April 18, 1908 



HORTICULTURE 



527 



A Fern Fed With Soluble Ferti- ^'Iron-CIad^' Rhododendrons 



lizer 



The fern pictured liere (Xephrolepis Barrowsii) was 

 fed entirely on soluble chemicals. These were free from 

 soda, sulphates or chlorine, and were applied dissolved 

 in watei', which was also used on the general run of 

 plants in the same house. 



As pictured, the fern has already suffered the usual 

 penalties incident to exhibition. At the recent show at 

 Hoiticiiltural Hall, Boston, J. L. Smith, gardener at 

 Mrs. Arthur W. Blake's Brookline establishment, re- 

 ceived many compliments and a cultural award, this 

 being the second received for this specimen, which Mr. 

 Barrows said was "the best ever." 



Three j'ears ago this coming June it was a little fel- 

 low in a two-inch pot fresh from the orginator and now 

 has a spread of nine feet or more, measured as a bird, 

 from tip to tip. The fern tub is hidden, while the bar- 

 rel upon which it is placed is twenty inches at the small 

 end which is plainly visible. 



This is yet another living demonstration of the truth 

 that properly used soluble foods make plants just as fit 

 for the long ruit as "they may for the sprint, although 

 many folks reason that because their action is rapid and 

 immediate it mtist of necessity be also soon spent and 

 the plant must "go back." This fern has had over 

 thirty moons to "go back." 



The strength of fertilizer used made the nitrogen 

 strength one part in 13 thousand of water while the 

 phosphate and potash were about the same strength, 

 which figures about one part to 7 thousand of water 

 making, it will be noticed, a "complete" fertilizer. 



For nearlv three years the fern has softly said to the 

 nice clean fertilizer barrel across the walk in the comer, 

 'Tjove me little, but please do love me long." 



In your issue of April 11 in the article on Bhododen- 

 drons is given a list of "sure hardy ones which are able 

 to withstand our vigorous winters." I am quite strr- 

 prised at the make-up of this list. It does not, with a 

 few exceptions, accord with my experience. 



My comment on the list would be as follows : 



Everestianum, hardy. Alexander Dancer, hardy in 

 some exceptional locations, and if protected in winter. 

 Mrs. John Glutton, tender, unless the plants are so 

 small that they are covered -by snow in winter. Con- 

 cessum, tender. Charles Bagle}-, possibly hardy; hardy 

 in vicinity of New York city. Mrs. A. Waterer, tender. 

 The Queen, tender; hardy at PMladelplua. August 

 Van Geert, tender. John Waterer, tender. Mrs. E. 

 S. Holford, tender. Hannibal, hardy. Lady Eleanor 

 Catheart, tender. 



Of course any of the above sorts would probably come 

 through the winter all right if covered clean out of 

 sight each year with leaves, but the necessity of handling 

 them in that manner would put them outside the hardy 

 class. I am now speaking for the vicinity of Boston, 

 not further south. Also during some winters all of the 

 above varieties might come through all right without 

 protection. 



To repeat a more or less old story I give below a list 

 of so-called "iron-clad" varieties. (There is no iron- 

 clad list in the sense that that term can be applied to a 

 common lilac.) 



^Vhite, or substantially so: — Maximum, DeUcatissi- 

 mum. Album elegans. Album grandiflorum (in some 

 locations). 



Pink: — Hannibal, Eoseum elegans. Lady Armstrong, 

 James Macintosh. 



Bright red: — Mrs. Milner, Charles Bagley (in some 

 locations), Atrosanguineum (in some locations), H. W. 

 Sargent, Gen. Grant, C. S. Sargent. 



Lavender and lavender purple: — -Everestianum, Pur- 

 pureum elegans. 



Dark red: — Caractacus, Chas. Dickens, Kettledrum, 

 Old Port (perhaps). 



There are undoubtedly others which might be added 

 to the above list. 



At the Arnold Arboretum may be found in addition 

 to the above the following apparently hardy under the 

 ideal conditions and care which prevail there. F. L. 

 Ames, Xorma, Charles Thorold, Milton, Marion, Mrs. 

 Charles Sargent. E. S. Field, Henrietta Sargent, Mrs. 

 Harry Ingersoll. Coriaceum (early blooming dwarf, 

 probably a tall plant of it in an exposed situation would 

 be tender). 



Could Mr. Brown give us an account how he has 

 handled the varieties he has mentioned and how long 

 he has had them ? 



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