TIIE NA.TIONA.L

EMERGING FFtOM TH E

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HORTlCUllURAL SOCIETY, INC. * January 1959 The National HORTICULTURAL Magazine

*** to accumulate, increase, and disseminate horticultural information *** ' ~

OFFICERS EDITOR STUART ]'vI. ARMSTRONG, PRESIDENT B. Y. MORRISON Silver Spring, Maryland MANAGING EDITOR HENRY T. SKINNER, FIRST VICE· PRESIDENT Washington, D.C. JAMES R. HARLOW

MRS. WALTER DOUGLAS, SECOND VICE· PRESIDENT EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Chauncey, New York & Phoenix, Arizona WALTER H. HODGE, Chainnan EUGENE GRIFFITH, SECRETARY JOH N L. CREECH Takoma Park, Maryland FREDERIC P. LEE MISS OLIVE E. WEATHER ELL, TREASURER CONRAD B. LINK Olean, New York & Washington, D.C. CURTIS MAY

DIRECTORS The National Horticultural Maga· zine is the official publication of the Ten71s Expi?'ing 1959 American Horticultural Society and is Donovan S. Correll, Texas issued four times a year during the Frederick W. Coe, Califomia quarters commencing with January, April, July and October. It is devoted Miss Margaret C. Lancaster, Mm'yland to the dissemination of knowledge in Mrs. Francis Patteson.Knight, Vi1'ginia the science and art of growing orna· Freeman A. Weiss, District of Columbia mental plants, fruits, vegetables, and related subjects. Original papers increasing the his· Tenns Expi'ring 1960 torical, varietal, and cultural knowl· John L. Creech, l\IIaryland edges of plant materials of economic Frederic Heutte, Virginia and aesthetic importance are weI· comed and will be published as early Ralph S. Peer, Califomia as possible. The Chairman of the Edi· R. P. White, District of Columbia torial Committee should be consulted l'vlrs. Harry Wood, Pennsylvania for manuscript specifications. Reprints, saddle·stapled, will be fur· nished in accordance with the follow· Eme1'itus ing schedule of prices, plus postage, Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, District of Columbia and should be ordered at the time the galley proof is returned by the author: Mrs. Mortimer J. Fox, New York Mrs. J. Norman Henry, Pennsylvania Copies 2 pp 4 pp 8 pp 12 pp Covers Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Scott, Pennsylvania 100 $6.60 12.10 25.30 36.30 I2.l0

Entered as second class matter in the post office at Baltimore, Maryland, in accordance with the Act of August 24, 1912. Additional entry for Washingon, D.C., was authorized July 15, 1955, in accordance with the pro· visions of Section 132.122, Postal Manual. A subscription to The National Horticulural Magazine is included as a benefit of membership in the American Horticultural Society, the dues being $5.00 a year. The National Horticultural Magazine

Volume Thirty--eight

Washington, D. C. 1959 COPYRIGHT

THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC., 1959 The National Horticultural Magazine

VOL. 38 Copyrigh ~ , 1959, by THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, I NC . No.1

JANUARY 1959

CONTENTS

Designing an Environment for Man. ROGER B. THOMPSON Part 1. Selection and Arrangement of Plants in the Landscape ______1 Part II. Qualities of Space ______6 Jardin Gillet of the Belgian Congo. LOUIS O. WILLIAMS ______12 Poinsettias as Landscape Plants. VIRGINIA W. GAUNT ______18 The "Earth Apple." PAUL L. DOUGHTY ______21 The Hellebores. A. E. LEUDY ______26 Attractive Perennial Campanulas. ROBERT M. SENIOR ______32 The Philippine Jadevine. MONA LISA STEINER ______42 A Book or Two ______.______46

The Gardeners' Pocketbook Some Thoughts on Foundation Planting ______50 Autumn Foliage Colors on Glenn Dale Azaleas.______52 Magnolia grandifloTa From Cuttings ______53 Summer bloom from bulbs ______.______54 A First Planting of Brodiaeas ______55 T h rya llis g la u ca ______55 A rum pic tum, 0 h, N o! ______55 Echeveria affi.nis A new succulent from Sinaloa, Mexico ______.______56 Rosa m uta b i Iis ______57 The Native Cross-Vine ------r------______57 Firm iana si mp Ie x ______58 A Note on Early History of Saintpaulia ______60 C,-inum, Ellen Bosanquet ______60 Strongylodon macrobotrys

A close-up view of the foliage and pendent in{101'escence (See Page 42, The Philippine ]adevine) Designing an Environment for Man

ROGER B. THOMPSON'"

PART I Selection and Arrangement of Plants in the Landscape

Man is continuously changing the a preoccupation with one (and this ap­ form and use of vast areas of the earth's plies to either) may lead to some neglect surface with the hope of reaping some of the other. The ability to use plants benefit, but expending only a minute in the landscape may be limited by a fraction of this labor with the intention tendency to view plants as ends in them­ of increasing his own pleasure in its selves. When a plant is considered to appearance. The number of people in­ have intrinsic merit, when it has become terested and actively engaged in its an end sufficient unto itself, as may any visual improvement, however, is very blue ribbon winner, the gardener may large, particularly in the United States have great difficulty in appraising its and those other countries where space, value in the landscape. He even may be money and leisure permit more than quite disturbed if told it has little to token activity. none. Ability to design is to a consider­ The effectiveness of this group, the able degree dependent upon ability to gardeners, is quite generally reduced by abstract, to see a landscape not as made a preoccupation with plants. Horticul­ up of a list of plants but rather as an tural perfection does not assure land­ organization of forms, textures, colors. scape beauty. This was forcibly im­ To the landscape designer, a plant is pressed upon me more than twenty-five a material which he uses to produce a years ago when I watched a British desired effect. He makes a relatively landscape architect build, for one of the objective appraisal of its qualities in larger flower shows, one of the most much the same way that a building de­ beautiful rock gardens I have ever seen, signer appraises his brick and wood and, although the quality of plant material if it meets with his approval, makes use available to him was no better than of it. If, in his estimation, it does not mediocre. have the qualities required for its posi­ This is not to suggest that quality of tion in the design, he is undeterred by material is in any way inimical to quali­ any factor of name, rarity, nostalgia, or ty of design; it is merely to indicate that price. He feels no qualms at disregard­ ing plants that win show prizes in favor • Roger B. Thompson, a landscape architect, is Assist· of those as common as cabbages, or for­ ant Professor of Horticulture in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Under the titled subject, Pro· going the "better" varieties of the spe­ fessor Thompson will discuss the elements of landscape design in four papers. The first two: art structure and cialist as less useful than the old. principles of organization, and spatial development or This process of selection seems to be the organization of space, are presented now. Indoor and outdoor relationships, and the reconciliation of something of a mystery to those who man. plants, ~f1d grou nds, will appear in a later issue of the magazine during the year. have seen their scrubbed and laundered [1] 2 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

pecimens passed by. ''''hen it is re­ matures it will increase its occup:mcy of membered that plants are b.eing sel~c~ed space from that portion below eye lev~l for their structural and design qualIties, to that directly at eye level (and at thiS exactly as a building designer selects his stage may constitute a complete block­ wood and stone, the question becomes age) and may pass on upward to occupy less mysterious. very largely only space above eye l~vel, The noted analogy between plant and the effect of these changes upon the visual structural materials should be more appearance of the .entire landscaped area fully explored. In each, strength and is often underestimated. For 1I1stance, camellia fanciers who were much pleased durability adequate to the pur p 0 s e with the layout of their plantations would seem to be prime requisites. To when young, when it was possible to make the application specific: a. plant look over them without interruption must grow. It must grow welJ 111 th~ of the view, have sometimes been seized climate of the area, in the speCIfic habi­ with consternation when their plants tat location, without requiring more grew large enough to block view at eye cultural attention than the owner is both level, for by then the total space had capable and willing to expend. And it become fragmented and their view re­ must be relatively permanent. stricted to the small areas between plant Each climatic area imposes its own re­ and plant. A more extended discussion strictions upon choice. Each microcli­ of space in the landscape, a very complex mate and habitat within this larger area subject is given in Part II below. present variants which may either en­ larg'e or restrict the list of species and Size in plants must also be considered varieties it is feasible to use in any spe­ in relation to their form and density. cific location. For example, the climate Size can usually be restricted by pruning, of the upper south permits the growing for even such a normally large tree as the of many of the semi-evergreen azaleas. beech may be clipped or sheared to hedge The necessity for special soil prepara­ size and thus restricted indefinitely. Such tion in some localities which must con­ practices necessarily alter form. If na­ tend with calcareous soils, heavy clay or tural form is to be completely preserved an excessive amount of sand is widely no major top pruning can be practiced. understood, but we still frequently see Root pruning also can restrict size, but them planted on the south side of homes inevitably alters form and density, the in subdivisions which, with respect to short terminal growth of a severely root this genus, must be considered both bar­ pruned plant increasing the frequency ren and arid. of lateral growths. We may compare Vitex agnus-castus and Buxus semper­ The list of plants suitable for any site, viTens as offering some extremes in rate however, is initially extensive. It is only of growth, form and density, although when we apply visual criteria that it the ultimate heights and widths of some begins to so rapidly diminish that we varieties may not be far different. begin to wonder whether any plant can Density of deciduous plants varies with be found to fill the bill or whether some season, to the degree of completely ob­ compromise will be forced upon us. scuring view or permitting considerable Mature size, obviously, becomes a penetration. As penetration of the plant prime consideration. When time to mass is increased by reduction of foliage, maturity is long it may be coupled with form also changes; outlines become less rate of growth, thus introducing a vari­ precisely defined and structural lines of able to be related to sociological and trunk, branches and twigs become more other factors not primarily concerned evident. Thus, as the aspect changes, with visual appearance. When time to attention is moved from one portion of maturity is relatively short and mature the plant to another or, as the appear­ size closely predictable, the problem is ance of the plant group changes, it may simplified. be diverted from one plant to another, Plants do much more to space than effecting a considerable change in focal­ simply occupy it in increasing amounts ization and emphasis. The result may be during the years. They also divide space. a very desirable variability in the scene While it is obvious that as a tall plant or, when unexpected and unplanned, JANUARY 1959, VOLUl'vIE 38, NUMBER 1 3 may cause a serious disintegration of the cavity, all of which affect direction and composition. degree of light reflection. R.apid vari­ Very great opportunities for diversity ation of reflected light, as seen from are offered by texture, a quality often leaves of tulip and the poplars from the almost unrecognized and frequently time they are half grown, is dependen t handled with apparent but entirely un­ not only upon their surface but more warranted trepidation. Several of the largely upon length and flexibility of older books on landscaping even warn petiole, which permits movement in the against strong textural contrasts and slightest breeze, so different from the advocate careful transitions. I have a rigidity of stiff or sessile leaves. feeling that these writers merely reflect In deciduous plants, texture during a narrow experience and are not well the leafless period will be determined by acquainted with the drama and vitality number, form and arrangement of which become increasingly eviden t as branches and twigs. Since these may one approaches the tropics with its aston­ have been largely obscured by foliage ishing leaf sizes and juxtapositions. during the summer, texture may remain On the other hand, need for textural of similar character, fine or coarse, or diversity and change may not be appreci­ may be completely changed. Catalpa, with large leaves and thick, stiff, widely ated simply because this characteristic spaced twigs remains coarse in both sum· has passed unnoticed. I have in mind a mer and winter. 'il\Tillows remain fine to small woodland composed largely of medium fine at both seasons. But golden­ dogwood and black cherry, with a few rain, which has a soft and fragile appear· persimmon and blackgum, a small elm ance when in full leaf, becomes stiff and or two along' one border, and' hickories coarse when divested of foliage. in the distance. On -remarking to the owner of the near uniformity of leaf ColO?' in deciduous foliage can be size and consequent monotony of effect, seasonally subtle or brilliant during the he replied that he had never noticed it short period of growth and development, before, 'but that the addition of oak, pine the longer one at completion of the and tulip certainly would add to the cycle, or in some varieties for the dura­ interest. In such a landscape some very tion of the leaf. The less emphatic important shrubs, as the lilacs and sev­ colors, such as the yellowish or grayish eral of the viburnums, would be undesir­ greens, become more positive when able simply because of their size of leaf. viewed in contrast to those bearing hints Plants with smaller or larger leaves, as of other hues and tones. An apple tree crape myrtle, Mentor barberry and oak­ in my yard is seen quite obviously gray leaf hydrangea, to mention only a few against the yellow green of dogwood. possibilities among the deciduous, would Agai!1st a silver maple it changes from add important contrast. ' gray to dark green as the wind riffles the maple leaves and displays one side or the The texture of a plant depends upon other. Many startling effects have been many more factors than leaf size and achieved with colored foliage, some of shape. Grouping of leaves has a very which appear to be useful for nothing great effect, and is quite largely depend­ more than to startle. ent upon branch structure, twig forma­ Evergreen plants exhibit much less tion, and length of internode, the hickor­ seasonal change, at the most a dulling or ies mentioned above giving a quite differ­ brightening of their basic hue. A few, ent effect from that of ma'ny genera by notably some of the junipers and arbor­ virtue of the open light or darkly shad­ vitaes, suffer a definite change of hue owed spaces between leaflets, so different from green toward red, blue or yellow, from the serried ranks of 'the dogwood never brilliant, but decidedly important on the face of their dense twig masses: in any design. Leaf outline, whether lobed, serrate These diverse characteristics of species, or entire, has its effect, especially at close covering a range so wide that in a list range. So does the surface, with its possi­ of many hundreds it is seldom that on bilities for gloss or pubescence, smooth­ close observation anyone will be mis­ ness or deep venation, convexity or con- taken for another, are at once a joy and 4 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE a tremendous challenge to the landscape Principles indicate direction of proced­ designer, forcing him to make an orderly ure, and are far less restrictive to the selection by characteristic, forbidding the imagination. exercise of personal preference except One of the oldest rules was that a as it may be included as an additional unified and stable composition could be stricture. As he runs through the list assured by creating an axis between some of requirements (permanence, size, form, important feature of the house, prefer­ density, line, textuTe, and coloT) , his list ably a door or stair, and some distant of acceptable plants diminishes, even terminal feature, therr arranging identi­ sometimes to the vanishing point. He cal materials symmetrically on either is then faced with substitution and com­ sid€. The perfect balance so achieved promise, a disturbance inevitably of tended to be monotonous unless interest many planned relationships in addition was increased by increasing the com­ to the item of immediate consideration. plexity of forms, texture, colors, as seen Yet how often in his search (for avail­ in the more pleasing formal gardens. ability, cost, and expense of transporta­ We are constantly facing this problem tion always intrude) he is offered a speci­ of how to maintain unity or coherence men meeting no more than one of his while at the same time to provide ample requirements with the glib, "It's a better interest in every design we create. Error plant!" For his design it may be com­ in one direction leads us toward dullness pletely useless. and monotony, in the opposite toward chaos. A satisfying course between the The assignment 6f color' to position two is not always easy to achieve. of least importance may seem strange to those who place a high value upon 'Analysis of photographs is an excellent garden flowers. Both color and texture method for acquiring judgment of de­ are surface characteristics of materials, sign, often better than observation of the and therefore must rate lower than the actual area illustrated. Pictures are structural characteristics, size and form. limited in extent, and published photo­ Color in flowers is of less permanence, graphs are selected with considerable and consequently of less importance, care for the qualities they display, which than texture of foliage. Even the bright­ are in consequence easily identified. Nor est foliage colors, except green, are never nee<:i the subject be limited to landscape, pure or intense, being always muted by for rooms offer exactly' the same prob­ the green of chlorophyll. lems and because of their size limit possi­ The quality of any landscape design bilities for complexity. It is much easier rests upon the qualities of its materialS to make an analysis of a living room to the same degree that the pleasing or than of a half-acre lot. Furthermore, it displeasing appearance of a building is is not difficult to discover pictures of detennined by its materials. When struc­ interiors which show at least half of the turally sound, even the most common room presented, whereas gardens are can be arranged in a manner visually often shown only by their most attractive and emotionally satisfying. Conversely, fragments, a landscape, even a garden of rare, expensive and well cultured plants any size, requiring such a series of views do not assure a pleasing landscape any for its' complete presentation that publi­ more 'than the use of glass and stainless cation space would be excessive. steel and anodized aluminum assure a Analysis should first be directed to­ beautiful building, although they may ward discovering what promotes co­ make a flashy one. herence, this being much more difficult to The problems of arrangement, since achieve than its converse. Balance should there is nothing so frightening as the be expected and easily detected, not complete freedom of the clean sheet of necessarily the symmetrical balance of paper or the bare field, have lead to the the Taj Mahal or the knot garden, but formulation of many rules and princi­ usualIy the asymmetrical or occult. ples. Rules, like crutches, are useful to Balance implies an equilibrium of inter­ give temporary security and instill a ests, and the interests can be as diverse feeling of qmfidence. Retained beyond as all the complex possibilities of size, this point they become a handicap. fonn, density, line, texture, and color JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 5

