February 20. 1909 



H O RT I CU LTU HE 



•241 



Foxgloves 



Digitalis is extremely pojMiiar in 

 tlie New England States^;. Tlic 

 reason why this highly oruanieiital 

 biennial has so far failed to con- 

 quer for itself the same {jrouiinent 

 po^ilioii in gardens elsewhere is 

 oMtainly not to be found in any cul- 

 tural difficulties. Seeds sown in 

 May will produce small plants, 

 ready for the open field, in June. 

 If j)roperly cared for, they will be 

 strong stocky plants by tlie begin- 

 ning of October, when the growing 

 season is over. It is essential to 

 withhold the necessary winter cover- 

 ing, until the surface of the gi'ound 

 is frozen solid. Leaves are here in 

 the north considered the best ma- 

 terial for winter protection. Care 

 should be taken, that by after thaws 

 and freezings the ice can at no time 

 form in any thickness around the 

 plants. For this reason I prefer a 

 sligiitly sloping ground to the level 

 for my fo.xgloves. Do not uncover 

 too early, for your plants cannoi 

 stand sudden changes of warm days 

 and belated hard frosts in spring. 



Many garden owjiers and even hardy plant growers, 

 when hearing fox-gloves mentioned have only in mind 

 the old Digitalis purpurea. If they were fully aware 

 of the wonderful marked, spotted and tinted variety of 

 the best up to date gloxiniflora types, or could see the 

 exquisite shades of the large spikes of Digitalis macu- 

 lata grandiflora, I believe foxgloves would soon take 

 their due place in the floral displays of many more gar- 

 dens and parks. My experience is, whenever these 

 beautiful biennials are shown to their full effect, that is, 

 in strong liealthy plants and sufficient number, the 

 desire to have them again follows. 



The intense interest and the unreserved admiration 

 for displays of foxgloves b}' visitors at our northern 

 summer resorts strengthens my belief that they merit 

 more space and general recognition in American gar- 

 dens. The common Digitalis purpurea is very effective 

 when naturalized on the edge of woodlands. South of 

 New York a half-shady position may be sometimes an 

 advantage, for it is apt, to, prolong the flowering season. 

 Tall spikes of light colored shades of Digitalis gloxini- 

 flora against a dark evergreen background produce won- 

 derfully pleasing contrasts, I have seen equally beauti- 

 ful displays in formal gardens, but in every instance, 

 the aim should be for a fine mass effect. The best re- 

 sults are obtained with improved colors. It is therefore 

 very important for those who wish to grow their own 

 plants to secure seeds of a good strain. The care of the 

 plants and the overwintering is the same as required for 

 the poorest colors. 



By far less showy than the above mentioned varieties 

 is Digitalis lanata. Its tall erect spikes are born on 

 smooth brown stems. The long narrow pointed leaves 

 are of a dark bright green. What appeals to me most 

 is the remarkable fine brown nerving of the inside of 

 the little white blossoms., Our illustration, a reproduc- 

 tion from a photograph taken in the Mt. Desert nur- 

 series in Bar Harbor, gives a good idea of the habit of 

 growth of this more rarely seen foxglove. Plant lovers, 



Digitalis lanata 



who like to see odd things in nature always admire its 

 gray hirsute thickly set spikes, with their multitude of 

 queer shaped flowers. Digitalis lanata deserves a place 

 in plant collections or perennial borders. 



A Good Amaryllis 



The writer has an amaryllis that is ten years of age. 

 The blossom stalk is 40 inches tall. The blossom stems 

 are 5 to 6 inches long. Its blossoms measure eight 

 inches across, G in number, making a wreath-like circle 

 over three feet in circumference. The blossoms are 

 pink laced with white. The seed pods now ripening 

 measure two inches in diameter. The bulb is about five 

 inches in diameter. This plant has never had a rest 

 and it blossoms three or four times per year. Not being 

 familiar with the growth of the amaryllis, I write to 

 ask if this one is not unusually large. I don't know 

 its name if it has any, but I believe it is a hybrid. It 

 was a present to me from Prof. J. F. Cowell, superin- 

 tendent of the Botanic Gardens at the South Park, Buf- 

 falo, N. Y., at the time of the Pan American Expo- 

 sition. 



I am surprized that so beautiful a flower should re- 

 ceive so little attention from florists and plant growers. 

 .The plant requires but little care and is not troubled by 

 insects or fungus. It blossoms every three or four 

 months the year round and is long lived. It is an inter- 

 esting subject for the hybridizer and the plant breeder. 

 ' I intend to experiment with it some myself. I see in 

 catalogues from Holland that some new varieties there 

 are valued as high as $80.00 each. 



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