The NATIONAL HOR TICULTURAL MAGA'ZINE

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC. JULY 1954 THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC.

1600 Bladensburg Road, Northeast Washington 2, D. C.

OFFICERS President: Dr. John L. Creech, Glenn Dale, Maryland First Vice-President: Dr. Ezra]. Kraus, Corvallis, Oregon Sec011d Vice-President: Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Washington, D. C. Secretary : Dr. Francis de Vos, Washington, D. C. Treasurer: Miss Olive E. Weather ell, Olean, New York Editor: ' Mr. B. Y. Morrison, Pass Christian, Mississippi Managing Editor: Mr. James R. H arlow, Takoma P ark, Maryland Editorial Stoff: Miss May M. Blaine, Mr. Bernard T . Bridgers Art Editor: Mr. Charles C. Dickson DIRECTORS Terms Expiring 1955 Terms E xpiri1~g 1956 Mrs. Mortimer J. Fox, Mount Kisco, New Mr. Stuart Armstrong, Silver Spring, Mary- York land Mr. Frederic P. Lee, Bethesda, Maryland Dr. Fred O. Coe, Bethesda, Maryland Mrs. Walter Douglas, Chauncey, New York Dr. Brian O. Mulligan, Seattle, Washington Mrs. J . Norman Henry, Gladwyne, Penn- Dr. Freeman A. Weiss, Washington, D. C. sylvania Dr. Donald Wyman, Jamaica Plain, Massa- Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Scott, Media, Pennsyl­ chusetts vania

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Mr. Arthur C. Brown Mr. H arold R. Laing American Camellia Society Men's Garden Clubs of America Box 2398, University Station 2891 Plymouth Road Gainesville, Florida Chagrin Falls, Ohio Mr. James B. Craig Dr. G. H. M. Lawrence American Forestry Association American H orticultural Council 919 Seventeenth Street, Northwest Bailey Hortorium Washington 6, D. C. Ithaca, New York Mr. Harry W. Dengler Mrs. H ermann G. Place Holly Society of America The Garden Club of America Maryland Extension Service 530 Park A venue College Park, Maryland New York 21, New York Mr. Carl W. Fenninger American Association of Botanical Mr. Claude 1. Sersanous Gardens and Arboretums American Rhododendron Society 1632 Chestnut Street 240 Southeas t Clay Street Philadelphia 3, Pennsylvania P ortland, Oregon Mr. Paul W. Jackson Mrs. Alma Wright International Geranium and African Violet Society of America Pelargonium Soci~ty Post Offi ce Box 1326 Post Office Box 231 Knoxville, Tennessee Santa Paula, California AFFILIATED SOCIETJES-1954 American Association of Nurserymen Garden Club of Fairfax (Virginia) American Begonia Society Garden Club of Indiana American Begonia Society, San Francisco Garden Club of Virginia Branch Garden Library of Michigan American Begonia Society, Santa Barbara Georgetown Garden Club (D. C.) Branch Gulfport Horticultural Society American Camellia Society H erb Society of America American Gesneria Society Houston Horticultural Society American Gloxinia Society Iowa State Horticultural Society American Iris Society Men's Garden Club of Montgomery (Mary- American Rhododendron Society, Middle land) County Atlantic Chapter Michigan H orticultural Society American Rose Society Midwest Horticultural Society Bel-Air Garden Club, Inc., (California) National Capital Dahlia Society Birmingham Horticultural Society National Capital Garden Club League Cactus and Succulent Society of America North American Lily Society California Horticultural Society Northern Nut Gro wers' Association, Inc. Chestnut Hill Garden Club, (Massachusetts) Peren.nial Garden Club (D. C.) Chevy Chase (D. C.) Garden Club Plainfield Garden Club (New Jersey) Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club Potomac Rose Society (D. C.) (Virginia) San Francisco Garden Club Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati Tacoma Rhododendron Society Garden Club of Alexandria (Virginia) Takoma Horticultural Society (Maryland) Garden Club of Chevy Chase, Maryland Washington (D. C.) Garden Club Garden Club of Danville (Virginia) Worcester County H orticultural Society The National Horticultural Magazine

VOL. 33 Cop yright, 1954, bf THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC. NO.3

JULY 1954

CONTENTS

Herbs From The l\ieditteranean Littoral. HELEN M. Fox ______151

The Effect of Plant Material Upon The M icroclimate of House and Garden. ROBERT B .• DEERI NG AND FREDERI CK A . B ROO 1(S ______162

The Morins. MARJORIE F. VVARNER ______168

The Begonias Collected by Thomas ·MacDougall. GLADYS C. NOLAN AND ELMER J. LORE NZ ______177

Concerning H ypocyrta. PEGGIE SCHULZ ______186

Oxalis Corniculata, An Interesting \t\Teed. \ t\TALTER.. C. BLASDALE ______188

Recent A dvances in Horticulture. FREEMA N A. \ t\TEISS ______192

A Book or Two ______194

THE GARDENERS' POCKETBOOK: Rhododendron Seed Germination ,in Agar N utrient Solution ______206 . ~

Comments on Hardiness, Gulf Coast, M ississippi ______208

Increasing Ismene Lily B ulbs 210

Columnea stenophylla 212

Bauhinia blakeana 216 FURMAN LLOYD MULFORD

Mr. Furman L. Mulford, one of the founders of The American Horticultural Society, who retired from the United States Department of Agriculture in 1939, died at Saint Petersburg, Florida, on N ovem­ ber 12, 1953, at the age of eighty-four. H e was second President of the Society, serving from 1926 to 1928, during its early and forma­ tive years.

Mr. Mulford was a well-known horticulturist who propagated hardy perennials, early flow ering chrysanthemums, and other ornamentals. He wrote numerous bulletins on rock gardens, flowering perennials, landscaping and roadside planting. Born in New J ersey, he was graduated from Carnell University, and began work in V/ashington, D. c., in 1911.

As early as 1925, Mr. Mulford's paper on Roses fo r the H O'l1fbe was published in the second of the Society's earlier Bulletin series. Later contributions to The National H orticultuml Magazine included a tribute to Doctor Walter Van Fleet, which appeared in the April 1929 issue. He wrote the rose book, Farmers' Bulletin 750, in 1916. It was supers€ded in 1953 by the highly popular Home and Garden Bulletin No. 25, Roses for the Home. One of his chrysanthemums, the 'Algonquin,' is sti ll a favo rite in the District of Columbia.

The American Horticultural Society owes a special debt to Mr. Mulford for hi s efforts in the organization of the Society and his work in the early planning of the Society's programs and aims.

Herbs From The Mediterranean Littoral

HELEN M. Fox

Last spring, when I visited Epidaurus Asclepius wa compiled by Emma J. in Greece, where Asclepius had his and Ludwig Edelstein, entitled Ascle­ sanitarium, or a few weeks earlier, bad pius) A Cotlection A11d Inte1'pretation walked along the shores of Lake Kin­ of tJ'l-e Testi11'iOnies, and published by nereth, as the Sea of Galilee is called the J01111S Hopkins Press in 1945. They today, events that occurred two to five took this material from the testimonies, thousand years ago did not seem at all written by cured patients, found in the far away. Closeness to bygone ages was ruins during the excavations at Epi­ particularly real when I saw plants I dam-us, which were begun in 1881 by raise in my own New York garden, the Greek Government and are still in such as parsley, rue, sweet ma"rjoram, progress. To these findings, they added the thymes, and mints, growing wild gleanings from contemporary Greek or in gardens and noted how they were and Latin writers. The testimonies being dried and used for the same fla­ were described in the second century vors, perfumes and foods and processed by Pausanias, who visited Epidaurus to provide medicine for the same ill­ and said there were six in existence nesses as they have been since before and that they were written in the Doric the beginning of history. dialect. The Edelsteins present forty­ Most herbalists, and I among them, three. These testimonials tell the pa­ have begun their studies with the tient's name, describe his disease and herbals of the sixteenth century. In how he was cured. the Near East, however, one is very Other sources on Near Eastern me­ much aware that written reeords began dicinal plants are the writings of the a thousand or so years earlier. For great Spanish-Arabic doctor, Ibn Bai­ source material, there is the B-ible, but thar, who li ved in the tenth century. of more value to the botanist are the When I was in Israel, Dr. Michael writings of Dioscorides and Theophras­ Zohary gave me a list he and Naomi tus. According to Agn~s Arber in her Feinbrunn had compiled from botanies book, Herbals, these two summed up in 1930, in 0rder to advance their all known materia medica of their time search for plants valuable today. Dr. and dominated the field until the six­ Zohary also gave me a delightful and teenth century. Dioscorides came fr0m valuable book written by a native Pal­ Ci licia in Asia Minor, lived in the first estinian, Louise Baldensperger, with century A.D., traveled widely, and is Grace M . Crowfoot, entitled From, alleged to have been the physician to C edGlJ' to H ')ISSOP and pUblished by The Anthony and Cleopatra. I turned to Sheldon Press, London, 1932. I also him because he knew Greek medicine used G. Post, Flora of SY1'ia, Palestin e as it was practiced by Asclepius and and Sinati, 1896, and, of course, Rehder, his descendants from about six hundred Bailey, - the Dictionary and Cyclope­ B.C. for twelve hundred years. I used dia. R. T. Gunther's Dioscorides published The land in Israel (I call it that, at Oxford in 1934. A valuable book on when referring to the new country, but

GOTTSCHO-SCHLEISNER Palestine, when speaking of the whole Vitex agnu,s-castlls area as well as the land before 1948) is [151] 152 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

fertile in the north and a10ng the coast dens, such as Ornithagalums, grape where there are quantities of lush plants hya·cinths, and vividly colored ane­ growing wild. As in California, the mones. In Attica in spring, the fields desert portions require only water to were gay with many plants, such as produce fine crops. Almost immediate­ Aubrietia, alyssums, brooms, rosemary, iy after trees have been planted in des­ and quantities of low vetches with ert regions, adventitious plants appear bright flowers. in their shade and birds come to nest. The site of the "Beiron," as the sani­ Undoubtedly in a short time the whole tarium was called, is a ruin except for countryside will be as colorful with the theatre considered to be the finest wild flowers as the more moist hills and and best preserved in Greece. The valleys are now. The height of bloom temple was dedicated to Asclepius and is in March and April. Hybrid tea is said to date from 400 B. C. The roses begin to bloom in October and visitor is shown ruins of an inn for rel­ keep on into June. Summer is very atives of patients, of baths, the stadium dry. and gymnasium, all indicative of how In Greece there is very little ram Greeks cured illness mainly by making and most of the land is stoney and the body strong and well. The most mountainous. famous buildings were the circular In early days, for I cannot call the Tholos, considered to be one of the people who came at the beginning of most beautiful structures in Greece, and history "ancient" or "olden," Bellas the Abaton, a two-storied portico sit­ and her colonies spread out into Asia uated against the side of a hill where Minor and along North Africa. The the patients slept the night they saw the story of medicine, there, centers about God in their dreams and - awakened, Asclepius and his descendants, their cured, the next morning. shrines and temples. The sanitarium at It seems strange the patient should Epidaurus, where Asclepius is said to be cured in one night. But, before he have been buried, is on the Peloponesus or she went into the Abaton, they had not far from Mycenae, the home of to be purified. According to one au­ Agamemnon, or from Argos, whence thority, this purification consisted in Jason set out to find the Golden Fleece, thinking holy thoughts; others mention reputedly accompanied by the great purifying baths, cleansing of the body doctor. by diets, and engaging in violent ex­ Patients came to the sanitarium in ercise. In some cases it took a very early days, on an eight-mile road across short time to be purified and in others the hills from the coastal city of Epi­ several weeks or months. daurus, which no longer exists. Today In a speech in honor of Asclepius it is reached by a bumpy toad that lead's quoted by the Edelsteins, Aristides through olive orchards and farms from spoke as follows: "Now ourselves he the picture-book town of Nauplia situ­ has likewise distinguished in this way, ated on a bay off the iEgean Sea. In stopping catarrh and colds by baths in spring, the sides of the road are pink river and in the sea, healing us through and white with blossoming cherries, in MARGARET DE M. BROWN a brilliant contrast to the black cos­ Lavendula vera (Santolina chamaecy­ tumes of peasant women. The land is parus in foreground) scantily covered with low colorful Papaver s01'nniferu.,n plants, some of them long since intro­ duced to European and American gar- M ar-rubiu111, vulgare Ocimu111, baS'ilicu111,

154 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 long walks when we were helplessly killed in the T rojan war. The other, bed rid den, administering terrible c1eans­ Podalirius, worked on diet and was ings on top of continuous abstinence called herb gatherer because he studied from food, prescribing that I should flo wers diligently. Both these sons used speak and write when I could hardly healing salves on warriors wounded in breathe so that if there is any cause that fa mous war. The other children fo r boasting for those who have been were Oaso, Panacea, and H ygeia. healed in such a way, we certai nly have Asc1 epi us' descendants were doctors, our share in this boast." Hippocratus, being seventeenth in de­ According to P lato, in the R epubEc, scent from him. At first the word "As- Asc1 epius is reputed not to have . c1epiad" meant a member of the family charged the poor any fee and to have but later it meant a physician. advised those who were intemperate Dressed in white, with flowing hair, not to avail themselves of his medicine. AscIepius led processions to the temple If he did not think they could be healed, of Apollo, fo llowed by marcb. ers bear­ he would not treat them though they ing garlands of laurel and tender olive might be richer than Midas. shoots. H e carried a gnarled staff to Because of his marvelous cures and signify the difficulty of his art. The discoveries, Asc1epiu s was deified after snakes associated with him are some­ his death. H e is credited with originat­ times explai ned as indicating how the ing the art of surgery, the invention of patient sloughs off his sick self when the bandage and the probe. According he becomes well. to one tale, he was the first to prepare The sweet bay, LaUr7IS 11 0 bilis, of drugs and discover the potency of which crowns were made, is the green herbs; according to another, he learned bay tree of the Bible. It is a beautiful how to use herbs from Chi ron, the tree, native to these regions, with brit­ centaur and son of Saturn. H e is said tle, pointed and crisp-feeling leaves that to have restored the dead to life, nota­ have a di stinctive pleasant fl avor. Oil bly H ippolytus. His third son is re­ from the berries is more pungent than puted to have been the fi rst to use from the leaves and is made into salves purges and extract teeth. Shortly be­ used today principally for veterinary fo re his time, to explain the presence purposes. The leaves were used as of so many medicinal herbs, it is tol9 incense and have long flavored many how Medea, while fl eeing through the dishes. The leaves of Olea e~ t ropaea, T hessalian plain, spilled her drugs, wild olive, are reputed to be of value in thus causing ,the land to abound in heal­ reducing fevers. Sometimes they are ing herbs, which proved of benefit to mixed with elecampane and rue in a Greeks as well as Barbarians. steam bath fo r rheumatism. .on many There are several stories about the occasions, oak leaves were substituted birth and educati on of Asc1epiu s. All fo r laurel leaves and oli ve shoots. There agree his mother was the mortal Ca­ is an order, "Let the priest sacrifice ronis and his father A polio. He was frankincense on the altar of Asclepius called the gentle God and, sometimes, and let him use the oli ve branch and the Paeonian God (which means God oleander in the temple fo r crowns." of healing and is the source fo r the Tall, evergreen bushes of oleanders, name of peony). H is wife was E pione, N eriU1'1'L obeander, grow wild in the which signifies the alleviation of trou­ whole Mediterranean area. Sometimes bles through soothing simples. One they are disposed along the shores of SOil. 1\1achaon, was a surgeon and was lakes and I have seen them in valleys July 19S4 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE I SS in Spain. They are thought to have vessels, as well as part of the journey been meant when " willow" is men­ by camel caravans. tioned in the Bible. They are easily I have not been able to identify some rooted by cutting off a shoot and plac­ of the herbs mentioned in the testi­ ing it in water. Today in Israel and monies. For example, Asclepius used also in Greece. oleanders, becau e they an herb called "panacea," the name of grow so quickly and have lovely flow ers one of hi s daughters. This herb had which last in bloom for considerable been fo und by Chiron in the glen of time, haye been planted to line road­ Pelio below a now-capped ridge and sides in the country and avenues in had the virtue of stopping inflammation towns. The leaves are considered a which res ulted from blows, wounds and remedy for heart disease and are said so on . Again, Cretan herbs are men­ to be poisonous to cattle and to haye tioned which might be any of several. destroyed rats. Evidently, the Greeks invoked cer­ A patient records how, when frankin­ tain herbs to heal them a in the quota­ cense was scarce, he stuffed partridges tion from A ntonius M usa, De H erbe with barley and laurel leaves. Myrrh Bettonica "Herb betony first di scov­ and frankincense are mentioned fre­ ered by Asclepius or by Chiron, the quently in the Bible. Frankincense was centaur heed these prayers." call ed olibanum and used in the form A nd from Appendix ad Ps Apul1ii , of a gum, which comes from BOSlvellia "Herb parseley pray you in the name carter·i and B. fre1-ea11a, both native to of your di scoverer Asc1epius to come to Somaliland and Arabia. Myrrh comes me again." The seed of this and of from the same region. It is also an celery were medicinal. Or "Holy aromatic resin and is taken from C 01n­ plant crisocantus I pray you by Asc1e­ miphom ab'yssinica. This was some­ pius discoverer of herbs to come hither" times mixed with oil of labdanum, and "Herb erision (which might be which is dervied from a cistus and is eryngium ) rnay you attend to my re­ used today not as an incense but in quest, may yo ur power be present." dentifrices, perfumes, and as a tonic. Elsewhere it is written, Asc1epius Another spice which must have been prescribed southernwood, Artel1",isia brought from Ceylon is cinnamon, the abrota1vum, which was destructive to dried inner bark of cinnamon, Cin- harmful organisms and removed tape­ 1WlIW11if,U1n zcylandicum or C. loureir'ii. worms. This spice was one of the ingredients A rtemisias native to the region in­ that composed the anointing oil used clude A. /uda:ica, A. / udea, A . a:rbor­ by the first priests in the Tabernacle. escens (from Carmel) and A. absin­ Additional spices that figured in early thium found in Palestine. One of these Greek and B ible days are nutmeg from is the wormwood of the Bible. Mug­ the dried seeds of 111 yristica fmgra"J1s wort, A . vu,lgan's, fo rmerly provided from the East Indies, and cloves, the medicine. dried fl owers of Eugenia aromatica A patient of Asclepius was told to which came from the distant Mollucas cure himself of spitting blood by eating and acted as a flavoring agent and a the seed of pine cones mixed with preservative as well. At first, it was honey for three days. hard to believe these primitive people To apply to a pain in the shoulder, could have obtained spices from so far a prescription is given for a plaster away, but they must have come by way made of barley meal mixed with old of Phoenician, Greek and, later, Roman wine, pine cones ground down and 156 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 mixed with olive oil and other in­ Turkey, jam is made from the petals, gredients, such as fig and goat's fat, principally from R. gall·ica and the milk with pepper, wax, pitch and olive damask rose. oil-and more ingredients-all mixed In Oribasi~bs Synopsis ad Eustathiu111. into a paste. 111-162, Aristides mentions an unguent The pine of the Bible, called "green used by Asclepius, composed as foIIow s : fir tree," is thought to be stone pine, "Common salts, rock salts, Cappado­ Pinus pinea, because of the edible fruits. cian salts roasted, pumice stone, white T oda y in Palestine and T rans-Jordan, coarse soda, laurel berries. at the rate the seeds of aleppo pine, P. halepe1~sis, of one pound; white hellebore, soap­ are considered valuable for nursing wort, wild raisins, Alexandrian mus­ mothers, while pine bark of any species tard, unburnt brimstone, feverfew, salt is used for a lotion, particularly for of tartar, mastic tree blossoms, marsh scalds caused by boiling oil. plant, at the rate of 6 oz., marjoram, One of the testimonies tells how a powdered astringent earth, gall nut, malignant sore on the little finger was gum frankincense, bastard sponge~ cured by having the patient, herself, parched barley, raw cucumber r00t, mix the shell of an oyster, burnt and chameleon thistle, iris, dry horehound, ground, with rose ointment combined at the rate of 3 oz. ; chipping and sifting with mallow and olive oil, and then these use." having her anoint the finger with this. The plants mentioned in the above The mallow may have been either prescription are laurel berries, which marsh mallow, Althaea officinalis, A. would be from Sweet bay. White helle­ rufesce11s or Malva sylvestris. This last bore is probably Veratru111. album and was cultivated by early Romans from is in Dioscorides; so is soapwort, Sapo­ BeersBeba to Gaza and J erusalem, dur­ naria spp. Alex<1ndrian mustard is. ing the time Palestine was their colony. probably Brassica a1'vensis (presently Dioscorides .mentions hollyhock, which called charlock) and called E~yptian would be A. ficifolia, as medicinal, and mustard by Dioscorides. Black mus­ the translator calls it Malva alcea. Al­ tard, B. nigra, is the mustard mentioned thea rufesce11s is used today in Meso­ by Jesus when He said to cast the tiny potamia for throat and eye diseases. All seed into the gardens and said it would mallows abound in mucilage and have become a plant strong enough to shelter provided demukents. The leaves of birds. This mustard grows waist high young plants of the common mallow, in Palestine. Feverfew is Chrysanthe- Malva rotundifolia, called" Khubbezi" 111.Wm partheniu111. . The dried flowers of by Arabs, are cooked by them in layers it are mixed with those of Chamomile with rice between. in France, these d<1Ys. Wild chamomile, The oil of roses is extracted from the Matricaria Chamomilla, is not common petals and is astringent, more from in Palestine, but has medicinal qualities some species and varieties than from similar to those of M. aurea, which is others. There are several roses native infused in a tea to lessen abdominal to Palestine. Among them are dog rose, Rosa wnina, damask rose, R. Ruta graveolens damascena, Austrian briar, R. foetida, C oriandrum sativum R. phoenicia, R. dumetorum and R. Da111.ask Rose arabica. Some of them were blooming Bo-rago ofjicinalis alba in Februa,ry when I was there. The oil ) . Ruta by: EDWARD VAN ALTENA figures in medicine and cosmetics. In Others by: ' WALTER BEEBE WILDER