permit, which is far beyond my power To further explore this example, place to compute. Balance of identical objects settings do offer, almost force, beautiful is static; equilibrium of interest tends to contrasts of forms, textures and colors be dynamic, for it is held by opposed and in these contrasts produce a vitality tensions, all variable with time and some that is only realized in other media with with so unpredictable and ephemeral a considerable effort. They may well be force as a passing breeze. worth considerable study from the view­ Focalization may be more difficult to points of both utility and beauty. After detect, for although direction of atten­ all, design is design (this is not intended tion to a determined point by radiating as an original observation) and anyone lines, concentric or eccentric circles is who has learned design in any field so sometimes obvious, direction of atten­ thoroughly that he is no longer restricted tion is usually more subtly performed. by rules can design effectively in any Focalization may be in a general direc­ other when he has learned to surmount tion rather than toward a point. No the hurdles of scale and p1"oportion. view, however, should have a plurality These two words are frequently used of focal areas any more than it should as though they were synonyms, but the have several highly attractive objects, lack of distinction has, in the past, lead such as "specimen" plants, contesting to serious error. Proportion refers to for dominance, or there wiII be a scat­ relationship between parts, whereas scale tering of attention and the whole scene refers to relationship to a finite measure, wiII become disorganized by the conflict. such 3.S feet and inches or, especially in landscape and building design, to the size of man. Head height, eye level, seat Coherence wiII be promoted by the level, length of stride, all are predictable clear dominance of selected forms, tex­ within rather narrow limits, and must be tures and colors and the subordination of taken into consideration when designing others, another example of the restric­ views, walks and barriers of all sorts. tion of attention to particular items or They are of specific application. When areas. Repetition of a single species designing for children, an entirely differ­ in the garden is often effective, but when ent scale must be used. carried to an extreme can become monot­ Proportion, being the relationship onous or, when the repetition follows no between parts and of parts to the whole, clear pattern, can submerge focalization plays an important role in every choice, in accumulated detail. Arrangement of the selection of color or texture of a place settings around a table creates surface, the choice of size and form of rhythm rather than simple repetition. all objects, and of spaces between objects. The individual items are so diverse in Effects are determined more by propor­ size, form, texture and color that inter­ tions than by absolutes, that is, the size esting minor patterns appear among the of a leaf is less important to a design dominant pattern of the larger items, than its size in relation to the area it usually the dinner plates, which alone covers and to the other objects and spaces would have been simply repetitive. This, seen in relation to it. In any design, posi­ incidentally, is an instance of a design tion is restrictive, limiting possibilities, field severely restricted by tradition in bu t proportion controls the finer relation­ selection and placement of objects,- al­ ships. Often the only difference between lowing little latitude except minor a mediocre design and one of outstand­ changes in form and surface decoration ing beauty is a matter, but by no means of individual items. simple, of refinement of proportions. [6J

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The lower drawing gives a Plan View of a pmperty in which space is seen to be divided into areas of varying size) each differing from the other in character and degree of enclosure. An Elevation Sketch of the same property as seen from the direction of the house is given in the top drawing) representing only vertical space and mass. [7]

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An Isometric Sketch of the same plan showing both horizontal and vertical spatial relationships

( THE THREE DRA WI Ne s PREPARED BY THE AUTHOR) Designing an Envirann1ent far Man

ROGER B. THOMPSON

PART II Qualities of Space

The term "space" is subject to many window the first morning, after a night different interpretations determined by arrival, he quickly returned to his cot, the experience and emotional response replying to his bunkmate's query, "This of the observer. The child sees it first as is the sort of place where it don't take void, as mere emptiness, as unoccupied more'n a minute to do a couple of days area in which he may wave his hands or looking." move about without coming in contact with any object. Later he apprehends it Contrarily, the plainsman may be in­ also as distance, and gradually comes to clined to consider many of the usual appreciate relationships between him­ landscape components mere clutter in self and objects within his range of vision. his delightful void. Some years agO one of my students who was having an un­ His experiences with distance, how­ usual amount of difficulty with his land­ ever, are never completely visual; they scape design problems asked, "Well, why are kinetic as well. Distance between do people want trees around their houses; hand and object must be experienced anyway?" I never understood his frustra­ with movement of the hand, a reaching tions until I came to know his home, motion. When the object is beyond a ranch with view of the earth's rim on reach other motions become necessary, all sides almost unmarred by any grow­ either those of the body or those of the ing thing save mesquite trees no more object. And with distance comes delay. than a dozen feet tall a mile distant. Thus do we obtain our initial spatial experiences and begin to gain under· On a more familiar scale, we see these standing of the qualities of space that responses determine the character we are of most use to us, its void, its dis­ expect of our intimate surroundings, one tance, and its relationships to movement, person of extreme taste only happy when energy, and time. his garden shows not one square foot of "wastecl" space between wall and wall, Space in the landscape, as void, elicits another content with the blankness of an intellectual and emotional responses open, even-textured lawn. Unfortunately, varying with the individual. One may the printed word has been used to pro­ see it as space to be filled, that requires mote the idea that each is the most some degree of filling to become of value, desirable refinement of landscape design, as did the draftee from an eastern state and that both are necessary for perfect who was unceremoniously, or with only enjoyment, nor is it difficult to discover the minimum standard military cere­ examples produced by these divergent monies, transferred to a camp on the views, each of which may have been plains. After gazing out of his barracks designed by an "authority." But space [8J JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 9 completely occupied and space remaining And thirty steps may be a distance too void offer only the most crude spatial far for traverse to the elderly; the end of experiences; refinements come with the even a small garden hopelessly distant. intrusion of elements which define and How large, then, should any space be? direct space, both horizontally and verti­ What is the standard length of a basket­ cally, and so give it appreciable size and ball court? That depends. For college form. play it is eighty-four feet, for high school We see space as distance by means of it is seventy-five, and for the elemen­ our binocular vision, and through the tary school sixty. What should be the clues of diminution of size, of aerial and size of a lawn or a house lot? That will linear perspective. When one item lies depend on the number and ages of the farther away than another of identical people and upon their activities, though size it appears smaller. Since we have in spite of the best intentions they always grown accustomed to assumiNg "normal" seem to be a little too small for the oc­ sizes for familiar objects, we have also cupants, a little too large for the main­ come to judge distance through their tenance man. How large should a gar­ identification. When we see a man ap­ den be? This may have to be regulated proaching we may judge his distance by the energy and available time of one from us by his size, but if his size is much devoted person. less or greater than what we have learned as normal, and no other standards are When energy is without predictable in view, we may greatly misjudge his limit or is easily and cheaply purchased distance. in either flesh or high grade gasoline and We have also learned that the appar­ steel, energy in relation to distance may ent convergence, either horizontally or be but dimly perceived; time becomes vertically, of known parallel lines indi­ the important measure. Once four miles cates distance. This has suggested the was to many of us a brisk hour's walk; possibility of tricking the eye into per­ now it may be four minutes on the super­ ceiving a greater distance than the actual highway and ten cents worth of refined by the designed convergence of lines in fuel. Yet in terms of landscape the two objects, as of hedges or pathways, our are not truly comparable for the rapidly experience has told us are usually paral­ changing point of view of the rider, even lel. The trickery becomes immediately when his position is that of noncombat­ obvious if a human being or any object ant so he may give his full attention to of known human scale is allowed to enter the scene, permits him to catch only the into the composition, and usually is large and obvious spatial relationships, apparent because of the lack of aerial seeing little of those objects which rely perspective, which would have caused a for their effectiveness on the qualities of reduction of sharp contrasts and distinc­ intricate form, texture and color. Spatial tions and a slight graying or bluing of values tend to increase in importance the atmosphere with distance. with increase in the distance/ time rela­ tionship. Although the faking of aerial perspec­ But space has other qualities than tive has also been attempted, by the pro­ area, distance, time; it has form as well, gressive planting of plants with more three-dimensional form, defined by the and more dull or grayish foliage, there r(lasses of all objects, as trees and build­ are few instances where the designer has ings, which intrude into space. Forms sufficient control of the view to make the of mass and space are complementary, deception complete and convincing. one positive, the other negative. They Yet the appreciation of distance also bear the relationships of figure to back­ depends upon movement and remem­ ground, of matrix to cast, of ball to the bered movement, inextricably associated cupped hand. We see these relation­ with expenditure of energy, and con­ ships most clearly when the forms of sciousness of one's position in space. mass are presented in simple, geometrical Thirty steps are a long way to a child solids, bounded by smooth planes and in his first adventuring, when any re­ precise edges, as in simple, cubical or linquishing of a clasped hand projects rectilinear buildings. him into an alien and perilous country. The clearest display of spatial form is ]0 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE found in CltleS where rows of very tall in several places) that the single-story buildings, clean in outline, even severe, house so frequently built today demands not encumbered or "softened" by orna­ small trees only in the landscape. But ment which (as the designer intended) the landsca pe is exactly as broad as ever, diverts the eye and prevents full appre­ our need for height and our personal re­ ciation of their simple, basic, boxlike sponses to height exactly the same as rectangularity. A series of city blocks of when we built great houses and sur­ this sort, when seen from a point of rounded them with trees that reached a vantage, may appear as though stamped hundred feet at maturity. Although not by some gigantic die which had pressed every property may be suitable for even the streets deep into the earth so they one ta""ll tree, where sub-division has re­ have become canyons through which we duced lot size to a minimum, when we walk, feeling that the surface must be fail to establish these landmarks in the far above us, where the sun shines. sky over any large area we thereby ?i­ In these shadowed chasms the build­ minish our experiences of space as vOld, ings tend to lose their importance and as distance, as form, which are some of exist only as walls defining the narrow our truly exhilarating experiences of space between them, which turns or nature. branches, widens to a public square or The reason for advocacy of small trees diminishes with distance, but is every­ instead of large for low houses rests upon where the most important form to be the ideas that a landscape must end at seen. a property line and that there is some intrinsic aesthetic relationship between In formal gardens spatial form be­ house and tree. It has been said that if comes clearly evident where height of a fifty to sixty foot tree is in good pro­ hedges approaches that of the observer's portion to a two-story building, a twenty­ eye and distance between them is rela­ five to thirty foot one must enjoy the tively short. Here again we get the feel­ same relationship to a house of a single ing that a die has been pressed down, story. I have not heard anyone attempt leaving an impression, this time in what to project this relationship in the oppo­ we may imagine to have been a solid site direction, for with the four-story mass of foliage. As the scene widens in building the tree would immediately proportion to height the feeling of three­ soar to absurdity and the height of any dimensional space decreases. Where the building would be seen as an obviously expanse is broad and the height relative­ spurious reference mark for a landscape ly low it may be lost entirely, the plant­ design. Man's works have changed, but ings being seen as ground pattern only the size of man, the only stable measure or in low relief, as decorative markings of man's relationships to his surround­ are stamped upon a pat of butter. ings, has remained constant. An under­ Thus it is seen that height, vertical standing of three-dimensional space and distance, is of the utmost importance in the true extent of the landscape, which comprehending three-dimensional space, lies around us in all directions to the and the greater the height the greater limits of our view, seems important if the possibilities for making valuable we are to produce the maximum of hu­ three-dimensional arrangements of space. man enjoyment. At the top of the tallest object in view, the tallest tree or tallest buildin~, our We are so accustomed to planning design terminates. Having no further gardens on the plane of the earth's sur­ objects for comparison, no points of ref­ face, or of the draftman's paper, and exe­ erence in the void of the sky, all the cuting them with trees, shrubs and other thousands of feet or even miles between objects thrust upward into space, that treetop and cloud have little meaning. most of our attention has quite naturally It is only in the space between tree top been given to the objects. Often these and ground that we may create our de­ are selected or designed for the purpose sign-and the lower the tree the less of attracting attention to themselves by space we have to work with, the less our means of emphatic form, color either freedom of action. continuous or seasonal, or strong tex­ It has been written (and I have seen it tural character. JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 11

Objects are frequently placed in posi­ and provocative spatial experiences; tions where they intrude upon the at­ wide, narrow, low, high, dramatically tention without consideration for the converging, or suddenly opening wide to effect on space; witness the blue spruce climax our exploration. These are the or weeping willow in the otherwise open experiences we discover in the diverse lawn. The regular, or even fantastically natural landscape in ravine and trace, irregular flower bed in a similar position, thicket and high, open woodland, field in spite of its slight elevation, may at­ and hilltop, with their multiple adven­ tract so much attention as to seriously tures of freedom and restraint, excite­ affect three-dimensional space. ment and quietude. Perhaps we have been told too fre­ As experiences with spatial form in­ quently that the landscape is a picture, crease in number and complexity we or series of pictures to be viewed from gradually become aware that space is many posi tions. Unless one is forced to without limit, that it may be formed and view it from a window or other fixed directed but never brought to an end. position and never enter into it, it has The legal boundary line or even the high very little resemblance to and holds none garden wall is no longer a finite ending, of the experiences of the picture, which for though we may blockade the view is merely a vertical plane surface on space escapes upwards, overleaps all which someone has attempted to create hurdles, and remains continuous with the illusion of three-dimensional space. space on all sides, everywhere. The Pictures deal with illusion; landscape forming and direction of space, its re­ with reality. And one criterion of reali­ striction and expansion, diversion and ty is personal involvement and partici­ modulation, give a distinct feeling of pation. In this respect the landscape is flexibility and also of directional move­ closely akin to architecture and sculp­ ment, a distinct sense of flow ; certain ture. Participation is not merely intel­ spatial situations seeming to hurry us lectual and emotional; it is physical as along as in a swift stream, others to well. The three produce their effects check our progress or shunt us aside into by similar methods, are subject to simi­ a pool of quietness. lar criteria and provoke experiences of a similar order. The first step in our orientation to­ ward space instead of things may well be It is not enough that we should look a reconsideration of the definition of at a building", no matter how beautiful, landscape design. Too often it has been for it is more than an organization of presented in popular works as the selec­ walls and columns. It is an organization tion and arrangement of objects in out­ of space. In order to gain experience door space. This places emphasis on of its reality, of its relation to human objects: trees, shrubs, flower beds, bird beings, we must pass through its door­ baths, and so forth. When we consider ways, its corridors and rooms, gaining a landscape design to be the organization kinetic as well as a visual experience. and development of outdoor space for "With sculpture it is not enough to see, human use we place emphasis upon the we must touch, not with the finger tios area within which man moves and by for these nerve ends transmit the quali­ implication upon man himself, the most ties of surfaces, but with the cupped important constituent of the landscape. palms around its convex forms, the hand With focus on man, his experiences in exploring its deeper shadows, and the space and with the objects used for its whole arm enveloping its mass. So with development, the landscape comes into the landscape, we obtain fullest experi­ view ::ts a large segment of the environ­ ences of its qualities by passage through ment of man. We now find ourselves its spaces as both horizontally and ver­ in a position to explore man's reactions tically defined. to this environment, to improve our The landscape which provides us with understanding of the nature of his ex­ the richest experiences is the one that periences, the character of landscapes contains interesting forms, lines, textures, which produce desirable experiences, colors and also provides us, on whatever and the methods by which such land­ scale we may be operating, with varied scapes may be achieved. An Angraecum orchid growing spontaneously on a tree in the Jardin Gillet.

OTChids are not abundant in the African t1'Opics and the species the author saw were mostly less attractive than those seen in the American t1'Opics.

