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JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC. * January 1958 The National HORTICULTUR .·\L Magazine

*** to accumulate, Increase, and disseminate horticultural information ***

OFFICERS EDITOR STUART M. ARMSTRONG, PR ESIDENT B. Y. MORRISON Silver Spring, Maryland MANAGING EDITOR HENRY T. SKINNER, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Washington, D.C. JAM ES R . H ARLOW

MRS. i'VAL TER DOUGLAS, SECON D VICE-PRESIDENT EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Chauncey, New York I/:;- Phoenix, Arizona i'VALTER H . HOD GE, Chairman EUGENE GRIFFITH, SECRETARY JOH N L. CREECH Takoma Pm'k, Maryland FREDERIC P. LEE MISS OLIVE E. WEATHERELL, TREASURER CONRAD B. LINK Olean, New York & W ashington, D.C. CURTIS IVIA Y

DIRECTORS The National Horticultural Maga­ zine is the official publication of the Te?'ms Expiring 1958 American Horticultural Society and is Stuart lVI. Armstrong, Mm'yland iss ued four times a year during the John L. Creech, Maryland qu arter s commencing with J anuary, Mrs. Peggie Schulz, Min nesota April, July and October. It is devoted to the dissemination of knowledge in R. P. iJ\Thite, Dist?'ict of Columbia the sc ience and art of growing orna­ Mrs. H arry Wood, Pennsylvania mental plants, fruits, vegetables, and rela ted subjects. Original papers increasing the his· T erms Expiring 1959 torical, varietal, and cultural knowl­ Donovan S. Correll, T exas edges of plant materials of economic and aesthetic importance are wel­ Frederick VV. Coe, Mm'yland comed and will be published as early Miss Margaret C. Lancaster, MG1'yland as possible. The CHairman of the ~ di · Mrs. Francis Patteson-Knight, Vi'l"ginia torial Committee should be consulted Freeman A. 'Weiss, District of Columbia for manuscript specifications. R eprints, saddle-stapled, will be fur­ nished in accordance with the follow­ Emeritus ing schedule of prices, plus postage, Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, District of Columbia and should be ordered at the time the galley proof is returned b y the author: Mrs. Mortimer J. Fox, New York Mrs. J. Norman H enry, Pennsylvania Copies 2 pp 4 pp 8 pp 12 pp Covers Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Scott, Pennsylvania 100 $6 .60 12. 10 25.30 36.30 12.1 0

Entered as second class matter in the p ost office at Baltimore, Maryland, in accordance with the Act of August 24, 19 12. Additional entry for Washingon, D.C., was authorized Ju ly 15, 1955, in accordance with the pro· visions of Section 132.122, Pos tal Manual. A subscription to The National H orticuJural Magazine is included as a benefit of membership in the American Horticultural Society, the dues being $5.00 a year. The National Horticultural Magazine

Volume Thirty,seven

Washington, D. C. 1958 COPYRIGHT

THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, INC., 1958 The National Horticultural Magazine

VOL. 37 Copyright, 1958. by TI-IE Ar..'IERICAN HORTICIILTURAL SOC I 1:::1 Y, J :-.c. No. I

JANUARY 1958

CONTENTS

The Christmas Rose for winter flowers. KARL F. FISC HER .______The Dahlias. CONRAD E. F AUST______4 vVildfiowers to start the garden season. ELIZABETH CLARKE ______20 Deciduous Azaleas for the Lower South. HENRY T. SKINNER ______24 The African Violet. MRS. E. G. MAGILL ______. ______28 Virginia Seashore State Park LOUISA VENABLE KYLE & KATHARINE FONTAINE SYER ______34 A Book or Two __ .. ______.______38 The Gardeners' Pocketbook C oc h l iost ema jaco b ia n u m ______..______43 Crape Jasmine as an Herbaceous Plant ______46 Azaleas Thrive on "Poor" Soil ______.__ ___ ._ 46 A New Color Chart for Horticulture ______47 Spi la nth es 0 lera ce a ______. 49 Iris vi ca ri a ______51 The Darlington Oak ______.______52 Carex m01Towi ______.. ______.__ 54 S c h iza nth us ______55 [lex coriacea-M inori ty Commen t ______. ____ .______55 A Rare Con i fer-A t h r 0 tax is ______56

FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION A fall sketch of Ginkgo biloba by Erik Hans Kmuse CORRECTIO~ The National Horticultura l Magazine, October 195 -: Page 327. Illustration legend should read: Plate 6. Hosta fortunei var. gigantea (Giant Plantainlily) Page 328. Illustration legend should read: Plate 7. H osla ventricosa (Blue Plantainlily) Page 338. P. viridis, P.I. 75160 should read: P. viridi-glaucescens, PJ. 75160 P. sulphurea var. viridis, P.I. 77257 should read: P. viridis, PJ. 77257 Helleborus nzger An excellent specimen flowering plant of the Christmas Rose in a Massachusetts garden (Note several bees worlting on the flowers) The Christmas Rose for winter flowers

KARL F. FISCHER

The genus Helleborus is a memb~r of The flower is borne one on a stem; RAN UNCULACEAE) the Crowfoot or But­ frequently, one or two smaller flowers tercup Family. Several species and cul­ will appear on the same stem below the tivars of this genus are known. The main flow er. The flower is single having Christmas Rose, H ellebmus nigeT, al­ five white petals, often flushed on the though by no means a common plant, is, outside with purplish rose, and measur­ perhaps, the best known and most com­ ing from 2-4 inches. A well-grown plant monly cultivated species. might produce 150 twelve-inch flower The Christmas Rose is interesting not stems. "When the flower fades, the petals only bota.nically, but also from the legen­ turn rose, later greenish, and will last dary and the medicinal points of view. for months even though the fruit has The species H. nige1' and its numerous formed. cultivars are particularly valuable be­ The leaves are basal, divided into cause of the flowering season, which ex­ seven or more evergreen, or nearly ever­ tends from October until March-a time green, leaflets, and on mature and well­ when few flowers are found in gardens grown plants, have stems not more than in many geographical areas. An indi­ 18 inches long. vidual plant, of course, will not flower It is necessary to start with plants of during' all these months; the time de­ su fficient size and vigor to insure success. pends upon the particular cultivar, the The 'writer believes that this is of utmost section of the country, and even varia­ importance and that failure in the cul­ tions of temperature from year to year. ture can almost always be attributed to failure in selecting good plants. H elle­ boms plants are like many other alpines THE PLANTS which are difficult to establish, but are The Christmas Rose has been well comparatively easy to grow once they known in Europe for many years. The have reached a certain size and age. As plants are grown there in favorable gar­ they are still considered a novelty, it may den locations and considerable use is be difficult for the average gardener to made of their cut flowers. They are ex­ know what constitutes a plant of suffi­ cellent for corsages and may be worn cient size. A description of the methods out-of-doors during cold winter days. of propagation may help to clarify this They combine well with hollies and p()illt. other Christmas greens for table decora­ tions. PROPAGATION European florists sell potted plants of H ellebonts nigeT may be propagated HelleboTus during the Christmas se~son. by division and by seed. Of course, if it They also move clumps into the cool is desired to perpetua te a particular greenhouse, or pit, at regular intervals quality of a strain, division is necessary. for cut flower production. It is interest­ This should be done in the early fall be­ ing to note that these cut flowers bring cause new roots form rapidly then. The prices comparable to the first forced division should be promptly planted into tulips available at the same time. a carefully prepared nursery bed and In this country, plants of Helleboms grown there for at least one year. Those were hardly known some twenty years plants developing two strong leaves) or ago. They still are considered a novelty more. and a good root system are con­ in spite of the fact that leading horticul­ sidered sufficient in size for transplanting tural magazines have recently published to permanent locations. excellent articles on their culture point­ Propagation by division is compara­ ing out their unusual qualities. tively simple. HelleboTus slowly grows 2 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE to a sizeable plant large enough to be foliage is still tender and wi.lts easily in divided, however, and it becomes neces­ wind and sun, even though there may be sary to propagate by seed when a large considerable moisture in the ground. quantity is desired. Wooden lath, bamboo, reed mats, alumi­ The flowering time falls in the winter num lath, or evergreen boughs which months and seed ripens during early have lost their needles, will be satisfac­ spring. To preserve their viability, these tory. It should not exclude more than must be sown immediately or tempo­ forty per cent sunlight. The shade should rarily stored in moist sand. Stored seed be supported on a framework at least 18 planted indoors germinate in November inches from the ground. The framework or December, while stored seed planted may be used later to support sash or outdoors in October, germinate in March other winter protection, whenever such or about ten months after harvest. Dur­ seems to be desirable. Artificial shade ing the first season, the seedlings develop is usually preferred because it may be few roots (but these often 12 inches removed during the months of lower long). The top growth is confined to light intensity. two or three small leaves with less than Natural shade is generally preferred the usual number of leaflets. During the when Christmas Roses are grown for dis­ second grovving season, the new set of play in the garden. Deciduous trees lo­ leaves increases in size but usually a cated south of the plants are admirable third season is required to produce a for this purpose. These trees cause little plant which is comparable in every res­ shade during fall and winter, and they pect to one which has been grown from provide ideal conditions as far as inten­ a division. sity of light is concerned. It should be It may follow, that regardless of which remembered, however, that the closer a propagation method is employed, it takes plant is to the trunk of the tree, the more several years to produce mature plants. it will have to compete with the tree This, coupled with the fact that losses roots. among seedlings are high, is the reason Mulch will aid further to keep the that the Christmas Rose is still rather plants cool and comfortable. Again, a scarce and high priced. Concerning the wide choice of materials is available but propagation from seed, there exists preferred are such materials as are al­ another fact which is unique due to the kaline. unusual flowering time. Seeds of early Since shade is important, the choice flowering plants (October-January) fre­ of a planting site should be governed by quently do not mature. This is usually this fact. If, at the same time, protection caused by inclement weather. The propa­ exists from the coldest weather in the gator should provide some form of pro­ form of a shrub or evergreen planting, a tection for these flowers to mature their wall or building, it will be so much the seeds, or else he will have to depend on better. The plant itself is very hardy the later blooms for seed production and and can stand temperatures well below this, in turn, might tend to develop late zero; open flowers, however, will be dam­ flowering strains divesting H elleborus aged by temperatures below 20 degrees. niger of its most desirable quality. This need not discourage the gardener as succeeding flower buds will await the SHADE AND MULCHES next warm spell to unfold their beauty. Attention must be turned to the cul­ PLANTING, WATERING, AND tural needs after good plants have been FERTILIZING secured. It should be realized that the requirements of the Christmas Rose are Helleborus lives for many years. It is different from those of border perenni­ known to dislike being disturbed and to als. They are indigenous to the Medi­ be a gross feeder. Obviously, then, the terranian mountains where summer tem­ soil in which they are to grow must be peratures are lower than those found in carefully prepared. Basically, it should most parts of the United States. Accord­ be somewhat heavy with a neutral or ingly, the gardener should provide shade sli1Shtl~ alkaline .reaction. Set the top­ and mulching material from April until SOIl aSIde and dIscard the subsoil to a August. During April and May, the depth of 18 inches. Replace this subsoil JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 3 with compost or well-decayed leaves and lation when the temperature rises above stable manure. Some gravel should be 32 degrees if any form of cover has been added and a ge nerous amount of coarse placed over the plan t . bonemeal and some ground lime tone. These materials are thoroughly mixed INSECTS AND DISEASES with the existing topsoil and the hole or bed is backfilled to a level slightly The Christmas Rose is occasionally at­ higher than the existing grade. It is tacked by insects and diseases bu t almost best to prepare the soil several weeks be­ always these attacks occur when the fore actual planting time to allow for plants are being forced or otherwise settling of the soil. Of course, where growing under conditions not entirely existing so il conditions are approaching tavorable. this ideal, it may be necessary only to It is best to cu t and destroy all old add bonemeal and ground limestone. leaves just when new leaves appear at The best planting time extends the base of the plant if cale insects are through late su mmer into early fa ll and present. Aphis will attack and seriously in southern regions the months of No­ damage the yo ung and tender leaves. vember and December are still favorable. T hese should be sprayed promptly with There is also a short time in the spring any of a number of in ecticides recom­ when it is possible to plant, the time mended for the con trol of this insect. roughly corresponding to the time when U ntil recently, the writer would have seedling trees in your particular region maintained that spider mites never at­ may be se t out. tack H ellebo1'us. It seems that the ex­ It wi ll take considerable time, possibly treme dry conditions during the past a year or more before the plants become summer, however, were so favorable for well es tablished in their new location. this pest that a group of plants was If after this time a need for additional heavily infested by them. One or two plant food seems to be indicated, use a Lindane-Aramite applications should top dressing of fertilizer. During the control this mite. active growing season they will also ap­ Slugs will sometimes damage the fl ow­ preciate an occasional watering with er buds as they appear at the base of the compost or manure water. plants. Moderate amounts of prepared slug bait, scattered around the plants WINTER PROTECTION will dispose of these pests. A type of blister beetle, which attacks In cold regions, and especially when other members of the RANuNcuLAcAE the Christmas Rose is mainly grown for also may rarely be found to cause cut flower production, winter protection damage to the flower buds. These beetles may be desirable. In case there is only feed at night and hide during daytime one plant to be protected, a box, from in the mulch and litter. As they occur which bottom and top have been re­ in relatively small numbers and are quite moved and over which a large pane of large, hand picking is the best control. glass is placed, will serve the purpose. Black Spot is caused by the parasitic A portable frame with standard sash may fungus Coniothyrium hellebori. This be placed over the plants when many may be controlled by cutting off and plants are to be protected. Additional burning all affected leaves and stems and cover mats, canvas, or whatever is avail­ spraying the plants with a copper-con­ able, may be applied when these are in taining fungicide. full flow er and extremely cold weather threatens. This protection may be left THE REWARD on the plants night and day during ex­ tended cold periods as long as the tem­ It may be seen, that it takes consider­ perature does not rise above freezing. able patience and some effort to produce Even after weeks under such cover, the Christmas Rose, but the gardener plants and flowers may be found in per­ will be amply repaid, when he can go fect condition. This practice, in addi­ into the garden in the middle of winter tion to producing cleaner blooms, will and admire a well grown specimen in also tend to lengthen the flower stems. full bloom or pick some of these lovely It is quite important to give ample venti- flowers for home decoration. 4 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

CAROLYN CARTER

'Rachael Jackson'

Cactus type, yellow flow ers, 8 x 4 inches The Dahlias

CONRAD E. FAUST

The first gardener was Adam. His is believed to have been the first illus­ descendants throughout the lands today o-ated in England, 'with its appearance in have a bond of fellowship wherever a the Botanical Magazine in 1804. helping hand is willing. All sort of hob­ Dahlias became very popular and bies draw men together, but none more growers sought to improve them from naturally, and few so whole ome, as about 1810 to 1840, but prior to 1860 gardening. It puts men in partnership the interest began to wane. It was with nature, and gives them a hand in thought that every color and combina­ creating beauty. tion had been accomplished. The Na­ For more than thirty years, it ha been my privilege and my pleasure to give tional Society of Great Britain was nature, in a small way, a helping hand formed in 1870 and at that time there in creating beauty-growing dahlias. appeared a small ball type blossom which was called a pompon. Interest "vas re­ GLIMPSE INTO THE WRITTEN vived but, again, soon lagg·ed. RECORD In 1872, a box of dahlia roots was sent from Mexico to Holland. Due to the A book was published in 1615 by Francisco Hernandez in which he de­ long journey all roots were lost except scribed three dahlias by their Aztec one. This root produced a brilliant red names, Acocotli, Acocoxoch itl, and Co­ blossom, a variety never seen before. coxochitl. Cocotli meant tube or hollow Petals were rolled back and pointed. It stem; thusly translated, these names was a tall plant with flowers well above equal, "water pipe," "water-pipe flower," foliage. It differed so greatly it was and "hollow-stem flower," respectively. given a place as a botanical species which Hernandez, physician to the Spanish was Dahlia juar'ezii, in honor of the Philip II, had been commissioned in president of Mexico. This new variety 1570 to investigate the natural history of was called a cactus. Crosses were made New Spain. He published three other from this new variety with parents of works on plants and animals as a result early varieties and these progenies are of his explorations in what is now now the parents of our hybrids today. Mexico. Nicholas Joseph Thiery de lVIenon­ ville, a French Botanist, reported in OFFICIAL DAHLIA 1787 that he had seen the Acocotli grow­ CLASSIFICATIONS ing in a garden near Guaxaca as a culti­ Sizes vated flower. Two years later the direc­ tor of the botanic garden at Mexico sent The various types as recognized by seed to Madrid, some of which were sub­ the American Dahlia Society are in three sequently obtained by the Marchioness general size groups, i.e., "A" or large, of Bute. These were grown in her green­ over eight inches in diameter; "B" or house, and while not particularly suc­ medium, four to eight inches in diame­ cessful, it is recorded that she did gather ter; and "M" or miniature, under four enough seed to share them with many inches in diameter. The exception to botanical gardens in Europe. Then, the abov~ size groups are the pompons, along came a successful flowering under which must be under two inches, and the culture of John Fraser, an English miniature ball dahlias, two to four nurseryman. This single petalled form inches in diameter. 5 6 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

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ENGRAV ING LOANED BY THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN

Dahlia coccznea

First figure of the Dahlia printed in England, Botanical Magazine, Plate 762, 1804 JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37 , NUMBER 1 7

TH£ G ARD~ N E/t S' CHRO,\"'ClF.,-O

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E NCRAVING LOA NED BY THE ~ff SSO URI BOTA N !CAL GARnEN

Dahlia juarezii

Illustmted in The GardeneTS' Chronicle, October 4, 1879 8 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZ1NE

7J1t ACOCOTLI ' iJ..~,AYHNA & T E P 0 Z T L ;;..f 'N 'e N S I. \

E NGRAVI NG LOAN ED BY THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL CARDEN