158 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 pams. Chameleon thistle IS Pine Noah's imbibing, and the Greeks dei­ thistle, Atmctylis gummifera.. The fied Dionysus, 'whom they considered U. S. Dispensatory says an extract to have been the first to 111ake it, hav­ from this plant is similar in effect to ing been taught by Chiron. strychnine. Iris is probably his As to the mastic tree, it is lmdoubt­ pseudacorus, while horehound is Mc(,1'­ edly Pistacia lent-iscus, an evergreen rubium vulga1'e, common along road­ shrub with small greenish flowers. The sides in Palestine and taken in infusion resinous exudation from stem and as a stomachic. branches has furnished food and light Marjoram might be Origanum. There for the Arabs. It is said to smell is a charming drawing of it in Dio­ slightly 0'£ balsam, and is used to this sCOl"ides accompan[ed by a description day for medicine and as a varnish. of a different plant. Oddly enough, The following is a quotation from the correct naming of varieties of this Pliny, N aturalis Histo1'iae: plant and of majorana has been the "But we are about to leave the gar­ subject of discussion both in the Near den plants, we append one famous prep­ East and here, where the exact place aration from them, an antidote against of oregano has long been in question. venomous animals, which is inscribed in (I place it under Or£qamtm v-ulgare as verse upon a stone in the temple of a dwarf form.) In the Near East, ac­ Asclepius at Cos. 'Take two denarii cording to Miss Baldensperger, O. of wild thyme and of appopamax and 1'lwn£ is called "Za'tar" in Arabic and meum respectively ; one denarius of tre­ is used from one end of Palestine to foil seed; and of anise seed, fennel seed, another as a condiment and medicine. Ammi, parseley, six denarii respectively She thinks the distinction between O. with twelve denarii of meal of fitches. dubiU11J1L and O. mar'V£ very slight and After these ingredients have been beat­ quotes Dioscorides as having consid­ en together and passed through a sieve ered them to be the same. Moreover, with the best wine that can be had, she is certain about the identity of they are made into lozenges of one "Hyssop" of the Bible, .a plant which victoriatus each; these are given to the does not grow in Palestine and, accord­ patient one at a time, steeped in three ing to general opinion, has been mis­ cyathi of wine.' King Antiochus the translated. Miss Baldensperger thinks Great, it is said, employed this antidote the plant meant was Origanum. To against all kinds of venomous animals, prove this, she went to the Passover the asp excepted." The lozenges sound festival conducted by the Samaritans, as if they might be delicious. the most conservative of all groups in The above prescription lists some Palestine, who follow old customs to of the flavoring herbs popular today the letter, and she noticed they used and grown in most modern herb gar­ Origanum in their service. In the dens. Anis would be Pimpi1'bella Mishnah, a collection of traditional anisu111;; fennel, F oe1Viculum vulgare; Jewish doctrines, she read that all Jews fitches mean vetch. However, in are advised to use the right kind of Isaiah, when the black seed of Nigella hyssop, which they are presumed to sativa is meant, it is translated as a know, and that all other kinds, such vetch. Ammi may be Visnaga, an UnJ.­ as Roman, wild, or Greek, are in­ belliferous plant of the Mediterranean correct. region. The fruits were used as med­ There is no telling when grapes were icine in Egypt. According to the Dis­ fi rst made into wine. We all know of pensatory, it has medicinal value. July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL lvIAGAZI NE 159

Other flavoring herbs mentioned in says, "\ Vhen he first mixed a plaster the Bible are Coriolldnllli SO tivbI I'll , fo r Neochleicl es, throwing in three CumimmJ, cy1'llinulIl, and dill, A J1 ethe­ cloves of Tenian garli c and with these um gmveolens. Cumin, according to he mingled ve rjuice (the fresh juice Post, is collected from the wild today. crushed fr0111 green or unripe fruits) . Coriander, too, might be collected be­ and quills. and brayed them up to­ cause it is frequently a weed in Pale - gether. Then drenched the mass with tine, where its taste is far pleasanter Sphettian vinegar and put this on the than it is in my garden. Th')II1IHS ca.p­ eyelids of the man." ita/us covers the hills of Attica and is Its "fragrance" notwithstanding. gar­ the plant whence comes the famous and lic has always been popul ar with south­ entirely delicious honey of Mt. Hymet­ ern people and is considered to be an tus. Angelica sylvestr1s grows in these internal disinfectant. U1'ginea 1'lI oritilllO regions and has similar properties to is pr,obably the scilla meant, for it Angelica Qrchangelica. ; both fruits and grows all through the Mediterranean stems are medicinal and have a good area. flavor . \iVhile on the subj ect of bulbs, others To return to the testimonials. This used medicinally might be mentioned. one comes from " In the Priesthood of The orange stigma of the fall-blooming . Poplius Aelius' Antiochus": " I, Mar­ C1'OCUS SOtiVIIS, that is so heavy it drops cus Julius Appelles, Idrian from through the violet perianth, fu rnishes Mylasa, was sent for by the God-when saffron. The crocus is sai d to have I arrived at the Temple and he told been grown in Solomon's garden. Saf- me to keep my head covered for two . fron provided medicine, perfume, and days and for these two days it rained ; flavor. The co rms of C. h,)le11'I.alis are to eat cheese and bread, celery and roasted and eaten, in the neighborhood lettuce, and to wash myself without of Bethlehem, in March. The hand­ help, to practice running, to take lemon some C olchicll1'n autu11111ale, 'w hich peels, to soak them in water, near the brightens the fading garden in Septem­ bath-to take a walk in the upper por­ ber with its lavender to purple goblets, tico, to take some passive exercise, to is native to the Holy Land and fur­ sprinkle myselt with sand, to bathe in nishes colchicine, and has been a hot water-mix honey in the milk­ remedy for gout. C. hde'um from was anointed all over with mustard and farther East is also medicinal. The salt-":'and was cured; this caused pain, leaves of L iliu111,. ca 'ndid~t1lJ1J. are mucil­ but after the bath I had no more-used aginous and functioned in poultices on olive oil to get rid of head ache, gargled wounds. The sno w-white and fragrant in cold water, got well." lily, which figures as the symbol of the Bitter orange, Cit1'lls QurQ 'IIti~t11~, is Annunciation in Renaissance paintings. in the Dispensatory and is used me­ grows wild on hilly places in semi­ dicinally and for flavor today as is lemon, shade in Palestine, but always sparsely. C. limonia., but not C. medica, in spite The roots of Aco1'tts cala11~us, called of its name. This last is grown in Jaffa sweet fl a~', have a lemon scent. This where in Septernber the Jews, following plant is native from India to North a very old custom, carry the best­ America and across this wiele geo­ shaped fruits along with palm branches graphic area has fW1Ctioned as a charm, during the feast of Tabernacles. perfume, and medicine, and the root is In a play by Aristophanes, one of the a pacifier given to babies to bring charaders, in speaking of Asclepius, through their first teeth. It, too, was 160 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

one of the ingredients in the anointing mestica, the damson, Prumus domestica, ot! mentioned in Exodus. almond, A 11II.ydgalus C01%11-'I.uwis pis­ Aristides, judging: from the many tache, Pistacia vera, walnut, Juglans quotations about his illnesses, seems to regia, hazelnut, C orylu,s avellana or the have been something of a hypochon­ mulberry, M orus nigra. driac. He is credited with the folIowing: The fruit and seed of pomegranate, "After having coughed for two years Punica granatum., were medicinal. In incessantly, I was cured by nibbling Palestine, the juice was given to sick rocket on an empty stomach, Italian babies when the orange flowers with wine with pepper to drink, powder (')f five overlapping petals were strung holy ashes, starch with hot water, some into necklaces. It was thought no evil holy water, an egg:, pine resin-then spirit could dwell in either Celtis au­ again moist pitch, then iris with honey, stralis, hackberry or pomegranate, so then quince and wild purslane' boiled that it was safe to sleep under their together, the fluid to be drunk while branches. the quince was to be eaten, then to eat a Two last shrubs famous in herb lore fig, with holy ash frmTI the altar where that abound along the Mediterranean they sacrifice to God." shores are lavender and rosemary, both The seed of purslane, Portulaca with highly fragrant foliage and valu­ oleracea, was the medicinal agent. able in the past as well as the present When the leaves of purslane are young, for perfume and medicine, and the rose­ as with so many bland plants, they mary for flowers as well. pro'Vide a pleasant salad and can be A shrub with fragrant leaves, divided mixed with equal amounts of young like fingers on a hand, and spires of leaves of sorrel, Rumex acetosa and lavender flowers, called Chaste tree, is dandelion, Tarax acum officinale, all na­ Vitex agnus-castus. This plant provided tive to these regions. This portulaca wood with which to make an image of spreads like something evil over empty Asdepius, This type is not too hardy, spaces in my garden. In Greece, I saw but the variety incisa is hardy as far donkey carts filled to overflowing with north as Boston. sorrel leaves on their way to Athens In the Near East, particularly in to furnish a most delectable spring Turkey, I had noticed a plane tree, green when prepared by present day Platanus orientalis, in almost every and very excellent cooks. Quince is •mosque courtyard and had wondered Cydonia vulgaris. why. Ih going over the material on The early pe(')ple distinguished be­ Greek medicine, I found the plane tree tween wild and cultivated figs, ripe was planted beside wells situated in the and unripe. Of course, figs were men­ very center of sanctuaries. Moreover, tioned in the Bible. Ficus carica prob­ Dioscorides says the leaves soaked -in ably is the one meant. The fruits were wine are good for inflammation of the eaten and,.the.-ash&'i...of..Doughs __ of wild eyes, and the bark soaked in vinegar figs were also administere.d to patients. is helpful for a to(')thache. It is not possible to mention all trees . _ . Nor can all the herbs be mentioned, and shrubs of medicinal value to peo­ One would love to linger and describe ple in early days, but they seemed to the many handsome salvias grown and know the physical effect on them of used, rue mentioned by Jesus, Sesa­ each fruit. What would happen to.them mum indicu,m which pr(')vided the pass when they ate the fruit of the medIa!;, wot:'d for- Ali Baba and valuable for its Mespilus, the service tree, Sorbus do- oil, Datura 11I/Jetel an important medic- July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 161 inal plant, and Valeriana 0 fficil1al·is its from the root is valuable medicinally. root yielding perfume. Then there is Mandrake, Mandragora officinaru1n, pOlson hemlock, Coniu11~ maculat~tm, has long figured in folklore, largely be­ which Socrates drank. Yellow bed­ cause the roots are shaped something straw, Galium verum, with fragrant like a man. The plant is narcotic, the yellow flowers of value as a dye and most active principle being in the root. medicine, and supposed to have fur­ In Greece, it was called a plant of nished the hay under the manger. Of Circe's and it is recorded to have been importance today is Clyc)wrhi:oa glabra administered by Hippocrates. and its varieties, which yield lico­ In closing, I would like to recur to rice. The root and underground my original idea that down through stems are used by tobacco industries. the millenia man has changed little in And, oddly enough, they furnish a ferti­ his use of plants that grow in the woods lizer for mushrooms, while powder and fields near his home.

Onlithogalll1n !l7lLbellatu.llL

WALT"R BEEBE WILDER The Effect of Plant Material Upon the Microclimate of House and Garden

ROBERT B. DEERING AND FREDERICK ::\.. BROOKS1

The Cooling Influence of a Plallt Cove1' ervoir. In other words, there is no ap­ It is important to recognize that preCIable heat-capacity term for the leaf. That means that the outo-oino- heat plants are living organi I11S. They of­ . 0 b fer a wide yariation in heat and water rates from leaf urfaces are balanced by exchange balances according to their the incoming heat rates all the time natural ecological adaptations. They and heat does not accumulate in th ~ change the shaded area in winter and foliage. In the daytime, the air is usu­ summer, and materially affect the tem­ ally moying fast enough to cause fo rced perature and moisture content of the convection, and 1110St of the solar en­ soil and air. ergy transformed to sensible heat by P lanners of homes, communities, and the foliage is carried away by the air, cities should consider more seriously­ only a minor fraction being radiated. the total cooli ng influ ence of plants on Air itself has very little heat capacity, local environment and the results of and is readily cooled by evaporation; their removal. Their influence in­ therefore the body of air lying beneath creases substantially with a correspond­ the foliage cover can be maintained ing increase in number and size. Air cooler than air over bare ground. fl ow can be channeled or defl ected by The InfhteJlc e of Vegetative Fo'r11'ls the proper selection and placement of plant materials, yet obj ectionable hind­ 1VI owed T11 I'f.- Establishment of a rance to air movement may occur if the good turf sod results in the creation or density problem is not considered. a thick sunshine-absorption- layer on As soon as a bare surface is covered top and a shaded soil surface beneath. with \'egetation, the solar-enero'y ab­ This shading prevents large amounts sorbing surface previously held 1)y the of heat absorption by the soil, and thus keeps the ltround surface from o-ettin cr so il is transferred to the upper layers ~ b 0 ?f . plant foliage. (See illustration.) hot. Ea<; h blade of grass acts as a fhls produces not only desirable shad­ miniature evaporative cooler, and the ing, but also a transfer of the sunshine­ resulting cool grass cover will act as receiving area from a shallow surface b

I Solar energy absorption zon e

-~ t g . '"

,~ '

Heat lo ss by convection and evaporation (Th ermal radiation un important relative . to th e house) ," ~I (

T ypical situ.at·ion before phr.niing or site "cel ith o·lt t trees. A s soon as a bare sU11ace is cove1'ed w ith 'uegetahOJb, th e heat abs01'b'ing surface w hich w as p1'evionsly h.eld by the soil and l'oof is then trallsferred to i'h e lbppe'r layers of folia ge. i ll trees, shrnos, "clines and t~w f , am.d a cool bod'll of a.ir is th en p'ro dlt ce d by evaporation ·in th e shade.

vertical! y I depending on the tempera­ erally used, covers considerably less ture differences. T here is significant area. advantage, therefore, in having the H igh humidity and high tempera­ ground surrounding the house as cool tures may persist in sunlit areas adja­ as po£sib1e because of this · horizontal cent to shrubs mainly because the den­ conduction of heat in the deep soil. sity of the fo liage may prevent breezes In addition, there is a cool moist lay­ from penetrating them. Shrubs with er of air lying above a turf cover, an open structure, however, may assist whereas a warm one, which is general­ in reducing the .ve10city of stt'Dng ly drier, lies above dry soil, asphalt. winds, but yet not create a stagnant or concrete. P lacement of trees, and area. especia lly the use of grass near the Because the walls of houses offer house, allows the heavier air to be car­ sach a great barrier against the wind, ried inside when low openings are pro­ low plants located adjacent to them vided for cross circulation. generally interfere very little with the ShrUJbs : The main diffe rence be­ breezes. T he main advantages of plants tween a turf cover and shrubs is in the used in this situation, other than for horizontal obstruction and the char­ 8.esthetic purposes, are that they shade acteristics of the air space enclosed the soil near the house and reduce within. The air space enclosed by turf radiation, glare and refl ection. O ne is yery shallow and close to the soil, but distinct advantage in usi ng shruh covers a large area. T hat inside a group masses m dry climates is their ability of shrubs is much deeper, but, as gen- to act as a horizontal thermal-radia-

[1 631 164 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954'

tion absorption barrier against heat O£. great importance to the home from adjoining dry-ground areas (See owner is whether the overhead cover is illustration). Thick foliage may be deciduous or evergreen. During the very desirable ' when used as wind- winter and early spring direct solar

In hot-dry climates, shrub ~~asses act as thermal-radiatio'n absorption bar·riers against· heat from adjoitnJing dry-grmwui m'eas. They also act as windb·reaks, d·ust, and noise filters. breaks or dust and noise filters; there­ energy is usually desired ; therefore,. fore the selection of plantings needs to vines and trees planted on the south be considered in relation to lawn and side should be deciduous. Evergreen trees from the several aspects men­ trees usually provide a cooI atmos­ tioned above. phere, whi·ch in winter is generally un­ Shade Trees : Under the shaded pro­ desirable. They are pleasant to look at tection of a canopy of trees there is a when other leaves are absent and can large body of air many feet deep having be used in locations where they will not properties depending on the extent and interfere ~ith the warmth of the win­ species of the trees. After a group of ter sun. Their gr.eatest value is their trees develops, the main heat-transfer usefulness for shade, wind control, and surface is high up in the foliage level, dust and noise absorption. the outer foliage becoming the main In comparing an area without trees surface where solar Fadiation is con­ and an area with a grove of deciduous. verted to sensible heat. trees in early spring, there is little dif­ An important factor in the use of ference in the amount of light and ra­ shade trees is that most varieties natu­ diation the ground receives. But a sud­ rally turn as great an absorbing surface den change occurs as soon as the leaves . as possible toward the sun for photo­ appear. There is then produced a . synthesis. This produces the greatest canopy drawn over the top that inter­ amount of shade, yet does not have the cepts a large portion of the total radia­ disadvantage of an extensive solid sur­ tion, shields the ground from wind, . face. and moderates the daily temperature: July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 165 fluctuations. As the thermal-absorp­ ground area than would be practical tion area of plant foliage expands dur­ with artificial shades. The vertical tree ing the growing season, the radiation form in rows is also advantageous in penetration becomes increasingly re­ permitting greater exposure to cool sky duced. Experiments have shown that than is possible with a thin horizontal in dense groves as much as 80ro of the shade. When considering the total incident radiation has been stopped by ground area covered by the shade from the tree foliage. This, of course, de­ a large tree during the day, one can pends on the species of tree, planting readily see the importance to the distance, and density ef foliage. ground surface and the usable air layer In summer, tree shade delays the of shading by large plant materia1~. warming of the ground and hastens O?'ientation and Pla.nning h1'1.portamt nocturnal cooling. This is particularly There are, of course, many methods important for rooms having east and for improving the outdoor comfort ot west windows. In hot climates even a poorly oriented house. But the best -east sun may be objectionable. time to consider summer comfort is The air layer beneath the trees re­ simultaneous with "the planning of the -ceives some chilled air from the foliage house. It is important to consider the canopy overhead, but the main source cold winter winds and desirable winter of cool air would be from a moist turf, sun even though the summer sun may if present. In hot-dry climates shading present the greatest problem in many and moisture-producing surfaces have regions. The arrangements should, a very great cooling effect on the air therefore, take advantage of any pre­ unless the wind is strong. In hot-humid vailing cool summer breezes without climates air circulation is necessary to increasing winter discomfort. encourage evaporation, and large, tall Most home owners prefer to have trees with an open lawn are desirable. 'their living and garden areas face south Wmere calm air is frequent, large fans or southeast to benefit from the warm may even be practical for outdoor use. winter sun. This orientation is best for As the shadow from an overhead 'winter and spring months, but usually cover or foliage moves over an area, the requires specified tree locations for the speed of cooling is important because hot summer months. the newly shaded area is immediately Dming the day, a study of the useful. With bare-ground surface tem­ ground shaded by the house itself peratures ranging from 136 to 152 de­ shows that the shadows start on the grees Fahrenheit in the California in· west side of tile house in the mornil'lg, terior valleys, Kelly, Bond and Ittner/ move to the north during mid-morning on August 9, 1948, found that tempera­ to mid-afternoon, and to the east and tures cooled an average of thirty-six southeast in the afternoon. An exposed degrees in five minutes after the arrival south-facing area remains hot from of the shadow line. This clearly points mid-morning to mid-afternoon, when out the importance of shaded vs. sunlit the air temperature is usually ' the areas. warmest, until the sun moves to the They also state that trees, because of northwest. This indicates that not just the depth or mass of foliage, have shad­ one living area is sufficient, but ideally ows larger than the vertical projected there should be living areas on all sides area, giving a larger low-temperature of the house so as to have some cool "Kelly, C. F., Bond, T. E., and Ittner,. N. R:, outdoor area throughout a summer day Thermal Design of Livestock Shades, Agn. EngI­ neering; V. 31 (12) ;601·606, 1950. as well as a warm one in winter (See NORTH

NOON SUN C I I I RO Successive gr01.nd shadow patterns during a day in lillie l'lIdicate !Leed fo r liv illg areas on ea.ch side of the hOlose: A. Shadow pattern in the e(llrly 1110rlliing wh e1 '~ areas are little losed; B. NO'rthwest shade provides cool area in 111Orlling-needed mostly f01' child,'en on hot days; C. N 01,th a1'ea most desi'rable durvng midda,y - this alrea is greatly e:.tellded in late s'nmmer becolose of lower angle of the san; D. SOltth and east be·come shaded in lIlid-ajte'rnoon at a tillle when 111.ost needed, 'J'et aq'e Snl1llY VI'. wi:nte1'; E. South and east shade ana increases i11 size and desitrability towa1'd evenin,g. illustration) . controlled with an open-beam type rooE By orienting the house more toward extension covered with vines or with the southeast, this area would obtain an overhang. But when the sun is low­ earlier afternoon shade. The north er, this becgmes less effective, and only side would then receive more hot after­ vertical shading can intercept the hot noon sun, but can be shaded by proper­ sun's rays during these months. It is ly located trees. well to realize, however, that the shade One serious problem of a south ori­ area becomes progressively larger on entation, especially in the hot-climate the north side as the sun goes lower in regions in late spring and early fall, is the south. that the angle of sun is low and the South-facing living areas can be south-facing walls receive direct hot made more comfortable in summer by sun a good part of the .day. During the providing dense tree or vine shade period when the sun is at its highest overhead, using as much moist turf as point (the summer soltice, June 21), possible beneath, and keeping the sun the sun on the south walls can be easily off walls, paving, aud glass. Tall de- [1 66] July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 167 ciduous hrubs or small trees, planted on the south can be con iderably re­ so that one looks into their shaded and duced and delayed by the use of roof cooler north sides, greatly reduce glare overhang, trees, and vines. Vhth prop­ and the simmering view of hot areas. er landscapi ng, the house walls, soil, However, careful selection of plant and paving will not be \\"armed to high and their placement should be made to temperatures until the sun is moving prevent interfe.rence with cooling away in the late afternoon. )\S the SUll breezes and winter sun. moves toward the ·west. its angle be­ comes lower. Therefore, groups of tall Keep SII'/I Off Roofs, Waf/s, vertical shrubs and trees can effective­ Pavi1lg, and Glass ly provide shade on the west and north The coldest exposure is toward the walls. This shading cuts off the sun, • north sky, so vertical shading by trees and the air temperatures 'will drop and vines, if the view to the north is left early. \Vith a delay in the heating of open, is more effective than horizontal the walls and urroundings in the shading providing the same intercep­ morning and a corresponding earliness tion of absorption and radiation. in the cooling in the afternoon. the tem­ Roofs: Experiments have shown perature extremes are lessened, pro­ that more than 400/0 of the heat may ducing more hours of comfortable in­ enter uninsulated houses through the door and outdoor Eying. roof. This can be greatly reduced by Pa.villg: Paved surfaces absorb and properly insulating the ceilings and by release great quantities of heat. If kept using white reflectant materials on the wet, they can sen'e in place of grass. roof surface. In addifion, the location In most cases this is inconvenient and of trees close to the house can material­ impractical, and may even increase the ly restrict the area of the roof exposed discomfort in humid climates. Dark to the sun's rays. In some localities, paving materials are usually much roofs have been covered with growing warmer than grass. and light-colored plants and vines for this purpose. n.aterials usually have objectionable Houses should be located far enough from large trees to be safe from falling glare. In hot regions, it is 'well to keep all dry paving to a minimum and pro­ branches. I'ide as much shade as possible. HI alls: An effective way of reducing the heat inflow through walls not Glass: As llluch as one-tenth of the . shaded by trees is to cover them with total heat entering an ordinary house vines. This has two advantages. It comes through the windows. This shades the 'wall and cools the air next amounts to a great deal more with to the wall surface by moisture evapo­ houses having extensive glass areas. ration from the living plants. Properly Every attempt should be made, there­ planned roof extensions are also effec­ fore, to keep the sun's rays from enter­ tive. ing the house. Solar energy passes easi­ East and west walls receive much ly through ordinary window glass if more heat in sumrner than south walls, outside protection is not afforded. If largely because they cannot be shielded sufficient roof overhang, vines on an by ordinary eaves. The heat problem overhead trellis, or tree shade cannot on; east 'Walls is less troublesome than be used, aluminum foil drapes or re­ west walls, since the soil, wall, and the flectors covering the windows will re­ air temperatures inside and outside turn much of the sunshine back through have cooled greatly during the night. the glass to the outside without con­ The heat absorption of walls and areas version to heat inside the house. The Morins