[12 J Jardin Gillet of the Belgian Congo

LOUIS O. WILLIAMS*

The year 1893 saw the successful term­ Palms, long used by the Congolese peo­ ination of the campaign of the Belgians ples for oil and fiber, were brought to­ to expel the Arab slavers from the gether at Kisantu. Raphia laurenti, a Congo. In that yefit -DiO'ther Justin gigantic raffia palm with leaves thirty to Gillet began to build up his Jardin forty feet long may be mentioned among d'Essais at the Jesuit Mission at Kisantu these. This palm produces fiber from in the lower Congo. In 1899, only a few its leaves and oil from the mesocarp sur­ years later, he received funds from the rounding the seed. It has been used then Independent State of the Congo to also by the Congolese people in construc­ begin the develqpment of an experi­ tion of houses. Palms have always been mental garden at the Kisantu Mission. used abundantly by tropical peoples in This mod~st;igeginning abOllt sixty years primitive stages of culture. Elaeis gui­ ago marke,.} ; ~e genesis of what is today neensis, the African oil palm, is perhaps one QE.~ th;i most interesting botanic gar­ the most important African palm. It is dens in the Tropics. now cultivated around the tropical The- garden, now known officially as world; several thousands of acres are "J ardin Gillet" to render honor to planted in tropical America, where it is Brother Gillet ~or his years of devoted becoming a crop of primary importance. lab{:)r,' was intended for the introduction Specimen-sized trees of most of the of useful plants of Africa and of other important food-producing trees of the tropical lands. The word useful was Tropics of the world are to be found in taken in its broadest sense. Plants Jardin Gillet. A walk about the garden which might be useful in agriculture, will take one into the Tropics of Asia, horticulture, or forestry were introduced, the Americas and Africa. Bertholletia tried out, studied, and observed. excelsa, the Brazil nut tree, a forest giant Plants from all over the tropical from the Amazon region, grows and world were brought in for study. The fruits very well here. Hymenaea cour­ Congo region itself was not neglected, baril, beloved tree of the Nicaraguans however, for most useful plants of the from which they derive their national region were brought in and grown for nickname, Pinoleros, grows very well; study and observation. Timber trees, and there were indications under the which should assume greater importance trees that the Congolese have learned to as the natural supply of workable timber use the fruit. Breadfruits of "Bounty" diminishes, were and still are being fame, and many other exotic and native brought in and grown for observation. trees are to be found. An orchard of mangosteens, considered - Economic Botanist, New Crops Research Branch, to be the "Queen of Fruits" by many United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland. connoisseurs, planted sixty years ago by [ 13 ] A view in JaTdin Gillet showing seveTal kinds of plants. The tall tTee·like plants with bToad leaves al·e the TmveleT's Tree, a member of the banana family. Father H. Callens mahes the inspection.

A view of one of the ponds in Jardin Gillet. Nlany hinds of aquatics a1"e gmwing in this one.

[14] [15]

A pOTtion of the Jardin Gillet contains plants which may have industrial applications. SansevieTia cylindrica (?), illust?'ated here, is a potential fiber crop. One of the houses where a?'oids of various kinds aTe gmwn. Slat houses are excellent for growing m'oids in climate of Kisantu. 16 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Cycas circinalis A fine tTuiting specimen in the la1'din Gillet

(ALL PHOTOGRAPHS FURNISHED BY THE AUTHOR) JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 17

Brother Gillet, was beginning to produce almost a hundred species in forty-two ripe fruits when I visited the garden in genera that were then in the collection. February of 1958. A few fruits were still There are many more now. available when I visited it again in May. A growing collection of plants of medi­ Fruits from this fine old orchard sold in calor pharmaceutical interest is found the market in Leopoldville help to sup­ at the garden. The collection was begun port the garden. by Brother Gillet but has been increased The Traveler's Tree (Ravenala mada­ rapidly in recent years by Father Callens, gascariensis) , called "Traveler's Palm" the present director. The collection has by some, is the plant which spells out become famous among the pharmaceuti­ "tropics" to me. It is a member of the cal firms as a result of Father Callens' co­ banana family and is used as an orna­ operation wi th those in teres ted. Father mental. The gamut, in size of orna­ Callens, who has been in the Congo for mentals at the garden, is from the monu­ th~rteen years, is not only well acquainted mental Traveler's Tree to one of the WIth the thousands of plants in the gar­ smallest orchids from the surrounding den but also with the flora of the region. Congo forest, a tiny Bulbophyllum with Rauwolfia, source of one of the "wonder flowers hardly an eighth of an inch long. drugs," grows well in the Congo; and one There are literally hundreds of other species, Rauwolfia vomitoria, is now species used in many tastefully designed being grown in some quantity for expor­ settings. Pools contain many species tation. This work is due to the initiative of aquatics from different parts of the of Father Callens, but the actual culti­ ·world. A cactus-like Euphorbia from vation of Rauwolfia is carried on by a Africa in a setting with a beautifully cooperative of Africans. The cooperative flowered specimen of frangipani from receives some management help from the dry hot canyons of Central America the Fathers at the mission, but it gets seems to be most appropriate. all returns from the project. Cycads have always held a fascination A school to train Congolese boys in for me. In Brother Gillet's garden there horticulture was founded by Father Cal­ are many fine specimen plants of Amer­ lens in 1953. The garden serves admir­ ica, Asiatic and African cycads. Perhaps ably as a training area for the boys' prac­ the finest cycads in the garden are a tical work. The gardens, plant houses group of Encephalartos laurentianus and propagating areas attest the quality planted by Brother Gillet when the of the training. At present there are garden was being started. These cycads about eighty boys in the school. The are worth a trip to Kisantu. staff consists of Father Callens, two European and two African assistants. The collection of conifers is a fine one and brings together genera from many The grounds of the garden, two or parts of the world. An Amuca1'ia from three hundred acres, consist of both flat Australia forms a beautiful avenue in land and low rolling hills. A laboratory the g~rden. Although the plant grows building, an excellent class building, a well It does not produce fruits in this staff house, a guest house, two houses location. Agathis, from which damar for employees, a dormitory and dining hall for the students, plus many exposi­ c~mes, Cryptomeria, Podocarpus, Taxo­ dlum, Cupressus, Libocedn~s, Pinus and tion houses for showing the collection, other conifers may be seen in the garden. are appropriately located on the grounds. Brother Gillet was obviously interested The newest building was a house to in palms, both from the utilitarian and shelter the collection of succulents. aes thetic standpoints and Kisantu is an Father Callens enjoys having overseas excellent region in which to grow them. visitors come to the garden. If you have Father Callens, who ably carries on the the good fortune to visit the Congo and work initiated by Brother Gillet, has a and go to Kisantu be sure to see Father special interest in palms and would be Callens. Kisantu is eighty miles from happy to receive seed from any part of Leopoldville through interesting country­ the world to augment the collection. A side and past several African villages. catalogue of the plants of the garden, The road should be surfaced all the way published thirty-two years ago, records in 1959. -

-2. - A be~:utiful view is ofJej'ed, especiall)1 dw-ing the flowerin{!. season, trom .the glass,enc/osed porch as well as from the Ya?'d by this fj-ee standing bank of double Te d jJolnsetttas pruned al1ke on both sides. Planting, hiding the playground equipment from the porch view, is jJrotected fmm a frost tlu-eat by a tm-paulin attached to the metal awnll7g and to stakes 1I7 the yard.

Poinsettias as Landscape Plants

VIRGINIA Vv. GAUNT'"

The "foolish little weed-leaves" which, teresting. A corner planting of red poin­ according to the legend, the little Mexi­ settias with low-growing juniper is effec­ can boy laid on the altar as his gift to tive in all stages of growth from the first the Christ child, continue to be a miracle small leaves to the final glory of a four plant in the South Texas landscape. The or five foot plant with large emerald deep, emerald green leaves and the shin­ leaves and flaming red bracts. ing, scarlet bracts offer great beauty. It must be kept in mind that the poin­ The shape and texture of the leaf make settia is a large plant, even with regular the plant attractive from the very first pruning. The plants should not be used showing of green on a twelve-inch cut­ in front of windows or where they will ting. As the plants grow and are pruned, conceal the architectural design of a they become more compact, the leaves building. Because of their size, however, larger. Banked poinsettias early in the they may be used successfully to comple­ summer, before there is any suggestion ment the archi tectural design. of color, are exceptionally ornamental. The prevailing southeast wind in The poinsettia lends itself to use with South Texas must be taken into consid­ other plants. Combined with juniper, the eration in placing poinsettia plants in difference in texture is unusual and in- the landscape plan. The constant pres- [ 18J JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NU1'vIBER 1 19

sure of that wind will cause the plants There are several shades of red and to be misshapen and since every break several shades of pink poinsettias, and causes the plants to "bleed," the lovely even the so-called white variety shows bracts may be damaged. varying degrees from cream to palest yel­ Plants on the north side of buildings low. Care must be taken in combining do well for several reasons. They are the poinsettia with other blooming protected from the wind, and in the case plants or color inharmony will result. of pink and white varieties, the color is Poinsettias are effective in group plant­ more constant than when plants are ex­ ings. Carefully pruned, with the back posed to the sun. The disadvantage to row of plants left highest and the front north plantings is the threat of freeze. row pruned very low, and with the The ideal situation is an eastern or plants staggered so that no plant is di­ southern exposure protected by a wind­ rectly in front of another, the resulting break. This might be the angle of the bank of poinsettias is breath-takingly house, the planting of trees or shrubs, or beautiful. The average bloom is twelve­ a garden wall. It is best to avoid a wes t­ inches across, and for most effective bank­ ern exposure because the hot summer sun ing, a difference of ten to twelve inches in Sou th Texas is n ot conducive to the in the height of the rows will result in development of the bracts. a solid mass of bloom. Care should be taken to protect the A "free standing" bank of poinsettias, plant from artificial light. During the pruned alike on both sides, forms a beau­ development o[ the bloom, the plant re­ tiful screen to divide the grounds into quires short days and long nights. A small gardens. street light shining for long hours on a An interesting effect is gained by plant­ plant will impair the development of the ing a group of red poinsettias, then a bloom. Once in full bloom, they are ef­ group of pink, then white, pruning all fective under spotlight for evening lawn alike_ Care should be taken to plant parties. . enough of each variety that the end re-

A bay planting of "apple-blossom-pink oleande-r," picture all summel-. The oleandeTS a.nd the wood single pink poinsettias and pm-pie "wandering jew" fence pl-otect the poinsettias from the prevailing make an analagous color harmony. Across the grass southeast wind and offer some protection from the jJath to the gate is a 'Shirley Temple' Hibiscus (single summer sun. The house 1Jrotects the 1Jlants from pink). The difference in textm-es makes a pleasing the west sun. 20 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE suIt will not be spotty. Plants with the several reasons. Plants may be purchased same growing habits should be used. as St. Louis, for instance, and will hold Eventually the pink plants will revert to true to variety for two or three years red, but until they do, the effect is beau­ when, because of weather conditions, at­ tiful. mospheric or soil conditions, the color A bay planting of tall cherry laurel, and size will change, and sometimes the oleander or ligustrum as a background shape of the bract will change. for poinsettias is an effective and showy This has caused a great deal of diffi­ screen for a service area. The tall plant­ culty in judging poinsettia specimens in ing will protect the poinsettias from horticultural exhibits. The exhibitor wind and sun, and the poinsettias will has bought a named variety, but over add color to the tall plantings. A reverse the years its characteristics have changed plan using poinsettias as the tall back­ and it may more nearly resemble an­ ground plant for low growing plumbago, other variety. The American Poinsettia pentas or carissa in also effective. Society has approved a scale of points There are many advantages to using for judging poinsettias, and the Society is poinettias in the South Texas landscape endeavoring to establish the identities design. Cuttings started in the spring will of the different varieties. produce blooms by Christmas, sometimes The Henriette Ecke, a double red va­ by Thanksgiving. They are easily grown riety grows well in South Texas. The and require little care. Rich soil, good St. Louis and Hollywood, single reds, drainage to prevent root rot, plenty of are popular. The Ecke White is cream­ water, the use of organic material and colored when grown outdoors and the commercial acidifying fertilizer, and care Ecke Pink will range in shades of pink and thought in pruning to obtain the according to soil conditions. desired effect, result in a most rewarding Paul E-cke, a recognized authority on experience. the growing of poinsettias, wrote a South It is suggested that poinsettias be Texas nurseryman: "In your warm planted in several locations. One bed climate the flowers on the poinsettias be­ might develop root rot, another might come much larger than they do in this not be sufficiently protected from wind, area (Encinitas, California), and the or another might be used by the neigh­ shade of the color becomes entirely dif­ bors children to build cas tIes. ferent with the additional warmth." The adverse weather conditions ex­ perienced last winter brought out many Whatever the variety, the poinsettia is factors in connection with the placement a glamorous and exotic addition to the of beds of poinsettias. It was found that landscape design. It adds a quality to plants protected by trees or by roof over­ an all-green foliage planting that no hang survived the killing frost. Plants other blossoming plant can give. The near a heated wall were saved. Covering variety of shades enables a choice of plants with tarpaulin or plastic sheet color scheme. and heated with electric light bulbs or "The seed that swelled in the ground candles, saved many poinsettias. and grew into a tall green weed, became, One of the most important factors in by God's will, a scarlet flower," accord­ preparing for the possibility of frost is ing to the legend, and it continues to to omit nitrogen in fertilizer used after brighten the landscape of South Texas. August. The bracts are larger when • Permanent Executive Secretary of the American nitrogen is used, but the growth is soft Poinsettia Society of Mission, T exas. and susceptible to freezing. Phosphorus The American Poinsettia Society is a newcomer among plant societies. Membership is open to any person in· should be used to give strong, sturdy terested In Poinsettias. Those interested should write stems. Mrs. Gaunt, Box 94, Miss ion, Texas. . Vol~me I , Number I, of the Bulletin of the Society There are a number of varieties of IS ~vall abl e to members only. It contains general data on po!nsett!a c:llture, potting data, foliage to be used with poinsettias which thrive in South Texas pom ~ ettla~ m flower arrangements, scale of points for ,udgmg sm gle specimens, constitution and by· laws and but it is difficult to identify them for other information. ' An aboriginal painting of the potato taken fTOm pottery (Tiahuanacan culture) found in the Nasca Valley of Peru.

The "Earth Apple"

PAUL L. DOUGHTY*

Would you regard the potato as a Among the many discoveries of the "rare and delicate" plant or "unfit" for Spaniards in Peru and Chile was the human consumption? It once was. The potato. It was a staple food of the common potato which we take for Indians and they had developed a multi­ granted was adopted in Europe to pre­ tude of varieties. The Incas and their vent starvation yet its misuse produced predecessors probably made it the world's a famine which virtually destroyed a first dehydrated and frozen vegetable. country. In the demanding environment of the two mile high altiplano or grassy An­ ' Paul L. Doughty is a graduate student at Cornell dean plateau, several special varieties of University. This article is a by·product of some of his studies in his major field of anthropology. potato had evolved. These potatoes, [21 J 22 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

W. H . HODCE "Dried" potatoes from highland Peru in the fonn of chuiio, an em-ly-day process of dehydrating and freezing the vegetables for safe storage. j.<\NUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 23

John Gerarde (1545-1607) The well-known botanist and heTbalist of his day, PToudly holding a flowel·ing bmnch of the white potato, Tecently im­ pOTted fl·om the New WOTld.

(FRONTISPIECE 'FROM A LATER ED ITI ON OF THE GREAT HERBALL) possessing frost resistent qualities, were The exact date of their importation prepared and preserved by allowing into Spain is uncertain. It was, however, them Lo freeze during the night and sometime before 1570. One would think thaw in the daytime, the moisture being that such a plant would have found im­ pressed from them as they thawed. The mediate acceptance. This was not the final product, called chuno, is still made case. Peasants noted its similarity to the by the Andean Indians as a primary Deadly Nightshade, Solanum nigntm, so means of storing their potato crop. they were suspicious of it. Due to the The conquistadors quickly perceived consequent unpopularity, diffusion of the qualities and potentialities of pota­ the potato went unnoticed by most toes. One chronicler described it as a scholars. The great I talian botanist, "dainty dish, even for a Spaniard." En· Clusius [1526-1609], observed, however, trepreneurs made fortunes by selling the use of the potato by Italian farmers, cl~uno to the Indians who were forced to but he did not know its origin. His labor in the mines. Before long, potatoes interest in the potato gave impetus to its became standard food on the galleons introduction into France and Germany bound for Spain. when he traveled to those countries. 24 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

The first published sketch of the potato appeared in Gemrde's The Great Herbal (1597) under the misleading name of Batata virginiana.