First figw'e of the dahlia eve?' printed, fTOm the Nova Plantantm Animalium j\IIineralium Mexicanonm~ His­ tOTia of Fmncisco Hernandez, 1615

Types one row of ray florets, addition of one or Single: Open-centered flowers, only one more rows of petaloids, usually of a dif­ row of ray florets, margins flat or nearly ferent color, forming a collar around so, regardless of the number of florets, disc. Mignon: Single flowers, plants of which Peony: Open-cen tered flowers, two to approximate eighteen inches. five rows of ray florets with or without Orchid-flowering: Flowers as in Single, addition of smaller curled or twisted excepting that rays are more or less floral rays around disc. tubular by the involution of the margins. Incurved Cactus: Fully double flowers, Anemone: Open-centered flowers, only margins of the majority of floral rays one row of ray florets, regardless of form fully revolute for one-haH or more of or number of florets, tubular disc florets their length, tips of rays curving toward elongated, forming a pincushion effect. the center of the flower. Col1arette: Open-cell tered flowers, only Straight Cactus: Fully double flowers, JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 9 margins of the majority of floral rays of the bloom a nd accordingly its color fully revolute for one-half their length classifica tion. or more, rays straight, slightly incurved White: Includes pure wbite, ivory, or recurved. cream, and faint blushes of other colors. Semi-Cactus: Fully double flowers, mar­ Yellow: Includes straw, sulphur, lemon, gins of the majority of floral ray fully primrose, yellow, apricot yellow, golden revolu te for less than half their length, yellow, and chrome yellow. rays broad below. Orange: Includes cadmium orange, Formal Decorative: Fully double flowers, apricot, tangerine orange, orange chrome, margins of floral rays slightly or not at and orange. all revolu te, rays generally broad, ei ther pointed or rounded at tips, outer rays Flame: Includes spectral blends, xanthic tending to recurve and ce n tral rays tend­ in origin, of scarlet red or orange with ing to be cupped; majority of all floral yellow. rays in regular arrangement. Autumn: Includes buff, yellow ochre, Informal Decorative: Fully double flow­ tanned and grayed suffusions, and blends ers, margins of the majority of the florrtl of such tones with pink and lavender. rays slightly or not at all revolute, rays R ed: Includes mandarin red, vermilion, generally long, twisted, or pointed acd scarlet, crimso n, cherry, and ClllTant red. usually irregular in arrangement. Dark Red: Includes cardinal, oxblood, Ball: Dahlias with fully double flow­ and maroon. ers, ball shaped or slightly fl attened, Pink: Includes shell pink, salmon pink, floral rays blunt or round at tips, quilled coral pink, rose, and tyrian rose. or with margins involute for more than half the length of ray in spiral arrange­ Lavender: Includes lavender, mauve, ment, flowers four inches or more. and phlox pink. Miniature: All dahlias whid:. normally Purple: Includes rosy magenta, dahlia produce flowers not exceeding four purple, purple, amaran th purple, and inches, pompons excluded, classified ac­ violet. cording to the foregoing descriptions. Blend: Varieties having no clear or dis­ Miniature Single, Miniature Peony, tinct color, instead having two or more Miniature Straight Cactus, Miniature intermingled colors of different color Semi-Cactus, Miniature Formal Decora­ classes which gradually merge but each tive, Miniature Informal Decorative, of which can be distinguished at a dis­ Miniature Ball. tance of six feet. Pompon: Having same characteristics as Light Blend: Includes blends of the Ball, but for show purposes, not more lighter tints and tones of pink, yellow, than two inches in diameter. lavender, and other pastels, and, also, includes two-toned varieties of pastel Dwarf: Applies to plant size without tints and tones in which the central rays regard to the characteristics of blooms. are of a different color than the marginal rays. Colors Dark Blend: Blends of low brilliance, of Colors, shades, tints and combinations dark reds, maroons, purples, or other thereof, known to be found in cultivated dark cyanic blends with contrasting color forms are grouped into fifteen classes. or colors. Color classification is determined by the predominant color or colors which ap­ Bi-color: Varieties having two or more pear on the face of the floral rays and in distinct, clear and separate colors on the such classifications the color of the re­ face of the floral rays. verse of the floral rays is not considered. Variegated: Varieties having two or Exception: the color of the reverse of more distinct colors on the face of the the markedly involute rays in orchid­ floral rays, arranged in dots, flecks, flowering and in certain pompon or ball splashes or narrow lines which contrast dahlias may determine the color effect sharply with the basic color. 10 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

CAROLYN CARTER

'Pirate Treasure'

Informal Decorative type, autumn color flowers, 10 x 5 inches JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER I 11

CA RO LYN CARTER

'Iva Ree'

Formal Decorative type, white fiow en, 7 x 4 inches 12 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

CAR.Ol YN CARTER

'] ohnnie Casey'

MiniatUl-e, Formal DecoTCItive type, Ted with tipped white flowers, 3 inches JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUi\ 'IBER 1 13

CA ROLY N CARTER

'Jonell'

Ball type, white fioweTs, 5 x 3 inches 14 THE NATIONAL HORT ICULTURAL MAGAZINE

HOW TO SCORE DAHLIAS with American Dahlia Society Score Card

Three sizes of Dahlias, as listed in A. D. S. Standard Nomenclature, may be scored with this card: SMALL (under 4 inches in diameter), MED IUM (4 to 8 inches in diameter), and LARGE (over 8 inches in diameter). Each ~olumn represents maximum perfection. Each square contains maximum points for perfection based on favorable characteristics pFesent in flower to be scored. To start scoring, credit the variety with as many points of the score for each favorable charaderistic as is evident in the flower. Next, check unfavorable factors in color, form, size, stem, foliage and bush, substance. For each one deduct the minus figures shown in front of each unfavorable factor or a less figure if same is only partially unfavor­ able, from the maximum in each square. Example, COLOR characteristics: If flower is clear, bright, attractive, and in your opinion, useful, then it rates high Color score, but if you discover that it fades, deduct up to 3 points. If colors are rather dull, deduct up to 2 points. If it burns in the sun, deduct up to 3 points, and so on. Again, if flower is clear and bright, but because it closely l'esembles and is not better than some other flower in color and therefore is not as useful as it could be. Then your maximum score for the variety being judged is lowered before you even start to deduct unfavorable factors. DISTINCTIVENESS score may be used to increase l-ating from standpoint of Color, Form or any other quality providing the flower is outstanding for some particular reaspn. If it cannot be truly said, however, that the flower is distinctive from any standpoint, then these maximum 5 points should not be awarded. Familiarity with Dahlias in commerce is most helpful in determining proper scoring. Mental comparison with other Dahlias which have won A. D . S_ Certificates, which have proven themselves commercially acceptable, listed on Honor Rolls and which have won at shows, will aid in arriving at the proper values of the good and bad factors present in variety to be scored. Use the 10 or 5 maximum points for "Floriferous ness" or for "Uniformity" depending on where Dahlias are judged-in field or at shows.

The revene side of the Official SGore Ca?'d of the American Dahlia Society (R ep1"od uced actual size) JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 15

AMERICAN DAHLIA SOCIETY OFFICIAL SCORE CARD Originator...... Stake No...... _...... _...... Aduress ...... Variety Name or No...... Type ...... Number In each column, below at left, represents MAXIMUM P.rfedlon. Dedud, In each square, for Ie" than periedlon (negative qualities).

First Lin~ Favorable MSmall BMedium ALarge CHARACTERISTICS Second Line Unfavorable Max. 20 Ma.-.:.20 Max. 20 COLOR +Clear +Bright +Attractive +Useful -4 Unpleasing blend -2 Dull -3 Fades -3 Burns Max. 15 Max. 15 Max. 15 FORM +Uniform + Artistic +True to Type -4 Deformed -2 Ordinary -2 VarYing Max. 5 Ma.-.:.5 Max. 5 DISTINCTIVENESS Add 1 to 5 pts. for form. color or other Quality be· cause superior to. or different from existing varieties Max. 3* Max. 0 Max. 10 SIZE Disbudded. Diameter. .... _ ._.. _ .. _ ... D epth... _._.. _...... Natural. Diameter..... _ ...... _.. _.. . DeptiL._.. _.. _...... Max. 20 Max. 20 Max. 20 STEM +Strong +Erect +Long +Graceful +Propor tioll - 5 Weak. -3 Crotchy -3 Crooked -3 Poor Proportion Max. 15 Max. IS Max. 15 FOLIAGE AND BUSH +Health +Vigor +Rugged + Proportion -5 Poor -3 Weak -3 Succulent -3 Poor Proportion Max. 12 Max. 15 Max. 10 SUBSTANCE Condition of Petals. +Firm +Thick +Back Good Condition of Petals. -3 Soft -2 Thin -2 Wilt -2 Falls Max. 10 Max. 10 Ma.-.:.5 FLORIFEROUSNESS For Field Judging only +Profuse +Early F or Field Judging only -3 Shy - 3 Late Deduct Deduct See Right See Right UNIFORMITY For Bench Judging only. deduct 1 to 5 pts. M or B only X f or Varying Size. Incomplete. too old or too young TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL Bush Height. Pinched Back. Ft. ____ ...... Bush Height. Natural. Ft. __ ...... M B A Bloom Position Facing (top T) (45°,\) (side I) (down / ) Color Description...... _.. _...... Remarks...... _.. _.. _. . _. . _.. _. . . Evidence of Insect Damage...... of Disease ...... _...... _ .. . Where Scored ...... _...... Scored by...... Date...... _.. _.. . • Maxlmum up to 3 points awarded for dalntlne8&-smaU size under 4 Inches. (See reverse side for Scoring Directions)

The obverse side of the Official Score Card of the American Dahlia Society (Reproduced actual size) CULTURE Soil, Dminage, Tillage, Other Factors Dahlias require a good garden soil with a generous supply of humus, good drainage, and at least fo ur hours of sun­ light a day. Drainage is important as dahlias do not like too much water to stand after a rain. If soil is heavy, use cinders or furnace ashes, some sand and plenty of humus. Light sandy soil needs enough humus to hold a sufficient amount of moisture. Humus may be supplied by a cover crop in fall, turning this under in spring, and, also, by ap­ plying rotted manure, peat moss, or leaf mold. To get the best results, the soil should be kept loose 'while plants are growing, working soil four or five inches especially after each rain. "Work the soil lightly and when plants are approximately three feet tall use a good mulch, such as straw, leaves. Several other factors are important: get vigorous disease-free stock; select dahlias that m eet your requirements. You have a wide selection to choose from. Remember, it takes just as much space to grow a poor dahlia as a good dahlia. PTopagating Dahlias are generally reproduced by dividing the root clump-each division must contain an eye or seed bud. Clumps may be divided in March or April­ which is the time the buds usually ap­ pear. Make the separation with a sharp knife and discard all damaged sections and those without eyes. Additional plants may also be ob­ tained from cuttings. The root clump is plan ted in a shallow tray of equal parts of garden soil and peat moss-in J anu­ ary or February - leaving the upper part of the stem ou t of the soi l so that the point where the shoot will appear can be seen. The planted tray is placed in full sunshine and kept at room tem­ perature. Cuttings are made after three or four sets of leaves appear or when the sprou ts are three or four inches high (upper illust?"a tion) and are placed in coarse sand and pu t in a shaded loca­ tion to root (cente?' illustration). The rooted cuttings (10 days to 2 weeks) are then transplanted to individual contain­ ers to grow on until outdoor transplant­ ing time (bottom illustration). 16 JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER I 17

Stahing, Planting, Watering nino' after sunset. T he life of a dahlia Set your stakes approximately 3 by 3 flO\~?e r can be insured by a few simple feet. The ideal stake is a 6-foot rein­ precau tions; cut only matured flowers, forcement steel rod 'which will las t a life­ store them in a cool place, and aVOld time. After stakes have been properly placing them in a draft. A n:ethod that placed yo u are now in po ition to plant. has been successful in increasll1 g the h Ie Apply a h andful of superphosphate at of the bloom is to place the stem in cool each stake working it into the soil about water immediately after harvestng, cut 6-8 inches. If available, add a shovelful off a small portion of the stem under of well-rotted manure. This should be water and leave it in the container for mixed vvi th soiL No other fertilize r is about thirty minu tes. This a.llows the needed at this time. water to fl ow through the mIcroscopIC tubes in the . tem to fl ower head. T his Place the root approximately IX wi ll often revive flow ers after they have inches deep, with the sprout about two wilted. inches from stakes. In plan ti ng green plants, the ball of dirt should be covered H arvesting ClumlJs approximately two inches. Soak the ball Dahlia roots should be dug a(ter a of soil around plants thoroughly. Plant­ killing (rost. C ut off stalks even with in" time in the South is the month of o . h 0To und and wa it about a week before Mayas all danger of frost IS over t en. dio gging root. Loosen the soil. aroun d Keep the plan ts growing normally and the clump, with care exercised so .that ge t a good root sys tem before hot, dry necks are not broken. Two chggll1 gs, weath er sets in. Do not push plants too one on each side, can lift a clump with fas t. A fast growth is a soft growth and less damage. 'Writing name of variety plants will suffer in hot dry weather re­ with indelible pencil on each clump will sulting in injury to plant tissue and O'uarantee accurate identification. Each o " hardening of plant root may be marked by thiS most atIs- Other factors interfering in hardening factory method when divided from of plants are planting too early 'when the clump. . soil is cold, setting plants tha t have not There are several methods of stonng been properly hardened off, lack. of roots. A method I have been usi ng su c­ water, excess of water, lack of cultiva­ cess fully for years is to wash clump clean, tion, and insect control. cu t stalk off two inch es from crown, 'i!\Tater when n e c e s s a r y and soak which largely h elps to prevent stem rot thoroughly. Light sprinkling causes the later, If a large clump, cu t in h alf and roots to come to the surface and they are dust cuts with powdered sulphur; pack then injured by heat and drought. in boxes or crates using peat moss or vermiculite as a covering. Store in cool Disbudding part of basement or greenhouse. Clumps To get uniform plants, pinch out cen­ should be stored bottom up to allow ter tip as soon as three sets of leaves drainao'e of any liquid remaining in stalk. °Ideal temperature is 40 to 60 de­ develop. This will cause at least four ~o six branches to develop; the result will grees. Proper humidity and air ~ ir c~d a ­ be more bloOlTls per plant. tion helps to keep tubers from shnvelll1g. Check clumps each month for stem :ot Dahlias produce clusters of flower or mold, and if found, cu t OU t defective buds' the center flower bud will produce parts and dust with s ulphu~. the l ~rgest bloom. Remove the two side Another method of stonng used by lateral buds, disbud all side shoots ex­ other growers is digging the clUl:nps with cept the lower pair on each branch, as much soil adhering as pOSSible and which should be allowed to grow to form storing in cool part of basement. If the later flowers. These new branches should roots start to shrivel, a little water may be handled as previous ones, as soon as be added to soiL Clumps are stored they have developed sufficiently. right side up in a single layer on floor. Fill in enough soil around clumps leav- Cut Floweys ing crown and stalk exposed. . Flowers should be cut from the plants Clumps can be divided in early spnng, early in the morning or late in the eve- but it is best to wait for eye sprouts. 18 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE Each root or division should have a top of the L af starts turning brown alld sprout before planting. develops into a leaf resembling cured tobacco. Red spider damage has been F eTtilizing increased since the use of DDT which Dahlias are gross feeders and like a destroys parasites that normally help balanced diet. Three elements are neces­ control red spider. There are several sary: nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. sprays which are effective in controlling Other elements, that are required, are the red spider-Malathion, dust or liquid, usually found in the soil in small quan­ IS one. tities. A good grade of fertilizer usually Aphids, or plant lice, are small soft­ has the minor e'ements included. Nitro­ bodied sucking insects, light green, red, gen is needed for plant growth, dark or greyish black. Usually, they are found green foliage, and large flowers. Lack of in clusters on the stem, around the buds, nitrogen in soil shows a yellow cast to and on the underside of the leaf, causing the leaves, failure to develop buds prop­ the leaf to curl. Blackleaf 40, Pyrethrum erly, and small Am-vers of poor color; too extract, or Rotenone, are commercial in­ much produces a soft plant, vigorous secticides which offer effective control. growth of foliage at expense of blooms, Leaf hoppers are small greenish-yellow and reduced keeping quality of roots in flying insects and are very active in warm storage. Sources are sheep manure, dried weather. They fly when the bush is blood, and commercial fertilizer. Phos­ touched especially during the heat of the phorous, important in all plant func­ day. They work on the underside of the tions, increases root developmellt, de­ leaf causing the edges to turn yellow, velops strong stems, increases vitality of then brown, finally, the entire leaf dies. the plant, and if used in excess quanti­ Malathion will help control leaf hoppers. ties, it is not harmful. Common sources Thrips are tiny insects and are very are superphosphate and bone meal. Pot­ hard to see without the aid of a magni­ a~h also increases the vigor of the plan t, fying glass. They enter the growing leaf gives color to the Aower and foliao·e. It bud and chafe the newly formed leaves, . . 0 IS Important in starch formation and injuring them so that they are malformed aids in the maturing of roots. Sources and curled. They also injure the small are muriate or sulphate of potash. flower bud and stem. DDT, combined "Vhen plants are about three feet tall with a mite spray, offers control. and buds are formed, a light application Mildew is controlled by dusting the of fertilizer is made around each plant, under side of leaves with dusting sul­ twelve inches from stalk-5-10-10 for phur about September first. One appli­ av~rage. light soil, and 5-10-5 for heavy cation will suffice for a season. so~l a ~ mtervals of ten days. A light ap­ To keep plants growing, they must be pllcatlOn of sheep fertilizer or dried kept clean. Spraying or dusting at regu­ blood will add size to blooms. Do not lar intervals will help eliminate com­ use excessive quantities of nitrocren as it pletely or help control insects. will reduce keeping qualities ~f roots for next year. After applying fertilizer, DAHLIAS BY NAMES water the soil thoroughly as a plant can There are many good varieties of only take in food when dissolved in Dahlias to select from. Listed below are water. a few that grow well in all sections of the U. S. The size refers to the diameter of Insects, Damages, and Contmls the flower and the depth as seen from Dahlias . ar~ subject to damage by in­ the side. sects and mdlrect damage caused by in­ sects carrying disease from plan t to plant. Lm-ge size-above 8 inches The first principal of control is to use 'Rose Ann' - Cactus, orange, early proper insecticides, spraying at frequent bloomer, good stems, 9-10 inches by 4-5 intervals. Red spider or spider mite are inches. very small black and white to brown or 'Prairie Fire' - Semi-Cactus, orange, red minute insects found on under side strong stem holds bloom side to forty­ of leaves. This gives the under side of five degree angle, 10 by 5 inches. the leaf a grey and silky appearance. The 'Jane Lausche'-Semi-Cactus, rosy mauve JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 19 with about one-third of each petal tipped vigorous, profuse bloomer, 6 by 3Y2. white, good stem, 10 by 5 inches. 'Maureen Connally' - Formal Decora­ 'Mary Elizabeth'-Informal Decorative, tive, sulphur yellow, petals roll back to dark turkey red, vigorous grower, 10 by stem forming ball shape blooms, 5 by 4 5 inches. inches. 'Kelvin' - Informal Decorative, peach 'Betty Blossom' - Formal Decorative, p~nk, flowers large with g'ood stems, color straw yellow, flushed phlox pink, vIgorous grower. plants vigorou , 7 by 4 inches. 'Arthur Godfrey' - Formal Decorative, 'Fairy Queen'-Semi-Cactus, pure white, orient red with orange shading, excel­ early and profused bloomer, good sub­ lent stem, rugged grower, 10 by 5 inches. stance, plants freely branching, slightly 'Cherokee Beauty'-Formal Decorative, below medium height, 5 by 3 inches. begonia pink, vigorous grower, 10 by 'Eldorado'-Semi-Cactus, bicolor-mari­ 5 inches. gold orange deepened with lines of red, 'Cherokee Brave'-Informal Decorative, white tips, 8 inches. oxblood red, one which does not fade 'Grandezza'-Cactus, currant red, shad­ much in hot weather, good grower, ex­ ing to cardinal, good stem, 7 by 4 inches. cellent stems, 9 by 5 inches. This variety comes from Holland. 'Surprise' - Semi-Cactus, peach, flowers 'First Lady'-Formal Decorative, Dres­ have great depth and excellent sub­ den yellow, petals roll completely back stance, good stems holding blooms well to stem giving the bloom unusual depth, above foliage, 10 by 5 inches. medium height, 7 by 4 inches. 'Kidd Climax'-Fonnal Dec 0 rat i v e, cream overlaid pink and heliotrope, Nliniature stems strong, good grower, 9 by 5 inches. 'Gypsy's Kiss' - Formal Decorative, This variety is from ew Zealand. white, overlaid lavender, with streaks 'Croydon Masterpiece'-Informal Deco­ and specks of purple throughout the rative, deep shade of tan, high full cen­ petals, attractive, 3 inches. tered flowers held facing up on strong 'Mabel L'-Formal Decorative, autumn stems, 10 by 5 inches. and orange, 3 inches. 'Art Linkletter'-Semi-Cactus, primrose 'Timmie' - Formal Decorative, cream, yellow, vigorous, strong stem holding blending to rose violet at the tips of bloom facing, 10-12 by 6 inches. petals, vigorous tall grower, 3-4 inches. 'Ruby Charm'-Semi-Cactus, ruby red, Medium size-4 to 8 inches good gTower, 4 inches. 'Bunny'-Incurved Cactus, primrose yel­ 'J ohnnie Casey' - For m a I Decorative, low, uniform blooms on good stems, 7 red, tipped white, color u n i for m by 3 inches. throughout season, prolific, 3 inches. 'Juanita'-Straight Cactus, dark red, pro­ 'Little Rachael'-Semi-Cactus, rose pink, lific bloomer, good stems, 7 by 4 inches. tall, strong grower, 3 inches. 'Joey K'-Semi-Cactus, marigold orange, 'Butterscotch'-Formal Decorative, most prolific bloomer, good cut flowers, 6 by 3 interesting bicolor with edge and base inches. of petals bright yellow, tipped white, 'Wind Lassie' - In for mal Decorative, dark foliage, 4 inches. pure white, an excellent variety that has 'Little Bill' - Cactus, bright yellovv, an outstanding record, vigorous grower, bloom average 4 inches. blooms held on strong stems, 8 by 4 'Butter Ball' - Ball, yellow, vigorous inches. grower, tall plants, profused bloomer, 'Daily Gold'-Formal Decorative, empire 5 by 3 inches. yellow, suffused saffron yellow, vigorous 'N eedles' - Collarette, w hit e suffused, grower, excellent stems, 8 by 4 inches. striped and speckled peony purple with 'Southern Beauty'-Formal Decorative, collar petals of the same color, vigorous white at center with outer one-half to grower, attractive. one-third deeply suffused rose red, good 'Dark Lustre' - Orchid-flowering, deep stems holding flowers well above foliage, velvet purple, bloom about 3 inches, good grower, 6 by 3 inches. good stems, attractive. 'Peach Blend' - Formal Decorative, at­ 'Little Patty'-Semi-Cactus, pure white, tractive peach with reddish rose suffu­ good cut flowers with excellent stems, sion on outer portion of petals, stems 5 by 3 inches. 20 THE NATIONAL HOR T ICULTUR AL iVrAGAZINE

