FEBRUARY 10, 189S. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



463 



Aponogeton Distachyon. 



at its base and from the crown of this 

 tuber it sends out long roots in the 

 soil surrounding, whilst the leaves and 

 flower stalks find their way to the sur- 

 face, each stalk terminated by an ob- 

 long leaf that floats on the water. 



The flowers are borne on a forked 

 spike (hence the name distachyon, 

 meaning two spiked), are small and 

 Inconspicuous in themselves, but they 

 are disposed in clusters in the axils of 

 large showy white bracts. These bracts 

 give the spilve its color attractiveness, 

 but the flowers have also a welcome 

 charm in that they possess a delight- 

 ful fragrance so sweet as to have earn- 

 ed for the plant the name "Water 

 Hawthorn." The Cape Pond weed is 

 another popular name for it and it 

 matters not which is used, either being 

 greatly preferable to its botanical cog- 

 nomen, and should be used by those 

 who would popularize the plant and 

 sell its flowers. 



When once the plant is strongly es- 

 tablished it spreads freely by root in- 

 crease and also reproduces itself from 

 its own self-sown seed. Dr.v roots are 

 also obtainable at times, these being 

 imported from the Cape. The beginner 

 with dry roots, however, must exer- 

 cise caution in starting his plants, oth- 



erwise he may lose the lot. When the 

 dormant tubers are potted up they are 

 dry and more or less shrivelled. If 

 then introduced to aquatic conditions 

 there is a risk of the root tissues swell- 

 ing too rapidly and rotting in conse- 

 quence. It is better for a start to treat 

 them as ordinary plants, planting the 

 tuber, with its crown just covered in 

 a pot of soil. It will then absorb mois- 

 ture gradually, swell normally and 

 when top growth is visible and well 

 under way the plants may be im- 

 mersed with safety. When new plan- 

 tations are being established with di- 

 visions from growing plants no such 

 precautions are necessary; these can 

 be planted direct into other tubs or 

 tanks. A. HERRINGTON. 



FUMIGATION. 



The method of fumigation described 

 by Mr. D. K. Herr in the first issue of 

 The Review (page 13) has been tested 

 in the Station greenhouses with good 

 success. When the order was given for 

 the pans the description was not at 

 hand, and as constructed they are much 

 larger than Mr. Herr's, but work well. 

 Not having cigar waste at hand, pul- 

 verized leaf tobacco was used. The 



smoke obtained by this method is not 

 dense, but is penetrating. It is the 

 long-continued application that makes 

 it effective. The tobacco burned for six 

 hours in a house containing a varied 

 collection of plants, and none were In- 

 jured. FREDERIC CRANEFIELD. 

 Wis. Exp. Sta., Madison, Wis. 



THE GUELDER ROSE FOR FORCING' 



The growing desire for more of nov- 

 elty and variety wherewith to tempt 

 the public leads one to survey a wider 

 field for available material, and in do- 

 ing so, the Guelder rose or snowball 

 tree (Viburnum opulus sterilis) comes 

 within the range of vision as some- 

 thing that would probably take if of- 

 fered. That it is amenable to forcing 

 has long been proved and I have seen 

 large bushes that were forced for years 

 and proved acceptable adornments for 

 the conservatory iu the early months 

 of the year. It is a flower, too, that 

 can be effectively used in a cut 

 state for decorations. In this connec- 

 tion I recall some large busfies that 

 grew iu the shrubbery at home and how 

 useful they were to cut from for church 

 decoration at whitsuutide. Whole 

 branches, borne down with their 

 weight of snowballs, were lopped off 

 and used most effectively. 



In order to make a success of it for 

 forcing one would need to have selected 

 or specially prepared plants that were 

 well grown, possessing from six to 

 ten good strong shoots of the previous 

 season's growth and from two feet to 

 three feet in length. These could be 

 forced in pots of from eight inches to 

 twelve inches diameter. Upon such 

 shoots there should be no difflculty in 

 securing six to eight flue clusters 

 arranged in pairs and cut as they 

 could be with two feet of stem, they 

 would look admirable when set up in a 

 suitable vase. As a pot plant for the 

 Easter trade it would certainly find fa- 

 vor and is a fit subject for extensive 

 use in large decorations. Even more 

 beautiful for pot culture, is its Japa- 

 nese relative. Viburnum plicatum. 



Plants of both these viburnums can 

 be obtained cheaply in any good nurse- 

 ry where trees and shrubs are grown, 

 but it is too late to think of purchas- 

 ing now for present forcing. To se- 

 cure good forcing stock, however, I 

 would advise those who have a spare 

 plot of ground at home to grow their 

 own. 



Purchase the plants in the coming 

 spring and upon receiving them prune 

 close, and plant them out iu a piece of 

 rich, well cultivated ground. Mulch 

 them in summer to protect them from 

 drought and if the stock has been well 

 selected and well handled there 

 should be some good forcing 

 material ready for lifting and 

 potting before hard freezing sets in. 

 Any plants not strong enough can re- 

 main for another season. If a demand 

 sprung up, however, a supply would 

 doubtless soon be forthcoming and it 

 would he just as easy to purchase vi- 



