March 15, 1913 



HORTICULTUEE 



371 



raised from Feed sown in Sj)riiig m propagated by root 

 cutting?. They thrive best in a rich, loamy soil and an 

 open sunny exposure is a necessity for perfect develop- 

 ment of plantations. Prolonged excessive moisture 

 proves detrimental. Protect anehusas with leaves or 

 straw during winter; thickness of cover according to 

 latitude and climate of location. 



Stokesia 



The steadily incnasing inteiest in new introductions 

 of liardy herbaceous plant species is one of the encourag- 

 ing signs of a liealtliy horticultural advancement. This 

 being at present the rule, it is, however, by no means a 

 rule without exceptions. Closer observation, now and 

 then, brings to light striking instances where unques- 

 tionable merits, for a long time seem to escape the watch- 

 ful eyes of even those, who are readily inclined to take 



Stokesia ctanea 



the initiative. As a telling example I mention today 

 the cornflower-aster Stokesia cyanea. Not very many 

 ])crennials can be depended on to bloom in even continu- 

 ance from July until frost. Stokesias in this respect are 

 Tellable. For this reason they prove attractive subjects 

 for plantations on mixed hardy borders. Attaining an 

 average height of about 2 feet, plants produce desirable 



cut flowers on long and stifl stems. The individual flow- 

 ers are decidedly handsome and appear in sufficient num- 

 bers to attract attention. Those of Stokesia cyanea pos- 

 sess a clear lavender-blue, while cyanea alba, resembling 

 in shape the former, blooms white. Eeaders desirous to 

 grow their own supply will find that cornflower-asters 

 can be very easily raised from seed sown in spring. Seed- 

 lings do not require an extraordinary amount of care, 

 and, when flowering the following season, come true to 

 color. For the small garden with limited space at our 

 disposal a few plants, of necessity, must sutfice. Em- 

 ploying stokesias on larger ground areas it is essential 

 to plant in adequate number and close enough to gain 

 an impressive effect. Whenever the intention is to grow 

 this perennial for cutting, I advise sowing not less than 

 at least one-half ounce of seed of each variety. Stokesias 

 are quickly becoming popular when shown in masses. 

 Being coarse-seeded the one-package sowing and subse- 

 quent insufficient stock to commence with is frequently 

 the cause of the slow headway in the realization of the 

 opportunities at hand. I am convinced that a fair trial 

 is likely to bear out the correctness of my statement. 

 Stokesias, while not new, are offering possibilities which 

 to further ignore it appears we can hardly afford. 



Riverton, N. J. 



-5djtAyCUuiS<jtAAJ 



Bleeding of Grape Vines 



When I was a small boy living in Vermont, one spring 

 as the sugar season approached I thought I would try a 

 little sugar making myself, and knowing the propensity 

 of the grape to bleed, and supposing that all sap would 

 make sugar if boiled down, I tapped a big Vulpina vine 

 that was growing near the house, and it ran nearly a 

 stream. I gathered and boiled all day and the next day 

 till noon ; then I stopped gathering so that I could sugar 

 off at night. I kept testing it, but it neither thickened 

 nor sweetened ; it only boiled away, and at night all that 

 I had to show for tlie great amount of sap boiled away 

 was a little froth at the bottom of the kettle ! About 

 that time there was a disappointed boy in Vermont, but 

 the disappointment has proved of value to me as it 

 demonstrated that there is no substance in grape water. 

 I do most of my pruning in April and let them bleed. 

 I only prune in fall such ones as I wish to lay down 

 and cover to save wood from. 



hn.tnuMz> 



Norwood, Mass. 



IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER 



Just Help Us To Make Another Equally As Good And As Much Better As Possible 



Three Weeks From This Date 



The International Flower Show Number 



Will Be Issued Under Date of April 5. Everybody Will Want to Read It 



As An Advertising Medium It Will Have 

 S U l=> E: R L. A -r I V E V A, L. UP E 