H. H . EVERETT

Caltha palust?"is Wildflowers to start the garden season

oles while those along the unbranched stem are blunt. T he flowers are out­ standing and distinctive in that the flow­ erbud is pink, opening to a purplish­ ELIZABETH CLARKE blue. The foliage en tirely disappear during the summer; new growth appear the following Spring.

SPREADI NG PASQUEFLOvVER Anemone patens many times finds its To some garden enthusiasts, success way into gardens without anyone real­ with the flower border is nearly accom­ izing it i native in grasslands and on plished with a profusion of bloom dur­ exposed slopes from Illinois to British ing the late spring, summer, and fall. Columbia, Alaska, ' !\Tashington, south To have interest earlier in the season to Utah, Nebraska, and Texas. It is a becomes a challenge. low-growing perennial with deeply cut iVIost gardens are likely to include hairy leaves. It ha blue, purple, or some native American plants that have white flowers, which are actually color­ been cultivated and generall y accepted ful sepals, on a 4-8- inch stalk that elon· as suitable to combine with those of gates after the flower fades. Then a head other lands. This is one way to be cer­ of long-tailed silky fruitlets appears. tain the heri tage of American flora will This gives a filmy cast adding interest be preserved. In these times when nat­ to the fl ower border as well as becom­ ural woodlands are being destroyed for ing useful for arrangements. The Spread­ suburban development, it is all the more ing Pasqueflower is at home in the dry important that every garden include soil of the border; also, in the rock gar­ many of the n ative plants. den its flowers add to the array of early The exact time these native plants put color. The seed pods are outstanding forth every effort to show their beau ty during the summer. varies depending on the soil, location in the garden, and the geogTaphic areas. CREEPING POLEMONIUM There are some showy ones, however, that can be coun ted upon to flower The low-growing Polemonium 1·ep­ about the same time as the cheery For­ tans is equ ally happy in the rock gar­ sy thia. den and in its native haun ts-the open woods from New York to Alabama and VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS Kansas. The weak, light-green stem, as­ ce nding a bout 12 inches, has leaves com­ lV.[eTtensia virginica enh ances the beau­ posed of 11-17 slender leafl ets. From the ty of early fl owering tulips when planted axils of the upper leaves arise the flow­ with them in the flow er border. Found er stalks with clusters of deep blue flow­ in woods, bottom lands, and clearings ers made distinctive by white stamens. of the Eastern States, it is easily adapted The Creeping Polemonium, because of to loamy soil (pH 6-8) and will grow i ts rambling growth h abit, is best sup­ to 12 inches if partly shaded in the ported by rocks. It grows in either sh ady summer. The gray-green leaves are or sunny locations where the soil is mod­ smooth, the basal ones having long peti- erately acid. 21 22 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE fOSS PHLOX woods, where the soil varies widely in acidity. A colony of plants with deep Ph lox subula ta is one of the best yellow sepals, and glossy, r 0 un dis h known plants used in the rock garden, leaves, gives a meadow or brookside the on the terrace, or in the rock wall. A appearance of a bright carpet. This low carpet of plants covered with pink, pur­ growing, sometimes decumbent, plant ple, or white flowers can be found in grows well in heavy mucky soil where dry sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils, neu­ there is plenty of moisure all year. tral or moderately acid, from Long Is­ While it enjoys the full sun in spring­ land to Michigan and southwards to time, the Common lVIarshmarigold, like North Carolina and Tennessee. The low other woodland plants, thrives best in evergreen mat has erect flower shoots. the shade during summer. Plants may The Moss Phlox is not fussy; it trans­ be easily separated, after the flowers plants 'well, may be divided or grown have faded, by lifting and washing the from cuttings and seed. muck away. The seed germinates well if the soil is kept damp. Plants will ma­ COMMON FAWN LILY ture and flower in three years. Erythronium americanwrn, a sma 11 bulbous plant, has found its way into ANEMONELLA many rock gardens. One of the pleasures of a woodland walk is to come upon a The Anemonella thalictroides presents colony of these single pale yellow flow­ quite a contrast to the bold brilliance ers nodding on slender stems a few of the Common Marshmarigold. It grows inches high. It is well established in the in the open woods of the Eastern States. East. The elongated leaves are mottled For the garden that includes an oak­ with brown (this species is often called hickory woods with moderately acid the Troutlily) or perhaps they are plain soil, this native is a delicate plant green. Plants formed from seed have one worthy of being grown. The thin, wiry leaf the first year; sometimes, these seed­ lings form shoots - threads that grow stem is 4-9 inches tall, and the foliage down into the ground and form bulbils. is somewhat like Meadowrue. There is '!\Then sufficient food is stored in the ma­ a whorl of leaves below the white or ture bulb, two leaves and a flower ap­ pinkish flowers. The fragile -looking pear. Unless there are two leaves, no plants are easy to move; the thin tubers flowerbud is formed. By this time the may be divided and, with a top dress­ bulb is deep enough to prevent root ing of leaf mold in the fall, they will injury should the flower be picked. In bloom the following spring after plant­ a neutral or moderately acid soil, wheth­ ing. er by a stream, under a hemlock or in a beech-maple woods, where the ground is slightly moist, the Common Fawnlily ROUNDLOBE HEPATICA flowers in early spring. Erythronium albidum, the Whi te Hepatica americana is another rela­ Fawnlily, and E. albidum var. meso­ tive to the Common Marshmarigold and choreum, two other species, add blue, Anemonella. It is a dependable plant pink, and white flowers to the choice of and is known to flower early, sometimes plants that can be grown in a rock gar­ pushing up through the snow. It is den. The Fawnlilies are also adapted to equally pleasing at the base of a tree, in the small wildflower garden where plants a soft woods soil, with stones, and the are exhibited for the pleasure of every­ well- drained slight1 y acid soil of oak­ one. hickory woods. The long-petioled leaves with round­ ed lobes are leathery, last through the COMMON MARSH MARIGOLD winter, forming a rusty background for Caltha palustris is a willing candidate the flowers. The new green leaves, 4-6 for those gardeners fortunate enough to inches high, appear after the bluish-lav­ have a brook, wet meadow or wet open ender, deep-purple or rosy-pink flowers JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 23 h ave faded. The new leaves and flower ditinguished. This prostrate under­ stalks are fuzzy giving the plant a wooly shrub is sought among withered oak appearance. leaves or so metimes it is hidden under pine needles. It prefers sandy to peaty woods soil (pH 4-5) or clearings, most VIRGINIA SPRINGBEAUTY often appearing on sandy slopes where C laytonia virginica is often associated there is shade. It is frequently found in with the commencement of spring. The the pine barrens in clumps or patches dainty but sh owy 'white or ro y fl owers trailing along the ground. with deeper veining may be found grow­ Successfully growing Trailing-arbu· ing in open woods, thickets, and clear­ tus is an accomplishment. It does not ings in the eas tern pa rt of the U ni ted readily transplant. It needs a soil that States. The opposite leaves are almost is strongly acid and free of earthworms. grasslike and characteristic of many It requires a mulch of pine needles, woodland plants, they disappear com­ oak leaves or sawdust that must n ot dry pletely after flowering. The flower of C. out. If moving a plant of Trailing·arbu· camliniana, Carolina Spring·beauty.. are tus i undertaken, loosen a large clump not as profuse and the leaves are broader. 2-3 inches beneath the surface with a Growing 5-12 inches high, both species spade before lifti ng. It is best to move are found in an oak -hickory woods only young plants, or better still, take where the tiny tubers are several inches cuttings. Yo ung plants are available in deep in moist places or along stream many nurseries as are most of these early banks. The plants spread rapidly. Colo­ na tive plants that may be cultivated. nies may be found at the edges of woods Because of all the exacting require­ and in nearby lawns. Transplanted or ments, growing Trailing-arbu tus in the grown from seed, it will flower well in wildflower garden is difficult, bu t well the wildflower garden in leaf mold soil worth the effort. with a pH 5 or a pH 6. Beyond the pleasure and satisfacti on derived from this recreational pursuit, TRAlLIN G-ARBUTUS there is the knowledge that these wild­ flow ers have been rescued. In their new Epigaea repens, most cherished native locations and with proper cultivation, plant, is becoming difficult to locate in they will survive and give others the the wild. The pearly-pink blossoms, nes­ enjoyment of knowing the first flowers tled among the oval, lightly hairy, ever­ of spring. This is a conservation mea­ green leaves, are a joy to behold. The sure; a nd, one vvay to preserve the beau­ delicate flowers h ave a spicy fragrance ty of native flow ers belonging to all of and upon close examination, the minute us, everywhere, the rightful legacy of hairs on the inside of the tube m ay be fu ture generations. Deciduous Azaleas for the Lower South

