. Stratford Ave. Lansdowne,Pa.19050 3

Include 50e postage handling. Pa. residents add 6 % sales tax. Your order will entitle you to be on thp Laurie Todd mailing list to receive all catalogues and listings. ITER EMDERSON Bringing the dark into daylight

By Edythe Henderson Scripps and Dolly Maw

A tall, erect man with piercing grey eyes and the mien & Orr, later known as Mcilvain & Young, taking orders for of a statesman, this was Peter Henderson. His distin­ greenhouse and vegetable plants and conducting an auc­ guished appearance seemed to call for a diplomatic at­ tion of small lots of plants. tache case in his hand, but actually he was more at home Peter Henderson was a daybreak to dark worker. Con­ with a shovel. ditions were far different from what they are today. For Men highly distinguished for botanical research termed instance, the wooden tallies or labels were all laboriously him "The Great Horticultural Missionary". Others lauded made by hand in the 1850's. him for " Bringing the dark, selfish and ignorant methods Jealous of wasting time, Mr. Henderson paid a waiter in of the old School of Horticulture into dayl ight". the restaurant he frequented, to watch for his coming and It all began in Pathead, a village twelve miles south of as soon as his face appeared in the doorway, his dinner Edinburgh, Scotland, when Peter was born to Agnes and would be on the table. He begrudged any time, however James Henderson, on June 9th, 1822. His father was a necessary, away from his dedicated profession. land steward, his maternal grandfather, Peter Gilchrist, a In 1864 he erected a model range of greenhouses, shepherd and later a nurseryman and florist. Young Peter heated and ventilated in an extremely efficient manner. took advantage of his grandfather's library and became an He became an authority on the glass greenhouses of that avid reader. At 15, he went to Edinburgh and found work day and helped novices in the business. His greenhouse in a liquor store. The sordid scenes he saw there made diagrams showed him to be a competent draftsman and him giv~ up his position in a few months and started his architect with a working knowledge of engineering. His life-long temperance leanings. Returning to the country ambition was to raise the florist business to the level of he apprenticed in the gardens of Melville Castle. Compet-' other mercantile pursuits. ing in a competition open to all of Great Britain, he won a Although Peter Henderson protested that he was "more medal offered by the Royal Botanical Society for the best at home handling a spade than a pen" he was a prolific herbarium of native and exotic plants. writer, not only in personal correspondence, but as a Arriving in New York in 1843 with but three sovereigns published author. Hovey's Magazine, published in Bos­ in his pocket, he set out hopefully to obtain employment. ton, printed his first article wh ich was on the transplanting His first interview ended in such a rebuff it made a pro­ of large trees. Other articles, primarily on vegetable cul­ found impression on him. He determined never to inflict ture but later on ornamental horticulture, appeared regu­ such rudeness on others, if and when he had any author­ larly in The Horticulturist, The Gardener's Monthly, Rural ity. Future appl icants always received courteous treat­ New-Yorker and Country Gentleman. ment throughout his lifetime and he diligently answered There was noth ing of the selfish researcher iii Peter every request made of him. Henderson. He believed in sharing his finds, stating, "I His first positions in the United States were in the consider that man particularly unfortunate who asks a nurseries of George Thorburn at Astoria, Long Island and patent for what he th inks to be a discovery in horticulture, Robert Buist, Sr. at Philadelphia, oneofthe leading nurse­ for there is a free masonry about the craft wh ich begets a rymen and florists in the country. generous exchange of information, and he that holds a Later he became a private gardener with Mr. Charles F. 'secret' to himself or intrenches his 'discovery' behind a Spang of Pittsburgh and after accumulating a capital of patent right is not usually benefitted thereby". $500, started a market garden business in Jersey City with His first book, entitled, "Gardening For Profit", was his brother James as partner. The partnership was dissol­ published in the summer of 1866. His usual work day ved after several years, with James concentrating on veg­ consisted of sixteen hours of active labor which would etable gardening solely, while Peter broadened his work have depleted the energies of an ordinary man but Peter into the ornamental fields. Henderson had the dedication and drive to devote his late 4 In 1853 he opened an office in New York with Mcilvain evening hours to his writing. His first book had a great

