The NATIONAL HOR TICULTURAL MAGAZINE

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

JANUARY, 1945 The American Horticultural Society

PRESENT ROLL OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS April, 1944

OFFICERS President, Major David V. Lumsden, U. S. Army Firs f Vice-President, Mr. Wilbur H . Youngman, Washington, D. C. Second Vice-President, Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Washington, D. C. Secretary, Dr. V. T. Stoutemyer, Washington, D. C. Treasurer, Mr. J. Marion Shull, Washington, D. C. DIRECTORS Terms Ex piring 1945 Terms Expi,ying 1946 Mr. Robert E. Allen, San Gabriel, Calif. Mrs. Walter Douglas, Chauncey, N. Y. Mrs. Robert Fife, New York, N. Y. Mrs. J. Norman Henry, Gladwyne, Pa. Mrs. Mortimer J. Fox, Peekskill, N. Y. Mrs. Clement S. Houghton, Chestnut Hill, Mr. B. Y. Morri30n, Washington, D. C. Mass. Dr. Donald Wyman, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Dr. E. J . Kraus, Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Scott, Media, Pa, HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Mr. Clarence A. Hall, Pres., Mr. Arthur Hunt Osmum, Pres., American Begonia Society, American Rock Garden Society, 213.1 EI Jardin, Tarrytown, Ventura, Calif. New York. Mr. Harry L. Erdman, Pres., Mr. Thomas J. Newbill, Pres., American Rose Society, American Delphinium Society, . Hershey, Pennsylvania 234 S. Brainard Ave., Mr. Wm. T. Marshall, Pres. Emeritus, La Grange, Illinois Cactus & Succulent Society of America, 327 North Ave., 61 Mr. C. A. W eatherby, Pres., Los Angeles, Calif. American Fern Society, Mr. James H. Porter, Pres., 27 Raymond St., Camellia Society of America Cambridge, Mass. Macon, Ga. Mr. Jesse E. Wills, Pres., Mrs. John H. Cunningham, Pres., American Iris Society, Herb Society of· America, National Bldg., 53 Seaver St. Brookline, Mass. Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. Beatrice Harms, Pres., Mr. John A. Bongers, Pres., Midwest Horticultural Society, American Peony Society, 4155 West 14th St., Ottumwa, Iowa Chicago 23, Ill.

SOCIETIES AFFILIATED WITH THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 1944 Akron Garden Center, California Garden Clubs, Inc., 226 South Main St., Mrs. J. A. Simmington, Akron, Ohio 870 Chida Vista Ave., American Amaryllis Society, Pasadena, Calif. Mr. L. S. Hannibal, Seey., California Horticultural Society, Miss Cora R. Brandt, Secretary, Concord, Calif. 300 Montgomery St., American Fuehia Society, San Francisco, Ca li f. Headquarters: Calif. Acad. of Sciences. Chestnut Hill Garden Club, Golden Gate Park, Mrs. Bryan S. Perman, Treas., San Francisco, Ca lif. 41 Crafts Rd., Chestnut Hill, Mas s. Arlington County Garden Club, Chevy Olase (D. C.) Garden Club, Miss Eleanor Swain, Secy., Mrs. Perley G. Nutting, Pres., 4712 N. 32nd St., 3216 Oliver St., Country Club Hills, Chevy Chase, D. C. . Arlington, Va. Chev,y Chase (Md.) Garden Club, Bristow Garden Club, Mrs. Frederick W. Connolly, Pres., Mrs. J. L. Kohler, Pres., 4437 Reservoir Rd .. Bristow, Okla. Washington, D. C.

Publication Office. 32nd St . and Elm Ave., Baltimore. Md. Entered a. second·cla.o matter January 27. 1932. at the Post Offi ce at Baltimore. Md .. under the Act of August 2 • • 1911. l 'onllllunity Garden Club of Beth e,da. '. Ien· s Ga rde Jl Club of .P lI oeni >-, Mrs. Arnold Burr, Mrs. Mauri ce J. Bradford, Pres., Bell's Mill Road, Rt. 1, Box 826, Rockville, Md. Phoe ni x, Ari z. Dall as Garden Club (Founders' Group ), Michi gan H orticul tural Society, ::'if rs. Sam B. Dickinson, ::'IIr. Paul R. K rone, Secy., 1218 N . Clinton, H orticultural Building, Dallas 8. Texas East Lansing, M ich . Eagle Garden Club, :vI ielwest Horticultural Society. Mrs. J. D. All en, Pres .. Mrs. Beatrice H arms, Pres., Eagle, Colo. 41 55 West 14th St. , Fauquier and Loudoun Ga rden Cl ub . Chi cago 23, Il1. :Mrs. N . H . Mori so n, Pres., No rthern N ut Growers Assn., Middleb urg, Va. Mrs. Carl \ I\T eschcke, P res .. Federated Garden Cl ubs of Cin cinnati and 96 S. W abash St. , Vicinity, St. Paul , Minn. :\II rs. Charl es Bosworth, Pres ., )J orwich Garden Club, 2425 Ingleside Place, R uth T . Kroeger. T reas .. East W alnut Hills, 40 H ayes ::, t., Cincinnati, Ohi o Norwich, N . Y. Forest Hills Garden Cl ub, Ohio Associati on of Garden Clubs, M rs. Richard V. Mattingly, Pres., Mr. Victor Ries, 3701 Cumberland St., N. W., Ohio State U niversity, V-rashington, D . C. Columbus, Ohi o. Garden Center of Greater Cl eveland, Rock Garden Society of Ohio, East Boul eva rd at E uclid Ave., Mrs. Frank Garry, Librarian, Cleveland 6, Ohio Montgomery Stati on P os t Office, Ga rden Ce nter Institute of Buffalo, Montgomery, Ohio Delaware P ark Casino, Salida Garden Club, Buffalo, T. Y. Mrs. J ohn C. Burgener, Secy., Garden Centre, 802 D St., % Carolina Garden Stores, Salida, Colo. 23 'Iorth Lexington St.. Takoma H orticultural Club, Ashevill e, N. C. Mr. Frank L P ohanka, P res., Garden Center, Silver Spring, Md. Youn gstow n Public Library. The Pittsburgh Garden Center, Youngstown. Ohio Schenl ey P ark, Garden Club of Alexandria, Pittsburgh, P a. Mrs. J as. Sherj.er, Pres., The San Francisco Garden Club, 725 Kingstree t Road, Room 133, Fairmont H ote!, Alexandria, Va. San F rancisco 6, Calif. Ga rden Cl ub of Ohio, The Valley Garden Center, T he M. O'Neil Co .. 2700 N. 15th Ave., Akron, Ohio Phoenix, A riz. Garden Club of Virginia, The Trowel Club, M r . Loui s N . Dibrell, Pres .. Mrs. Robert M. H in ckl ey, 124 Broad St. , 4655 Garfield St., N. W ., Danvill e, Va. W ashi ngton, D. C. Garden Club, ,~r oman's Dept. Cl uh. Tulsa Garden Club, 8 - 2 Margaret Place, Mrs. Thos. G. Lesli e, L ibrarian, Shreveport, La. 1439 S. Carolina Ave., ~ Geo rgetown Garden Club, Tulsa 5, Okla. M rs. J ohn Blake Gordon, P re T win Fall s Garden Club, 3241 R St., N. W ., Twin Fall s, Idaho W ashington, D. C. Wayside Garden Club, Greeley Garden Cl ub, Mrs. W. ] . McCui ston, Pres., ·Mr. Asa T. J ones, Jr.. 454 S. H arvard St. , 1703-11th Ave., Tulsa, Okla. Greeley, Colo. "Va shillgtoll Garden Club. H ome Garden Cl ub of Denver, M rs. F red E. Evans, Pres .. M rs. ~r illi a m P. Mell en. P res .. 38 11 T St., N . 'vV., 4864 Tennyson St., V-rashi llgtOll, D. C. Denver, Colo. VVoodlawn Garden Club, Indian Head Garden Club, Mrs. A ll en ~r . Burkholder, Secy., Mrs. F rank A. Bolton. P res .. 14 19 N . Glebe Rei., P omonkey. Md. Arlington, Va. Kanawha Ga rden Club, W oodridge Garden Cl ub. Mr . Ruffner R. P ayne, Pre . .. Mr. A. H . H ester, P res .. 1507 A V irginia St. , 1824 R. I. Ave., N. E .. Charl es ton, ~r . Va . W ashington, D. C. Longmont Garden Cl ub, \Vorcester Co unty H orticultural Soc iety. Call ahan House, T erry St., 30 Elm Street, Longmont, Colo W orcester. Mass Ii] The National Horticultural Magazine

Vol. 24 Copyright, 1945, by THE A M ERJeAN HORTIUUL'l'IJIML SOCTET'Y No.1

JANUARY, 1945

CONTENTS

PAGE Bamboo Growing for the South. E . f\ . lV[c ILHENNL______. 1 The Story of Camell ia reticulata. ROBERT CASAMAJOR .______7 Lateral Inflorescences in the Bromeliaceae. Y[ ULFORD B. FOSTER ______14 Length of Blooming Period in Shrubs and F lowering Trees. S TAN LEY Vi. LEO NARD ______23 Some Iris Hindsights. ROB ERT E. ALLEN ______24 Four Garden Scenes from the ~ T o rk of Fletcher Steele.______35 The Illusive I vy-IX. Fa rt TT . ."' LFRED BA TES ______41 Rock Garden Note : A "Pancake" Garden. -;\[RS. H . C. SCRUTTON ______52 Upon a Rock, Empetru111. ~l ARREN C. ~T ILSON ______53 The Glandular Birch . V \TA RREN C. ' VILSON ______53 Rhododendron Notes: Yellow Rhododendrons. Cr.EMENT G. BOWERS__ _ 55 Lily Notes: Lilies from Se("cl. ALlDA !. fVI NGSTON_. __ 58 Narcissus Notes: Narci ssus for Naturalizati on . CARL KRIPPENDO RF _ 60 The Daffodil. LOUISA YEOMANS KING ______.___ 62 Daffodil Notes of the 1944 Show. :MRS . KENYON REY NOLDS ______63 A Book or Two ______6(') The Gardener's Pocketbook : Pru1vus Skin1'l,e1'b. F. L. SKINNER .__ .___ ._ _ 68 Tlw Blues. KATH LEEN MARRIAGE .______. ______70 It's Alive. ERIC ''''lALTHER ______.______72 Two Malpighias. EDw ARD TEAS ______72 From the Midwest Horticultural Society: ELDRED GREENE Vibu.rnU111/, C(llYlesi ______. ______-______74 S Y1'inga per sica. ______------74 U1111/,uS glabra Ca ' /'1'/ perd mcm.ii ______----- 75 Why is a Fuchsia? ALICE EASTWOOD ______.______75 Galiu111/, verU11'k VIOLET N ILES ' ''' ALK ER ______.______-______76 Amary llis Experiment. STELLA HAYDON ______77 -and Here ~T e Have Idaho. "\IrAR), FRA KL THARP ______-_ ------79 Co r rec ti 0 n ______.______------80

Published quarterly by The American Horticultural Society. Publication office, 32nd St. and Elm Ave., Baltimore, Md. Editorial offi ce, Room 821, Washington Loan and T rust B u il ding, Washington, D . C. Contributions born all members are cordially in vited and should be sent to the Editorial office. A subscription to the magazine is included in the annual dues to aU members; to non·members the price is seventy·five cents a. copy, three dollars a year. [iiJ The National Horticultural Society Volume Twenty--Four

Washington, D. C. 1945 Copyright .\merican Horticultural Society. 1945 rJ wi1'le y ewI' old plaqq,ting of Phyltostachys ba11q,buso·ides (Ti'mber Ba1%boo) sho·w­ .jng 'new CUl1%S, at Ave1"Y Tstand. tao Bamboo Growing for the South

E. !\. McILHENNY

The growmg of bamboo in the in for me by Dr. H. F. Schultz of the warmer sections of the U nited States. Division of P lant Exploration and In­ where the climate is moist, and the land troduction in April 1910. By careful rich, should be one of the major agri ­ attention, all of the Phyllo tachys group cultural pursui ts; for bamboo wood is thrived and increased rapidly. The adaptable to very many uses, from two plantings of Dendrocalamus were building houses to convertion into not hardy, and coul d not with tanc1 paper, and due to its rapid growth and our winter cold, a they made thei r heavy yield per acre, is destined to re­ growth in the late summer and were place to a large extent the native tim ­ still soft when freezing weather came ber of the South. on, while the Phyllostachys group made Bamboo not only grows well in the their growth in the early spring ( late bottom lands that will produce good March and April ) and the culms were crops of sugar-cane, sorghum, corn. fully matured before the Fall. and similar crops, but is far more re­ All of the Dendrocalamus are what munerative per acre over a long term as known as "bun ch growing" bam­ of years than any crop whi ch can he boos, while the Phyllostachys group grown on such lands. and the varieties closely allied to it are Prior to World War 2, all bamboo rhizomatus in their growth, the new used in the U nited States and Europe growth developing from strong under­ was imported from the O rient. Since ground roots radiating from the parent this trade has been cut off by lack of plant parallel to the surface of the shipping space, there has been a great ground. The rhizomes, which make shortage of bamboo and bamboo mate­ their growth during mid-summer and rial, and the supply ·of this valuable \ early Eill, are heavy, short-jointed un­ wood has dwindled to nothing. derground runners, often branching un ­ Bamboo may be divided roughly into derground. At irregular intervals along two types: those which develop the these runners or rhizomes are eyes new growth from underground root from which the new stalk or culm stalks or rhizomes (these spread rap­ springs when the warm weather of idly), and those whidl grow in com­ Spring arrives. pact clumps and which spread slowly. The bud from which the new bam­ A good many years ago I, in asso­ boo culm is to grow appears on the ciation with the Division of P lant Ex­ side of the rhizome as a small, hard ploration and Introduction of the U. S. swelling, c-omposed 'of overlapping Department of Agriculture. became in­ sheaths. As the warm weather of terested in trial plantings of bamhoo at Spring comes on, this bud begins to Avery Island, Louisiana. lengthen, and the sheath bases begin to 1;'he first planting made here con­ draw away from one another, and the sisted of fi ve varieties of the running bud expands into a compact upright typ~ belonging to the Phyllostachys growth until its point pierces the group, and two varieties of the bunch ground. These sheaths fit over each bamboo belonging to the Dendrocala­ other like the shucks over an ear of mus group. These plantings were put corn, and the elongation takes place [1) 2 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

very much in the same manner as when The varieties of bamboo which can a telescope is withdrawn section by be grown satisfactoriiy in the area bor­ section. dering the Atlantic Ocean from Savan­ The new culm first makes its appear­ nah south, and extending all along the ance above ground as a sharp point. Gulf Coast inland to the point where and develops slowly upward for the the temperature in March does not first few days after its appearance. An drop below a couple of degrees of ice, interesting feature of the ,bamboo's are many. I have growing in my ex­ growth is that the entire length of the perimental gardens in Louisiana sixty­ cane is compressed into the sprout four varieties that are entirely hardy, ~when it first makes its appearance and which have never been hurt by above ground, the elongation being temperatures that frequently reach 15 from the bottom up; that is, the bot­ degrees Fahrenheit. Some of these tom joints or internodes elongate much varieties are of the giant type, reach­ more rapidly than those above, and ing a height of sixty feet or more, and only slow down and cease growing suitable for many uses in construction when they have reached the length to where timber of moderate strength is which nature intended they should used, other varieties are small in stat­ grow. There is no increase in the ure, some reaching a height not exceed­ girth of the bamboo culm after it ap­ ing 12 inches, but making such a com­ pears a,bove ground, but the culm elon­ pact ground cover and spreading ,so gates joint by Joint until it reaches its rapidly that their foliage which is green maximum height. This elongation be­ and succulent all winter furnishes a cDmes more rapid as the 'culm gets wonderful winter pasture for live stock. higher; is slow for the first two or three In growing the Phyllostachys group feet, but the growth from then on is of bamboos, it is advisable to cultivate exceedingly ra:pid in height until ma­ the land deeply for one summer pre­ turity is reached. The timber bamboo. vious to setting out the plants. The for instance, when growing from ma­ ground should carry a cover-crop of ture rhizomes, makes its complete some leguminous vegetation during the growth, which may be as much as fifty­ summer, all of which should be plowed five feet, in six weeks; and this is about under deeply in the Fall. the average time in which all bamboo The planting is best set out in rows shoots reach maximum height. eight feet apart, not later than Febru­ According to my observation, bam­ ary 1st, in order that they may become boo is the fastest growing plant known. well established before the spring

A culm of Phyllostach.'),s ba.11/lbbusovdes growth starts in March. The earth or Ph)lllostachys ed,u,[.is that will meas­ between the rows should be kept clean ure four inches through at the base throughout the first summer by fre­ will make an average growth in a nor­ quent shallow cultivations or planted mal season of 18 inches in twenty-four with a cover-crop between the rows of hours, attaining its greatest growth some sort of clover or other low-grow­ during the warm part of the day. Maxi­ ing legume, which will not shade the mum growth, of course, depends not bamboo plants themselves, but will only on proper temperature, but the keep the ground mellow and free from proper amount of moi sture in the at­ weeds and grass, and save cultivation. mosphere and in the ground, and a If the season has been satisfactory suitable amount of plant food to pro­ for root growth, the rhizomes from the duce normal growth. plants put down in February, from Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 3

Ti111be1' Bamboo (Ph'yllostachys baq11b~(s oides) ten years old, at Avery I slmld, LMbisiana.

which the new plants are to sprout, strong rhizomes on which there are should completely tie across the eight growing buds on the plants when they foo t rows by the fi rst of August. There ar-e set out, but the fo llowing Spring ; wi ll be little or no new growth during that is, one year after the ini tial plant­ the first spri ng, unless there are some ing, there will be a thick growth of THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 yo ung culms possibly completely cover­ to the rhizomes from which the cut ing tbe space planted. vVhen this growth grew. growth has been accomplished, no If the banlboo planting is handled in other cultivation is necessary, but if the manner herein prescribed, (refer­ there should be patches of weeds that ring, of course, to the Phyllostacbys have c0111'e up along the new shoots, group), the maximum size culms; that they should be cut out, and in late is, canes with a diameter of three to February or early March a liberal ap­ four inches and larger, and a height of plication of N itrate of Soda at the rate forty-five to sixty-five feet may be ex­ of not less than 300 Ibs. to the acre be pected. It is safer, however, not to uroadcast and lightly raked in. Bam­ expect cane of this sjze under ten or boo, being a giant grass, is a rank twelve years of careful growth man­ fee der, and N itrate is very necessary agement. From that time on, how­ for its satisfactory development. ever, the bamboo planting will produce Other than the applicatjon of N itrate, maxin: ul11 canes yearly, without limit, a fertilizer composed of: until the planting has feached an age 3 parts Superphosphate of thirty years or more, then inflores­ cence begins and seed develops. This 1 part Ammonium Sulphate stage will continue for two or three 1 part Calcium Sulphate . years, after which the entire planting should be broadcast and raked into the will die, but new culms will arise from ground three times during the year. the outside rhizomes which can be The first application should be in Feb­ used for planting new areas. It is of ruary, the next in April, and the last interest to state here that the very con­ in June. If this system of fertilization siderable planting which I made on is f.ollowed, bamboo will not only grow Avery Island in April 1910 has not yet rapidly, but will attain its maximum gone to seed, and has been producing size in a very much shorter time than each year a maximum number of culms. if it is allowed to develop only from the It is also of interest to note that if natural fertility of the so il. the land surrounding the Phyllostachys The thi rd year after the bamboo bamboo forest is plowed in winter, and plants are set: a fairly liberal cutting a good bed of loose soil is produced can be made of canes measuring y,;. of for ten to twelve feet outside of the an inch at the base and less, suitable borders of the planting, the entire area for small fi shing poles, plant-stakes and will be filled with new rhizomes by the other uses where a small cane is re­ first of August and the bamboo plant­ quired. Not more than one-third of ing will be increased by this area the standing canes should be cut in yearly. any year, as a cutting greater than thi s The foregoing comments have dealt will reduce the next spring's growth. with the Phyllostachys Bamboos, as and tend to reduce the size of the new thi s group are by far the most valuable canes. By experience, I have learned for general use, but the Bambusas or if more than one-third of a stand of clump-forming bamboos are many and bamboo is cut in anyone year, consid­ very well adapted for growing in the erable damage is done to those left South, and for some uses are equal in standing, and succeeding growth is value to the rhizomatus types. scanty. Also, if the young immature Clump bam boo develops from the ca nes are cut, sap will fl ow from the original plant by shoots from the base cut butts and great damage be done of the origi nal plant, and this growth Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 5

Twelve )lea?' old plants of Bambusa a:rgentea and Bambusa argeJ7tea st1'iata, growing at AVl"ry Tsla,J7d, LOu.1;siana.

is about equal from all sides, so that are almost as varied as are the running there is built up a compact bunch of type uses, but the individual canes culms growing much more closely to­ do not grow as large. gether than those of the running type. The extremely rapid growth of bam­ The uses for the bunch type of bamboo boo and its many uses make it a "must" 6 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan.; 1945

Phyllostachys edulis, showing new CUl111,s. Planting nine yean old.

for the areas of the South where it will full hardness and durability until their growth satisfactorily. third year of growth, if scienhfically Bamboo is destined to take the place cut, a bamboo forest will produce more of Southern Pine for the production of pulpwood per acre per year than any paper, as it is rapid in its growth, and other plant known. its growth is continuous year by year, Avery Island, La. and although the canes do not reach Nov. 15, 1944. The Story of Camellia Reticulata ROBERT CASAMAJOR