Just when the potato was brought to in the private gardens of the nobility. the British Isles can only be conjectured. In 1613 potatoes were carried from The adventurers Drake and Raleigh are England to Bermuda and in 1621 taken credited with having introduced it from to Raleigh's Virginia colony. For the the Indies. Proof to support the case of first time potatoes were grown in what is either is lacking, however. By 1589, now the United States! One of the basic potatoes were grown as exotic curiosities reasons for this paradox, we may sur- JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 25

mise, is that the potato is best adapted Germany, Poland, and France, in that to the temperate zone and its tubers, order, are the leading producers of pota­ used as "seed," cannot be kept for any toes today. length of time under hot conditions. In this process, many areas developed Thus, in contrast to the sweet-potato, a a dangerous monoculture which inhibi­ tropical zone crop, its diffusion from ted adaption to change and disaster. Ire­ highland South America across certain land was such a region. The potato be­ of the tropical lowlands of Central came as important to the Irish well-being America was quite unlikely in pre­ as St. Patrick was to their spiritual life. Columbian times. To millions of persons in Europe and Potatoes did not come into common America, the Peruvian potato was (and use for almost a century after their in­ still is) the "Irish potato." troduction into England. In 1619, James With the monotonous diet, many I ate them as a delicacy. Yet, in 1687, anemias developed among the Irish. By many persons thought they best served 1840, potato cultivation had reached its as food for swine. A paper delivered at zenith. In the following decade, how­ the Royal Society in 1662 urged their ever, a combination of factors facilitated use for checking famines. Even the the spread of a fungus blight which de­ Church became involved. Clergymen stroyed the crops. Over a million per­ said potatoes were grown by a "danger­ sons died of starvation and the resultant ous race" [Indians], and because potatoes diseases. It is estimated that a hundred were not mentioned in the Bible, they thousand persons a year left Ireland for were not proper food. a period of at least ten years. Most came In France and Germany the situation to the United States, the vanguard of the was similar. Despite the fact that Fred­ great immigration which built America's erick the Great enforced their cultivation industry. Prior to the famine, Ireland's by the use of troops, acceptance was population was almost nine million; scattered. During the Seven Years' War, today, with a steady decline since 1846, a Frenchman named Parmentier learned it is less than three. to like potatoes while imprisoned by the The "passive" potato has many uses Germans. Because of this, he later ex­ beyond those to which it was put origi­ perimented with the plant. During the nally. Th.e early Indian civilizations of 1770 famine his suggestion that potatoes Peru, aside from growing many varieties be used for relief and "prevention" won of potato and making chuno, fashioned a prize. General acceptance followed. unique pottery in its shape. Potatoes Parmentier so impressed the King and were buried with the dead for their food Queen that the latter is said to have in the after-world. worn potato blossoms in her hair. . As a nutrient for men and animals the The German botanist, Gasphard Bau­ potato is of prime importance in the hin [1560-1624], gave the po~ato its scien­ modern world. In addition, it has been tific name, Solanum tuberosum, in 1596. converted into fuel and reduced to flour But with its multifarious history, the and starch. With further modification it potato became known by a vast number becomes "ready-mix" pie fillings, ad­ of aliases. It has been called an "earth hesives, alcohol, and a base for ink and apple" [Holland, France, and Finland], paint. As a subject in art, Van Gogh "earth eggplant" [Tibet], "ground fun­ has depicted The Potato Eaters and pota­ gus" [Germany], and "potato of Vir­ toes in Still Life. ginia" [England]. The pseudonym "spud" From such an inconspicuous begin­ comes from a Scottish word for the spade ning in Europe no one could have pre­ used in its cultivation. dicted the effect which the immigrant General use of the potato in Europe potato has made on the western world. coincides with the great rise of indus­ It has been said that the Spaniards took trialism. Reasons for this seem clear: a hundred and twenty-three billion dol­ the potato not only produced a great lars in gold from her N ew World colo­ quantity of food per acre, but it could nies in the first century after conquest. be stored as well. As a result, it became Yet, with the passage of each seven years, the most important single food in the the value of the world's potato crop ex­ diet of northern Europeans. Russia, ceeds that staggering sum. HeLteborus or£entalis-the Lenten Rose. Color in the flower comes from striping and spotting of the sepals.

Hellebonts coTSicus-the Holly-leaved Hellebore. The sharply toothed leaf margins give this species its common name.

[26J The Hellebores

A. E. LUEDY*

Passing strange are the hellebores. We the soft rose of the tall Albert Dugourd, humans look about us occasionally and to the purple-mauve of M. Prosper Per- say, "It takes all kinds of people to make thuis. One of the deepest colors is the a world." That is our way of accepting, rose-purple of H. mientni£s atTOTubens, ~ with some degree of tolerance and com­ the earliest bloomer and often miscalled placency, those who differ from our­ " Red Christmas Rose." This may be as selves. Nonconformists are found in good a place as any to say that one sure the plant world, too. Take the large way to distinguish H. niger from H. family of buttercups, to which hellebores O1-ientalis is to note the way the flower belong. Some of its members, such as bud emerges from the ground-the point the delphinium and columbine, have of the Lenten Rose bud breaks through downright peculiar petals; and some, the ground; the neck of the Christmas like the clematis, have no petals at all. Rose bud emerges first. The hellebores have not only singular The distinguishing color in all helle­ petal construction but an odd habit of bore flowers appears in the sepals; such blooming in winter af'd sleeping in color is due to flushing, spotting and summer! striping. The petals of all are small green horns or tubes measuring one­ THE LENTEN ROSE quarter inch or so, arranged in a circle surrounding stamens and pistil. The Among the hardy perennial helle­ nectar of the blossom is located at the bores, the Christmas Rose is the most base of the petal and bees in searching familiar, and an enchanting flower it is it out insure fertilization. When pollen­ in the winter garden. * * But there is an ation is completed, the petals fall away equally showy species, HelleboTUs orien­ and the sturdy sepals remain on the talis, given the common name of Lenten flower to protect and nourish the matur­ Rose because it blooms in late winter ing seed pods. The color of the sepal and early spring. Like the Christmas changes during this period from its Rose, it blooms in weather too inclement initial hue to an even green. for most other flowering plants and thus The seed pod of all hellebores is a free provides a gay and graceful note in a standing carpel. The number of carpels winter-weary garden. The Lenten Rose varies, and from f@w to as many as seven­ has three to five or six nodding flowers ty ripe shiny black seeds may be ejected to a stem, and unlike the Christmas from each flower. Usually the current Rose, it comes in various colors-no season's crop of seed is all ripened and vehement hues to be sure, but in sub­ dispersed by mid-June and the plants are dued tones from the ivory and greenish dormant over summer. Viability of all white of the variety Ariadne, through hellebore seed is quickly lost and seed should be planted as soon as ripe. Seed collected in late spring germinates early • A. E. Luedy is a nurseryman in Cleveland, Ohio, the next spring. A mild winter and who has specialized in the Hellebores for over thirty years, and, with Mrs. Luedy, has written The Christmas spring will allow earlier germination. an attractive and very interesting 44·page, illus­ Rose1 The general construction of all helle­ trated, cloth-bound book. [Copies available at $1.50 through the Society.} They ar e active horticulturists bores is similar-a blackish brown rhi­ and photographers who do professional lecturing on garden subjects. zome with leaf stem and scape arising "See "The Christmas Rose for winter flower" by from the end of each branch of this un­ Karl F. Fischer, The National HorticlIltural Magazine, January 1958. derground stem. Slender fleshy rootlets [27] Helleborus CYcl~ J(

A ra?"e species, with leaf segments arranged in a circle.

Helleb01"US foetidus-the Bearsfoot Hellebore. This species has slender leaf segments and a huge flower cluster.

[28] The seed pod of all hellebore species is a free standing carpel. Flowers may have f?"Om a very few to as many as seventy ripe seeds.

t H elleborus orientalis !

The carpels soon dry, twist slightly and split to allow the seed to escape by dropping to the ground when ripe.

(ALL PHOTOGRAPHS FURNISHED BY THE AUTHOR) [29] 30 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE descend vertically from the rhizome to CULTURE feed and anchor the plant. Foliage is Culture of all hellebores, with the pos­ variable to some extent among species. sible exception of H. corsicus, is the Leaves of the Lenten Rose are palmately same. They like partial shade; the hot divided, lighter green and less leathery sun of summer is not to their liking and than those of the Christmas Rose, but if subjected to bitter spring winds, the larger and with a taller stem. Well new leaves may bum and perish. They grown plants in a good year may. be can be planted in the shade of deep­ sixteen inches tall. With the exceptIOn rooted trees . and in the foreground of of H. viridis, all hellebores mentioned shrubs that are not too rampant, so that here are "evergreen." That is, ~ew they will not need to compete beyond leaves, (the "eyes" have been growll:g their strength for food and moisture. underground since autun:n), appear ~n Planted ten to twelve inches apart, they late winter and early sprmg and persIst should remain undisturbed to reach through the following winter. Thus the their greatest beauty, not dug up and foliage is handsome in the garden when divided every few years as are many the plant is out of flower. Dry leaves other perennials. They are slow grow­ are cut away when new ones appear. ing and transplanting and division will set them back. PROPAGATION A good garden loam is all that is re­ quired, either neutral or slightly alka­ Propagation of the Lenten Rose is by line, not acid. The hole should be dug seed and division. Since mature Lenten sixteen to eighteen inches deep, with Rose seed is usually dispersed under good soil a 11 the way down to accomo­ more favorable weather conditions than date the long roots. The roots are that of the Christmas Rose, seedlings ap­ planted down, not spread out. For fer­ pear in goodly numbers under old plants tilizer, each plant will take a small hand­ that are well grown; scantily under the ful of bonemeal, or a little superphos­ Christmas Rose. Seed that falls to the phate, mixed well with the soil. In the ground one spring and germinates the spring when new leaves come and before following spring will, in a good growing flowering, manure water or commercial year and with ample moisture, produce fertilizer in solution can be used to ad­ seedlings by mid-June with two or three vantage. After planting, any digging small true leaves ready for transplanting. and hoeing should be avoided so as not Hellebores do not come true from to cut off the creeping underground seed, however, and quite worthless seed­ stalk. The crown of the plant should be lings that flower sparsely or not at all just under the surface of the soil. often result. There is wide natural hy­ bridization even among species. This GOOD DRAINAGE ESSENTIAL opens the way for interesting work in hybridizing under cultivation. Improved Plants should be watered well after strains can be obtained both by hand transplanting. If the season is dry they crossing and by selection from natural should be gi.ven plenty of water in fa!l crosses. An example is a very handsome and spring. In the summer the plant IS Lenten Rose growing now in our gar­ dormant and wants to rest, and we dens, with magnolia-purple sepals and should not make the mistake of watering showy ivory stamens, five to eight, three it constantly. Above everything else, and a half inch flowers to each tall stem, hellebores want good dTGinage-plenty and with leaves measuring as much as of moisture, yes, but those long roots are fourteen inches across. To perpetuate fleshy and if kept standing in water or such a strain, it must be propagated if in an excessively peaty or humusy soil vegetatively-by division. Divisions are that constantly retains too much mois­ best made in fall or early spring while ture, they will surely rot. In rainy sea­ the plant is active. There is more chance sons, slugs may mar flower buds; in dry of transplants drying up if divisions are seasons spider mite occasionally attacks made in the summer dormant period. leaves; but we have found that faulty Amply large divisions should be made, drainage is far and away the greatest since they are slow growing. cause of failure with hellebores. Mulches JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 31

of peat, stone chips, and the like, or ten Rose, but are often winter-killed ground covers such as myrtle, pachysan­ here. The plants seem to do somewhat dra, and dwarf ferns will maintain a better in a lighter soil and with less cool earth and prevent over evaporation. shade t.han our other hellebores. If we were to choose, we would assign the OTHER HELLEBORES name "foetidus" to this species, for The Lenten Rose and the Christmas brought into a greenhouse to bloom it is, Rose are the two most handsome helle­ to be blunt, unhappily redolent of bores, but the green flowered types are skunk. alluring. Green is a color with a feeling H . cyclophyllus, on the other hand, of sheltering quietude-in ancient rites has a delightful light sweet fragrance, it always represented the eternity of na­ unusual with hellebores. Here the leaves ture - and today plant collectors and are very large and the segments arranged flower arrangers take immense delight in in a circle. The stems are taller and all rare green blossoms, among them the the flowers larger than the other green green hellebores. The most easily grown. flowered types. Blooms appear in spring of these is H. foetidus, flowering in late in the manner of blooms of the Lenten winter, and the only one with a true Rose. It is a rare species. stem that is branched above ground. The deciduous hellebore is the St. The segments of the leaves are more Patrick's Rose, H . ViTi dis, whose yellow­ slender and the flowering stem bears a green flowers bloom, as the common huge cluster of small cup shaped green name indicates, about mid-March. Leaves flowers edged with reddish brown. Al­ appear in spring after the flowers, but though saddled with the species name grow rapidly and soon hide the flower­ foetidus and in spite of the fact that ing stem and its maturing seed pods. In English writers, in whose country the the fall the leaves die away so that the plant is native, come out flat-footed and place of the rhizome is unmarked until call it the "stinking hellebore," we dis­ spring. cern nothing more unpleasant than a The hellebores are a plant group with rather alder-like pungency. The plant a long and exceptional history. Tinc­ is also commonly called Bearsfoot Helle­ tures and infusions were made from the bore due to the shape of a leaf bract on rootstock of hellebores and highly prized the flowering stem. H. foetidus is prone by ancients in medicine. These provided to die suddenly, usually following flow­ a powerful narcotic that was used to ering, but it produces quantities of seeds treat men and animals, but used with and seedlings so that new plants can be great care because they were also violent kept coming along as replacements. poisons. H. ViTidis contains the poison­ H. cOTsicus has yellowish green leaves, ous principle in the greatest amount and prominently veined. Being sharply is thought by some to be the "black toothed on the margins, it earns its com­ hellebore" referred to in ancient herbals. mon name of Holly-leaved Hellebore. Although poisonous when taken inter­ Native to Corsica and Sardinia, it is also nally, no harmful reaction from helle­ called Corsican Hellebore and is fre­ bores has ever been experienced here in quently grown in pots under that name handling thousands of plants over some on the West Coast, where it can be well thirty odd years. grown. Here in northern Ohio, we have Yes, strange these hellebores may be, found it to be less robust than the but they have the distinguishing marks others. The yellowish green flowers of quality-unfailing vigor, unique and grow in the manner of those of the Len- beguiling beauty. MALBY © Campanula garganica

