TIIE NA.TIONA.L

~G.A.ZINE

J0 URN AL 0F THE AMER I CAN H0 RIle UL T U R A LSD ClET Y, INC. * July 1957 Please add,'ess all c01nmul'licat·iolls to THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC.

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OFFICERS President: Mr. Stuart M. Armstrong, Silver Spring, Maryland Fill'St Vice-Pl'esident: Dr. Henry T. Skinner, Washington, D.C. Second Vice-Presiden.t: Mrs, Walter Douglas, Chauncey, New York S ecretary: Mr. E uge1'le Griffith, Takoma Park, Maryland TreasuIYel': Miss Olive E. Weather ell, Olean, New York Editor: Mr. B. Y. Morrison, Pass Christian, Mississippi Managing Editor: Mr. James R. Harlow, Quinque, Virginia Editol'ial Staff: Miss May M. Blaine, Washington, D. C. Mr. Bernard T . Bridgers, Washington, D. C. Art Editor: Mr. Charles C. Dickson, Kensington, Maryland

DIRECTORS T erms Expiring 1958 Terms E-~piri'l~g 1959 Mr. Stuart Armstrong, Silver Spring, Mary- Dr. Donovan S. Correll, Renner, Texas land Dr. Frederick W. Coe, Bethesda, Maryland Dr. J ohn L. Creech, Glenn Dale, Maryland Miss Margaret C. Lancaster, Takoma Park, Mrs. Peggie Schulz, Minneapolis, Minnesota Maryland Dr. R. P. White, Washington, D. C. Mrs. Frances Patteson-Knight, McLean, Mrs. Harry Wood, Swarthmore, Pennsyl­ Virginia vama Dr. F reeman A. Weiss, Washington, D.C.

DIRECTORS EMERITUS Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Washington, D. C. Mrs. J . Norman Henry, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania Mrs. Mortimer J . Fox, Mt. Kisco, New York Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Scott, Wallingford, Pennsylvania

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Dr. A. S. Crafts Mrs. Martha F. Maxwell American Society of Plant Physiologists Epiphyllu1n Society of A1'I1.e1'ica University of California 500 Grove Place Department of Botany Glendale 6, California Davis, California Dr. Dwight M. Moore Mr. Harry W. Dengler A1l~e1'ican Fern Society Holly Sl)ciety of Ame1'ica University of Arkansas Maryland Extension Service Department of Botany and Bacteriology Co llege Park, Maryland Fayettevill e, Arkansas

Dr. Freeman S. H owlett Mr. W. D. Morton, Jr. American Society for Horticultural S cience A111el'ica1~ Amaryllis Society The Ohio State University 3114 State Street Drive Department of Horticulture and Forestry New Orleans 25, Louisiana Wooster, Ohio Miss Gertrude M. Smith Mrs. Roy Arthur Hunt Joh1~ f. T yler Arboretum Gal'den Ch£b of America Lima, Middletown Township 4875 Ellsworth Avenue Delaware County, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh 13, Pennsylvania Dr. Donald P . Watson Mr. Woodson K. J ones American H01,tic~dtura l CMlncil Men's Garden Clubs of America Michigan State University 1827 Devine Street Department of Horticulture Jackson 2, Mississippi East Lansing, Michigan The National Horticultural M,agazine

VOL. 36 Copyr ight, 195 7, b)' THE AMERI CAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, I:src. No. 3

JULY 1957

CONTENTS

, • < Fig Trees ./or Ornamental Planting. IRA J. CONDIT ______._ .. 253 Longwood Gardens. W. H. HODGE ______. ______.______.______260 Hydrangeas. ELIZABETH ::\1CCLINTOCK ______. ______. ______270 .) American RllQdociendron Society T est Gardens- PortJa~d , Oregon. C. 1. SERSANOUS ______280 Oxalis n lbra. _IV ALTER C. BLASDALE ______285 Chunnenuggee Horticultural Society and Public Gardea. L UCILE CARY LOvVRY______289 Dwarf Azalea Hybrids. ROBERT L. PRYOR .______--r- 295 The Lightest IV00d. EDWIN A. MENNINGER ______._ 302 Recent R esearch Results. DO NA LD P . Vi ATSO N______305 A Book or Two______308 The National Horticultural Magazine

The National Horticultural Magazine is a quarterly journal, being the official publication of The American Horticultural Society, Incorporated. It is devoted to the dissemination ot knowledge in the science and art of growing ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, and related subjects. The Journal is printed by Monumental Printing Company at Thirty-second Street and Elm Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, and is entered as second class matter in the post office of. that city in accordance with the Act of August 24, 1912. Additional entry for Washington, D. c., was authorized July 15, 1955, in accordance with the provisions of Section 132.122, Postal Manual. Subscription to the J oumal is included in membership, which is $5.00 a calendar year. Original papers increasing the historical, varietal, and cultural know ledges of plant mate­ rials of economic and aesthetic importance are most welcomed and will be published as promptly as possible. Material of lasting interest appearing in related journals will be re­ printed as available. Publications received for the Library will be reviewed and made avail­ able to members after publication of the reviews. These books are designated "Library" following the prices in the book reviews. Reviews of private collections will also be accepted and published. These books, however, are not available for loan to members of the Society. Manuscripts should be prepared to conform to the style adopted in the latest number of the current volume. The nomenclature usrd in manuscripts, whether treating horticultural or botanical subjects, should be in conformance insofar as possible with the Codes published by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy. They should be typewritten with double­ spacing, leaving a one-inch margin at the left for editorial direction to the printer. Footnotes to text statements should be avoided unless they are absolutely necessary. Usually the infor­ mation can be included in the text, parenthetically if necessary, without making the reading too cumbersome. Footnotes to tables are often necessary and should be designated by small Roman letters. Literature citations, footnotes and illustration legends should be on a separate sheet. Authors are requested to give for each citation, the author, or authors, year of publica­ tion, full title or citation without abbreviation of the journal or volume, in the case of jour­ nals, the beginning and ending pages; of books the edition number and the number of pages, the name and address of the publisher. One set of the galley proofs will be sent to the author for corrections, which should be held to a minimum, and such corrections should be returned immediately. Reprints, saddle-stapled, will be furnished in accordance with the following schedule of prices, plus postage, and should be ordered at the time gall ey proof is returned by the author: Copies 2pp 4pp 8 pp 12pp 16 pp Covers 100 $ 6.60 $12.10 $25 .30 $36.30 $47.30 $12.10 Additional 100s 1.65 1.87 3.30 5.06 6.05 1.65 The Journal is issued for the quarters commencing with January, April, July, and October. Manuscripts must reach the Editorial Office at the Society's Headquarters three months before publication is desired. Miss ing numbers will be replaced without charge prov ided claim is received in the Editorial Office within thirty days after publica ti on date.

Fig Trees for Ornamental Planting

IRA J. CONDIT

The genus Ficus, with its eighteen tures clown to about 25 ° Fahrenheit: F. hundred species, shows a greater diver­ maC1'ophylla, F. co lwnnal'is, F. Tubigi­ sity of woody shrubs, vines, and trees nosa, F. ova to, F. platypoda petiolaris, than that of almost any other genus of F. watkinsiana, and F. mysorensis. F. plants. Scattered as they are throughout retusa needs protection if temperatures tropical and su btropical cou n trie , the drop to 25 °. F. plt7nila on walls is hardy diverse [arms have been utilized in many except for tender tip , at considerably ways, the fruit for food, the bark for lower temperatures . On the other hand, paper, the leaves for fodder, the latex F. ben/amino and F. elastica are likely for rubber and for medicine, the wood to be injured by three or four degree for timber, and many for ornamental of frost. planting. As ?vlary Barrett reports, some spe­ It is not the province of this article cies may be killed to the ground by a to discuss such subjects as the botanical heavy frost but trees are renewed from characters which distinguish members of the base. This ha occurred at the Hunt­ the genus from other plant, the kinds ington Botanical Garden in California or location of fig' flowers, nor the rela­ with F. cajJensis and F. than ningii. F. tion of insects to pollination of the pis­ lyrata growing in a canyon near Lo~ tillate flowers. These are covered in d e­ Angeles was frozen almost to the ground tail by many other "vriters, among them by a temperature down to 27 °. At the being Lyon (1922), Williams (1928), same place F. elastica uffered injury at Burkill (1935) , Nehrling (19shrub in the Malayan archipel­ milky latex. Thus a t least two species, ago. The leaves are extremely variable F. Tacemosa and F. gnaphalocarpa, have but commonly resemble those of certain been used experimentally as nematode­ oaks. In the United States, it is being resistant stocks for the Common Fig. Further work on the compatibility of grown in conservatories as a trailer or the different species might show inter­ used in hanging baskets. Figs appear in axils of leaves even on small plants. esting if not profitable results. Two other vine-like or trailing figs Figs as Vines Inay also be included here. F. mdicans is useful as a ground cover in Florida. Ficus pumila, the Climbing Fig, A variegated form of it has long been outranks the Boston Ivy as an ever­ grown in Europe and more recently in green vine in California and Florida. the United States for use in hanging Its twigs cling tightly to brick, cement, baskets. The identity of a fig grown in or wood and, if allowed to spread, will Cuba and in California as F. scandens eventually cover buildings several stor­ is in doubt. The branches trail on the ies in height with dark green foliage. ground and take root at the nodes. The branches which grow out from the wall must be sheared off occasionally to Figs as Pot Plants control the straggly appearance of the No other species of Ficus has been vine. In this country, the large fiO's of so long propagated or so widely distri­ F. pumila drop, but in South China, buted for culture in pots as the India where the plant is native, the flowers Rubber Fig, Ficus elastica. Hundreds are pollinated by an insect which causes of thousands of plan ts are grown and the fruit to mature and become edible. sold each year and the species has there­ This species belongs to the same group fore become widely known outside of of .the genus as the Common Fig F. its native environment. This Rubber canca. A few years ag-o the writer pro­ Plant is so well known that it needs no duced a hybrid by pollinating the flow­ detailed description here. Like many of ers of this ~vergreen-vine fig with pollen its close relatives, F. elastica is variable of the decIduous-tree fig. The resulting and several varieties have been distrib- 254 uted. Probably the oldest and least fornia and elsewhere has shown that popular for pot culture is vaTiegata shallow, spreading roots heave up pave­ which may fail to produce enough chlo­ ments, crack cement curbs and gener­ rophyll in the leaves to keep the plant ally cause trouble. In Mexico, some healthy. Another is Tul.J1'a which, as the species are thu planted but the tops name indicates, has red coloration in are controlled by heavy pruning. Even terminal buds, petiole and midrib of along broad avenue or highways, the leaf. The latest and most ornamental branches of certain fig trees spread too variety of the India Rubber i iJelgica widely for traffic or have prop roots (also called clec01'O) which has unusu­ which must be controlled. However, at­ ally large and broad leave tinged with tention may be called to the following scarlet when young. Recent correspon­ which are planted and used [or deco­ dence shows that this variety originated rating avenue borders in climates more in Belgium about thirty years ago as a tropical than that of California. seedling 01 F. elastica. Ficus Tetusa (niticla) , the Indian A writer in the Saturda)1 Evening Laurel, is probably more widely planted Post for July 19, 1941 , quoted a state­ for shade and ornamen t than any other ment that the Fiddleleaf Fig, Ficus l'Y­ member of the genus. :Most cities in mta, is replacing the old rubber plant i\Iexico, Central America, and Sou th for pot culture. Certain it is that many America show trees of various ages and are being propagated and sold but they izes up to those with trunks five and are certainly far behind the rubber six feet in diameter. In North Africa plant in total number grown. The large, its shade has long been a welcome fea­ glossy leaves produce a striking effect in ture of boulevards. Magnificent tree of a vestibule or patio, but may not be so the Indian Laurel line great stretches resistant to dry air and dust as are leaves of the main highway of the Island of of F. elastica. Cuba. The companion tree, F. ben ja­ The two species just described prac­ mina, is equally pleasing, the arching tically monopolize the market for figs branches meeting over the pavement in pots. Some others, however, are be­ and forming a shady tunnel or canopy ing grown. F. macTOphylla, and F. col­ for the traffic below. umnaris are sometimes found and may Ficus a ltissi'l17 {[ , the Lofty Fig, has easily be mistaken for the common rub­ been widely used as a highway tree in ber plant. A California nurseryman has southern Florida, but the spreading recently introduced young plants of F. branches must be kept in bounds and altissima which bear bright scarlet figs the foliage treated to control various in profusion on young twigs. Both F. pests. F. religiosa has an upright habit retusa and F. benjamina may be grown of growth and presents a very orna­ to a considerable size in large pots or mental appearance in central parkway tubs and kept in shape by judicious strips at Coral Gables. This species, like pruning. The variega ted I e a v e sand some other fruiting trees, is somewhat fruits of F. paTcelli are striking in ap­ objectionable on account of the litter pearance but the plants have little if produced on the ground or sidewalk by any place other than in a warm conser­ the profusion of fallen figs. vatory. F. cliveTSifolia, the Mistletoe Fig, Ficus lyrata, according to Nehrling, is grown more as an object lesson for is the finest and most beautiful of all botany classes than as an ornamental rubber trees for street planting. Nehr­ plant. A very recent candidate for pop­ ling also states that F. atLrea is a fea­ ularity as a pot plant is F. hillii intro­ ture as an avenue and shade tree at duced from Australia by Willard Hag'en, Naples, Florida. The same author gives Arcadia, California. It h as a weeping F_ brevifolia (populnea) as more open habit and somewhat resembles F. ben­ in growth than F. aurea and "is excel­ jamina. lent for planting along highways, and even as an avenue tree in cities." Nehr­ Figs as Avenue or Street Trees ling recommends F. infectoTia as a "most Few if any ornamental figs are suit­ valuable tree for gardens, avenues and able for planting in the narrow strip highways, being attractive in form and between sidewalk and curb of the or­ foliage, and showing a drooping habit dinary city street. Experience in Cali- of growth." An unidentified species with 255 "veeping branches was mtroduced by count of variability in leaves and fruit, David Fairchild from the Celebes and parent stock with desirable characters ha been propagated in Dade County should be selected for propagation. Al­ for street planting. though introduced long years ago by Dr. Franceschi, there seem to be no Figs as Specimen T?'ees good specimens of F. altissima now growing in California. A few years ago Specimen fig trees may be discussed one fine tree did thrive and produce its under three more or less distinct head­ bright red fruits at the U niversi ty Bot­ ings: Banyan Types, Cauliflorous Trees, any Garden in Los Angeles but had to and Miscellaneous Specimens. be removed to make way for roads. Banyan Types. Many species of Ficus show the banyan habit, i.e., the develop­ Variety niticla of the Indian Laurel ment of aerial roots from horizontal often develops prop roots like those of branches, the attachment of the root the true banyans and in this respect differs from the typical F. retusa. F. tips to the ground, and eventual for­ mation of multiple trunks. Seldom do nekbuclu (utilis) is very similar to F. trees in California grow into real ban­ vogelii and the two are sometimes re­ yans for the tips of hanging roots usu­ garded as identical. The leaves of both ally dry out before they reach the species are large and leathery and in ground. But in more tropical countries Florida the tree has multiple trunks. the spreading tops and numerous trunks There are good specimens growing at make the planting of such trees imprac­ San Marino, Montebello, and San Die­ tical except on spacious grounds. F. ben­ go in California, but without prop galensis is probably the best known and roots. most celebrated of the banyans, reach­ Cauliflorous T?'ees. Cauliflory, the ing enormous size in India. One near production of flowers and fruits from Poona is reported to be over two thou­ trunk or large branches, is found in a sand feet in circumference of top. A few species of Ficus. A good example is large specimen has long been growing F. sycomonls, the true sycomore which in the public square at Lahaina, Hono­ is sometimes included in collections of lulu. In Florida, there are many fine Biblical plants. However, trees of this trees of this species but they are not so species have little to recommend them­ common as are trees of F. altissima. Few selves for ornamental planting. The lit­ good specimens are found in Califor­ ter of fallen fruit is one objectionable nia. A bud sport of F. bengalensis with feature of the sycomore. At Coconut peculiar, cup-shaped leaves has been Grove in Florida, Dr. Fairchild planted described as F. krishnae. It is more cur­ three sycomore trees in his garden in ious than ornamental. 1917. They grew so fast and made so Those who are familiar with F. elas­ much shade that two of them had to tica only as a plant in a pot or as a be removed. A large tree growing in small dooryard tree can hardly visual­ Lincoln Park, Los Angeles, had to be ize the tree as growing like a banyan, taken out, but young plants propagated but Mary Barrett says that the Com­ from it are now growing in a few 10- mon Rubber Tree develops into one of cali ties. the largest species of Ficus in Florida Ficus Ulcemosa (glomemta) is known with the spreading branches supported as the Cluster Fig on account of the by many prop roots. The main objec­ large cl us t e r s of fruit borne on the tion to its general use in yards or along trunk. This again is a species which can streets is the surface root system which be recommended only for parks or large spreads in all directions. A fine speci- . estates. On the Isle of Pines young trees men at Whittier, California, had to be removed on account of this objection­ are said to grow rapidly and to be used able feature. as low windbreaks for gardens. A third banyan type is F. altissima Ficus capensis, the Cape Fig, has be­ sometimes called the False Banyan be­ come well es tablished in Botanical Gar­ cause of the relative paucity of prop dens in California, Florida, and Cuba. roots. Trees of this species are common Two California nurseries b ro ugh t in in Florida, the largest and oldest being fertile seeds from Africa, grew numer­ in the vicinity of Punta Gorda. On ac- ous plants, but discarded them on ac- 256 The dense bwnches of small figs bOrllc by F icus caudatifolia (left) have a strong resembla11Ce to the red lady beetles in a resting condition. The cl-uster s of fn£it on the tru nl~ and lal'ge branches sh07' that F. racemo a is well 17al'l'I ed the cluster fig (1'ig ht) . count of lack of interest in the orna­ Loq uat-Iea ved Fig, F. afze llii (eTiobo t1y­ mental value of the seedlings . oides). It is well named for its leave Ficus yoxbuTghii (atl?"iculata) , R ox­ do h aye a strong resemblance to those burgh 's Fig, does have pronounced or­ of the loqu at. Trees of this species grow­ namental value as shown by specimens ing in Sou th Florida and in Cuba have fo und both in California and Florida. a striking appea rance and are distinctly It forms a low-spreading tree or large ornamental. , hrub with leaves a foot or more in di­ Ficus eximic£ glabl"a, introduced [rom ameter. The most ornamental period Paragu ay, is making a vigorous growth for the plant is in the spring wh en it 111 California. The tree h as a distinctive is decorated by the maroon or mahog­ appearan ce because o[ the dark green any colors of the new foliage. A good leaves ·which droop on the p etioles so description and illustration of the plant that the upper surfaces face outward. A with its large fruit clusters at base o[ Mexican species, F. bonplandiana, de­ trunk is given by David Fairchild in serves more attention as an ornamental, the Journal of H e?·edity for Decem­ judging from the behavior of specimen ber, 1927 . trees growing near Orange, California, The clusters of fruit borne by a spe­ and at Orlando, Florida. cies grown in Florida as F. CCluciatifolia A species introduced by David Fair­ (P. 1. No. 137962) are here illustrated. child and n amed after him is F. faiT­ The fi gs greatly resemble bunches o[ childii. A tree at Coconut Grove, Flor­ reel lady beetles in a resting condition. ida, has a buttressed trunk over four Miscellaneous Specimens. In addition fee t in diameter, with medium-sized to those already described above, there leaves somewhat pubescent when young. are some specimen trees especially suited An introduction from J ava under P. 1. to parks and large estates. One is the No. 73995 h as been grown in Florida 257 Growth H ab·its a1'e Also Dive?' sified Top left: The deciduous Roxburgh/ s fig, Ficus roxburghii has l(}J}'g,e leaves of a bemttif~tl 111,ahogany rred when they first unfold. Top, right: This stately tree of F. padifo lia in a Mex'ica11 c(!11~etery shows that it does have 01'na111,entaZ possibilities. Bottom., left: The m.~tltiple tnt11ks of this Fl01'ida specimen of F. elastica e11'J,pha ­ size the need of such trees for plenty of roo11'/, to sPTead. Bottom, 1'ight : T his t1'ee of the M O1'eton Bay fig, F. mCl!crophylla, had a massive buttressed truml? and a bmnch spread of 124 feet in 1935.