H ENRY T. SKINNER

Deciduous azaleas have long been I1 sed mixed with American natives such as R. in E uropean gardens. As Mollis and wlend.~la.ce u111 , 17t£dijfonml- (which may Ghent hybrids which originated in E u­ have 1l1cluded cal1 escens) , speciosu1'1'I , rope, or as species of American or Asiatic viscos,bt1n or occidentale, Present evi­ ori gin, they have been grown in botanic dence indi cates that these European and collections and in many private gardens Oriental species are poorly adapted to of our northern states. l\l[ore recent co n­ warm climate cultivation ; while our own verts to their culture admire their tawny western azalea, R, occidentale, is even or fl aming oranges or find in their p as tel more sensitive on the E ast Coast. It is shades of cool yellows, soft pinks and winter-hardy but yellows badly in mi d­ tinted whites both relief from the h arsh­ summer, a fact whi ch leads us to question the heat tolerance of the excellent nevv er blue-reds and a fo il for the pleasing K nap H ill hybrids which are currently softer to:1es of the tremendously popular creat111g theIr own stir among northern semI-evergreens. Many of the deciduous gardeners. azaleas have excellent fall color and in a T he "present evidence," just referred mixed planting with thei r semi-everoTeen . b to, is very spotty. , lYe actually are not CO US1l1 S can add pleasant year-round vari- sure that selections out of R , flaV'M1n or ety to an otherwise somewhat monotonous 11'/,0Ile1 may not be susceptible of success­ banking of rather constant darker green. ful cultivation in the Gulf States. The Suoh comments apply to northern gar­ time is ripe fo r a good trial under fai r dens, why not to those of the Lower conditions as well as fo r a test of a range SOll'th? W hy have Mollis and Ghent of the Ghent, Mollis and K nGeorgia. The answer to the las t ern cultivation, Such a program is surely ques tion may be the easier. The plants needed. Its end results mi bo- ht be sibo- nifi- of our woods, though attractive, are ca nt far outside this southern area where rather "common." Azaleas from the potential indigenous breeding stocks are southern woods have 11 00t yet been "im­ already more numerous and more varied proved" or advertised. The improved than fo r any other climatic region of the and advertised hybrids, the Mollis and world. No less than ten species of de- Ghents, were bred in Europe for north­ lAlthougb R. molle grows well, p roduces good foli­ ern conditions. They contain R hododen­ ~geJ and sets Rower buds at Pass Christian, Miss iss ippi, It ~ la s not flowered. T his fa ilu re bears no apparent re­ d,'on j~poniCU ~1f/, and 11wlle (from Japan lat.IO n to . win ter freezi ng. but may be caused by insu f­ fi CIe nt w tn~er to overcome bud dormancy. There is re­ and Gh1l1a) mI xed with R . flavu1n (from cent ex peri mental evidence to show lhat Azaleas native to the Sou th , requ ire sig nificantl y shorter rest 'periods E urope) and one or all of these aO'b ain than northern and exoti c sprcies. 24 JANUARY ]958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER ] 25 ciduous azaleas a re native to Georgia propagates by summer cutting, a little alone; while from Florida to Louisiana less readily than R. canesce17S but fairly and T exas we have a color-range array well. There i a second yellow in Geor­ from pink, purple and white to yellow, gia, R. ca lendHlaceu11'I, hut its home orange and red with an amazing flow ering is in the mountains. It is not especially eason which extends from mid-March heat-tolerant and ·being a tetraploid does through every month 'to November. not hybridize readily with these other There a re species with minimum winter­ speCles. dormancy problems and 'those which, by There are three reds, all potentially modern methods, can be propagated re­ useful, R . s pecios b£11ll, from the coastal plain latiyely easily from cuttings. V/ hat more to Piedmont Georgia is slightly later but coul d be asked for? overlaps R. ca nescens in fl owering time. The breeding program suggested might It ha larger fl owers than other southern well start "vith a thorough appraisal of species except R. cale ndlil ace~t 111, and as present deciduou garden hybrids con­ a low-elevation pla nt should hold its color ducted, preferably, on the so u'thern well in cultivation. Cros ed with R. ca 11 e­ coastal plain at some suitable location scens it produces strong pinks and in ter­ between Florida and east T exas. The esting tan shade the first generation . R. most promising survivors, if any, could ba/?eri, yell ow to orange-red, is June be mated with native species selected for fl owering and from the mountains of their potential contribution of improved Georgia and Alabama but seems nonethe­ fl ower color, flow er form, season of less to be very heat-tolerant; whi le the bloom, desirable habit, ease of propaga'tion latest red, July to A ugust-flowering R . and increased climatic tolerance . prunifolium from the Georgia coastal plain, If it is found that the northern hybrids hould be most valuable for adding color had better be forgotten, their best features to a late-flowering race of hyb rids. It is could be reproduced, without any doubt, being currently used by northern breeders by wOl-king with t he indigenolls azaleas for just this purpose. As with any late alone. The starting point would be up to azalea its flow er display is more subdued each breeder to decide for himself, with than that of an earlier species blooming all the following to choose from: R. cane­ before any shoot growth is made. But scens is the wide-spread early-fl owerino' the show can be good for prunifoli U1II "pink honeysuckle" which is so adapta~ hold s its ,flowers high, and in later years ble to diverse climatic and relatively di­ it shoot growth is not too vigorous. verse soil conditions that it is at home And then there are six whites, anyone from South Carolina to Tennessee as well of which may have something useful to as all around the gulf from north-central contribute. Coastal plain R. atlanticum Florida to east Texas. Its range is far is the earliest and sh-ould prove particu­ wider than that of any other southern larly valuable for its low, stoloniferous azalea. It has large-flowered forms which habit and pleasant, strong scent. From vary from pure white to very deep pink; the southern end of its range in coastal it is vigorous and ,can often be readily South Carolina it should be adaptable to the gulf area. The next white to flower; propagated by sun,mer cuttings. It is the two weeks later than R. canescens, is R . only far southern species of primady a.laba111ense from the hills of northern pink color and1l1ight well be a first choice AJa,bama. Its chief recommendation is its on any breeding list. clelightfullemon scent. It too tends to be In R. a~~str1;n~6111, we have the only truly stoloniferous, but its first-generation hy­ southern yellow, which is also early brids are o·ften rather small-flowered. R. flowering, whid1 hybridizes readily with ViSCOS%111, is represented in south-central R. cal1·escens, and which is a denizen of Georgia and Alabama by the interesting the coastal plain from northwestern Flor­ May-flowering var. aemulans, low to ida to the southeast corner of Mississippi. medium in height and apparently drought­ Although its best forms are not blessed tolerant, which is very dosely related to with especiaHy large flowers, its hybrid May-June flowering R. oblongifoliu111 of progeny show good promise. It also eastern Texas. June-flowering R. arbore- 26 THE NATIONAL HORTICUL TURAL MAGAZINE sans from Upson County, Georgia, and northward has the largest blossoms of Left. Rhododendmn arborescens - the any of the whites and produces showy sweet azalea. Natural range of pink hybrids when crossed with reds such habitat extends from the moun­ as R . baluri. But this, basically, is a tains to central Georgia. moisture-loving northerner which would need testing for adaptability before being used too much. R. senulatu1n is the last and the latest. It is small-flowered but Right: Rhododendron bakeri X visco­ swn-A first generation hybrid, can be showy with its many pleasantly­ pink-flowered, with stoloniferous scented blossoms. It is also a 1l10isture­ tendencies. lover from the swamps of southern Lou­ isiana to Florida, but seems tolerant of much drier conditi ons under garden cul­ tivation. It starts flowering in July and the ame or different plants may con­ tinue to fl ower into September, October or even later. Through hybridization with R. prunifoli~tm and other selections its lateness awaits exploitation towards production of some future and highly dis­ tinctive race of fall-flowering azaleas. These, briefly, are the building materi­ Left: Rhododendmn viscosum var. aemu­ als. Each s·pecies should he analyzed for lans-A May-flowering azalea from the needed characters it can contribute and the drier woods of sou them Ala­ a search should be then instituted for the bama and Georgia. outstanding flower forms which carry these desirable characteristics. A few Right: Rhododendron oblongifolium­ such good selections are already to be The May-flowering white azalea found in the better collections. Because of east Texas. these characters will often be masked or diluted in first-generation hybrids back­ crossing to one parent or the other may often be necessary. By wise selection of parental materials, with continued cross­ ing and with careful later selection there are no presently apparent obstacles to the eventual production of first-quality de­ ciduous azaleas for the gardens of the lower south. Illustrations with these notes are from Left: Rhododendmn bakeri - Partial a pilot breeding proj ect at the National dou bleness is of occasional occur­ Arboretum, Washington, D. C. They renCe in most species of na tive represent the earliest steps in character azaleas. Such selections provide combination, but several further genera­ read y-made first steps towards fully tions will be required before selection and double hybrids. A double flower recombination can be expected to produce is illustrated here. quality of fl ower and habit combined, it is to be hoped, with southern climatic Right: Rhododendron arborescens X adaptability. atlanticum - A promising cross towards production of a large­ flowered stoloniferous white.

U. S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM l'HOTOGRAPHS

The African Violet

MRS. E. G. :MAGILL

The Rose-'which, it has been poeti­ Botanical j\1agazine in quoting a letter cally repeated - "Is a Rose," has con­ he had received from the elder St. Paul­ ceded some of its popularity to a host llaire: "The Saintpaulia was discov­ of violets from Africa. ered by my son, who lives in East Afri­ In the past decade, phenomenal prog­ ca, where he owns plantations of Van­ ress has been made in developing and illa and India-rubber trees. It was found improving the Saintpaulia (African vio­ in two localities: one about an hour let) so that it is evident there are no from Tanga, in wooded places, in the limits in sight to their potentials. fissures of limestone rocks, as well as in The ever-increasing number of en­ rich soil with plenty of vegetable mat­ thusiastic growers and collectors of the ter. This place is not more than fifty African vi 0 let is manifes ted in the to one hundred and fifty feet above the growth of the African Violet Society of sea level. The second pIa c e is in the America, Inc., with its 14,000 members. primeval forest of Usambara, likewise However, membership has now reached in shady situations, but on granite beyond a national boundary to Canada, rocks, two thousand five hundred feet England, Australia and several 0 ther above the sea. It is much more plenti­ countries. The Society has sprung like ful in the former place. Several vari­ a mushroom from six hobbyists, for eties have been discovered but all are whom the H. G. Hastings Company in blue." Atlanta, Georgia, staged the first Afri­ Seed was sent by Baron Walter von can Violet show, October, 1946, to its Saint Paul-Illaire to England, plants present number. That first display is were grown and exhibited at the Inter­ reported to have drawn three thousand national Horticultural Exhibit in 1893. visitors. Each year since the Society has They shared with Eulophiella, exhibit­ held an annual convention in major ed by Messers. Linden, the honor of be­ cities and staged both an amateur and ing the two most botanically interest­ commercial show. Beautiful trophies ing plants in the exhibition. The Saint­ and sizeable cash awards have been such paulia took the horticultural world by a challenge, competition is so keen it storm. Within two years of its flower­ would seem an all-time high has been ing, it figured in five first-class horticul­ reached for growing super-plants. But tural pu blications. After this there seems leave it to the ardent grower to come to have been a lapse of publicity until up with something more spectacular. 1901 when Revue Horticole again ex­ From the parent Society has grown a tols the African violet events. In the number of state organizations - Mis­ early days, the culture was given as that souri, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Illi­ of the Gloxinia. All these years later nois and a group of states in the north­ we still grow them the Gloxinia way east area as a council, also three hun­ but the culture of the plant itself has dred city and rural chapters. many an otherwise green-thumb gar­ The question is often asked, "Is it dener puzzled. really an African violet?" It is not a Without a doubt there are as many violet at all nor does it belong to the theories on growing media, fertilizers, violet family. It has the distinction of watering and containers for the cul­ being a part of that rather select family, tivation of the African violet as there the GESNERIACEAE. Though superficially are hobbyists growing them. The oft­ they look nothing alike, the large velvet­ repeated warning, "If you have a meth­ leaved Gloxinia, the entrancing Episcia, od tha t works and gives you good re­ Achimenes and a long list of others are sults, stick to it," would be a mighty of this same family. good motto for many a grower to pin According to the publisher of CUTtis' above the work bench. 28 JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 29

WA Y NE W. WILLIA MS Saintpaulia 'Ohio Bountiful'

Soils differ throughout the country nure) , 1 part rotted manure, 2 parts and even in a small area. Here is a basic sand or vermiculite. This mixture may formula used by a l arge number of be varied in any degTee you may wish; gTowers, 3 parts good black soil, 1 part do it, however, in small quantities until peat, 1 part compost (about half ma- you know the results. Zl O THE NATIONAL HORTICULTUR.-\L MAGAZINE

It will be several months after a plant strike a balance between these factors. i potted before any fertilizer is needed, Excellent blooming African violets if then. There is a large variety of plant can be grown in any exposure, north, food on the market, to say what is the east, south or west, with qualifications. best is an impossibility. Choose wisely It will be necessary to take inventory and use with the utmost caution. Too of your outdoor surroundings. A white often gardeners think "if a little is good, house next door, snow or water reflect more would be better," with sad results. light. If, however, the houses in your Feed your plants much as you do a locality are built close together or a child, a little at a time and often. They beautiful big elm tree is overhanging will burst into glorious bloom instead an exposure, your choice of windows of flopping over with a full cramping to use will of necessity be altered. You stomach, or roots, as the case may be. may even have to supplement the day­ One of the two questions most fre­ light. Should it be your good fortune quently asked about African violet cul­ to live in the wide open spaces with no ture is, "How often do you water?" Too shade trees, you will find yourself creat­ many conditions enter into this phase ing protection from the sun. A very thin of cuI ture for a specific rule to be set curtain, tissue paper or awning will do down for everyone. The temperature of the trick. a house, at 70° Fahrenheit the water It would seem there is more error can would not be filled as often as if it about what adequate light is than any were 90 °; texture of soil, peat requires other bit of plant culture. For most of more frequent watering than clay; ex­ us the eye serves as our light meter. posure, plants sitting in a south win­ Because the iris of the eye adjusts so dow where the sun intensifies the heat readily to any degree of light, one can against the window pane would dry out easily be led astray concerning a desig­ and evaporation from leaves would be nated amount of light. A meter that greater than those in a north window; measures candle foot is of great value, glazed pottery or plastic, can not be but it is not necessary to run around watered as often as the clay type. Test the house with a light meter in hand. the top soil with your finger if you like Perhaps a couple of true examples but I prefer a metal gadget that can will explain the sensitivity of plants to be swished through some antiseptic be­ light. Several years ago, a Red Bi-coloT tween each stir. When slightly damp on African violet was sitting on a glass top, give the plant a drink. Do not al­ shelf at a west exposure with twenty low the pot to sit in water more than other plants. Nineteen of them bloomed a couple of hours; the plants do not satisfactorily, Red Bi-color had one stem like wet feet. Remember these plants with one blossom about once in three once grev\T out of doors, they were wa­ months. After six months of this, the tered from the top when it rained and plant was given a friendly talking to siphoned it from the ?;round out of the and moved to the buffet in the dining rainy season. It makes no difference room. There is a long narrow sou th whether watering is done from top or window above that location through bottom as long as it is done and the which sun filters at intervals. Two weeks plants are not allowed to go for a swim. after Red Bi-color was moved to its new The other question so often asked is, abode, buds aplenty were visible. For " Why don't my plants bloom, I have more than a year from that time it was beau tiful foliage bu t no flowers?" Defi­ not without bloom, having as many as nitely the answer is LIGHT. However, thirty and not less than seven at any let me quickly emphasize that one ele­ time. ment of culture does not surpass an­ A greenhouse man who grows thou· other. If poor starved soil is used, all sands of African violets told of his wife the light that it is possible to get will taking home a plant full of bloom. In not produce the flowering you want. At due time that crop of blossoms was the same time, proper watering, as has spent and the all too prevalent story was already been men tioned, must be heard. Upon inquiry, it was learned worked out or the best soil and perfect that the plant was sitting on an occa­ light will not give the results desired. sional table, abou t three feet from the A bit of experimenting will help you window. Lucky is the person who has JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER I 31 success growing African violets, or necessary to subject the African violets plants of any kind, on the usual loca­ to at least fourteen hours of artificial tion of an occasional table. Follo'wing light out of each twenty-four. When sev­ suggestions, the table was moved as close eral hours of daylight are available, the to the window as was possible, but still artificial Ii g h t exposure can be cut the plant refused to bloom. This trial down a great deal. The more consistent and error process was taking place dur­ light they receive, the more beautiful ing the late winter months. After six the plants will be in every respect. weeks of waiting withou t results, the :Many types of con tainers are avail­ plant was moved to a south window able to growers these days. The pretty with a very, very thin curtain between pottery and plastic pots both come as it and the plant. About three weeks wick-fed pots. With a very large collec­ later five bud stems appeared. Like' Red tion, these can become quite expensive. Bi-color, it continued to bloom over a It would seem the common clay pot is long period of time and is still flower­ still the old faithful. However, I have ing to the satisfaction of the gro·wer. seen Saintpaulias growing in everything You must be the one to decide from the dime-store mixing bowls to tin whether you want abundance ot blos­ cans, and beautiful plants they were. I som or lush green foliage with fewer remember reading in one of Helen Van blossoms. Strong light will fade the foli­ Pelt ,Nilson's books something to this age to a ligh t yellowish color, bu t the effect, "A plant should be so well grown leaf pattern will be more compact, wi th and so beautiful that an onlooker is not good bloom. Leggy petioles and little cognizant of the flower pot." or no blossoms are the result of poor Like most every other plant that light. Experience will soon provide you grows, the African violet is susceptible with the knowledge of light that will to disease and pests. The old adage, an give the results a good grQwer is striving ounce of prevention is worth a pound for. The solution usually is, plenty of of cure, is just as good today as when light without direct sun. first stated. Do isolate any new plant For the window-s ill g'ardl'!ner who you bring into a collection or one that must- live in an apartment or for whom develops any suspi cious look. Check wi ndow space is a problem, fluorescent plants each time they are watered so as lights are a good substitute. Any corner to nip any intruder before it gets a in any room from the bathroom to the stronghold. Spray at regular intervals basement can now be utilized for grow­ with a good standard insecticide. Oh ing with excellent results. It need not yes, you can get the leaves wet (in the be an elaborate set up of benches and shade, however, or brown water spots multiple groups of fluorescent lights. will develop on the leaves). Don't you There are beautiful table-lamp plant­ recall we said they once grew outside ers that afford sufficient light to pro­ where there is a long rainy season? duce fine specimen plants. On the other Cyclamen mite, broad mite and the hand, if you are an enthusiastic grower mealy bug are most troublesome to the collecting hundreds of plants .. the base­ plants. Once infested with any of these, ment can readily be converted into a it tries the most genial patience to see wonderful greenhouse. Prepare benches them through the ordeal. Diligent dip­ of a h eight and width to suit the avail­ ping or spraying at weekly intervals is able space, suspend fluorescent tubes, a must to clean up anyone of them. 40 watt, daylig-ht or cool-white, twelve In most cases, it is better to discard an to fourteen inches above the rim of the infected plan t than to run the risk o£ flowerpots. There is no hard and fast spreading it through an entire co l1 ec~ rule as to the distance artificial lights tion. must be from plants. Some will bloom Fungi, such as crown and stem rot, prolifical1y fourteen inches below the plague many growers. Too much hu­ lights while others need to be several midity without proper ventilation is a in ch es closer. Like the daylight we common cause of this ailment. Caution talked about, you must be willing to must be exercised in watering when the do a bit of .shifting to learn where humidity is high. An electric fan can plants are happy. If the growing area be used to stir the air. The use of fer­ does not get any daylight, it will be tilizer during the winter months, when 32 THE lATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

WAY NE W. WILLIA MS Saintpaulia 'Bernice'

there is little or no sun, appears to en­ a degree by covering the rim of pots courage crown rot. Unless ample light with some type of aluminum foil to can be supplied for continued growth, prevent the petiole from absorbing the forget feeding from November to salts that accumulate 011 the edge of March. Stem rot can be controlled to the clay flower pot. JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER I 33