Campanula muralis

MALBY

[32] Attractive Perennial Campanulas

ROBERT M . SENIOR*

Campanula poscharskyana

The genus Campanula is a large one. bury Bell" and the "Harebell," or as it is There are about three hundred species sometimes called, "The Blue Bells of all indigenous to the northern hemi­ Scotland." The latter plant, scientifica'lly sphere. They vary in height from only known as Campanula rotundifolia, can two or three inches to four and five feet. be found in innumerable · regions of There are plants that will thrive in any North America, Europe, and Asia. location, some in the wild garden, others If you are not familia(T with the in the rock garden or in the border. characteristics of the genus, I might men­ Possibly the two that are best known by tion that all ·have a milky juice, all have all amateur gardeners are the "Canter- a one piece corolla with five lobes, five [33] 34 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE stamens, and five sepals. The flowers LOW GROWING KINDS vary in color from deep purple to violet, Of the smaller campanulas, suitable lavender, and white. There is even a for the rock garden, our favorite is sulphur colored annual growing in Syria c. garO"anica. It has all the qualifications of and Palestine. Some flowers, like the an boutstanding low growing plant. It above mentioned Harebell, are distinctly is hardy, compact, and, when in bloom, bell shaped, others are rather flat or is almost a sheet of erect, saucer-shaped, saucer shaped. violet colored flowers. We must have In the course of a lifetime, we have raised the plant from seed fully fifteen probably raised in the neighborhood years ago, and though in that time we of a hundred species. Some of these have have occasionally divided it, or changed lived for years in our garden; others, its position in the rock garden, it has particularly those of the high mountain~, always thriven in some rock crevice or often perished after the first year. In thls sloping ground. article, however, it is my intention to men­ If a novice at gardening were to ask tion only plants that have remained with which is the most indestructible low us for several years. Here in the Ohio growing campanula I should unhesitat­ valley, with our variable winters and ingly name C. poscharskyana, sometimes frequently hot dry summers, it is alm?st impossible to grow some of the speCles called the Serbian Bellflower. It has violet colored flowers with deeply cut indigenous to the high Alps, such a~ .the delightful C. moettiana and C. cenzsza. lobes that are somewhat more erect than those of C. garganica. It is also a bit taller, and somewhat more invasive, but CULTURE with us not enough so ever to be All of the campanulas are growing trou blesome. At one time a lilac colored in light, well drained soil. A heavy sport appeared in our garden. We man­ clay soil would probably be fatal to aged to propagate this, and over the most. Some low growing species suitable years, we have sown seeds of the off­ for the rock garden, do best lodged spring. Through a process of selection, between rocks, or in wall crevices. We we have developed a variety that is al­ find here that they are better able to most white, but still has a slight pinkish­ survive if planted where they do not violet cast. We are still hoping that in receive sun all day in summer. With time we may secure a pure white variety. these low growing species we avoid a Another low growing plant that we southern exposure. Like so many low have had for years is C. raddeana. It has growing rock plants, they dislike a good sized, bell-shaped flowers with location under trees. They are all slightly recurved lobes, and the color is a growing in soil that has a neutral or rich purple. The wiry brown stems are alkaline reaction. This year some started drooping, and about six inches long. blooming in May, and the flowers were The fairly small leaves are glossy green, at their height about the middle of June. dentate, and rather heart-shaped. Our plants are placed on a slope, with a By the second week in July most of the western exposure, where, year after year, plants had shed their flowers. they slowly spread. Given a light garden Nearlyall the seeds of the campanulas soil, and some protection from the mid­ are tiny, and if sown in the open ground day summer sun, I believe this species are likely to be washed away or buried would grow equally well on level ground. too deeply to enable the seedlings to C. portenschlagiana is a delightful push through the soil. We generally sow little plant with a name that is rather them in pots which are then plunged in hard to remember. In former days it was the cold frame, under a slightly raised generally known as C. muralis, and in sash. We usually plant most of our fact it is often so listed in the catalogues seeds in January, in order to ensure of many nurserymen today. It is a low prompt germination in the spring. growing plant-much smaller and more Whenever it snows, we raise the sash: compact than C. poscharskyana, with for the seeds of rock plants in particular, erect, violet colored, bell-shaped flowers, snow seems to speed germination. that have slightly recurved lobes. The JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 35 name mumlis, meaning "growing on is lower growing than the species type, walls," suggests at least one of the posi­ and is unbranched, with one flower tions to which it is ideally suited. Our terminating each stem. plant is placed between rocks on a slope C. collina is about a foot high, bearing facing northwest where it gets the late bell-shaped flowers that are slightly afternoon sun in summer. drooping and of a purplish hue, with The Harebell, C. rotundifolia, is lobes that are cut nearly half their probably too well known to require any length. Farrer considered it one of the description. A plant as widespread as most beautiful of the low growing this one will vary somewhat in different species. We grew it for several years on sections of the world. I have observed a sloping rock wall with an eastern ex­ one growjng in Michigan that was about posure, but one summer when we were two feet high; on the other hand, one on vacation, possibly due to neglect or that we found on a high mountain in the depredations of slugs, it finally suc­ Colorado, was only a few inches high. combed. The plant in our garden is a bit over If you have never raised any of the one foot high, and in June and early low growing campanulas, I suggest you July is covered with bloom. It seems to try two or three of those that I have be indestructible. mentioned. If after that experience, you One of the daintiest of all campanulas became a campa nul a enthusiast, there is C. cochlearifolia, which is often listed are innumerable other attractive species in the catalogues of nurserymen as C. with which you can experiment, such as pusilla. It has rather small glossy leaves, C. allioni, C. betulaefolia, C. puZZa, C. above which the delicate goblet-shaped parryi, C. tridentata, C. raineri, C. fra­ flowers with short lobes, dangle on frail gilis, C. waldsteiniana and C. tommasin­ stems. The color of the flowers may vary iana. The last two are not difficult to from a rich violet to a light smoky blue, grow, but with us, the others have been and there is also a white variety. The raised only in our little alpine house; plant cannot stand as dry a location as here, C. betulaefolia, with pink flowers, C. poscharskyana, but given some mois­ and C. fragilis, that droops over the ture, and a somewhat shady position, bench for a distance of two feet, are the possibly in some crevice or rock wall, it longest lived. The last named, when in will rapidly send out underground run­ bloom, is a glorious sight, with scores of ners. These with us, are easily kept in very large, rather flat violet colored control. There is a delightful variety, flowers. called l\/Iiranda. If you have an alpine house where it never need suffer from TALL SPECIES droug)1t, a single plant will rapidly Of the taller species, attaining a height widen in girth, and in June bear scores of more than fifteen inches, I should un­ of charming graceful flowers. hesitatingly select as our favorite C. C. carpatica, a native of theCarpath­ persicifolia, sometimes called the Peach­ ian Mountains, has larger flowers than leaved Campanula. It is an excellent any of the plants above mentioned, and plant for the border. Plants raised from sometimes attains a height of fifteen seed may vary in the size and color of inches. The flowers, on rather long the flower, which usually has a bluish­ stems, are somewhat saucer shaped, violet cast. There is also a white form. widest at the mouth, with short broad The erect, unbranched stems may some­ lobes. The color may vary from purple times attain a height of almost three feet, to light violet. There is also a white and usually bear several large flowers to form. In our garden it receives sun the a stem. Gradually good sized clumps greater part of the day, and has a longer may become established, and these should flowering season than most of the low be divided every year or two, else there growing campanulas-usually being at is danger of the plant deteriorating. A its best about the end of June. Whereas number of excellent varieties have been C. carpatica has stems that branch, there introduced, and we have raised several, is a variety of this species sometimes such as Telham Beauty, and a delightful listed in catalogues as C. turbinata, which white variety, Moerheimi. 36 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

P. J. VAN MELLE Campanula collina

Campanula tragilis

Cascading from a wall JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 37

MALBY© Campanula allioni

Campanula waldsteiniana

MALBY© 38 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

l LILIAN A. GUERNSE'Y

Campanula glomerata JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 39

WALTER BEEBE WILDER

Campanula grosseki 40 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

CLARENCE LOWN

Campanula tommasiniana

Campanula divaricata Campanula parryi JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 41

Another plant that can be used in the It might be well to warn the reader border is C. grandis, sometimes called C. that C. rapunculoides, sometimes called latiloba, which latter name is a synonym. the Creeping Bellflower, is one of the It is in some respects similar to C. persici­ most invasive, most indestructible plants folia, but to my mind, is not so graceful, we have ever raised. It sends out roots and has larger coarser leaves. It is about in all directions, and if you dig it up, two to three feet high, forming an erect leaving a tiny rootlet in the soil, you spike, the upper part bearing many good will soon find another plant springing sized, violet-colored, saucer-shaped flowers up. For years we have tried to eradicate on very short stems. We had the plant it. When in bloom it is not unattractive, for several years, but during a particu­ about three feet high, with good sized larly wet winter it finally disappeared. drooping violet flowers. One of its dis­ C. glomerata might also be used in tinguishing characteristics is the recurved the herbaceous border. This species also calyx lobes of the flower. sends up a number of erect stems, usually There are several species that may about eighteen inches in height, bearing attain a height of four feet, but some of rather tight clusters of violet bell-shaped them are rather coarse looking. Of these flowers at the top. If you should raise it tall plants, our favorite is C. lactifiora, from seed you may be pleased with it, or which can be placed to advantage toward may find it of inferior quality. Since it the rear of the herbaceous border. Sev­ is rather widespread throughout Europe, eral clumps would also look attractive you can readily understand that many if massed in front of shrubs or ever­ forms of it can be found. There is a greens. From the base, the plant sends variety called C. glomerata var. dahurica up a number of erect stems, which bear '''lhich we once raised that was a particu­ loose panicles of light milky blue, erect, larly good form. bell-shaped flowers, with broad pointed lobes. C. divaricata is a native plant about There are other tall growing, long two feet high found growing wild in lived campanulas, such as C. trachelium, Virginia and neighboring states. Al­ C. grosseki, and C. bononiensis, that are though the violet colored flowers are sometimes cultivated. In this article, small, and the plant, with thin dangling however, I have only described those bells, has a rather frail appearance, it perennials that we particularly favor, has a distinctive charm. An English and which, without any coddling, should author states it is "one of the few Ameri­ succeed in most gardens. can Campanulas that is worth bothering · Robert M. Senior of Cincinnati is a charter member about." I believe the plant does best of the American Rock Garden Society and a founding member of the Ohio Rock Garden Society and its first when it gets considerable shade during president, as well as a past president of the Cincinnati the day, and is planted in a soil that has Museum of Natural History. For many years he has speciali zed in the study of various genera of the CAM· a neutral or slightly acid reaction. PANULACEAE. Strongylodon macrobotrys

The Philippine Jadevine, growing on a pergola, showing the long pendent racemes of flowers.

[42] The Philippine Jadevine

MONA LISA STEINER*

Flowers come in all hues of the rain­ not been reported from other parts of the bow, but seldom does nature produce a Philippines. Locally, it is called bayo-u more unusual tint than that of the jade­ (in Battan), bumcan (in Mindoro), and vine flower, Strong;ylodon macrobotrys. tayabak (in Tagalog). Strong;ylodon The term bluish green hardly does macrobotrys has trifoliolate, pinnate, justice to the glowing and luminous color stipulate, glabrous, pale-green leaves which can be compared with the trans­ which are almost reddish when young, parent and opalescent tinge of the sea but dark green and glossy when mature. around coral reefs. Anyone who sees for The petiole is about two and a quarter the first time the long pendant racemes inches long and the lower half-inch is about three feet long, covered over and thickened and curved. Leaflets are over with large crescent shaped flowers, about four to five inches long and two to is stunned by the exquisite beauty of two and a half inches wide. The middle these rare blossoms. leaflet is elliptic, while the lateral ones Although native to the Philippines are oblique with three prominent veins; and first described in the year 1854 by apex is mucronate, base obtuse, and Asa Gray in Botanical Expeditions of oblique on the lateral leaflets. The in­ Wilkes, United States Expedition, it florescence is a fascicled raceme about has become popular in the Philippines two and a half to three feet long. The only in the last few years. Hugh M. rounded calyx teeth, typical of this genus, Curran, professor of tropical forestry, have given this group the generic name, was the first person to discover its horti­ Strong;ylodon, from the Greek meaning cultural value. In 1937, while walking "round" and "teeth." on Mt. Makiling with his daughter Polly, The characteristic floral feature of this he found the seeds of the jadevine, and genus of the Leguminosae is the short later planted them in his garden in Los wing, adherent to the keel, which is Banos. Mt. Makiling, only an hour's beaked and strongly recurved, equalling drive from Manila, is a National Park. the standard in length, and connate with On its slopes lie the Bureau of Forestry the petals. The standard is ovate oblong, of the Philippine Government, and the acute, recurved, finally reflexed with two College of Agriculture of the University appendages inside above the claw. The of the Philippines. Although Professor individual flower is about two and a half Curran was interned during the last war to three inches long. Most unusual in with all other Americans in this country, this family is the indehiscent pod about and his home was burnt like all the the size of a child's head, fleshy and other houses and offices in Los Banos, hard with three to ten seeds, which are the jadevine lived on. large and stony. About twenty species of this genus are StTOngylodon macrobotTys is a strong known of which ten occur in the Philip­ growing perennial climber with thick, pines. Nine of these are endemic or con­ twisted, rope-like stems, spreading its fined to the Islands and only one of the large pendant racemes on canopies of Philippine species is also found else­ high trees. It is found in damp ravines where. The genus is distributed from and forests of low and medium altitude Madagascar to North Australia. The in Luzon and Mindoro, but has, so far, following species of Strongylodon are reported from the Philippines: agusanen­ ' The author is a trained botanist (Ph. D., University of Vienna) who has resided in Pasay City. Rizal, sis, caeruleus, cmssifolius, elmai, lucidus, Republic of the Philippines, for the past twenty years. macmbot1-ys, megaphyllus, paucinervis, Active in horticulture as well, she is one of the founders of the Philippine Garden Club and the Philippine pulcher, zschokkei. The last is probably Orchid Society. Among her publications are Philippine Orchids and Philippine Ornamental Plants. only a synonym of macrobotrys. Slrong;y- [43] 44 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Strongylodon macrobotrys seed pod

The seed pod of the Philippine l adevine opened to illustrate the large stony seeds. JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUi'vIBER 1 45

locli:m lucidus is the only indigenous established jadevines always produce s12ecie also found outside of the Philip­ thick carpets of blue-green, fallen blos­ pIlles. soms on the ground. Since the flowers Key to the more com.mon PhilitJjJine sjJecies of occur very close together there are some­ Stmngylodon times almost a hundred flowers on one InA orescence branching ...... lu,cidus large stalk. Inflorescence not branching . ~ud s and blossoms are frequently Race me more than LWO feet long ... 111acrobo/r),s vlSI.ted by bl~ck ants, and also by aphids, R acemes less than two feet long whIch sOlne tlmes cause the buds to fa ll Tendrils circinate _...... _...... crassi[olius Tendrils not circinate before they open. Another visitor that Rachis one·eighth to one·fifth an inch has been repeatedly observed in gardens wide _... _.... _._...... _.. _...... _... elmeri of Forbes Park, Makati, a suburb of R achis one· fourth to one·third an inch wide ...... _ ... _ .... _.... _. ... _.... ca e1"uleus Manila, is a bird, the orange-breasted fl~w er pecker [Dicaellm trigonostigma] All these species have horticultural wIth a short well-curved bill. Small in­ possibilities, especially lucidus with sects are part of its diet and the ants orange-red flowers, and caeruleus whose might be their prey. Injured blossoms flowers are bluish-purple. Of the latter, are sometimes seen on the ground obvi­ a few specimens are in cultivation at the ously pecked by the bird. College of Forestry Nursery at Los Banos, Since the long-hanging flovvering stems but so far they have not yet been flow ered do not last long when cut, in comparison in Manila. to those on the living plant, jadevine Like most members of the LEGUM IN­ trusses are seldom cu t, bu t the fa llen OSAE the jadevine and its relatives are flowers are frequently used for leis and best propagated by seeds, but care must flower arrangements. Thin pliable be taken to plant them as soon as possi­ broom-straws are often inserted into the ble, because their viabili ty is very short. base o[ the flowers and these are properly Seeds are best soaked overnight, after placed in an arrangement with driftwood which a slight incision is made to aid and coral. Some people float jadevine the germination of the new seedling. blossoms in flat vases with a small fi gure They may be propagated asexually by as centerpiece and some foliage. marcottings and layerings; cuttings do Mtlcuna bennetti, a bright.red flower­ not strike roots readily. ing vine from New Guinea, resembles in Pergolas are the best support for the habit the jadevine; however, botanically jadevine; when planted along a wall or speaking, keel and wings are larger than flat support the green flowers do not the standard in iVlucuna. From a horti­ stand out too strongly against the green cultural point of view, both the blue­ fo liage. 1£ the leaves and branches are green jadevine and the bright.red neatly trained along the pergola the Mucuna would form an ideal vine combi­ long hanging trusses can be best appreci­ nation that could hardly be surpassed if ated. Flowers are mostly produced from grown side by side on a pergola. Un­ February to November, but in Los Bafios doubtedly, lhe jadevine will in time the vines are fl owering almost through­ become just as coveted and admired oul­ ou t the year. It takes generally three side o[ the Philippines as it is in its years until flowers are produced, as the home coutry. It should also be a poten­ plant is a rather slow-growing vine. tial subject [or the tropical conservatory Blooming o[ the flo wers is basifugal in tempera te lands. Its unusual color, with the lower buds opening first and floriferous habit, and large flow ers-all those at the apex last. One inflorescence desirable qualities-will also attract stays covered with flowers three to four plant breeders, 'who are always on the weeks. Individual flo wers, however, last look-ou t for n ew and stunning character­ only two days, and consequ ently well istics. A Book or Two

Flowers of the World in Full Color. and this notice aims to direct attention to it as the season approaches (and with many of us, Robert S. Lemmon and Charles L. Sherman. also that stage in life) when armchair horticul­ Hanover House, Doubleday & Company, Inc., ture is welcomed. Garden City, New York. 1958.280 pages. Over If you are disposed to learn how the cultiva­ 600 New and O·riginal color plates. $7.50. tion and utilization of drug plants have fared (Library) . in this age of antibiotics and vaccines, and also seek acquaintance with modern chemical under­ FloweTS ot the World in Full Color describes standing of the nature and properties of drugs, and illustrates many of the flowers found in this book will reward some serious browsing. American gardens in an interesting combination The discu ssion of antibiotics, vitamins, and vac­ of illustration and text-the story of their cines must appeal to all who have occasion to origin, history, and relationship. Nearly six use these products-and who doesn't nowadays. hundred color transparencies of the flowers that To appease the strictly horticulturally minded are reproduced, mostly pictured in a detailed there is a chapter on drug plant cultivation and close-up view, represent a selection from and a fine color plate of Rauwolfia seTpentina, eight thousand transparencies taken over a five currently of much interest as the source of one year period by Mr. Sherman and Roy Goin. of the most successful hypertension-relieving There are full page garden plates, these from drugs. the excellent work of Paul E. Genereux and F. W. Cassebeer. Mr. Lemmon is responsible for F. A. W. the text. The printed results are the finest on the market today. There are two main sections of the book: Flowers of the Old ·World, and Flowers of the New World. Each of these is divided into those Roses. kinds of the temperate zone and those of the F. Fairbrother. Penguin Books, Baltimore, tropical zone. The book is very attractively ar· Maryland. (prepared in conjunction and col­ ranged and easily read. It contains many inter­ labo·ration with the Royal Horticultural So­ esting facts on plants which should appeal to ciety, London, England.) 1958. 180 pages. any person for whom plants have an attraction. Illustrated in color and black and white. $.95. C. B. L. (Library) . This is announced as the first of a series under the cooperation indicated above. There is an excellent brief Foreword by the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, and a clear Pharmacognosy. statement by Mr. Fairbrother as to what he in­ tended to do in the text. This last he most E. N. Gathercoal and E. H. Wirth, Third Edi­ certainly accomplishes. tion, extensively revised by Edward P. Claus. Althotwh there is a wide recognition of va­ Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. rieties or"'roses prodLlced in this country, as well 1956. 731 pages. Illustrated. $12.50. as in many others, the treatment through. out The advent of a new book on pharmacognosy is planned and intended for use 111 the Bntlsh would once have created a profound stir among Isles. Some of the data presented will be of little all contemporary horticulturists, and, likewise, use here, but the balance should offer a clear botanists, for pharmacognosy and horticulture outline of how one should approach the growing composed the partnership from which botanical of roses. science emerged. In recent years pharmacology, Since any book on the subject must cover constituting the applied phases of the descrip­ the identical material, it is no criticism to say tive science, pharmacognosy, has gone chemical that the author has been over the familiar and medical so largely that its botanical origin ground once more and brought in what are the is only vaguely recognized by modern horticul­ newest principles, for him, and done it all in a turists. Opportunity to renew this acquaintance lively and engaging manner. is now provided by this comprehensive treatise The printing is clear and excellent, and the on pharmacognosy in all its aspects-botanical, whole volume is as handsome as one would ex­ chemical, and medical. It offers fascinating read­ pect from Penguin books. ing to all who have a broad interest in plants, B.Y. M.