258 as F. fulva but is probably better iden­ twigs without le aves are reported to tified as F. hil-ta. The plant grows as a keep for several days with or without bush with p almately-lobed leaves some­ water and are therefore useful for table what resembling those of F. ca rica. decora tion. F. go ldmal1ii, Goldman's Fig, is a na­ Ficus nymphaei! olia, the 'Wa terlily­ tive of Mexico where the tree reaches leaved Fig, is represented in Florida by magnificent proportion of trunk and several trees, conspicuous on account of spread of branches. It has been intro­ the large heart-shaped leaves, green duced into California where it makes above, whitish on lower u rface. Trees vigorous growth but may not prove to of F. ova lo. have long bee n growing at be winter hardy. Another Mexican spe­ Oxnard and at Santa Barbara, Califor­ cies, F. padifolia, shown in illustration, nia, and should be te ted as ornamen­ is well worthy of trial as an ornamental. tals elsewhere. The white-barked F. Of all the fi g trees introduced into /Jetiolaris of Mexico has been intro­ California, none reaches the regal size clu ced and trees are growing in both of F. macTOphyllo, the l\Ioreton-Bay Fig Florida and California. The young cor­ of Australia. Rece nt measurement of a date leaves are es pecially ornamental tree in Orange County shows a girth of on account of scarlet petioles and veins. twenty- two feet with two large frame­ Ficus pseudO/Hilma, as the name in­ work branches up to three feet in di­ dica tes, h as p alm-like leaves a yard or ameter. Other specimens as large if not so in length. A few fin e specimens are larger are common. Because of the im­ found both in H awaii and in Florida mense size of the tree with its buttressed and numerous seedlings h ave recently trunk, it does need abundant room in been grown b y a California nursery­ which to spread. man. Introduced as seed in 1936 from Another specimen which reaches large East Africa where it is a common shade size is F. Hlbiginosa, the Rusty- leaf Fig. tree, F. thonningii has become es tab­ Trees of this Australian species are var­ lished a t San Marino and San Diego, iable in habit of growth and pubescence California. of leaves .. One form with very little pu­ bescence IS commonly known as F. aus­ RefeTences to Lilel'a tw-e tmlis. Trees of two distinct types have Lyo n, H. L. 1922. Fig trees for H a'w­ recently been selected to ornament the aiian forests. Hawaiian Pl. R eCOTd 26:78- campus of the University of California 87, 148-159. at Los Angeles. A third Australian fig Williams, F. X. 1928. Some friends which has long been established both and enemies of Philippine wild figs. in California and Florida is F. wat/?in­ Hawaiian Sugar Pl. Assoc. Ent. SeT. Bul. siana (bellengel-i). Fine specimen trees 19:3-29. are to be seen at Los Angeles, Santa Burkhill, 1. H. 1935. Dictional")' of Barbara, and San Marino, California. the economic pToducts of the Malay The following species are not com­ Peninsula. 2 Vols. London. (See Vol. monly grown but deserve consideration 1: 100-1016.) for further trial. F. monchii from Ar­ Nehrling, H. 1933. The plant world gentina is deciduous for a short period in FloTida. 304 pp. The lVIacmillan Co., in winter and is growing well at Los New York. (See pages 166-182.) Angeles and Arcadia. F. mysoTensis, the Corner, E. J. H. 1952. Wayside t1'ees Mysore Fig of India, has proved its of Malaya. 2 Vols. Singapore. (See Vol. value as an ornamental both in Cali­ 1:658-688.) fornia and in Florida. The large figs Barrett, Mary F. 1956. Common ex­ are orange red in color and add to the otic tTees ot South FloTida. 414 pp. attractiveness of the plant. The fruitful Univ. Florida Press, Gainesville .

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259 NI ag110lia aCU11til1ata A1'otLnd the eighteenth century Peirce homestead (left f01'eground) 1Ilay be seen some of the old t1'ees of Peirce's Parh. This giant C~~c~t11l/,ber tree, Magnolia aC 11 l11 inata, planted by the Peirces, is one of L 01tgwood's oldest t1'ees. 260 Longwood Gardens!

Few realize tha t the horticultural [ellov\' Q uaker garden enthusia ts wh o plan tings built up by the late Pierre S. h ad also started plantings in the Phila­ du Pont, forming what is now known delphia area, for not so far distant was as Longwood Gardens, had informal be­ Bartram's Garden, Humphrey Marsh­ ginnings two and a h alf centuries prev­ all's place in nearby lvl arshallton, and iously when , ,yilliam Penn, in 1701 , the collections of trees at the Tyler Ar­ deeded a parcel of some 500 acres of boretum at Chester. But many a treelet land to a fellow Quaker, one George came through the Peirce's own h ard la­ Peirce. bor and t rave l s. Some of the p lants were brought in as "frail little withes In a land where fores ts were being . . . carried in the saddlebags on a cleared many Quakers still liked to plant favorite hor e of Mr. Peirce, wh o from trees as ornamentals and the Peirce time to time would have to d ismount family was no exception . Even though and by means of sprinkling their roots a homes tead h ad to be built (17 30) with water kept them alive un til they and land cleared, the Peirces still fo und reached their des tinati on." Thanks to pleasure in wh at was by some of their the gu ardian care of a tree-loving fam­ neighbors considered a useless thi n g, ily and to the bounty of the fertile Ches­ the starting of an arboretum. This was ter County soil, the trees prospered. By the special hobby of the Peirce brothers, the end of the nineteenth century, they oshua and Samuel, descendants of the .J had in many cases formed magnificent original George. By 1800 they had laid mature specimens which were admired out plantings which, until the fi rs t years by the numerous v i si t o r s whom the of the twentieth century, were to be­ Peirces freely admitted to their "Park." come locally fa med in Ches ter County Thus it was tha t in 1906, when Pierre under the n ame, "Peirce's Park." On S. du Pont acquired the old Peirce the slopes surrounding the brick family property, the nucleus of an arboretum manse, they es tablished what was for was already in being. them an unusual assemblage of trees "Peirce's P ark" was a fortunate pur­ both native and exotic. Among them chase, for the ne'w owner was by avo­ were fine pines and h emlocks, Euro­ cation as much a lover of trees as were pean horseches tnuts and American buck­ the original Peirce brothers, J oshua and eyes, several species of magnolia, hand­ Samu el. As a ma tter of fact, although some hollies, old world yew, swamp cy­ he may h ave been intrigued by the ar­ press (T ax odium) , and one of the first boretum, it was a sawmill's ominous Ginkgo trees said to h ave been plan ted threat to one of the "Park's" fine old in this country. woodlots tha t inspired Mr. du Pont to Certain of their plants may h ave been buy the place. On that day when the obtained through exchange with some property became his own even h e prob­ ably had n o exact idea of " 'hat was to l Locatt"d at Kennett Square, Chesler County, Penn· sylvan ia . T his account is limited to a descriptio n of th e be accomplished during the next h alf Gardens ,15 a horticultu ral center. O ther Longwood at­ century when Longwood, ;;l. S Pierce's tracti ons of a non· horticul tu ral nature include e lectric fountain displays, special Sunday organ reci tals, and Park soon became known, bl03somed un­ sponsored be nefi t events in the main conservatory or in der his enthusias tic direc tion. What it the Open Air T heatre. Longwood Gardens is open to the public every day of the year 'without charge. Ou t­ has become is easil y n oted by more than door gard ens may be visited from sunup to sundown, while the conserva tories are open from 11 :00 a. m . to 300,000 perso ns who annuall y- and as 5:00 p.m. with the P eirces, without ch arge­ ' H ead. Department of Education a nd Research. Long­ wood Gardens. visit the place, for the es tate. n ow 26 1 The 1 'lw~n cOllse1'vato1'Y and fo'untain gardell (foreground) as seen fr011t the 1'ectal1gnla,1' fountain basil/. known as Long'wood Gardens, has grown such as Kew and Hempstead in Britain, to the point where it is considered one Versailles and Fontainbleau in France, of America's most distinguished horti­ or those in Italy such as at the Villa cultural Ishovvplaces. Around the core d'Este at Tivoli and of the Borghesi in of the tree collection a t "Peirce's Park" Rome. That this should be is natural were added several new develop men ts for Pierre S. du Pont, American descen­ including a new and larger arboretum, dant of an old and distinguished French _exte nsive flower g-ardens, a un i que family, who was a frequent traveler to open-air theatre, unusual formal gar­ the Continent and was familiar with all dens incorporating spectacular fountain the outstanding gardens abroad. displays, and a large conservatory build­ Europe's contribution to outdoor gar­ ing which, with its companion green­ den design at Longwood appeared first houses, contains over three acres under in 1925 with the construction of a for­ glass . mal water garden on the site of an old Taken as a whole, the Garden devel­ swamp. During the previous decade oped by Pierre S. du Pont is unlike horticultural activity had been devoted any other in America. The emphasis on to the enlarging of the old Peirce ar­ formality, the use of such decorative boretum, to establishing complementary elements as fountains and classical por· flower gardens near by following the ticos, and the presence of a great green­ form of early American gardens, and house all show the influence of the eigh­ to constructing the large conserva tory teenth and nineteenth century gardens described belo·w. The building of the of Britain and the Continent-gardens , IVater Garden followed a trip NIr. du 262 Pont made to Italy where he visited the Formal though it is, the compact size garden of the Villa Gamberaia n ear of the W ater Garden gives it a more Florence. In des ign, the Longwood ' !\Ta· intimate ch arm not found in Long­ ter Garden duplica tes tha t to be fo und wood's most familiar display, the great a t the Italian Villa except tha t certain Fountain Garden. This was built dur­ of the Dlant ma terials differ. For ex­ ing the period 1929 to 1931. Matching ample, 'at the far end of the W ater in size a full city block, this garden in Garden at Longwood is a h e mlock Old 'World style was developed to dis­ hedge ra ther than the clipped cypress play properly, during night or day, the trees ch aracteristic of the original. The splendors of Longwood's outstanding form of the garden and the blue· tiled fountains. Viewed from the van t age pools follow in size and shape their poi nt of a special observati on terrace, Italian counterparts except that foun­ one see a t the lower level below a grea t tains have been added at Longwood . rectangular gree n lawn with hidde n

Deta:il of a fo ul1tain basin WI, the 711G/ 1l fO llntain ga'rden .

.-\ 11 ill ustrati ons :lcco01pall ying thi s :l rt icie were made from photogrpahs taken by G . H am pfl er, Longwood Gardens. fountain basins bordered with plantings time table that m:ust be followed by of old box. Around the peripheral walks Longwood's horticulturists, who have a are twin rows of Norway maples care­ first-class flower show to maintain every fully trimmed to cubical form to keep day of the year. From this one can both the feeling of formality as well as readily understand why Longwood Gar­ not to obstruct the view of the main dens must refuse to exhibit elsewhere. fountain basin. The latter occupies a All her efforts are needed to put on her terrace at a higher level so that colored own continuous show. light displays may be readily seen. A Naturally, the conservatory dis pIa y low rolling hill, the site of the ne"v ar­ varies continually through the year. Be­ boretum, serves as a backdrop to this cause of the vicissitudes of the seasons, massive formal garden. it has low and high points, one of the Some visi tors consider that Long­ latter being the weeks immediately pri­ wood's superb outdoOT gardens are sec­ or to Easter during which an unusual ondary attractions compared to the flor­ wealth of material, especially spring­ al displays to be seen year round in the flowering bulbs, is on display. The per­ great conservatories. The largest of son who is lucky enough to visit Long­ these, dating from 1920, is a building wood periodically through the year will some 650 feet long and up to 40 feet find among the more familial- plants tall, a size ample enough for any kind some species not so frequently met with of horticultural show. Pierre S. du Pont in indoor collections. In this category insisted that familiar flowers be super­ fall Javanese rhododendrons (Rhodo­ latively grown and displayed the y@ar dend1'On javanicum) , the handsome round in this great greenhouse, which pink vine, Mandevilla splendens, Mal­ has been open to the public ever since low trees (Lavatem) , PittospoTUm, the it was built. Thilt his desires are still blue-flowered Pyncostachys dawei, Med­ carried out is apparent to even the cas­ inilla magnifica, Veltheimia ViTidifolia , ual visitor, for whether the plants be blue amaryllis (Hippeastntm p1'Ocer­ amaryllis or chrysanthemums, tulips, um), and certain of the blood lilies stock, Schizanthus, primroses or begon­ (Haemanthus) . ias, they have one thing in common­ There are also other specialties pel-­ all are ou ts tall ding display specimens haps not so rare but generally associ­ and would take top awards in any com­ ated with the Longwood conservatories. petition. One such is the Scurvy acacia (A cacia The principal conservatory includes lepTosa) whose scented foliage is trained a spacious interior with inviting green to form feathery arches over one of the lawns hemmed in by permanent beds main corridors. Shortly after the first used for artful display of flowering of the year multitudes of ball-like flow­ materials. The great supporting pillars er clusters suffuse the corridor seeming­ of this glasshouse give an illusion of ly with golden mist. A month later oth­ tree trunks covered as they are almost er Australian acacias become so striking completely by the branches and foliage that they are often displayed along with of the climbing fig (Ficus pumila). spring flowers in a temporary indoor Most linaterials are grown in pots in garden with pebbled walks. adjacent production greenhouses and at About the same time, during late maturity are brought into the large con­ February and March, and in the same servatory 'where they ar~ planted out greenhouse, an outstanding in d 0 0 r temporarily for display. To assure a top planting of camellias (some 106 vari­ floral display, specimens are replaced eties, certain of which are trees rang­ regularly before they have a chance to ing up to twenty feet tall) is in full pass their prime. Anyone who has had bloom. Concurrently in an adjacent experience in growing on plant mater­ range, one can see the rare spectacle of ial for one of our great national flower great pink fans of meticulously eipal­ sho"vs will realize the great deal of ef­ iered nectarines. These represent choice fort required to set up exhibits for only greenhouse varieties imported from Eng­ a few days' duration. Multiply this to land in 1919. A favorite fruit of Mr. cover a year-round show and some real­ du Pont, they produce regularly year ization can be gained of the intricate after year. April brings on the peak of 2G4 In the main conse?'vato?'y at Longwood Gardens, fine sjJeci111,ens of tree ferns a?'e to be seen; Al­ sophila australis (left, tall fe?'ns ) and Cibotium schiedei (left, low growing) . Acacia leprosa 11WY be seen in another sect'ion of the conservatory (right)

conservatory displays for, besides th€ vine, Mandevilla spendens, is full of gor­ superb planting of spring-bedding flow, geous pink blooms. Late fall completes ers, there is a fine showing of cymbic the season indoors with a chrysanthe­ dium orchids, a collection of outstand.­ mum show in which all horticultural ing amaryllis (one of the few plant types - represented by over 250 differ­ groups that has been hybridized at ent clones-of these favorite plants are Longwood), and a large conservatory featured. ablaze with tender azaleas, mostly in" Elsewhere in this coun try p I a nt s dica types. trained as standards are no longer as com­ With the coming of May, there is a monly grown as in past years. Longwood gradual shift of interest ·from the con­ still maintains an outstanding collection servatory to flowering materials in the which may be seen throughout the year outdoor plantings. Yet there are still indoors, including roses, fuchsias, bou­ choice plants to be seen indoors, for gainvilleas, lantana, tibouchina, jasmine example this month finds exotic Orchid and wisteria, Other favorites in the con­ Cactus (EPiphyllum hybrids) in the servatory, of which examples m ay be Succulent House. In June, bougainvil­ seen at any season, are the orchids. Long­ lea may be found high overhead in the wood is particularly rich in display types main conservatory, while for an unbe­ with over five thousand plants in over a lievable length of time throughout the hundred genera. The orchid collection summer and fall, the rare apocynaceous owes its quality to the fact that in it are 265 incorporated the plants of the late Mrs. was now absolutely necessary. No in­ William K. du Pont, a noted orchid ventory is possible without proper iden­ fancier. Last but definitely not least­ tification of the plant collections, often if only because of their size-one should a difficult thing when ornamental culti­ mention the fine specimens of Australian vars are involved. An early addition to tree ferns which for over thirty years the new scientific staff thus included a have graced the indoor conservatory au­ trained plant taxonomist. A cooperative ditorium. arrangement with the Bailey Hortorium All that has been described both in­ of Cornell University, permitting free doors and outdoors has long been asso­ use of the extensive herbarium and ciated with the Longwood Gardens of library facilities of that institution, has Pierre S. du Pont. Had it not been for made it unnecessary at present to plan his vision all this might well have been either a large research herbarium or an lost after his death in 1954. Fortunately, extensive botanical or horticultural li­ as early as 1937, Mr. du Pont had already brary. However, a small herbarium of taken the necessary steps to assure the voucher specimens of all plants repre­ permanence of Longwood Gardens. In sented in the living collections will be that year he incorporated the Longwood made. To augment the herbarium, com­ Foundation, established as a non-profit plete photographic files of Longwood philanthropic organization, charged by Gardens' plants, both in color and in the stipulation of his will to the care and black and white, are being assembled improvement of the Gardens, as well as for use not only as scientific records but other charitable activities designed to also as aids to the new educational pro­ promote the public welfare. gram. Likewise, books needed as work Longwood Gardens has been operated tools or references will be required to since 1954 by the trustees of Longwood form a suitable working library. Foundation, Inc. One of their first One immediate result of the work of duties was the appointment of an execu­ plant identification and inventory is the tive director to reorganize Longwood fol­ initiation of a program of labeling the lowing the stipulations laid down by living plant collections. More favorable Pierre S. du Pont. Dr. R. J. Seibert, ap­ comment has come as a result of this pointed director in 1955, has had broad work than any other new activity at scientific training in botany and much Longwood, for labeling has increased practical experience in horticulture, hav" immeasurably the usefulness of Long­ ing come to Kennett Square from a stim­ wood's plant collection to the visitor. ulating job as administrator in charge of The program of identification and in­ developing the young Los Angeles State ventory is also serving to point up the and County Arboretum. Among the first gaps that exist in the plant collections at things to be done by him was the initia­ the Gardens. Wherever possible and tion of activities that would help give when they fit into the over-all objectives, better balance to Longwood and enable attempts will be made to have all impor­ it to be not solely an outstanding show tant horticultural and botanical groups garden but also an organization which of plants represented either in the con­ might rank creditably in the horticul­ servatories or in the outdoor plantings. tural world, because of new educational An active program of introduction of and research programs, with such insti­ new plant material has already been tutions as the Arnold Arboretum and started. For example, during 1956, over the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 2,500 new species, varieties, or clones One necessarily basic activity begun in were brought into the Gardens. 1955 was the making of an inventory of In the past, outstanding new ornamen­ an Longwood plants. As a private gar­ tals or better selections of well-known den, such a program was hardly neces­ species or varieties have usually found sary, but, in anticipation of such new ac­ their way into the Longwood collections. tivities as plant exchange with sister in­ This phase of the old introduction pro­ stitutions, the planrmg of new display gram will continue, but, in addition, gardens, the upgrading of the old col­ many other kinds of plants are now lections, the over-all task of mapping the being introduced for even tual display grounds, and the like, a plant inventory which, because of lack of outstanding 266 The call1.ellia collectiol1, with over a hund1'ed va1'ieties, 1'S the la1'gest g1'owing indoors in this co-wntry. An ample bulb cellar is 1'eqt£ired to assure a co'ntim£il1g cO'l1Sel'Vatory show of spl'ing­ fiowel'ing bulbs duri1tg the fint q.£arter of the year. ornamental value, previously had . not tions. In 1957, the real initiation of a been considered. Examples include the formal education program began with a numerous economic plants - sources of programming of an annual series of pub­ food and spices, drugs, fibers, wood, rub- lic horticultural lectures as well as a ber, gums, resins, oils, waxes, or other series of demonstrations of common hor­ industrial products; plants interesting ticultural practices. Activities of this because of unusual form or structure, for sort require certain physical facilities, example, epiphytes, bizarre succulents, or such as lecture rooms, auditoriums, labo­ the carnivorous plants; and also those ratory facilities, and the like, which are more strictly considered as "botanicals" yet to be constructed. Consequently, this which, like the cycads and ferns, illus- program has yet to expand dynamically. trate important groups of plants. It is Nevertheless, there have been measur­ felt that the careful addition of a wide able advances in this program and in the variety of plant types such as these will related field of public relations. A new serve not only to better balance the hor- Information Center is in operation at ticultural displays that Longwood has to the west entrance to the Gardens. Besides offer but will also help to attract a dispensing both general and horticul­ greater sampling of the public, particu- tural information, it acts as a welcoming larly those who may prefer a little more center for visitors. It also serves as the of the botanical garden flavor in horti- coordinating point for a new program of culture. guided tours offered to certain special As new materials have accumulated, groups, particularly school classes, garden it has been-possible to plan new display clubs, or other more strictly horticultural gardens or to modify older ones. Out- groups. With its program expanding, doors, attention has been focused first on regional and national horticultural so­ modifying pre-existent gardens so as to cieties are also finding Longwood Gar­ bring them within the plans of the new dens an unusually attractive spot for program. For example, the garden which scheduling annual or special meetings, formerly existed solely to supply vegeta- and each year more and more of these bles for the estate dinner table has been organizations are taking advantage of chang·ed to demonstrate as wide a range our facilities. of edible garden plants as possible, along Concomitant with the growing work with methods of culture that are useful in education is also a program of pub­ to the average home gardener. Also lication. At the start essential literature, added is an herb garden, a garden of such as guide maps and guide books for hardy economic plants, and a collection popular consumption, received primary of dwarf fruit trees. The arboretum, at attention, but a new series of popular present relatively poor in species, is grad- booklets dealing with outstanding plant ually being amplified. Newest ornamen- groups or attractions in the gardens has tal garden is the series of thirteen ou t- also been started. door pools in which may be seen an out- A research program is yet to be de­ standing display of tropical waterlilies. veloped at Longwood Gardens. Such Actually, the outdoors offers the greatest research when it develops will follow scope f?r future dev~lopmeJlt at Long- more practical aspects of horticulture. wood either for speCIal gardens or for For example, special problems related to new mass, group, or generic plantings. the breeding of ornamentals of interest Only about a tenth of the total acreage to the Gardens may well be considered. has been developed and not all of this However, before that time arrives both fully; the remainder, at present in farm trained researchers and research facilities land, eventually will be developed. will be needed. In the meantime, cer- Education, in the formal sense of the tain lines of research of interest to Long­ word, is a completely new activity on the wood conducted elsewhere are receiving ~on?· wo?d Gardens scene. Although it support through grants of the Long·wood tIes 111 directly and indirectly with much Foundation. Of special interest is the that has been discussed above, it is more cooperative work with the Plant Intro­ frequently associated in the public mind duction unit of the United States De­ With. such things as formal tours, demon- partment of Agriculture in which finan­ stratlOl1S, lectures, courses, and publica- cial support is being given by the Long- 268 Moving a tree, Abies norclmanniana, at Longwood Gardens. B ey01'ld is the foun­ tain g01'rien and, i·n th e right bacllgr01171d, a par t of th e 11 ew arb01'etu11'L .