influence on the market-gardening and trucking interests of the country. In 1868, " Practical Floriculture" was published. This book showed how flowers and plants could best be grown for profit. It did for aesthetic gardening what his first book did for material horticulture. Next came "Gar­ dening for Pleasure" in 1875, written for the private gar­ dener and giving guide lines for the propagation and culture of flowers, vegetables and fruits. As an essayist, Peter Henderson showed his most de­ lightfulliterary form. He tempered his scientific observa­ tions with a keen and wh imsical sense of humor. These writings were published in 1884 under the title, "Garden and Farm Topics". H is fifth and most pretentious work was " Henderson's Hand Book of Plants", published in 1881. It was a large tome defin itively encyclopedic in character with over 400 pages giving botanical classification, methods of propagation and culture of both useful and ornamental plants. This book met with excellent reception, but per­ fection ist that he was, he re-wrote and enlarged it in 1889, GIVING A GRA N reading the last proofs just a month before his death . .... DISPLAy '""" In collaboration with William Grozier, a SUCCElssful During the e nt i re ~~~~ farmer of the time, he produced a book, "How The Farm -=# SE ASO N. L--'==------' L---"=='----' Pays " in 1884. He was not only a constant contributor to a score of magazines right up until the time of his death, but he was so highly esteemed that he was offered the chief editorship of " Tilton's Journal of Horticulture" at an impressive salary for the year 1869. Peter Henderson was a crusader. Being a scrupulously honest person, he had I ittle sympathy for the charlatans of the horticulture business. He exposed them in news­ papers and magazines and was exceptionally strong in his denunciations. He brought out the fact that otherwise intelligent men and women, successful in various profes­ sions and exceptionally acute in recognizing frauds, werEl gullible enough to believe the roseate promises of the flower pitchmen. He wrote, "In the springtime, when his garden instincts begin to bud and he sees in some window on Broadway flaming representations of fruits and flow­ ers, he falls into the trap and is ready for the spoiler." He deplored the swindling practiced in the fertilizer business: the packaging of ordinary fertilizer in contain­ ers with claims of specialization. One such vendor came to his office with an impressively canned fertilizer that he claimed had the wonderful propElrties of invigorating and stimulating all planted crops and at the same time would kill all noxious weeds. Henderson graphically compared the claim in an article, "If he had said he had a cannon from which, when grape shot was fired into a crowd, it killed only enemies-never friends-the one claim would have been as reasonable as the other." Peter Henderson had the type of true gen ius that upsets Above and opposite page-Late 19th Century all settled ideas. He was continually analyzing and test­ magazine advertisements for the Peter ing, never taking anything for granted and often becom­ Henderson Co. ing a controversial figure by challenging theories. He took 6 issue with Charles Darwin's statement th at certain plants such as the Drosera or Sundew and our Carolina Fly-Trap are fed by the in sects wh ich th eir wonderful structure BIGGEST PONDEROSA TOMATO enables them to catch. He made a thorough and exhaus­ AND BOTH tive experiment in his greenhouses with 400 Fly Trap AWAIT GLORY and PROfiT YOU. plants. The re sult was that the most careful comparison failed to show the sl ightes t difference between those fed with insects and those that were not so fed . He also disputed Darwin's theory of "Graft-Hybrids" and pub­ lished his views in a paper he re ad before the New York Horticultural Society in 1881 , entitled " Popul ar Errors and Scientific Dogmas in Horticulture." His questing mind overlooked no small detail. He was continually comparing methods and resu lts. In Cleve­ land, Ohio, in June of 1880, he read a paper before the annual meeting of the National Association of Nursery­ men, Florists and Seedsmen, on " The Use of The Feet In Sowing and Planting." He humbly sta rted out sayi ng that OMATO perhaps such a knowledgeab le audience would know the so v:l.luablclh:\t we pond $260 l::lstyearforthe NAMealonc when sold under the No. "400. '· This ye:'lr We think more o(it than ever and to aid in making its merits still wider known importance of the use of the feet but ca ndidly admitted we have doubled the amount 01 the money prizes. that, although he had been engaged in garden ing opera­ NOW THE N-=-FO~R~Ia=-=g-="2 """W"""E-:O'""F"""F::":ER=-S500.00 ~o~ . thF:li3d~:l:ir:lcC~~~g~!!~~':::dd~~I~O~h~~!3 ~~gt~ ~nn~8 :ui';; i~i~ s:r~c~ofdc~; tions for over a quarter of a century, he did not fully length. It should be grown to. realize until a few years ago, the full importance of how ~~~.Amrrl-wjj~ indispensable it is to use the feet in the operations of because the essential re ature ~ of EARLINESS size WEIGHT COLOR SOLIDITY and ~e~c~Tb'eti~~~em;:~~: ~fi'~~:~:~~c;~~t t~~= 5i~ ~~~~y ~di~~. in the superlative sowing and planting. He pointed out that th e loss to the l'r!ee per packet 20c, Gpa ckets fer $1. 12 packets for $1.75, 25 packets for $3. agricultural and horticultural community, from the hab it DON'T FORCET. ~~~w~~Ee,e'Ju~~AT~Lo8u~e~fE~ERy;:~r;f8 for the . OAR:DE~. (whicb alone costs us 25 cents) provided you will state w here you of loosely sowing seeds or planting plants in hot and dry saw ~blS 3dvertlsement. This Catalogue of ISO pages is bound in illuminated cov ers, :~: C':l o~~d ~~~fee: ~ta~~ :haa~~~o.:~ta~~ed~fr~~~ ~ i!t~SEE8~t=n~i}!t~N1?S~graviogs soils, is of a magnitude which few will believe until they If Catalogue alone is wanted. we will mail It on receipt of 25 cts., which amount con be deducted on first order from Catalogue. Postage stamps accepted as casb. have witnessed it. A loss he deeply regretted for the practice of "firming" was an almost certain preventive PETER HENDERSON" CO. and easily achieved. 35 & 37 Cortlandt Street. NEW YORK. As an experiment, he had sowed twelve rows of sweet corn and twelve rows of beets, treading in , after sowing, every alternate row of each . In both cases those trod in came up in four days, while those unfirmed remained twelve days before starting, and would not then have germinated had it not rained. He added an important caution, not to tread or roll in seed if the ground is not dry. His scientific interest pendulum swung in a wide arc from the highly technical to the simple and practical. Ordinarily, a man of Peter Henderson's philosophical and literary talent would not have been a good merchant. He was the rare exception, innovating sales ideas, creat­ ing advertising and promotions that the advertising hierarchy of today mightwell envy. He was the first one to use full color in his catalogs and advertisements. Their dramatic impact on the public was tremendous. Hender­ son catalogs became the Bible of the gardening world, respected for their beauty and validity. In 1872, he offered the idea of procuring all gardening supplies from one firm. His slogan was "Everything For The Garden" from seeds to lawn mowers and tools. He was the first man in the country to initiate the true and natural way of proving the vitality of seeds-by sow­ ing them in the soil. Seedmen's former plan was to germi­ nate them in moist cotton orflannel which was a mislead- 7 ing method. Many of the household words used today, such as Golden Bantam Corn and Country Gentleman Corn, came from the Henderson experiments. During his career, he introduced many novelties that have become standard varieties. Feeli ng that most lawn mowers were too heavy and cumbersome, Peter Henderson tapped his engineering genius to develop the lightest and easiest running mower possible. It was called, " The Henderson Featherweight Lawn Mower" and received enthusiastic acceptance. He was the rare type of practical dreamer who visu­ alized the ultimate in garden beauty and then proceeded to offer every possible aid to the achievement of it. The advent of a new Henderson catalog was a stellar event, eagerly anticipated by estate owners, small farmers and anyone with a miniscule plot of ground. Everyone of the 200 or more pages was studied, consulted and fol­ lowed as the definitive advice on the subject. Catalog cultists today treasure them as collector's items and they still have the power to make the reader want to dig his hands into the soil (even if only a window box in a condominium) and bring forth some of the promised magic and beauty. Because of his temperate, no drinking, no smoking life, Peter Henderson was extremely healthy. His single illness Fae-simile of Mr. H ~ n d e t'S o n l s lUfl t signature. was an attack of pleurisy in 1875. A bout with pneumonia in January, 1890, made him take to his bed briefly. Even then, he took time to pencil a reply to the editor of the Florida Dispatch regarding the famous " American Beau­ ty" rose, questioning whether it was really of American origin. His reply stated the circumstances under which the rose was found and that the variety was really an old French rose, " Madame Ferdinand Jamain" . Even in ill­ ness, the life-long habit of answering every query sent to him, and moreover answering in his personal longhand, persisted. His correspondence was voluminous. In the last twenty-five years of h is I ife, he received letters of thanks from more than seventy thousand people. In to­ day's ecology conscious world he should receive new recogn ition for his zeal in obtaining the best possible from the soil, both in material su stenance via food and aesthet­ ic enrichment via floral beauty. The measure of the man was aptly stated in one eulogy published in the Phrenological Journal, "If he had been trained to engineering in its broadest sense, literature in connection with science, law in connection with ethics, he would have been a strong man." Perhaps his contribution to mankind is best summed up by this quote from Jonathan Swift (1667-1743) Voyage to Brobdingnag, Chap. VII , Part II. " And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the 8 whole race of pol iticians put together." 9 white flesh-a favorite today of were filled with about 700 trees. many-the Mcintosh. Another old " On a spring day, in Salem, Iowa and important apple was the Baldwin on April 17, 1847, Henderson Luel­ or Woodpecker, one of the best ling, his first wife and eight children, keepers or winter apples. Before the started the traveling nursery toward days of modern fru it perservation, a the Oregon Territory. On May 17th good husbandman needed early they crossed the Missouri River. All apples-as well as those that would summer the family and nursery wag­ keep well through the long New En­ ons traveled westward. Many times gland winter. throughout the summer the trees' Soon after 1740, the Baldwin came need for water came before human up as a chance seedling on the farm needs. What a sacrifice this family of John Ball in Wilmington, Mass. It made in helping to settle the West! was cultivated and enjoyed locally. Ever since Eve seduced Adam, the And while crossing the Bear River in Some years later the farm was sold to Southeastern Idaho, one wagon and apple has been important in the lives the Butters family and because of men and women. History tells us all of its contents was 10st '~:Jne half woodpeckers I iked to frequent the of his total nursery stock. It has never the apple was first found in Persia­ tree, the fruit became known as But­ been known whether the varieties of known as the fruit of love-and is ters, Woodpecker or just Pecker. said to have caused the fall of Troy. nursery stock had been equally di­ During the Roman civilization it was About 1780, the Middlesex canal vided in to two wagons in case of was being constructed under the di­ important, cultivated and taken by such an accident or not. At least rection of a Colonel Baldwin who Henderson never confided to others the Romans to England. Many years became aware of this fine apple on this subject. later, seeds were brought to the New wh ich he propagated and promoted When nearing the mountains of World by the early settlers where the so that it was eventually given his eastern Oregon, some miles away only native apples growing were name. It is said that during the late from the Whitman Mission, Dr. small crab apples. 19th century it was the country's Whitman sent a scout to meet them, Probably a majority came from En­ single most important apple for ex­ gland with the Pilgrims, but we do to advise Henderson that it would be port. In one season, fifteen hundred know the French in Canada brought prudent to stop and locate his family barrels were exported to India alone! and the nursery stock in the Grande apples with them too, such as "Lady" Forty per-cent of all apples grown or " Fameuse". One of my own favo­ were Baldwin! But, it had a serious rite apples-the best early one for a weakness causing its eventual de­ delicious pie, is the Gravenstein mise. It only bore fruit every other which originated in Germany, and year. However, so that we will not who can forget the Red Astrachan forget this apple, so important as a brought to this country from Russia? The first apple we have record of winter keeper before the days of arti­ growing in the colonies was the Rox­ ficial refrigeration, a gran ite monu­ ment to the Baldwin was erected in bury Russetin 1649-which is said to have made the finest cider. To the Wilmington, Massachusetts. Ronde Valley of eastern Oregon, be­ colonists the apple was a mainstay of This brings me to another tale­ cause the Indians near Walla Walla, their existence. Besides being eaten that I must recount of how the whole Washington were getting hostile to­ fresh or cooked, apples produced apple and fruit industry of the west ward the settlers. But Henderson's cider and from this, vinegar, so coast started. Henderson Luelling, mind had been made up many miles necessary to the old farm for preserv­ born April 25, 1809 in Salem, North back and much time ago, and plans ing and pickling. Apples do not come Carolina, moved as a boy with his were to continue on to the Wil­ true from seed, however, so con­ family to Ohio founding a town lamette Valley. And so, in September sequently in a few years hundreds of called Salem. They soon moved into of 1847, just two months before the varieties were producing fruit in the Indiana and then Iowa in towns they Whitman Massacre, the Luelling colonies-sweet, sour, large and named Salem . From his nursery Family and nursery wagons arrived at small, early or late-some good there, we find him in 1847 planting the Whitman Mission. keepers and some poor. an assortment of apples, peaches, Soon thereafter, the nursery, live­ Thus, one day by chance, in 1870, pears, pi ums, cherries and other fru it stock and family arrived at Dalles, on the Canadian farm of a Mr. McIn­ in two specially built wagons which Oregon, on the Columbia River. All tosh was discovered that superb contained special moisture-retaining possessions and the family then, 10 seedling-with dark red skin and soil. We are told the two wagons were rafted down river to Fort Van- couver, arriving on November 17, Pippin, Seek-no-further, Rambo, King, 1847. After about a month's stay, the Golden Ru sset, Yellow Bellflower, Luell i ngs moved over to Portl and, Baldwin, Lady, White Pear m ain, Oregon, th en a small town upon the Northern Spy, Sp itze nberg, Winesap, banks of the Willamette River. The Green Newton, Jennetting, Tul pehoc­ GET A FREE nursery stock was heeled in the ken, Holland Pippin and a few lesser ground, in December, for the winter so rts." 1976 months. Almost immedi ately, Henderso n CATALOG went about locati ng property, purchas­ Colorful 92-page catalog illustrates and ing a Land Claim, where the present describes hundreds of varieties of vege­ tables a nd flowers. Many are available Waverly Country Club, near Mil­ onl y from H arris Seeds-like our famous M oreton Hybrid tomato and Pioneer hy­ waukie, Oregon is situated. A close brid carrol. For you r free copy, send us your name and address on a postcard . friend and previous traveler, William Meek, had brought so me fruit seed with him. With Henderson buying th e Th ese were among the important Land Claim on the banks of th e Wil­ and favorite apples of th e day. Early lamette River and William Meek buy­ apples and late winter keepers, sweet ing an adjacent Land Claim, a firm was apples for eatin g and others more tart established called " Luellin g and for cooking. However, w ith the advent Meek" Nurseries. of artific ial refri geration and modern Thus in the sp rin g of 1848, on th e storage methods during the 1930's, all Land Claims of " Luelling and Meek", this suddenl y changed. Th e c riterion was establi shed the first nursery and now was merely taste as all va ri eties H arris Pioneer H ybrid Carrot orchards, of th e commercial fruit var­ could be kept- hence today in our Sweet, brittl e and delicious! This vigo rous ieties, then recommended by th e markets we see only four or five stan­ quick-growin g hybrid is the ideal carrot for your garden. newly formed " American Pomologi­ dard apples-pleas in g to taste and JOSEPH HARRIS CO., INC. cal Society", upon the Pacific Coast. easy to grow. 5 Moreton Farm, It took just one year after the sta rt of Because of this and the general Rochester, N. Y. 14624 the nursery stock from Salem, Iowa to exodus from country to c ity, many Milwaukie, Oregon, until the Luellings farms were abandoned and their or­ had their nursery stock in the ground, chards left untended. During the de­ over 2000 miles from start to finish. press ion of the 1930's, a young Mr. ENERGY· How near it came to failure is here Stearns L. Davenport, a graduate from revealed . " The Family had been under the Un iversity of M assachuse tts, was SAVING the Indians' watchful eyes when pas­ hired by the state to work with the sing through the Blue Mountains of WPA to oversee cleaning up these old DOUBLE­ Eastern Oregon. And as told by a Chris­ farms to avoid the spread of disease. tian Indian, in later years, the Indians He noticed th at many of the old time WALLED had watched the strange moving trees favorite apple trees were being lost and thought them to be protected by forever as these orchards disappeared. GREENHOUSES the Great Spirit, and so the family had Thus, a few years later when Myron not been attacked." Converse, President of the Worcester FROM JUST $499 It was said by R. C. Greer, pioneer County Horticultural Society, was Now you can grow economically nurseryman of Oregon, that "Out of year 'round in the only green­ searching for a project of importance house that solves the energy­ the Prairie Schooner, that crossed the for the society to undertake, Mr. cost problem. Laboratory tested plains, mountains and deserts from Davenport, now its secretary, sug­ in Vermont, rigid double-pane thermal walls are 244% more Salem, Iowa to Mi Iwaukie, Oregon­ gested collecti ng many of the better heat efficient, shatterproof, and has come more wealth to the state of old varieties of apples and putting maintenance free . Free-standing Oregon than from any ship that has them into a " preservation" orchard. and lean -to models, no founda­ tions required. Factory direct ever entered the Columbia River." At first it was felt th is orchard should only, 5 year total house warranty. As told to Seth Luelling, his brother, be on President Converse's Farm, but Call or Write the apple varieties brought to the coast Converse recommended that for ease for Information P.O . Box 2235 , Dept. AH were Sweet June, Astrachan, Golden of maintenance, the orchard, be Grand Central Station Sweet, Summer Pearmain, Summer placed on the farm of Mr. Davenport in New York, N.Y. 10017 (212) 686·0173 Bellflower, Gravenstein, Red Cheek North Grafton. Davenpost was run- 11 ning a substantial production orchard and thus care and supervision were Following is a lising of the old varieties of apples in the Orchard. simplified. Mr. Davenport was truly a modern day " Johnny Appleseed". Alexander Jefferis Saint lawrence American Beauty Jonathan Sa lome He and the Society's Fr uit Commit­ American Pippin Seekonk Sweeting Lady tee developed a list of some 60 old Shepards Sweeting time favorites and set out to find them. Baldwin ' Lady Sweet Shiawassee Late Strawberry Among these were the Roxbury Russet, Ben Davis Smokehouse Benoni Lyscom Lady, Westfield-seek-no-further and Sommerset of Maine Black Gilliflower Sops of Wine Mcintosh Sops of W ine-what lovely names! For Blue Pearmain Stark Maiden's Blush many years he looked for the Sterling Stone Malinda Canada Red Summer Bellflower or American Beauty and finally found Melon Canada Reinette Summer Rose an old tree growing right nearby in Mother Chenango Strawberry Sterl ing. One of the apples desired, the Sutton Beauty Cox Orange Newtown Spitzenburg Swaar High-Top Sweeting, originally grown Crow Egg Nodhead Sweet Bough in New Eng land seemed to have com­ Nmthern Spy Sweet Winesap pletely disappeared unti I after years of 'Davey Northern Sweet searching, it was fou nd growing in Deacon Jones Thompkins King Duchess of Oldenburg Oliver Ca liforn ia, probably taken there by Titus Pippin Dyer Opalescent Toman Sweet Luell ing. Ortley Twenty Ounce Th is collection of some 60 varieties Early Harvest was completed by Mr. Davenport in Early Joe Palmer Greening Wagener 1968. He was then 81 years old. Be­ Early William Paragon Washington Greening English Beauty Peck's Pleasant cause of his age, M r. Davenport could Washington Strawberry Esopus Spitzenburg Pewaukee Wealthy no longer operate the farm and pro­ Pomme Grise Wellingtofl Bloomless duction orchard and he sold it to a Fallawater Porter Westfield, Seek-No-Further gentleman named Poulin. The Society Fa ll Pippin Pound Sweet White Pippin th,us had their collection of old var­ Fameuse Primate Winter Banana Pumpkin Russet ieties now on Mr. Poulin's land. For a (Winthrop) Greening Garden Royal Pumpkin Sweet Winter Pearmain few years, Mr. Po ulin contracted to Golden Russet Wolf River maintain and care for the col lection, Golden Sweet Rambo Wright but in 1970 announced that he could Gravenstein Ralls not continue and would cancel our Grimes Golden Ramsdell Sweet Yellow Bellflower agreement. Fortunately, a friend and Red Astrachan Ye llow Newtown Hawley Red June Yellow Transparent neighbor, O ld Sturbridge Vi llage, felt High Top Sweeting Rhode Island Greening that th is was a logical extension of its Hubbardston Ribston Utter New England Vi ll age Museum and of­ Hunt Russet Roman Stem fered to al low us to move the whole Huntsman Roxbury Russet Vandevere collection to Sturbridge. Five acres of 'Not an old variety woodland on the north side of a hill (perfect for an orchard) were cleared Items we're searching for: and fenced. Meantime, Mr. S. James M istark of the Horticultural Society Arkansas Black Rusty Coat Green Sweet was busy grafting al l the old varieties Bullock Sheriff Holland Pippin Cole's Quince Summer Pearmain Mclellan on to new root stock using dwarf maI­ Domine Winter Sweet Paradise Margaret ling No. VII. Golden Pippin Yellow Sheepnose Moore Sweet Wh il e discussing this special or­ Green Sweet Baker Priestly chard, I would be rem iss not to men­ Harvey Black Jersey Pryor tion briefly that all the preservation Lowell Chandler Red Russet Mann trees are being grown on dwarfed root Cogswell Sweet and Sour Minkler Cooper Sweet Greening stock EM VII. Although dwarfed fruit Pennock Danvers Sweet Tufts trees are very old, begining with the Plumb Cider Early Strawberry Victuals and Drink Greeks in the thi rd century before Richard Graft Gloria Mundi Winesap Christ, fruit production did not begin (Monstrous Pippin) until the nineteenth century. In the 12 early 1900s, Sir Rona ld Hatton of the East Mailing Resea rch Station in Kent, England, collected all the best root stocks from many countries, and grew them into pure clonal lines. He intro­ duced sixteen of them to the trade as George Washington's sta ndardized, true to name, root stocks. The so ca lled " Mailing" " Ea st M ai­ River FarDl Facilities ling" or EM rootstocks are w idely used not only in En gland but here and in other countries. For our climate, we find the EMVII best. These trees grow 12 to 15 feet high and bear fruit in one-third the time it takes a stand ard tree. These trees thus ca n be pruned, sprayed and picked by a man sta nding on the ground-much faster and easier than the old method requiring tall lad­ ders for working the old fu ll size trees. Scions from the Preservation Or­ c h ar~ have been sh ipped to every state in this country, Canada, Mexico, En­ gland and Denmark. Many historical projects suc h as Williamsb urg, Vir­ ginia have been supplied scions from the original orchard. The Soc iety will continue to send out the sc ionwood which will eventually be taken from Available for Garden Club Meetings, the S. Lothrop Davenport Preservation Orchard at Old Sturbridge Village. The Tours, Lectures, Luncheons. orchard is being operated as a joint responsibility of the two institutions. It The River Farm Mansion a t the American Horticultural Society's Na­ ti o nal Headquarters in Mount Ve rnon, Virgi ni a, offers a delightful change may be visited with special permission of pace for your next garden club meeting o r program. Our beau ti fu l ball­ from Old Sturbridge Village which room can be set up in conference, classroom or luncheon style to accom­ plans to se ll cider and fruit of the old modate your needs. In good weather our large walkout terrace provides varieties as soon as ava ilable, (i n two a perfect setting for luncheons, teas, o r cocktai ls. or three years.) If you li ke, a pri vate guided to ur over the historic grounds can be arranged, including a dra ma ti c slide presenta ti on "Thro ugh the Seasons at Grafting scions and budstock for the River Fa rm." A lso avail able is a to ur of AHS's Plant Sciences Da ta Center. propagation of these trees are distrib­ We can a lso offer suggesti o ns regarding caterers and lec turers for your uted by the Worcester County Hor­ conveni ence. ti cultural Society, 30 Elm Street, Wor­ River Farm Cottage Shop cester, Mass., which also maintains a A highli ght of your day is certain to be a browse through the River superb library specializing in books on Farm Cottage, offering exotic and rare plants for sale, a unique array of fruit. pots, gardening aids, the latest in horticultural books and gifts. Usuall y To be at their best, apples ought to there w ill be at least one specia l display of unusual pl a nt material such as be eaten in orchards, framed in Au­ bonsai miniatures, dried flower a rrangements, tray gardens .. offering new and creati ve ideas for professional and a mateur plant enthusiasts tumn sunshine. We feel there is no alike. Proceeds from the sales are used in maintenance and development apple grown today that can compare of River Farm as a Nati onal Horticultural Center. with these old time favorites-maybe Fo r details about River Fa rm facilities and programs, the River Farm it's our lost childhood-rather than Cottage shop, assista nce in pla nning your meetings, luncheons, teas, tours, lost varieties that is hard to find. contact Bettie Coombs a t our headqua rters office (703) 768-5700. Fortunately, so me 115 of the best of Mon.-Fri. 9:00-5:00 the old apple varieties are still being Contributions are normall y involved to cover expenses. grown in the S. Lothrop Davenport The Society reserves the ri ght of scheduling events a t the River Fa rm . Prese rvation Orchard at Old Stur­ bridge Village, Sturbridge, Mass. 13 ffigSouth Lorraine Burgess 202 Old Broadmoor Road Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80906 Color Photos: Guy Burgess

