Maicli 21, 1908 



HORTICULTURE 



365 



him the results wouhl have beuu happier all around. 



When one says that a quarter of a pound of nitrate of 

 soda to the barrel of water is a real feel, no one is very 

 much startled but when, as is often the case, it can be 

 shown that this is much stronger than, for example, the 

 manure water as used in that particular establishment, 

 then the great importance of known composition can be 

 at once appreciated. 



The writer never iiieant to convey the impression that 

 Dr. Galloway's advice was not good especially to those 

 who go it blind, and he knows many do travel in this 

 way, and as a Government official, according to Presi- 

 dent Eoosevelt, he mustn't say too much ! 



The very fact that Dr. Galloway used soluble fertil- 

 izers probably under carefully noted tests along with or- 

 dinary compost leads one naturally to ask how much 

 of the feed was derived from these, what strengths were 

 used and what were the results. 



The undersigned does not remember ever jjutting any 

 emphasis on the fineness of soluble materials, as common 

 experience teaches that the finer the quicker dissolved, 

 but he did speak at some length of fine bone and rock 

 as examples, and does maintain that their degree of fine- 

 ness makes, — well, all the difference in the world. 



The writer has the honor of agreeing exactly with Mr. 

 Bishop in regard to the preparation of fertilizing solu- 

 tions and in his first article on this subject spoke of 

 the chemical value of very dilute solutions, such as Cook- 

 son's Formula, and showed at length and by comparison 

 how weak this formula really was when used according 

 to its originator. 



We can hardly wait for Mr. Bishop to inform us if he 

 has ever used a solution as weak as this. 



Berberis Thunbergii 



The Japanese Barberry, ubiquitous plant that it is, 

 nearly always seems appropriate whatever the situation, 

 the soil, or the needs. Truly it is a most versatile plant 

 in its adaptations to particular requirements. It is not 

 at all hard to suit in the way of soil, flourishing in every 

 kind and even doing well where it is scant in depth, 

 nearly as well in such a situation as does the common 

 barberry, Berberis vulgaris. It is desirable for use in 

 the general shrubbery, combining well with the other 

 barberries, with the wild roses sucli as Eosa lucida and 

 Eosa blanda and with such plants as Eosa rugosa. Spi- 

 raea Thunbergii and Spiraea Van Houttei. It is ex- 

 tremely serviceable where a low dense hedge is desirable. 

 In fact for a hedge of such a nature it seems to be the 

 very best plant that we have. It is particularly good for 

 introducing into wild plantations where it is well in 

 harmony with our own native plants such as the bay- 

 berry, the sweet fern, the wild roses and the juniper. 

 Wliat is more, it can successfully compete with them for 

 its existence. Then it is an ideal game cover for it not 

 only furnishes shelter but also food. 



In habit it is symmetrical and graceful. When by it- 

 self it usually attains a height of three to four feet and 

 a spread of four to five feet. Ultimately it may grow 

 to a height of five feet. The branches, which are very 



numerous, are stout, slightly pendulous towards the ends, 

 and clothed with a reddish bark. The flowers are 

 straw colored and rather interesting but not at all showy 

 like those of the common barberry. The fruit which 

 follows is bright red when mature and long-persistent. 

 It is borne abundantly each year and is retained on the 

 plant until late in the following spring. The leaves are 

 small, agreeable in color in the summer, and in the 

 autumn assume brilliant shades of orange and scarlet 

 and remain until late. 



So the plant is not particular as to soil or situation, 

 serves many purposes well and is attractive at every sea- 

 son. In the winter there is the grace of habit, the red 

 - coloring of the twgs and the brilliant fruit. In the 

 spring there is yet fruit and there are interesting flowers 

 and fresh green leaves. In the summer there is a rich 

 mass of living green. In the autumn there is the very 

 showy fruit and the gorgeous coloring. 



Berberis Thunbergii was described and illustrated in 

 Garden and Forest, Vol. II, p. 5'2. 



Culture of Moschosma 



Editor HoRTicuLTDEE : 



Answering your correspondent's query regarding the 

 culture of Moschosma I would say that it is a very easily 

 grown plant and so far as my experience goes is not 

 bothered in the least by insects of any description or 

 diseases. It does not like a very close, moist atmosphere 

 which causes the thick leathery leaves to rot on the 

 plant, and this is about the only trouble I have seen 

 with it. 



Cuttings may be rooted at any time from February to 

 August. The late propagated stock flowers just as 

 freely as the stock rooted earlier in the season, only the 

 plants are not naturally so large. As an instance of the 

 ease with which Moschosma can be grown into a large 

 plant I would say that one expert cultivator of my 

 acquaintance grew it six feet high and several feet 

 through in one season from a February-rooted cutting. 

 Place the cuttings in sand in an ordinary propagating 

 house and they will root in some three weeks. Then 

 pot up into a loamy compost and pot on the plants as 

 they require it, using for later pottings about one-third 

 of rotten manure in the soil. A temperature of 50 de- 

 grees nights seems to suit this plant better than a higher 

 one so that we must assume that though the plant orig- 

 inally came from South Africa it most likely comes 

 from a high elevation. Kept in such a temperature 

 the Moschosma will be nicely in flower by the third. 

 week in December. 



As a plant to grow for the wholesale plant trade it 

 will not do, as the individual flowers drop too readily, 

 but for private gardeners to grow for conservatory dee- 

 oration few plants are finer in their season, and I have 

 received several very complimentary letters from florists 

 who found in it just what they needed for filling in 

 design work rapidly and cheaply. 



^M^/f%^ 