wood Foundation for the sustained ex­ is headed towards an even brighter fu­ ploration for and introduction of new ture. At a time when most horticultural ornamental materials from abroad. This establishments both here and abroad phase of Federal plant exploration has are having to retrench because of dimin­ never received sufficient attention from ishing investment returns these gardens, Congress in the form of funds. Financial with an ample endowment, are able to support from the Longwood Foundation progress in the opposite direction. is aimed at trying to at least partly Longwood's gTowing interest in the remedy this situation. In this program more basic problems of horticultural two explorations have already been com­ practice, research, and education cannot pleted, one in Japan and the other in fail to strengthen her position among the countries of southern Europe. As her sister institutions of the horticultural other worthwhile areas are shown to world. Yet her primary objective will merit exploration, it is expected tha t remain that of her founder-growing proper support will be provided. This and displaying superlatively the finest program is of special interest since it ornamen tal materials available. Wi th should benefit not only the cooperating continued expansion along these lines parties but also all ornamental horticul­ assured, Lon g woo d Gardens should ture in America. easily remain one of this hemisphere's From the above it can be seen that most outstanding horticultural show­ Longwood Gardens, with a bright past, places. 269 Hydrangeas

ELIZABETH MCCLINTOCK

It has been said that during the years years. Hydrangeas were among these, of exploration of the earth's surface after and Hydrangea macrophylla was doubt­ the discovery of America, men went out less the one cultivated for the longest in search of gold, drugs, and spices. But time. A form of this species, called not all who explored looked for these Ajisai by the Japanese, is said to have three commodities and the financial been cultivated in Japan for twelve hun­ profit which they accrued. There were dred years (1). This was also the firs t a few who sought new, interesting, and of the Asiatic hydrangeas to be intro­ unusual plants in unknown regions. To duced into Europe. It was brought to these men we are indebted for many of Sweden in the early 1780's from Japan our garden plants and much of our and in the late 1780's it was brought knowledge of the plants and vegetation from China to England. However, even of the world. Because of the ornamental before the 1780's this plant was known nature of some of the species of H y­ to the French. drangea, many early collections of these Philibert Commerson (1727-1773), the plants were made in North America and naturalist on the expedition around the eastern Asia for introduction into Euro­ world under the French navigator, Bou­ pean gardens. The present paper tells gainville, sent material of a form of H. the story of some of these early introduc­ macrophylla from Mauritius to the J ar­ tions. A botanical key and some of the din des Plantes in Paris. Commerson technical characters of the cultivated resided in Mauritius from 1769, after hydrangeas are given in an earlier paper he left the Bougainville expedition, un­ (22) *. til his death. At this time, French ships The temperate regions of eastern Asia carrying on trade between France and have yielded countless lovely ornamental China and India stopped at this is­ plants for European and American gar­ land. Commerson found H. macrophyl­ dens. Among these are rhododendrons, ia in cultivation on Mauritius (2). He azaleas, lilies, viburnums, primulas, flow­ designated the generic name of H orten­ ering cherries, and hydrangeas, to men­ sia for this plant but the name was not tion only a few. Because both China published until 1789, which was after and Japan were inaccessible to foreign the name Hydrangea had been pub­ exploration until about the middle of lished, and hence could not be used. the last century, it was not until then Since Commerson's Hortensia was that that the western world became aware of form of Hydmngea macrophylla having the wealth of plant materials to be found all or nearly all sterile flowers, his there. Before the mainland of China and name has come into popular usage the islands of Japan were open to out­ as a common name for such plants. It siders, a few ports were used as trading is known that Commerson sent living places by Europeans. The Portuguese plants from Mauritius to the Jardin des during the sixteenth century were the Plantes. If H. macrophylla had been first Europeans in China. They founded among these, this probably would have a settlement at Macao but showed little constituted the first introduction into interest in plants. It was chiefly the Europe of this plant. The material Dutch, the English, and the French who known to have been sent to Paris was saw the potentialities of Asiatic plants. a dried herbarium specimen. When the first Europeans visited China Another early European contact with and Japan, they found that many native H. macrophylla was by the Portuguese plants were being cultivated in gardens, missionary, Juan Loueiro (1715-1796), some probably had been for hundreds of who spent many years in Indo-China. In 1790, in his Flora Cochinchinensis ·Numbers in parentheses refer to references in the bibliography, given at the end of this paper. he described a plant as Primula muta- 270 bilis, which was apparently a cultivated gun at Yedo (now Tokyo) (4). Thun­ specimen of H. macrophylla (3). Lou­ berg returned to Europe in March 1779, eiro's contact did not result in an in­ and in 1784 he published his botanical troduction of the plant into cultivation, classic, Flora Japonica, in which he de­ but it shows the widespread distribu­ scribed five hydrangeas including H. tion of the cultivated forms of this J ap­ macrophylla. Unfortunately, no list is anese plant. available of the plants introduced into The Dutch East India Company had cultivation by Thunberg; however, it a trading post on Deshima, an artificial is known that one of the plants which island in Nagasaki Bay, the one J apa­ be brought back to Uppsala was the nese port where Dutch and Chinese selected form of Hydrangea macrophyl­ were permitted to trade and from which la called Ajisai, which he grew in Vpp­ other nations were banned. Engelbert sala in his garden (1). Kaempfer (1651-1716), a physician and Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) is cred­ surgeon for the Dutch East India Com­ ited with importing into England from pany, spent from October 1690 to Oc­ China in 1789 a living plant of H. ma­ tober 1692 on Deshima and was the first CTophylla. It was a novelty and attract­ European to study the plants of Japan. ed considerable attention. "It had begun Hydrangea was known to him and is to flower in the Custom House, and mentioned in his account of Japanese its green petals were a puzzle to the plants. botanists of the day. The next day he More than three-quarters of a cen­ [Sir Joseph Banks] exhibited it at his tury after Kaempfer resided on Desh­ house in Soho Square, from whence it ima another physician of the Dutch East was r.emoved and lived in Kew." (5) . India Company came to this island. Three years after its introduction by Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828), a Banks, this plant was named H. hor­ student of Linnaeus in Uppsala, Swe­ tensis by Sir James Edward Smith. The den, entered the services of the Dutch plant must have been distributed to the East India Company as a surgeon after garden trade soon after its introduc­ having met N. L. Burman in Amster­ tion, for, according to William Curtis, dam. Burman suggested to several it was so well known in 1799 that it wealthy gentlemen of that city the pos­ "would be superfluous to describe mi­ sibility of obtaining new and interest­ nutely a plant now so very common." ing garden plants from Japan by send­ (7) It might be inferred that Sir Joseph ing Thunberg on a trip there. Bur­ Banks' plant at Kew was the "parent man's suggestion was carried out and plant" from which was disseminated thus was formed the first recorded syn­ much of the vegetative progeny of this dicate for the introduction of plants hydrangea cultivated in so many gar­ from Eastern Asia into European gar­ dens in England and other countries dens (4). Thunberg arrived at Desh­ of Europe. Lemaire (6) in 1846 stated ima in August 1775 and resided there that J. M. Cels, the well-known French until November 1776. As Kaempfer be­ horticulturist and botanist, obtai ned fore him, he was virtually a prisoner this plant from Kew and distributed it on the island during most of this time. in France. Cels, who died in 1806, had However, he managed to obtain speci­ a garden near Paris which was noted mens of over nine hundred species of for its interesting and rare plants. Japanese plants. Many of these he Probably because Sir Joseph Banks' picked out of the fodder sent from the plant went to Kew and from there was mainland around Nagasaki for the live­ distributed to other places, another im­ stock animals kept by the Dutch on portation of H. macrophylla, made Deshima. He also encouraged the J apa­ about the same time as that of Banks', nese whom he knew to bring him plants is sometimes overlooked. William Cur­ from the mainland. Most of the plants tis stated in 1799 that a plant of H. that Thunberg saw came from this re­ macrophylla was imported by a Mr. stricted area with the exception of the Slater about the same time as the Banks' few that he was able to collect on the plant (7). There were two brothers, trip he made as a member of the party Gilbert and John Slater, both directors headed by the Dutch Ambassador on of the East India Company, and both his annual visit of homage to the Sho- imported a number of plants from 271 China for their gardens (8). It was one ile flowers have been considered by some of these two brothers who made the horticulturists to be hybrids. This was other importation of this plant. The due in part at least to the fact that plants of H. macrophylla imported to until E. H. Wilson (9) found this spe­ England by Banks and Slater came from cies gTowing wild in Japan in 1917, its China, probably Canton or Macao, both native habitat was uncertain. Wilson, of which were open to the East India who had made several previous trips to Company vessels. China, had always looked there for this F. P. von Siebold (1796-1864), who plant in the wild. He had found sev­ was sent by the Dutch East India Com­ eral hydrangeas in China but not H. p any as a physician-naturalist to Japan, macrophylla. In 1917, he visited an area spent six years, from 1823 to 1829, at the on the coast of south-central Japan not trading post on Deshima, where Kaemp­ far from Yokohama. There he found fer and Thunberg had been before him. plants of a hydrangea whose resemblance His activities, as had been those of his to the cultivated plants which he knew predecessors, were confined to the is­ was immediately apparent. They dif­ land except for special permission. How­ fered from the garden hortensias only ever, Siebold, because of his prestige in having most of their flowers fertile as an eye surgeon, was allowed enough with only a few sterile flowers. Wilson's liberty to explore the area around Na­ discovery established this part of Japan gasaki. He was much interested in gar­ as one of the native habitats of H. ma­ den plants which he thought could be CToph)llla. The area is restricted to Chi­ used in Europe. When he returned to ba (or Boso or Boshu) Peninsula and Holland, he took with him a number the islands of Oshima and Hachijo. The of Japanese p 1ants which eventually sterile-headed plants may have arisen were introduced in to European gar­ here as mutations, or they may have dens, among which were several forms arisen in cultivation. Because of their of H. macrophylla. Some of these were ornamental quality, they were selected named and pictured in the Flom lap­ hundreds of years ago by the Japanese onica written by himself and Zuccarini. and grown in their gardens and from Robert Fortune (1812-1880), a Scotch­ Japan they were taken to China. The man, the first of the great professional introduction of such plants into Euro­ plant collectors, was sent to China by pean gardens was simply a transfer of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1843. these selections from China and Japan. Fortune, the first European collector to A botanical study of the genus Hy­ make extensive collections in Chi n a, dmngea has shown that H. macrophylla visited the ports then opened to Eu­ has four variants which are worthy of ropean trade, but also visited interest­ naming, each of which occupies a dif­ ing places in the interior of the prov­ ferent geographic area. The variant dis­ inces of Fukien, Chekiang, and Anhwei. cussed in the above paragraphs, discov­ He sent back to England many new or­ ered first as a cultivated plant and not namental plants, as well as seeds and found in the wild until nearly a cen­ herbarium specimens. These included tury and a half later, is called H. ma­ hydrangeas. In a nursery near Foochow, crophylla subsp. macTophylla. A second Fukien Province, 1845, he saw garden variant having a much wider geograph­ forms of H. macrophylla cultivated for ic distribution occurs in the mountain­ their deep blue flowers (2). ous region throughout Japan: It is Carl Maximowicz (1827 -1891), the called H. macmphylla subsp. seTmta, Russian botanist who became one of but may be known in cultivation as H. the foremost authorities on the plants seTrata. This differs from the coastal of eastern Asia, collected many plants variant in having its leaves of a slightly 111 Japan during the years from 1859 appreciably thinner texture and its fer­ to 1864. Among the plants from Amur, tile flowers very slightly smaller. It is Manchuria, and Japan which he intro­ because these two variants are so simi­ duced into the Botanical Gardens of St. lar that botanists consider them to con­ Petersburg are several hydrangeas. H. titute two subspecies of a single species. macrophylla was one of these (2). Two additional variants of this species The forms of H. macl"ophylla having occur in China. One of these which oc­ large clusters of all or nearly all ster- curs in the eastern Himalayas and ad- 272 jacent western China h as been given the published one, the plant may not have name H. maeTophylla subsp. stylosa. It been cultivated in Europe at that time. was introduced into England about a Hemsley, in an account of the hydran­ hundred years ago but almost certainly geas emphasizing the ones in cultiva­ has long since been lost. The name given tion and written in 1876, included H. to the plant H. eyanema (10) at the involuemta and he cited the above-men­ time of its introduction h as persisted tioned references (11). However, if this as well as the relationship attributed to plant was not being cultivated in Eu­ it at the time. H. eyanema is listed in rope during the latter part of the nine­ the Royal Horticultural Society's Die­ teenth century, according to Schneider tionaTY of GaTdening a a synonym of it was in cu ltivation in Germany in H. j-obusta. The plant to which the 1905 (12). It was imported into Eng­ name H. eyanema was given was grown land in 1906 according to Haworth­ in England by Thomas Nuttall [rom Booth (13). At the present time, it is seed sent from the eastern Himalayas not common in cultivation but it can by his nephew Thomas J. Booth in the be obtained [rom some of the best early 1850's. Nuttall, who had spent hjs hru b nurserie. It is said to be dis- early years in the United States where tinctly ornamental, to flower profusely he had collected extensively and pu b­ with a minimum of care. It was given lished a two volume work titled Genem an Award of Merit in October 1956 of Nmth AmeTican Plants, gTew rhodo­ by the Royal , Horticultural Society in dendrons and other plants from seed col­ recognition o[ its good qualities. The lected by Booth. It is now known that specimen given the award was grown the plant which uttall grew as H. cy­ at the Royal Horticultural Society's anema is not related to H. aSjJem or Gardens at 'iNi ely where "it flourishes its variant H. mbusta. in a shady spot on a west-facing wall. Hydmngea involuemta, which occurs Smothered wi th double flowers, this only on Honshu Island in Japan, was plant is a charming sight." The specific found first by Siebold. In writing of name, involuerata, was given to it be­ this plant in 1829, Siebold said that it cause of the prominent, rounded bracts was reported to him to grow in the covering the unopened clusters of flow­ mountains of Japan and that cultivated ers. These bracts do not occur in any material sent to him from Osaka flow­ of the other Japanese species nor in the ered in the botanical garden at Deshi­ Chinese, but are found on the hydran­ rna. The plant was illustrated and des­ dreas in Central America and South cribed in the Flom japoniea in 1840 America. by Siebold and Zuccarini, who s ta ted Hydmngea panieulata was named for that there were three forms of the spe­ its paniculate or pyramidal flower clus­ cies in Japanese gardens, one wi th rose­ ter, seen only in one other species of colored flowers, a second with lavender the genus, the North American H. queT­ flowers, and a third in which both ster- eifolia. It was found by Siebold during ile and fertile flowers were double and his stay on Deshima, and was known by rose pink. This latter form was illus­ him to be cultivated near Osaka. In trated again in 1846 in a Belgian gar­ 1840, it was illustrated in Flom japon­ den journal (6) with an illustration iea by Siebold and Zuccarini, who stat­ based on the one in Flom japoniea. ed in the accompanying description that The description accompanying the 1846 it grew in the mountains of Japan but illustration credits Siebold as the source was cultivated frequently in gardens of information regarding the plant, but where there was a form with all sterile states that Siebold did not in troduce flowers. living material of it into Europe. Be­ This sterile-flowered form was intro­ cause of the publication of this illus­ duced first into Europe about 1864 by tration, one might infer that the plant Siebold who sold material of it to the was cultivated in Europe at this time. French nursery firm of Lemoine in Nan­ However, since it is stated that Siebold cy. Carriere, writing of this plant in did not bring material of it to Europe 1873 (14), said that it was hardy and (in fact no actual mention of its in- easily propagated. It was established in troduction is made) . and since the il­ England in 1875 (15) at Knap Hill, lustration was based on the previously where it was grown at the nursery of 273 E. F. M.rten

A nice specimen plant of Hydrangea quercifolia growing t1~ the University of Tif7ashingt011£ A,'bo"etum at Seattle.

Two of the fO'bw subspecies of Hydrangea aspera: sargentiana, (top), growing at the Strybing Arb01'etum and Botanical Garden at San Francisco, having broadly ovate leaves and stem and leaf petioles covered with stiff stmw-colored hairs.

strigosa, (bottom), in the University of Washington Arboretum, having lanceolate leaves a1'td appressed pub­ escence.

