268 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[September, 



double flowering Zonal varieties, which gives it 

 a value for bouquets, &c., — a value which the 

 single forms do not possess. The plant has been 

 introduced under its German name Pelargonium 

 Konig Albert, but presume that we shall be un- 

 derstood if we henceforth call it King Albert. 

 The cut conveys a good idea of size of truss, foli- 

 age, &c., but does not give the feathered mark- 

 ings of the petals. H. E. C. 



Croton undulatus. — This is one of the most 

 beautiful varieties ever introduced. It is of the 

 usual free Croton growth, the edges of the leaves 

 being beautifully undulated and wavy, and the 

 variegation consisting of numerous markings 

 and blotches, which in the matured leaves are of 

 the brightest crimson on a dark green ground, 

 and in the young leaves, at first yellow, gradually 

 changing to pink and crimson, the base of the 

 petiole being a very light green. It has been in- 

 troduced from the South Sea Islands.— 5. S. Wil- 

 liams. 



Anthurium crystallinum. — This fine species 

 is in the style of the well-known A magni/icum, 

 having large, ovately heart-shaped leaves of deep 

 emerald-green ground, with beautiful silvery 

 veins radiating from the hose to the extreme 

 point. The secondary nerves have also broad 

 bands of silver, which glitter in the sunbeam like 

 veins of crystal, presenting a brilliant contrast 



with the intervening rich-green leaf-spaces, 

 young leaves show a purplish-violet tint. 



The 



QUERIES. 



Hybrid Ferns.— W. B., Delaware, Ohio, writes : 

 " I send you this day a box, by mail, containing 

 three fern fronds. Nos. 1 and 2 are seedling 

 crosses of Pteris serrulata and P. elegans, they 

 somewhat resemble the Pteris longifolia ; they are 

 very strong growers. Are they worth dissemina- 

 ting under a new name ? If so, I will have to 

 send them east to be introduced. Our people 

 understand corn best. No. 3; please give me 

 the correct name ; the frond I am aware is not 

 perfect, but I selected it because it contained 

 ripe seed which you can sow if you desire. 



[It is often hard to distinguish between a vari- 

 ation in obedience to some innate law and a hy- 

 brid. Numbers of instances of the latter really 

 belong to the former. These look as if they may 

 be hybrids, and are in any case beautiful forms. 

 The other fern is Aspidiura falcatum. — Ed. G. M.] 



Sun-ray Fuchsia. — J. P. S, says: "Sun-ray 

 Fuchsia was raised by Mr. G. Smith about the year 

 1870. It was introduced into this country also 

 under the name of Sunset." 



Mruit and "Megetable Gardening. 



SEASONABLE BINTS. 



Trees that have long stems exposed to hot 

 suns, or drying winds, become what gardeners 

 call " hide-bound." That is, the old bark be- 

 comes indurated — cannot expand, and the tree 

 suffers much in consequence. Such an evil is 

 usually indicated by grey lichens which feed on 

 the decaying bark. In these cases a washing of 

 weak lye or of lime water is very useful ; indeed, 

 where the bark is healthy, it is beneficial thus to 

 wash the trees, as many eggs of insects are 

 thereby destroyed. 



We would, however, again refer to linseed oil as 



a wash, as far more efiective for insects, and would, 

 perhaps, do as well for moss and lichen. After 

 all, these seldom come when trees are well culti- 

 vated. It is neglect makes poor-growth, and 

 poor growth, lichens. 



The planting of the pear, apple, plum and 

 cherry will soon be in season ; peaches, apricots 

 and grape vines, except south of the Potomac, 

 being for the most part left till spring. Choose a 

 dry piece of ground. If not naturally dry, it is 

 best to throw the earth up into banks or ridges 

 and plant on them. This is cheaper and better 

 than underdraining. In planting, if the roota 

 appear deep, cut away some of the deeper ones, 

 and shorten some of the top of the tree at the 