MARJORIE F. 'VARNER

Around the turn of the century, of a hundred vanetles. Floricultural French and English horticultural jour­ writers said the tulip collections of the nals showed considerable interest in the "Messieurs Morin" were among the early history and literature of French richest, and the Flor·iste Frangois gardening, publishing many biblio­ (1654) of La Chesnee Monstereul graphical articles, data on sources and credits many tulips indifferently to influences of French books, and bits of "Morin" or "Morine," but is occasion­ obscure or unknown history. One of ally specific, as in stating that "L'Agate the seventeenth-century names to con­ Morin a este nommee par Monsieur jure with was Morin (" Moryn" or Morin aine," presumably meal1ltlg "Morine"). Two brothers of the name Rene. were notable plantsmen in the first half Rene Mori.n of the century: Rene Morin and his yo unger brother, Pierre Morin Ie jeune, Rene Morin was less "famous" than dit troisieme, who was known as a his younger brother, but clearly note­ "famous florist" of Paris in his lifetime, worthy, and perhaps better known than with a garden that was said to be one is indicated. His name occurs in the of the show-places of that day. manuscript accessions of John Trade­ Contemporaries usually mentioned scant, printed by R. T. Gunth~r in his the brothers indiscriminately, and mod­ Eatrly British Botanists and Their Ga,r­ erns are apt to assume that Pierre was dens (1922, p. 331-333). These cover intended, whereas some allusions point the years 1629 to 1633, and include to his brother, and one can often guess plants received "from Morine," from whether Pierre or Rene was the source "Mr. Rene," from "Mr. Rene Morin," of a certain plant. There is no evidence and "from the frencheman," possibly of a trade-partnership between them, the same, or possibly V espasien Robin, but Denis J oncquet, who was a con­ the royal botanist in Paris, who also temporary, refers to them collectively in sent many plants to English gardens. hi s H ortus, S ive Index onomasticus Cornut knew him personally, and in plantarum, quas excolebat PGlrisiis, anni his C a.nadensi~t11~ planta:ru1;J1 historia, 1658 & 1659 (1659). Denise in his (1635, p. 112), says that "Geranium Bibligraphie hist01'ique & ic~nogra­ triste" (P elargonium triste L.) had phique du Jardin des Plantes (1903, p. been communicated to him by "that 49), says that J oncquet in his preface honorable and excellent man, Renatus acknowledges aid received from Pierre Morinus," who had included it in his and Rene Morin, but this is an error. learned " hortus" of all kinds of plants, He nowhere gives their forenames but presumably the Catalogus plantarum lists over fifty plants credited to horti R enati Morini (1621). It was "Morini," and in his preface extols the said to be from the Indies, and is prob­ "frat res Morinos" as exceptions to the ably the "Geranium indicum" of o.rd~nary run of ignorant and unappre­ Morin's CatalofJus (1621), and the cIatIve gardeners. "Geranium indicum nocte ocloratum" Both grew tulips for the trade ' Rene of Tradescant's Catalogus (1634), listed forty-five varieties in 1621 and which is also reproduced by Gunther thirty years later Pierre issued a c;talog (1.c., p. 334-342). It was sent to [168] , I I.m July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 169

Tradescant in 1631 by Rene Morin, Fritillaria, Hyacinthus, Iris, Lilium and who in the same year sent him "Martagon," Ornithogalum, Ranuncu­ "Holiasses" (whatever they may have Ius, and tulips, of which he had forty­ been), and "Narcissus J acobei," prob­ five sorts, including named varieties ably the "Jacobean lily," (SpTehelia of TMlipa serotina that must have been jorm.os'issima) , which was then a rarity. prized bulbs in that era. Many of these There are few personal data about had Dutch names, and I wonder if his him. He was a citizen of Paris, and "Honneste" could not have been the must have been well established in busi- "Tulipa Honesti" that was figured by • ness in May, 1619, when he signed the Crispin van de Passe, the Younger, in marriage contract of his younger his H O1't1l£S fioTidus (1614), which was brother, Pierre Morin Ie jeune, dit said to be named for its grower, troisieme. We infer that he died in Honestus. 1657, or possibly the beginning . of Florists or nurserymen, then as now, 1658, from the "Advis aux Curieux" grew what they could sell, but Rene appended to Pierre Morin's Re111arques Morin's stock appears to have been necessaires pour la culture des /leurs, rather select. He had to have the issued early in the latter year. The au­ "Couronne-imperiale," the "Flos pas­ thor states that, besides the plants al­ sionis," and the "Ioucqua" (Yucca), ready mentioned in his book, he has items no amateur should be without; many of great rarity that had come to but he also had "Siringa caerulea lusi­ him so lately he had not yet had time to tanica sive Lilac Mathioli." The lilac catalog them, on the death of his was already in Paris in 1601, when it brother, Rene Morin, who in his life­ was listed in Jean Robin's Catalog1'£s time had been as great a "curieux" as stirpium, but that may have been an in­ any in all Europe. The word "curieux" dividual specimen, whereas Morin in is rather elusive; it sometimes meant a 1621 was probably growing it for the collector OF "amateur" in the sense of trade. He called it "lusitanica" (Portu­ "fancier," but Rene Morin was an ex­ guese), and may have got it as such, pert as well as a lover of plants. since exotics were often named from Pierre Morin's "Advis" suggests his Mediterranean lands where they had brother's special interests. It notes a temporarily sojourned on their way to few groups like shrubs and woody ,England or France from their original plants, herbaceous perennials, foliage homes in Africa, the East Indies or plants, al'ld above all, bulbs. These eo111- the Levant. Rene Morin's lilac was prised hyacinths, Colchicum, Narcissus, companioned by another shrub often M uscari, specially handsome sorts of found with it in New England gardens, "Couronne-imperiale" and "Lys-Nar­ ."Sambucus rosea," the "Guelder rose" cisse des Indes," fine anemones, a great or "Snowball" (Viburnum. Opulus var. variety of cyclamens, and many tUlips, sterilis) , which had also been in Jean among which the new species from Robin's CatalogMs (1601), and was China were said to be of surpassing soon grown extensively in the gardens beauty. of Europe. The Catalogus plawtarum horti I may seem to give more importance Renati Morini (1621) indicates that he to Morin's Catalogus plantarMm. (1621) began to specialize in bulbs very early. than it merits. It was actuaIIy the ·first This twenty-six page pamphlet offers organized French trade list, though it many species in Anemone, Calchicuttl, sets no prices, but it does give the time Crocus, Cyclamen, "Dens caninus" or of blooming of each plant. It is notable, Erythronium, "Dipcadi sive Muscari," not only as a "first," but because it is 170 THE 1 ATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954-

well arranged, \\·ith plant names usually of them undoubtedly by him. The lYI II­ in Latin rather than the Yernacular, se ll11l T1'adesca I'ltia J1/.I·l'll ( 1656) of J ohn whidl makes it easier to co mpare with ' Tradescant, Jr., has about thirty such contemporary botanical works. There plants, some of whi ch may have been in is, 1110reO\'er, an advantage in its limi ted the garden of the elder Tradescant frOll1 size (only twenty-six pages) , which the time he got them from "NIr. Rene," give a good "iew of :\Iori n's stock and while others could have been received his scope as a collector of rare plants. from either of the two brothers at later It is to be remembered that Rene dates. ~ I orin was a "florist," who grew plants Denis J oncquet's H ort'llS, sive Illdex for other people' gardens; hence hi s onoma.stic-us pfalltarul1'l, qua.s e,'!:co lebat catalog does not represent a permanent Parisiis ( 1659) credits to the Morins collection of indi"idual specimens, but about sixty plants, chiefl y bulbs, with material grown long enough to show its an occasional intri guing species such as characteri stics and' build up a stock; or, "Grossulari a indica hirsuto frUCtLl on the other hand, only long enough to majore," whi·ch seems slightly incon­ test its popularity or cliscover its liabili­ gruous among the fl owers. In my ob­ ties. I have chi efly dwelt on hi s offer­ servation the names of persons follow­ ings of bulbs and O ri ental exotics, but ing those of plants in this work do not he al 0 had a ·few plants from North so often denote authors in the usual :\merica. There were "Phalangion de sense, as growers or donors of the V irgin ea" (Tradescantia), " Puchemin plants. Some of the items labelled de Virginea" (Diospyros), "Sumac de "Morini" can be found in Pierre Virginea" (Rhll s typhina) , all of which Morin's R e11ll.arques ll eCeSSa11'es POI[;W fa must have come to him by way of E ng­ c'bbitu1'e des jleurs ( 1658), and the va­ land (possibly from Tradescant) .; rieties of Crocus and RanunC!J1lus were "Cardinalis planta" (Lobelia w1'd·i­ probably his ; but the numerous va­ nalis) , ":YIartagon canadence flore rities of Cyclamen must have been from luteo" (LilillllI wnadense) , "Apocy­ Rene's collection, as some of their num syriacum" (rlscle pias syriaca) , names suggest t he geographical sources and " Sanguisorba sive Pimpinella of new cyclamens mentioned by Pierre maior" (probably Sa.n.g uisorba cana­ in hi s "Advis aux Curieux," which he de nsis), from ~ew F rance. For some had received on the death of his elder of these Morin's Ca.talogus plantaru111, brother. Probably few of these were , ( 1621) is the oldest printed record, al- absolutely new, as some had been listed though some of them ·had been in Eng­ in 1621 in the Cata,tog'l!bS plantarum land and others may already have been horti R enati NI01'im:, and others were in the garden of J ean Robin in Paris mentioned in Sir Thomas Hanmer's for some years. The garden of Rene G(J;rden Bool~ ( 1933, p. 64-65) , as hav­ :NIori n was undoubtedly one of the ing been grown in England for some main stepping stones between France years prior to 1659. Sir Thomas does and England in the distribution of the not associate any of them with Rene first plants brought from the northern Morin, though he may have bought coloni es of America. cyclamens from him, as he got a lot of P ractically nothing is known about plants from his younger brother Pierre; Rene Morin's activities from 1635 to but his descriptions identify several of the time of hi s death, but several books the Morin cyclamens li sted in J onc­ contain species with the la bel "Morini " quet's H ortus. which must have been imported or d~­ It would be rash to assume that Rene "eloped during tho e years, and some Morin was the cyclamen expert of hi s July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 171 time, but the efforts of hi s later years were his witnesses. His bride was the 'were undoubtedly given to the intro­ daughter of Hierosme de la Brosse, a ·duction of these and other choice bulbs. cousin of Guy de la Brosse, who was Although he did not leave behind him a then physician to "Monseigneur Ie conspicuous record, throughout hi s life Prince" (Henri II de Bombo!l, Prince Rene Morin seems to have merited the de Conde) , and aftenvards distin­ epithet of "curieux"-a zealous and guished as a botanist and the first " In­ ,discriminating collector and grower of tendant" or resident director of the rare plants. Jardin des Plantes (originally called

Pierre M O1'il1, "1(' i('u l/ (', dit Troisiinne" Jardin royal des Plantes Medicinales). Hamy adds other bits of historical He is best known for his book, the background, and some misinformation Rema1'ques necessaires POl.l1' la cu lt ~/1'e about Morin's publications. It is unfor­ des fi e~ws (Paris, C. de Sercy, 1658). though most of those who mention it do tunate that an article so useful is not not appear to have examined its con­ completely accurate in all respects. tents, which, although they leave the In 1619, Morin's address .vas Rue . reader with new questions, dispel some Thorigny, Parish of Saint-Gervais, but generally quoted misconceptions. He in 1651 and later his garden was was sometimes confused with hi s "sgitue au Faux-B.ourg Saint-Germain, brother Rene, and onLy two of his con­ proche la Charite," which \""as on the temporaries dearly distinguish him. Rue Taranne vihere it was afterwards Cornut, in his Camade17sium plantar-z,f,j'/l. crossed by the Bouleyard Saint-Ger­ historia (1635, p. 78 ), says that "Gladi­ main. Henri Samral, in his H ist01:re et ·olus ;ethiopicus" (Antholjlza ceth·iop·ica ?'e chenh('s des a·ntiquites d(' la ville de L.) had flowered il'l the garden of Pcw'is (1724, v. 3, p. 4) , says it was one "Petrus Morinus" in October, 1633 ; of the 1110st celebrated for rare. plants, .and Sir Thomas Hammer noted in his and that it contained the first "filaria" "Pocket Book" a letter to ".Moryn (P. in Paris. This must be an error, Moryn Ie J eusne dit troisieme)" III because Phfll)ww angustifolia and P. June, 1656. lat·ifoha are listed ill the Catalogus Few documents on Morin call be st·irpiu11'1, (Parisiis, 1601) of Jean found, but E. T. Hamy published con­ Robin, as well as the H f1'ba.fl (1597) of siderable data in his article: L e fieu.1'iste Gerard, from whom Robin may have Pierre Morin le ieune, dit t?'oisieme got them; while, \ on the other hand, (Paris, Museum d'Histoire naturelle, Gerard got many l)lants from "John B~f,lleti ·JII., 3 :186-190, 1897). Hamy Robin" in Paris. It is also doubtful found in the Archives Nationales the whether Morin had "filaria." as he was lllarriage contract of Pierre Morin and not much interested in shrubs, and this Frangoise de la Brosse, dated May 4, one is fouad only in a section of his 1619, and from it reasonably. concluded book that was not written by him. that Morin was born towards the close Phillyrea, how€ver, had such vogue in of the preceding century. This docu­ Sauval's time, that the name might ap­ ment gives the names of his parents, peal to anYOl1e looking for data on the both deceased, and shows why h.e was ('famous" florist. ·called "the third," since not only his John Evelyn giyes a first-hand ac­ father, but also his oldest brother, had count of two visits to "Mr. Morine" 'in the same fGrename. His two older his Dia#'y, April 1, 1644, and May 23, brothers, Pierre Morin "I'aine," and 1651, although he does not give his Rene Morin, both citizens of Paris, forename or his location. He says the 172 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

garden "is of an exact oval figure, verbatim in his R emo:rques necessaires planted with cypress, cut flat and set as in 1658. even as a wall: the tulips, anemones, Morin was later credited with other ranunculuses, crocuses, etc., are held works, notably the Traite des a!illets, to be of the rarest, and draw all the ad­ which was included in all issues of the mirers of that kind to his house during Re111.arques after 1667, and the N ou­ the season." On both occasions Evelyn veau traite pour la culture des fleurs noted Morin's miniature paintings of (ParIs, 1674), both of which were hi s best fl owers, done "by rare hands." hoaxes of the printer, Charles de Sercy, There were many fine floral painters in The first was exposed by Ardene in his that period, and it seems to me that Traite des a!illets (1762) , as an adapta­ some esteemed prints of unknown ori­ tion of the anonymous J ardinage des gin may have been made fr0111 speci­ a!illets (Paris, 1647). The Nouveau mens in Pierre Morin's garden. traite pour la c~~lture des flew's, and a Evelyn seemed more interested in citrus pamphlet of the same date, both Morin the virtuoso, than in his plants mainly derived from Agostino Mandi­ or garden. He remarks on the "curiosi ­ rola's M anuale de' giardinieri, were ties" and works of art in Morin's house listed with other titles in a privilege at one side of the garden, and his collec­ granted to de Sercy for a reprint of the tion of butterflies ana insects, and, after R emarques necessaires; and, as no describing the latter, says "he showed other authors were named, all these me the remarks he had made on their works were at one time or another propagation, which he promised to pub­ credited to Pierre Morin. These false lish." A careless reader might suppose attributions were tolerated by Hamy, this referred to the floricultural Re­ who was also guilty of citing page refer­ mGJrques, which Morin was said to have ences to the N ouvelte edition of the had under consideration for many R e11wrques necessai1'es (Paris, 1694) , years; but on hi s second visit Evelyn while ostensibly citing the original edi­ again observed that his host was com­ tion of 1658. piling a natural history of insects. The H amy says that only in 1658, when idea of Pierre Morin as at! entomologist seized by a serious illness, Morin de­ was so unusual that one of my friends cided to publish the Remarques neces­ made an extended search in the bibliog­ sa'i1'es PO~tr la culture des fl ew's, which raphy and litertature of entomology but he had been "meditating" over forty found no trace of his activity either as years. However, the publisher'S preface author or collector. or address to the reader merely says Besides his Re'/f/il.a1'ques necessai1'es that the book would have come out in pour fa c'ulture des flew's (Paris, 1658), better shape but for the illness that be­ he published only the Catalog1,tes de fell the author at the beginning of print­ qnelques plantes Ii fle'urs qu,i sont de ing, from which the1'e was no hope of preseNt au jardin de Piene fill orin Ie his im11ll,ediate recove1'Y [italics mine], ,ieune, dit trois7:e111.e, fleuriste. These and apologizes for the errors of style consist of four separate lists of tulips, and typography resulting from lack of ranunculus, iris, and anemone, issued in the author's supervision. 1651 with continuous paging, and in It seems probable that the book was 1655 separately paged, with some of the almost entirely put together by the individual lists considerably enlarged printer, Charles de Sercy. It went and rearranged. There is no indiJCa.tion through the press speedily, as the privi­ that he issued other catalogs, but his lege was granted January 14 and regis­ series of 1655 was reprinted practically tered February 19, 1658, and the first July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTI CULTURAL MAGAZI NE 173

printing was dOL1e March 12. And There never was a genuine new edition, while the author had no opportunity although later ones were enlarged oy fo r revision, the publi sher had a chance the Traite des 02illets that was after­ to tamper with the contents, as his 'wards falsely attributed to Morin. preface says the text is entirely by As a practical manual of floriculture, Morin, except some pages on woody the book does not justify its grandiose plants which were inserted from an­ title, as it gives no culture in the usual other source, as the publisher was per­ sense; but it may have been the first to suaded that something of the kind was list plants acco rding to soil and clima:tic needed to complete the work. H erein conditions, and it should have been he was in error, as Morin himself helpful to gardeners to find so many showed no interest in woody plants and exotics listed under vernacular names includes very few in his lists; so this and treated with reference to ordinary section of the book is quite incongruous. garden culture. It has a calendar of op­ This preface says the book contains erations necessary in the fl ower garden, the observations of Monsieur Morin and another showi ng the time of bloom­ during rnore than fo rty years' experi­ ing of each plant, which may well be ence, and that all the plants mentioned the first fl oricultural calendar ever are grown by him in hi s garden. T his printed. These must have been popu­ fact can be confirmed by some of the lar, as also Morin's Catalogues de allusions in other works, and there is no q'uelques plantes d fi eurs, which occupy reason to doubt the authenticity of his a considerable part of the volume. own text. In spite of a subconscious T he Catalogu.es may have been more query whether the printer made other used in E ngland than in Paris. There changes, it is the book of Pierre Morin. are numerous allusions to Morin in the I believe he planned a publication, Ga1"den Book of Sir Thomas H anmer perhaps a revision and enlargement of of Bettisfield, written in 1659 but not his Catalogues de q1ulques pla1rz.tes d publi shed till 1933 . H e bought many fi eurs, which had already required a bulbs from Morin, though I do not second issue and may well have been in know whether he got any herbaceous such demand as to justify a third. The perennials. A comparison of his Gar­ author's preface, " Aux Curieux de den Book with the Morin Catalogues of Fleurs," has an authentic flavor, and his 1655 (as reprinted in the R em,arques "Advis" at the end of the volume, re­ necessaires) shows that Hanmer had ferring to plants received after the all but a few of the bulbous irises and death of his brother Rene, so recently ranunculuses, and a slightly smaller that he had mot yet had time to list proportion of the anemones and tulips. them, suggests an intention of revising He must have bought largely from his Catalogues. If his manuscripts were Morin's Catalogues) and we find an meanwhile left in the hands of the item in his " Pocket-book" in June, printer, the latter may have taken ad­ 1656, in regard to ranunculuses and vantage of the author's illness and may­ anemones ordered from " Moryn (P. be intervening death to arrange the Moryn Ie J eusne dit troisieme)." Sir material according to his own ideas. Thomas made many trips to the Conti­ There is no trace of Pierre Morin after nent, but his Garden Book does not in­ this time, and the printer, Charles de dicate that he personally visited Pierre Sercy, must have made a good thing Morin, as Evelyn had done. out of the R emarques necessaires pour Morin created an innovation in the la cultu1"e des fi eurs) as it was reissued description of irises, which was noted a dozen times in ;the next forty years. by Hanmer, a great amateur of this 174 T H E XATION AL HORTICULTURAL !vIAGAZINE July 1954