274 E. F. Marten 275 Anthony Waterer and considered note­ to England. Ichang had been the resi­ worthy for its hardiness and showy py­ dence of Dr. Augustine Henry, who was ramidal inflorescences crowded wit h Assistant in the Customs Service from large, white, sterile flowers. This same 1882 until 1889. During this time, he form was introduced into the botanical collected several thousand herbarium garden at St. Petersburg by Maximo­ specimens of plants which he sent to wicz, who obtained it from a commer­ Kew. The Veitches became interested cial nursery in Japan (2). This form, in the potentialities of Chinese plants referred to as H. paniculata grandiflora, from Henry's collections and this re­ is better known than other forms of sulted in their choosing E. H. Wilson this species in the United States and to go there to collect for them (17) . Great Britain, where it is commonly Wilson made two trips to China for the called the "peegee" hydrangea. In Eng­ Veitches before coming to Arnold Ar­ land, a selected clone of the species, boretum in 1906 at the invitation of kl}9wn by the name of H. paniculata Professor C. S. Sargent. Under the aus­ floribunda, "whose every shoot and side pices of the Arnold Arboretum, Wilson shoot terminates in an inflorescence of made two additional trips to China be­ mixed fertile and sterile flowers of a tween 1906 and 1911. creamy white with a small red eye," On Wilson's first trip to China he is said by Haworth-Booth to be super­ found H. aspem at Ichang and other ior to H. paniculata gmndiflora (13). places. This species is variable in size Hydrangea, panic'ulata has a geo­ and shape of the leaves and in the graphical distribution from south-cen­ amount of pubescence, particularly on ~ral and eastern China to Japan and the lower leaf surfaces. Some of these southern Sakhalin. It is important as variants have been described as species an ornamental shru b because of its and have been introduced under these hardiness. In New England, its is re­ names but these are now included in ported to have escaped from cultiva­ the four subspecies of H. aspera (22). tion and to have become naturalized in H. strigosa was a name given to one of a swamp near Lincoln, Massachusetts. these variants with lanceolate leaves and The plants growing in this area had appressed pubescence which Wilson panicles with only a few sterile flowers, found in western Hupeh in 1901 and the numerous fertile flowers producing again in 1907. This variant is called H. capsules and apparently ripe seeds. It aspera subsp. strigosa. H. villosa was was suggested that these plants were not another name given to the variant being reproduced from seed but rather found a century earlier by Buchanan­ had been reproducing vegetatively by Hamilton in Nepal. This form, in root shoots (16). However, regardless which the pubescence consists of lax, of the method by which these plants somewhat curling hairs, was found in were propagating themselves, they were 1908 in Szechuan by Wilson. It is called well established. H. aspera subsp. aspera. Still another Hydrangea aspera was discovered first variant with ovate-cordate leaves, found in the Himalayas of Nepal by Francis first in 1850 by Joseph Dalton Hooker Buchanan-Hamilton in 1802 but it ap­ in Sikkim and by him named Hydran­ pears not to have been cultivated be­ gea TObusta, is called H. aspem subsp. fore the beginning of the present cen­ TObusta. It was found again in Moupin, tury. Hemsley in 1876, in his account Szechuan, in 1869 hy the French mis­ of the hydrangeas, does not mention it sionary, Armand David, and given the (11). The reason for this is obvious name H. longipes by the. French. bota­ when it is realized that this species oc­ nist Franchet, and ~gain found at Nan­ curs in the Himalayas and western and chuan, Szechuan, in 18'91 . by Bock and central China and that few plants came von Rosthorn and named H. Rosthornii into cultivation from these areas until by the German botanist Diels. It was E. H. Wilson was sent there by the Eng­ found in western Hupeh by,Wilson on lish nursery firm of Messrs. Veitch. the first Veitch expedition in 1901, and Wilson made his first trip to China from this collection it was cultivated in 1900, arriving in Ichang in February in England for the first time. Plants of and making this his base of operations H. aspera with large leaves (as much until January 1902, when he returned as twelve inches long and three to four 276 inches broad) collected first by H enry usually considered h ardy, this species in and given the name H. aspera maC1'O- cultivation is variable in hardiness be­ phylla, were collected later by Wilson cause it h as been introduced from dif·­ on the econd Veitch expedition in 1904 ferent localities throughout its wide g'eo­ andb againT in 1907 for the Arnold Ar- graphical range. The amount of pubes- oretum. hese probably belong to H. cence on the lower leaf surface varies aspem subsp. stTigosa. throughout the ran ge of the species, Another large-leave d form with and cultivated plants collected in var­ broadly ovate leaves and h aving the ious parts of thi range will show var­ stem and leaf petioles covered with stiff iation in this character. straw-colored h airs was found in wes- tern Hupeh by Wilson in 1907. This In addition to the names H . vestita variant was named H . SaTgentiana in and H. vestita var. 1ntbescens, H. heteT­ honor of Professor C. S. Sargent but is omalia is al 0 known in cultivation un­ now called H. aspem subsp. SaTgenti- der the names H. bTetschneideTi and ana. A share of 'Wilson's eed was pre- H: xanthoneuTa. Dr. Leopold Dippel, sen ted to Kew by Professor Sargent in Director of the botanical garden in 1908. At that time, this plant did not Dann tadt, gave the name H. bretschnei­ give promise of being a hardy member deTi to the plant grown at Darmstadt of this genus as several young plants from Bretschneider's seed. A specimen succumbed to winter conditions of 1909- collected a t Nanchuan, Szechuan, by the 1910. It. has since proved to be a strong two German collectors Bock and von grower 111 a number of places in Europe Rosthorn, was named H . xanthoneum. and the United States. It needs good H ydrangea anomala is a deciduous loarr:y soil and may be propagated from climber which clings firmly to a wall cuttlngs. or other support by means of aerial H ydl'angea hete1'Omalla, which ranges rootlets similar to ivy. The only other from the eastern Himalayas across climbing hydrangea in cultivation is the China to the Pekin area, was collected Chilean H. seTrati/olia, which is ever­ in this latter area by Russian collectors green. H. anomala has a wide geograph­ who were members of the various Rus- ical distribution from the Himalayas sian Ecclesiastical :Missions sent to the across China to Japan and southern Chinese capital. Two collections made Sakhalin. The Himalayan and Chinese by P. Y. Kirilov in the 1830's and A. A. plants, H. anomala subsp. anomala, Tatarinov in the 1840's were named sometimes called H . altissima, have nine H. vestita var. pubescens. Emil Bret- to fifteen stamens. The J apanese plants, schneider, who lived in Pekin from 1866 H . anomala subsp. petiolaTis, sometimes to 1883, collected seed of this plant in called H ydrangea petiolaris or H . scan­ the early 1880's (2). Shortly thereafter, dens, h ave fifteen to twenty stamens. this seed was distributed to several bo- There apparently are no other differ­ tanical gardens under the name H. ves- ences between the two subspecies. tita var. pubescens. These botanical gar- Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, writing in dens included St. Petersburg, Darmstadt Curtis' Botanical Magazine for 1884, in Germany, and the Arnold Arbore- stated tha t H. anomala had been re­ tum, and no doubt the distribution of ceived twice at Kew, the first time be­ this seed constituted the first introduc- ing in 1878. H e described the plants at tion of this species into cultivation. Kew as h aving as many as twenty sta- Following Bretschneider, other intro- mens, indicating tha t they were of ] ap­ ductions were made from western China. anese origin. The Himalayan and Chin­ E. H. VlTilson collected it in 1908 at ese form of H. anomala was said by ~ ac hienlu, Szechuan, and Moupin, Si- Bean in 1937 (20) to have been intro­ hang. at elevations of five to eight duced from the Himalayas about one thousand feet. Other collections were hundred years previously and again in made later by Joseph Rock from south- 1901 from western Hupeh in China by western Kansu in the forest of Want- E. H. Wilson. sang and in the T 'ao River basin at ele- Hydrangea anomala was known to vations of nine to ten thousand feet, and Siebold. It was described and illustrated Kingdon-Ward from Delei Valley in by him under the name H . petiola1'is Assam at nine thousand feet. Although in the Flora Japonica, but he does not • 277 mention it as being cultiva ted by the Peter Collinson (1694-1768) a promi­ Japanese. nent cloth merchant and botanist of Confusion h as existed in literature London who is credited with introduc­ and in the horticultural trade between ing a number of American plants into H. anomala and Schizophragma hydmn­ English gardens. Collinson's interest in geozdes, a different Asiatic climber also American agriculture helped introduce cultivated occasionally. Schizophragma the cultivation of hemp, flax, silk, and differs from H ydrangea in having ster­ grapes into the American colonies. Cur­ ile flowers which consist of a single leaf­ tis, writing in the Botanical Magazine like lobe, while in H ydmngea each ster­ in 1799, credited Peter Collinson with ile flo wer consists of four petal-like the introduction into England of H. lobes. The two genera are closely re­ arborescens in 17 36. Collinson may not ~ ated as may be seen by the similarity have been the only person, however, m shape and size of their fertile flow­ to introduce this plant into England, ers. An illustration in the Royal Hor­ for W . T. Aiton (19) stated that Sam­ ticultural Society's Dictionary of Gar­ uel Brewer introduced it before 1736. dening, labeled H . petiolaris, is not H . anomala but is Schizophmgma hydmn­ The subspecies with the densely to­ geoides. mentose leaves, H. arborescens subsp. The two North American species of radiata (H. mdiata) , a n ative of the H ydrangea, H . arborescens a nd H. southern Appalachian Mountains, was quercifolia, were introduced from Co­ collected first by Thomas Walter (1740- lonial North America into England dur­ 1788) and named and described by him ing the eighteenth century. H. arbor­ in his Flom Caroliniana. This book, escens was, in fact, the first species of which includes about a thousand spe­ this genus to be introduced to cultiva­ cies, was b ased chiefly on plants grow­ tion in Europe, having been brought ing in an area about twenty-five miles there several years before H. macrophyl­ square on the Santee River in South la was. It is not an attractive plant and Carolina. W alter may have collected a therefore h as not become as important plant in its native habitat and brought an ornamental as H. macrophylta. it to his garden on the Santee River where he cultivated many of the plants The first recorded collection of H . arborescens was made in Virginia by described in the Flma Caroliniana. Ac­ John Clayton in 1734. Clayton collected cording to W . T. Aiton (19), this plant was introduced into the gardens at Kew plants in Virginia and sent them to J 0- han Gronovius of Leiden, Holland, who in 1786 by J oh n Fraser, a Scotch bota­ wrote about them in his Flom VirO"in- nist and gardener who, between 1784 . b and 1811, collected plan ts in various z~a. The plant collected by Clayton and given t?e &"e neric name H ydrangea by parts of North America. Fraser was a friend of Walter and no doubt he Gro~ovlUs m. 1739 was described again by Lmnaeus m 1753 in the Species Plan­ learned of this plant through Walter. tarum under the name H . arborescens. It was for Fraser that Walter named This species is now considered to con­ the rose-red magnolia of the Carolinas, Magnolia fmseri, which was discovered sist of th~ee subspecies separated by dif­ ferences m pubescence or the amount by William Bartram on the Keowee of h airiness of the lower leaf surface· River in the Allegheny Mountains of one, which is glabrous, is called H. a,:­ Sou th Carolina. bor.esce.ns subsp. arborescens, another, H ydmngea quercifolia was discovered whIch IS more or less hairy, is called H. by William Bartram (1739-1823), early arb.ores.cens subsp. discolor, and a third American n aturalist and son of John whICh IS densely tomentose, is called H. Bartram. His discovery was made at arborescens subsp. radiata. The o-labrous Sweetwater Brook (now called Knox­ subspecies occurs in Virginia ~ nd the ville Branch) in Crawford County, pla~t which Clayton collected belongs Georgia while he was traveling through to It. Clayton (1685-1773), an English­ the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida from man who came t~ Virginia in 1705, had 1773 to 1777. Bartram wrote an account a garden of natIve plants in what is o~ ~hese travels in which he portrayed now Mathews County. Among his Eu­ VIVIdly the plants and the wildlife of the ropean botanical correspondents was country. It was in this account, known 278 popularly as Bartram's Travels, that this in 1952 in Gardening Illustrated said species is named and described for the t~at he.has found it to be "a very beau­ first time. tIful ~hmber, the young foliage being Accord!ng to W. T. Aiton (19), H. beal~tIfully toned, making a highly dec­ queTClfoha was introduced to Kew in oratIve wall covering without the need 1803 by William Hamilton. John Sims, for tying and training." It surely de­ writing about this plant in 1807 (20) serves more interes t than it has received in Cw-tis' Botanical Magazine, stated in England and in the United States. tha t "many Ii vi ng specimens were Bibliography brought from America last year, by Mr. Lyons, and have been dispersed by his 1. Hiroshi Hara. The Journal of Jap­ sale." William Hamilton (1745-1813) , anese Botany, vol. 30, p. 272, 1955. wealthy owner of a large estate which 2. E. Bretschneider, Hist01"Y of Euro­ he called the "Woodlands" near Phila­ pean Botanica l Discoveries in China, delphia, introduced to American horti­ 2 vols., 1898. culture from England a number of well­ 3. E. D. Merrill. TTOnsactions ot the known plants, including the Lombardy A merican Philosophical Society, ~oplar, the Norway maple, the camel­ vol. 24, pp. 176-177, 1955. lIa, the tree-of-heaven, and the ginko. 4. W. T. Stern. The Lily Yearbook, John Lyon, a Scotchman, was his gar­ no. 11, p. 202, 1947. dener from about the years 1796 to 1802 5. "H istorica l Account ot Kew to a~d again in 1808. Lyon, a good bota­ 1841" in Bulletin of Miscellaneous mst and a collector of American plant, Information, Royal Gardens, 1891 , was keenly interested in growing new p, 305. plants, some of which he introduced to 6. Flore des Sen-es, vol. 3, under plate cultivation both in American CTardens V, 1846. and in England (21). Both Hamilfon and 7. The Botanical Magazine, plate 438, Lyon knew Bartram, who may very well 1799. have turned over to them seeds of H. 8. E. H. M. Cox. Plant Hunting in quercifolia which, having been grown China, p. 48, 19<15. at the "Woodlands," may have gone 9. E. H. Wilson. J ourna I of the from there to England. Arnold Arbo?'etum, vol. 4, pp. 233- 246, 1923 . . Hydmngea qu~rcifolia takes its spe­ cIfic name from Its lobed leaves which 10. Curtis's Botanica l Magazine, plate suggest certain oaks. Its large pyramidal 5038, 1858. clusters of flowers con tain numerous 11. W. B. Hemsley. The Garden, vol. fertile flowers and only a few sterile 10, pp. 264-266. ones. In the autumn, the foliage turns 12. C. K. Schneider. Illustriertes Hand­ a red or crimson color even in Cali­ buch der Laubholzkunde, vol. 1. fornia where frosts are not as severe as 13. M. Haworth-Booth. The Hydran­ in the eastern United States. geas. 1950. Hydrangea serratifolia is the 0 n 1v 14. E. A. Carriere. Revue Horticole, species of those in Central America and 1873, p. 51. South America which is cultivated. It 15. Gardenen' C hTonicle, vol. 4, p. occurs in cen tral Chile and was in tro­ 655, 1875. duced from there into Great Britain in 16. Rhodom, vol. 21, pp. 18-19, 1929. 1927 by H. F. Comber. It differs from 17. E. H . Wilson. Gardeners' Chmni­ the other hydrangeas in cultivation in cleo vol. 37, p. 337, 1905. tha~ it is evergreen and usually lacks 18. W. J. Bean. New Flora and Silva, sterIle flowers. Its habit of climbing by vol. 9, pp. 109-119, 1937. means of aerial rootlets is shared with 19. W. T . Ai ton. Hortus Kewensis, the Asiatic H. anomala. Bean stated in vol. 3, p. 63, 1811. 1937 that this species is hardy and 20. Curtis's Botanical Magazine, plate promises to be an interesting evergreen 975, 1806. climber (18). This has proved to be 21. Joseph Ewan. Proceedings of Ame?-­ the case by the fact that the Royal Hor­ ican Philosphical Society vol. 96, ticultural Society recognized it as wor­ pp. 603-604, 1952. thy of an Award of Merit in 1952. Ha­ 22. E. McClintock. Baileya, vol. 4, pp. worth-Booth, writing about this plant 165-175, 1956. 279 Rhodode'l1d1'ons in the Test Gardens of the A11II,e1"ican Rhododendron Society, Portland, 01'ego11, g1'owi11g ~mde1' ideal canopy of the towering ji1'S.

J photographs by]. Harold Clarke

280 American Rhododendron Society Test Gardens .... Portland, Oregon

C. 1. SERSANOUS

Twelve years ago, January 9th, 1945, Oregon; Seattle, \IVashington; Tacoma, a few Rhododendron enthusiasts of Port­ 'Washington; Hoquiam, Washington; land, Oregon, voluntarily formed a non­ Vancouver, British Columbia; Eugene, profit corporation under the laws of the Oregon; Oakland, California; New State of Oregon to promote and develop York, N.Y.; Montclair, New Jersey, and the growing of Rhododendrons through­ Richmond, Virginia. Portland, Oregon, out. the United States; and further to is the National Headquarters" the Sec­ asociate together in membership persons retary's office being located at 3514 interested in promoting and developing North Ruset Street. the growing of Rhododendrons. The The Society issues a periodical called idea spread rapidly and in a remark­ the QttaTteTly Bttlletin of the A m e1'­ ably short time members were enrolled ican Rhododendron Society, each is­ from New York State to Seattle, Wash­ sue of which comprises approximately ington - Vancouver, British Columbia, fifty pages, six by nine inches in size. and Berkeley, California. It is well edited, carries many splendid The membership has continued to in­ articles of information to society mem­ crease and currently there are approxi. bers and to all Rhododendron enthusi­ mately 1300 members on the roster. Ten asts. Rhododendrons 1956 was published local chapters are located in: Portland, by the Society during the yea r 1956 and 281 Ru do lph Henny ]" Harold Clarke

] . H.rold Clarka Rudolph Henny

Some fine speC1"11'l enS ~n the T est Garden

Rhod odendro11. dicll1'oamthum Rhododendron fictolacteum Rhododend1'Ol'l 'Locleri King George' RhododendrO'11 chartophyllum

282 has h ad tremendous acceptance. There ground sprinkling system with a five are 231 pages with forty-s ix illustrations. hundred gallon per minute capacity mo­ For the first time in the history of Rho­ tor- driven centrifugal pump furnishes dodendron growing in the United States am pIe wa ter sup ply for the garden has an attempt been made to render throughout the summer months and ,the hardiness and merit ratings for various Lake makes for cool nights, which the hybrids and species of Rhododendrons. genus Rhododendron requires for per­ Some thirty pages are devoted to infor­ fec tion of growth and bloom. A splen­ mation of this kind, coming from Rho­ did stand of trees of mixed nature, in­ dodendron growers from the East Coast cluding Western Cedar and Douglas Fir, to the Pacific Coast. Varietie for speci­ furni h suffi cien t shade to protect these fic uses and localities, quality ratings, plants from a n occasional hot summer blooming seasons-early, midseason, or afternoon. Companion trees, such as late-color, and probable height in ten lVlagnolia, Pin Oak, Holly, and Birch years, are also given in this book. trees, also furnish color and add dis­ Climatic conditions of the Pacific tlCtlveness to the planting. Coast with relatively cool summers, cool The path arrangement i unique, a nights, and an average rainfall of thir­ circu lar path around the Island serves ty-six to forty inches occurring mostly as a di ision between species and hy­ in the winter months and spring with brids. Having more hybrids, it has ne­ practically no rain all summer, all make cessitated the use of a few cross paths. for i de a 1 propagation of Rhododen­ There has been no set schedule or ex­ drons and Azaleas. Portland is the cen­ act spacing in this test garden, for at ter of this activity, and ships annually the time of planting it was not known to various states and cities throughout the extent of the collection that would the United States approximately a h alf be available. However, with the con­ million Rhododendrons and Azaleas. tinued good growth of the plants and Three National Test Gardens have with many thanks to the donors, COll, been set up by the American Rhodo­ sisting of member nurserymen and dendron Society-one at the Morris Ar­ home owners, some of whom gave us bore t u lll, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; their larger plants, the three acres de­ another loca ted in Seattle, Washington, vo ted to this project is fast approach­ at the U niversity of Washington Arbor­ ing a status of crowding. Many plants etum; and the third at Portland, 01 e­ will of necessity have to be moved to gon, which is dedicated to and main­ adjoining three acres, which will give tained by the Public Parks System of us approxima tely six acres in all. :iVIany the City of Portland. of these Rhododendrons are over twen­ The Portland Test Garden was es­ ty-five years of age. In addition to tablished in October, 1950, with appro­ 'Cynthias,' there are: R. ca laphytum priate ceremonies including the plant­ sutcht~enense, several triflarums, includ­ ing of two beautiful specimens of Rho­ ing some magnificent specimens of aug­ dodendron 'Cynthia,' which were then ustinii, fasteasum flare plena, pantiwm over forty years of age and approxi­ and schlippenbachii. mately fifteen feet in height. They have The adioining three acres is a pen­ grown to a height now of twenty feet insula adjacent to the original plant­ and have bloomed consistently each and ing and is the entrance to the test garden. every blooming season, each plant pro­ An area is provided for automobile park­ ducing fully two thousand trusses and ing, havin.g a capacity for thirty-five cars, making a sight to behold. This was the which is entirely inadequate to serve a start of a breathtaking garden with over thousand or more automobiles during 2,500 specimen plants, species and hy­ show time or on a Sunday during bloom brids now growing on this island known time. At the end of this peninsula is as Crystal Springs Lake Island. Crystal a pedestrian foot bridge crossing Crystal Springs Lake entirely surrounds the Is­ Lake to the Island on which the test land, which is one of the phenonoma garden is located. This bridge is ap­ of Portland, the Lake being fed by five proximately three hundred feet in different underground springs-one of length. The early part of June finds the them having a flow capacity of a thou­ Lake nearly covered with thousands of sand gallons per minute. An under- wild mallard ducks that nest on the 283 ]. Harold Clarke Rl:dolph Henny Rhododend'ron degroniamtm Rhododel7d 'r01~ au,gustim' peninsula and Island, hatching their electric heaters suspended from the in­ young during April and May. The ducks side top of the building, thermostatically create much interest for young America, and automatically controlled to start at many of whom for the first time have 36 ° Fahrenheit outside temperature and seen wild ducks in their natural habitat. to close at 40° inside temperature. It is not an uncommon sight to see a Two exhaust fans, one in each end of mother duck at the base of a Rhododen­ the building, are set to start operating at dron sitting patiently on her nest await­ a temperature of 85 ° Fahrenheit. Both ing hatching tilne. fans are located in the center and ex­ A very important test garden addition treme top of the building with self­ was completed the past year. While closing louvers. Approximately sixty most any of the genus Rhododendron plants are housed in this cool house at can be grown successfully out of doors present, which is about half the capacity. in our Portland climate, there are ex· Two outstanding plants, R. nuttalii­ ceptions which consist of the Arboreum, measuring about eight feet in height and Boothii and Maddenii Series, plants seven feet in width - and R. polyan­ which require protection under 36 ° dTurn-six feet in height-are wonderful Fahrenheit. Therefore, a challenge specimens. The latter one will bloom existed not only to make this test garden this coming season. possible to grow these tender plants, but The Maddenii series are very fragrant to make it a Rhododendron Botanical and as most of them have a good bud Garden, This idea came into being in set, considerable anxiety and excitement the year 1953 and, in time for the Port­ will be manifested when thev come into land Chapter Show May 19, 20, 1956, bloom for the first time in: their new this combination exhibition and cool home. house was completed, The building is The cost of this building and electric of a quonset hut type, which was used heating system was in excess of ten thou­ extensively by the Army and Navy dur­ sand dollars, \l\Te think it a worthy ing World War II. It is built of steel project and we believe the American and wood, approximately sixty-five feet Rhododendron Society is the only single overall, including a porch on three sides plant society that we know of that has which is used for exhibition purposes, undertaken such a project. The center portion of the cool house j , This is a National Test Garden and built of steel curved to a twenty foot this Exhibition-Cool-house is for the use radius, which means twenty feet in and enjoyment of all who are interested height at the center of the builrlinO' and in furthering their knowledge of the forty feet in length and width, °It is genus Rhododendron. covered with a clear plastic roof cornl­ The Garden is open from March to gated to overlap an inch and a half. To September. An invitation is extended our best belief and knowledge, it is the to anyone who may desire to see what only building of its kind ever used for we think is one of the beauty spots of Rhododendrom, Heat is furnished by America. 284 Oxalis rubra

\IV ALTER C. BLASDALE

Fig/,we 3. The lower surfa.ces of two large leaves of Ionoxalis martiana Q;lld of a s11'laile1' lea f at Oxalis bra­ siliensis, all of which show blotches of th e ~Ir e do spores of Puccinia oxalidis.