While visiting the garden of Victor to be. ten feet high and six feet across Reiter, Jr., in San Francisco in April and when I saw it in De cel~nber 1943, 1942, I noticed a gorgeous flower on a I guess it had at least 400 nice fat small shrub in the distance and on in­ flower buds on it. I was a bit amazed, quiring what it was Mr. Reiter in­ however, when no one there could tell formed me that it was Ca1neliia 1'eticu­ me where the plant had been secured. lata. Although I had heard of this This was disappointing because I had rare plant for years, I had never seen hoped its hi story and habitat would be it, and the foliage is so different from on record. the familiar C. japonica that I would It was hinted to me, however, that never have recognized it as a camellia. there was doubt as to it being a true Naturally, I immediately wanted to species and further doubt as to whether own a plant, and on finding it could it had ever made viable pollen, or fully not be secured from Mr. Reiter, I tried developed stigmas. elsewhere, only to discover that it j.ust One interesting fact was offered from wasn't for sale anywhere. This fact the University and that was, that when rather intrigued me, so I began a the plant was small it produced larger search, which has led into \11any places flowers than it has done in later years and experiences. and I was told that some blooms ex­ I S0011 learned that the predominant ceeded nine inches in diameter. cause of its scarcity was the fact that My search next led me to the Hunt­ no one has been able to get it to strike ington Library in San Marino, Cali­ roots from a cutting, though much fornia, and there with the assistance of wood has been lost in the attempt. William Hertrich, Curator oHhe Hunt­ Therefore it must be propagated by ington Botanic Garden, and some ar­ grafts and even these are tricky, com­ ticles on the subject collected by Mrs. pared to C. japonica. Carlo Galli of South Pasadena, Cali­ I further found a great atmosphere fornia, the story gradually unfolded. of secrecy about it, wherever I in­ It appears from the record that in quired, and although several people 1820 a Captain Richard Rawes brought owned it, they just didn't talk about to England, in his East India Mer­ it and much less want to show it to you. chantman, a plant of a fine Camellia. It soon became apparent that nearly which he secured in Canton, China and all of the existing plants in California gave it to his friend Thomas Carey were raised from scions secured from Palmer of Bromley, Kent. Mr. Pal­ a large plant growing in the Botanic mer grew it in his conservatory and Gardens at the University of California it bloomed in the Spring of 1826. It in Berkeley. Therefore it seemed prop­ waiii given the name of Captain Rawes er that if I wanted to learn more of Camellia and in the Botanical Register C. 1'etic'ulata I had better start there. of July 1, 1827, No. 1078, Vol. XIII, While my visit profited me very little it was identified by John Lindley, an -in the line of information, I at least English Botanist, as Ca1nellia ret·icu.­ saw a magnificent specimen, carefully la.ta. In des·cribing the plant he said: housed, in a lath house, under lock "We conceive there can be no doubt and key. r would estimate this plant of this being specifically distinct from

[71 8 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

C. japo11,ica, from which it is distin­ Five months later the Curtis Botan­ guished by its rigid, flat strongly reticu­ ical Magazine on December 1, 1827, lated leaves. and also by its silky ova­ No. 2784, published another color plate rium. The fl owers also have a different of C. 1'etieulata and this one was from aspect, the petals are much undulated, a drawing by Miss Curtis of Captain and irregularly and loosely arranged, Rawes' plant. In telling about the with none of the cor:npactness and regu­ flower Mr. Curtis says : "Not having larity for which C. japo11ica is so much myself had the oppo·rtunity of seeing admired. the plant I adopt Mr. Lindley's sug­ gestion of its being a new species," "The C. 1'etieulata has the habit of and he then quotes-the Lindley descrip­ C. ja,p011,ica. The leaves are rigid, ob­ tion given above. long, acuminate at each enc( serrated, flat, not s·hining, and reticulated with In this color plate there are drawings deeply sunken veins. Flowers very of a seed capsule and section, and seeds large, bright clear purple, with the ap­ alone, but a note says this: "Repre­ pearance of a Peony. Calyx imbri­ sentations ·of capsule and section are cated, 5 leaved, more or less stained froOm the Warratah Camellia (t. 1654) with purple. Petals 17-18 somewhat and seeds fron'! the single red (t. 42)." repand, wavy, generally entire, bosely So that once again we have the implica­ arranged. Stamens much shorter than tion that t,he plant did not set seed, the petals, at the base irregularly mona­ else its own seed and capsule would delphous in several rows, the .minor have been shown an.d not that of an­ ones rather separate hom the others, other plant. they are often divided into several bun­ A comparison of these two color dles, which are placed opposite the plates shows that the Captain Rawes inner petals. Ovarium roundish, silky, Can;Jellia in the Botanical Magazine is 4-celled, with several distichous ovules. six inches in diameter and a clear foOse Style, 4-fld smooth. Stigmata simple. pink coloi, while the plate in the Bo­ The style is occasi,onally 2 or 3-fld, and tanical Register is five inches in cliam­ the ovarium 2 or 3-celled." eter, and a trifle darker. The form After this careful description he of t,he two flowers is apparently the goes on at great length to make hi s same. point that it is a new species and says The next reference found was in that although one of the fundamental Paxton's Magazine of Botany, ten quali,fications of a species is that it will years later, in Vol. 3, 1836-37, Page reproduce itself when self-pollinized he 101 , which shows a color plate witl1 a still cOl1s iders this ·plant to be a di stinct flower 70 inches in diameter and very species. While he does not say that similar in f.orm and color .to the plate in thi s plant did not set seed, he does im­ Botanical Magazine of December 1, ply that 'it had not don·e so. 1827, No. 2784. There is no new in­ The color plate accompanying this formation in the accompanying article description was not drawn from the however. plant brought in by Captain Rawes, and We then move ahead twenty years bloomed by Palmer, but from another to April 1, 1857 and in the Botanical plant owned by the Royal Horticul­ Magazine, No. 4976 there is shown a tural Society brought to England in plate of C. ret'ieulata fi01-e-pleno, a 1824 by John Damper Parks in his double form, and quite different from East Indiaman, the Lowther Castle. the earlier draw.ings. ,This plant was ' Jan ., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 9

l

Captain Rawes' C a7'/~ell£a" identifi ed b')l John L indley in 1827 as C a1lleliia Teticu­ lata. Plate 2784. CU1,tis Botanical Magazine 1827.

sent to England by Robert Fortune, a Canton and used to gather choice plants Scotch botanist, who had been sent to from t·he gardens of Canton and send China by the Royal Horticultural So­ them to England by the vari ous sea­ ciety to collect plants, and it is believed captains, who came to the port. There that rye secured it from a man by the is no evidence that he did any collect­ name of Reeves, who was in the em­ ing of plants or seeds in their native ploy of the East India Company in haun ts. It therefore appears that the

\ 10 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

so-called double form of C. 1'eticulata of Caerhays Castle, Cornwall , sent us is either a natural or horticultural hy­ specimens of a Camellia raised froOm brid. seed collected by Forrest (No. 25352), A comparison 0.£ ..;this q)l@r", ~Iate '. which had just come into flower with with one published ny:Y (u:schaffelf, of: h[m, and from this material the pres­ which Mrs. Verne 0: McCaskill of ent plate was prepared. The plant Pasadena, California, has a copy, and was grown under the name C. speciosa, to whom I am indebted for a view of but there is not the slightest doubt that it, indicates that the two were probably it is really C. 1'eticu.lata, and examina­ made from floOwers from the same plant. tion of Forrest's field specimens, in the In one, the flow er is 5 inches across Kew Herbad,um, reveal a number of and the other ' 5 % inches, but the form ,­ sheets;,wliith the late D r. 0. Stapf was is identical. It has about twice as able to identify with C. retic~data. All many petals as tbe one brought in by were obtained in the hills around Ten­ Captain Rawes, is more fo rmal, imbri­ gyueh (Western Yunnan), where For­ cated and shows the stamens promi­ rest fo und the plant growing in scrub, nently. The edges of some of the thickets and open pine forest at alti­ petals fade to nearly white. tudes of 1830-2750 meters. He first In the article, in the Botanical Mag­ collected it in 1912 (Nos. 7662,9305) , azine, accompanying this drawing, is and sub sequently in 1913 (No. 9715 ), a story of a fine ·plant of Captain 1924 (No. 25352) and 1925 (No. Rawes' Camellia growing in the con­ 27165), and sent home seed from which servatory of William Byam Martin, plants 'have been raised. Thus, after Bank Grove, near Kingston, Surrey, more than a hundred years, the wil.d which was 13 feet high, 16 feet spread. form of the species has at last been dis­ and had a circumference of 50 feet. For covered and introduced into cultiva­ the health of the plant in October 1848, tion." it was necessary to remove 2,600 buds It is described as a tree up to 10.5 and when it bloomed in April 1849, it meters high, loosely branched with had 2,000 fl owers. each one 8 inches greyish bark, and the fl ower as having across. 5 or 6 petals. In the plate, however, VYe now jump nearly 80 years to there are apparently 10 petals and the the Botanical Magazine of May 13. open flower is 3.% inches across. The 1935 t. 9397 to find after 108 years that color is a clear r-ose showi ng many Captain Rawes' Camellia was not the stamens. The description further states true species of C. reticuJata at all and that the flowers appear singly on the that J ohn Lindley was probably in er­ twigs in the axils of the uppermost ror in identifying it as the true species. leaves. This is also a characteristic Botanical Magazine in the above of the plant at the Uniyersity of Cali ­ numbered color-plate and accoOmpany­ fornia. ing article states: " F or more than a Victor Reiter. Jr., has informed me century the species has been known that the-speeimen at the ~Un i-ye.rs it y was ()DIy in the double or semi-double fl ow­ one of fOllr, which were imported by ered garden form and 'until' 1912' no Golden Gate -Park, from Hillier & Sons wild material had ever been collected of Winchester,c Eag.]'and, ·of whrch' he that could be definitely connected with received one and the Park kept two, the garden form. which were later lost. He also stated "In March 1932. Mr. J. C. Williams that he has another plant that he se- Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 11

Cmmllia. 'ret'iculata flo·re-pleno. The double fon'lL sent to England bv Robert Fortune fro111, Ca11t011. Chi·na.. Plate 4976, Bota11.ical Magazin.e /857 . cured from Canada, the fl ower of which cured from the U niversity of Cali­ is identical with the original one. fo rnia. ·Ge0rge Petersen of 'Chico, California. If the drawing and colors of Cap­ informed me that he had a plant in bud .tain Ra wes Camellia, "as. sho.wn in the that was killed by the cold spell in Botanical Magazine, are correct, it 1933, so it was apparently more tender seems apparent that the plant at the than C. ja.pom·w. His stock was se- LT niversity 111 Berkeley and now com- 12 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

be designated as "Captain Rawes" or inao into circulation throughout the. State of California as C. reticula.ta IS possibly "C. 1'eticulata var. Captain identical with the specimen brought to Rawes." England in 1820. When selecting a root stock on which \iVhi le it is true that this plant has to oaraft scions of .t hi s variety it is ad- the characteristics that di stinguish C. visable to use a strong vigorous grower retioflata, as grown from Forrest's as there is considerable evidence that seed (No. 25352), it also is apparent the top growth is far more vigorous that the fl owers of the two plants are than most C. japonica varieties and different, the Captain Rawes Camellia there is a possibility that this may be beina easily twice as large as the wild the reason why the University of Cali­ species, and more double. This ,,:ou~d forn'ia plant did not have such large flow ers as it grew in size, in spite of indicate that the former is a hybnd, 111 the fact that it was ferti li zed regularly. which one side of the cross is C. 1'et 'ic~£ ­ lata, or a primary hybFid of it. Hybrid In other wo rds the root action did not viaor would thus account for the great keep pace with the top growth. I t o . 1 would be interesting to try it on the improvement in size. There IS a so the possibility that it could be a muta­ wi ld species of C. reticulntn itself, if tion or "sport" of the species though seeds could be obtained. Since this this seems less likely than the hybrid tree oa rows to 32 feet it should have a theory. strong root system. That this fact was observed many years ago is evidenced At any event it is a magniificent by an article in an old copy of the Camell ia and well worth owning if you "Gardeners Chronicl e," of L ondon, to can find some way to secure it. Botani­ which Mr. Hertrich called my atten­ cal Magaz ine in 1935 says this of the t ion, in which the writer deplored the species. 1'eticulata is quite the "c. fact that some way could not be found finest of all the Camellias and is easily to get it to grow on its own roots. reooani zable by its very large rose-red Mr. O. E. Hopper of Oakland, Cali­ and large elli ptic leaves with fl o w~r s fornia, has informed me that he has a dull upper surface and the venation a plant of C. 1'eticulntn which he se­ clearly visible in the li ving state." cured from Robert Veitch in Surrey. So far as I can learn the wild species, but a color-plate, that he sent me of a as collected by Forrest near the town fl ower from it. looks to me quite differ­ of Tengyueh. is not now growing in ent in color and form from the one at the United States of America and Ca­ the University of California. mellia growers would do well to at­ In any event there appear to be sev­ tempt to secure it as well as the allied eral fl ower fo rms from plants, which species C. Pitardii. If the blood of have the characteristic leaf of C. 1'etic~£­ these two Camelli as could be intro­ lnta, as w~ll as its habit of making but duced into hybrids with that of several one growth a year, and that the color of our present fine varieties of C. jap­ and number of petals is in considerable onica an entirely new race of fine fl ow­ variance. Until someone has had an ers might result. opportunity to observe several of. them In view of the foregoi ng facts it oa rowin0a under the same conditions, appears that it is really improper no­ alona with the wi ld species as collected menclature to ca1\ the plant which is by Forrest,o it wi ll be difficult to clan'f y now in cultivation in California C. the nomenclature for this monarch of reticulata and it could more properly all the Camellias. Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 13

Call1ell-ia retic'/JI,lata. The wild species g1'own i'n E11gland from seed collected by Forrest nea1' T engyueh, i11 westen~ Yn-n1wn, China. Plate 9397, C~wtis Botanical Magazine, 1935. By special per1'11,issio11 of The Royal Horticultural Society, 1944. Lateral Inflorescences in the Bromeliaceae MULFORD B. FOSTER

It has been generally accepted that When this phenomenon of a duplex most of the bromeliads send forth their blooming habit was recognized in the inflorescences from the center of the one species, the species name, Q. cen­ main axis of the plant. The exceptions tralis, was placed in synonomy. After to this generalization have provided having this plant in cultivation four SOI:ne interesting data on this subject. years, I have now observed that Ques­ One of the early known exceptions is nelia lateralis not only blooms laterally in the epiphytic rosette type of brome­ from the base, but the same plant liad in the genus Quesnelia of the sub­ blooms also from the center of the main fam ily Bromelioideae. In this genus axis. The lateral infl,orescence appears the species, lateralis has long been first, and then about two months later know to bloom laterally, as noted in another inflorescence may appear from Harms* (1930), "Occasionally an the center of the same rosette. otherwise normally vegetatively short­ This condition of lateral inflor­ ened shoot forms bracts and blossoms. escence is rarely found in bromeliads Such accidental formations (according although Harms says, "another type of to Mez, p.x.) are not rare in Quesnelia development can be seen in the case late1'alis Wawra ..." of T. c071!f-planata, and T. 171,.ulticaulis 'My observations from the living ma­ ( caespi tosa) because· here, after the terial convince me that such fo rmations blossoms of the main axis, new blos­ are neither accidental nor rare in soming bracteate sprouts arise from the Quesnel1:a lateralis although this condi­ axils of the rosette leaves." tion is abnormal to the genus. In 1940 my first observation of an The caulescent habit of a number of epiphytic bromeliad sending forth its the Tillandsias such as T. pulchella, T. inflorescence laterally was made when stricta, T. fi7'71~1~la, T. decomposita and r took Quesnelia lateralis in the Or­ others' gives the plants the appearance gano :Mountains above Therezopolis in of having lateral inflorescences. These 8razil. I was very much surprised to plants when not in flower may show find this same species also blooming several old dried inflorescences emerg­ trom the center. I immediately exam­ ing laterally from the stem, not unlike ined many of these epiphytic bromeliads the large rosette type of D. 771;icrocalyx growing in clusters on rocks, and in as explained below. I have found the the trees, and fo und just as many of large rootless plants of T. deco71~posif;a the plants blooming from the base, (at wit·h as many as teL1 old scape stubs a point below all ·of the leaves) as well protruding laterally from the twisted as from the center of the main axis in main stem but as in all this type of the tube of the rosette. Later I learned Tillandsia. the new inflorescence ap­ from Dr. Lyman B. Smith, bromeliacl pears -in the main axis of the plant, to peciali st of Harvard, that this Ques­ be later pushed aside when new axis leaf growth starts again. iI'elia was originally named lateml~s and at a later time also named centralis~ ' At ' . It is not- difficult to understand how the time botanists evidently thought such plants as these caulescent Tilland­ that they were two different species. sias could have been described as hav­ * Hal'IDS translation by nr. Lyman IL Rmith . ing lateral inflorescences. [141 Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 15

Quesnelia latemlis. Unusual br01neliad with a 1'egular "freak" habit of blo011lting latemlly f1'om the base as well as fr011't the cente1' of th e pla1'bt.

In considering further this phenome­ in the Disteganthus basilateralis which non of lateral inflorescence Harms like Greigia and Quesnelia is in the said: "Rarely the main axis regularly subfamily Br0111elioideae. Harms made remains sterile and the inflorescences only a notation of this peculiar condi­ arise from the axils of the rosette­ tion: " In Disteganthus the axis arises leaves. This is the case for example laterally from the rhizome (Plagianthae in Greigia sphacelata (R.&P.) Regel." C. Koch in Wochenschr., f. Gaertneri Another lateral inflorescence which III [1 8601 ) ." My examination of the is noticeable upon first examination is plate of DistegG1'lth liS basilateralis Le- 16 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

T illandsia decomposita with -its 111a1~y old scape stubs p1'otnld-ing laterally f1'011·t the twisted main ste11t shows t1-~e new inflorescence appea?'ing fro11 '/, the 111.ain ax-is of the plant. The caulescent stem. often beco11tes over two feet in length. This fantastic t?'ee-to p epiphyte d iSpe?1SeS with roots, using its curly leaves in an octopus-like g-rasp to hold itiJ7 secu1'e posl:tion. maire in Fl. des Serres iii tab. 227 regularly producing a lateral inflor­ ( 1847) shows me that several inflor­ escence are in the subfamily Pitcair­ escences emerge simultaneously out of nioideae and so far as my obse.rvation the base of the plant below the rosette. or any avail able data shows they are While I have found at least two in­ confined to H ec l~tia, Dyckia, D eutero­ Aorescences on one rosette emerging coh171:a, and El1Choli1,iu1n. These have,' at the same time fr0111 certain species in common, a spiny leaf rosette form of Dyckias_ I know of no other bro­ generally so similar to ea:ch other that meliads where this multiple inflores­ it is alm ost impossible to distinguish cence occurs regularly as a character­ one genus from another, even by a istic, except as noted above. Although close observer if the inflorescence is in freak plants, having a central inflor­ not showing. escence, of Aechmea Orlandial1a and My observations as to the position Witt11'/,ackia lingulata I have found of inflorescences in these four genera more than one scape emerging from the of the Pitcairnioideae group may not center axis of the rosette. be entirely new. That is, Mez in his T he genera, so far unrecorded as monograph pictured H ecktia gl01'l1e- Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZI NE 17

D~ycl?ia frigida . Uppe1' p01,tion of the plant showing position of th e infi01"­ pscence which el11 e1'ges from the side of this 11101'1)1 lpoved rosette. 18 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 194.5 ra.ta on page 353 and Dyckia re­ prised when Dr. Smith informed me motifiom, page 336 with the inflores­ that little had been written about lateral cence coming from the side but in the inflorescences in the Bromeliaceae. No same monograph pictured H ecMia des­ doubt this has come about because metia.na, page 359 with the inflores­ most of the observati·ons have been cence coming from the center with no made from incomplete or partial her­ comment whatsoever as to the position barium material. The genera Dyckia, or variance of emergence even in the H ecl?tia, Encholirium and Deutero­ same genus. In Martius' FLORA cohni.a are the kind of plants that al­ BRASILIENSIS, Dyckia 1ninarum most every botanist shuns when it plate No. 91 was pictured with the in­ comes to making herbarium specimens, florescence coming from the side but and it is impossible to get a complete no signi.fi.cance or association was at­ plant of most of the species of these tached to this condition. Baker, in his genera (which would show the position Handbook stated in the description of of the inflorescence), inside an ordi­ Hecktia and Dychia that the peduncle nary sized press. Only a few specie8 was produced from the axil of one of of these genera have been grown in the outer leaves of the rosette. Thus this cultivation and although observations may be no announcement of something have been made they evidently have not entirely new, yet it is a recording of been correlated. the fact that lateral inflorescence In the genus D'ycl?ia all of the species is a phenolllenen peculiar to certain are caulescent. Although they ll1ay genera in the Pitcairnioidea whose vary in their branching habits there i, main axis always remains sterile. also a variation. in the manner of flow ­ Whereas in Quemelia and Tillandsia ering. Dyckia 11 '~icrocalyx for example. lateral inflorescence is an exception, which I found in Matto Grosso grow­ so far as I know all of the species in ing on rocky ledges, often s·hoots two H ecl?tia, D'ycl?ia, Deuterocoh.nia and spikes, each with several hundred flow ­ Encholoriu11'l show this lateral charac­ ers, simultaneously and within three teristic. whorls of leaves of each other. I not It was during August 1939 when only observed this in its natural habitat. we were collecting at Villa Velha in but I have it before me in my living the state of Parana. in south Brazil, plants. In two years of growth the that I first observed that the inflor­ rosette of all green leaves shows the escence of Dyckia frigida (Hook. f. ) 1942 scape, now dead of course, but came out of the side of the plant from near the base of the plant. The two the axils of the leaves about one quar­ 1943 scapes, now dead, are midway ter of the way between the center of in the rosette while the two new 1944 the rosette and the base of the plant. inflorescences well formed, are at a This awakened me to the fact that not position about one quarter to one eighth all the bromeliads bloomed as a ter­ of the distance from the crown of the minal of the center or main axis of the rosette. plant. I made a photograph at Once Dyckia Foste1-iana, on the other and sent this on to the Gray Herbarium hand, blooms mid-way in the rosette. with the herbarium material. then the plant subdivides into two heads After collecting H ecktias, in Mexico, and so on until the ground is covered Dyckias, Encholi1'iu111S and Deute1'o­ with a branched, caulescent bed of coh11ias in Brazil and notina-b their Dyckias. Dycl?ia 1%inaru1n, D. coc­ habits of flowering, I was quite sur- cine a, D. si1'l1~£lans and others have a Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 19

Dyckia encholi'rioides. A plant perhaps 50 years of age showing a branched, yucca-like trunk as it cmwls over granite rocks (];t th e edge of the Atlantic in Southern) Brazil. similar growth, but D. leptostachys branch into several heads as it clings shoots underground stolons and makes to the rocky crevices. a vast coverage of apparently individual Dyckia micro calyx like D. encholi­ plants over quite some area in prac­ rioides as well as D. frigida and D. tically the same manner as Pseudo­ Jerruginea also form quite a consider­ Ananas and Bromelia. In all these able caudex. These species continue Dyckias the same rosettes continue to to grow for many years, blooming later­ bloom for several years, although in ally and forming a single or branched these types they do not form a long cau4~x, not unlike a prostrate yucca. continuous ·calldex as in D. encholi­ I found the same development and rioides. caulescent growth in the Encholiriums Overlooking the Atlantic in Parana, and Deuterocohnias. Deuterocohnia Brazil and but a few feet above high M eziana proves to be one of the most water, on great granite rocks, I found fantastic bromeliacLs I have ever col­ Dyckia encholirioides with an old cau­ lected. It grows equally well on lime­ dex over six feet in length which cer­ stone rock almost at t·he river's edge, tainly must have been not less than 50 and high on manganese rock in the years of age. The plant was still vigor­ great pantanal (swamp) of Matto ously ·blooming and putting out new Grosso, and in some instances the roots from the underside of the caudex. plants develop a very long caudex when Dyckia ursina (nov. sp.) also forms a rock conditions are favorable. How­ fair sized calldex but its growth is ever, while this plant sends out lateral much slower and it is more prone to inflorescences they do not appear an- 20 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTCRAL ~AGAZI~E Jan., 1945

By pel'mission, Jaques Cattell Press.