With the first hint of spring, desert the blustery weather the rose. A journey through these fine ' pleasure grounds' of the north and drive south to visit the remarkable garden will launch your gardening year, even it if is still snowy estates of Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and North and when you return home. Having seen the first sprouting of South Carol ina. a sub-tropical spring, having reveled in the beauty of Wander at your leisure through the Sarah Duke Gar­ azaleas, rhododendrons, and white and pink dogwood, dens on the Duke Un iversity campus at Durham, North you can return home inspired, to participate in a second Carolina. Spend several days at Colonial Williamsburg, spring in your own, still beautiful, home town. Virginia watching the quickening of life in the 100 or If you wish a I isting of botan ic gardens and horticu Itural more small gardens among the restored houses, and in the institutions in the U .S., consult the AHS Directory of magnificent Palace Gardens. Enjoy the Pavillion garden American Horticulture. designs on the University of Virginia campus at Char­ lottesville, and Thomas jefferson's home at Monticello. BELOW-Spacious lawn with live oak tree hung with Spanish moss, Theodore Alabama, Do a circle tour of the gardens around Charleston, Bellingrath Gardens. South Carolina, including the Cypress, Magnolia, and Middleton Place estates, and of course the old town gar­ RIGHT-Underplanting of Coronation Gold dens of the harbor city. Search out the Orton Plantation pansies with Oxford tulips (foreground) and and the Greenfield Gardens at Wilmington, North violets around daylily clumps under Flowering Parkman crab in Sarah Duke gardens, Durham, Carolina, and the Tryon Palace at New Bern, North N.C. Carolina. Spend a week, if you can, at the Callaway Gardens at Pine Mountain, Georgia. This is a complete resort, with lakes for swimming and boating, a fine golf course, and handsome, naturalized gardens. Travel further south to the Cypress Gardens at Winter Haven, Florida, or bend down to the Gulf, and visit the Bellingrath Gardens at Theodore, Alabama. Bellingrath has huge live oak trees beside great expanses of emerald-green lawn, and an excellent japanese garden in a separate ravine. Around New Orleans the choice is wide. First you should visit the Vieux Carre private gardens in the histori­ cal old town, and then the Longue Vue Gardens on an estate in a newer section of the city. Formal in character, the Longue Vue designs feature dancing fountains and ballerinas in early evening concert in a silvan garden setting. Out from New Orleans you can go up river to the Rosedown Plantation at LaFayetteville, of the Live Oak Gardens, formerly Rip Van Winkle Gardens at jefferson Island, or northwest to the Hodges Gardens at Many, Louisiana. At Shreveport you should visit the Barnwell Center, and look in on the new American Rose Center now under development. It has a series of gardens and water features, 14 all dedicated to the display of the nation's favorite flower,

Low When you are through raising a large family, have them all happily Maintenance. married and in homes of their own, it is tim€l to take a hard look at the grand old house in which you have been Gardening for living all this time. Sure it has memories, and you like the arrange­ ment of things-but, the garden­ TWo Old COdgers isn't it pretty large? Are there young people around to browbeat into mowing the lawn, pulling the weeds, by Donald Wyman AHS Past President raking the leaves and shoveling the snow? How can two peopl€l live hap­ pily in a twenty room house and an acre or so of gard€ln without being dog-tired each night from the care thereof? Anyway, we crossed the bridge, and ate riow enjoying life to th€l hilt, as a matriarch and a patriarch should. House-wise w e are down to a small condominium type place, all on one floor and simply love it. No grass to mow, no snow to shovel, if the water faucet leaks we make believe we don' t und €l rstand plumbing and call the superintendent. When we want to take a trip for a week end or for six weeks, w~ lock the front door, call the superintendent and forget all about the place until we return. That is living! But, we like to grow plants and want a garden, and certainly neither of us would be happy without one. Rules are, that we can not plant any­ th ing in front of the house, but that we can have a IIfoundation planting" at the rear. Also, we fortunately have a hundred or so feet of woods at the rear where we are " experimenting" with all sorts of plants. One of us is an eternal optimist where plants are concerned, and she believes every­ thing will grow in the shade, on a gravelly base with plenty of root competition from the pines and oaks-and she keeps planting. The other of us, sits back and gri ns, taking it easy on the terrace while she gets into all sorts of problems with that woodsy planting. He is almost cer- 16 tain of the outcome, yet there is suffi­ in a bouquet outlast severa l arr ange­ that is March, until Th anksgiving. She cient doubt to make him look and ments of florist-purchased flowers in has her favorites, and although he take notice once in a wh i Ie just to see the foregrou nd. may not think so much of so me of what she is doing. Watering was not a serious prob­ them, they have to go in until that He has supplied her with a goal to lem for the roof was without gutters time w hen she ag rees they " may" be reach for-a well estab li shed founda­ and hence an ample supply of water a little out of place-then they are tion planting about that little house. always fe ll on the fo undation plant­ relegated to the woods. Whenever Formerl y, both of them had large ing during every rain. Even during we ag ree that a plant is rea ll y out of garden s, worked in them in cessa ntly, droughts, w hen they were away, a place, grows too much, or neither of and when, at the experi enced age of neighbor or a daughter, would water us likes it-{)ut it comes. (It must be three score years and ten they de­ once a week if it were absol utely obvious to the reader that these two cided to marry a seco nd time (with necessary. (Some of the neighbors in old codgers not onl y derive fun from the whole hea rted approval of so me this little "vi ll age" wanted to do a lot growin g the plants, but in spending a 33 children, gra ndchildren and in­ more than just water when we were co nsiderab le time talking about laws) they were confronted with a away, but we fe lt their enthusiasm them, and th?t is the case.) small space for the garden. After deep might lead to other problems so we Our suggestio n is to li st those thought it was decided that was satis­ let it go at just wateri ng.) plants you like, see ifthey fit into your factory for they wanted to trave l To aid with the weedi ng problem, scheme of th in gs, then use them. Th e anyway. But, 300 sq uare feet for an a mulch is always much in ev idence, plants suggested here are certainl y interes ting ga rden ? It was easy! in our case peat moss, for it is eas il y not the onl y ones by any mea ns, but First we set up a few policies, be­ obtained and eas il y applied. Actu ­ they are the ones we have chose n. fore even sta rtin g to se lect the pi ants. all y, on his part of the garden (the First would be the low woody All plants had to be in the " low foundation planting) he onl y had to plants. Dwarf w hite pine and dwarf maintenance" category, that is , weed twice-this past year-a total hemlock both of which are important under fou r feet in height, no se ri ous of two ho urs compa rative ly easy for winter interest. Leucothoe, warty disease or in sect problems, eas il y work. I n her part of the garden (the barberry, Ch amaecyperus obtusa grown without spec ial soi l condi­ woods) it seemed she was always 'Nana', mountain-l aurel (it must be tions or locations needed. Then, to fussing about w hen she was home, pruned), Pieris floribunda ' Mill­ keep up interest throughout the grow­ but he never did keep track of the stre am' is one of the low evergreens, ing season, there had to be a se­ amount of time she spent for he felt it Mahonia nervosa, Juniperus conferta quence of bloom. She, being very would eventuall y prove wasted (a n excellent low gro und cover), feminine, always kept him on nee­ effort-although ad mitted ly it has not Caylussacia brachycera the box­ dles and pins for she would never been so yet. Th vt woods garden with huckleberry, the Wi Ison rhodo­ agree to being away from home at its rock plants, low sh rubs and bulbs dendron wh ich must also be kept any particular season. They both is very beautiful, and he is always ri gidly pruned after it is through flow­ liked to travel, hence the garden hopefu I that there is enough of inter­ ering, all are a few of the good ever­ should be of interest at all seasons. est there for the squ irrels, chipmunks, greens to add year-round interest, She is an avid "arranger" and al­ rabbits, ground hogs, crows and especially during th e winter. The yel­ though he likes his plants to be kept pheasa nts, to keep them away from low leaved Japanese barberry a de­ just so, to keep her interest, he had to his foundation planting. c iduous shrub, is one of her pets and allow herto "prune" anything for use In our foundation planting (o f only is always appearing in her arrange­ in bouquets in the house. This saves 300 sq uare feet) there are approxi­ ments for its excellent yellow fol iage. him work, gives her enjoyment, and mately 200 different things. Admit­ He has inserted the red leaved 'Crim­ frequently provides a good base for a tedly every time we try to dig in a new so n Pygmy' as one of h is. Cotoneaster hot argument! Some of the shrubs bulb or perennial, we find so mething horizontalis for its fruits, Rhododen­ will grow out of scale and have to be is already there, but usually we can dron ' P.J .M .' which must also be kept down to a proper size anyway squeeze an additional treasure in. An rigidly res trained, are some of those and this arrangement, although it has experienced gardener (and most included. its ups and downs, works well in the grandparents are in this category) Such sh rubs are not bunched in the long run and seems to keep arrange­ knows where to find lists of plants planting, but distributed along where ments indoors at all times. A few from which to select the proper ones. they will appear to best advantage. Leucothoe branches as a background We have bloom from earliest spring, Co ntinued on page 21 17 By: Lorraine Burgess 202 Old Broadmoor Road Colorado Springs Colorado 80906 Photos: Guy Burgess Snd Beautiful

HowersThatBloomin the Spring

ABOVE-Red Robin tulips race the snows to perform their celebration of Spring. RIGHT-Red Emperor tulips, when in full bloorr reveal a black, yellow-edged base. Early 18 Flowering, it is a giant beauty.

It is wonderfully ex citing to have flowers in your ga rden that are bold enough and strong enough to bloom in th e snow. To achieve this small­ sca le miracle in February and March, you must plant at least a bushel of bulbs th e previous fall. Choose a sunny well-drained corner of your garden, and then forget them until you get an xious for the wonders of the new foliage year. Each bulb is a complete plant pack­ age in itself. It carries its own food and it will send out roots during the winter sufficient to take in from the soil the moisture it needs. As a token gesture choose Snow Drops (Calanthus), also known as Early blooming reticulata iris 'Cantab' does best in a shelt~red corner, nestled in a cluster of dried leaves. Christmas Bells in single or double forms. Tuck Crape Hyacinths (Mus­ rieties. After they bloom allow the Darwins, the Oriental Griegii, the cari) under shrubs or on a rocky leaves to ripen so they may provide shaggy Parrots, the lily-flowering slope. M. azureum is a bright blue. new food for the bulbs for the follow­ vase-shaped blooms, and the M. botryoides album, a sparkling ing year. After they turn brown you bunch-flowering Bouquet strains. No white. Plant the lesser-known Winter can cut the lawn without harming the wonder the madness and the popu­ Acon ite (Eranthus), a buttercup yel­ crocus plants. larity associated with this favorite low in the shade of trees . Start with a spring-flowering bulb. Plant daffodils on sloping ground dozen or two bulbs and, in a few Bulbs differ from other perennials in random drifts. If they are in well­ years, by self-seeding you will have a in that their rootlets die back each drained soil and fertilized each whole colony of flowers. Aconite year, with only the bulb surviving. spring, they will prosper and increase blooms so early it stands ready to Their growth cycle departs from for years to come. Choose from greet the crocus, and it does not seem normal, lasting only a short time in white, yellow, even pink varieties in to mind bad weather. early spring. It is better to plant them a myriad of standard and unusual Try some tiny squills (Pu schkinia) apart from perennials that need much forms, with long and short trumpets, with all-wh ite flowers, or stri ped, to water in summer months, a time and single or double petal groupings. clear blue. P. libanotica grows with when the bulbs prefer dryer feet. Use Include Poetaz Narcissi and the hyb­ stalks of pale blue flowers in thicker them instead with blue fescue, vinca, rid jonquils. Find a place, close by clusters. Include wood hyacinths or ajuga, ground covers that survive the house, for miniature daffodils in (Scilla hispanica) in white, pink, and well with a minimum of moisture. cyclamen, trumpet, or bulbous deep blue as company for taller daf­ The continuing life of a bulb is largely hoop-petticoat forms. fodils or tulips, or use the shorter S. dependent upon the nature of its divi­ siberica in a jeweled sapphire blue as Consider the unexpected beauty of sion (A hyacinth splits after the first a base for naturalized mass plantings. the species Iris reticulata. Almost as year' s bloom, forming new small Spot some sweet-scented hyacinths early as crocus, they are hardy and bulbs, and does not bloom again for among your other spring flowers. bright in color. The basic color of the several years until the new bulbs They and narcissi bring you the first reticulata is deep purple, but there have grown large enough for the sweet fragrance of spring. Hyacinths pale blues (I.r. cantab) and a mul­ cycle to repeat itself.) Because of the are available in an ever widening berry (I.r. Joyce) for you to choose unpredictability of the tulip, it is gen­ range of colors, white, yellow, Delft from. erally grown as a crop plant, being blue, purple, and more recently, Finally, welcome the tulip in all its lifted after bloom, and replaced with bright red . Their flowers last longer wondrous variations. Start with the some kind of annual. Happily, most than those of other bulbs, spanning early-blooming species and botani­ other bulbs live and increase with no the hiatus between the daffodils and cals (T. persica), (T. da systemon), more than a generous top dressing of the late tul ips . (T. kaufmanniana), (T. c!usiana), and richly-manured soil or other fer­ Toss crocus bulbs on your lawl'l, (T. saxatilis). From these small but tilizer. (Do not add manure to the soil and then dig them in, where they fall , colorful ancestors have come all the as you plant the bulbs.) You are deal­ down under the sod. Select from great hybrids of history, the Fos­ ing with a renewable miracle, so 20 white, purple, striped, and gold va- terianas, the fringed Crispas, the enjoy the encounter, year after year. LOW MAINTENANCE pea n w il d gin ger (Asarum europe­ WRITERS WHY WAIT? GARDENING aum ) has evergree n leaves, is onl y PUBLISH YOUR BOOK IN 90 DAYS a nd get expert editing. design , manu­ about six inc hes ta ll , and spreads facture . publici ty . promotion and advertising Continued from page 17 -a ll under one roof a t low costs Two free thickly and slowly. M yrtle is good, books and literature give details and su c­ but ca n' t be all owed to spread to cess stories. Write or call Dept.393 However, th ey are the fi rst ones put Exposilion Press, Inc., 900 So . Oyster Bay Rd .. Hicksville. N.Y. 11801 (516) 822.5700 in the foundation planting, for th ey much. Moneywort or Creep in g Char­ are th e most important. Th en one li e has merit, and th ere are several considers th e placement of th e pe­ colored forms of A juga that ca n be placed here and there under so me of WATER LILIES renni als and th e bu lbs. Both groups GOLDFISH. SCAVENGERS are essentia l for continuing interest the woody plants. As th ey increase, AQUATIC PLANTS. LIGHTS th ey are dug up and placed to aug­ PUMPS. FILTERS. FOUNTAINS and bloom. FIBERGLASS GARDEN POOLS. KOI ment the woods planting. Ga lax, a Send S1.00 (deduct on first order) today for yo ur new copy of Hosta s, especially the variegated colorful 48 page catalog. SInce 1917 charmi ng I ittle eve rgreen from th e THREE SPRINGS FISHERIES ones, we have included along w ith 1546 AMHORT ROAD, lILYPONS, MD 21717 pachysandra and its va riega ted va ri ­ So uth finds a small spot in th e shade, and Bi shop's hat or Epimedium is ety. Coreopsos auriculata ' Nana' is a GROUND COVER placed near the hemlock w here it is good low plant w ith bright orange Engli sh I vy or Pach- always a dense mass of fo l iage. One flowers for nearly eight weeks during ycsauttndraing-s. 1Myrt yr. hel eavy - I I I I 6- 1 2 run .~ers per.1111 • o r two copper co lo red forms of the summer. Dicentra ex imes blooms clump . Pri ces r efer . • heather have been inc luded, but to anyone. Space all . .. I I in our ga rden from Jun e until frost. items on 6" sq uares. though certain ly colorfu l, are not We placed it in front of th e ye ll ow DWARF ROSE HEDGE ROSA RUGOSA leaved Japa nese barberry where I happy w ith our winters. Christmas 25 (50 ft. hedge) for $9 .95 rose is another li ttle plant right ou t­ 50 (100 ft. hedge) for $17.95 thought it looked extremely well, but 100 (200 ft. hedge) for S33.95 side our dining window where we ALMOST EVERBLOOMING . For small property she informed me th at the colors hedge . Bright pink flowers . Brick-red fruit, ca n see it doing its thing even w hen or hips. in fall. use d in ielly making clashed, so itwill be moved. Another Stands some sa l t sp ray. surrounded by snow. Postpaid at planting time. No . C.O.O.'s. little plant is Potentilla tridentala, Pa . destinations add 6% tax. with small wh ite flowers and ever­ When these p lants, and many MUSSER Box 31 B 181111 green leaves wh ich never grow over others are arranged and pi anted, then twelve inches ta ll, so for th at reaso n it is time for th e bulbs, for these bring we planted it on th e corn er of the flowers early in the season before border, in front. other plants are off to a good sta rt. Snowdrops, grape hyacinths, sc i li as, var ious croc us varieties and the lower growin g narcissus are so me. Especiall y included, near the front of the planting are severa l clumps of the Some of the taller perenni als ve ry low and diminutive Narcissus would includeastilbe, Christmas fern asturiensis which is always extremel y (wh ich we have planted in a promi­ interes ting in th e early sp ring for it nent place where we ca n see it fro m blooms at about the same time as our For every gardener the dining room all winter), Iberis spec imen plant of Adnois amurensis. there is a perfect JANCO se mpervirens, A lc hemelia alpina, Double bloodroot is given a special ... including the new Sedum spectabile for its large flower spot at the borders edge in front of the cluster in the fal l, Liatri s, th e gas dwarf wh ite pine. Li I ies in the low-cost Belair Janco all-aluminum plant, Maries' balloon fl ower. She bac kground and a few ornamental greenhouses fit any simply had to have th e oriental o inions lend summer intere st and fa ll site and every bud­ get. From the Win­ poppy from her old garden, but I croc us surprises us every autumn dow Garden to the think it is too large for its space­ with its unexpected appearance. Chesapeake there is a Janco to fit your however it stays . Coral bell s, Aster An interest ing low maintenance .- specifications. Now frikartii, meadowsweet, leopard s­ ga rden ca n be planted and be easily there's Belair - same fine quality but standard sizes save you bane, pink yarrow, Veronica lon­ maintain ed by tired, worn out, money. Write for FREE catalog. gifolia and even Hemeroca llis, are grandparents. It does not include AGENT OPENINGS: a few select areas fitted in at proper places. much effort on their pa rt, only so me need representatives. Write Janco Sales Manager. Naturally there is room for a few ca reful and experienced se lection. JANCO GREENHOUSES speading ground covers, for this aids A ll grandparents are experienced Dept. AH-2 J. A. Nearing Co., In c. in reduc in g the space for weeds. Vi o­ and growing a few plants ca n help 10788 Tu cker Street lets are always a good se lection for keep them young in spirit for many a Beltsville, Md. 20705 so me bl oom a long time. The Euro- year to come! 301-937 -3300 21 NSAI Clifton Pottberg, President Cro ton Hill Farms, Inc. , Sparks, MD.