Oxalis 1'Ubra is one of the first of the three year old plant whose roots were many species of Oxa.lis to be cultivated washed free from soil and whose volu­ and is still one of the most meritorious minous mass of leaf stalks has been tied of all of them. It was named by Saint together. The seedling from which this Hilaire, a French botanist who ex­ plant developed soon formed a long tap plored much of Brazil and Argentina root which penetrated deep into the soil from 1814 to 1822 and published a de­ and acquired a few stout branches also cription of it in 1826 in his four-vol­ reaching well below the ground surface. umed Flam Bra.zilia.e lVleridionalis, along The cotyledons of this plant were soon with thirty-two others of the same gen­ acompanied by leaf clusters which arose us. He reports it as growing on the from points near the upper end of the banks of rivulets in the Province of Sao tap root, while the latter slowly swelled Paulo. Other collections have been re­ up and acquired a turnip-like form that ported on from near Buenos Aires, but in time attained a diameter of nearly I have no record of more recent collec­ an inch. Later one or more leaf-bearing tions of it. This species is closely related stalks began to form beneath the leaf to or identical with certain other col­ clusters a lready developed, some of lections including those which have been whose free ends also developed into tur­ called O. aYticulata Savigny, O. crassip'es nip-like spheres. Figure 2 represents Urban, and O. flOTibunda Lehman. Of an older plant at its period of dormancy these, the last named has long been which is made up of twelve such spheres widely used in England but that name all attached to each other by stalks of is now being rapidly replaced by the widely varied lengths and thicknesses earlier one given it by Saint Hilaire. which have been called "articulations." I will first describe some of the dis­ A cross section of one of these spheres tinctive features of O. rubra. as I have will show that they do not include any grown it, making use of two illustra­ true bulb scales. They consist of en­ tions made from photographs of plants larged branches of a rhizom~-like stillk grown. out of doors. Figure 1 shows a whose outer surface shoirs trarisverse I

Figure 1. A th,'ee-yea1'-old plant of Figure 2. A d01'11wnt, five-year-old plant Oxalis 1'ubm showing its root system and of Oxalis 1"u.bm showing its articttlated the lower PMt of it.s fol£ag e system. tube1's.

ridges which are all that remain of fall­ leaflets tend to fold together somewhat en leaf stalks. Such aggregations do not during cloudy weather. Plants which show any disposition to separate their are not grown closely together tend to component spheres but, when separated assume the form of a hemisphere or and properly planted, these spheres dome, a feature which makes the spe­ rapidly develop in to vigorous plants. cies especially suitable for small formal These features prevent the spread of the gardens. species unless the spheres are artificially The umbellate flower clusters of O. separated, but they also make it easy Tubm are composed of from five to fif­ for the gardener to either prevent or teen blossoms, each borne on two-inch favor the spread of the species. These pedicels held well above the foliage sur­ facts make it correct to call the spheres face; they continue to open over a re­ tubers and the stalks which separate markably long period, in California for them parts of a rhizome, although it is as long as seven months. The corollas not uncommon for dealers to call them have the usual narrow tubes terminat­ bulbs. ing in five rather narrow petals that Figure 1 also shows some of the pecu­ spread ou t to form a flat circle at least liarities of the foliage system, namely a half-inch in diameter, whose color the abundance, compactness and uni­ ranges from pure white through shades formity in the size and length of the of red and pink with lines of very dark leaf stalks. It is these features which red passing into the throat of the cor­ tend to bring the broadly obcordate olla. leaflets into a more or less continuous A distinctive feature of the genus Ox­ surface, although the two halves of such alis is that many of its species produce 286 flowers 'in which there is a circle of The meager seed-producing ability of five stigmas borne on styles of the same O. ?-ubra and the lack of a mechanism length and two rings of stamens whose by which its tubers can be scattered filaments are of different lengths. In naturally make it a non-aggressive spe­ many of these species we find speci­ cies; neverthless, I find it occasionally mens in which the circle of stigmas is in waste places and lawn plots where poised (a) below those of both anther it can become troublesome. Its pleasing circles, ,(b) between those of the two features are not of the novel or spectac­ anther circles or (c) below both anther ular type; its leaf and flower patterns are circles. Such species are called "trimor­ in full accord with those of the genus phic" and the three forms are desig­ Oxalis, but it would be drfficult to name nated as (a) short styled, (b) medium another member of the genus which styled and (c) long styled. These pecu­ yields more pleasing plants for either the liarities would be of minor importance garden or conservatory with so small an were it not for the fact that the pro­ expenditure of care and thought. The duction of seed in such species is greatly even or more months of the year dur­ restricted. Much careful experimental ing which a continuous succession of work has shown that no seed is pro­ leaves and flowers arise and the ease with duced by such species if the stigmas of which colonies of it can be established such plants are pollinated with pollen in widely varied situations are out­ from the same plant or from the pollen standing features of the species. of any plant of the same form and spe­ There is a less pleasing feature of cies. To obtain seed from a trimorphic O. rubra to which some attention species, it is necessary to pollinate its should be given. This concerns its su~­ flowers with pollen derived from flow­ ceptibility to a disease caused by a par­ ers of either one or the other two forms. asitic fungus ""hich is capable of devel­ If plants of different forms are grown oping within the tissue of its leaf closely together, currents of air or the blades. It is a true rust similar to those visits of honey-seeking insects may trans­ which reduce the yield of crops of wheat fer pollen from plants of one form of and other grains and injure such orna­ a species to those of another form of mental plants as the hollyhock, snap­ the same species and insure seed pro­ dragon, carnation and some of the hy­ duction. brid perpetual roses. I first collected it So far as I know, O. rubm has not in California on Ionoxalis martiana been classed as a trimorphic species but (formerly called Oxalis martiana) about it is known to be a poor seed producer. fifteen years ago. This host plant is dis­ In California, I find short- and medi­ tinguished by a degree of aggressiveness um-styled forms but no long-styled ones. equal to that of the better known O. It is quite probable that a long-styled corniculata which is, however, quite a form exists in nature but has not yet different type of plant. It has now be­ been reported on. The well known But­ come a troublesome weed in many parts tercup Oxalis (0. pes caprae also called of the world, incl uding several of our O. cernua) is known to exist in all southern states and parts of California. three forms in its native South African I have already devoted several para­ habitats, but only one of these forms graphs in a paper devoted to this and has been introduced into cultivation related species and published in the and I have no record of any seed pro­ April 1956 issue of this Journal. I regret duced by cultivated plants anywhere in being obliged to call the attention of the world. Where patches of both short­ prospective readers to certain omissions and medium-styled forms are found in that paper. The third paragraph of growing closely together, I have usually column one, page eighty- four, should been able to find a few seed -bearing have been introduced by the heading capsules, which are relatively small and Ionoxalis martiana and the second para­ enclose not more than a half do zen graph of column two, page eigthy-three, small seeds of the usual form that ger­ should have' been introduced by the minate readily and produce good seed­ heading Ionoxalis latifolia. These addi­ lings. I have also found that only rare­ tions are necessary for an understand­ ly are seedlings to be found near such ing of the paragraphs which follow. patches at any time of the year. The agency and date at which both 287 ' IonoxaZis ma1,tial1a and the rust were may recover the following season unles~ introduced into California can only be reinfected. guessed at. I found them both in the This rust was first found in 1851 in summer of 1942 growing on a small the City of Mexico growing on Ionox­ patch of 'waste ground on the campus alis martiana and was given the name of the University of California at Berk­ Uredo oxalidis because only single­ eley, where both continue to grow but celled " uredo spores" were produced by have not spread, AboLi t twelve years la­ it. Then, in 1895, further specimens of ter both fungus and the same host plant it were found in the State of Mexico appeared in my own garden and since which also produced much larger "teli­ then it has appeared on I, martiana, I, al" spores composed of two cells each latifolia, 0, Ttlbm, 0 , Bowiei, O. bra­ that made it necessary to change its siliensis, O. adenophylla, and O. Zobata. name to Puccinia oxalidis. Still later it The fungus has also been reported from was discovered that an "aecial" stage of several other parts of the state. the same rust grew on Nlahonia aqui­ The disease appears on the lower sur­ folium in New Mexico. Both telial and face of the leaves only, at first as a mul­ aecial spores may have a part in the life titude of very small yellow spots which history of the rust but are not neces­ later become blotches of varied shapes sary for the continuous development of and sizes. I have tried to illustrate some the uredo form. I have never found infected leaves jn the photograph re­ either the aecial or telial forms of it in produced in Figure 3. Unfortunately, California. A detailed description of the lens of a camera does not differen­ all three forms is to be found in J. C. tiate between the yellow of the rust Arthur's " The U1'edinales Group of patches and the grayish green of the Fungi, in Vol. 7, Part 5, Page 391, de­ lower leaf surface as well as the human voted to this group of fungi. eye and they are not recognizable on It now remains to ascertain how many some of the leaves shown. of the species of Oxalis and Ionoxalis An examination of the subs'tance of are susceptible to this disease. It so which the yellow blotches are made up, happens that the two species which ap­ with a microscope capable of magnify­ pear to be especially susceptible, tha t ing' as much as one hundred diameters, is, I. ma?"tiana and I. latifolia, are on reveals only enormous numbers of one­ the whole less meritorious from the celled objects of more or less globular point of the gardener and might well form. Obviously they developed within be eliminated from those already in the tissues of the leaves in such num­ cultivation. It is obvious that the ag­ bers as to finally break through the epi­ gressiveness of these species makes them dermal layer of the leaves. These "ure­ a potent factor in the spread of the dis­ do" spores are easily carried by air cur­ ease to all of the species which are rents or by insects to other plants where subject to its attack. Prevention of the the spores may germinate and infect spread of rust diseases by spraying with other plants with the disease. The ap­ chemicals has not been found very ef­ pearance of the blotches is soon fol­ fective. It is especially difficult to make lowed by withering and fading away of treatment effective on plants of Oxalis the infected leaves, but the root system and Ionoxalis because of the difficu Ity is not greatly injured and such plants of reaching their lower leaf surfaces.

P ho t ogr~ ph s by the W riter

288 Chunnenuggee Horticultural Society and Public Garden

LUCILE CARY LOWRY

A very extensive research in recent years fl ock and their slaves." At first they erected was carried on to establish the location of the log houses in which to live on these new first Garden Club and Horticultural Society plantations, many of them containing several in this country. Athens, Georgia, has proved thousand acres of land. With bad roads, that they had the first Garden Club, organ­ however, which almost imprisoned these ized in 1891. Pennsylvania and Massachu­ people during the winter rains, they were setts claim the first and second Horticultural denied even the simple pleasure of visiting Societies. After a thorough investigation from one plantation to another, which was through the archives of all the Southern one of the highly socialized habits of plan­ States, however, it is an undisputed fact tation life. Soon many of the planters began that the first Horticultural Society in the to realize the necessity of building homes on South was organized at Chunnenuggee higher ground, left their broad acres in the Ridge, in the State of Alabama, on March 6, lowlands to the supervision of overseers, 1847, and a Public Garden was established who cultivated the land with the assistance during! the same year. Chunnenuggee is an of negro slaves left for that purpose, and Anglicized Indian word meaning "High moved their homes to the more ideal location Bluff" or "Up and Down" and is located in of Chunnenuggee Ridge. an area in the southeastern part of Alabama, containing many square miles, but that part I do not know who pioneered the first which is pertinent to this story is marked by home on Chunnenuggee, but I do know that a rather abrupt ascent of several hundred feet Dr. Norborne Berkley Powell, a former in height and is most typical in the vicinity of Virginian, built there in 1844, on the site of Union Springs, Alabama, and many miles the Indian War Council Lodge, and caIled east, that the name for the entire Ridge his home "Old Field." There were no lum­ came to be known and was first bestowed ber yards in those days from which to buy

H All deeds to property along this Ridge, timber, but the forests were full of magnificent described the land as being 'hounded on the trees suitable for the purpose and easily North by the meandering of the bluff.' " The convertible into building materials; and as soil here, unlike that of the prairies below, every planter had carpenters, bricklayers was sandy and looked as if it might have arrd other artisans needed on a large plan­ been left there centuries ago by the receding tation, Dr. PoweIl soon had a comfortable waters of a great body of water. Beneath home, which house and grounds alone re­ this layer of sand, however, there must have quired the aid of twenty slaves, each a been nourishing soil as huge chestnut and specialist in his line, to keep it running other native trees flourished in it. After the smoothly. At the back of his house, beneath Creek cession in 1832, this new territory the bluff, flowed a cool and abundant spring, was opened up for settlement, and many furnishing all the water needed for cattle men from Georgia, former Virginians, North and home consumption, as well as a primitive Carolinians, and other states, came here to refrigerating system, known as a spring develop this virgin soil, bringing with them, house, where dairy products, vegetables and like the patriots of old, "their families, their fruits were kept cool and palatable. Like 289 all Southerners, as soon as Dr. Powell built who taught music. She stayed at the home his home, he also began to plan and develop, of Mr. Blackmon for a term and became among other essentials, a flower garden, and so deeply attached to the family that her ere long, amid the oaks, chestnuts and other constant denial of the unjust criticism of native trees growing on these acres, there our beloved Southland by Northern people were magnolias, hedges of gardenias, crepe during the Federal invasion almost brought myrtle, roses, honeysuckles, and many other her in conflict with the authorities. varieties of flowers to shed their delicious fragrance on "Old Field." Many years passed after the Federal in­ vasion of the South without any contact In the meantime, this unique and cultured between these friends, but Miss Brown, now settlement was growing and all were eagerly Mrs. Cogswell, was ill in 1893, and her building for the good of the whole, and thoughts were drifting back to those happy dreaming of a permanent little Eden for days spent in Chunnenuggee and she longed themselves and their descendants. In the to hear something of the kind friends who early fifties, two colleges were chartered and had entertained her so royally. She recalled church edifices built on Chunnenuggee that upon her arrival a special maid was Ridge. The Dr. Powell of this story, who in assigned to do her bidding. Coming from 1836 and 1837 had been in the Georgia a frugal family with one maid, she hardly Legislature and had given his assistance in knew what to do with one all her own, but obtaining the charter for Wesleyan Female gradually she accustomed herself to the College in Macon, Georgia (the first college ways of the South, where each girl had a in the world to give women diplomas) , was, maid and each boy a valet. She asked her no doubt, instrumental in persuading Dr. brother to go down to Alabama to ,find out William Ellison, a former president of that where and how those friends were. On institution, to' take charge here of the Chun­ nenuggee Female College. The citizens of his arrival he was told that Mrs. Blackmon, the Ridge naturally took pride in their her daughter, Mrs. Goodwin, and her two Female College, and schools for boys, and young daughters were living in Washington felt it a duty to open their homes to the City, so he left hastily to fulfill his mission as children of nearby planters, feeling that these he feared his sister was nearing the end of children, too, should be given the cultural a long illness. He was given a warm welcome advantages enjoyed by their own. Since by Mrs. Blackmon and her family and left there were no hotels on the ridge, the teach­ bearing many loving messages and good ers of these colleges were also welcomed into wishes for his sister. After her death, Mrs. the homes of the planters, these people feel­ \iVelch, her only child, came down from ing, as did that distinguished Southerner, Boston to visit them and the warmest friend­ Robert Toombs, of Washington, Georgia, ship developed between these families. Mrs. who expressed their sentiments so clearly Goodwin took Mrs. Welch on a visit to when he said: "We do not need a hotel in Alabama, where she was shown the old this village. If a man who comes here is a Blackmon home and introduced her to all the gentleman, he can find entertainment in my relatives, who gave her barbecues, picnics, home. If he is not a gentleman, he has no dinners and drives over the country, which business here." delighted her and made her realize why her mother held in her heart such fond memories Among the staff of teachers was an exiled of her stay in the Old South. This was the Polish Count, G. Krzeckowsky, who taught beginning of a long friendship between the French to the young ladies of Chunnenuggee. second and third generations of Mrs. Cogs­ On his return home he kept up a spirited well's descendants, which will continue as correspondence with Chunnenuggee friends, long as they live. and I have in my possession a letter he wrote to one of the Blackmon girls who lived there. In June, 1858, Lucy Jeanette Powell and Another outstanding teacher in the Female Eugenia Blackmon graduated at the Chun­ College was a Miss Brown, from Boston, nenuggee Female College, showing great 290 efficiency in music, as well as in their studies, command of the Almighty still rests on us? though Lucy was only 15.0 and Eugenia There is no study better calculated to expand 16 years old. Dr. Powell, ever mindful of the soul, to improve the mind, to refine the the welfare of their Alma Mater, persuaded tastes, to enlarge our comprehension of the his youthful daughter and granddaughter to useful and the beautiful, than the study of use their talents in teaching music in the col­ horticulture. Who can reflect on the beauty, lege the following year, giving their salaries sweetness and structure of the rose, without to the College, which they did. In payment feeling his heart open in adoration to the for this, he took them on a tour of the famous Great Author of all good, who has left Springs of his home State of Virginia, then nothing unfinished from the revolution of a to many of the largest eastern cities and planet to the perfectness of the fragile snow­ places of interest. Among my treasures is drops? None who has a head to think or a diary Lucy wrote describing her impres­ a heart to feel"-Geo. D. Warthen. sions of places and Southern people they met, many old friends of her father from Alabama "Deeply imbued with these truths we unite and Georgia and elsewhere. as members of a Horticultural Society, we claim not for it the cultivation of flowers So, while the men of Chunnenuggee Ridge only, we aim at usefulness and utility. We were building schools and churches which profess to embrace in our range, fruits, were then running in perfect order, the vegetables, manuring . . . to gather and women were developing their gardens, which interchange ideas as well as plants, and by many visitors from the East were said to acquire a thorough knowledge of all that be the most beautifully landscaped gardens pertains to this healthy, useful and beautiful they had ever seen. Is it surprising then science; nor will we leave out our sturdy that we find a group of these men and women friends, the farmers. It is our desire to aid meeting on the evening of March 6, 1847, them, too, to get and to diffuse all the light for the purpose of organizing a Horticultural we can on agricultural pursuits ... to take Society with the intention of having monthly our twin sister by the hand and unite our exhibits of flowers and, in season, fruits and efforts for mutual instruction. Such we wish vegetables? Thus was born the Chunnen­ to make our society ... a medium for in­ uggee Horticultural Society. creasing the knowledge and comforts of our fellow men, and a combination of the beauti­ In the first minutes of this Society, which ful and useful. We, therefore, bind our­ I have in my possession, I find the following selves as members of this society to be preamble: governed by the articles which follow."