Encholiriu1n h01Tidu111 (nov. spec. ) Showing la.tera.l infioresce11ce. This new species has th e d'isti11ction of being the only known EncholiJr;U1'11, with a lwanched bloo111,img sp'ike.

nually as in the Dyckias. This Deuter­ eter and but a few inches in length ocohl1ia sends up a branched woody in­ still managing to throw out its new florescence four to seven feet in height branchlets covered with flowers. which blooms over a period of several \iVhen I made a close examination of years. It seems incongruous to find the six-foot inflorescence I discovered a stiff succulent, spiny rosette form of that under the outer covering of the a monocotolydonous plant that devel­ stem there was a definite layer com­ ops an inflorescence which resembles a parable to t,hecal11bium layer which is woody shrub . . found in all dicotyledonous plants such I know of no other bromeliad which as our common woody perennials. This has the incredible habit of blooming was probably the first discovery of a year after year fr om the same branched cambium layer in the Bromeliad family, inflorescence as does this D eutero­ which is monocotyledonous. The Dnly cohnia,) and I know of no other flower­ other recorded instance where such a ing plant with such a habit. After each condition has been noted in a mono­ dry spell or at the beginning of each cotyledon was when, recently, a few rainy season new buds swell and break species of the Lily family were found into fl ower on newly formed branchlets. to have a -similar characteristic. On one plant I found one old woody In conclusion, I feel that my studies stub of a scape half an inch in diam- of the Iivi ng plants point out the fact " , " . , ',,- " ..... '. ~ ," .. ...~ , " ...... ; , ".. :, ...... '., .... . ~ . ~ . I..

.~ ., "

By pel'1wissio 1'1 , Jaqnes Cattell Pnss.

Deute1'ocoh11J£a M eziana. A b1'01J1beliad with the fantastic hab-it of sending out a tail branched lateral i1'bfiorescence wh·ich halS the chara.cte1'istics of a woody shrub, even a CG11'bbiu.1% lG3,er; 1:t blossoms f1'011~ th e sa111;e infi01'escence for a peviod of several years. 22 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 that taxonomic work must not be con­ When I took my £rst picture of a fined to herbarium material or dra w­ lateral inflorescence I hesitated send­ ings made from these pressed plants. ing the photos and observations to the Very often the artist who makes the herbarium. Knowing tha,t Dyckias final drawings for the plate is not the have been collected and described for observer, and therefore may place the so many years, I felt that it would be inflorescence in the wrong position, an unnecessary exposure of my own change the shape of a plant or picture amateur ignorance. But now it has a number of features without actual only assured me that all observations know ledge. I believe I am not far should be noted and recorded not only wrong in assuming 't·hat most botanical to reveal something new but to corre­ drawings are made ,from preserved late the findings of others. Therefore, herbarium material and I am quite I feel that fo'r a more complete taxo- . frank to say that the degree of success nomic understanding there must and has been astonishing considering the will be a greater effort made to study inert condition of the plants. the living plants. Length of Blooming Period in Shrubs and Flowering Trees

STANLEY V.,T. LEONARD

The length of time of bloom should C ornus flo rida 1'ubra (at first blooms be the most important point in deciding are not very attractive but as sea­ which shrubs or trees to plant. son advances they become more In the North most all of our hardy beautiful) shrubs and trees bloom only a week or Daphne cneOr1.t1n ten days. If it is very hot and dry Forsythia (in variety) (especially in the spring) even this Franklinia brief period is made shorter. Hamamelis (in variety) Typical examples of short season Hibiscus (mallow marvels) bloomers are: Hydrangea Azaleas (see exception below) Lonicera fragrantissima C ornt£s flO1'ida Lonicera halleana and climbing types Corm£s mas of Lonicera Crataegus Philadelphus (most French hybrids) Cydonia Prunus blier·iana Flowering Cherry Roses (Hybrid Teas) Flowering Peach Flowering Plum (except P. blieriana) Salt:x pentandm Kalmia Weigela Laburnum You may ask wherein lies the value Lonicera (except L0J11Cera fragrall- of lists such as these. In a green gar­ tissinw, ) den (and many people are planting Magnolia ( except Magnolia glauco) them now) one should use short sea­ Malus (in variety) son bloomers as accents and long sea­ Philadelphus coro?wrius son bloomers in iarge masses or design Rhododendron a green garden that predominates in Rosa hugonis short season bloomers but not in too Rosa spinosissima great a variety. Hybrid Perpetual Roses (exceptions In the case of Malus (Flowering here) Crabs) except for the double varieties Most Climbing Roses like Bechtel, all Malus have attractive Spirea (Spring flowering types) fruits that last much longer than the Styrax blooms. The fruits appear in late sum­ Syringa (in variety) mer and early fall. Tree Peony We de'finitely lack long season Viburnum (in variety) bloomers. It is true we have new Typical examples of long season Buddleia varieties but why couldn't J,loomers are: hybridizers give us new and larger Althea Altheas. Among Hybrid Tea Roses Amelanchier we have plenty of new varieties and in Azalea mucronula,twH Philadelphus, Lemoine gave us many Buddleia (in variety) splendid varieties. C ercis canadensis Pittsburgh, P enna. [23] Some Iris Hindsights ROBERT E. ALLEN Characteristic of youth is the desire would require more care and attention, for independent learning. Some few I decided to give several bushels of dis­ years ago when I would volunteer to carded rhizomes a chance to gr·ow on give my son some benefit of what a bare roadside bank. I planted them knowledge and experience I had on 1110st hurriedly and carelessly on the subjects of current concern to him I sloping clay fill and gave them no care would be met firmly with the conces­ whatever thereafter, but the next sum­ sion that perhaps I was entirely right mer the bank was colored sparsely and but he would not know for certain un­ briefly with the conglomerate colors of til he had found out for himself. I. pallida, I. albica11s, I. vGlYiegata and By this criterion amateur irisarians probably some others. Last summer must all be deeply imbued with the I saw that roadside planting for the first spirit of youth, for it would be difficult time since 1921 and those same irises to find a group, unless in the field of or their descendants are still there philately, in which there is such a blanketing the bank after surviving the penchant fQr the independent research storms, weeds neglect and enemies of and investigation of their hobby. How­ nearly thirty years. Not far away in a ever, many of us are reticent, or per­ long-deserted yard I also ·observed haps diffident, about putting our find­ clumps of white and purple Iris kae1np­ ings in the written word, for fear that jeri that, together with sonie nearby they may sound amateurish or even be dumps of peony 0 fficinalis 1'osea I know wrong. Only the knowledge that many to have been planted in 1900, but that original observations supported by have found soil and moisture conditions more confirmation,s are required to se­ to their liking and so are able to still cure scientific acceptance of a fact en­ bloom bravely each year despite the courages me to make a .few observa­ choking growth of grass and weeds sur­ tions concerning some of the incidents rounding them. of my career as an ardent apprentice Thus I early learned that within rea­ in irisdom. What to do and what not sonable limits the iris has certain fool­ to do must ever remain the prerogative proof qualities that appeal to the flower of the individual irisarian, so, rather lover. Soon after making this observa­ than attempt to be didactic ,or peda­ tion I noticed in the advertising pages gogic, I shall confine my "hindsight" of the Strand Magazine which at that observations to those things relating to time was featuring a fiction serial re­ iris culture that I would and am now counting the marvelous time and space doing differently from the way in which permutations of a mystic creature I first attempted them. known as the Psammyad, a little ad­ Like many another iris lover I first vertisement offering a dozen fine new became interested in irises as the result iris originations for one pound. I only of observing their general durability, remember that the address of the nur­ persistence and ease of culture. This sery was somewhere in Kent but I do was during my high school days, just remember that in due ·course after or­ before World War I, when, in moving dering I received thirteen nicely labeled some of my mother's iris clumps to plants in what I then thought was poor make room for annuals that I realized condition. However, they all grew and [24) Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 25 all bloomed the next season and were Last season I was somewhat sur­ quite an object of interest in the neigh­ prised to receive a lot of "rave" com­ borhood because they were obviously ments on Nylon from my visitors. Now so much better than the local irises. Nylon is a fine iris but it had never As I recall there were three different before attracted such attention. When blues, a red bicolor, a cream, a plicata, I next visited my garden I discovered two purples, an amoena, two varie­ the reason. Some waggish early visi­ gatas, a pink blend and a blue-white. tor had interchanged t.he names takes I left the labels on the plants nat­ of Nylon and Prairie Sunset and the urally enoug.h, and equally naturally perfectly magnificent display that Prai­ there wasn't a trace of them left the sec­ rie Sunset put on in 111y garden last ond year and the names were "disre­ spring is probably still credited to Ny­ membered." Then and there I learned lon in the minds of many unknown visi­ that if iris are worth planting they are tors. So important do I now consider worth knowing and that the only way the subject of charting my plantings of keeping a permanent record of iris that I have two charts of most of my names and locations is to carefully recent plantings-one a work sheet make and preserve a planting chart, on to take into the garden with me and which all subsequent movements and the other a master sheet for the records. changes are registered with equal care. Due to occupational circumstances I Even though two years ago I was sen­ have had the opportunity of growing timental enough to go and collect a irises in Australia, Canada, several specimen of each of the thirteen vari­ states of this country and, once, when eties which are now well distributed I had no other choice, my iris garden through the neighborhood, I have as consisted of several window-boxes in yet been able to positively identify only a Washington apartment and office. Maori King as one of the thirteen. Iris gardening in window boxes is truly They all look like a bunch of second­ a last resort, ex'cept for some Asiatic rate seedlings and my only reason for species and their ,hybrids, and can be collecting them was to have them serve recommended Qnly as such. but it does as an illustration of thirty years of give one a rather intimate insight into iris progress, for almost certainly some the private lives and growing habits of the best modern iris I have in my of the iris. It supplies convincing garden are lineal descendants from proof on how essential sunlight and some of those01d gems 0f the mauve drainage are for iris health. Rot and decade. leafspot fol1owed me right indoors via So I learned that good charts and soil or plant ,borne spores I presume. records of iris planting are an essential A case of iris fire consumed one fine to the real enjoyment of an iris garden. pink iris rapidly, but did not spread The best labels available may be used to the other four occupants of the box. to easily identify irises in the garden, In the absence of their natural enemies. but a good planting chart is necessary aphids tended to run wild but were also because irises have a way of out­ easily controlled with conventional to­ growing their labels and labels have bacco-base sprays while the addition a strange way of moving about and of a copper base proprietary controlled interchanging themselves, particularly the leafspot just as it does in outdoor if your visitors number among them plantings. some practical jokers. The few diseases and insects that 26 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

trouble irises no longer worry me much varieties I have never seen affected for iris health is largely a matter of with it, but some other varieties are sanitation and prevention, plus atten­ always the ,first to succumb. tion. Although some plants such as Some of the most robust iris I have Geum, Heuchera, Echscholtzia, Gyp­ ever seen are growing a few feet down sophila and Asclepias seem fairly com­ a gravelly hillside from a manure pile pati,ble with irises, as a general rule I back of a Virginia barn. Their growth prefer not to interplant companion is lush and so is that of the weeds crops in my iris beds. If a new plant­ among them. Some evidence of rot is ing seems somewhat vacant it is be­ always present among the several old cause the iris plants themselves are not varieties growing there in abandon, but as dose together as they well might no wholesale destruction. The bed be. As far as disease and insect injury . sweeps ar·ound the end of the barn into is concerned there seems to be a cer­ a low spot where a seepage keeps the tain safety in numbers, for while the· ground moist except during drought rot or the borer may easily wipe out Here the iris lead a miserable rot-rid­ one rhizome of a choice variety in a den existence and barely survive. Too day or so, it is unlikely that a group much humus and poor drainage seem of three or four plants will be com­ to be bad as every irisarian thinks he pletely killed. knows. However, as regards manure So when I do observe bad attacks of itself, I use dilute manure' water regu­ leaf spot, mustard seed fungus, and the larly on my iris as well as my other iris borer, I regard it as my own fault plants as a growth stimulant as soon for having slipped on the necessary as a new root system is established control measures. In the case of rot after transplanting, and I have never where weather conditions and prob­ noticed any ill effect - other than that ably other factors as yet unknown about the susceptible iris so treated rot just iris metabolism are largely contribu­ the same as the untreated ones during tory, it is simply a matter of philo­ an extended period of dark days and sophical application of the customary continuous rain when the temperature but sometimes heroic remedial meas­ and humidity are high and the sunlight ures. Much has been written about the poor. So about all I know about rot incidence and treatment of rot, but is that I don't know much and appar­ so far as I know there has been no ently I am in numerous company. classification of iris varieties into rot The progress of an iris addict in his resistant, rot tolerant and rot suscepti­ chosen subject is both routine and ble groups. N or do I know of any familiar. He is first a spectator, then studies made of possible symbiotic re­ a novice, then a collector, then a fan­ lationships of irises and mycorrhiza, cier, then a specialist and finally an or of factors affecting iris metabolism. authority if he lasts that long. At any I think that iris are subject to rot only place along the line he may suddenly when their inherent or current resist­ fancy himself an iris breeder and this ance becomes low due to organic present paper is sad proof that occa­ changes resulting from physical or sionally some otherwise sound junior chemical distur·bances to their normal member develops delusions of author­ fundioning. Be that as it may, rot ity. In common with most other fan­ occurs more frequently with my pli­ ciers I imagine I made every possible catas than with any other group. Some error in my search for iris knowledge. J an., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE ~7

I hate to think of the number of vari­ and climate to a greater extent than eties I have "bought on the strength of that of heredity. Every amateur iris a. glowing catalog description or on -breeder eventually learns by experience some naive impulse. I also regret that that it is unwise to judge the merits there is such a bewildering flood of of a new seedling by its virgin bloom names and misnamed varieties on the which is frequently far better or much market. I admire and applaud the ef­ worse than its established "bloom, and forts that are -being made to cUTb this this fact may have some bearing on flood, but even at its lowest level I am the stability or instability of the new afraid that there will still be more va­ clon. This is one of the many subjects rieties introduced during a five year I wish I knew more about or had time period than can possibly receive any to investigate, but I hope that others substantial customer recognition. For have accumulated sufficient data to example, 369 new names for tall beard­ s.peak authoritatively and I hope that ed iris alone were registered in . 1943. they will not refrain from contributing If as many as ten 'per cent of this num­ their o"bservations. ber of these new dons of 1943 are cata­ Although disease and poor stamina logued in 1953 it will be something ex­ are responsi bIe for the disappearance traordinary in irisdom. It is true .that of some irises the principal reason a the philatelist · and stamp collector is new iris variety does not persist is lack confronted with more new stamp issues of public acceptance. Many breeders each year, but his new stamps do not discard scores of their iris creations cost as much on the average as new that are better than some that others irises, neither do they require a lot of have the audacity to name and intro­ expensive ground and the cultivation duce. Although the chrysanthemum and care that new irises demand. and the hemerocallis are now compet­ Of the 20,000 old iris names listed ing with the iris as regards the num­ in the official Iris Check List, it is ber of new varieties, it must be re­ doubtful if as many as 2,000 varieties membered that irises 'have such a head are today obtainable from dealers. start on ·other popular perennials as to Many others can obtained by corre­ be virtually unbeatable in this scarcely s.pondence with their originators but meritorious field. To the iris of today it is surprislng how many irises of might well be appli'ed the immortal relatively recent introduction seem to words of Thomas Gray who wrote: have "become extinct already. One hears "Full many a flower is born talk occasionally c~ an iris clon "run­ to blush unseen, ning out" and many iris gardens have And waste its sweetness on had cases of apparent reversion or de­ the desert air." cadence. Although a vegetatively re­ The' "desert air" in the case of the mod­ -produced don is not supposed to change ern iris being public disregard. I have except as the . result of continued ad­ seen many uncommon irises that have justment to an environment notably been named and registered and that different from that of its origin it seems rank well up in the iris 400 if they were not unlikely that certain constitutional generally disseminated and well known. weaknesses may not manifest them­ Then there is the case of the stunning selves for several seasons, during which pink plicata that staggers under a the succeeding crops of offshoots grad­ weird name of significance only to its ually begin to show the effects of soil originator and which is scarcely known 28 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 outside his personal circle although it iris christener. Names like Chicory graces his garden in great clumps. Blue, Ming Yellow, Copper Pink, Ruby I have made quite a study of the Glow, Red Amber, Jasper Agate, Jay conditions of iris acceptance by the Blue, Vatican Purple, Pink Opal, Sa­ pU"blic. A long treatise could be writ­ ble, Golden Majesty, White Spire, Ap­ ten on this subject alone, .but briefly, ricot and many others are flawless in the principal factors influencing public this respect. acceptance and popularity are: Then come many splendid descrip­ 1. A really good or striking iris to tive names which indirectly or com­ start with. paratively allude to the coloring such 2. A good name, descriptive, eupho­ as Prairie Sunset, Brown Thrasher, nious and pleasing. Snow Flurry, Shining Waters, Azure 3. An attractive and interesting cata­ Skies, Red Valor, Daybreak, Black logue description. Forest, Painted Desert, Blue Shimmer, 4. An origination of a prominent or Indiana Night, Grand Canyon, and well-known breeder. many others just as good. S. An introduction of a popular and Next in relative value come those successful dealer. names that by allusion, connotation or 6. A good dissemination for testing reference imply a description. Some­ prior to introduction. times the reference is far-fetched, or 7. A consistent price policy during its the name harsh or non-euphonious, but first ·fi ve years. some good examples are Mexico, Fi­ These factors are listed in what esta, Matterhorn, Lighthouse, War seems to me to ,be their relative order Eagle, Diana, Reveille, Firecracker, of importance, a~d it would seem that Fort Knox and Arctic. the individual and collective import­ Descriptive adjectives and names ance of some of these factors is not having no reference to color sometimes realized by even some of our foremost make good names, such as Chivalry, iris breeders. It is my observation that Marvelous, Nobility, Glory, Gaiety, In­ a poor name applied to a good new spiration, Extravaganza, Valiant, Elu­ iris can do more to damn and handicap sive, Exclusive, and the like. its success than any other factor. Good Many popular and pleasing names names for irises are far from exhausted, are taken from given names, mostly yet every year we observe irises christ­ feminine; from geography, from myth­ ened with "incompetent, irrelevant and ology and canonology, from foreign immaterial" names that are neither de­ languages and even from other flowers scriptive, euphonious or pleasing. As and from fairyland. Some that occur far as I know, such names as Sitting to me are Anitra, Janice, Christarbel, Bull, Muddy Road, Kerchoo, Intro­ Brunhilde, Beowulf, Rameses, Alastor, vert, Przemysl, Dirty Wench, Skunk Leilani, Snoqualmie, Treasure Island, Hollow or Paralysis have not yet been Sandia, Lancaster, Mot.adnock, Ore­ applied to irises but others as unat­ gon Trail, Missouri, Alta California, tractive have been used and many an Lothario, Purissima, San Gabriel, otherwise fine iris has suffered because Omaha, Los Angeles, Calcutta, Du"b­ of its creator's whim or caprice. rovnik, Evadne, Antares, Andromeda, It seems to me that if possible a Gayoso, Asia, Persia. All and many pleasing and different name of the more perfectly acceptable. color itself should be the first aim of the When we get down to honoring par- Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 29

ticular people and events we frequently lections. This is a satisfactory, time­ run into trouble, for fame is transient honored and economical method of get­ and a popular name today may be obso­ ting acquainted with iris varieties lete tomorrow. Heroic Viipuri was re­ Some dealers specialize on collections membered in an iris but now that it is of many kinds, but other dealers offer Viborg again the name relates only to none at all. a historical incident. Ella Vvinchester, Collections comprising about one Ethel Peckham, Grace Sturtevant, hundred different varieties of irises that Frieda Mohr, Edward Lapham, Mab were rated among the best only a dec­ Chadburn, Elsa Sass, Genevieve Se­ ade ago,can still be bought for twenty rouge, Frank Adams, Grace Lapham dollars or less. Included in these col­ and Maizie Lowe are all very good lections will ·be some distinctly second­ complimentary names, ·but when we rate varieties on their way to oblivion, tack on a professional or marital title but these serve the useful purpose .of such as Dr., Mme., Mrs., Mlle., Prof., providi ng a comparison with the better we not only violate established nomen­ varieties obtained, and of awakening clature practice, but we unduly empha­ interest in iris development. Likewise, size the attainments or the marital these old varieties are useful in study­ state, rather than the individual whom ing first hand the -improvement of the we wish to honor or compliment. species as their newer descendants are The above general classes ·of names gradually acquired. Some ancient V;l­ include what may be considered choice, rieties like Dominion, Kashmir White, excellent, fine, good and nice names. Queen Caterina, Amas, pseudacorus, Other classes include the fair, indiffer­ albicM!S and others are of his,torical ent, poor and freakish names. I long or sentimental interest and are worth ago stopped buying any irises encum­ keeping for their special significance. bered by meaningless, dissonant, de- Some other varieties that have been - risive or absurd names. Time is just the founders of long iris families are too short to try to repeatedly explain worth keeping as progenitor types to what some freak name means or why it visually trace development. However, was cbosen. if a variety is mediocre by present Like most irisarians I passed through standards and has no sentimental his­ the collector stage of development, and Fori cal or genetic interest it is advis­ although it took a lot of my t1:ime and able to discard it, unless it is needed to money I do not ·consider them wasted cover vacant ground until other vari­ or misspent, for it was distinctly edu­ eties are acquired. Irises may be dis­ cational. It not only portrayed ,1;>etter carded by consigning them to the com­ than any words the evolution of the post heap .or rubbish pile; by taking modern iris, but it also demonstrated them out and planting them along emphatically the difficulties and risks sunny roadsides and by giving them that confront the novice breeder who away to friends, neighbors and anyone does not .own, or have access to, a gar­ else who will accept, in which case you den containing all varieties possibly owe it to yourself and to the fraternity similar to some new seedling which he to include with the gift a durable stal}e thinks is surely good enough for intro­ label, well-marked with the name of the duction. variety. Mere discovery of the fact that Like most iris growers, I started my irises have names has aroused the in­ iris collecting stage by ordering col- terest of many a subsequent iris lover. 30 T H E NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