Rower. III hi s Gardell B oo ll ( 1933, p. 71-72) , and the genus adopted by Lin­ 38) , he \\Ti tes : .. :'\lon ieur :;\l10r)' n, a naeus, with a Latin termination, Ana­ fa mous fl orist in France, hath pri nted a podophyllon was likewise establi shed by Catalogue in F rench of above three Tournefort ( 1. c., p. 204-206), but was core se\'erall sort [of bul bous irises], challged by Li nnaeus to Podophyllum. which hee had growing in hi s garden in Morin may at an earlier time have Paris about two years since, whereof grown more American species, but as wee ha\'e man} now in England. Hee the Canadian i ntrod uctions began to name and describes them thus, calling lose their novelty, he may have con­ the three falling lea \'es Fall [langlles], tinued to grow only a few plants that the three lea\'es whi ch tand up Stand­ were hardy, popular, or particularly ards [estelldart s] or Sayles s0l11times, striking, such as the "Jack-in-the-Pul­ and the three li ttle tongues or short pit" (A1'isae111a triphyll~£71L), the "May­ leaves lying on the Falls Arches [7'/'I.el1- apple" (PodophyUwm peltatum) , and tons]." Although I have not seen the "J oe-Pye weed" (Eupatoriu1% purpu- originals of the Catalog ll es de q~telques 1'eu.11t) . plantes a jlellrs, the one used by Han­ His later career must have been mer was probably that of 1655, in which mainly devoted to cultivation and trade the li st of bulbous irises \'iaS consider­ in bulbs. Evelyn specially remarked his­ ably altered and enlarged. It was re­ bulbs in 1644, and his Catalogues de printed yerbatim in the Re771G1'qu es qu elq.tes pla11tes d fi ewrs, issued in 165 1, lI eassaircs pOllr fa elllture des jleurs in had to be enlarged and reissued in 1658; so we can at least date the terms 1655. The acqui sitions that came to "standard" and "fall" as far back as 1655, him on the death of his brother Rene in­ cluded many fi ne bulbs, which he had It is also interesting to find in planned to offer in an orderly catalog. :r,'lorin 's Rell/arqll es Ilee essail'es a few It may be remarked that, during the of the plants recently introduced from best part of the lives of the t:wo broth­ North Ameri ca. In hi s li st of "plants ers, E urope had become excessively that lo\'e a fat and moist soil," there are bulb-minded, so that both opportunity "Phlanagion de Virginie" (Trade­ and expediency developed their expert sealltia virgill ia lIa) , "Eupatorion de knowledge in this fie ld. But apparently Canada" (E upatorill In pUI'pWre'lll17l) , thi s was ended almost simultaneously " Calceolus mariae de Canada" (prob­ fo r both, as there is no trace of P ierre ably CYP1'ip edium l'eginae), ~'Se r pen ­ Morin .after the date of his brief "Ad­ taire it trois feuilles d'A.merique (Ari­ vis" about his brother's posthumous sae11'la triphyllu1'N.); also three genera collections, and it may be that Pierre that were named by Morin: A napodo­ died about the time of the publication phyllon, H ydrophyllon, and Sangui­ of hi s R e 11/.arq~les neeessaires POU1' la nara. The last had been briefly described wltm'e des fi eurs in 1658, by Cornut as "Chelidonium maximum W hile his book offers little fl oricul­ Canaden e acaulon"; but Dillenius, in tural information of present value, it his H ortl£S Eltha11l ensis ( 1732, v. 2, p. must be recognized that his careful clas­ 335-336), di stinguished it from the sification of ornamental plants accord­ other celandines (Chelidonium), and ing to cultural requirements and garden called the new genus Sanguinaria, uses was an important contribution at crediting this name to Morin. Hydro­ that time. And hi s application of a sim­ phyllon was established by Tournefort ple terminology to the identification of in his EZell/ ens de botalliqll e (1794, p. iris varieties, whi ch had become hope- July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 175 lessly unwieldy, reyeals Pierre Morin l'IJistoria ( 1699, 2: 368-369), he de­ as a gardener of superior intelli gence. scribes the "Lilionarcissus Indicus The epi thet of "famous florist," so maximus sphaericus fl oribus plurimis often parroted, may be accepted with liliaceis," whi ch he had seen in bloom reservations; it was probably due to in Paris, in Septem ber, 1657, "apud his large business in fashionable flowers J ohannem Morinum, Anglum vulgo rather than hi s expert knowledge of dictull1 ." Morison is the only author­ cultivation. It is certain that he catered ity I can find for the epithet of "the -uccessfull y to the popular taste in Engli shman," which may have been flowers in his own ti mes, but it may be used to distinguish thi s man from others that the three American plants he of the same name. There were at least named, which were probably of slight two moderately "v eIl-known J ean Mor­ interest to most visito rs to his garden, ins living at this time, and earlier, be­ will prove hi s 1110St enduring link with tween 1612 and 1620, an anonymous posterity. botanical artist, or possibly two of them, whose work is known by the Jean 11!Jorin, "The Englishlll an" pseudonym of "L'Anglais" ; but I have There was a third Morin, ot whom been unable to identify my particular li ttle is known. ' but who was probably Jean Morin with any of these. related to the fl orists Rene and Pierre. J ean Morin may have been somewhat (ornut evidently knew them all, as in "famous" because of his luck with these hi s CaJ1ad ensi~tm plantaru1n historia two individualistic bulbs. The Guernsey ( 1635 ) he distinguishes "Petrus" (p. lily, N er·ine sG1'17iens-is, excited much 78 ), "Renatus" ( p. 112), and " I oan­ interest, and the plant described by nes" (p. IS7) . Of the latter he says Morison also had a considerable history that "Narcissus japonicus rutilo fl ore" before it came to hi s notice, perhaps (Nerine sarniensis) , the Guernsey before Morin had heard of it. It was lily, 'which had been brought from J a­ the Bn.(.nsV'igia of Heister, which had pan a few years earlier, was by the un­ long before been described by F errari remitting care of "Ioannes Morinus" in his D e !lon.e/1'/> c'UltU1'a ( 1633, p. 125- brought into bloom on the seventh of 129), with an illustration of the flower­ October, 1634. J oseph Jacob, in a note ing scape resembling a many-branched on The K1l1:ght of the Golden Tulip, in candlestick. Ferrari, moreover, said the Ga.rdel1ers' Ckronicle (iii, 69 :174- it had first been introduced in Paris, 175, April, 1921) , overlooked the fo re­ where it had not bloomed, but after a names, referring to the grower of few years in Rome it responded favor­ Nerine as though he had been Pierre ably to that environment (probably it Morin "Ie jeune, dit troisieme. " ,James was actually due to the maturity of the Douglas, however, whose Lill:um san1i­ e1'lse (London, 1725) is quoted by bulb). Whether he had tried it when Jacob, gives it as "Johannes," remark­ it was first brought to Paris or not, ing that his garden was seen by Mori­ presumably Morin did not grow it son tweHty-three years later. sucessfully till long after it had fl owered In 1657, the Scottish physician Rob­ in Rome, and perhaps shortly before ert ::-,10rison was in charge of the cele­ 1657. Morison cited Ferrari's name for brated garden of the Duc d'Orleans at the plant, and J oncquet, in hi s H 01't~tS, Blois, and knew many of the foremost sive Index onomastic'Us plantanfm botanists and growers of Europe, some q~f. as excolebat Pa1'isitis ( 1659), neatly of whom he mentions in connection tied loose ends together in his entry: with rare plants. In hi s Plantarum " Narcissus indicus lili aceus sphaericus 176 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

Ioann. Bapt. Ferr. Candelabrum have been quoted here, made some Morini." The name used later, "Can­ search in documents of the period, but delabra flower," was undoubtedly due there must be quantities of manuscript to its striking inflorescence and without and ephemeral printed material that reference to Morin's term, but his have never been explored. Somewhere "Candelabrum" was the earliest pop­ there may be details to give substance ular name. to these fragmentary outlines. J oncquet's handling of all the Morin The lives of the Morins spanned a. contributions, including the "Candela­ period of great activity in acquisition brum," under the simple label "Morini," and exchange of new plants. This leads to the conclusion that Jean was culminated in the establishment of the a member of the florist family, perhaps Jardin royal des Plantes Medicinales a younger brother or nephew of Pierre and its development as a botanical in­ or Rene. Although his claim to dis­ stitution of superior authority and im­ tinction lay in his success with two portance under Guy de la Brosse, but notable exotics, it is improbable that following his death the garden lapsed his skill as a gardener was allowed to into a temporary decline and, during lapse during the score or more years the latter phase, botanical ascendency between Nerine and Brunsvigia, and it briefly passed to the Jardin de Blois, may have contributed largely through under Morison, Brunyer, Marchant, the years to the success of the more and the botanical painter, Nicolas noted members of the Morin family. Robert. We cannot find that the Mor­ This account consists largely of data ins collaborated with either of these 011 plants, and gives little personal his­ princely institutions, but their own tory of the Morins. There is a great <,l;ctiv ities must have been largely in­ deal of contemporary French literature fluenced by them; hence their personal that might yield details about them, but contributions to botany and gardening I have been able to examine very few may complement the wider history of of the letters, travels and memoirs of botany 111 seventeenth-century France. seventeenth-century France. E. T. Hamy, whose data on Pierre Morin September 14, 1953, The Begonias Collected by Thomas MacDougall GLADYS C. NOLAN AND ELMER J. LORENZ

Since the first begonia was intro­ their source. I looked him up at 4000 -d uced in 1777, these beautiful plants Boston Road at the nursery where he l1ave played an important role in bring­ spends most of his time when not on ing enjoyment to many garden en­ a field trip to Mexico. From that time thusiasts. Plant explorers penetrated on I have enj oyed the friendship of one into the vast wilderness of tropical of the most versatile and competent and subtropical portions of the world plantsmen it has been my good fortune as time progressed and they sent back to meet. seeds and plants of countless new spe­ "Thomas MacDougall began trips cies of begonias. to Mexico back about 1930 when he Due to the beautiful foliage and walked from Tehuantepec to Oaxaca flowers, begonias have always been City. He leaves New York in October near the top of the plant hobbyists' li st. or November when the pressure of The continued addition of new species landscaping eases off, journeys to the .accumulated by plant collectors played general region of the Isthmus of .an important part in keeping interest Tehuantepec and there finds plenty to in this plant so keen. keep him occupied until March or No contemporary plant collector has April when he returns for the spring contributed so many ' outstanding new nursery activity in New York. He is Mexican species of begonias of interest a quiet, modest person and one needs to the student of BEGONIACEAE and to to know him for some time to discover plant lovers as Thomas MacDougall ot the many things which he undertakes New York. For the past two decades. on his Mexican trip·s. Although he is as winter approaches, Mr. MacDougall a professional nurseryman, he is an in­ leaves on a collecting trip to the terested student of the Indian cultures little known areas on the Isthmus of and of the animal life. He has made col­ Tehuantepec. From this rich plant lections of the mammals, the reptiles wonderland he has sent back seeds and and amphibians and other items for mu­ -plants of many newly discovered or seums and naturalists in the States. He rediscovered speCles of not only speaks some of the local Indian lan­ BEGONIACEAE but also CACTACEAE, guage, is studying their way of life and ORCHIDACEAE, et al. he has a sympathetic understanding of The writers requested some personal their problems which makes him an ac­ information with regard to this plant ceptable and welcome visitor in regions collector and received the following not always hospitable to outsiders. His information from Dr. Harold E . plant interests, however, are the topics Anthony of the American Musel1 m of which call fo r the most attention in this Natural History: article for their breadth should make " I have known Thomas MacDougall the name of MacDougall almost a since about 1940. I learned of him household term wherever plant lovers i hrough some interesti ng Mexican meet. He has collected a great many succulents which appeared in the New plants that were new to science and has York trade and which I traced back to brought back and made available many [177} \

THOMAS MACDOUGALL Ladis{adlS Ciltal? others that were botani cal rarities. One fied. One is a miniature for the window of his most prolific fields has been the gardener, while another is a giant hay­ cactus and the succulents, but perhaps ing tremendous leaves ·and a very tall the name of MacDougall is oftenest as­ flowering stalk. One was found grow­ sociated with begonias. ing in caves, a most unusual environ­ "Mexico is rich in begonias and the ment for this plant family. species are varied with the result that The seed which Mr. MacDougall each different plant association is likely collects are sent to the begonia special­ to have its own particular begonia rep­ ist, Mr. Rudolf Ziesenhenne of Santa resentative. The Isthmus of Tehuan­ Barbara, California. This well known tepee is a happy hunting ground [or the plantsman grows the 11ew collections to begonia collector, and Mr. MacDougall maturity under ideal ·conditions and, has taken full advantage of t hese favor­ after the plants have flowered, the long able circumstances. If he hcu:l brought process of identifying each begonia be­ back none other than B ego l1,ia M Q.zae, gins. A careful check is made to deter­ the begonia cult would be heavily in mine if the plant is a new species and debt to him. Time and again when some then the information is forwarded to attractive begonia is written up the Mr. Edgar Irmscher, of Stuttgart­ reader discovers the name of Mac­ Hohenheim, Germany, a world authori­ Dougall enters as one of the active prin­ ty on BEGO NIA CEAE. A further com­ cipals in bringing it to li ght." parison is made by him and, if the plant The begonias discovered by Mr. is found to be a new species, the proper MacDougall are unbelievably diversi- International Rules of "t\ omenchture [178] July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 179 are follo'wed and a description of the dark red undersurface characteristic is new begonia appears in a recognized readily apparent in its many offspring. botanical publi cation. Begonia Ma.cDougaUi Zies. (The Recent descriptions include the fo l­ Begonian, Vol. X IV, 11 ; Misso~wiBot. lowing new species and these are avail­ Card. But., Vol. XXXIV, 2 (habitat able at the present time to interested photographs)). Co ll ected ( 1946) on growers: the lower levels of the Ocozocoatula B egon.ia Mazae Zies. (The Begoniall, rain forest, Chiapas, Mexico, and named Vol. XIV, 8.) Collected (1946) in to honor its discoverer, this herbaceous Ocozocoatula rain forest, Chiapa, perennial has a mooth, very thick and Mexico, and named to honor Don Li­ closely intern oded creeping rhizomatous sandro Maza, a frequent host to the col­ stem. The large, deciduous stipules are lector, this plant is a smooth, erect, fl es h-colored and covered on the outside evergreen perennial twelve to eighteen with matted downy hairs while develop­ inches tall. The light green stem is ing but are smooth at maturity. The banded with conspicuous dark red rings three and one half foot (in habitat) above the stipules vv hich are persistent, smooth petioles are erect, fl esh-colored, prominent, pale green and acuminate. with greenish-white lenticels, thick at The lettuce-green petioles, which are the base, tapering to the leaf junction. slightly longer than the leaf blade, are The palmately compound leaf blade has dotted with red lenticels. The leave, seven- to ten-lobed, fl eshy leaflets, each ovate acute, cordate at the base, with one about ten inches long and four long acuminate tips, are palmately inches wide at maturity, lanceolate nerved, three and a half to fi ve inches bilobed with long acuminate tip, serrate long with barely dentate margins, margins, shining, 'bare, upper surface slightly turned under; the sinus is a dark green, underside dull green. The conspicuous light green, the upper leaf nerves are alternately feathered up to surface dark olive-green, continuing the eighth nerve where the midrib splits along the paler green veins, diminishing into two nerves of approximateiy the to a yellow-brawn-green at the edges, same size at a forty degree angle and the whole surface having a satin-like from this point two lobes are formed ; texture. The undersurface of the leaf the nerves henceforth are pinnately is a blood red with a deeper area of veined. The immature fo liage is with­ color following the surface edge pat­ out this angled lobe and the underside tern. Inflorescence (in late winter and is covered with inconspicuous brown, ea.rly spring) is an axillary cyme ex­ downy hairs. The inflorescence (J anu­ tending beyond the leaves, of many ary to April ) is an erect cyme on an fragrant fl owers, white to pale pink, eight to nine foot peduncle (at maturi­ minutely dotted on the reverse side with ty), bearing many small white two­ currant-red. The ovary is light green petalled fl owers. The ellipsoidal light with many red spots, the three wings green ovary is three-winged, capsule tipped with currant-red. three-celled. This plant is of a lovely texture and This fine plant, though unsuitable for growth habit with strikingly beautiful the window garden, is a magnificent inflorescence due to the contrast of light addition to the tropical conservatory or flowers and dark ovary wings. It has collector's greenhouse. Outstanding for been used extensively by California the compact gr owth on the rhizome, hybridizers as a parent stock fo r many palmate foliage and regal inflorescence, fine new dark-leaved begonias since the it is well worth every effort given to its T HOMAS MACDOUGALL Begonia caVU11~, ,in cave at Santiago L achigu,w'i, Oaxaca cultivation. It has proved a fi ne parent doubly toothed margins. An axillary, stock fo r hyb ridizing, producing many round peduncle, three to four inches beautiful palmately-starred-foliage off­ long, bears an inflorescence of three spring. white fl owers (all summer). B egon:ia CQ,V%11'L Zies. (The B ego'lVian, Filaments of begonias are usually Vol. XV, 1 ; Vol. XVIII, 8, ( habitat free, or nearly so, but in B . cavum they photograph ) ). Collected ( 1946) in a are united to fo rm a cylinder with the small cave at Cerro Jilott, .oaxaca, top ends free. Also, unlike other be­ Mexico. P robably no begonia exists in gonias, the placenta is attached to the such an unusual environment. The inner walls of the capsule instead of li ma-bean shaped tubers were found the central axis. Due to the unusual tightly wedged in the interstices of the structure of this species it could not be li mestone walls of the cave. These un­ placed in any of the existing Begonia us ually shaped tubers are clothed in a sections, hence a new one was creClited . coat of thick fi bers which may be re­ This is described as Begonia Section moved in layers like tree-bark T his Dissepbegonia. small begonia, about three inches high, This plant will probably prove to be possesses few leaves. The persistent only a collector's item due to its period green stipules are longer than they are of dormancy. lack of C0lor and scarcity wide, with smooth margins; round, of fo li age, It is un iqu e, however, be­ mooth, shining petioles are approxi­ cause of its unusual habitat and in­ mately three-fourths inch long. T he florescence and will be of particular in­ dull green, unequal, ovate-acuminate terest to all students of BEGONIACEAE. leaves, two and a halE inches long by a Bego'llj,ia hisp,idavillosa Zies. (The half inch wide, are smooth surfaced BegoJ71ian, Vol. XVII, 1, with draw­ and prominently palmately veined with ings.) Collected ( 1948) on limestone [180] July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL IvlAGAZINE 181 rocks in shade on Cerro Aizul (5000- irregularly ovate leaves with spin ach­ 6000 feet altitude), Oaxaco, Mexico, in green surface are covered with half-i nch rain forest, this herbaceous perennial semi-stiff wh ite hairs and are palmately has a creeping and branching rhizo­ ten-veined; the base is cordate, tip al- matous stem with the foliage confined 111 0 t acuminate and the margin s min­ to the growing tips. The dark green Iltely toothed ; the un dersurface of light­ rhi zome is dotted with whitish lenticels er green is thickly covered with fim­ and dark red blotches between the clo e briated white hairs on the veins. Ma­ internodes, the leaf scars surrounded by ture fol iage is about seven inches long white hairs. The persistent, triangular by five in ches wide. A spinach-green tipules are currant-red, covered with eighteen-inch peduncle, rising from the semi-stiff white hairs which become red leaf axil, i covered with currant-red at the edges at maturity; eight-inch dots at the base of fimbriated hairs spinach-green petioles, dotted with long which completely clothe it. The in­ narrow greenish-white lenticels and fl orescence (fall and winter) is a light­ covered with half-inch stiffi sh white red, many-flowered, evenly divided hairs, arise from a currant-red dot. The cluster of two-petalled flowers. The

Begonia MacDouga,lIi (Pulled up alld 1II0ved to a dearing for photogra,phiJlg). THOMAS MACDOUGALL (Courtesy of Rudolf Ziesenhenn.) Try .... I 182 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZI NE July 1954 ovary, about a half inch :ong, has three B egonia Bowe'l'i Zies. (The Be­ unequal wings, the basal one being gO'1'l iall, Vol. V II, 4, with drawings.) . li ghtly larger. Collected ( 1948) on the shady banks T his light green begonia, covered of a stream fl owing down the Sierra with tiff white hairs, which give it a Madres (4000 feet altitude) in Oaxaca, frosty appearance, is especially striking \lIexico, this herbaceous perenni3.1 was in bloom since the light red fl owers named to honor M'iss Constance Hower, make a startling contrast. An excellent well-known hybridist of San Diego, house plant fo r winter .color, its no rmal California. T he creeping, freely-branch­ blooming period, it may prove an inter­ ;,lg rhizome is entirely fo liated and the esting parent stock fo r unusual off­ beauty of the blood-red internodes is spn ng. ~ ur t h e r enhanced by whitish lenticels Begonia chivatoa Zies. (The Be­ and fi rm white hairs which surround gonian, Vol. XVII, 3, with drawings; the pale brown leaf-stem scars. Per­ Na.tl. Ho'rt. Mag., Vol. XXXII, 1, with sistent acuminate stipules of papery photo.) Collected ( 1946) at San J ose texture gua rd the round, light green Q uniaite, Oaxaca, on the slopes of Cer­ three and a half inch petioles which are ro Chivato (8000 feet altitude) and vertically red-striped, dotted with named fo r its habitat, this herbaceous greeni sh oblong lenticels and sparsely twenty-eight 'inch perennial is an erect, covered with downward pointing white seldom branched plant. T he thick, hairs arising from a red base. The ir­ fl eshy stem, becQm ing woody at ma­ regular, co rdate-ovate, acuminate, pal­ turi ty, is closely intern oded and dotted mately seven-veined leaves are of a sparsely with whiti sh red-tipped lenti­ fi rm texture, two inches long and one eels. Persistent stipules, fringed with inch wide, light green with variable scaleli ke hairs, quickl y dry to a papery brown-black patches along the margins, texture. Pod-greens smooth, four- to A satiny sheen covers the whole sur­ eight-inch petioles are spotted with red­ face of the leaves and the undersurface dish lenticels and covered thinly with is light green with spots of blood-red shaggy hairs. T he smooth, spinach­ fo llowing the same pattern as the upper green, unequal cordate, almost bare, surface. The dentate margins, slightly r alll1ately-veined leaves are usually ir­ waved, are fringed with gracefully up­ regularly lobed, a·bout seven inches long turned, firm white hairs, giving the ap­ and five inches wide, with fi nely den­ pearance of long eyelashes. A few­ tate, slightly hairy margins of Indian fl owered infl orescence (J anuary to red. T he undersurface is the same color March) rises well above the foliage on with the veins sparsely shaggy-haired an axillary peduncle with the same ap­ and bordered with the Indian-red of the pearance as the petioles and the two­ upper margin. T he many-fl owered, two­ petalled white fl owers are dotted with petall ed, carmine-tinted in fl orescence red on the undersurface of the petals-. (December to F ebruary) rises well Ovary bluntly, irregularly three­ above the fo liage on a dull, pod-green winged. axill ary peduncle which is covered with reddish-brown dry hairs. Ovary un­ Degonia p'bl, rp~~sii equal, three-winged. Begonia mazae Found growing on li mestone out­ (Photographs hy MR . MACDOUGALL , cou rtesy 0/ crops in rich humus, this begonia, with MR, Z IESEN H ENNE) lea ves on ly on the ti p growth, obviously Begonia Boweri ~'eq uir es a do rmant peri od after flower­ Begonia f1'ancis ii mg. ( Photog,aph, by ELMER J. LORENZ)