"And the Lord God planted a garden A constitution with regulations was here eastward in Eden ... and there He put man written into the minutes which is quite long whom He had formed ... and out of the and contains many interesting details, one ground made the Lord God to grow every among them which provides for a fine if an tree that was pleasant to the sight and good inattentive member is found whispering for food. The Tree of Life also in the midst during the proceedings. of the Garden and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil ... (Gen. Ch. 2, vs. 8 & 9.) At the third meeting of the society, on the evening of March 31, 1847, we find that on "The first practical act of the Deity after motion of Dr. Worthy two resolutions on He had formed the starry heavens, divided the subject of a Public Garden were passed, the waters of the great deep and bid the namely, "Resolved that this Society does earth bring forth grass and the herb yielding hereby agree to layout and build a pUblic seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit after garden on Chunnenuggee Ridge;" second, his kind, was to place man pure and holy "Resolved that a committee of six be ap­ in the garden to keep it and to dress it. pointed to examine and layout the ground and negotiate for the same." Whereupon the "Can we doubt then that the first great president, R. H. Powell, a son of the Dr. 291 Powell of this story, appointed a COIllmittee Many dahlias were grown, bulbs being of six to consist of Mrs. Williams, Miss ordered in great quantity. It was decided, Cotton, Dr. Worthy, Mrs. E. J. Cary, Mrs. however, that anything shown for premium Carter and Mr. James Horten. should not be procured elsewhere than in the home garden. On April 9th, the same year, at a meet­ ing of the Society, I find as follows: "The The members set aside, by vote, a small Committee to whom was referred the ar­ area in the Public Garden to grow straw­ ranging and laying out of the Public Garden berries and cotton, the proceeds of which reported that they have selected a tract of were used to pay for the premiums at the land lying and being immediately before Dr. flower shows. This also was cultivatecl Powell's residence, and that they desire under the supervision of a committee. further time to confer with Dr. Powell who As the Horticultural Society and Public is absent at this time, to see if the same Garden developed, it was determined by can be had by deed of gift."-Report of Mrs. the members to hold an annual Fair, to be E. J. Cary, Chairman. known as the Chunnenuggee May Fair, an annual flower festival which was always to On the evening of lVlonday, November 8th, 1847, there is recorded that, "The Com­ be held about the first of May when the mittee reported that they had conferred flowers were at their best and attracted with Dr. Powell and the doctor stands ready visitors far and wide. And on the 18th. of to make the deed of gift to the regular April, 1850, there appeared a notice in the trustees appointed by the Society and their issue of the Macon Republic, Tuskegee, successors in office, and said tract reverting Alabama, which read, to wit: to him when it shall cease to be used as a CHUNNENUGGEE public pleasure ground." On this same date HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY the So<;iety resolved to: "Petition the legis­ lature of Alabama at its next session to The annual fair of this Society will be charter the Chunnenuggee Ridge Horticul­ given at Odd Fellows Hall on Chunnenuggee tural Society." Ridge on Wednesday, first day of May, next, at which time and place there will be an After the ground for the "Public Garden" appropriate address by Honorable Wm. P. had been secured, the members were then Chilton. The public generally is invited. asked to send trained negro gardeners from their estates to clear the ground and make Then only two years later, on May 6, it ready for development, which was done 1852, we find the Editor of the Macon under the supervision of a committee ap­ Republic writing as follows: point-ed for this pmpose. Special attention "On last Thursday we went down to the was given to the time and type of planting, annual Horticultural Fair at Chunnenuggee and numerous committees were appointed Ridge and we were much gratified with our for the different phases of perfecting the visit. The Fair was held in the garden, which garden. is new as yet, but which promises in a few years to be a very pretty place. It is laid out As can be seen by the minutes, the Society with a good deal of taste and well planted grew larger and larger at each meeting and with shrubbery. The garden house is a many persons from nearby cities in the South neat circular building." were admitted into the Society. Honorary members were also added, among them being Before long, however, rooms were added nurserymen from New York, Augusta, to the building because we find that an Georgia, Columbus and elsewhere. Time exhibition house as commodious as a modern went on and many forms of entertainment club was built in the Public Garden. It were given, such as suppers, monthly contained a "Large salon where concerts exhibits, with prizes for the different vari­ were given, a dining room, a hall and an eties of flowers, flower arrangements, etc. open pavilion." The Salon, which was 292 always beautifully decorated fo r the occasion Througbout the grounds of this Public with a lavish use of cut fl owers, was the Garden there 'were summer houses covered place where the members and guests gathered with honeysuckle and roses, mingling their on the first evening of the Fair. That the perfume with hundreds of blossoms to be in­ Fairs were wel! attended may be seen from haled by the young men and women who the following extract of an old letter which rested in seats within these flowery retreats states that "among the distingui hed guests to chat or stroll leisurely on the green were the top of the pot socially from Colum­ stretches of lawn beyond. The "Lover's bus, Georgia, Mobile and Montgomery, as Knot" was also an intriguing place to wander well as many from the Carolinas." as well as to wonder. "It consisted of a growth of shrubbery planted in such an intri­ In another account of the May Fair in the cate design that it created a maze with it early 50's, we fi ne! R. H. Powell mentioned one concealed entrance, and once within its as calling the meeting to order, as President, confines the young ladies and gentlemen ladies then not being accustomed to speaking were hopelessly lost." The only authoritative in pubhc; and that "after an invocation by statement extant is the admission that "it took Rev. \ \1 111. Henderson, the P resident's the yo ung lovers au the Chunnen uggee May address fo llowed and was described as replete Fair a remarkably long time to solve the with good sense and historical research, di ffi culties of escaping from the confines of classical allusions and poetic beauty." Im­ the tall fl ow'ering shrubbery of the Lover's mediately after this address, the guests re­ Knot." paired to the dining hall where a sumptuous feast had been prepared. During this repast This being strictly an agricultural coun­ soft music fl oated out fr0111 a decorated try, of course, no Fair woule! be complete bower where a small group of negro players without including specimens of everything sat, probably those belonging to Col. Luther grown in the soil, as well as samples of the Walker, who had been trained to play at the skill of the housewife. On the last day of the entertall1ments of his beautiful and accom­ Fair prel11iums were awarded for flow ers, plished daughters. Vl e read that the dessert fl ower arrangements, etc. Special mention consisted of "ice cream, strawberries and was made of a Della Robbia Wreath cleverly plain, as well as pyramids of beautifully em­ designed of strawberries and fl owers by Mrs. bossed cakes." Since there were no caterers E . J. Cary, for which she was awarded a at this time, these cakes were decorated by prize, and in the A merican Cotton Planter the skillful fingers of the ladies of the of July 1856, we find that a premium for the Society. best essay on horticulture was given Mrs. Homer Blackmon. A prize was also given the young woman most skilled in equestrien­ On one evening during this Fair there ship, promoted by the young gentlemen of was a grand concert given by the young the Ridge. We read: "The Young Ladies ladies of the ridge in the large salon in the wore sweeping riding habits and carried exhibition house, and we read that "The gold-topped riding crops, splendidly mounted young ladies were charming in their flowered on spirited horses. It was a thrilling moment Dresden silks as they sat at the harp and when each took the course." As horseback piano," and "following the concert an elegant riding was a universal accomplishment at collation was served." After a visit to this Chunnenuggee, the contest was animated most delightful fair, a young man wrote as with the rider's skill and daring. follows: Another reference which I would like to "Flora and Pomona, hand in hand, give is an article written by a visitor to awakened in me a high admiration for the Chunnenuggee in the early fifties that was Chunnenuggee ladies in particular and for published in the Alabama Journal, to wit: a Horticulture in general, and I made a resolve to forsake bachelorhood and get "The reputation of this pleasant section. unto myself a wife, a home and a garden." so well known, is by no means exaggerated, 293 either in respect to its floral production, the session of Mrs. McRoberts and her sister, beauty and accomplishment of the ladies, or Miss Goodwin, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, the general high culture of its people. I left a handsome silver cream pitcher given to this pleasant section leaving my kindest their aunt, Mary E. Blackmon, at the age thoughts for the genial and refined hospitali­ of sixteen, in 1856, for her superior eques­ ty that greeted me at every step. Now, my trainship. I also have in my possession a dear Junior, as you are, I suspect, a marry­ large silver tray given Mrs. N. B. Powell by ing man, do not in your celibate wanderings the "Chunnenuggee Horticultural Society, forget to visit this garden spot of loveli ness 1856." This will suffice as positive proof of and pleasure and yo u will not wish to go this once famous and beautifully cultivated further. "Public Garden," as well as proof of the Horticultural Society and the artistry of the "Nowhere will yo u find more finished private gardens there. beauty, more heightened, refined and lady­ like breeding, combined with all that is But, as is well known, early in April, 1861, admirable in household virtues than in this a black cloud which had long threatened the flowery gem in the hills of Macon County. Southland began to rise in the Northeast and, amid thunder of artillery and sounds of " On the last night for the Fair, tableaux invading hoof beats, it swept farther south­ were given by the young ladies and gentle­ ward. When it had passed, this peaceful men. One particularly effective tableau was serene landscape had been almost swept the flower-filled barge of Elaine. A golden­ away and soon there was little left to tell of haired Miss Cotton was breath-takingly the past g10ries of this small but unique set­ lovely as the white-clad recumbent Elaine, tlement of old Chunnenuggee. The good with lili es at her breast, while a young West Doctor and President Ellison's wife and Point officer, with his sword at his side, was child sleep near each other in the Powell a handsome if unrepentant Launcelot." graveyard on a picturesque knoll, back of "Old Field," and there now remain only Each Year in the American Cotton Plant­ a few shrubs and crepe myrtles, grown as er and Macon Republic, the lists of prem­ tall as young trees, along the road near the iums were published, as well as accounts of once famous Public Garden of the Horticul­ these Fairs; and among the descendants of tural Society, and the private gardens have Chunnenuggee residents there must be ex­ become but a tradition among the descend­ tant many of the premiums given during the ants of those early pioneers of the Ridge, existence of this society of which I have no the home of those kindly, nature-loving peo­ knowledge. However, there is in the pos- ple of the Old South.

294 Dwarf Azalea l-Iybrids

ROBERT L. PRYORl

The azalea breeding program of the The parents of the two species hy­ Ornamental Plants Section, Horticul­ brids belonged to two different groups, tural Crops Research Branch, began one known as Kurume azaleas and the with the primary goal of production of other as Indian. The Kurume azaleas evergreen varieties hardy in northern were developed from Rhododendron United States. Thirty-eight varieties for hit.sianum (obtusum f. japonicum (Max­ outdoor planting have been named and im.) ' Nilson) , which is native on Hishi introduced as a result of the breeding Peak of Kirishima, J apan, at an eleva­ work. Varieties with potential possibil­ tion of 3000 feet. This species was de­ ities for forcing also have been devel­ cribed as having small evergreen fo liage, oped, but the present report is confined small red flowers, and dense t w i ggy to work on outdoor hardy types, par­ growth, but some plants had small white ticularly hardy dwarf hyhrids. The par­ flowers. Some early reports described tne entage of all azaleas in this grou p, o ri g in a 1 Kurume azaleas as trailing usually called the Beltsville, or USDA, ra ther than erect. The shr u b form we azaleas, is generally different from that know now was developed by years of of varieties in the large group intro­ selection and breeding. With good cul­ duced by the Plant Introduction Sec­ ture most of the Kurume azaleas attain tion ( former Division of Plant Explor­ a height of four to five feet in ten years. ation and Introduction) of the Depart­ Some may reach a height of eight feet ment and known as the Glenn Dale hv- at maturity. brid azaleas. ' The Indian azaleas were developed About ten years ago the selection pro­ from a number of rhododendron spe­ cedure was modified so that small seed­ cies. The European species R . indicum lings formerly discarded the first year (L.) Sweet, R. phoeniceum f. maxwellii were kept and grown in the greenhouse. (Millais) Wilson, and R . mucmnatum Analysis of plant heights for complete (Blume) G. Don are tall, reaching a progenies revealed that many very small height of six to ten feet when mature. seedlings maintained thrifty growth but The Indian group includes some Ameri­ at a very slow rate. These seedlings are can species such as R. speciosum (Willd.) apparently genetic dwarfs with normal­ Sweet, and R. calendttlaceum (Michx.) size flowers, large and vigorous root Torr., which are tall shrubs. systems, and very low spreading growth The variety "Indica alba" of the In­ so that they are broader than high. dian group, when crossed with the vari­ ety Snow of the Kurume group, pro­ Parentage of Dwarf Azaleas duced seedling No. 236. This plant bore The parents of the dwarf azaleas were all white flowers I % to 2 inches in di­ species hybrids of normal appearance. ameter. When fertlized with pollen of The pollen parent is now on trial for similar hybrids, it produced some dwarf possible introduction into the nursery plants. trade, but the female parent, a single­ The pollen parent in the cross which flowered seedling, was not sent out for prod uced the hi g he s t percen tage of trial. These parents had many of the dwarfs was seedling No. 342. It came ·characters desired for azaleas, such as from a cross of the horticultural form hardiness, compact growth habit, glossy Maxwellii of the Indian group and var­ evergreen foliage, and large flowers wi th iety Snow of the Kurume group. In each -good color and texture. duster there are two flowers. They are lGeneticist. Horticultural Crops Research Branch. hose· in -hose type, two inches across. Agricultural Research Senice. United States Department -of Agriculture. Beltsville. ]'vfaryland. The ten over-lapping clear-rose-pink 295 TABLE 1. Height, width, and annual branch increment of normal and dwarf aza leas Mean annual branch Plant number Height Width increment Size classl Inches Inches I nches Parent 342 51 45 3.08 -+- .30 Al Parent 236 66 52 2.06 ± .12 Az Seedling 769 42 36 3.32 ± .21 Al Seedling 770 36 30 2.47 -+- .23 A2 Seedling 953 15 36 1.42 -+- .04 Bl Seedling 950 14 30 1.45 -+- .04 Bl Seedling 945 12 24 1.15 -+- .07 B2 Seedling 952 9 24 .99 -+- .07 Bs Seedling 959 8 9 .97 ± .04 B3 lAll differences between the two size classes designated by the letters A and Bare highly significant. There are further, smaller, but still statistically significant dif­ ferences within the two size classes indicated by the subnumerals.

40

en 30 ...z C ..J L 20 •0 ...c

•~ ~ 10 z

6 9 12 IS 18 21 24 27 30 33 42 HEIGHT OF PLAN TS (INCH'E'S) Figure 1. Height of two-yea1'-old seedlings f1'om cross which P1'oduc ed ten per cent dwa:rf plants. 296 petals have red dots in the throat. Five branch increments and horizontal rose-pink filaments support brown an· branches in comparison with a normal thers. The normal style is medium in branch with vertical branching. Some length and a little longer than the fila­ dwarf plants, however, have vertical ments. The stigma is yellow. branch habit and are dwarf only be­ cause of their extremely short branch Characteristics of Dwarf Azaleas increments. Figure 3 shows two dwarfs, Internode length. The crosses of these one with horizontal and one with ver­ two species hybrids, No. 236 and No. tical branching. True dwarf azaleas 342, yielded 199 seedlings. Measure­ have larger root systems in proportion ments of the heights of these seedlings to their tops than do normal plants. when two years old fell into a normal Some plants may appear to be dwarfs distribution (Fig. 1). The plants listed only because of a small, weak root sys­ in Table 1 are medium and short in­ tem. The two parent plants, No. 342 dividuals from the progeny obtained and No. 236, were of the same age and from the cross No. 236 x No. 342. The were grown under comparable condi­ height and width of these plants were tions in the field. All the progeny were measured when the plants were nine grown in the greenhouse where condi­ years old. In addition, measurements tions were more favorable. It is likely were made of the annual growth in that the diifferences between part/nts length of branches during each of the and progeny would be even greater if nine years. The distance between suc­ they were grown under similar condi­ cessive groups of branches that arise tions. around each terminal flower cI u s t e r F1 0 equency of dwarf plants. While marks the annual increment of branch dwarf azaleas have been obtained from length and will be referred to in this a number of different crosses in which paper as annual branch measurement. one parent or both were Kurume x In­ Similar data for the two parent plants dian hybrids, the population described were included for comparison. in Table 1 and Figure 1 yielded the The branch increment for each plant highest percentage of dwarfs. When the is the mean for 130 measurements. Many plants were measured after two years of azaleas tend to be taller than broad, as growth, the plants in the two smallest shown for the parents and two of the classes, thQse seven inc h e s or less in taller seedlings. These four plants all height, were saved. About half of these have average branch increments of over grew into small and medium-sized two inches and are pu t in size class A, plants Others which remained dwarf which statistical analysis showed to con­ were discarded because of poor flower tain plants significantly taller than those quality or extremely weak growth. The in the other size class B. The plants percentage of the original population that were short and considerably broad­ of 199 seedlings remaining dwarf after er than tall were classified dwarfs. The five to seven years was about ten. Eigh­ data (Table 1) show that the average teen other crosses between Kurume x branch increment of these dwarfs is less Indian hybrids y i e 1d e d even smaller than 11"2 inches. percentages of dwarf azaleas. In two Branching habit. A second character­ crosses, however the maternal parent istic greatly influencing the stature of was a Kurume X Indian hybrid and the these plants is direction of branching. pollen paren t was Snow or Salmon Growth of branches of parent plant No. Beauty. 236 tends to be vertical while that of Fertility. The dwarf azaleas are less No. 342 is more nearly horizontal. This fertile than azaleas in the Kurume type of growth has resulted in No. 236 groups. However, a few plants from growing taller than 342, even though it crosses between some of the dwarfs have has much shorter annual branch incre­ been obtained. Dwarf No. 539 x Dwarf ments. The dwarf plants are apparently No. 601, both bearing single flowers, a result of a recombination of two char­ gave ten dwarf and eleven normal acters, the horizontal branch growth of plants, a 1: 1 ratio. Only two other seed­ No. 342 and the short branch incre­ lings, one dwarf and one normal, were ments of No. 236. Figure 2 shows a obtained from many crosses between the branch of a dwarf plant with short dwarfs. 297 Figure 2. Annual branch incre111,ents of normal and dwarf azaleas. T he normal plant has long branch increments and vertical branching, while the dwarf plant has short branch inc1'e11M11ts and /1,orizontal branching.

Figure 3. Dwarf azaleas fifteen months fr0111, cuttings. Plant on left shows hori­ zontal br(Jff/,ching; plant on the right vertical branching. No seed has been obtained on any dwarf or Kurume with hose-in-hose fl owers and growth regulators did not overcome the sterility. Some seed has been produced on double or partially double fl o·wers whose doubleness result­ ed from a petaloid condition of the stamens. Such partially double flowers exist to a large ex ten t in the Belgian Indica group of greenhouse azaleas. Flowers and leaves. The dwarf aza­ leas have about the same range of flow­ er color a the larger evergreen aza leas. The leaf characters vary more in the dwarf than in the Kurume and Indian groups. Some leaves are regular and of about the same size as those of Kurume and Indian azaleas; others are smaller and resemble the small leaves of Eng­ lish boxwood. Some have twisted or ruf­ fl ed edges. Still others have leaves larg­ er than either parent. Leaves of some dwarf aza l eas are long and narrow, about the shape of weeping willow Figure 4. Branches from dwarf azaleas leaves, bu t not as large. Several types showing different leaf characters. of leaves from dwarf azaleas are shown in Figure 4. A few of the dwarf plants, the nearest to a yellow-flowered ever­ green azalea that we have so far, de­ velop yellow or albino leaves early in the spring. From a distance these leaves look like yellow flowers. Later, as the second set of leaves appears these ye l­ low leaves absciss. These yellow leaves did not turn green when treated with se­ ques trene iron, indicating that the ye l­ lowing is due to a genetic character, not to a physiological condition caused by deficiency of iron. The plants with deep yellow foliage color have n ever bloomed, but some with the brighter yellow and albino leaves have flowered.

