PLANTING PERENNIALS. 161 



east we had a good chance to hunt up some of the rarest and most 

 beautiful plants. 



There are two new kinds of Siberian iris. One is of the most interne 

 and clearest blue. The other is snowy white. Both do well in Nebraska 

 and multiply rapidly. 



The Baltonias are very robust, rapid-growing plants, covered with 

 masses of bloom for two months. Baltonia asteroides is white, some- 

 thing like the Shasta daisy. The Latisquaraa is pink, touched with lav- 

 ender. Both are very fine 



Next year we hope to use the society's appropriation for new perennial 

 plants and seeds and find out what is best adapted to our trying climate. 



DISCUSSION. 



The President: You have heard Mr. Harrison's paper. I will give a 

 few minutes for discussion or remarks. I would like to ask Mr. Harri- 

 son if he has thrown overboard the Thurlow willow? 



Mr. Harrison: No, sir; it grew ten feet for me. 



The President: It kills back for me. 



Mr. Harrison. It is tender in some localities, but it is more the dry 

 weather that kills it than the winters. 



The President: Mine did not suffer from drouth. 



A Voice: Tti general planting across the river in Council Bluffs it 

 kills back. 



A Lincoln Man: It kills back in Lincoln two or three feet from the 

 top, but I have seen it growing in Western Nebraska and I have seen 

 it growing in Massachusetts. The first winter it killed, and the next 

 it lived. I think it is a rather tender plant. We have had some entirely 

 killed out in the early part of November. 



Question: You did not make any mention of the Persian Lilac. 



Mr. Harrison: There are two kinds of the Persian; the white kind 

 and the pinkish-white; then there is a purple Persian. It originated in 

 Europe, a cross between the Vulgaris and the Persian; they look much 

 alike, only the Persian is larger leaved. All four are extremely hardy. 



Question: Don't you think they are more desirable than the Amer- 

 ican? 



Answer: The common variety is called the Vulgaris; in Europe there 

 may be great changes. The Vulgaris lilac has two entire distinct systems 

 of roots. I am propagating from roots. You take a lateral system of 

 roots, roots under the ground, they are about like snakes. You can graft 

 your true lilac upon the other and you will not get things mixed. You 

 can cross the Persian family upon sprouts. Other systems of roots of 

 the Vulgaris are hard and solid and you can graft upon them without 

 any trouble. 



Question: Have you tried propagating by cuttings? 



Answer: Yes, I have tried it. A man told me that he had raised cut- 

 tings without any trouble. 

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