18.+ THE N AT IO:--JA L HORTICULTURAL MAG AZI NE J ul y 1954

This beauti ful begonia is ideally thinly dotted and striped with red and suited to the window garden due to its white lenticels, and is covered with the dwarf habit and a well grown plant is soft gray bloom which marks the alw ays fully clothed with the very love­ petioles. T he paired branches of the I y fo liage. fi ovver clusters are of unequal length with early deciduous lea fl ets at their Begonia. Kenworlhyi Zies. (Th e Be­ base. Ovary elliptical, three-winged. go niall, Vol. X VII, 7, with drawings.) Collected ( 1948 and 1949) in Ocozo­ T hi s magni'fice nt plant, fo und on coatula, Chiapas, M exico, and one of cliffs in dry country, will not tolerate the handsomest introduced to date, this " wet feet. " It is outstanding because begonia was named to honor Eva Ken­ of the glaucous blue-green surface with worthy Gray of La J olla, California, a its underlay of red which lends it a hybri dist and pioneer begonia grower. metalli c, jewel-like appearance, its It is an herbaceous perennial with erect, sturdiness and stiff leaf texture and the thi ck, fl eshy upright stem, fi ve to ten unbelievable beauty of its lacy sprays of inches in height, non-branching, with flowers. It has proved an excellent the leaves confi ned to the tip. Spinach­ rock garden subject in partial shade in green internodes, about a half inch southern California though it will toler­ apart, are marked with abundant whit­ ate considerable sun which brings out ish lenticels below the tan leaf scar more color in the fo liage. wh ich is bordered on the lower edge B egonia Fmncisii Zies. ( The Be­ with light-green, scalelike hairs with gO'l1!ian, Vol. XVII, 10, with drawings.) fimbriated ends. The uneven, triangu­ Collected ( 1949) on a moist shaded lar, pod-green persistent stipules en­ bank of the lower slopes of Vokano circle the white hair-fri nged base of the T acana near Rio Mala, ( 3500 feet al­ petiole. Petioles, three to seven inches titude) Chi apas, Mexico, this begoni a long, are soft light green, fai ntly dotted was named to honor Myrtle Shepherd with currant-red and greenish-white Francis, the daughter of Theodosia lenticels and are softly covered with a Burr Shepherd, pioneer begonia grower gray "bloom" ending in a dark-red cuff of Ventura, Cali forn ia. of deeply fimb riated hai rs which en­ T his vinelike creeper is an herbace­ ci rcle the stem at the junction 0 f the leaf ous perennial with fl eshy, smooth, con­ blade. The unequal, fi ve-lobed leaf, tinuously branching stem, eight inches cordate at the base, tapers gradually to or longer, covered with fo liage, the ti p a long point, bending downwards, with al,;vays rising from the surface of the dentate margins tipped with minute soil and rooti ng at the nodes . The close­ dark red hairs. A mature leaf varies ly intern oded three- to five -inch stem is from fiv e to twelve inches long and covered with rusty-brown, shaggy hairs eight inches wide with fi ve to six light and is interspersed with small, whitish green palmate veins, the grey-green lenticels ; the persistent, unequal tri­ surface splotched ",·i th red toward the angular stipules are li ght green with a margins and the en tire upper surface reddish keel. L ight green petioles. in ­ covered with a glaucous plu mlike terspersed with tiny white lenticels, are bloom ; the undersurface is a warm red covered with rusty-hrown hairs. The between the pale green, deeply prom i­ moderately fl eshy, pe1tate, unequal nel~ t ve ins. T he many-flowered, (wo­ spoon-shaped , sharp-pointed leaves are petall ed white infl orescence (December glossy dark green with seven palm,ate, to :Vlarch ) rises seven to ten in ches on light green veins, the margins unevenl y a smooth pod-green axillary peduncle, dentate. T he undersurface is a pale July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 185 pure red at the margins and between cultivation but should be of interest to the light green veins, the latter sparsely growers of miniature begonias, since, covered with red-brown hair . The if left undisturbed, it forms a ·bushy two-petalled white inflorescence (July plant about six inches high. and August) is a few-flowered cyme, The following begonia was not origi­ with axillary, light green peduncle cov­ nally discovered by lVh. MacDougall. ered moderately with red-brown hairs. It was first fo und by the well known Ovary blunt, unequal three-winged, plant collector, Dr. Charles A. P urpus, with larger wing on the upper surface, ( 1914 ) growing on a moist rocky bank all delicately tinted with red from the in Chiapas, Mexico. This species has covering of red-brown hairs. This be­ existed for nearly forty years merely as gonia, so streamlined 'wi th its delicately an herbariulll specimen until rediscov­ horizontal growth and the unusually ered. Begonia Furpusii was named by large wing on the upper surface of the Dr. A. D. Houghton in 1923 when pre­ capsule, is truly the personification of paring his Ph.D. thesis "A MONO­ modern jet propulsion in the plant GRAPH OF THE BEGONIACEAE OF NORTH world. AMERICA." This work was never offi ­ Beg01'u:a aridica.ulis Zies. (The Be­ cially published but is in the Library of gonian, Vol. XIX,S, with drawings.) the University of California at Berke­ Collected (1950) on the bank of a ley. stream flowing through a coffee planta­ Bego11ia P'b£1'pusii H oughton (The tion at Pochutal, (5000 feet altitude) Begonial1., Vol. X IX, 9, with photo­ Oaxaca, M'exico, this herbaceous peren­ graphs.) Rediscovered (1949) near nial was given the above name, which Rio Mala on the lower slope of Volcano means "dried stem" due to its unusual Tacana, this perennial, erect-stemmed, appearanee. The ·creeping, scarcely shrubby plant takes on the character­ ·branching rhizome appears ligneous istic of a trailer or climber if suitable and withered, is marked with occasional support can be found, such as a rock or white lenticels and as the completely tre~. Bare brown stipules are slightly foliated stems are weak, they bend persistent; four- to six-inch petioles are' down and have the unusual habit of thickly covered with reddish hairs creeping from right to left, changing which 'become sparse at maturity. The directions at the leaf node. The per­ oval, four-sided leaves, three and a half sistent stipules quickly dry to a papery inches long and four inches wide, are texture. The cordate, ovate, acuminate unequal, four to six lobed, palmately firm-textured, smooth, pale jellow­ veined with lesser veins uniting to form green leaves are palmately silver-green a net work, the margins slightly dentate. veined. The undersurface usually a Upper leaf surface is dark green and glossy green, though in some plants bare; under surface light green, bare the underside is red, with the veins except on the veins which are red-hairy. sparsely reddish-brown haired. The The white inflorescence rises in a few-floweJ-ed, two-petalled white in­ crowded cyme on fi ve to seven bare florescence (February and March) is peduncles. Ovary bare, two-winged. borne on an axillary peduncle five to This plant has proved most satisfac­ six inches high. Ovary unequal, three­ tory in cultivation for the beauty of its winged. compact, shining foliage and upright Discovered growing among mosses, habit of growth. ferns and other moisture-loving flora, It is interesting to note that all of the this plant may 'be somewhat difficult in begonias discovered by Mr. MacDou- 186 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 gall and introduced to date have been almost neutral in reaction, and excellent fo und at altitudes ranging from 3000 to drainage. The high altitudes, conducive 8000 feet. There is one exception, Be­ to clouds and mist, indicate also a higb gonia MacDougall-i, which was found at humidity is required for complete suc­ 1100 feet. Several begonias were grow­ cess with these begonias. ing in humus on or among limestone Four of the above described species rocks and along the banks of streams. have been used extensively in hybridiz­ Such habitat notes are always of im­ ing, namely: B. Mazae, B. Boweri, B. portance in the successful culture of Kenworthyi, and B. MacDougalli. these species. High altitude means cool Beautiful and outstanding hybrids have growing conditions while humus and already been introduced and the authors limestone indicate a growing medium of hope to present the best ones in another compostedlea ves, a sweet soil, probably article in the future.

Concerning Hypocyrta

PEGGIE SCHULZ

If you are looking for a small plant to rooted, and it is propagated mainly tuck into an extra window garden or through little nodules or stem swellings greenhouse space, why not try growing which appear directly below the leaf the Gesneriad, Hypocyrta? clusters. There are about three of these There are possibly twelve species, potential plant-makers to every inch of originating mostly from Brazil, but stem. Nip as many off as you wish and there seems to be only one species, plant them in moist sand, vermiculite, H ypocy1'ta 11U,111mula1"ia, in cultivation. or peat moss. If you are a window gar­ For a number of years I have' grown dener, give these nodules a makeshift and enjoyed this little Gesneriad. It is greenhouse by placing a drinking glass much-branched and trails over the pot over them. 'edge in a very pretty fashion. The 'Hypocyrtas are in active growth leaves are small, one-half to three­ from mid-December until late July or fourth inch in length, but when in active August. M'y plants usually start show­ growth they form such a dense mat it ing buds in mid-May. You will have no is difficult to see the pot in which the trouble deciding about their rest period. plant is growing. In early fall they gradually begin to H ypocyrtas grow contentedly in any shed leaves and go into a state of semi­ soil you may have found suitable for or total dormancy. gloxinias or African-violets. Equal If you are growing them in a window parts of well-rotted leaf mold, sand, garden, try to place them near an east and garden loam, fo rm a combination or south exposure. They also thrive much to their liking. I also ,find that under fluorescent lights or in Wardian they do exceptionally well in a pack­ cases. Day temperature of a;bout seven­ aged substance, "Black Magic." ty degrees Fahrenheit is to their lik­ This little Gesneriad is fibrous- ing; night temperature of sixty-five July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 187 helps keep them sturdy and compact. light. As the leaves mature I supply You will obtain a few blossoms 011 every-ather-week feedings of organic year-old Hypocyrtas and you certainly or soluable fertilizer. have a right to expect a glorious show Last year a South American friend on two-year-olds. The little flowers are sent me a cutting of Hypocyrta mdicans so unique you will want to call in all of which arrived in such a state that I your friends to share with you their could not revive it. There was very strange beauty. The plant derives its little similarity between it and the fa­ name from the Greek words Ir 'ypo, miliar H. 111,f.11~ 1n~~la:ria,. It apparently meaning under, and kyrtos, meaning grew erect and had elliptic, shiny leaves. curved. The flower is, indeed, under­ Perhaps some day I will be fortunate curved. In fact, it is shaped like a fire­ enough to acquire a living specimen of man's helmet. Individual Hypocyrta this plant. flo wers are brilliant scarlet, about an There is very little historical litera­ inch wide, and topped with two con­ ture to be found on Hypocyrtas. Fritsch trasting color rings-black and yellow. gives a limited description in Natwr­ For the ·first two days the flower ap­ lichen Pfia1~Zel1fa7lJ11ili e n . If you are for­ pears to be completely solid. Gradually tunate enough to possess or can borrow the top expands into little more than the copies of C~wtis' Botanical Magazine, width of a pin head. I have never been these plates will be of interest to you: able to make this little plant set seed. 4346, 7468, and 4047. A Brazilian friend told me that he had There are three other species which never seen seed on wild plants so per­ at various times have been described haps it depends on propagation via the but no longer seem to be in cultivation: growth nodules. H. glabra, which bears rather shiny Supply extra humidity for this .leaves from a red-purple stem. The Gesneriad by setting the potted plant fl owers are scarlet and orange. atop moist gravel or by sinking the en­ H. pulchra, supposed to be a beauti­ tire pot into a larger moss-lined pot. ful fo liage plant. The ovate leaves are During its dormant weeks it can be four-to-five-inches long, brown above, stored in the basement or under the red beneath. The flower has a decidedly bench in the greenhouse. I like to leave swoIlen throat and it is scarlet and yel­ it in the Vlardian case and reduce its low. supply of water. When I note little H. st1'igillosa, which grows erectly to green leaves sprouting, usually in J anu­ two feet. Its flowers which appear 111 ary or February, I bring it into the May are also scarlet and yellow. Oxalis Corniculata An Interesting Weed

WALTER C. BLASDALE

The conception of a "Struggle for ends, but it was soon recognized that E xistence" in the plant kingdom, upon it was only remotely related to that which Darwin's Theory of Evolution genus. At an early date attention also is largely based, finds application in was called to the pleasing acidity of its the art of gardening. Those who take leaves which led to some use of it as a pleasure in growing plants for the component of salads. The discovery gratifi cation of their artistic sensibilities of species having similar leaves and find themselves forced to deal with acidity induced Tournefort to estab­ plants whose constitutions enable lish in 1703 a new grou'p of such species them to grow and reproduce more under the name of Oxus (sour) which "vigorously than cherished ornamentals. was changed to Oxalis by Linnaeus in Although the estimation of the beauty 1753 by combining oxus with als (salt). of such plants is largely a matter of It is one of the most easily recognizable personal taste, any species which is genera of plants, with the largest ag­ decidedly aggressive and has but little gregations of species in South Africa, charm is quite certain to be put into the Central America and South America. "plant out of place" category. The one In California, we have four native and which I am here concerned with has at least an equal number of introduced becol11,e so widely distributed, without specIes. any intentional effort on the part of the From Europe O. corniculata L. was human species, clearly possesses a high introduced, presumably by means of degree of aggressiveness. As to its seed present in soil or packing material ornamental features, I am obliged accompanying specimens of economic to admit that it has some charm, even plants, to the shores and islands of the though I am frequently obliged to Mediterranean, then to the Madeira devote many hours to the wearisome and Azores Islands, the West Indies, task of eliminating it from my lawn. North America and South America. In this paper I am especially concerned Itt is now found in ·certain portions of with certain of the peculiarities upon all the continental areas and many of which its aggressiveness depends. the larger and similar islands. I will The Latin name which appears in the list only Australia, New Zeland, Java, above title represents the most widely Sumatra, Japan, the Hawaiian and known of the three hundred or more Falkland Islands. There are certain species of the genus Oxalis. It was habitats from which it was reported discovered by the Flemish botanist at so early a date as to suggest that it D'Ec1use (Clusius) in Spain as early is indigenuos to them also. Only re­ as 1549 and was later discovered and cently I was surprised to find it listed described by him from many parts of among the plants collected in the Europ€. He considered it related to Provinces of Shan Tung and Kiang the. species of Trifolium (clover), N am of China in a book by Sir George whIch relationship is suggested by its Staunton, which presents a detailed l o n~ leaf stalks bearing three nearly account of the journey of an emissary hon zontall y poised leaflets at their sent by the King of Great Britain to [1 88] July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 189 the Emperor of China in 1797. Since a circle more or less united at their that expedition initiated the exchange bases and forming two groups of of commodities between Europe and anther-bearing filaments, alternately North China, it seems improbable this longer and shorter, resulting in two Oxalis could have reached that part of rings of anthers well separated from China at so early a date. A similar line each other as to the height at which of thought is aroused by an account of they are sustained in the corolla tube. the vegetables of East India :by J. J. The central ring of five pistils bears Ochse of the Botanic Garden at Buiten­ green stigmas, all supported at the zorg, Java, in which he states that O. same level but slightly below the upper carniculata "is spread all over Java row of anthers. Each ,flower develops from the plain to the top of the moun­ into an elongated capsule nearly an tains, in sunny or shady places, by pref­ inch long. \!\Then mature, they stand erence in swampy, moist and sticky soil well above the foliage and ate conspicu­ and in paddy fields." ous. Linnaeus thought they resembled o B

c oE

Sketches Ilhtstra.ting the Capsule and Seeds of Oxal-is Car11liculata

O. carniculata is a herbaceous peren­ horns and with that thought in mind nial of small size which, unlike the ma­ gave the species the name O. con~icu­ jority of the species, does not produce lata. A cross section of a nearly ripe bulbs or tubers. Its seedlings develop a capsule is shown (A) in the accom­ long tap root and erect, or more gen­ panying series of sketches magnified by erally, horizontal branches which travel the factor eight. The five components alo·ng the ground surface and also de­ of the capsules (carpels) are attached velop tap roots. It is one of the rela­ to each other through a central axis; tively few species which appear to be each one contains a single seed at­ adapted to life in temperate climates tached to the axis by a very short stalk but also grow profusely in So~th Afri­ (funiculus). Since the point of attach­ ca and central India. ment to the axis is slightly higher than The flowers are produced on rather the other end of the seed, which ex­ long stalks, bearing from one to five tends fully to the other end of the petioles, each supporting a single flow­ carpel, the seeds hang downwards er. The rotate corollas are composed somewhat and make the outline of its of five yellow petals which close up like form somewhat distorted. The peri­ those of a morning-glory when there is pheral walls of each carpel flare out­ no sunshine. The ten stamens make up wards to form a central ridge along 190 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 the full length of the capsule and, as more often a series of explosions will soon as the seeds are ripe, a slit appears take place. The impact of each seed along this line through which the seed upon the wall of the tumbler can be escapes. Each of the five carpels con­ heard, but the speed at which they tains a single tier of seeds. In this speci­ move is too great to be followed by the men there were eight in each tier. human eye. This procedure provides By removing a mature but not fully both the separated seeds and the mem­ ripened seed from a capsule and study­ branes ( in which they were enclosed) ing it under a microscope, it wi ll be for observation. fo und to have a plumli ke fo rm as T he general form of the seed is _ shown in the upper row of three shown in the second row of sketches sketches (B). Each sketch is a profile (C) . They are also profile views, ori­ view of the same seed in a plane which ented in the same way as those of the includes two of the three longest of the upper row. Comparison of the two three rectangular axes. The one at the rows shows that the encircling mem­ left includes the longest (vertical ) axis brane makes up a fairly large percent­ and the next to the longest ( left to age of the unexploded seed and that the right) axis. It portrays one of the two seed itself is decidedly thin as compared largest faces of the seed. T he sketch at with the membrane-covered seed. Each the right includes the longest and short­ seed suggests the kernel of an almond est and portrays one of the two nar­ both as to fo rm and ·color . The micro­ rower faces; the central sketch portrays scope also shows that the skin of the the seed as viewed from a point on the seed is traversed by from fi ve to ten central axis. Actually the longest axis, . transverse ridges, each rather broad at w hi ch is the full length of the seed, base but culminating in a narrow, measures approximately a ·fi fteenth of jagged edge interrupted by short, an inch ; in this and all of the fo ll owing rounded protuberances of greatly sketches, the actual dimensions have varied form and size. been multiplied by the factor eighteen. The sepanited membranes always Each seed is pure white, translucent consist of a single piece of tissue which and of glistening smoothness. \ \Then has assumed a very different form ( D) sufficiently matured, it will be discov­ from that whi'ch it had before the ex­ ered that the white surface is that of an plosion ( B ) . The change seems to have enclosing membrane because the out ­ resulted f~ o m a tear originating from line of the reddish brown seed can be near the point at which the funiculus seen through it. Similar membranes was attached to the seed and that tear are features of the seeds of most of the has spread in opposite direc;ti ons along species of Oxalis but are extremely rare the central line of the broadest face of in other genera. They are connected the seed, one of which is shown in B. with another remarkable peculiarity, This tear caused the membrane to di­ namely, the abi li ty of such seeds to vide into two, partially separated, sym­ "explode" as soon as they are ripe. It metrical halves, thereby greatly in­ would not have been possible to remove creasing the width of the membranes and handle the seed as just described if compared with that shown in B. This they had been fully ripe. If a capsule­ suggestion is confirmed by another bearing stalk whose seeds are fully ripe sketch of a membrane which had stood is removed from a plant, placed under fo r a half hour after the explosion and a glass tumbler turned upside down and had begun to contract. It is oriented then brushed with a solid object, one or as if the membrane shown in D had July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 191

been turned upside down and viewed capsules, rather than the seeds, which from above E. This sketch shows that explode. It depends upon tensions ac­ a much longer tear had started fr0111 cumulated in the fibrovascular bundles near the same point as the first and of the valves which enclose the seeds moved in a line at right angles to the that arise as the valves begin to dry first. The two tears made an opening out. Familiar examples are found in wide enough for the escape of the en­ Lathyru (Sweet pea), Impatiens closed seed. The edge of the cavity (Touch-me-not), and A l s tromeria 'into which one looks takes on varied (Peruvian lily). forms in different specimens as the There can be no question that the ag­ membranes curl up and shrink. Still gressiveness of the species under dis­ another remarkable fact is that during cussion is increased by its seed-scatter­ the explosion the balloonlike membrane ing mechanism. By the time the cap­ 'turns itself inside out. The chief evi­ sules are ripe, they are held well above dence for this is that the outer surface the ground surface and the seeds are of the exploded membrane is no ionger scattered over a circular area eighteen smooth but shows the imprint of the inches in diameter. This must add ap­ corrugations which cover the outer sur­ preciably to the number of favorable face of the seed itself. I have not been opportunities for the development of able to discover specimens showing seedlings. Nevertheless, I question how or suggesting why this operation whether this is as important an item became a necessary part of the ex­ as several others. The group of physio­ plosion. logical characters which enable the spe­ Several German botanists have zeal­ cies to flourish under a variety of en­ ously studied the structure and be­ vironments is of much greater impor­ havior of these membranes, especially tance. it grows vigorously in the cool in O. acetoseU(J) and O. stricta. It was damp climates of the British Isles and found that they were composed of four Iceland and also in the dry and hot layers of thin-walled, rather large cells climates of Asia Minor and South Afri­ in addition to a fifth composed of smal­ ca. In 'California, it makes some growth ler and thicker-walled cells. It is prob­ throughout the entire year and pro­ able that the thick-walled layer was duces seed from April to N 6vember ; able to resist the pressure which ac­ if not disturbed, it lives for at least as cumulated within the membrane until many as seven years and spreads over it gave way with explosive violence. at least a square foot. It grows equally The full details as to how and why these processes take place have yet to well ilJ sunshine or shade, in a humus­ be worked out. A summary of what is rich soil or a gravel bed. It has none of known about tbem was published by the smothering capacity of a dandelion Fritz Overbeck in 1923 of Vol. 62 of or the English daisy, but its long, deli­ fahrbucher fur Wissenschaftliche Bota­ cate branches easily insinuate them­ nik, page 258-281. In thi.s paper I have selves through the leafage of a lawn been concerned with the mechanism as and ripen their capsules unless decapi­ observed in ' O. co1'niculata only. tated by a lawn mower. There are several other genera which Finally, I would note that I have include species whose seeds are scat­ not ,been able to detect any differences tered explosively. The mechanism con­ in the aggressiveness of the purple­ cerned in them is simpler than in that leaved and green-leaved forms of the of the species of Oxalis and it is the species. Recent Advances In Horticulture

FREEMAN A. WEISS

111 olybdenu,111. crops, but in its possible value in im­ Long in use as an alloy of iron in provll1g impoverished acid pasture making hard, tough, high-speed cutting soils on which nitrogen-gathering tools, molybdenum has recently been legumes can not now be grown. This gaining recognition as an essential subject is discussed, in a recent num­ plant nutrient. The initial demonstra­ ber of Agrin~ltu,1·al and Food Che1·n.is­ tion of its wide occurrence in plant tis­ try, by Charles H. Kline, under the in­ sues dates back nearly a quarter of a triguing title 'Reclaiming Acres with century, but it was not until 1939 that Ounces." The author cites experiments Arnon and Stout in this country, and in New Zealand in which the applica­ almost simultaneously Piper in Aus­ tion of 2.5 ounces of sodium molybdate tralia, presented experimental . proof of per acre resulted in an increase of its essentiality for plant growth. It is herbage of subterranean clover greater now generally regarded as an indis­ than was obtained from three tons of pensable element in the nutrition not limestone, and a total yield five times only of the higher green plants, but as great as that of non treated plots. also of algae and certain molds and Where lime and molybdenum (at the bacteria. above rate) were used together, the ap­ Even though this is a relatively re­ plication of 650 pounds of lime pro­ cent discovery in plant physiology, duced a greater yield than two tons there would be no warrant for men­ without molybdenum. From the fact tioning it under the caption of this that molybdenum is known to accumu­ article were it not for the more recent late in the root nodules of legumes, and demonstrations, chiefly in Australia has been shown to be essential or at and New Zealand, of astounding effects least beneficial to the symbiotic fixation of minute applications of molybdenum of nitrogen, Dr. Kline points out that in bringing hitherto unproductive land in wide areas of the United . States into useful crop-bearing condition. where difficulty has been encountered

Furthermore, evidence is beinCTb found , in establishing legumes, the fault may as analytical methods are refined, of be a deficiency of molybdenum. He certain plant growth abnormalities in states that where as much as two or this country, which are traceable to three tons of lime per acre are consid­ molybdenum deficiency and are cor­ ered necessary for the establishment of rectable by minute applications of this legumes, and would cost twelve to element. The whiptail disease of cauli­ eighteen dollars, the same benefit might flower is one such example. In some of be obtained from the application of a Florida's citrus groves and truck crop few ounces of sodium molybdate, cost­ areas, molybdenum is one of the twelve ing fifteen to twenty-five cents. Appli­ elements now regularly supplied in fer­ cation is made by ground spraying or tilizer practice. airplane dusting at a dollar per acre. Present interest in molybdenum as a It is to be noted that molybdenum is plant nutrient is not, however, in its the only one of the trace elements that demonstrated role in correctinCTb a becomes more available as the soil be­ minor deficiency disease of certain comes more alkaline. [192] July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 193

An excess of molybdenum, created when dormant, with the appropriate by overliming, may result in a defi­ mineral solution. ciency of copper in the herbage, this in Thus the pome fruits are added to turn causing a deficiency disease of the list of plants in which normal grazing animals. Thus, we are re­ growth depends upon the presence of minded again of the intricate and deli­ minute but indispensable amounts of cate 'balance between plant and animal copper and zinc. It has long been the nutrition and its relation to our own practice in the cultivation of the citrus welfare. Parenthetically one may won­ fruits in some regions to supply these der how the more zealous of the or­ elements artificially in the fertilizer or ganic gardeners would react to the use by application to the plants. of molybdenum-which is clearly a chemical, sometimes beneficial, some­ In the detection of these minute times otherwise-along with lime, amounts of mineral in the soil and which they condone as a plant fertili­ plant tissues, advantage was taken of zer. At any rate, in Australia they are the fact that copper and zinc are also making two sheep thrive, where for­ essential for the growth of a black merly one-half starved, on scrub land mold, Asp e rgill~£s niger, which can be by merely applying a few ounces of grown under laboratory conditions on molybdenum per acre. precisely defined nutrient media, and any deficiencies readily identi,fied. The Cappel' and Zinc Deficiencies requirement of this mold for zinc was To bring the subject of trace-element. one of the earliest examples of the es­ deficiencies nearer to the familiar pur­ sentiahty of this element for plant view of horticulture, it may be noted growth, and of the use of a micro­ that investigators at the University of organism in soil analysis. Thus are Bristol (England) have recently de­ minerals, molds, apples, and perhaps scribed deficiency symptoms in apples ultimately doctors brought into rela­ and pears when the level of available tionship. zinc or copper in the soil falls below The quandary of organic gardeners two parts per million. The threshold as to what is admissible in plant nu­ level of zinc in apple leaves and bark trition can not but be deepened by the is about ten micrograms per gram of evidence that copper and zinc - which dry matter; that of copper five mcg. per in other applications are both plant g. Below this level deficiency symp­ poisons and familiar pesticide ingre­ toms become evident. Both types of dients - are also essential for normal deficiency disease can be corrected by plant growth, and sometimes have to spraying the trees, either in growth or be artificially applied. A Book or Two

[See e,'l:plonotion of the "(L·ibl'ory) " note on the inside bacll cover of this 'isn,e.]

