Missouri Botanical 

 Garden Bulletin 



Vol. IX St, Louis, Mo., October, 1921 No. 8 



TEST GARDEN, 1921 



The climatic conditions of the past summer were extremely 

 trying to plant growth. Plants in the test garden not accus- 

 tomed to extreme heat died within two weeks from the time 

 of planting, and while slightly stronger ones succeeded in 

 living during the summer, making their best growth in Sep- 

 tember, it w r as only the tropical varieties, such as the Ricinus, 

 that fairly thrived in the heat. 



The test garden (pi. 24) w<as surrounded with a hedge of 

 Kochia trickophylla. These plants were started April 5 and 

 planted in the garden June 3. They made a quick growth, 

 and with a little shearing, produced a good hedge. For the 

 past two summers the experience at the Garden has been that 

 if Kochia is watered during the dry periods it will continue 

 to remain green until checked by frost. These plants at the 

 Garden demonstrated well what can be accomplished with an 

 annual to produce a hedge effect in one season. 



Alyssum maritimum "Lilac Queen" proved meritorious 

 only towards the close of the season. During the summer the 

 flowers faded quickly, but in September and October the true 

 lilac color appeared, producing quite a contrast with the pure 

 white "Little Gem." This plant would probably do better 

 during a cooler season. 



In the early summer the antirrhinums produced one good 

 crop of flowers, but during the remainder of the season 

 bloomed intermittently although the growth was strong. 

 Their colors were brilliant, but in quantity of bloom the 

 flowers did not compare with those of the previous year. 



Calliopsis elegans "California Golden Wave" and C elcgans 

 var. nana "The Garnet" both produced many flowers during 

 the early summer, but few thereafter. 



The majority of the asters grew well and, without doubt, 



(103) 