The choice is yours. Bonsai can provide you with a hobby, a totally engrossing pastime, or a way of life. The job of learning the particular synthesis of art, tech­ nique, craft and science that is bonsai is not simple. But it is straightforward and highly rewarding. Many of the techn iques used are appl icable to other aspects of garden­ ing. The creation of satisfying bonsai is not something requiring many years to do. What is bonsai? In Japanese, bonsai means "tray plant­ ing". The word used to be hachi-no-ki, meaning a " potted tree" , and it implied a trained tree in a pot. The word bonsa i was invented to distinguish the trained tree which looks like a natural big tree, from a tree trained in any other way, which might look like an ideograph, or a pompommed topiary, or whatever. Bonsai is not bonsai if it isn' t in a pot. Basically, bonsai is the creation of a model-not a duplicate-or the shape of the adult, mature tree (or trees, or total landscape) in miniature. Living plant materials are used as the medium of expression, and are potted in a container which is visually compatible with the plant. Even this explanation is a vast oversimpl ification, but it is useful for our purposes. The job is too big if we concern ourselves with the additionally important and fascinating study of Japanese philosophy, or the onion layers of sig­ nificance which attach to any form of beauty, abstract or otherwise. In this article, we will only attempt decipher­ ing the "how to" of the art. In styling a bonsai, we change the shape of the small tree to make it fool our eye into th inking it is a larger tree, out of perspective. To do this, we must discover how a mature tree differs from a young tree. The ways are numerous; here are a few: • Leaves and secondary branches are much smaller relative to the overall size of the tree (we can't duplicate c the smallness in bonsai, but we can dwarf the leaves Q) ~ significantly with proper culture after a few years). C- '"Q) • The trunk is generally thicker relative to the height Cl vi and the branch th ickness. We can't magically increase the ::i trunk thickness if we wish a quick bonsai. We waitseveral o ;:;­ years for the trunk to thicken while the plant is growing, ~ ::> often leaving it in the ground for that purpose. Or we can a u cut back and reduce the height of the plant relative to the a ..c 22 trunk thickness. c.."

• There is more taper to the trunk. • Roots form a strong buttress at the base of the tree. • The bark is more gnarled and rugged (this is also developable in bonsai, but it takes time). • There is generally more branching. In many ever­ green con ifers the branches actually descend. In other trees the final form is what is termed "broom style", an upside down broom shape, typified by the American el m. • Both forms are rarely found among young trees but are duplicable with training in bonsai. • The apex of the tree is not fast growing and pointed but slowed and rounded or occasionally almost flat. • The foliage is usually fuller, and on the conifers, the fol iage of each branch is layered with a flat, frond-I ike effect. . Obviously, the more differences between young and mature trees that we discover and use; the more gracefu I, rough, majestic, strong, old, large and beautiful we can make the little plant look, the better. To use these variances in shape to transform the small plant actually requires only elem~ntary horticultural theory. In pruning and shaping the plant, the basic prun­ ing techniques of thinning and heading are selectively Author winds tree with copper wire to achieve used. They are also combined with a technique of shap­ desired shape. Note how severely the limbs have been pruned. ing wherein copper or other soft wire is wound spirally about parts of the tree to bend them to new shapes. So the angular and part being straight, or gently curved. process of shaping a bonsai is relatively simple. Let's The look of the root structure and the position of the explore it. roots around the trunk must be taken into account. If the ' We can start with a seedling, cuttting, or grafted plant, roots are crossed or uneven, or there are few visible roots, and train it by frequent pruning and occasional wiring as perhaps most of them being beh ind the tree, a new root it grows. We can also take a larger plant and prune it back system must be grown, or a new front of the tree found. Of and wire it. The first method is slow, but such training course, with some plants, a new surface root system from the beginning often gives better results. The other is grows quickly, and we needn 't worry about the appear­ faster and can provide us with a larger bonsai. Sometimes ance of the roots. These types of trees, which include naturally dwarfed plants can be found in the wild which several junipers, result in an ea sier job of making bonsai . can be made into masterpieces quickly. In this article we'll take a piece of nursery material or a similar plant The next step is to pick the branches wh ich wi II remain, and analyze the components of the work of styling it into and prune away the rest. This is perhaps the most difficult what looks like a large tree. The result will not be a step. Branches must be chosen which are healthy, with finished product, for the refined appearance of bonsai thicker and longer basal branches. They must be picked will take some time after the initial styling to develop; a in such a fash ion as not to suggest a man-made pattern of better term is "bonsai in training." branch placement. The object is to create a feeling of Since every side of every potential trunk line is differ­ three dimensionality to the tree without hiding too much ent, a side which looks best must be picked to be the front of the trunk. Branches should not be equidistant nor one of the tree. Ifthe tree has many upward growing branches, directly over another. To aid the student, the Japanese we can select a branch to continue the line of the lower have devised a rule which we call the " rule of three" in trunk, cutoff the trunk above it, and wire the branch into a branch placement. Basically it is the picking of bran ches new position. Often in th is way the height of the tree can in groups of three in the following fashion: one, more or be reduced, not only increasing the apparent th ickness of less to the s ide of the tree, one, more or less to the back, the trunk, but the taper as well. If there are flaws in the and the next to the other side, in asce nding order. The shape of the trunk, we can possibly change it now with process is then repeated. This is a rule of thumb which wire or hide the flaws with foliage. In general, the line of considerably reduces the memory burden of the student the trunk, which is the unifying force of the whole tree, when trying to sort out the branches. must itself be a unity. It must be graceful and strong in After the excess branches are pruned away, the remain­ appearance and maintain the same type of curves along ing ones will be wired and bent into their new shapes. If the whole length of the trunk. If part of it is angular for we have decided to simulate the shape of a mountain 24 example, it all must be angular, rather than part being pine, spruce, or fir, the branches are gently bent down So il is then settled around and among th e roots and a layer of topsoi l is added to support moss or other small ground cover. Fin all y the whole is carefu ll y but thoroughly w a­ tered. After potting, a two w eek res t period in th e shade fo ll ows for th e tree. During this time, syringing is es pe­ ciall y important. Transpiration and its res ultant w ater loss must be held to a min imum to avo id more strain on an alrea dy severely w ea ken ed root system. But shortly, if the soil w as w ell chosen, and kept moist, th e roots wi ll beg in growing again , crea tin g many new w ater absorbing root tips, and the plant w ill revi ve. In bon sa i, th e soil which is used must have properties ve ry close ly matching th e optimal conditions for he alth of a given plant. The major necessa ry qualities are : fas t drainage, relati ve ly low w ater retention, ae ration, a cor­ rect ac idity balance, and sharpn ess of soil particl e edges. All of these factors promote root hea lth and a max imum number of root tips. Often a bonsa i tree is healthier than its counterp art in th e ground, where less th an perfect soil conditions usually ex ist. One successfu l soi l mix used by many bonsa i hobbyists After ro ots are prun ed , the " bonsai in training" is nothing more th an a mi x of large particled sharp sa nd, is placed in pot. and cl ay granules used as a litter in cat pa ns. A caution here: a few brands of cat litter are not ba ked at a high from the trunk to resemble th e aged droop of th e branches enough temperature to maintain th eir gra nul ar consis­ of the mature tree. Fu rther pruning of the foliage, cutting tency; a few others will li st dangerous chemi ca l add itives. back of the branches and secondary w iring follows to Decomposed granite, w here ava il able, is also used as a finish shap ing the fo liage and to complete th e bas ic styl­ base fo r th e soi l mix. ing. Later, when new growth occ urs which is out of Nutrients are obviously important too, but th ey were harm ony with the shape we wish to maintain, it is omitted from th e li st of soil requirements since they may pinched off when young and tender. This pinching off be added graduall y later. In fact, metering food to a totally also helps to refin e and fi ll out the foliage. non-nutritive so il allows us to give th e pl ant exactly the O nce the top of the plant ha s been shaped, the roots amount necessary to su stain max imum health, without must be pruned to fit in a pot. The pot should be chosen much growth occurring. However, it is even more impor­ carefully. It must be able to hold enough root sys tem to tant to use slow release ferti l izers for bonsai th an for other nourish the plant and to keep the composition from look­ plants. The bonsa i roots are confined and thus susceptible ing top heavy. On the other hand, if the pot is too large it to injury. For the most part, an y slow, gentle, genera l w ill decrease the apparent size of the tree. Further, the purpose fert ilizer used at about half normal strength, w ill color of the pot must not detract from, but rather accent do. The feeding schedule shou ld start in early spr in g, and any color interest of the tree. This is especiall y important contin ue through mid-summer and then stop. This wi ll si nce we see color before form, and bonsai is primari ly an help avo id caus ing any late growth w hich may not have art of form. Th is is why so many unglazed brown pots are time to become cold hardy by the first frost. used for bonsai. Likethe frame to a picture, the fu nction of If adequate protection is give n the bonsa i during each th e pot is to harmon ize w ith the lines and curves and winter dormancy period: if it is fed and watered carefu ll y; rhythm of the tree. Unlike a frame, it is not there just to pruned w hen neces sary; if the wire is removed before the delineate the visible part of the landscape in which the ca mbium grows out around it; the tree w ill continue to tree is growing, but also to suggest the rest of the land­ improve aesthetically indefinitely. scape beyond the pot, thus creating an " un stated ele­ Some plants, like the poplar, have short life spa ns and ment", which adds so much to oriental art. Of course, the shouldn't be used. Even when those plants w ith other use of the unstated element is just as important as the tree poor qualities, e.g. leaves that are too large, are cu ll ed itse lf. from the list, the number of good plants for bonsa i re­ After the pot is prepared with potsherd s or screen over ma in s great. Even indoor tropica l pi ants can be used for the ample drainage holes, a large particled bottom drain­ bonsai. Th ey may not always live as long as outdoor age layer is added. Th e roots must be ca refully pruned to bonsa i but st ill make excell ent material. fit in the pot. Th e tree is placed so that it and the pot are in balance (not sy mmetry) to create a unified compos ition. Continued on page 40 25 lye s Oconee hybrid (Judge Reynolds) Rhododendron cal endulaceum (orange)