In planting these initial collections, clumps and to come to a few decisions which I would start with again if I had regarding one's iris future. These de­ my iris career to repeat, I have ob­ cisions relate to how much space one served that there are three ways of ar­ can give to irises; what branch of iris­ ran-o-ing the varieties. It appears that ology is most interesting; whether to b • . a straight border row with the varietIes be an omnivorous collector or to spe­ in alphabetical sequence is one of the cialize in certain species, colors or most common ways, with random types, and whether to join and partici­ planting and color and type grouping pate in the American Iris Society. An­ coming in the order named. I have other important decision to make con­ always preferred the grouping of vari­ cerns the time and money you can eties according to their colors and budget to your iris garden and whether types, because such grouping immense­ it is to be a full-fledged hobby, or just ly facilitates an accurate comparison an avocational side-line. These deci­ of varieties which to me, as an iris stu­ sions somehow make themselves in dent, is more important than color time, so there is no use staying awake symphonies and artistic arrangement. nights worrying about them. For example, I have in the center of However, if the iris bug has really my deep yellow bed the sterling vari­ bitten you, and regardless of your de­ eties Berkeley Gold, Ola Kala and Spun cisions you are going to buy more Gold surrounded by a dozen or more irises, then is the time to taper off on of the golden iris peerage. Hardly yo ur buying of collections and begin more than a glance at the bed is neces­ to make your own varietal selections sary to compare relative height, branch­ according to the whim, caprice or plan ing, vigor, blooming season and flower you have decided to follow. Right here quality. My reds, pinks and whites comes a point that took me some time and bi,colors are similarly arranged, but to learn. Your money will go farther my blends are quite dispersed and I and you will get quicker and better re­ don't happen to go very heavily for sults by purchasing fewer varieties and the blues and purples. more of them, buying three or more However, if harmonious color ar­ plants of a variety rather than single rangements are desired as part of a rhizomes. Not only do increasingly landscaping program, it is well to ob­ favorable prices apply to units of three, serve how varieties complement each fiv e, or a dozen of a variety, but by other in an initial planting before un­ planting these units quite closely to­ dertaking permanent decorative .pla,nt­ gether to form a quick clump, a more ings. Many competent articles have effective use of a limited area cis se­ been written on the subject of artistic cured. Groups of three or five rhizomes iris planting and were I contemplating may be planted radially toe to toe. This such a planting I would refer to such will prevent congestion in the center authority rather than conduct my own of the resulting clumps and will assure experiments along this line. a pretty good display from the particu­ After a couple of years of iris educa­ lar variety the first year after planting. tion gained by observing the perform­ Or triangular, pentagonal or other geo­ ance of collection varieties and consult­ metrical arrangements may be used to ing later iris catalogs and the invalu­ avoid the aimless, ragged appearance able Iris Check List, it will be about that random planting so often develops. time to divide many of the first-planted In planting clumps of tall bearded iris Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 31 in a border, the triangular clump with ranging from Aphrodite to Yolande is the points facing forward, provides an surpriSoingly large and offers many op­ excellent space for the interplanting of portunities. the unappreciated but lovely intermedi­ Then there are the iris beds which ate and dwarf irises, or for some low­ are composed of state and city varieties. growing, orderly mid-summer peren­ California, of course, heads the list in nials l

nor introduced. I was rather partial Just one other thought fo r amateur toward pink blends at that tim e and j ris breeders. Even though a given the woods were full of pink blends that cross between varieties yields nothing I had to expensively acquire to com­ .passable, the effort wi ll not be wasted pare them with mine and mine always if you make it an simultaneous inheri­ suffered by comparison. Although it tance study and report your results. was cheaper fo r me to buy a lot of nice To make an inheri tance study make new introductions than to travel around sufficient poll ination to yield enough looking at them in other's gardens, pods, perhaps twenty, to give at least there are such concentrations of new 256 blooming seedli ngs after raising varieti es in some sections of the coun­ both the fi rst and second year's germi­ try that it may be cheaper to t ravel nations. \iVhen these seedli ngs bloom, than to buy, but you'll probably want classify them into 16 different types if the variety fo r breeding stock anyway. possible; coun t and record the number so you mi ght as well buy it in the first of each type; and report your results. place. Your results when confi rmed, will So, as far as iris breeding for the fairly well determine the transmitted evolution of new varieties is concerned, characteristics of the immediate mem­ in spite of all its pitfalls and disi llusion­ bers of the particular union. ments, I'd do it again, with this im­ Because of the general use of the portant qualification. A t least half of word "irises" throughout this account, my efforts would be and are devoted it must not be assumed that pogon or to the development of specialized vari­ bearded irises alone are meant. Far eties for breeding stock rather than fo r from it, because in my opinion no iris possible introduction. By specialized garden is complete without a plentiful varieties I mean fixed or true varieties representation of several beardless spe­ rather than mere clons; di sease res ist­ cies. Ir'is pseudacon~s, the fl eur-de-lis, ant varieties; extra prolifi c varieti es; in its fi ve or six vari eties, deserves a mid-summer bloomers, etc. T hese are place in the moistest part of any garden some of the breeding projects that every that is in the sun, if for no other reason amateur breeder will fin d fasci natin g than to serve as a criterion of vigorous as he gets into them. growth. Some of the greatly improved F or specialized breeding of this type Siberians and some of our water-loving it is well not to discard your best selec­ native species and hybrids, as well as ti ons until the performance of their some of the better spurias can surroun d progeny has been observed, for irre­ the dumps of pse ,,~dacon~s to advan­ spective of its rating and its awards an tage, while if your soil and location are iris is not really great until it is proven adapted to Japanese iri ses, some of capable of transmitting its qualities, as those will add a touch to the garden dominant characteristics, to its descend­ that nothing else will give. Where ants. This is just as true of irises some of the ,beautifu l li ttle gems such as it is of dairy cows and laying hens as I . verna and verna11l 0nt, I. tectoru111 , that attain only a transient fame from I. crisl a to., I . reticulata and I . st'ylosa their sensational yields of milk and eggs will grow satisfactorily, they should until their sons have proved capable not be overlooked. his di'Choto1na is of transmitting those quali ties, and interesting in a group but would never their daughters and grand-daughters perform well fo r me, nor would any have demonstrated their inheritance. of the Juno group. Many of the Asi- 34 TH E NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 atic species such as I . watti, I. japon­ perennials, with a scattering of holly­ ica, I . gatesi, I. lorteti and others do hocks, mallows, heleniums and lilies. well in the dry summers of the Pacific Cannas, dahlias and gladioli, narcissi southwest. I have found them very. and tulips round out the show. adapta:ble to cultivation as house plants, Why my interest in irises and these particularly I . watti, I. japonica and other flowers? Well because I -think their hybrids. I have long grown a man or woman requires the psycho­ Dutch, Spanish and English irises also, logical balance that a hobby gives, and but that is another story, as is that of gardening as a hobby gives that outdoor Dietes where they can be grown. exercise and brings that pleasant feel­ N or am I solely an iris addict. I ing of accomplishment that are so nec­ learned long ago that as yet the irises essary for rounded and gracious living. simply will not fill the floral season. Finally, I have found that no matter After a lot of -trial and error I have what the cares of the day or -the prob­ finally rather settled down to a garden lems of the morrow, one simply can­ where irises, peonies, daylilies, phlox, not keep them in mind to worry about chrysanthemums are the predominant while out in the garden. Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 35

FOUR GARDEN SCENES FROM THE WORK OF MR. FLETCHER STEELE

BOSTON, MASS.

To cross a barrier is more fun than to have 110 barrier at all. This wall wa-s built up to invite the wanderer through and beyond, not to keep him out. On the far side are great trees, planted a hundred years ago. They domi­ nate the garden and the wall, which is there only to en­ frame them and emphasize their importance. The gateway is there to guide the eye to the heart of shadow which lies under the old trees. It was designed to create a mood, which only a tree will satisfy. (See pwge 36.)

This wall was designed to keep people out. For within, as like as not a woman is taking a nap with no powder on her nose. The wall is formidable, yet it is not supposed to indicate that the area beyond is dreMY. Quite the contrary, to judge by the trees, bright sun, dMk shadow and the busy tinkle of fountains. Outside" however, impersonal walls push the visitor along to the bell at the house door. The place is unmistakably American. Yet the idea might have come from France where there an no visible front yards. Instead high walls b'order the sidewalk. They hide gardens where babies play, women shell peas and old men read their papers not a yard from the public way, shielded from confusion {]f/1.d curiosity. (See piLge 37.) 36 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

'.

"This wall was b1l1"lt to invite. . . . " Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 37

" This wall was designed to keep people o'ut." 38 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

({An old el'JI/'L tree Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE .1)

Paul J. Weber

"H ere a dull barren hillside . ... .J ' 40 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945·

A 'I'/, old el1H tree, spmngling wild g1'f),pes and beds of ferns keep pri11l1'OSeS away from. this s11'Lall sophisticated, form,al garden. A1'0'U,17d the fountain is a patte1'n of box edging and beds paved with pink cru,shed 11'La:rble, black_ coal and b'l'own jlagsto17,es. Tall posts support the gmpe awm:ngs. Thejl are gilded and painted. Yet the use of native plants which a1'e encouraged to go their own wajl Within 1'easo'l1able boum,d's, gives the i111.pl'ession that nalU1'e is content. (See page 38.)

Anhitechwe loses stiffness when acc011"'111,Odated to topogmphy and subordinated to planting. Eve1~ long flights of steps look "natuml" when they seem. to offer help to the wanderer l'athe?' than a challenge. H ere, a dull ba'r1'en hillside was 11",oulded to agreeable f01'1n by scraping off soil and subsoil fro11'/, two to five feet deep. This 1'evealed hidden boulden and strong rock f01' ­ m.ation into which the steps were fitted . The ba1'/Jk was th,en recove1'ed with wood s01:l and planted with m.ate1'ial which thrives in the neighborhood, Thickets of A111.erican beech, M ou,ntain Laurel, blueberries, ferns and ground cO'ller were p1.~t around the half dozen existing trees. Much care was used to associate kind's of plants and to Va1'y the he1:ghts and distances apart to agree with observa­ tions and 111,easurements m.ade on wild land. L1:ttle as one m.ight suppose, it required great pains to 111,ake a con­ vincing natu,ral effect with plants. (See page 39.) The Illusive Ivy-IX (Part II)

ALFRED BATES

CORRECTION . Please change date, in legend, p. 217 last iss ue, to read 1863. 1864. In August of that year Dr. garding H. colchica, "It is owing to Berthold Seemann began to publish his an authentic specimen kindly trans­ Revision of the Natural Order Hed­ mitted by him that I am able to identify eracece in V 01. II of the Journal of this new species with the Asiatic Ivy." Botany, British and Foreign. In the (ib. p. 32) It seems evident that Koch October issue (p. 303) he reaches the did not call Seemann's attention to genus Hedera. As these papers were this name of " nepalensis" and we can later published in book form-Revision only surmise that ei ther he (Koch ) of the Natural Order Hederacece; 1868, had forgotten it or had come to the and the book is more easily obtained, conclusion that he had rashly given it all future citations wi ll be made from with too little knowledge of the plant it. Our reference starts on page 30. (remember he cited book references Seemann here announced his discovery only) and was willing to drop the that the formation of the hairs on the name. As stated above, Koch never re­ young growth and on the inflorescence ferred to his name "nepalensis" after of all the true ivies could be used to publishing it in 1853 even though he separate the various species. It is a treated the entire genus in W ochen­ microscopic distinction which has been schrift fur Gaertnerei und P flan zung used ever since. However he made an ( 1859) and again in Dendrologie excusable error in that he combined all (1869) . the Asiatic forms (cokhica, Wallich's We may then be reasonably sure ivy and rhombea) under one species that live material was not known to denomination H. colchica. This error either Koch or Seemann; and prob­ was excusable because the hair forma­ ably not even herbarium specimens, for tion of ·all three are scale-like and v ery neither refer to them, giving only cita­ similar in appearance and, presumedly, tions from books which were not illus­ he had no live material of the Wallich trated. ( I have not been able to ascer­ ivy to work with (if he had he would tain the dates when Wallich's speci­ surely have later recognized Hibberd's mens were deposited in the Kew and ".cinerea" and only too gladly taken the British Museum Herbaria so can­ Hibberd to task) . But what is surpris­ not prove this point.) Had either ing is that although he was in commu­ writer seen illustrations, dried speci­ nication with Koch in regard to H. mens or living plants of the Himalayan colchiw no mention is made of the Ivy they would have at once noticecJ name "nepalensis" although under col­ the differences between the thin tex­ chica he cites references to both Don tured, deeply lobed, long leaf .of this and Wallich and gives De Candolle's plant and the thick textured, unlobed, "chrysocarpa" as a questionable syno­ wide leaf of the Cokhi an Ivy. nym. (Rev. Nat. Ord. Hed., p. 33.) Against this claim two objections If this omissi.on had been an oversight' might be raised ; first, we have a name in the Journal it could have been cor­ which could be our plant, and secondly, rected in the book, had Koch desired, how else could Seemann have known for Seeman dearly states that he had of the scale-like formation of the hairs? been in communication with Koch re- As to the first objection ; some form [411 42 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945·

of the plant was undoubtedly grown :Monthly, edited by Thomas Meehan of in England at this time for Hibberd's Philadelphia, reprinted in full See­ list of 1863 contains the name "hima­ man's descriptions of the European, laica" (even though the description is African and Asiatic Ivies from the both faulty and vague) and he does not Journal of Botany. This evidently stim­ refer to it as a novelty although as ulated some interest here in America stated above I can find no earlier list­ for in the following year (1866) a list ing of that name. We may therefore of 43 named forms was published. The surmise that it existed in some nurs­ article is unsigned and so was probably. eries; that neither name nor plant was written by Meehan himself. It contains well known the following extract will a very brief description of each but in prove. In Vol. 33 of the Journal of the text which follows the list some Horticulture and Cottage Gardener, additional information is added. Our issue of Jan. 31, 1865, p. 86, G. Abbey plant is listed under the name "chryso­ in an article on I vies gives a short list carpa" and two references to it are ef named forms in which he makes this added in the text. "19. Helix chryso­ observation, "yellow berried sub-vari­ carpa (North Indian variety) golden ety (H. helix baccifera lutea, which is berried English Ivy," and in text, "No. synonymous with chrysocarpa, there 19 has elegant narrow-lobed leaves with being a H. helix chrysocarpa from silvery-white veins .... For miniature Northern India, with narrow-lobed growth or comparatively low walls, and leaves, having silvery veins)." Further­ close leaf-growth, Nos. 21, 33, 19, 41, more we may conclude that as such 34, 26, 23, 31, may be chosen." (Gar. plants as bore the name had not yet Monthly, 1866; p. 28.) It would be fruited Seemann may have easily over­ interesting to know whether this de­ looked it. scription was made from first hand In answer to the second objection observation of plants imported from we may point out the very clear state­ England or merely compiled from an ment of Wallich's that the peduncles English list. For it should be noted are "all covered with minute stell;;tte that the plant in question has "close silvery scales. Flowers ... covered on leaf-growth" as against Hibberd's the outside with scales." Seemann see­ "slender, long-jointed" habit of "hima­ ing the scale formation of both H. H. laica" in his list of 186'4. However, be­ colchica and rhombea (at this time it cause of the name, it may be Hibberd's was positively grown in England, at "chrysocarpa" and if so is not our least in its variegated form and under plant. Meehan may have been using its true name) was similar, may have Hibberd for authority for in 1874 an considered Wallich's statement authori­ article by Hibberd appeared in The tative enough to accept. We must also Gardener's Monthly. remember that the leaf of rhombea ap­ Other than the occurrence of our proa:ches that of colchica in that it is not plant in the 1874 article which will be definitely lobed, is not particularly thin cited later, no further mention of any in texture and is proportionately wide of the names can be found in later is­ in relation to its length. Therefore sues of The Gardener's Monthly or any Seemann, without live material of all other American publication which I three plants before him, can not be have seen. And it was tantalizing to severely .blamed for considering the find, in the library of the N ew York three Asiatic ivies as one species. Botanical Garden, a copy of a catalog 1866. In 1865 The Gardener's issued by George Such of South Am- Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 43

boy, N. J. dated 1881 in which he some other nursery had got before he states he was discontinuing listing the had? Or was it his "chrysocarpa"? large number of named ivies which had (N ote K och's remark later on.) These been cataloged for many years although are questions we cann ot answer know­ he still carried the plants. Further ingly. But this we do know; he was search has failed to bring to light any willing to work with botanists who earlier catalog and should any reader knew more of ivy classi,fication than he know of the existence of one dated dur­ did for he both cited Seemann's divi­ ing the late 1870s will he kindly let sion of the genus and followed Koch's me know of it. suggested rearrangement of his list. 1867. In The Gardeners' Chronicle That he had been in communication (issue of Nov. 30, 1867; p. 1215) Wil­ with Koch is proven by the fact that liam Paul, a prominent English horti­ both rearrangements-his and Koch's <:ulturist and nurseryman, gave a li st of translation - appeared simultaneously, 40 ivies which was hi s selection of the in the December issues of the English best forms in cultivation and to each and the German pUblications. The fact name he gave a short but quite intel­ that neither he nor Koch menti,on the ligent description. This list was trans­ name " himalaica" inclines us to con­ lated into German and published by the clude that it 'was not in general use; botanist Koch in H amberger Garten­ and this seems reaso nable from the re­ und Blumenzei'tung, 1868; p. 17. Koch marks made by Koch in his notes on made some suggestions as to a re­ the list of 1870. At the end of hi s arrangement of the order in which Paul article he (Koch ) says, " In spite of had listed the forms. Paul compiled the great number of forms presented with Koch's suggestions and repub­ here we regret the absence of several, lished the rearranged li st in The Florist which in Germany, at least, are widely and Pomologist, 1870; p. 269; which distri.buted, two which grow in Ireland was immediately published by K och in - H. hibernica and Hodgensii . .. (G. Gartnerei und Pflanzenkunde, 1870 ; und P. 1870; p. 404) and to "chryso­ p. 403. The names and descriptions carp a" which is described by Paul as, are the same in all four lists and "Leaves dark green, small ; growth " himalaica" does not occur but "chry­ rapid. Berries yellow." and translated socarpa" does. by Koch as, "Leaves small, very dark ; As we are trying to make a critical berries yellow." Koch adds a footnote, research as to names, what they stand "The true H. chrysocarpa Requ. has for, and how and when they came into roundish buds with golden yellow scales use we must therefore question and and differs in otherways from the form analyze Paul's listing. Undoubtedly the named here." (G. und P. 1870; p. ivies named were those which Paul 403.) We can only conclude that there carried in his own nursery ; but it is were two "chrysocarpas" in nursery so large that we cannot but wonder lists and that the orange fruit of one why it did not include "himalaica." had not yet been seen. But the surpris­ Was that plant unknown to him ? Did ing part of it is that Koch when he had he consider it of so little importance so good an opportunity to refer to his or so small difference that he did not name "nepalensis" did not do so. think it worth carrying? Was it one 1870. The next mention of our plant rejected from his selected list? 'Vas it occurs in The Garden Oracle of 1870, professional jealousy that prevented an annual publication edited by Hib­ him from li sting and carrying an ivy berd and much like present day Gar- 44 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 deners' Alma,nacs. In it Hibberd made he has been ill-advised to submit hi s his preliminary announcement to the researches in their present raw state to general public of his creation of a new the consideration of the Linncean So­ nomenclature. The private announce­ ciety. H e is altogether wrong, as every ment had been made earlier for the botanist will tell him, to change well article was "abridged from a Paper established specific names-absolutely communicated to the Linna!a.n Soci­ inassailable as far as their right of ety." (G. 0., 1870; p. 123 ) and con­ priority is w ncerned,-because they do tained his new names with very short not harmonize with the system of no­ descriptions. "Cine1'ea, known in gar­ menclature set up for his varieties." dens as 'Himalaica' ; it has the most de­ (Gar. Chron. 1869 ; p. 1281.) In the cidedly grey-tinted leaves of any in this next issue of this magazine (ib.; p. section." (G. 0., 1870; p. 124.) How­ 1308) Hibbard had the effrontery' to ever we have full descriptions, for the defend himself by claiming that he had paper in its entirety was published later not seen Seemann's writings on the in that year in another of hi s magazines, subject. As a research worker on ivies The Gardener's \¥eekly Magazine. But he should have made it a point to fa­ before either of these were given to miliarize himself with his subject. See­ the public there are several items which mann was an outstanding botanist and are of interest to us even though they his work on the genus had been pub­ do not have direct bearing upon our lished in 1864 and reissued in book plant. form in 1868 and 1nust have been In The Gardeners' Chronicle of Dec. known to Hibberd if only through his 4, 1869 we learn that at the meeting of capacity as editor of several horticul­ the Linncean Society held Nov. 18, tural magazines aside from his interest 1869 a paper was read, "On the Classi­ in the subject. And furthermore his fication and N01%enclat~we of the Spe­ ow~ pub I i cat i o n , The Gardener's cies and Varieties of H ederCb., by Mr. Weekly Magazine (Vol. VI, Oct. 22; Shirley Hibberd; communicated by 1864 ; p. 342) had contained the ex­ Mr. W. Robinson." (Gar. Chron., tract from Seemann's J ournal of Bot­ 1869; p. 1259. ) This called forth a let­ any regarding the hair formations of ter from Seemann, for Hibberd had the I vies of Europe, Afri.ca and Asia. tried to take credit for the discovery Here at the beginning of our consid­ of the ray-formations. This letter reads eratiori of species and varieties, the in part, "At p. 1259 you give a brief fact that Hibberd did not do any re­ abstract of a paper on garden Ivies, search work and that hi s conclusions, submitted by Mr. S. Hibberd to the and descriptions, were wilfully distort­ Linncean Society, and of which I have ed to fit into his system of innovations seen the full report. M r. Hibberd does cannot be too strongly stressed for it me the honour of adopting, though will come up constantly in regard to without acknowledgment, my interpre­ every sp'ecies and variety save H . H eli-x tation of the genus Hedera, and the and a very few of its forms. A research species composing it, as published in worker in any subject must acquaint my 'Revision of Hederacece' . . . A himself with what has been done before careful study of our garden Ivies might him and with what is being done in the thus prove of direct scientific value, and period when he is workil1g. There will I was in hope that Mr. Hibberd's paper always be many odds and ends-and would have been the result of such a often important ones-tucked away in study. But I cannot help thinking that obscure corners of even the literature Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 45