Springtails are bothersome things but develop into an elegant sp~c imen plant. not harmful. They appear where a great Since the day ionanthf ,_ and 'Blue deal of organic matter is used. If you Boy' were in troduced, hybridizers h ave are a smoker, crumble the tobacco from given us thousands of dew varieties. A cigarette butts in a quart jar, fill with li,stjng made by Carolyn ' R ector of San water and allow to stand twenty-four P~dro , California, records well over 4,- hours before watering plants with it. 000 varieties and I am told there are Away go the springtails, manure flies , at leas t that many more that people and many other creeping things in fl ow­ know of that are not on h er list. er pots. By selec tive leaf propagation, the va­ A well grown "Specimen" African vio­ rieties h ave been improved in size of let is the envy of any flower lover. Com­ flower and pattern of foliage, the most petition is gaining momentum w ith outstanding ch ange being in tbe white every African violet show taged, until variety. Though 'S now Prince' is not plants are being cultivated so that speci­ steadfast, it is possible to have a striking, men plants are the rule and not the l arge, glistening white blossom above exception in the window-sill garden. good gTeen foliage. Deeper pinks have There i a vast difference between the come forth, 'Pink Cheer' leading that "show" and "specimen" plants. A speci­ parade; many more double flow ers h ave men is always a show plant but a show been developed wi th larger and clearer plan t i not n ecessarily a specimen. It colored bIos oms. Fantastic patterns in is possible to place a show plant so that foliage with lush, rich hades of green it can be mistaken for a specim en un­ from lettuce to ripe olive are to be had, less it is examined closely. such as Kellar's 'Holly: 'Iowa' and the As most any grower will a ttes t, it is T .V. series. These, like the doubles, are a feat to develop a specimen p I ant. to be had in any shade of the color Many times, just when one is about to chart, except yellow. Then there are the decide a plant is as near perfect as can bi-color and the variegated, both blos­ be grown, an African violet h as a way som and leaf. The la test creation to be­ of sending its crown off northwest. This siege African violetdom are the double causes ' the foliage to grow heavier on pinks with their rosebud-like blossoms, one side than the other, consequently 'Ohio Bountiful,' 'Pink Cloud,' 'Pink detracting from the perfect symmetry Dresden: and a host of others. 'Harvey' that gives a plant the largest number and 'Shine Boy' seem to be the forerun­ of points when being judged. A perfect ners of something more interes ting to wheel with compact spacing of leaves come. The small blossom of 'Shine Boy' leaves much to be desired in it, but the gives the desired shape so u ~ht for. Con­ trary petioles can be made to do just smooth hairless leaf creates conversa­ about anything you want them to by tion. 'Harvey' is a great improvement propping them in place with toothpicks over 'Shine Boy.' or similar sticks. Floriferousn ess or quan­ Some of the so-called older ones still tity of bloom is the second virtue one hold their place with the new. 'Blue strives for: cultural perfection, tha tis, Warrior' stays at the top of the list and freedom from disease, ins ec ts and has just a bou t everything to be desired marred foliage is third place, with size in a plant. A profusion of medium-blue of bloom according to variety follo'wing blossom is held well above the darkest very close behind and color of blossom green velvet-like foliage with a red back. according to variety bringing up the The foliage is deeply veined, making a rear. beautiful quilted pa ttern. 'DuPont Lav­ In order to h ave blue ribbon plants, ender Pink' with its two to two and a the grooming must begin with a leaf half inch blossom held well above heavy when it is selected for propagation. As foliage, densely covered with a blanket the plant matures, the suckers (they are of fine hair, is always a breath-taking small plants that develop between the sight. 'Number 32' has a blossom color petioles or along the crown) should be unique unto itself over a dark, quilted, removed. All aforementioned phases of shiny leaf. 'Violet Beauty' is another old culture have to be closely adhered to faithful in many collections. A long list and practiced diligently if a leaf is to of others could be added, bu t . .. NEAL V. CLARK} JR. CypTess water tram White H ill Lake reflects ovej'hanging gTOwth

34

CYPj'CSS pool, rypTess lm ees, and cypress tTees , , ..

NEAL V. CLARK} JR. LOUISA VENABLE KYLE Rim of the sand dunes sixty feet high which borde1° the southern bay shO?"e area Virginia Seashore State Park

LOUISA VENAB~E KYLE & KATHARINE FONTAINE SYER

The Virginia Seashore State Park is cession of plant life-algae, fungi, lich­ 3,500 acres of wilderness, virtually un­ ens, mosses, ferns and flowering plants. changed since Captain John Smith and The heart of the park lies as a protected his company explored it in 1607. Eco­ amphitheater rimmed by ridges and logically, it is a transition zone. The dunes approximately sixty feet high. In variety of plant life is large, consequent­ places there is a sheer drop from the ly. It is a giant test tube of sand and top of a dune to below sea level in a cy­ water in which the creation of Prehis­ press pool. toric times seems to occur before your From the sand ridges that run own eyes. Geodetically, it is important through the park, as well as around it, in measuring the recession of our shore one looks down on the great swampy line and the rise and fall of the ocean. areas where the black cypress water re­ Its effects on winds and erosion is im­ flects, like a mirror, the gray spanish measurable. Hemmed in by sand dunes, 1110SS pendant upon the giant cypress bound by the sea and inland bays, it is trees, or upon ponds filled with thou­ still a forest primeval. sands of water lilies, or lakes where mi­ Few places in the eastern United States gratory birds rest. offer the variety of plants for botanists The topography of these thousands of or naturalists who wish long range study acres in Virginia Seashore State Park programs of five to ten years. Here, due helps to give the variety to its plant life. in part to its proximity to the Gulf On one side of a hill in the sand will Stream, nature lovers can see an unusual grow seaside heather (Hue/sonia tomen­ variety of flora. This wilderness is the tosa) , delicate pink sand joint weed northernmost range of some p lants; the (Polygonella artiwlata) , prickly pear southernmost range of others. (Opuntia humifusa) , while on the op­ On the more than thirty miles of posite side of the same hill, growing in trails, one can observe the ·whole pro- humus may be found orchids; such as 35 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

NEAL V. CLARK} JR.

White Hill Lake - a laTge fTesh wateT lake at the base of White Hill, the highest point in ViTginia SeashoTe State Par11 JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 57 cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor), "'iNe found faire medowes, fresh wa­ pink lady slipper (Cypripediurn acaule) , ters, that lay back of white hilly sand lady's tresses (Spiranthes Lucida), ferns and was suggestive of the Downes" [Sus­ in gTeat variety, and fungi. Partridge­ sex, England]. berry and arbutus are found in abun­ Captain John Smith, writing in the dance. As many as fifty pink orchids early years of the seventeenth century, were counted in bloom on one of the mentioned fruit trees in Virginia still trails in one morning. The cranefly or­ found in this wilderness, "Plumbs there chid as well as the rattlesnake orchid are of all sorts, the red and white like are quite common. our hedge plumbs." Nationally known botanists have stud­ In describing the native persimmons, ied and listed the large range of plants which are found throughout Virginia, found in this untouched forest. he says, "The others which they [the In­ The most complete study and list of dians] call Pulchamis grow as high as native plants were made in 1942, by palmetas. The fruit is like a medlar, it Frank E. Egler, of the New York State is first green, then yellow and red. If College of Forestry, at Syracuse. Since it is not ripe it will drive a man's mouth then many new species have been found. awire [s ic] with much torment, but The Virginia Seashore State Park is when ripe it is as delicious as an apri­ loveliest in spring, with tender green, cock." beige and yellow tree foliage-a back­ Captain John Smith declared, "Hea­ ground for the shadbush and dogwood ven and earth never agreed better to flowers. The 11 a t i ve yellow jessamine fashion a place for man's habitat." climbs the pine trees and the red flow­ The "ci presse" that the early settlers ers of the maples open against the blue noted grows into great trees whose 'weird sky. The brown carpet of the woods is trunk colors the water in the lagoons decorated with wildflowers and unfold­ and their lovely feathery green spring ing fronds of ferns. foliage reaches for the sun. John Bar­ It was thus on a clear and sparkling tram, 1699-1777, whom Linnaeus, de­ Sunday, April 26, 1607, that the three cribed as "the greatest natural botanist small ships, Goodspeed, Discovery and in the world," wrote of the American Susan Constant, landed and anchored cypress, "The delicacy of its color, the at Cape Henry. After four months on texture of its leaves excells everything the storm-tossed winter Atlantic, the ex­ in vegetation." plorers tou ched this land with joy and The swamp-bay (Magnolia virgin­ thanksgiving. They fashioned a rude iana), a shrub in most places north of cross and, kneeling a bou tit, they Georgia, grows to trees, twenty inches thanked God for a safe journey. They in diameter in this wilderness. Here then set out to explore the new land grow haH-a-dozen varieties of holly, as which they were to claim for England, well as, red cedar, n1.aple, oaks of all but which today belongs to the people kinds including giant live oak, beech, of the Commonwealth of Virginia. loblolly or rosemary pine, black gum Before they sighted land, the weary a nd cotton gum. sailors mentioned in their log book, "a T h e Virginia Seashore State Park is strange sweet savor wafted to them by remarkable also for its accessibility, be­ the breeze from the west." It must h ave ing less than five minutes from areas of been the loblolly pines and red cedars urban and resort living. Time and again, which they smelled. it h as been eyed by land developers and The Honorable George Percy, jour­ other business men, but it is because of nalist of the party, wrote, in a glowing the vigilance of conservationists, botan­ account, that, "vVe passed through ex­ ists, zoologists, geologists and other sci ­ cellent ground full of flow ers of divers entists in many fields throughout the kind and colours and as goodly trees as nation, who know its value, that it ex­ I have seene, as Cedar, C~presse and oth­ ists as a wilderness today. er kinds ... Fine and beautiful straw­ Permission to study in the Virginia berries foure times better and bigger Seashore State Park must be obtained than ours in England . .. We cannot from the Virginia Department of Con­ se t down a foote but tread on straw­ servation and Development, (Mr. Ran­ berries. dolph Odell), Richmond 19, Virginia. A Book or Two

(Bool1s designated" (Libmry) " are available tor loon to the M embership)

All the Plants of the Bible. Trees and Shrubs for the Southern Winifred , ·\Talker. Harper & Brothers , New Costal Pla in. Yo rk. 1957 . 244 pages. Illustrated. $4.95. Brooks E. Wigginton. University of Georgia (Library) . Press, Athens, Georgia. 1957. 154 pages. Miss ,,,Talker has long enjoyed a reputation Illustrated. $2.50. (Library). as a botanical artist of distinction, working in This paper-bound, 154 page treatise by Brooh various fields that required of her not only the E. 'Wigginton of the Department of Landscape artist's sk ills but the accuracy that belongs to Architecture of the University of Georgia in­ the scien tist. cludes very brief discussions of the clima te and In a way, the present volume represents a soils of the selected region which is shown on labor of love, as it is a fulfillment of h er long a map that shows also average annual rainfall time wish to know about the plants of the for various parts of the region. The author em ­ Bible. Using Dr. Moldenke's earlier work, as phasizes the importance of basic plant materials a point of departure for her studies, she started in the development of a functional, restful and on the five year program of painting the plants aestheticall y pleasing garden. This is not essen­ that now form the major part of the book, and tially a trealise on horticultural methods. The the studies that go with each plate, texts from book should help the beginner as well as the the Bible, both the usual version and some of more advanced amateur in the selection of re­ the Apocrypha, with a page long discussion of liable plant material. Subject ma tter is or­ the facts as well as the lore tha t has grown up ganized in 8 chapters, namely, vines, ground­ about each one. covers, dwarf, small, medium, and large shrubs, While some of the botanists may cavil a t the small trees, and large trees. The lists and ade­ informality of some of the presenta tion, the quate descriptions of plants fill 135 pages. There gardener and the Bible student will thoroughly are two appendices with special lists of plants enjoy seeing the plates, and reading the texts, for the New Orleans area and for seaside and possibly even learning the H ebrew names of shore areas of Georgia, North Florida, and the the plants that they have long known in English Gulf Coast. There are no illustrations. An or Latin. index is provided. The cover and frontispiece are in co lor, the C. M. remaining pictures in black and white. All show lhe nice quality of the brush work that dis­ tinguishes Miss Walker's work with no mud­ The New England Vegetable Garden. dling about, no messing of unce rtain colors, and slraightforward draughtsmanship. Samuel Ogden. The Countryman Press, Wood­ B. Y. M. stock, Vermont. 1957. 144 p ages. Illustrated. $4.95. This book details the author's methods, pref­ erences, and views as developed, chiefl y, through T ayl(lT's Garden Guide. his own experience in his own garden in the mounta ins of Vermont. The planting and har­ Norman Taylor. D. Van Nostrand Company, ves ting dales, varietal l"ecommendations and de­ Inc., Princeton, New J ersey. 1957. 509 pages. tails of certain practices are applicable only to Illustrated. $5.95. (Library) . conditions similar to those o·f the author's dis­ This book could perhaps bes t be described trict, but his philosophy of gardening, of crop as a complete listing of choice plant materials and soil management, should be provocative to and the uses to which they a re b es t suited. It all gardeners, regardless of location. is divided into chapters pertaining to specifi c The a uthor indicates that he is now more plant types such as evergreens, herbs, fruits, interested in the esthetic, philosophical, and the and perennials; to plants of various colors; to less immediately "practical" results of gardening monthly fl owering calendars; and to plants of than in the curren t economic value of produce ma ny fragrances, plus numerous other categories. resulting from his efforts and experience. Since Each plant is described brie fl y and full y as his earlier book " How to Grow Food for your to height, color of bloom and berry, a utumn Family" he has modified many of his views re­ coloring, foliage type, and a ny other helpfu l lating to soil fertility, plant nutrition, and pes t data. control, in the direction of the vi ews of the T he Gt.ide would be most useful for one who "organiC gardening" enthusiasts. is des igning garden a reas, or has little knowl­ In common with many who have come to edge of plant materials. This is not for one apprecia te the great importance of organic mat­ who is seeking information on the growing and ter in the so il the a uthor seems unaware that care of plants, as no cultural notes are given. soil sc ientists and other "scientific agriculturists" Mr. Taylor has devoled his Encycl0tJedia of also stress the importance of organic matter and Gm'dening to this subject and therefore feels have stressed it for generations; tha t a great hat including it in this volume would be body of sound scientific evidence shows that repeti tious. organic matter is essential in soils; and that CA ROL LANDA manures and oreler organic matter plus judiciOUS 38 JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER I 39 li se of fertilizer (a nd lime where needed) give The Magic Wodd of Flowe?" ATTanging_ better results under most conditions than either manures or inorganic substances alone. Farmers Myra J. Brooks, Mary Alice & John P. Roche. and gardener ' common neglect and disregard M. Barrows and Company, Inc., New Yo·rk. of scient!fic evidence rega rding the importance 1956. 192 pages. 16 color, 86 black-and-wh ite of orgallic ma tter seem to be misin terpreted as illustrations. $10.00 . (Library) . a lack of appreciation of its importance on the A fl ower arranger and two photog-ra phers have part of the "scientific" agricultural investigators collaborated in creating an effective work of and ,,:nters ... Fertilize rs are recommended by art in picturing and describing compositions them 111 add,tion to organic matter rather than which might be exhibited in various cl asses of instead of it. a fl ower show schedule. They have taken as The author's own garden site, so il conditions, their source m aterial the every-day things from management practices, planting schemes, and the sea, sky, and earth and the creative possi­ numerous pertinent other points are clearly il­ bilities in each from past, present, and the lustrated b y attractive drawings, diagrams, and dynamic fu ture. plans; some of the procedures are illustrated in Adelaide Wilson in her Foreword says "Truly step-by-s tep detail. The au thor has developed this is not a book for a year but a guide for highly productive garden plots on a site that ma ny years to come. All of u who attempt to presented d ifficul t problems. The practices de­ create beauty with natural ma terials do indeed scribed are highly satisfactory to him under owe a debt to these talen ted en thusia ts." his conditions, but many gardeners may be M. C. L. either unwilling or unable to apply some of the d eV1GeS or procedures described. T hey are all, however, of interest as illustrations of what one diligent, careful, and thoughtful gardener has been able to do under circumstances that origi­ Botany fO T Gardel1en nally appeared far from favorable. H a rold ·William Rickett. The Macmillan T here are detailed chapters on sites, oils, Company, New York. 1957. 236 page. Illus- so il fertility, tools a nd eqUipment, soil prepara­ trated. $4.5 0. (Library) . tion, pla n ting sc hemes and planting, and culti­ vat1l1g and a chap ter containing details on the This is an excell ent book for the serious gar­ growing of each of so me two dozen specific dener who wa nts to learn about plants. It is an annual vegetables. T he author properly stresses accurate, non-technical book of botany that is the importance of accumulating well-prepared about "h ow plants grow" rather than "h ow to com post and describes its use in planting. grow plants." The author begins with the seed, The author writes in a highly readable, clear, what it is and how it grows and continues on conversational style with no effort to conceal through the m any topics rela ted to the growth his own engaging personality. The book is a of plants as the parts of the plant, their func­ pleasure to read. tions, food manufacture, h ow plants propagate, VICroR R . BOSWELL flowers, fruits, seeds and concluding with a chapter on plant diseases. The chapter on Flowers is an example of how the topics are covered. In this one there is a discussion of the influence of day length, temperature, and nutrition on flow ering as well as a discuss ion Seven K eys to D istinction in Flowe?" of the parts of the flow er and their arrangemen t which naturally leads into the topic of plant Arrangement. relationships. Anita Steele. H earthside Press, Inc., New This book fill s a n important need for those York. 1957. 127 pages. Illustrated. $3.50. who want to know more about plants. It has (Library) . good solid informa tion, readable but not over T he seven keys are: Inspiration (the Master) , technical, written for the lay gardener. It should be included on lists of books required Expression (through the language of design), for study in garden club schools. Discrimination (in containers and accessories), Perception (in choice of plant material), For­ CONRAD B. LINK mation (the art of achieving depth) , Simplicity (eliminating non-essentials) , and you'll get the seventh when yo u buy the book. Each chapter enlarges on the subject key and Using Wayside Plants. an additional chapter "Flower Shows, the Final Test" is the fiNal test. Sin€e the most important Nelson Coon. Published by the author, item in arrangement may be the possibilities for vVatertown, Massachuseus. 1957. 254 pages. home decora tion, Steele asks, "Why then are Illustrated. $3.00. flower shows the final test?" This, too, is nicely This is a very personal volume. One senses answered in the book. it immediately on readi.ng the preface, even be­ The analysis of the illustration, according to fore one is aware that the author has made the numerical keys, plus the commentary by almost all of the illustrations, designed the IVlargaret Dodson, is very helpful, although make up of the book and generally brought off you may not agree with each rating·, it will test a tour de fO?"ce of some dimensions. your mettle as a judge. In the first chapter, the author presents his The book is recommended for all serious claim that this is a "How-to-do-it book" and arrangers and exhibitors. that the first chapter is devoted to answering G. P. V IT. the inevitable ques tions of "who, what, where, 40 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE when, and why" a delightful list. It is a book The calendar of month by month instructions fi lled with p ersonal opinions and expressions of should also be helpful as a guide for doing very personal taste. They are modestly set things at the propel' time. This again may re­ fo rth, but firmly and with conviction. i'Vhat quire some modification according to individual th ey are should be left to each reader to dis­ co nditions. cover for himself, but it will betray no secret The list of plants and notes repor ting on how and spoil no reading to say that the author the plants turned out at the end of one year believes that every roadside, and there are a illustrates one method of recording results which variety of such, provides not only major in­ would be h elpful over a period of years in de­ terest for anyone who is informed, but food, termining the methods to u se in successful suc­ craft m a terial, medicine on the h erb alist's level. culent production. T h e geographic area treated is the nOTtheastern This little volume's chief usefulness lies in the United States. fact that one is supplied with the essentials with­ The illustration s are mostly line drawings, out being required to wade through unnecessary more with p en than otherwise though a few technical descriptions. look as if done with dry br ush. They are by J. A. JOHNSON, P'resident, no means equal in merit bu t all show the true Philadelphia Cactus and character of the plant depicted. There will be Succulent Society many differences of opinion as to the layouts, the planning of pages, but no one can dismiss the book as dull! For this Teviewer the most Handbook tOT Vegetable GTOwers. interesting part of the art work is the series of small decorative blocks that serve to head chap ­ J ames Edward Knott. John '!\Tiley & Sons, Inc., ters and divide texts, all of them strongly remi­ New York. 1957 . 238 p ages. Illustrated . niscerot of J apanese work. The other drawings, $3.95. (Library). combinations of brush, pen and spatter are the The a uthor's choice of su bject matter fo r this work 0.[ Miss Frances McGaw, and occupy full handbook shows rare discrimination. The list­ page arrangem ents. ings, tabulations, diagrams, formulas and com­ T he first ch apter that begins to parade the pilations presented afford exact documented in­ contents h as to do with foods, and includes a formation o n a remarkably wide range of sub­ long series of recipes for "food" in every form jects that most vegetable growers and gardeners including drink! 'What more could one ask? frequently want but can not find readily (or This reviewer h aving been brou ght up to eat a adeq uately treated) in many texts, "garden portion of the items proposed h ere, and not books," hand books and popular publications, relishing them too gTeatly, is perhaps not the commonly available. best p erson to review the book, but in spite Of most value to the commercial grower and of his early dislikes, there are several new items the advanced amateur, the results of modern h ere that tempt him. technical research are presented for immediate B. Y. M. practical use by growers and shippers; and there is a wealth of material 0.£ no less interest to the amateur. The b ook should prove to be a very useful supplement to the numerous incomplete H ow to lVlahe Cacti FloweT. sources of inform ation reaching vegetable grow­ ers today. Edg'ar L amb. Pitman Publishing Corporation, Some of the tabulations and summaries of New York. 1955 . 80 p ages. Illustrated. $1.95. special usefulness deal with subjects such as: (Library) . The botanical classification of vegetables; tem­ This is a very readable and [)Tactical presenta­ perature requirements, days to emergence, rates tion of cactus culture, with, as the title infers, of crop p lant development; time to produce emphasis on flower production. T11e title tends transplants of specific plants; area transplant­ to be a little inept since the author deals with able from unit area of plant bed; spacing, feet other succulents as well as cacti. However, the of row p er acre, number of plants per acre at differences between the vario us succtllent group s different sp acings; quantities of plant parts to are defined. plant an acre; composition of manures and other . The 'purpose of the book is set forth clearly organic materials; seeding of cover crops; nitro­ 111 the 1I1troductlOn . A list of plants, as appears gen relations of cover crops; Truog's avail­ in Part I, is always interesting for comparison . ability chart; pH ranges, liming, plant tolerance The numbers with the names as given will not to pH and to salt; acid and alkali equivalents of be of too great use to people in the United States fertilizers; nutrient removal from soils by crops; as they refer to an English collection. The list fertilizer solubility, starter solutions; fertilizer referred to als0 gives beginners an idea of what conversion factors; depth of rooting; water rela­ plants should be in a good collection. Good tions and irrigation; p es ticide preparation and flowering typ es are included. Since the book is application; handy conversion tables of weights written from the point of view of greenhouse and m easures; seed storage requirements; and culture the procedures will have to be modified isolation distances for seed crops. slightly depending upon the environment the SHbject matter is presented chiefly in tabular, reader can provide. Emphasis on rest conditions, outline, or graphic form, with a minimum of proper winter temperatures, water, ligh t, and conventional "text." Major parts are indicated ventilation is excellent since these factors con­ by m arginal markings for quick finding; the trol good flower production. indexing is extensive and thorough; the whole The 50 pictures of cacti and succulents that is spirally bound in limp plastic cover, pocket are included are good and should be a h elp to size. the beginner in identifying these plan ts . VICTOR R. BOSWELL JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 41