I find my favorite is the plant that may be in bloom at a Several species such as Rhododendron nudiflorum, particular season or the one that I happen to be looking at Rhododendron ca/endulaceum, Rhododendron bakeri, at the time. A garden cannot be made up of just one plant and Rhododendron vaseyi are hardy to Zone 4 and 5 or a group of similar shrubs. Each plant has its own while the southern species may not be adaptable beyond features of importance during the year. A garden would Zone 6. be incomplete without using hollies, particularly for the I would never attempt to pick my favorite azalea winter season for their glossy, evergreen fol iage and at­ species from the fifteen or more indigenous to the United tractive fruit. Nor could one assume that a garden be States. Each species becomes my favorite while it is in complete without good ground covers, such as bloom with its colorful flowers, filling my lungs with its pachysandras, Rohdea japonica, the asarums or many delicate fragrance or noting the colorful fol iage in the fall . other favorites. I do feel that native azaleas often have Botanists and horticulturists often disagree on the iden­ been overlooked in the past and are certainly one of our tification and classification of the native azaleas. Need­ more attractive groups of native plants. With the rapid less to say they are members of the genus Rhododendron. expansion of our cities and development of our rural and I prefer to be called a " I umper" rather than a " spl itter" in wooded areas, we find that the native plants are being trying to classify or name every color form due to the destroyed and lost for the future. variability of each species or from the numerous natural As gardeners and conservationists, we need to become hybrids often found in the eastern United States. The aware of our rich native flora and take advantage of the following discussion of native azaleas is based on the beauty it offers. sequence of flowering at Callaway Gardens in Georgia While many of these plants are not generally available and may vary some each year or may not be the same in in the nursery trade, they can be propagated by seed, root other climatic areas. cuttings and other methods. Early spring flowering species flowering before or with Native azaleas are not adaptable to all parts of the the new spring leaves: 26 country due to hardiness and soil acidity requirements. Rhododendron canescens, the Piedmont or Florida Fred C. Galle, Director of Horticulture, Callaw ay Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Rhododendron prunifolium Rh ododendron calendulaceum (yellow)

pinxterbloom, native of the Southeast, with its fragrant Shell azalea, is a very similar species and noted for the flowers varying from pure wh ite to I ight pink, is certainly a cl ear shell-pink, fragrant flowers. welcome sight in the early spring. Rhododendron atlanticum, Coastal azalea, is a low Rhododendron austrinum, Florida azalea, is a southern stoloniferous plant, usually three feetor less in height. The counterpart of the above and equally noted for fragrant fragrant wh ite to pin k flowers are noted for their glandular yellow flowers. pubescence. Both Rhododendron nudiflorum and Mid-spring azaleas flowering with the new foliage : Rhododendron viscosum are also generally stoloniferous Rhododendron speciosum, the Oconee azalea is a var­ in habit of growth and stolon iferous forms of azaleas have iable species found in a narrow band across the State of been found in other species. Georgia and extending into Alabama and South Carol ina. RhododendrtJn alabamense, the Alabama azalea, with Th is species is not well known and varies from orange to its fragrant lemony spiced flowers, are white with a very brick red. It hybridizes readily with other southern prominent yellow blotch. This species is typically a low species, producing some very attractive and indescrib­ plant, seldom seen in the wild, and hybrids are generally ably lovely colors of yellow, peach, pumpkin, deep rose medium to tall shrubs with the spicy fragrant flowers and pink. The Oconee azalea is not fragrant, but many of varying from white to shades of pink. the hybrids are del ightfully fragant. Th is plant is adaptable Rhododendron vaseyi, the pink shell azalea, is a high to summer droughts and other unfavorable sort of condi­ elevation plant, native to a few counties in North tions. However, one should not expect to ignore a Carolina, but found adaptable to lower elevations, con­ drought tolerant plant, for it will require the same water­ trary to many other mountainous plants. Its fragrant pink ing and care as other plants after transplanting until it gets flowers are very attractive and lack the distinct floral tube establ ished. as on most other species. A white flowered cultivar, Rhododendron nudiflorum, pinxterbloom azalea is 'White Find', is available in some nurseries. valued for its cold hardiness and its enticingly fragant Rhodora, Rhododendron canadense, is similar to the white to pink flowers. Rhododendron roseum, the Pink pink shell azalea with the floral tubes divided nearly to 27 Cu mberl and azalea, Rhododendron bakeri, follows the flame azalea in flowering. The non-fragrant small flowers va ry from orange-yellow to red. The pl ants are found in open woods at high elevations of the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky, Tennessee to the mountains of North Geor­ gi a and Alabama. Rhododendron serrulatum, hammock-sweet azalea, is a close ally of the swamp azalea from the Southern Coas­ tal Plains. The small white flowers have a delightful fra­ grance. The late flowering phase of sweet azalea, Rhododen­ dron arborescens, indigenous to the south flowers in July in central Georgia. The distinctive plumleaf azalea, Rhododendron prunifolium, is indigenous to a small area of southwestern Georgia and adjacent to Alabama. The non-fragrant flowers borne in July and August are predominantly red­ orange to red, with lighter shades also found. This species, along with other southeastern azaleas, has pro­ ven to be hardy far north of its native range. The handsome western or Pacific azalea, Rhododen­ dron occidentale, is a challenge for the eastern gardener with very few successful reports. However, in the west it has few rivals, with its large, fragrant, white to pink flow­ ers . The native azaleas are excellent for light shade, for a shrubbery border or a woodland garden. The late spring Azaleas and dogwoods are among Spring's first and summer flowering species respond to morning sun introductions, offering vivid color and dancing and protection from the midday and afternoon sun. The light. Brookgreen Gardens, Murrel's Inlet, S.c. flowers on those late flowering species will retain longer on the plant. Native azaleas, as with other plants, require the base. The flowers vary from rose-purple to wh ite. good planting soil preparation, being sure of adequate Rhodora is native to the east coast of Labrador, south to drainage, and sufficient organic matter. Avoid deep plant­ New Jersey and is generally difficult to grow in the South. ing, for azaleas are shallow rooted . Late spring or early summer flowering, after leaves are Collected plants from the wild should be cut back to developed and before new flora buds are formed: compensate for loss of roots in digging. Wild azaleas in Swamp azalea, Rhodedendron viscosum, is variably the woodland often have a very sparse root system. To stolon iferous. The fragrant wh ite to pink flowers are noted prove this point a 6-8' azalea was dug with a 6' ball, far for their long slender tube and pubescent twigs. larger than normal. In exposing the roots it was estimated Sweet azalea, Rhododendron arborescens, is often that only 20% of the roots were with the plant. The plant confused with the swamp azalea. The fragrant wh ite was cut back to 12" and heeled- in with shredded pine flowers and reddish stamen s, plus smooth stems are dis­ bark. New shoot growth developed rapidly, also a com­ tinguishing characters. In the south there is a later flower­ plete new root system of fine hairy roots. An acid base ing form of this species flowering with Plumleaf azalea in fertilizer should be used and would start with a 10-6-4 early summer. analysis for the first several years. Soil tests are very inex­ Rhododendron calendulaceum, the flame azalea, is pensive and should be used on an established planting to probably the best known species. The large non-fragrant find out nutrient requirements. While native azaleas are a flow~ r s vary from clear yellow to orange and red . Two challenge to find, four or more species should be used in flowering ph as es are often reported, the early phase oc­ the same garden to extend the floral season. The decidu­ curs at lower elevations of the Appalachian Mts. and is ous native azalea can be combined well with the intro­ often lighter in color, while the late flowering phase is duced evergreen azalea and rhododendron and compli­ usually dark orange to orange-red and found in higher ment many other flowering shrubs and trees. In the wood­ elevations. John Bartram wrote " This is the most gay and land garden they combine well with all other shade lov­ ,brilliant fl owered shrub known." ing native woody plants and herbaceous plants such as Late flow ering in early summer after the winter buds are dogwoods, oak-leaf hydrangea, kalmia, ferns, trillium 28 at leas t partly formed: and many other excellent native plants. This amazing cart has wheels -so I!ig • • • it seems practically self· prope ed! Now handle large loads • Two wheels instead of one keep loads from tipping sideways. with incredible ease! • Special stand straddles rows in the garden, How would you like one of these big hand­ without damage to plants. some carts to roll around at your place? The • Stores easily on end, saves space. marvelous new "Model 26" Garden Way Cart • Just so useful, you' ll wonder how you ever lets you easily carry did without it . • 5 bales of hay! • 5 trash cans! • Special wide hub steel wheels to handle • 400 Ibs . of rocks or soil • Firewood heavy loads . • Heavy bags of lime. Garden tools in 1 trip! • At last-the perfect big cart for lawn, garden The secret's in the extra-large 26" pneumatic use! tired wheels with ball bearings, which make • Send for FREE CATALOG with all the speci­ rolling heavy loads a breeze-even over rough, fications, sizes and prices. rocky ground or through soft sand! Garden Way Research. Charlotte, Vermont 05445 This new jumbo-siz ed cart is the culmination of 20 years of cart research. It has the largest roA~N-;;AY-;;SE-;;CH- -I carrying ability of any cart or wheelbarrow available for home or business use. Dept. 64403 • Carry 10 times the load of a regular wheel­ I Charlotte, Vermont 05445 I barrow! Please send your FREE CART CATALOG, • So easy to handle, so perfectly balanced including details on the inexpensive Build-it- I you guide it with Just ONE HAND! I yourself KIT FORM. • Actually feels lighter when it's fully loaded! Name • loads won't fall out forward. I Address I • Tips down to take on heavy loads without lifting! Zip - - -I 29

Light for our houseplants comes pared to even a single 40 watt traditionally from the sun. The task of Natural Habitat fluorescent tube (48 inches long). Ex­ keeping tropical plants warm while cessive heat from incandescents is still providing adequate light has oc­ Several months ago I returned to another reason to avoid trying to cupied horticulturists since the Ro­ the Amazon basin and during the grow plants with these bulbs as the mans grew fruit trees in sun beams course of study measured the varia­ only source of light. The reflector comtng through the crude glass win­ tion in light intensity between the floods and spots do have a real value dows of stone buildings. More re­ jungle floor and a jungle clearing. for plants indoors; they are excellent cently glass or plastic greenhouses, Within the jungle, at the level of for theatrical lighting, to create acrylic skylights, picture windows, many fol iage plants we grow indoors dramatic shadows, to illustrate your and similar modern structural ad­ (philodendrons, syngoniums etc.) I favorite plants at night. vances help us provide bright I ight for measured about 25 footcandles, on a For all indoor trees and vines direc­ indoor plants. cloudy-bright day. W alking a few tional incandescent lighting is easier yards into a c1eari ng, where su n light to control than fluorescent. The beam came directly through, I found 3,200 of an incandescent lamp carries bet­ Artificial Light footcandles! ter than the diffuse light from a Some of the plants we enjoy in cap­ fluorescent tube. The incandescent Artificial light will help you grow tivity actually receive a combination lamps also fit into many types of dec­ plants indoors where I ight is now in­ of these extremes, but with one or the orative ceramic-based fixtures which sufficient. I have been growing plants other intensity dominating. For are suited to modern decorating under various combinations of light example the marantas and episcias I plans. sources for more than 20 years. Some observed grew where, for short Use incandescent lamps to sup­ of my houseplants, hemerocallis periods each day, the sun shone on plement daylight around tall indoor seedlings, spring bulbs, and summer them directly. The rays came through specimens; palms, scheffleras, large annuals are grown in a dark base­ open patches in the cover or the coffee trees, big monsteras. Such ment where they receive only plants grew along the edge of a clear­ dramatic living decorations will ben­ fluorescent light. ing, perhaps on a river bank, where efit from 10 to 14 hours of incandes­ Many orch ids in my lean-to early morning sun could reach them cent light each day. You will find this greenhouses are grown with a com­ directly. system working well in office build­ bination of direct sun and fluorescent However the actual duration of di­ ings where tall accent plants survive light. Still other tropical plants re­ rect rays stri king the fol i age was but a many months with no direct sun. ceive only diffuse sun and thus de­ few minutes. Soon the forest floor The office plants, even those some­ pend on supplemental light from plants were in diffuse light, some­ times replaced by interior decorating broad spectrv m fl uorescents for times in very dim light,for the rest of firms, stay attractive with a combina­ sturdy growth. the day. Naturally you can save elec­ tion of incandescent lights, fluores­ tricity and still have beautiful plants if cent fill lights, and in a few cases you pick species with such low light some diffuse daylight. Direct glare Fol iage Facts requirements for placement indoors from the overhead fluorescents is where light is dim. usually avoided by covering the fix­ Fol iage plants such as Monsteras, tures with wedged louvers or frosted Philodendrons, many fElrns, Syn­ Incandescent Uses plastic shields. These same glare re­ goniums and similar selections ducing items can be used in home adapted to life in dim jungles will do I would not wish to grow house­ situations. quite well indoors with low levels of plants under pure incandescent light diffuse sunlight. Providing artificial for several reasons. Most importantly Rotation light for foliage plants, in rooms the efficiency of incandescent light where daylight is available, will serve distribution, per watt of energy re­ Of course some large offices con­ to promote compacter growth and quired, is way below that of fluores­ tract horticultural decorating firms to provide dramatic theatrical lighting cent tubes. Think about how much continually rotate plants in public at night. light a 75 watt flood provides com- places. By rotating their rental 31 specimens a contracting firm can of Warm White with Cool White Sylvania's Wide Spectrum Gro­ keep them in a healthy condition lamps. However for orchids, succu­ Lux and the newer Agro-Lite of West­ with occassional growing periods in lents, bromeliads ready to bloom, inghouse are excellent broad spec­ an ideal environment. Thissame idea and similar flowering plants I see bet­ trum fluorescents with slightly pink is useful when you are growing ter growth, more flowers, with the light but still suitable in living areas. houseplants. I grow many species broad spectrum lamps. This is even The standard Gro-Lux lamp, recom­ under I ights in the basement or below more impor.tant for indoor plants mended by Sylvania for starting seeds benches in the greenhouse. When which receive no sun at all. and growing many indoor plants, has the specimens are in bloom or perfect Which broad spectrum lamp you a rosy glow which enhances flower leaf I display them for maximum ap­ prefer depends upon the color you and foliage color. preciation. Even though a display like. If you wish to light plants in a area may have less than ideal light -livingroom or to supplement window Pinks and reds vibrate under stan­ and humidity, the plants will not suf­ light without changing the foliage dard Gro-Lux, and Rex begonias fer unduly if they remain in such a color or flower hues, choose a lamp show colors never seen in daylight. location 4 to 6 weeks. with daylightcolortemperature. Two The rosy-pink light is theatrical and I Rotation is especially practical currently available are Vita-Lite of think fun to use but this is not the with houseplants under lights since Duro-Lite Co., and TruBloom of Ver­ lamp for your livingroom or book­ the most efficient growing systems ilux Co. Both have the color of noon shelf garden if you insist on perfectly are not the most attractive. Bright four daylight. natural colors. to six lamp fixtures over moisture trays, three or four tiers tall on a big Back left. S. 'Ophelia', Begonia bowerae nigramarga. Front frame or cart, are not easily inte­ left Saint. 'High Stepper'. Front right S. 'Astra Pink'. grated into a livingroom or den dec­ orating plan. In the basement or spare room you can have an extensive effi­ cient light garden with the main con­ sideration being practicality and ease of care rather than aesthetics. , For example growers of succulents and bromeliads report excellent color and plant habit with Vita-Lite lamps. Orchid growers are enthusias­ tic about Wide Spectrum Gro-Lux. Recent reports give good reviews to Agro-Lite tubes. There are still more types of fluorescent lamps, some of them designed for other applications but now offered for horticultural use. Incandescent bu I bs used to be mixed with Cool White or Warm White fluorescents to furnish more of the red-orange light plants need. Since broad spectrum horticultural lamps were introduced I find it is not necessary to mix incandescent bulbs with fluorescents in order to obtain maximum growth and flowering on tropicals.

What's the Difference?