which he examines and has access to thing better, having I trust, settled all that will inadvertently be overlooked, the technical details of the subject in without deliberately ignoring informa­ a way that will last for some years to tion which is where everyone may read. come-for our time at least, wl1atever After over a dozen years with Hib­ the next generation may require." berd's book and the magazine articles (Gar. Week., Vol. 13, 1870; p. 128". ) of that period before me: I must con­ Brave words from a man who had just fess t hat I am decidedly prejudiced been rebuked by a botanist of See­ against his work and the manner in mann's standing! Did he think that which he did it and especially with his botanical nomenclature should change arrogant brushing aside of bona-fide with the fashion in dress? Or that names and cannot understand why horticulturists had the right to wipe some botanists accept hi s confusions. out botanical names whenever it suited His work was thoroughly unscientific, their whims? his descriptions were uneven and 'The list of forms begins in the third hastily made in that he often over­ installment where we find our plant; looked the most salient features and " 13. CINEREA, the Grey-lea,ved ivy. his belief in his own infallibility (syn. Hi111,alaica).-Very distinct ancl amounted to cocksureness to a redicu­ interesting; scarcely robust, but grow­ lous degree-see later hi s letter to ing freely. The leaves are smallish and Andre regarding our plant. peculiar in fo rm and colour ; in some Before his paper was published in instances they are three-lobed ancl full, the ·first issue of The Gardener's nearly triangular, in others the central \iV eekly Magazine fo r 1870 contained a lobe is prolonged, and has a few sharp notice on p. 15 to the eff ect that Hib­ berd had sold his collection of I vies to Mr. Charles Turner, a nurseryman of Slough. It would be of great interest to us if we could see a catalog of that nursery dating from that period. What­ ever financial profit this transaction brought Turner it was evidently not because of the new names for when the R.H.S. made a collection of ivies for their garden at Chiswick in the late '80's Mr. Turner contributed many of the plants under their old names in­ cluding hi111,a,zaica; but of this more will be said later. The publication of Hibbeq:l's paper in The Gardener's \iVeekly Magazine began in the issue of March 19, 1870 and ran through seven installments in­ cluding the same leaf drawings used in his book. At the end of the first in­ stalhuent he refers to his series of '63 CINEREA (Wo. lS). and asks his readers to ignore that clas­ sification and the names to ·be found in From The Gardener's Weekly 1870, books "as I shall offer presently sO ll1 e- p. 152; a'l1d as in The I vy, 1872, p. 76. 4G THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 subsidiary lobes and notches on the articles and small items on ivies, al­ side; the colour is greyish green, the most always under the old nomencla­ lines of the principal veins being a ture, during the 1870's (Jur plant is lighter grey than the blade, and inclin­ not mentioned again until in Vol. 22 ing to a milky hue. This is the most of The Garden (Nov. 11,1882; p. 430) tender variety in the section, a severe a brief note calls attention to an arti­ winter damaging its appearance con­ cle by E. Andre in Revue Horticole of siderably." (Gar. Week., ApL 2, 1870; Aug. 16, 1882, entitled "An Ivy with p. 152 & The Ivy, 1872; p. 71.) A Red Fruits." Upon re£ening to the drawing -of a leaf is shown and is here French journal we find that Andre had reproduced. This is certainly our compared his plant with Hibberd.'s plant, or some form of it, even though "cinerea" and, having decided it was no mention is made of either the very different, had suggested another name, characteristic pinkish purple flush on H. H. erythrocQlYPa (red-fruited). (R. the new growth or the violet cast of H ., 1882; p. 356.) But he had depend­ the UL1der surface of the leaves in win­ ed upon another's description of the ter; nor of the lax petiole. That no color; he having seen the plant only mention is made of its berried form while the berries were still green. He proves that it had not developed its ma­ promises a fuller description together ture stage in England at this time. with a colored illustration in Revue That Hibberd did not list "chryso­ Horticole when he would obtain ripe carpa" as a synonym proves, at least fruiting sprays from the Riviera where to me, that he had not made any search his attenti·on had first been called to into nomenclature and that he had not the plant. collected plants from all available 1884. Over a year later The Gar­ sources for "chrysocarpa" was known den (Vol. 25, March 1, 1884; p. 178) in England as the "Northern Indian" again calls its readers' attention to ivy, at least in some quarters, as we Andre's ivy, this time under the name have seen from the notation by G. Ab­ H. H . var. aU1'antiaca, as recently de­ bey cited above. scribed and illustrated in color in Re­ 1874. In Thomas Meehan's The vue Horticole, "handsome orange-red Gardener's Monthly, 'issue of Jan., fruits and long slightly lobed leaves 1874, Hibberd contributed an article with the nerves on the upper surface of on ivies in which he described our the foliage rendered conspicuous by plant from a new angle. "Cinerea rather broad shaded whitish zones (,Himalaica' of the books)-The young which n111 parallel to them." And in leaves are deeply, sharply and peculiar­ the next issue (ib. p. 199) informs its ly lobed, but as they acquire maturity, readers that plants of this ivy will the lobes di sappear, and in winter there shortly be sent out .by Messrs. Besson is not a sign of a lobe to be seen." of Nice. Many plants must have been (G.M., 1874 ; p. 5.) It should be received either directly or indirectly noted that here for the ,first time he re­ from this source for beginning in 1888 fers to the deep lobing and claims that and for the next six or more years we the leaves lose their lobing in winter find many inquiries and complaints in (a figm ent of his imagination) and the English gardening magazines as to that he ignores the grey band along the " H. H . var. aurantiaca" not producing veins and omits the color and the size its orange colored berries but no record of the leaves. of its having fruited. 1882. Although there are many The article in Revue Horticole is not Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 47

letter which Hibberd wrote in reply. "Your letter interested me immense­ ly, An Ivy with red fruits is possible, for the genus has certainly given us forms with black berries and perhaps white. Regarding the facts mentioned ivy plants are variable in regard to the fo li age and you could have the same variety as t hat which I have named chr)lsocarpa. My r eci.! opinion is that your plant is the true 'Ivy of the Poets' but that it differs from mine by distinct characteristics. You will see on page 76 of my book that the ivy of the Himalayas resembles a climbing form like yours. If it is the same as cin'erea, you will find as the plant advances in FI,; ~:, - Rameau de la rorme .~a.mpanle du 'Werre .. ,II t.ull, oranges (Hederu. He/l~ QW¥tiat4), au age the leaves little by little lose their , i/He fWl4ew: nillW'eUe, ' lobes and the very distinctly character­ FTom Revue H orticole istic grey lines which follow the prin­ cipal nerves. 1884; p. 84 I "As we cannot at this time do else only accompanied by the colored plate but 'Yait (the firuit and colouring) I which Andre had promised but also am inclined to believe that your plant will not be a Greek form but the Indian with a line drawing of the juvenile of H edera H elix. If the berries are as foliage and a twig showing a state of one has said of the colour of those of transition, V..r e have here the first the Sorbus of the Fowlers (Mountain illustration of our plant, other than Ash ) [Sorbus Aucuparia, A.B.] you merely a leaf, and are able to fully will be correct to describe -the plant as identify it. Both of these illustrations the 'Ivy with Red Berries.' are reproduced here though the full "I have asked Mr. Turner to send to beauty of the colored plate cannot be you by post a branch already berried shown in the reproduction. In his arti­ of our ivy with yellGw fruits. cle Andre gives the hi story of his Most cordially yours, plant. It had for some years been Shirley Hibberd." growing in the courtyard of a villa in Cannes from which it had been prepa­ Even allowing for the double tra:ns­ gated by the nursery ·firm of MM. Bes­ lation-from English into French, then son of N ice. From whence the orig­ back into English-one would hardly inal plant at Cannes had come no one call this a very informative letter from seemed to know. The nurserymen the man who claimed t o have settled were responsible for Andre's first state­ the ivy question in "all technical details ment as to the color of the fruits and . . . in a way that will last for some this he now corrects, "not as deep red years to come-for our time at least." as the first enthusiastic observer had In analyzing this let ter one should note said but of a beautiful orange." (R.H., that he says there are "perhaps" white 1884 ; p. 84.) He then tells us that he berried ,forms; yet he lists on page 92 had written to Hibberd before publish­ of hi s book "Ieucocarpa, White-berried ing his full description and gives the ivy" although he acknowledges he had 48 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 not seen it in fruit. Then he tells type before having reached the adult Andre that he "could have the same stage, carrying variously formed leaves variety as that which I have named with long petioles, of which the most chysocarpa. My real opinion is that are characterized by a triangular and a your plant is the true 'Ivy of the Poets' trilobed form, varying to shallowly di­ but that it differs from mine by dis­ vided lobes, the terminal lobe generally tinct charatceristics." But he then re­ a great deal longer than the others. The fers Andre to his book, "You will see upper surface, green and shaded with on page 76 of my book that the ivy of whitish splashes or zones along the the Himalayas resembles a climbing principal veins. We must add that in from like yours" and ends with the the south these discolored areas often statement " I am inclined to believe that take on a deep violet red color at the your plant will not be a Greek form but end of. the seascm and hold it all winter. the Indian of H edem H elix." If he The under side of the leaves also often considered it ",chrysocarpa," the Ivy of becomes violet. the Poets, how then could he also be­ "The mature branches, or those bear­ lieve it to be "cinerea?" It should also ing fruit, are erect and arranged as the be noted that ,both here and in the in­ ivy of our woods; their leaves gradu­ dex.of his book he claims to have given ally (that is, as they approach the end the name ch1'ysocarpa to the y

From R evue H orticole, 1884 . Plate facing page 84. Reduced about olle thi1'd. 50 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jail., 1945 ary of Gardening, under the name 1894 occur the frequent complaints re­ "aurantia" which is evidently a mis­ ferred to above. print for he cites the illustration of 1890. Hibberd's last remarks on "aurantiaca" in Revue Horticole; but ivies were made in Vol. 12 of the Royal the omission of the last syllable is not Horticultural Society's Journal short­ corrected in the errata to that volume ly before his death. The ivy collection so he may have intended to change the in the Society's garden at Chiswick name. It is reasonable to suppose that had been attracting much attention and he was familiar with the plant for he Hibberd says he had been requested to marks it with an asterisk indicating it straighten out the nomenclature for to be especially good or distinct. His many of the plants were labeled with description is meager, "H. H. aurantia their old names. Weare concerned (orange).* l. like those of H. H. chry­ here with his description of our plant socarpa, but fruits of a beautiful red­ only; " Cine'rea is an Asiatic form of dish-orange colour. (R.H. 1884, 84.)." helix of rather tender constitution. It (G.D., Vol. II, 1886; p. 120.) Nichol­ is distinct and pleasing and peculiarly son restricts De Candolle's name of interesting in growth on iLccount of the "chrysocarpa" to the Himalayan ivy sharp side lobes subsequent to the and ignores its application to the Greek growth of the leaf to normal size. The form for his "chrysocarpa" is clearly colour is dull green with a shade of our plant even though called "golden­ grey, in some circumstances giving the fruited." "H. H. chrysocarpa (golden­ plant the appearance of having been fruited).* l. smallish, sometimes nearly dusted with ashes. In a cold climate it triangular and three lobed; central lobe suffers from frost in winter, but is frequently prolonged, with a few sharp hardy enough for all purposes. Con­ lobes or notches; colour greyish-green; tributed by Mr. Fraser as HilJ'nalaica principal veins lined with markings of and by Mr. Turner as H i1!Jtwlaica. Syn. a lighter shade. A quick-growing Chrysocarpa, Baccifera lutea, North climber." (ib. p. 121) He does not Indian Golden; Cuneifo ,rmis." (R.H.S. list cinerea (Hib.) or hinwJaica (H) J our., Vol. 12, 1890 ; p. 390.) Why nor does he give poetant'/fl!~ or poetica was not "aurantiaca" listed as a syno­ and while listing lucida he makes no nym ? From whence did "cuneiformis" reference' to it being " the ivy of the come? I can find no otJ1er mention of it poets" as Hibberd had maintained nor and conclude it was a catalog name­ give any synonyms for it. unless.. Hibberd was striving to be ·fa­ 1887. In Vol. 31 of The Garden, cetious. And why is the issue still con­ E.C., writing of the collection of ivies fused ,by listing names of arborescent in the Royal Horticultural Society's forms among synonyms of scan dent garden at Chiswick mentions our plant ; forms? It should also be noted that " Hi11W!laica makes a free, picturesque Turner, the man who bought Hi.b­ growth and clings close to the wall; berd's collection in 1870, was still, after the leaves are small, ovate, green, with twenty years, using the older name dull white nerves; a useful kind.'" "himalaica" in disregard to Hibberd's (Gar. Vol. 31 , Juiy 2, 1887 ; p. 613.) innovation. In the same magazine, Vol. 34, Dec. 22, In this same year E. A. Carriere 1888; p. 587 we learn that aurantiaca published a list of ivies in Revue Horti­ which had been imported from France cole (1890 ; p. 162) . In passing it may by ]. Veitch & Sons in 1884 had not as be of interest to note that Carriere and yet fruited. From then until about Andre were joint editors of Revue Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 51

Horticole for many years and that both three the space devoted to H edera is names are perpetuated in several of quite small ; and it is very disappoint­ our finest garden plants, notably Cra,­ ing that only one lists our plant-and tcegus x Ca:nie're1: and Cle11'Latis 'Mme. under Nicholson's misspelled name. Edouard Andre. In this . article Car­ " H. H. aurantia has greyish-green riere merely lists and describes the leaves prettily veined ." (Book of plants under the names they bore in Climbing P lants, S. Arnott, 1902; p. the collection of Honore Defresne, a 40.) horticulturist of Vitry and does not 1909. C. K. Schneider briefly treated make any effort to correct the nomen­ the genus in Illustriertes Hanc1buch der clature or to veri fy its authenticity. Laubholzkunde (1909; p. 421-23) and This fact shoul d be remembered by stu­ though giving but a line or two to our dents when readi ng the reference to plant in the text he shows four leaf this li st. for Schneider, Tobler and drawings of it. On plate 287 the fig­ some other writers refer to it in a ures ?n & n show juvenile leaves and degree far exceeding its value. From o & p mature leaves of it. Schneider, the meager descriptions the names as did all prior writers save Koch with which clearly indicate our plant, or may his enigmatic "nepalensis" in 1853, be meant for it, are "chrysocarpa," considered our plant a form of H elix. "aurantiaca," "aurantiaca fructu rubro" 1912. It was left to F ri edrich Tob­ (these li sted among scan dent forms ) ler in Die Gattung Hedera to definitely and "hi malaica" (among arborescent establi sh this plant as a species under forms). There is no mention of "cin­ the name H. l",im,al·iaca. (ib. p. 67.) erea." As "poetica" is given we may One can but regret tl~at this name can conclude that he did not mean that not stand for it more definitely places form by hi s "chrysocarpa." the plant geographically than the more . 1894. The Kew Handlist of 1894 localized nepale-nsis. But being a stick­ gives " allrantiaca" but not "au ran­ Ier for botanical rules and priorities I tia" ; as N icholson was a Kew man can but .bow to their usage; though it this wOl1ld indicate the later spelling does seem unscientific to be able to es­ to have been a misprint. The li st also tablish a species upon merely the de­ gives "cinerea" but not " himali aca." scription of others without havi ng seen As Kew li sts only such names as they li ving plants, herbarium specimens or co nsider authentic the compilers evi­ even illustrations. As Tobler's treat­ dently looked upon "aurantiaca" and ment and description will be included "cinerea" as two distinct forms. under the section dealing with the plant 1902-11. In the early years of the as known in U nited States they are twentieth century three small volumes omitted here. on climbing plants were issued in 1914-15. W . J. Bean's Trees and England: The Book of Climbing Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles was Plants (1902) by S. A rnott, in the issued in an American edition (Dutton Handbooks of Practical Gardening se­ & Co.) in 1915. an English edition hav­ ries; A Concise Handbook of Climb­ ing been publi shed a year earlier, a nd ers, Twiners & Wall Shrubs (1906) as the paging is the same in both I cite by H. P Ul'efOY Fitzgerald ; Climbing from the American edition. Bean com­ Plants (ci1'Ca, 1911 ) by William Wat­ pletely ignores Tobler's work and raises son, in the Present-Day Gardening se­ Hibberd's name of "cinerea" to specific ries or, as it was called in America, rank without any explanation for so Garden Flowers in Color series. In all doing. "H. CI NEREA, Hibbe-rd . 52 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE ] an., 1945

HIMALAYAN IVY. (H. Helix var. basing it on the H. Helix of Don's himalaica) " (ib. Vol. I, p. 608) omit­ Prodromus and Roxburgh's Flora ~n­ ting any other synonyms. In his third dica." Tobler can hardly be blamed for volume of 1933 in which he brought his this oversight for Koch's name and ci­ work up to date he adds nothing to, tations take the space of a mere two nor corrects anything in, what he had lines and, as stated above, Koch never earlier written on Hedera. The Kew referred to it again although he later Handlist of 1925 follows Bean; as do wr-ote more fully upon the genus. such English catalogs as I have seen. 1927. Tobler was quick to accept 1923. Alfred Rehder in the Joumal Rehder's correction for when he pub­ of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. IV, lished in Mitteilungen der Deutschen 1923; p. 250 <:arreded Tobler's over­ Dendrologischen Gesellschaft of 1927 sight of Koch's name of H. nepalensis. an article on ' The Garden forms of "When Tobler proposed his H. hima­ Hedera he rmade the change in name laica he overlooked the fact that in (ib, p, 9), And unless am even. earlier 1853 K. Koch (Hort. Dendr. 284) had name can be unearthed 0ur plant will already given the name to this species continue to be H, 11epalensis,

Rock Garden Notes

ROBERT C MONCURE, Editor A "Pancake" Garden right. One day looking at them, I Sixteen years ago I started a new thought-it is a "pancake" border, so garden 100 by 50 feet. In the center I'll keep it flat and out came all the I put a bed 80 by 40 for annuals and tall plants, I tried dozens and dozens the like, enclosed by a low clipped box of flat rocks and to make a long story edging. Outside this was a strip of short (ten years) I have settled down soil one and one half feet wide before to five tried and true flat rock plants, the paving 'started. I had a hunch! Many nice low things just curled up Why not edge this with rocks, putting and died, but these five have liked nae, flat rocks a foot apart inside the rock and when a plant likes me, I adore it! edge and start a rock border, You First comes Potel1tilla verna nana a would think this might be easy. Not great .find with dark green leaves and so, as it has taken me fifteen years to in Spring, masses of golden flowers. get it just to my liking! Second come the thymes, atbwl'l'b, cOc­ I began with three each of ten dif­ cineu.s and lanugil10sus all forms of ferent rock plants and as these grew Thym,us Se1'pyllul1'L and now we have and spread they formed mats the size charming seedling thymes of our own, of dinner plates. My friends called Third, Belliu1n 1'wim£tum the lovely them "pancakes," and to this day we little Greek daisy from Purdy. It has call it the pancake border. You see a way of blooming itself to death, but really the very flatness of this garden it is so lovely I do it over when it is all wrong for rock plants, for when passes. I water the large center bed the "pan­ Fourth, E1'odium charnaedryoides cakes" get far too much water. I put roseum a little pink beauty always in in the Gem violas and pinks and other bloom, of which sometimes whole plants of like size but they did not look plants die, but I have young plants Jan., 19-15 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 53

waiting to replace the losses as the bor­ more abundant and descends to sea der needs the pink of the lovely blos­ level on the Maine coast. Large car­ soms. pets between the rock outcrops Dr tuft­ Fifth, Veronica ntpestr-is not very ed specimens in the rock crevices are exciting, but so sturdy, I always fill not uncommon. The plants are a pleas­ all corners with it. It will grow any­ ant sight at all seasons. where, water or no water. Small, evergreen, needle-like leaves I do the border over completely clothe the slender stems. Each Spring every three or four years, as I love it inconspicuous fl owers of a peculiar type so much. appear in the axil s of some of these The effect, as a whole, of this "pan­ leaves. Some have only stamens, oth­ cake" is like that of a fl owered carpet, ers pistils, and a few both; this condi­ flat, blooming in various colors, cov­ tion is technically called "polygamous." ering the entire ground, the flat rocks, The black, berry-like drupes which ma­ and spilling over a bit. It is not only ture in July or A ugust are showy and very beautiful in itself, but sets off the tempting. There are also varieties with center garden and the higher annuals. reddish or purplish fruit. Although Many visitors to the garden pass it all are edible, they are not very pala­ by, they do not even see it, 'but a few table. Their main value to us is orna­ flower lovers who do see it, get down mental. Plants, covered as they fre­ on their knees to examine the little quently are with hundreds of "berries," beauties! are striking. This may not be a very good rock As you have probably surmised, the garden, but it may give others an idea Crowberry is valuable in the garden. which they can develop to suit them­ It is a tractable rock or wildflower gar­ selves, and if they get half the fun that den subject. In a sandy, peaty soil I have had with my "pancake," it will with an acid reaction and a sunny or be worth while. lightly shaded position with good drain­ MRS. H. C. SCRUTTON, age and average moisture, E1'I'I.pet·ru71'£ Petaluma, California. makes close mats of attractive green. WARREN C. WILSON. "Upon a Rock," E1'1I.petr·u111. The Greeks apparently had a word The Glandula;r Birch. for everything. In any case, we have If asked, "What is a Birch?" most applied their ancient name, E1'l'tpetru11'I!., persons would reply, "A tree." Yet, to an interesting plant. "Upon a rock" contrary to the usual opinion, not all aptly describes the usual home of the Birches are trees ! In the far North a Black Crowberry, E. nigru11't. A spread­ dwarf, deciduous shrub which fulfill s ing, Heath-like shrub some four to ten the botanical description of Birches inches high, it makes attractive bush­ covers large areas of the Arctic bar­ lets in the wild or the garden. This rens. It is a true Birch. species grows in many sections of the The botanists have christened this Northern Hemisphere. plant B etula glandulosa; we probably The Heathberry, as it is sometimes prefer to call it by one of its vernacular called, forms a prominent part of Arc­ names: Dwarf, Scrub, or Glandular tic vegetation. I first saw E11~petrU11'£ Birch. All three describe some of its on the high mountains of New Eng­ outstan'ding characteristics. The short, land. As one travels north, it becomes twiggy stems have prominent, resin- 54 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 ous, wart-like glands. This Birch is The Glandular Birch grows from usually apout a foot high but in pro­ Alaska to Greenland and sout.h to the tected loc"ations may reach six feet. Its high mountain tops and cold bogs of leaves, somewhat leathery and almost New England, thence locally westward round, are very attractive with their to Oregon. Although it is rare in cul­ coarsely but symmetrically toothed tivation, and despite its rather unusual margins. The beauty of this foliage is habitats, it is not very difficult to grow. enhanced by .its moderate gloss and A sunny or lightly shaded spot with a pale green color. The flowers, small mixture of loam, sand, and acid humus unisexual catkins and cones, are In­ and pl~nty of moisture will fulfill its teresting but not showy. cultural requirements. Rhododendron Notes CLEMENT G. BOWERS, Editor