Biological Conse 'rvatiO'l'v--With Pa1,tic­ to be taken to eliminate the present ~da1' E911.phasis on Wildlife. John D. waste of our b[ological resources. Black. The Blackiston Company, Oliver M. Freeman New York and Toronto. 1954. 328 pages, illustrated. $5.00. (Library). Dahlias for Every Garden. Marian C. There are few who are not interested Walker. M. Barr®ws and Company, in conservation or at least in some phase Inc., New York. 1954. 128 pages, of it. Here is a treahnent of the subject illustrated. $2.95. (Library). which will appeal to the average person. It is written in a pleasing style and in Within this book one finds the s~ory logical sequence. The basic facts of of the Dahha. It tells all about growing conservation, showing the necessity of them in every part of the country, a ,balanced relationship between soil, guides the beginner to easy-blooming water, plants and animals, are brought plants, tells the expert how to prepare out in the first 114 pages. These pages, them for show table and blue ribbons. carefully read, will give the reader an The early history of the Dahlia is excellent concept at the problems and prese-nted; guides for selecting Dahlias the need for conservation. for spe6fic purposes; the control of Although the text stresses the part the various pests and diseases, etc., as that animal life plays in the overall well as the most detailed cultural prac­ picture, it brings out forcefully the tices are given. primary necessity of plants and the Sixteen illustrations in color and water required to support those plants. black and white will impress many to The c11apters on Standing Water and start as beginners as well as helping Running Water are of exceptional in­ some of us to start afresh for better re­ terest and bring out facts probably sults. unknown to the average person. The knowledge given in this volume could be a valuable asset to any hor­ 7;'he Am.erican Ca114ellia Yearbook 1953. ticulturist who would readily see ap­ Edited for the Society by Arthur C. plications for gardeners and explain Brown and Austin Griffith, Jr., why certain practices exist. Parts 3, Gainesville, Florida. 1953. 409 pages, 4 and 5 of the text deal with animal life illustrated. For members Ot1ly. and are interesting and instructive to (Membership, $5.00 the year.) those who wish to keep game in normal supply. Anyone interested in the As always, there is a nice proportion groups of animals as treated in the between articles that deal with the his­ several chapters will find concise dis­ tory of the Camellia, the problems con­ cussions followed by bibliographical cerned in its cultivation, the reporting references which make further research of new varieties, the activities of the easIer. Society in its branches and shows, per­ The overall value of the book is in sonal chit-chat and so on. There is also the detailed descriptions of the various the inevitable section of flower ar­ malpractices and the steps that need rangement, with somewhat minor em- [194] July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 195

phasis on the poor camellia in many behave as they do and how they affect cases. The competition is nicely han­ the plant. With this kr..owledge, the dled, the judges' comments less inter­ gardener can adapt his methods to esting than usual, and the winning meet new soil and fertilizer problems entries of Class II anything but simple ! with some degree of understanding. In the articles there is also nice balance In addition to chapters on Soil between those that concern the com­ Water, Soil Air, Organic Matter, Bio­ mercial grower and the amateur. logical Processes in Soils, Chemical Frankly, the reviewer cannot un­ Composition of Soils, and the resources dersta~ld why anyone who has any of the major elements needed by plants, i,lterest in camellias is not a member, are chapters on Origin and Classifica­ and why anyone who has any garden tion of Soils, Soil Conservation and interest in the areas where camellias Factors Affecting Plant Growth. The grow should not follow suit. There is book is well illustrated, contains 157 also a record of the new ·Constitution tables, and lists numerous selected ref­ and By-Laws which seem uncommonly erences for further extensive reading. sound. Dr. Bear is Professor of Agricultural The illustrations are many, some in Chemistry at Rutgers University and color and of unequal success, many in works closely with the New Jersey black and white, usually fine, and some Agricultural Experiment Station as li ne drawings, clear but inelegant. Research Specialist in Soils. There is an interesting if brief detour Francis de Vos among the relatives of the camellia, some in cultivation here, most not, and some probably not of value in any place in the United States for outdoor The Cultivated SPecies of P1"im~da. use. '\i\Talter C. Blasdale, U niversity of B. Y. M. California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California. 1948. 284 pages, illustrated. $2.50. Soils and Fertilizers. Firman E. Bear. J ohn Wiley and Son, Inc., New It is not very often an editor wishes York. 1953. 420 pages, illustrated. to mention a title twice. In the case $6.00 (Library). of this monumental work, however, he wishes to bring to the Society's mem­ Revised (Fourth Edition) to fill the bership the fact that this book is avail­ need for an up-to-date presentation of able, that its price has been reduced general soil information in text-book from $7.50, and that it is highly rec­ form, although it can also serve the ommended for those possessing a love gardener as an authoritative reference for the primula in any or all of its on basic soil and fertilizer principles. many forms, as well as to those who V/hat good gardener has not wondered have yet to know this rich and varied about the reasons for various soil and family. fertilizer practices that are so often glibly recommended but so inadequate­ ly explained? For him (the serious gar­ A11wryllis-And H ow to G1'OW Them,. dener), this book by Dr. Bear offers Peggie Schulz, M. Barrows and the opportunity for a deeper under­ Company, Inc., New York. 1954. standing of why soils and fertilizers 128 pages, illustrated. $2.95. 196 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

. Mrs. Schulz has a peculiar skill de­ The A '/JII,e'rican Rose Annual, 1954 . rived from her own experiences and Published for the Society, under the from her personal world-wide corre­ Editorship of Fred J. Nisbet, with spondence and makes her presentation the assistance of Mary H. Koehler. of the Amaryllis story equalled only 278 pages, illustrated. by her last major opus-Gloxiwias­ And How to G?'OW The1%. Her forte The arrival of the American Rose (putting her "green thumb" in second) Annual each year is an event, even is that singular phenomenon of self ex­ when roses do not make the chief issue pression. Everyone may find the secrets in the reader's gardening. This year to this flower in her book and everyone is not different. There is a most in­ will understand her delightful verbiage. triguing Foreword by the Editor who The recent revival of interest in faces the eternal problem of dealing growing Amaryllis is sparked by the with a public that is made up of both introduction of the first complete book beginners and advanced workers. on this magnificent flower. There is a most interesting article by The author gives complete informa­ J. Awdry Armstrong on "Roses for tion on growing and collecting the Tomorrow" that indicates some of the exotic, long-lived, lilylike amaryllis. trends. Ann P. Wylie of the Depart­ There is a history of the species, the ment of Botany, The University, Man­ hybrids, and other members of the clan. chester, England, contributes a very She outlines complete planting and long paper on Chromosomes of Gar­ growing instructions from seedling and den Roses that should be invaluable bulb stage to dormancy, at a window, to all garden workers, in the rose field, in the garden where the climate per­ whether the most technical man or the mits. She tells how to use colchicine beginner. and how to grow seedlings under flu­ orescent lights. Mrs. Schulz says, There are various papers of regional "amaryllis have enormous appetites," interest and some of general interest and recommends several excellent on types of roses, disease problems methods on how to make bulbs bloom and all such. and repeat bloom year after year. There Two papers are of particular interest are several soil formulas tested by to the reader, one Dr. Gamble's paper growers in this country and abroad, in­ on "Lady Mary Fitzwilliam" a rose cluding her own. The most modern that .figured largely" in the pedigree of methods of propagation are fully de­ fine roses, and particularly through scribed, as well as how to recognize and several of her immediate descendants. eradicate pests and diseases. Fortu­ The other is the J?rogress report on nately, amaryllis have few enemies. Black Spot investigations, at Beltsville, As a fill-in at the tail end of the book, .Maryland, with its special stress on Clivia, Cooperia, Sprekelia, Nerine, the value of Rosa bracteata as a resist­ Haemanthus, and so forth, other mem­ ant species. We only wish that the bers of the Amaryllidaceae Family, are project was being carried out in the given a once-over-lightly-you know, South where R. bracteata is established just enough to make us all try to grow as a wild plant and where, in gardens, everyone ! it blooms while many other roses are It's a good book and highly recom­ in full flower, including many old Teas mended to the readers of this review. that appear as fool proof to black spot LILLY FERGUSON FISK as R. bracteata. July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 197

No. one who has any interest in for a moment imagine that they are roses, no matter how slight, can afford mere commercial catalogs, they are far to be without the annual, that comes from that and are deserving of the at­ to members of the Society. tention of all horticulturists, even those who live far outside the possible range of usefulness of the plants descri'bed. Tropical Trees. (Two Brochures) B. Y. M. 1947 Catalog of Flowering Tropical T1'ees. 48 pages, illustrated, $1.00; 1953 Catalog of Flowering Tropical Y em' Boohs of the Rose Society of T1'ees, 64 pages, illustrated, $1.00 Ontario. Arthur J. Webster, Editor. Written and published by Edwin A. 1953. 114 pages (in text). 1954. Mennil1ger, Stuart, Florida. 139 pages, 2 color plates. Published by the Society, Toronto. These two catalogs that contain no price lists, though these are available Two of these interesting commen­ separately on request, are solo perform­ taries on contemporary rose history in ances of distinction. Mr. Menninger our northern neighbor, Canada (the for many years has concerned himself Rose Society of Ontario has members with growing all species of ,fl owering in each of the Provinces), have reached tropical trees that might grow in Flor­ the Review Editor's desk since an issue ida. His writings are familiar to the of this series was first. reviewed in readers of The National Horticultural these pages. An indication of their Magazine, to which he has contributed physical growth and the innovation of generously. These, however, give only color plates are noted in the publication the barest idea of the extent of his ac­ details given above, but one is even tivities and the measure of his successes. more impressed with the evidence that The 1947 list is arranged in groups the contributors to the text, and the according to the color of the flowers, Editor-who is both contributor and the 1953 list, in groups that are related compiler - are persons who really -botanically. The descriptions are care­ know their roses. From the overall fully written in prose that the amateur technical standpoint, the familiar chap­ will appreciate and at which the tech­ ters "The Clearing House" - which nical man cannot cavil greatly. The corresponds to the "Proof of the illustrations, some in color, are highly Pudding" in the American Rose An­ informative. nuals-and "The Rose Analysis"­ For the Florida gardener who is which has no counterpart in our An­ not content with the stupid things that nuals- are perhaps the most valuable are done endlessly, they are of greatest features, but the Symposiums on the value. For the winter visitor, who Best Twelve (the yelloyv Hybrid Teas cannot possibly be familiar with all the in the 1953 issue, the white or cream things that he sees, they will open many H .T.'s in the 1954) are very helpful, avenues of interest. too. The Rose Analysis merits special Mr. Menninger states his purposes mention. A jury of sixteen (in 1952) clearly and well, and no one who has and twenty-four (in 1953) rose spe­ not wrestled with the problem of getting cialists have rated fifteen leading rose material of rare and unusual things, varieties in each of the following seeing them safely established and categories: 1) Exhibition roses, 2) growing, can possibly estimate the la­ Hybrid Teas for general garden cul­ bor that lies behind these lists. Do not tivation, 3) autumn blooming roses, 198 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZI NE July 1954

4) most fragrant r o~es, 5) climbing conflicting meanings that have been ap­ and rambling roses, 6) Floribunda plied to the word 'evolution,' (3) by roses. It is noteworthy that Crimson presenting an unbiased account of the Glory is rated either first or second in subj ect of evolution to show that even each of the first four categories; Peace a person believing in a definite and is first in ( 1) and (2). McGredy's clear-cut reli gion can also believe in Yellow, Show Gi rl, and Ena Harkness and deal with the subject of evolution are the other pri ncipal favorites among without prejudice to his religious be­ the Hybrid Teas. liefs." The Clearing House stresses var­ It would seem that any serious work­ ieties introduced within the last :five er might, if diligent and knowing years, but sometimes revives, for cur­ enough, work through to a distin­ rent notice, older varieties whose mer­ guished presentation of the data under its may have been overlooked. A the first two heads, but the third pro­ number of articles on special topics, posal would appear to the reviewer to and statistics of the Annual Rose Show be impossible of accomplishment, usu­ (which is held in Toronto about the ally for reasons that are historically third week in June) complete the pre­ available. sentation. Rose hobbyists south of B.Y.M. the International Border, as well as those to the north, will find these year­ books highly informative and delightful Plant Growth Substances. L. J. Audus. to reacl. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New F.A.W. York. 1953. 465 pages, illustrated. ,$6.50. (Library).

H ist01'ical Aspects of Organic Evolu­ The plant scientist has long been tion. Philip G. Fothergill. Philoso­ interested in the promotion and control phical Library, New York. 1953. of plant growth and, until relatively 427 pages, a few line drawings and recent years, has relied almost com­ diagrams. $6.00. (Library). pletely on intelligent pruning and ap­ lication of fertilizers. Research of the It is generally customary in the past twenty years has brought . about preface of a book for the writer to pub­ a new method applicable to the ad­ licly acknowledge his own sense of his justment of development within the inadequacies. It is less usual perhaps plant-that of using chemicals as a fo r a reviewer to follow suit. In this growth control. And it is with these case, the reviewer is only too well chemi,cals that this book is concerned. aware of his limitations, in fact so much A remarkable job is accomplished in so, that he will not write a review in making this volume suitable for both the sense usually employed by him. the agricultural specialist and the ama­ Dr. J. W. Heslop Harrison, who teur home gardener. The origin and contributes the brief foreword, says history of the plant-growth regulating that the author had in mind three spe­ substances ar~ presented in a manner cial objects. "( 1) to fill gaps in the which gives enjoyment to the reading literature in respect to the history of and does not obscure the facts, and the the subj ect and to bring this aspect up reader becomes acquainted with these to date, (2) to present it in such a man­ natural and synthetic chemicals called ner as to enable both the general and auxins. the specialist reader to evaluate the The discussion proceeds with the July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL :MAGAZINE 199 practical horticultural practices con­ sound like notes from beginners who ducted with these various chemicals. are writing too soon, but one never Their effect upon seed germination and knows when the beginner may con­ upon subsequent growth of seedlings, found the old-timer. Mr. Bechte1's their use in transplanting of seedlings, Roses in "England and France" and their influence on propagation by cut­ Francis Meilland's "On the Way to tings, layering, grafting and wound Better Roses" are perhaps the longest healing, are all carefully presented. fli ghts filled with general interest to Other information pertains to their use all readers. For the ghouls, there is in producing seedless fruits, inducing Dr. McClelland's "Survey of Rose and breaking of dormancy, and of par­ Diseases," for the bookish, there is Dr. ticular interest to the fruit grower, Lawrence's delightful "History and blossom thinning, prolonging the blos­ Nomencalture of the Fairy Roses," a som period, and preventing fruit drop. number of other pieces that cover Their use as weed killers is of greater background data, and then the many general knowledge. bits of personal lore, some positive, The book is not devoted entirely to some negative. Poetry, as usual, is the proven practical value of the plant­ pretty Gawd-awful, but the "Old Carol, growth substances. Middle English," redeems them all. The possible future use of materials One could wish that a reference as to such as the anti'biotics penicillin and its source in publication had been added. streptomycin, for disease resistance, is The illustrations are about as usual, also discussed. catalogue size and type of blazing There is no indication that the book flowers, some with the inevitable smil­ is to be used as a manual, but it does ing female figure, some just black­ include somewhat general information and-white. as to the time and method of application Perhaps the most "exciting" article of the chemicals; and, with the aid of is that by Mrs. Merill A. Newman, the glossary of technical terms, the "The Rose, Loveliest of Pot Plants" amateur and serious gardener should ... remember there was a time long receive a great deal from its contents years ago when it was so grown? and encounter little difficulty with its Of course you are a member of the presentation. Society? Bernard T. Bridgers B. Y. M.

The A111,erican Rose Annual, 1953. Gardeni1~g. (The Complete Garden Book). Montague Free. Permabooks Edited for the Society by Dr. R. C. and Doubleday & Company, Inc., Allen with the assistance of Mar- New York. 1954. 440 pages, illus. garet R. Snyder. Harrisburg, SOc. Pennsylvania, 1953. 279 pages, illustrated, color and black-and­ Mr. Free has been writing and speak­ white. For members only. ing wisely and simply for many years. Whether people have heeded him as There is a catholic variety in the they should, one never knows; and writing that goes into the make-up of whether they will read this book for any Rose Annual, and this issue is no what it is, one may never guess. different from its fellows. For some \iVithout any doubt this volume is tastes, there are too many pieces that the bargain of the year. 200 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

It is written simply enough for any ture must examine these copies if he beginner with a modicum of common wishes to keep abreast of the newer sense. The essentials are all there and, plants and techniques of their produc­ if the directions as to plants and plant­ tion. ings seem to be those for the North, Volume I presents the proceedings essentially for the Northeast, no mat­ of the opening and ,final plenary sessions ter. Interpretation is easily managed. and a report of the international code of The few bows made to other parts of nomenclature for cultivated plants the country are almost non-essential (Discussed in October, 1953, issue of for there are too few of thel)1. The National Horticultural Magazine) . There are major chapters devoted to Of further interest to the horticultur­ all the phases that have to do with ists are the excellent articles which preparing plantings for all parts of the appear in both volumes. These pre­ property as well as the smaller units sentations give valuable reading on that should be called gardens, whether fruit and vegetable crops, ornamental for flowers, fruits or vegetables. There plants, diseases, and stock purity. are chapters that have to do with plants, Volume II is a series of articles on plant all for special purposes, and there are breeding, reports on steam sterilization the inevitable chapters on propagation of soils, photoperiodism, irrigation and and the means of meeting the difficulties other environmental controls, and sec­ arising from disease and insects. tions devoted to seed and tropical and If you are a timid soul and fearful of subtropical plants, concluding with a most books that you might consider symposium on citrus. "technical," try this one. It will give B. T. B. you a sound beginning and inspire you to further reading and study. B. Y.M. History Of The Rose. Roy E. Shep­ herd. The Macmillan Company, New York. 1954. 264 pages, illus. Report of the Thirtee11,th Internationa'l $4.75. (Library). H O1,tic~£ltuml Congress 1952. Edited by P. M. Synge. The Royal Horti­ This is a delectable book. People cultural Society, London, England. who grow roses only for the pleasures 1953. Volume I and II, 1297 pages, of combat, with or without medals, illustrated. (Library). ribbons and all the paraphenalia of shows, may not like it too much, but any "V hen these volumes were received one who really cares about the rose, in the office in .october of last year, an and the reviewer is not referring to that immediate dispatch was sent to ac­ motley crew that" just love roses," will knowledge their receipt from the R.H.S. need it. It is a book that oan be picked and to advise Secretary Lycett that the up and put down or read through with Report would be reviewed in a forth­ almost equal pleasure. coming issue of our Journal. The re­ Mr. Shepherd has been growing viewer was most presumptous; it is roses for a long time in his own garden utterly impossible to give an account and has traveled enough presumably to of the wealth of information in the pa­ know roses in other' parts of this coun­ pers read at the Congress. Every try, where the climates in no way re­ gardener of note and every plantsman semble that of Medina, Ohio, and in with an altruistic interest in horticul- Europe as well. July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 201