The major difference between fluorescent lamps in the home is their visible color. For fol iage plants and many medium light level species of gesneriads and begonias I note satis- 32 factory growth under a combination o sleeper ... Have you tried a fruit clamp lately? Know where to buy <11 apple sleeve? Eaten any sugared herbs or a fresh jujube? Ever hear of a Call ery pear, a coli ar daffodil or a nut called a hi can? Care to grow a scented lawn, a porcelain vine or a newly discovered annual called "meadow­ foam"? Need to find a Ii st of connoisseur perennials or a source for plants nobody on the block grows? Know what's "in" and what's "out" in houseplants? Are you familiar with the Minnesota Tip" for wintering roses? Do you know how to have sweet corn ready for picking by July 4? Ever tried the French Intensive Method of raising lettuce? Tried licorice This shelf ga rden has mirror coated parawedge louvers root mulch or bl ack gravel on tomatoes? just under the lamps to stop glare. Plants are Asparagus Know any strawberry shortcuts? at left, begonias, dwarf ges neriads, planted in wate rproof tray. "The Avant Gardener - A Handbook & Sourcebook of All That's New & Useful in Gardeni ng", publ ished by Houghton Mifflin book of reflective materials for Co., is a sleeper that will make you think Maximum Success $1.50). you're Rip Van Winkle. 5. Provide fluorescent lamps in The year of the garden boom has found a proliferation of gardening books pub­ No matter which lamps you light gard en carts or bookshelf ga r­ dens instead of less efficient in ca n­ Ii shed. Thank goodness thi s one doesn't choose or what plants you enjoy fall into the common garden vari ety: the descents . Save incandescents for growing there are some basic energy ego-trip written by a little old lady whose saving steps to increase light garden­ lighting after dark, especially of thesis encompasses the gems she's grown ing pleasure. You will be able to in­ dramatic tall spec imens. on her kitchen window sill,or the academic itiate at least several of the following 6. I nsta ll broad spectrum fl uores­ putdown written by a know-it-all horti­ culture professor outlining the same "how­ procedures to maximize success and cents wh ich provide the best uti I ized to, now-is-the-time-for" rehash, as if all to minimize electric bills: colors and keep plants close to the tubes for max imum light abso rbtion. his readers are blooming idiots whose 1. Use I ights for dual purposes. A best medium for learning is repetition and whose main learning resource is Sesame room can be pleasantly lit with the Further Details same lamps used to grow plants on a Street. /Jily book that can inspire its reader to bookshelf or table. These are but a few ideas for enjoy­ dream up a new garden gadget - and 2. Capture all available natural ing your houseplants and producing "The Avant Gardener" may well have this light by locating light gardens near maximum flowering. For so urces of effect on some - has got to be a real gold windows, skylights, even by glass supplies, nurse ries that offer rare mine of information - none of it moldy. basement doors. The book's strength is in its swift tropicals, and an extensive presenta­ newspaper style - no long orations on the 3. Install an efficient timer to pro­ tion of this subject please consult technical aspects of growi ng, just the vide automatic regulation of the day­ "The Complete Book of Houseplants latest scoop. It beats the yellow pages as length. Under Lights" (Hawthorn Books, a source for finding things ... 4. Arrange for reflective surfaces 1975), a volume I wrote especially If you want to keep up on what's new in gardening, there's not a better book around your light garden so all the for enthusiastic gardeners such as fel­ low members of the American Hor­ out. .. -Mary B. Gooe/, Gare/en Ee/i. light produced will be best used. In tor, Pae/e/ock Publications. bookshelf gardens paint back, bot­ ticultural Society. You might also "The Avant Gardener - A Handbook & tom, and sides with flat white paint or enjoy membership in the Indoor Sourcebook of All That's New & Useful in install mirrors to double the view Light Gardening Society. Gardening", by Thomas and Betty Powell, wh ile reflecting I ight rays . Elsewhere ILGSA, Int. 263 pages, large 7 x 10 format, lavishly use aluminum foil or durable reflect­ c/o Mrs. James c. Martin illustrated, $6.95 paperback, $12.95 hard­ ing materials such as Roscoflex 423 Powell Drive cover, is available postpaid from: which can be glued, stapled, tacked, Bay Village, Ohio 44140 THE AVANT GARDENER and washed. (Rosco Labs, Port Ches­ Box 489, New York,N.Y. 10028 ter, N.Y. 10573 will send sample Continued on page 39 ~ ______~ 33 Outside The Garden Center of Greater Cleveland' s library is a small, The Nona Whitney Evans beautifully designed garden, The Nona Whitney Evans Memorial Memorial Reading Garden Reading Garden. Dedicated in 1972, this garden was given in memory of Richard T. Isaa cson Nona Wh itney Evans by her parents, Librarian Raymond and EI izabeth Evans. Mrs. Ga rden Center of Greater Evans has stated in a brochure on the Cleveland garden, "The design and planting plans were devised to enhance The Garden Center grounds and provide beauty for all the senses. Each plant, shrub and tree has a 'raison d' etre' -beauty of shape, texture, odor, blossom or berry. Each has a history of its own, having been ob­ served elsewhere in gardens some­ where across the U.S.A. and usually documented and photographed in its original location. The plant material is mostly unique to this area and will hopefully give pl eas ure and ideas to the sa ucer mag nol ia. Anoth er of th e so uthward it often reaches th e height all ga rd en lovers." ga rd en's magnolias, th e later fl ow er­ of 75 to 100 feet. While fl ow ering is Th e ga rd en in c lud es a v ine­ ing Magnolia virginiana or sw eet bay often ex tended its main flow ering covered pergola, airy gazebo and mag noli a is th e type-species of Lin­ peri od is in early Jul y. many redwood benches for reading nae us's ge nu s M agno lia. A type­ Two se lected hybrid dogw oods, and reflection. Th e trees, shrubs, pe­ species is th e pl ant for which th e Comus fl orida 'Cl oud Nine' and renni als and ground covers often whole genu s is named. The sw eet Comus kousa chinens is 'Milky W ay' lead ga rdeners into th e library fo r bay magno l ia w as introduced in bl ossom fo llowing th e Yul an mag­ more cultural and historica l inform a­ Europe in 1688 when John Banister nolia. Both have large crea my white tion on th e plants. Throughout th e shipped a specimen to Henry Comp­ bracts and are more show y th an the growing seaso n, ga rd eners of th e ton, Bi shop of London. Magnolia vir­ native d ogw ood species. Styrax Cl evel and area can study th e un­ giniana is hardy to zone 5 be in g na­ japonicum, th e Japanese Sn owbell, commonly grown pl ants desc ribed ti ve to th e Atl antic coastal pl ain from rese mb les its A m eri ca n rel ati ve below. M assachuse tts so uthward to Fl orida. H ales ia carolina. This short, spread­ Th e earl ies t tree to fl ow er in th e In th e north it is usuall y a shrub or ing tree is attracti ve yea r around but garden is th e Yul an mag nolia, Mag­ small tree but fro m th e Ca ro linas w hen in flow er in Jun e w ith its clus­ nolia denudata. A nati ve of China, ters of 3 or 4 frag il e, white, bell­ this upright growing mag noli a has shaped flowers it is one of th e most cre amy w h ite bloss oms th at appea r beautiful of all small fl owering trees. about one w eek ahead of th e more H ales ia ca ro lina, ve ry popul.a r in th e common M agnolia x soulangeana, so utheastern United States, is un- commonl y grown as far north as Cleveland. This more upright grow­ ing tree has simil ar white, bell­ shaped flowers, but they are borne earlier in the spring before the leaves appear. Many trees when grown out of their natural hardiness range will re­ main small or shrub-like; the Japanese stewartia, Stewartia pseudo-camellia, is one. In the read­ ing garden this 60 foot native of Japan has formed a short, spreading shrub with camellia-like flowers (See American Horticulturist Vol. 54, #6 Winter 1975). Flowering in Ju.ly, this is one of the more showy summer trees. Oxydendrum arboreum or sourwood is becoming more com­ monly grown as an ornamental tree in Cleveland on its northernmost One of the many areas to rest and read in the garden. range. Also summer flowering, the white, one-sided racemes persist into the fall when they vivid Iy contrast gilla turns a brilliant deep yellow in from June to November. It is a shrub with the bright scarlet fol iage. fall. The fragrant viburnum, Vibur­ that should be more widely grown. The-fall flowering Franklinia num carlesii, is endemic to Korea and Other shrubs incl ude the rare Li ndera alatamaha with its showy, fragrant, is one of the first viburnums to bloom angustifolia, Buxus microphylla wh ite flowers blooms over an ex­ in the spring. Although only intro­ compacta, Euonymus nana turkes­ te~ded period from mid-August until duced to the West at the turn of the tanica, Stephanandra flexuosa incisa frost. Native to Georgia, it was col­ century, this viburnum has an old­ nana, Enkianthus campanulatus, and lected by John Bartram in 1770 and fashioned quality to its bloom and Neillia thibetica. sent to his garden in Philadelphia. It habit wh ich makes it one of our most Because of the growth in popular­ was last recorded on its native site in popular viburnums. ity of ground covers, many gardeners 1790 when Dr. Moses Marshall of The selected hybrid azaleas such find this garden' s unusual ground Philadelphia visited its restricted as 'Rosebud', 'Snowball' and 'Old covers of major interest. Ground range. An unusual evergreen tree that Gold' were carefully chosen for their COV(;HS include such species as adds interest throughout the year is vigor and flowering habit. Azalea Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Pinus densiflora oculus-draconis, the 'Old Gold' planted outside the li­ (Ieadwort), Vinca minor alba (white dragon's eye pine, which has needles brary windows, carries outside the myrtle), Potentilla tridentata (three­ with cream bands that gives it the warm golds and greens of the decor toothed cinquefoil), Polystichum ac­ appearance of a variegated pine. of the library. In dense shade under a rostichoides (Christmas fern), Liriope Other trees in the garden include large tree one of the summer flower­ regale (regal lily-turf), A sperula Carpinus caroliniana (American ing shrubs, Hydrangea quercifolia, or odorata (sweet woodruff), Iberis 'Au­ hornbeam), Evodia danielli (Korean the oakleaf hydrangea, with its cool tumn Snow' (candytuft), Geranium evodia), Comus florida pendula, and hued, panicled blossoms makes an sanguineum (cranesbill), two species Quercus prinus (chestnut oak). effective late summer showing. Dis­ of the b,Hrenwort Epimedium The earliest flowering shrub in the covered by John Bartram in the niveum & roseum, Chrysogonum garden is the dwarf fothergilla, southeastern United States, th is hyd­ virginianum (golden star), selected Fothergilla gardenii, with its small rangea is one of the more adaptable heathers including Calluna 'Mrs. J. spike-I ike, del ightfully fragrant flow­ hydrangeas being tolerant of shade H. Hamilton' & Calluna vulgaris 'Else ers which appear before the leaves. and also of more sunny conditions. Frye', and Asarum europeum (Euro­ Growing 3 feet tall, th is native south­ Abelia grandiflora or glossy abelia pean wild ginger). eastern United States shrub was dis­ is one of the most floriferous of flow­ GfHanium sanguineum or cranes­ covered by Dr. Garden of Charles­ ering ornamental shrubs. This abelia bill is especially effective forming a ton. Named after Dr. John Fothergill, grows to 4 or 5 feet with semi­ spreading dense mound of fine tex­ a London physician and avid plant evergreen, glossy leaves and del i­ tured foliage. The small, pink blos­ 36 collector, this low growing fother- cately shaded flowers which appear soms with their delicate tracings are included in th e vine collection. flower intermittantly throughout the summer with the major bloom period Other spec imen perennials in­ being in Jun e. Th e European wild clude the use of Primula 'Nosegay' g in ger, Asarum europeum, has hybrids & ' Pac ific' hybrids under the proved a most desirable ground pergola and specimen plants of cover. With its glossy, evergreen Paeonia suffruticosa, white-spiked fo liage, this ground cover see ms to snakeroot (Cimicifuga racemosa), thrive in shady locations and in loca­ and many Campanula spec ies. tions with more su n if kept watered All these plants and many others during the sum mer. can be observed and studied in this Perennials are use d as feature attractive garden. The Nona Whitney plants in the ga rden w ith special col­ A Greenhouse lor Every Budget! Grow your own vegetables, flowers Evan s Memorial Read ing Garden and lections of hell eboru s and clematis. economically, healthfully. Our full line of other gardens surrounding Th e Gar­ Included in the helleboru s coll ection greenhouses starts at a low $79.95. From redwood and vinyl to fiberglass and den Center of Greater Cleveland pro­ are Helleborus niger (C hristmas­ steel. All precut for easy assembly. No vide a li ving outdoor reso urce to Th e rose) , Helleborus lividus (Co rsica n special foundation needed . Budget terms available. FREE details. Write ENVIR­ Garden Center's educational and Ch ri stmas-rose) and the va ri ab le H el­ ONMENTAL DYNAMICS, 3010-DB cultural programs. Trul y this ga rd en leborus orienta lis (Lenten-rose). Th e Vine St., Riverside , CA 92507. is described by Jo sep hine Nuese's blossom color of H elleborus orien­ definition of a garden in her excellent talis has been extremely variab le, book Th e Country Garden, " To me a ranging from crea my wh ite to purple. ga rden is an area, or a se ri es of re­ Th e c lematis collection inc l udes lated areas, wherei none fi nds reas­ both shrubby perenn ials and th e TREES&SHRUBS surance and tranqu i I ity, surprise and v ines used o n the pergola and EVERGREEN TREES delight; its beauty lies in th e subtle gazebo. Clematis wyva le and 3 year, se lect trees; 8" -14", 25 5 each ; Scotch Pine, Nor- FOR ONLY balancing of sca le and proportion, Clematis integrifolia coeru lea are way Spruce, Austrian Pine, $9 Colorado Blue Spruce, 95 line and form, mass and texture, con­ both grown as shrubby speci mens White Pine. trast and accord, the whole affiliated being 2 to 4 feet and upright in hab it. CANADIAN HEMLOCK yet full of small surprises . Such a gar­ Clematis H ag ley H yb rid, C. These are heavy, well­ 15 For $7.95 den imparts a benediction, enlarging lanuginosa ca ndida, C. 'Duchess of rooted , 3-yr. seed­ lings. Ideal screen in 25 For $12.95 the mental and emotional habita­ Edinburgh', C. 'Mrs. Cholmondeley', sun or shade. Trim to desired height. 50 For $22.95 tion . . ." C. montana rubens, and C. 'Ra mona' COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE Select 3-yr. 8"-14/1, bound- 30 ary . markers, win9breaks, FOR ONLY IndiVidual specimens. Densely pyramidal. Bluish- $9 green to shining blue. Pre- 95 fer sun. 6 RHODODENDRON & Strong 1-yr, trans- plants 4" to 8/1 6 AZALEAS tall. Mass of roots, large 12 PLANTS leaves. Rhododendron from FOR ONL Y red flowering stock. Aza- $10 leas, hardy, mixed colors. . 95 NEW GROU COVER 25 CROWNS-covers 100 sq. It. .. $ 8.95 50 CROWNS-covers 200 sq, It. .. $12.95 100 CROWNS-covers 400 sq. It. $22.50 CROWNVETCH - perennial. Heavy 2 yr. crowns, Flowers June til frost. Beauti­ ful, hardy, no mowing. Grows 12"-18" any climate, sun or partial shade. Chokes weeds resists d Postpaid . No C.O.D. Pa . destinatirns add 6% tax. o Send me the items circled above o Send me FREE Catalog Name ______Address ______City ______state ______Zip _____ Area Code __ Phone No .______

