October 24, 1908 



HORT1CULTU R £ 



M5 



and should then be potted into 3 inch 

 pots, and are then ready to plant in 

 the field in May or June. 



They will bloom the first season in 

 October. 



Outside of New York state I do not 

 think that the large flowering varieties 

 of clematis are grown to any consider- 

 able extent, most of the catalog houses 

 depending on the imported stock, al- 

 though home grown stock is better, as 

 several of the large New York firms 

 grow the plants from cuttings. These 

 are usually made in May and June 

 from the young wood. The cuttings 

 taken from plants started in green- 

 house root more readily than those 

 from outdoor plants. 



In taking a glance through a num- 

 ber of catalogs it is noticeable that the 

 Europeans are far ahead of us in the 

 number of varieties and classes listed, 

 some of the leading firms listing as 

 many as fifty to eighty varieties or 

 more, while our American firms are 

 satisfied with from six to twelve. Is 

 it because -we are less enterprising? 



Not having followed this line of 

 plants continuously, I should like to 

 leave other details to experts in this 

 field. But there is no reason why the 

 same advance which has been made in 

 Roses, Carnations, Gladioli and Can- 

 nas may not also be made in the Clem- 

 atis family, and we hope that some of 

 our American hybridizers will take ad- 

 vantage of the opportunity here of- 

 fered as there is unlimited room for 

 the development of this most useful 

 and ornamental family of climbers. 

 Lonicera (Honeysuckle). 

 This family of hardy climbers is 

 very popular, few plants emitting a 

 more delightful fragrance than some 

 of the varieties in this class; "As 

 sweet as a honeysuckle" is an old time 

 expression. Some of the newer vari- 

 eties, notably, Heckrottei and Hender- 

 soni are especially adapted for pot cul- 

 ture, and easily forced. In the open 

 field they produce continuous bloom 

 from June to November. At this 

 writing the young plants in the field 

 are a mass of bloom, and a bouquet of 

 their graceful sprays is always pleas- 

 ing and is a delightful change at th's 

 season. 



All the varieties of honeysuckle 

 are of easiest propagation. Heek- 

 rotti, Hendersoni, and the varie- 

 ties generally cataloged as Red 

 and Yellow Coral and all Euro- 

 pean varieties. I prefer to propagate 

 from hard wood under glass. The cut- 

 tings are planted on open benches in 

 a cool greenhouse in January. One 

 eye cuttings are used where the joints 

 are long. In spring they are planted 

 in the field; potting is not necessary 

 during an average season. They grow 

 from two to four feet or more and 

 bloom freely in a few months after 

 they are planted. 



All varieties of honeysuckle also 

 root freely from green wood cuttings 

 made during the summer in June and 

 July from "the young growing wood, 

 and we grow nearly all varieties in 

 that manner. We plant the cuttings 

 on open benches in greenhouse where 

 they root in a few weeks. After they 

 are rooted we pot them in 3 1-2 to 4 

 inch pots, from 4 to 6 plants in a pot, 

 and place them in beds outside in 

 September and October, where they re- 

 main until planting time the following 

 spring, which should be done as early 



as possible, for a few warm April days 

 start them into growth. 



Propagators pursue the methods best 

 adapted to their different localities. 

 In the Japan section Lonicera braehy- 

 poda is becoming a real pest, as it 

 roots freely from every shoot touching 

 the ground; birds are also carrying the 

 seeds, and where it becomes firmly es- 

 tablished it is difficult to exterminate. 

 The type catalogued as Halliana has 

 generally superseded the above named, 

 as it is more desirable in every respect. 

 Ampelopsis Veitchii. 



This useful climber is so well known 

 that it requires no description. It is 

 of easiest propagation. Seeds of it 

 sown in March or April germinate in 

 a few weeks, when they can be potted 

 singly in 2 1-2 inch pots, and if shifted 

 into 4 inch, and staked, will make nice 

 plants by October. The pot grown 

 plants have the advantage over the 

 field stock for decorative foliage. I 

 have noticed that they color up finer 

 under glass, as the grower has them 

 under better control. Varieties of this 

 type, like Robusta and Royalli and 

 others, require to be propagated from 

 cuttings;, these root easily in summer 

 from green wood, but I prefer to make 

 tbem from hard wood cuttings in win- 

 ter. 