R ea ding th e Landscape. (An very co nsiderable adva ntage. T he only dissent­ Adventure in Ecology) . ing voice, and a very reaso nable one, comes from Dr. Cynthia '''' esco tt, who properly points l\/fay Theilgaard ·Watts. The Macmillan Com­ out what (Toubles may arise when some o f the pany, New York. 1957. 230 pages. Illustrated. diseases which are, fantasticall y enough, her $4.'75. (Library). daily bread, enjoy mulches too. This is a very different kind of book o n plan ts The disclls ions are very so und and the con­ ince it is co ncerned with them as they grow clu sions trustworthy within the region outlined. under many kinds of natll\'al co nditions. It is a There are no disc ussions of costs. however, and popular book in ecology. Mrs. 'Watts, who is nothing about the availability of the different lhe Naturalist at the Morton Arboretum, de­ mulching materials for those who would have scribes the plants that are found under many to buy them, rather th an collect them for different conditions. This is done by taking themselves. visits to such places as the Sand Dunes along B. Y. M. Lake Michigan; to a quaking bog; and a stream valley in Indiana, where she tells of the plants that are found a nd what Changes are taking place in the plant population. She tells of a Gardening: A New Wodd fOT Children. visit to the "Vhea tl and Plowing Matches and of Sally '''' right. The Macmillan Company, New the changes from the pra irie to farm land, the York. 1957. 183 pages. Illustrated. 2.75. introduced plants that have spread and the (Library) . changes brought a bout by machines. Each chapter is illustrated with interesting sketch es Gardening and the interest in growing plants and includes a bibliography for the more tech­ ca n be an important pan in the development nically minded to read. of a child. A plant interest that develops early H er final chapter on the Stylish House, or can continue to be a joy a nd satisfaction for Fashions as an Ecological Factor is different as year s to com e. T he author of this book gives she describes the changes in landscape and in­ m an y uggestions for the beginning and develop­ m ent of such a plant interest. For example, door use of plants in a house from I 856 when sowing of seed is a si mple thing to do a nd to the first white pine was bought from a traveling watch the young seedings emerge but an added nurseryman plus those plants brought from the interest can be had by sowing them in a fancy East plus the geraniums at the window. As the pattern or in the outline of ·the childs name. home is taken over b y the eldest so n canna beds are made in the lawn and a rubber plant is The growing of dwarf varieties, child size, is another suggestion. Another, is the growing of placed in the parlor. Each family makes changes plants for food for som e famil y pet or perhaps down to the present but a few plants are always even to provide a setting for a pet as a toad, or kept. The white pine, bleeding I~ eart, apple other animal in a terrarium or cage. Flower tree and Christmas cactus have seen all of the arranging is suggested, to be used in the home changes with the house. or for gifts as well as using fl owers and plant This is a book to read and enjoy. It makes materials for art work, plaques, corn husk dolls you want to take a field trip with the author and other hobby activities. Plants with odor and have h er help you Read The Landscape. are of interes t to children or those of some novel C. B . L. form or action as the sensitive plant, quaking oats or touch-me-not. Dish gardens or terrari­ ums are convenient ways of co ntinuing the in­ Handbook of Mulches. teres t through the winter months. Parents and t.eachers who are concerned with Guest Editor Paul Frese. A special printing developing a garden and plant interes t in chil­ of Plants and Gardens, Vol. 13, No.1, Spring dren will find many helpful sugges tions. It is 1957. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, written for ~ h e adult. New York. 80 pages. Illustrated. $1.00. CONRAD B. LIN K Following its cu stom of some yea, s standing, the Garden has now iss ued a very useful dis­ cussion of mulches, their kinds and uses, with due notation of some of the difficulties that may Cacti fOT Decomtion. follow under certain cirCL~mstal'lces. Vera Higgins. Pitman Publishing Corpora­ Dr. Avery defines a mulch as "man's version tion, New York. 1956. 68 pages. Illustrated. of what happens on the floor of a forest where $1.95. (Library). over the decades tree litter accumulates and gradually decays . .. .." Although the title would seem to indicate Man of course, in the several treatments that snggestions about the selection of these plants follow, uses a mulch as often to reduce his own for a specific container or location, we find that labors of weeding and feeding rather than just onl y a very small portion of the book is actual! y to make an annual increment of organic ma­ devo ted to this subject. terials, and going farther, admits that the mulch Directions on the care and culture of cacti in its artificial form presents a form of garden al>ld succulents are given fully, and over one decoration as well. quarter of the book is devo Ged to general de­ None of the authors comes from farther west sc riptions of the most desirable of these for than Iowa or Minneso ta or farther south than home use. Virginia. This should prove most helpful to the horne The writers appear to have a considerable gardener or apartment dweller interested in variation in the plants that they grow and knowing about something easy to grow. mUlch, and all seem to have found mulches to CAROL LANDA 42 THE NATIONAL HORT1CULTURAL MAGAZINE

How to Nlahe Containers and Access01'ies information on shows, meetings, seed exchange, and the like. f01- Flowel- A1'1-angements. FREDERIC P. L EE J ean B. Amer and Alma L. Gray. H earthside Press, Inc., New York. 1957. 128 pages. Illus­ o the?' Books Added to the Libml-y trated. $3 .50. (Library) . A glance at the table of contents give one an We Made A Gal·den. idea of what to expect from this book: Nature's i'vlargery Fish. ,,,r. H. & L. Collingridge, Ltd., gifts from sea and shore; Bounty from mountain London. 1956. 120 pages. Illustrated. About and plain; "Working wi th wood; Articles from $5.00. (Library) . paper and paste; Foil, wire and other metal­ craft; and the like. There are m any ideas that Th e Complete Book of Lawns. might be useful to scou t leaders, homemaker F. F. Rockwell & Esther C. Grayson. The clubs (whatever they are), bazaar leaders, and American Garden Guild and Doubleday & their ilk. These ideas will not appeal, probably, Company, New York. 1956. 190 pages. Ill.us­ to the expert flower arrangers and exhibitors. trated. $3 .95. (Library) . Planning your work space is a chapter con­ laining many excellent suggestions for all in­ Cmp Pmtection. terested in the subject. The illustrations are very good, clear, and pertinent to the text; G. J. Rose. Philosophical Library, New York. Robert Dudley adds interest with his drawings. 1955. 223 pages. Illustrated. $10.00. (Library) . G. P. w . C lassies of Biology. The Lily Yearbook, 1957. August Pi Suner. (English translation by P. M. Synge and Miss G. E. Peterson. Editors. Charles M. Stern). Philosophical Library, 148 pages. 37 plates. The Royal Horticul­ New York. 1955. 337 pages. Illustrated. tural SOCiety, London. $1.65. :Jii 7.50. (Library) . North America.n Lily Society Y earbook, 1957 Light, Vegetation and Chlomphyll. Dr. George L. Sla te, Editor. 146 pages. 34 J. Terrien, G. Truffaut, & J. Carles. (Trans­ plates. Obtainable from the editor, 37 High­ lated by Madge E. Thompson) . Philosophical land Avenue, Geneva, New York. $3.15 (Li­ Library, New York. 1957. 228 pages. Illus­ l)fary) . trated. $6.00. (Library). Among other items, the British yearbook has a symposium on "m y five favorite lilies" by Plant Physiology. (Fourth Edition) Veronica Tennant, Dorothy G. R enton, and Meirion Thomas, S. L. R anson, & J. A. Rich­ G. H. Preston; descriptions b y Lawrence Beane ardson. Philosophical Library, New York. of California of some of the undescribed lilies 1956. 692 p ages. Illustrated. $12.00 (Library). of Southern California associated with L. hum­ boldti, accompanied by excellent line drawings Soil Fertility and FertilizeTS. of the flowers and bulbs; and a historical article Samuel L. Tisdale & ,,,rerner L. Nelson. The on the Easter Lily and its clones and selected Macmillan Company, New York. 1956. 430 seedling groups by Lawrence Ogilvie. There are pages. Illustrated. $7.75. (Library) . several short articles on lily cultu re and develop­ ments in New Zealand, Australi a, and northern Soil-Plant Relationships. Transvaal; also, the usual reports of the Lily C. A. Black. J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Show and of the Lily Group meetings (this York. 1957. 332 pages. Illustrated. $7.00. time on California lilies, growing from seed , and "any questions") . (Library) . The North American Society yearbook has a valuable and extensive article by Dr. Samuel L. The Genus Phlox. Emsweller of the United States Department of Edgar T. Wherry. As.sociates of the Mor;'~s Agriculture on propagation of lilies; descriptions Arboretum, PhiladelphIa, Pennsylvama. 19;:>:). of the rhizomatous lilies of the Pacific Coast 174 pages. Illustrated. $4.00. (Library) . with excellent line drawings of the bulbs or rhizomes (a duplication in part of the British ManaO"in g Southern Soils. yearbook article); an account of L. speciosum H . BO Vanderford. John '''Tiley & Sons, Inc., and its varieties b y Dr. George H. M . Lawrence; New York. 1957 . 378 pages. Illustrated. and descriptions and culture of the Indian or $4.75. (Library) . Himalayan lilies by Edgar L. Kline. Other propagation articles cover propagation by scales Soil. The Yeal-book of A gTicu lt'U1'e, 1957. in polye thylene, sawdust, and beds in cold A!fred Stefferud, Editor. United States De­ frames or unheated buildings. There are sev­ pa rtment of Agriculture (Superintendent of eral notes on culture of particular lilies here Documents, Washington 25, D. C.). 1957 . and abroad and a report on the Lily Show of 784 pages. Illustrated. $2.25. (Library). Can the Garden Club of Virginia. also be obtained free from your Congressman The American yearbook has less material of or Senator. an ephemera1 character than the British year­ book. The lily enthusiast, however, would will­ The F01-d 1958 AI17wnae and Gm-dener's ingly forego neither of these volumes and cer­ tainly should be a member of the North Amer­ Guide. ican L il y Society. Its members receive, in addi­ John Strohm, Edito-r. Simon a nd Schuster, tion to the Yearbook, a quarterly bulletin to New York. 1957 . 176 pag"es. Illustrated. which it relegates much of its " housekeeping" $1.00. (Library) . The Gardeners' Pocketbook

Cochliostema jacobianum seeds. All the plants I know of in the U. S. are seedlings of the mother plant Not more than a handful of plant illustrated here. specialists in the United States have ever This plant is quite adaptable and seen a plant of Cochliostema jacobia­ should become a popular patio, or ve­ Hum. Fewer still have seen it is flower. randa, plant in South Florida or areas of Nevertheless, this rare and intriguing similar climate. Though an epi phyte plant is beginning to arouse interest in in nature it will thrive in good rich pot­ ornamental horticultural circles. ting soil or in a mixture made of soil, C. jacobianum is a handsome plant rocks, and broken tree bark. The plan t reaching three feet and more in height will take full sun in the tropics if prop­ with numerous spreading leaves and erly hardened to it. Under such condi­ large axillary peduncles bearing violet­ tions an attractive reddish brown pig­ blue flowers. It is a very large epiphytic ment is developed along the leaf mar­ member of the COMMELINACEAE with a gms. It does very well under light shade, growth habit completely atypical of the also. family. I have kept a plant of this species as About 1948, while I was living in a house plant overwinter in IVlaryland Turrialba, Costa Rica, I received two but it does not reach its best develop­ small plants of what I took to be a m.ent in the reduced light and low hu­ bromeliad from one of the numerous midity of a heated home in winter. plant collectors who visited our place. Plants are known to have flowered in I do not know now who the donor was. greenhouses at Glenn Dale, Maryland, at These two plants were potted and con­ Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, and tinued to grow in my plant collection at the Bailey Hortorium, New York. with no care until in 1950 when they The long history as satisfactory house started to flower-from the leafaxils! plants of some of the other members of This flowering habit, and the flower, at the COMMELINACEAE suggests the possi­ once indicated that my "bromeliads" bility of adapting this superb member were members of the COMMELINACEAE. through hybridization to house concli­ Thereafter, they began to receive better tions. Its failure to set seeds except attention and soon were identified as when pollinated also favors this possi­ Cochliosterna jacobianum by Charles H. bility. Crosses have been attempted be­ Lankester. tween it and Set?'ecesia ptLrpurata and In 1952 one plant was given to L. with some of the Tradescantias but with­ Maurice Mason, a British plant collector ou t success. I was never fortunate in see­ and farmer, who carried it to Kew. Mr. ing this species in the wild in Costa Rica Mason advised me later that it flowered; but it is known to be abundant there as the first of this plan t to be flowered there. an epiphyte in the forests near the Atlan­ The other plant remained in my posses­ tic coast areas between Puerto Limon and sion until 1954 and it is still prospering the Panamanian border. Doubtless some in cultivation in Costa Rica. collectors passing through these areas when plants were not in bloom have I never saw any insects visiting the thought of them as bromeliads. flowers. No seeds were ever produced C. jacobianum was originally de­ until flowers were hand pollinated. Some scribed from and is a native of the Andes of the resulting seed was germinated; the of Ecuador. Standley's Flom of Costa plants distributed locally. Some seeds Rica makes no mention of this species in were sent to several locations in the Cos ta Rica aside from the following on United States, including the Bailey Hor­ page 163: "Werckle has published the torimn, and Fantastic Gardens, South following statement: 'In the mountains Miami, Florida, and a number of plants south of Turruvares a gigantric Cochlio­ were raised and flowered from t.hese stema is abundant, and covers the thick 43 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