Box 31 B Arbor in reading garden. IllMllliillIiIIIIIIII 37 My Favorite Plant Double File Viburnum Francis De Vos Director Botanic Garden of the Chicago Horticultural Society The Double-file Viburnum is one understand why the name of th is and Glencoe '". 60022 of the aristocrats of our gardens. Its similar cultivars is shortened by most dependability and adaptability have writers and nurserymen to V. endeared it to gardeners, nurserymen plicatum 'Mariesi' or even V. and landscape architects. The simple 'Mariesi'. beauty of its branching habit, foliage Other cultivars of the Double-file and flowers are assets to any land­ Viburnum include: ' Lanarth' that scape planting at any time of the year. originated in St. Keverne, Cornwall, One of the great thrills for any gar­ England-'Lanarth' is a wide spread­ dener is to see a specimen plant of the ing form with a somewhat less hori­ Double-file Viburnum planted on a zontal branching habit; in ' Pink slope and in full bloom. When Beauty' and 'Roseum' the sterile ray viewed from a higher elevation the florets turn pink under some condi­ flat-topped flower clusters arranged tions as they age; ' Rowallane' origi­ along the length of the horizontal nated at Rowallane Gardens, hlranches are uniquely beautiful. Saintfield, Ireland and has smaller The confusing nomenclature that leaves, flowers freely and fruits has plagued the Double-file Vibur~ abundantly. num has made it difficult for garden­ The Double-file Viburnum is a ers and nurserymen to communicate broad spreading shrub with horizon­ with one another about this plant. tal branching. Under most conditions This confusion partly arises from the plica tum tomentosum or V. tomen­ it will reach a height of 8-10'. Many fact that the basic species, Viburnum tosum represent, depending on one's specimens are as broad as they are plicatum, refers to the plant popu­ viewpoint, as a somewhat uniform or high. It is dependably hardy in USDA larly known as the Japanese Snow­ variable assemblage of plants with Zone 5 and Wyman's Zone 4. ball . This is a garden form that was flat-topped flower clusters made up In the Chicago area, the Double­ long cultivated in China and Japan of an outer whorl of sterile flowers file Viburnum comes into flower in and introduced by Robert Fortune in and inner cluster of fertile flowers. late Mayor early June. The flower 1844, several years before the wild This so-called standard form is com­ clusters are borne in double rows form. This plant has all sterile flowers monly treated as if it were a cultivar along the upper sides of the branches and has been also known botanically or a definite variety when in actuality and have been referred to by the En­ as v. tomentosum var. plicatum, v. the name V. plica tum tomentosum glish nurseryman, Edwin Hillier, as tomentosum var. sterile and v. to­ represents the wild form and all those giving the appearance from a dis­ mentosum plenum. The wild and re­ plants of the species V. plicatum that tance of ici ng on a cake. The bright producing plant from China and have an outer whorl of sterile flowers green pleated leaves are attractive Japan that would normally bear the and an inner cI uster offertile flowers. throughout the summer and the au­ species name is relegated to variety This nomenclatural muddle per­ tumn foliage a dull but attractive orforma status and is known today as sists when individual plants of V. purpl ish red . The fru iting effect is V. plica tum var. tomentosum or by plicatum tomentosum are selected somewhat variable depending on the some taxonomists as V. plica tum f. and given cultivar status . The cultivar season and the cultivars that are tomentosum. Many nursery catalogs known as 'Mariesi' has larger flower grown. The fruits are at first red and persist in listing the Double-file Vi­ cI usters and is one of the better fruit­ finally turn black. burnum as V. tom.entosum. ing types. Technically this plant The Double-file Viburnum is a Plants of the Double-file Viburnum should be designated a V. plica tum quality plant that deserves a place in 38 that are sold in the nursery trade as V. tomentosum cv. 'Mariesi'. It is easy to any garden where it will grow. Continued from page 31 RECOMMENDED LIGHT LEVELS FOR SELECTED DECORATIVE INDOOR PLANTS Dr. Henry M. Cathey Light Levels: Low - minimum light level of 25 footcandles, pre- High - minimum of 200 footcandles, preferred level ferred level of 75 to 200 footcandles of 500 footcandles Medium - minimum of 75 to , 00 footcandles, pre- Very high - minimum of ',000 footcandles, pre- ferred level of 200 to 500 footcandles ferred level of over ',000 footcandles

Mature Light Water Mature Light Water Name Size Level Requirements Name Size Level Requirements Aechmea fasciata pot plant medium moist Oapanese aralia) plant (Bromeliad) Ficus benjamina exotica Ag/aonema commutatum pot plant low moist (Weeping java fig) tree medium moist (Chinese evergreen) Fiscus elastica 'Decora' tree, floor medium moist Ag/aonema " Pseudo- pot plant low moist (Rubber plant) pot plant bracteatum" Ficus Iyrata tree, floor medium moist (Golden aglaonema) (Fiddle leaf fig) plant Aglaonema roebelinii pot plant low moist Ficus philippinensis tree, floor medium moist Weuter plant) (Philippine fig) plant Aloe variegata pot plant very high dry Ficus retusa nitida tree medium moist Araucaria excelsa tree, floor, high moist (India Laurel) (Norfolk island pine) pot plant Howea forsteriana tree, floor low moist Asparagus sprengeri pot plant medium moist (Kentia Palm) plant (Asparagus fern) Hoya carnosa Begonias, other than pot plant very high moist (Wax Plant) pot plant medium dry metallica and rex Impatiens pot plant very high moist Brassaia actinophyl/a tree, floor, medium dry Ugustrum lucidum tree, floor medium dry (Schefflera) pot plant (Wax leaf privet) plant Bromeliads (many pot plant medium moist Maranta leuconeura species) (Prayer plant) pot plant medium moist Chamaedorea e/egans floor, pot low moist Nephro/epis exaltata (Neanthe bella palm) plant bostoniensis Chamaedorea tree, floor, low moist (Boston fern) pot plant medium moist erumpens pot plant Orchids (many species) pot plant very high moist/dry (Bamboo palm) Pelargonium species Chamaerops humilis tree, floor high moist (Geranium) pot plant very high dry (European fan palm) plant Peperomia caperata Cissus antarctica pot plant high moist (Emerald ripple) pot plant low dry (Kangaroo vine) Petunia hybrida Cissus rhombifolia pot plant medium dry (Cascade type) pot plant very high moist (Grape ivy) Philodendron hybrids Citrus mitis pot plant high dry (Self-heading floor, pot medium moist (Calamondin) ph i lodendron) plant Codiaeum pot plant very high dry Philodendron Coleus pot plant very high wet oxycardium (Common pot plant low dry Crassula pot plant very high dry philodendron) Dieffenbachia floor, pot medium dry Phoenix roebe/enii floor, pot medium wet amoena (Dumb cane) plant (Dwarf data palm) plant Dieffenbachia pot plant medium dry Pittosporum tobira floor, pot high dry 'Exotica' (Dumb cane) (Mock orange) plant Dizygotheca floor, pot high moist Pleomele ref/exa e/egantissima plant (Green pleomele) floor plant medium wet (Spider aralia) Podocarpus macrophyl/a tree, floor high moist Dracaena deremensis floor, pot medium wet Maki (Podocarpus) pot plant (Green dracena) plant Polyscias gui/(oylei floor, pot medium moist Dracaena deremensis (Parsley aralia) plant 'Warneckei' Rhapis excelsa tree, floor medium wet {White striped pot medium dry (Lady pa lm) plant dracaena) plant Saintpau/ia species Dracaena fragrans (African violets) pot plant very high moist massangea na floor, pot low wet Sa/via splendens (Corn plant) plant (Scarlet sage) pot plant very high moist Dracaena marginata tree, floor medium wet Sinningia species (Dragon tree) plant (Gloxinia) pot plant very high wet Episcia pot plant very high wet Spathiphyl/um friobotyra japonica "Mauna Loa" Oapanese loquat) tree high moist (White flag) pot plant medium dry Fatsia japonica floor, pot medium moist Tagetes species (Marigold) pot plant very high moist

Additional plant listings may be obtained by writing editor AHS. 39 BONSAI Isnlt it time you had your own Continued from page 22 ~rmanent Greenhouse? Naturally this brief explanation skips much pertinent and essential information in most facets of bonsai work, In particular, it overlooks the styling work needed to main­ tain the shape of the bonsai, the work of developing pleasing proportions, and many further considerations of how branches or a line of trunk are chosen. The consid­ erations of styl ing, the art in the art of bonsai, take as their rules those same universal ratios and values that have guided, perplexed, and bemused all artists since the first rudimentary " stick-in-the-sand" portrayal was done by

The GothIc Arch Greenhouse IS strong, permanent, pre-man. Bonsai art has consumed many creative indi­ maintenance·free and guaranteed! It's constructed viduals' I ifetimes. It is a great challenge and intrigues even of top quality California Heart Redwood and trans· lucent fiberglass panels . . completely prefabri· the best trained artists. The need in bonsai is to create an cated for easy assembly! And the price? The 12'x12' effect of balance and grace which occurs in the randomly model is less than $600. Sure, you might find a cheaper greenhouse, but when you compare it to pruned shape and branch placement of the real adult tree. a Gothic Arch . . . you'll see ours is the real bargain! Naturally, a white pine in meadowland varies in shape Write today for Free Brochure and "The Practical from one on a wind-blasted ridge. Both vary from an Guide for Greenhouse Selection," American elm, or a red maple, The study of tree shapes Gothic~ alone can be an immensely complex and interesting pastime. Arch ErE' The problem is further compounded by the task of Greenhouses dealing with many different tools. Combine this with the Dept. 8- 2 P. O. Box 1564 Mobile, AI. 36601 ways individual plant materials behave under those tools, Serving Greenhouse Growers for 30 years copper wire, and the restricting culture of small contain­ ers, and bonsai becomes an extremely complex art. . Keep back issues of the While the lessons to learn may seem long, shortcuts are available. With proper instruction you can do compelling American Horticulturist work soon after you have started. Then you can progress and experiment and explore the mysteries of bonsai on permanently neat, in order and always your own. close at hand . . . File them in Highsmith Deluxe Files. The one drawback to bonsai is that they do require somewhat more care than other potted plants. Th is in­ Your magazines slip into these hand­ cludes more frequent watering as a result of the soil mix some files to become valuable refer­ which is used. But the attention they demand is our ence volumes. Files look like expen­ sively bound books on your library pleasure to give, and it seems a small price to pay for shelves. The American Horticulturist insurance that the tree will live long enough for us to hand title is beautifully embossed in gold on it on to our children, and often our grandchildren. rich leather-like green spines. Easily applied gold numbers are included to help you add dates and volume num­ bers. One file holds 24 issues.

Three files for $5.95 or $2.50 each post­ paid. Send your check to The Highsmith Co. Inc. Box 25 MiS

40 THE COMPLETE BOOK OF ORGANIC GARDENING UNDER GLASS HOUSE PLANTS UNDER LIGHTS By By George (Doc) and Katy Abraham Give a friend Charles Marden Fitch Roda/e Press, In c. a gift membership Hawthorn Books, Inc. Emm aus, Pa.-7975 New York-7 975 308 pages, illustrated, $8.95 in the 275 pages, well illustrated, $9.95 Doc and Katy are well-known greenhouse American Horticultural Fitch is a well-known naturalist, horticul ­ growers and ga rden writers in Naples, N.Y. turi st, photographer and journali st. His articles They teach horticulture at Community College Society. and photographs have appeared in The New of the Finger Lakes, and have their own weekly York Times, Ameri cas, Bon Voyage, Pl ants Green Thumb radio and T. V. shows in Roches­ Alive, Horticulture, Flower and Garden, The ter. They write the Green Thumb syndicated America n Orchid Bulletin, va riou s ency­ column which appears in 135 newspapers and clopedias and other publica tions. magaz ines. Helen Van Pelt Wilson edited the book " We wrote this book to help you discover a w hich generall y is ass urance of high quality. whole new world of ga rd ening under glass," Fitch is th e author of two other fine books they say. " There are more home greenhouses th at may still be ava il ab le: The Complete Book and outdoor vegetable gardens now than at YOU'LL GROW TO LOVE of House Pl ants (Hawthorn, $9.95, 1972) and any time in history, a change brought about by YOUR TURNER The Complete Book of Terrariums (Hawthorn, tight money, high food costs, and a yearn ing $8.95, 1974) both edited by Mrs. Wilso n. for good flavor and freshness. There are two sections. Part 1 covers the " No store-bought vegetables ca n match the . ~~!~~~~~GE ba sics of light gardening, with complete easy­ taste of the crops you grow and you can have TURNER GREENHOUSES ~ U.S. 13 South, Goldsboro, NC 27530 to-understand in structions on how to do it. Part fresh fruits and vegetables almost any time of 2 contains in structions on how to take ca re of the year. hundreds of plants appropri ate for light gar­ " There's an even more important reason for '@ PERENNIALS dening. gardening under glass," they claim. " It is There is aNEW way to buy " You need li ght fo r living," says the author, therapy. Th at is, to us, th e main re aso n why "and this sa me illustration around your home everyone should have a hobby greenhouse. It perennials. can help you grow beautiful houseplants. You helps heal minds and bodies. Today many Our plants are grown in groups ca n create gardens all over your house, double hosp itals use horticulture as a therapeutic tool the growing space in a greenhouse, or turn for rehabilitation. It makes more sense to spend of six pots, each pot 1-5/ 8" your basement into a tropical paradi se by ga r­ a hundred dollars for a greenhouse than to square by 2-1/4" deep. dening under lights. spend a thousand dollars in doctor bills." " Dim hallways, spare rooms, closets, book­ Before you spring for a greenhouse, they say, Grown under controlled con- she lves, and heated garages offer other pos­ take a good look at cata logs and at other . ditions these healthy plants will sibilities. Contemplating delicate flowers or people's greenhouses. They come in all sizes be shipped to you in April or exq ui site foliage ca n be a healthy tranquilizer, and shapes, and whichever variation you de­ May. Plant in groups for best like the enjoyment of rel axing music. In the cide upon, whether it's a sunny plant room, a display, you'll enjoy full-size middle of the coldest winters, you can enjoy bay window, or a full-scale model, the addi­ fragrant orchids and warm terrariums thriving tion of a greenhouse might be the nicest thing plants in one season. under fluorescent lights." you ever did for yourself or your home. Send for our catalog today. T.5. T.5 . Enjoy Bluestone Perennials at a price you will be glad to pay. THE GREAT BOOK OF BIRDS THE BOOK OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN Please send us your FREE By by Perennial catalog. John Gooders O rtloff, H. Stuart and Henry B. Raymore The Dial Press Wm . Morrow & Co. New York-7975 January 15, 1975 Name 352 pages, wonderfully illustrated, $24.95 3 16 pp. i lIu5tr. b/w ------$3.25 Address John GOoders is an ornithologist of interna­ ------tional repute. He is perhaps best known for his City editorship of the part-publication Birds of the ------~~--~- State ______Zip __ World, which built up into an impressive nine volume encyclopedia. He