(Books available to?" loan to the Membe1'Ship are designated: (Library). Those not so designated are in p?"ivate collections and are not available for loan. Bool

The Art of Flower and Foliage Arrange­ The Art of Drying Plants and Flowers. ment. Mabel Squires. M. Barrows and Company, Anna H ong Rutt. The Macmillan Company, New York, New York. 1958. 258 pages. New York, New York. 1958. 248 pages. Illus· Illustrated. $4.50. (Library) .• trated (Photographs by Elemore Morgan.) $5.95. (Library). AHS Members' Price $5.06, Quite a number of books have appeared on when ordered through the Society. the market in recent years on this fascinating subject-and many of them have passed through This book is very worthwhile reading. The the hands of the reviewer without much in­ author's clarity of presentation makes enjoyable clination to retain them, except for this one. whatever she has to say. One has the impres­ Clear instructions are given, with well ar­ sion that all possible questions in the readers ranged tables, for the preserving of foliage, mind are anticipated and honestly answered. flowers, seed pods, cones, nuts, and which meth­ There is no vague thread in this book, it is ods are the best in each case, together with the factnal, instructive and up to date. approximate time it takes to fin ish the process. The book is divided into eight parts, five of A list of so urces for dried plant materials for which are most valuable to all those who are those who, perhaps, do not have the space to thirsting for thorough knowledge in regard to store materials while drying, or can not obtain flower arrangement. Since most interested peo­ the plants growing within the home base, is ple are aspiring to become practitioners, the sec­ given at the end of the book. tions presen ting the art principles, the art ele­ ments, expressiveness, and types of arrangements F. P.-K. hold extensIve and easily understood informa­ tion. Through them the author reveals experi­ *An abrupt squall suddenly changed the sail ence, knowledge and broadminded and analyt­ of the 1-eviewer's ketch, throwing the book into ical understanding. Her presentation of occi­ the sea. She immediately dove in and recov­ dental and oriental styles of flower arrangement ered it, bt,t since j\I[.rs. Squires did not cover is interesting, creating an appetite for further the Art of D1'ying Books, the Librarian will study. Her summation of all the known tricks have to loan this C01lY with its wave-like pages. of preparation and preservation of plant ma­ Ed. terial is most helpful through careful and spe­ cialized instructions. Anyone, who wants merely an understanding of what visible and invisible factors are at work in the creation of art with plant material, will wish to know this book as Evergreen OTchards. a comfortable reference. Other parts, which are geared to those readers who seek tutelage from William Henry Chandler. Lea & Febiger, a book, offer a wealth of clearcut and direct Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1958. 535 pages. instructions, inviting a study. Illustrated. $8.50. (Library). A number of the illustrations hit the inspira­ tional level. The author, however, obviously This is a revised, second edition, of Dr. Chand­ wishes to teach and bring out given points in ler's earlier work. It should be looked upon as her text by visual means. She has, in most of a reference work, for use in all parts of the her pictures, illustrated a point rather than cre­ world as it cites conditions in which the crop ated a breathless beauty which commands in­ trees are native as well as treating of what con­ stant eye appeal, but extra hurrahs for Mrs. ditions in this country give an approximate Rutt's wise use of "Southern" plant materials­ parallel. The Preface to the edition gives the so rarely illustrated before. clarification of the title as referring only to fruit trees. MRS. HERBERT H . GREGER To most members of this Society, it will have little practical value, aside from answel"ing their questions in case they travel in parts of the Classified List and Intemational RegisteT world where unusual fruits come to the "native of Daffodil Names. markets" and send the traveller in to ecstacies of enthusiastic inquiry as to why so and so is not The Royal Horticultural Society, London, grown in the United States. Some few will be England. (Distributed through American met with in Florida and California, but not else­ Daffodil Society, 10 Othoridge Road, Luther­ where and most of the rarer things are not likely ville, Maryland.) 318 pages. $1.50. (Library). to be met with in any commercial groves in this This is the latest edition of the invaluable country. list prepared by The Royal Horticultural Society For those of us who know citrus fruits and and takes the place of those that have been pre­ avocados and mangoes as we buy them from the viously issued. The text still shows the same ad­ stores, it should be delightful reading as much mirable clarity of expression and definition. I t of the history of their introduction is included, will be particularly valuable in this country in and more about the problems of their success­ helping show chairmen attend to the correct ful cultivation. The banana and the pineapple classification of varieties, although this is a sec­ have a share too, and, as these do sometimes ap­ ondary use of the volume. The historical value pear in cultivation, read about them too. Cacao, of the early pages is greatly increased by the ad­ coffee, tea and all the rest, are included, with dition of bits of information about the raisers spices fOl" good measure. For us, then, this is a and breeders and stock holders, a list that is not book Lo broaden the scope of our knowledge and absolutely complete, as is indicated by the sub­ intelligent understanding of the problems of heading. production. THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

The only poss ible quibble for the non-COID­ Zen in the Art of Flower ATTangement. mercial reader who is reading for the pleasure of it, is that the book is very heavy, due to the Gustie L. Herrigel, translated from the Ger· size and the type of glazed paper, a paper that man by R. F. C. Hull. Charles T. Branford hel ps in the excellence of the reproductions. Company, Newton Centre, Massachusetts. B.Y. M. 1958. 124 pages. Illustrated. $3.00. (Library). This is a slender book, which is more the re­ cording of a great personal experience, a testi­ Enjoying Ame-rica's Ga-rdens. mony of devotion, than anything else_ The title is perhaps a little difficult to follow as one Joan Parry Dutton. Reynal & Company, New reads, but that need not be important in the York, New York. 1958. 311 pages. Illustrated. end. There is no definition of Zen in the book, '5.00. (Library). understandably, since Zen is the most difficult A interesting book to read, of plants and to discuss of all the developments of Buddhist gardens of the United States. The author de­ thought and practice. Perhaps it is enough to scribes travels and visits to gardens in all sec­ say, no matter how imperfectly one says it, that tions of the country. These include: Longwood Zen is one path to the great goal of human life, Garden, Bartram's Garden in Philadelphia, the the way to the ultimate Ground, the identifica­ gardens of Charleston, New Orleans, the Moun­ tion of the self with the Self. tains of Colorado, and the many gardens of the To enter into the life of any people other Pacific States. Into these travels she brings in­ than one's own, is difficult enough at best; to teresting notes of the many plants growing in enter into the inner being and ways of thought the various geographical and climatical ai-eas of of another people requires an even greater gift. America of their origin, or discovery, and the In this Mrs. Herrigel seems to have been more perso ns connected with those plants, both past than usually successful, and was more than and present. She visits and tells of many persons fortunate in finding the Master whom she whose names are familiar to the readers of The needed. National Horticultw'al Magazine since they have The present reviewer, as much as anyone, been authors of many fine articles-Mrs. J . Nor­ is loath to put into printed form, his feelings man H enry, Mrs. G. R . (Kathleen) Marriage, about the great forces of life and of living, but John C. 'Vister, Lester Rowntree, Donald that is the underlying theme of the book. Wyman and others. A book to enjoy. Ostensihly, it is about a classical school of Flower C. B. L. Arrangements; actually, it is a record of some of the ways that go to make up the life pattern of the cultivated and spiritually minded Japa­ nese, communicated with sympathy but un­ The A za lea Book. doubtedly with some loss from Japanese to Ger­ Frederic P. Lee. D. Van Nostrand Company, man, from German to English, from printed Inc., Princeton, New Jersey. 1958. 324 pages. page to reviewer, from reviewer to you. Read 60 illustrations, 6 in color. $8.95. (Library). it for yourself, and see if you are completely AHS Members' Price $6.45, when purchased happy ever again with the jargon of "con­ through the Society. tainers," "material," and all the familiar words or labels of the Arranger's Life! If you are, this This could well be entitled "A Modern Azalea W

Botany, history and the ca taloguing with P1"Uning Made Easy. co mment of the species and va rieties, fo llows for pages, the first section devo ted onl y to the Edwin F. StefIeck. H enry H olt and Com­ Nympheas; then follow the seC LI ons on Vlclon a, pany, New York, New York. 1958. 120 pages. N up har, and the semi-aqua ti cs tha l are grown Illustrated. $2.95. (Library). along wilh the wa ter ga rden pla nts, some sub­ T his is a practical and easily read presen ta­ m erged and some on the borders wIth peren­ tion of the fundamen tals of pruning trees, niall y wet "feel. " Some readers wIll cop y the shrubs, a nd vines. T he pla ntsman may be suggestions literall y and so me wdl doubtless startled to see line drawings of spruce labeled have their own ideas about margm al pJ an tm gs, as pine on several pages; however, the other most of which are ugly and frequently inler­ illustrations are sui table and clear in portray­ fere with the complete beauty of the wa ter ing the variou aspec ts of a ometimes co mplex lilie themselves. problem for the laym an. T he au thor a llows himself the mi ery o[ mak­ Not only has the a uthor expla in ed how to ing \'arious lists of " the bes t" and for the kind prune, but he has also descri bed the in tricate of O"a rdener who has not m uch p ersonal courage, detail s of plant growlh and developmen t whi ch t h e~e are in va luable. There is a good index. will enable the reader lO determine the va ri ous T he disc uss ion of fi sh, is less interes ting, a nd reasons behind the cutting techniques, as well while the difficulty with fi sh-eating h awks is as the resulting future developmen t of the mentioned, there is no nota tion about the wad ­ pla nt. ing bird that often are as troublesome. T he a u thor has adequately covered pruning Nothing more need be said tha n that the re­ tools and their li se. H e also describes the care vi ewer wishes he knew a new pool for his gar­ of trees, sh rubs and vines in numerous situa­ den in 1\'liss iss ippi was just a bout to be built. tions in landscape plantings. T his publication It is not, fo r the garden at present does not should be a worthwhile addition to the book­ have enough sun! But yo u build one and see shelf of the h ome gardener. for yourse lf, the new pleasure tha t wIll be yours. L. J. ENRI CIf I B. Y. 1\1.

Win dow Sill Ga1-dening. J ames Underwood Crockett. Doubleday & Dried Flowen With A Fresh L ook. Compan y, Jnc., Garden City, New York . 1958. 120 pages. Illustrated. $2.95. (Library). Eleanor R eed Bolton. D. Van Nostrand Com ­ pan y, Inc., Princeton, New J ersey. 1958. 2 10 This is a "cha tty" so rt of a book on the care pages . Illustrated. $6.95. (Library) . AHS and O"ro wing of plants in the home. T he a uthor Members' Pnce $5 .91 when purchased start; fi rst with a b rief discuss ion on " H ow through the Society. Plants Grow." T his is followed with short chap­ ters on growing the m any popular fl o w e ~in g i\Ir . Bolton has produced a very reada bl e and plants, including those kinds grown by fl Orists, instructive book in the la tes t to appear on such as cyclamen, poinsettia, and azalea. In each the market dealing with the preserving of pla nt case su O"ges tions a re made as to how such kll1ds ma terials. Sh e O"uid es the reader in the selection may beo handled for flow ering a.gain- if that. is and pr e par a ti o ~ of flowers-explains in deta il possible, as with aza leas; gardem as, or gloxll1la. the vario us m ethods which can be employed to The chapter on fOliage plan ts makes suggestIO ns dry fl owers, treat leaves and ferns, as well as at to the kinds to select for dIfferent SItua tIOns, other plant materials, to enable them to keep and how to care for them. Some less common their fo rm as well as their color. T here are flowering and foliage plan ts are discussed, such chapters devoted to preserving berries a nd seeds, as p rimroses, miniature roses, and dIsh gardens. and storage of materials, the grooming and ar­ T he summer care of ho tl se plants, as well as ranging of plant ma terials, and some uses o ther soils, fertilizers, and pes t control, is discussed than the conventional bouquets. T here are also briefly. T he fin al chap ter concludes with a few tips to the exhibitor in fl ower shows, and point hin ts on the ca re and use of cu t fl owers. score judging scale for dried arrangements-also , detail ed description on how to take a rrange­ C. B. L. ments to a show-a nd with these fragile bou­ quets this is indeed a feat. T he book is very well illustrated, both in color Other Books Added to the L ibml-y and in black and white, with flowers in arra nge­ ments as well as m any " how-to-do-it" pictures, Amel-ican T om ato l'eaTbook. 1958. such as the drying box showing the cardboard ridges with cutout notches for the necks of the J ohn \ 'V. Carncross, Editor. American To­ flowers. mato Yearbook, W es tfield, New J ersey, 1958. 40 pages. $2.00. (Library). The success of the teChniques described in this book were shown to the public in ' '''ashing­ R ad£oisotopes in B iology and A g1"l'cu l­ ton, D . C., r ecently and they were indeed de­ lio'htful: sprays of white dogwood, pink peonies, ture. Principles and P1"(/ctice. s ~ a ll cup d affodils, pink roses, snapdragons, C. L. Comar. J... l cG raw-Hill Book Company, marigolds, and many orher hard to dry fl owers. New York, New York. 1955.481 pages. Il llls­ F.P.-K. tra ted. 9.00. (Library). to soften the lines between the structure and gl"eensward

The Gardeners' Pocketbook

Some Thoughts on Foundation other words to provide ornamentation of Planting the land adjacent to the house. Too often the plantings consist of stiff conif­ The architects who designed classical erous evergreens placed much too closely French gardens had the idea that having not only for their own good, but also plants close to the house cast so much because of their natural habits of shade they would make the ground floor growth either in width or height, they damp, so the shrubbery, of which there are likely in a short space of time to was very little, did not begin until be­ crowd each other and grow so high above yond the stone flagged terrace areas. In the windows that they shut out light and England, oddly enough, where it is much air. Always where there are windows, damper than in France, people often plants should be so low as not to inter­ train vines up the outside walls of their fere with light and air. And where the houses, a practice which enables them 'windows go down to the ground the to give warmth and shelter to plants that foundation planting has to be at the are half hardy and even fragile in their sides where there is solid masonry be­ northern climate. Elsewhere it has been hind it. feared plants close to the house might When I bought my present home, a ttract insects. However, in general there was a huge yew on the side of where I live, namely in northeastern the front door rising from a scattering North America, it is customary to plant of pachysandra. The yews hid at least trees or shrubs close to the houses to one-third of the ground floor window soften the line between the brick or and were clumsy in shape. Instead of wooden walls and the greensward-in trying to save them they were dug up