Ampelopsis quinquefolia. 



Our native American species is 

 useful in cold climates owing 

 to its extreme hardiness. It is easily 

 increased from seed. 



Akebia quinata. 



This graceful Japanese climber 

 seemed to be more common 40 years 

 ago, and deserves more attention than 

 it receives. Besides its fragrant choco- 

 late colored, sweet scented flowers, it 

 is free from all insect pests and dis- 

 eases. The easiest way to propagate 

 it is from the seed, but it also roots 

 freely from cuttings from the young 

 wood in June and July. It will also 

 root from the matured wood in fall, 

 but requires a longer time. 



Celastrus scandens (Bitter Sweet). 



It has always been a surprise to me 

 that this beautiful native climber is 

 not more popular. It has fine glossy 

 foliage and in autumn its orange seed 

 pods are charming. It is grown from 

 seed. There are great variations, and 

 to perpetuate the best fruiting strains 

 they should be root grafted There is 

 plenty of room to work up this breed, 

 and show them pot grown for the 

 Thanksgiving and Christmas trade. 



It seems to me that there is always 

 room for fine berried plants, and few 

 plants are more attractive than this 

 when full of its charming seed berries. 



I intended to continue this paper but 

 find it is getting too bulky, and fear 

 it may tax the patience and trespass 

 too much on the time of the audience. 



CHRYSANTHEMUM GLORIA. 



INCORPORATED. 



The Wm. Graham Floral Co., Phila- 

 delphia: capital, $60,000; John H. 

 Galen, president. 



The Columbia Planter Co., Spring- 

 field, O.; C. E. Patric, J. T. Guffy, H. 

 C. Wiseman. -T. J. Veasie, J. L. Zim- 

 merman; capital, $30,000. 



Color Enchantress pink. Elmer D. 

 Smith & Co. were awarded C. S. A. cer- 

 1 1 li . : 1 1 o for this novelty at New York, Octo- 

 ber 10. 



A PRESENTATION. 

 A number of the gardeners in the 

 vicinity of Auburndale, Mass., along 

 with a few of the Boston seedsmen 

 surprised Frank H. Allison, head gar- 

 dener to Mrs. B. L. Young, Weston, 

 Mass., at his new home on Friday 

 evening, Oct. 16, by presenting him 

 with a beautiful solid mahogany book- 

 case. Peter M. Miller made the pres- 

 entation, and Mr. Allison responded in 

 his usual modest manner. Messrs. T. 

 J. Gray, Al. Coutts and P. Crotty made 

 a few timely humorous remarks. 

 Dancing was kept up until a late hour, 

 refreshments being served at intervals. 

 The following gentlemen contributed to 

 the evening's entertainment: William 

 Westland, William Wylie, Thomas 

 Beattie, John P. A. Guerineau and Al. 

 Merrill. 



CHICAGO PLANT TRADE. 



There is a little better variety in 

 blooming plants this week in the Chi- 

 cago market. Cyclamen, Chinese 

 primrose and Primula obconica, 

 though not showing a great abundance 

 of color, are coming in. 



A limited quantity of bush chrys- 

 anthemums are also offered in the fol- 

 lowing varieties: Glory of the Pacific, 

 and its white sport Estelle; early 

 Summer, October Sunshine, Murdock, 

 yellow. In pompons the only varieties 

 offered are Alena, a very delicate pink 

 and Zenobia, a yellow. 



Houghton & Clark, florists, Boston, 

 have dissolved partnership, T. J. Clark 

 retiring, and F. H. Houghton will con- 

 tinue the business. 



L. D. Batchelor of Upton, Mass., has 

 taken a position as instructor in green- 

 house construction at Cornell Univer- 

 sity, Ithaca. X Y. 



We extend an invitation to our 

 patrons and friends to be present at 

 our anniversary on Thursday, October 

 29th. Reception from 7 to 12 P. M. 

 to be given at our store, 15 Province 

 St. and 9 Chapman Place, Boston, 

 Mass. ' We remain, 



Very truly yours, 

 H. M. ROBINSON & CO. 



