314 



HORTICULTURE 



September 7, 1907 



Japanese Maples 



The increased culture of Japanese plants during the 

 last two decades has been most marked in England coin- 

 cident indeed with the rise of Japan as a world power. 

 And while Japan assimilates western methods, we in 

 turn are indebted for many beautiful products of that 

 fairy land of gardens and flowers. Iris Koempferi, 

 lilies, pigmy trees, bamboos, have each had exceptional 

 patronage the last few years. The introduction of Jap- 

 anese maples was an acquisition to western gardens; 

 thev may be said to epitomize a gifted people especially 

 as embodiments of things artistic, rivaling many stove 

 plants and the most delicate ferns in gracefulness of 

 outline and beauty of foliage. The attempt to grow 

 them in England in many districts has been successful 

 and there are few gardens of note without specimens of 

 these beautiful deciduous plants. Prominent nursery- 

 men have taken them up with enthusiasm and the large 

 groiips exhibited outside at the Temple show have for 

 years illustrated their utility as decorative subjects. So 

 exquisitely delicate are they in appearance that invar- 

 iably the first question asked is "Are they quite hardy ?" 

 Tt may frankly be said tliat many grown for exhibition 

 are brought on in cold greenhouses but tliat is on ac- 

 count of the early date of showing which hardly gives 

 time for requisite hardness of foliage outside; as cool 

 greenhouse plants in pots they are very effective and 

 admirable as small plants for table decoration. Acer 

 palmatum polymorph um may be seen in large plants in 

 a well-known North of England nursery. A few of 

 these were lifted for a London exhibition, the sequel 

 being a large order for specimens to form an avenue for 

 a south country mJllionaire. Tt may be safely said they 

 are hardy in the south and in sheltered and favored 

 parts in other districts but the more delicate varieties 

 in the north need protection in severe winters: if in 

 pots deeply plunged a little canvas is all that is neces- 

 sary. In grouped bedc- they are etTective but as isolated 

 plants with a green lawn as setting their beaiity is more 

 sharply broivght out, especially as standards. For two 

 months when the foliage is hard they are useful for 

 ciTtting for table purposes. 



With regard to culture they like a turfy loam and if 

 grown in pots, with plenty of rough sand, delighting 

 in water as they do wh.en growing, but abhorring stag- 

 nation, syringing should be done in early morning 

 and late afternoon. They like a cold bottom and pot 

 plants must be plunged as a severe drying out is fatal 

 to tender growth. A deep pit with ventilation on top 

 and bottom both day and night is the place to bring 

 them on in early spring, removing outside later. All 

 pot-bound stock may l)e safely potted at the end of July, 

 dead wood lieing removed and plants neatly staked. 



With regard to propagation. Acer palmatum roots 

 freely from cuttings taken in July and placed in gen- 

 tle bottom heat; large plants may liave a boxed bed 

 round them and layered ; if small plants are needed of 

 choice varieties, graft them on palmatum. The best 

 method with general stock is to inarch them. A house 

 out of the way should be selected, as boxes, bricks, slates. 



etc.. used to bring them up to proper level, present a 

 somewhat unstable and untidy arrangement for the 

 time being. Varieties do not usually seed freely but 

 this year there is an exceptional crop especially on 

 Japonicum aureum. These revert, however, to palma- 

 tum and Jai>onicum types and make useful grafting 

 stock. Imported plants may be had in quantity from 

 the sales but often it is rough and stunted stock which 

 take some time to get into shape. 



There are now a large number of varieties, many of 

 them with difficult Japanese names. The following are 

 a select and representative dozen of form and color in 

 palmatum and Japanese varieties : Acer p. atropur- 

 pureum, dark purple; p. aureo-variegatum, dark green, 

 variegated bright gold ; p. dissectum atropurpureum, 

 deeply serrated leaves, fine purple; p. dissectum varie- 

 gatum. similar to above but variegated rose and white; 

 p. linearifolium, seven narrow lobes, light green; p. 

 roseomar<:;inatum, lobes deeply cut, light green mar- 

 gined witli rose; p. sanguineum variegatum, five-lobed, 

 crimson, variegated with bright scarlet, changing with 

 age to white; p. septemlobum, seven lobed, pale green 

 turning to red in the fall. Japonicum aureum, splen- 

 did gold; j. laciniatum, deeply divided lobes, light green 

 changing to red in summer; j. vitifolium, foliage cut 

 like a vine; j. pictum variegatum, large broad leaves, 

 deep green with distinct white variegation. 



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Overcrowding 



The tendency to' create botanic gardens on private 

 estates is much too prevalent. The saying that "variety 

 is the spice of life" is accepted as a true one, but when 

 carried to excess as is done in many gardens, particu- 

 larly under glass, variety becomes one. of the most 

 troublesome of burdens. Wliere subtropical and orna- 

 2iiental foliage plants are artistically used for bedding 

 purposes, they combine well with the ordinary bedding 

 plants, not however in the way we sometimes see them, 

 but rather thinly arranged so that each plant will stand 

 clear of its neighbor. 



How often we see stove houses and conservatories 

 with the ijlants all packed indiscriminately together in 

 a sloping bank with sometimes the larger plants ele- 

 vated on pots or other material, with the smaller ones 

 all crowded underneath. Thus arranged they may look 

 attractive from a distance, but they will not stand criti- 

 cal examination and cannot be regarded as evidencing 

 either good culture or good taste. Light and air play 

 so important a part in the life of a plant that all un- 

 necessary stock should be dumped. Under glass where 

 over-crowding prevails, troul}les are many. Bugs of 

 every description thrive and unsightly pots with the 

 soil half-washed out are often found. On the other 

 hand, when plants are so arranged that each has ample 

 room, health and vigor prevails ; better facilities are 

 afforded for accurate judgment in regard to watering 

 and. "last but not least," more harmony is likely to 

 exist between the head gardener and his assistants. 



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