C ochliostema jacobianwn

A close-ttp view of the inflO1'escences of a 30 inch plant, showing buds, fully opened floweTs, and closed floweTs which aTe spent, Note the fTinge of ha iTS on the ohova te petals, JANUARY 1958, VOLUlVIE 37, NUMBER 1 45 trunks of the trees. It is a very beau ti­ The description below is from B otani­ ful epiphyte.' He reports it also from cal Magazine 94: t. 5705, 1868, by J. D. the Cordillera de Dota, as a plant 2 Hooker. This reference contains a beau­ meters in height. The genus is known tiful colored illustration of this plant. only from Ecuador, but probably it is represented also in Costa Rica." COCHLIOSTEMA J ACOBIANUM The following quotation from a letter General J acobi's Cochliostema received August 2, 1957, from C. H. Nat. Ord. Commelyneae.-lVIonadelphia Lankes ter, Cartago, Costa Rica, is in­ Triandria. cluded below to record some of the early Gen. ChaT. Sepala 3, oblonga, obtusa, history of this plant in that country and concava. Petala 3, subaequalia, sepalis to illustrate further its adaptability in latiora, fimbri ata. Staminodia 3, vi llosa; cultivation. 2 erecta, linearia; tertia abbreviata, plu­ ".My fi rs t acquaintance with this love­ mosa. Columna staminea cucullata, ly and intriguing plant was in 1905 when marginibus involutis, antheras 3 spira­ I saw it in great abundance on the hill liter tortas includens; antheTae 2 erec­ above the house at Banana River where tae parallelae, tertia inferior, transversa. the man ager of the group oE farms of Ovariwm 3-loculare, obliquum; stylus the United Fruit Company lived under ascendens, fili Eormis, stigmate simplicius­ the superintendence of .Mr. Morrison. culo; ovula numerosa, 2-seriata. FTuctus The hilltop h ad been cleared not very ignotus. - Hebrae acaules, foliosae, long before and wherever they fell from AmeTicae tTojJica.e incolae. Folia basi the trees they seemed to take root and vaginantia, oblongolanceolata. Flores in grow. In those days my eyes were busy 1Janiculas axillaTes dispositi, fugaces.­ with birds, beas ts, butterflies and other Cochliostema, Lemai?-e in Illust. H OTtic. insects and though it was always enjoy­ t. 217. able to see plants of exceptional beau ty they were no object of pursuit and care. Cochliostema jacobianum; glaberrimum In that region, also, I saw a marvelous Eoliis 3-4-pedaJibus oblongolanceolatis Epidendt'um allied to floT ibundum; the acumina tis basi angustatis utrinque viri­ example form had a great many stems dious marginibus brunneis, paniculis and was a mass of myriad small blooms amplis axillaribus fo liis brevioribus of brighter coloring than its ally. ram is oppositis et vertici1latis, bracteis "I did not see Cochliostema again for amplis albis et p allide purpureis, sepalis many years, perhaps thirty, and then anguste oblongis obtusis roseopurpureis, ] ohn Sasa took me to his hydroelectric petalis obova tis fimbriato-ciliatis caeru­ plant at Aguas Zarcas (Limon). ' Me leis. drove through the fores t on a caterpillar tractor and reached a region where they Cochliostema jacobianum. K. Koch et must have been in millions. More in­ Linden, Wochenschnft, 1867, p. 322. tensely abundant possibly than any other Andre, R evue H orticole, 1868, p. 71. epiphyte of the country, they filled the jl1asters in Gard. Chron. 1868, p. 264 whole prospect of the forest, no tree (cum ic. xyloq., et 323, anal.). being without its quota ...... This superb plant certainly ranks "Contrary to all expectation they among the grandest stemless Monocoty­ thrived a t San Isidro de Coronado as did ledons known, combining the foliage of those I planted at Las Concavas (5,000 a gigantic Anthurium with masses of in­ feet above sea level) . The two plants florescence which, for size, delicacy, and there on a sh ady rock constantly pro­ beauty of tints, cannot well be surpassed. duced offsets, many of which were given Nor in a botanical point of view is this to friends here and in Panama. plant less noteworthy, the structure and "Last year at the Petrolera drilling arrangement of the anthers of the genus sites many were seen and some collected. Cochliostema being most curious, and Tom Newbill took a lot to Fort Lauder­ for an excellent account of which I dale, Florida. would refer to Dr. Masters' papers, "vVerckle ascribed it to the hill called above quoted. It is there assumed that Turrubares west of Orotina, a very dif­ the apparent number of stamens and fere nt locality. It n ever vvas my luck to staminodes is six, but the nOl;- mal num­ go there," ber nine. Of these nine the three outer 46 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE are represented by two blue staminodes, Crape Jasmine as an and a third staminode reduced to a H erbaceous Plant tuft of yellow hairs; whilst the other six consist of two broken series of three In the gardens in the "Deep South" each, the intermediate series being rep­ along the Coast there are not many resented by the two upright spiral an­ herbaceous perennials, and many that thers within the hood and a suppressed appear, seem less happy than farther stamen (of which there is no visible evi­ north. dence), and the innermost series by the Although the subject of this note, horizontal spiral anther and two sup­ usually known in these parts as Taber­ pressed stamens (of which there is no naemontana cOTonaria instead of Enl o­ visible evidence) . This explanation is tamia coronaria, is a shrub in its home ingenious, and is probably substantially countries and in places 'where there is correct. no frost, in this garden it becomes an C. jacobianum is a native of Ecuador, herbaceous perennial, dying to the from which it was introduced by Mr. ground each winter, and then coming Linden, who exhibited it in fun foliage again, with more and more stems, that at the Paris Exhibition of 1867, and branch well and keep a crown full of sent to England the flower here figured. flowers until cold weather. We have the It has a faint sweet odour, not to be common dou ble flowered form, which is c?mpared with that of the C. odoratis­ finely fragrant, its blossoms giving off szmum. their perfume best in the cool of the Desc1-. A stemless epiphyte. Leaves evening. numerous, spreading, three to four feet Since it makes so fine a show as a per­ long, sheathing at the broad base, then ennial, it is worth remembering in that oblonglanceolate, four to six inch e s role where it cannot be used as a shrub. broad, deep green, edged with brown. B.Y.M., Peduncles axillary, stout, suberect, as Pass Christian, Mississippi. thick as the finger, white tinged with pink or purple, a foot long, bearing an immense panicle of flowers. Bmcts op­ posite and whorled, oblong, concave, three to four inches long. Bmnches of panicle stout, four to six inches long, Azaleas Thrive on "Poor" Soil bearing at their apices short scorpioid, The Municipal Azalea Garden at Nor­ deflexed cymes; pedicels three-quarters folk, Virginia, is outstanding for its of an inch long. FloweTS two inches to large collection of azaleas, also rhodo­ two inches and a half in diameter. Sepals dendrons and oleanders, covering many oblong, obtuse, concave, purple-pink. acres adjoining the airport. The older Petals obovate, longer than the sepals, plants are tall (ten feet is not uncom­ of a fine violet-blue, fringed with soft mon) , dense, and well grown. They purple hairs. Staminodes three, two lat­ show every evidence of satisfaction wi th eral linear, purple, fringed; third a tuft their soil and site. of yellow hairs at the back of the stami­ nal column. Staminal co lumn (or hood) The Virginia Truck Experiment Sta­ pedicelled, petaloid, blade concave, with tion recently made soil analyses of the involute margins, ovoid, produced into soil of three planting sites: one planted two long tubular points, being cleft in 1957; one, in 1955; and one, in 1945. through the middle to the base, enclos­ The analyses showed a pH value of 5.3, ing three anthers. Anthers spirally twist­ 4.75, and 4.3, respectively. Available ca l­ ed; one horizontal at the base of the cium was "low"; available magnesium, hood, two vertical, one in each involute "low" or "very low"; available phos­ half of the hood. Ovary ovoid, three­ phorus and potash, "very low"; nitrates, celled; style filiform, curved; stigma mi­ "very low" or "low minus." Salt concen­ nutely three-lobed.-].D.H. tration was 10, 12 and 17 parts per mil­ ERNEST P. IMLE, lion, respectively. U.S. Department of Agricultu?-e, Azaleas apparently thrive, at least at Plant Industry Station, Norfolk, on soil that most of us would Beltsville, Ma1-yland. regard as exceedingly "poor." JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37 , NUMBER 1 47 Frederic Heutte, Superintendent of A N ew CO/01' Cha1,t f01' the Bureau of Parks and Forestry at H ort 'ic~tlttl, re Norfolk, comments: The Nickerson Color Fan, published "The interesting fact aboll t this test by the Munsell Color Company, may was that Dr. Stewart, who is in charge likely become the standard color chart of the oil testing laboratory, telephoned for all who grow and work with plan ts me before sending the test in, and said and plant products. that we were really in foul shape, until It contains 262 standard color samples, I told him what we wanted this test and is arranged in the form of a fan. It [or, and that the plants were in top con­ has all the ingTedients necessary to make dition notwithstanding the long drought. it an indispensable reference for all hor­ He then said that no doubt the natural ticultural purposes because: accumulation of humus did not reveal 1. Size: It folds into a booklet 7Y2 the true fertility that su b sis ts these inches long by 1% inches wide, which plant. fits easily into pocket or handbag and "Not any of these plantings has ever can be a readily-accessible tool in the received fertilizer of any description, or­ field, home, or laboratory. ganic or chemical. When we set out a 2. Price : The price (postpaid) is new planting, the first thing we do is $5.00 to individuals throughout the to salvage the existing mulch and put it United States. It is available from the to one side. \t\Te then hand grub the area office of the American Horticultural to eradicate all bramble and thin out Council, Arnold Arboretum, .Jamaica the timber if necessary. Plain 30, Massachusetts. "You probably have also noted that 3. ColoT: The colors have been se­ we always select a wooded area where lected especially (or horticultural pur­ pine growth is predominan t, because poses as well as for the mooth transi tion hardwood saps the moisture so quickly. they present [rom one color to another. Then we dig holes about the size of a This makes it possible to interpret and bushel basket and throw in three shovels specifica lly designate co)ors that do not of good top soil and two hovels of peat­ appear in the chart but are close to moss which we work into the subsoil. colors that are shown. The plants are spaced about six feet 4. T erminology: The common color a part in the case of Indicas and about names used (which are printed on every five feet in case of Kurumes. The plants are color of the chart) have been accepted then thoroughly watered and mulched_ as standard and approved by the Inter­ Jn most cases we h ave to import more Society Color Council and the National mulch (pine n eedles and hardwood Bureau of Standards. The names follow leaves). Three year old plants from cut­ a simple standardized method which dif­ tings are mostly used. ferentiates 262 blocks in the color solid "The Hidden Factor in our azalea -about the limit that one can remem­ plantings Lhat no test can reveal, is the ber. 5. Nttmerical system: The :Munsell steady accumulation of self-made humus as the resul t of azalea foliage droppings, System of color organization, a recog­ nized standard in America, has been helped by the addition of foilage fall­ used. The numerical notations are es­ ing from surrounding trees. In the case tablished in such a way that, with a of the twelve year old planting, that little practice, one ca n estimate the humus is nearly six inches thick. I have numerical value of colors not appearing always noted a sort of mycelia or hair­ in the chart but close to those that are like growth in this humus covering. In shown. This factor is probably one of this, I believe, lies the secret of our tre­ the most important of all, si nce in many mendous growth." a former chart estimates of colors that FREDERIC P. LEE, did not appear were almost impossible Bethesda, NlaTyland. to describe in simple terms. 48 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

The Nickerson Color Fan opened to illustmte its contents

There has been too little uniformity problem as far as their individual or­ in recent years among American horti­ ganizations are concerned, showing that culturists, in the color charts which have this is an important problem. been used. Several charts have been The American Horticultural Council tried and some officially adopted but, has been extremely interested in the unfortunately, there has been no unanim­ color-chart problem since 1949, when it ity of opinion concerning the merits of was able to interest Miss Dorothy Nick­ any particular one. Many years ago, the erson in the project of producing a Ridgway Chart was given rather wide standard chart at a popular price. Being publicity and use; more recently, the color technologist in the United States Royal Horticultural Society Chart was Department of Agriculture, as well as recommended; but the present unavail­ trustee of the Munsell Color Foundation, ability of both prevents them from being Miss Nickerson was well equipped to widely used. study the problem. She ,vas able to in­ Other charts are ill general use, but terest the Foundation in the problem to either they lack a sufficient number of such an extent that eventually this fan standardized colors or th.ey are not wide­ of standard colors was published by the ly accepted by more than one or two Munsell Color Company in the summer organizations. Several national horticul­ of 1957. tural organizations have "Color Chart Longwood Foundation made a grant Committees" now actively studying the to the American Horticultural Council JA;\,U ARY [958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 49 carly in 1957, which made it possible to Since the chart is fundamentally sound, make these fans available to horticul­ is based on a system of color organiza­ turists throughout the country. tion which is becoming accepted as stand­ The Munsell system of color organiza­ ard in industry and science as well, and tion is one that is fast becoming a stand­ since the simple color names have been ard in many phases of industry and given wide acceptance, it is hoped that sc ience. Prior to 1957, many charts the horticultural organizations 'will quickly accept this NickeTSon ColQT Fan were tried by various organ izations, bu t as a standard. The many obvious ad­ none was given the wide acceptance that vantages which will accrue from the llse we believe will be merited by this Nick­ of a uniform chart, uniform terminology, erson Color Fan: they were either too and uniform color nota ti ons, can well be expensive for the average individual or a gTeat step for advancement in the use they did not h ave a sufficient number of and description of co lor in American standardized colors. horticulture. - DO l ALD '\lVYMAN, Seere­ Conversion tables have been made for tG1'Y, Amen'ran H m'tieu/tuml Council, the Ridgway chart and the Royal Hor­ An7.old A1'ooretllm, I amaiea Plain 30, ticultural Society chart so that all record Massachusetts. notes made from them can be readily transferred to Munsell color notations. 'With each Nicl

Spilanthes oleracea

ers are yellow and borne in button-like and zinnias; or ou tside after the danger composite heads. Ray florets are com­ of frost. pletely lacking, but there is such a pro­ According to Moore's article, there fusion of bloom that the plants are very is an interesting opportunity for hybrid­ showy. The flower stalks develop in the izing since some other species in this leafaxils and a ramifying growth pat­ genus have attractive flower heads with tern results. This accounts for the neat, white to pale pink ray florets and vary compact habit that suggests S. oleracea considerably in size, according to species. will be effective as a border plant along Interested members, who would like to discover this plant for themselves, walks and for edging flower beds. It may secure small samples of seeds by thrives in full sun, transplants easily, written requests to the American Horti­ and tolerates considerable drought. S. cultural Society, 1600 Bladensburg Road, olemcea is an annual. It is sown indoors Northeast, Washington 2, D.C. in the spring and in the cultural man­ JOHN L. CREECH, ner used for the common summer bed­ U.S. Plant IntTOduction Garden, ding plants, like calendulas, marigolds, Glenn Dale, Maryland. JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 51

Iris Vlcana

This member of the Iris genus is typi­ bloom in a bOll t two or three years. cal in every way of the species of the I. vicaria, as is true of other members Juno Iris section. The bulb, with thick, of the Juno Iris section, comes from thonglike roots, is about one and one· central Asia in the region surrounding half inches in diameter. It is planted in what formerly 'was called Turkestan. A autumn in sandy, well drained loam, in choice member of this section, not of· full sun or semi-shade. The points of fered in this cou ntry, is I. Tosenbachi­ the leaves are visible at the surface of ana, with reddish purple, white, and the ground late in the winter. The yellow flowers, blooming just above the leaves grow rapidly during the early ground in the late winter or early spring. days of April, forming a small replica I. bucharica, I. orchioides, I. sindjaren­ of a corn plant. Each leaf axil bears one sis, and the hybrids 'Sindpers' (I. sind­ or two white and pale blue flowers. about jm'ensis X persica) and 'Warlsind' (I. three and one·half inches across the falls. warleyensis X sindjarensis) are all 0[­ As may be seen from the illustration, the fered at times in ca talogs, but probably standards are small and swirl around few of these will persist north of Wash· the base of the flowers. Seeds are freely ington, D.C. produced ar. d if planted 'when ripe, wi!'l FREDERICK '\IV. COE, Bethesda, Maryland 52 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