YELLOW RHODODENDRONS

For England and for our Pacific ing has yet appeared which might war­ Northwest, and possibly for other mild rant the belief that a good yellow color American climates or sheltered spots is obtainable. Perhaps the hardiest of where summer heat and dryness can be the yellow evergreen rhododendrons in modified, there is a fairly long list of the Eastern United States is the J apa­ rhododendron species classi,fied as hav- nese R. Keiskei of the Triflorum series ing yellow flowers, among which sev- which does moderately well around eral worthwhile sorts might be found New York City, but which has failed which would fit into the prevailing to impress this observer with any spe­ conditions. These species range from cia I worthwhileness in its pale, dull, dwarf ground-covers, (R. apemnturn smallish, sulphur-green blossoms. and six others), shrubs up to six feet While I will readily concede the (including more than 30 species under value of yellow or yellowish flowers in three feet and 2S more up to six feet). the larger species. these occur mainly and shrubs up -to 12 feet (of which R. on rhododendrons that are too tender campylocarpum is purportedly the best for the United States exclusive of the example, although there are six oth- West Coast or perhaps certain spots ers), to very large shrubs or small in the South. Any that I have ob­ trees of great tenderness (s l1~h as R. served approaching hardiness for the Falconeri). These are all classed as Northeastern United States, are, like evergreen or "true" rhododendrons. R. Keiske·Z: , miserable examples when . Since most of these are tender on the compared to our hardy yellow azaleas. Atlantic seaboard, it has long been the I have concluded that. aside from those dreams of a plant breeder to cross them having a yellow tinge or conspicuous with hardy sorts and carry the yellow yellow spotting on the upper lobe. the pigmentation into the hardy hybrids. search for a good yellow hardy ever­ This may some day be done. At pres- green rhododendron for the Northeast ent, however, it seems that the hardier is not worth the effort. Evergreen­ of the yellow sorts are of weak or in- ness alone is not so much to be desired different color and become even weak- as to make me think the insipid yellow­ er when ~rossed with non-yellow hardy ish evergreen rhododendrons are to be sorts. Perhaps the best chance of ob- preferred to the gorgeous yellow colors _ taining ..har.dy .7.y.e11ow .eY-eJ:gr.een .r.hfldo- ,.. .that are found in the deciduous azaleas. dendrons exists in the dwarf alpine or So in my search for hardy yellow rock-garden types. But this does not rhododendrons I am now pleased to offer much encouragement to those who turn my attention to the deciduous wish to obtain yellow color in a type azaleas. These, of course, are rhodo­ which approximates R . catawbiense or dendrons, too, and, aside from the lack R. maximum or R. carolinianum in of evergreen leaves, some of them are character and usefulness. True, there mu~h more like typical rhododendrons are certain seedlings of the R. Fortunei than are the forms like R. Keiskei and series that are tinged with yellow, and the alpine dwarfs. Many yellow plants these offer great promise. But noth- of R. ca.lendu.lace'u111 exhibit round [55] 56 THE NATIO AL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZI NE Jan., 1945 trusses of 20 to 30 fl owers, as typically following winter. But seedlings can rhododendron-like in characte'r as the easily be raised and I have demon­ cl usters on R. 1I1 axil/!U 11'L or R. cata'w­ strated by controlled cross-pollination b'ie nse. This same feature occurs fre­ experiments that the yellow color of quentl~ ' in vari eties' of Moll is and Ghent R. ca. l e1 '~du laceulll, when two yellow­ azaleas having yellow colored fl owers. fl owered plants are crossed and pro­ They are tremendously like true rho­ tected from contamination of other pol­ dodendrons in every respect except that len by means of glassine bags, will pro­ of evergreen foliage. Moreover, they duce seedlings that are 100 9"0 yellow; are reliably hardy and will fl ourish, in in other words, it breeds true. So suitable rhododendron soil , wherever there should be no difficulty in produc­ there is suffici ent water in the summer. ing quantities of pure yellow seedlings R. ral ell dul aceu1I'I. and R. 1110lle (or its of this species if the nurserymen will close ally, R. jap0J1iC'u.11'I,) will endure hand-pollinate like plants and use sub-zero weather and has repeatedly sterile methods to prevent contamina­ blossomed for me af.ter winter tempera­ tion of the cross. Self-pollination is tures which have killed all the fl ower not recommended. since it is apt to re­ buds on R. maxilll'll11'/, and R. cataflubi­ sult in feeble plants or no seed at all. el1se. P racticall y everything that' has been Rhodode'ndrOIl calen, d~~lacewn (the said about Rhododendro·n ca.lendula­ Flame Azalea) goes from orange-red ceu'ln may likewise be said about R. to pure spectrum yellow and yo u can japo1'l:ic'U'l/'L and R. 11Iolle. In their pure find forms of all the intermediate yellow forms they are lovely and sub­ shades if you look for them among a ject to the same range of variation batch of seedlings or collected plants. from yell ow to red, when darker colors The pure yell ow fo rm is delightful and are wanted. The flowers, however, when planted in or among the ever­ are larger and bear fewer blooms to a green rhododendrons produces an ef­ truss. While R. faponin~111, is purported feet that is all that could ever be de­ to be the hardier, it is my opinion that sired from a yellow rhododendron. To this factor, of itself, is of little concern me, it is particularly intere:sting ,in except in ce rtain individuals that are combination with some of the very pur­ definitely tender, sillce I have seen ple or lilac rhododendrons. As I have plenty of so-call ed Molli s hybrids that mentioned above. it frequently develops are inherently as hardy as the best. round fl ower clusters, but this is an The matter needs further investigation, individual characteristic and you must since many of the forms of R. 111,olle, pick out your plants in order to be upon which judgment has previously sure you are getting examples of this been based, are grafted horticultural fo rm. It is to be' hoped that some forms which are subject to the frailties method of producing own-root plants of grafted azaleas mentioned in the from superior clonal vari eties of this preceding paragraph. Given own-root species can be developed which will plants, proper soil and adequate sum­ be commercially practicable. Grafted mer moisture many of these plants ap­ plants are unsatisfactory and apt to pear abundantly hardy. suffe r by reason of insufficient passage There are many excellent yellows of water through the imperfect graft among the Ghent and Mollis hybrids union during the growth season in as well as in the natural species. Th!,!se early Stlm mer, resulting in death the are usually grafted, which, as I have Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 57

said, leads to trouble in Eastern North represent a whole race of gorgeous America, and we hope another method tropical rhododendron, some being may be found. One splendid yellow epiphytes, and are useful only as con­ azalea, of the caleJ1,dulaceu'111, type but servatory plants. They appear to be having a large, wide-open, pansy-like little known in this country, but worthy flower, is Nancy IiVaterer. A double of interest. flowered yellow Ghent is Narcissiflora. Hardy deciduous azaleas may be in­ There are many more. terplanted with the common sorts of evergreen rhododendrons with no dis­ Good summer growing conditions advantages, in most locations, and often are the secret of success in growing with desirable effects. The plants grow deciduous azaleas. Drought means to about the same stature and the mas­ checked growth and this, in turn, means siveness of the rhododendron leaves susceptibility to winter injury. Many dominates the planting to the extent hardy azaleas are purported to be t.end­ that the foliage of a few deciduous er in regions of hot, dry weather be­ azaleas will not be noticed . In \-vinter , cause they die in the win.ter, although the deciduous plants are likewise very the real injury was sustained in sum­ inconspicuous unless seen at close mer. A heavy oak-leaf mulch and a range. During the blooming season, spongy peat soil is the best means of the bright warm colors of the azaleas insuring good summer growth. Leave are often just the thing that is needed the mulch on the soil throughout the to give life and sparkle to an otherwise entire year. If you must water arti­ dull and ponderous rhododendron ficially, be sure that the water is safe. planting. No rules of thumb can be In many communities the water is given regarding the combination of hard, and hard water has been known colors, but care should be taken to to completely ruin the acidity of a peat move out any colors which clash. When bed in as little as two or three app'lica­ yellow azaleas with rhod.odendron-like tiOL1s. Some communities which ex­ flower trusses are mixed into a plant­ perience difficuIty in growing rhodo- ing of Catawba or Maximul11 rhodo­ . dendrons and ·other deciduous plants dendrons, the result is all that could be may trace their difficulty directly to wished for, since the yellow trusses ap­ the common water supply. A peaty pear exactly like rhododendrons when soil and a leafy mulch will obviate the seen from a distance and give the ap­ necessity of using artificial irrigation pearance of arising from the evergreen in most seasons. plants. So long as this is the case, While on the subject of yellow rho­ there seems to be little reason to search dendrons, mention should be made of for a hardy yellow evergreen rhodo­ tbe so-called J avanicum hybrids, which dendron. Lily Notes GEORGE L. SLATE. Edit01'

Lil'ies fro'in Seed On the whole I have planted the seeds About five years ago I began grow­ as soon as received, but the "early" ing lilies from seed on ' the principle group does best with a long growing that time and trouble are good substi­ summer ahead of it. When the seed­ tutes for money, but also I possessed lings crowd, they are potted singly, two very vigorous and (it now seems later planted out in cold frames with to me miraculous) mosaic-free clumps about the same soil conditions, except of awratum playphyllwln-Then came that leaf mold and bonemeal have been the American Lily Year Book 1940 added, and a much deeper layer of with its terrifying information-How peatmoss on top, There they stay un­ to preserve those Auratums and still til they bloom, The preliminaries all have some other lilies? I have never take place in my greenhouse, this is bought a bulb since, though I hasten convenient but I don't believe essential. to say I am no fanatic on the subject; Like everyone else, I began with there are other ways mosaic may enter, 'regale, ten'uijo'Zium, jormosanum (Wil­ I have seen it on daffodils, tulips, free­ son's variety). Next came longifloru1n sias and callas, and there are the bound­ praecox, White Queen, X George less possibilities of weeds. Then also Creelman, candidum Salonika.e, cent-i­ one is deprived of many beautiful hy­ folium, a,u,ratu111, platyphyllu1n. More brids, and the species which do not set recently tem£ifoliu11'~ Golden Gleam, seeds, or of which seeds are not avail­ amabilp, cernu~£m, X Maxwill, super­ able, The system, however, has worked bU1n, H 'u,mboldtii, awrat'um pict ~b11~, mo­ for me-were I differently situated as na,delphu1n. regards time, space and labor, it might The white trumpets were all eager be otherwise. and easy in infancy, Fon1'bOSM!lbI>1n will These notes are offered sdfishly in bloom on slender stems in six to eight the hope that wiser readers will lighten months, but these blossoms are not my darkness, for I have worked quite much, and I pinch them off as tiny alone. with George Slate's book as my buds; from this time on it increases only guide, and fear so one-sided and furiously for a few years, making tall limited an experiment can at best serve splendid clumps whose successive others only as an encouragement, shoots provide a very long season; in Encouraging it is, lilies germinate a warm climate it might be' a continu­ freely and respond cons,istently to my ous bloomer; then it slowly peters out, few, not too difficult cultural rules; I suppose it should be replanted, but this is true of both the "quick" and the it is to.o easy to start afresh from seed, " slow" groups I have tried, I have It is very easy to move, perfectly hardy, used ordinary seed flats or bulb pans but needs to be carefully watched for depending on the quantity of seeds, aphids. filled with a mixture of sand, peatmoss, Regale is all that is claimed, but is and not too much ordinary garden soil; it graceful? I am especially doubtful a fine sifting of sand under the seeds, about the very lusty individuals carry­ and about a quarter inch covering of ing a dDuble cartwheel of as many as peatmoss on top ; I have been careful forty stiff, not over-large flowers. I about drainage and avoided drying out. doubt if I shall ever sow straight re- [58] Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE S9 gale again, its dominating character­ sometimes damp-off, at all stages it istics have appeared sufficiently fre­ should be watched a bit for aphis and ·quently in stands of its relatives. fungi , but about two sprayings will X George Creelman produced pure take care of it; otherwise it is there regale, improved 1'egale, and two near­ just to be enjoyed. It blooms at the ly identical specimens that till now are same age as regale, but is slower in the high light of my lily adventure. reaching full maturity. These second generation hybrids are Tenuifohul1 1, is dainty and healthy, very robust, growing, when established, germinates very quickly but takes a over six feet; the stems are as sturdy year longer to mature than does regale. as trees; the leaves fairly wide, very It is not long-lived. Golden Gleam dark green; the flowers, ten to fifteen has not been with me long but so far in number, of ' great substance, like acts like its parent. parchment, and well spaced in a pyra­ Amabile in youth behaves like tenu.i­ mid. Best of all they carry axillary folium but looks different. bulbi Is , easily grown on and sure to C ernuum in youth looks and acts bloom in two years. They are of iron­ like tenuifolium, but is a fragile though dad hardiness and do well in any situ­ not sickly child. ·I t appears to germinate ation with enough sun. If permitted, better at a higher temperature than these lilies will. set seeds, they also in­ other lilies. crease from the base, fortunately not Mr. Skinner's lovely hybrid Maxwill too quickly. They appear to be long­ came to me late but should be one's lived. first attempt; it is fully as easy as Centifolium produced varied results. formosanum, and though it will not All were hardy, all so far have weakish bloom till after the first winter is stems; some are tall with 'beautiful passed, then it sends up a proper spike flowers, some are runts; there is variety with several blossoms on a strong stem. in outer coloring and date of blooming, Though a hybrid the seedlings are ab­ though none are as late as I could wish. solutely uniform. Perhaps I did not have seed from a Auratum is eager for life, if not sup­ very reliable strain. I suspect flirtation pressed it would produce bushels of with regale. seeds, one capsule will about stock an Longifio~u'Pn praecox is well behaved acre. It is in the " slow" group. I have as a young child, but it resents moving always planted fresh seeds in the au­ from the cold frame; it relishes very tumn ; after a while they begin to puff rich soil, hot sun and lots of water, -,-hold one against the light and see wants not always easily satisfied; but the germ stretching. After some months it does best in a general Rower garden, a short, weak cotyledon appears, often a rare virtue among lilies ; is very beau­ not even rising above its peatmoss cov­ tiful in habit and foliage as well as er, but a decent bulb forms and good­ bloom, which bridges the interval be­ sized roots; they must feel the cold of tween regale and auratu'Pn. It is per­ the first winter and then the true leaves fectly hardy; must be planted very deep will appear, though there are always or it will produce underground stem a few forward individuals who dis­ bulblets enough to smother itself. pense with this and go ahead regard­ C andidum salonikae is sheer delight, less, and form spikes a year before all we have ever thought a Madonna their brothers. I leave Auratums in lily should be. Very young seedlings their original seed containers through 60 THE NATIO AL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

two summers, then pot when they nat­ erous,ly replaced. I began over again urally go dormant and plant out in the with even greater care: no result. I cold frame the third spring. It may changed the source of seeds: continuous not be good practice, I don't know. the erratic germination, at all temperatures bulbs become rather crowded, and pots from 50 to 100 throughout the year, and containers have to receive their and always first a small true leaf. Ow­ winter chilling under salt hay in a cold ing to false starts these babies have not passage, but eventuall y the larger bulbs been with me long. They seem healthy can be planted deeper. I have so far and willing, the older ones show some only had auratu/n piCtL£1111, and al.watWTn resemblance to little ca.ndidu11~, and platyphyllu11l, this one from three dif­ their places of origin may not be very ferent sources. A ll behave exactly far apart. Ras hybridizing ever been alike; they are so reliable it is comfort­ tried? Is such another work of art ing always to have a pan of them as Testace~mL a possibility? around in some corner, like a teakettle This is all I know. Please may I on the stove. beg again for advice, and information SuperbU1'1'L and H~(J/'l.boldtii are my that I do not even know how to ask first Americans, both very slow. It is for. true I dare not investigate too often, It is said that Sargentiae under some but I have never seen the cotyledon; condi tions sets seeds? Does B rownVi it is as though the bulb developed right do so? Rub ell'wlIl , japonicu1n, Wa1'dii inside the seed, and this only after do seed, but are the seeds procurable, about six months. and how should they be treated ? What M onadelphu11'L is a non-conformist. of the tender exotics, neilghe1'rense and My first seeds looked good and came 17epalense P from an excellent source: exactly noth­ ALIDA LIVINGSTON, ing happened. T he seeds were gen- Oyster Bay, L. 1.

Narcissus Notes

B . Y. MORRISON, Ed'it01'

Narcissus jo r Nat~t:ra/;ization effect. With me Firetail IS indispen­ I have tried many of the newer daf­ sable. fod il s which have become plentiful since Most of the new poets seem to do the quarantine has been lifted and have very well but in mass effects they show found the fo llowing satisfactory for no better than the older varieties. naturalization. I am trying many others but haven't Mme. K relage, Croesus, Relios, N et­ had them long enough to know how tie O'Melveny, Silver Star, Diana Kas­ they do without frequent division. ner. I haven't mentioned any of the yel­ These seem to thrive as well as many low or bi-colored trumpets. I don't of the older varieties, in fact, Relios care for trumpets much for woodland gives a more striking effect than any planting excepting, of course, Queen other daffodil of its season. of Spain which is perhaps my favorite Lucinius is a lovely thing but doesn't of all daffodils fo r this purpose. clump up as fast as above mentiofled. CARL R. KRIPPENDORF, Yellow Poppy gives a different color Ohio. Mr. Krippendorf's Plantings. 62 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

The Daffodil Then in 19-1-0 came another of these This passage from that ever-readable glorious gifts-this time from Mr. book "Pages from a Private Diary" Morrison himself-forty-eight varieties by H. C. Beeching, Canon of West­ from his garden in Takoma Park minister, should be of interest to all who Everyone flowered in the following grow the daffodil. season; beauties all. What generosity "Everything about daffodils is in­ this was for the delight of the eye and teresting. The name is one of the pret­ of the gardening mind. As this garden tiest corruptions possible. It ought to grows older it seems to grow smaller, be 'affodil' as it comes through the for where I placed these last-named French from 'asphodel' but the para­ daffodils roots of great lilacs began­ sitic d is a great improvement. For as the man we knew in Michigan once some time both forms were in use: said, to encrou.ch upon them-aDd this affodil for what we now call asphodel year we have had to transplant to a or 'king's spear' and daffodil for the more open spot. But every bulb narcissus. 'The poets have liked both bloomed, and great has been my pleas­ the word and the flower." ure in them. Also, from another friend For more years than I can count I came February Gold, the earliest one I have grown a few daffodils; usually at have here-possibly because of its posi­ first the commoner kinds like the now­ tion, too--while a mixed bushel from tiresome King Alfred and Sir \iVatkin, the Misses Harris of The Plains, Va., then various species and named va­ do wonderfully on a sunny slope below rieties from the great firm of Van Tu­ old damson plum trees, increasing with bergen in Holland. every year (although we actually run I keep a ' rough garden notebook in the mower over their leaves while still which great occurrences only are set green). Each year J am filled with down. One of these was in September, thankfulness for the blessing of such 1939, when there arrived fra m the presents as these. Is there anything kind hand of Mr. Guy Wilson of to equal a ·living, growing, redoubling Broughshane, Ireland, a marvel of a gift? present of 200 glorious bulbs of his su­ With every spring I am able to send preme daffodils. Perhaps he was moved to certain city dwellers boxes of daf­ to send them because I had written him fodil buds which, after two days' im­ of my delight in the names he or others prisonment in the U. S. post office, will had given them-beautiful names, full always open when received. Every of meaning or of association. (I could year there is the greatest heavenly not imagine Mr. Wilson bestowing on names ring in the mind like chimes of any fine flower the epithet of "Dream sweet-toned bells. Polar Sea, Still Wa­ Girl" !) The bulbs had first to repair ters, Quartz, Aleppo, Killigrew, For­ to Washington for inspection and treat­ tune, King of the North, Kandahar, ment, but the next spring was awaited Godolphin, Cocarde, Tenedos; they are with breathless interest. Only seven like those "seven sweet sympathies" of fl owered out of the twenty-nine vari­ the Rosetti poem. My thanks go out eties; but they were sufficient to show again with each successive spring to the quality of the flowers. The next these two friends who have shown me year some twelve or fifteen appeared, such daffodil kindness, one in Ireland, and then in the year following twenty­ one in America. one. That is the largest number thus The daffodil Shows of the Royal far out of the total sent. Horticultural Society in London have Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 63 continued, war or no war. Those in out a ,fine specimen with pale yellow our own country, especially in Vir­ perianth and much apricot in the trum­ ginia and New York, have been truly pet. "That," I said, "is the one I like notable. I remember Mr. John Wister best." The fine Dutch growers looked as the high priest of many such shows. at each other, smiling. "That one," said Perhaps the Garden Club of Michigan they, "we had already named for you." in Detroit was the ,first mere garden A word as to the use of the daffodil club to use in its small daffodil shows in the garden. These lovely flowers twenty-five years ago the classification can hardly expect a formal use, a set­ ting in lines or in orderly regiments ; of the Royal Horticultural Society. I they "haste away so soon"; but where think that group continues this. I have they prosper and look their best is in long maintained that a great interna­ long, loose drifts of colonies on slopes tional horticultural Society, such as and under trees. Witness the beau­ that in London, was one of the surest tiful photograph of William Robinson's paths to peace and goodwill among daffodil plantings at Gravetye in Sus­ men ; and I would urge more American sex, that much-printed photograph; or memberships in this British society, the nice effects in certain Long Island more reading of its monthly Journal, gardens where daffodils flourish under more visiting of Wisley and of its con­ the young foliage of the white birch; stant shows in Vincent Square when or in the charming plantings of Mrs. such visits again become possible. The Francis Hall, near 'Harrisburg, Pa. Society is truly international in mem­ Here there are thirty-nine varieties or bership, as all botany and horticulture species used and these flower from late are in scope, memberships are a guinea March to Mid-May. Long grass con­ a year, and any interested person may ceals later the yellowing daffodil leaves, become a Fellow by sending that sum so that they leave no trace. to Vincent Square, Westminster, Lon­ LOUISA F. KING, don W. l. New York. Suddenly becoming personal, may I recount in these rather scientific pages a little incident in Holland, in the year Daffodil Notes of th. e 1944 Show 1925 I think it was, when I was there For the past two years it has been to serve on the Jury of the Interna­ our good fortune to have two daffodil tional Flower Show at Haarlem (and seasons, a prolonged one in Pasadena, tlvis is the international cooperation in where daffodils start blooming in Janu­ which I most firmly believe). I was to ary and continue into April, and a do some professional work in writing much shorter one in Oregon, where descriptions of daffodils. A few impor­ the season starts approximately April tant growers, including Mr. deGraaff 1st and is often crowded into about of Leyden, had staged many new va­ six weeks. In this, Oregon always rieties for me to discuss; but as I sat reminds me of Scotland. There, in the down at my desk a group of the grow­ old days, one found early, mid-season ers, stallding in the doorway, said, "Be­ and late varieties in bloom together at fore you begin we should like you to Brodie Castle during those gatherings look at these flowers and say which of the Daffodil fraternity whi.ch were you think the outstanding one." I cast a regular sequel to the London Show. a quick eye over the beautiful things This over-lap in early, mid-season and before me and in an instant had singled late varieties is a gr~a~ : advantage to 64 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL :MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 the hybridist because of the increase in so rough and coarse in Oregon as to crossing possibilities. be almost unrecognizable. There does It is our custom to gr-ow all our seed­ not seem to be any way of predicting lings in Pasadena where we have only _how a given seedling will behave in a a small stud of named varieties. The new locality. This is the case with bulk of our collection of named varieties many named varieties too. I am re­ is at North Bank Farm in Oregon, minded of the fame of \l\Thite House in where we also have off-sets of any of New Zealand. It has repeatedly been our own seedlings judged worthy of judged champion Leedsii at the shows observation, as soon as stock permits. and even Champion of Champions, ac­ This makes it possible to complete one cording to my correspondent, Mr. C. G. season in Pasadena and reach North Hayes of Invercargill, New Zealand. Bank Farm with the accumulation of He can not praise it too highly. Now, pollen of the season just finished in White House is a nice flower, but it is Pasadena in time to start all over again far from flawless OL" best of its class in Oregon. here. I understand that this holds true This year we arrived there the 13th in England also. Yet it wins all honors of April and found the beds in full year after year in New Zealand against bloom; not a flower faded and only things that surpass it here. the latest still to come. It literally Perhaps the most arresting things in gave one floral indigestion; and as for Oregon this year were the Red-Cups. crosses, how ·can one resist scores of They were simply blazing. Of the perfect flowers with plenty of pollen newer red-and-yellows, Sudan, Bahram on hand? and Gibraltar were outstanding. It is Although the Daffodils are my hus­ hard to see how anything cOllld be band's special hobby, it is now nec­ more perfect than Gibraltar although it essary for me to carryon for him for has the shortest stem of the three. If the duration and I really think he is only it had the stem of Peiping or Hong rather fearful 'of the results four years Kong. Otnerwise it was vivid, sculp­ hence. He claims we will not have land tured perfection, and it did not burn. enough to plant these seeds and seed­ Of the older red-and-yellows, Dunkeld, lings. I am sometimes afraid I have Caerleon, Carbineer, Mar'ket Merry been slightly over-enthusiastic when I and Rustom Pasha were particularly remember how Reverend Engleheart good. One of the Brodie's older seed­ used to discourage one from trying to lings, Red Ribband, was very impres­ grow more than five thousand seedlings sive and made a wonde1lful garden a year. clump. It is a very strong and tall We have been much impressed with deep yellow with a wide, definite red the different behavior 0f certain seed­ ribbon band at the edge of the straight lings and named varieties in the two bowl cup, very bold and telling. An­ localities. One expects a certain varia­ other stunning garden plant was Pier­ tion in perfection from season to sea­ rot. Its perianth is paler than in the son perhaps, but it surprises me to find others, but the cup is most intense and seedlings which have been found want­ the reflexed perianth is graceful and ing and discarded in Pasadena, pro­ attractive. ducing beautiful flowers consistently in I hesitate to l1'1ention seedlings of our Oregon. Then on the other hand, very own in this august company, but I nice smooth seedlings in Pasadena are noted with satisfaction that one of our Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 65