[50] JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 51

by a bulldozer and thrown out. This lute margins, and are green on both left two beds somewhat hemispherical in sides. The light yellow flowers grow two shape and measuring about twelve feet to one hanging from longish stalks. Ber­ in width and twenty-four in length. The beris chenaulti is a hybrid of B. verrucu­ one nearer the kitchen entrance was losa and B. gagnepagni and has spinel' slightly longer than the other. Both face toothed leaves that are glaucous on the northeast as does the house. They flank under sides. B. candidula is a third simi­ the main entrance wing which projects lar barberry, the handsomest of the three a little beyond them and casts more which has large solitary flow ers and shade on the longer more westerly lying silvery undersides of the leaves. The bed than on the other one. Consequent­ fruits of B. candidula are long and slen­ ly, shrubs and flowers bloom a week later der, light blue in early fall and darken in the shadier bed though it is only a as the season advances, as do the fruits few feet from the sunnier one. On either of B. ve1oruculosa and B. chenaulti. All side of the entrance the dwarf form of these barberries show some bronzing in Alberta spruce has been planted. It cold weather. A few Kalmia latifolia terminates in a point and has yellow­ bushes are here. green fine foliage. Placed at the far end of the larger bed While I was building the garden, an is a deciduous bush handsome all winter old swamp was turned into a pond and with its dropping panicles of scarlet the soil dug up in the process consisted fruits which develop from panicles of of leaves that had been accumulating yellow blossoms, namely, Berberis vul­ and decaying for untold years. This soil garis. It is European in origin, but has was mixed with lime, allowed to dry, seeded itself extensively in North Amer­ and then incorporated into the two beds. ica and I find seedlings all over the In spite of this lime, members of the garden. rhododendron family have done well In front of this barberry are two here. True rhododendrons, however, ex­ bushes of Ilex crenata, the Japanese cept for azaleas, look so sad when it gets holly. The bush is somewhat stiff in very cold and their leaves droop and the habit of growth which can reach twenty margins roll inward, that they have not feet unless it is cut back severely. The been included in the planting close to sexes are separate and the flowers incon­ the house. spicuous. The dark green leaves are The shrubs in the two beds are dupli­ obovate, short stalked, faintly toothed cated except for plants of Ilex crenata and glossy, and the bush is attractive. and Berberis vulgaris which grace the Variety H elleri sounds much better than further end of the larger bed. At the it is because of being exceedingly com­ back and closest to the windows is pact and clumpy and not the least grace­ Pieris jap'onica. It grows up to nine feet ful. Variety convexa is very like the high and has markedly toothed lustrous type only the leaves being convex above leaves. Closely-set flower panicles are pen­ and concave below, look as if some insect dulous and creamy, form in mid-summer had laid eggs in them. and remain full of promise all winter un­ Towards the front in these two beds til they open in very early spring. The are many evergreen azaleas. Some of yOUtng branches and leaves in some them bloom from early May and others specimens are decidedly reddish, while deep into July. All have white, pink or in others they are on the yellow side. It roseate red blossoms. These, as well as is absolutely hardy with me, and the other shrubs here, have to be kept low only drawback is its tendency to height and somewhat compact. which can be kept back by pruning. Its Years ago when I began to garden, a close relative Pieris fioribunda, native to friend told me a gardener has to be a Virginia and Georgia, has the advantage sculptor and continually shape his plants of being shorter, but it is not so graceful if he wishes the picture to stay as it was as the Japanese plant. planned originally. This pruning is In front of the pieris are some ever­ required not to make geometric shapes green barberries hardy for this locality. of the shrubs, but to cut out old wood I happen to grow Berberis verruc1!losa to the ground level and occasionally to with rough yellow branches and pomted cut out higher branches to provide space leaves that are spiny toothed, have revo- for the lower growing shrubs. 52 THE NATIO AL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Needless LO say these beds are heavily entire garden right close to the house fed with compost and commercial ferti­ and in a comparatively tiny plot of lizer every year. ground, without any of the conventionali­ Some of the azaleas came from a ties of "foundation plantings!"-HELEN shaded place in my other garden and M. Fox, High and Low, Mount Kisco, evidently there were seeds and bulbs in New York. the soil around them which have been maturing gradually. Quite unexpected­ ly, a spike of Lilum elegans appea:-ed, Autumn Foliage Colon On the original parent of far more glonous offspring. It began with one stalk, and Glenn Dale Azaleas nov" forms a fairly large size clump. A In gardens in the South evergreen few of the low growing L. philippinense foliage is just as important as elsewhere have been planted towards the front for and most of it comes from broad-leaved August blooming. plants rather than conifers. There is no Other plants which have come along extremely good source of gray though with the soil are Mayapples, Podophyl­ a form of Juniper that comes under the lum peltatum, with their round, floppy, name of Silver Vase is a lovely blue umbrella-like leaves, and a few of the green mass in summer, less so in winter False Solomon's Seal. Ferns, too, have when it loses most of the tint to plain appeared but they are pulled out for green. there is no space for them and moreover The fact that the leaves of many their texture does not harmonize with Glenn Dale Azaleas assume the bronze the glossy finish of the broad leaved ever­ to coppery colors that one asociates with greens. From neighboring beds violets mahonias in the north, makes them of keep popping up. interest here. The following list made in In early spring the leathery leaves of the winter of 1957-58 is of clones that L)'coris sqtoamigera appear to be followed color markedly, not just slightly: in August by pinky mauve clusters of Arcadia, Campfire, Chanticleer, Con­ flowers. quest, Copperman, Damaris, Darkness, At the very front of the beds and Dauntless, Dragon, Etna, Fandango, blooming in mid-March amid an edging Fashion, Firedance, Gaiety, Galathea, of Vinca minor are snowdrops half the Glamour, Jubilee, Kathleen, Kobold, way; the other half is planted with Cro­ Mandarin, Manhattan, Nubian, Oracle, cus tomasinianus with tiny flowers shad­ Padre, Phoebe, Refulgence, Rhapsody, Sambo, Token, Winner, and Zealot. ing from lavender to pink. After these Coloration varies considerably. In fade the 'whole front of the bed is blue some clones the leaves are colored on with chionodoxas. By May, Phlox di­ both surfaces, in others the reverse of varicata is showing the grey blue of its the leaf remains green, but this is not clumps. At the back of the beds, in a showy feature as there is little leaf shade and where they prevent mud from movement in wind. If both surfaces are being splashed against the house, are colored the under surface is usually mats of lily-of-the-valley. When there is lighter in hue. For example, Fashion a vacant spot, which according to this shows upper surfaces of Dianine Brown, account would seem impossible, I tuck in but the reverse is Vandyke Red. Winner, pansies. Today, early in July, I was sur­ is almost black on the upper surface but prised to see that Campanula rotu'I1di­ Burnt Lake on the reverse. Campfire and folia had seeded itself and formed a large Chanticleer have the same color pattern round clump most becomingly among as Fashion. Damaris colors to a hue be­ azaleas. The last blooms are colchicums tween Burnt Lake and Black, and is which have been planted well towards very striking. the front. Not too many of them are All co10r notations are from Ridgway here because of the conspicuous leaves Color Standards and Color Nomencla­ they send up in spring which soon turn ture, which has been the writer's right brown, and are difficult to hide in this hand for too many years to be aban­ place. Also, there will be a few autumn doned, even if it does annoy the mod­ crocuses which bloom into November. erns.-B. Y. M., Pass ChTistian, Missis­ Thus it is possible to have almost an sippi. JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 53

Well rooted cuttings of Magnolia grandiflora (A bout 46 days old-,"oots 3 to 6 inches long)

Magnolia grandiflora From successfully and rapidly. In order to pro­ Cuttings duce the optimum conditions in a green­ house or frame the cuttings must be in There are no hard and fast rules as to a closely controlled temperature, sprayed when cuttings should be taken, but it is with water at approximately two to three generally suggested that cuttings of de­ hour intervals on a summer day and gen­ ciduous plants be taken in late spring erally protected from the wind and. the or summer, those of broad-leaved ever­ heat of the sun. These factors combmed greens in summer, fall or winter. 'with the inherent stubborness of some Most propagators understand tl:e prob­ plants has created a considerable prob­ lems involved in successfully rootmg cut­ lem for the average grower who has the tings of woody plants. They know that desire to increase his favorite plants from a cutting will not root if it is allowed vegetative cuttings. to wilt after it has been removed from With the advent of the mist system of the parent plant. For this reason, cut­ watering cuttings, the writ~r made num­ tings are often collected in early morn­ erous attempts over a penod. of several ing while the plant stems are turgid a~d years to select the proper penod durmg they are wrapped in moist cloth, plastic, the summer, fall and winter months to or similar material to protect them from take cuttino'S of Magnolia grandiflora drying as they are transported to the and then by stimulating them with va­ propagating area. . rious concentrations o[ chemical mate­ It is also known that the cuttlllgS rials, root them under both an inter­ must be kept turgid while in the green­ mittant and a continuous spray of water. house or frame if they are to be rooted No matter what combinations of [Published as Contribution N o. 2959, Miscella neous wounding, chemical treatments, medi­ Publication No. 333, Maryland Agrtcultural Expen · ment Station. Department of Horticulture.1 um, or watering were used, all the cut- 54 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE tings failed to root. It was then decided Iating chemicals. A twenty thousand to investigate the period during which parts per million dip, for ten seconds, cuttings were taken to see if any time of an indolebutyric acid and water solu­ other than summer, fall or winter was tion gave the most satisfactory results. suitable for the Southern Magnolia. This solution was prepared by dis­ One season several cuttings rooted solving a gram of indolebutyric acid when they were collected during the crystals in a very small amount of ninety month of June but the results were not per cent ethyl alcohol and then adding suitable because only about five per cent enough distilled water to bring the total of the material used gave any' indication volume to fifty cubic centimeters. After of root stimulation. The following sea­ this treatment the fifty cuttings used son the work was concentrated in the were inserted in a sand filled greenhouse month of June with the following results. bench under a low pressure intermittant spray system to keep them moist. The Rooting R esponse of Magnolia grandiflora water operated from one hour after sun­ Cuttings (50 cuttings per treatment) rise until one hour after sunset for a Per Cent period of fifteen seconds during every Date Made Date Rooted Rooted ten minute interval. The mist nozzles June 2 July 19 84 were of the baffle type. June 9 July 26 82 Cuttings taken at weekly intervals in June 16 August I 88 June were well rooted in forty-four to June 23 August 9 86 forty-seven days. The roots stimulated were three to six inches long and ap­ Cuttings were taken in early morning proximately four to eight roots were before the full heat of the sun had formed on each cutting When the cut­ reached the parent plants. These cut­ tings are rooted it is best to reduce the tings were put into bushel baskets on amount of water they receive in order wet sphagnum moss and then covered to allow them to harden off naturally. with another layer of wet sphagnum This can be achieved over a two week while they were taken to the greenhouse period by halving the watering time for processing. every four days. A light shade is bene­ The cuttings were made approximate:­ ficial as the amount of water is reduced. ly six inches long from terminal portions With this simple and inexpensive of the current season's growth, from the method the average gardener should be lower limbs of the trees. The stems were able to grow new plants from his favorite cut at an angle of forty-five degrees Southern Magnolia and it well may be about one-quarter of an inch below a that the treatment will be of value in node. The lower one inch of the stem promoting root development on cuttings was slit on two sides with the tip of a from other plants of a similar nature.­ sharp knife blade. Then the cuttings L. J. ENRIGHT, University of Maryland, were treated with various root stimu- College Park, Maryland.

Summer bloom from bulbs soil, and heavy mulch during the winter and some mulch in summer. All of my In the garden at Haphazard, we de­ amaryllis are fed about twice a year with pend on bulbs for most of our late sum­ a well balanced fertilizer. We have never mer and autumn bloom. We have tried failed to have blossoms during the month to grow brunsvigias under all of the of August and we now have six bulbs in conditions available in this climate and the clump. I am sure that if this bulb unless the summer is dry enough for had been planted where it had more water than I have been giving it, it them to have a real rest, we get no would bloom more freely and multiply blossoms, only splitting of the bulbs and faster. growth. Other fall blooming bulbs include a Our first Amarcrinum howardi was number of different kinds of lycoris, purchased ten years ago, and given the both pink and red rhodophiala, Cycla­ same treatment that I give the hybrid m en neapolitanum, and sternbergias.­ amaryllis, part shade (under deciduous Jo N. EVANS, Haphazard Plantation, FeT­ trees), plenty of humus added to the Tiday, Louisiana. JANUARY 1959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1 55

A First Planting of Brodiaeas ha>:e . every app~arance of growmg and Because a corm of Brodiaea lactea that ~hnvmg, so possIbly the folly of planting came accidentally to the garden has It was not complete. - B. Y. M., Pass shown every sign of being at home, Christian, Mississippi. twenty-five corms of B. lac tea, laxa, and Am inspired to write you .... about grandiflora were purchased and planted my favorite shrub other than azaleas, in the autumn of 1957. All showed signs Thryallis glauca. I have only one, which of sending up winter foliage which is grew well, survived the winter of 56-57 the one thing that may determine the and was over five feet tall. I regret to success or failure of any bulbous plant in state that the main stem bit the dust last this climate. If there is winter foliage, winter but an offshoot is still active. So, how much cold will it endure, how much it is apparently hardy down to 22 ° F. but damage will it show? not at 18 °. - MRS. RICHARD MURRELL, All three species planted showed no Baton Rouge, Louisiana. signs of damage to such foliage as ap­ Another member of the Society has a peared, and as warmer weather ap­ f~lrther note to add in regard to Thryal­ proached, showed very distinct tempos in lIs, namely, that even in areas where it is making growth. Lactea moved first and entirely at home and does well, its wood most rapidly, laxa next, and grandiflora is very brittle and whenever anything the most slowly. f~lls on it, there is a breakage that takes Lactea has been in excellent bloom time for replacement. Otherwise, it is since abou t the middle of April and a most valuable summer-flowering shrub only the oldest flowers are beginning to of considerable dimensions.- West Palm show the transparent, everlasting-like Beach, Florida. appearance of age. The bloom is an off­ white with some greenish venation. Gmndiflora is opening its first blooms, Arum pictum) Oh) No! of moderately deep purple lavender, but This last season dime stores in many on rather short stipes, that are still grow­ parts of the country offered "bulbs" of ing and may in time reach the height of Arum pictum, in neatly packaged boxes, the 14 inch stipes of lactea. The foliage with a fine cut of a yellow flat spathed on laxa is luxuriant, and much broader bloom dotted with almost scarlet. The than in any of the others, but no buds note said that it could be flowered with­ are in sight as yet (April 29) . out the benefit of soil and so on . ... If anyone in the South, perhaps better The plant we had is not Arum pictum the "Deep South," has grown these or (syn. A. corsicum) , nor are any others other species, may we have a note for that have been reported to the writer. the magazine?-B. Y. M., Pass Christian, Of course, Arum pictum is now referred M ississi pp i. to as Sauromatum guttatum, particularly variety pedatum, which is probably the T hryallis glauca plant we have. The reference in Rortus The past winter of 1957-58, which will II gives the data that some of the forms go down in history as one of the coldest of S. guttatum have been grown as Arum in the local memory, had only the virtue cornu tum and "red calla." Probably of turning cold in late November and "cornu tum" is an error for "C01 sicum." staying cold till mid-March. That sort But no reference that has come to the of winter is an advantage over the typi­ writer's notice reminds the reader that cal winter in which periods of warmth the astonishing flower with its deep occur irregularly throughout the months brown to purplish spathe, all very inter­ of January and February with damage to esting in detail, and all that, gives off the many plants, even the so-called iron clad. odor of dead flesh, and attracts insects Growing Thryallis here was a venture. that like that sort of thing. The two nights when the temperature The leaf that follows the bloom is dropped to 20° F. took care of Thryallis, large, beautifully lobed, and gives a fine even if it had been protected by the effect in contrast with other foliage shade of pine boughs stuck into the plants that are more typical of temperate ground. regions. It remains to be seen if the At this writing, April 29, the plant is plant will be hardy here and whether or putting up shoots from the crown, that not the interest of the details of the color- 56 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

ing will compensate for the stench, for GraPto1) eta I1m~ and distributed under that is the proper word. Plant Introduction Number 197,677. It SauTOmatum guttatum lived through h as since been identified by Eric Wal­ last winter outdoors at Longwood Gar­ ther as EcheveTia affinis, which he had dens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. It described as a new species in the Cactus has lived through many winters at the and Succulent .JouTnal, Vol. 30, No. 4, Bailey Hortorium Garden at Ithaca, July-August 1958. New York, but has never bloomed at the E. affinis has proved to be an excellent Ithaca garden.-B. Y. M ., Pass ChTistian, pot plant for the home or the conserva­ Mississippi. tory in the Northern States and could doubtless be grm,vn out-o£-doors in south­ ern California and parts of Arizona. The plant forms a compact rosette of thick, acute, fleshy oblanceolate leaves, which are reddish-bronze under good light con­ ditions. The leaf coloring is distinctive, setting the plant apart from most other commonly cultivated succulents. Under greenhouse conditions in Montana, the rosettes h ave been four to five inches across and stand perhaps one-half to two-thirds as tall. During mid-winter the plants produce cymes of bright­ scarlet flowers on scapes up to a foot tall. The flowers last well and are produced over a period of two to three weeks. There is a possibility that E. affinis may be a short-day plant. I t is not very tol­ erant to a low-light intensity situation. A report from the Department of Horticulture, University of 'iVisconsin, Madison, 'Wisconsin, indicates that E. affinis grown in the greenhouse at seventy to eighty degrees has been of easy culture, producing attractive, very in­ teresting flowers and that it should be a worthwhile addition to the list of house plants. A similiar report was received from Garfield Park, Chicago, Illinois. E. affinis is readily propagated from leaf cuttings. Each leaf will generally pro­ duce two to three plantlets, which may take at least a year to mature into size­ able specimens. E. affinis should become popular with afficionados of cacti and EcheveTia affi.nis ... fTOm a leaf cutting. succulents. Stock plants were grown at the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and returned to the Plant In­ troduction Station, Glenn Dale, Mary­ Echeveria affinis land for propagation. Small plants will A new succulent from Sinaloa) be distributed to the floricultural trade from Glenn Dale.-H. N. METCALF, Mexico Montana AgTicultural ExpeTiment Sta­ An ornamental succulent collected in tion, Nlontana State College, Bozeman, 1951 by H. S. Gentry and Charles L. Montana; and JOHN L. CREECH, U. S. Gilly at Palmita, Sinaloa, Mexico, was Plant IntToduction GaTden, Glenn Dale, identified at the time as a species of MaT)Jland . J ANUARY 195Y, VOLUME 38, NUMBER I 57