A close-up branch of the Da-rlington Oak

The Darlington Oak A large number of replacement trees were selected from the nursery rows, Catastrophes of nature, at the time, among which were three Darlington seem to bode no good, but Hurricane Oaks of about 8-inch caliper and 15 feet Hazel did bring the Darlington Oak to my attention. This is a potentially use­ in height. The ease and success with ful tree in the upper South. After the which these oaks were transplanted hurricane's visit through the U. S. Na­ (they had never been root-pruned in tional Arboretum in October 1954, the ~he 12 years that they had been gTowing azalea hillside was a shambles of uproot­ III the nursery) and their evergTeenness ed and lacerated trees. When the debris in the new site prompted me to learn "vas cleared away, it was immediately ob­ more aqout this oak. vious that many new trees would be The first note found in the literature needed to provide the necessary shade. was in U.S.D.A. FaTmeTS' Bulletin 1208, JANUARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER I 53 "Trees for Town and City Streets," pub­ because it produced an abundance of lished in 1922. This bulletin stated that acorns annually and was easy to trans­ the Darlington Oak is a form of the plant it soon spread throughout the sur­ Laurel Oak (QueTcus launfolia) with a rounding area. It was largely through large round head and leaves a trifle nar­ the efforts of W. O. Woods of Darling­ rower than those of the species and that ton, a sincere lover of trees, that its orna­ it is not quite as evergreen. It stated mental virtues became known and that further that the Darlington Oak is found Darlington became the distribution cen­ wild around Darlington, South Carolina, ter for this fine oak. This is how the and that apparently a good form of the Laurel Oak from this area became Laurel Oak was introduced into that known as the Darlington Oak. ai'ea in the early part of the 19th century. Having dispelled the idea that there From the foregoing account one might is any significant difference between the assume that the Darlington Oak was it Laurel Oak gTowing at Darlington and selection of QueTC~tS lauTifolia, and that those found elsewhere in their natural it was vegetatively propagated. If that range, what can be said for the Laurel assumption were right, it would be in­ Oak as a possible shade tree for use teresting to find the original tree or further north? In addition to the three known vegetative propagules of it. That specimens at the U.S. National Arbore­ one probably would never see the origi­ tum, two other trees are known in Wash­ nal Darlington Oak, however, was made ington, D. C. G eorge Harding, Chief clear when Frederic Heutte, Superin­ Horticulturist of the National Capital tendent of Parks and Forestry at Nor­ Parks, reports of one located between the folk, Virginia, sent the Arboretum a Washington Monument and the Nation­ bushel of Darlington Oak seed two years al Capital Parks maintenance area which ago. These were gathered from the large was planted from a four inch pot by Mrs. number of trees planted in Norfolk with Grover Cleveland during the presidency the explanation that they were always of her husband. This tree is now ap­ propagated from seed. The conclusion proximately 70 years old and has a d .b.h. that any Laurel Oak grown from seed of abou t 3 feet and a height of 40 feet. received from there would be called The other specimen is located on the grounds of the Swedish Embassy. Darlington Oak is borne out by the There is no question that the Laurel interesting paper, "The Laurel Oak or Oak is hardy in Washington, D. C., and Darlington Oak, (QueTcus latbTifolia when properly located, it is for all prac­ Michx.) " written by W. C. Coker in the tical considera tions evergreen. The nurs­ Joumal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific ery specimens located in an exposed area Society, Vol. XXXII, No.1, April 1916. gradually lost leaves through the winter Coker stated in 1916 that the nursery and by spring had retained only about a firm of P. J. Berckmans Company, Augus­ third of their leaves, mostly toward the ta, Georgia, listed a QueTcus dadington centers of the trees. When these trees and said of it, "This is a very handsome were moved to the protective slopes of form of Evergreen or Live Oak. The tree the azalea area, they retained all their is of more upright growth than the Live foliage until shortly before new leaves Oak. A magnificient species and very appeared in the spring - despite tem­ popular wherever known." Coker went pera tures as low as + 1 0 F. The tree at on to say that the natural range for the the Swedish Embassy, which is shaded Laurel Oak is not within thirty miles by the branches of towering nearby de­ of Darlington and that it was introduced ciduous trees, similarly retains its foliage. as an ornamental. He stated that it was The Laurel Oak from Darlington is a brought in from the low country, which splendid tree that deserves wider use was presumably to the east and near wherever it will thrive.-FRANCIS DE Vos, the coast in what would be about 1816. U.S. National Al-boTetum, Washington, The tree thrived in its new location, and D. c. 54 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE

Carex mOTrOWZ

A new and differently variegated form troduction is a strikingly handsome of Carex morrowi was found in Japan plant in comparison with the drabness by John L. Creech, during his explora­ of the previously-known form. Inquiry tion there in 1955. It has been recently at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Eng­ introduced in the United States, (P.I. land, relative to the variegated forms 227627) , but probably will not be avail­ disclosed that the form described by able from nurserymen until 1959. Bailey was known there, but the new var­ C. morrowi Boott is a handsome her­ iegation apparently was unknown. baceous perennial with variegated, grass­ This haY1.dsome p lant should be wel­ like foliage, winter hardy and evergreen come to American horticulture; as an to central New York. The plant grows edging plant in the flower border, a dec­ to about eight inches tall with individ­ orative pot plant, a specimen plant in ual leaves measuring 15-18 inches lor g, large rock garden, or in the window gTowing in a gracefully arching manner. box, especially during the winter. Several variegated forms are known but The majority of the species of Carex, none is available commercially in the growing naturally, are found in moist, U.S. The variegations of the new intro­ cool temperate regions, in a humus soil duction are linear, the center portion is somewhat acidic. While this is the ideal, creamy white edged with green, and dif­ the requirements of C. m01"1"Owi permit fer from the form described by Bailey considerable cultural latitude. The plant in the Sta 17 d[{1-d Cyclopedia of Ho?·ticul­ may be propagated by dividing the tt/?"e, which has the green central por­ clump. tion of the leaf blades edged with white. EUGENE GRIFFITH, Both forms are now grown at the U. S. Plant IntTOduction Gal'den, Plant Introduction Garden; the new in- Glenn Dale, Ma?-yland. JA~UARY 1958, VOLUME 37, NUMBER I 55

SchizaJlt!l1Is .... some time-defying characters, and these characters usually have a garden or If one should come around a sharp greenhouse (green with algae and musty bend of a dignified boxwood-hedge, and wi th age), and they are the ones that re­ the eyes should focus on hundreds of the serve a corner for the Schizanthus. When most sparkling, colorful miniature-orchid the summer sun draws out the pungent ,blossoms apparently hovering in the sun­ odor of the boxwood, let's bope there is a light, he would have a most fortuitous in­ sunny spot with the brilliant blossoms of troduction to the Schizanthus, the But­ terfly-Flower. also the Poor-man's Orchid. the Butterfly-Flower. ERIK H ANS KR AUSE Unless the observer were a taxonomi st R ochester, New Yor!? with a more factual approach to a speci­ !lex coriacea - Minority Comment men, he would hesitate to associate this In the immediate neighborhood, the fragile annual from Chile with such utili­ tall gallberry is not common though tarian plants as the potato, the tomato !lex glabra is almost in the "weed" and the tobacco, though they all do be­ class. It well may be that in areas where long to the same family, the SOLANACEAE, it is dominant, it would show other the Nightshades. There are several spe­ characters than it bears here. Certainly, cies, but only one, S chizanthus pinnat~£s, no one would confuse it with I . glabra, is really useful for a more northern cli­ and the small colony on the place is mate, and this species is the source of made up of widely spaced plants that several hybrids and races. as grandi­ show a definite growth character. The .({o rum, and its different color forms. S. main trunk and branches are all pale gray in bark colors - a color light pi1'1matus is also responsible for the deep­ enough to show as a pattern through ly-c ut (schizo-cut) lilac and violet lips the thin branching. The branches also and the purple markings on a yellow have a slightly ascending h abit that background. X S. wisetonens'is, a cross seems to be typical. Suckering is widely between pin1'1atus and g'raham'l.ii, contrib­ spreading. utes t}}e more deicate, pale colors, white, The male plant is rather conspicuous pink, bluish with carmine and maroon when in flower, as the bloom is abun­ blush, and more compact, rounded flow­ dant and white enough to almost ers, wreathe the twigs. The ripening of the fruit s here is The pinnatisect leaves, the delicate most irregular. Apparently, the ripened structure of the calyx and the entire in­ berries are palatable, as they disappear florescence, together with the luminous almost as soon as they are definitely yeUow-green of the entire plant, create black in color. They do not fan off. To get a specimen that would show any the impression that the numerous blos­ quantity of black berries, it was neces­ soms are floating above it. Although the sary to cut the twigs and bring them species S. pinnatus was introduced as into the house. All ripened, and the early as 1822, and some of the hybrids foliage kept fresh for two weeks in wa­ have been favorites of several generations ter. No fruits remained on the plant of garden and greenhouse owners, this by September 15. lovely plant was pushed into the back­ As compared to I . glabra, it n ever ground. Perhaps it was not so 11111Ch the makes what would be called a compar­ somewhat difficult botanical name as its able thicket. 1;he leaves are definitely popular name 'Poor-man's Orchid,' be­ evergreen, but rather a dun matt green -one is not tempted to gather it. cause being poor is not fashionable, but Unless its flowers produce as excel1ent real orchids flown from Hawaii are very a honey as do the flowers of the ordinary much so. Perhaps there are so many new gallberry, or unless it were required for plants which stand the hectic ways of a botanical collectiqn, t his gardener present-day living better than the Schiz­ would never plant it. anthus with its Victorian delicacy. B.Y.M., But even now, every co mmunity has Pass ChTistian, Mississippi 56 THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE A Rare Conife1" long classed as Sequoia prior to discov­ AthTotaxis ery of the living plants. This group of Having just returned from a four­ related plants has been placed within month visit to European botanic gar­ the CONIFERAE in a family of their own, dens, I find it rather difficult to single termed the TAXODIACEAE, by R. Pilger. out impressions from the mass of inter­ He included with them Cunninghamia, esting observations. Impressive were th e: Taiwania, Sciadopitys, CryptomeTia, and solid foundations that exist for such gar­ the redwood's closest relat.ives, Taxodi­ dens, their advanced state of evolution, um and Glyptostrobtts. the public recognition that they consti­ On our recent travels some other tu te an essential part of commu nal cul­ members of this family were met. They ture, and the excellent state, and great belonged to the genus A throtaxis. At­ size, of the plant collections grown. tempts in the recent past to introduce Every botanic garden prides itself on this into the United States were not having some rare items not possess ::: d by very successful, perhaps because, being any other, not because of any se~fidl mo­ Australian, the trees were not considered nopoly, but rather because of greater to require much moisture. Actually, the enterprise in the search for worth-while genus is confined to the high mountains novelties. Some plants, of course, do of "Vestern Tasmania, occurring at ele­ travel very rapidly, and my own partic­ vations up to 4,000 feet in a region of ular introduction from Mexico, Sedum exceptionally heavy rainfall. Certainly m01'ganianum, was met with nearly these trees should be hardy in the United everywhere, usually in fine condition, States, for they thrive in Western Scot­ nearly always as a hanging basket plant. land, Cornwall in England, and Ireland, Tlus was particularly fine at the John­ where I have seen numerous healthy, if Innes Horticultural Institute, at the new still sma1l, specimens. Of the three spe­ Brussels Botanic Garden, and also at the cies of the genus, A. cupTessoides may be New York Botanic Garden. recognized by its scalelike leaves, always Even more rapid has been the spread, closely appressed to the stems and not in cultivation, of the Dawn Redwood. over one-eighth inch long. Reported to Metasequoia glyp,tostroboides. It seems grow to 40 feet, A. cupressoides produces just yesterday that the first seeds of this cones one-half inch in diameter greatly were distributed by the late E. D. Mer­ resembling those of Sequoia. Tallest spe­ rill of the Arnold Arboretum; and, it is cies is A. selaginoides, the King William hard to believe that from this introduc­ Pine, which becomes 100 feet and over tion have come all the specimens to be three feet in diameter. It has somewhat found throughout Europe. spreading leaves to one-third inch long, Interest in this novelty has been con­ with cones to three-fourths inch in siderable for the subject surely possesses leng-th. The other species is A. laxifolia, news value. Here is a real "living fos­ with leaves like those of the preceding, sil" from t.he wilds of China, thought to but not over one-fifth inch long, also have been extinct for millions of years, slightly spreading. but now turning up still alive, even if Plants previously imported from Eng­ not kicking. In California interest was land seem to have been grown from even greater, for there are native two of cuttings, and, like some other conifers, the world's greatest trees, the Redwood failed to make any new leader. None proper, Sequoia sempenJiTens, growing are surviving' today, and re-importations to 346 feet and the Big Tree, Sequoia­ would appear in order, preferably of dendron gigantea, probably the world's seeds from Tasmania. Successful culti­ largest living plant. Californians may vation would seem to call for rich, but object to calling this old novelty Dawn well drained, soil, always abundantly Redwood, for to them there is nothing moist, shelter from cutting winds, and entitled to compare with their own mag­ a winter climate no more severe than nificent trees, and unfortunately the that of the portions of Europe where the Chinese immigrant is not an ever­ these A throtaxis species have succeeded. green. The Dawn Redwood, however, is ERIC 't\T AL THER, closely related, both in structure of cones ReseaTch Associate, and in foliage, to the California red­ California Academy of Sciences, woods and the known fossils of it were San Fmncisco, Cn lifo1'nia THE AZALEA BOOK

by FREDERIC P. LEE

I' III

The publisher, D. Van ;\Iostrand Company, tiOll Section, U.S.D .A., and former director of Inc., Princeton, New J ersey, New York City, the U nited States National Arboretum; Henry Toronto, London, makes the following announce· T. Skinner, present director of the Arboretum; ment: Francis de Vas, horticulturist at the Arboretum; This hand ome and uniq ue book to be reo J ohn L. Creech, head of the U. S. Plant Intro· leased March 9, tell s about everything there is d uction Garden, Glenn Dale, Md.; Freeman A. to know abou t azaleas, from setting out a few i'Veiss. plant pathologist and director of the plants and keeping them h ealthy in a backyard American Type Cul ture Collection; Frederick garden to identifyi ng rare sp ecimens through a i'V. Coe, phys ician and amateur plant spcialist; descriptive list of about 70 species, 3,000 varie· a nd others. The m embers have contributed ties and cultivars. their services; a ll royalties go to the American H orticultural Society. H ere is co mplete know· how for enthusiastic amateurs-wherever they live-on h ow to select, Part I is a complete garden guide, with in· plant, fertilize . a nd prune azaleas, evergreen or formation also on greenhouse and indoor cuI· deciduous, 6·inch dwarf or 15·foot giant. H ere lure. is botanical and historical information of im· Part II thoroughly covers basic horticulture­ mense interest to sc ientist and expert. The vast plant structure, growth factors, so ils and nutri· knowledge of plant explorers, government spe· ti on, with step·by·step procedures for hybrid· cialists, and foreign collectors is embodied in izing. this a uthoritative book. Sponsored by th e Amer· Part III co nsiders the place of azaleas in the ican Horticultural Society and successor to its plant world: rela ti onship to rhododendrons; dis· Azalea H andbook, this volume reflects world ex· tribution and classification, with detailed de· perience with azaleas. scriptions of Ghent, Moll is, Knap Hill, Kurume, T he a uthor, a memher of the Am erica n H or· Satsuki, Gable, Glenn Dale and other azalea ticultural Society, is a well known am a teur hor· grO llps and va ri eties. ticulturist and specialist in azaleas and plants Part IV offers a co mplete, up· to·date index for the shad y ga rden,-a p artner of the law firm of deciduous and evergreen azaleas, with notes of Lee, Toomey, and Kent, Washington, D. C. on habit, blooming period, Rower type, size, and H e has h ad the assistance of other Society memo co lor; also lists azalea breed ers and nurserymen. bers: B. Y. Morrison, breeder of the Glenn Dale 324 p ages, 6% x 9%. 62 illustrations, six in h ybrids and former h ead of the Plant Introduc· co lor. Publisher's retail price, $8.95, plus pos tage.

American Horticultural Society 1600 Bladensburg Road, Northeast \l\Tas hington 2, D. C.

Please send me on publication ...... _.. copies of The Azalea Booh. 1) ...... is enclosed. Price to non·members, .ji)8 .95, postpaid. Price to Society members $6.45, postage and p acking free, a saving of over $2.50.

NAME ....._ ...• _ ...._ ...... _ .... _ ...._ ...•...... •...... •_ ...... _ ...... __ .._ ..•.. _ ...... _ ......

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C ITY ...... _ ...... _ ...._ .... _ ...... ZONE ...... STATE ..... _ ...... _ ...... Organizations Affiliated With The American Horticultural Society

American Association of Nurserymen American Begonia Society American Begonia Society, San Francisco Branch American Camellia Society American Gloxinia Society American Hibiscus Society American Iris Society American Peony Society American Rhododendron Society American Rhododendron Society, Middle Atlantic Chapter American Rose Society Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs Bethesda Community Garden Club (Maryland) Birmingham Horticultural Society (Alabama) Cal ifornia Garden Clubs, Inc. California Horticultural Society Central Florida Horticultural Society (Orlando) Chester Horticultural Society (Virginia) Chevy Chase (D. C.) Garden Club Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati Garden Center of Greater Cleveland Garden Club of Alexandria (Virginia) Garden Club of Bellport, New York Garden Club of Chevy Chase, Maryland Garden Club of Danville (Virginia) Garden Club of Fairfax (Virginia) Garden Club of Virginia Garden Study Club, Delray Beach, F lorida Georgetown Garden Cl ub (D. C.) Herb Society of America Holly Society of America Houston Horticultural Society Hunting Creek (Alexandria, Virginia) G arden Club I nternational G eranium Society Iowa State Horticultural Society Kenwood Garden Club (lVlaryland) La Salle Horticultural Society (Montreal) Manitowoc Men's Garden Club (Wisconsin) Men's Garden Clubs of America Men's Garden Club of Montgomery County (Maryland) Men's Horticultural Society (Tennessee) Michigan Horticultural Society Midwest Horticultural Society Moline (Illinois) Horticultural Society, Inc. National Capital Garden Club League National Council of State Garden Clubs Neighborhood Garden Club (Virginia) New England Wild Flower Preservation Society New Orleans Garden Society, In c. North American Lily Society Northern Nut Growers' Association, Inc. Ohio Association of Garden Clubs Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Perennial Garden Club (D. C.) Pittsburgh Garden Center Plainfield Garden Club (New Jersey) Potomac Rose Society (D. C.) San Francisco Garden Club Seven Seas Garden Club (Maryland) Southern California Camellia Society Takoma Horticultural Club (Maryland-D. C.) Talbot County Garden Club (Maryland) Waterfront Ga rden Club (Alabama) V/orcester County Horticultural Society (Massachusetts)