1937 crop was giving a good account the Oregon season was very wet and of itself. It is not named as yet, so it took some time for their perianths must be simply Number 259, Trevisky to get really white. X (Bokhara X W arflame) , the 259 My own favorites are the whites and has many good points; good color, ade­ pale Leedsiis and these are particularly quate stem and a short neck. I remem­ happy in Oregon. It would be impos­ ber with even greater enthusiasm a sible to rate them all , there were too red-and-yellow seedling in Pasadena. many good ones. Perhaps Truth was Number 288, Stirling X Cornish Fire. the most consistently perfect. It is It has not arrived in Oregon yet, but not over-large, but has such finish. I we hope to have it there soon as it is can not ,find a flaw in it except that it very perfect in Pasadena. does not like the hot, dry climate of We had an interesting first bloom Pasadena. Courage was superb, as this year; a small vivid cyclamineus were Cantatrice, Ledbury, Trostan, hy.brid with the characteristic intense Oslo, Zero and Ludlow. The last named yellow reflexed perianth, but with a was especially good from round bulbs. glowing solid red cup. This small, Trousseau was lovely, but at North attractive thing is (February Gold X Bank Farm it was not pink this year. Fortune) X Pentreath. How potent I will hope for another time. Content the cyclamineus strain is to give sllch was very nice although I expected it to characteristic form in the fourth gen­ be more definitely "lemon-ade" colored. eration. We have raised many cycla­ Glendalough was certainly a fine strong mineus hybrids and the percentage of Leedsii and Broughshane was almost acceptable flowers is so high that I too big. It is a wonderful white and urge beginners to use cyclamineus pol­ very long lasting. Brunswick, Polin­ len widely. One can hardly fail. dra, White House and Carnlough were There was a decided color break excellent and in good number and have among our seedlings this year which been heavily used in breeding. I must may prove interesting. Pepper X Cor­ not omit White Butterfly which was nish Fire gave a flower with a pinkish one of the most charming flowers. It is bronze perianth and a brilliant red cup. well named and will make a wonderful Personally, I do not care especially for garden subject. Nanking and similar flowers, but this There were several very .interesting seedling seemed so much deeper in col­ white seedlings of our own. Number or than any of that class which we grow 110, a pure white, very flat Leedsii, that we decided to exploit it to the full gave an impression of great roundness. and have a large crop of seeds, mostly Number 163, Marmora X Carnlough, from its pollen. was icy white and rather like Oslo. Of the red-and-whites, Red Hackle Number 128, Sherman X Kencott, has was clearly the pick. It was superb. quite a good perianth and a really pink Its form is reminiscent of Folly, but the cup. This is our best pink to date and perianth is very white and the cup is it has been consistent both in Pasadena unbelievably red. It did not burn and and Oregon. Number 229, Le Voleur was very durable. Cairo was also out­ X Pucelle, is a large Leedsii with a standing and is very late. Mahmoud white perianth and straw-colored was beautiful, but could do with a trumpet upon opening, but the trumpet stronger constitution. Khartum and ages pink in a very short time. It is Kilworth finally were very telling, but really lovely, smooth flower, but is so 66 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL lvIAGAZINE Jan., 1945 slow of increase that we have been un­ In Oregon, Balmoral was excep­ able to get an off-set for Oregon after tional. Cromarty and Crocus were three years. We hope to get one this also noticeable although Crocus needs year. a longer stem. The older varieties, Principal and Royalist, were smooth Of the yellows, St. Issey was out and perfect. I must not forget to com­ standing. It has given us splendid menton Christian and Yellow Moon. seedlings. We have a whole series of Both are small in comparison with the Aerolite X St. Issey that are hard to above, but they have great charm, I choose between. We have named one like them both enormously. of these Temecula and there will doubt­ I am leaving out of these notes many less be several others worthy of a name, splendid flowers which we saw bloom­ varying between Incomparabilis and ing, the poets for instance. But how Trumpet. St. Issey selfed has given us can one hope to cover such a vast field the best flower we have raised. It is in such a comparatively short time? an incomparabilis and the' deepest yel­ Especially since an untimely hot spell low I have ever seen. Vve have named put an abrupt end to the season. I it Geronimo. found myself with only a hazy memory Stirling has been a wonderful parent. of the relative worth of many that I had It is a Pilgrimage seedling raised by J. meant to observe more closely. Two Lionel Richardson. It was so similar of those late varieties were impossible to its parent that Mr. Richardson sold to miss however. Who could over­ us the entire stock. It has given the look Alberni Beauty with its glistening toughest, strongest flowers imaginable, white perianth and the deliciously cool with tall, strong stems, many with the and perfect Cushendall with its won­ characteristic pointed double-triangle derful green center? They made a perianth of Pilgrimage. We have used perfect ending to our second season! it in numberless combinations and have MRS. KENYON L. REYNOLDS, many fine seedlings from it. Pasadena, Calif.

A Book or Two

The Border in Colot£r, by T . C. Mans­ As this is the third book of a series field , 1944. E. P. Dutton & Co., it naturally follows mUlCh the same Inc., New York City. 236 pages, scheme in handling of its data. About illus. 35 pages of brief elementary treatises It is fortunate that color like mus{c on soil, site, maintenance, propagation, speaks an international language that and pest control, mainly of interest to all may understand and enjoy, and the the beginner, are followed by 189 pages only regret here is the considerable dis­ of what is called a "Glossary," wherein crepancy between the quality of the herbaceous garden material is listed color work and the importance of the alphabetically from Abronia to Zausch­ text, whose usefulness to American neria, with one to eight lines devoted gardeners will doubtless be quite lim­ to each variety, part of the information ited. reduced to abbreviation or code. It will Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 67

thus be seen that the work is intended lettered squares to be superimposed on mainly for reference rather than con­ the color plates to aid in location and tinuous reading. identification; precarious because of the That "East is East and West is ease with which a loose sheet may be West" would seem to be borne out in mislaid or damaged. And I must con­ the selection of varieties for inclusion fess it is a bit startling to read at the which, as one might expect, is distinctly bottom of a plate something like this : British. Many of the items would be Astilbe hybrida Fanal BCDFGHKL­ difficult or impossible to find in Amer­ MOPQTU, or Lilium auratum ABC­ ican catalogues. EFGHJKLMOPQ. That does seem Some measure of the book's interest a bit cumbersome, and perhaps not to American gardeners may be gath­ quite necessary, but the excellence of ered by considering its treatment of the the color printing may warrant inclu­ genus Iris. There are 48 Iris species sion of this book in any horticulturist's li·brary. listed, but under 1. Germamca there J. M. S. follows "a list of the horticultural va­ rieties developed from this Iris." Of 42 C01%1%el'cial Flower Forcing, by Laurie varieties named in this list most are and Kiplinger. 4th edition. The such older things as Al'Cazar, Aurea, Blakiston Co., Philadelphia, 1944. Caprice, Ed .. Michel, Gold Crest, etc. 598 pages, illustrated. $4.50. The most recent introduction well This useful manual has suffered no known to this country is Gudrun, 1930, major changes in plan or development. and the only American varieties men­ It has been brought up to date, how­ tioned are Afterglow, Sturtevant, 1917, ever, in order to incorporate data re­ and Quaker Lady, Farr, 1909. cently available, on gravel culture, fer­ Under Hemerocallis we find 5 spe­ tilizers, temperature control, humidity, cies included, with Apricot, Golden growth promoting substances, advanced Bell, Hyperion, Orangeman, Sir Mi­ practices in propagation and similar chael Foster and Sovereign as the com­ features. No matter how useful other plete list of "good examples" of H. editions have been, thi's will replace hybrida. them all. The author would seem to have some strong garden preferences since in con­ Pest Control in the Home Garden, by trast to this relative paucity of Iris and Louis Pyenson. The Macmillan Co., Hemercallis there are listed no less New York, 1944. 190 pages, illus. than 120 varieties of C!J.1'ysan.the1%U111 $2.00. 11W1'i>foliu11'~, 102 of Lupins, 73 of Del­ This is a handbook of ready refer­ phinium and 42 of Dianthus. Even ence, carefully planned for and ad­ of Astilbe there are 28, but only 27 of dressed to the large gardening public. Peony. The text is simple and forthright: the Chief attraction, however, are the 80 many illustrations should be of the fine color plates. The 22 line draw­ greatest value to the readers addressed. ings are more decorative than conse­ If they cannot find help in this for all quential, but the printing job on the their major difficulties, there is not color plates is superb. Labeling of much chance for them .. these is unique but somewhat pre­ The field covered is restricted essen­ carious since it depends on a loose-leaf tially to plants of the home vegetable transparent sheet marked with twenty and fruit gardens. 68 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

Thollws Jefferso l/ 's Garden Book An­ Poplar FO'rest, and his other estates, nota,ted, by Edwin Morris Betts. The but also give us a clue to his interest American' Philosophical Soc i e t y , in introducing new plants and in im­ Philadelphia, Pa., 1944. 794 pages, proving horticulture, viticulture, and illustrated. $5.00. many other aspects of the rural life of This volume represents No. 22 of the his time***." Memoirs of the above Society. "That those interests at Nlonticello To quote from the Preface: "This were also tied up with the agricultural Ga:rden Book contains the most varied and horticultural needs of the United entries of all of J efferson's memoran­ States, is showfi in part by Jefferson's dum books. The book that began as a attempt to introduce the ctlltivation of diary of the garden became- a written olive trees and dry rice into South repository for numerous interests of Carolina and Georgia***.J) J efferson***. And so one might continue, even to "The vari ed entries in the Garden the whole of the Preface. Book not only show us what J efferson It is a book to read and not read was doing and planting at M ont'icello, about.

The Gardener's Pocketbook

Pn~ l/u.s Skiwner£ (Rehder) finding that some of the hybrids of In Western Canada, where the Prunus tenella are highly ornamental. choice vari eties of ornamental Cherries Our photograph shows one of the and Almonds, that are so largely cul­ more recent of these hybrids, having tivated in Vvetsern Europe and the as its other parent the Manchurian Eastern States, are not hardy, we are P. japo'nica. This hybrid, raised at ] all., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 69

Kathleell May·riage Penste111.on hum;ilis

Dropmore, grows considerably taller produced, are like small green apricots, than either parent; the original seed­ half an inch in diameter, while those of ling being now six feet tall and fully P. japonica are quite smooth and a as much across. Both in foliage and brilliant red in color. flowers it is intermediate between the The flowers of P. japo'l1!ica are hid­ parents. The fruits, very sparingly den to a certain extent by the foliage, 70 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

Kathleen Jl!larr·iage

P enste11Wn hU11J1~ilis

while those of the hybrid are all readily the hill descended into the valley. visable and a bright rosy-red in color. Groups of Ponderosa Pine provided a It comes into bloom about two weeks backdrop fo r this scene, their shadows later than P. tenella and stays showy intensifying the blue around the edges. much longer than the more fertile par- Lest such a large canvas of all blue ents. surfeit the eye the Master Painter re­ F. L. SKINNER, lieved it with occasi-onal splashes of the Dropmore, Manitoba. most vivid scarlet, using Indian Paint Brush ( Castilleja coUina) . Words are The Blues inadequate; and to photograph this P enste1'l1011 hU1nil-is is taking its last blue and scarlet combination? Just stand now (] une 27). A few weeks try it! How to catch on any film the ago the lower foothills, 7,000 feet al­ clear crispness of the air, the song of titude, were pouring out their blue the meadow larks, and across the val­ lavishly from groups of -Sc rub Oak and ley, the huge bulk of Pike's Peak, the Pine. wrinkles on his face still ,filled with Yesterday I fo und a hillside near snow. Divide on the Rampart Range (9,000 To enj oy this breath-taking beauty feet) where this Penstemon ft owed,over it is only necessary ~ o leave the trans­ several acres and only stopped where continental highway, number 24, roll Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 71

Kathleen Marr·iage Castilleja collina under a rather forbidding barbed wire in bud of Ara.gallus lam,berti, a "loco" fence, walk a few hundred feet up to which will make a

('It's A live." myrtle. " This interesting species be­ \Vithout any fear of contradiction longs to a family represented by some we nominate the subject of our present · 40 species throughout the lower Gulf illustration as the oddest of odd plants, Coast region and into Old Mexico, as. at least among those growing in the well as near by islands, where it is rep­ Strybing Arboretum and Botanic Gar­ resented by the indigenous Barbados. den at Golden Gate Park. At first Cherry, Ma,lpigh,£a, glabm U'I1d"'6la-ta. glance it is indeed difficult to tell what In gardens of the South this charm­ it is, or whether it is indeed alive at all. ing shrub forms a low dense mass of This is Homaloc!adil/1JI, platycladl/lII, glabrous foliage; brown bark and withe also known as M 'uehlenbeckia, platy­ like branches, crowned throughout the clada, both names a good mouthful, summer months by axillary cymes of perhaps designed to di scourage begin­ attractive rosy pink flowers, somewhat ners of the study of Botany, but scarce­ resembling Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroe- ly easy to remember. The com1110n 1%ia, indica) which are 'followed by names "Ribbon-bush" or "Centipede bright scarlet fruits, resembling ripe Plant" help very little, but it prove in­ cherries spoken of as a " delicious acid teresting to know that this is related fruit." to the Buckwheats, and that the genus It may be interesting to note, that Muehlenbeckia. includes the New Zea­ while this plant came to us as Decodon land "Wire-vine," (M. co11lplexa,). verticellat",6S, the writer was approached Our picture clearly shows the queer by Miss Alice Eastwood, in the Acad­ fla ttened stems that function as leaves emy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, after the true leaves have dried up who asked if my name was Teas, and and fallen off. A few of these true leaves remarked that she had received a bot­ may be seen too, but are present only anical specimen from some one else, on young shoots during moist seasons. who in turn had received the plant' The main interest of this plant from us as Decodon ve1,ticellatus, which though at this time arises from the fact she stated was in~orrect, and held in that it is the only native to the Solo­ her hand herbarium specimens of the mon Islands that may be grown out­ latter, but identified as M. gla,bra. Some of-doors here without serious frost­ years later I discovered a very upright injury through most winters. In South­ growing form in the gardens of Corpus ern California this plant is frequently Christi, Texas, and on investigation grown for covering banks, or as an in­ learned that this upright form is the formal hedge. When covered with its type, M. glabra and that the one gen­ small red, berry-like fruits the plants erally found in cultivation is the variety are quite ornamental. Propagation is undulata. easily accomplished by rooting cuttings This latter for111 lends itself admir­ in a warm greenhouse. ably to forming formal hedges and may ERIC WALTHER., be clif)ped into perfect shape at any Supervisor of the Strybing Ar­ desired height and yet be trained into boretum and Botanic Garden, columns, or arches of formal outlines, Golden Gate Park, San Fran- with equal grace and most pleasiNg cisco, Calif. effect. The upright form is equally pleasing as a rather neat slender up­ Two Malpighws right growing shrub producing masses Malpighia, glabm L. "Wild Crape- of attractive flowers and red cherries Jan .. 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 73

[See page 72 ] H omalocladium platyrladu11t 74 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945·

throughout the summer months. Price and preference would determine These shrubs deserve special men­ the selection of these. tion and should lfind a useful place in There is always the problem of how the gardens of the South, as specimens, to handle a coarse-leaved plant. While mass plantings or trained to develop exceedingly beautiful in flower the accents in those weak spots, which fre­ wrinkled foliage is apt to be quite bold quently give grave concern to the build­ in many situations. As suggested above ers of gardens. it seems best to use this as a component M alpighia coccigera - (berry-bear­ of a mixed border where the foliage ing) from the West Indies is a charm­ can serve as a foil for either smaller ing little evergreen shrub with small leaved or yellowish leaved plants. spiny Holly-like foliage, virtually cov­ ered at frequent intervals with attrac­ Syringa pe'Ysica tive light pink flowers, followed by One of the interesting developments showy scarlet fruit, like ripe cherries. in recent years has been the appear­ As a pot plant, it grows in tree form ance on the small plants of Syringa like that of a picturesque old New Eng­ persiw, Persian lilac, at roadside land elm, with drooping branches, yet stands. They are seen as small balled only a foot or two in overall height. plants three to four feet in height and While rarely seen is garden collections in full bloom. While this treatment of it is recommended in Florida for nursery stock leaves much to be desired hedges. It is conspicuous for its unique yet this has served to disseminate the individuality and charming habit, and species quite widely. Being of a robust elicits many compliments from visitors. nature probably most of the plants so EDWARD TEAS, handled, . and frequently mishandled, Houston, Texas. have survived.