R osa 1nutabilis being cut back, bu t the growth is not ag­ gressive nor unduly persisten t. For the pas t several years. I have noted an occasional article in Th e National T he Cross-Vine is na ti ve to southern H orticultuml Nl agazine regarding R osa Illinois an d Ohio, and southward. It mutabilis. I have grown this rose in has been reported winter hardy as a Fres no, Califo rnia, for so me ten years. cl imbing vine in a sheltered location in Massachuse tts, bu t usu ally grows only Here, it commences to bloom several as a ground cover as far north as that. weeks in adva nce of any other species It is ques tionable whether it will bloom or h ybrid. It continues to fl ower steadily, at the northern margin of its range. It co ntinually and abundantly until well is not particular as to soil bu t wan ts past T h anksgiving (in 1957, until after good drainage and shade. Its preference Christmas). It is a t least semi-evegreen is for the north side of walls or trees, and in mild winters completely ever­ and in such spots it may climb to a green. heigh t of fi fty feet. "\l\T herever it touches The ten year old plants, after having the gTound it te nds to root at each node. been moved several times, are now from As far as m:y experience goes it is best eigh t to ten feet tall, abou t the same to start plants [rom these rooted sections. through. T hey are pruned only to shape Si zable vines u suall y die back when trans­ them, have never required any fungicide planted even with the best of care, which or insecticide and accept general garden may be one reason it is n ot more com­ care with en thusiasm. As a garden shrub monly grown. for a lazy garden I know of nothing so T h e abundant fl owers of the Cross-Vine rewarding. vary from ye llow to orange red and open U nfortunately, when the vvord rose is h ere abou t the time th e oaks begin to used, people think of the fl ower form of leaf out. T he fl owers are slightly smaller a H ybrid T ea and a delicate single fl ower than those of the closely related Trumpet is a disappointment because unexpected . Creeper, Campsis 1-adicans) bu t are simi­ Everyone who observes the habit of lar in shape. They are most spectacular Rosa. mutabihs through out the year ap­ when the vine climbs the common red preciates its fin e qualities. I cannot p er­ cedar and festoons it with bloom, though suade the local nurserymen, however, to they are only less startling when draping propagate it.-MILO E. R OWELL, Fresno) a white blotch ed sycamore, and are love­ Cali foynia. lyon any tree. T h e bloom is also effec­ tive on wall or fe nce. T h e vine may pos­ sibly bloom as a ground cover, bu t I h ave never known it to do so. The foliage, which may be either yel­ The Native Cross-Vine low green or rich purplish on the under side, consists of a two p arted leaf and a There are so few showy flowered ever­ tendril. T he leaves are definitely ever­ green vines that are h ardy n orth of the green and not merely persistent, but Ohio th at it is h ard to understand the they lack the substance and fin ish of neglec t of our native Cross-Vine, B i­ English ivy and evonymus. Probabl y few gnon ia capreolata) especially as it has people would plant it for its evergreen fewer faults than most other woody vines . value alone. The showy early fl owers, It climbs by mea ns of tendril disks and however, make it well worth growing. so does not strangle trees as do the twin­ My first experience with the Cross-Vine ing vines. Its growth is not rank enough was when I brough t it in from my cliffs to risk smothering tree or shrub. Its twenty-seven years ago while trying to tendency is to go straight to wh ere it is find a vine that would cl ing to new ma­ going and make its chief foliage growth sonry. It grew well on a new north there, hence it does n ot swathe and chim ney and soon afforded su pport over obscure tree trunks as do English ivy, which English ivy would climb. T he two Virginia Creeper, Ampelopsis, and some h ave shared the chimney ever since, the other vines . It is easily eradicated if one Cross-Vine show ing merely as a fringe of wishes to get rid of it-at least that is growth above the wall of English ivy.­ so here in ce ntral Kentucky. It may send MAUD R. J ACOBS) South Can·ollton) K en­ up new growth for a cou ple of years after tucky. 58 THE NA TIONAL HORTICULTURAL iVIAGAZINE

Firmiana simplex the leaves have fallen. The area under the tree is usually well furnished with This oriental tree that most of us old­ seedlings that appear in great numbers, sters knew as Sterculia platanifolia is per­ but seem to perish in large percentage. haps not met as often as it should be. It The only other tree that comes to has several distinctions. mind with fruiting characters in such The writer first saw it in some new striking fashion is Cedrela sinensis which plantings in vVuchang, China, and not has equally striking infloresences, showier knowing it, asked. The name was given in fact in that the flowers have petals correctly but it was suggested that it was and are white, and in that the seed pods not a very choice tree, but one that was are starry in effect. This tree as known planted there and in all of southern to the writer in Washington, D. C., had China when one wanted a tree in a the poor characteristic of yielding shoots hurry. It was n ext seen as old trees in from the root system, whether injured or Washington, D. C., one on the grounds not. It had a rather striking bark char­ of the Library of Congress and one in an acter, something like that of the hickory, area now improved out of existence, a and long compound leaves like those of portion of the so-called Botanic Garden, ailanthus, so that its contribution to an area that Was rich in plant materials "tropical" effects was real but very dif­ assembled by William R. Smith while ferent from that of the Firmiana_ he was director. (Then one could see a superb tree of ParTOtia, a fine Cunning­ The writer does not know, but won­ h!([.mia, some prostrate specimens of ders if this tree, Firmiana, may not be Cephalotaxus, and even a tree of Ho­ the tree with large leaves that appears so venia dulcis.) These last trees had suf­ often in ink paintings, chiefly from fered at times from climatic lows, and China. The Japanese name for it, had been pruned back severely, some­ Aogiri, is related to that of Paulownia thing that altered their appearance in which is kiri, and they are mentioned in winter but not in summer. Conder's old books, in succession among Here is Pass Christian there are a few important deciduous trees and shrubs. specimens, none particularly cherished. "K" in .T apanese when romanized turns Several have been cut to the ground and into "G" in compounding, so the rela­ are now represented by vigorous shoots tions may be only a visual one. from the base. In one old area where the The species is not mentioned in Bruce mother tree has not yet been seen there Wigginton's excellent Trees and Shrubs are many seedlings of various ages. for the Coastal Southem Plain. Dr. There are two very outstanding char­ Hume does not mention it in the earlier acters that are noted: first, on the bark edition of Gardening in the Lower South which is absolutely smooth, a dull matt and it has no place in the delightful quality of gray green that is rarely seen, Flowers of the South, Native and ExotlC, and with a surface that in the trees by Greene and Blomquist. What is the known to the writer does not show the scandal? Or is this a plant that does not growth scars that are seen, for example, move well and so is abandoned by on beech. The second is the size of the nurserymen who prefer to grow sure fire leaf. As in the case of catalpa and Paul­ stuff? ownia, leaves on vigorous young shoots An inquiry of Mr. Wigginton as to are often larger than normal, but the what he thought of Finniana simplex, leaf on the mature tree is often a foot which he did not include in the book, across, with palmate lobes three to five brought the comment: in number. When a good specimen is "I am fairly familiar with the Sterculia growing in company with trees of mod­ which is fairly common in the Athens­ erate sized leaves the effect is much more Atlanta area. I omitted it from the Coast­ striking than that given even by syca­ al Plain Book because I really do not mores. think it has anything to recommend it The large panicles of bloom will not for general use. As I have seen it, I have attract much attention, but the seed always felt that its form was ungainly, pods, are large and as they mature sepa­ the flowers disappointing, and the foli­ rate into four lobes with the seeds on the age although rather handsome in detail, inner edges. The pods are fairly per­ coarse in effect. The Paulownia, al­ sistent but here, do not hang on after though a little larger, I always felt JANUARY ]959, VOLUME 38, NUMBER 59

FiTmiana simplex-leaves and seed tJods (some opened exposing the seeds attached to the inner edges) superior to this in the same general ripened seeds attached to the margins. foliage and habit category. I am sure The seeds look like English peas. The there would be plenty to disagree, how­ fruits are conspicuous on the tree all ever! It grows well in Athens, no trou­ summer. ble." "Apparently the tree does not require Mr. Edward Horder, Fairhope, Ala­ any special conditions here, in order to bama, writes: grow very well. "There are a number of these trees in "In addition to its botanical name, the Mobile area, and they grow very Finniana simplex, the tree is known in well in this climate. One specimen in the South, as Phoenix tree, Chinese Para­ F~irhope, stands abou t thirty feet tall, sol tree, and Japanese Varnish tree, wIth a ten inch trunk diameter but it enough names to worry anyone." can be expected to get a little taller with Another member writes from New Or­ age, to forty or fifty feet. Numerous leans: "I am quite familiar with Firmi· seedlings volunteer about the base of ana simplex. It is a pest. I like the shape the tree, in all sizes, where they manage of the trees and their smooth bark but, to survive in tough competition with the oh, those seedlings! There are two large natives. specimens over our back fence and I "The tree has green bark and very spend my days pulling up their offspring. large, sycamore-like leaves. The fruits Best thing I can say it that even the two­ are the structures that really make the year-olds come ·up easily after a rain. tree unusual. These are at first closed and After that, it takes a spade for the long then they open into four leaf-like sec­ tap root."-B. Y. M., Pass Christian, Mis­ tions, each one with two to three un- sissippi. 60 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

A Note on EaTly HistOTY of grown is in bloom for months together, Saintpau,lia and is raised from seed, which should be treated similarly to that of the Strepto­ About a year ago the addition of a cal-pus. It is very fine and must be sown partial file of the famous old English carefully. A warm greenhouse will grow magazine The Gal'den to my library re­ the Saintpaulia well. Another way of sulted in my turning up a short article propagating it is by division of the and plate that may be of some interest leaves, only a bulb is not formed, but to African Violet addicts. fibrous roots." The genus Saintpaulia was introduced Note the "three inch flowers." And into cultivation in 1892, soon after its did the writer think that seedlings discovery in Africa. The earliest colored formed bulbs or tubers? plate of S. ionantha was published in In the issue of March 16th is a note 1892 in Gartenflom (Berlin), Vol. 42, signed by Baron von Saint-Paul of Fisch­ Plate No. 1391, in connection with the bach, Silesia. article establishing the genus Saint­ "Allow me to correct a slight error on paulia and the species S. ionantha. page 133 of Th.e Garden about Saint­ In Th.e Garden for 1895, Vol. 47, fac­ paulia ionantha. This lovely plant, which ing page 132, is their plate No. 1002. has been discovered and introduced into (Issue of 2/ 23/ 95) . This is, as nearly as Europe by my son, never has flowers of I can establish, the second color plate of three inches diameter, the colored plate the African Violet ever published, and showing the flowers about their natural the first published in a magazine in size. It grows best in a rich open com­ English. The Garden was a weekly pub­ post in shady ,,,,arm quarters and likes lication, and each week's issue included much moisture at the roots. The young a colored plate about nine by twelve offsets which the plant makes plentifully inches. These are fine examples of at the collar give the best plants if potted colored lithographs, taken from especial­ separately in proper time." ly made paintings. The example de­ Oh, well, even Homer nodded on oc­ picted, with fifteen open flowers, seems casion.-L. T. PEERY, M.D., Hayward, to compare very favorably with some Califomia. recent hybrids I have seen. It might be of some interest to quote the short article on page 133 which ac­ companied the plate. It must be remem­ CTinum, Ellen Bosanquet bered that at the time the plant was very new and very rare. And, in England, in Crinums have been avoided in this 1895 a 'warm gTeenhouse' was within garden for two reasons: the bulbs are the means of only the well-to-do. huge and take more room than is often "Few plants introduced of recent years wanted to be spared, and the foliage seem likely to become more popular than which is fine enough, makes a sorry the Saintpaulia which is shown in the mess when frosted! Thanks to several accompanying plate. We remember that friends, this lack of crinums has been it was well shown at the last Ghent ex­ interrupted. The subject of the present hibition, where it was exhibited by note, Crinum Ellen Bosanquet, which Messrs. Linden of Brussels. As will be is not a novelty at all, is a charming seen from our illustrations, the Saint­ thing with nicely formed flowers of a very paulia, 'which represents a new genus, is delightful rose color that has an under­ much like the Ramondia in general tone of yellow to make it lively. It re­ aspect, and came to us from the Usam­ mains to be seen how it will look when bara Mountains, in Central Africa, being frost touches the foliage mass, but as of discovered by St. Paul-Illaire, the gov­ now it is well worth the space. The ernor of Usambara, hence the generic foliage mass makes a wonderful contrast name. The plant makes quite a tufted with that of the azaleas among which growth, with firm-textured leaves, hairy it is placed. This bulb came to us from and of oblong form, whilst the rich W. O. Freeland, of Columbia, S. E., an­ violet-purple flowers are abou t three other A.H.S. member.-B. Y. M., Pass inches across. The plant when well Christian, 1\lississippi. AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Affiliated Organizations

American Association of Nurserymen American Belronia Soc.iety American Begoni a Society, San Francisco Branch American Camellia Society American Daffodil Society American Gloxinia Society American Hibiscus Society American Iris Society American Peony Society American Rhododendron Society Ameri can Rhododendron Society, Middle Atlantic Chapter American Rose Society Bethesda Community Garden Club (Maryland) Birmingham H orticultural Society (Alabama) California Garden Clubs, Inc. California H orticultural Society Central Florida H orticultural Society (Orlando) Chester Horticultural Society (Virginia) Chevy Chase (D. C) Garden Club Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati Garden Center of Greater Cleveland Garden Center of Rochester, Inc., (New York) Garden Club of Alexandria (Virginia) Garden Club of Chevy Chase, Maryland Midwest Horticultural Society Garden Club of Danville (Virginia) Moline (Illinois) Horticultural Society, Inc. Garden Club of Fairfax (Virginia) National Association of Gardeners Garden Club of Indiana National Capital Garden Club League Garden Club of Montclair (New Jersey) Neighborhood Garden Club (Virginia) Garden Club of Virginia New England Wild Flower Preservation Society Garden Study Club, Delray Beach, Florida New Orleans Garden Society, Inc. Georgetown Garden Club (D. C) New Orleans Horticultural Study Club Herb Society of America North American Lily Society Hill and Dale Garden Club (Ohio) Northern Nut Growers' Association, J nc. Holly Society of America Ohio Association of Garden Clubs Houston Horticultural Society Penn syl vania H orticultural Society Hunting Creek (Alexandria, Virginia) Garden Club Perennial Garden Club (D. C) International Geranium Society Pittsburgh Garden Center Iowa State Horticultural Society Plainfield Garden Club (New Jersey) Kenwood Garden Club (Maryland) Potomac Rose Society (D. C) La Salle Horticultural Society (Montreal) San Francisco Garden Club Manitowoc Men's Garden Club (Wisconsin) Southern California Camellia Society Men's Garden Club of Fairfield County ( Connecticut) Takoma Horticultural Club (Maryland-D. C) Men's Garden Club of Montgomery County (Maryland) The Palm Society Men's H orticultural Society (T ennessee) W aterfront Garden Club (Alabama) Michigan Horticultural Society W orcester Co unty H orticultural Society (Massachusetts) Allium albopilosum