1878.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



19» 



interested in one with singular potato-like knobs 

 on the surface of the ground, as well as a 

 profusion of beautiful flowers. It is one of the 

 loveliest things of its class that could possibly 

 te. The following is a representation of it as 

 growing at Messrs. Veitch, with a description 

 taken from Sir Joseph D. Hooker's magazine for 

 1875: 



" In the whole genus, which is a tolerably uni- 

 form one in habit, I know of no feature so re- 

 markable as the tuberous root stock of this, which 

 resembles a cluster of potatoes placed on the 

 top of the pot ; the contrast of these grotesque 

 objects with the exquisitely graceful thread-like 

 stems and profusion of pearl-white rose-streaked 

 blossoms is exceedingly striking, and recommends 

 the plant as a desirable one for greenhouse, and 

 probably for out-of-door culture. Care must be 

 taken not to overwater the plant when not in 

 flower, or the tubers will soon rot." 



All About Roses. — Under the name of 

 Journal des Roses, a magazine exclusively devoted 

 to the Queen of Flowers, has been started in 

 France. We note that the editor agrees with 

 us, and against the authority of the "'books," that 

 the true Eglantine is the Dog Rose, and not the 

 Sweet Briar. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



Lawn Grass.— W. B. LeV., Philadelphia, 

 Tvrites : " The enclosed sample of grass was 

 .grown from seed sold me for " Kentucky Blue 

 •Grass," and as it makes a beautiful lawn and dis- 

 places the " Fall Grass," I am anxious to have its 

 proper name. Will you oblige me by giving me 

 the same V Being in want of more seed this 

 •Spring, I called at several seed establishments, 

 but they did not seem to know what it was. On 

 consulting The Gardener's Monthly, I found 

 in March, 1876, an article on " Rhode Island Bent 

 Grass." I then called on the seed stores again, 

 ■but they discouraged me from buying the latter 

 as it would not suit our climate, and that it would 

 not make a good lawn. One firm said it was 

 nothing but commaon Herd grass. I found none 

 in this market ; so I sent to W. E. Barret «& Co., 

 Providence, R. I.; and the result is at present 

 writing, my lawn looks if it will exceed any in 

 W. P. With thanks for your article on R. I. 

 Bent." 



[The Little piece seat appears to l)e Poa trtvialis, 



and not either Blue Grass or Rhode Island Bent 

 Grass and which we have seen occasionally, lately, 

 in lawns about Philadelphia, and promising very 

 well. But it is known that the Kentucky Blue 

 Grass makes an admirable lawn grass for Phila- 

 delphia and vicinity, and nothing better is to be 

 wished for ; it, as well as the Rhode Island 

 Bent, will crowd out every weedy thing in time. 

 Rhode Island Bent is Herd grass, or Red-top of 

 some stores; but by no means the " common" 

 Herd grass. Dr. Channing, in the article re- 

 ferred to by our correspondent, pointed out the 

 difference. A small patch of the plants from 

 seed sent by Dr. Channing, corroborates all Dr. 

 C. says of the value of the Rhode Island variety 

 as it may as well be called for a popular distinc- 

 tion sake. From the growth of this in our 

 flower border, we see no reason why it may 

 not make an excellent lawn grass here, as well 

 as in Rhode Island. The only remark we can 

 make on this matter seems to be that Poa cam- 

 pestris, the Kentucky Blue, or Pennsylvania 

 Green grass, seems quite good enough for all 

 our purposes. — Ed. G. M.] 



Transplanting Hollies.— C. A. D., New- 

 York, says : " Can you tell me the reason why 

 the Ilex opaca is so difficult to transplant suc- 

 cessfully ? I have tried it repeatedly before, 

 but I thought that in a large one having been 

 repeatedly transplanted, there would be some 

 good chance of success. Yet one I tried the 

 past Spring, is either dead already or so near it 

 thac there is no hope of its resuscitation ; while 

 Another one much smaller, given me by a friend 

 and transplanted but a small distance compara- 

 tively, and had its roots exposed to the air 

 scarcely at all, died before the frequently trans, 

 planted one, and, in fact, never gave any sign 

 of intending to live. If you can give me light 

 on this question, I shall be very much obliged 

 to you." 



[The Holly has very sluggish roots, while its 

 evaporating powers through its leaves are enor- 

 mous. To be successful with transplanting 

 Hollies, we have to regulate these extremes, 

 which we do by cutting off the leaves in cases of 

 doubtful success. We have never known a case 

 where the leaves and half-hardened wood were 

 cut away, that perfect success did not follow. 

 Many people hate to lose even for a short time 

 the beautiful leaves ; but it is only for a couple 

 of months; and it is better to lose this two 

 months of gratification than the whole tree.— 

 Ed. G. M.l 