PTopagation Seed p?-oduction. The me thods of crossing, handling seed and young plants, and propagation by cuttings are much the same for the dwarf azaleas as for normal ones. Female plants were emasculated before the anthers dehisced, usually several days before the flowers opened. The stigma was receptive about Figure 5. Stamen of mature azalea two days after the flowers opened. The flower with string of pollen coming pollen was transferred to the stigma by out of anther sacs. removing a filament with anther at­ tached and rubbing the anther over the stigma. The pollen of azaleas pulls from the anther in a string or sort of fil ament instead of the usual separate granules. 299 Figu.re 6. Cutting from normal and dwarf azaleas showing effect of anmtal b1'Gnch incre11'z,ent on size of cutting. Figure 7. N 01'mal and dWa?'f pla11ts fifteen 1I10nths from cuttings.

All illustrations accompanying this article were made from photographs taken by Robert L. Taylor

300 Close examination shows the filament ness from experience in handling the to be made up of the pollen grains cuttings and observing their rooting be­ clinging together (Fig. 5). Great care havior. The wood of many varieties is was taken in the azalea breeding pro· ready when the next year's flower buds gram to control completely the pollin­ are visible. Dwarf azaleas are generally ation and prevent accidental selfing or harder to root than the larger Kurume insect pollination. The plants were azaleas because of their short branch grown in a screened greenhouse and increment. The short cuttings do not sprayed with insecticides/at 10-day in· extend very far into the rooting medi­ tervals. The plants were grown in the um. Roots are formed nearer the surface greenhouse until the seeds were ripe, of the medium where it is more difficult the average time being four to four and to keep the moisture content uniform a half months. ,!\Then the seeds were and prevent drying out. Dwarf azaleas ripe, the capsule turned brown and be­ vary greatly in the ease or difficulty of gan to open at the distal end. After rooting, evidently because of their gen· harvest, capsules were stored in a dry etic makeup. Some of the dwarfs root place for a few days until the seeds came very freely and easily, abou t 90 to 100 out of the capsule with ease. The seeds per cent, while other lines are very diffi­ were very small and amber or light cult to root, no more than 25 per cent brown and were planted as soon after rooting. cleaning as possible. On the dwarf azaleas, with average Growing fTOm seed. The seeds were branch increment of less than lY2 inches, planted in a mixture of 1/ 3 fine leaf many shoots are too short for even a very mold, 1/ 3 Grade A horticultural peat, small cutting. This reduces the number and 1/ 3 sandy soil. The leaf mold and of cuttings available and slows down the peat were put through a y,t-inch screen increase of new varieties. Figure 6 shows before thorough mixing with the sandy cuttings from normal and dwarf plants. soil. Flats were filled with the loose Cuttings of the dwarfs grown continuous­ mixture, which was then firmed down, ly in the greenhouse have taken about and the seeds scattered thinly over the three years to produce 4- to 6-inch plants. surface. Small amounts of seed were Most normal evergreen varieties make planted in rows. The seeds were cov· this size in one year. Figure 7 shows a ered with finely screened sphagnum and dwarf and a normal plant fifteen months watered thoroughly. The flats were kept from cuttings. moist by frequent spraying until the Uses of Dwarf Azaleas see.ds germinated and plants were firmly rooted in the medium. They were then The development of these new dwarf wa.tered more heavily and less frequent­ varieties opens up many new uses for ly. The optimum temperature range for azaleas in landscaping modern homes. seed germination is 75° to 80°F. The The low·spreading growth and evergreen seedlings were transplanted as soon as foliage, coupled with the spring flowers the first true leaves appeared and should that have made azaleas so popular this be transplanted by the time they are last decade, should put them in great one inch tall. The seedlings were trans­ demand once the public learns about planted in the same soil mixture used them. While they are relatively slow for germination and are grown at 65° to propagate, it is the very slow rate of to 70°F. Fertilizer and spray programs growth that makes them such desirable were the same as for all other azaleas. shrubs. Propagation by cuttings. Propagation These dwarf seedling varieties are now by semi-hardwood cuttings was the same on trial at twenty-five locations in the as for Kurume or evergreen azaleas. United States. When sufficient informa­ The proper time to take cuttings was tion is available as to their hardiness and determined by the ripeness of the wood, adaptability, some will be named and and no definite calendar date can be released for propagation by cooperating set. One learns the proper state of ripe- nurserymen. None are available now.

301 Cam-Art

Flowers of the Balsa tree, Ochroma lagopl1s

302 The Lightest Wood

EDWIN A. MENNINGER

The lightest of all woods, contrary to Alstonia spathulata B l. popular belief, is not Balsa. Doubtless ______Specific gravity .058 responsible for this misconception is the This weighs half as much as Balsa. fact that Balsa is the commonest ligh t­ Samples were discovered as driftwood weight wood with which most persons on a Pacific island by a representative have had experience. of the] apanese Forestry Service and for a time considerable mystery surrounded It is the wood of a Central Ameri­ them because the wood of this A 1st on­ can tree, Ochroma lagopus, which is oc­ ia tree is not ordinarily so light. Re­ casionally seen in cultivation in Sou th searchers discovered that the light-weight Florida though it is better known as wood is found under ground in the tree's the ma terial from w h i c h youngs ters roots which often extend thirty feet and fashion toy airplanes. "Balsa" is a na­ are very much branched. The tree grows tive name signifying raft, for its chief in swampy land or in standing water, use in Central America is as logs tied us u a II y twen ty -five feet high and a together to form a raft for quick, easy trunk diameter of six to ten inches. and sure navigation. It has a specific gravity of .12 which means it is one­ Where the trunk joins the root there eighth as heavy as water on which it is a marked swelling so that the diam­ floats. eter of a six-inch trunk may increase to twenty-four inches near the ground. But Balsa lacks a lot of being the The density of the wood in this swell­ lightest wood. Here are five trees the ing is about midway between the rath­ wood from which is much lighter than er hard wood of the trunk and that of Balsa - how much lighter can be seen the almost pithy root. Root wood is yel­ from the specific gravity figures: lowish white, ivory colored, and feels like velvet. It is so soft it can easily be indented with the finger nail, yet Aeschynomene hispida Willd. according to Edmund Graefe, who wrote ______Specific gravi ty .044 of it in a German magazine, Umschau, This wood weighs only one-third as in 1934, it is used in making plywood, much as Balsa, and roughly one-twenty­ tropical helmets, life preservers and in­ fifth as much as water. It is a Cuban sulation. Eloise Gerry of the United tree, allied in the bean family to Ses­ States Forest Products Laboratory, re­ bania and Daubentonia which are cul­ ported in Tropical Woods 39:64, that tivated in Florida. This species is not a block of this wood, if compressed to described in Leon's Flora of Cuba a tenth of its normal size, will upon though several others are. The pith release of pressure return to about one­ helmets used in India are made from a fourth of the original volume, and, if species of this same genus. soaked, may regain its full size. 303 Herminiera elaphroxylon Guill. et Perro Joumal of the New York Botanical Gar­ ______Specific gravity .065 den (1921) observed that such trees This tree from the banks of the Nile wi th exceptionally light -wooded stems in Tropical Africa is quite unknown always occur in warm areas where high here. It is closely allied to the Cuban temperature and humidity are conduc­ tree, Aeschynomene, and the wood is ive to rapid growth, that they usually used for canoes, floats, etc. As the fig· have tough, fibrous bark and large ures show, the timber is only half as leaves, and that their wood is light-col. heavy as Balsa. ored and perishable. The Temperate Zone has only two Cavan,illesia platanifolia H.B.K. ______Specific gravity .103 trees that begin to compete in this con­ test for lightness. One is the wood from This is a handsome big tree of the buttresses of the Tupelo or sour gum Panama Canal Zone, often to a hun­ tree (Nyssa sp.) which has a specific dred feet. Standley called it "one of the gravity of .124 (almost as light at Bal­ most remarkable trees of this region" sa) and the other is timber from the and added: "The tree .. . is very con­ Japanese tree occasionally seen in the spicuous, especially when in flower, in United States, Paulownia tomentosa late March and early April." The red­ Steud., which has a specific gravity of petaled flowers are small. The wood is .26 (twice as heavy as Balsa.) white or yellowish, soft, coarse, and pith like. No commercial use is made of it, There are a good many trees that but the trunks are often used by the are considerably heavier than water and natives for canoes, or to float rafts of timber from them will not float. The hardwood which would otherwise sink heaviest timber ever examined at the to the bottom. The timber is sixteen Yale Forestry Research Laboratories per (ent lighter than Balsa. was a sample of letterwood, or snake­ wood from British Guiana, taken from Annona palustris L. Specific gravity .116 a tree known scientifically as Piratin­ This "root wood" from Cuba is allied e1"a sp. which belongs to the mulberry to the ~ustard apple and soursop trees family. It has a specific gravity of 1.36 of Flonda, all of them rather small of when dry or 1.5 when wet, which means stature. The wood is only a fraction it is half again as heavy as water and lighter than Balsa. would sink like a rock. This tree is not known in the United States, although It is noteworthy that Balsa and the a closely allied tree, called "butternut," other five lighter woods listed here are Brosimum alicastrum, is occasionally all from tropical trees. Rowlee in the seen in Florida.

304 Recent Research Results

DONALD P. WATSON 1

Quality of f,·o zen green beans and superior to any of those stored at a strawberries: Using different freezing higher temperature. With strawberries, temperatures during a 10-month storage the quality changes could be detected period has been shown to greatly in­ more readily by color and the results, fluence the quality of frozen green beans while similar to those for green beans, and strawberries. R. T. Pierce, M. D. were not quite as convincing. Shaw, J. G. Heck and Grace Bennett The authors believed that since these have demonstrated this difference in two foods, quite different in their make­ quality of frozen fruit and vegetables as up, responded similarly that they might a result of a very small difference in be used as an example for other foods. storage temperature. Their results indicated that when it Working at Pennsylvania State Uni­ geemed necessary to maintain a definite versity the study was made to determine quality in a frozen product, a very few the effect of a 3 0 difference in storage degrees in storage temperature could temperature ranging from -3 to + 12 0 greatly alter the maximum storage time F. "Tendergreen" snap beans were to be recommended. harvested and washed in cold water after the ends had been removed and the R. T. Pierce, M. D. Shaw, J. G. H eck and Grace Bennett. Small storage temperature differences can af­ beans were cut into I-inch pieces. Then fect the quality of frozen strawberri es and green beans. the beans were blanched for I Y2 minutes R efrigerating Engineering. Vol. 63, No. II: 52-57, at 200 0 F. and cooled immediately in November, 1955. cold water. "Temple" strawberries were harvested, washed, drained, cut into uni­ Earlier tomatoes from cold exposure: form pieces and one part of sucrose was Being sometimes guided by commercial added to six parts of strawberries. Both tomato growers who have noticed that the beans and the strawberries were outdoor-grown plants or those which are packed into Polyethylene boxes with seeded directly in the field often produce tight-fitting polyethylene lids. After the fruits earlier than those that are started packages were placed on trays in the in a warm greenhouse, S. H . Wittwer refrigerator and frozen at _120 F. they and F. G. Teubner last year tested ten were placed in temperatures of -3, 0, varieties of tomatoes and produced the +6, +9, or +12 0 F. Using as a measure results that are summarized in the ac­ of quality, ascorbic acid content, bac­ companying table. terial and mold count, color and flavor, Seeds of the ten varieties listed in the these investigators concluded that the table were shown in the latter part of different storage temperatures had a March. As soon as the first cotyledonary leaves had formed half of the plants of great effect on the quality of the frozen 0 green beans and strawberries. each variety were grown at a 65-70 F. night temperature in the greenhouse Those stored at the lower temperatures 0 showed a continually small decrease in and the other half at 45-60 F. night ascorbic acid content with the increase temperature in the coldframe. The seed­ in storage period. At the higher tem­ lings which had been exposed to the peratures, however, there was more rapid lower temperature in the seedling stage decrease in ascorbic acid content. From produced more flowers on the first clus­ their palatability scores it was apparent ters. They flowered after fewer numbers that beans stored at -3 and 0 0 F. were of leaves had formed on stems composed of shorter internodes and greater di­ 'Department of Horticulture, Michigan State Univer­ ~ity, East Lansing, Michigan. ameters. 305 DifJnences tn gmwth and flow eTing between coldfmme (left) and greenhouse (Tight) grown tomato plants. The "cold-exposed" plants (left) floweTed afteT feweT numben of leaves,' produced mOTe flowen in the fiTst clusters,' and had shorteT intemodes, heavier stems, and stmngeT sideshoots (vaTiety, Valiant).

COLD EXPOSURE OF TOMATO SEEDLINGS

Early yields of tomatoes from greenhouse (65 0 F. night temperature) and cold­ frame (45-60 °F. night temperature) grown plants (cumulative yields to August f)-East Lansing, 1955). Early yields Percent increase (pounds p eT plant) from coldframe Variety Greenhouse Coldframe grown plants Sioux ann 4.5 10.5 133 Early Hycross 6.6 9.8 49 Hybrid A 4.5 8.3 84 Moreton Hybrid 5.5 7.9 44 Fireball 3.7 7.8 111 Big Early Hybrid 3.9 6.6 70 Valiant 4.6 6.5 41 Foremost E-21 3.3 5.5 67 Early Chatham 3.8 4.8 27 Cavalier 2.5 3.4 36 Mean 4.3 7.1 * 65 * Increased early yields of coldframe-grown plants highly significant (P"= 0.01). These research workers observed that One hundred bulbs of each variety the greatest increases in the early yield were exp.osed to 5200 r of x-rays at 170 as a result of the exposure to the cold r per mmute and then planted inter­ were during the third and fourth weeks mixed with 100 control bulbs or corms of harvest. Altogether the total market­ ~n a uniformly prepared soil. The hard­ able yield of the coldframe-grown plants Ier varieties were planted in the fall, was 18 .3 pounds p er plant compared to the non-h ardy types were treated and 17 .8 pounds per plant on those which planted in the spring. Some of the lilies were grown in the greenhouse. were radiated in the fall and planted. S. H . Wittwer. F. G. Teubner. Cold exposure of Others were radiated in the spring and tomato seed lings for early fruit production. Quart. Bul. planted. The non-hardy varieties were Mich. State Ag. Exp. Sta. Vol. 38. No. 4 May. 1956: 588 - 594. • dug. in the fall and replanted the fol­ EadieT floweTing of bulbs and COTms lowmg ye~r. -:"-11 of the doses of x-rays fTom x-ray tTeatment: While the use of were applIed 111 the laboratories of the x -rays has been shown to stimulate School of Engineering, th.e University plant development as a result of seed of Massachusetts in Amherst. treatment, J ohn L. Spencer h as demon­ In general, the flowers from the radi­ strated recently that there is a similar ated bulb~ and corms of all genera ex­ growth response with some vegetative cept NarcIssus and the fall-planted Lili­ plant parts. Using the following 12 gen­ um henyn appeared to open earlier era including 16 species or varieties of than their controls the first season of Corolliferae: Allium albopilosum, A. planting. Statistical analysis of the com­ moly L., Colchicum luteum Baker, Cro­ pared dates for first flow ers did not show cus speciosum Stev., Gladious cv. 'Gene,' a si~11ificance. for all of these apparent H ymenocallis ca lathina Nichols, Lilium earlIer flo wenng tendencies in spite of the apparent trend. The author felt that h en~Ti Baker, L. Tega le Wilson, L yco-ris Tadzata Herb., NaTcissus pseudona?'cis­ th.ere was a direct relation between the sus L. cv. 'King Alfred,' StembeTgia lu­ brevity of the period between exposure tea Ker-Gawl, TTitonia cTocosmaefloTa and flowering and the induction of ear­ Lemoine, Tulipa kaufmaniana R egel lier anthesis by x-rays. The average Tulipa cv. 'Mrs. Scheepers,' and Zep h~ dates of first flowers for the second year YTan,thes can.dida Herb., significantly showed no difference as a result of treat­ earlIer flowermg resulted for 7 of these men t and little, if any, loss of vigor plants the first season after treatment. from radiation was observed. Six of these were non-hardy types that J ohn L. Spencer. 1955 . The effect of X radiation on the flowering of certain cultivated bulbs and corms. were planted in the spring. Arner. J our. Bot. Vol. 42. No. ]0: 917-920.

307 A Book Or Two

(Books noted "(Ubrary)" are available for loan to the membership.)