FROM THE MIDWEST This, in my opinion, is the best lilac HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY for the home garden. Its medium Viburnum Carlesi stature, precocity of flowering, and One -of the most useful viburnums is shrub-like habit are all much more de­ sirable in a small area than the common V. ,t,Cariesi. This Viburnum with its clusters of fragrant flowers, blooms species. Immediate effects are obtained here about the first of May. The scent with the plant. As a source of cut flow­ of the flowers is delightful, and the ef­ ers the numerous branches are excel­ fect of the pinkish clusters on the plants lent. is good. - In large gardens where the choicer After the flowers have gone this is a sorts of French hybrids may he grown fairly coarse shrub of medium stature. for effect the use of this in a cutting It is suitable for mingling in the mixed garden would doubtless be well worth­ shrub border. Like the other vibur­ while. nums it is not particular in its cultural The culture of ' this is not exacting. requirements. The foliage is dark and Pruning can be done at flowering time green and rugose, reminding one of its and serve a double purpose. relative V. lentago. There is some variation in the flower There are improved varieties of this color and plants can be selected that species appearing on the market which have pinkish tints and others that are differ in flower color and fragrance deep purple with the maj-ority being a Ilnd some other minor characteristics. good lilac. Some nurseries are offer- Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 75

ing such color selections, while a pure formal areas where small symmetrical white is offered at others. material is desired. Whether all of the This species is not at all new to this material in this region should be re­ region. It was widely used in plantings ferred to the Camperdownii is a ques­ made more than forty years ago. How­ tion that is undecided. While all of ever the roadside merchandising of this the material has been called this variety plant within the past half dozen years in conversations there is so me question has been significant in making it one in my mind as to whether this has been of the common garden plants in this entirely correct or if some of the mate­ regIOn . rial is not variety pendula. Due to the wide scattering of the material I have Ulmus glabra Camperdownii not compared all of them critically for The use of horticultural oddities has varietal differences. resulted in the overdoing of some types ELDRED GREENE. of material such as the globular small trees, In this region the ones usually Why is a. P'Hchsia :; encountered are the weeping mulberry This article prepared by Miss Alice frequently pruned to a globular or can­ Eastwood, California Academy of Sci­ opy-like head and the umbrella catalpa. ence is reprinted by permission from Both of these have been used too much the publication of The American Fuch­ as accent plants and have tended to sia Society, Bulletin 44-7, July, 1944. discourage the correct use of plants of The Genus Fuchsia was named by this type. The mulberry, unless fre­ Flumier in honor of Leonard Fuchs quently trimmed, grows quite long and who was born in Bavaria in 1501. He strategy and fails to be symmetrical, was not only the most learned botanist while the coarseness of the catalpa of his time but was also a physician so foliage is a drawback in small or inti­ eminent that he was invited to become mate gardens. physician to the King of Denmark, but One tree which fulfills the purpose of refused. His most important botanical an accent without the obvious draw­ work was a beautifully illustrated backs of the previous two is the um­ herbal which dealt with about 400 Ger­ brella form of the Scotch elm. The man plants and 100 from foreign lands. foliage is very similar to that of the The first fuchsia was collected in the native elm. As seen in this region this West Indies by Father Plumier of the elm is topworked on native elm at a Order of the Little Brothers and named height of about six feet. The branches and illustrated by him in a precious are· rather stiff and spread out in a old book, the title of which is "Nova globular head that stays within rea­ Plantarum Americanarum Genera" by sonable limits without too much atten­ P. Carols Plumier. In his preface he tion. Occasional pruning preserves the tells of his innate desire to explore from compactness of the head. early childhood and that these distant This plant has been quite extensively lands drew him not for merit, fame Or planted at railroad stations along the riches. He could leave his home and northern suburbs of Chicago and also friends, undaunted by the stormy seas, appears in choice plantings in gardens the marine monsters, the forbidding throughout the region. Its hardiness mountains and the inhospitable and is unquestioned and its adaptability ,fierce natives. He emphatically as­ is as, great as that of the American elm. serted that God called him to explore Its use should be confined to rather these islands. This book was published 76 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZI~E Jan., 1945 in 1703, fifty years before Linnaeus es­ fuchsia is the only member of the fam­ tablished the binominal nomenclature ily that is a shrub, has the fruit like and at that time each plant had but one a berry, and a calyx colored like a co­ name. If there were several of the rolla. same kind a brief description ot each Some are natives of Mexico and was given and later some one of the these generally have small flowers, like characteristics was chosen for the spe­ Fuchs1:a thyw/,ifolia and Fuchsia arbo'r­ cific name. As he had found only one escens. Those of the Fuchs'ia triphylla fuchsia which he described as with group are from the \Vest Indies, but three leaves and red flowers, Linnaeus most of the species are from South named it F1Jchsia t6phylla. Besides America, chiefly from the upper alti­ Fuchsia some of the well known plants tudes where the climate is temperate. of the West Indies were named and il­ lustrated by him in this old book. Galium vent,w/, The English pronunciation is as if it Among European introductions that were spelled fushcia and that has be­ have become so thoroughly acclimated come the COmlT10n pronunciation. In in this country as to be generally con­ German it is pronounced as if spelled sidered natives (even to being weeds), fooksia. According to some authorities is the yellow "Ladies Bedstraw"­ that should be the scientific pronuncia­ Galium Ve?'U1n. tion. Bailey says of it that it is now a weed The fuchsias are members of a large in fields of our Eastern coast, but one family of plants, known commonly as can go further, for it has crept up into the Evening Primrose Family. This the slopes of the Blue Ridge Moun­ family is especially common in the tains, and now and then into a garden. western hemisphere and is notably rep­ There it has proved its worth to such resented in our gardens not only by the a degree that the wonder is that it is fuchsias but by some of the most beau­ not more widely known and used. tiful and widely cultivated annuals, Botanica\.ly, Bailey says of it :-"Pe­ such as Godetia, Clarkia, and the Eve­ rennial from a somewhat woody base, ning Primrose. The magenta-flowered glabrous and smooth; or the edges of fireweed, also called willow-herb, is the the leaves roughish: stems decumbent most widely spread member of the fam­ or ascending, tufted, 1-3 ft. long: leaves ily. It is known as fireweed because in 8's or 6's, linear V2-1 inch long, it springs up abundantly where forests bristle-tipped, panicle ample, its lower have been destroyed by 'fire, and the branches exceeding the leaves: flowers name willow-herb arises from the tuft yeUow, blooming all summer: fruit of hairs on each one of the seeds which small, smooth." like the seeds of the willows, are wafted Translation of this into garden lan­ like little parachutes through the air guage can give the over-busy (possibly to the place where they can sprout and lazy) amateur a more enticing picture grow. of what a high-ranking addition it is The members of this family are on to either the herbaceous border or the the plan of four. with four petals, four rock garden. sepals, four or eight stamens, and the The tiny, lemon-yellow florets are seed vessel below the calyx. All but borne in masses of fluffy, dense, 6-8 the fuchsia have a dry seed pod, that inch panicles, growing so profusely that splits when ripe into four parts. The they make a sheet of color for about J:lll., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZI NE 77

six vveeks. The stems, cl ad in light questions I wanted to ask him about green, small, narrow leaves are pros­ their care, soil preparation and all. I trate for aobut half their length, becom­ wanted to grow Amaryllis. Not only ing erect fo r 12 to 15 inches, the root that, but I wanted to grow them in my stock is spreading, though not danger­ o'Mtside garden. ously so, and easily controlled, but I returned to Oklahoma with 4 trial growi ng fast enough to soon clothe a bulbs and ca refully planted them in 6- bare spot. One of its greatest assets inch pots of soil composed of sand, well lies in the fact that after bloomi ng it decayed dairy barn manure, and some shows no untidiness of dead blo0111 that good garden soi l. T hey thrived apace. must be cut away, this owing to the Next Spring, a year later, I planted diminutive nature of the seed pods; and them outside, one bulb in full sun, the the whole plant at once acquires a soft. others in partial shade. They were clean green that is a perfect ground planted perhaps two and one-half inches cover. Furthermore, as a cut fl ower, below the ground and were mulched it is invaluable. It is indifferent to just a little. To my amazement, all drouth and heat, or to temperatures as bloomed nicely and produced seed from low as 1 S° below zero. hand pollination. Alas, however, I was VIOLET NILES WALKER, set back again that winter to the be­ Woodberry Forest, Va. ginning of my experiment, because all bulbs were winter killed. Amaryllis Experiment : Growing Them That experience taught me lesson Outside in the Southwest number one and I concluded that deep­ er planting and heavier mulching might My experimentation in growing be the . rebuttal fo r those periodical, Amaryllis outside began more than roaring "Northers" which bring unan­ eight years ago in the semi-arid region nounced sub-zero temperatures to Ok­ just so uth of Oklahoma City. The real lahoma in winter. seed of my experimentation enthusiasm I procured six good bulbs this time began. however. in 1936 when I had and planted them again in pots because the pleasure of witnessing real Amaryl­ that much of the original experiment li s magni.ficence at the Department of was good. A nd I was right because all Agricul ture's Amarylli s show in \ i\,Tas h­ bloomed with well formed fl owers. Two ington. D. C. of this second try in particular were It would be impossible for me to try beautiful specimens; a pink-striped in words to reproduce my reaction to white one, and a very beautiful red one. that di splay. I knew that the fl ower Others were cross pollinated. From was being hybridized extensively and this second effort came seeds galore that selective breeding had made great which I collected and planted in flats in strides in recent years but seeing in my small greenhouse (whi ch really is reality such dazzling beauty was a rare a hybrid in itself, being half green­ revelation to me. It was as if I had house and half pit). This was about been dreaming a story and there it was July 15. before me. dramatized in technicolor. Notwithstanding the architecture and Even before I had "drunk my fill" of condition of my greenhouse, a good that Amaryllis show, I sought out the germination resulted in hundreds of Superintendent of Greenhouses and precious seedlings which lived and Grounds. There were hund reds of thrived in the glass covered beds. I 78 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 fdt that I was getting a little closer to gray theatre curtain under a red spot the answer. light. This amaryllis was self polli­ For two winters I kept them there, nated. dosing them occasionally with liquid The bulbs at this time were 3V2 years manure and now, after 18 months, I old and they were all from seed. As an moved them to their permanent home interesting sidelight it should be noted -outside, to withstand, I hoped, the here that the bulbs from the same seed­ general climatic extremes and severity ling which I kept in the greenhouse for of Oklahoma in particular, the South­ comparison, bloomed just two weeks west in general. earlier than their outside sisters. These They were planted in rows, and de­ greenhouse plants were kept in grow­ pending on the size of the bulb, from ing condition, except January and Feb­ 3 to 6 inches below the ground, about ruary when they rested. And it is 8 inches apart in an open frame of scrap interesting to note here that the out­ material. I found that this "bailing side plants bloomed in exactly the same wire" frame also served to contain the ratio of blossoms per plant, as those three inches of dairy fertilizer wi·th hearties who weathered the winter out­ which I mulched the surface. And all side. during the summer these bulbs were The first flower to open for the out­ kept well mulched with manure and side debut was the usual chalky white, carefully watered when the soil became rose-tipped one with a short tubed, too dry for a healthy growing condi­ open flower ; not very attractive but ex­ tion. tremely fragrant. Others, much bet­ During the summer and fall the ter followed in the bloom profusion. growth was tnost vigorous, some bulbs Then about the 12th of May, there having made from 2 to 5 offsets. Then it was in full flower, the compensation with the first killing frosts, which occur for my three season effort. It was an in Oklahoma approximately N ovem­ amaryllis of the daintiest mother-of­ her 10th, I covered these outside beds pearl shade I have ever seen. On top with another layer of manure and of this pale pink were splashes of rose, heavy straw. And as the "nights an almost grayed rose, fading into the lengthened and the cold strengthened" pink yet making a perfect complement I could only hope for the best for their to it. And there were three of them. first winter outside. I was sorely tempted to cut my prize It was cold for unusually long pe­ and take it in the house so that I and riods during -that particular winter with mine might enj.oy every moment of it. late killing frosts about the 10th of And as it turned out, enjoying its April. I had purposefully refrained last moments would have been a wise from peeking and when I did remove course because that very night the the mulch, toward the end of April I worst hail storm on record turned my was amazed and delighted to ,find garden, amaryllis and all, into some­ healthy foliage tips popping up in every thing that looked like a plateful of left corner of that makeshift seed bed. over spinach. That season about 20 of the bulbs Of course the curtain fell but the bloomed and they were outstandingly short lived symphony in pearl pink nice flowers. One in particular I re­ more than justified the effort, which corded. It had tall, strong scapes, a indeed is a point of view that only an wide open flower the color of a silver amaryllis grower can tlllderstand. I Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 79

might add that it is well that "hope shaped to suit one's fancy. When springeth eternal" because I am figura­ planted with other shrubs they have a tively fainting to see what the Spring tendency to grow straight up, but when of 1945 may bring from those seedling planted alone are more bushy. Free bulbs, of which it is now known, can and easy growth. withstand most anything in the way of If you are looking for something Southwest's climate severity, except lovely or different by all means try Oklahoma spring hail. this Idaho State flower. Phila.delphus And from the look of broken glass, L ewisii. it is m)' finn conviction that not even Of native spirea, Idaho has several my greenhouse can withstand what we species, but those that are most often in Oklahoma call "hen-egg" hail. transplanted and cultivated are H olo­ STELLA HAYDO N, discus discolor, and Spirea I dahoens1s N orman, Okla. and lu.cida. Of these three, H olodiso~s discolor, -and H e're /iVe Have Idaho or as it is most commonly called, Ocean Here we have Idaho, where men are Spray, seems to be the favored one, men and women are-well, women are and the best specimens are brought the same as they are the world over, down from the Salmon River district. just what the men expect them to be. The average height is about 6 ft. and A land of magnificent distances, wide when in bloom the many long sprays open spaces, hot days and <;:001 nights of feather-like blossoms of creamy tint in Summer with cold and dear days add distinction to any planting. in Winter. A land of mountains and SpiJrea Ida,ho ensis is a very compact lakes surrounded by the eternal peace­ bush of about 3 ft., coming into bloom fulness of the forests, also a land whose about the ,fi rst of June and is a bright mountain sides are covered in the late rosypink in color. While it is hard Spring with what appears to be drifts to distinguish S pitrea lucida from the of snow, but in reality it is the Idaho foregoing as to foliage and form of State flower, Phila.delphus Lewisii, growth, it blooms about three weeks commonly known as Syringa. later extending· the blooming season This very lovely shrub which grows well in to Fall. It is also pink in color so profusely ion the Aspen and Spruce but not so bright in col,or as I da.hoensis. belts of Payette and Sawtooth National All three are well worth while, doing Forests and is adaptable to different well with ordinary culture, and should soil conditions is ideal for foundation be trimmed heavily in early Spring. planting or as a specimen. There seems Idaho is famed far and wide for her to be two types of this, both white­ many varieties of native wild flowers flowered, one blooming with large soli­ and out of over 2,000 there are .no less tary flower of great beauty, the other than 1,500 listed as valuahle for home being cymose. Both types have a plantings. Many of these, while often sweet heavy fragrance that rivals Mat­ difficult to transplant, are easily grown chabelli's. An especially beautiful large from seed. Hillsides covered with lu­ flowering form grows in profusion in pines ranging in color through all the the canyons along the Weiser River. shades of blues, patches of rosy purple The trimming of these shrubs should cleomes and, what we call sand pinks, be done immediately after the blooming interspersed with patches of green, season when they can be trimmed and form a tapestry-like landscape, that no 80 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945 one but Mother Nature could create. Only 5 in. in height it is of such bril­ Beautiful and intricate in design are liant deep blue coloring and of such such displays. profuse growth, that patches of bloom Many rare varieties of the penstemon covering the lava hills can be seen a are native to Idaho, over 20 species lorig distance. The blossom also has growing in and around Midvale. Of a, nice white bee. these, for our rock garden we would Another delphinium that is more choose first, P ellste'l'non H enderso'/1,i, rare, but not lovelier, is the D. colum­ with i~s beautiful rosy pink flowers. If bianw/1'!. This is also found growing on one would have this low growing, it our lava hills, is of deep blue coloring must be planted in poor soil and kept and grows about 12 in. high. These dry otherwise it will attain a height of should both be planted in hard rocky about 3 ft. When about 6 in. in height soil. the plant should be pruned back at A good blue bell and a bonny one, is least half. This variety is one of the Me1-tensia Honeri, which grows 6 in. , most beautiful specimens for rock plant­ and of a beautiful clear sky blue in ings. Other penstemons well worth color, often flushed daintily with pink. getting acquainted with are the species These should be planted in full sun. Scoule1-i and fruticosa, both being of Scotland may have her blue bells but the shrubby type. The former has Idaho also has her yellow bells, that flowers of a clear lavender tone while seem to be cut out of Idaho golden Penstem.on frltticosa is of a pinkish sunshiae. lavender color. Both are of about the These are the Fritillaria p~tdica that same height, that is from 6 to 8 in., and cover our sandy hills, growing about are June blooming. 7 in. tall, the blGlssom being a bright There are a number of Eriogonums golden yellow bell about an inch long. in Idaho, but only one we know of that Children roam the sand hills back of is ideal for the rock garden and that is our own town here, gathering huge E1-i-ogonu111. u1nb e lla t1, tl1~. This is free bouquets of "yellow-bells." and easy of growth and is covered For another blue flowering plant, we through July with a wealth of golden would choose Sisyrinchiu111't I dahoens1>s yellow blossoms, being as beautiful and (these botanical names ! ! ! ! !), which is effective as the once so popular Alys­ just another name for the lovely blue­ sum, sa.xa.tile. eyed grass that covers waste pastures Another yellow bloom1ng plant that and rocky hills_ This has heavy clumps we are especially fond of is Eriophyl­ of grass-like foliage covered with bright l~t11~ ped1(,J1.cu.lat '~m~. This grows to a blue star-like blossoms. Should have height of 12 in. having silvery gray heavy rocky soil: foliage and deep yellow daisy like flow­ As we cannot go on forever like one ers. July blooming. A good com­ of Idaho's many mountain streams we panion is our Erigeron linearis with its will close our list of selections with violet daisy-like flowers on 6 in. stems the mention of the so early spring emerging from heavy tufts of foliage. beauty Dicentra Cuculm-ia or as it is These require only ordinary soil. commonly called Dutchman's Breeches. In selecting wild flowers for one's Why Dutchman's breeches, we rockery, the delphiniums should not be wouldn't know, as it haJs racemes of overlooked. The best of these being most delicate pink heart shaped flowers the most dwarf Delphinl:um Leonardi. and dainty feathery fernlike foliage. Jan., 1945 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 81

These are for cool shady spots, under S eedling Magnolias shrubbery and secluded nooks or fairy Although the native magnolias have gardens. always seeded with more or less abun­ We find them growing along our dance, the Chinese magnolias have been shady mountain streams, often nearly less certain in these parts due pe rhaps hidden by riotous growing ferns in their to the temperamental early spring extravagant height of six feet, even weather while they are in flower. exceeding that at times until one won­ As an early necessity, real or imag­ ders if they are trying to rival our for­ ined, for a considerable number of both ests with their feathered greenery. This Ma.gnolia gra11Id,ifiora. anG ·virgillia led list of Idaho native wild flowers was to the ,first experiment. Cleaned of selected for their value as plants for their oily pulp the seeds were stratified your rock garden. If you are looking and germinated well the following for something to give it a lift, do not Spring; transplanted first to small overlook these perennials. pots and then to three inch pots with MARY FRAKES THARP. no difficulty save that of keeping the main root from going directly to the C olchicu1ns bottom of the pot and then throu£?;h the An ideal way to grow Colchicums is drainage hole, there was no final diffi­ to plant them in the woodland as in culty in getting them into the small most other places they are bad garden nursery bed. material on account of their coarse foli­ This success prompted the sowing age in the Spring. When the foli­ of a few seed of M. salicifolia, not over age is upright it is rather decorative five, and an equally small number of but when it falls over it's a problem on some of the colored forms of S ou.lan­ the border. But in the woodland it geana. does not make much difference and Thanks to a complete lack of care, large drifts of the flowers in September all of the resulting seedlings of the lat­ give a wonderful effect, especially in ter died save one, which flowered this the last hour or two of sunshine. Spring and was well worth the waiting The. bulbs seem very 101lglived. I although it shamed the gardener for have had clumps down for over 30 his past laxness. It is much like the years which still throw dozens of flow­ beautiful Alexandrinae, but is several ers. The flowers are also very good times darker both within and without. for cutting as they will last a week if It remains, however, a two-toned cut when fresh. flower. They are obtainable in white and all But more interesting than either of ·1::ek~ Fs ·· ef . fyu·rJ31e - k-em ..;pal.e-st ,.,J,a ven der these last two, are the plentiful self­ to deep purple. sown or squi rrel-sooll seedlings that CARL H. KRIPPENDORF, are beginning to appear over the gar­ Ohio. den. Both the aforementioned sal-ici­ Correction folia and many plants of stellata are Mr. E. D. L. Seymour informs the seeding freely in good years. The editor that the citation given in foot­ common gray squirrel of the neighbor­ note, p. 234, last issue, is incorrect. Mr. hood, never waits for the seeds to ma­ Nearing's work was first reported in ture fully but chatter through the trees, The American Home April 1939. Close cutting off the cones and chewing their going gentlemen! way in to the seeds. Either some are 82 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Jan., 1945

missed or fall from the squirrels' table, time when the new leaves made their for there is now coming up a plentiful appearance in 1944. In the autumn of supply, that is plentiful in terms of 1944, however, the dormant period magnolias, but modest enough as com­ made its appearance as usual and a little pared with the hosts of dogwood or careful investigation showed that the tulip tree seedlings that infest the gar­ tuberous roots looked firm and sound. den. As yet, I have not learned to find During the leafless' stage, water was them in their moment of germination given in just enough quantity to pre­ but there are seedlings from m ~ re than vent the soil from becoming a hard one year's seedfall. bricklike mass. In January 1945, the Several were trans·planted this year first signs of new growth appeared and in soft growth. but with a good ball of now in mid-January there are good earth and took their move without single leaves from each of five noses. flinching. As a reward for all this there will be I t is possible that these seedlings some good ,fertilizer applied as soon as may not make trees as swiftly, as a we can remember, which gives addi­ layered branch, the method used for all tional proof of the value of all this as my stella/as, but one can only feel that a long suffering window plant. a plant has truly accepted the garden, when it begins to self-sow. Winter BM~ghs TAKOMA PARK, D . C. As soon as there have been heavy frosts one may cut branches of such Fancy L eaved Ca,ladiu.ms trees and shrubs as make' their flower Some time ago there was a note in buds well in advance, and these as these columns about the beauty of these everyone knows will force in the ordi­ plants in the summer window, par­ nary house temperatures and give a ticularly in reference to those forms, flowering that is almost as good as that co mmon enough now, which have al­ on their normal plants. most white leaves with a fine pattern I t has even been noted that nowa­ of deep green veining. days when we do not have such high T he plant which prompted this note temperatures in our rooms, the flow­ has been living in the office window ers come on more slowly and last far for over two years without a change better than in the old days when we of pot or soil and seem to,find life still "enjoyed" higher temperatures and worth the effort. What we did not doubtless drier airs. know at the time of that writing was that no matter what we might do, the Zinnias plant would take a rest. This began Only two persons have written in about November in 1943 with a nor­ about the possible participation in a test mal dying off of the leaves. Nothing of zinnias. Unless other letters are was done about it except to let the pot received before February 10, this proj­ stand dry. No reco rd was made of the ec t will be abandoned. The American Horticultural Society

I NVITES to membership all persons who are interested in the devel· opmeilt of a great national society that shall serve as an ever growing center for the dissemination of the common knowledge of the members. There is no requirement for membership other than this and no reward beyond a share in the development of the organization. .

For its members the society publishes THE NATIONAL HORTlCUL· TURAL MAGAZINE, at the present time a quarterly of increasing impor· tance among the horticultural publications of the day and destined to fill an even larger role as the society grows. It is published during the months of January, April, July and October and is written by and for members. Under the present organization of the society with special committees appointed for the furthering of special plant projects the members will receive advance material on narcissus, tulips, lilies, rock garden plants, conifers, nuts, and rhododendrons. Membership in the society, therefore, brings one the advantages of membership in many societies. In addition to these special projects, the usual garden subjects are covered and particular attention is paid to new or little known plants that are not commonly described elsewhere. The American Horticultural Society invites not only personal memo berships but affiliations with horticultural societies and clubs. To such it offers some special inducements in memberships.. Memberships are by the calendar year. The Annual Meeting of the Society is held in Washington, D. C., and members are invited to attend the special lectures that are given at that time. These are announced to the membership at the time of balloting. The annual dues are three dollars the year, payable in advance; life membership is one hundred dollars; inquiry as to afIiliation should be addressed to the Secretary, 821 Washington Loan and Trust Building, Washington, D. C.