In the early parts of the book where Thus, the oftim es 11'Wlig1/ ed arranger is the beginnings of history are touched Tesponsible for the many new vGIYieties, upon, rose history, there are the usual new colo'rs, new f01' 1111os of plant 11'Wte­ stories, but well told this time, and the rial which appeaT on the hortiotlt'bwal history of the rose as it relates to cul­ h01'izon. Isn't this j'b£stifiwtion for the ture, society in its historical aspects, following 1'eviews on these new books and breeding, should interest any in­ on a.n'angel11 ellts ? Managing Ed. telligent reader. Here those who " just love roses" will discover that there are more families within the family, to Flowers ill Glass. Edited by Juiia S. speak in broad terms, than he had ever Ben'all. The Studio Publications, dreamed, and that possibly, if he were Inc, (in as ociation with) Thomas a devotee of beauty in all of its myriad Y. Crowell Company, New York and forms, he might well learn more of London. 1954. 104 pages. 37 black­ them than the few standardized and and-white illustrations, 11 color accepted forms that must be the first plates. $5.00. (Library). concern of the nurseryman and rose grower who is in it for the money. Julia Berrall, well-known author, lecturer, arrangement exhibitor and The reviewer, who is by no means a nationally accredited judge, appreciates passionate and unreasoning lover of the artistry of arrangements in clear roses, has already reread certain por­ glass, although the technique required tions until the book almost falls open presents a far greater challenge than in at those pages. the use of an opaque container. She Most of the illustrations are excellent. suggests selecting the congenial tex­ It would appear that the original photo­ tures of roses, lilies, orchids, daffodils, graphs in many cases were even better Japanese iris, single peonies, magnolia, than they appear in the somewhat or anthurium ; and, for the most dra­ dulled engravings. This reviewer de­ matic effects, the arrangements should tests having to turn a book in order to be "understandingly staged" in sun­ look at illustrations that appear a t right light, candlelight, or lamplight-a be­ angles to the text, but that is a personal guiling inspiration for self-expression ! bias. The plan does allow, in this case, Forty-eight single-page illustrations, the use of many more cuts than the with eleven in color, show arrange­ other scheme, unless the illustrations ments made by selected "top name" ar­ were planned years in advance. rangers, each with a brief description There is an excellent index. of material and mechanics used. Con­ B.Y.M. tainers of varying sizes and shapes, as well as a wide variety of plant materials from various parts of the country, were Horticultural progress is achieved chosen to display the true beauty of and, 11wreover, sti11ll.ulated, when the flowers in a natural way and to encuur­ c[,w10sity and interest of the amateur age arrangers to make greater use of "h0111.e gardener" 11wkes hi11llr-or 11wre glass containers. l-ilzely her-grow plants suitable lGlYge­ Brief biographical notes are given on ly for I/.£se in arrange11l1.ents of flowen, eadl of the following arrangers con­ shrubs, tree branches, fruits, n'btts, and tributing to the success of this unique even vegetables! N urserY11'be ·1'/. and book: Julia S. Berrall, Helen Marie florists a.re besieged by arrangers to Dolman, Anne Elizabeth Erhorn, produce exotic and un1ts'Mal material. Marie J ohnson Fort, Judith Garden, 202 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

Beatrice P. Hendrix, Mary B. Kittel, pose of stimulating interest and imagi­ Betty Merriam, Patricia E. Roberts, nation of children to recognize and Constance Spry and Margaret Watson. make use of natural beauty around M.C.L. them. Part III "For Seniors Helping Jun­ iors" of this muchly-needed guidebook, Flowe1' Arr(];/'/,gement W O1'kbool? 2. written by an experienced judge of Myra J. Brooks. M. Barrows and Junior flower shows, should be of im­ Company, In<:., New York. 1954. 64 mense value, not only to Junior exhibi­ pages, 48 black-and-white photo­ tors, but to schools and garden clubs graphs. $2.50. (Library). interested in all details of staging a flower show for and by children from This second workbook, written for five to twelve years of age. Mrs. Cutler the more advanced flower arranger, has most obviously believes that "these been published as a result of the en­ Juniors are the life blood of the garden­ thusiasm for W orMook 1, planned es­ ing program." sentially for the beginner. M.C.L. In the twelve short lessons, the em­ phasis is on selection of plant material and its suitability to the container, and Col01' in Flower Armngement. Ade­ appropriate uses of arrangements in laide B. Wilson. M. Barrows and home settings. With the concise step­ Company, Inc., New York. 1954. by-step instructions, the arranger can 128 pages. Color photography by develop the designs illustrated in the Roche. $5.95. (Library). excellent photographs, with garden, roadside or florist's material, using, I Flower arranging, now an accepted hope, originality in the interpretation decorative art in this country, is a form of the suggestions. Designs are given of artistic expression created by the re­ for paired containers, living plants, lated use of principles and elements, in special occasions, period and natural­ which color forms the most compelling istic arrangements and compositions, element of design. Arrangers and flower show exhibits, Christmas deco­ flower-show judges accept the pigment rations and winter bouquets. color theory as a working basis, and M.C.L. they must know and recognize spec­ trum ·colors and related and contrasted harmonies -monochromatic, analo- Ju.n1·or Flower Ananging. Katherine . gous; direct, split and double comple­ N. Cutler. M. Barrows and Com­ ments; and triads; and should be aware pany, Inc., New York. 1954. 179 of the kinship of ·color and texture of pages. Photographs by Roche. Draw­ container and background to arrange­ ings by Joan Lucas. $2.95. (Li­ ment material. brary) . The author, an experienced teacher and arranger, presents the intricate The book is written for children of study of color in flower arangement by all ages, explaining simply the princi­ discussion of color in design, color ples of design and the mechanics for terms, systems, charts, and harmonies. making flower and fruit arrangements; She also gives an excellent list of fifty listing .suitable plant material easy to different color themes for flower-show grow and to gather; suggesting nature classes. games and projects-all for the pur- Sixteen plates show color as the au- July 1954 THE NATIONAL H ORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 203 thor fo und it in nature, and each natu­ T his GUIDE shoul d be a 1'eqwired ral element is interpreted in an arrange­ addition to every garden club's li brary, ment using familiar materials but in a for a careful review before the organi- less familar way. Each picture, with zation of a show. text following, tells a story of a color M.C.L. harmony. This hook should inspire and help arrangers and judges to make a nlore serious study of color in arrange­ Songbirds in YOWl' Garden. J ohn K. ments. T erres. Introduction by Edwin W ay M.C.L. T eale. T homas J. Crowell Company, New York. 1953. 274 pages, illus. $3.95. (Library). Flower-Show Guide. Anne \iVe rtsner Wood. M. Barrows and Company, F rom a bird lover's viewpoint : Inc., New York. 1954. 207 pages. T he Audubon Society, by its unlim­ $3.00. (Library) . ited activities, has awakened co untless throngs of citizens throughout our J ohn C. Wister says, in the fore­ United States to the fact that birds may word : " It is a good omen for the hor­ easily become your habitual guests at ticultural world that a person so well small or no expense. Nothing more qualified as Anne W ertsner Wood timely at this awakenil1g could occur should write a book on flo wer shows." than "Songbirds in YOU?' Ga1'den by From her experience as teacher in our own J ohn K. T erres, so eminently Judging Schools, as Field Secretary of equipped by experience with and love the Pennsylvania Hor6cultural Socie­ fo r birds from hi s boyhood to his pres­ ty, and in lecture programs, she gives ent-day wonderful bird home in the complete directions for exhibiting, heart of New York City. Certainly no staging, and judging, to assist those better guide for attracting birds has who would put on shows, exhibit in been written. them, and also judge them. Thi·s volume is ,complete with val­ Following a discussion of many uable suggestions fo r attracting them kinds of shows throughout the country, to your home, and knowledge of foods there an~ outlined the duties and re­ for the wide range of species you would sponsibilities of the General Chairman want for your guests. Many kinds of and General Committee, and functions feeders are described with illustrations of the usual sub-committees. Sample and notes on placing them sufficiel1 tly schedules for shows appropriate to each above ground as protection from cats month, and standard terms add to this and other animals. Mr. Terres gives book's value to both chairmen and ex­ compl€te information on building bird hibitors. houses, and the sizes fo r many species Qualified judging is now based on are given, listing also the best kind of recogniz@d rules and standards, due wood to ,be used, all of this minutely largely to the important work of na­ described and illustrated with his own tionally sponsored Judging Schools. drawings. H e shows that these can be The author includes point scales for constructed at small expense as he general judging of collections, displays, himself has done. specimens, arrangements and special The author has given ,fine hints on exhibits, and point scales used by planting of ornamental plants and trees twenty-nine separate plant societies, with an appendix to the volume which from African-violets to tulips. gives an authentic list of those with 204 THE NATIO AL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

fruits which would attract a wide range our wild life conservation, this writer of song birds. An interesting and im­ feels that Mr. Terres' "Songbirds i-n portant fact is given, showing that in­ Your Garden" is a blessing. It should formation on the food for various song be on every library shelf, especially in birds was obtained by research of the more rural communities and small eminent scientists in our federal De­ towns. She considers the volume the partment of Agriculture, much of it most complete source of information from examination of contents of bird today on attrading, feeding, providing stomachs. Timely suggestions as to nests and houses, baths, and protection proper food for birds, taking account of all feathered life, even the young of nutritional values, are given. , birds, that has come to her eye, a de­ Mr. Terres constructed and illus­ lightful, readable and highly needed trates a "trolley feeder" for permitting and useful volume. shut-ins to enjoy birds at their windows Mary G. Van Meter as freely as we more physically-favored folk enjoy them in the open. From a horticulturist's viewpoint: Clever tips are offered as to the help The majority of books about birds we can be to our feathered friends at in gardens leave this reviewer cold. nesting time. Bits of string, cotton The most common lack, in his personal yarn, or even strips of cloth prove a opinion, is of any interest in gardening substitute for the silk of milkweed with birds as the first interest rather which our lovely orioles prefer. The than the secondary, which is doubtless beloved little wrens like pins, tacks, a stupid point of view. The matters or bits of metal. A chapter on hum­ are usually made even worse by the mingbirds is revealing. Feed them plant lists recommended, for nearly sugared water in an artificial flower every plant is one that would never and they will love it. be chosen if one were thinking first of The author dots here and there most plants; many are weeds, all that are delightful, amusing, and enlightening fruitful are nuisances for litter and personal experiences from childhood on, seedlings! And most of the books are most amusing indeed, and ever show­ of definitely limited geographical use­ ing what can take place in bird life and fulness. in luring them to you. His unlimited This book is different on most of activity in every phase of bird life has these points. The plant lists are ar­ brought a wealth of helpful hints to ' ranged for large geographic areas, countless people less favored, who rather diverse but still not too exciting would otherwise have little knowledge to gardeners and with a goodly share about our birds. of weeds. The evidence of bird usefulness in But the important thing is that the eating insects harmful to our trees is book is intended to give you methods clearly brought out, with particular to attract birds, to make them happy reference to the chestnut trees intro­ when living in the garden and to shelter duced here to take the place of our own them through periods of limited feed­ chestnuts killed ·by chestnut blight. ing, once attracted. The advice is given An excellent bibliography is given in simply and clearly and is full of the the appendix with reference to litera­ delightful touches that come only from ture in many states and ideas of con­ personal experience. servation. But remember that, if you are a In this period of unlimited effort in gardener before you are a bird lover, July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 205 such a planting program will add to by observations made on other plants. your annual weeding, and that such The actual deficiencies recorded on birds as brown thrashers and towhees roses in Britain include, besides the will toss all your carefully conserved familiar effects of lack of the major mulches out on path or lawn fo r you to element nitrogen, phosphorus, and clean up as many times a day as you potassium those due to deficiencies of may like or not like ; that all sorts of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and small fry will fl y into your greenhouse manganese. The effects of excesses of and investigate flats and large pots of various mineral nutrients are also de­ seedlings for any earthworms that may scribed. be there, sometimes with disastrous The aesthetic and practical features results if yo u are not near by. of rose culture are set forth in articles Nevertheless, the revieweT has never dealing with rose history-"The Royal done more than a little with the clean-up Rose of England," rose exhibitions and jobs, even if he wished that birdsown awards, rose travels (American read­ catbriers did not prefer his azalea beds, ers will be interested in the comments and that some small fry, never caught of M r. Harry Wheatcroft on his visit in the act, seem to prefer pulling crocus to thi s country last year); roses for petals apart to see what there may be decoration - "Artistry with Roses," hidden, since for him the ruby throat etc. Perhaps the most sensational item has bathed in the ,fine mist of a rose in thi s Annual is the definite forecast spray held in hand. of really blue roses within our time, B. Y. M. which is unenthusiastically promised "whether we like it or not." Of much more interest to this reviewer is the The Rose Annual, 1954. Produced series of articles on "My Masterpiece" by the Publications Committee of the by such eminent rose breeders as National Rose Society of Great Brit­ Charles Mallerin, Alex. Dickson, Sam­ ain. 167 pages (in text) , 8 color plates uel McGredy (fils), Svend Poulsen, besides halftone illustrations. Croydon, and C. Camprubi Nadal. Each of England. 1954. them modestly disclaims having pro­ duced his masterpiece as yet, though A characteristic British blend of the quest is continuing. They do, how­ science and art in the service of the ever, tell just how they bred some of rose. Science is deferred to in articles their really fine roses. such as "Plant Physiology for the The evaluation of rose varieties for Rosarian" by G. J. von Abrams, and various purposes, which has been a " N utrient Deficiencies in the Rose regular feature of these Annuals, shows Garden" by T . Wallace. The latter is Peace in ,first place in each category distinguished among the many articles for which it is eligible. Ena Harkness, descriptive of the symptoms of nutrient The Doctor, William Harvey, and Mc­ deficiencies in plants by detailing the Gredy's Yellow are its nearest rivals. conditions actually observed in roses, Frensham and Fashion are the most not merely inferring these symptoms popular Flori'bundas. - F. A. \ \T. The Gardeners" Pocketbook

Rhododen.dron S eed Germination in I::>O'er of losino-I::> some or all of .the seeds if A gar N utrient Solution ordinary open pot-culture IS used for germination. As a practical means of There are times when a plant grower, avoiding this hazard, I turned to a lab­ havinvaluable sort, would like the as­ tion of orchid seeds which was devised surance of knowing that every seed will about thirty years ago by Dr. Lewis have a chance to germinate and grow Knudson2 and later used extensively by without loss. Hybridizers, especially orchidists. when using stored pollen or making un­ Knudson's method has been tried usual crosses, will sometimes recover successfully, long ago, on many other only a few tiny seeds which, however, kinds of plants besides orchids. These may be of ,significant importance. have included ericaceous plants and it This problem has often faced the was on the basis of such earlier work author when working with crosses by Dr. Knudson that this application of from old or storaged pollen of the the sugar-agar technique for rhododen­ rhododendron, where only a few pollen drons has been made. The author takes oTains have remained alive to fertilize a b • • no credit for originating any part of flower. Then, too, there are SItuatIOns, this, but merely wishes to report results familiar to most rhododendron hy­ obtained in its practical application to bridizers, where crosses produce only a plant breeding work. few viable seeds, or where great irregu­ The experiment here reported has larity prevails among the seedlings of a been conducted at Cornell University given cross and the grower desires to during the last two or three, years. The preserve the weak as well as the method used is as follows: stronger seedlings. The rhododendron seeds are first Where storaged pollen ~s used as a sterilized to remove harmful baderia means of making crosses between early­ and fungi. Ten grams of calcium hypo­ blooming and late-blooming plants,! I chlorite is dissolved in 140 m1. (cc) of have found that, although seed produc­ distilled water; this is shaken, filtered tion can be induced by pollen that is as and the clean filtrate is then used to much as two months old, the viability sterilize the seeds. The seeds are put of the pollen falls off rapidly during the into a test tube, the solution added and period of storage (using the calcium the mixture is shaken several times chloride method), so that only a small during the thirty to forty minutes re­ percentage of the pollen grains may quired to sterilize the rhododendron remain alive after long storage and, seed. The seeds should be taken out consequently, only a few seeds are pro­ when they begin to look yellowish, and duced. Sometimes there may be only a may be transferred to the agar solu­ dozen good seeds in a capsule that tion without rinsing. would normally produce three hundred. Culture tubes, of the type ordinarily And yet these may turn into good employed for bacteriological work, plants. about 1 inch in diameter, are used for In any such instance, there is dan- 2Knudson, L. Non-symbolic grmination of orchid see~s. lB owe rs~ Clement G. Preservation, storage and artificial Bot . Gaz. 73: 1-25, 1922. Also subsequent papers, In­ gemination of rhododendron pollen. Proc. 6th Int. C ongo cluding Bot . Gaz. 77: 212-219. 1924 and Bo •. Gaz. 112: 0/ GeneticI, 2: 10, 193 2. 528-532. 1951. [206] July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 207 the agar medium. The sugar-agar­ down and cooled with the jelly-like so­ nutrient medium itself is Knudson's lution forming a "slope," as shown in "Solution C," prepared by the follow­ the illustration. After autoclaving the ing formula: agar solution is tested for acidity and Calcium nitrate, 1/ 10 N hydrochloric acid is added in Ca(NOa)z.4H 0 ____ 0.25 gram sufficient quantity to adj ust the solution 2 to pH 5.0, which is about optimum for Monobasic potassium most rhododendrons. The sterilized phosphate, KH P0 0.25 gram 2 4 seed is now scattered upon the surface Magnesium sulfate, of the agar slope, holding the tube MgS0 ·7H 0 ______0.25 gram 4 2 horizontally and spreading the seed Ammonium sulfate, with the aid of a platinum needle (NH4)2S04 ______0.50 gram which has been previously sterilized by Ferrous sulfate, passing it through a flame. The cotton FeS04·7H20 ______c__ 0.025 gram stopper, removed during seed-sowing, Manganese sulfate, is replaced and the tube, containing the MnS04.4H 0 ______0.0075 gram 2 seeds on the solution, is placed in a tem­ Sucrose (cane sugar) __ 20.00 grams perature of seventy degrees and kept at Agar ______12 to 15 grams this temperature during subsequent Distilled water ______1.0 liter germination and growth for so long as The culture tubes are stoppered with the seedlings remain in the tube. At cotton plugs and sterilized, with the Cornell special orchid incubator cases solution inside of them, for twenty with fluorescent illumination are used, minutes in an autoclave at fifteen but any Wardian case or greenhouse pounds' pressure. They are laid partly enclosure where a similar temperature

Rare hybrid Rhododendron seedlings growing on sugar-agaQ' 11~ediu111, in a cu.lture tube. 208 THE I ATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 may be maintained, with ordinary day­ to rhododendrons, so that distilled wa­ light, will be adequate. About two ter or rain water must be used. weeks are required for germination. Since the peat does not provide much The young seedlings are permitted to nourishment for the young seedlings, remain upon the original agar slope and we have added nutrients occasionally. grow inside the culture tube until the For this purpose we have found that first true leaves are formed and the Knudson's "Solution C," without agar plants are at the ordinary "pricking or sugar, makes an excellent fertilizer off" size, at which time they may be re­ and produces vigorous growth in the moved from the agar and planted in seedlings. seed-pans or other receptacles. While The writer wishes to acknowledge in the culture-tube, the agar solution the interest and help of Dr. Lewis slowly loses moisture and the seedlings Knudson with whom he has conferred should not be kept in it after it becomes during the progress of this experiment, too dry. In our work, however, we and also of Mr. Russell Mott and oth­ find that unless the seedlings are ex­ ers who have performed much of the ceptionally slow, they attain transplant­ actual work. ing size before the agar reaches this CLEMENT G. BOWERS, M a,i1te, New Y o 'rl~. point. Moisture may be replenished by the use of sterile distilled water. C 0111{IJlnents 01~ Hardiness) G'/,£lj Coast We have found that pure granulated MisS1:ssippi peat moss makes a satisfactory sub­ In these notes, hardiness is meant stance for growing the young seedlings always as hardiness to cold during after removal from the culture tubes. whatever months may be considered as It seems to make little difference winter. Furthermore, it is recognized whether or not the agar adhering to , that too little time has passed for ab­ the young roots is washed off before solute judgments, but like any garden transplanting. We have used four-inch pioneering, a new garden in a new scene seed pans, and have set the young always invites enthusiasms from which plants about ):hree-fourths of an inch one may repent later. No attempt is apart. We have found it desirable to made to cover all the things that might mound up the peat in the top of the be included, but some comment at the pot in order to facilitate aeratiON and moment seems of use, since oth"er gar­ drainage and to avoid damping-off of deners may be persuaded to attempt the seedlings, since they have to be what has failed here and reap success. kept in a very close atmosphere imme­ One would think that the climate of diately upon removal from the tubes. the various towns along the Mississippi After transplanting, the seed-pans are Gulf Coast would be almost identical, placed in a small glass case, similar tq hut this is not so insofar as one can tell a Wardian case, and are gradually ex­ from the plants that live and thrive in posed to more and more air as they one town and fail elsewhere. The dis­ grow, until the case is fully open and tance inland from the shore line also the young seedlings are permitted to seems to have some effect upon results. have the free air of the greenhouse. This particular garden is inland, The transition should be a gradual one about a mile and a half as a bird flies, and care should be taken with the wa­ and is surrounded on the south and east tering during this time. At Cornell the by mixed stands of pine, oak, and other tap-water is "hard" and contains alka­ deciduous species. Winds from the line salts to an extent that is injurious west and north have free "access, which July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 209