3140 Jackson Street Mentor, Ohio 44060 41 Nursery Stock

MILLIONS OF SEEDLINGS High quality at reasonable prices Over 150 selecti ons African Violets Ferns fo r Christmas trees. ornamentals Wind­ breaks. conservati on. wildlife food and cover. African Violets. the world's most loved house LEARN ABOUT FERNS-join the Los Angeles etc. Free catalog . CarinO Nurseries. Box l plant To lea rn more about them w rite to International Fem Society for only $4 .50 538W Indiana. Pa 15 701 African Violet Society of America. P.O. Box yearly. Receive 16-page educational Bulletin 1326. Knoxville. Ten n. 3790 1. for a free and two-page Lesson monthly. Address brochure Better still . se nd $6 for member­ LAIFS , Box 448-H , Hawthorne, CA 90250. Plant Supports Tiltproof ship In the 18.000 member Society and receive 5 Issues of the beautifully illustrated NEW Plant Supports from ORDEV keep your Fuchsias large growing potted indoor or patio plants African Violet Magazine. st raight. tiltproof and secure ly portable. FUCHSIAS-75 varieties tested in the S.E. STAKE KIT expands through add-on sections America's Finest - 100 Best Violets and for heat resistance. Propagated from acclima­ up to 6 feet tall . TRELLIS KIT adaptable to Gesneriads - Write tor Color Catalogue 15q: tized stock Send l Oa: for list. HIDDEN various shapes and heights. Detailed inform a­ - Illustrated Growing Aids Catalogue 25q: ­ SPRI NGS NURSERY. Route 3. Rockmart. tion: ORDEVMFGCO , INC, 6781 Ward Road. FISCHER GREENHOUSES. Dept AH . lin­ Georgia 30153. Niagara Falls. New York 14304 wood . New Jersey 08221 Gardening Equipment ProfeSSional Plastic Pots Azaleas COMPLETE TE RRAR IUM TOOL KIT 24 GREEN PLASTIC POTS -3 Rou nd 10/ Mrs. Julian Hill 's North Tisbury Azaleas Funnel & Tongs. Attachments. Water Tube. $1 60 24/ $375. 50/ $700; 4 Y2 Round 10/ featured in American Horticulturist 52: 1. Terrarium Planting Booklet-$3.50 Gift Kits $2 .50. 25/ $5 75 . 50/ $10.50 6' Aza lea 5/ 1973, are now available from the largest mailed per your instructions. OPEN SEA­ $200. 25/ $9.50. 50/ $18.00. Minimum order mailorder selection of hardy azaleas and SON. Box 225/ AH. Ash land. Oregon 97520. $500. Postpaid Write for complete liSt. NYS rhododendrons grown in the Northeast. reSidents add tax . PRACTICAL PRODUCTS. 1976 Catalog . $1 .00 refundable with first Greenhouses Box 246A South Salem. NY 10590 order CARLSON's GARDENS. Box 305- AH 1 . South Salem. NY 10590 GREENHOUSE 8' x 12 '. Build yourselffor$50 or less. Eight different plans $2.97. Includes Publications hotbed. Guaranteed. Werth 's, Box 1902AH, Bicen-Special GARDENING BECOMES AN ADVENTURE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406. Send 35¢ fo r special list of 76 plants-you when you replace the common With the un­ choose 40 and remit $17.76. Less than 45¢ ea. common Our catalogue of rare and un­ Edelweiss Gardens, Box 66 GA, Robbinsvi ll e, Greenhouses and Indoor Gardening usual plants shows the way Contains stones. nature lore. growing tipS . etc .: all for Just N.J. 08691 GREENHOUSE GROWING ACCESSORIESI $1 .00 Jaml€son Valley Gardens. Rt 3-D. Complete automatic heating. cooling . venti­ Spokane Washington 99203 Bonsai lation systems and other accessories for all greenhouse makes. models. Write ENVI­ For membership inform ati on write: American RONMENTAL DYNAMICS, 3010-DBA VINE. 1976 GROWERS CATALOG-(50th year) Bonsai Society AH , 228 Rosemont Ave nue, RIVERSIDE, CA 92507. Thousands of items. Many unusual Trees. Eri e, Pennsylvania 16505. Shrubs. Pl ants. Seedlings. Seeds. Books. Pots. Tools. Suppli es Stamps appreciated. Cactus & Succulents House Plants Mellinger's. North Lima 4 1. Oh iO 44452

Llthops - FaSCinating Africa n succulents re­ Di scount prices-free plants-bargain col­ sembling colorlul pebbles Other rare succu­ lections. Save money on Bamboo, Begonias, VEGETABLE GARDEN DISPLAYED. by The len ts Wri te lor ca talog ED STORMS. 4223 Bromeli ads, Cactus, Succulents, Fer ns, Ges­ Pershing . Ft Wort h. Texas 76107 British Royal Horticultural Society IS Invalu­ neriads, House Pl ants, OrChids, Tree Fern able for gardeners everywhere: $675. post­ Products. Yearly dues'$3.00. No obligation to paid. Bryant & Cook. Seedsmen. Box 488 A buy. Guaranteed Pl ant Club, Box 114 GA, South Windsor. Connecticut 06074 . Chrysanthemums Robbinsville, N.J. 08691 .

BOTANI CAL & HORTICULTURA L BOOKS. National Chrysanthemum Society, Inc. USA. Miscellaneous Rare. Out-of-print. New - Latest Catalog Annual dues $7 .50, in cludes 5 issues of The $1.00 S.J. Singer Cc. 11 33 Broadway. New Chrysanthemum, Beginner 's Handbook. MRS. Indoor-Outdoor Mister - Automated solid WALTER CHRISTOFFERS, Sec, 394 Central state system. Heavy rooting and sturdy York. NY. 1001 0 Avenue. Mountainside, New Jersey 07092. growth - Valve. se nsor. power supply cables - $79.50. Fully Guaranteed - AQUAMONI­ WAKE UP YOU R GARDENING. Gardening IS gOing piaces-are you With It I The AVANT TOR. Box 327-Z. Huntington. New York Daphne Odora GARDENER brings you all the "flrsts"- new 11743. plants. products . techniques. With sources­ The delightful 'February Daphne' offered by plus lull leatures. speCia l Issues A unique Little Lake Nursery growers of rare plants. horticultural magazin e-news service. 24 IS­ $5.75 prepaid, California residents add 6% sues a year . over 500 art ic les CuriOus? 3 sales tax. Box 782, Wi ll its, California 95490. sample copies $1 Serious? $850 for a full 42 year POBox 489. New York. NY 10028 ~~~ ~~~~ ~l)lP~@M

Rare Plants

Dwarf Conifers. Alpines. Exotic Japanese Give a friend Maples. Bamboos. Ornamental Grasses. JUST ONE HAND Hostas Sempervlvums Extensive Catalog a gift membersh ip A completely NEW concept in gardening ma­ 50Q: Over 7.000 different plants at nursery chines! The amazing 2·in·1 TROY·BILT® is not VISitorS Welcome Palette Gardens. 26 W in the only a wonderfully better roto tiller, it's also a wonderful compost shredder-chopper! It Zionhill Road . Quakertown. Penna 18951 American Horticultural turns your whole garden, however large or small, into a fabulously fertile "compost pile"! Society. So easy to handle, even for ladies and older Rare Bulbs and Plants , folks . You guide it with JUST ONE HAND! For complete details, prices, off·season savings, THE WIDE. WIDE WORLD OF BULBS AND send coupon below for free booklet. TROY·BllT PLANTS Americas unique catalog Thou­ Roto Tiller·Power Composters, 102nd St. & 9th sands of rare Items Many unavailable else­ Ave ., Troy, New York 12180, where Bulbs from Achlmenes Ihrough Zephyrant hes Hundreds of genera and I TROV-BILT® Roto Tiller·Power Composters , thousands of species from the world s best I Dept. 64432 , America's Finest I 102nd St, & 9th Ave" Troy, N,V, 12180 , growers Hardy bulbs and perennials house I Pl ease send the whole wonderful story of TROV-, plants. orchids. bromellads insectivorous lCAN VIOLETS BILT® Roto Tillers including prices and OFF-SEA­ plants. countless others Now completely re­ • that will Bloom for You! I SON -SAVINGS now in effect for a limited time" , (Pl ease Print Clearly) , Vised Price $300 (Deductible) INTERNA­ Send 15' for full co lor Vio let ca talog; or 25' for , Mr, I TI ONAL GROWERS EXCHANGE. Box 397-E . l.& et GREENHOUSESdi illu strated Gro wing Aids ,= ~ , 1 Farmington. Michigan 48024 .... Depl AH Oak Ave Linwood, N J 08821 catal og. I Addres s . , . . I I City State .... Zip . I l ______~ Rhododendrons 1j1JUlt l.or;e tuUM Thede Specialists in Rhododendrons-both species INDISPENSABLE and low-growi ng hybrr ds. Exbury azaleas, GARDENING AIDS other rare pl ants. Fall catalog 25 Q: . THE B0- 3 VEES NURSER Y 1737 A SW Coronado, Port­ Airlayer Grow Kit I·········· land, Oregon 972 19. Produces large Mature = l~()()))! Plants in Weeks Instead of Years Be prepared for the surprise of Seeds your life with this fa scinating cen ­ • GARDENS. turies-old Chinese system of plont • indoor!S.outdoors and • propogotion. Basically, it is on easy way of rooting 0 bronch while it is • under 2JCV3j RARE FLOWER SEED from many la nds still attached to the po rent plant. in additi on to seed and pla nts of BARN­ When rools have developed, cut branch and plant. This will save • A Gardener'S Catalogue Book. HAVEN PR IMROS ES. Uniq ue new Catalog you years of growing time. With this complete kit, amateurs can now • By Tom Riker & Harvey Rottenberg. 35 cents. FAR NORT H GARDEN S. 1562 1 achieve professional results. Each Auburndale Way, Livoni a. Michigan 48 154. kit enough for 10 or more airlayers. StOring, . • Complele k;1 . . $3.39 ppd,

Here's the Secret to almost 100% Seed Volunteer Peace Corps nNodampoff ~ • You ar e needed for fl eace Corps projects in Mother Nature's safest starting medium for floral and vegetable seed, house­ • Latin America, Africa, Asia. Exte nsion work in plants, bulbs, cuHings, etc. This natural anti-biotic eliminates damping-off and harvest ing , storag e & marketing , home gar­ other plant diseases, and is highly re­ commended and used by the U.S. Dept. dening projects, re search, nu rsery & orchard Agr., professional growers. No protect­ programs, etc. Tran sport ati on, hous ing , med­ ants necessary. Produces tremendous root systems. Supermarket vegetables and fruits • ical care, paid vacati on. U S. citi ze n. Singles 5-qt. bog, for 10 to 18 • often taste like low-grade plastic- or couples onl y. Information : Lynn Rotenberg , 2-bu. sock, eq'!.:u.:.:ol..::lo..::l.:.:0.:..:..:.~.::...:...::..:..._--=~==- and cost a fortune! Now thousands • ACTION , ORC Box F-18, Wa shington, D.C. "1Uu!. "Wisconsin's Pride" • of people are growing their own • and learning how to store and 20525. Sphagnum Moss • Use for soil or ground cover of pots, flats, preserve their harvests, Food • baskets, etc. Naturally anti-biotic. Holds up to 20 times its weight in water. Has innum­ • Gardens is a thorough how-to Wine Grape Plants erable gardening uses such as soilless gar· book on managing the food garden, • dening, mulch, rooting bulbs, transplanting. • whether in a window box, backyard This product is not peat or sphagnum peat. or 1-2 acre plot. Thousands of • VARIETAL WINE GRAPE PLANTS. Caber­ 4-qt. bog . . II • II II' II $1.89 ppd. 2-bu. sack, equal to 10 bogs . .. $5.98 • illustrations, pounds of how-to- net Sa uvigno n, Zi nfandel. Grenache. Pinot • do-it, where-to-find-it information, • Chard onay, Sauvig nOfl Blanc, many others. 1 package of famous "Dyna-Gro" plant food, PLUS remarkable SOc 320 super-sized pages, only • Hops seed available , Og ren-a , 970 3rd booklet wSolless Gardening Miracles" PLUS catalog. 1 set to a customer. • $6,95, paperbound, Avenue, LA Calif. 90019. At yourbooksfore, orsend check • 43 ["' Jor money order to: _"~ WILLIAM MORROW Dept. JAC-AH, " 105 Madison Ave., N. Y. 10016 The American Horticultural Society Travel Plans for 1976

The resounding success of the various horticul­ FIFTEEN DAY HORTICULTURAL tural explorations sponsored by The American Hor­ EXPLORA TION ticultural Society has encouraged the planning of ad­ ditional trips into other areas of the world with an Departure May 13th, returning May 27th accent upon features of horticultural interest, without (15 days or June 3rd (22 days) overlooking other areas of cultural and historical interest. Each of the programs are individually planned EXPLORATION OF and researched in an effort to produce a distinctive itinerary for members of the Society who have great CALIFORNIA AND ITS HORTICULTURE diversification in their horticultural interests. It will 16 days-April 1976 be noted that these itineraries are quite different in many ways from the non-objective usual tourist pro­ grams. They are not 'hop, skip, and jump' trips cover­ EXPLORA TION OF ing huge areas and continents in minimum periods. They are planned for the sophisticated traveler with a THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST common interest in horticulture -a magnificent (Oregon-Washington) bond. All airlines are scheduled I. A. T.A. flights. (Vancouver) These travel adventures are planned on a basis of 16 days-May 1976 providing the best of comforts in the areas visited. Since each of the groups are strictly limited in num­ bers, early reservations are recommended. Many pre­ vious projects have been fully subscribed several A SUMMER EXPLORATION OF months prior to departure. Early enquiries are ex­ THE ORIENT tended preference. July 16th to August 6th, 1976

SPRING HORTICULTURAL EXPLORATIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN AN EXPLORATION OF Great Britain renowned as the Garden Isles has NEW ZEALAND been long considered the mecca for all horticulturists. (The Garden Isles of the South Pacific) Few areas in the world are blessed with the climatic October-November 1976 conditions so favorable for the gardener in these Isles. 23 days Based upon the interest indicated and the success of previous horticultural explorations there, three alter­ native itineraries are offered for Spring 1976. AN EXPLORATION OF NINE DAY HORTICULTURAL SOUTH AFRICA EXPLORATION DEPARTURE APRIL 26th, September 1976 Returning MAY 4th, 1976 22 days

If you wish further details concerning any AHS Travel explora­ tions briefly outlined above, please write AHS Tours c/o American Horticultural Society, Mount Vernon, VA, 22121. We will send you complete brochures as soon as they are available. STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

(Act of August 12, 1970: Section 3685. Title 39. United States Code.) 1. Title of Publication-American Horticulturist Magazine. 2. Date of filing-September 19, 1975. 3. Frequency of issu e-Bi-Monthly-December, February, April, June, August, October. 4. Lo ca tion of known office of publication-7931 East Boulevard Dr., Alexandria, Va . 22308. 5. Lo ca tion of the headq uarters or' ge neral business offices of the publishers-7931 East Boulevard Dr., Alexandria, Va. 22308. 6. Names and addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor-Publisher- Th e American Horti­ cultural Society, Mt. Vernon, Va . 22 121. Editor-Murray Keene, Th e American. Horticultural Society, Mt. Vernon, Va. 22121. Managing editor-none. 7. Owner (if owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder th e names and addresses of stockhold ers owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a co rporation, the nam es and add resses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a partnership o r other uninco rpo rated firm, its name and address, as well as that of each individual must be give n.) Th e Ameri ca n Horticultural Society, Mt. Vernon, Va. 22121. 8. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other sec urity ho lders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mo rtgages o r other securities-none. 9. Omitted. 10. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this orga nization and the exe mpt status for Federal income tax purposes have not changed during preceding 12 months.

Average No. copies Actual No. copies each issued during singe issued published 11 . Extent and Nature of Circulation preceding 12 months nearest to filing date A. Total No. Copies Printed (net press run) 27,000 23,500 B. Paid Circulation 1. Sales through dealers and ca rriers, street ve ndors and counter sa les 2. Mail subscriptions 25,531 21,836 C. Total Paid Circulation 25,531 21,836 D. rree Distribution by Mail, Carrier or other means Samples, Complimentary, and other free copies 110 48 E. Total Distribution (s um of C and 0) 25,641 21,884 F. Copies Not Distributed 1. Office use, left-over, unaccounted, spOiled after printing 1,359 1,616 2. Returns from news agents G. Total (s um of E & F-should equal net press run shown in A) 27,000 23,500

certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete.

(Signed) Murray Keene