Shady Gardens. How to Plam and Grow Geraniums. Pelargoniums. For Windows Them. and Gardens. Emily Seaber Parcher. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Helen Van Pelt Wilson. M. Barrows and New York. 1955. 282 pages. Illustrated. Company, Inc., New York. 1957. 240 pages. $4.75. (Library). Illustrated. $4.50. (Library). Like many another book on American gar­ dening-this is written primarily for the New The. author has brought her book on the England gardener. Although much of the Ger.amums ,;!p t? date. In this she has given a bIt of theIr hIstory and present day interest. ~aterial would be applicable to certain por­ tIOns of the northwest or mountainous 'sec­ N ex~ the man:>: varieties are grouped ac­ tions of the east, other statements would not c?rdmg to certam characteristics from a hor­ hold for the la.rge portion of the middle west tIcultural pomt of view. The culture of the and south. geraniu:n is . discussed from the gardener's The book is divided into three sections. The standp0111t as It would be followed in the East first section deals with degrees of shade fol­ ?r as they would be grown in California. This lowed by chapters on herbaceous fl owering mcludes outdoor growing, ,in window boxes, plants and bulbs that are tolerant of shade. or .I~ tht; home greenhouse. Her enthusiastic Several of the plants listed are not suitable wntmg IS o! a kind to change a passive unless the garden is situated in one of the grower of thIS plant into one who starts to favored cooler regions. Captis trifalia Carm!s collect some of the dwarfs, those with col­ canadensis and Linnaea b01'ealis ca'nnot be ored leaves, the interesting 'scented-leaf types, made to flourish unless the ground tempera­ or some of the many single- or double-flower­ ed kinds. A final chapter ·considers a list of ture stays below 50° F. Trilliwm und~tlatum belongs in this same category. The basic ~ peci~ s and variet!es with a description to help material in this section is very useful and the IdentIfy many k;mds. To help, she has in­ advice in most part is excellent. cluded many varieties and synonyms. The 'second section deals with foliage and CONRAD B. LINK woody plants. F erns listed .in one portion do not all seem to be chosen with care. Bracken w?uld soon become a pest, whereas purple chffbrake would be unlikely to "'[ow at all Bulletin No. 1, The Louisiana Society well unless given proper co ndition~ near lime­ stone. None of the spleenworts are mentioned for Horticulture Research. although several are quite easily g,rown and Copies available from Mrs. U. B. Evans, are useful as well as beautiful 1n the shade Haphazard Plantation. Ferriday, Louisiana. garden. 26 pa,ges, illustrated in color and black and The remainder of this section is quite well white. $1.50. written and deals with deciduous and evergreen shrubs as fully as could be expected without ao- This particular issue, under the editorship of Mrs. Truax, is full of new things and very ing into undue detail. b The remaining section of the book deals with exciting to those who live ,in the South in design of gardens, special ty,pes of aarden and particular. Its main themes have to do with garden maintenance. The in'£orm:tion pres­ amaryllids, the reports by Dr. Traub and ented is in a useful form and should be of others on the plants brought back from Bo­ livia by Dr. Ira Nelson, with enouah mate­ ~o nsidera:ble help in designing and maintain­ mg a shade garden. rial to clear up some of the problems of This book should be quite valuable as a n?menclature .and one very exciting new spe­ guide in developing a shade garden if it is cIes! .Amarylhs evansiae. There is an equally bornt; in m,ind that New England gardening excltmg r.eport on the collecting of Zephyran­ thes specIes by the Clints of Brownsville practIces WIll not always be suita,ble for the Texas. ' rest of the United States. The text is in­ teresting and well written while the illustra­ . A~y one who has any interest in garden­ tions give some ideas of plant material and m~ m the South and in Amaryllis will need garden design. thIS copy. T)'Ie editor is delighted to bring it F. W. COE to the attentIon of the Society. 308 Annuals From Seed. Roy Genders. Gives de­ Roses for Every Garden. tails of growing many annuals and tells how to R. C. Allen. M. Barrows and Company, New get the best results from sowing your own seed. York. 1956. 218 pages. Illustrated. $4.50. (Library). Cacti and Succulents. Lawrence W . Cahill & Peter J. Panting. The recent surge of interest Rose growers everywhere will welcome the new in these plants has demanded the production of a revised edition of Dr. A ll en's Roses f01' Every reasonably priced booklet on their care. This one Garden, which is an authoritative guide to Ameri­ is essentially practical, g.iving the principles on can roses and includes many new developments which the maintenance of these plants in a healthy since 1948. state depends. The book commences with the story of roses throughout the world and their devel()pment to Chrysanthe11lLu.111s for Everyone. Fred W. the present day. A section is devoted to the bush Loads. Specifically written fo r the novice with roses and their present day classifications. It in­ good information and advice on how to obtain the cludes hybrid teas, fl orabundas, grandifloras, poly­ best results, whether in greenhouse or garden. anthas, hybrid perpetuals, shrub roses and shrub roses for hedges, miniatures, tree or standard roses Climbing Plants For Y mt?' Ga.rden. Douglas and the old-fashioned roses. In each classification Bartrum. This one tells of many climbing he gives a list of varieties popular in all sections plants. The handbook arranges the vines for ap­ of the country, based on personal observations, peal during the four seasons of the year. surveys and reports of amateur growers through­ out the country. There are many handsome col­ Dahlia Growing. T. R. H. Leber. Although this ored photographs of the roses li sted. one is written for the beginner, the booklet also There is a chapter entitled "Yo.ur First Rose has much that will be of interest and help the ex­ Planting," with valuable suggestions on selection perienced in getting the fin est flowers. of v;irieties and proper location of plantings. This chapter is followed by pages on so il s, planting and Flower Arrangement. Charles Hewitt. For transplanting and a chapter on the care of roses. Christmas, is a P otato Ball arrangement a new Pruning, cutting and disbudding, spraying and idea? dusting each have their sections. In "Insects, the Common Eight," a description is given of each of Garden Roses. Stanley B. Whitehead. Dr. White- these pests and the best methods of disP9sing of head shows how it is possible to cultivate larger them. Methods of control of diseases are given and better blooms by taking a little extra care with in the chapter "Diseases, the Big Four." "Culture planning, soil preparation and planting. for Special Climates" is a valuable chapter, as is the chapter on "Pleasures and Pitfalls of Exhibit­ H edges, Their Pl(Jj/1,ting and Care. Ray Gen­ in"''' which covers the show field. With interest ders. Why plant a ohedge? Oimate & Soil. Re­ in"" propagation and hybridizing increasing daily novating. Coloured foliage. And other helpful amon'" roses growers, the chapter on this subject items. will be of great value. On the lighter side is the delightful chapter on "Fun with Roses" and the Indoor Plant Growing. Stanley B. Whitehead. novice will treasure the "Glossary on Rose Jar­ Details the culture, management, and what to "'on" which will enahle him to understand the grow indoors. lirose talk" of experts. Readers of Dr. Allen's book will agree with the Japanese and Miniature Gardens. Leslie Wool- author that the future of the rose "is full of ard. The accumulated experience of many years, glorious possibilities" and .that an enthu~iasm for embracing numerous secrets and wrinkles, has been roses will not only result 111 more .beautIful home crystallized into making this a most complete book­ "'rounds but "as a common denominator in human let on the subj ect. ;elations, they have no superiors and few eq uals, and many fine friendships have developed from a Lilies and Their Cultivation. M. E. Leeburn. common interest in the rose." Written by an expert lily grower, this is a very KATHERINE BARRETT POZER helpful booklet on the cultivation of lilies. Orchid G1'owing. John W. Blowers. He proves that orchid growing is not an impossible pleas­ Pa1'ty Flowers. ure. Constance Spry. Studio Publications, Inc., in Rock Gardening. Roy Genders. Besot position, association with Thomas Y. Crowell Company, selecting stones, propagation, likes and dislikes New York. 1956. 80 pages. 19 colour and 22 (of plants), maintenance, etc., are furnished in this black a nd white plates. $2.95. (Library). one. Mrs. Spry, internationally famous British flower The above thirteen titles have these things in arranger, chosen to .do the flo',¥er work f~r .ou~en common: 1. Published under the general editor­ Elizabeth's coronatIOn, descnbes her dlst1l1ctlve ship of W. A. Foyle. 2. Published by W. & G. decorations f.or the 350-guest luncheon following Foyle, Ltd., London, within the past three years the Abbey ceremony. Other illustrations picture mCTlinly fo r the English clitn~e. 3. Distributed by her lavish use of garden and hothouse flowers, Dover Publications, Inc.. , New York. 4. P aper fruits, vegetables, foliage plants and shrubs from bound-approXiimately the same size. 5. Contain early spring through Christmas, both for formal about a hundred pages. 6. Illustrated. 7. Cost 65 parties and home celebrations. cents each. 8. (Library). M. C. L. 309 Ornamental Conifers. Native Plants for California Gardens. v. Chaudun, translated from the French by Lee W. Lenz. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gar­ Vera Higgins. Crosby Lockwood & Son, Ltd., dens, Claremont, California. 166 pages. Illus­ London. 1957. 114 pages. Illustrated. 17/. trated. Published for the Garden by Abbey Garden Press. Pasadena. $3.85. A book on a specia:1ized subject aiming at the provision of sound cultural notes, description of This is an excellent book. It was planned for recommended species, the whole arranged to use of the home gardener and yet will be useful give the maximum practical advice to profes­ to more technically trained persons. It has been siona-1s and amateurs in easy form. Gardeners planned specifically to bring to the attention of will be surprised by the pleasing effects to be gardeners in California many of the plants that gained with conifers and with the help of the are of very 'Particular value to them and for excellent color and monochrome illustrations very particular uses and locations. This re­ wil,1 discover the best methods of obtaining viewer, who once lived and ,gardened briefly in them. California, only wishes that it had been avail­ By choosing only those ornamental conifers able in his time. which can be g1'own in Europe and by conden­ Many of the plants treated are better known sing within the limits 0'£ this book all that need a'broad than in their native state although this be known in order to grow the plants well, a is true of other plants native to America. useful and practica.l 'work has resulted. After a The illustrations are excellent and the text quick look at the classifi,cation and the distribu­ not only informative but pleasant to read. There tion of conifers in the world, so as to under­ are enough pointers in relation t0' culture of the stand their cultural requirements better, the plants under garden conditions to assure suc­ subject is developed in more detail for the ben­ cess, if attention is paid to them. This is the efit of the professional. As a guide to choice point that is most often neglected in texts there foHow lists, according to 'Position or pur­ that deal wih native plants, all of which are pose, of species best adapted to each situation. not immediately amenable to garden conditions The larger part of the work is devoted to the and practices. description of the genera, species, and var,ieties As a non-resident reading the text one may with as far as possible the determining charac­ be m0'ved to covetous feelings and if the gar­ ter, which make it possible in each case to un­ dener-reader is any kind of an adventurer he ravel the error s in nomenclature frequently will plunge into experiments, for not too rarely found in many gardens. it comes about that plants that seem particu­ larly happy under certain conditions of life will accept others with more than good grace. The plants cited, insofar as this reviewer knows them, are all plants that are worthy of garden inclusions for the i r perfectly patent charms, and their suitability to specific use. The Little Bulbs. E.. Y. M. Elizabeth Lawrence. Criterion Books, Inc., New York. 1957. 248 pages. No illustrations. $4.00. (Library). The gardens of the author at Charlotte (erst­ while Raleigh), North Carolina, and of Carl H. Orchids, Culture and Descriptions. Krippendorf at Cincinnati, Ohio, furnish the ma­ Marcel Lecoufle & Henri Rose. Crosby Lock­ ter.ials for this book. With one exception, the wood & Son, Ltd., London. 1957. 112 pages. V01ce heard is largely that of experience and ex­ Illustrated. 17/. (Library). periment, not of folklore and bibliolatry. The ex­ ception is the author's devotion to the still valid Both authors are French and the book, as wisdom of Mrs. Loudon's Ladies' Flower Gar­ may be expected, has a characteristic French den of Ornamental and Bulbous Plants pub­ quality. Lecoufle probably is the ·best known lished in London a century and a quart~r ago. contemporary French orchid grower and is Snowdrops, snowflakes, squills, small daffo­ well versed in orchid culture. dils, hardy cyclamen, crocuses, and small mem­ The baok is written for the amateur orchid bers of the iris and lily families are covered. grower. It is well illustrated in both black and Suggestions will also be found about arowina white and color phatographs. The calar phato­ oxalis, habranthus, zephyranthes, col~hicum; graphs af the American "Alpine" orchids, Mil­ nothoscordum, bulbous iris, oblidanthus, and tania and Odontaglossum as well as Malaya's many others. The reader will inevita,bly be se­ Cypripediums (Paphiopedilums) are outstand­ duced in trying species new to him. The au­ ing. Some of the captians are in French, with thor's own failures are readily confessed how­ English translations grouped tagether on ane ever, which will tend to protect the r~ader's page. pocket-book. Even so, the .book should delight The baok touches an the ecology and anata­ the heart,S and tills of Messrs. Giridlian, Hay­ my of the ORCHIDACEAE, but major stress is ward and Houdyshel, and possibly even the plaJced 0'n horiticultural care and taxanomy of transoceanic Mr. Van Tubergen. the better known orchid genera. The taxanomy The Little Bu.lbs is non-technical, simple, per­ is interestingly written and easily read, and in­ haps homeS'Pun, but a great deal can be learned cludes the etymol0'gy of the genera listed. The from it. It carries conviction. cultural care has a definite French savoir-faire. FREDERIC P. LEE E. G.

310 The Guide to Roses. Sixty-four co lor plates picturing 132 roses 32 plates in black and white, most of then: Bertram Park. D. Van Nostrand Company, from photographs made by the author himself Inc., Princeton, New Jersey. 1956. 288 plus a very good index, help to make this book pages. Illustrated. $5.95. (Library). a worthy addition to the library of any hor­ All information about roses and their cul ­ ticulturi t. ture published almost anywhere in the world NIELS J. HANSEN will eventually cross the desk of that emin­ ent ro arian, Sir Bertram Park, O.B.E., Chevahe-}' dlo Me'rite Agricole, Honourable Editor of Publications, National Ro e Soci­ Orchids for Home a11d Ga1'den. ety of Great Britain and several other publica­ tions. T. A. Fennell, Jr. Rinehard & Company, Inc., With such a wealth of data to draw from, New York. 1956. 130 page. Illustrated. $2.95. coupled with a personal experience of prac­ (Library) . tical rose growing extending over a period of several decades, it is reasonable to expect that The author, nurtured, as it were, in an or­ a book on roses written by Sir Bertranl would chid jungle, is well qualified to write such a be authoritative and instructive as well as in­ book on orchid growing. He is also the grand­ t eresting to readers beyond the confines of the son of a man who, many years ago, purchased British Isles; and such is the case with his one of the mos t attractive hammocks near book. Home tead in Southern Florida and fi ll ed it Touching lightly on history, the author de­ with exoti c orchid s. H e has also lived through votes a large part of the first chapter to the the experience of seeing orohids, only a few evolution of our modern roses. In succeed­ hort years ago, pampered as frailties to be ing chapters, he covers carefully rose culture grown in exacting greenhouses to the present from preparation of the soil, planning, pur ­ day consid eration as "toughies" in the horticul­ chasing and planting to pruning, watering and tural world- to be grown in kitchens and bay feeding. Other chapters deal with insect pests windows and treated no better than we treat and their control, diseases and their cure or ourselves. prevention. In this handy little reference book, which is Almost 150 pages, more than half of the also refreshingly readable, Fennell gives all the book, are used to describe and classify pop­ steps necessary for any novice to become an ular roses of the five main classes or horticul­ orchid enthusiast, from how, what, and where tural groups. Lists of roses recommended to grow orchids, how to buy them, how to take for specifi c use are included in the fi ve chap­ care of them, to lastly, what to do with the ters set aside for variety descriptions. Where flowers. known, parentage, originator, introducer and The book is amply illustrated with photo­ the American Rose Society's rating are given graphs (eight in color) and drawings by the for each variety. author. It contains a wealth of information and Chapters on potted roses under glass, prop­ should be readily available to anyone who is agation and hybridization give a clear and interes ted in growing plants of this fascinating easily fo llowed description of the procedure fam il y. to be followed if one wishes to indulge in these D. S. CORRELL special fields. So also the chapter on exhibit­ ing roses; but the l.ist of suitable varieties as well as notes on timing the blooming date by varying the pruning date according to varie­ Plant Propagation in Pictures. ties may be of little value in America. Sir Bertram does not sub scribe to the no­ Montague Free. The American Garden Guild, tion that modern roses have lost their fra­ and Doubleday & Company, Inc., New York. grance. On the contrary, he feels so strongly 1957. 249 pages. Illustrated. $4.95. (Library). on this point that a whole chapter is set aside to dispel the idea as false. He actually waxes This is a "how-to" book on propagation done indignant in his text defending the honor of with photograJphs, mainly by the author but also our modern roses in this respect. His point is taken from other propagation works. It truly well taken, and it is easy to agree with him covers the field from an amateur standpoint on this particular subj ect. and one can skim through the material rapidly. The chapter on culinary and medi cinal use In some instances, the details are too brief for of the rose may be of interest to a limited a novice to follow, as in the case of budding, number of readers; but the monthly remind­ wherein the whole matter is di scussed in six ers of work in the rose garden throughout illustrations with a scarcity of text. Such im­ the year and information about the great rose portant matters when to bud and -cutting back societies of the world as well as the various of the stock are left to the choice of the continental trial grounds are of general in­ individual so that another text must be re­ terest. sorted to. Despite such shortcomings which The concluding chapter covering all of two must be forgiven because of the extensive pic­ p.ages is a refreshing admission of a conserva­ torial eff ort, it is a worthy book to have on tIve. rose grower that it may be possible to hand and will give the gardener a number of ~chleve success in more ways than one; that good id eas that might be diffi cult to grasp from III rose growing there is no exact formula to a text. This particularly applies to equipment follow. and propagati on methods. J. L. C. 311 Colchicine-in Agriculture, Medicine, Biology and Control of the Smut FU11gi. Biology and Chemistry. George William Fischer & Charles Stewart O. J. Eigsti & Pierre Dustin, Jr. The Iowa Holton. The Ronald Press Company, New State College Press, Ames, Iowa. 1955. 470 York. 1957. 622 pa.ges. Illustrated. $10.00. pages. lllustrated. $5.00. (Library). (Library) . This is a very complete study of the alka­ Those devoted to the strict practice of hor­ loid colchichine. Dr. Eigisti, who has done ex­ ticulture would be unlikely to acquire interest tensive work on the effects of colchichine on in the group of fungi commonly known as smut, plant material, has collaborated with Pierre or technically as the U stilaginales. Relatively Dustin, J r., M.D., who, in turn, has continued few of these distinctive and successful parasites his father's studies on the medical applications trouble the plants dear to the home gardener. of this drug. A few wild flowers, several aquatics and a The first chapter deals with the historical as­ number of minor ornamentals in the COMPOS 1- pects of the plant source of colchichine and gives TAE (The Aster Family) would embrace most a brief review of the medical and biological as­ of the hosts of smuts with which the horticul­ pects of the drug which are much more exten­ turist is concerned. Not so, of course, the grow­ sively covered in later 'POrtions of the book. ers of cereals, in which the smuts cause enor­ Chapters deal thoroughly with the mitotic ef­ mous losses. But if one's biological interests fects of co chi chine in both plants and animals, transcend the scope of everyday fruit and flower the sources of the drug in nature, its chemistry culture, if one is willing at least vicariously to and pharmacology. Three chapters deal with explore a strange plant group, which in mor­ the effects of the drug on animal material and phology and environmental relations is almost plant 'and animal neoplasms. This is foHowed as distinctive among the fungi as that extra­ by a useful chapter on experimentally produced ordinary family, the Cacti, among the flower­ polyploidy containing definitions of common ing plants, so aptly termed the "Fantastic Clan," terms used in this work. Four more chapters then here is a book that would reward others cover the various forms of polyploidy and their than professional mycologists. Written in terms criteria for judging them. that the layman will readily understand, and A section dealing with techniques of treat­ each chapter-such as Life History and Para­ ment will be of use to those interested in ex­ sitism, Hybridization and Mutation, and Gene­ perimental application of the drug. Each chap­ tics - an integral essay in itself, not requiring ter is followed ,by a very extensive bibliography the consecutive reading of the whole book, it and in addition there is an author's index. A is to be well recommended for extracurricular thorough table of contents is helpful in locat­ browsing. F. A. W. ing material. One minor error is noted in a reproduction of a drawing by Di,oscorides (p.5). A "seed­ producing portion of C olchic1tm a1ttt~11111OIe" is depicted but this is obviously Le1tcojum v ernt~1n in hloom and not the seed pod of a Colchim111 . All in all this is a scholarly work and of in­ terest to those who wish to get all of the avail­ able material on colchicine and its uses. It Handbook of B1'oad-leaved Everg1'eens. can hardly be recommended for light reading. F. W. COE Guest Editor Brian O. Mulligan, Associate Editor Peter K. Nelson. A special reprint of Plants and Garden-s Vol. 12, No.3. $1.00. Of all the excellent handbooks issued from The Loganberry. the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this has by far the best "coverage" as far as geographic areas Mary E. Logan. (Mrs. James H.). Privately are concerned and its widely chosen contribu­ Published by the author, 539 Merritt Ave­ tors have among them a few souls who were nue, Oakland, California. 1955. 20 pages. II­ willing to include things in their listings that lustra ted. (Library). are not often found in the average garden. It remains, however, a hooklet, for the beginner A small booklet telling of the origin and de­ rather than the old hand. velopment of the Loganberry by Judge James The articles not only cover the field of plant H. Logan. The story has been compiled by re­ materials but various details of propagation producing sections from experiment station bul­ and garden practice which are of great value. letins, newspaper accounts and notes made by The contents are sufficiently varied so that the judge who was an amateur horticulturist. nearly everyone, except perhaps persons from The Loganberry is a seedling from a cross be­ interior California or the extreme tip of Flor­ tween the California wild blacJ<,berry and a red ida will find something for their particular use. raspberry thought to he one known as 'Red For areas in which broad-leaved evergreens Antwer,p.' The 'seedling fruited for the first time are almost impossible, there is the amazing re­ in 1882. After several years of testing it was port of work at Morton Arboretum in which turned over to the University of California for are faithfully reported the "missing in action." propagation and distribution and released to the The address of the Brooklyn Botani·c Garden public in 1893. is, of course, as always Brooklyn 25, New York. CONRAD B. LINK E. Y. M . 312

A List of Organizations Affiliated With The ( American Horticultural Society American Association of Nurserymen American Begonia Society American Begonia Society, San Francisco Branch American Camellia Society American Gloxinia Society American Hibisc us Society A~erican Iris Society American Peony Society American Rhododendron Society American Rhododendron Society, Middle Atlantic Chapter American Rose Society Bethesda Community Garden Club (Maryland) California Garden Clubs, Inc. California Horticultural Society Central Florida Horticultural Society ( Orlando) Chester Horticultural Society (Virginia) Chevy Chase (D. C.) Garden Club Garden Center of Greater Cleveland Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati Garden Club of Alexandria (Virginia) Garden Club of Bellport, New York Garden Club of Chevy Chase, Maryland Garden Club of Danville (Virginia) Garden Club of Fairfax (Virginia) Garden Club of Virginia Garden Library of Michigan Georgetown Garden Club (D. C.) Green Thumb Garden Club (Virginia) Herb Society of America Holly Society of America Houston Horticultural Society Hunting Creek (Alexandria, Virginia) Garden Club Iowa State Horticultural Society Kenwood Garden Club (Maryland) La Salle Horticultural Society (Montreal) Manitowoc Men's Garden Club (Wisconsin) Men's Garden Clubs of America Men's Garden Club of Montgomery (Maryland) County Men's Horticultural Society (Tennessee) Michigan Horticultural Society Midwest Horticultural Society Moline (Illinois) Horticultural Society, Inc. National Capital Dahlia Society National Capital Garden Club League National Council of State Garden Clubs Neighborhood Garden Club (Virginia) New Orleans Garden Society, Inc. North American Lily Society Northern Nut Growers' Association, Inc. Ohio Association of Gardea Clubs P ennsylvania H orticultural Society Perennial Garden Club (D. C.) Pittsburgh Garden Center Plainfield Garden Club (New Jersey) Potomac Rose Society (D. C.) San Francisco Garden Club Southern California Camellia Society Seven Seas Garden Club (Maryland) T akoma H orticultural Club (Maryland-D. C.) T albot County Garden Club (Maryland) W ashington (D. C.) Garden Club W orcester County H orticultural Society