is noticeable in winter. Winter, too, Elsewhere it presents no problem. Its means here essentially the months from kin, now put in the genus Pseuderan­ mid-December through mid-March, themull1, sound even more tropical, but with the inevitable mild periods to of interest on account of the flowering break up the latter weeks. habits. In New Orleans, the Eranthe­ Among the shrubs that become al­ mum seem entirely at home and pro­ most like herbaceous perennials here, vides flower in late autum well into there are several that are well worth the winter. It potted plants were not growing for what is accomplished dur­ so great a bother, it would be a tempta­ ing the summer. For example, the tion to pot the plant, and overwinter it charming pigeon-'berry, Dbtranta rep ellS, in the unheated greenhouse. rarely makes a large shrub here, but Whatever Jacob inia is grown here its ten-foot shoots usually are loaded lives unhappily in this garden but will in early May with showers of lavender overwinter and recover enough to blooms, a flowering that repeats in flow er sparingly. In gardens at no smaller amounts through the summer, great distance, planted near a house, it and are climaxed in autumn by the seems to thrive and its summer bloom goLden berries that hang as did the is welcome. flowers from every nodding shoot. The There, too, the common shrimp plant, flowers drop so easily that they are of B eleperone guttata makes a pleasant little use in cutting, but the berries are dull note in the mixed shrub border. very decorative in large arrangements. The charming Russellia, probably Our plants, near the pale yellow-double R. equisetifo'l'11'11is, lives and sometimes oleander, nameless of course, overlap spares a few lovely flowering sprays, in flowering time, just enough to make but in no way resembles itself as seen a picture. Even when, in a severe in Florida. winter, the shoots are killed to the Aside from the widely planted I as­ ground, enough growth is made so minu111, pri111 ;uli'l1Ju 111, the jasmines are there is some flowering and fruiting. not as well represented as they might Noone in these parts seems to know be, or perhaps they have been tried whether the Cestrum we have is C. and found wanting. I . nudifiorum is Parqui or C. nocturnU11ll, and specimens useless for want of winter cold; have not been gathered for checking. officinale refuses to thrive here; the This performs here much as a perennial plant sold locally as Si111,plicifolia, which might, dying to the ground each year, if probably is not, not even under its and sending up shoots each spring that more correct name of gracile, thrives are laden with greenish-white flowers only in the most sheltered places; and that open their four lobes each night the Grand Duke, I. San1bac, dies to and fill the air, almost to suffocation, the ground each winter and blooms with the heavy scent. When pollinated, sparingly on new wood. they are followed by pure white berries While the annual Thunbergia alata that are almost as decorative as the self-sows to weediness, the lovely T. flowers. The seeds seem highly viable grandiftora lived here for a few years and the seedlings add to the weeding clambering over a nearby Eleagnus, problems of spring. crowning them with its large flowers Equally herbaceous in this area is of delightful lavender blue, but finally Eranthemum nervosum, but, in this died during a cold winter. In other garden, it rarely succeeds in maturing gardens in more sheltered places it its spikes of wonderfully blue flowers. lives but not in the luxuriance that 210 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 makes it so spectacular in Florida. Its tried in a nearby garden, and appears shrubby kin, T. eTec ta" has lived for two to be starting to flow er much too soon. winters dying to the ground each year, Our own C. Will11wttianwn is still too but this year the root system appears small for reporting. to have had enough vigor to send up B. Y. MORRISON, Pass ChT'is tial~, Missis­ shoots that bore a few flowers. These sippi. are not as showy as those of the climb­ ing gra.l7diflom but are a deeper blue Inc1'easing !s11'/,ene Ldy B$blbs purple with a clearly definecl paie yel­ The Ismene lily, a member of the low throat. If, as is sometimes the Amaryllis Family, may be increased by case, a constantly .developing root sys­ bisecting the bulbs vertically, or by tem will in time make a plant more otherwise injuring them. I first called tolerant of winter cold, we live in hope, attention to this phenomenon of in­ for a lavender-blue flowering shrub for crease in number ai'ter injury in an early May will be most welcome. article in this Journal in the July 1931 In a sL11all nursery nearby there is issue. I was experimenting at the time an old plant of abutilon, species un­ with bisecting bulbs, and had but one known, but presumably one of the year's results, Bisecting experiments many cultivated forms that have so were conducted not only with the Is­ mongrel a history. It is located on the mene lily, but with the spider lily and edge of a lath house, but in sun and has with Narcissus 'King Alfred.' flowered well for years. This year a The Ismene lily, H ymenocallis cala­ rooted cutting from it has been added thina, is known popularly as the Peru­ to the planting here along with another vian daffodil, and lately has been named nameless seedling from the same nurs­ by the Amaryllis Society as the Ameri­ ery. It is hard to guess just what site can lily. The spider lily, H'Jl11l/,enowtl-is will please it here, where there is no tenuijlora, another member of the genus, lath house nor any similar structure. is possibly better known than the Is­ Agapanthus live in many gardens mene lily. While the spider lily multi­ but rarely flower and nowhere have we ples fairly fast by division and offset, observed the massive clumps that are the Ismene lily increases slowly by di­ so decorative in California gardens. In vision and offsets, and rarely by seed. pots they behave much better and a The Ismene lily has, for me, rarely collection is be.ing grown on, from ' doubled in number in a season, even which we hope to have reports later. with flowering size bulbs. Twenty-one Flowering begins in late May and c@n­ ,bulbs planted in the spring of 1934 in­ tinues through June, when blue and creased to thirty-one by fall; eleven blue-lavender flowers are more than bulbs planted in the spring of 1952 in­ welcome. creased to twenty by fall. On the other As yet, no one has been found who hand, bisecting the Ismene lily bulb ver­ has tried fuchsia, but probably the sum­ tically has increased the number of mer temperatures will be too high !bulbs from three to sixteen times in one though the temptation is great. The season. ordinary Plu11I/,ba.go wpensis flowers The experiments in bisecting Ismene well in most gardens, especially those lily bulbs were begun in the spring of where it can be trained for some height 1930, and carried on in 1931-1932 in against a wall. As a shrub it is some­ Takoma Park, D. c., and in 1952 'in what erratic in flow ering. Its kin, Santa Barbara, California. The rec­ C eTatostig111a plu111,baginoides, is being ords of these experiments and other J uly 195 -+ THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 211

data in this article are taken from my In 193 1 there were produced eleven several Garden Notebooks. F lowering­ bul bs from the bisected bulb, three of sized Ismene lily bul bs probably be­ which were large enough to produce tween seven and nine inches in circum­ fl owers in 1933. A photograph shows ference were used in the 1930, 1931 how the original bulb has split up into and 1932 experiments, while in 1952 two groups. This was taken in Febru­ the bulb that was bisected was six and ary 1932. In 1932 the bisected bulb pro­ five-eights inches in circumference, and duced fo ur bulbs by fall. I n 1952, seven the bulb that was quartered vertically bul bs were produced by bisecting an was seven inches. The latter two were Ismene lily bulb and seven bulbs were dusted with powdered sulphur, im­ p roduced by quartering. The bulbs mediately after cutting. produced by quartering were somewhat smaller than those produced by bisect­ ing. Q uartering is therefore not recom­ mended fo r securing increased bulb production but bisecting the bul bs ver­ ticall y is recommended. As fo r the spider lily, which was bi­ sected in March 1933, only fo ur small bulbs were produced. I considered this a fa ilure, since uncut bulbs produced more. Three large bulbs of the spider lily, which were not cut, produced in 1933 from three to seven smaller offset bulbs, and still remained about the same size as when planted. Bisecting is not therefore recommended fo r the spider lily, H . tenHifobia. One bulb of Narcis­ ssus 'King Alfred' was treated by cut­ ting verticall y about fo rty per cent of the bulb above the base on November 4, 1933. T he larger section including the whole base was then planted, but the plant disappeared, and was gone by June 27, 193 5. So much fo r arti,fic ial wounding of Prod,Ltc tion fTo1n one iJ1,j~1 1' e d bulb. the Ismene lily bulbs. W hat of uninten­ tional wo unding of the bulbs? Between A n experiment in bisecting a spider 1920 and 1930, on several occasions lily bulb was started in March 1933, bulbs wounded in' digging in the fa ll with one of the eight bulbs received were planted the next spring, and from from the Philippines the year prev ious­ eight to ten small bulbs were formed by ly. The bulb was cut vertically in early the breaking up of the injured bulbs. March, and was quite dried out when In October 1940, three bulbs were split planted on March 24. because of injury in digging, followed In 1930 there were produced from by the red-stripe disease of the amaryl­ the bisected Ismene lily bulb, planted in li s. They were planted in the spring of the spring, seventeen bulbs of all sizes, 1941. On October 9, 1941, these three four of which produced fl owers in 1933. large bulbs had split up, giving twelve, 212 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954 eight and six respectively, a total of tion. Since this is such a very strikingly twenty-six bulbs. On October 18, beautiful plant and in time become in­ 1951, I dug some Ismene lily bulbs, creasingly popular, as have other mem­ and found that three of them, about bers of the GESNERIACEAE, it seems n.ine, eight and seven inches in circum­ proper to distribute additional available ference, had their basal plates torn information on its growth habits and off. (The basal plate forms the bottom culture. of the bulb in layers resembling small Co lU111 .nea stenophylla was first re­ pancakes. The fleshy roots and the corded in the literature in 1926 when fleshy scales that compose the body of Mr. Paul C. Standley, then at the Unit­ this bulb ar,e attached to this plate.) @d States National Herbarium of the These three bulbs were planted March Smithsonian Institution, described it as 4, 1952, and the plants were dug on a new species based upon a collection September 25, 1952. On digging I made by Dr. C. A. Purpus from the found that each old bulb had split up, Finca Irlanda, in the state of Chiapas, and that there were twenty-six small Mexico. Another collection from the single bulbs and four double bul,bs, that Cafe tal Copalito, state of Oaxaca, is thirty units. This is an average of ten Mexico, was also cited at the time of units of bulbs for each one planted. The the original description. instances cited could be duplicated sev­ In 1940, Mr. Standley received for eral times from my records. identification a specimen elf a bright I have found no mention of this bi­ red-floweree! Columnea from the Finca se'cting of Ismene lily bulbs, to secure Moca, Guatemala, collected by Dr. W. increased production, in any of the C. Muenscher, and, believing it to rep­ books on bulbs studied, such as McFar­ resent a distinct species, described it as land, Mueller, Rockwell, Vvister in C ohmmea 11'bu,ensche1'i. Several years Bailey's Horticulture, or in H ottes' later a more careful comparison and Plant Propagation. Nor was there such study of the Guatemalan C. 111uenscheri a method described, if I remember cor­ with the Mexican C. stenophylla rectly, in Schmarse's article in Ger­ showed that the two were identical, and man on the Ismene lilies, which I trans­ that the Guatemalan plant would have lated for the U. S. Department of Agri­ to receive the earlier name of C. steno­ culture in 1934. phylla. Summing up the matter where a spe­ cies of the Amaryllis Family does not It is a v:ery handsome plant, occurring increase fast by natural means, it would in nature usually as a rather small, seem desirable to experiment with this epiphytic shrub with two to two and a method of bisecting the bulb, or by half feet tall reddish or brown, stout otherwise injuring it, to stimulate pro­ stems, which are somewhat hairy when duction, as I have done with the Is­ young. Occasionally, tliJ.e plant becomes mene lily. terrestrial, growing upon the -uorest floor. The dark green leaves are very Roy G. PIERCE, BWl'bamk, California. attractive, having a satiny lustre on the surface and a silvery color beneath. C OlU1111'bea stenophylla They have a narrow linear or Ian ceo late In an interesting article C oncer1'bing shape and vary usually from two and a C ol'bmmea in The National H orticultu­ half to three inches long by one ....fifth to ral Magazine, 32 :270-271. 1953, Peggie one-half an inch wide, and spread out Schulz refers briefly to my introduction from the stem at a conspicuous angle. of C Ol'b£1n11ea stenophylla into cultiva- The upper surface has a pronounced Pot-g'ro'Wn plal1Jt of Cohm-mea stenophylla CbS l'aised in the Lin,col,/'/; Parl~ Conservat01'y, furrow running lengthwise along the flowers appear, each one ansmg on mid-section of the leaf, while the lower short stalks from the axil of a leaf. T he surface is marked by the prominent fl owers are borne along one side of the main midnerve. T he margins of the stem, so that a mass of them presents a leaves are turned under. On the upper spectacular spray with their deep or­ half of the stem myriads of showy red ange-reel or vermilion color splashed [213] 214 T HE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

Close-u,p giving details of the flowers, 1'Latwral size. contrastingly against a background of above into a showy hooded upper galea dark green shi ning leaves, an appropri­ an inch and a half long and a triangu· ate combination for Christmas. The lar-oblong, much shorter, lower lobe. fl owers themselves are notable fo r their Beautiful, long, soft red hairs spread enormous size, measuring nearly three out from the surfa.ce of the corolla. At inches long. They have a long slender the base of the corolla tube is the leafy tube whi ch arches upward, expanding green five-parted calyx, whose three- July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 215

fo urth inch long erect lobes contrast years the growth progress of the plant vividly against the red background of proved disappointing and so two of the the corolla. The two pairs of four sta­ plants which had been propagated were mens meet in a graceful arch along the potted in soil and other conditions were upper inside of the fl ower, bearing the changed until at present growth in all soft yellow anthers at the tips. respects appears very good. In Guatemala the species is of very "Thi s Columnea prefers a turfy rich limited occurrence, growing in dense soil. A mixture of three parts loam, one wet forest on the lower and middle part peat and one part rotted cattle ma­ slopes of the AtitItll1 and Santa Clara nure should suffice. Good drainage is volcanoes, in the departments of Solola essential. Provide the plant with a night . and Suchitepequez respectively, at ele­ temperature of sixty-five degrees under vations varying from 1,000 to 1,500 considerable shade and with consider­ meters. Here the temperature varies able humidity. the year round only from sixty-five to "The plants are readily propagated seventy-fi ve degrees Fahrenheit, the by tip cuttings in sand with a bottom average annual rainfall approaches two heat of seventy degrees and protection hundred inches, and the relative hu­ from drafts. V/ hen rooted, pot into midity is very high. New stations fo r two and a half inch pots in the soil pre­ the species will probably be discovered scribed above and place the plants in a in locations similar to the ones already shaded humid house at sixty-five de­ known on the lower and middle slopes grees night temperature. Shift the of other volcanoes on the Pa6fic side plants into larger pots as they become of Guatemala. rootbound. When the plant is shifted At the end of 1942, I brought back into larger pots, bone meal should be from Guatemala a couple of living added to the soil mixture at the rate of plants of C. stenophyUa and presented one four-inch pot per wheelbarrow of them to Mr. E. Hewitt, then Superin­ soil. During the summer and early faIl tendent of Lincoln Park Conservatory months, the established plants should of the Chicago Park System. These be fed every two weeks with either plants arrived, unfortunately, in very liquid manure or with a complete com­ poorcondi·tion and only a couple of mercial inorganic fertilizer. Do not al­ leaves remained attached to the stems. low the plants to flow er the first year. One of the plants died, and it was The plants do not branch freely but in­ feared that the other would not recover. crease in size by sending up basal However, in time, under the careful shoots. A profusion of flowers will ap­ attention of Mr. Hewitt, the second . pear at the leaf axils of all shoots during plant survived and eventually prospered the second year. The flowering season to provide the foIlowing comments on appears to be somewhere from January the successful culture of this species : to June and there are indications that "Upon receipt of this plant in 1941 cultural manipulation can determine the at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, flowering date within these limits. The growing methods were set up to ap­ flowers persist in good condition about proximate its natural habitat. A tem­ three weeks and are of such substance, perature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit at shape, and color, that they might well night in a fairly humid, shaded place be of value commercially. Certainly was provided in a house in which be­ the plant merits more consideration." gonias were being grown. Being epip­ J ULIAN A. STEYERMARK, Curator of hytic in nature, the plant was pott~d in H erbarimn, Chicago N at1wal Histo·ry Atfllr osmunda fiber. At the end of about two sewn, Chicago, l/lino·is. 216 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE July 1954

Bauhinia Blakeana cal Experiment Station, with the Gar­ Several attractive ornamental species dens D,epartment in Hong Kong, to ob­ of bauhinia are grown in the more frost­ tain two air layers of this bauhinia, one free areas of Florida, Texas, and Cali­ of which was to be sent t19 the Depart­ fornia. Among these more common ment of Agriculture in Guam. The ones are Bauhinia purpurea, the fall­ plant destined fGr the Sub-Tropical Ex­ blooming bauhinia, B. variegata and its periment Station arrived in March, white variety candida, the winter­ 1953, in good -condition, being com­ pletely dormant but with a good root spring-blooming bauhinia, and B. 11W­ nandra, the summer-blooming bauhinia. system in the ball of peat moss. 'After But the rarest and 1110st attractive of all producing new . growth in the slat bauhinia species is B. blakeana, which house, it was planted in the Station's until rece11tly was unknown in this arboretum in June. In early October, country. It has been successfully in­ flower buds formed and the first flower troduced into Florida and it flowered opened October 19. for the first time in the fall of 1953. The fragrant flowers are "orchid­ The origin of B. blakeana is un­ like," five and a half to six inches known, but it is said that many years ClJcross. The five spreading petals, each ago one tree grew near the ruins of a three inches long and one and a half house along the seashore in Canton, inches wide, are obovate or elliptical in China. It was discovered there by the shape and have an acute apex and a monks of the Roman Catholic Cathe­ wavy margin. The color is a rich red­ 'dral of Canton, who took cuttings of dish- or rose-purple, almost a crimson, the tree and successfully rooted them. which is classified as a Rhodamine pur­ Later it was planted at the Botanical ple 29/1 on the R. H. S. color chart. Garden in Hong Kong and still later in The standard or lip is uppermost and a few areas in the Malaya Peninsula. is darker iFt color in the veins in the It has since become quite popular lower two-thirds with white between throughout Hong Kong where it is the veins; the two upper petals are propagated by cuttings and marcottage. lighter in color and diffused with white Bauhinia blal?eana is known in China near the base; the two lower petals are as the "Hong Kong" or "Blake's Bau­ fairly uniform in color with the veins hinia" and also as "Camel's Foot." only slightly lighter. The red color is In 1908, Mr. S. T. Dunn named the so intense that it fades only slightly, species for Sir Henry Blake, a o.ne­ unlike B. variegata which fades to a time governor of Hong Kong, whose blue color. The inflorescence, which is residence ended in 1903, and a support­ an elongating raceme to eight or ten er of the Hong Kong Botanical Garden inches, is produced opposite a leaf near (J ournal of . Botany, pp. 325-326, the tip of a branch. Flowers are pro­ 1908). Since the flowers of B. blake­ duced from October to March each ana are sterile and no seed pods have flower lasting three to four day;. The ever been produced, it must be propa­ five pale pink, curved stamens are pro­ gated by cuttings, air layers, or grafted duced in two sets, three long and two onto other species of bauhinia. Because short; five hairlike staminodes are of this difficulty in propagation, its dis­ borne at the base. Although the curved tribution to other countries has been pistil seems to be perfectly formed, fruit slow. has never set even when pollinated with In 1952, arrangements were made by pollen from other species of Bauhinia. the University of Florida, Sub-Tropi- The tree is said to grow forty to fifty July 1954 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 217

A leaf and two flowers of Bauhinia blakeal'la. feet tall under favorable conditions acters of both B. variegata and B. pur­ but, because of being propagated by ai; purea, it probably represents either a layers, it is usually shrubby and many mutation of one of these or a sterile hy­ branched from the base. The leaves brid of the two species. It resembles B. are typical of bauhinia, two-lobed or purp'Lwea in the following: 1) begin­ split down the middle one-third to a ning to flower in October, 2) petals not quarter the distance, thus resembling a overlapping, 3) elongating racemes, "cameI's-foot," this shape giving rise to and 4) tending to hold its leaves until one of the commel11 names in Hong late spring after flowering is over. It Kong. The leaves are six to eight resembles B. variegata in the follow­ inches long and wide, with nine to thir­ ing: 1) continuing to bloom in the win­ teen veins; the apices of the lobes are ter and spring months, 2) having obtuse and the base cordate. The leaves broad petals, 3) having short pedi{:els, remain on the tree after flow ering and and 4) splitting of the calyx down one are not shed until new leaves begin to side only. appear in April. R. BRUCE LEDIN, Assistant Horticulturist UJliversity of Flal'ida, Sub-Tropical E.vp e ri~ Since B. blakeana has certain char- 1I1el! t Statiol/. J-l olll estrod. Florida. List of the Back Numbers of The National Horticultural Magazine Available for Sale, Prepaid Orders should be sent to: Secretary, The American Horticultural Society, Inc. 1600 Bladensburg Road, N. E. Washington 2, D. C. Vols.3 & 4. 1924-26. Vol. 19, 1940, No. L .75 No. .25 *______No.2 .75 Vol. 5. 1926. No. • .25 No.3 .75 Vol. 6, 1927, No. 2 .75 No. 4 ______.75 No.3 .75 Vol. 21. 1942, No. I .75 No. 4__ .75 No. 2 ______.75 No. 4 ______.75 Vol. 7, 1928, No. I .75 ___ .75 Vol. 22. 1943, No. I ____ .75 No. 2______.75 No. 3______.75 No. 4 ______.75 No. 4 ______.75 Vol. 23. 1944. No. I .75 Vol. 8. 1929. No. L ______.75 No. 2 ______.75 Vol. 9, 1930. No. 1______.75 Vol. 10. 1931. No. 2 ______.75 No.3 .75 No. 4 ______.75 No.3 .75 Vol. 24. 1945, No. '-- _ .75 No. 4 ______.75 No. 2 ______.75 Vol. II. 1932. No. '--______.75 No. J _ .75 No.2 .75 No. 4 .7!i No.3 ______.75 Vol. 25. 1946, No. 2 ______.75 No. 4 ______.75 No. 3_~ _____ .75 Vol. 12. 1933, No. 1______.75 No. 4 ______.75 No.2 .75 Vol. 26. 1947. No. '--______.75 No.4 .75 No. 2______.75 Vol. 13. 1934. No. 1______.75 No.3 .75 No. 2_ .75 No. 4 __ < ______.75 No. 3_ .75 Vol •• 27. 1948. No. 2 ______.75 Vol. 14. 1935. No. 2 ______.75 No. 3 ______.75 No. 3_ .75 No. 4_ .75 No. 4 ______.75 Vol. 28. 1949. No. '--____ 1.00 Vol. 15. 1936. No. '-______.75 No. L ______1.00 No. 2__ ,75 Vol. 29, 1950, No. '--______1.00 No. 2.. ______1.00 No.3 .75 No. 4 ______.75 No. 3_ _1.00 No. 4 ______1.00 Vol. 16. 1937, No.2 .75 No. 3 ______.75 Vol. 30. 1951. No. '---______1.00 No. 4 ______.75 No. 2____ _1.00 No. L ______1.00 Vol. 17. 1938. No. 1______.75 No. 4 ______- 1.00 No.2 .75 Vol. 31. 1952. No. 2 __ __ "______1.00 No. 3 ____ .75 No. 3______1.00 No.4 .75 No. 4 ______1.00 Vol. 18. 1939. No. 1______.75 Vol. 32. 1953. No. L __a______1.00 No.2 .75 No. 2 ______1.00 No.3 .75 No. 3.. ___ .1 ______1.00 No. 4 ______.75 No. 4 ______1.00

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The National Horticultwral Magazine is a quarterly journal, being the official publication of The American Horticultural Society, Incorporated. It is devoted to the dissemination of knowledge in the science and art of growing ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, and related subj ects. The Journal is published by Monumental Printing Company at Thirty-second Street and Elm Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, and is entered as second class matter in the post office of that city in accordance with the Act of August 24, 1912. Original papers increasing the historical, varietal, and cultural know ledges of plant mate­ rials of economic and aesthetic importance are most welcomed and will be published as promptly as possible. Material of lasting interest appearing in related journals will be re­ printed as available. Publications received for the Library will be reviewed and made avail­ able to members after publication of the reviews. These books are designated "Library" following the prices in the book reviews. Reviews of private collections will also be accepted and published. These books, however, are not available for loan to members of the Society. Manuscripts should be prepared to conform to the style adopted in the latest number of the current volume. The nomenclature used in manuscripts, whether treating horticultural or botanical subjects, should be in conformance insofar as possible with the Codes published by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy. They should be typewritten with double­ spacing, leaving a one-inch margin at the left for editorial direction to the printer. Footnotes to text statements should be avoided unless they are absolutely necessary. Usually the infor­ mation can be included in the text, parenthetically if necessary, without making the reading too cumbersome. Footnotes to tables are often necessary and should be designated by small Roman letters. Literature citations, footnotes and illustration legends should be on a separate sheet. Authors are requested to give for each citation, the author, or authors, year of publica­ tion, full title or citation without abbreviation of the journal or volume, in the case of jour­ nals, the beginning and ending pages; of books the edition number and the number of pages, the name and address of the publisher. One set of the galley proofs will be sent to the author for corrections, which should be held to a minimum, and such corrections should be returned immediately. Reprints, side-stapled, will be furnished in accordance with the following schedule of prices plus postage, and should be ordered at the time galley proof is returned by the author: Copies 2 pp 4 pp 6 pp 8 pp 10 pp 12 pp 14 pp 16 pp 18 pp Covars 100 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00 7.50 8.00 8.50 9.00 9.50 7.00 200 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 8.50 300 8.50 to.OO 11.50 13.00 14.50 16.00 17.50 19.00 20.50 10.00 400 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00 22.00 24.00 26.00 11.50 The Journal is issued for the months of January, April, July, and October. Manuscripts must reach the Editorial Office at the Society's Headquarters three months before publica­ tion is desired. Missing numbers will be replaced without charge provided claim is received in the Editorial Office within thirty days after publication date.